Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Ots Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care For Dementia Family Caregivers From Diverse Backgrounds, Abraham Lai, Lucy Palacios Mendez, Darren Sarmiento

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

As occupational therapists, addressing key cultural barriers that may obstruct access to dementia care and education for individuals with dementia and their caregivers from diverse backgrounds is a priority for client-centered care. Stress, racial discrimination, and distrust may exacerbate symptoms and prevalence of dementia in certain populations, such as Chinese- Americans and Latinx (Quinones et al. 2020). Immigrants’ experiences of aging and health are diverse due to belonging to different socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups and having varying levels of education and work experience (R. S. 2020). There are existing cultural differences regarding caregiving and family networks, perception and …

The Digital Divide: The Path Towards Digital Inclusivity, Angelica Gonzalez Almanza

Social Justice | Senior Theses

The gap between those Americans who use or have access to ICTs and those who do not is referred to as the digital divide (PACEs, 2002). The pandemic has increased dependence on technology and exacerbated the digital divide, which perpetuates existing systems of racism and poverty (Early et al., 2021). In this study, a mixed-method approach was conducted to understand what digital literacy skills parents need to overcome the digital divide and support their child's education. Specifically, the study explored how the program Impact Technology training has affected parents' involvement with their child's education. There were 175 Latinx parents that …

Ineffective Aggregation Of Filipino-American Health Assessment Data & It's Effect On Individualized Healthcare, Marrian Gutierrez, Anthony Rain Macoy

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

Filipino-Americans and their health care data seem to be difficult to find individually, and this is due to the continual grouping of this population with other Asian subgroups into the Asian-American population. The needs of the Filipino-American population are distinctly different from other Asian-American subgroups, and the underrepresentation leads to inadequate health care, lack of education within the community, and in some cases, disproportional deaths of Filipino-Americans.

Objective

To highlight the importance of adequate aggregation of health assessment data of a specific population on individualized care, in this paper, Filipino-Americans.

Summary of Findings

In the review of literature, it …

Identifying Cultural Biases And Understanding Health Care Disparities For Lgtbq+ Patients, Jevon Nelson

Nursing | Senior Theses

Understanding the health disparities within the LGBTQ+ population, will consist of educating Nurses and other healthcare providers cultural competence for this population, along with proposing certain educational training programs for all the medical professionals. There’s not only an implicit bias but also lack in quality of healthcare due to the personal reasons that healthcare providers may have, along with certain stigmas that creates an infringement on healthcare for this specific population. Members of the LGBTQ+ community will continue to have one of the highest amounts of health care disparities due to the lack of cultural incompetence if nothing is done.

Discerning The True Dilemma Of Diabetes Among Hispanics, Ramon Ponce

Nursing | Senior Theses

There is a common misconception that the primary role of nurses is to follow doctors’ orders and treat patients who are currently suffering and experiencing pain. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes can be prevented and better managed if the population who is greatest at risk is better informed and educated on the disease. Different cultures and ethnicities have different foods that unfortunately puts them at risk to get diabetes. Hispanics typically follow a diet that is high in carbohydrates, saturated fats, and sugars that greatly contribute to the development of diabetes. Often, Hispanics are not educated enough to comprehend the …

Disparities Among Black Women In Maternal Health, Josefina Teresa Estrada

Nursing | Senior Theses

The literature shows that Black women face many disparities in terms of health care access and the quality of care. These obstacles could negatively affect the health of the mother and their child. This paper includes a literature review and proposed research study. The objective of this research study is to identify the outcomes of Black women compared to White women and other women of color in terms of maternal health. A literature review is provided in order to identify how race affects the following factors: obstacles that limit access to healthcare, rates of obtaining prenatal care, postpartum outcomes and …

Transgender College Student Equity And Inclusion Program, Allison Quintilla, Benji Harrington

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Understanding the inequities experienced by Transgender college students on university campuses is fundamental to promoting the occupational engagement of Transgender individuals. The Transgender community in the United States (U.S.) today is more widely varied and accepted than ever before in the recorded history of post-European colonialization of this country (Beemyn, 2014). Dowers, White, Kingsley and Swenson (2019) explain the risk for increased occupational injustice for Transgender college students due to their complex experience of occupations and the influencing factors. Current research has significant gaps in our understanding of how to counteract the effects of occupational injustice for Transgender college and …

Addressing Maternal Mortality Rates Of Black Women In The Us: California's Example, Selah Laigo

Humanities and Cultural Studies | Senior Theses

This essay examines California’s legislation, activism, and the role of women’s clinics in serving Black communities in the fight against maternal mortality. Maternal mortality is a death related to pregnancy or childbirth. In the United States, maternal mortality rates have been increasing since the beginning of the 21st century and there is a significant racial disparity with Black women being at greater risk. Despite national rates increasing, California has managed to decrease maternal mortality rates (MMR) since the early 2000s by adopting legislation and policies that work to decrease preventable deaths, multidisciplinary maternity care for the protection of Black women, …

Exploring Relationships Among Race, Mothers' Perceptions Of Discrimination During Perinatal Healthcare Visits, And The Prevalence Of Adverse Maternal And Neonatal Health Outcomes, Fiona So

Nursing | Senior Theses

The institutionalized marginalization of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) population is not an uncommon theme throughout American history. Although a majority of American society actively refers to racial discrimination in the past tense, recent events such as the Black Lives Matter movement demonstrates that countless biases based solely on skin complexion are still ingrained into the minds of many. Due to the pervasiveness of implicit biases, American healthcare professionals are also subject to believing and acting upon these biases, either consciously or subconsciously, which could directly affect the quality of care that their BIPOC patients receive.

A …

Imposter Phenomenon: The Occupational Experiences Of First-Generation College Students, Jamie Zabat, Jacqueline Salas, Yashi Severson, Kevin Chavez, Krysta Gastelum, Javier Gomez

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Background: First-generation college students (FGCS) represent an underserved population navigating through higher education and therefore receive less support. There is a current gap in the literature that overlooks the interactions of occupational experiences, imposter phenomenon (IP), and first-generation college students. The purpose of this study is to use grounded theory to observe the impact of IP among FGCS enrolled in a four-year university in California.

Method: This research is a qualitative study using thematic analysis grounded theory. Data was collected through a screening survey and follow-up interview via video chats and in-person sessions, and a live transcription software …

The Link Between Heart Disease In Low Socioeconomic Communities In America, Khristopher Chea

Nursing | Senior Theses

As a future medical professional in the healthcare field, we continue to see patients admitted for cardiovascular issues. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality among adults living in the U.S. despite advances in treatment throughout the past century. A number of risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity contribute to the significant rise of cardiovascular disease. Research data suggests that there is correlation between cardiovascular disease, low socioeconomic status, and diet. According to the American Phycological Association socioeconomic status is measured by income, educational status, and occupation, and has been shown to be closely …

The Relationship Between Low Socioeconomic Status And Mortality Rates Of School Age Children Related To Motor Vehicle Accidents, Rubi Calderon-Rodriguez

Nursing | Senior Theses

The purpose of this study is to assess nurses’ perceptions on the relationship between low socioeconomic status and high mortality rates of children due to motor vehicle accidents(MVAs). MVAs are the leading cause of death among children four years and older. Studies reviewed in this paper support that low socioeconomic status is associated with high child mortality rates caused by motor vehicle accidents. Factors contributing to these high mortality rates include: the lack of or improper use of restraints, low parental education attainment levels, black or Hispanic race, and environmental risks of low socioeconomic areas. A mixed methods study is …

Social Participation In College Students With Chronic Pain, Megan Chamberlain, Megan Chinn, Jennifer Pineda, Camille Santiago, Jamie Spitzer, Patricia Tran

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

College students with chronic pain often experience difficulty engaging in social activities both on and off campus due to stigma, misconceptions, or social exclusions (Culp & Rojas-Guyler, 2014). To fully understand the barriers to social engagement, the researchers used a qualitative phenomenological approach and semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of 15 college students with chronic pain (pain lasting more than six months). Four main themes were identified: the additional influence of personality on social participation; stigma and lack of understanding of chronic pain; the “domino effect” of pain impacting energy, sleep quality, and ability to function throughout the …

The Effect Of Dance Movement Therapy On The Mood Of Hospitalized Psychiatric Adolescents, Amy Chiu

Nursing | Senior Theses

Mental illness in children has increased over all aspects throughout the years to right now (CDC, 2019). Many of these children do get treatment for these disorders but there are still a percent that do not receive any treatment or find effective ways to maintain non-pharmaceutical alternatives for mood stabilization. The alternative therapies that are introduced in hospital settings plays a role in allowing for alternative therapies to be apart of the treatment plan for patients. Dance Movement therapy (DMT) is an alternative therapy that uses movement to conduct change in patient’s emotions based on their own choices of movement …

Benefits Of Nonpharmacological And Pharmacological Treatments In Autistic Children, Amanda Cheng

Nursing | Senior Theses

Autism is a disorder that affects one in 59 children in the United States. The spectrum disorder affects individuals in early childhood and daily functioning. They may display limited spontaneous language and play and have difficulty in processing social messages. The literature review examines the benefits of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The proposed study will be guided by the phenomenology theory. Based on this theory, semi-structured interviews will focus on caregiver’s perceptions of their children’s reactions, needs, and care in healthcare settings. The literature review reveals how certain interventions and treatments have helped …

Environmental Impacts On The Occupations Of Non-Binary Individuals, Meghan Ballog, Maria Mayela Carranza, Katherine Lee

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Understanding the link between occupations, gender identity, and the environment is fundamental to the comprehension of the occupational participation of non-binary individuals. Occupations are used to express an individual’s personal and social identity and serve as a modality for identity “growth and reconstruction” (Laliberte-Rudman, 2002). Beagan et al. (2012) reveal that transgender individuals use occupations to shape and project their identity; the inability to engage in occupations that align with an individual’s identity (particularly gender identity) resulted in distress, a sense of emptiness, and occupational deprivation. Current research addresses the transgender population but fails to distinguish between the binary and …

Effects Of Latinx Parental English Proficiency On Stress, Maria Alvarez Pineda

Global Public Health | Senior Theses

Background

In the United States, patients who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP) report having more problems communicating with their children’s doctor which leads to these children having worse health care access than those who have parents with a High English Proficiency (HEP). Parents with LEP also experience discrimination in this setting which can lead to increased psychological distress. The goal of this study was to determine if the level of English Proficiency is associated to stress levels and discrimination among Latinx parents when they take their chidlren to the doctor.

Methods

Participants consisted of 22 Latinx parents (86.4% Mexican and …

Flowers Or Flora?: Understanding The Effects Of Probiotics On Depression, Nicole Collopy

Senior Theses

The human gut is populated with hundreds of types of bacteria and fungi. In North America, both intestinal and mood disorders are prevalent, presenting health problems that challenge health care professionals and patients alike. A scholarly literature review was conducted to explore this important relationship.

The investigation of the literature revealed that there is an association between gut health disorders and mood disorders, mainly anxiety and depression. This is due to bi-directionality between the brain-gut pathways, meaning that gastrointestinal health may have an effect on mental health and vice versa.

This connection between gut and mood can have substantial implications …

Mental Health Disparities For Latino Immigrants & Its Impact On Psychological Well-Being, Ana Do Rosario Sousa

Counseling Psychology | Master's Theses

In the present study, the researcher sought to examine the factors associated with Latino immigrants and the barriers/challenges that are faced in mental health. The main question that the researcher focuses on in the present study is: What are some of the mental health challenges for Latino immigrants & how do these disparities further impact psychological well-being? Furthermore, the research focuses on highlighting the variables that are increasingly damaging to the minority population of Latinos in the United States. These variables include lack of health insurance, stigma, acculturation issues, legal issues, and biopsychosocial factors, such as socioeconomic class. In multiple …

How Undocumented Latino Parents’ Legal Status Affects Their U.S. Citizen-Children’S Health, Karla Garcia Hernandez

Senior Theses

The purpose of this paper is to review studies that have assessed how undocumented parents’ legal status have affected their United States citizen-children’s health. This issue involves nurses from different specialties, such as pediatric nursing, mental health nursing and community health nursing. Eight articles were reviewed in regard to how parental legal status affects the child’s access to healthcare services, the child’s physical health and the child’s mental health. The articles revealed that citizen-children of undocumented parents had limited access to health care services, had poorer health, and had higher chances of having mental health illnesses. The paper provided implementations …

Nurses’ Perception Of The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status, Incidence Rates And Complications Of A Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis In The Adult Population, Malia Mcdowell

Honors Theses

The objective of this paper was to review the literature that reflects studies conducted on lower socioeconomic patients at risk for diabetes. These studies targeted the prevalence, medication adherence, chronic complications, and socioeconomic levels and the risk of incidence. The concluding evidence supports the research studies regarding diabetes and socioeconomic levels in that an adults’ socioeconomic level has a direct negative relationship between level of finance and the overall life time risk of a new diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and its complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy and poor clinical outcomes. Furthermore, economic status also has a direct negative correlation …

Schizophrenia And Its Effects On An American Family: A Call To Action For The 21st Century, Cynthia Newton Captain

Senior Theses

Our country’s healthcare system is at a moral crossroads. The way we treat those whom we call “the homeless” is deplorable. The majority of the homeless are mentally ill and need treatment. Our country needs to treat those with the severe brain diseases of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, and bi-polar disorder just as we would Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Those with severe mental illness, who have no insight into their illness, should not be allowed to dictate their own treatment. If a homeless person is brought to San Francisco General Hospital and is found to be a schizophrenic in psychiatric …

What We Can't Understand: The Non-Verbal Communication Among Autistic Children, Samantha Simmons

Senior Theses

This project is about children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder and the tools they use to communicate with others. I touch on the ways parents can help their children at home and how they can assist their child to talk even if they are told they will never do so. Discussed in the paper are the various methods of communication including PECS, the QWERTY keyboard, and mobile applications. These can be used on an iPad, iPhone, smartphone etc. The nutritional benefit of some foods for children with autism is also a contributing factor of how they act. Eating foods such …

The Experience Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Through The Lens Of Abraham Lincoln: The Effects Of Mental Health Stigma, Daryl Claude Medina

Senior Theses

Living with generalized anxiety disorder, also known as GAD, in the United States of America is difficult not only for the individual, but also for the people around him or her. Lifestyle changes have to be made, family dynamics need to be adjusted, and last but not least, all relationships must become flexible. In fact, these major life changes are never fixed and must continually adapt to the needs of the individual with generalized anxiety disorder since it is a lifelong medical condition. As with any other mental illness, dealing with generalized anxiety disorder takes great sacrifice in terms of …

Dying For A Diagnosis: The Impact Of Racial Discrimination In Healthcare, Danielle Owusu

Senior Theses

Previous studies have found that healthcare providers are affected by unconscious racial bias, reducing the quality of care and outcomes for African American patients (Yearby, 2010). This undergraduate study hypothesized when healthcare providers show more empathy, they provide higher quality care to their patients. Since African Americans face more discrimination on average, their chances for quality care is lower. Results reveal a positive correlation between empathy from healthcare providers and care administered to patients; furthermore, they reveal no significance found in discrimination of African American patients compared to other races. The study consisted of 93% female participants, which affects the …

Linking Key Factors Of Quality Dementia Care: Knowledge And Self-Efficacy, Sophie E. Miller

Honors Theses

Dementia-related changes in cognition, memory, and personality can have wide-ranging impacts on individuals, families, and healthcare systems (Plassman et al., 2007); including caregiver burnout, disruption of family life, and costly care requirements (Graneheim, Johansson, & Lindgren, 2014). Dementia has become a global issue; 46 million people worldwide have dementia and $600 billion are spent on dementia-related care every year (Farina al., 2016). Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) generally assume the majority of day-to-day care and are a vital component of providing quality, person-centered services to patients with dementia in residential care (Burke & Orlowski, 2015). The purpose of this study was …

Cultural Sensitivity In Healthcare: The New Modern Day Medicine, Daniel Dell'osso

Senior Theses

In healthcare facilities there are many factors that contribute to overall equity, efficiency, and quality of care which if addressed properly can promote justice for all. Patients relying on healthcare facilities come from a variety of races, ethnicities, and cultures as are the employees who provide care for the patients. Diversity is very widespread within the healthcare environment and tolerance as well as acceptance of others is necessary in conducting smooth and efficient care. However, cultural sensitivity and competency seems to continue to be an issue that has been neglected and has severely negatively impacted healthcare centers and its surrounding …

Madness: Schizophrenia, Then And Now, Diane W. Aldrich

Senior Theses

In examining the subject of mental illness, it is clear that diseases and disorders of the brain have not received the same degree of attention in the United States, over the years, as have acute and infectious diseases of the body. This thesis discusses the history of research and treatment of brain disorders, generally, with particular emphasis on schizophrenia, the most serious of mental disorders. The narrative includes the story of my aunt, who was schizophrenic. The objective of this thesis is to add another voice to the many who have asked that the bar on mental health research and …