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Capstone Abstracts & Posters
Social Epidemiology - Loop Cohort 2022
Capstone abstracts are listed alphabetically from A-Z. Click on posters for enlarged viewing.
The Impact of Social Isolation on the Cognitive Function of Older Adults in Chicago
Practicum Site: Rush Alzheimer’s and Disease Center
Jessica Cothern
Introduction. This study aims to determine the association between social isolation and cognitive function in those 55 and older in Chicago. Methods. The 2012 baseline dataset from the CEDHA at Rush University was used to perform a cross-sectional study on 371 participants. Three OLS regression models were preformed to determine the association between social isolation and cognitive function. Results. There is a significant relationship with social isolation and cognitive function. This relationship remained significant as violence exposure, discrimination, HIV status and physical exam status were added to the model. There was a significant relationship in those who ‘sometimes’ (estimate -0.26, SE 0.10, p<0.05) and ‘rarely’ (estimate -0.26 estimate, SE 0.07, p<0.05) feel isolated in their negative cognitive function. HIV status (estimate 0.20, SE 0.06, p>0.05) and violence exposure (estimate 0.17, SE 0.06, p<0.05) were also found to have a significant relationship. Conclusion. Overall, this study found that social interactions play a role in the cognitive function of older adults in Chicago. Future research must be done in order to determine if there are more interactions and create prevention strategies against cognitive declines within areas neighborhoods with fear of violence within the city.
Mothers and Newborns and the Linkage to Recovery Treatment Services
Practicum Site: Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC)
Nyierra Golden
Introduction. Research examining the treatment of black mothers and their newborn affected by opioids in the city of Chicago. Thus, this capstone examined the linkage to recovery treatment services (RTS) between black and white pregnant patients, and whether the rate of receiving RTS differed between black patients or white patients, posing a health disparity. Methods. Data from Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative MNO-OB 2018-2 dataset with 92 hospital participants and 2,656 pregnant patients were used for the analysis. A logistic regression and odds ratio to determine and understand the relationship between black and white pregnant patients and the probability of receiving RTS. Results. Results showed a significant health disparity between black mothers who receive RTS and white mothers who receive it (OR=.43, 95% CI-.33 .91). Conclusion. There is a clear health disparity regarding RTS between white and black patients in which black patients are significantly less likely to access RTS. Future MNO initiatives should consider that black mothers are already considered one of the most vulnerable groups. There needs to be genuine physician and patient relationships established to create a sense of security for black mothers as well as addressing underlying oppression and discriminative factors.
Social Isolation Among HIV Positive Elderly Adults in Chicago; Examining Impacts of Neuroticism, HIV Duration, Violence and Drug Use
Practicum Site: Rush University Department of Preventative Medicine – Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center
Hallie L. Hutchison
Introduction. This capstone examines factors that influence social isolation among HIV positive elderly adults in Chicago. The focal relationship was how neuroticism affects social isolation among HIV positive elderly adults in Chicago. Demographic information, HIV duration, violence and drug use were covariates. Methods. A secondary analysis was done using the baseline CEDHA dataset from 2012. A binary logistic regression was conducted using 177 HIV positive participants aged 50+ in Chicago. Results. Results indicated that there is a strong and significant relationship between neuroticism and social isolation (OR = 6.17, CI = 2.864-13.302), p=0.000. Results suggest that people with high neuroticism are more likely to be socially isolated. Less time between baseline and HIV diagnosis had a weak relationship and significant effects (OR = .431, CI = .2042-.9084), p=0.027. Conclusion. High neuroticism is significantly associated with participants reporting that they feel socially isolated. HIV duration and social isolation is a relationship that should be studied further. This study aids in filling a gap in the literature by determining causes of social isolation with hopes of preventing morbidity and premature mortality due to social isolation.
Small Business Grants Program’s Effect on Systems Change: A Qualitative Analysis of Key Stakeholders’ Perceptions
Practicum Site: Sinai Urban Health Institute, Chicago
Keerthana Shree Manoharan
Introduction. Economic disinvestment can exacerbate and perpetuate collective trauma. Many communities on Chicago’s West Side already faced high unemployment and poverty rates before the COVID-19 pandemic. Investment in communities can repair collective trauma and support community wellbeing. West Side United, a collaborative founded by six West Side hospitals , established the Small Business Accelerator Grant Pool (SBG) in 2018 to provide grants to small businesses in historically disinvested West Side neighborhoods. This study explores the systems-level changes identified by SBG stakeholders that could improve community economic wellbeing. Methods. Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) was contracted to evaluate the SBG. SUHI conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 key stakeholders who administer, fund, and provide community input on the SBG. Interviews were conducted from October 2021 through January 2022 and were transcribed and coded in Excel. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify opportunities for systems changes that could lead to stronger small business communities. Outcomes. Stakeholders identified several opportunities and challenges in building relationships, communication, infrastructure, and funding. Conclusion. Investments in small businesses can spur systems changes that improve the economic vitality of communities that have been historically disinvested. As one step in addressing collective trauma, these investments can shape community wellbeing.
Listening to Our Stories: Creating a Qualitative Survey Instrument to Explore Ableism Experienced by d/Deaf Medical Professionals
Practicum Site: American Medical Association
Jada Ward
Introduction. Ableism is a type of systemic oppression that affects members of the disabled community. This oppression has created barriers for d/Deaf medical professionals to attend, matriculate, and become health care professionals. Methods. The purpose of the capstone below sought to gather information on the experiences of d/Deaf medical professionals through the creation of a qualitative instrument. The instrument became a semi-structured interview that explored how ableism impacted the experiences of d/Deaf medical professionals from their earliest inception to become a health care professional to their current work in the field. The instrument was revised with feedback from members of the Research, Data, and Evaluation (RDE) team at the American Medical Association’s Center for Health Equity. Outcomes. The final iteration of the survey instrument was accompanied the creation of a survey guide to provide context of the instrument’s necessity. The survey guide contained a brief history of the d/Deaf community in the United States, key terminology op topics in the d/Deaf community, and the survey instrument with footnotes on certain items. Conclusion. The overall goal of the capstone is like the overall goal of the survey instrument and guide: to initiate discussion on the impacts of ableism in the health care field and to encourage partnerships between disabled and able-bodied health care professionals.
