Digital Commons Network^™

The Ethical Justification Of Increasing Awareness Of Preventive Medicine Among Healthcare Professionals, Patients And The General Public In The United States, Karishma Ether Moazzam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While practiced for centuries, preventive medicine has received increased attention during the recent times. Preventive medicine has a distinct mission to protect, promote, and maintain health as well as to prevent diseases, disabilities, and premature deaths. It aims to fulfill its mission through the combined form of clinical intervention and health promotion. In the recent years, preventive medicine has begun to lean more towards the clinical interventions, taking away from the health promotion. This imbalance has caused preventive medicine to lose its effectiveness in fulfilling its mission. One of the leading causes for such imbalance is the lack of proper …

Orthodontically Induced External Root Resorption In Extraction Versus Non-Extraction Treatment Modalities – A Retrospective Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (Cbct) Study, Jaykishan Patel

Theses & Dissertations

Purpose of this study was to evaluate orthodontically induced external apical root resorption using cone beam computed tomography in patients receiving orthodontic treatment with or without extractions. Records of 188 consecutively treated patients who received orthodontic treatment with or without extractions were evaluated. Pre-and post-treatment root lengths of maxillary incisors, volumes of maxillary central incisors, and apex displacement of either right or left maxillary central incisors were measured using Invivo 5.4 or ITK-SNAP 3.8.0 software. After adjusting for initial length, treatment duration, tooth, sex, race, bracket type, and malocclusion, maxillary incisor reduction of root length in extraction group was 0.37 …

The Effectiveness Of Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Varnish In Preventing White Spot Lesions During Fixed Appliance Orthodontic Therapy: An In Vitro Study, Bradley Herman

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of a glass ionomer varnish in preventing demineralization of enamel adjacent to and some distance away from an orthodontic bracket. Forty extracted human molars were divided into four different treatment groups (varnish in distilled water, varnish in acetic acid, enamel in acetic acid, and enamel in distilled water). Two 3 x 3 mm graphite windows were drawn on the tooth, one adjacent to the bracket and one 3 mm away from the first window, indicating the scanning area. Varnish was applied to the teeth in the varnish groups and all …

Statistical Analysis Of Social Network Change, Teresa Danielle Schmidt

Dissertations and Theses

This project explores two statistical methods that infer social network structures and statistically test those structures for change over time: regression-based differential network analysis (R-DNA) and information theory-based differential analysis (I-DNA). R-DNA is adapted from bioinformatics and I-DNA employs reconstructability analysis.

This project applies both R-DNA and I-DNA to analyze Medicaid claims data from one-year periods before (May 2011- Apr 2012) and after (Jan 2013-Dec 2013) the formation of the Health Share of Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (CCO). The formation of CCOs was legislated by the state of Oregon in 2012 with the triple aim of improving health outcomes, reducing …

Increasing Utilization Of Motivational Interviewing To Promote Pediatric Oral Health, Ulyses Reamico

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) remains high even in developed countries such as the United States. An interprofessional education (IPE) project between University of San Francisco (USF) School of Nursing and Health Professions and the University of the Pacific (UoP), Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry was initiated four years ago to enhance nurse practitioner (NP) and dental students’ pediatric oral-systemic health assessment and health promotion communication skills. Since then, USF NP students received pediatric oral health assessment training and spent clinical rotations at UoP to provide pediatric oral care alongside dental students. This doctor of nursing (DNP) project …

Dnp Project: Development Of A Nurse-Led Pop-Up Clinic Model In San Diego, Jennifer King

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Baccalaureate nursing programs across California (CA) are required by the state board of nursing to provide theory of public health and applied clinical learning to meet the requirements of the state’s public health nurse (PHN) certification. Students in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs are expected to enter the workforce prepared to address population health needs that synthesize community-based assessment and understand epidemiologic approaches to strategize interventions in diverse populations at the local, state and national levels. To adequately prepare nurses for true population health practice, clinical experiences need to be in appropriate settings where they can apply theory …

Dirty Water: The Newburgh Water Crisis, Shantal Riley

Capstones

Dirty

Dirty Water: the Newburgh water crisis

Summary

This project covers the ongoing water crisis in the City of Newburgh, New York. It tells the story of the contamination of the city’s drinking water by chemicals known as PFAS – short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Valued for their resistance to water and oil, the chemicals are found in carpets, furniture, clothes, non-stick cookware, food packaging and a range of industrial products. They’re nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment. They’re also found in fire foam, which was used at Stewart Air National Guard Base. Located …

Art-Based Health Education For Homeless And Marginally Housed Women In San Francisco, Trineca R-N Godfrey

Master's Projects and Capstones

San Francisco currently has the highest rate of unsheltered homeless persons in the United States. Between limited resources and stigma many women included in this most vulnerable population are left with little to no support. Cis women as well as trans and non- binary people are at high risk for negative mental health outcomes due to violence (physical and psychological), stigma, lack of social support, societal marginalization, and the lack of healthcare. Lyon-Martin Health Services and the Women’s Community Clinic, in San Francisco’s Mission Neighborhood, caters to this community through its Outreach Department. Following a staff and outreach client needs …

How Does Access To Healthcare Affect Life Expectancy?, Yara Mahmoud

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Access to health care is a pressing issue in the United States, whether it be the cost of care or not having enough of it. To emphasize the importance of this topic, this paper assesses the impact of access to health services on life expectancy. A comparison is made between the universal health systems in France and Spain and the mixed system in the United States. Even though the United States spends the most on health care in the world, its statistics fall below those of other developed countries. After addressing other risk factors, it was found that individuals under …

Gender Differences In Opioid Prescribing Patterns Among Adults In The Us, Salena Marie Preciado

Pharmaceutical Sciences (MS) Theses

This project aims to evaluate gender differences in opioid prescribing in ambulatory care and emergency department settings. The retrospective analysis of opioid prescribing rates in the US included all adult medical visits from 2006-2016. Data was collected from two nationally representative surveys, The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital and Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Eligible patients were at least 18 years old on the date of the visit. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify factors associated with opioid prescribing.

Rates of opioid prescribing increased for both men and women over the study period. …

Evaluating The Utility Of Protein Biomarker, S100a7, And Diagnostic Test, Straticyte, In Predicting The Progression Of Oral Dysplasia, Lachlan Mclean

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Five-year survival of oral cancer has remained relatively unchanged despite advancements in treatment, mostly because diagnosis is often made at an advanced stage of disease. The progression of dysplasia to oral cancer often follows a stepwise progression. Histopathology is considered the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing dysplasia and lesions at a high risk of progression to oral cancer, but lends itself to subjectivity. The protein biomarker, S100A7, in oral dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma has shown some predictive value for the transformation of dysplasia to cancer. Straticyte, a diagnostic test utilizing S100A7 to predict the probability of progression of oral dysplasia …

Bone Mineral Density Of The Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops Truncatus: A Proposed Model For Monitoring Osteological And Ecosystem Health, James Wright Burrus Powell

Dissertations and Theses

Bone mineral density (BMD) in the pectoral flipper of the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, was examined to address the need to define a comprehensive target site for clinical osteodensitometric assessment and to establish ranges of observed bone density values for this species. Radii were analyzed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the accepted standard in human medical studies. Multiple loci within the radius were identified and assessed for their correlation to BMD of the entire bone. Radii BMD were also examined for differences based on sex, age, total body length, handedness, geographical affinity, and nutritional status at time …

Evaluating Preventative Care And Post-Hospitalization Primary Care Follow-Up In Adults With Intellectual And/Or Developmental Disabilities, Jason Xenakis

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Post-Hospitalization Primary Care Follow-Up Abstract

Title: Characteristics that are associated with primary care follow-up and discharge summary receipt post-hospitalization in adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Background: Transition from an inpatient to an outpatient setting is a high risk time for patients. Studies in the general population find that poor post-hospitalization primary care follow-up results in higher rates of readmissions – a widely used indicator of healthcare quality. There is no research that evaluates post-hospitalization primary care follow-up or discharge summary receipt in the IDD population.

Objective: To explore the demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics that are associated with whether …

Oral Development And Breastfeeding: An Assessment Of The Lactation Care Provider Approach, Robin Gatlin

Dental Hygiene ETDs

Breastfeeding influences the infant’s oral development in many ways. Lactation care providers work closely with the mother-infant pair and may be the first to provide information on oral health. The purpose of this study is to assess lactation care provider’s perception, attitude and behavior on the relationship between breastfeeding and oral development; including oral malocclusion, breathing patterns, tethered oral tissues and dental caries. A survey sent to lactation care providers who are members of The United States Lactation Consultant Association. A total of 12 members participated in the survey. Of that, 11 were International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and …

Engaging Hmong Americans Long-Term Use Of Healthcare Technology Using Culturally Revised Social Cognitive Theory Model, Peggy Xiong

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Information technology benefits the world, and it’s required for health care system, such as electronic medical records (EMR). User acceptance model is to systematically study how users come to accept and use a technology. For example, the cultural values of a society restrict use of technology in which an individual can be less incline to accept it. There is a significant amount of Hmong population in great Milwaukee area. Spirits are a central part of Hmong religious beliefs where the spirit is tied to health. Chronic disease is believed to be caused by bad actions done by the individual’s …

Increasing Adult Annual Wellness Visits, Martha Caceres

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase adult annual wellness visits in a high-volume family practice clinic. The significance of an adult annual wellness exam is health maintenance, disease prevention, early disease detection, and management of chronic diseases. Approximately 133 million Americans are diagnosed with at least 1 chronic disease, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and 1 in 4 adults are diagnosed with multiple chronic diseases (Raghupathi & Raghupathi, 2018). In 2011, the Affordable Care Act mandated insurance companies to remove deductibles for preventative health services, relieving the financial burden of out-of-pocket expenses (Borsky et al., …

Kujdesi I Infermieror Ne Te Semuret Me Hemofili, Çëndrim Jetishi

Theses and Dissertations

Hyrje: Hemofilia është një sëmundje hemorragjike recesive e lidhur me kromozomin X i karakterizuar nga mungesa apo deficienca e faktorit VIII (hemofilia A ose hemofilia klasike) ose e faktorit IX (hemofilia B ose sëmundja Christmas). Subjektet mashkullore preken klinikisht; femrat që mbartin një gjen të vetëm me mutacion përgjithësisht janë asimptomatike. Cilësia e kujdesit infermieror është shkalla e kujdesit shëndetësor për pacientin rrit mundësinë e rezultatit të dëshiruar dhe në përputhje me njohuritë aktuale profesionale (Anrlab, 2006). Shkalla e përsosmërisë me respektimin e shërbimeve mjekësore dhe infermierore të perceptuara në aspektin teknik, të kompetencës përshtatshmërinë, pranueshmërinë, njerëzimin dhe strukturën (Wikipedia, …

Using The Adam Questionnaire In Primary Care To Identify Hypoandrogenism In Males Aged 40 Years Or Older, Jeremy Burns

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has been shown to improve the symptoms of metabolic syndrome by reducing Hemoglobin A1C, belly fat, cholesterol, and blood pressure (Cunningham, 2015). The ultimate goal for testosterone-deficient patients is to have an improved quality of life by starting TRT. This quality improvement project was conducted at a small primary care clinic in South Texas. The project was started by screening 84 male patients ≥ 40 years of age using the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM) questionnaire. The ADAM questionnaire was considered positive for anyone who answered “yes” to 3 or more questions or “yes” to …

Patient-Perceived Patient-Centered Medical Home Characteristics And Healthcare Utilization, Expenditure And Quality, Alissa Ratanatawan

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model is a care delivery model which patient treatment is coordinated through their primary care physician to ensure they receive the necessary care when and where they need it, in a manner they can understand with the aims to improve healthcare quality while keeping healthcare cost growth under control. The objective of this study was to analyze health service utilization, expenditure and quality of civilian noninstitutionalized US adult population in healthcare facilities that have 3 domains of PCMH features, which are comprehensive care, patient-centered care, and accessible care, using patient’s perspective from the 2016 Medical …

Hiv-Related Discriminatlon And Cervical Cancer Screening In Zambia, Crystal J. Cazier

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Background: The Republic of Zambia has the third-highest incidence of cervical cancer in the world, where approximately 700,000 women over age 15 are living with HIV. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) are at increased risk for cervical cancer. While literature suggests that discrimination is a barrier to HIV care, no studies have explored if discrimination experienced in HIV clinics is related to cervical cancer screening using nationally representative datasets. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to examine whether perceived discrimination by healthcare workers due to HIV status is related to having been screened for cervical cancer among WLHIV. …

Physical Activity Among Preschool-Aged Children: Considerations For Waking Activity Patterns And Health, Erin Dooley

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

With nearly one-quarter (23%) of U.S. preschool children (ages 3-5 years) having overweight or obesity, supporting healthy growth and development is paramount. Hispanic children have the highest prevalence within this age group (15.6%) and a large projected population growth. Energy expenditure through physical activity is one way to combat excess development of obesity and poor health outcomes. Yet there is limited evidence about the correlates associated with physical activity and health within this population. The three studies of this dissertation examined sociodemographic-, cultural-, and context-related factors related to waking activity patterns and the subsequent impact on health indicators. The overall …

An Analysis Of The Economic Barriers To Oral Healthcare Access In Omaha, Nebraska, Elias Witte

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Existing research regarding the analysis of the distribution of oral healthcare practitioners has been conducted across large metropolitan areas within the United States in order to determine the magnitude of healthcare resource deficits. Such research has demonstrated significant deficits in access to oral healthcare predominantly in lower-income urban areas. Consequently, patients in these socioeconomically disadvantaged areas have less access to routine oral care, which impacts their overall health and well-being. While there is an abundance of studies examining this issue in other localities across the country, there is a lack of information regarding the distribution of oral healthcare practitioners in …

Engaging Hmong Americans Long-Term Use Of Healthcare Technology Using Culturally Revised Social Cognitive Theory Model, Peggy Xiong

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Information technology benefits the world, and it’s required for health care system, such as electronic medical records (EMR). User acceptance model is to systematically study how users come to accept and use a technology. For example, the cultural values of a society restrict use of technology in which an individual can be less incline to accept it. There is a significant amount of Hmong population in great Milwaukee area. Spirits are a central part of Hmong religious beliefs where the spirit is tied to health. Chronic disease is believed to be caused by bad actions done by the individual’s …

Quantitative Study Of The Antimicrobial Effects Of Silver On The Motility Of Escherichia Coli, Benjamin Russell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent decades, the number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections has grown to become a serious global threat. This rise can be attributed to the widespread misuse of antibiotics and the lack of newly developed drugs to fight resistant organisms. Novel bactericidal substances have, therefore, garnered significant research interest. Silver, due to its powerful antimicrobial effects, is one such substance. Silver is typically most effective in cationic form; however, advancements in nanotechnology have paved the way for the controlled fabrication of nano-silver. Silver nanoparticles have been shown to have increased antibacterial potency for a variety of reasons, including the release of …

Improving Diabetic Foot Screening In A Primary Care Clinic For Homeless Adults: A Quality Improvement Project, Theresa Causa

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The purpose of this project was to increase the adherence of clinic providers at the homeless primary care clinic by implementing the American Diabetes Association Clinical Guidelines for the evaluation and management of Type 2 diabetes with foot care. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects 13% of the Texas adult population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The homeless person's main method of transportation is walking. The complications of undiagnosed foot problems include reduced mobility, pain, lower limb amputations, and difficulty controlling chronic diseases including diabetes and depression. Provider responsibilities include screening for diabetes in all …

Implementing A Tracking And Referral Follow-Up Process To Increase Screening Colonoscopy Adherence Within A Primary Care Setting, Stephanie Villanueva

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Within the United States, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in both women and men. The American Cancer Society approximated that 97,220 new colon cancer cases and 43,030 rectal cancer cases would occur within 2018. Overall, it was estimated there were approximately 50,630 colorectal cancer deaths in 2018. Despite recommended guidelines, reported screening rates are only 31% to 55%, well below the goal of 75% set by the American Cancer Society. The purpose of this project was to increase preventative colorectal cancer screening referrals and completion of colonoscopies for qualified individuals age 50–75 years within a family …

We've Got You Covered, Meghan Cooper

Graduate Scholarly Works

White paper for the Health Promotion and Wellness department and the Condom Concierge program.

The Effect Of Pigmentation On Thermoplastic And Thermoset Elastomeric Power Chain, William Taylor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of pigmentation on force levels and their degradation over time in orthodontic power chain of different chain types and manufactures.

Materials & Methods: Groups consisted of closed power chain from American Orthodontic (AO) thermoplastic (TP) in 5 colors, AO thermoset (TS) in 2 colors, Ormco TP in 4 colors, Ormco TS in 2 colors, and Rocky Mountain Orthodontics (RMO) TS in 5 colors (18 groups total, 10 chain samples in each group). Testing was performed over a period of 6 weeks at intervals of initial (T0), 1 hour (T1), …

Faith Healing: An Unregulated Health Domain, Farhan Mushtaq

MSJ Capstone Projects

Despite Pakistan having adopted modern forms of treatment as part of its official healthcare regime, many non-traditional treatment types are still prevalent in the country - faith healing being one of them. It has a wide acceptance among the masses, be it country’s cities or rural areas.

There are many factors that have forced people to seek alternative forms of treatment: inadequate healthcare facilities, weak healthcare legislation, and religious misconceptions surrounding health-related concerns.

This capstone project is focused on highlighting the flaws in Pakistan’s healthcare regulations that have failed to devise a robust mechanism to curtail the practice. It includes …

Chronic Environmental Exposure To Metal Mixtures In Tribal Populations And Potential Immune System Effects, Jennifer Ong

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Hardrock mining in the United States (US) has left a legacy of mixed metal mine waste sites. Wastes may contain multiple metals of health concern, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and uranium, among others. Mining waste sites are disproportionately located on or contiguous to the watersheds of tribal lands. Due to proximity, and because of reliance on natural resources to maintain traditional diets and customs, Native American communities’ contact with multiple metals is often increased. Two impacted communities are the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and Navajo Nation. Both tribes have expressed concerns that metals in mine waste adversely affect …