Occupational Therapy Assessment & Intervention In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit At Shawn Jenkins Children’S Hospital, Lauren G. Murphy

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

BACKGROUND: There is a current lack of literature and evidence to supply neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) occupational therapists with appropriate standardized assessments and interventions. This project aims to explore at which age occupational therapy services will be most beneficial and widely accepted by NICU team members. Goals of this project include understanding current best occupational therapy practices, providing the NICU with the most up to date research and outcomes of interventions and assessments on the high risk neonatal and pediatric populations, improving communication and collaboration skills to engage with all NICU team members, and leading educational sessions about evidence …

Interprofessional Education Program For Parkinson's Disease Care Considerations, Jennifer Nunez, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Research suggests that having interprofessional education for disease-specific care can improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. This program focused on providing a basic IPE program to rural hospital staff of various disciplines on the care considerations for individuals with Parkinson's Disease when they are hospitalized. Using an occupational therapy vantage point, the program was created to address increasing occupational performance for healthcare workers and individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Topics included in the program were motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, medication management, mobility and ADLs, cognition, mental health, sleep, dietary patterns, dysphagia, and voice.

Food Insecurity And Childhood Obesity: College Students' Past And Present Eating Habits, Morgan A. Schmidt

Honors Thesis

Childhood obesity rates have become an increasing concern in the United States. It has been declared an epidemic due to the increasing number of children who are affected by obesity every year. While many factors can cause obesity, the primary factor is an individual’s dietary choices. This paper presents a literature review on eating habits and the long-term effects of childhood dietary choices on an individual’s body mass index (BMI), specifically among college students. It includes survey results that quantify college students' current eating habits compared to childhood ones. Additional factors influencing eating habits were evaluated, including the National School …

Comparative Efficacy And Acceptability Of Interventions For Universal, Selective And Indicated Prevention Of Eating Disorders: Study Protocol For A Systematic Review And Network Meta-Analysis, Sandra Schlegl, Felicitas Hirler, Andreas Gerich, Mikkel Højlund, Eric Stice, Tracey Wade, Denise Wilfley, James Downs, Ulrich Voderholzer, Jasmine Perry, Verena Haas, Marco Solmi, Christoph Correll

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (EDs) are severe psychiatric conditions, with prevalence rates ranging from 5.5 to 17.9% in women and 0.6 to 2.4% in men. EDs carry a high risk of chronicity and mortality, highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies. Primary prevention can target the entire population (universal), high-risk groups (selective), or individuals with early signs (indicated). Despite substantial research, prior reviews often show limitations, such as single-author data extraction, lack of quality assessment, reliance on endpoint data, exclusion of obesity prevention programs, or outdated findings. No review has yet evaluated the comparative effectiveness of multiple interventions across risk groups. …

A Comprehensive Diabetes Symptom Management Program For Independent Living Facilities, Brooke A. Foster, Mary Jan Greer

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project aimed to support older adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) and pre-diabetes in independent living facilities through a comprehensive symptom management program. Implemented at Coastal Heights Senior Living in Costa Mesa, California, the program focused on improving overall education and self-management of DM symptoms, emphasizing foot care, physical activity, and nutrition. Using a client-centered approach and the Person-Occupation-Environment-Performance model, participants engaged in group and individual sessions over an eight-week period. Outcomes showed an increased understanding of DM, improved self-care behaviors, and enhanced ability to manage symptoms independently, supporting aging in place and promoting overall wellness.

Heredity, Chris Burley, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Heredity is the sum of biological processes that result in the transmission of genetic traits from parents to their offspring, making each individual unique. Through the transmission of genetic traits, heredity is responsible for each individual’s genotype, as well as his or her phenotype. The genes that are passed down from generation to generation have a considerable influence on psychological characteristics including intelligence, personality, mental health, and patterns of behavior. However, when considering psychological characteristics passed down through heredity, it is vital that environmental aspects are also considered.

Spectrum Of Congenital Anomalies Detected Through Anatomy Ultrasound At A Referral Hospital In Ghana, Alim Swarray-Deen, Morgan Yapundich, Sarah Boudova, Kwaku Doffour-Dapaah, Jeff Osei-Agyapong, Perez Sepenu, Alex K. Boateng, Teresa A. Mensah, Patrick Anum, Nana Essuman Oduro, Theophilus Adu-Bredu, Promise E. Sefogah, Jerry Coleman, Samuel A. Oppong

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Africa has a high burden of congenital anomalies due in part to limited preconception care, infections, and environmental exposures. However, the true prevalence of congenital anomalies is unclear because of insufficient access to prenatal diagnostic services. We aimed to determine the rate of congenital anomalies, and characterize the anomalies detected prenatally at a referral hospital in Ghana.

METHODS: We performed a four-year retrospective review of all fetal anomaly ultrasounds performed and congenital anomalies detected from January 1st, 2020, to December 31st, 2023, at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. Data were extracted from the electronic database on maternal age, …

Comparing Out-Of-Pocket Costs And Health-Related Quality Of Life Between Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors And Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Sisi Hu, Preeti P. Zanwar, Tara Jenkins, Rajkumar J. Sevak, Bhaskara R. Jasti

Pacific Faculty Work

Purpose: To compare the impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2 inhibitor), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), with or without metformin, on out of pocket and total prescription expenditure and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients and Methods: This observational study utilized 2017– 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from patients with T2DM (≥ 18 years) on SGLT2 inhibitor, GLP-1 RA, with or without metformin, from payer and self-perspective. HRQoL was assessed using physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores based on Veterans Rand 12. This study estimated survey-weighed …

Quality Improvement Project Improving Tele-Sitter Usage In The Surgical Trauma Pcu, Stephanie Stone

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This project aimed to improve the knowledge and usage of virtual patient sitters/tele-sitters for surgical trauma progressive care nurses in the surgical trauma progressive care unit through the implementation of nursing education, utilizing evidenced based teaching strategies. Nurse leaders identified a need for staff education among the surgical trauma registered nurse staff population. The goal of the project was to increase knowledge of virtual patient sitters/tele-sitters and how to order them, improve the understanding of the benefits of utilizing the device and to increase the overall usage of the devices on the surgical trauma progressive care unit patients that would …

Distinct Adipose Progenitor Cells Emerging With Age Drive Active Adipogenesis, Guan Wang, Gaoyan Li, Anying Song, Yutian Zhao, Jiayu Yu, Yifan Wang, Wenting Dai, Martha Salas, Hanjun Qin, Leonard Medrano, Joan Dow, Aimin Li, Brian Armstrong, Patrick T Fueger, Hua Yu, Yi Zhu, Mengle Shao, Xiwei Wu, Lei Jiang, Judith Campisi, Xia Yang, Qiong A Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Starting at middle age, adults often suffer from visceral adiposity and associated adverse metabolic disorders. Lineage tracing in mice revealed that adipose progenitor cells (APCs) in visceral fat undergo extensive adipogenesis during middle age. Thus, despite the low turnover rate of adipocytes in young adults, adipogenesis is unlocked during middle age. Transplantations quantitatively showed that APCs in middle-aged mice exhibited high adipogenic capacity cell-autonomously. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified a distinct APC population, the committed preadipocyte, age-enriched (CP-A), emerging at this age. CP-As demonstrated elevated proliferation and adipogenesis activity. Pharmacological and genetic manipulations indicated that leukemia inhibitory factor receptor signaling was …

Moomoo Care Program, Shelby Knoble

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Set on a family farm, the Moo-Moo Care Program is a hands-on, multi-day recreational program designed to teach youth about dairy cattle care. As part of my RTTR 203 final project, I created a daily schedule, goals and objectives, a Gantt chart for task organization, marketing materials, and an evaluation form.

Within this program, participants will engage in at least six hours of structured farm activities each day. Through interactive lessons and hands-on demonstrations, participants will learn key aspects of dairy cattle care, including feeding, milking, and how to maintain a clean environment. Participants will practice proper calf grooming skills …

Stay Fit, Stay Safe: Sports Safety For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Kierra A. Pickard, Lauren G. Cahalan, Allie Sonnleitner, Hanna G. Crabtree, Emily J. Myszewski, Claire R. Privatt, Maya L. Vosters

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Purpose: With the growing older adult population, defined as 65 years and older, the importance of safety in activities, such as sports, is becoming more important. It is vital to address the needs of this population through increasing education to prevent or address injuries related to physical activity. The overall purpose of this project was to determine the impact of providing sports safety education at the Holmen Area Community Center (HACC). Moreover, we sought to explore and educate the clients at HACC on ways to prevent such injuries and what to do if an injury does occur.

Many older …

Electronic-Based Determinants Of Health Screening On An Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, Anyaku O. Okpara

Dissertations

Problem: Approximately 14.1 million Americans are diagnosed with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). These individuals experience death 10-20 years earlier compared to the general population, primarily due to chronic medical comorbidities and unmet health-related social needs (HRSNs). Mortality rates, increased healthcare utilization, and frequent readmissions in patients with multiple, unmet HRSNs are likely to remain high unless developments such as the incorporation of standardized, multi-domain, social determinants of health (SDOH) screenings into electronic health records (EHRs). The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project, guided by the Institute for Healthcare (IHI) model for change utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, was …

Age–Period–Cohort Effects Of Adult Cigarette Smoking In The United States, 1971–2020, Dinko Kranjac, Ashley W. Kranjac

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

The rates of cigarette use among American adults have dropped substantially throughout the last six decades, yet smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. It is crucial to identify the putative time-varying population-level factors of age, period, and cohort that influenced the decrease in smoking prevalence so we can maintain the downward trend. We used 49 years of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and hierarchical age–period–cohort (HAPC) analysis to examine lifecycle, historical, and generational distribution of smoking among Americans aged 18–74 years old. The prevalence of smoking has …

Implementation Of The Extension For Community Healthcare Outcomes Model For Hypertension Education Of Frontline Health Care Workers In The Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria: Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Evaluation, Abigail S Baldridge, Mark D Huffman, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model was adapted for hypertension education of community health extension workers in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, and delivered as a 7-part series.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate implementation outcomes of the hypertension ECHO series mapped to the first 3 levels of the Kirkpatrick model. Outcomes included reach, appropriateness (level 1), effectiveness (level 2), and penetration (level 3).

METHODS: From August 2022 to April 2023, 7 hypertension ECHO sessions were delivered via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc) to a health care worker audience including targeted community health extension workers at 12 …

Reducing Hapis In The Icu With A Turn Team, Taylor Guadiz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to decrease hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) rates within an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by implementing a two-nurse turning and repositioning schedule.

Background: The QI project was implemented in a 24-bed Medical-Surgical ICU at a for-profit community hospital in Northwest Houston, Texas, in the United States of America. The project was developed and initiated at the project site because there was an increase in the HAPI rate above the organization’s target rate of zero.

Methodology: Baseline HAPI rates and turning charting compliance were obtained. A baseline Likert scale survey was …

Impact Of Colostrum Lactose Concentration In Relation To Metabolomic Profiles On Kid Growth Performance Of Black Bengal Goats, Tien Thi Phuong Vo, Chollada Buranakarl, Sumonwan Chamsuwan, Sumpun Thammacharoen, Morakot Nuntapaitoon, Sarn Settachaimongkon

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Colostrum composition, including lactose concentration in relation to metabolomic profiles on kids’ growth performance of Black Bengal goats, has not yet been elucidated. Macronutrients, including lactose and metabolomic profiles, were determined in 37 colostrum samples using MilkoScan and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance technique, respectively. Kids’ growth performance, including birth weight, average daily gain at 0–4 weeks (ADG0-4W), 4–8 weeks (ADG4-8W), and wean weight were determined. A total of 51 metabolites were detected in the colostrum. From the general linear model for univariate analysis, kids born from multiple litter sizes showed lower ADG during the first month postpartum (P = 0.004). …

2025 Acssc Program, Acssc Planning Committee

Annual Celebration for Student Scholarship and Creativity

No abstract provided.

Physical Activity Measurement Reactivity Among Midlife Adults With Elevated Risk For Cardiovascular Disease: Protocol For Coordinated Analyses Across Six Studies., Kiri Baga, Gabrielle M Salvatore, Iris Bercovitz, Amanda L Folk, Ria Singh, Laura M König, Meghan L Butryn, Jacqueline A Mogle, Danielle Arigo

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and adults aged 40-60 years with specific health conditions are at particularly elevated risk for developing CVD. Physical activity (PA) is a key cardioprotective behavior and many interventions exist to promote PA in this group. Effective promotion requires accurate assessment of PA behavior; as PA is often estimated by averaging across multiple days, a threat to accurate assessment is measurement reactivity, or an atypical increase in PA behavior at the start of measurement periods that may bias conclusions. Evidence for PA measurement reactivity is equivocal, though …

Sleep Deprivation Increases Mortality Risk Among Older Adults With Epilepsy, Srikanta Banerjee, Jagdish Khubchandani, Stanley Nkemjika

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

Introduction: Among U.S. adults, over 3 million report a history of epilepsy, accounting for nearly 1.2% of the population. Sleep deprivation is a well-known risk factor for increased likelihood, intensity, and length of seizures. However, the long-term impact of sleep deprivation on people with epilepsy is not well explored. The purpose of this study was to assess mortality risk among individuals with epilepsy based on sleep duration.

Methods: Data from the 2008–2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were linked with mortality data from the National Death Index (NDI) for US adults aged 65 years and older. Survival curves showed the …

Health Workforce Issues And Recommended Practices In The Implementation Of Universal Health Coverage In The Philippines: A Qualitative Study, Veincent Christian Pepito, Arianna Maever Loreche, Ruth Shane Legaspi, Ryan Camado Guinaran, Theo Prudencio Juhani Z. Capeding, Madeline Mae A. Ong, Manuel Dayrit

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

The transition towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in a devolved healthcare system such as the Philippines is beset by health workforce issues considering that it is among the world’s leading source countries for health workers. This study aims to document health workforce issues and recommended practices in the implementation of UHC in the Philippines.

Methods

We conducted focus group discussions and key informant interviews with health policymakers and UHC implementers in the national, regional, and local levels. Participants included local chief executives, healthcare facility administrators, and healthcare providers at tertiary, secondary, and primary levels, as well as patients. We …

Effects Of Hyperglycemia In Cognition And Sex, Erin E. Mcdonald

Senior Honors Theses

An empirical study tested the effects of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) on cognitive function in a hyperglycemic mouse model. Strong correlations between mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, neuropathologies like Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes suggest comorbid pathology. Considering the prevalence of both T1D and cognitive decline within the general population, the findings were relevant and aimed to identify early signs of cognitive decline in diabetic patients. Behavioral tests and immunohistochemical staining were utilized to determine the cognitive function of the mice, revealing decline or deterioration caused by hyperglycemia. Data gathered from the hyperglycemic or control mice were analyzed based …

Staff Education On The Management Of Diabetes Among Type 2 Diabetic Black American Patients, Ngozi Philomena Anonyuo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The aim of this staff education project was to increase nurses’ knowledge and confidence in providing patient education for diabetes self-management. Insufficient nurse knowledge regarding diabetes care and management was the gap in The practice-focused question was: Among Black American patients, does increasing nurses’ knowledge regarding implementation of diabetes-self management education programs result in a measurable increase in knowledge about diabetes management, ultimately contributing to improved expected diabetic outcomes involving glycemic control and reduced complications? Analytical strategies included descriptive and comparative analysis of deidentified pre- and post-knowledge assessments to evaluate the program’s impact on learning outcomes. An anonymous satisfaction survey …

The Undergraduate Research Experience At Ur, Eve Snyder

Osmosis Magazine

toAnyone who has attended the University of Richmond (UR)can attest to the unparalleled experience that is conducting research. Here, the focus is on nurturing well-versed scientists that are capable of critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and problem solving.

Daily Living Curriculum For Adults With Disabilities, Paige E. Meyers

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with BrightStone, with the shared objective of increasing independence for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In alignment with BrightStone’s values to empower the quality of life for adults with IDD where their choices and their voices matter, this project addressed the growing need to support their adults at all stages of life. Key outcomes included a daily living curriculum, adaptations to involve students in meal preparation and cleanup, staff training on fall prevention and recovery, and a functional skills progress tracker for residential home use.

Quality Of Perinatal Care: Experiences Of Clients And Providers In Three District Hospitals Of Western Uganda– A Mixed Methods Study, Mercy Muwema, Joaniter Nankabirwa, Dan K. Kaye, Gorrette Nalwadda, Joanita Nangendo, Gloria Odei Obeng-Amoako, Jean Claude Nkurunziza, Wilson Mwanja, Elizabeth N. Ekong, Joan N. Kalyango, Grace Edwards, Emmanuel Otieno, Robert Basaza

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: It is anticipated that closing the quality gap through provision of effective antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care for mothers and newborns in facilities will reduce morbidity and mortality. Mothers’ and health care providers’ experiences play a vital role in achieving quality care during the perinatal periods.

Purpose: To assess the health care providers’ (HCPs) and clients’ experiences on quality of perinatal care at three district hospitals in Bunyoro region, Western Uganda.

Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods study design was utilized to explore experiences of 1) mothers as they sought antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care; and 2) …

Risk Factors Of Self-Reported Prediabetes Status In New York State, Kari Ann Hunter Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prediabetes affects over 4 million people in New York State and increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Prior research identified risk factors such as poor diet, inactivity, obesity, hypertension, and smoking; but no studies examined these collectively or assessed their interactions. This quantitative, cross-sectional study analyzed a sample of 289 non-institutionalized adults aged 18 or older with landline or cellular phone, from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The study examined relationships between prediabetes and 16 factors in five categories: demographic (age, race, sex, education), socioeconomic (income, employment), behavioral (fruit intake, vegetable intake, physical activity, smoking), physiological (hypertension, BMI), …

Evidence-Based Alternative Pain Management Techniques For Chronic Pain, Alise Williams Condie, Ashley Yaugher, Kira Swensen, Maren Wright Voss

All Current Publications

Chronic pain and opioid use have become topics of importance as opioid overdose deaths have risen to epidemic proportions throughout the nation. Chronic pain lasts for long periods of time and can be caused by a past injury or have no known cause. Opioids have been utilized to treat pain in the past, but it has been discovered that opioids are better used to treat acute pain and not chronic pain. Opioids can have negative consequences including changes to the brain, depression, increased pain, constipation, sedation, and even death. This fact sheet reviews and explains some of the most successful …

Moderate Exercise And Tirzepatide Versus Tirzepatide Alone For Long-Term Weight Loss Maintenance, Edward Amoah Acheampong

Nursing Capstones

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) drugs have been transformative when managing obesity in the clinical setting. Though these medications are effective for weight loss, questions regarding their efficacy for long-term weight loss or maintenance remain unanswered.

Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review was to answer the following clinical question: Can overweight or obese patients (P) who use tirzepatide without exercise (I) as compared to those incorporating 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic exercise (C) sustain a ≥5% weight loss (O) one-year post-treatment (T)?

Methods: Five electronic article databases were searched to locate articles …

Nature's Relief: Efficacy Of Plant-Based Therapies Vs. Placebo In Easing Vasomotor Menopausal Symptoms, Megan N. Schneider

Nursing Capstones

Background: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) impact the lives of menopausal women. Plant-based therapies are frequently used as alternatives to hormonal therapy, warranting evaluation of their effectiveness.

Purpose: This literature review evaluates the efficacy of plant-based therapies in alleviating VMS during menopause and compares their effectiveness to placebo treatment.

Methods: A literature review was conducted utilizing PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL).

Results: The review includes a synthesis of 16 primary studies, highlighting five therapies: black cohosh, soy, red clover, evening primrose, and combination therapy in managing VMS. Soy consistently reduces VMS. Black cohosh, red clover, evening …