Congratulations to our Health Sciences LEAP students who were selected to present at the Utah State Capitol Building for Research on Capitol Hill. Research on Capitol Hill is an annual event that gives lawmakers and the public a glimpse of the breadth of research programs at the University of Utah and reinforces the value of state-funded higher education.
Students presenting at the event practice engaging in public outreach and polishing presentation skills. By explaining their research in clear, non-technical terms to event attendees including legislators, junior high students and parents, presenters practice communicating their work succinctly and accessibly.
The 24 presenters from the U this year hail from broad disciplines across campus, including engineering, medicine and social sciences.
A full list of research project titles and students from the University of Utah can be reviewed here.
Abel Chavez -Psychology Major
The research I presented on Capitol Hill event is related to Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) and how educational materials can improve women's awareness of cCMV. Congenital Cytomegalovirus is a congenital virus that is common and related to the development of sensorineural hearing loss for 1 of 3 children in Utah. However, even though cCMV is a common virus, there is a lack of public awareness of its existence. The data used to measure the effectiveness of the educational materials was collected via pre/post surveys relating the knowledge of cCMV before and after being exposed to the educational materials which consisted of an educational video or printed educational sheet. The study found that educational materials were effective in informing pregnant women about cCMV which can then potentially lead to the development of preventative measures such as screening to be enacted in Utah Clinics and Hospitals. Similarly, greater education, income, and older age were associated with a greater knowledge of cCMV which indicates the need for educational materials to be spread to potentially to marginalized/vulnerable populations.
Melika Moeinvaziri - Health Society and Policy Major
Emily Nevarez - Health and Kinesiology Major
The purpose of this study is to examine mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic among uninsured individuals who are patients of a free clinic and live in poverty. This study will contribute to the new knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health among underserved populations that would be helpful to develop services and resources to improve their mental health. A self-administered survey is provided to uninsured patients as part of a collaboration with the Maliheh Free Clinic, which serves people with household incomes that are 150 percent below the federal poverty line. The Maliheh Free Clinic provides low-income, uninsured individuals with the ability to consult with certified physicians about their health issues.