Business Commons^™

The Blessed Assembly: Irreplaceable Physical Co-Presence In Worship And Healthy Hybridity Reimagined After The Pandemic In The Digital Age, Yvette, Ying Wai Lau

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

Because of the unprecedented and unexpected force of the pandemic since 2020, most churches around the world have experienced some online worship during the lockdown of their cities or the mandated closure of the church buildings. For many people, online worship seems to be an equivalent, if not better, alternative for gathering together—a physical co-presence in worship—even after the pandemic has ended. As necessary and vital as online worship experiences have been for Christians during the pandemic, the witness of the church from Pentecost throughout Christian history indicates that gathered worship in physical spaces is irreplaceable for faith formation and …

Leadership In Extreme Contexts: An Emerging Typology, Ashley Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the relationship between leadership and extreme contexts through the lens of rural hospitals facing environmental jolts. Rural hospitals offer a unique setting for this research, given their inherent geographic isolation, lack of resources, and the critical role these facilities play in their communities. Through a qualitative analysis of interviews with Chief Executive Officers of rural hospitals, this research takes a grounded approach to build theory surrounding how leadership not only shapes but is shaped by extreme contexts and environmental jolts. The research results in four primary contributions. Namely, this study extends existing typologies on leadership in extreme …

Naturify 2300, Yarina Yiwei Dai

Masters Theses

In my art practice, I explore the interplay between human desires to manipulate and anthropomorphize nature, as seen in the technological augmentation of plants and living entities. This investigation delves into how this intersection, alongside empathy towards these creations, contributes to fears of uncontrollability and the risks of addiction and excessive dependence on technology.

Bioengineering and genetic modification have cultivated unprecedented developments, allowing humans to manipulate the fundamental building blocks of life. My research speculates on this technology further, modifying the genetic code of organisms and creating bioengineered wearable entities with enhanced traits or entirely new functionalities. The primary objective …

Condiciones Laborales De La Floricultura En Colombia, Alexander Thibado

University Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes the laboral conditions and the socioeconomic implications of the Colombian floriculture industry. The proportion of employment opportunities for rural Colombian peasant women is examined and how it challenges traditional gender structures in Colombia and the empowerment of the female workers. Likewise the controversy of domestic violence is addressed and how workshops given in flower farms contribute to its prevention and addressing. In addition, the usage of pesticides in flower production and its significance for the health of the workers is examined, highlighting the associated risks with long-term exposure to chemical pesticides and the importance of protection and …

Crafting Community Solar Programs To Alleviate Energy Burdens And Empower Communities In Virginia, Elizabeth Anne Sekelsky

Master's Projects and Capstones

Low to moderate-income (LMI) groups usually suffer from high energy burdens and community solar is a renewable energy strategy that can save LMI groups on their monthly electricity bills. This research explores the intersection of renewable energy and energy justice, specifically the potential for community solar, energy efficiency, and home weatherization to alleviate Virginia's energy burdens. Included is an analysis of incentives, programs, and Greenhouse gas emission goals for the state, investigations on how low-income groups are receiving aid and what is available to them from programs and utilities, suitable sites for solar based on groups in need, and comparisons …

Mental Health Among Collegiate Athletes, Stella Elise Fairbanks

Honors Thesis

Mental health has become increasingly more linked with athletics, especially collegiate athletics. There has been an increase in public acknowledgment of the presence of mental health in sports, specifically, more athletes are speaking about their mental health struggles as well as more research is being conducted in order to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between mental health and athletics. This literature review discusses athletes’ personal experiences of their mental health struggles, the presence of stigma associated with mental health and athletics, and the results of the recent NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association, research. This thesis aims to uncover …

The Causes And Implications Of Burnout Among Graduate Assistants, Katherine Mary Kuka

Masters Theses

Introduction & Background

Acting as both a student and staff member of a university, the unique role of graduate assistants can often become a catalyst of burnout and stress. Recent studies found 60% of graduate assistants met the criteria for burnout (Park et al., 2021) and 43% of graduate students claim to be experiencing more stress than they can handle (Allen et al., 2021). In this case, burnout is defined as, “A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress” (Parker & Tavella, 2022). Graduate assistants are a subpopulation of graduate students that is growing …

Adaptive Leadership: Nurse Executives Building Organizational Adaptive Capacity During Times Of Crisis, Challenge, And Change, Kristian Poitier

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by nurse executives in acute care hospitals to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership identified by Heifetz et al. (2009).

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study identified and described the perceived impact of adaptive leadership on building an organization’s adaptive capacity as perceived by nurse executives in acute care hospitals, for-profit and not-for-profit, with the title of chief nursing officer (CNO) or chief nurse executive (CNE) in Southeast, West, and North Florida. The researcher was part of a …

Medicine Men: Medicine Match A Program To Increase Male Participation In Targeted Areas Of The Healthcare Field, Anthony Paul Huffman

Honors Projects

The Medicine Men program addresses the imbalance in gender representation in low and middle-level healthcare careers. The program uses a website named Medicine Match to achieve this goal, which offers shadowing, talking, and additional resources with verified medical professionals. Medicine Match provides an engaging platform for individuals interested in exploring healthcare careers. The program's methodology involves creating connections between aspiring professionals, following the path of role models, fostering a sense of community, and educating and empowering target populations. Through a theoretical test and analysis, Medicine Men seeks to demonstrate its efficacy in increasing interest, knowledge, and comfort among male students …

The Dearth Of Knowledge Of Health Insurance Literacy Within The United States, Katherine A. Conzet

Honors Thesis

This literature review and cross-comparison were conducted to combine resources that bring to light the lack of knowledge on health insurance, the impact of this low health insurance literacy (HIL), and the lack of research being done in this subject field. This thesis analyzes and compares different research that measures HIL levels and compares these findings. At the same time, this thesis presents the complex history of health insurance and how this understanding can contribute to lower population HIL and proposes different ways to accurately measure HIL. The purpose is to show the necessity for more research into the field …

The Effects Of Covid-19 Stressors And Supervisor Support On Emotional Exhaustion And Work Engagement, Meiqiao Gu

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, working conditions have worsened, subjecting employees to numerous stressors. Analyzing the impact of COVID-19 stressors on employees‘ well-being and work motivation is crucial. The job demands-resources model (JD-R; Demerouti et al., 2001a) provides a framework for evaluating how COVID-19 stressors affect employees‘ well-being and motivation in the workplace. Given the complexity of job characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with challenges in obtaining adequate support from supervisors who are also facing considerable work pressure, this study examines the continued relevance of the JD-R model in this evolving work environment. Specifically, four hypotheses were …

A Job Satisfaction Evaluation Of Nursing In The United States And Greece Utilizing The American Nurses Association's Scope And Standards Of Practice, Audrey Narhi

Honors Projects

Nursing is a multifaceted profession that is constantly evolving with the health needs of the populations it serves. Professional organizations within the field utilize evidence-based practice to provide guidelines of what best-practice nursing is. This study aims to evaluate if the American Nurse's Association (ANA), a professional nursing organization in the United States, supports the realities of nursing in a rural US hospital. An international perspective is also considered by evaluating the same principles to a urban hospital in Athens, Greece. Categories that align with ANA Scope and Standards, including workplace environment, career development, supervisor relationships, and personal work practice, …

Bridging The Gap: Evaluating The Impact Of Buprenorphine-Based Prenatal Care On Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome And Maternal Health, Whitney-Lanae Crofcheck-Glenn, Jennifer Nethercutt

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), now known as Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) by government authorities, is a severe postnatal withdrawal condition caused by opioid exposure during pregnancy. NAS is diagnosed every 25 minutes in the United States. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine was used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and NAS. The MOTHER trial found that utilizing buprenorphine to treat mother OUD during pregnancy led to significant decreases in LOS and length of therapy.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a prenatal care program that integrates buprenorphine-based Medication-Assisted Treatment …

Burnout For General Surgeons, Luke Edwards, Lindsay Mckelvey

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: In the healthcare sector, burnout among surgeons has emerged as a critical issue, impacting both the well-being of medical professionals and the quality outcomes of patient care. Research has consistently shown that long hours, high workloads, demanding results, and mental fatigue make physicians more vulnerable to experiencing burnout than others. Studies have revealed alarming statistical rates, with a significant percentage of surgeons reporting physical exhaustion and mental health repercussions. This trend is further enhanced by the demanding nature of the medical environment, where work-related stress and burnout have become common concerns.

Purpose of the Study: The negative effects of …

How Increased Ransomware Attacks Have Impacted Hospitals In The United States, Mackenzie Dotson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The healthcare industry, particularly hospitals, have fallen prey to the alarming rise of ransomware attacks. In recent years, highly sophisticated cybergroups, armed with substantial funds and advanced technology, have intensified their focus on hospitals. Despite the advice against it, most hospitals have paid the ransom in order to regain access to their electronic systems and patient data, underlining the severity of these attacks.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of ransomware attacks on hospitals in the US to determine if the patients were at risk due to hackers withholding patient information …

The Benefits Of Medical Tetrahydrocannabinol On Glaucoma, Hunter Kane

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: This paper explores the potential therapeutic benefits of medical Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on glaucoma management, particularly in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, ocular blood flow, and symptom management. Glaucoma, characterized by increased IOP and progressive optic nerve damage, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. Current treatments focus on IOP control but may have inadequate efficacy or intolerable side effects, necessitating alternative approaches such as medical THC.

Methods: The study hypothesis posited that medical THC could significantly reduce IOP, enhance ocular blood flow, and improve symptom management in glaucoma patients. To test this hypothesis, a literature review supplemented by …

On The Brink: Unveiling The Crisis Of Burnout Among Va Clinic Physicians, Aaron Clarke

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: This study investigates the significant challenge of burnout among physicians at Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics. Characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, physician burnout is a growing concern that compromises the well-being of the doctors and the quality of healthcare they provide. Recent studies have shown an alarming increase in burnout symptoms among healthcare providers, reflecting systemic issues that adversely affect patient care and the operational efficacy of healthcare institutions.

Purpose of the Study: The research aimed to dissect the intricate effects of physician burnout on medical outcomes within the VA healthcare system’s outpatient settings. …

Impact Of The Methamphetamine Epidemic On Healthcare, Amanda Brumfield

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The surge in methamphetamine use in the U.S. has presented various challenges for individuals and healthcare systems. Research has shown high relapse rates, oral health issues, and increased susceptibility to blood-borne viruses among users, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Furthermore, the absence of approved pharmacological treatments and systemic barriers to effective treatment highlighted the pressing need for holistic approaches to address this epidemic successfully.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research was to identify the challenges faced by treatment providers specializing in substance use disorder treatment amid rising instances of methamphetamine abuse, including managing heightened relapse …

The Measure Of Efficiency And Effectiveness When Using Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Radiology, Jordan Watts

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The use of artificial intelligence in radiology has helped radiologists identify patterns and abnormalities in medical images to diagnose and treat patients. Deep learning and machine learning algorithms have been used to assist physicians in detecting features that are not noticeable to the human eye. The FDA has approved almost 400 AI algorithms for radiology and estimated that the market for AI in medical imaging would grow from $21.48 billion in 2018 to $264.85 billion in 2028.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the use of artificial intelligence in radiology to determine its …

The Impact Of Telestroke Services On Diagnosis, Patient Outcomes, And Treatment, Dustin Baum

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: In 2011, an estimated 20% of U.S. residents lacked timely access to stroke care. As of 2019, that number plummeted to 4% of patients. A reason for this improved access was the implementation of telestroke services. Telestroke services have utilized remote stroke specialists to help guide local emergency department physicians in reviewing imaging, diagnosing, treating, or transferring patients appropriately.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to analyze the impact of telestroke implementation in the hospital setting. The study hypothesized the implementation of telestroke services in the hospital setting maintained an accurate stroke diagnosis, decreased inappropriate hospital transfers, reduced …

Is Long-Term Survival Higher In Patients Who Receive Propofol-Based Total Intravenous Anesthesia During Colorectal Cancer Surgery Compared To Volatile Anesthesia, Shad Anthony Mitchell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The study reviewed several retrospective cohort studies that examined the impact of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) versus volatile anesthesia (VA) on the long-term survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery patients. Eight studies found no significant difference in mortality between the two anesthesia types, while three studies indicated a significant decrease in all-cause mortality favoring propofol TIVA. The studies had varying follow-up periods, with some extending to five years. Notably, two studies controlled the type of volatile anesthetic used, specifically sevoflurane and desflurane. The findings suggest a potential survival advantage for propofol TIVA, warranting further investigation.

Driven By Change: The Impact Of Macroeconomic Shifts And Covid-19 On New Vehicle Sales, Jackson Aldrich

CMC Senior Theses

This paper examines the impact of macroeconomic factors and the COVID-19 pandemic on new vehicle sales. In order to address these two topics, a two-pronged approach was used with separate regression models. The macroeconomic variables include monthly supply of new homes, CPI for urban public transportation, unemployment rate, disposable personal income, inflation expectation, consumer sentiment, average gas prices, and total vehicle miles traveled which were regressed on total vehicle sales from 1978-2022. The regression results confirmed and supported current literature and highlighted the importance of the housing market and unemployment rate on new vehicle sales. The COVID-19 pandemic model variables …

Visit North Carolina: Trail Accessibility, Hannah Caitlyn Guschel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This paper focuses on the perceived barriers to travel from marketing material for individuals with disabilities compared to those without disabilities and the direct impact on leisurely travel participation, particularly in outdoor spaces. Employing a cross-sectional study design encompassing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, this research investigates the experiences and transparency of trail accessibility in the state of North Carolina. Quantitative data were gathered through trail assessment accessibility checklists, while qualitative insights were obtained via in-depth interviews. The findings reveal an improved understanding of accessibility and the application of an accessibility checklist. Moreover, the study underscores the importance …

Identifying Youth Appeals In Alcohol Alternative Social Media Content Through Framing, Melina Oneal

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Proposed regulations for alcohol advertising prevent beverage companies from targeting people under the legal drinking age. However, similar regulations for alcohol alternative beverages are less explored, which could allow alcohol alternative products to create awareness for alcoholic beverages among youth. Alcohol alternatives beverages, including no-alcohol and low-alcohol products, are increasing in popularity and can function as compliments to alcoholic products to decrease the total alcohol volume consumed or as substitutes for alcoholic products. Framing theory can be operationalized through the Content Appealing to Youth Index, an index of content elements found in research literature to be appealing to youth, to …

Power Centres: A Collaborative Development Proposal For Addressing Poverty And Related Challenges In Rural Communities In Kenya, Kennedy Okello Miruka, Kennedy Okello Miruka

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

In Homa Bay County, Kenya, a community-led development initiative called the Power Centre is transforming the fight against poverty and powerlessness. Grounded in principles of decolonization and participatory action, this project addresses the root causes of marginalization by empowering residents of Kokal Village to become active agents of change. Through a robust mixed-methods research approach, the project identifies systemic challenges and leverages existing social networks to build a sustainable, locally-owned model for development. The Power Centre implements a three-pronged strategy, focusing on increasing community participation, strengthening existing groups, and fostering collaborative networks to weave a robust support system. By addressing …

Empowering Kokal: A Decolonized, Community-Led Development Model In Homa Bay County, Kenya, Kennedy Miruka

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

In Homa Bay County, Kenya, a community-led development initiative called the Power Centre is transforming the fight against poverty and powerlessness. Grounded in principles of decolonization and participatory action, this project addresses the root causes of marginalization by empowering residents of Kokal Village to become active agents of change. Through a robust mixed-methods research approach, the project identifies systemic challenges and leverages existing social networks to build a sustainable, locally-owned model for development. The Power Centre implements a three-pronged strategy, focusing on increasing community participation, strengthening existing groups, and fostering collaborative networks to weave a robust support system. By addressing …

Do Pediatric Patients That Receive Dexmedetomidine As Premedication Experience Less Emergence Delirium Than Pediatric Patients That Receive Midazolam As Premedication?, Shelby Mccloud

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Title: Do pediatric patients that receive dexmedetomidine as premedication experience less emergence delirium than pediatric patients that receive midazolam as premedication?

Problem Statement: Midazolam remains the current choice within the practice for premedication in the prevention of emergence delirium, however as research continues there could possibly be a gap between the research and current practice. Throughout the practice of pediatric anesthesia most providers choose to premedicate with midazolam while there may be a more beneficial option of dexmedetomidine.

Results: The study found a significant variance in the incidence of emergence delirium among pediatric patients, ranging from 18.1% to 89%, depending …

Answering The “Now What?”: The Development Of A Transdisciplinary Breast Cancer Survivorship Nonprofit Organization, Vir-Iaesta Maniquiz Vergel De Dios

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Although patients are living longer or are surviving breast cancer, the side effects of treatment still leave patients struggling with quality-of-life issues. The lack of whole-person care leaves patients unequipped after treatment is complete, searching for answers and a way to survive on their own. The unintended consequence becomes a dramatic shift from the weekly/daily medical appointments during active treatment to a silence that can be daunting for many to navigate. Living Your Truth Empowered, shortened to LYTE Foundation, is an antiauthoritarian minded and anti-hierarchal nonprofit created to address the needs of the growing breast cancer survivor population. LYTE is …

Improving Discharge Education Quality In Urgent Care Settings: A Quality Improvement Project, Brielle N. Patscheider

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND:

Effective discharge education is vital for improving patient care by enhancing health outcomes and reducing hospital readmission. When patients receive thorough and personalized discharge instructions, they are better able to manage their health, follow treatment plans, and identify symptoms needing further attention. This not only boosts patient satisfaction and safety but also reduces the strain on healthcare systems by decreasing preventable readmissions.

LOCAL PROBLEM:

Urgent care facilities serve diverse populations with a range of common, non-emergency ailments. The rapid service and walk-in availability often lead to a high volume of patients with diverse and complex medical needs. To eliminate …