Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Gillan, Robert Lee, 1916-2009 (Sc 3183), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3183. Letter, 7 August 2006, of Robert Lee Gillan, Thorntown, Indiana, to Martha Harrison. He refers to his interest in genealogy and relates anecdotes about “Aunt Nancy,” an African American woman and caregiver to local families in Barren County, Kentucky. He includes particulars of some of her household advice, folk medicinal treatments and beliefs. He notes that she is buried in Lyons (Lyon) Cemetery.

Job Satisfaction Of Nursing Home Administrators, Cathy Abell

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: The older adult population, age 65 and older, in the United States has increased 30% since 2005 and is projected to continue to grow. Nursing homes have become the living arrangement for some older adults. Nursing home administrators (NHAs) can play a vital role in the long-term care industry. Job satisfaction is important as it can enhance retention of NHAs.Methods: A purposive sample of NHAs was utilized for this descriptive correlational research study to examine job satisfaction. A researcher developed demographic questionnaire and the Nursing Home Administrator Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (NHA-JSQ), which has six specific domains, were utilized to …

I Can Do This - Collaboration On A Global Nursing Assignment To Increase The Self-Efficacy Of Pre-Nursing Students For Research Skills, Carol L. Watwood, Mary P. Bennett, Lorraine B. Bormann

Nursing Faculty Publications

Objective –This study asked whether pre-nursing students who took the Nursing 102 (Introduction to Professional Nursing) class, which included information literacy instruction by the Health Sciences Librarian and writing assistance using peer tutors, felt better prepared in basic research skills and a more global understanding of nursing than they did before they took the class. Methods – In Nursing 102, instruction in the skills needed to prepare an APA paper and group presentations on an assigned country were used to increase pre-nursing students’ self-efficacy in basic computer and library skills and global health awareness. In cooperation with the instructors, the …

Improving Evidence-Based Practice Skills Of Practicing Registered Nurses, Lora K. Moore

Doctor of Nursing Practice Technical Reports

This study evaluated the effect of an educational intervention on improving evidence-based nursing practice (EBP) skills of practicing nurses. In addition, the effects of educational preparation and years of nursing experienced were examined. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design, the Evidence Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ) was administered to a convenience sample of registered nurses from a large regional hospital. The experimental group completed an online EBP educational intervention, the first control group completed an alternate unrelated educational intervention, and the second control group was not provided any type of educational intervention. No significant differences were noted in EBPQ subscale scores of …

Decreasing Stigma Against Depression In Chinese International Students, Elizabeth Trader

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Higher levels of stress and a shift in support systems during the transition to another culture can put international students at risk for mood disorders like depression. Previous research supports there is also a higher level of depression stigma within Eastern cultures in comparison to Western cultures (Rao, Feinglass, & Corrigan, 2007). This may account for the strikingly low numbers from the Chinese population that seek and maintain professional counseling services while studying in the U.S. (Yakushko, Davidson, & Sandford-Martens, 2008). The present study sought to determine whether two self-produced Chinese videos regarding information about stigma, symptoms, and treatment of …

Healthcare And Its Impact On Nurses: The United States Vs. The United Kingdom, Alexandria Colovos

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Currently, in the United States, the topic of healthcare reform is in the back of everyone’s mind. What will come of our healthcare system? Will the cost of healthcare decrease? Will patients have better access to care? With this Capstone Experience/Thesis, I wanted to explore the differences between the current healthcare system that we have in the United States, to the nearly seventy-year-old National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, which provides healthcare to all. The NHS is free at the point of care and is funded by taxation. To understand if such a system would work in the …

The Relationship Between Aerobic Fitness And Depression Level Determined With Hamilton Scale In Older Adults, Ermilo Canton-Martínez, Patricia C. García-Suárez|, Gabriela Valles-Verdugo, Iván Rentería, Alberto Jiménez-Maldonado

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

INTRODUCTION: Depression is a major public health problem associated with both morbidity and mortality throughout the world, in Mexico epidemiological reports show a prevalence of depression in older adults of 9.5% in women and 5% in men; it is widely held that regular exercise and physical activity in older subjects have a significant impact on psychological health and well-being. PURPOSE: To determine whether if higher aerobic fitness is associated with decreased symptoms of clinical depression in older adults. METHODS: Participants (n=21) included individuals raging ages from 61 to 72 years old and were not regular exercisers. The 6 minute walking …

Dawson, Jim (Fa 1102), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1102. Paper titled “Ed Diddle Stories” in which Jim Dawson collects tales relating to former WKU Hilltopper basketball coach Edgar Allen Diddle. Paper is based on interviews with members of WKU faculty, all of whom played basketball under Coach Diddle.

Unrecognized Epidemic Kills Farmers, M. Susan Jones, Deborah B. Reed, Matthew L. Hunt

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Research Focus (Fall 2017), Jean Neils-Strunjas, Susan Megahee, Editor, Creative, Hannah Guy, Student Editor

Communication Sciences & Disorders Publications

Contents:

Graduate Student Spotlight.

Awards & Recognition

News

Alumni

ASHA Publications

Nursing [Career Paper], Tradesha Chatman

Undergraduate Research Award

No abstract provided.

Regional Review: Reaching New Heights In The Region Fall 2017 (Vol.4, No.1), Heather Garcia , Editor

Regional Campuses Publications

Sections include:

Save the date Chat with the Chancellor, Campus News, and Awesome Achievements for each of the three regional campuses.

Cec Newsletter (Fall 2017), Mary Lloyd Moore

CEC Publications

Topics include:

-Summer CDC Interships

-Special Needs Expo

-Special Needs Summit

-Autism Family Fun Day

Ua12/2/2 2017 Talisman: Power, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Archives Records

2017 Talisman yearbook.

• Gibson, Helen. Letter from the Editor
• Edwards, Aly. What's Your Superpower?
• Mattison, Reed. Dangerous Heights - George Clark, Mountaineering
• Voorhees, Jessica. Innovative Energy - Wei-Ping Pan
• Voorhees, Jessica. Counterpunch - Rock Steady Boxing
• Barritt, Brooklyn. B.G. Bosses - Small Business
• Frint, Hunter. Cason's Cove: The Power of Family
• Mitchell, McKenna. Picking Up the Mic - Reuben Bynes, Waco Bell
• Mohr, Olivia. Hidden in Plain Sight - Human Trafficking
• Mattingly, Evan. Voice Off - Noah Hancock, Deaf Persons
• Robb, Hayley. Game, Set, Unmatched - Phillip Cole, Tennis
• Good, Hannah. Damage Control - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Gordon, Zora. …

How I Learned To Communicate My Inner Life With Asperger’S: Ted Talk Annotated Resource List, Meghan Rice

Undergraduate Research Award

No abstract provided.

Ua12/2/1 Healthy Living Guide, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Archives Records

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald:

• Alvey, Rebekah. University Provides Methods for Maintaining Sexual Health
• DeLetter, Emily. Juice, Shakes & Salad: How to Eat Healthy Locally
• Waters, Adrianna. A Guide to Better Sleep: How to Avoid College Exhaustion
• Fletcher, Griffin. The Benefits of Salt Caves
• Alvey, Rebekah. 5 Dieting Misconceptions
• Various Recipes to Fit Into Your Student Budget
• Burgess, Kelly. How to (Not) Eat Oatmeal
• Collins, Emma. Women Find Power Through Weightlifting
• Students Weigh In on Staying Healthy In College
• Tasty Treats to Try from Abroad

Broadening Practice Perspective By Engaging In Academic-Practice Collaboration: A Faith Community Nursing Exemplar., Andra Opalinski, Susan M. Dyess, Nancy Stein, Kim Saiswick, Valerie Fox

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Opportunities to positively impact health outcomes within faith community nursing (FCN) abound. Leaders of FCN can broaden their perspectives and engage academic-practice collaboration (APC) as a method to enhance care delivery, conduct research, and advance the evidence base for FCN. This paper shares a unique FCN exemplar created and actualized from the context of an APC initiative. The population focus in the exemplar is a group of persons experiencing homelessness.

Practice Matters: Red Flags In Evaluating Adult Abdominal Pain, Mary Branstetter Dnp, Dawn Garrett-Wright Phd

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Abstract

Acute abdominal pain is the leading cause of presentation to an emergency department in the United States. Over 5.6 million annual visits have been reported for abdominal pain and represent 18% of emergency department visits and 1.5% of all office-based visits. Acute abdominal pain can be described as visceral, somatic, or neuropathic in origin. Faith community nurses have tools, such as OLDCARTS, to take a good history in order to make sound decisions regarding patient referral to a higher level of care. Identifying red flags for abdominal emergencies and awareness of signs and symptoms of colon cancer allow faith …

Exploration And Description Of Faith Community Nurses’ Documentation Practices And Perceived Documentation Barriers., Susan M. Dyess, Donna M. Callaghan, Andra S. Opalinski Dr.

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Purpose: Documentation within Faith Community Nursing is an expected aspect of the professional specialty but is under-studied. Findings in previously published studies suggest there is a lack of consistent documentation practices among FCNs. Therefore, the aim of this research study was to explore and describe documentation practices of FCNs, and identify the perceived barriers to documentation.

Methodology: This mixed methods research had both qualitative and quantitative components. The qualitative inquiry involved three live focus groups and three telephonic key informant interviews (n = 28). Conventional content analysis was used to examine all qualitative data. The quantitative inquiry involved a survey …

General Nutrition Knowledge And Perceived Stress In A Rural Female Faith Community, Lori Alexander, M. Laurie Branstetter Dnp

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

In rural America, high rates of obesity are influenced by a lack of education and limited community resources. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an educational intervention on recommended nutrition and body mass index knowledge and to describe the perceived stress in a rural female faith community. A quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test post-test research design was used. English speaking female participants (N=49) 18 years of age and older from two rural community churches received an educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model. Participants completed a demographic survey, self-reported height and weight, general nutrition …

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy As An Eating Disorder Intervention, Sara Elizabeth Wallace

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine if a new intervention using techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes et al., 1999) in combination with activities from The Body Project (Stice et al., 2009), will be able to reduce negative body image concerns and increase mindfulness skills in college females. Prior to receiving the intervention, participants completed a pre-test measuring their current body image concerns as well as mindfulness abilities. The intervention was administered in a large, group setting and took approximately 35 minutes to administer. After receiving the intervention, participants completed the same assessment measures as the …

Consumer Knowledge, Perception And Attitudes Of Unlabeled Genetically Modified Foods Of An Educated Population In The State Of Kentucky, Aldious A. Waite

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Genetically modified (GM) foods technology is a novel idea for improving food and crop production, but the supposed health risk of GM foods, such as possible negative long-term health effects to humans, animals and the environment, have provoked the European Union to create assessment protocols to monitor and regulate the safety of GM foods and crops. This research investigates the perception and attitudes of unlabeled GM foods of the WKU faculty and staff. A survey was administered via WKU Qualtrics, and chi-square tests were performed to see how the benefits and disadvantages of GM foods may affect the purchasing decisions …

Investigating The Motivation Factors Of Food Choice During The Transition Of High School Into College Life Among College Students Attending Western Kentucky University, Yu-Hsuan Chen

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Most individuals with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, were diagnosed in their late adulthood. The fact that these chronic diseases is a consequence of long-term unhealthy behaviors is often ignored. The unhealthy behaviors are often traced back to the young adulthood (age 18-25). Some young adults may participate in unhealthy behaviors, such as unhealthy diet, under the perception that they are “still young”. However, it is often overlooked that once a habit is established, it is difficult to eliminate or modify it. Furthermore, the awareness that the development of the chronic disease is …

Examining The Influence And Role Of Pharmacogenetics Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Nuha Shaker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Pharmacogenetics is the study of genomic-guided individualized drug prescription that plays an important role in preventing the severe adverse effects of drugs, decreasing the time and cost of therapeutic choices, and directing healthcare professionals to choose medications that are effective and safe. It is noteworthy that this approach becomes highly beneficial in patients suffering from chronic diseases or disorders, since these conditions may require multiple and long term pharmacological therapies, as in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, public acceptance is a major challenge when implementation of pharmacogenetics merges into clinical practice. The purpose of this study is a) …

The Relationships Between Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Frequency And Suicidal Behaviors, Depression, And Anxiety: A Curvilinear Analysis, Sherry Elizabeth Woods

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) involves the deliberate damage of one’s own bodily tissue without suicidal intent. A number of psychological disorders and indicators of distress are correlated with the behavior, including suicidal behaviors (e.g. Whitlock & Knox, 2007), depression (e.g. Ross & Heath, 2002), and anxiety (e.g. Victor & Klonksy, 2014), and yet the research literature has been mixed on whether increased frequency of NSSI is correlated with increased levels of these variables. The present study hypothesized that these relationships are curvilinear. Data from a larger study were analyzed using curvilinear regression analyses, and hypotheses were partially supported. Curvilinear relationships were …

Numerically Solving A System Of Pdes Modeling Chronic Wounds Treated With Oxygen Therapy, Stefan Stryker

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers are the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations in developed countries. For researchers to better understand the physiology of these wounds, a mathematical model describing oxygen levels at the wound site can be used to help predict healing responses. The model utilizes equations that are modified from work by Guffey (2015) that consists of four variables – oxygen, bacteria, neutrophils, and chemoattractant within a system of partial differential equations. Our research focuses on numerically solving these partial differential equations using a finite volume approach. This numerical solver will be important for future research in …

The Validity Of Submaximal Exercise Testing In Obese Women, Gabrielle Ringenberg

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Background: Submaximal exercise tests use heart rate responses to low-to-moderate intensity activity in order to predict cardiorespiratory fitness (VO_2max). Currently used tests may be inappropriate for obese populations as obese women have altered heart rate responses to exercise. The purpose of this project is to test the validity of the Modified Bruce Protocol submaximal treadmill test in obese women. Methods: Normal-weight (NWG) and obese women (OBG) completed the Modified Bruce submaximal treadmill test (to predict VO_2max using previously validated equations) and a maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill using the Standard Bruce Protocol (to obtain an …

Cytotoxicity Of Platinum Anticancer Drugs In Mammalian Cell Lines Of Metastatic Cancer, Hosannah Evie

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

With the invention of advanced technology, focus has been put on understanding and looking for potential cures for many diseases, one of which is cancer. The difference in the leaving and non-leaving ligands of the FDA approved cancer drugs contributes to the differential cell specific cytotoxic effects. These drugs such as oxaliplatin approved for colorectal cancer, cisplatin approved for testicular cancer, and their analogs were used to treat different cancer cell lines in an MTT assay. This project aims to determine how changing the molecular shape of these compounds affects their uptake and toxicity into different cell lines. The assay …

Assessment Of Endpoint Criteria And Perceived Barriers During Maximal Cardiorespiratory Testing Among Pregnant Women, Caitlin Hesse

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

PURPOSE: Plateau in oxygen consumption (VO₂) is the primary indicator for determining if an individual has reached their true maximal aerobic capacity (Howley et al., 1995). Although age and gender-specific secondary criteria (i.e. additional criteria that can be used to identify one’s attainment of maximal effort) have been developed for the healthy population, no secondary criteria have been established for pregnant women (Edvarsen et al., 2014). The primary purpose of this study was to analyze secondary endpoint criteria during VO_2max testing among pregnant women during the 2nd trimester. A secondary purpose was to identify emotional and physical …

Investigating The Synergistic Effects Of Cisplatin And Two Curcuminoid Compounds On Cancer, Denis Hodzic

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Cisplatin is an anti-cancer drug effective against several cancers which can produce the serious side-effect of hearing loss. Curcumin, a natural plant compound, can increase the activity of cisplatin against cancer and counteract cisplatin’s effect against hearing. Because curcumin exhibits poor bioavailability, there is considerable interest in developing synthetic curcumin analogs (curcuminoids) that are more soluble and which retain anti-cancer activity and otoprotective function. This study investigated whether two curcuminoids, EF-24 and CLEFMA, increase the cytotoxic and ototoxic effects of cisplatin against the lung cancer cell line, A549, and the colorectal cancer cell line, Caco2. Cytotoxicity was measured by using …