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Maricopa County, Arizona, anchor to the fastest growing megapolitan area in the United States, is located in a hot desert climate where extreme temperatures are associated with elevated risk of mortality. Continued urbanization in the region will impact atmospheric temperatures and, as a result, potentially affect human health. We aimed

Maricopa County, Arizona, anchor to the fastest growing megapolitan area in the United States, is located in a hot desert climate where extreme temperatures are associated with elevated risk of mortality. Continued urbanization in the region will impact atmospheric temperatures and, as a result, potentially affect human health. We aimed to quantify the number of excess deaths attributable to heat in Maricopa County based on three future urbanization and adaptation scenarios and multiple exposure variables.

Two scenarios (low and high growth projections) represent the maximum possible uncertainty range associated with urbanization in central Arizona, and a third represents the adaptation of high-albedo cool roof technology. Using a Poisson regression model, we related temperature to mortality using data spanning 1983–2007. Regional climate model simulations based on 2050-projected urbanization scenarios for Maricopa County generated distributions of temperature change, and from these predicted changes future excess heat-related mortality was estimated. Subject to urbanization scenario and exposure variable utilized, projections of heat-related mortality ranged from a decrease of 46 deaths per year (− 95%) to an increase of 339 deaths per year (+ 359%).

Projections based on minimum temperature showed the greatest increase for all expansion and adaptation scenarios and were substantially higher than those for daily mean temperature. Projections based on maximum temperature were largely associated with declining mortality. Low-growth and adaptation scenarios led to the smallest increase in predicted heat-related mortality based on mean temperature projections. Use of only one exposure variable to project future heat-related deaths may therefore be misrepresentative in terms of direction of change and magnitude of effects. Because urbanization-induced impacts can vary across the diurnal cycle, projections of heat-related health outcomes that do not consider place-based, time-varying urban heat island effects are neglecting essential elements for policy relevant decision-making.

ContributorsHondula, David M. (Author) / Georgescu, Matei (Author) / Balling, Jr., Robert C. (Author)
Created2014-04-28
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Description

Global environmental change and sustainability science increasingly recognize the need to address the consequences of changes taking place in the structure and function of the biosphere. These changes raise questions such as: Who and what are vulnerable to the multiple environmental changes underway, and where? Research demonstrates that vulnerability is

Global environmental change and sustainability science increasingly recognize the need to address the consequences of changes taking place in the structure and function of the biosphere. These changes raise questions such as: Who and what are vulnerable to the multiple environmental changes underway, and where? Research demonstrates that vulnerability is registered not by exposure to hazards (perturbations and stresses) alone but also resides in the sensitivity and resilience of the system experiencing such hazards. This recognition requires revisions and enlargements in the basic design of vulnerability assessments, including the capacity to treat coupled human–environment systems and those linkages within and without the systems that affect their vulnerability. A vulnerability framework for the assessment of coupled human–environment systems is presented.

Research on global environmental change has significantly improved our understanding of the structure and function of the biosphere and the human impress on both (1). The emergence of “sustainability science” (2–4) builds toward an understanding of the human–environment condition with the dual objectives of meeting the needs of society while sustaining the life support systems of the planet. These objectives, in turn, require improved dialogue between science and decision making (5–8). The vulnerability of coupled human–environment systems is one of the central elements of this dialogue and sustainability research (6, 9–11). It directs attention to such questions as: Who and what are vulnerable to the multiple environmental and human changes underway, and where? How are these changes and their consequences attenuated or amplified by different human and environmental conditions? What can be done to reduce vulnerability to change? How may more resilient and adaptive communities and societies be built?

Answers to these and related questions require conceptual frameworks that account for the vulnerability of coupled human–environment systems with diverse and complex linkages. Various expert communities have made considerable progress in pointing the way toward the design of these frameworks (10, 11). These advances are briefly reviewed here and, drawing on them, we present a conceptual framework of vulnerability developed by the Research and Assessment Systems for Sustainability Program (http://sust.harvard.edu) that produced the set of works in this Special Feature of PNAS. The framework aims to make vulnerability analysis consistent with the concerns of sustainability and global environmental change science. The case study by Turner et al. (12) in this issue of PNAS illustrates how the framework informs vulnerability assessments.

ContributorsTurner II, B. L. (Author) / Kasperson, Roger E. (Author) / Matson, Pamela A. (Author) / McCarthy, James J. (Author) / Corell, Robert W. (Author) / Christensen, Lindsey (Author) / Eckley, Noelle (Author) / Kasperson, Jeanne X. (Author) / Luers, Amy (Author) / Martello, Marybeth L. (Author) / Polsky, Colin (Author) / Pulsipher, Alexander (Author) / Schiller, Andrew (Author)
Created2003-03-07
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Description
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the benefits of therapeutic communication in a mental health clinic with an outcome to increase patient satisfaction of their care and improve patient-caregiver communication and relationship.

Background: The consequences of poor communication or non-therapeutic communication cannot be overemphasized; these can include non-adherence

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the benefits of therapeutic communication in a mental health clinic with an outcome to increase patient satisfaction of their care and improve patient-caregiver communication and relationship.

Background: The consequences of poor communication or non-therapeutic communication cannot be overemphasized; these can include non-adherence to treatment plan, reduced treatment compliance, higher psychological morbidity, dissatisfaction with care and poor patient-caregiver relationship. Patients’ perception of how they are being treated affects how they respond to treatment plans and medication regimens

Method: The project consisted of providing education on the principles of therapeutic communication to healthcare workers in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Follow up materials on therapeutic communication principles were provided on a weekly basis for one month. A pre-survey questionnaire was given to patients before intervention and a post-survey questionnaire after intervention to determine patient satisfaction with care and degree of communication with healthcare workers. The Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction (SAPS) and the Communication Assessment Tool-Team (CAT-T) were the instruments utilized in this project.

Finding: Patient satisfaction and communication with staff were statistically and significantly improved after education on therapeutic communication was given to staff.

Conclusion: Education on therapeutic communication is an effective intervention tool in improving patient’s satisfaction and communication with staff and health care team members in a psychiatric outpatient clinic.
ContributorsUmoren, Marshall (Author)
Created2017-05-01
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Description
According to The Joint Commission, most sentinel events in healthcare can be attributed to errors in communication. Thousands of medical students in the United States lack adequate communication training. Current literature illustrated that communication skills training programs increase confidence and communication skills of medical students and residents. These programs vary

According to The Joint Commission, most sentinel events in healthcare can be attributed to errors in communication. Thousands of medical students in the United States lack adequate communication training. Current literature illustrated that communication skills training programs increase confidence and communication skills of medical students and residents. These programs vary in techniques, with many including lectures and role play exercises. This project aimed to improve outcomes at a forensic facility in Arizona by utilizing a student role play intervention and lecture. Outcomes were measured utilizing developed pre- and post-intervention surveys. The surveys included a validated tool which measured four communication skill categories. A convenience sample consisted of pre-medical interns who participated in the project. The small sample size (four) led to descriptive statistics utilization to provide preliminary data. Prior to the intervention, communication skill average scores were as follows: listening (15), giving and getting feedback (12), sending clear messages (13.75), and handling emotional interactions (11.5). Post-intervention, the average scores for the communication skills were as follows: listening (18.25), giving and getting feedback (13), sending clear messages (16), and handling emotional interactions (12.75). Average scores for each category showed an increase after the implementation of the intervention. The survey was completed for four (100%) of participants, and 75 percent of participants stated they felt more confident with utilizing communication skills in their internship. A communication skills training program can enhance communication skills of medical trainees by providing structured support. Further research is needed on effective techniques to train medical trainees.
ContributorsIliescu, Michelle (Author) / Guthery, Ann (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-04-26
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Description
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic government regulations and mandates have caused feelings of overload, isolation, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. This project aimed to evaluate the level of impact of social distancing and homestay mandates on seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge from the data guided the implementation of Information Communication

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic government regulations and mandates have caused feelings of overload, isolation, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. This project aimed to evaluate the level of impact of social distancing and homestay mandates on seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge from the data guided the implementation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a focused intervention to address loneliness, social isolation, and depression among seniors. Methods: Quantitative reviews were employed to assess the impact of ICT on lonely seniors. A convenience sample of 5 seniors aged 65 and up from a local church congregating in worship center located in southwestern United States enrolled in this voluntary pre-and post-educational intervention project. Participants were informed of the confidentiality of the study and that the study had no known risks on participants. The participants willingly signed a consent for the study. The attendees received two one-hour education sessions on how to use WhatsApp and Zoom as communication strategies. The pre-and post-loneliness scale scores were collected using the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale as a tool. Results were compared before and after the educational intervention using a paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The results indicate significant reductions in reported loneliness from pre to post intervention (z = -2.02, p = 0.043). These results indicate that using ICT can help address loneliness in the seniors. Conclusion: Implementing communication strategies such as WhatsApp and Zoom effectively addresses social isolation and loneliness in seniors. The data reveals that integrating electronic communication in the life of the seniors can manage the social isolation problem. Future nursing practices may benefit from the project's data to address loneliness in the seniors.
Created2022-05-02
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Description
Purpose: Understanding the factors impacting communication between residents and peer staff in peer-run residential substance abuse treatment programs. The purpose of this paper is to explore male survival behaviors and cultural norms such as no snitching that impede communication to prevent relapse. Methods: The sample was male residents accepted into

Purpose: Understanding the factors impacting communication between residents and peer staff in peer-run residential substance abuse treatment programs. The purpose of this paper is to explore male survival behaviors and cultural norms such as no snitching that impede communication to prevent relapse. Methods: The sample was male residents accepted into a residential treatment facility in the southwestern United States. Stories of peer-staff’s personal struggles with the no snitching code videotaped and shown in group followed with a guided discussion of relapse triggers, communication, and behavior norms that impede treatment. An online confidential pre-post retrospective survey designed using the Drug Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: Descriptive statistics run show Cronbach's alpha of 0.96. A two-tailed paired samples t-test was conducted to examine the Overall Confidence Pre-test and Post-test mean difference. The overall confidence post-test was not statistically significant, but it was clinically significant. Clinical significance evidenced by residents 3-point lower confidence post-intervention. Conclusions: How-to elicit behavior change is unique to every individual. The goal is behavior change to sustain recovery and better communication between clients and peer staff to prevent relapse.
Created2021-04-26
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Description

The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department partnered with the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service at Arizona State University (ASU) and researchers from various ASU schools to evaluate the effectiveness, performance, and community perception of the new pavement coating. The data collection and analysis occurred across multiple neighborhoods

The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department partnered with the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service at Arizona State University (ASU) and researchers from various ASU schools to evaluate the effectiveness, performance, and community perception of the new pavement coating. The data collection and analysis occurred across multiple neighborhoods and at varying times across days and/or months over the course of one year (July 15, 2020–July 14, 2021), allowing the team to study the impacts of the surface treatment under various weather conditions.

Created2021-09
Description
Islands are some of the smallest contributors to global carbon emissions, yet are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (e.g. rising sea levels, extreme storms, and declining fish populations due to warming seas). At the same time, due to their smaller scale and local limitations on

Islands are some of the smallest contributors to global carbon emissions, yet are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (e.g. rising sea levels, extreme storms, and declining fish populations due to warming seas). At the same time, due to their smaller scale and local limitations on resources, island communities have been driving adaptation efforts for responding to the impacts of climate change based on their lived experiences and indigenous knowledge. Recognizing that local community members are in the best position to advance sustainability solutions in their respective island communities, our project sought to uncover best practices of islands that are collaboratively working with their communities to promote sustainable development and adapt to climate change, while leading the way in measuring progress on the SDGs. To this end, we interviewed island leaders from Hawaii, Guam, and Tasmania, who have already launched strategies for achieving these goals, and combined their experiences into a framework requested by other island leaders to encourage locally-driven, culturally-relevant green growth initiatives in partnership with our project partner, the Local2030 Islands Network (Local2030IN). Through designing the framework, we learned 17 possible actions islands can take when developing their own green growth initiative, key insights for implementing the SDGs on islands, and how to work alongside a project partner to create a final deliverable.
Created2021-04-28
Description
Members of the United States Climate Alliance, all of which have committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement, are actively pursuing ways to mitigate climate change. This project is intended to support the integration of agriculture into U.S. state and territory efforts by aiding in the creation of an

Members of the United States Climate Alliance, all of which have committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement, are actively pursuing ways to mitigate climate change. This project is intended to support the integration of agriculture into U.S. state and territory efforts by aiding in the creation of an agricultural policy toolkit for Alliance members in partnership with the American Farmland Trust and the Coalition on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. My contribution was phase one of the toolkit, for which I created fourteen state profiles of existing efforts related to agriculture and climate change and used these for a comparative analysis. I also developed an outline of the toolkit based on conversations and a list of partner ideas I maintained and drafted an internal protocol to assist in development and implementation. Further, I analyzed the outline using a sustainability framework to identify additional efforts that could strengthen the toolkit’s sustainability. In April 2019 I presented my phase 1 efforts and the toolkit plans alongside my partners at a C-AGG conference. Overall, through this project, I generated forward momentum for integrating and supporting agriculture in climate change efforts
ContributorsHarmon, Anna (Author)
Created2019-05-15
Description

Domestic energy is an important component of our day to day lives and is something we cannot live without. Imagine how life would be without a means to cook our food, to warm our house, life would be unbearable. As we enjoy these comforts rarely do we stop to think

Domestic energy is an important component of our day to day lives and is something we cannot live without. Imagine how life would be without a means to cook our food, to warm our house, life would be unbearable. As we enjoy these comforts rarely do we stop to think what the opportunity cost is. For those using renewable sources, it is not a big issue, but for those who rely on wood fuel, they have to strike a delicate balance between need for fuel and the need to conserve the greatest support systems of their livelihoods, the forests. The main source of energy for households in many developing countries is biomass, mainly from forests and woodlands. The continued use of firewood and charcoal fuel puts a strain on forests, resulting in adverse effects on the environment such as prolonged droughts, loss of biodiversity, dwindling water resources, changing weather patterns among other sustainability challenges. An alternative to firewood to charcoal lies in biochar briquettes. This paper discusses the role of biochar briquettes in mitigating climate change and serves as a step by step guide on how biochar briquettes may be produced.

ContributorsNganga, Patrick M. (Author)
Created2018