Community and Environmental Health Faculty Publications and Presentations Copyright (c) 2013 Boise State University All rights reserved. http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs Recent documents in Community and Environmental Health Faculty Publications and Presentations en-us Fri, 05 Apr 2013 01:31:59 PDT 3600 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues Among Native Americans Living on a Remote Reservation: Results from a Community Survey http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/51 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/51 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:02:22 PDT The purpose of the study was to document the perceived and actual mental health and substance abuse issues of residents living on a remote reservation in the Northwestern United States. Surveys were completed by 138 Native Americans, who reported on mental health status and problems, perceptions of personal and community health issues on the reservation, and patterns of substance use and abuse (e.g., how often respondents use alcohol, what drugs present the most serious problems on the reservation). The respondents perceived their own mental health to be quite good. However, they reported that several mental health problems were prevalent in their community including alcohol/drug abuse, mood disorders, and spousal abuse/domestic violence. In addition, although respondents themselves reported little substance abuse, the most serious perceived problems in both their families and the community were related to substance abuse. Respondents not only recognized the problems caused by substance abuse on the reservation; they also had valuable suggestions for how to reduce this problem, including recreational/after school programs, education about substance abuse, cultural activities, and appropriate treatment services, including traditional or faith-based healing methods.

]]> Theodore W. McDonald et al. The Impact of Volunteering on Seniors’ Health and Quality of Life: An Assessment of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/50 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/50 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:40:44 PDT Past research suggests that senior citizens often face challenges related to deteriorating physical and men- tal health, and the quality of their lives may suffer as a result. Past research also suggests that volunteering can improve the health and quality of life for seniors. In the present study, 451 volunteers enrolled in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) completed surveys including questions regarding their volunteer experiences and how these experiences have affected their health and quality of life. The results suggest that volunteering through RSVP is associated with improvements in health and quality of life across a variety of dimensions. Furthermore, these improvements may be particularly greater for women, current volunteers, and older seniors. These findings may help guide interventions designed to enhance the health and well-being of senior citizens in a variety of settings.

]]> Theodore W. McDonald et al. The Evaluation of Heat Transfer Using the Foot Manikin http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/49 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/49 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:52:51 PST Heat transfer characteristics were determined for five types of men's shoes using a thermal foot manikin system capable of measuring heat resistance levels of shoes. The manikin included 13 separate thermal segments that provided an opportunity to differentiate thermal characteristics within selected regions of the shoe. Measurements included the whole foot (i.e. all 13 segments), but focus was placed on segments that were known to be most relevant to conductive heat loss. It was found that total heat resistance for a man's winter boot was 1.8 times higher than the heat resistance of a man's dress shoe. The measurements revealed a significant difference between shoes in the lower foot segments. The dress shoe exhibited resistance of 0.13 m2KW-1, while the resistance of the winter boot was 0.17 m2KW-1. This information is helpful in providing feedback to footwear manufacturers who can design new products that offer better thermal comfort and can provide improved shoe safety under extreme temperature conditions.

]]> Uwe Reischl et al. Self-Inflating Mask Interface for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/48 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/48 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:21:33 PST A prototype facemask interface was developed to help improve patient comfort during non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. The prototype design includes a flexible fabric "skirt" which is attached to the frame of a standard facemask. The interface adapts easily to the contours of the face and provides increased contact area with the skin. The performance of the prototype facemask was compared to the performance of a standard facemask using a manikin. Air pressure and volume airflow through the masks were controlled. The results showed that the flow and pressure characteristics of the prototype facemask including the skirt interface were comparable to those of the standard facemask technology. The prototype reduced the facemask pressure levels on the face by allowing the interface skirt to "float" on the skin.

]]> Uwe Reischl et al. Assessing Community Health Center (CHC) Assets and Capabilities for Recruiting Physicians: The CHC Community Apgar Questionnaire http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/47 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/47 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:29:24 PST Introduction: Recent trends suggest that community health centers (CHCs) may experience a shortage of qualified physicians required to meet current and future demand. The purpose of this study was to develop an evaluation instrument, the CHC Community Apgar Questionnaire (CHC CAQ) for Idaho CHCs to use in physician recruitment.

Methods: The instrument was developed based on the Critical Access Hospital Community Apgar Questionnaire (CAH CAQ). The CHC CAQ was customized for CHC use and 12 new factors were identified for substitution in the CHC instrument. All 13 CHCs in Idaho participated in this study. One site was chosen per CHC if the CHC had multiple service locations. In each community, the administrator of the CHC and the physician with recruiting responsibilities participated individually in a structured interview.

Results: A total of 11 physicians and 11 administrators participated in the study. Differences were found across and within classes of factors associated with success in physician recruitment. Alpha communities, those historically having more success in physician recruitment, scored higher on CAQ metrics than less successful beta communities. No material differences were noted across physician and administrator ratings. Cumulative mean Community Apgar scores (CHC CAQ) were mostly higher in alpha communities.

Conclusion: The CHC CAQ, like the CAH CAQ, seems to discriminate between communities with differing assets and capabilities based on historical community-specific workforce trends. This assessment may suggest which factors are most important for a community to address with limited available resources and which factors are useful in marketing their CHC to prospective physicians.

]]> E. T. Baker et al. Association of "Grit" and Satisfaction in Rural and Nonrural Doctors http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/46 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/46 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:21:13 PST

Background: One potential psychological construct, grit, may help to explain the non-cognitive traits that account for both rural physician satisfaction and retention. We investigated (1) the psychological construct grit among rural and non-rural primary care/specialty care physicians, (2) satisfaction levels and (3), the relationship between the psychological construct grit and satisfaction across combinations of rural/non-rural and primary care/specialty care physicians.

Methods: We mailed a cross-sectional questionnaire to 2126 active members of the Idaho Medical Association and Idaho Academy of Family Physicians measuring their self-reported level of grit, satisfaction level and area of specialty.

Results: We received responses from 564 physicians (26.5%). Idaho physicians have relatively uniform levels of grit independent of specialty or practice location. Specialty care physicians reported significantly higher levels of ambition, regardless of practice location. Most physicians were satisfied with their practice (91.7%). Specialty care physicians reported a significantly higher difference in their levels of satisfaction with their practice compared to primary care physicians.

Conclusions: Idaho primary care and specialty care physicians in both rural and non-rural settings reports themselves as individuals who work hard, persevere despite setbacks, and are ambitious. Furthermore, Idaho physicians are satisfied with their current practices.

]]> Alex J. Reed et al. Paying for Long-Term Care in the Gem State: A Survey of the Federal and State Laws Influencing How Long-Term Care Services for Idaho’s Growing Aged and Disabled Populations Are - and Will Be - Funded http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/45 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/45 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:03:16 PDT It is well recognized that as baby-boomers age and people live longer with chronic conditions, the need for long-term care ("LTC") services will increase nationwide.1 Given the costs involved in providing such LTC services, reforming policies related to LTC finance has been the topic of much public debate.2 Additionally, major efforts in recent years have been dedicated to "rebalancing" America’s LTC delivery system in favor of greater access to home and community-based care options.3 Meaningful discussion of how to address the looming LTC problem should be well informed by an understanding of the numerous state and federal laws affecting how LTC services are currently financed. In this article, we seek to provide such a foundational overview of the current policy landscape affecting LTC funding in Idaho.4 Because many aspects of LTC finance are influenced by the laws and demographics of the particular state at issue, the specific policy landscape will vary from state to state. We also discuss potential alternatives to current policies and review major commentaries regarding LTC finance policy. While our focus is the policies affecting LTC in Idaho, our overview should be of utility in other states as well, particularly other states in the Mountain West region with population demographics similar to Idaho.5

]]> Andrew M. Hyer et al. Thermographic Assessment of Sweat Evaporation Inside Clothing Systems http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/44 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/44 Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:15:36 PDT The purpose of the research project was to determine whether or not thermography can be used for assessing heat and moisture transport inside clothing systems worn by active duty police officers. An infrared camera system was used to identify temperature patterns over the body of healthy adult males performing controlled physical activities inside a temperature controlled environment. The thermographic documentation revealed complex temperature distribution patterns that were clearly associated with the regional evaporative cooling of sweat. Differences in the temperature patterns between subjects who produced large amounts of sweat and those who produced less sweat were observed. The study showed that thermography is an effective tool for assessing skin temperatures and sweat evaporation from clothing. The information gained can be applied to the design of new clothing systems to maximize the cooling effects of body sweat evaporation.

]]> Budimir Mijović et al. Spine Compression Characteristics Associated with Back Pain Symptoms of Healthcare Workers http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/43 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/43 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:37:35 PDT Uwe Reischl et al. Idaho Rural Family Physician Workforce Study: The Community Apgar Questionnaire http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/42 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/42 Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:19:47 PDT Context: Community factors of varied importance help determine the success of achieving and maintaining a physician workforce. The purpose of this study was to develop an evaluation instrument (Community Apgar Questioinnaire) useful to rural Idaho communities’ in their assessment of the assets and capabilities related to physician recruitment and retention.

Methods: A quantitative scoring interview instrument was developed based on a literature review, site visits and discussions with rural physicians and hospital administrators. A total of 11 rural Idaho communities differing in geography and other known variables were selected, some identified historically to have more success in recruitment and retention (α communities) and some historically noted to have more challenges (β communities). In each community, the administrator of the hospital and the physician with recruiting responsibilities participated individually in a structured interview.

Results: A total of 11 physicians and 11 CEOs participated in the study. Differences were found across and within classes of factors associated with success in physician recruitment and retention where alpha communities scored higher on Community Apgar Questionnaire metrics. Some differences were noted by respondent class. Cumulative mean Community Apgar scores are higher in communities that have historically better track records in recruitment and retention.

Conclusion: The Community Apgar Questionnaire seems to discriminate between communities with differing assets and capabilities, based on historical community-specific workforce trends. This assessment may allow for identification of both modifiable and non-modifiable factors and also may suggest which factors are most important for a community with limited available resources to address.

]]> David Schmitz et al. Applying Innovative Approaches to Address Health Disparities in Native Populations: An Assessment of the Crow Men’s Health Project http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/41 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/41 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:01:36 PDT Using a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, the Crow Men's Health Project is a partnership between university researchers and men of the Crow Indian Reservation to address health disparities, particularly cancer risk, screenings and treatments. The objective in using this approach is to establish trust, share power, foster co-learning, and ultimately address community-identified needs and health problems. However, application within the context of Native American communities has only recently been studied with only a paucity of evaluative research on the quality and outcome of partnerships. This research details the accomplishments to date of this partnership. The findings and implications of the research illustrate the importance of establishing support by tribal leaders, recognizing the time commitment and potential for conflict with timelines, the significance of creating a trusting environment for health discussions, and the critical role of an Advisory Council to ensure the active participation of the community.

]]> Paul R. Lachapelle et al. Two Physical Therapists’ Perspectives on Their Profession http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/40 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/40 Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:20:32 PST Glenda Hill Emerging Use of Behavior Imaging for Autism and Beyond http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/39 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/39 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:07:02 PST Uwe Reischl Heat Transfer Dynamics in Clothing Exposed to Infrared Radiation http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/38 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/38 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:58:33 PST Uwe Reischl Workplace Exposure to Submicron Particle Mass and Number Concentrations From Manual Arc Welding of Carbon Steel http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/37 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/37 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:09:43 PDT Particle emissions from manual shielded metal arc welding of carbon steel were sampled in a typical industrial maintenance and metal fabrication workplace environment. Particle number measurements over the size range from 14 nm to 10 µm using a scanning mobility particle sizer and an optical particle counter showed that welding produced an approximately lognormal particle mode with a 120 nm count median and a geometric standard deviation of 2.07. This study produced welding particle number concentrations on the order of 2×105/cm3 in the building air 8.5 m away from the welding. Workplace exposure samples were below the current 8-hour American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists mass concentration threshold limit value of 5 mg/m3. Submicron particles comprised 80% of the total aerosol mass collected by a cascade impactor during welding. The concentration of larger particles was indistinguishable from indoor background. Microscopy showed that the welding emissions are dominated by clusters formed from <0.1 µm primary spheres. These data on the particles resulting from aerosol transformation by natural dilution inside an industrial building can be compared with laboratory-scale studies of welding particulate. The particle number characteristics observed in this study are significant because toxicological hypotheses suggest that number or surface area may be a better metric than mass when evaluating the health effects of fine particles.

]]> Dale Stephenson et al. An Analysis of VDT Monitor Placement and Daily Hours of Use for Female Bifocal Users http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/36 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/36 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:04:33 PDT A population of 72 bifocal wearers was studied to determine the relationship between VDT (video display terminal) placement for those who reported musculoskeletal pain and those who did not. The mean hours worked was 50.4 minutes (p=0.003) greater for those who reported head/neck pain versus those who did not and 48.6 minutes (p=0.004) greater for those who reported shoulder/arm pain that those who did not. There was no statistically significant difference between the means of monitor height, distance, or angle for those who reported pain symptoms versus those who did not. This study indicates that, self reported pain symptoms are correlated with hours of VDT work and that there appears to be a threshold at approximately five hours for pain symptoms among bifocal wearers. No such correlation can be made for monitor placement.

]]> J. L. Lyon Jr. et al. Side-By-Side Comparison of Three Sampling Methods for Aerosolized Endotoxin in a Wastewater Treatment Facility http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/35 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/35 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:55:45 PDT Research studies have established the occurrence of adverse health effects in individuals exposed to organic dusts and water aerosols laden with endotoxin. To determine what exposure levels cause these health effects, it is necessary to quantity airborne endotoxin. Several scientific studies have demonstrated that the quantification of detectable endotoxin is affected by differences in sampling media, analytical method, and aerosol composition, The study reported here performed side-by-side endotoxin sampling using a liquid impinger, a glass fiber filter, and a polycarbonate filter in a wastewater treatment plant. Results show levels of detected endotoxin appear to be highest with the impinger. Coefficients of variation calculated for each sampling method show the glass fiber filter having the least variability when sampling was conducted at the highest endotoxin levels. Lastly, a Spearman rank order correlation test identified an apparent correlation between endotoxin levels obtained with the impinger and the glass fiber filter.

]]> Dale Stephenson et al. Environmental Health and Service Learning http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/34 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/34 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:48:12 PDT In developing curriculum for a Salt Lake City, Utah High School's Advance Placement--Environmental Studies class, one goal was a module on air quality/air pollution. University of Utah graduate students and faculty presented on air pollution topics. Community exposure to school bus emissions was identified and students developed a study design, performed air sampling, learned to interpret results, and communicate results and recommendations to various audiences. This project emphasized health impacts, public awareness, and policy recommendations to promote change.

]]> Kelly Tuohig et al. Comparison of Sampling Methods to Measure Exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter in an Underground Metal Mine http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/33 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/33 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:42:29 PDT Diesel particulate matter (DPM) continues to be scrutinized as an adverse occupational exposure agent. Currently, the air sampling protocol approved by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to quantify exposure to DPM in mines designates an SKC impactor as the sample collection device and limits exposure to the total carbon faction of a DPM aerosol. Because use of this impactor requires submission of the sample to an analytical laboratory, it inherently includes a lag time before workplace exposures can be determined. Thus, mine operators who use this MSHA-approved sampling device to monitor personal DPM exposures are faced with the possibility of realizing unacceptable airborne concentrations after the exposures have occurred.

]]> Dale Stephenson et al. Thermal Characteristics of Infrared Radiation Protective Vests http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/32 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/32 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:35:12 PDT Solar heat radiation can impose significant heat stress on employees performing outdoor tasks. A prototype infrared reflecting vest was developed to offer protection to agricultural workers and constructions workers who are exposed to high levels of outdoor solar radiation. The prototype vest was tested using a laboratory based thermal manikin exposed to controlled heat radiation intensity levels. The tests showed that a vest including 3.2 cm spacers was able to reduce heat gain by 30% without imposing a significant corresponding insulation heat gain. The thermal cross-over point for such a vest was lowest in comparison to others configurations tested. Commercial development of such a vest for use by agricultural workers and construction workers in desert environments is encouraged.

]]> Uwe Reischl et al.