Digital Commons Network^™

Quality Improvement Project: Reimplementation Of Bedside Reporting, Veronicah Banga

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Communication breakdown during nursing shift handoffs is a major patient safety challenge in healthcare today. At the project site, 85% of handovers occurred at the central nursing station, and most staff nurses expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the bedside reporting. In psychiatric nursing, unique barriers exist that make bedside reporting challenging, including patient confidentiality and an individual's diagnosis. Such barriers eroded bedside reporting (BSR) over time, leading to measurable safety risks and nursing dissatisfaction. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to reintroduce bedside handoffs using the Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation (SBAR) framework and to maintain BSR …

Breathing-Controlled Electrical Stimulation (Breestim) Selectively Modulates Affective And Cognitive Components Of Pain-An Eeg Study, Ahmad Z Rao, Michael Houston, Hao Meng, Shengai Li, Yingchun Zhang, Sheng Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Breathing-controlled electrical stimulation (BreEStim) is an innovative neuromodulation intervention that synchronizes deep voluntary breathing with peripheral electrical stimulation. Prior studies have shown its analgesic effects in healthy adults and spinal cord injury patients with neuropathic pain. The present study used EEG to examine BreEStim's neural effects on sensory, affective, and cognitive components of pain. Fourteen healthy participants (7 M, 7 F) completed 30 min of BreEStim and conventional electrical stimulation (EStim) interventions in a randomized, crossover within-subject design. Electrical pain thresholds (EPT) and EEG were recorded pre- and post-intervention. Event-related potentials (ERPs) at pre-EPT-level stimuli before and immediately after each …

Abstract Book (Pdf), Lsu Health School Of Medicine

Medicine Research Day

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge Of Evidence-Based Engagement Strategies To Reduce No-Show Rates, Jerrica Luster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High no-show rates in outpatient mental health settings remain a persistent barrier to effective care delivery, negatively affecting continuity of care, patient outcomes, and access to services. In the identified practice setting, inconsistent use of evidence-based engagement strategies beyond standard reminder practices contributed to missed appointments. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to evaluate whether a structured staff education intervention on evidence-based engagement strategies would improve staff knowledge as a foundation for enhancing appointment adherence. A quantitative pre- and posttest design was used to evaluate knowledge change following the intervention. Participants included outpatient mental health clinic …

Speed Of Intravenous Fluid On Glycocalyx Integrity And Central Blood Volume In A Porcine Septic Shock Model, Yosef Levenbrown, Md Jobayer Hossain, Paul T. Fawcett, Marjorie Postell, Anne M. Hesek, Lynell S. Jones, James P. Keith, Thomas H. Shaffer

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the rate of intravenous fluid (IVF) administration in sepsis influences glycocalyx breakdown. This study aimed to measure the effect of rapid versus slow fluid bolus in a septic pig model on the integrity of the glycocalyx by measuring the serum levels of heparan sulfate and syndecan-1, breakdown products of the glycocalyx. Because endothelial glycocalyx is composed of apical cell membrane-bound proteoglycans such as syndecan-1, covalently bound with long linear glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate, shedding of these different glycocalyx components is closely related. Additionally, we measured central blood volume (blood volume in the heart and …

Staff Education On Early Sepsis Recognition For Medical-Surgical Nurses In The Acute Care Setting, Nadine Nzenga Udom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this staff education project, I targeted early sepsis recognition and response among medical-surgical nurses. The practice gap at the site was nurses’ limited knowledge of sepsis indicators and screening tools, which contributed to delayed escalation of care. The practice-focused question guiding the project was “Does educating medical-surgical nurses on early sepsis recognition and response improve knowledge of early sepsis recognition and response?” I applied the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) and Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice (JHEBP) models to design a structured sepsis education program for nursing staff. I searched for peer-reviewed literature via databases accessed through the …

Promoting Maternal Well-Being: Occupational Therapy In Pregnancy And Postpartum, Nora Udrys

Capstone Projects

Navigating pregnancy and the postpartum period can be a complex experience for women. There is a lack of diverse information, accessible resources, and support during this phase of life. Hormonal levels fluctuate not only during pregnancy but after giving birth as well, contributing to significant physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. Some of these changes may create barriers to meaningful participation in daily occupations, contributing to feelings of isolation, mood disruptions, and decreased overall well-being. Occupational therapy has a unique role in supporting women through pregnancy and postpartum by helping them navigate these transitions through a holistic, client-centered lens. The purpose …

Sexuality And Intimacy: Education On Ot Approach, Abby Stritzinger

Capstone Projects

Providing proper education on sexuality and intimacy is important for increasing comfort when addressing sex and intimacy with individuals in the professional field.  “Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled” (WHO, 2006a). Creating occupational therapists (OTs) that are comfortable addressing this topic is extremely important for the OT profession to continue to maintain its holistic, client-centered …

Multifocal Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma With Ret P.V804m, Eml4-Alk Fusion, And Braf V600e Positivity, Jacob Beiriger, Leonard Estephan, Lubna Zuberi, Stacey Gargano, Elizabeth Cottrill

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

Multifocal papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) can arise from independent primaries with discordant drivers in parallel clonal evolution rather than a single-clone pattern. We present a 31-year-old female with multifocal PTC harboring 3 distinct oncogenic alterations: a germline RET p.V804M mutation, low-frequency EML4-ALK fusion, and BRAF V600E mutation. The RET and ALK alterations were identified in a midpole nodule, whereas BRAF positivity was seen in a separate lower pole tumor. Ultrasound revealed multiple right-lobe thyroid nodules; the dominant 2.1-cm lesion was hypoechoic with calcifications. Fine needle aspiration revealed Bethesda III cytology, prompting thyroid lobectomy and an ipsilateral central neck dissection was …

Inhibition Of Cyclophilin D Rescues Cardiac Function And Bioenergetic Defects Caused By Neonatal Hypoxia, Jonathan R. Burris, Gisela Beutner, Min Yee, Bartholomew V. Simon, Michael F. Swartz, Kathryn B. Boudreau, Ethan D. Cohen, Chaitanya A. Kulkarni, Prottoy Hasan, Hongyue Wang, Karen L. De Mesy Bentley, György Hajnóczky, George M. Alfieris, Eric M. Small, Paul S. Brookes, Michael A. O'Reilly, George A. Porter

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Increased oxygen levels at birth regulate myocyte bioenergetic and structural maturation controlled by mitochondrial cyclophilin D (CypD). We evaluated mechanisms of neonatal hypoxic cardiac dysfunction by exposing neonatal mice to 12% oxygen and studied cardiac bioenergetics, myocyte maturation, and function. Hypoxia decreased the activity/assembly of electron transport chain complex I, uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation, increased proliferation, decreased differentiation, increased ventricular mass, and decreased cardiac function. CypD inhibition rescued most hypoxia-mediated effects and increased cardiac function. In conclusion, neonatal hypoxia alters cardiac bioenergetics, myocyte maturation, and cardiac function through CypD-dependent pathways, providing potential therapeutic targets for neonatal cardiac dysfunction.

Impact Of Optimized Afos On Functional Outcomes In Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy., Teresa Pierce, Alyssa Laforme Fiss, Mark Geil, Karl Barner

PCOM Scholarly Works

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the immediate functional impact of wearing ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) designed using the Optimal Segment Kinematics and Alignment approach to Rehabilitation (OSKAR method) versus wearing standard ankle foot orthosis (AFO)-footwear in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Methods

Ten participants, ages seven to 13 years, from local pediatric clinics in a large suburban area participated in the study. Each participant wore both types of orthoses in a randomized order. This was determined by participants choosing a sealed envelope containing a sticker indicating which orthosis to be worn for the first data collection. Participants were …

Public Perception Of Equine Rabies And Its Implications For Future Education And Preventative Strategies, Kya Walton

Honors College Theses

This study examined the rabies knowledge, vaccination, and risks of exposures of horse owners/overseers across the state of Kentucky. Research was conducted to determine the need for public health educators and veterinarians to inform the public on rabies. Survey results concluded that respondents' general knowledge of rabies transmission and mortality rate was respectable, but knowledge relating to equine vaccination was comparatively lower. A weak inverse relationship was observed between general rabies knowledge and concern over an individual’s horses contracting rabies. A weak positive correlation was determined when looking into general rabies knowledge and the likelihood of vaccinating an individual’s horses. …

Development Of Research Direction At The Hospital General De México In The Last Two Decades, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, José D. Carrillo-Ruiz, Galileo Escobedo, América Guadalupe Arroyo Valerio, Miguel Fonseca-Sanchez, Gustavo Acosta-Altamirano

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Perceived Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, And Barriers Of Jordanian Nursing Faculty To Integrate Genomic Concepts In The Curriculum: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study, Rachel Joseph

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Background: Rapid advances in genomics knowledge and the expansion of precision medicine have amplified expectations for nurses to integrate genomic concepts into education and clinical practice. Evidence regarding genomic knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers among nursing faculty in the Middle East is limited. To equip practicing and emerging nurses, faculty must be equipped. Faculty preparedness is critical to successful curriculum integration and to preparing future nurses for genomic-informed care.

Purpose: This study examined the perceived knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers related to integrating genomic concepts in the nursing curriculum among nursing faculty in Jordan.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was …

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Complete Issue

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Numbers: Supporting Young Adults With Diabetes In The Transition To Adulthood, Alexis Salkovick

Honors Projects

This project focuses on the transition to adulthood for young people with diabetes, a chronic medical condition. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are included. The main research focus is two-part: first examining this transition including barriers to health care, changes in lifestyle, and mental health, and then creating a new, innovative tool to support young adults with diabetes. An independent literature review was conducted to investigate diabetes management, barriers to health care, how transitioning to adulthood impacts diabetes care, and the importance of patient support systems. Then, a board game was developed with the dual purpose of educating …

Quantification Of Mouse Tracheal Epithelial Cell Differentiation With Cilia Defects, Olivia V. Allen

Honors Thesis

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder that affects 1 in every 7,500 live births. PCD results from motile cilia defects, impairing mucociliary clearance and causing chronic respiratory infections. Our lab studies include three PCD mouse lines — bgh (Spef2), nm1054 (Cfap221), and Cfap54^gt/gt (Cfap54). Prior transcriptomic data led us to hypothesize that PCD mutant mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTECs) exhibit reduced differentiation into ciliated cells. MTECs from the trachea of the Wild Type (WT) and the PCD mutant mouse lines were cultured at an Air Liquid Interface (ALI) to start …

Understanding The Impact Of Therapeutic Recreation On Patient Outcomes, Faith Atkins, Emma Jones

2026 Student Academic Showcase

This exploratory project examines the role of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) in improving overall well-being and quality of life for individuals across diverse populations. The purpose of this project is to analyze how leisure-based interventions can be adapted to meet the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs of patients in various settings. By synthesizing current research and professional practices, this project highlights how TR contributes to rehabilitation, identity rebuilding, and long-term wellness. The project focuses on how recreational therapists use individualized, evidence-based approaches to help patients re-engage in meaningful activities following injury, illness, or disability. It also explores the impact of …

Family-Based Gwas Of Cognitive Endophenotypes Reveals Genetic Architecture Of Memory And Executive Function In Alzheimer’S Disease, Kesheng Wang, Xueying Yang, Gayenell Magwood, Chun Xu, R. Osvaldo Navia, Jean Neils-Strunjas, Xiaoming Li

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is characterized by progressive memory and cognitive decline. Conventional genome-wide association studies (GWAS) comparing AD cases and controls may miss genetic influences that act along a continuum of cognitive function. Using data from 3007 participants in the National Institute on Aging Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Family Study (NIA-LOAD GWAS), we conducted a family-based GWAS of eight quantitative cognitive phenotypes encompassing episodic memory (Logical Memory IA and IIA), working memory (Digit Span Forward, Backward, and Ordering), and semantic fluency (Animal, Fruit and Vegetable, and Vegetable Fluency). Family-based association testing in PLINK v1.9 identified …

Optimization Of Pediatric Multidetector Ct Imaging Parameters Using A Machine Learning–Based Monte Carlo Simulation Model, Ali O. Masoud, Adithya Rajnaryanan, Khamis O. Amour, Ahmed M. Jusabani, Justin E Ngaile, Manoj Kumar, Mwingereza John Kumwenda Dr

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study utilized Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to optimize radiation doses in pediatric multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) head scans by analyzing key parameters like tube current (mA), tube voltage (kV), pitch, and slice thickness. The findings indicate that reducing tube current significantly lowers the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) and Dose Length Product (DLP), effectively minimizing patient radiation exposure. Higher pitch values (0.7–0.9) further reduced radiation by decreasing beam overlap, while using a thinner slice thickness (0.6 mm) improved dose efficiency. A comparison highlighted the effectiveness of optimization: simulated parameters kVp 100, mAs 81, pitch 0.98 yielded a CTDIvol of …

Dual Membrane-Spanning Anti-Sigma 2 Controls Omv Biogenesis And Colonization Fitness In Bacteroides Thetaiotaomicron, Evan J Pardue, Tengfei Zhong, Nichollas E Scott, Biswanath Jana, Wandy Beatty, Juan C Ortiz-Marquez, Mohammed Kaplan, Clay Jackson-Litteken, Mario F Feldman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

UNLABELLED:

IMPORTANCE: Dual membrane-spanning anti-sigma factors (Dma) are a novel class of regulatory proteins found solely among Bacteroidota. Previous studies demonstrated the importance of Dma1 in vesiculation, but the overall role of the Dma family in Bacteroides physiology remains poorly understood. Here, we show that Dma2 modulates vesiculation and the expression of select polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) that target host-associated glycans

As A Component Of Aseptic Technique, Bunsen Burners Do Not Decrease Deposition Of Microbe-Containing Particulates, Kate Devincent, Ariana Carretta, Vanessa Colina, Imani Laporte, Tyler Oung, Hannah Gavin

Health Sciences Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Decreasing Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection Through Reinforcement Of Hand Hygiene Compliance In A Rehabilitation Unit, Gloria Ihenwe

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to decrease the CAUTI rate among adult rehabilitation patients with indwelling catheters from 40% to 1% through improved staff hand hygiene (HH) compliance and to increase hand hygiene compliance from 45.24% to 60.47% within 3 months. The secondary aim is that staff will report self-improvement in hand hygiene knowledge and technique.

Background

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common preventable healthcare-associated infections. Inconsistent HH compliance among direct care staff remains a common challenge and can contribute to infection risks and transmission of microorganisms

Methodology

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement model guided the implementation …

Staff Education To Nurses To Increase Nursing Staff Knowledge On Qsofa, Pamela Robert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated the effectiveness of a structured staff education program aimed at improving nurses’ knowledge and confidence in early sepsis recognition and management using the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) tool. Despite the availability of evidence-based screening methods, inconsistent application and limited nurse confidence were identified as key practice gaps. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model and the ADDIE instructional design framework, an educational intervention was developed and delivered to hospital-based nurses, focusing on qSOFA criteria, early identification of sepsis, and nurse-driven escalation pathways aligned with current clinical guidelines. A pre- …

The New Era Of Pulmonary Hypertension: The Dawn Of Disease Modification & Therapeutic Modalities, Noyan Ramazani, Lacey Barnes, Alex Wong, Divyansh Sharma, Aditi Singh, Kachon Lei

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can be defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) greater than 20 mm Hg at rest during right heart catheterization (RHC). The reported prevalence of PH throughout the globe has been estimated to impact approximately 1% of the total population, with a majority of those afflicted being women more than men. Numerous etiologies give rise to the pathophysiology of PH, including heart disease (i.e., left-sided heart failure), lung diseases, and other unclear causes related to chronic stages and complications surrounding long-standing pulmonary thromboembolisms, side effects of certain medications, and genetic and environmental factors. Untreated PH can …

Ai And Algorithmic Literacy Among Health Workers: A Scoping Review Through A Digital Health Literacy Lens, Ihoghosa Iyamu, Carly Wheelans, Devon Haag, Ian Roe, Hsiu Ju Chang, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Faan, Ursula Ellis, Geoffrey Mckee, Sofia Bartlett, Mark Gilbert

Publications

Introduction – Artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic systems influence health workers’ access, interpretation, and action on clinical and public health information, positioning them as intermediaries between algorithmically mediated outputs and patients, communities, and decision makers. This study examines how AI and algorithmic literacy are conceptualized and measured among health workers through a digital health literacy (DHL) lens. Methods – Using Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, we searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, Europe PMC, and arXiv for English language sources published between January 2020 and May 2025. Two reviewers screened records and extracted data …

Icsb Poster Session, Ikhlas Khan

Oxford ICSB

Poster abstracts from the ICSB 2026 poster session.

Psychological Safety In Health Care: A Prerequisite For High Reliability, Sonali Thosani

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

This paper presents a viewpoint on how psychological safety contributes to patient safety, teamwork, and high reliability.

Clinical Medical Emergency Team Training Simulation (Cmetts): An Interprofessional Simulation For Medical Students And Nursing Residents, Allan John R. Barcena, Marvin R. Bernardino, Dominic Karl M. Bolinas, Kitz Paul D. Marco, Toni Edwards, Shelita Kimble, James Cavalier, Marites P. Melancon, Jillian R. Gunther

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Effective teamwork and communication are critical during medical emergencies, particularly in oncology, yet health care professionals are often trained separately, creating challenges for interprofessional collaboration. Evidence-based frameworks like Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) offer structured tools to optimize team performance. This study describes a simulation-based program, the Clinical Medical Emergency Team Training Simulation (CMETTS), designed to instill foundational teamwork skills in early-stage learners. First-year medical students and newly graduated nursing residents participated in an interprofessional simulation involving medical emergency scenarios followed by structured debriefing sessions guided by TeamSTEPPS principles. We evaluated the program’s effectiveness …

Centralizing Communication Intake To Improve Workflow Visibility And Engagement: A Quality Improvement Project In A Cancer Center's Education Division, Menatalla El-Sharkawi, Mohamed Ait Aiss

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: In large or complex organizations, multiple teams may be charged with managing different components of a project, initiative, or administrative assignment. When these teams have overlapping needs for information, the absence of a structured intake and tracking process can limit transparency, reduce efficiency, and hinder coordination across communication channels.

Methods: Drawing on principles of strategic communications and project management, we created a structured and centralized information sharing process for teams within the education division of a comprehensive cancer center. The intervention included workflow redesign, development of a standardized intake system, and use of real-time dashboard analytics to support operation …