Digital Commons Network^™

Geropsychiatric Medical Problems, Daniel Giorgio

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With a growing elderly population in the United States, the development of

efficient methods to ensure high-quality care for geriatric patients is more important than

ever. In the emergency department (ED), geriatric patients account for up to 24% of

stays. Many of these patients come to the ED for neuropsychiatric reasons and some are

admitted to geropsychiatric units. These patients require medical screening to identify

issues that may in part account for their mental state. The purpose of this study was to

characterize the patients who were admitted from the Summa Health System ED to

geropsychiatric units. It was hypothesized …

Conceptualizing And Measuring Unintended Pregnancy And Birth: Moving The Field Forward, Population Council

Reproductive Health

Given the complexity of conceptualizing and measuring unintended pregnancy, STEP UP convened an expert group meeting in Accra, Ghana with the objectives of contributing to a clearer understanding and agreed-upon definition of unintended pregnancy; reviewing existing approaches to the conceptualization and measurement of unintended pregnancy; drawing from existing approaches to propose and draft indicators, metrics, data collection instruments, and analysis strategies for measuring and tracking unintended pregnancy through multiple data collection procedures; and identifying challenges and opportunities for communicating evidence on unintended pregnancy and informing policy, planning, and investment decisions. Following presentations and discussions on these issues, participants reviewed the …

A Report From The First Regional Pain Medicine Symposia In East, Central And Southern African Region. (Ecsa-R)-“The Rhino Model In Pain Education In Africa”, Thikra Sharif, John Bugo

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

The 1st Regional pain medicine symposia were held between the 14th and 18th of November 2011 in 3 cities (Nairobi, Mombasa and Dar-es-salaam), across 2 countries, Kenya and Tanzania. It was funded by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), through the IASP developing country education grant for 2011 and The Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi (AKUHN). It was organized by faculty from the Pain Management Unit (PMU) AKUHN. The Pain medicine educators were from PMU, AKUHN and from Specialists in Pain International Network (SPIN).

The aims of the symposia were to introduce the Rhino model concept, the …

Uchunguzi (Journal Watch/Montre De Journal) June 2015, Benjamin Wachira

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Uchunguzi means investigation in Swahili and provides a summary of some of the most recent international literature as presented in other leading journals, but with an emphasis on what is relevant to our continent.

Outcomes Associated With Blood Component Transfusion In Adult Trauma Patients, Allison R. Jones

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate outcomes associated with blood component (BC) transfusion in adult trauma patients. Specific aims were to: 1) explore the relationship between traumatic injury, hemorrhage, and BC transfusion, focusing on consequences of the component storage lesion through presentation of a conceptual model; 2) systematically review research literature comparing outcomes of massively transfused major trauma patients based on ratios of BCs received; 3) evaluating the relationship between type of blood transfusion trauma patients received (whole blood versus BCs) and mortality likelihood after controlling for demographic and clinical variables; 4) evaluating the relationship between volume and …

Oral Immunotherapy In Ige-Mediated Cow’S Milk Protein Allergy, Jody Bauer

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Cow’s milk allergy prevalence in children has been increasing significantly over the last several decades. The diagnosis of a cow’s milk allergy (CMA) can occur through several methods such as signs and symptoms, double blind oral food challenge, skin prick testing, IgE and IgG4 serum levels. Currently, there are no treatments beyond strict allergen avoidance. The patient’s quality of life is impacted with the fear of inadvertent exposure resulting in allergic reactions that may be life threatening. Recent studies have explored desensitization to CM using oral immunotherapy (OIT), subcutaneous immunotherapy, and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Research has found that desensitization will …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Indoor Tanning And Sunless Tanning Product Use Among Female Teens In The United States, Megan Quinn, Arsham Alamian, Joel J. Hillhouse, Colleen Scott, Rob Turrisi, Katie Baker

ETSU Faculty Works

Background

Indoor tanning (IT) before the age of 35 increases melanoma risk by 75%. Nevertheless, IT and sunless tanning product (STP) use have gained popularity among youth. However, there are limited data on the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of both IT and STP use in a representative sample of American teens.

Methods

Teenage females (N = 778) aged 12–18 years were recruited as part of an on-going longitudinal study conducted between May 2011 and May 2013. Descriptive statistics explored IT and STP usage in teen females at baseline. Logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic correlates of IT and STP …

Sleep, Depressive Symptoms And Cognition In Older Adults And Caregivers Of Persons With Dementia, Glenna Shemida Brewster

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Caregivers of persons with dementia, who are often older adults, report sleep disturbance, high rates of depressive symptoms and may be at risk for impaired cognition. This dissertation examined sleep, depressive symptoms, and cognition in older adults and caregivers of persons with dementia. The aims of the review of literature were to understand, in community dwelling adults 60 years and older, the relationships among sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and general sleep complaints), and the domains of cognition (Executive Function, Attention, Episodic Memory, Working Memory, Processing Speed), and global cognition. Based …

Psychosocial Risk Factors For Acute Myocardial Infarction: Results Of A Case-Control Study In A Teaching Hospital At Karachi, Pakistan, Kiran Abdul Sattar, Waris Qidwai, Kashmira Nanji

Department of Family Medicine

Objective: To determine psychosocial risk factors for acute myocardial infarction at a teaching hospital in Karachi. Methods: One hundred and fifty three cases were recruited from cardiology clinics and 153 controls from internal medicine and family medicine clinics of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, through non-probability sampling using a structured questionnaire. Cases were those who were diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction for the first time in past month. Controls were selected from family medicine and internal medicine clinics of the same hospital and included patients above the age of 40 years without acute myocardial infarction. Associations between psychosocial risk …

A Qualitative Study Of How Children Experience And Live With Long Qt Syndrome, Patrick Mcelwaine

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited and potentially fatal disorder affecting approximately 1 in 2,000 people. Children often experience anxiety and a sense of loss of control as they try to manage the medical, social, and psychological stress that accompanies being diagnosed with LQTS. The present study utilized a qualitative research design to examine how children experience and live with long QT syndrome. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight children between the ages of 7 to 12 who were diagnosed with LQTS. This period in a child’s life is very important for developing social skills and self-esteem as peers …

The Influence Of Positive And Negative Death Attitudes On Medical Students' Empathy And Attitudes Toward End-Of-Life Care, Elizabeth Palumbo

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This quantitative study employed a cross-sectional survey research design in order to examine the relationships between medical students’ death attitudes, empathy, and attitudes toward end-of-life care. The participants were 206 medical students currently enrolled in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia campus. Results indicated that there were no significant differences in the level of empathy between medical students who held strong positive death attitudes and medical students with strong negative death attitudes. However, results indicated that significant differences existed in attitudes toward end-of-life care between medical students who held strong positive death …

The Psychometric Properties Of The Professionalism Assessment Rating Scale, Jennifer K. Olivetti

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The issue of professionalism in the training of medical students has become a major focus within the field of medical education. For years, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has measured the quality of osteopathic medical students (DO students) interpersonal and communication skills through SP (SP) encounters in which SPs rate the DO students relative to eight criteria (items) which, in aggregate, are known as the Professionalism Assessment Rating Scale (PARS). These criteria are linked in the literature to patient outcomes, patient adherence, patient satisfaction, and malpractice. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the PARS, based on data …

Neurocognitive Patterns, Symptom Clusters, And Premorbid Factors That Predict Protracted Recovery From Concussion In Females, Sarah Pulaski

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Concussion is an increasingly diagnosed injury that affects individuals of all ages. Although the underlying cause is unknown, research has demonstrated that females who sustain a concussion experience longer recoveries. Existing research has documented a relationship between age, gender, post-concussive headache and mental health conditions, and recovery; however, limited research has investigated the relationship between premorbid clinical variables and recovery. Research on post-injury neurocognitive declines and recovery has also demonstrated varied findings. Moreover, dizziness has been identified as significantly predictive of prolonged recovery, but no studies have investigated the effect of premorbid headache conditions on the development of dizziness. The …

A Comparison Of Combined Overlap Block Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (Cobfcm) And Combined Overlap Block Neutrosophic Cognitive Map (Cobncm) In Finding The Hidden Patterns And Indeterminacies In Psychological Causal Models: Case Study Of Adhd, Hojjatollah Farahani, Florentin Smarandache, Lihshing Leigh Wang

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In spite of researchers’ concerns to find causalities, reviewing the literature of psychological studies one may argue that the classical statistical methods applied in order to find causalities are unable to find uncertainty and indeterminacies of the relationships between concepts.

In this paper, we introduce two methods to find effective solutions by identifying “hidden” patterns in the patients’ cognitive maps. Combined Overlap Block Fuzzy Cognitive Map (COBFCM) and Combined Overlap Block Neutrosophic Map (COBNCM) are effective when the number of concepts can be grouped and are large in numbers. In the first section, we introduce COBFCM, COBNCM, their applications, and …

Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Haitian Americans, Steven S. Coughlin, Erica I. Lubetkin, Jennifer L. Hay, Renald Raphael, Selina A. Smith

Publications and Research

Background

Few studies have examined colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans, although striking disparities in colorectal cancer screening and mortality are well-documented among U.S. Blacks. Race, socioeconomic status, and place of birth are factors associated with colorectal cancer incidence and mortality patterns.

Methods

In this article, we summarize published studies on colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans, identified through bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL through August 2015, and offer recommendations for further research.

Results

Only one qualitative study and three quantitative surveys have examined colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans. A qualitative study found important differences in perceptions of …

Integrating Psychosocial Care Into Neuro-Oncology: Challenges And Strategies, Suzanne K. Chambers, L. Grassi, M.K. Hyde, J. Holland, J. Dunn

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Approximately 256,000 cases of malignant brain and nervous system cancer were diagnosed worldwide during 2012 and 189,000 deaths, with this burden falling more heavily in the developed world. Problematically, research describing the psychosocial needs of people with brain tumors and their carers and the development and evaluation of intervention models has lagged behind that of more common cancers. This may relate, at least in part, to poor survival outcomes and high morbidity associated with this illness, and stigma about this disease. The evidence base for the benefits of psychosocial care in oncology has supported the production of clinical practice guidelines …

Compliance To Exercise-Oncology Guidelines In Prostate Cancer Survivors And Associations With Psychological Distress, Unmet Supportive Care Needs, And Quality Of Life, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert U. Newton, Robert A. Gardiner, Afaf Grigis, Steven J. Lepore, Anna Stiller, Cathrine Mihalopolous, Steven Occhipinti, Suzanne K. Chambers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of Australian prostate cancer survivors meeting contemporary exercise-oncology guidelines and identify associations with distress, unmet supportive care needs, and quality of life. Methods A population-based cohort of 463 prostate cancer survivors who were on 10.8 months post-curative therapy was assessed for compliance with current exercise guidelines for cancer survivors, motivational readiness for physical activity, psychological distress, unmet supportive care needs, and quality of life. Results Only 57 men (12.3%) reported sufficient exercise levels (150 min of moderate intensity or 75 min of strenuous exercise per week and twice weekly resistance …

Prostate Cancer Support Groups: Canada-Based Specialists' Perspectives, John L. Oliffe, Suzanne K. Chambers, Bernie Garrett, Joan L. Bottorff, Michael Mckenzie, Christina S. Han, John S. Ogrodniszuk

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

To understand prostate cancer (PCa) specialists’ views about prostate cancer support groups (PCSGs), a volunteer sample of Canada-based PCa specialists ( n = 150), including urologists ( n = 100), radiation oncologists ( n = 40), and medical oncologists ( n = 10) were surveyed. The 56-item questionnaire used in this study included six sets of attitudinal items to measure prostate cancer specialists’ beliefs about positive and negative influences of PCSGs, reasons for attending PCSGs, the attributes of effective PCSGs, and the value of face-to-face and web-based PCSGs. In addition, an open-ended question was included to invite additional input from …

A Systematic Review: Non-Pharmacological Interventions For Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea And Vomiting, Miranda L. Ayers, Olateju F. Olowe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Around 70-80% of patients receiving chemotherapy are at risk of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), which can interfere with appetite and the ability to perform normal activities for daily living. When CINV is severe, psychological distress, depression, and physiological impairment occur. Patients may also stop chemotherapy treatments, which can lead to untimely deaths. The aim of this systematic review was to identify, describe, and evaluate the evidence about the use and effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions, compared to no use of non-pharmacological interventions, on self-reported episodes of CINV among the cancer patients. Twenty articles were reviewed on the use of acupressure, …

The Experiences Of Occupational Therapists Working On Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams: A Case Study., Emma Blake Mcclellan

Online Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this research was to provide evidence on the integration of occupational therapy (OT) intervention in primary care from the perspective of OTs. Typical services provided, experience with team members, and the identified value of OT in primary health care was explored. OT possesses the expertise and skill set to address the most common chronic conditions that primary care providers treat by entry level educational preparation. OT services are based upon a holistic view of individuals creating an affective skill set to participate in and coordinate health care delivery for the client. Currently limited evidence is available to …

Perceptions Of Social Isolation And Social Support In Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency And Sarcoidosis: Results Of A Mixed-Methods Study, Susan Krause Flavin

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation was to explore perceptions of social isolation and social support in individuals with one of two rare lung conditions, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) or sarcoidosis. First, a dimensional concept analysis was conducted to identify key factors contributing to the phenomenon of social isolation. Next, an integrative review of existing instruments to measure social isolation was conducted to identify the most appropriate instrument for the study. Finally, a mixed-methods study was conducted to explore these phenomena in the two populations of interest. Problem: Many rare diseases are chronic, complex and associated with other disabilities (M. …

Project Spraoi: A Strategy To Improve Nutrition And Increase Physical Activity In Primary School Children, Lisa Delaney

Masters

Introduction: Paediatric obesity has become a global epidemic with many countries developing strategies to help tackle its prevalence. School based physical activity (PA) and nutrition interventions have proven to play a promising role in tackling childhood obesity.

Background: Project Spraoi is an Irish primary school based intervention. The intervention was delivered to an intervention school to help enhance PA and nutritional behaviour amongst pupils. The intervention school was assigned an ‘Energizer’; a trained PA and nutrition change agent who worked with the school to achieve the objectives. For evaluation purposes a control school was recruited.

Methodology: Pupils from the intervention …

Improving Depression Care For Older Home Health Patients, Sarah R. Schirmer

DNP Projects

Rates of depression in older home healthcare (HH) patients are highly prevalent. Although depression in this population is associated with increased rates of re-hospitalization, falls, and suicides, it is frequently under diagnosed and under treated. This Capstone Report examined this problem through three interrelated manuscripts. The first manuscript explored the problem through a review of the literature. This review determined that while there are many barriers to adequate depression care, programs that train clinicians to screen for depression and connect patients to depression care encourage adequate evaluation and treatment and can result in clinically significant changes in depression scores. This …

Are Type 2 Diabetes Patients Receiving Diabetes Self-Management Education In The Primary Care Setting?, Erica Mahone

DNP Projects

Diabetes is a growing health concern in the United States, with approximately 1.7 million new cases diagnosed yearly. A management option to help patients gain glycemic control is the participation in diabetes self-management education (DSME). DSME aims to teach patients how and why they need to perform self-care, and not solely rely on medications to manage diabetes. A literature review of 10 studies between 2007 and 2014 was conducted and found favorable health outcomes for participants of DSME. Patients who participated in DSME had improved glycemic control, achieved blood pressure and cholesterol goals, and lost weight. An analysis of the …

Foster Parents' Perceptions And Beliefs About Social Emotional Development In Infants And Toddlers, Susan R. Noel

DNP Projects

Infants and toddlers placed in foster care are at increased risk for social-emotional (SE) development dysregulation. Foster parents, as surrogate parents, play a critical role in a young child having the potential for healthy SE development. The transactional model supports the complex and intricate interplays and transactions of the child, the foster parent, and the environment that influences a healthy SE development. This qualitative descriptive study explored foster parent knowledge, behavioral cue recognitions, and role perception regarding a young child's SE development. Although the sample size was small, the study provides relevant information, from the on-going experiences of foster parents, …

Polypharmacy Practice Inquiry Project, Mary T. Skinner

DNP Projects

“The impending crisis, which has been foreseen for decades, is now upon us.The nation needs to act now to prepare the health care workforce to meet the care needs of older adults.” Institute of Medicine.

Given the rising tide of people over the age of 65, taking multiple medications or polypharmacy is a becoming more prevalent in older adults. Unfortunately, there are many negative consequences associated with polypharmacy. Specifically, this burden has been associated with greater health care costs and an increased risk of adverse drug events, drug-interactions, medication non-adherence, reduced functional capacity and multiple geriatric syndromes including cognitive impairment. …

The Fertility Problem Inventory And Infertility-Related Stress: A Case Study, Staci Leigh Born

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

More than seven million people of childbearing age in the United States experience infertility. For women, the experience of infertility is stressful. The Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) has been used to quantitatively measure women's experience of infertility-related stress. However, the construct of infertility-related stress is poorly described in existing literature. The purpose of this case study was understand how women experience the FPI as a measure of infertility-related stress. To address this issue, women who are undergoing infertility treatment completed the FPI and participated in unstructured interviews. Archival documents were also retrieved to corroborate findings and satisfy saturation. Results indicate …

Children With Sli Exhibit Delays Resolving Ambiguous Reference, Julie M. Estis, Brenda L. Beverly

University Faculty and Staff Publications

Fast mapping weaknesses in children with specific language impairment (SLI) may be explained by differences in disambiguation, mapping an unknown word to an unnamed object. The impact of language ability and linguistic stimulus on disambiguation was investigated. Sixteen children with SLI (8 preschool, 8 school-age) and sixteen typically developing age-matched children selected referents given familiar and unfamiliar object pairs in three ambiguous conditions: phonologically distinct word (PD), phonologically similar word (PS), no word (NW). Preschoolers with SLI did not disambiguate, unlike typically developing age-matched participants, who consistently selected unfamiliar objects given PD. School-age children with SLI disambiguated given PD. Delays …

Restraint Stress Alters Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Expression And Increases Superoxide Dismutase In The Rat Hypothalamus And Hippocampus, Kristina Isabel Barron

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The impact of restraint stress on changes in cytokine expression and oxidative stress markers in hippocampal (Hipp) and hypothalamic (Hyp) regions of the brain, were assessed in a rat model. In addition, immune and inflammatory variables were assessed in peripheral blood. Male Wistar rats were acutely (30 min) or repeatedly (30 min/d for 14 consecutive days) exposed to a restraint stress, or maintained as non-stressed controls. At the time of sacrifice, whole blood and brain tissues enriched in Hyp or Hipp regions were collected; blood was collected with EDTA as an anticoagulant and centrifuged to yield plasma. All tissue samples …

A Narrative Inquiry: Case Leaders' Perspectives On Resilience In Hospice Care, Gail Renee Ahern

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study is a qualitative inquiry examining the perspective of team leaders within hospice organizations on resilience. The goal of this study was to examine how hospice leaders build resilience for themselves and within the interdisciplinary teams they lead. A framework of three key theories of leadership—servant, spiritual and authentic—was used to help in understanding the similarities and differences of the interviewed leaders and their key themes and practices. The eight leaders interviewed were from a range of hospices in diverse settings and all were directly responsible for leading interdisciplinary teams. In-depth phenomenological interviewing was undertaken until the study reached …