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Medicine and Health Sciences

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University of Central Florida

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2015

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Psychological Factors That Impact The Drop-Out Rate In Adolescent Sports, Nicole S. Mcclone Dec 2015

Psychological Factors That Impact The Drop-Out Rate In Adolescent Sports, Nicole S. Mcclone

HIM 1990-2015

Children are dropping out of sport at alarming rates. With the highest numbers of dropout occurring between the ages of ten and seventeen, the focus of this research is on the drop-out rates of adolescents from sport. Athletic participation has been linked to positive academic performance, key development of leadership skills, and increased engagement in the community. The research that has been conducted related to sport persistence has had a greater focus on examining factors related to the physical domain. Attention is now beginning to shift however, and researchers are looking outside the physical domain and analyzing sport attrition more …


The Effects Of Auditory Stimuli On Stress Levels Of Adult Patients In The Critical Care Setting, Jessica Ellermets Aug 2015

The Effects Of Auditory Stimuli On Stress Levels Of Adult Patients In The Critical Care Setting, Jessica Ellermets

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this review of literature is to explore the effects of interventional and environmental auditory stimuli on the adult critical care population. Current research has yet to compare and contrast the effectiveness of various interventional auditory stimuli on stress relief, an oversight this thesis aims to remedy. Modern day critical care settings demand the identification of the most therapeutic interventional auditory stimulus and the most stress-inducing environmental stimuli, so that interventions can be made to optimize patient stress levels and improve outcomes. Suggestions will be made on how to simultaneously reduce harmful or stress inducing auditory stimuli in …


Nursing Interventions To Prevent Necrotizing Eterocolitis: A State Of The Science Literature Review, Katherine Casto Aug 2015

Nursing Interventions To Prevent Necrotizing Eterocolitis: A State Of The Science Literature Review, Katherine Casto

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this review of literature is to understand the current state of the science and to make recommendations for practice and research in regards to the gastrointestinal condition affecting premature infants, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Emphasis is placed on reviewing the literature to identify prevention strategies nurses can use to reduce the incidence, morbidity and mortality of NEC. The introduction will focus on discussing the problem of NEC including its risk factors, pathophysiology, and disease presentation. The findings sections will focus on the most promising and researched areas of intervention. The discussion section will focus on how this knowledge …


Analyzing The Relationship Between Women's Decisions To Use Contraception And Their Partners' Perceptions Of Preventative Behavior, Kayla Gayle-Campbell Aug 2015

Analyzing The Relationship Between Women's Decisions To Use Contraception And Their Partners' Perceptions Of Preventative Behavior, Kayla Gayle-Campbell

HIM 1990-2015

A majority of adolescents and young adults report inconsistent use of safe sexual behaviors and contraception methods due to a variety of influencing factors. These practices can lead to limited future reproductive choices and can spread communicable disease in the population. The purpose of this study was to determine if a woman's decision to use a specific type of contraceptive method is influenced by her partner's attitude toward preventive sexual health practices. A secondary purpose was to analyze women's attitudes towards safe sex and contraceptive practices as independent entities of disease and pregnancy in the reproductive cycle. A literature review …


The Risk Of Secondary Lymphedema Due To Procedures In The Affected Arm Post-Mastectomy: A Literature Review, Lindsay Perna Aug 2015

The Risk Of Secondary Lymphedema Due To Procedures In The Affected Arm Post-Mastectomy: A Literature Review, Lindsay Perna

HIM 1990-2015

The risk for upper extremity lymphedema post-mastectomy in women surgically treated for breast cancer is a concern since it is often painful, aesthetically displeasing, and can increase the risk of infection. However, there is a paucity of data examining if diagnostic procedures performed in the ipsilateral arm post-mastectomy increases the risk of lymphedema. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between diagnostic procedures performed in the ipsilateral arm post-mastectomy and the occurrence of lymphedema with or without related complications. A systematic review of the literature was conducted from multiple, online databases available from 1992 through 2014, and …


Psychosocial Indicators Of Injury Concealment Among Young Male Athletes, Guillermo Alfonso May 2015

Psychosocial Indicators Of Injury Concealment Among Young Male Athletes, Guillermo Alfonso

HIM 1990-2015

The intent of this thesis is to explore the reasons why young athletes may conceal their sports injuries. In recent years, there has been much discussion about the long-term health implications that former athletes are dealing with as they live life after sports. Sports injuries including concussions, knee damage, and spinal injuries are all issues that could affect an athlete’s quality of life far beyond their playing days. It is well known around the athletic and medical communities that many athletes withhold information about their injury symptoms just to get back on to the field. Most worrisome about this fact, …


Acculturation Factors Associated With The Prevalence Of Obesity In Immigrant Children And Adolescents, Suzeline Desir May 2015

Acculturation Factors Associated With The Prevalence Of Obesity In Immigrant Children And Adolescents, Suzeline Desir

HIM 1990-2015

Childhood obesity (CO) is a significant public health issue in the United States, including the immigrant populations. Obese children and adolescents are at increased risk for multiple preventable comorbidities that affect their physical health and psychological well-being. The perception exists that the immigrant child population may possess protection against CO, but this group also experienced an increased prevalence of CO. Acculturation, or the adaptation to American culture and lifestyles, has been shown to be associated with the increased obesity rate among immigrant children and adolescents. Understanding the association between acculturation factors and CO is necessary to effectively combat obesity among …


The Use Of Yoga For Chronic Pain Management In The Pediatric Population, Annabeth Huff May 2015

The Use Of Yoga For Chronic Pain Management In The Pediatric Population, Annabeth Huff

HIM 1990-2015

Chronic pain has an adverse impact on the quality of life in children and adolescents. It can impair a child’s physical, psychological, and social functioning, leading to lower satisfaction with life and poor self-image related to health status. Forty-five percent of children experience chronic pain related to either disease processes or idiopathic causes. Not all children who suffer from chronic pain respond to traditional therapies. The purpose of this literature review was evaluation of current research on the use of yoga as an integrative therapy for chronic pain management in the pediatric population. A database search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, and …


The Effects Of Complementary Hippotherapy For Children With Austism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie Hicks May 2015

The Effects Of Complementary Hippotherapy For Children With Austism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie Hicks

HIM 1990-2015

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an intricate and complex disorder that continues to grow in its prevalence year after year. The disorder is based on decreased social communication with prevalent stereotypical behaviors and problems in sensory processing. Due to the disorder diagnosis based on a spectrum, each child is different in their severity, and thus requires individualized forms of therapies and treatments. The cause of ASD is unknown, which makes the treatment difficult to standardize. Desperate to find a regimen that benefits their child’s ability to function more successfully, more and more parents are utilizing complementary alternative medicine (CAM). The …


The Relationship Between Patient Education And Adherence To Antibiotic Regimens: Exploring Profiles Of Adherent Groups, Morgan Mcsweeney May 2015

The Relationship Between Patient Education And Adherence To Antibiotic Regimens: Exploring Profiles Of Adherent Groups, Morgan Mcsweeney

HIM 1990-2015

Objective: Currently, there does not exist a cohesive and predictive set of criteria that can be used to identify patients that are at risk of being non-adherent to antibiotic regimens. In this study, we sought to answer the question of whether patients’ knowledge of the scientific background of antibiotic resistance is related to their likelihood to adhere to antibiotic regimens. Additionally, we explored other facets of the profiles of adherent and non-adherent subjects. Methods: All responses were collected via questionnaire. Subjects were split into two groups (adherent and non-adherent) based upon four patient-behavior questions. These two groups of subjects were …


Divorce, Separation, Mental Health And Risky Behaviors Among Fathers: What Are The Connections And How Does It Affect Family Health?, Nicolas Resciniti May 2015

Divorce, Separation, Mental Health And Risky Behaviors Among Fathers: What Are The Connections And How Does It Affect Family Health?, Nicolas Resciniti

HIM 1990-2015

Due to the fact that approximately 50% of US first marriages ending in divorce, there is a growing need to identify and understand the causal mechanisms behind these separations and what effects this event has upon the family unit. This study employed secondary data analyses on the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study to identify the differences in the frequency of adverse health behaviors among fathers that are coupled with their partner and those who are divorced/separated. Trends of the fathers from the baseline survey to the five-year follow-up allowed us to observe the following: Differences in adverse health behaviors, …


Effects Of Ghrko Visceral Fat Transplant On Insulin Signaling, Mohammed Bennis May 2015

Effects Of Ghrko Visceral Fat Transplant On Insulin Signaling, Mohammed Bennis

HIM 1990-2015

Insulin sensitivity has been positively correlated with a healthy and extended lifespan, while insulin resistance, decreased insulin sensitivity, has been linked to aging and is the main indicative of type 2 diabetes. Growth Hormone Receptor/ Binding Protein Knockout mice (GHRKO), although obese, are characterized by high insulin sensitivity and a prolonged lifespan. Due to the absence of growth hormone receptors (GHR), growth hormone (GH) is unable to activate its downstream pathway. Interestingly, the secretory activity of visceral fat in GHRKO mice is altered stimulating insulin sensitivity. In this study, we transplanted normal (N) mice with GHRKO visceral fat pads to …


Subcutaneous Injection Techniques Of Anticoagulant Therapies, Leah Morissette May 2015

Subcutaneous Injection Techniques Of Anticoagulant Therapies, Leah Morissette

HIM 1990-2015

Subcutaneous anticoagulant medications like Heparin and Low-Molecular Weight Heparin are injections that readily cause bruising, pain, induration, and hematoma formation at the injection site. It is known that these adverse reactions can be correlated to the technique used to administer these medications; however, there is no established technique that reduces bruising, pain, induration, and hematoma formation at the site. Currently, the only protocol for subcutaneous Heparin and Low-Molecular Weight Heparin is that it is to be administered subcutaneously in the abdomen and when using a prefilled syringe, the air bubble should not be removed. The purpose of this study was …


Assessment Of Tracheostomy Care Practices In A Simulated Setting, Thomas Bolsega May 2015

Assessment Of Tracheostomy Care Practices In A Simulated Setting, Thomas Bolsega

HIM 1990-2015

Background: Although a tracheostomy is a common procedure for patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation, little evidence exists as to the best practices for performing tracheostomy care to maintain the airway and promote skin integrity. Therefore, variability is likely, which may negatively impact patient outcomes. This study described tracheostomy care practices of registered nurses (RNs) and respiratory therapists (RTs) who regularly perform tracheostomy care in critical care settings. Methodology: The descriptive study was conducted following informed consent. RNs (n=15) and RTs (n=5) were asked to perform tracheostomy care on a simulated mannequin patient. An array of supplies (both required and …


Factors That Affect Adherence With Long-Term Controller Medications Used To Manage Asthma In Children, Brittany Bowks May 2015

Factors That Affect Adherence With Long-Term Controller Medications Used To Manage Asthma In Children, Brittany Bowks

HIM 1990-2015

Problem: Asthma affects one out of every ten children in the United States. It is recommended that children with persistent asthma take long-term controller (LTC) medications to achieve control. However, adherence varies, and many children do not take their LTC medication at all. The average cost for hospitalization of a child with asthma is $8,406. Asthma in children also contributes to school absenteeism and a decrease in quality of life. Objective: A literature review was performed to examine factors that affect adherence to LTC medications used to control asthma in children. Method: A literature review was performed using the CINAHL, …


Implementing The Speakall! Ipad App And Intervention Protocol With A Child With Autism: A Pilot Study, Olivia Downs May 2015

Implementing The Speakall! Ipad App And Intervention Protocol With A Child With Autism: A Pilot Study, Olivia Downs

HIM 1990-2015

The ability to communicate is essential for children with developing language systems, and ultimately to being successful academically and eventually vocationally. In a world where communication is vital, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at a disadvantage and require additional options to express themselves; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies have presented promising options for helping these children communicate. One technology option that has proven to be of particular interest to families of children with ASD involves the use AAC iPad apps. Research has been conducted in AAC, ASD, and music, but there is limited research to date, which …


Effects Of Caffeinated Energy Drink And Alcohol Usage On Perceived Stress And Burnout In Undergraduate Students, Arjun Patel May 2015

Effects Of Caffeinated Energy Drink And Alcohol Usage On Perceived Stress And Burnout In Undergraduate Students, Arjun Patel

HIM 1990-2015

Caffeinated energy beverages (CEDs) are a growing supplement being consumed by a large number of young adults aged 18 to 24 years of age. As these CEDs contain nutritional supplements, they are not classified the same way other beverages such as sodas are and they can thus bypass regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. Without regulation by this governing body, it is important to understand how these supplements may be affecting their target population. In this study, students from a large university were recruited in order to determine patterns of CED usage as well as how CED usage may …


Analysis Of The Pathomechanism Of Migraines With A Focus On Current Treatment Plans And The Role Of The Neuropeptide Cgrp, Marvi Qureshi May 2015

Analysis Of The Pathomechanism Of Migraines With A Focus On Current Treatment Plans And The Role Of The Neuropeptide Cgrp, Marvi Qureshi

HIM 1990-2015

Migraines are a type of headache that specifically act on only one side of the head, although about 30% of patients with migraine may experience a bilateral headache. Migraine is a brain disorders that typically involve issues of the typical sensory processing that takes place in the brainstem. Possible causation has been linked to issues in blood vessels, blood flow, and oxygen levels in the brain. Migraine can be described in three phases, and common throughout the three phases is the importance of the neuropeptide CGRP and its role in migraine pathogenesis. CGRP increases in plasma have been linked to …


An Examination Of Relative Age Effects Among Junior Elite Wrestlers, Jayla Kelly May 2015

An Examination Of Relative Age Effects Among Junior Elite Wrestlers, Jayla Kelly

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this examination was to evaluate relative age effects among junior elite wrestlers across gender, weight class, and competitive rule sets. Using biographical data, this thesis explores trends representing an oversampling of athletes born earlier in the year, accompanied by potential effects for success in sport and an impact on retention rates. Currently, the use of chronological age is the most common form of classifying sports participants, though this type of classification may have potentially negative long- and short-term implications. Thus, the results may provide an evaluation of weight categorization as a less discriminatory competitive format in junior …


Effectiveness Of Cardiac Rehabilitation: Secondary Prevention Increases Functional Capacity In Myocardial Infarction Patients, Kristin Badillo May 2015

Effectiveness Of Cardiac Rehabilitation: Secondary Prevention Increases Functional Capacity In Myocardial Infarction Patients, Kristin Badillo

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this study was to discern the effectiveness of Cardiac Rehabilitation/ Secondary Prevention Programs (CR/ SPP’s) by evaluating increased functional capacity in the form of MET (metabolic equivalent) scores post-myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack. The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) survey is administered as part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for participation in the Secondary Prevention Program. Criterion for the research included patients 65 and older, with a history of one myocardial infarction, and had completed all 36 sessions of CR. The scores from 11 SPP surveys were analyzed and compared in three time increments from …


Total Body Water And Its Relationship To Functional Performance In Individuals With Diagnosed Osteoarthritis, Sara Hanson May 2015

Total Body Water And Its Relationship To Functional Performance In Individuals With Diagnosed Osteoarthritis, Sara Hanson

HIM 1990-2015

This study examines a possible relationship between Total Body Water (TBW) levels, osteoarthritic pain and functional performance in a sample of untrained adults. Participants complete a Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire, TBW is measured using single-frequency bioelectrical impedance (SF-BIA) and strength, balance and physical function are measured by the completion of 7 standardized functional tests. Participants in this study will include adult men and women, age 35 years and older, who have been previously diagnosed with Osteoarthritis (OA) in the hip or knee, or who score 35 or higher on the WOMAC. This study aims to …


Biomarkers In Athletes: A Meta-Analysis In Female Soccer And Field Hockey Players, Sophie Howard May 2015

Biomarkers In Athletes: A Meta-Analysis In Female Soccer And Field Hockey Players, Sophie Howard

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and potential abnormalities of biomarkers in female soccer and field hockey players by conducting a meta-analysis of previous studies. In this study, previous research on certain biomarkers (Creatine kinase, lactic acid, iron, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and cortisol) in collegiate, elite and national level female soccer and field hockey players was collected and evaluated. Studies on baseline measurements for these biomarkers in female soccer and field hockey athletes were collected and their group means were considered. These values were collectively put into individual forest plots, one for each biomarker, and …


Rapid Response Teams Versus Critical Care Outreach Teams: Unplanned Escalations In Care And Associated Outcomes, Valerie Danesh Jan 2015

Rapid Response Teams Versus Critical Care Outreach Teams: Unplanned Escalations In Care And Associated Outcomes, Valerie Danesh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of unplanned escalations during hospitalization is undocumented, but estimates may be as high as 1.2 million occurrences per year in the United States. Rapid Response Teams (RRT) were developed for the early recognition and treatment of deteriorating patients to deliver time-sensitive interventions, but evidence related to optimal activation criteria and structure is limited. The purpose of this study is to determine if an Early Warning Score-based Critical Care Outreach (CCO) model is related to the frequency of unplanned intra-hospital escalations in care compared to a RRT system based on staff nurse identification of vital sign derangements and physical …


Diabetes Phenotypes In Transgenic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Models, Toya Albury-Warren Jan 2015

Diabetes Phenotypes In Transgenic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Models, Toya Albury-Warren

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein Kinase B/AKT, a serine/threonine kinase with three isoforms (AKT1-3), is downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and signals through the phosphorylation and subsequent activation or inhibition of downstream substrates, such as mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) or glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3?), respectively. The AKT1 isoform is predominantly recognized for regulation of cell survival, growth, and proliferation, due to its constitutive activation in pancreatic cancers (e.g., islet cell carcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma). The progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most lethal common cancer, is initiated by activation mutations of the KRas oncogene. This leads to additional …


Identification Of The Domain(S) In Protein Disulfide Isomerase Required For Binding And Disassembly Of The Cholera Holotoxin, Laura Herndon Jan 2015

Identification Of The Domain(S) In Protein Disulfide Isomerase Required For Binding And Disassembly Of The Cholera Holotoxin, Laura Herndon

HIM 1990-2015

Cholera, caused by the secretion of cholera toxin (CT) by Vibrio cholerae within the intestinal lumen, triggers massive secretory diarrhea which may lead to life-threatening dehydration. CT is an AB5-type protein toxin that is comprised of an enzymatically active A1 chain, an A2 linker, and a cell-binding B pentamer. Once secreted, the CT holotoxin moves from the cell surface to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of a host target cell. To cause intoxication, CTA1 must be displaced from CTA2/CTB5 in the ER and is then transferred to the cytosol where it induces a diarrheal response by stimulating the efflux of chloride …


The Effect Of Bacterial Vaginosis Associated Bacteria On Epithelial Factors Mediating Hiv Transmission, April Nguyen Jan 2015

The Effect Of Bacterial Vaginosis Associated Bacteria On Epithelial Factors Mediating Hiv Transmission, April Nguyen

HIM 1990-2015

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common female reproductive tract (FRT) condition characterized by an overgrowth of anaerobic species concurrent with the disappearance of commensal Lactobacilli species, is associated with a 60% increased risk of HIV-1 transmission. However, the role of the FRT epithelia in bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria (BVAB)-augmented HIV- 1 transmission is unclear. To evaluate the increased risk of HIV-1 acquisition, we treated FRT epithelia with Atopobium vaginae, a prevalent BVAB, to determine the nature of the host response to BVAB exposure. Treatment of endocervical cells with A. vaginae resulted in a 1500-fold increase in the expression of the antimicrobial peptide …


Development Of A Fluorescent Drug Screening Platform For Inhibitors Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Protein-Protein Interactions, Zina Versfeld Jan 2015

Development Of A Fluorescent Drug Screening Platform For Inhibitors Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Protein-Protein Interactions, Zina Versfeld

HIM 1990-2015

Tuberculosis (TB) is a respiratory disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) that kills around 1.3 million people annually. Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) strains are increasingly encountered, in part resulting from shortcomings of current TB drug regimens that last between six to nine months. Patients may stop taking the antibiotics during their allotted regimen, leading to drug resistant TB strains. Novel drug screening platforms are therefore necessary to find drugs effective against MDR-TB. In order to discover compounds that target under-exploited pathways that may be essential only in vivo, the proposed screening platform will use a novel approach to drug discovery …


Perceived Social Support And Self-Care In Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure, Lyne Chamberlain Jan 2015

Perceived Social Support And Self-Care In Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure, Lyne Chamberlain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem: Heart failure is the most frequent cause for hospital readmissions in Medicare recipients, with an estimated annual cost of $12 billion. Heart failure hospitalizations are also an independent risk factor for increased mortality. Self-care, thought to be enhanced by perceived social support, is key to managing this syndrome, and up to 50% of readmissions are considered the result of inadequate self-care. Purpose: To evaluate perceived social support and self-care characteristics of patients hospitalized with an exacerbation of heart failure, and to compare these characteristics with a study of ambulatory patients with heart failure. In addition, to assess the relationship …


The Impact Of Relational Coordination And The Nurse On Patient Outcomes, Fanya Dejesus Jan 2015

The Impact Of Relational Coordination And The Nurse On Patient Outcomes, Fanya Dejesus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare quality remains a significant issue due to fragmentation of care in our complex U.S. healthcare systems. While coordination of care is foundational to healthcare quality as well as identified as a National Priority, fragmentation and uncoordinated care continues to afflict our systems. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between relational coordination and adverse nurse sensitive patient outcomes, namely hospital acquired pressure ulcers, patient falls with injury, catheter- associated urinary tract infection, and central line-associated blood stream infection. A retrospective correlational survey design using cross sectional data was used to conduct this quantitative study. An electronic …


Nurse Managers, Work Environment Factors And Workplace Bullying, Joy Parchment Jan 2015

Nurse Managers, Work Environment Factors And Workplace Bullying, Joy Parchment

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore relationships between authentic leadership style, global social power, job demand, job control, and workplace bullying of nurse managers in acute care settings across the United States. Over 30 years of workplace bullying research exists. Consequences are linked to intent to leave, turnover, and harmful emotional and physical effects. Published studies identifying nurse managers as targets of workplace bullying and work environment factors that contribute to nurse managers being recipients of workplace bullying either, downward from their leaders, horizontally from their nurse manager peers, and upwards from their clinical nurses were not identified. …