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Hi everyone! This semester, Amy Harris (junior), Cassie Mohawk (junior), and Lauren James (senior), all students in the UMD Public Health program were advised by Dr. Jessica Hanson in a research assistantship. On this page you will find a summary of the research assistantships that Amy, Cassie, and Lauren completed this spring. Amy assisted Dr. Hanson with two publications and she also collaborated with Dr. Hanson and the Native WYSE Choice Team in developing and app to decrease the rate of alcohol exposed pregnancies and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Cassie collected and analyzed data from the survey her and Dr. Hanson developed, Public Health Social Integration survey, over the course of the Fall 2020 semester. Cassie also created posters based on the results from the survey and is in the process of holding meeting with students and faculty to address the comments, concerns and suggestions of the Public Health students. Lauren collected and conducted various research that included systematic reviews, quantitative studies, and literary analysis focusing on trauma-sensitive yoga in pregnant women. Lauren aided in research regarding articles primarily focusing on trauma during childbirth and the outcomes that come along with it. Lauren currently has been working towards her Doula certification as well which is very closely related to birthing outcomes and preventative trauma measures. Lastly, Lauren took initiative to understand obstetric violence and its prevalence in society. Take a look to see what these assistantships were all about!

Amy's top 5 Goals in this research Assistantship

1. Participating in the CEHSP Research and Scholarship Showcase.
2. Understand American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) culture and the disparities impacting health outcomes in these communities.
3. Effectively provide feedback and attend weekly Native WYSE (women, young, strong, empowered) CHOICES Meetings.
4. Analyze scientific articles specific to alcohol exposed pregnancies and COVID-19 in AI/AN communities.
5. Learn more about scientific writing and the publication process by contributing to two co-authored publications (in progress).

CEHSP Research Showcase

This semester, I contributed to a co-authored publication regarding the changes in alcohol consumption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. My main objective in this publication was to conduct a literature search of existing data on PubMed with the keywords alcohol consumption and COVID-19. The information that I found was used for the background and discussion sections of our paper. I had the pleasure to present the information I research. My presentation was titled "COVID-19 and Alcohol Consumption" at the first annual CEHSP Research Showcase, which was held virtually due to the current pandemic. Check out the poster that I used during my presentation, which outlines my research on alcohol consumption during COVID-19!

Amy's contribution to Native wyse choices

Dr. Hanson and I assisted colleagues at the Colorado School of Public Health in developing an app intervention, with a goal of reducing the number of alcohol exposed pregnancies (AEP) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in AI/AN populations by educating young women about alcohol and contraception through technology. Specifically, my role in this project was to provide feedback on the app development and participate in weekly team meetings for content development and review. Contributing to the Native WYSE CHOICES app development project allowed me to collaborate with other public health professionals from across the nation. This project also gave me the opportunity to learn how to communicate in a professional team and I learned how public health professional meetings operate. I also learned a lot about AEP and FASD in AI/AN because this position on the team required me to read published literature!

Analyzing scientific articles 

As part of my assistantship, I analyzed a variety of scientific articles related to AEP, FASD, and COVID-19 in AI/AN communities. I used the knowledge that I gained from these articles to contribute to the two publications that I worked on with Dr. Hanson. Additionally, from spending time analyzing scientific articles, I gained a better understanding of the databases available to me and search terms relevant to the articles I was looking for.

Amy's Co-authored publications

I had the opportunity this year to contribute to two publications. The first publication was regarding the disproportionalities in COVID-19 in AI/AN communities. The second paper that we collaborated together on examens alcohol consumption pre and post COVID-19 and focuses on the closing gender gaps in alcohol consumption. In our second paper, I had the opportunity to look at our data, which was new to me, as well as contribute to the writing process of this publication. My first paper is in the peer-review process and the second paper will be sent to the publication company in the coming weeks!

amy's Reflection

I have learned a lot about AI/AN populations and the disparities impacting health outcomes in these communities. Specifically, from my research assistantship, I learned how COVID-19 disproportionately impacts AI/AN communities and the health gap associated with it. My research with Dr. Hanson on this topic impacted me so much that I used my knowledge to present a seminar in my Communications in Biology Class on COVID-19 in AI/AN Populations. It was very fun to integrate my two subjects, biology and public health, in my coursework. Additionally, from my research assistantship, I learned about the prevalence of AEP and FASD in AI/AN communities. I also learned more about the CHOICES Intervention and how it is used to prevent AEP. Overall, I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work under the guidance of Dr. Hanson over the past year and I look forward to continue working with her this coming fall.

Cassies's Top 5 Goals in this Research Assistantship

1. Distribute Public Health Social Integration survey through email to Public Health majors and minors.
2. Analyze Public Health Social Integration survey results through Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS).
3. Develop a plan for students and faculty to receive data from survey through materials and meetings.
4. Discover opportunities for the Public Health program to incorporate the comments and suggestions from the survey.
5. Collaborate with a team of UMD professors to create a graphic and spark page for the CEHSP Research & Scholarship Showcase.

Public Health Social Integration Survey

Last semester, I developed a survey through Qualtrics which was distributed this spring. The survey was originally focused on the group advising to understand the importance of the social networks and support for the students in the Public Health program. Because of Covid-19, we transitioned to advising online only so the project had to be tweaked to an online survey. The survey gathered data on social networks and support before and during the pandemic. I distributed this survey through mass emails to the Public Health majors and minors during the first month of the semester. After closing the survey on February 12, fifty Public Health majors and minors completed the survey. To thank the students for their participation, we are providing students with UMD Public Health masks. These masks are still being distributed by Dr. Jessica Hanson.

ANALyzing Data with SPSS

I used SPSS (Statistical Package of the Social Sciences) to analyze the data from the Public Health Social Integration survey. I have never worked with this type of system before, and there was a lot of trial and error at the beginning. By the end of my analysis, I feel that I have developed basic fundamental skills with using SPSS.

Posters

I created both of these posters based on the qualitative responses in the Public Health Social Integration survey. I created these posters with the branding of the University of Minnesota Duluth. I designed both posters using Adobe Indesign.

Opportunities for Change in the Public Health Program

At the moment, I have met with the UMD Public Health Student Advisory Team to have a discussion on how to disseminate the data to Public Health students. Ideas that were brought to light include:

• Designing posters and infographics of data gathers.
• Sending these posters out through my research spark page and email.
• Developing another form of providing students with information such as a monthly newsletter.

I have a planned meeting with UMD Public Health professors for April 27. At this meeting, Dr. Jessica Hanson and I will discuss the data gathered and the meeting held with the UMD Public Health Student Advisory Team. During this meeting, the Public Health professors will discuss how to address the comments, suggestions, and concerns from the Public Health majors and minors.

CEHSP SHOWCASE

I had the opportunity to help Dr. Jessica Hanson, Dr. Jolene Hyppa Martin, and Dr. Rebecca Gilberson develop both a spark page for the College of Education and Human Service Professions (CEHSP) Research & Scholarship Showcase and the graphic above. I created the graphic with Adobe Indesign which has been used for the header on the CEHSP showcase page and other promotional material. The Research & Scholarship Showcase was held Tuesday, April 20 to showcase undergraduate and graduate students in CEHSP. Here is a link to the CEHSP Research & Scholarship Showcase page if you would like to check it out!

Cassie's Reflection

I absolutely love working with Dr. Jessica Hanson and have been honored to work with her for over a year now! This semester, I have been able to develop new skills such as analyzing data with SPSS to enhancing the skills I already had. It was rewarding to be able to distribute the survey I worked diligently on last semester! I am excited to see the changes the Public Health program puts into place to address the comments, suggestions, and concerns of the Public Health majors and minors. I am, also, excited to continue working for Dr. Hanson this summer as a research assistant.

Lauren's TOP 5 GOALS IN THIS RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP

1. Collect, conduct and analyze articles pertaining to trauma in childbirth and the outcomes that surround this behavior.
2. Understand the importance of obstetric violence and its role within trauma among pregnant and postpartum women.
3. Assist Dr. Hanson and TCTSY team in researching a list of stressors to mothers during or after pregnancy.
4. Assist the Dept of Psychology students and Dr. Hanson weekly on historical trauma measures to get ready to write a grant proposal.
5. Fundamentally understand research measures and be able to take the skills learned into my future career.

trauma center-trauma sensitive yoga (TCTSY) Background

TCTSY is an empirically validated, clinical intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The TCTSY methodology is based on central components of the hatha style of yoga, where participants engage in a series of physical forms and movements. Elements of standard hatha yoga are modified to maximize experiences of empowerment and to cultivate a more positive relationship to one's body. Unlike many public yoga classes, TCTSY does not use physical hands-on adjustments to influence a participant's physical form. Rather, TCTSY presents opportunities for participants to be in charge of themselves based on a felt sense of their own body. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to researching, developing, and training providers in effective, trauma-informed practices that help survivors safely reconnect to their body so that they may engage more fully with their life.This remotely delivered complementary and integrative health intervention will be able to reach across previous barriers to access in underserved populations in our country for women who may otherwise have little or no access to prenatal support. This will include but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, immigrants, refugees, hard to access communities, and women isolated due to COVID-19.

DOULA WORK

Doula work provides physical and emotional support to families having babies. Women who receive Doula care have been known to have better birthing outcomes. The work of a doula is to attend births and help women cope using comfort strategies and measures. Doula's also care for women after they have a baby (postpartum) and help with breastfeeding. During the semester learning about trauma and how it correlates to experiences at birth, can help me in the future when working with future families. This will help to find the right comfort measures to have the best possible birthing outcome. I will be receiving my Doula certification through DONA International this coming summer (2021).

Lauren's CONTRIBUTION TO P-TCTSY (Prenatal-Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga)

1. I collected and conducted various research that included systematic reviews, quantitative studies, and literary analysis in Spring of 2021 as an undergraduate research assistant with Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY). The goal is to offer Prenatal-Trauma Sensitive Yoga (P-TCTSY) to pregnant women with pre-existing trauma in hopes it will show a postnatal upbringing and/or decrease of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. This will indicate more “positive birthing/health outcomes” and overall perinatal resiliency.
2. I worked with Dept of Psychology students and Dr. Hanson weekly on literature reviews around historical trauma measures while getting ready to write a grant proposal.
3. I worked with a team of researchers to organize data/articles pertaining to mothers who experienced trauma prenatal and postpartum through a variety of stressors.
4. I did research to understand and define the importance of obstetric violence and how it relates to trauma in pregnant women.
5. I learned different research measures and will be able to take the skills learned into my future career.

LAUREN'S CONTRIBUTION TO EDINBURGH POSTNATAL DEPRESSION SCALE (EPDS) QUALTRICS SURVEY

Lauren's REFLECTION

This semester, Dr. Jessica Hanson has really motivated me to step out of my comfort zone and really dive into research. Research and the process that go along with it I am very new to and I was so thankful to have a team that was very supportive in my learning experiences. I have learned to be more confident in myself and my own skills. I am very fortunate that I have had this experience because I know very well that these skills I have learned I will use in my future career. I was very fortunate to not only learn research skills but tailor them to what I am passionate about. I am truly grateful for all of the guidance and support that Dr. Hanson has given me and am looking forward to see what the future holds.