Digital Commons Network^™

Minimally Invasive Therapies In The Treatment Of Arthropathy, Steven Bateman

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

It is estimated that 27% of adults over 45 years of age suffer from osteoarthritis of the hip secondary to articular cartilage damage over the lifespan. Joint pain diminishes life quality, limits range of motion and overall activity, and frequently impairs basic ambulation. These functional deficits worsen the progression of comorbidities that are often referred to as lifestylerelated chronic disease as physical activity subsequently declines. This literature review explores the efficacy of minimally invasive therapies that precede and delay surgical intervention in adult patients experiencing functional limitations and pain in major joints. The study examines the effectiveness of various interventions, …

Blood-Based Versus Stool-Based Biomarker Accuracy In Detection Of Colorectal Cancer And Impact Of Non-Invasive Tests On Patient Participation, Allison Obritsch

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Colorectal cancer is a very treatable cancer when detected early, therefore patient adherence and colorectal cancer screening is key to decrease mortality. The purpose of this research and systematic literature review was to determine how the accuracy of blood-based and stool-based biomarkers compared in the detection of colorectal cancer and how noninvasive testing modalities influence patient participation in colorectal cancer screening. Only articles published within the past 10 years were included. A combination of keywords and MeSH phrases to include but not limited to “adherence,” “SEPT9,” “colonoscopy,” “multitarget stool,” and “colorectal cancer” were used to find relevant articles for each …

Benzimidazole Adjuvant Therapy: A Review Of Efficacy And Safety In Patients With Cancer, Jared Mouw

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

This literature review aims to compile previous studies’ data and explore the effects of benzimidazoles as an adjuvant therapy and its relationship to a patient’s cancer biomarkers, tumor progression, and quality of life. In addition to the aforementioned, we will attempt to review data to identify the safety and toxicity profile of benzimidazoles within a population of patients currently diagnosed with cancer to determine if this class of medications could be implemented along with current cancer treatment regimens to increase efficacy and tolerance. To determine this, the databases of CINAHL, ClinicalKey, and PubMed were searched with the keywords mentioned below. …

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Versus Internet Cognitive Behavior Therapy In Adults With Anxiety Or Depression, Heather Greenwood

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

According to the American Psychiatric Association, the prevalence of anxiety and depression in adults in their lifetime are nearly 30% and 16.6% respectively. The combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy interventions (including talk therapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)) are considered best practice, but in recent years there has been an increase in the popularity of applications and web-based services categorized as “internet cognitive behavior therapy”, or ICBT. The question proposed is, are these services as good for patient outcomes as traditional in-person CBT? A literature review was performed using electronic medical database PubMed with key word searches for cognitive behavior …

Evaluating And Comparing The Safety And Efficacy Of Rimegepant Versus Lasmiditan In Aborting Acute Migraine Headaches In The Adult Migraineur, Anthony Douthit

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Migraine headaches are one of the most common causes of primary headaches. Worldwide, migraines are one of the leading causes of disability and while the mechanism of migraines are not entirely understood, they result in significant disability for those who experience them. Dihydroergotamine was introduced for migraine treatment in the 1920s and in the 1990s triptans were introduced and have been the mainstay of acute migraine treatment since their introduction. In recent years, there have been several developments in the acute treatment and prophylaxis of migraine headaches. Some of the more widely studied and recently developed interventions include calcitonin gene …

Long-Term Control Of Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus And Weight Through Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Versus Weight Loss Medication, Alexandra Laber

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects hundreds of millions of individuals in the United States and is only becoming more common. The disease can damage organs all throughout the body and even lead to death. The goal of treatment is to lower blood glucose, but since T2DM tends to be associated with obesity, another common goal in treatment is weight loss. However, this is difficult for many people to achieve, and intense medical treatment is sometimes needed. Since T2DM is a lifelong disease, interventions must be considered in the long term. The purpose of this project is to compare long-term …

Alternative Treatment Modalities For Plantar Fasciitis, Chelsey Clark

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Plantar Fasciitis is a common and frequent condition in adult patients. The purpose of this literature review is to determine whether evidence exists for alternative treatments in the regimen of plantar fasciitis that has not been resolved with the standard treatment. The review was done using Pubmed, CINAHL and SportDiscus. Research was included on the following alternative treatments of PF: corticosteroid injections, extracorporeal shockwave, dry needling, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Autologous Blood Injection (ABI), cupping, custom insoles, and ultrasound therapy. A total of 12 research articles were included in this review. The alternative treatments considered within this literature review had some …

Efficacy Of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Vs. Calcitonin Gene Related Peptides In The Application Of Migraine Prophylaxis, Matthew Davis

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Worldwide migraines affect millions of people everyday causing significant impact on patient’s lives. Oftentimes, these patients have failed several first-line therapies for migraine prophylaxis causing pharmaceutical companies to develop newer therapies. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) devices versus calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) antagonists in the application of migraine prophylaxis. PubMed and ClinicalKey were searched with key terms, 17 sources were selected that were published after 2016. Sources included meta-analysis, literature review, and randomized control trials. The data showed that TENS devices as well as …

Proning Versus Respiratory Pharmacotherapeutics In Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients, Sasha Marie Hopfauf

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this research and literature review is to compare the use of prone positioning and respiratory pharmacotherapeutics within hospitalized COVID-19 patients and the outcomes associated with each. A literature review was performed using the databases PubMed, Clinical Key, DynaMed, and CINAHL. A variety of key terms were used when searching. Studies chosen were retrospective reviews, a cross sectional study, an interventional study, and a pilot study. Articles within the last three years were utilized after exclusion criteria was applied. A total of thirteen articles were included within this project. The research shows that pulmonary vasodilators such as inhaled …

Gabapentin As An Effective Treatment Option For Alcohol Use Disorder, Monica Hurst

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to determine whether gabapentin is an effective treatment option for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Utilizing data sourced primarily from published clinical trials, gabapentin’s effect on heavy drinking, abstinence, withdrawal symptoms and alcohol cravings will be explored. This review will also compare gabapentin’s efficacy against currently approved AUD treatment options, along with what dosages are most efficacious while contributing the fewest adverse effects. The data presented in this literature review undeniably demonstrates a positive effect of gabapentin on alcohol use disorder; Specifically, the data shows that gabapentin at multiple dosages helps to decrease heavy …

Active Toxoplasmosis Infection: Efficacy And Safety Of Treatment Options, Daniele Krouse

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

This literature review intends to investigate the safety and efficacy of two different drug treatment regimens, pyrimethamine versus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, for active toxoplasmosis infections. Affecting nearly 11% of the United States population and up to 80% of the populations of tropical countries, Toxoplasmosis infection is the second leading cause of death from food borne illness. Current classic management of active infection with pyrimethamine is correlated with numerous undesirable side effects, high cost and need for complex use of adjunctive medications. It is necessary to identify alternative treatment options with fewer side effects, less complex regimens, lower cost, and easier access for …

Safety And Efficacy Of Apixaban Vs Rivaroxaban: In Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation, Cody Dewitt

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia in developed countries, warrants anticoagulation for stroke prevention. Updated guidelines recommend direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over historically used warfarin. The purpose of this review is to compare clinical safety and efficacy outcomes between apixaban and rivaroxaban. In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation on a direct oral anticoagulant, is there a significant difference in safety and efficacy between apixaban and rivaroxaban? Does decreased kidney function change safety and efficacy? Does varying BMI such as low weight or obesity change safety and efficacy? A retrospective literature review was conducted utilizing PubMed databases. Articles included …

Associations Between Screen Use And Depression In The Youth Population, David Franta

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The association between depression in the youth population and screen use has remained largely unclear. Depression is a common finding in children and adolescents, and as mobile phones, computers, and television are becoming more readily available to young populations, evaluation of the relationship between the two could likely be very important. Unfortunately, little concrete evidence has been established regarding the direct effects of screen time and the presence or development of depression. A literature review comprised of both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies was performed to evaluate the current literature regarding screen use and depression in the youth population, including differences …

Food Intolerance In Patients With Depression, Victoria Gingrey

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Depression is a multifactorial condition affecting people worldwide. Medication is commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression, but some patients have difficulty finding a medication that is both effective and tolerable while others prefer to avoid medications all together. It has been suggested that dietary modification may reduce the depressive symptoms. As lifestyle changes may be difficult to maintain long term, determining specific foods to avoid for individual patients may improve adherence. A meta-analysis of 10 articles was performed. Articles were found using the electronic search databases PubMed and PsychInfo. Serology differences were appreciated between patients with depression and healthy …

Pregnancy Planning: Hormonal Contraception Versus Natural Family Planning, Melanie Loehrer

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Statement of the problem: Natural family planning methods provide women with an opportunity to use natural methods to plan pregnancy. This is done through daily monitoring of symptoms and biomarker fluctuation in accordance with hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle to identify the fertile window. Through the identification of the fertile window and ovulation, one can determine appropriate days for sexual intercourse. This format allows participants to develop a greater understanding and in-depth knowledge of reproductive health to avoid or achieve pregnancy. The use of natural family planning has greatly increased over the last two decades, growing the demand for …

Platelet-Rich Plasma Vs Corticosteroid: Osteoarthritis Symptoms, Joshua Zetocha

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that hundreds of millions of people suffer from across the world (Palazzo et al., 2016). Currently, corticosteroid intra-articular injections are frequently administered to help with pain and inflammation related to OA (Pereira et al, 2015). A relatively new treatment option is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) intra-articular injections. PRP injections use the patient’s own plasma, injected into the affected joint space, to reduce inflammation and potentially improve both pain and functionality. This literature review will investigate whether the newer PRP injections relieve pain and improve functionality of OA patients better than corticosteroid injections. The literature review was …

Effectiveness Of Knee Joint Injury Treatments In The Prevention Of Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis, Jenna Zaeske

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to determine the effectiveness of rest, physical therapy, and/or surgical intervention following either anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or meniscus injuries in short- and long- term osteoarthritis outcomes. The short- and longterm outcomes were evaluated to compare the prevalence and progression of osteoarthritis after joint injury. In this literature review, the electronic database PubMed was used to find relevant research. Many keywords were used when searching for articles. Sources included for review had research on ACL or meniscus injuries specifically. Other knee injuries, non-knee injuries and non-human subjects were excluded. Articles …

Corticosteriod Injection Vs Therapy Vs Combination For Shoulder Rotator Cuff Injuries, Rodney Guy Palmer Jr.

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Rotator cuff pathologies seen in a primary care setting ranks third for musculoskeletal complaints seen by primary care providers. Rotator cuff pathologies can cause significant dysfunction in activities of daily living (ADLs), work tasks, and daily life. Current treatment recommendations are intra-articular steroid injections, therapy only rehabilitation, or the combination of the two. This literature review researched articles comparing the effectiveness of steroid only treatments, therapy only treatments, and the combination of the two. There was conflicting evidence regarding which treatment was the most effective. Significant side effects for steroid injections were discovered which included rotator cuff rupture. Therapy demonstrated …

The Effects Of Food On Mood: Implications Of Mediterranean And Plant-Based Diets On Depression Symptom Prevalence And Severity, Kaitlyn Prochnow

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to determine whether adherence to a Mediterranean diet or a plant-based diet has better effects on decreasing depression prevalence and/or symptom severity. A variety of keywords were used to search the online database, PubMed. Clinical trials and randomized controlled trials conducted within the last 20 years were included in the initial search. Exclusions were made if studies were not specific to Mediterranean or plant-based diets, or if they were focused on other psychiatric illnesses besides depression. For the final review, ten articles were selected. After thorough analyses and comparisons of …

Associations Between Social Media And Mood, Madison Connors

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

Since its emergence, social media has evolved quickly and to become more widespread year by year (Pew Research Center, 2021). Along with the steady increase of social media use, there has also been a steady increase in depression in the United States, especially in those aged 12-17 (Mental Health America, 2022). This purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social media and mental health by replicating a study conducted by Shensa and colleagues (2017) that investigated the relationship between social media use and depression in U.S. young adults, but also to include measures of fear of missing …

Let’S Groove: A Dance Program Designed For Children With Disabilities, Michayla Burckhard

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Children with disabilities face limited opportunities to participate in the occupation of dance when compared to opportunities available for their non-disabled peers. Barriers to their participation include lack of class opportunities, cost, and knowledge about programs (Carrion et al., 2018). Many dance studios offer integrated or non-specialized classes, but participation by a child with a disability in this type of class is sometimes limited by parental or child fears, or other barriers such as lack of accommodations (Lucas, 2017).

Addressing Adherence To Home Exercise Programs In A Hand Therapy Setting, Austin B. Ellis

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Roughly 1,100 per 100,000 persons experience an upper-extremity injury per year including burns, fractures, or amputations (Ootes et al., 2012). These upper-extremity injuries can impact a person’s physical function, activities of daily living (ADL), social, psychological, and financial aspects in life (Che Daud et al., 2016b). These statistics warrant the need for occupational therapy practitioners specializing in hand therapy, and other hand therapists to address these areas of client’s lives that have been affected by their upper extremity injury.

The Mind Matters: Interprofessional Mental And Emotional Health Guide For Cancer Survivors, Jaecy Giegerich

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Cancer is the second-highest leading cause of death in the United States with approximately 1.9 million new cancer cases and over 600,000 deaths in 2022 alone (Department of Health and Human Services et al., 2022). Cancer-related mental health is a primary barrier for engagement in treatment-related care; negatively impacting survivors’ perceived quality of life (Islam et al., 2022). Comprised mental health is one of the contributing factors to suicide. Patients undergoing a cancer diagnosis are at an ever-high suicide risk with incidences higher than other diagnoses (Saad et al., 2019).

The Newly Arrived Client: Applying Culturally Responsive Occupational Therapy Approaches To The Refugee Population To Promote Occupational Justice, Dominique Menard

Occupational Therapy Capstones

At the end of 2021, there were 836,300 Somali refugees and asylum seekers worldwide; in Minnesota alone, there are more than 70,000 Somali refugees, which is the largest concentration in the United States (Culture Care Connection, 2022; The UN Refugee Agency, n.d.). As with many refugee populations, Somali refugees experience many healthcare inequities including limited understanding of the resettled nation's healthcare system, poor functional health literacy, provider and/or interpreter gender preferences, discrimination, and limited cultural competence of providers (Eklöf et al., 2019; Fang et al., 2015; Gele et al., 2016; Houston et al., 2021; Njenga, 2022; Wångdahl et al., 2018). …

Conservative Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of Patient With Atraumatic Anterior Sternoclavicular Joint Subluxation: A Case Report, Fallon N. Hill

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Atraumatic Anterior Subluxations of the Sternoclavicular Joint (SCJ) are a rare upper extremity injury that may cause range of motion (ROM) and strength deficits to the shoulder joint due to pain and feelings of instability. There are a variety of approaches for management as with SCJ subluxations, but atraumatic anterior displacements respond mostly to conservative management or masterly neglect.

Case Description: The patient was a 63-year-old female with an atraumatic anterior subluxation of her right side. The patient did not qualify for surgical or physician intervention and was referred to physical therapy for conservative treatment and pain …

The Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction On Electromyography Activity Of Proximal And Distal Upper Extremity Musculature, Nicole Mazour

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Blood flow restriction therapy (BFR) has become a popular means of strength training and intervention used by physical therapists, athletic trainers and body builders. BFR allows for high intensity resistance training at a low intensity training level. It has been shown that BFR increases muscular hypertrophy and strength due to the vascular occlusion that occurs during BFR application. When performing BFR a pressurized tourniquet cuff is applied to the proximal portion of the selected limb. Individuals complete exercise between 20-40% of their 1 repetition maximum (RM) while utilizing the BFR cuff for improvements in muscular strength. Most BFR …

Reading The Warning Signs: Preventive Mental Health Youth Education Program, Cammy Cate Robertson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Wyoming is the third leading state in suicide related death (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018; Wyoming Department of Health, n.d.). According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2022), suicide is the second leading cause of death in individuals aged 10-14. One in six youth experiences a mental health disorder yearly, while 50% of individuals aged 14 begin to have lifelong mental health concerns (Kessler et al., 2005; Whitney & Peterson, 2019). Students who experience depression are twice as likely to drop out of school, and students with mental, emotional, or behavioral concerns are three times more …

Best Practice Occupational Therapy Interventions For Addressing Trauma And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Practitioner Guide, Madison Kay Ertelt

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts approximately 3.6% of adults and 5% of adolescents in the United States and has pervasive impacts on occupational performance (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) likely encounter clients with PTSD frequently due to this widespread prevalence in addition to trauma being comorbid with a variety of mental and physical health conditions. Despite the widespread prevalence of trauma, many OTPs find that trauma-informed care is not adequately implemented in practice (Holman et al., 2022). There is a gap in the literature regarding occupational performance deficits experienced among clients with trauma, knowledge of …

Religion-Justified Childhood Maltreatment And Adult Psychological Maladjustment, Hannah Doctor

Theses and Dissertations

The perpetrator of religion justified child abuse relies on spiritual beliefs (religious texts, context, or authority) to justify acts of maltreatment. This form of abuse can be manifested in many different contexts including infamous scandals of sexual abuse committed by catholic priests and the physical/sexual/emotional maltreatment occurring at Native American or other boarding schools for troubled youth. Parents and caretakers often claim "to spare the rod is to spoil the child”. Previous research has suggested that maladjustment outcomes after traumatic events are less severe among victims with strong religious beliefs. This study hypothesized that religious justified abuse would be associated …

Association Of Generalized Joint Hypermobility And Occurrence Of Musculoskeletal Injury In Physical Therapy And Occupational Therapy Students, Katie A. Harris

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: Previous studies have found a higher rate of hypermobility among physical and occupational therapy students compared to the rate of hypermobility within the general public. Hypermobility has been linked to increased injury rates. This raises the question of the influence hypermobility has on injury type and recurrence.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the rate of hypermobility and injury history among physical and occupational therapy students. The injury type and frequency of those with hypermobility was compared to those without hypermobility to determine if there was a relationship. The Foot Posture Index was used …