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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

The Nurse's Lived Experience Of Transferring Nutrition Knowledge To Patients: A Descriptive Phenomenology, Kendrah Lynne Cunningham Dec 2023

The Nurse's Lived Experience Of Transferring Nutrition Knowledge To Patients: A Descriptive Phenomenology, Kendrah Lynne Cunningham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study aimed to gain insight into the nurse’s lived experience of transferring nutrition knowledge to patients. Nurses play an important role in assisting the patient to become more proficient in health and nutrition literacy to make proper choices related to their nutrition. It is necessary to evaluate the lived experience of the nurse in transferring nutrition knowledge to patients. There is a gap in the literature on nurses’ experience in providing nutrition knowledge to their patients. This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study examines the lived experience of nurses in transferring nutrition education to their patients. This was …


Implementation Of Nutritional Screening In Adults (Ages 19-65) With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrative Review, Laurie S. Stephens Oct 2023

Implementation Of Nutritional Screening In Adults (Ages 19-65) With Major Depressive Disorder: An Integrative Review, Laurie S. Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The World Health Organization estimates the total percentage of depression at 3.8% and projects it to be the leading cause of global disability by 2030 (WHO, 2023). The economic burden for adults with major depressive disorder in the United States is estimated at a staggering annual cost of 236 billion dollars (Greenberg et al., 2018). Nutritional psychiatry is a growing subspecialty focused upon how diet can improve mental health outcomes. The evidence shows a correlation between diet and depression, influencing questions on how this translates to current dietary recommendations and treatment. An integrative review of current literature was performed to …


Health Consequences Of Low Energy Availability In Females And Their Underlying Physiological Mechanisms, Grace Parry Apr 2023

Health Consequences Of Low Energy Availability In Females And Their Underlying Physiological Mechanisms, Grace Parry

Senior Honors Theses

Low energy availability (LEA) is a state in which energy intake is insufficient to support energy expenditure while maintaining energy balance, which has been shown to result in gastrointestinal distress, immunosuppression, reduced metabolic rate, menstrual dysfunction, diminished bone health, and impaired cardiovascular function in females. Alterations to the microbiome and mucosal lining may propagate gastrointestinal complaints and compromised immune function associated with LEA. The pathophysiology of LEA is otherwise largely driven by hormonal adaptations. Diminished production of thyroid hormones is known to contribute to reduced metabolic rate. Decreases in leptin and insulin and increases in ghrelin disrupt reproductive function through …


The Importance Of Education In The Management Of Diabetes, Taylor Nicole Henry Jul 2022

The Importance Of Education In The Management Of Diabetes, Taylor Nicole Henry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Type 2 diabetes continues to affect millions of people every day across the United States. Uncontrolled blood sugars pose a risk to individuals’ overall health by causing microvascular and macrovascular changes and ultimately lead to an earlier mortality. One’s blood sugar levels can be checked at any time, but an individual’s hemoglobin (hgb) A1c is a three-month average that allows the diabetic to have an overview on how they are managing their diabetes. Appropriate nutrition and having someone hold the diabetic accountable have proven to limit these risks by lowering the patient’s hgb A1c. Providers and staff need to do …


The Impact Of The Menstrual Cycle On Female Performance In Athletics, Calli Doan Dec 2021

The Impact Of The Menstrual Cycle On Female Performance In Athletics, Calli Doan

Senior Honors Theses

Female hormones, key to preparing a woman's body for childbirth, work in a magnificent, cyclical manner. It can be expected that these hormones, with the role of preparing a woman's body to conceive a child and deliver a life safely into the world, would have a large impact on the health of the female, especially when it comes to athletics. Numerous studies conducted to understand the full extent of the effect of reproductive hormones on the female body have shown that these hormones influence not only menstruation, but also various physiological and psychological elements. Such effects can certainly impact athletic …


Diet Significantly Influences The Immunopathology And Severity Of Kidney Injury In Male C57bl/6j Mice In A Model Dependent Manner, John E. Brus, Daniel L. Quan, Kristin J. Wiley, Brittney Browning, Hannah Ter Haar, Riley Lutz, Jeffrey F. Houghton, Joseph Gigliotti Apr 2021

Diet Significantly Influences The Immunopathology And Severity Of Kidney Injury In Male C57bl/6j Mice In A Model Dependent Manner, John E. Brus, Daniel L. Quan, Kristin J. Wiley, Brittney Browning, Hannah Ter Haar, Riley Lutz, Jeffrey F. Houghton, Joseph Gigliotti

College of Osteopathic Medicine Undergraduate Publications

Diet is a leading causative risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet it is rarely considered in the design of preclinical animal studies. Several of the nutritional inadequacies reported in Americans have been shown to be detrimental to kidney health; however, the mechanisms responsible are unclear and have been largely attributed to the development of diabetes or hypertension. Here, we set out to determine whether diet influences the susceptibility to kidney injury in male C57Bl/6 mice. Mice were fed a standard chow diet, a commercially available “Western” diet (WD), or a novel Americanized diet (AD) for 12 weeks prior …


The Effect Of Nutrition And Exercise On Mental Health, Rebekah Owen Apr 2021

The Effect Of Nutrition And Exercise On Mental Health, Rebekah Owen

Senior Honors Theses

Research has shown nutrition and exercise are especially effective in helping relieve mental illness. Mental health can be aided through dietary alterations such as increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids, fermented foods, certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Proper nutritional patterns help regulate neurotransmitters and assist in the betterment of brain functioning, offering protection from and maintenance of mental illness. Furthermore, the Mediterranean diet provides to be most beneficial for mental health compared to the standard American diet which contains additives harmful to the human brain. Physical exercise also provides to be a possible therapy for those suffering from mental …


The Role Of Diet In The Onset Of Depression: A Biochemical Connection Between Nutrition And Mental Health, Katlin Wildeman Apr 2020

The Role Of Diet In The Onset Of Depression: A Biochemical Connection Between Nutrition And Mental Health, Katlin Wildeman

Senior Honors Theses

Depression is a major clinical concern, having a complex onset and the presence of multiple, often unidentifiable causes. Depression affects millions of individuals worldwide, with a high prevalence in regions of the world with a Western-style diet as compared to regions with a Mediterranean diet. A Western-style diet consists of foods high in sugar, fat, and processed meats and grains, whereas the Mediterranean diet contains significantly more vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and whole grains. The link between diet and mental health disorders has implications for individuals of all ages who are hesitant to turn to medication. In addition to presenting …


Health Effects Of A Vegan Diet And Pediatric Cancer Prevention, Lindsay Wisehart Apr 2019

Health Effects Of A Vegan Diet And Pediatric Cancer Prevention, Lindsay Wisehart

Senior Honors Theses

Veganism is a diet which excludes consumption of all animal products. With proper planning and vitamin supplementation to ensure adequate intake of protein, fat, calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamins D and B12, a vegan diet is widely accepted as suitable for growing and developing children. The decreased levels of dairy, red and processed meats, fat, and protein, and increased levels of fruits and vegetables characteristic of a vegan diet have been shown to reduce risk of mortality and a number of diseases including adult and childhood cancer. Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of childhood death in Western society. …


Maternal Obesity And Fetal Macrosomia: An Integrative Review Of The Literature Regarding Interventions, Charity Stalcup Apr 2018

Maternal Obesity And Fetal Macrosomia: An Integrative Review Of The Literature Regarding Interventions, Charity Stalcup

Senior Honors Theses

Research suggests pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with an increased risk of macrosomia in the newborn. Since women are expected to gain weight during pregnancy, the standard recommendation of weight loss for obesity is not ideal for this population. In this systematic review of the literature regarding interventions for maternal obesity to reduce fetal macrosomia, 149 articles were screened using three different databases to identify recent randomized controlled trials related to this topic. A total of 11 full text articles were analyzed and included in the review. The articles addressed nutritional, lifestyle, and pharmacological interventions. The results indicated there is currently …


Strengths And Limitations Of Nutritional Policies In Public Schools In The United States, Brooke Ferenczy Apr 2016

Strengths And Limitations Of Nutritional Policies In Public Schools In The United States, Brooke Ferenczy

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis reviews the development of nutritional policies that have been created in the United States. As society’s understanding of nutrition has increased and as obesity has become a major problem in the country today, the federal government, state governments, and individual school districts have implemented policies to improve the availability of more nutritious food items in public schools. This thesis then analyzes the strengths and limitations of these policies and the effects they have caused in student populations in order to determine whether they have accomplished their intended goals.


Is Dietary Intervention A Viable Method For Improving Outcomes In Adult Patients With Asthma?, Jennifer Grolimund Apr 2016

Is Dietary Intervention A Viable Method For Improving Outcomes In Adult Patients With Asthma?, Jennifer Grolimund

Senior Honors Theses

Asthma is a disease process characterized by episodic inflammation of the lower airway in response to various triggers. Those with asthma have trouble breathing effectively during an acute episode, making asthma a potentially life threatening condition. Standard medical treatment of asthma, including medications and environmental changes, can be effective at reducing or eliminating negative outcomes in patients with asthma. However, a holistic approach to patient care, including an examination of dietary influence, may also be useful for patients trying to manage the course of their illness. Variations in intake of individual nutrients or in total dietary patterns may play a …


The Benefits Of Breastfeeding, Avery Kordus Jan 2014

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding, Avery Kordus

Senior Honors Theses

Breastfeeding research is plentiful, and the majority of the literature shows that breast milk is the superior form of infant nutrition except in the rare circumstances of infant metabolic disorders, maternal drug use, or positive HIV status. In comparison to formula, breast milk provides improved cognition, development, behavior, bonding, nutrition, digestion, immunity, and long-term health with fewer diseases and conditions in infants. Mothers are benefited by breastfeeding through bonding, faster weight loss, and reduction in certain cancers and conditions. Breast milk contains the proper amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, and is also specialized for each infant and …


A School-Based Intervention Of Adolescent Obesity Prevention In At-Risk Youth, Leah M. Potecha Apr 2012

A School-Based Intervention Of Adolescent Obesity Prevention In At-Risk Youth, Leah M. Potecha

Senior Honors Theses

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, affecting individuals of all ages. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to obesity due to their decrease in physical activity, as well as to the greater availability of foods void of nutritional value. Adolescents’ impressionable natures and changing bodies also contribute to their increased weights. To combat the problem of obesity, many schools have implemented obesity prevention programs. Most of these programs are based on physical education and nutrition education. However, some schools have started mentorship programs, or worked with organizations that employ mentorship programs, to prevent obesity. The Lynchburg Healthy Living program …


Food For Thought: The Importance Of Nutrition For Cognitive And Physical Well-Being, Keeley M. Caviness Nov 2009

Food For Thought: The Importance Of Nutrition For Cognitive And Physical Well-Being, Keeley M. Caviness

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of nutrition upon the physical development and health of an individual. The main focus is on proving through the examination of various literature and the effects of specific nutrients that nutrition has a great impact on mental and physical well-being. The reasons which people give for not having proper nutrition are taken into consideration as well, and an overall conclusion can be made that nutrition is very important and should be taught to all consumers.