Digital Commons Network^™

Implementing Policy To Increase Health Literacy In Falls Prevention: A Teach-Back And Show-Back Intervention, Yalanda M. Barner, Lollie Vaughan-Robinson, Jazmin Adjei

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Although falls are preventable, falls among older adults remain a public health concern. Research indicates that over one-third of persons over 65 fall. Approximately 3 million report to emergency rooms due to falls annually. Falls are attributed to health conditions such as cognitive impairment, poor eyesight, arthritis, and polypharmacy.

Purpose: This study adapted the Teach-Back/Show-Back method for older persons in adult daycare and faith-based settings to assess their understanding of falls prevention techniques. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the risk factors, prevention strategies, and policy recommendations of falls prevention among older adults.

Methods: A survey …

Personality Profile Of Rural-Dwelling Older Adults With Hoarding Disorder, Mary E. Dozier, Caitlyn A. Nix, Hilary L. Deshong

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Hoarding in late life represents a major barrier to aging in place, particularly for rural-dwelling older adults. One risk factor for hoarding disorder in late life may be underlying personality factors. However, there has not yet been an investigation of late life hoarding and possible maladaptive personality factors from the continuous five-factor model perspective in a sample of individuals diagnosed with hoarding disorder. Thus, we evaluated the five-factor personality profiles of older adults enrolled in treatment studies for hoarding disorder in rural Mississippi. Raw scores on the International Personality Item Pool-NEO-60 were converted into categories of Low (<1SD from …

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Hot Spots In Mississippi, Taylor Jansen, Elizabeth Dugan

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Abstract

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the sixth leading cause of death in the US and approximately 10% of people 65 years and older have COPD. This study examines the association of geographic-level risk factors with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence using spatial-based analyses with the goal of identifying risk factors associated with county-level COPD and to identify communities at risk.

Methods. The study sample consisted of all N=82 counties in Mississippi and all data is reported at the county level. All measures were drawn from the 2023 Mississippi Healthy Aging Data Report. A hot spot …

The Mississippi Healthy Aging Data Report: Tools To Advance Health Equity, Elizabeth Dugan, Taylor Jansen, Chae Man Lee, Nina M. Silverstein, Yan-Jhu Su

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Introduction. This article describes the Mississippi Healthy Aging Data Report, which includes 125 indicators reported at the county and state level.

Methods. Data sources include the American Community Survey from the U.S. Census, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and other sources. Small-area estimation techniques are used to calculate age- and gender-adjusted county rates. Data visualizations illustrate health disparities.

Results. Mississippi is home to 663,581 people age 60 or older – 22% of the state’s total population. Approximately 12.9% of Medicare beneficiaries in Mississippi have Alzheimer’s disease or a related …

Association Of Self-Report Measures With Salivary Biomarkers In Post-Menopausal Women, Laree M. Hiser, Karen Arrant, Jung Hye S. Lee, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Symptoms of menopause include inadequate sleep, depression, and anxiety. Studies of healthy aging frequently use self-report tools that are unverified by objective measures.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between self-report measures of sleep or affect and salivary biomarkers in a small (n=32) sample of post-menopausal women.

Methods: Salivary cortisol and a-amylase were quantified by laboratory tests. Self-report data included hours of sleep and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS^®) tools for sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression. Correlation analyses were conducted between self-reported measures and biomarker concentrations.

Results: No statistically significant correlations were found between cortisol …

Let’S Have A Family Conversation, Kimberly C. Tarver, Kina White

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

No abstract provided.

Feedback In Emergency Medical Services: A Missing Cornerstone, Stephen E. Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed methods constructivist grounded theory (CGT) study is to explore how paramedics and medical directors (MD)s in the United States perceive outcomes feedback regarding its type, quality, and quantity. This type of feedback, which can influence their critical thinking skills, knowledge base, and job satisfaction, is crucial to their professional development. In this study, patient outcomes feedback refers to general patient information, including emergency department assessment, treatment, diagnosis, admission or discharge decisions, and the overall outcome of the patient's hospital experience. The conceptual framework, focusing on the perspectives of paramedics and medical directors, is based on …

The Impact Of Social Media Use On Maternal Vaccination Decisions, Natalie Raquel Flynn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study aimed to explore the impact of social networking sites (SNS) on maternal vaccination decisions. Utilizing purposive sampling, the study ensured a representative sample of mothers or expectant mothers over 18 years old, with at least one child under 18, residing in the United States. Participants completed a composite survey consisting of three individual surveys assessing social media usage, vaccination decisions, and information-seeking behaviors. Descriptive statistics were employed for comprehensive analysis, investigating the influence of accessing social media platforms on maternal COVID-19 vaccination decisions. The Shapiro-Wilk test assessed the normality of age, while frequencies, percentages, median, and interquartile …

Exploring Prelicensure Bsn Students' Knowledge Of Mindfulness Meditation Using A Smartphone App To Manage Stress And Promote Resilience: A Qualitative Single Case Study, Beth A. Kelley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students' knowledge of mindfulness meditation (MM) using a smartphone app (SMA) to manage stress and promote resilience. Guiding this study was the transactional model of stress, adaptation, and coping by Lazarus and Folkman (1984) and the zone of proximal development (ZPD) educational theory by Vygotsky. The study asked the following questions: What was pre-licensure Bachelor of Science of Nursing (BSN) students’ knowledge of mindfulness meditation (MM) using a smartphone app (SMA) to manage stress and promote resilience? What had the prelicensure BSN …

Addressing The Increased Prevalence Of Gestational Diabetes Among Hispanic/Latino Pregnant Persons In The Central Valley Of California, Kathleen Janise Farrell Wardell

Master's Projects and Capstones

Gestational Diabetes (GDM) is a preventable noncommunicable disease that has been on the rise over the last 60 years. Pregnant persons with gestational diabetes are 10 times higher of acquiring Type 2 Diabetes after pregnancy (Ionannou et al., 2024). There is an urgent need to address this public health threat because of its increase in mortality. To address this complex chronic disease, this literature review explored multi-level interventions using the socioecological model to mitigate GDM in the Central Valley’s, Tulare County. Tulare County is disproportionately affected by chronic diseases like diabetes especially among the Hispanic and Latinx communities. Therefore, it …

Respiratory Syncytial Virus In The United States: A Research Proposal For A Prospective Cohort Study Of Rsv Vaccines, Kenneth D. Chiu

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective

This paper proposes a phase IV study to estimate the effectiveness of Abryvso and Arexvy in older adults against severe RSV disease. Additionally, the study aims to assess factors involved with low vaccine uptake for these RSV vaccines.

Methods

For the background literature review of this proposal, I conducted a search of the PubMed and CINAHL Ultimate databases for articles on older adults and RSV. I filtered out results within the period of 2020 to 2024 that were publicly available and focused on RSV burden, vaccinations, or knowledge in the United States.

The proposed phased IV study is a …

Improving Firefighter Health Through Education In Sleep Science, Elisabeth J. Filiss

Master's Projects and Capstones

Sleep impacts all aspects of life, from mental health to physical well-being to job performance. Nowhere is this more important than in the fire service, where extreme working conditions are the norm. One of 44 stations in a large fire department (XFD), Firehouse X, has 21 full-time members, six on duty per shift. A microsystem assessment of Firehouse X revealed poor sleep habits and environmental factors that are not conducive to quality sleep. The role of sleep in the fire service has recently been examined, and interventions aimed at improving firefighters’ sleep have been recommended.

This quality improvement project implemented …

Prospectus For Expected Discharge Date Accuracy (Edd) – Prepare To Go, Mary Jane D. Esmilla Msn, Bsn, Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Accurate Expected Discharge Date (EDD) estimates are not just numbers on a chart. They are crucial for optimizing operations, reducing readmission risk, creating safe, timely discharge plans, identifying obstacles, providing transitional care, and enhancing patient satisfaction (Piniella et al., 2023). A hospital-based organization conducted a quality improvement project to improve EDD predictions and discharges, significantly improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. The project had shown that a 12% increase in accuracy, achieving 60% from the baseline of 48%, can be achieved through strong collaboration, transparent communication, and commitment to real-time documentation.

Context: A team analysis improved EDD accuracy, patient satisfaction, …

3d Chromatin Architecture, Brd4, And Mediator Have Distinct Roles In Regulating Genome-Wide Transcriptional Bursting And Gene Network, Pawel Trzaskoma, Seolkyoung Jung, Aleksandra Pękowska, Christopher H Bohrer, Xiang Wang, Faiza Naz, Stefania Dell'orso, Wendy D Dubois, Ana Olivera, Supriya V Vartak, Yongbing Zhao, Subhashree Nayak, Andrew Overmiller, Maria I Morasso, Vittorio Sartorelli, Daniel R Larson, Carson C Chow, Rafael Casellas, John J O'Shea

Student and Faculty Publications

Discontinuous transcription is evolutionarily conserved and a fundamental feature of gene regulation; yet, the exact mechanisms underlying transcriptional bursting are unresolved. Analyses of bursting transcriptome-wide have focused on the role of cis-regulatory elements, but other factors that regulate this process remain elusive. We applied mathematical modeling to single-cell RNA sequencing data to infer bursting dynamics transcriptome-wide under multiple conditions to identify possible molecular mechanisms. We found that Mediator complex subunit 26 (MED26) primarily regulates frequency, MYC regulates burst size, while cohesin and Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) can modulate both. Despite comparable effects on RNA levels among these perturbations, acute depletion …

Strategic Advocacy: Doula Care, Liminality, And Reproductive Justice, Julie Johnson Searcy, Ellen Block, Angela N. Castañeda

Sociology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Exploring Student Perceptions Of Problem-Based Learning And Clinical Field Experiences: A Phenomenological Study, Ashley Michelle Boles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the experiences of participating in a physical therapy course primarily taught using problem-based learning teaching methods for Doctor of Physical Therapy students at a university in the mid-western United States. This study aimed to understand student perception of PBL and its effects on clinical field experiences (CFEs), specifically related to higher-order processing skills. The theory guiding this study was the social constructivism theory as it explains how knowledge acquisition and learning occurs through social interactions during problem-based learning activities. The central research question this study attempted to answer was: What were …

Standardizing Critical Skills And Competency Validation To Promote Self-Efficacy Among Rapid Response Nurses, Kelli Dail Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Competency validation is a key component of supporting nurses with necessary skills to provide care for their patients. However, many healthcare organizations do not have a standardized process for determining which skills are evaluated and the method by which evaluation occurs. To address competency validation among rapid response nurses (RRNs), this evidence-based practice project was proposed to increase self-efficacy. This project involved a thorough data review of all rapid response skills, categorizing all interventions based on quantity and acuity, and holding a hands-on educational fair for a set of standardized skills. A quasi-experimental design was used to collect data pre- …

An Initiative To Improve Ssi Bundle Metrics Adherence Specific To Post-Op Warming And Temperature Documentation Practices In The Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Dorothy Vergel

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Over the past year, the department failed to meet SSI Bundle Metrics scores consistently due to process identification failures and documentation lapses.

Context: The post-op warming temperature documentation and practices project focused on addressing critical quality issues related to documentation and education gaps in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) microsystem. This project took place in a 249-bed hospital in Northern California, which includes 15 post-surgical bays. The PACU primarily serves patients needing acute care post-surgery, with surgical cases handled, including general surgery, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic and spine surgery, vascular surgery, and urology.

Interventions: The design …

Increasing Resiliency In Front-Line Nurse Managers, Adrianne N. Bunyard-Fallquist

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem

According to Membrive-Jimenez et al. (2020), 29% of nursing managers experience emotional exhaustion due to work overload, conflict mediation, and a lack of support from senior leadership. In a central California hospital, front-line nurse managers struggle to meet organizational goals and support their teams, with 64% indicating dissatisfaction in their roles in fall 2023. This highlights the need to improve job satisfaction and retention.

Context

A large healthcare system in Northern California has implemented Caring Science (Foss et al., 2015) and HeartMath® (HeartMath, 2023) techniques in a rural hospital to improve nurse manager retention and job satisfaction. The project …

Enhancing Teamwork With Cliftonstrengths, Lauren A. Lelaidier

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Poor teamwork has a negative impact on patient safety, patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, healthcare work environments, and staff satisfaction. Effective teamwork is therefore critical but can be challenging.

Context: At a large, non-profit, academic healthcare system in San Francisco, all staff members working in the clinical research services (CRS) department identified teamwork as an area of concern. Teamwork survey results also indicated that teamwork could be improved.

Interventions: A literature review provided evidence that many types of team training are effective in multiple settings. Team training for all CRS staff included three interventions: a CliftonStrengths assessment, a one-on-one …

Implementing The "Baby Drop Bundle", Natalie Aguirre

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Falls are a preventable type of trauma that may lead to serious injury, prolonged hospital stays, and non-reimbursable costs to the organization. While there are established fall prevention policies for ambulatory patients, infants dropped by their caregivers are largely excluded.

Context: This quality improvement project aims to decrease newborn drops by implementing the “Baby Drop Bundle”. The bundle allows caregivers and bedside providers to partner in creating a safe environment for the patient.

Interventions: The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) will provide a brief in-service during the morning safety huddle to introduce the bundle to staff. The bundle includes educational …

Addressing Rural Food Insecurity: A Flexible Approach Using Evidence-Based Practices, Alison Clayshulte

Master's Projects and Capstones

Food insecurity is a major public health problem in the United States that can lead to worse physical and mental health outcomes for millions of Americans. Rural communities struggle with food insecurity at a higher rate, leading to disproportionately higher levels of chronic conditions, obesity, and stress. Food insecurity is a symptom of many factors including underlying social, economic, and institutional obstacles that affect the quantity and quality of available food. Examples of evidence-based programs implemented to address these factors abound, however rural communities have unique challenges that must be considered to ensure programmatic success. This paper explores these challenges …

A Glance Into The Roles Of Higher-Level Academia, Camye White

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project looks at the multiple roles of a full-time faculty member in higher-level academia while looking at implications for best practices to pass the NBCOT certification exam.

Aquatics As A Therapeutic Intervention And Its Effects On The Quality Of Life Of People Diagnosed With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Brianna Barcelo, Lakesia Boykin, Helen Carey

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

: Interventions in the form of aquatics have been utilized with the profession of occupational therapy as the aquatic environment is a model setting for addressing occupational therapy interests (Becker, 2009). Although aquatic interventions are utilized within profession, there is limited research discussing how aquatics as a therapeutic intervention effects the quality of life (QoL) of people diagnosed with ALS. Therefore, the purpose of the research project was to explore the effects of aquatics as a therapeutic intervention on the QoL of those diagnosed with ALS.

A Nursing Education Intervention For Delirium Prevention, Sarah Eckles

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Background

At a large, tertiary care hospital in the Midwest, it had been anecdotally noted that delirium or acute encephalopathy cases were increasing. Specifically, inpatient neurology consultations for delirium were on the rise. This data had been confirmed by hospital administration. Delirium has been identified as a well-known problem in elderly, hospitalized adults—most notably in elderly, postoperative adults. It can cause a cascade of additional complications for elderly patients. Delirium prevention is known to be the best method to combat delirium incidence. Prevention has been proven to occur by way of non-pharmacologic, early interventions by nursing. Bedside nursing staff must …

Central Nervous System Antiviral Pharmacology, Sean N. Avedissian

Theses & Dissertations

Soon after viral infection, viruses like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and SARS-CoV-2 can disseminate throughout the body and establish reservoirs in the central nervous system (CNS). The persistence of viruses in cells of these reservoirs is a major obstacle to virus eradication. This is due to the abundance of cells/receptors that these viruses utilize to gain entry into cells found at these various reservoir sites. Consequently, these same anatomical sites also may be pharmacologic sanctuaries, as evidenced by concentrations of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and antivirals (AVs) that are lower in reservoirs than those in peripheral blood; in some cases, these …

An Integrative Review: Improving Copd Patient Outcomes Using The Teach-Back Method, Bichundo Lambert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common clinical health concern that causes airflow resistance to the lungs and persistent respiratory symptoms, which can impact quality of life for the COPD patient. The condition is common to adults over 40 years of age. It is estimated that 210 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, and its incidence is on the rise. In United States, COPD affects 16 million people and costs the government $24 billion annually. The researchers predicts that COPD will be the third-leading course of mortality by 2030 worldwide. The objective of this integrative review was to …

Put The Vanc Down, Flip It And Reverse It: Comparison Of Vancomycin And Daptomycin Health Care Utilization And Cost In Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy, Amber C. Streifel, Katie Luis, Monark Nakrani, Diana Yu, Monica K. Sikka, Cara D. Varley, Alyse Douglass, Heather Mayer, Kathleen Young, James S. Lewis Ii

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Vancomycin and daptomycin are frequently used in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). We analyze health care utilization and cost to the health care system for vancomycin vs daptomycin in the outpatient setting and find that vancomycin results in significantly higher health care utilization and similar cost per course compared with daptomycin in OPAT.

Are Hearing Aids Designed For All Parts Of The World? An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Preeti Pandey

Dissertations, 2020-current

The affordability of hearing aids (HA) is a significant barrier to ownership in low-and middle-income countries (WHO, 2021). Crowded living conditions in developing countries intensify the complexity of listening environments compared to developed nations. No existing literature compares the listening environment and HA outcomes using real-world measures across these regions. This study aims to 1) compare HA outcomes and listening environments between India and the USA, and 2) evaluate the benefit of premium HAs over basic HAs in both locations. In an observational, multi-location, single-blinded study, nineteen hearing aid users (mean age 69.6 years) participated. Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) were …

Karate For Adolescent’S Mental Health, Brooke Albertson, Lakeisa Boykin, Amanda Piepgras

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Description: Mental health is essential for overall health because it affects emotional, psychological, and social well-being, which affects how individuals feel, act, and think (Center for Disease [CDC], 2022). Everyone can react differently to the same issue, which can cause diverse health risks (Gopalkrishnan, 2018). Mental health affects how people handle stress, interact with others, make choices, and participate in occupations that are important to them (CDC, 2022). Mental health issues are most prevalent in young adult, teen, and pre-teen populations.

By promoting based karate program, occupational therapy can prevent and/or reduce mental health issues (Bird, et al., 2019; Jurewicz, …