Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing Preventive Care Utilization For Cardiovascular Disease Among U.S. Latinos, Melanie Helena Paredes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Accounting for nearly 19% of the United States population in 2020, Latinos and Hispanics represent the second largest racial/ethnic group in the United States, totaling roughly 62.1 million people. Given the growing population size and longer life expectancy estimates amongst the U.S. Latino/Hispanic community, healthcare practitioners and public health officials are increasingly emphasizing the healthcare needs and outcomes of this population. Alarmingly, current literature has highlighted significant disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and risk factors among U.S. Latinos/Hispanics. As CVD continues to be one of the leading causes of death amongst all racial/ethnic groups across the United States, risk …

The Relationship Between Evening Screen Time Use And Objectively Measured Sleep Outcomes In U.S. College Students, Donya Sedaghat

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Research suggests that elevated levels of screen time in the evening can negatively impact sleep outcomes (sleep duration, quality, and latency). Yet, there is a lack of evidence exploring if this relationship exists in college students. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between evening screen time use and objectively measured sleep outcomes in US college students. College students (N = 29) junior or senior standing in a Health Sciences major were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants wore accelerometers on their wrist for 24hr/day for seven days to capture sleep duration, efficiency, awakenings, and …

The Mental And Dental Repercussions Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea And Its Treatments, Emily E. Mcgoohan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between dental and mental health. To dive deeper into seeing this connection, patients with sleep apnea will be asked to share their experiences with the treatments for sleep apnea and how it had affected their mental or dental health.

Effect Of Estrogen On Chondrogenesis In Female Articular Chondrocytes, Ebony R. Parsons

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As women age and transition into menopause they face a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis leading to total joint replacements. Estrogen is the primary female reproductive hormone. As a woman approaches menopause, estrogen production decreases by 100-fold. Previous research has shown that Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) reduced joint replacements in post-menopausal women. However, there is a lack of research surrounding ERT's effect on chondrocyte proliferation and extracellular matrix production, particularly 3D culture extracellular matrix production. Chondrogenesis is a process of skeletal development resulting in the formation of cartilage. Chondrocytes, derived from mesenchymal progenitors, serve as the fundamental cellular component in …

Nursing-Related Interventions To Obstetric Violence: A Literature Review, Annaliece M. Balensiefen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The aim of this literature search was to explore the prevalence of obstetric violence and identify nursing interventions that could potentially prevent the mistreatment of pregnant women in the United States healthcare system. Background: The topics of obstetric violence and healthcare disparities have been gaining awareness. Other countries have a larger body of research for obstetric violence compared to the U.S. Methods: CINAHL Plus with Full Text and MEDLINE databases were utilized. Global perspectives were considered in conjunction with the U.S. and specifically Florida. Healthcare disparities in obstetric care were identified, based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexuality, disability, …

Testicular Cancer And Firefighters: An Umbrella Review, Andre Naguib Guirguis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Purpose: The relationship between testicular cancer and working as a firefighter has been a relatively brushed off scope of concentration until recent years and recent developments in hopes of presenting new protocols and better guidelines to screen for testicular cancer in this occupation. The purpose of this study was to perform a scoping review to present the current data concerning testicular cancer and its association to the occupation of firefighters.

Methods: PubMed as a data base was used and articles concerning firefighters and testicular cancer were found and screened for eligibility with respect to the kind of study and the …

The Influence Of Genetics, Insulin Resistance, Oxidative Stress, And Energy Deficit On Migraine, Victoria Dm Maldonado Llinas

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The pathomechanism of migraine attacks is not understood well, however, is currently believed to be a brain disorder. Migraine is a multifactorial disorder that needs to be investigated in multiple research areas to shed light into its mechanism and find ways to treat it effectively. Migraine episodes come from one or many things at the same time, and such vary from person to person. However, sufficient evidence in recent studies show there is a strong relationship between genetics with patients having specific genes that may be responsible for the disease or a genetic sequence passed down through generations in families, …

Evaluating Digital Cognitive Biomarkers As A Noninvasive Diagnostic Tool For Alzheimer's Disease: Correlations With Classic Csf Biomarkers, Kasey Corripio

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting over 35 million people. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes. Digital Cognitive Biomarkers (DCBs) offer a promising approach for early detection and disease management, quantifying cognitive processes of encoding and retrieval through a hierarchical Bayesian cognitive processing model using wordlist memory tests. We hypothesize that DCBs will correlate with classic AD cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (Aβ42, T-tau, p-tau) in patients with varying cognitive decline levels compared to healthy elderly controls. Using Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data and paired Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, our results support the hypothesis, indicating …

Utilizing Bloodless Medicine To Decrease Infection Rates In Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Literature Review, Samantha Saint Fort

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Aim: To determine if a significant relationship exists between bloodless medicine practices and decreased infection rates in oncology patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by performing a literature review.

Background: It is not uncommon for healthcare professionals to encounter Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) seeking medical treatment in the acute care hospital setting and outpatient clinics alike. However, JW's pose a unique challenge to healthcare providers. Their refusal of blood transfusions makes them a population of interest within the medical community. The refusal of blood transfusions also poses a serious challenge to successful treatment in oncology JW patients, and many hospitals will …

The Intertwined Relationship Of Stress And Sleep Quality Of Undergraduate Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jordan Nguyen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study aims to examine the relationship between stress and sleep of undergraduate students during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The possibly correlational relationship between these two parameters was determined with respect to how this population was faring during recent times, two years into the pandemic. The study also served to examine how this relationship changed over time based on three time frames: before the pandemic, during the advent of the lockdown (March 2020-May 2020), and during recent times. A survey was developed to collect data from the undergraduate participants for correlation and regression analysis to determine the relationship …

The Impact Of Head And Neck Surgical Scars On Appearance And Acceptance Of Dermatography As A Cosmetic Intervention, Simcha Chaitoff

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Many surgical procedures in the head and neck regions produce visible scarring. The most common of these surgeries are tracheotomies and thyroidectomies. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in tracheotomy scars, particularly in those who survived severe infection with the disease and required long-term ventilation. Individuals with neck scars are at an increased risk of health consequences such as reduced quality of life, depression, and negative body image. Research on attitudes toward and reactions to individuals with such scarring is limited. The purpose of this study is to examine how people rate images of scarred individuals on personality …

An Examination Of Lung Cancer Treatment Characteristics On Lung Cancer Patients With Co-Existing Heart Disease, Elias Rhanime

Honors Undergraduate Theses

With the rising rates of heart disease incidents in the United States and the increase in lung cancer deaths as well, many individuals suffer and get their treatments compromised due to these diseases. Especially considering that many lung cancer and heart disease patients are over 70 years of age, treatment options and success rates drop significantly. Due to this, a great concern is raised for patients with co-existing heart disease and lung cancer. This was a case-control study that assessed lung cancer treatment options and success rates for patients with co-existing heart disease. We used research papers that discussed lung …

Analyzing The Relationship Between The Quality Of Life And Race Of Lung Cancer Survivors, Alina S. Wise

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Purpose: The relationship between racial disparities and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of lung cancer patients is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to quantify the overall HRQoL of lung cancer patients and compare differences in HRQoL among racial groups in the United States.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS), a population-based national cross-sectional study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The BRFSS is conducted annually in all 50 states and collects information on demographics, health behaviors, health-related experiences, health conditions, use of medications, and use of …

Covid-19 And Diabetes, Radhika Desai

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) have been found to have increased mortality and morbidity for COVID-19 and are at higher risk for severe disease once infected with COVID-19. Clearly, there exists a relationship between T2D and COVID-19 that requires more attention. In order to understand the mechanisms by which T2D contributes to more severe COVID-19 disease, attention was turned to extracellular vesicles (EVs). It was speculated that viral RNA components of the COVID-19 virus may have originated from circulating EVs that came from infected cells and use a Trojan Exosome method to infect host cells. It is necessary to …

Reporter Chondrocyte Optimization Of Bioinks For Zonal 3d Bioprinting Of Cartilage, Kari Martyniak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, often thought of as a disease of the elderly, but post traumatic OA predominantly impacts younger individuals. Articular cartilage is the tissue that coats the end of your bones in synovial joints. Since cartilage has limited healing capacity, defects, or injuries to it progressively erodes down to the subchondral bone. Unfortunately, current treatment options all have limitations, particularly for younger patients. Cartilage has a specific zonal architecture that is distinguished by the different cell morphologies and arrangements, biochemical composition, and mechanical properties. 3D bioprinting is a tissue engineering technique that involves …

Intractable Pediatric Epilepsy And Dietary Therapies: A Meta-Analysis Of Trials For Seizure Reduction, Victor Figueira M Dantas

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Objective: to compare dietary treatments and their effectiveness in reducing seizures through a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials Methods: Using the PRISMA Method, the Primo database was searched to find peer-reviewed articles where researchers compared one treatment against another. The treatments of choice present in all studies are the Ketogenic Diet and the Modified Atkins Diet. Due to the nature of the experiments, the Ketogenic Diet was considered the control, as it was coined first. Results: Of the 450 articles identified, 378 met the primary peer review threshold and 190 were classified as Open Access. Eight met eligibility …

Concomitant Guillain-Barre Syndrome With Covid-19, Skylar A. Morongell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global health emergency. Recent findings in case studies assert that the transmigration of SARS-CoV-2 to the nervous system implicates severe neurotropic pathologies, including the onset of the rare autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). GBS is recognized as several disorders characterized by immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy, which is typically preceded by an infection or other immune stimulation. The symptoms of GBS initially present as acute symmetrical ascending paresthesia, weakness, and paralysis.

This meta-analysis serves to help understand the predisposing factors (such …

The Demographic, Behavioral, And Clinical Factors Associated With The Quality Of Life Of Cancer Survivors, Odette Chirinos

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The objective of this thesis is to assess the prevalence of low quality of life in adult cancer survivors and predictors for these low scores, separately for physical and mental quality of life. Possible predictors can include sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors. The data source for this thesis is the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2012. The sample population included 1244 cancer survivors 20 years or older that answered “yes” to the question “have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that had cancer or malignancy of any kind?” Mental and physical health scores …

Awareness Of Genetic Predispositions That Increase The Risk Of Breast Cancer, Carly Huber

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States and is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. Certain demographics, such as racial/ethnic, age, and gender groups, are underrepresented in breast cancer studies. This lack of representation results in issues with creating genetic tests, as variants associated with those groups are not being detected. Furthermore, these underrepresented demographics are receiving a worse prognosis than those that are overrepresented in research. This study aimed to understand how informed the understudied racial/ethnic, gender, and age populations are regarding breast cancer and genetic testing compared to …

The Effect Of Interventions On Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Toxicity: A Systematic Review, Claudia R. Figueroa

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Various studies show a variety of interventions for radiotherapy-induced skin toxicity. Radiotherapy-induced skin toxicity is the most common side effect for women with breast cancer who undergo radiotherapy sessions. Intervention agents include topical creams, barrier films, oral agents, as well as laser therapy. However, despite the variety of intervention agents available, there is still a lack of accepted guidelines to manage radiotherapy-induced skin toxicity. This thesis aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials with the primary purpose of exploring the available intervention methods to prevent radiotherapy-induced skin toxicity and evaluate the effects of different …

The Effects Of Modifiable And Non-Modifiable Risk Factors On The Severity Of Gastroparesis-Like Symptoms, Jonathon B. Nelson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gastroparesis (GP) is a clinical disorder recognized by measured delayed gastric emptying without mechanical obstruction, in addition to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, chronic abdominal pain, heartburn, early satiety upon eating a regular-sized meal, and exaggerated postprandial fullness. While GP is considered a clinically rare disorder, there is much suspicion that a much larger number of patients experience GP-like symptoms without an official diagnosis. Furthermore, little work has been done to identify the causes and exacerbations of this gastrointestinal (GI) distress in the young adult population. This study's primary goal was to establish a relationship between modifiable and non-modifiable risk …

Perceptions Of Risk Of Health Disparities Amid Previously Identified Political Corruption And Ageism In Slovakia, Marta N. Lukacovic, Deborah D. Sellnow-Richmond, Monika Durechova

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

This study examines the role of traditional versus new media’s impact on citizens’ perceptions of risk within elder care. We analyzed survey data from 112 Slovak citizens regarding their social network activity and perceptions of corruption, ageism, and health disparities in the Slovak elder care system. Previous research (Lukacovic, Sellnow-Richmond, & Durechova, under contract) identified three prominent sociopolitical issues present in the Slovak medical system among Slovak UGC discourse regarding Slovak healthcare inequity: corruption, threats to dignity, and discrimination. Here, we examined the extent to which social media users perceive the prevalence and subsequent risk of experiencing health disparities within …

Factors Contributing To The Negative And Unhealthy Psychological Conditions In The Ed Rn, Ariana M. Nieves

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The emergency department is a stressful environment. Emergency department registered nurses (ED RNs) are at an increased risk of development of negative and unhealthy psychological conditions due to their frequent exposure to stress and traumatic events. These conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, and burnout syndrome, which are already known to be common in the emergency department registered nurse population. It is important to understand the factors that influence the development of these psychological conditions in order to provide better education to nurses regarding prevention of the development of these psychological conditions. This literature review aimed to identify articles …

Long-Term Outcomes Of Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection And Treatment, Genesis M. Brador

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection globally is high, and although there is no cure for it, the antiviral drug acyclovir is used to alleviate symptoms. There are two types of HSV: HSV-1, which typically infects the oral area, and HSV-2, which is associated with genital infections. A mother who carries the infection may transmit it to a neonate in different ways, most commonly via vaginal delivery in the presence of active lesions. There are three types of HSV disease that affect newborns: skin, eyes or mouth (SEM) disease, central nervous system (CNS) disease, or disseminated disease. The …

Using The Ketogenic Diet As An Adjuvant To Cancer Therapy: A Systematic Review, Melanie L. Risola

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Evidence shows that a conventional western diet may contribute to the proliferation of cancer cells, affecting their prognosis. The aim of this review is to examine the efficacy and safety of using the ketogenic diet as an adjuvant to traditional cancer therapy. The systematic literature search was performed in October 2018 on two search engines: EBSCOhost (Medline, CINHAL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and Web of Science using the following key terms: ketogenic diet, high fat & low-carbohydrate diet, Atkins diet, cancer or neoplasms+. The search limitations …

Pre-Licensure Nursing Student Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide, Stephanie K. Cox

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Physician assisted suicide (PAS) has been a legalized presence in the United States since Oregon first passed the Death with Dignity Act in 1994. Now PAS is legalized in six states and it is realistic that nurses may encounter PAS during their career. This project explores pre-licensure nursing student attitudes toward PAS.

A mixed method design incorporating descriptive correlation and thematic analysis of an open-ended question was used. Surveys were sent to 550 nursing students enrolled in the UCF nursing program asking participants to complete the 34-question survey. This survey included a 12 item “Domino scale” on student nursing opinions …

The Effects Of Hormone Replacement Therapy (Hrt) On Surgically Postmenopausal Women: A Review Of The Literature, Leslie M. Hertweck

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The primary purpose of this research was to examine the effects of HRT in women with acute estrogen deficiency from surgically induced menopause. The secondary purpose was to evaluate how HRT improves symptoms of acute estrogen deficiency and quality of life (QOL) in women using hormone supplementation. Peer reviewed articles published from 2000 to 2017 that were written in the English language with a focus on the use of HRT in women with acute estrogen deficiency after surgical menopause were evaluated for relevance. Evidence suggests the primary reason for decreased use of HRT is the associated risks outweighing the benefits; …

Pharmacogenomic Management Of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Brian V. Skibo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and emerging pharmacogenomics therapies that propose to lower serum low density lipid (LDL) levels. The search of various data bases resulted in nine research articles being selected for review. Syntheses of the articles suggest emerging phamacogenomic drug therapy can improve treatment outcomes for individuals with a diagnosis of FH. The Human Genome Project (HGP) has had far reaching applications for genomic technologies and pharmacagenomic interventions, tailored to human conditions associated with select genomic traits. Synthesis of nine research articles demonstrate that little is known on the topic and reveals …

The Use Of Physical Restraints Among Nursing Home Residents: Do Disparities Exist?, Shekinah Fashaw

HIM 1990-2015

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to examine how nursing home (NH) characteristics, specifically racial composition of nursing homes residents, influences the use of physical restraints. As the population ages and becomes more diverse, it is essential to mitigate/eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in quality care. Methods: This is cross-sectional study using a 2010 national data set from Brown University Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research. This study employs Donabedian's Structure-Process-Outcome (SPO) conceptual framework. Statistical analysis includes univariate, bivariate, and a logistic regression model. It is hypothesized that nursing homes with higher proportions of black residents, more Medicaid residents, and for-profit …