Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of A Faculty Fellows Program In Science Communication, Stacy Stanifer, Beverly Delidow, Kathy Rademacher, Luz Huntington-Moskos, Kelly Kennoy, Amanda Thaxton-Wiggins, Craig Wilmhoff, Ellen J. Hahn

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Science communication plays a crucial role in tackling pressing regional, national, and global health issues. Effective communication with various audiences is integral to dissemination of science findings.

Purpose: This study evaluates changes in self-efficacy and attitudes toward science communication skills over time and also assesses program outcomes and satisfaction with a Faculty Fellows in Science Communication (FFSC) program among faculty (N = 30) with interest in environmental health science and/or education in Appalachia Kentucky.

Methods: A mixed methods program evaluation was employed using longitudinal data on behaviors, attitudes, and program outcomes from three cohorts of Faculty Fellows who participated …

Knowledge And Beliefs Associated With Environmental Health Literacy: A Case Study Focused On Toxic Metals Contamination Of Well Water, Kathleen M. Gray, Victoria Triana, Marti Lindsey, Benjamin Richmond, Anna G. Hoover, Chris Wiesen

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Environmental health literacy (EHL) is developing as a framework that can inform educational interventions designed to facilitate individual and collective action to protect health, yet EHL measurement poses several challenges. While some studies have measured environmental health knowledge resulting from interventions, few have incorporated skills and self-efficacy. In this study, a process-focused EHL instrument was developed, using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy instrument as a model and tailoring it for the context of private well contamination with toxic metals. Forty-seven (47) participants, including undergraduate students and residents of communities with contaminated well water, piloted a prototype EHL instrument …

Changing The Perspective In Management Of A Progressive Neurological Disorder: Developing Interventions To Target Multifactorial Components Of Parkinson’S Disease With Emphasis On Improving Clinical Meaningful Outcomes, Jordana Christine Lockwich

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Neurological disorders are currently the leading source of disability in the United States with Parkinson’s disease (PD) having the fastest growing incidence rate (Abate et al., 2017). PD is the second most common degenerative disease in older adults above 60 years old (Tysnes & Storstein, 2017) and epidemiology reports predict that the number of PD cases has doubled to 6 million since 1990 (Dorsey, Sherer, et al., 2018) It is estimated that PD prevalence will continue to rise with a projected 60,000 new cases in the United States by 2030 (Dorsey, Elbaz, et al., 2018) and has the potential to …

Healthy, Fit, & Strong: A Parent-Child Physical Activity Program For Families With Obese And Overweight Adolescents, Patrick Maloney

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Over 20% of Kentucky children between the ages of 10-17 are obese, the third highest prevalence in the nation. The Healthy, Fit, & Strong Program works with children with a BMI above the 85th percentile and their parents to improve behaviors related to physical activity (PA) and nutrition. The intervention is a 12-week program which features tri-weekly physical activity sessions and nutrition classes. Both children and parents participate in activities in order to build knowledge and confidence related to healthy behaviors. The goal of this intervention is to improve upon baseline physical activity levels and diet as well as to …

A Smartphone-Based Support Group For Alcoholism: Effects Of Giving And Receiving Emotional Support On Coping Self-Efficacy And Risky Drinking, Woohyun Yoo, Dhavan V. Shah, Ming-Yuan Chih, David H. Gustafson

Health and Clinical Sciences Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and effects of exchanging emotional support via a smartphone-based support group for patients with alcohol dependence. Of the 349 patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) criteria for alcohol dependence, 153 patients participated in the discussion group within the Addiction-Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System, a smartphone application aimed at reducing relapse. This was developed to prevent problem drinking by offering individuals in recovery for alcohol dependence automated 24/7 recovery support services and frequent assessment of their symptom status as part of their addiction care. …

An Empirical Pilot Study Examining The Relationship Between Intention To Participate In Food Security Efforts And Childhood Socioeconomic Status Among Conference Attendees, Liana Dixon

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Hunger is a global public health issue and finding a solution is a priority for the United Nations. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2.2 calls for ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture for all people by 2030. The Universities Fighting World Hunger (UFWH) Summit, originating with the United Nation’s originated World Food Programme (WFP) and Auburn University, convenes attendees annually to share their own knowledge and ideas about how to “fight hunger,” as well as benefit from others knowledge and ideas. An important factor in tackling hunger and achieving health is addressing poverty and …

The Effect Of A Provider-Based Educational Program On Knowledge, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Order Rates Of Cologuard® In A Primary Care Clinic, Cassilly B. Besten

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers, particularly in persons greater than 50 years of age. Most colorectal malignancies are slow-growing, making regular screening increasingly important to decrease morbidity, mortality, and cost of treatment. Cologuard® serves as an effective and non-invasive colorectal cancer screening modality for average-risk adults.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a provider-based educational intervention on the knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and ordering rates of Cologuard® among primary care providers.

METHODS: This study was a single-center, pre/post implementation study of the effectiveness of a provider-based educational intervention …

The Effect Of A Behavioral Health Specialist Program On Providers’ Perceptions Of Mental Illness, Self-Efficacy And Satisfaction In The Inpatient Medical Unit., Trinity D. Thomas

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this DNP project was to assess the effect of a Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) program on providers’ perceptions of mental illness, self-efficacy and satisfaction in the inpatient medical unit.

METHODS: This DNP project used a mixed-methods approach to obtain data, which included a pretest-posttest design, and key informant interviews. The survey data was obtained from provider responses to an email that was forwarded from managers of four targeted medical-surgical floors. A cover letter was included in the email which further provided information about key informant interviews and the contact information for the principle investigator to arrange …

Impact Of A Leadership Development Program On Perceptions Of Structural Empowerment, Leadership Self-Efficacy, And Staff Nurse Clinical Leadership, Matthew E. Proud

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: In order to serve as full partners on the interdisciplinary health care team: nurses at all levels must develop essential leadership competencies Organizations need to identify the essential leadership competencies required for bedside nursing staff and develop programs to enhance these competencies. Leadership competencies in areas such as managing change can help bedside nursing staff improve care delivery and quality outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of an established leadership development program on participants’ perceptions of structural empowerment, leadership self-efficacy, and staff nurse clinical leadership in one university health system.

METHODS: The pilot …

The Effect Of An American Heart Association Telephone Follow-Up Intervention On Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In Rural Heart Failure Patients, Haley Fuller

DNP Projects

Background: An increased national and local prevalence of heart failure fostered a review of the evidence to identify best practice interventions focusing on improving self-care and knowledge. Heart failure remains a leading cause of 30-day readmission in the United States and in Madisonville, Kentucky, the site of study. A review of the literature emphasized improving transitions from hospital to home with a multi-dimensional approach. Self-care and knowledge were identified as major determinants to adequately prepare a patient to manage this chronic disease. A pre- and post quasi experimental study was performed at a rural hospital in Kentucky. Objective: The goal …

The Role Of Psychosocial Factors On Pre And Postoperative Pain In Patients With Femoral Acetabular Impingement, Kate N. Jochimsen

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) is a bony hip condition that often results in tears to the acetabular labrum. Patients with FAI experience pain, decreased function, and quality of life. FAI and its’ sequela are treated definitively with hip arthroscopy. Hip arthroscopy is being performed with increasing frequency, and while most patients respond favorably, a subset of 10-20% of patients have suboptimal outcomes.

Previous research suggests that mental status may be a primary driver in the way patients with FAI respond to and feel pain. Measures of mental status include the presence of mood disorders and psychosocial patient reported outcomes (PROs). …

Curbing The Dui Offender's Self-Efficacy To Drink And Drive: A Laboratory Study, Walter Roberts, Mark T. Fillmore

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background—People arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) are at high risk to reoffend. One reason for this high rate of recidivism among DUI offenders is that these individuals systematically underestimate the degree to which alcohol impairs their ability to drive. This study compared perceived and objective driving ability following alcohol and performance feedback in drivers with and without a history of DUI.

Method—Adult drivers with (n = 20) and without (n = 20) a history of DUI arrest attended two dose challenge sessions where they received 0.64 g/kg alcohol or placebo, completed a simulated driving …

The Impact Of A Civic Service Program On Biopsychosocial Outcomes Of Post 9/11 U.S. Military Veterans, Monica M. Matthieu, Karen A. Lawrence, Emma Robertson-Blackmore

Social Work Faculty Publications

Volunteering as a health promotion intervention, improves physical health, mental health, and social outcomes particularly in older adults, yet limited research exists for veterans. We conducted a preliminary study to explore whether volunteering impacts a variety of biopsychosocial outcomes, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, among returning military veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. A survey enrolling a prospective cohort of United States (U.S.) veterans who served in the military after 11 September 2001 and who participated in a national civic service program was conducted. A total of 346 veterans completed standardized health, mental health, and psychosocial self-report …

Connecting Self-Efficacy Of Dietary Choices And The Association With Dietary Intake Among Rural Adolescents In North Carolina And Kentucky, Rachel Gillespie

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Determining the level of belief one has in themselves, or their self-efficacy, can be a key factor to improve certain dietary patterns and choices in the rural youth population. Sugar sweetened food and beverage consumption continues to rise and fruit and vegetable intake remains a struggle in rural areas; addressing both the food environment and adolescents’ self-efficacy could have a lasting impact on changing the nature of a generation of rural student’s food and beverage choices. This study measured self-efficacy levels of (n=425) adolescents in rural Kentucky and North Carolina using the Youth Impact Questionnaire and dietary intake using the …

The Role Of Stress In Assessing Life Satisfaction And Self-Efficacy Among Prison Officers, Kamilla Bargiel-Matusiewicz, Paulina Stelmachowska, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Stress is a major public health concern. It can be observed in all aspects of life, in everyday family life and work life. The focus of this article is work-related stress. Work stress can be observed in any work environment and in all professions. As a complex condition it affects different people in different ways. The study presented in this article was done on a sample of 59 prison officers who volunteered to participate. Among those 59 participants 34 were males and 25 were females aged between 25 to 52. Each participant received a survey to collect general information about …

The Factors That Influence Duration Of Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Mixed Methods Design, Roxanne K. Bowman

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Breastfeeding is the gold standard of infant feeding and its benefits extend beyond the mother and child. Multiple organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. Exclusive breastfeeding rates nationally and in the state of Kentucky fall below the Healthy People 2020 goals. A mother’s intention to breastfeed has been shown to impact actual breastfeeding behavior. The current state of the measurement of intention was explored through a literature review. A majority of the measures were single item scales. The reliability and validity of the scales should be further tested in diverse populations.

The purposes …

The Development Of The Self-Efficacy Of Balance Scale (Sebs): Investigation Of Psychometric Properties In Female Basketball Players, Carrie Silkman Baker

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Lower extremity injuries are the most common sports related injury. Many steps have been taken to attempt to identify individuals who might be at a higher risk for sustaining a lower extremity injury. Resource and time intensive screening techniques have been used previously to attempt to identify such individuals. However these techniques have focused heavily on postural control and landing mechanics in athletes, no psychological measure has been used to identify individuals who might be at a higher risk of lower extremity injury.

Self-efficacy of balance can be defined as how capable an individual feels he or she can balance …