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Utilization And Perception Of Peer-Support After Lower Limb Loss In The United States: Potential Benefits On Mobility Outcomes, Moriah Maluotoga, Roopkiran Thind

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Limb loss is a life-changing event that significantly impacts patients’ functioning as well as psychosocial well-being. Psychosocial support in the form of amputee peer-support is widely recognized as beneficial to individuals after lower limb loss (LLL). However, there is currently a lack of research on the utilization of peer-support after LLL and its perceived benefits to function. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine and quantify participants’ experiences with peer-support after LLL, and how peer-support experience is associated with mobility outcomes. We hypothesized that participants with LLL would express generally positive experiences with peer-support and that it …

Sexual Abuse And Interpersonal Difficulties In Youth, Priscilla Herrera, Kinsey Ellis

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Researchers have found childhood sexual abuse victimization to be associated with impairments in trust, social comfort, and quality of interpersonal relationships1,2,3. Research which investigates the unique relationship between sexual abuse and interpersonal difficulties among youth with a history of child maltreatment is limited. The present study aimed to investigate interpersonal functioning differences in maltreated youth who have and have not experienced sexual abuse.

A Scoping Review Of Risk And Protective Factors For Negative Cannabis Use Consequences, Timothy J. Grigsby, Andrea Lopez, Larisa Albers, Christopher J. Rogers, Myriam Forster

Social & Behavioral Health Faculty Publications

Objective:

Numerous reviews have examined risk and protective factors for alcohol-related negative consequences, but no equivalent review of risk and protective factors exists for cannabis-related negative consequences (CRNCs)-a gap filled by the present study. This scoping review examined survey-based research of risk and protective factors for CRNCs such as neglecting responsibilities, blacking out, or needing more cannabis.

Methods:

Three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed manuscripts published between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2021. A qualitative synthesis was performed using the matrix method and the results were organized using the socioecological model as a framework. …

Physician Workforce In The Mountain West, Hira Ahmed, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

Using data from the Association of American Medical College’s State Physician Workforce Data Report, this fact sheet synthesizes Mountain West data on the numbers of active physicians and active physician demographics in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. This fact sheet focuses on active physicians in the Mountain West region by gender, race and ethnicity, as well as the number of students pursuing medical and premedical education.

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention: How Cultural Components Play A Role In Programs Tailored For Minority Youth, Sarah B. Maness, Shristi Bhochhibhoya, Marshall Cheney

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Introduction: Cultural tailoring of adolescent pregnancy prevention programs has been utilized as a way to reduce persisting racial and ethnic disparities. This study explored how cultural components are included in evidence-based adolescent pregnancy prevention programs.

Methods: This study qualitatively assessed curricula of six federally supported evidence-based adolescent pregnancy prevention programs specifically tailored for African American and/or Hispanic youth. Patterns were analyzed within and between programs by two independent coders.

Results: Cultural components fell into five major themes: cultural art forms, traditions, history, community, and language. The most commonly included area was traditions (i.e. values, pride).

Conclusions: Variations exist in …

Diabetes Self-Management Support Program In Predominantly Hispanic Faith Community Settings: A Pilot Study, Leah Carrillo, Summer R. Wilmoth, Raymundo Mendoza, Ashton Balarin, Meixia Pan, Elena Martinez,, Erica T. Sosa, Zenong Yin, Sarah Ullevig, Meizi He

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the feasibility, facilitators, barriers, and impact of adopting the Self-Management Resource Center Diabetes Self-Management Program (SMRC DSMP) on diabetes-related outcomes.

Methods: The SMRC DSMP was implemented in five churches in San Antonio, Texas. A single group pre-post-test design was used to evaluate program effect on improving T2D outcomes. The primary outcome was glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) and secondary outcomes included Self-Efficacy for Diabetes, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and patterns of eating and physical activity. Program feasibility, facilitators, and barriers were assessed through documentation and in-person interviews with participants.

Results: A total of 96 participants were …

Associated Factors With Colorectal Cancer (Crc) Screening Awareness In The Black Belt Region Of Alabama: A Comparison Among Three Types Of Crc Screening, Hee Yun Lee, Yan Luo, Chiahung Chou, Mi Hwa Lee, Marion Bennett

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: The present study aims to assess the levels of awareness of three types of CRC screening tests (FIT or FBOT, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy) among African Americans living in the Black Belt area, and examine the factors associated with awareness of CRC screening tests among this population.

Methods: The current study utilized a survey research design. Univariate analysis was used to assess the awareness of three types of colorectal cancer screening: FIT or FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. Three sets of logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the factors associated with the awareness level of each of the three colorectal …

Advancing Health Equity In The Us Military, James D. Mancuso, John Young, Jennifer Rusiecki, Shauna Stahlman, Natasha Schvey, Toya Randolph, Candy Wilson, Catherine Witkop, Patrick Hyde, Althea Green, Patcho Santiago, Donald Shell, Tracy Sbrocco

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity are central to US national health objectives and the Military Health System’s “quadruple aim,” which has readiness as its core aim. Because military service members enjoy universal eligibility for health care, it is sometimes assumed that health disparities do not exist in the Department of Defense (DoD). However, while some studies have shown that disparities have been attenuated or eliminated in the DoD, others suggest that significant disparities remain. Reasons these disparities may remain include that universal eligibility for care does not necessarily result in equal to access to care, and that equal …

Factors Associated With Improved Outcome Of Inhaled Corticosteroid Use In Covid-19: A Single Institutional Study, A. Manfra, Claire Chen, Kavita Batra, Kyaw Min Tun, Mutsumi Kioka

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Asthmatics seem less prone to adverse outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and some data shows that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are protective. We gathered data on anecdotal ICS and outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, given there is literature supporting ICS may reduce risk of severe infection. In addition, we fill gaps in current literature evaluating Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) as a risk assessment tool for COVID-19. This was a single-center, retrospective study designed and conducted to identify factors associated intubation and inpatient mortality. A multivariate logistic regression model was fit to generate adjusted odds ratios (OR). Intubation was associated …

Prevalence And Predictors Of Burnout Syndrome Among Italian Psychologists Following The First Wave Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study, Pietro Crescenzo, Francesco Chirico, Giuseppe Ferrari, Lukasz Szarpak, Gabriella Nucera, Raffaella Marciano, Livio Tarchi, Diego Denicolo, Assunta Maiorino, Kavita Batra, Manoj Sharma

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of Burnout Syndrome (BOS) among Italian psychologists following the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. As a secondary objective, geographical differences in the prevalence of BOS symptoms were investigated across regional macro-areas in this category of workers. Methods: Using a non-probabilistic convenience sample, four-hundred sixty-eight participants responded to an online survey which included psychometric valid questions from the Maslach Burnout Inventory and The Big Five Inventory-10. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to analyze the data. Results: The overall prevalence of BOS in the study sample was …

Efficacy And Safety Of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation In Treatment Of Clostridioides Difficile Infection Among Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Kyaw Min Tun, Mark Hsu, Kavita Batra, Chun-Han Lo, Tooba Laeeq, Tahne Vongsavath, Salman Mohammed, Annie S. Hong Md

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Aims: Cases of Clostridioides difficile infection have been rising among the pediatric and adolescent population. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as an alternative therapy for recurrent C. difficile infection. We aim to perform the first systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation for C. difficile infection in children and adolescents. Methods: A literature search was performed using variations of the keywords “pediatrics”, “C. difficile infection”, and “fecal microbiota transplantation” in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Google Scholar from inception to 30 June 2022. The resulting 575 articles were independently screened by …

Adolescent Athlete Perceptions Of Gender Differences In Coaching, Ivannia Cabrera

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

How is the preference for coaching intertwined with sports? Do athletes differ in their perceptions of having a male or female coach? Is there an obvious preference between the genders? What kind of behaviors are associated with each gender?

Death And Dignity: Approaches To Medical Aid-In-Dying And Recommendations For Nevada, Cecilia Winchell

Student Research

Advancements in medicine, surgery, and treatment have prolonged life spans in a way that presents new considerations for death and dying. When it comes to terminal illnesses, all of these innovations increase life expectancy but cannot do the same for a patient’s quality of life. In fact, many people with terminal illnesses lose their autonomy and dignity, leading to the emergence of assisted dying as a way to provide terminally ill patients with an alternative to palliative care. This report takes a look at how assisted dying has developed within the US over the past two and a half decades, …

Forgetting Ourselves: Alzheimer's In Women, Jasmine Mortero

Research Briefs

Women are 3x more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than their male counterparts. Two thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women. Women in their 60s are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's during the rest of their life than they are to develop breast cancer.

Payment Profiles: Using Payment Transaction Data To Identify And Characterize Gamblers, Kasra Ghaharian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Payment providers in the gambling industry facilitate transactions, allowing customers to transfer money to and from wagering accounts. Payments transaction data is information that is captured from these transactions, including, for example, the type, amount, time, and location. How this data may be used for gambling harm minimization and prevention has garnered significant interest, particularly due to accelerated payments modernization in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this study, I explored the utility of payments transaction data to categorize subgroups of gamblers in order to identify individuals who may be at-risk of harm. I benchmarked six cluster analysis methods …

Covid-19 Isolation Compliance Among Students And Employees Of A Large Public University, Nicolette Harmon

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Isolation has been used to prevent the spread of many infectious diseases including COVID-19. The CDC’s isolation recommendations have changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, currently infected individuals must stay at home for 5 full days. The CDC cites low compliance rates as one of the reasons for the recent reduction to the number of days in isolation. However, the CDC could only cite studies from other countries due to the lack of studies on isolation compliance in the United States. This study aimed to determine what percentage of UNLV students and staff complied with the isolation guidelines …

Salesperson-Customer Dyads In The Casino Gaming Industry: How Sales Competencies And Relationship Lifecycles Influence Customer Satisfaction And Account Profitability, Alicia Lechtenberger

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Developing extraordinary relationships between sales personnel and customers is essential to corporate success. To meet the increasing demands of customers within the hospitality industry, corporations must ensure they pair customers with salespeople who are highly competent, possessing refined and adaptable skill sets that directly increase customer satisfaction and account profitability. Corporations spend billions of dollars annually on hiring and training salespeople; yet, salespeople often quit or miss their quota targets. Considering this industry-wide business problem, the purpose of this dissertation study was to determine how sales competencies influence customer satisfaction and account profitability while taking into consideration the duration of …

Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance Behavior Among Hispanics/Latinxs In Nevada: A Theory-Based Analysis, Tara Marie Naoe Tacderan Wong Nerida

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many lives around the world, leaving negative repercussions including health effects, economic downturns, and social and physical restrictions. The pandemic has also revealed many disproportionate health impacts on vulnerable populations, especially among the Hispanic and Latinx populations. The use of the three COVID-19 vaccines in the United States has presented a form of protection against additional negative impacts. However, hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine has hindered its rapid uptake, preventing the country from reaching herd immunity and ultimately ending the pandemic. Current research is minimal in understanding the intentions of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine among …

Effects Of Patellofemoral Pain On Central Activation And Function Of The Gluteus Medius Muscle In Physically Active Females, Michelle Samuel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is the most common knee injury among runners, military personnel, adolescents and recreationally active persons. PFP commonly presents as diffuse pain across the anterior knee that increases with activities such as running, squatting, and walking up and down stairs. Nearly 75% of patients with PFP either alter or completely stop physical activity as a result of the pain. There are numerous mechanisms that contribute to PFP symptoms; such as muscle weakness, abnormal joint mechanics and abnormal joint stress, which make it difficult to successfully treat. In addition, PFP may lead to patellofemoral joint (PFJ) osteoarthritis, a debilitating …

Anxiety, Depression, And Suicidal Ideation Among Transgender Individuals With Gender Receiving Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy, Rosa E. Diaz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: Gender may align with one’s sex but doesn’t always and sometimes leads to Gender Dysphoria (GD). Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is often one of the first medical treatments used for GD yet few studies have examined the effects of GAHT on mental health (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation).Methods: Participants were 18 years or older and self-reported as being diagnosed with GD and recruited across the United States using snowball and convenience sampling. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to measure depression scores, General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was used to measure anxiety scores, and Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) was …

Metabolic Syndrome And Associated Factors Among Hispanic Americans, Shannon L. Richard

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cardiometabolic condition that may develop into cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Early recognition and associated treatment of MetS can help detour disease. Lifestyle factors, sleep-disordered breathing, and psychological well-being influence the development of MetS; electrocardiogram abnormalities are associated with MetS. Hispanics living in the United States are particularly vulnerable to MetS. Although MetS is well-identified in Americans of Hispanic ethnicity, the current literature evaluating protective and contributory factors among Hispanic gender-ethnic subgroups is inconsistent and incomplete. This study aimed to examine the relationships between MetS and select health and lifestyle factors among seven …

Use Of Healthcare Utilization Records For Analyzing Trends In Clinical Toxoplasmosis: A Comparison Of Nevada And The United States, Elijah Kreutzer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the parasitic protist Toxoplasma gondii, is a ubiquitous, global public health concern with a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Surveillance for the disease is lacking even in developed countries, and what surveillance is present most often focuses on pregnant women. This research investigated trends in clinical toxoplasmosis in Nevada and nationally to address the lack of knowledge concerning how Nevada discharges compare to national discharges in cases of toxoplasmosis. Specifically, this research sought to determine what characterizes toxoplasmosis in Nevada across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department settings, as well as how these cases differ …

Predicting Flossing Through The Application Of The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) Of Health Behavior Change Among Minority Adolescents In The United States, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Ching-Chen Chen, Chia-Liang Dai, Ravi Batra, David Cappelli

Social & Behavioral Health Faculty Publications

Adolescents from minority groups are particularly susceptible to poor oral hygiene behaviors, including lack of daily flossing. This cross-sectional study aimed to conduct an exploratory behavioral research to identify evidence-based (theory-based) approaches to promote flossing behavior among African American/Black and Latinx/Hispanic (minority) adolescents. A 39-item psychometrically valid web-based questionnaire was used to collect responses from a nationwide sample of minority adolescents aged 10–17 years residing in the United States. The data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate statistical methods. Of 520 minority adolescents (260 African American/Black and 260 Latinx/Hispanic adolescents), the proportion of flossing was nearly equally split in the …

Chronotype And Social Jetlag Influence Performance And Injury During Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Physical Training, Graham Mcginnis, Shani T. Thompson, Charli D. Aguilar, Michael B. Dial, Richard Tandy, Kara N. Radzak

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Sleep and circadian rhythms are critically important for optimal physical performance and maintaining health during training. Chronotype and altered sleep may modulate the response to exercise training, especially when performed at specific times/days, which may contribute to musculoskeletal injury. The purpose of this study was to determine if cadet characteristics (chronotype, sleep duration, and social jetlag) were associated with injury incidence and inflammation during physical training. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets (n = 42) completed the Morningness/Eveningness Questionnaire to determine chronotype, and 1-week sleep logs to determine sleep duration and social jetlag. Salivary IL-6 was measured before and after …

Assessing The Compliance Of Dental Clinicians Towards Regulatory Infection Control Guidelines Using A Newly Developed Survey Tool: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study In India, Pragati Kaurani, Kavita Batra, Himangini Rathore Hooja, N. Gopi Chander, Anamitra Bhowmick, Suraj Arora, Suheel Manzoor Baba, Shafait Ullah Khateeb, Anshad M. Abdulla, Vishakha Grover, Priyanka Saluja

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Adherence to the dental practice regulatory guidelines instituted during the COVID- 19 pandemic is essential to minimize the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 strains. Given the lack of a valid and reliable survey tool to assess the adherence to dental practice guidelines, this study aims to develop, validate, and test a survey tool on a pilot sample of dental clinicians practicing in India. A survey tool was developed/validated through a sequential phasic approach: Phase Ideveloping survey using conceptual and literature framework; Phase II: ascertaining its validity and reliability; Phase III: pilot testing; and Phase IV: assessing construct validity by exploratory factor analysis …

Assessing The Testability Of The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) In Predicting Vaping Quitting Behavior Among Young Adults In The United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Ravi Batra, Chia-Liang Dai, Traci Hayes, Melinda J. Ickes, Tejinder Pal Singh

Social & Behavioral Health Faculty Publications

Purpose: Given the increased exposure to e-cigarettes and nicotine among young adults, difficulty in quitting vaping is likely, which supports the need for effective behavioral interventions. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aims to assess the testability of the contemporary multi-theory model of health behavior change in predicting the vaping quitting behavior among young adults in the United States. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 619 young adults engaged in vaping behavior and aged 18–24 years was recruited to complete a 49-item web-based survey. A structural equation model was used to test relationships between MTM constructs. Hierarchical multiple regression was utilized to …

Attitudes Toward Influenza, Pertussis, And Covid-19 Vaccines Among Economically Underserved Black Women/Birthing People: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Jasmine Cooper, Hanna Lebuhn, James D. Campbell, Stacey Stephens, Wendy G. Lane, Keerthana Kumar, Kathleen M. Neuzil

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Vaccination during pregnancy is critical to the health of birthing persons and infants. Yet, persistent racial disparities in vaccination threaten health outcomes in the U.S. (Lu et al., 2015). Vaccination coverage remains low among non-Hispanic Blacks and other racial minorities – a situation magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic (Freimuth, Jamison, An, Hancock, & Quinn, 2017; Stokes et al., 2020). Consequently, understanding vaccine attitudes for systemically disadvantaged groups is paramount to promoting public health. Illuminating barriers to vaccine uptake creates space for new strategies to reduce hesitancy.

To investigate Black women’s/birthing people attitudes toward influenza and pertussis vaccination during pregnancy, we …

A Cut Above The Rest: A Qualitative Study To Evaluate The Feasibility Of Implementing Early Childhood Mental Health Interventions Into Boston Black/African American Barbershops And Beauty Salons, Lauren Ansong-Depass

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: This qualitative research aimed to fill a gap in literature by determining the feasibility of implementing early childhood mental health tools into Black/African American barbershops and beauty salons in three Boston neighborhoods: Dorchester, Mattapan, or Roxbury.

Methods: Qualitative data collection included key informant interviews with two African American pediatric mental health clinicians who worked with children and families that lived in Mattapan, Dorchester, and/or Roxbury neighborhoods (n=2), a barber who worked in Mattapan (n=1), and a focus group of an active parent council hosted by the city of Boston (n=9). Data was analyzed using descriptive and simultaneous coding methods …

Narrative Review Of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Evidence In Late 2021, Ambree Papa Schoetker, Manoj Sharma

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

The coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has changed daily life dramatically since early 2020. Although COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States, many express distrust in this primary prevention measure and doubt both the seriousness of COVID-19 and its associated morbidity and mortality. Vaccine hesitancy, also described as the reluctance or refusal of vaccines despite availability, exists on a continuum and was a known public health threat prior to the coronavirus pandemic. This narrative review examines studies related to the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adults in the United States. Also explored are the factors related to COVID-19 vaccine risk …

Defining Birth Equity In Kansas, Oluoma Obi, Michelle L. Redmond, Joi Wickliffe, Sapphire Garcia-Lies, Sharla Smith

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: While some health outcomes improve in the United States, racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related outcomes persist. In the United States and Kansas, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related complication than white women.

Description: The Kansas Birth Equity Network (KBEN), is an initiative developed to address racial disparities in maternal and child health outcomes. We used a community-centered approach to collect stakeholder perceptions of birth equity and develop a case definition of birth equity.

Methods: An open-ended online survey was designed to collect stakeholders’ definition of birth equity, their organization’s birth equity missions, …