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A Reexamination Of The Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Investigating The Cogency Of The Model’S Behavioral Pathway, Madison Sunnquist

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive behavioral theories of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) assert that cognitions and behaviors perpetuate the fatigue and impairment that individuals with CFS experience (Wessely, Butler, Chalder, & David, 1991). Vercoulen and colleagues (1998) utilized structural equation modeling to empirically develop a cognitive behavioral model of CFS. The resulting model indicated that attributing symptoms to a physical cause, focusing on symptoms, and feeling less control over symptoms were associated with increased fatigue. Additionally, individuals who attributed symptoms to a physical cause reported lower activity levels and more fatigue and impairment. However, in an attempt to replicate this model, Song and Jason …

Moderating Effects Of Ethnic Identity On The Relationship Between Environmental Stressors On School Suspensions Of Urban Latino/A Youth, Carlos Luna

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Latinos are the largest growing and overall youngest population in the US, in comparison to other ethnic groups. Nearly 40% of Hispanic youth were found to be living in poverty, the largest group of any minority. As of 2014, 20% of Hispanics had less than a high school education and fourteen percent had an educational attainment between ninth and tenth grades; indicating that they had begun a high school education but were unable to finish. Racial and ethnic disparities have also been found to exist within the justice system; Hispanics accounted for twenty-two percent of the prison population while only …

Young Survivors Of Disaster: A Meta-Analytic Review Of Mental Health Interventions For Children And Their Families, Theressa L. Labarrie

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Disasters, both natural and human-made, are on the rise. While disasters affect everyone, the most vulnerable populations are often hardest hit. Our nation’s youth are among the most vulnerable, suffering the most severe psychological repercussions. This is a population in need of empirically supported post-disaster mental health interventions. However, the research on mental health treatments for post-disaster trauma treatment among youth is still in its developmental stages. There is no known synthesis of treatment interventions for youth and their families, even though there is clear evidence that this population is among the most vulnerable to the effects of disaster exposure. …

Affective And Deliberative Processes In Decision Making: Option Framed Scenarios, Charles E. Drehmer

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

As the internet becomes more widely used as a marketplace, consumers are increasingly faced with scenarios where they have to customize products by adding features to a base model or delete features from a fully loaded model, a phenomenon known as option framing. People can now customize their vacations, pizzas, personal computers, shoes and cars with the click of a mouse. Recent research has shown consumers will end up with more features and spend more money when they have to remove features from a fully loaded model versus adding features to a base model (Biswas, 2009; Park & Kim, 2012). …

Mutagenic Analysis Of Sh3 Binding Site In The Avian Chb6 Alloantigen, Rohini Bhattacharya

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

To effectively eliminate the variety of pathogens that an individual may encounter in their lifetime, the immune system has evolved to recognize many different antigens. Within adaptive immunity there are also safe guards where the self-reactive or defective cells are eliminated (1). The removal of such cells is by apoptosis, which is a form of cell suicide characterized by an orderly breakdown of the cell to limit the leakage of cytoplasmic components that could cause inflammation. Apoptosis can be initiated by signaling through specific cell surface molecules and is carried out by downstream mediators. While several model systems of apoptosis …

Wellness Interventions In An Asian American-Specific Mental Health Setting, Pui Kwan Ma

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) on average die 25 years sooner than individuals in the general population. The elevated mortality is mainly due to preventable medical conditions and barriers to care. Primary care-behavioral health integration and wellness interventions have shown to be effective in addressing the disparities. However, racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the literature. In particular, the disparities in health conditions and access to care among Asian American immigrants with SMI are exacerbated by unique cultural and linguistic barriers in healthcare service delivery. The current thesis examined a multi-year multi-faceted wellness intervention designed for Asian American …

The Role Of School Climate In Mitigating The Effects Of Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status And Violence On Academic Achievement, Linda D. Ruiz

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

In recent years the quality of education available to children has become increasingly dependent on the social and economic demographics of neighborhoods in which the children live. This study assesses the role of community violence in explaining the relation between SES and academic outcomes and the potential of positive school climate to promote academic achievement. With a sample of 297 Chicago public elementary schools, we test the hypotheses that violent crime mediates the relation between SES and academic achievement, and school climate has a direct effect on achievement and moderates the relation between SES and academic achievement. Results support the …

Examination Of The B Coefficient In Gap Crystal Utilizing Single And Double Photon Absorption, Ines Kusmic

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

A laser of 0.800 mm at 100 fs is utilized in obtaining a b coefficient in a GaP crystal associated with double photon absorption. Data is collected for the incident power of the laser for both single and double photon absorption, and it is plotted against the signal generated in the photodiode containing the GaP crystal. The slope of such a plot is employed in calculating b with equations derived in the theoretical model that is unique to the present work. The data for single photon absorption is utilized in calculating the thickness of the GaP crystal, while the data …

What's Hope Got To Do With It? A Narrative Inquiry Into The Hope Levels Of High School Students Diagnosed With Soft Disabilities, Cynthia Norbeck

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This two-phase qualitative study was designed to explore the hope levels of high school students receiving special education services for mild intellectual disabilities or emotional/behavioral disabilities using a narrative inquiry approach. In order to better understand how student participants perceived their special education experiences and how their individual perceptions related to their hope levels, the Adult Hope Scale (AHS) was administered to seven students and scored during the study’s first phase. Semi-structured interviews were subsequently conducted with five high school students chosen from the original group for the study’s second phase. Interviews were reported in narrative form and key common …

Evaluating Situation Awareness In The Nurse Anesthesia Trainee During High Fidelity Simulation, Jamie Natale

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia care for patients within a complex and dynamic environment. Errors and adverse events during anesthesia have declined greatly over the decades, yet when errors occur they are devastating. Anesthesia providers must train for adverse events and develop skills to provide excellent care to patients. Situation awareness skills are proven to advance safety in other complex, dynamic professions, whereas situation awareness training and research is newly evolving in anesthesia.

A situation awareness seminar was developed from a review of relevant literature. A mixed methods research design was utilized for this pilot study. Nurse anesthesia trainees (NATs) were …

Dnp Project: Effectiveness Of Video Simulation Training To Increase Knowledge And Confidence In The Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Mishawna K. Bohner

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Background: Video instruction as a form of education has steadily increased over the past two decades (Whatley & Ahmad, 2007). Current research supports the use of web-based video learning as an adjunct to traditional education to increase knowledge and competency of skills. Despite the many studies showing the effectiveness of video based learning into traditional based learning methods, there are few web-based anesthesia specific platforms with reviewable audio-visual outlets for student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNA) to increase clinical skill competency and confidence.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a newly developed web-based clinical simulation …

A Needs Assessment For The Development Of The Time Anesthesia Handoff Tool, Courtney K. Gibney

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Standardized handoff is critical to providing safe and effective patient care. Limited studies assess the need for developing a handoff tool for anesthesia providers.

The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess the need for a standardized anesthesia handoff tool and to identify the most essential components to develop an anesthesia handoff tool.

Descriptive survey design was utilized. Anesthesia providers were asked to complete an online survey.

Fifty-three of 82 (64%) respondents did not currently use a systematic process during anesthesia handoff. Most (73%) felt they were given inadequate information and forty (48.8%) sometimes discovered information that was not …

Entrepreneurship As Empowerment: How Women Are Redefining Work, Charlynn Odahl

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The number of women who are entrepreneurs in the United States has steadily risen since the 1970s and today women found almost half of all new companies. For women, creating their own companies through entrepreneurship may be a way to reject existing work settings, where existing setting and gender dynamics may limit their advancement, creativity, or flexibility. Indeed, entrepreneurship may serve as a form of empowerment to enable women to pursue greater control over their lives. Yet research on the lived experience of this population is limited, with few studies examining the lived experience of this important group. Also, existing …

Capstone: Child Temperament And Parenting Styles As Predictors Of Bmi, Sophia A. Mir

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This capstone examines how child temperament and parenting style predict child BMI in a sample of low income, ethnic minority children 1-4 years old, as well as the moderating role of parenting style in child temperament predicting child BMI. Dimensions of both child temperament and parenting style have been found to be protective of high child BMI in pediatric populations. Few studies have explored the longitudinal relationship between child temperament and parenting style and child BMI, and even fewer have examined the interaction between the two in predicting child BMI. This study includes measures of child temperament, parenting style, and …

Parasite-Related Modification Of Multiple Traits In An Isopod Host, Tracey J. Park

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Parasites are organisms that live on or in hosts, which they typically require to complete their life cycles. Acanthocephalus dirus is an acanthocephalan parasite that exhibits an indirect life cycle that requires two hosts, with a Caecidotea intermedius isopod as the intermediate host and fishes as the definitive hosts, in order to complete its life cycle. Infected C. intermedius individuals have been observed to have altered hiding behavior, in which they have an increased amount of time exposed to predators. Also, infected C. intermedius individuals have demonstrated an increase in activity patterns, which could increase their conspicuousness to visual predators. …

Cooperation And Facets Of Psychological Collectivism As Antecedents Of Team Mental Model Similarity, Neal Benoit Outland

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated the role of facets of trait psychological collectivism (Preference, Reliance, Concern, and Goal-Priority) and the personality trait cooperativeness in the development of Team Mental Models. Team Mental Models (TMMs) are shared representations of a work team’s context that aid a team in directing behaviors and coordinating actions. I utilized Marks, Mathieu, and Zaccaro’s (2001) taxonomy of team processes to explicate and test a model detailing the role of composition in TMM development. Data were collected from 35 teams of 5 individuals who completed a computer simulation in which the team interdependently replicated pictures using blocks. Multiple regression …

Preoperative Non-Opioid Medications For The Management Of Postoperative Pain: Creation Of An Educational Module Based On The Knowledge And Attitudes, Pooja N. Mehta

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Background: Current clinical studies have shown that preoperative non-opioid medications are an effective method to reduce moderate to severe pain in the postoperative settings, but are not commonly utilized in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients.

Purpose of this study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of anesthesia providers about the preoperative use of three different non-opioid medications: clonidine, acetaminophen and gabapentin for the treatment of postoperative pain in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients.

Design: A descriptive survey research design was used to determine anesthesia providers’ knowledge and attitudes regarding preoperative non-opioid medications. A modified evidence based knowledge and …

Evaluation Of Perioperative Intravenous Fluid Administration And Development Of A Goal-Directed Therapy Protocol In Adult Total Hip Arthroplasty Procedures, Amannda Casper

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Background: Variations in intravenous fluid (IVF) administration practice can result in unwarranted intraoperative volume replacement and suboptimal patient outcomes. This is especially important in patients undergoing moderate risk surgery, such as total hip arthroplasty (THA). 2 Study Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate current IVF administration practices during adult THA procedures, and to develop a goal-directed therapy (GDT) protocol in order to better standardize and optimize future fluid administration practices at the University of Illinois Chicago Hospital and Health Sciences System (UIC). Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted. Intraoperative clinical data was extracted from electronic medical …

Development Of An Educational Seminar On Coping With Stress For Nurse Anesthesia Trainees, Becky Belk

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Stress is the body’s way of responding to something out of the norm, or a stressor. Stressors affect nurse anesthesia trainees (NATs) to unpredictable levels of stress. The purpose of this study was to explore stressors experienced; ways to cope with stressors as perceived by NATs, if there was any association between socio-demographic variables to the various ways of coping with stress, and development of a one-hour seminar on different ways to cope with stress during a nurse anesthesia program.

A survey was distributed to members of the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetists (IANA), which identified demographic information, stressors, and …

Dnp Project: Effect Of Convenience On Participation In Recycling By Anesthesia Providers In The Operating Room: A Pilot Study, Brittany A. Schuler

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Anesthesia providers are in a position to contribute to the financial and environmental health of their institution through recycling. One of the barriers to participation in recycling by anesthesia staff as identified by the researchers of this study is a lack of convenience. Researchers sought to measure the effect of convenience on participation in recycling by anesthesia providers working in the seventeen operating room suites at NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Hospital. The researchers conducted a pilot study implementing a program to enhance the convenience of recycling. Participation, measured by weight in kilograms (kg) of recycled material, was compared pre- and …

Dnp Project: Knowledge And Attitudes Regarding Current Technology To Prevent Drug Diversion, Grant T. Balbarin

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to assess Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNA) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) knowledge and attitudes about current interventions using technology to prevent drug diversion. A descriptive survey was sent to current Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetists members that included SRNAs and CRNAs. The survey was a modified version of the Evidence-based nursing tool originally developed by Upton and Upton (2006) and was coded utilizing a Likert scale. Data were collected from a sample of 145 SRNAs and CRNAs. Knowledge regarding drug diversion was in the neutral range with a mean = 2.64 - …

Dnp Project: Reversal Of Neuromuscular Blockade With Neostigmine: Development Of An Evidence-Based Practice Protocol, Kyle L. Mayer

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Background/Significance: A large population of patients entering the post-operative anesthesia care unit (PACU) with residual neuromuscular blockade (NMB), as defined by a Train-of-Four ratio < 0.9, has been reported in the literature. Patients with residual NMB have a higher likelihood of respiratory insufficiency and failure, and many others experience uncomfortable feelings of muscle weakness. Neostigmine is a commonly used agent to reverse NMB, but little is known about factors which affect use and dosing.

Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this Scholarly Leadership Project was to identify the factors being considered by anesthesia providers when using neostigmine as a reversal agent for NMB. The findings from this study and current evidence were utilized in the formulation of a set of evidence-based practice guidelines for the reversal of NMB with neostigmine.

Design: This study utilized a descriptive, online survey design.

Methods: A survey was sent through the email LISTSERV of the Illinois Association …

Dnp Project: Anesthesia Cost Awareness Project: Price List Of Common Anesthetic Drugs, Betty L. Mestousis

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Background: Anesthesia providers have full access to medications to administer anesthesia, yet many providers are not aware of the costs of the medications that are administered.

Objective: To examine the effects of providing a price list for the common anesthetic drugs in the operating room, to determine if a price list will change cost awareness among anesthesia providers, and to assess provider’s attitude toward price list intervention.

Methods: This is a descriptive comparative research study that uses a pre-intervention survey to assess if the anesthesia providers have a knowledge base of the cost for the anesthetic medications. A price list …

Dnp Project: Effectiveness Of Video Simulation Training To Increase Knowledge And Confidence In The Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Erica Anna Kubis

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Background: Video instruction as a form of education has steadily increased over the past two decades (Whatley & Ahmad, 2007). Current research supports the use of web-based video learning as an adjunct to traditional education to increase knowledge and competency of skills. Despite the many studies showing the effectiveness of video based learning into traditional based learning methods, there are few web-based anesthesia specific platforms with reviewable audio-visual outlets for student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNA) to increase clinical skill competency and confidence.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a newly developed web-based clinical simulation …

Anesthesia Providers' Knowledge And Attitudes On Fire Risk Assessment During Time-Out In The Operating Room, Kathryn D. Coletto

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Background/Significance: Operating room fire is included in a category of “never-events” which are preventable and often result in poor patient outcomes. However, there is currently no standard policy amongst industry organizations regarding the inclusion of fire risk in the operative time out, though all organizations recognize that the risk exists.

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the knowledge and attitudes of anesthesia providers on fire risk assessment during time-out in current clinical practice.

Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used.

Methods: Active members of the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetists were asked to participate in an …

Effects Of Convenience On Participation In Recycling By Anesthesia In The Operating Room: A Pilot Study, Alaina S. Murley

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Anesthesia providers are in a position to contribute to the financial and environmental health of their institution through recycling. One of the barriers to participation in recycling by anesthesia staff as identified by the researchers of this study is a lack of convenience. Researchers sought to measure the effect of convenience on participation in recycling by anesthesia providers working in the seventeen operating room suites at NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Hospital. The researchers conducted a pilot study implementing a program to enhance the convenience of recycling. Participation, measured by weight in kilograms (kg) of recycled material, was compared pre- and …

Evaluating Situation Awareness In The Nurse Anesthesia Trainee During High Fidelity Simulation, Caitilin C. Pierchala

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia care for patients within a complex and dynamic environment. Errors and adverse events during anesthesia have declined greatly over the decades, yet when errors occur they are devastating. Anesthesia providers must train for adverse events and develop skills to provide excellent care to patients. Situation awareness skills are proven to advance safety in other complex, dynamic professions, whereas situation awareness training and research is newly evolving in anesthesia.

A situation awareness seminar was developed from a review of relevant literature. A mixed methods research design was utilized for this pilot study. Nurse anesthesia trainees (NATs) were …

Anesthesia Cost Awareness Project: Price List Of Common Anesthetic Drugs, Minnie C. Zhou

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Anesthesia providers have full access to medications to administer anesthesia, yet many providers are not aware of the costs of the medications that are administered.

Objective: To examine the effects of providing a price list for the common anesthetic drugs in the operating room, to determine if a price list will change cost awareness among anesthesia providers, and to assess provider’s attitude toward price list intervention.

Methods: This is a descriptive comparative research study that uses a pre-intervention survey to assess if the anesthesia providers have a knowledge base of the cost for the anesthetic medications. A price list is …

Living And Loving: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Dating And Sexual Relationships Of Hiv-Positive Young Black Gay, Bisexual, And Other Men Who Have Sex With Men, Darnell N. Motley

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Infection with HIV is a global pandemic that continues to have particular impacts on Black men who have sex with men. Accordingly, researchers have examined risk behaviors in order to inform interventions that seek to decrease transmission. However, there has been relatively little research that has examined the dating and sexual experiences of Black GBMSM living with HIV absent a particular focus on sexual risk and potential transmission. The present study seeks to better understand the dating and sexual experiences of a sample of young Black GBMSM living with HIV. Twenty young Black GBMSM living with HIV were interviewed using …

An Innovative Approach To Preventing Depression: Examining The Experiences Of Mothers And Daughters Who Participate In The Cities Mother-Daughter Project, Tasha M. Brown

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current study employed qualitative inquiry to examine the experiences of mothers and daughters who participated in the Cities Mother-Daughter Project, an intervention aimed at preventing depression in low-income urban African-American girls, study participants included 9 mothers and 9 daughters. Qualitative analysis was used to examine the subjective experiences of mothers and daughters who participated in the Cities Mother-Daughter Project. Seven overarching themes emerged when participants reflected on their experience in the group intervention: 1) value of group, 2) desire for continued intervention, 3) suggestions for improvement, 4) skills learned in group, 5) mother-daughter relationship, 6) personal change, and 7) …