Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Chinaro Kennedy

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis infections have high mortality rates especially when treatment is delayed. Despite the abundance of research in many areas of necrotizing fasciitis infection, there are limited and conflicting studies focusing on gender-related outcomes for those diagnosed and died with necrotizing fasciitis infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the association that gender plays on survival time of patients who have been diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis using a cross-sectional study design. Succeeding the conceptual design of the life course model, the research question tested whether there was a significant difference in survival time between the genders while in the hospital. Additionally, the research questions tested whether gender-related survival was modified by sociodemographic factors or mediated by risk factors for survival of necrotizing fasciitis. Kaplan-Meir method was used to examine survival times between genders. The Cox Proportional Hazards model was used to examine effect modification and mediation. Secondary data from the State Inpatient Databases (SID) and the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was obtained and used. The result illustrated that there is no difference in survival by gender. However, among men, survival is modified by age. Additionally, diabetes diagnosis tends to affect the survival time for both males and females. The research contributed to social change by increasing the knowledge and understanding of necrotizing fasciitis infections and mortality factors. The results of this study aid in the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis infections for health professionals and inform the health community with a better comprehension of the infection.

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