Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of An Educational Intervention Regarding The Importance Of Practicing Sun Protective Behaviors Among Racially Diverse College Students: A Quality Improvement Project, Alexandra Jade Palumbo, C. Victoria Framil

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects

Any sun exposure one receives is considered a future risk related to the development of skin cancer. The color of one’s skin and an individual’s race are two key factors that can greatly contribute to one’s potential risk. Young adults have been shown to participate in risky behaviors. Racially diverse individuals are noted to have decreased knowledge related to sun safety and practicing protective behaviors. This quality improvement (QI) project was implemented in a virtual setting within a majority minority serving urban university. Participants included Florida International University’s (FIU) students.

A comprehensive literature search was completed and it revealed a …

The Intra- And Inter-Rater Reliability Of An Arm Care Screening Tool In High School Baseball Coaches, Kyle A. Matsel, Stephanie N. Brown, Matthew C. Hoch, Robert J. Butler, Philip M. Westgate, Terry R. Malone, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Preseason movement screening can identify modifiable risk factors, deterioration of function, and potential for injury in baseball players. Limited resources and time intensive testing procedures prevent high school coaches from accurately performing frequent movement screens on their players.

Purpose: To establish the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a novel arm care screening tool based on the concepts of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA™) in high school coaches.

Study Design: Methodological intra- and inter-rater reliability study.

Methods: Thirty-one male high school baseball players (15.9 years ± 1.06) were independently scored on the Arm Care …

Digital Markers Of Autism, Ivonne Monarca, Franceli L. Cibrian, Monica Tentori

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that affects how a people communicate and interact with others. The use of screening tools during childhood is very important to detect those children who need to be referred for a diagnosis of ASD. However, most screening tools are based on parents' responses so the result can be subjective. In addition, most screening tools focus on social and communicative skills leaving aside sensory features, which have shown to have the potential to be ASD markers. Tactile processing has been little explored due to lack of tools to asses it, however with the …

A Review Of The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Colorectal Cancer Screening: Implications And Solutions, Suneha Sundaram, Sean Olson, Paranjay Sharma, Shanmugarajah Rajendra

Student Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of medical care, including cancer screening and preventative measures. Colorectal cancer screening declined significantly at the onset of the pandemic as the result of an intentional effort to conserve resources, prioritize emergencies and reduce risk of transmission. There has already been an increase in diagnosis at more advanced stages and symptomatic emergencies due to suspended screenings. As endoscopy units find their way back to pre-pandemic practices, a backlog of cases remains. The missed CRC diagnoses amongst the missed screenings carry a risk of increased morbidity and mortality which will only increase as time-to-diagnosis …

The Role Of Healthcare Providers In Using The Knowledge Of Sickle Cell Trait To Mitigate Health Problems In African American Clients., Stella N. Udechukwu

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell trait (SCT) for long has been regarded as a benign condition and as such healthcare providers do little to nothing to mitigate adverse health problems associated with sickle cell trait. An effective approach to improving health outcome for those with SCT is to educate providers on SCT, its complications and management. This study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an educational intervention on providers’ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding sickle cell trait.

Method: A quasi experiment study was conducted in Jackson Health System on 30 providers belonging to internal medicine team to evaluate their …

Knowledge Awareness Of Depression Screening In Individuals With Chronic Liver Disease Among Healthcare Providers In Miami, Florida: A Quality Improvement Project, Glenda Quinones

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects

Depression is a significant public health issue that affects over 350 million people worldwide. Depression has been associated with decreased cognitive function and medication compliance in individuals with chronic liver disease (CLD); however, research indicates a lack of depression screening in this population among healthcare providers in the United States (U.S.). The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase knowledge awareness of depression screening in individuals with CLD among healthcare providers in Miami, Florida. A descriptive, cross-sectional, pre- and posttest design was employed to conduct this project. Convenience sampling technique was utilized to recruit N = 18 participants …

Use Of Electronic Health Records To Manage Tobacco Screening And Treatment In Rural Primary Care, Jean A. Talbot Phd, Erica C. Ziller Phd, Carly Milkowski Mph

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Researchers at the Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine examined whether the use of electronic health records by rural primary care physicians facilitates their use of best practices in addressing tobacco dependence. The study used the National Ambulatory Medicare Care Survey (2012-2015) to explore how rurality and use of tobacco-related electronic health record functions were related to smoking status documentation and cessation treatment at adult primary care visits. Rural-urban comparisons were also examined.

The authors conclude that rural primary care physicians were at least as successful as their urban counterparts in leveraging electronic health records to enhance …

Cognitive And Behavioral Domains That Reliably Differentiate Normal Aging And Dementia In Down Syndrome, Jordan P. Harp, Lisa M. Koehl, Kathryn L. Van Pelt, Christy L. Hom, Eric Doran, Elizabeth Head, Ira T. Lott, Frederick A. Schmitt

Neurology Faculty Publications

Primary care integration of Down syndrome (DS)-specific dementia screening is strongly advised. The current study employed principal components analysis (PCA) and classification and regression tree (CART) analyses to identify an abbreviated battery for dementia classification. Scale- and subscale-level scores from 141 participants (no dementia n = 68; probable Alzheimer’s disease n = 73), for the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), Dementia Scale for People with Learning Disabilities (DLD), and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales—Second Edition (Vineland-II) were analyzed. Two principle components (PC1, PC2) were identified with the odds of a probable dementia diagnosis increasing 2.54 times per PC1 unit increase and by …

A Self-Sampling Collection Program As An Approach That Can Provide More Women Cervical Cancer Screening To Detect Hpv In Kazakhstan, Assem Suleimenova

English Language Institute

A potential for self-sampling Human Papillomavirus testing to include more of the female population in low- and middle- income countries in the cervical screening program (the example of Kazakhstan).

Subjective Cognitive Decline Higher Among Sexual And Gender Minorities In The United States, 2015–2018, Jason D. Flatt, Ethan C. Cicero, Nickolas H. Lambrou, Whitney Wharton, Joel G. Anderson, Erin D. Bouldin, Lisa C. Mcguire, Christopher A. Taylor

Social & Behavioral Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) represents self-reported problems with memory, a possible early sign of dementia. Little is known about SCD among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender or gender non-binary. Methods: Data were weighted to represent population estimates from 25 states’ 2015–2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to describe SCD in adults ≥ 45 years by SGM status. Logistic regression tested associations between demographic and health conditions. Results: SCD prevalence was higher in SGM (15.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI]:13.1–18.2) than in non-SGM adults (10.5%; 95% CI:10.1–10.9; P < .0001). SGM adults with SCD were also more likely to report functional limitations due to SCD than non-SGM adults with SCD, 60.8% versus 47.8%, P =.0048. Differences in SCD by SGM status were attenuated after accounting for depression. Discussion: Higher prevalence of SCD in SGM adults highlights the importance of ensuring inclusive screenings, interventions, care services, and resources for SGM adults.

Improving Depression Screening For Clinical Staff In A Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facility: A Quality Improvement Project, Myrlene Merveille

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects

Abstract

Background: Depression is the most common of mental disorders in the United States affecting a significant portion of the population. Despite the serious consequences of untreated depression, depression screening remains a challenge across healthcare settings prompting the United States Prevention Task Services to develop strong recommendations to improve screening and treatment. Yet, despite those recommendations, lack of knowledge about depression screening continues to impede this process. The presence of substance use in individuals affected by depression worsens the severity of either condition alone. Considering the frequency of co-occurring substance use and depression, it becomes vital that staff working at …

Using The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) Of Health Behavior Change To Explain The Correlates Of Mammography Screening Among Asian American Women, Manoj Sharma, Chia-Liang Dai, Kavita Batra, Ching-Chen Chen, Jennifer R. Pharr, Courtney Coughenour, Asma Awan, Hannah Catalano

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Globally, breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women. The incidence of breast cancer has been growing among Asian American women. Mammography is a screening procedure that provides early diagnosis for the timely treatment to reduce premature mortality due to breast cancer. However, there are no national data available that summarize the rates of mammography screening among Asian American women. Some small-scale studies have reported low rates of mammography uptake among Asian American women. This cross-sectional study utilized the fourth-generation, multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to explain the correlates of mammography screening among Asian American women between …

The Role Of Cardiovascular Ct In Occupational Health Assessment For Coronary Heart Disease: An Expert Consensus Document From The Society Of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (Scct)., Ahmad M Slim, Emilio Fentanes, Michael K Cheezum Md, Iain T Parsons, Christopher Maroules, Billy Chen, Suhny Abbara, Kelley Branch, Prashant Nagpal, Nishant R Shah, Dustin M Thomas, Todd C Villines, Ron Blankstein, Leslee J Shaw, Matthew Budoff, Ed Nicol

Parkview Heart Institute

No abstract provided.

Co-Creating A Legal Check-Up In A School-Based Health Center Serving Low-Income Adolescents, Lisa Kessler, Yael Cannon, Nicole Tuchinda, Ana Caskin, Christina Balz Ndjatou, Vicki W. Girard, Deborah F. Perry

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The Problem: Marginalized populations experience health-harming legal needs—barriers to good health that require legal advocacy to overcome. Medical–legal partnerships (MLPs) embed lawyers into the healthcare team to resolve these issues, but identifying patients with health-harming legal needs is complex, and screening practices vary across MLPs.

Purpose of Article: Academic and community partners who collaborate in an MLP at a school-based health center (SBHC) share their process of co-creating a two-stage legal check-up for adolescents.

Key Points: Screening adolescents for health-harming legal needs is challenging. It took ongoing collaboration to refine the process to fit the needs of …

Microbial Screening Reveals Oral Site-Specific Locations Of The Periodontal Pathogen Selenomonas Noxia, Jaydene Mcdaniel, Steven Mcdaniel, Beanca Jhanine Samiano, Matthew Marrujo, Karl Kingsley, Katherine M. Howard

Dental Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Selenomonas noxia (SN) is an important periodontal pathogen, associated with gingivitis and periodontitis. Many studies have found associations between SN and indicators of poor health outcomes, such as smoking, low socioeconomic status and obesity. However, less is known about the prevalence of this organism and more specifically about other oral site-specific locations that may harbor this organism. Methods: Using an existing patient repository (n = 47) of DNA isolated from saliva and other oral sites (n = 235), including the dorsum of the tongue, lower lingual incisor, upper buccal molar and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), molecular screening for SN …

The Contribution Of Dysphagia To Acute Stroke Morbidity And Mortality In Nigeria: A Prospective Study, O O. Olajide, Philip Adebayo, F T. Taiwo, M O. Owolabi, A Ogunniyi

Faculty of Health Sciences, East Africa

Background:

The assessment of time-trend morbidity and mortality in acute stroke is critical to clinical policy decisions and resource allocation.

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of dysphagia in acute stroke and the impact of dysphagia on short term stroke outcome (30 days post-stroke).

Methods:

This was a prospective longitudinal study. Bedside screening for dysphagia modified Rankin score (MRS) and Barthel Index (BI) were performed on acute stroke patients on day 1, day 7, day 14 and day 30 after stroke to determine the frequency of dysphagia. Patients with dysphagia were then compared with age- and gender-matched controls (stroke patients without …

Reflections Of An Earliest Established Screening And Testing Facility For Covid-19 In The Largest Metropolis, Pakistan, Fatima Kanwal, Karishma Kanhya Lal, Asra Qureshi

Department of Family Medicine

As the world struggles to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, this article talks about the experience and findings of the first COVID-19 screening facility in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Department of Family Medicine at Aga Khan University (AKU) took initiative where COVID-19 screening of stable patients first began in a dedicated area. Since testing kits were limited and community spread had not started, nurses would screen every walk-in patient based on the presence of fever, cough, travel history and exposure to COVID-19 positive patient in the last 14 days, and advise swab testing if indicated. Out of …

Evaluation Of Multi-Level Barriers And Facilitators In A Large Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program In Federally Qualified Health Centers: A Qualitative Study, Ana Bastos De Carvalho, S. Lee Ware, Tamara Belcher, Franceska Mehmeti, Eric B. Higgins, Robert Sprang, Cody Williams, Jamie L. Studts, Christina R. Studts

Ophthalmology and Visual Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Recommended annual diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening for people with diabetes has low rates in the USA, especially in underserved populations. Telemedicine DR screening (TDRS) in primary care clinics could expand access and increase adherence. Despite this potential, studies have observed high variability in TDRS rates among clinics and over time, highlighting the need for implementation supports. Previous studies of determinants of TDRS focus on patients' perspectives, with few studies targeting upstream multi-level barriers and facilitators. Addressing this gap, this qualitative study aimed to identify and evaluate multi-level perceived determinants of TDRS in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), to inform …

Anal Cancer Screening At Truman Health Services, Peter D. Tran, Harshdeep Babbar

Quality Improvement/Patient Safety Symposium

Anal Papanicoloau Screening at Truman Clinic

Anal cancer is a squamous cell cancer associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), the same virus that is associated with cervical cancer. Although vaccination against HPV has been shown to be effective in reducing overall rates of infection, the number of new anal cancer cases has been rising for many years. In HIV-infected men and women, the incidence is even higher of anal cancer than in the general population. Current rates in an HIV-infected MSM population have been estimated to be as high as 70-144 per 100,000, with some studies of HIV-infected individuals showing that …

Association Of Race With Lung Cancer Risk Among Adults Undergoing Lung Cancer Screening., Christine S Shusted, Nathaniel R Evans, Hee-Soon Juon, Gregory C Kane, Julie A Barta

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Depression Symptoms And Covid-19, Kaylee Armendariz

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Student Works

The COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges in behavioral healthcare. Americans may face anxiety surrounding the virus, economic strain, isolation, and grief, putting them at increased risk for depression symptoms. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to increase depression screening rates and utilized data from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to identify population groups at higher risk for depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) depression screening tool, a statistical analysis determined if being tested for COVID-19 or testing positive for COVID-19 had an impact on depression symptoms. Additionally, this project …

Human Trafficking Awareness Among Psychiatric Hospital Nursing Staff, Donna J. Czech, Tracy L. Brewer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Human trafficking is a public health crisis on a global, state, and local level. Victims of human trafficking are a vulnerable population who pass-through healthcare systems unrecognized by nurses and other healthcare professionals due to a lack of awareness about identifiable signs, symptoms, and circumstances. Nurses are in a crucial position to assess trafficking victims for a referral. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) pilot project was to understand nurses’ knowledge and awareness on human trafficking and assess the perceived ability to identify trafficked individuals in a psychiatric care setting for screening and potential referral. Nurses received an online …

Detect Schools Study Protocol: A Prospective Observational Cohort Surveillance Study Investigating The Impact Of Covid-19 In Western Australian Schools, Marianne J. Mullane, Hannah M. Thomas, Melanie Epstein, Joelie Mandzufas, Narelle Mullan, Alexandra Whelan, Karen Lombardi, Tina Barrow, Sherlynn Ang, Adele Leahy, Ewan Cameron, Leanne Lester, Matt Cooper, Paul Stevenson, Mitch Hartman, Anne Mckenzie, Francis Mitrou, Stephen R. Zubrick, Juli Coffin, Donna Cross, Asha C. Bowen, Peter Gething

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction: Amidst the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the transmission dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is key to providing peace of mind for the community and informing policy-making decisions. While available data suggest that school-aged children are not significant spreaders of SARS-CoV-2, the possibility of transmission in schools remains an ongoing concern, especially among an aging teaching workforce. Even in low-prevalence settings, communities must balance the potential risk of transmission with the need for students' ongoing education. Through the roll out of high-throughput school-based SARS-CoV-2 testing, enhanced follow-up for individuals exposed to COVID-19 and wellbeing surveys, this study investigates the dynamics …

Empowering The Indiana Bridge Inventory Database Toward Rapid Seismic Vulnerability Assessment, Leslie Bonthron, Corey Beck, Alana Lund, Farida Mahmud, Xin Zhang, Rebeca Orellana Montano, Shirley J. Dyke, Julio Ramirez, Yenan Cao, George P. Mavroeidis

JTRP Technical Reports

With the recent identification of the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone in addition to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Indiana’s Department of Transportation (INDOT) has become concerned with ensuring the adequate seismic performance of their bridge network. While INDOT made an effort to reduce the seismic vulnerability of newly-constructed bridges, many less recent bridges still have the potential for vulnerability. Analyzing these bridges’ seismic vulnerability is a vital task. However, developing a detailed dynamic model for every bridge in the state using information from structural drawings is rather tedious and time-consuming. In this study, we develop a simplified dynamic assessment procedure …