Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Speech Fluency In Acquired Apraxia Of Speech During Narrative Discourse: Group Comparisons And Dual Task Effects, Tyson G. Harmon, Adam Jacks, Katarina L. Haley

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Slowed speech and interruptions to the flow of connected speech are common in aphasia. These features are also observed during dual task performance for neurotypical adults. The purposes of this study were to determine (a) whether indices of fluency related to cognitive-linguistic versus motor processing would differ between speakers with aphasia plus AOS and speakers with aphasia only and (b) whether cognitive load reduces fluency in speakers with aphasia with and without AOS.

Method: Fourteen speakers with aphasia (seven with AOS) and seven neurotypical controls retold short stories alone (single task) and while simultaneously distinguishing between a high and …

Student Perspectives On Working In Interdisciplinary Teams To Implement Mhealth, Elina Chun

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Interprofessional education of students in healthcare professions can lead to positive outcomes for students that are unique in a university setting. The purpose of this thesis is to describe benefits and challenges students encounter when working with students of other majors. This study used a convenience sample of students working on a university project to implement mHealth. Participants responded to two surveys with quantitative and qualitative questions. Students reported greater appreciation for diversity, the necessity of communication skills, and self-awareness of their own responsibilities in a team.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: An Overview For Nurse Practitioners, Casey Neeley, Donna Freeborn

Student Works

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a revolutionary addition to diabetic management for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). CGM, when used properly, improves overall glycemic control. In the short term, CGM decreases incidences of hypoglycemic events and improves day to day blood glucose control. In the long term, CGM decreases hemoglobin A1c levels and decreases incidences and severity of long term complications of diabetes. When patients are educated and supported by providers on the use of CGM, patients with T1DM can achieve optimal glycemic control.

P300 Event-Related Potentials To A Phoneme Discrimination Task Requiring A Motor Response, Kaitlyn Chelsea Turner

Theses and Dissertations

Speech perception typically takes place within the auditory cortex as evidenced by data collected using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). The purpose of this study was to determine if motor responses influence speech perception. We examined P300 event-related potentials during oddball stimulus recognition tasks that either required or did not require a motor response. Based on a review of the literature, it was hypothesized that similar areas of the brain would be activated in both the motor response task and the same task without a motor response immediately following the button-push condition. Two syllables, /ba/ and /ga/, were presented to 20 native …

“It's Not Only About Them:“ Female Family Members' Understanding Of Indeterminate Negative Brca1/2 Test Results, Deborah Kay Gibbons

Theses and Dissertations

Genetic test results have important implications for close family members. Indeterminate negative results are the most common outcome of BRCA1/2 mutation testing. Little is known about family members' understanding of indeterminate negative BRCA1/2 test results. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to investigate how daughters and sisters received and understood genetic test results as shared by their mothers or sisters. Participants included 81 women aged 40-74 with mothers or sisters previously diagnosed with breast cancer and who received indeterminate negative BRCA1/2 test results. Participants had never been diagnosed with breast cancer nor received their own genetic testing or …

Forensic Nursing: Overview Of A Growing Profession, Julie L. Valentine

Faculty Publications

IN THE CURRENT ERA of the #MeToo movement and prominent sexual assault disclosures, these types of crimes are finally receiving the attention they deserve. Our society is acknowledging what research has been telling us for years about the high incidence of sexual violence in the United States. According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, more than 36% of women have experienced contact sexual violence in their lifetime and 19% have experienced attempted or completed rape. Men also report high rates of sexual violence; more than 17% have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in …

Treating Comorbid Ptsd And Bpd: A Dialectical Approach, Meredith Pescatello

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

According to the Biosocial Developmental Model for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), individuals with a biological vulnerability (i.e., heightened emotional sensitivity and impulsive tendencies), plus an invalidating environment may develop BPD (Crowell, Beauchaine, & Linehan, 2009). Individuals with BPD are especially difficult to treat, because of their “extreme emotional, behavioral, and cognitive dysregulation” (Crowell, Beauchaine, & Linehan, 2009). Though challenging to treat, BPD can be successfully treated using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) (Linehan, 1993; Linehan 2015). Similarly, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is complex and often burnout inducing to treat, because of the intensity of the emotional content related to traumatic events …

Healthy Habits To Reduce Sleep Deprivation In College Students, Jenna L. Bair

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Abstract

Sleep can affect many regular functions in the body. Consequently, the physiological and psychological effects of sleep deprivation have many ramifications, including long-term health issues, depression, and eating disorders (Alhola & Polo-Kantola, 2007; Beiter et al., 2015; Jarcho, Slavich, Tylova-Stein, Wolkowitz, & Burke, 2013; Ozsoy, Besirli, Unal, Abdulrezzak, & Orhan, 2015). Despite the importance of sleep for regulative processes, studies indicate that the general population does not receive adequate sleep quality or length (Watson et al., 2017). College students represent a large demographic and often do not obtain enough sleep (Gaultney, 2010). Thus, it is proposed that collegiate institutions …

Demographic Study On 4,038 Sexual Assault Victims: Identifying Vulnerabilities And Vulnerable Populations With Extralegal Variables, Michael Atkerson Worthington

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual assault (SA) is an ongoing concern in the United States (US). With a rate above the national average, SA is especially a concern in the Western state in which this study was conducted. Identifying victim vulnerabilities related to SA is an area of research that is currently limited. In this retrospective study, data on victim vulnerabilities were collected from 4,038 standardized SA forensic medical examination forms. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to identify vulnerabilities and Pearson's chi-square tests of association were conducted to explore the relationships between extralegal variables. The extralegal variables represent data not contained within the scope …

Stress Of Trying Daily Therapy Interventions, Emily Kathryn Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This study is focused on clients' daily experiencing of stress, and measures how this stress might affect their implementation of ideas and recommendations from therapy. Typically, clients attend therapy with the intention of making positive changes. Part of the therapeutic process involves clients completing therapeutic work in their daily lives (Conklin, Strunk, Cooper, 2017); however, stressful tasks and other elements often preclude this therapeutic work from occurring (Kazantzis & L'Abate, 2005). In this study we examine which interventions from therapy are most likely to be attempted at home, and the level of stress in making these attempts. A series of …

Napnap Position Statement On Immunizations, Lacey Eden, Cheryl Cairns, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Mary Koslap-Petraco

Faculty Publications

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) supports the timely and complete immunization of all infants, children, adolescents, and adults in an attempt to maximize the health and wellbeing of all people. Routine childhood immunizations prevent as many as 3 million deaths per year. In addition, 1.5 million deaths per year could be avoided if global vaccination efforts continue to improve (World Health Organization, 2017).

Acoustic Correlates Of Aging And Familial Relationship, Samantha Michelle Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential differences in selected acoustic measures of speech as a function of age, across sexes, and between families. The data used in this study were previously collected for a larger project on voice production at the University of Utah. Participants included 169 individuals, 79 men and 90 women, from 18 Utah families, ranging in age from 17 to 87 years. All participants had no history of articulation disorders, stroke or active neurologic disease, or severe-profound hearing loss. Participants were recorded reading two passages aloud in a sound booth. These two passages …

Family Health History: What’S The Best Tool?, Dr. Gaye Raye, Dr. Karen Whitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to mentor undergraduate nursing students as they worked on a project to identify the most effective tools for collecting family health history and to assess the impact of knowledge of family health history on preventive health behaviors. This project helped to identify tools that can be used to collect family health history and provided evidence that informs clinical practice. This project provided multiple mentoring and learning opportunities for undergraduate nursing students. Those mentored had opportunities to prepare manuscripts and present study findings at conferences and directly see how evidence is translated into practice. Mentored …

N404 What Our Students Learn Through Serving Our Veterans Meg 2015 2016 Final Report, Ron Ulberg

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of the MEG proposal were met and exceeded. Specifically, students were exposed to local and national venues in which Veterans and their history are prevalent. Examples of this include visits by the students and faculty to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Arlington National Cemetery, US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, WW I Memorial, WW II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Museum of American History, etc. We also met with Senator Mike Lee from the State of Utah to discuss issues pertaining to our Veterans.

Family Health History: What’S The Best Tool?, Dr. Gaye Raye, Dr. Karen Whitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to mentor undergraduate nursing students as they worked on a project to identify the most effective tools for collecting family health history and to assess the impact of knowledge of family health history on preventive health behaviors. This project helped to identify tools that can be used to collect family health history and provided evidence that informs clinical practice. This project provided multiple mentoring and learning opportunities for undergraduate nursing students. Those mentored had opportunities to prepare manuscripts and present study findings at conferences and directly see how evidence is translated into practice. Mentored …

Learning History: Understanding And Facilitating Improvement In Clinical Microsystems, Dr. Bret Lyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic outcomes of the proposal were generally met (and exceeded). The proposal specified that four students would be involved in the mentoring environment, yet we found it possible to include eight students in faculty-mentored research efforts. Although only three students applied for ORCA grant funding (rather than the proposed four), the MEG Grant was sufficient to support nine students’ professional presentations and six students’ peer-reviewed publications. Five students will be continuing to work on projects made possible by this grant, including writing for publication and developing/testing research instruments based on our findings. We anticipate all ten students will ultimately …

Meg Final Report: Peer Teaching Teamstepps, Dr. Michael Thomas

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1. Have student teaching assistants in the N293 Communication for Nurses Lab course and untrained faculty members attend the TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course.

-This objective was met at a very high level. Funds from the MEG paid for four student teaching assistants and two faculty members to attend a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course at a regional training site. At this training, I was able to make a connection with the director of the TeamSTEPPS national implementation team. Through this connection, I was able to coordinate a 2 day TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course training on-site at BYU for 55 full and …

N404 What Our Students Learn Through Serving Our Veterans Meg 2015 2016 Final Report, Ron Ulberg

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met: The academic objectives of the MEG proposal were met and exceeded. Specifically, students were exposed to local and national venues in which Veterans and their history are prevalent. Examples of this include visits by the students and faculty to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Arlington National Cemetery, US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, WW I Memorial, WW II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Museum of American History, etc. We also met with Senator Mike Lee from the State of Utah to discuss issues pertaining to …

Meg Final Report: Peer Teaching Teamstepps, Dr. Michael Thomas

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1. Have student teaching assistants in the N293 Communication for Nurses Lab course and untrained faculty members attend the TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course.

-This objective was met at a very high level. Funds from the MEG paid for four student teaching assistants and two faculty members to attend a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course at a regional training site. At this training, I was able to make a connection with the director of the TeamSTEPPS national implementation team. Through this connection, I was able to coordinate a 2 day TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course training on-site at BYU for 55 full and …

Learning History: Understanding And Facilitating Improvement In Clinical Microsystems, Dr. Bret Lyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic outcomes of the proposal were generally met (and exceeded). The proposal specified that four students would be involved in the mentoring environment, yet we found it possible to include eight students in faculty-mentored research efforts. Although only three students applied for ORCA grant funding (rather than the proposed four), the MEG Grant was sufficient to support nine students’ professional presentations and six students’ peer-reviewed publications. Five students will be continuing to work on projects made possible by this grant, including writing for publication and developing/testing research instruments based on our findings. We anticipate all ten students will ultimately …

Susceptibility Of Mental Disorders: Examining The Comorbidity Of Seasonal Affective Disorder, Nathaniel Wasden

Student Works

This literature review examines the symptoms, theorized causes, and comorbidity of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Although causes of SAD remain unknown, researchers have observed a common pattern of vitamin D deficiency among patients with SAD. The importance of vitamin D in regulating serotonergic activity has been well documented, including the positive correlation between decreased serotonin levels and increased depressive symptoms. For more than 30 years, researchers have hypothesized that decreased serotonin activity is linked to symptoms of SAD. Furthermore, patients with other mental disorders, including depression, bipolarity, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. are likely to experience aggravation of symptoms during peak SAD …

Nicu Nurses' Suggestions For Improving End-Of-Life Care Obstacles, Renea L. Beckstrand, Rebecca F. Isaacson, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Karlen E. Luthy, Lacey Eden

Faculty Publications

Background: Neonatal deaths (infants less than 28 days old) account for two thirds (66.7%) of all infant deaths with most occurring in an ICU setting. NICU nurses are frequently involved in end-of-life (EOL) care and face unique obstacles.

Objective: The objective of this study was to obtain NICU nurses’ suggestions for improving obstacles in EOL care in NICUs.

Methods: Suggestions were obtained through mailed survey research in qualitative study design. Returned surveys yielded 121 nurse respondents who gave a total of 138 suggestions.

Results: A total of 10 cohesive themes were identified: (1) environmental design issues, (2) improved communication between …

Prevalence Of House Dust Mites In Low-Income Homes In Utah County, Robert Graul, Dr. James Johnston

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Asthma is the leading chronic disease among children in U.S. Low-income populations, minorities, and children living in poor housing experience more emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma that the general population. HDM allergens are linked to the exacerbation of asthma and are found within homes all throughout the United States. Previous studies have shown that HDM exposure is lower in arid and semi-arid climates, such as Utah, but robust data is still lacking. Although HDM thrive in climates more humid than Utah, we have found that they are still present based on certain indoor environmental factors.

Comparison Of Early Literacy Ipad Apps: Evaluation Of Teachers' Perceptions, Julie Mcintyre Evans

Theses and Dissertations

A recent dramatic increase in the availability of early literacy applications (apps) for mobile devices has led teachers to incorporate them into their educational programs. This study explored teachers' perceptions and opinions regarding three early literacy apps: Endless Reader, Preschool Matching Game: Rhyming Words, and Hideout: Early Reading. The study consisted of 15 preschool teachers who interacted with each app and answered questions regarding their opinions about the apps and the use of digital devices in the classroom in general. Teacher responses were analyzed and categorized based on common topics that emerged from the data set. The …

Emergency Nurses’ Department Design Recommendations For Improved End-Of-Life Care, Renea L. Beckstrand, Elise M. Corbett, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Ryan J. Rasmussen

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Although death is common in emergency departments, there is limited research regarding ED design as an obstacle to end-of-life care. This study identifies emergency nurses’ recommendations regarding ways designs have negative or positive impact on care for dying patients and their families.

Methods: A 25-item questionnaire was sent to a national random sample of 500 emergency nurses. Inclusion criteria were nurses who could read English, worked in emergency departments, and had cared for at least 1 patient at the end of life (EOL). Responses were individually reviewed and coded.

Results: Major obstacles included (1) issues related to limited space, …

Identifying The 5’End Of The Camta1 Genes In Zebrafish, Morgan Fronk

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are a significant cause of infant death and are frequently caused by mutations in transcription factors. Camta1 (calmodulin binding transcription activator 1) is a transcription factor that has been proposed as a modulator in embryonic heart development and a possible cause of CHDs. The only other known member of its family in vertebrates is involved in activating a hypertrophy gene program in adult heart failure. Unlike camta2, camta1 is expressed in the embryonic heart during heart looping. However, few studies have been done on camta1. In zebrafish, there are two camta1 ohnologs (homologs created through …

Similarities And Difference In The Neural Processing Of Speech And Song In Religious Music, Brett Pielstick

Undergraduate Honors Theses

An fMRI study was performed to see the differences in the neurological processing between spoken and sung language in religious music. Students at Brigham Young University, who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were exposed to alternating blocks of spoken and sung lyrics of religious and non-religious songs. There was no significant activation when contrasting speech and song, but there was significant activation in the right middle temporal gyrus and the posterior cingulate gyrus when listening to spoken and sung religious lyrics, suggesting an emotional reaction to religious stimuli. Contrasting spoken stimuli for both religious …

Difference In Therapeutic Alliance: High-Conflict Co-Parents Vs Regular Couples, Andrea Mae Parady

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to explore differences in the therapeutic alliance for High-Conflict Co-Parents (HCC) vs. Regular Couples. Therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship, consisting of a bond, and agreement on the tasks and goals of therapy, between at least two people in the therapeutic relationship. It was hypothesized that HCC clients would have lower therapeutic alliance scores compared to regular couple clients. The results supported this hypothesis. By identifying these differences, more research can be conducted to improve our understanding of how to strengthen the therapeutic alliance with HCC clients, leading to improved treatment of this population.

Cardiovascular Health And Cognitive Decline In Older Adults, Alexa Ehlert, Evan Thacker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cognitive impairment is a concerning issue among the population of older adults in the United States. This problem is compounded by the fact that science is largely uncertain of how to prevent cognitive decline; however, if we knew that particular modifiable behaviors associated with cardiovascular health were also related to cognitive health, then efforts to prevent cognitive impairment could potentially be developed. There are three principal goals of this project: 1) determine how cardiovascular health evolves in older adults over several years; 2) determine the relationship between cardiovascular health and cognitive decline in older adults; 3) determine how changes in …

Adult Vaccination Rates In The Severely Mentally Ill Population: An Improvement Project In An Outpatient Setting In Utah, Nathalia H. Williams, Leslie Miles, Beth Luthy, Lacey Eden

Student Works

Background: Adults who suffer with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) rarely access medical care to address basic medical needs, so they are subsequently less likely to receive preventive vaccines. The aim of this project was to increase the rate of vaccines among the SPMI population. This project started in 2011 and still is ongoing. It took place in an outpatient community mental health center (CMHC) which serves about 4,200 SPMI clients. Personnel managing the project included registered nurses from the local health department, staff from the CMHC, and volunteer nursing students.

Methods: A review of the literature identified a …