Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Systematic Review Of The Association Between Cultural Competence And The Quality Of Care Provided By Health Personnel, Amanda Skipworth

Honors Projects

The purpose of this research project is to determine if a relationship exists between cultural competence and the quality of care administered by health care professionals. Challenges with providing care begin to arise when cultural barriers limit the provider’s ability to provide adequate care. In the past, many professionals have struggled with how to approach patients from diverse backgrounds and this discomfort continues to grow. With minority populations in the United States rapidly growing, it is largely beneficial for these professionals to understand and be aware of the varying cultures seeking medical care. To address the research question, a systematic …

Buddhist Meditation Effects On Emotion Control, Sarah Battiston

Exemplary Undergraduate Research

There has been a surge in popularity of meditation in medical research. Meditation is being considered an alternative to pharmacotherapy or a supplement to treatment of both mental and physical ailments. Two popular forms of meditation practices are being studied. This includes mindful meditation which finds it roots in Buddhist meditation techniques and the meditation practice of Zen Buddhism. Both forms outline a specific activity of meditation in order to achieve a goal. Mindful meditation and Zen Buddhism similarly partake in a sitting meditation with focus on breath and present awareness. Mindful meditation challenges the practitioner to become aware of …

Dominican Sisters Quality Of Life Assessment, Eva Vanartsen

Other Undergraduate Research

Background: The quality of life in older women has been found to decrease with poverty, poor health, decreased access to healthcare and low education, while marriage and children can both improve or decrease the quality of life. The information on the quality of life of older women living in faith based communities is lacking.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the quality of life and factors impacting quality of life in Sisters living in an assisted living facility.

Methods: The short form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) was used to measure quality of life of the Dominican …

Images Of Nursing From West Michigan: A Photo Essay, Aldina Mahmutovic

Honors Projects

The image of nursing is diverse and complex, with public perceptions influenced by traditional imagery and negative stereotypes. Few recent studies consider how nurses view their professional image. My study aimed to uncover how West Michigan nurses perceive the image of nursing. Approval was given by the local Sigma chapter (Kappa Epsilon at Large), to recruit participants from members, and by Grand Valley's IRB. Via an online REDCap survey, participants submitted an original photo and written narrative. Submissions were searched for underlying patterns using thematic analysis. Themes identified were: (1) nurses establish relationships with unique and vulnerable clients, using their …

It’S Not About You—It’S About Me, Robert F. Johnson

Peer Reviewed Articles

Hold Me, a film written and directed by Teace Snyder (2016) was distributed by email to palliative care clinicians and educators. The viewpoint presented here is not a review of this movie as a drama for entertainment. Rather it reviews the film to address the suggestion by its producers that it could serve as an adjunct to palliative care professional education.

Drumming Past And Present: Examination Of Historical And Current Medicinal Effects, Megan M. Boerema

Honors Projects

Drumming is an activity with a long and rich history, rooted in many different cultures around the world. Traditionally, the art of drumming has been used for a wide variety of purposes including as a part of religious ceremonies, to promote psychological well-being, and to foster a sense of community. It has been used in a variety of cultural healing practices throughout the world since the beginning of ancient history (Newman et al., 2015).

Many cultures use drumming in healing ceremonies as a means for promoting an altered state of consciousness of the ill individual, the healer, and any others …

Reconnecting Veiled Minds Through Music, Carolyn A. Scharf

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Reconnecting Veiled Minds Through Music: A Volunteer Experience Evaluation, Shelby N. Gird

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

The Exploration Of The Health Care Systems Of The United States And Belize Including A Cultural Analysis, Laura Hughes

Honors Projects

Health systems throughout the world may have a profoundly different, or extremely similar structure. A well-known, industrialized nation, the United States has an unusual system, which Shi and Singh (2008) describe as “unnecessarily fragmented” (p. 2). Highly unusual for a developed country, this system does not guarantee access to medical care for all of its citizens. On the other hand, a small Central American country more known as a vacation hotspot, Belize ensures health care for all inhabitants of this tropical nation. How can these major differences affect health outcomes? What could these two vastly different countries have in common …