Health and Human Services

Applicant: Meghan Baruth

Title: Enhancing Diet and Physical Activity through Group Prenatal Care

Field of Study: Health Sciences

Period of Support: May 10, 2021 – April 30, 2022

Abstract: In collaboration with Central Michigan University Health (“CMU Health”) we propose to enhance the existing CenteringPregnancy framework (an accredited group prenatal care model) to include focused nutrition and physical activity education and support.  Through this pilot intervention, we aim to train healthcare providers and equip pregnant women with the knowledge, skills and strategies necessary to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A student research assistant will work as a part of this interdisciplinary team to develop and refine skills integral to engaging in behavioral intervention research with human subjects.

Applicant:  Meghan Baruth

Title: Midland County Needs Assessment

Submitted: October 2018

Proposal Abstract: A Midland County community needs assessment will be conducted in 2019 to help inform health concerns in the county, address equity in access and preventative care, and create common “themes” based on data to help address countywide health issues and perceptions. These data will be used for, and are integral to, the creation of a community health improvement plan. The survey will be administered to ~500 Midland county residents via an online survey link and/or a survey administered face-to-face at various organizations and events within the community. Students will assist in survey development and administration, and in analyzing data gathered from the survey. A comprehensive report will be created and presented to the Health and Human Services Council of Midland County.

Applicant: Meghan Baruth

Title:  Evaluation of a behavioral physical activity and dietary intervention for pregnant women

Submitted: October 2017

Proposal Abstract:  A majority of pregnant women do not meet physical activity (PA), nutrition, or weight gain recommendations, despite their efficacy in improving maternal and child health outcomes. There is a need for evidence-based behavioral interventions that focus on PA and healthy diet during pregnancy in an effort to promote appropriate weight gain. An evidence-based physical activity and dietary pilot intervention for pregnant women was recently implemented. Students played a critical role in the recruitment, delivery, and evaluation of the intervention. In addition to the pre/post intervention evaluations, the project includes two follow-up assessments at 3- and 6-months post-partum. Such assessments will provide information on weight gain retention, physical activity, and dietary behaviors post-birth. Students will have the opportunity to collect follow-up data and also write manuscripts using the baseline and post-intervention data that has been collected.

Applicant:  Rene Hernandez

Title: Development of an Emergency Shelter Plan for a Rural Village in Nepal

Submitted: October 2018

Proposal Abstract: Using ethnographic (cultural-focused inquiry) and phenomenologic (event/phenomenon-focused inquiry) qualitative research methods, students and faculty will develop an emergency shelter field guide designed to facilitate opening, maintaining, and closing the established emergency shelter will be developed for a rural village in Nepal. Utilizing existing U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) templates and models, community visits, and historical accounts of previous disasters and literature reviews, our team will create a shelter field guide booklet culturally appropriate for the English-speaking Nepali village that is ready for distribution to the community.

Applicant:  Samantha Deere

Title: Exercise is Medicine Implementation: Assessment of physical activity knowledge and development of healthcare provider education

Submitted: October 2018

Proposal Abstract: Participation in physical activity (PA) is a well-known prevention tool and treatment for many diseases (e.g. Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes). However, less than half of all Americans meet the current PA recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate-vigorous aerobic activity per week. It is well known that patients highly value the opinions/recommendations of their healthcare providers. In an effort of increasing PA participation, the American College of Sports Medicine developed the ‘Exercise Is Medicine^TM’ (EIM) initiative, which encourages healthcare providers to assess PA as a vital sign, prescribe PA, and refer patients to PA professionals. Despite global initiative growth (43 countries), many healthcare providers are unfamiliar with PA guidelines and choose not to discuss PA with their patients. The level of EIM participation in the Great Lakes Bay Region is unknown. Therefore, this project aims to 1) determine and publish the results of a recent survey of regional healthcare providers, 2) develop relationships with healthcare providers in the region, and 3) develop and execute healthcare provider educational opportunities. The developed partnerships and educational opportunities created through this project will help inform the future of EIM in the Great Lakes Bay Region, which may positively impact the overall health of community members. To complete this project, a student researcher will meet with the investigator weekly and will participate in many facets of the research process, including: data analysis, manuscript development, scholarly presentations, partnership and educational programming development.

Applicant:  Samantha Deere

Title:  Exercise is MedicineTM Implementation: Partnership Development and Needs Assessment

Submitted: October 2017

Proposal Abstract:  Participation in physical activity (PA) is a well-known prevention tool and treatment for many diseases (e.g. Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes). However, less than half of all Americans meet the current PA recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate-vigorous aerobic activity per week. It is well known that patients highly value the opinions/recommendations of their healthcare providers. In an effort of increasing PA participation, the American College of Sports Medicine developed the ‘Exercise Is Medicine^TM’ (EIM) initiative, which encourages healthcare providers to assess PA as a vital sign, prescribe PA, and refer patients to PA professionals. Despite global initiative growth (43 countries), many healthcare providers are unfamiliar with PA guidelines and choose not to discuss PA with their patients. The level of EIM participation in the Great Lakes Bay Region is unknown. Therefore, this project aims to 1) develop relationships with healthcare providers in the region and 2) assess healthcare provider a) knowledge of PA guidelines, b) likelihood of assessing PA as a vital sign, and c) likelihood of prescribing PA. The partnerships developed and knowledge gained through this project will help to inform the future of EIM in the Great Lakes Bay Region, which may positively impact the overall health of community members. To complete this project, a student researcher will meet with the investigator on a weekly basis and will participate in all facets of the research process, including, partnership development, IRB completion, data collection, and result dissemination.

Applicant: Merrick Lincoln       

Title: Comparative One-Repetition Maximum Strength in Landmine and Free-weight Exercises

Submitted: March 2020

Abstract: Resistance training exercises intentionally apply external loads to the body to improve strength and related athletic qualities. To apply load to trainees, practitioners employ various resistance training tools and methods (“modalities”). Although free-weights and machines are most common, “landmine barbell training” is a novel modality that affords unique opportunities. Landmine barbell training utilizes common free-weight equipment-- a barbell and weight plates—as a lever, which is a feature of many resistance training machines. Many resistance training exercises can be modified for use with the landmine barbell modality. The application of external load to the exerciser is essential for improvement in strength and related qualities. Within physiological ranges, the magnitude of external load during resistance training is positively related to the degree of improvement in muscular strength. Therefore, a resistance training modality that allows successful performance with more external load may be desirable. Resistance training load is assessed via a dynamic maximal strength test, commonly 1 Repetition Max (1RM). It is not known whether exercises can be performed with higher 1RM during traditional free-weight or landmine barbell exercises. To directly compare 1RM among landmine and free-weight exercises, the investigative team will recruit experienced trainees, familiarize them with free-weight and landmine-barbell versions of common exercises, then assess the 1RM of each exercise for each modality. The second aim of the research is to develop an equation to allow conversion between 1RM landmine barbell and free-weight exercises. The findings will help to inform practices for selecting resistance training modalities and assigning training loads in athletics, fitness, and rehabilitation.

Applicant: Merrick Lincoln

Title: Landmine Exercise Load Quantification Procedure: a comparative reliability study

Period of Study: January 13, 2020 – May 2, 2020

Proposal Abstract: Landmine barbell exercises are used in performance-training and rehabilitation settings. Landmine exercise are performed with a barbell positioned with one end stationary. The user lifts the free end of barbell, thereby moving a load (resistance/weight) in the form of a barbell-lever system. The loading characteristics of a landmine exercises are distinct from similar exercises performed in traditional free-weight fashion. The load encountered during landmine exercises is directly related to the angle of the barbell and other features. Despite the growing popularity of Landmine Exercises, no method of quantifying the load has been described in the literature. Quantification of load during exercise is needed to track progress and training volume, inform comparisons between exercises and between athletes, and facilitate collection of objective data in sports science research. The proposed project will describe mathematical formulae for calculation of loading during landmine exercise. The construct-related validity of the several mathematical formulae will be described, and the reliability properties of procedures will be experimentally determined. Specifically, the project will describe three measurement methods for collecting the data required to calculate the load of a landmine exercise. The investigative team will test the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of each. Student researchers will be afforded opportunity to apply basic science (physics and trigonometry) and specific clinical laboratory skills to the project. Moreover, students will have the opportunity to collect and disseminate novel and timely evidence to professionals in sports science fields.

Applicant: Christine Pacewicz

Tile: Reducing Burnout in Athletic Trainers

Submitted: October 2020

Abstract: Burnout is a salient psychological health concern for working professionals. The salience of this health concern became more evident after the World Health Organization (WHO) named burnout a “mental health phenomenon in the work context” in 2019. Vulnerability to burnout increases in contexts that are people oriented because of the demands and responsibilities of these professions, including athletic training. Research suggests that as many as 30% of athletic trainers (ATs) experience some level of burnout in their profession. Because of this, it is necessary to understand how to decrease vulnerability to burnout in ATs. Thus, a series of projects are proposed. The first project will (a) examine if physical activity (i.e., frequency, duration, type, and intensity) predicts perceived burnout in ATs and (b) examine if physical activity changes the strength of the relationship between stress and burnout in ATs. Students will work with the mentor to collect data, analyze data, and interpret findings. The second project will be grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior and examine (a) if intentions to exercise predict actual exercise behaviors of athletic trainers and (b) if exercise behaviors change burnout perceptions across time. This project will be a two time point design. Students will work with the mentor on all aspects of the project (i.e., method, data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of findings). Mentorship will occur via virtual or face-to-face meetings, discussions, and training sessions. Anticipated outcomes include student presentations and preliminary knowledge to conceptualize interventions aimed at reducing or preventing burnout in athletic trainers and other healthcare workers.

Applicant: Taylor Rowley

Title: Time Perceptions of High Intensity Interval Training

Submitted: October 2020

Abstract: Perceived lack of time is the most common barrier to exercise for adults in the United States. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an exercise modality that reduces time commitment due to the low exercise volume. However, as HIIT protocols evolve, the time benefit is reduced as exercise sessions reach upwards of 30- minutes. The purpose of this study will be to determine if the perception of time differs between a traditional bout of aerobic exercise compared to a time-matched HIIT session. Students involved in this study will start at the beginning, learning how a research project is formed, the steps required to start a project, play an active role in the data collection, and formal dissemination of results.

Applicant:  Rebecca Schlaff

Title: Evaluation of a postpartum physical and mental health survey

Submitted: October 2018

Proposal Abstract: Postpartum depression, a clinically diagnosable mental health disease, is a significant mental health disorder that impacts women, their children, and families. Depressive symptoms are common after childbirth, and due in part to the significant body changes occurring during pregnancy and postpartum. Previously published behavioral interventions during pregnancy (promoting physical activity and/or nutrition) have neglected to include targeted mental health components/assessments, and consider the impact of physical health behaviors (i.e. physical activity and dietary behaviors) on postpartum mental health. An internet-based survey was recently implemented, which assessed the aforementioned factors in a sample of postpartum women. Data are ready to be downloaded, cleaned and analyzed so that presentations and publications may be prepared. As a result, the student funded by this grant will have the opportunity to 1) learn how to locate, interpret and synthesize peer-reviewed literature and formulate testable hypotheses, 2) understand basic principles in data management and analysis, and 3) learn to communicate findings scientifically by publishing a (undergraduate student first author) paper in a peer-reviewed journal and present at a conference.

Applicant:  Rebecca Schlaff

Title:  Examining interactions between mental and physical health during pregnancy and postpartum.

Submitted: October 2017

Project Abstract:  Postpartum depression, a clinically diagnosable mental health disease, is a significant mental health disorder that impacts women, their children, and families. Depressive symptoms are common after childbirth, due in part to the significant body changes occurring during pregnancy and postpartum. Previously published behavioral interventions during pregnancy (promoting physical activity and/or nutrition) have neglected to include targeted mental health components, and consider the impact of physical health behaviors (i.e. physical activity, dietary behaviors, frequent weight monitoring) on postpartum mental health (i.e. postpartum depression, body image, and body dissatisfaction). If interventions designed for pregnant women are to be maximally beneficial and maximize health outcomes, they should aim to incorporate elements that, ultimately, improve both physical and mental health through pregnancy, into the postpartum period. This application proposes methods to add to and strengthen a current behavioral pregnancy physical activity and nutrition intervention: 1) inclusion of mental health components and assessment of mental health within the intervention and 2) expansion of active intervention to the postpartum period. The data will be used for publications, presentations, an application for external funding, and to add knowledge to the field to help pregnant women at this vulnerable time of their life. Student researchers will have the opportunity to lead/assist in participant recruitment, focus group facilitation and evaluation, and intervention development.

Applicant:  Mark Giesler

Title: “I Have Served to Tell”: A Qualitative Study of Veterans’ Experiences in the Living Library Project

Submitted: October 2018

Proposal Abstract: Founded in 2000 in Denmark, the Human Library phenomenon has spread worldwide. At Human Library events, “readers” (visitors) check out “books” (individuals who have experienced oppression and/or marginalization) through engaging in direct conversation with them. When specific populations are featured as books, the events are re-dubbed “Living Libraries.” This faculty-led, student-assisted qualitative research project will assess the experiences of military veteran “books” who participate in SVSU’s “Special Collections” Living Library, slated to be held on campus in May 2019 as part of a Memorial Day commemoration sponsored by SVSU’s Military Student Affairs Office. Given the popularity of Human Libraries, it is incumbent upon researchers to explore the intended and unintended benefits and possible challenges of individuals who share their stories in such events, a gap in the literature that this study purports to address.