Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Low Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma On Tooth Whitening, Denise Michelle Claiborne

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma (LT APP) is a novel science being studied as an alternative light source to enhance tooth whitening. The safety and effectiveness of LTAPP has not been established therefore; the purpose of this study was to determine if LTAPP along with H₂O₂ gel would safely and effectively accelerate the tooth whitening process, in terms of lightness and temperature. Two treatment groups were utilized: 36% H₂O₂ gel only and 36% H₂O₂ gel plus LT APP. Control group received no treatment. Experimental teeth were exposed to LT APP at …

Community College Student Learning In Phlebotomy Preceptor-Led Clinical Internship, Susan E. Phelan

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to describe how allied health preceptor-led clinical internship improves or expands community college student learning. There is a significant gap of information in the literature related to the importance of this clinical internship experience for the learning, socialization, and professional development of allied health students in general and community college students in particular. The absence of relevant data for these internships as a situated learning experience is evident in the literature review. The majority of the allied health work force is prepared by community colleges. Therefore, community college leaders need data to make data-driven …

Use Of Optimal Control Models To Predict Treatment Time For Managing Tick-Borne Disease, Holly D. Gaff, Elsa Schaefer, Suzanne Lenhart

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Tick-borne diseases have been on the rise recently, and correspondingly, there is an increased interest in implementing control measures to decrease the risk. Optimal control provides an ideal tool to identify the best method for reducing risk while accounting for the associated costs. Using a previously published model, a variety of frameworks are assessed to identify the key factors influencing mitigation strategies. The level and duration of tick-reducing efforts are key metrics for understanding the successful reduction in tick-borne disease incidence. The results show that the punctuated nature of the tick's life history plays a critical role in reducing risk …

Early Diagnosis Of Pulmonary Embolism: Review And Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Efstathios Polychronopoulos

Health Services Research Dissertations

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious, life-threatening thrombotic disease, which results in considerable health and economic consequences each year for the United States. These consequences include a toll of 83,000 deaths and an economic impact between 1,5 and 5 billion. Approaches to strategy selection by physicians and other health-care specialists are based mainly upon cost, technology availability, and cultural tolerance regarding radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to determine the most cost-effective diagnostic strategy with patients suspected of PE among several strategies currently used by examining their detection failure rates. This objective was met by (a) assessing parameter …

Using Modeling And Simulation To Improve Oral Health Services Delivery In Hampton Roads, Virginia, Mohammad J. Alzahrani

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the system performance in delivering oral health services in a public health district based on the Conceptual Framework to Measure Performance of the Public Health System (PHS). Using modeling and simulation, a predictive model based on the conceptual framework dimensions: mission, structural capacity, processes, and outcomes was developed to predict the performance of public health district in delivering oral health services.

This is a retrospective longitudinal study. The main objective of this study is to use a modeling and simulation approach to predict the performance of public health district dental clinic in …

Prenatal Smoking And Drinking Implications For Subsequent Child Maltreatment, Nicholas Alexander Adams

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Prenatal smoking and drinking are very serious problems that have continued to plague society. They have multiple negative effects on the child both physically and cognitively. This study explored the relationship between prenatal abuse, i.e., prenatal smoking and prenatal drinking, and subsequent child physical abuse and official reports of child maltreatment. It was hypothesized that mothers who smoked or drank prenatally would be more likely to physically abuse their child postnatally and have official reports of child maltreatment. The sample included women participating in Wave III of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health. N = 620 women who answered …

Plantar Pressure Distribution Differences In Physically Active Individuals With And Without Functional Ankle Instability During A Side Cut, J'Nai Pittman

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Context: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a popular condition in the physically active population. There is a surplus of evidence to demonstrate how FAI decreases proprioception, balance, and overall athletic performance. However, to date there is no evidence that demonstrates how F AI correlates to alterations in plantar pressure distribution differences in a physically active population while completing athletic tasks. Objective: To assess differences in plantar pressure distributions while completing a side cut in individuals with and without FAI. Design: Observational case-control. Setting: Outdoor field turf and research laboratory. Participants: Fifty ankles from physically active individuals (FAI: age= 21.47±3.02 yrs; …

Conditions For Empathy In Medicine: A Grounded Theory Study, Hannah Barnhill Bayne

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Previous research in the medical setting has credited empathy with improving treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction, though operational definitions of the concept are widely varied and indicate inconsistencies in conceptualization and subsequent assessment. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to examine the role of empathy in the medical setting. A model of conditions for empathy in medicine was developed through in-depth interviews with 21 healthcare professionals, utilizing their professional experiences and perspectives to structure the multi-level model. The seven levels of the model indicate the layers of complexity inherent in facilitating optimal empathy in medicine and add to …

Treating Trauma Survivors With Neurofeedback: A Grounded Theory Study Based On The Practices Of Experienced Mental Health Professionals, Christine L. Currie

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Neuroscience, the mental health field, and the concept of trauma as an underlying factor in mental and physical disorders have been inextricably linked since the inception of the mental health professions. Numerous quantitative studies have indicated that neurofeedback may be effective in ameliorating trauma symptoms; however, there is a paucity of research exploring the factors that produce those positive outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to explore the factors and processes that influence treatment outcomes when neurofeedback is used with trauma survivors. Thirty interviews were completed with ten experienced mental health and neurofeedback professionals identified through …

Section Abstracts: Medical Science

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Medical Science Section for the 89th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 25-27, 2011, University of Richmond, Richmond VA.

Uptake Of Nanoparticles Of Cerium Oxide And Yttrium Oxide By Acanthamoeba Castellanii (Protozoa) And Daphnia Magna (Crustacea), James R. Palmieri, Geneva Gehring, Catherine Minichino, Shaadi F. Elswaifi

Virginia Journal of Science

Currently, nanoparticles are synthesized and used at an unprecedented rate for industrial, medical, and research applications. The use of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeONP) and yttrium oxide nanoparticles (YtONP) results in their spread as contaminants into the environment. Once in the environment, CeONP and YtONP can be taken up by organisms in the food chain where they may pose a public health risk. In this study we determine whether Acanthamoeba castellanii and Daphnia magna uptake CeONP or YtONP from their environment and thereby play a role in the transmission of the nanoparticles. Using electron microscopy, orgranisms exposed to the nanoparticles were …

Adoption Of Electronic Health Records By Admitting Physicians: A Heuristic Model, John Sharon Hudson

Health Services Research Dissertations

Background: Although hospital electronic health records (EHRs) are generally perceived to improve care, physician resistance may hinder EHR adoption.

Purpose: This study uses constructs from diffusion of innovations and resource dependence theories to predict adoption and rate of adoption of an EHR by admitting physicians from three of ten hospitals in a highly integrated health system in Virginia. Functions evaluated: computerized physician order entry (CPOE), electronic history and physical (EH&P) and electronic discharge summary (EDS). The study tested hypotheses that adoption would be associated with: working at larger, academic hospitals; financial alignment; larger physician groups; office EHR; youth; males; medical …

Magnification Loupes In U.S. Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Programs, Leslie Mchaney Congdon

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine policies and practices regarding magnification loupes among accredited dental hygiene programs as measured by a 31- item, self-designed questionnaire titled Magnifying Loupes in U.S. Entry Level Dental Hygiene Programs. In addition, the study compared policies among dental hygiene programs in two year versus four year programs in terms of requirements for the use of magnification loupes.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, the questionnaire was emailed via Survey Monkey to 303 entry-level dental hygiene programs. An overall response rate of 75% was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and …

An Extensible Mathematical Model Of Glucose Metabolism, Caleb L. Adams

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

The American Diabetes Association reports that diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease in the United States. An estimated 23.6 million individuals, or seven percent of the population, have diabetes. Nearly one-third are unaware that they have the disease. The total of the direct and indirect medical costs associated with diabetes in 2007 was projected to be $174 billion, or approximately one out of every ten health care dollars.

One must understand the glucose regulatory system of the healthy body to understand diabetes. Blood glucose concentration returns to a constant level after eating and is maintained during …

Evidence-Based Practice In Clinical Athletic Training Education, Dorice A. Hankemeier

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) concepts are becoming more prevalent in the educational curricula of nursing, medicine, physical therapy, and athletic training. The infusion of EBP in the clinical education experience of students has been slow especially in athletic training. The aim of Project I was to investigate approved clinical instructors (ACIs) experience and implementation of EBP with students through emergent design qualitative interviews. Project II was designed to develop and establish the reliability of the Evidence-Based Concepts Assessment (EBCA) to assess athletic trainers' perceived importance, attitudes & beliefs, knowledge, confidence, accessibility, and barriers of EBP. Project III investigated the importance, knowledge, …

Domestic Violence As A Contributing Factor To Juvenile Substance Use, Victoria Felicitas Sophie Danz

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between witnessing violence in the home and juvenile substance use. Data was used from an existing study and variables were recoded to be of best use for this particular work. This study found that witnessing acts of violence can lead a juvenile into drug use, but other factors are more likely to have influenced this behavior. The study shows that family and peer use of drugs is a major predictor for juvenile substance use and has a bigger influence on the juvenile's life than witnessing violence. No significant impact on drug use was found between …

Jordanian Dentists' Knowledge And Implementation Of Eco-Friendly Dental Office Strategies, Sabha Mahmoud Al Shatrat

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if Jordanian dentists have knowledge about eco-friendly dental offices strategies and were employing these in their dental practices. Male and female dentists between the ages of 23–65, who work in private dental practices in the city of Amman, the capital of Jordan, were included in this study. Dentists' names and addresses were obtained from the Jordanian Dental Association. Data for this study was gathered via a researcher-designed questionnaire distributed to a convenience sample of 150 dentists. Dentists were selected according to their dental practice locality until the required number was completed. The …

Evaluation Of A Novel Non-Penetrating Electrode For Use In Dna Vaccination, Amy Donate, Domenico Coppola, Yolmari Cruz, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Current progress in the development of vaccines has decreased the incidence of fatal and non-fatal infections and increased longevity. However, new technologies need to be developed to combat an emerging generation of infectious diseases. DNA vaccination has been demonstrated to have great potential for use with a wide variety of diseases. Alone, this technology does not generate a significant immune response for vaccination, but combined with delivery by electroporation (EP), can enhance plasmid expression and immunity. Most EP systems, while effective, can be invasive and painful making them less desirable for use in vaccination. Our lab recently developed a non-invasive …

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Promotes Rank Expression On Human Monocytes, Joseph G. Cannon, Barbara Kraj, Gloria Sloan

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Elevated serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are associated with diminished bone density in women, beginning years before menopause and the decline in estradiol. We hypothesized that FSH promotes development of myeloid cells toward the bone-resorbing osteoclast phenotype. This was tested by isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells from nine healthy adults, incubating them in the presence of FSH at three different concentrations spanning the physiological range, and then measuring the expression of receptor activator for NF-κB (RANK, a surface marker for osteoclasts) on CD14+ cells by flow cytometry. In the absence of FSH, 3.3±0.5% of the cells expressed high levels …

Coping Strategies Of Family Members Of Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients, Phyllis M. Eaton, Bertha L. Davis, Pamela V. Hammond, Esther H. Condon, Zina T. Mcgee

Nursing Faculty Publications

This exploratory research paper investigated the coping strategies of families of hospitalized psychiatric patients and identified their positive and negative coping strategies. In this paper, the coping strategies of 45 family members were examined using a descriptive, correlational, mixed method research approach. Guided by the Neuman Systems Model and using the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales and semistructured interviews, this paper found that these family members used more emotion-focused coping strategies than problem-focused coping strategies. The common coping strategies used by family members were communicating with immediate family, acceptance of their situation, passive appraisal, avoidance, and spirituality. The …

Approved Clinical Instructors' Perspectives On Implementation Strategies In Evidence-Based Practices For Athletic Training Students, Dorice A. Hankemeier, Bonnie L. Van Lunen

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Understanding implementation strategies of Approved Clinibal Instructors (ACIs) who use evidence-based practice (EBP) in clinical instruction will help promote the use of EBP in clinical practice.

Objective: To examine the perspectives and experiences of ACIs using EBP concepts in undergraduate athletic training education programs to determine the importance of using these concepts in clinical practice, clinical EBP implementation strategies for students, and challenges of implementing EBP into clinical practice while mentoring and teaching their students.

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: Telephone interviews.

Patients or Other Participants: Sixteen ACIs (11 men, 5 women; experience as a certified athletic trainer = 10 …

The Relationship Of Financial Performance, Quality Indicators, And The Role Of Nurse Executives In Virginia Nursing Homes, Jeany V. Murphy

Health Services Research Dissertations

Problem statement. The dynamic nature of the healthcare industry has triggered changes in nurse executive functions. The job has expanded into entrepreneurial roles to be able to provide the most cost effective services while maintaining good quality outcomes for the residents. The new responsibility requires a different set of knowledge and competencies that is usually achieved through advanced education. It is not known whether nurse executives in long term care in Virginia possess the skills to influence both the financial and quality outcomes of the facility.

Methods. This descriptive research study examined the relationship of the nurse executives' technical, human, …

Eeg Artifact Removal Using A Wavelet Neural Network, Hoang-Anh T. Nguyen, John Musson, Jiang Li, Frederick Mckenzie, Guangfan Zhang, Roger Xu, Carl Richey, Tom Schnell, Thomas E. Pinelli (Ed.)

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper we developed a wavelet neural network. (WNN) algorithm for Electroencephalogram (EEG) artifact removal without electrooculographic (EOG) recordings. The algorithm combines the universal approximation characteristics of neural network and the time/frequency property of wavelet. We compared the WNN algorithm with the ICA technique and a wavelet thresholding method, which was realized by using the Stein's unbiased risk estimate (SURE) with an adaptive gradient-based optimal threshold. Experimental results on a driving test data set show that WNN can remove EEG artifacts effectively without diminishing useful EEG information even for very noisy data.

Overcoming Barriers To Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practice Concepts In Athletic Training Education: Perceptions Of Select Educators, Sarah Manspeaker, Bonnie Van Lunen

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: The need to include evidence-based practice (EBP) concepts in entry-level athletic training education is evident as the profession transitions toward using evidence to inform clinical decision making.

Objective: To evaluate athletic training educators' experience with implementation of EBP concepts in Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)-accredited entry-level athletic training education programs in reference to educational barriers and strategies for overcoming these barriers.

Design: Qualitative interviews of emergent design with grounded theory.

Setting: Undergraduate CAATE-accredited athletic training education programs.

Patients or Other Participants: Eleven educators (3 men, 8 women). The average number of years teaching was 14.73 ± …

Segmenting Motivation: An Analysis Of Fantasy Baseball Motives And Mediated Sport Consumption, Brendan Dwyer, Stephen L. Shapiro, Joris Drayer

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

Fantasy sport consumer behavior research is a burgeoning area of inquiry as this growing segment of sport fans exhibits unconventional, yet robust media consumption habits. In addition, consumer motivation and market segmentation represent core principles within the study of marketing, yet the integration of these two essential concepts with regard to sport consumers is limited. The purpose of this study was to explore fantasy baseball motives, develop a motive-based taxonomy of users, and quantify the differences between segments through an examination of mediated sport consumption. An exploratory hierarchal cluster analysis with a subsequent K-means analysis was conducted to determine the …

An Analysis Of Donor Involvement, Gender, And Giving In College Athletics, Stephen L. Shapiro, Lynn L. Ridinger

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

Involvement has been examined extensively within the consumer behavior literature. However, limited research exists concerning involvement and charitable contributions. Additionally, because of women's growing financial power, college athletic departments are increasingly interested in understanding how to attract greater numbers of female donors. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in donor involvement using Zaichkowsky's (1994) Personal Involvement Inventory (PII). Several demographic characteristics of donors were also compared by gender. A sample of 1,664 donors from three NCAA Division I universities participated in this study. The PII was found to be an adequate measure of donor …

Re: Sleep And The Family Doctor: Time To Lead, D. Bluestein, A. C. Healey, C. M. Rutledge

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Telehealth Stroke Education For Rural Elderly Virginians, Patricia A. Schweickert, Carolyn M. Rutledge, David C. Cattell-Gordon, Nina J. Solenski, Mary E. Jensen, Sheila Branson, John R. Gaughen

Nursing Faculty Publications

Objective: Stroke is a prevalent condition found in elderly, rural populations. However, stroke education, which can be effective in addressing the risks, is often difficult to provide in these remote regions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of delivering stroke education to elderly individuals through telehealth versus in-person stroke prevention education methods.

Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design was used in this study. A convenience sample of 11 elderly adults (36% men, 64% women) with a mean age of 70 was selected from an Appalachian Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly …

Educating Advanced Practice Nurses In Using Social Media In Rural Health Care, Carolyn M. Rutledge, Michelle Renaud, Laurel Shephard, Michele Bordelon, Tina Haney, Donna Gregory, Paula Ayers

Nursing Faculty Publications

Health care in the United States is facing a crisis in providing access to quality care for those in underserved and rural regions. Advanced practice nurses are at the forefront of addressing such issues, through modalities such as health care technology. Many nursing education programs are seeking strategies for better educating students on technology utilization. Health care technology includes electronic health records, telemedicine, and clinical decision support systems. However, little focus has been placed on the role of social media in health care. This paper describes an educational workshop using standardized patients and hands-on experiences to introduce advanced practice nurses …

Educating Advanced Practice Nurses In Using Social Media In Rural Health Care, Carolyn M. Rutledge, Michelle Renaud, Laurel Shepherd, Michele Bordelon, Tina Haney, Donna Gregory, Paula Ayers

Nursing Faculty Publications

Health care in the United States is facing a crisis in providing access to quality care for those in underserved and rural regions. Advanced practice nurses are at the forefront of addressing such issues, through modalities such as health care technology. Many nursing education programs are seeking strategies for better educating students on technology utilization. Health care technology includes electronic health records, telemedicine, and clinical decision support systems. However, little focus has been placed on the role of social media in health care. This paper describes an educational workshop using standardized patients and hands-on experiences to introduce advanced practice nurses …