Delaware journal of public health最新文献

{"title":"AI for Good: Utilizing Machine Learning Tools to Navigate Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis.","authors":"Jordan Wyatt, Hannah Rackie, Paige Merring","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.12","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.12","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Late-onset neonatal sepsis is a global issue that affects thousands of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) every year. With mortality and morbidity remaining a significant outcome of late-onset neonatal sepsis and progress plateauing, this article will explore how artificial intelligence can be utilized as a tool to assist NICU providers and nurses in administering timely treatment. Through exploring the use of machine learning in the NICU, we can hope to see a new standard of care developed for infants worldwide and prevent unnecessary death in our tiniest patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"56-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245569/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health Literacy Emerging as a Priority in Delaware's Community Health Needs Assessments.","authors":"Emma Braun, Amanda Proch","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.11","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.11","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Health literacy is increasingly recognized as a key factor in health outcomes, patient engagement, and health equity. This article examines its integration into Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) across Delaware. Drawing on recent CHNAs and guidance from the Health Literacy Council of Delaware (HLCD), it highlights growing recognition of health literacy as a priority among health systems. While several systems incorporated health literacy into their assessments, none fully adopted the standardized questions recommended by HLCD, resulting in variation in how data are collected and measured. Findings reveal ongoing challenges in understanding health information, particularly among socially vulnerable populations, with barriers including education, language, and cultural differences. Despite these gaps, the inclusion of some level of health literacy assessment in CHNAs represents meaningful progress. Expanding the use of standardized approaches in future CHNAs will be critical to improving data consistency and advancing more coordinated, statewide solutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"30-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245558/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenges Impacting Delaware Dental Professionals' Capacity to Care for Patients with Disabilities.","authors":"Bhavini Shah, Victor Perez","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.16","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.16","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>According to Delaware Health and Social Services, nearly one in six Delaware residents has a disability. Many individuals with special needs face significant challenges in finding dental providers who can meet their distinct care requirements. This small study explored the factors influencing dental professionals' perceptions of their capacity to treat patients with disabilities. Convenience sampling provided interviews with dentists and dental hygienists in Delaware, which were conducted virtually and recorded. Each interview was transcribed and the collection of interviews was analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis techniques. Findings revealed that interview subjects experience low confidence and limited exposure to treating this population, stemming from inadequate education and training. Additional barriers include limited accessibility, time constraints, insufficient accommodations, and inadequate insurance coverage. The wide spectrum of disabilities further complicates the issue by limiting the preparedness of providers. Many dentists interviewed indicated that a general practice residency is crucial for receiving first hand experience required to treat patients with special needs. Both interview data and public secondary sources indicate a pressing need for improvement in special needs dental care. Overall, expanding education, mentorship, and hands-on clinical experience is essential to enhance provider competence and patient access. These can be achieved by integrating more hands-on training in dental school, requiring continuing education, improving Medicaid reimbursement, and creating special needs clinic days in dental school.</p>","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"66-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245572/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community Health Workers in Delaware: Advancing Health Equity Through Workforce Development and Policy.","authors":"Erin Ridout","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2026.05.04","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245577/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Moving Medicaid Forward for Delaware's Mothers and Babies.","authors":"Alethea A Miller","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.07","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.07","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"12-14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interprofessional Collaboration in the Obstetrical Emergency Department: Enhances Nursing Job Satisfaction While Improving Care of the Laboring Patient.","authors":"Alexi C Cornelius, Patricia C Pawlow, Morgan Tallo","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.13","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.13","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the coming years it is projected that there will be a shortage of obstetrical and gynecologic care providers for a growing patient population. A local Delaware Obstetrical Emergency Department is addressing this by using interprofessional collaboration for laboring patients and others seeking obstetric and/or gynecological emergency care. Empowering labor and delivery nurses to work at the top of their license reinforces patient-centered care and elevates nursing job satisfaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"58-59"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245575/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Virtual Nurse-Led Patient Education: A Public Health Opportunity.","authors":"Guadalupe A Ramirez Espinosa, Julie I McCulloh Nair","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.15","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.15","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Virtual nursing is an evolving care delivery model in which registered nurses use secure telehealth technology to provide remote clinical support that compliments bedside care. Although initially adopted to address workforce shortages and workflow inefficiencies, virtual nursing has emerged as a promising strategy for delivering patient education. Patient education is a core nursing responsibility essential to medication adherence, chronic disease self-management, and continuity of care, yet it is often hindered by time constraints, interruptions in clinical settings, and health literacy. This paper examines virtual nurse-led education as an effective approach to improve patient understanding, engagement, and health outcomes. Virtual education models, delivered through fully remote or hybrid approaches, provide standardized yet personalized instruction, protected teaching time, and continuity of care beyond discharge. Despite challenges related to digital access and health equity, well designed virtual nursing programs offer a scalable, patient centered strategy to enhance education, reduce preventable readmissions, and support public health goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"62-64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245566/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Value of Social Determinants of Health Needs Assessments in Primary Care.","authors":"Nina Anderson, Chloe Lassiter, James Gill","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.09","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.09","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Social determinants of health (SDOH) such as income, housing, food security, education, transportation, and healthcare access, exert a far greater influence on health outcomes compared with traditional clinical care alone. This policy commentary argues for the routine integration of SDOH needs assessments into primary care to enable more comprehensive, equitable, and effective patient care. By screening for social drivers, providers can identify non-medical obstacles to treatment adherence, connect patients with community resources, and develop realistic care plans tailored to individual circumstances. Additionally, understanding patients' social environments can help clinicians consider alternative or differential diagnoses associated with specific social exposures. For example, housing instability or poor housing conditions may contribute to respiratory illnesses such as asthma due to mold or environmental exposures, while food insecurity may increase risk for malnutrition or poor control of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Incorporating SDOH information into clinical decision-making therefore not only improves care coordination but also supports more accurate and context-informed diagnostic assessments. A real-world needs assessment conducted with a Delaware State University professor living with a neuromuscular disorder illustrates how even insured, employed, highly educated individuals can face critical gaps in medical device coverage, underscoring the intersection of social and economic factors with clinical care. The commentary further highlights how aggregated SDOH data can inform community-wide public health planning, policy advocacy, and resource allocation. Practical implementation strategies, including digital screening tools embedded in electronic health records, are proposed to minimize workflow disruption while ensuring consistent data collection. Ultimately, embedding SDOH assessments into routine primary care represents an essential step toward holistic, value-based healthcare that addresses root causes of health disparities and improves long-term patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"22-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245574/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge Graph-Driven AI in Biohealth: From Biomedical Discovery to Health Risk Prediction.","authors":"Chuming Chen, Manju Anandakrishnan, Cathy H Wu","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.17","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.17","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Knowledge graphs (KGs) have emerged as a powerful tool for knowledge discovery. In this perspective paper, we present a framework for KG construction, graph representation learning, and predictive modeling towards AI-driven discovery in biohealth. We illustrate this through two case studies: (1) Protein Knowledge Network (ProKN) and KSMoFinder, a KG embedding-based model that predicts protein kinase and phosphorylation site associations with state-of-the-art accuracy by learning from biological context in a biomedical knowledge network for drug discovery; (2) Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) KG, built from synthetic data of Veteran Health Administration with a veteran suicide-risk prediction model that uncovers latent, multifactorial risk patterns. These use cases spanning biomedical and population health research, demonstrate how KG-driven AI can bridge the gap between molecular and population level studies. We highlight how such open, interoperable knowledge networks offer a reusable framework for accelerating discovery and addressing complex health challenges. Finally, we provide targeted recommendations for Delaware's health innovation ecosystem to leverage this paradigm for public health strategy, clinical decision-making, and translational research.</p>","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"70-75"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245578/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public Health Success Stories: Bringing Public Health and Well-Being to Delaware's Early Care and Education (ECE) System.","authors":"Laura Lessard, Kristy Sheffler, Heidi Beck","doi":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.05","DOIUrl":"10.32481/djph.2026.05.05","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC) has embraced a multi-dimensional definition of health and well-being and integrated several health and well-being offerings into regular practice. In this commentary, we describe our successful efforts to bring public health to early care and education settings statewide and some key facilitators that have enabled those successes.</p>","PeriodicalId":72774,"journal":{"name":"Delaware journal of public health","volume":"12 2","pages":"8-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245571/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}