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Calm, Connection, Or Just Compensation: A Qualitative Investigation Of Subjective Adolescent Experiences With Behavioral Health Interventions Within A Clinical Trial, Talia Thompson, Katherine Thompson, Sarah Perzow, Holly Spinner, Bentley Porterfield-Finn, Lauren D. Gulley, Rachel G. Lucas-Thompson, Isabel Thorstad, Laura Pyle, Molly Basch, Megan J. Moran, Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Megan M. Kelsey, Eleanor R. Mackey, Lauren B. Shomaker

The Qualitative Report

Adolescent mental health and cardiometabolic concerns are at an all-time high, necessitating the development of acceptable, feasible, and effective interventions. Investigations of behavioral health interventions with teenagers must incorporate a means of understanding how adolescents perceive and engage with an intervention, and the relevance and meaning they ascribe to its therapeutic goals, as these potentially modifiable factors may ultimately influence future uptake, sustainability, and effectiveness of the interventions. Qualitative research methods provide well-established, rigorous frameworks for addressing these questions, but are underutilized in pediatric research. This qualitative study is part of a multisite, pilot, and feasibility randomized controlled trial of …

Asking Questions Of The Data: Operationalizing The Disruptive Aims Of Poststructural Discourse Analysis, Maxxine Rattner

The Qualitative Report

I wrote this paper to support qualitative researchers in accessibly engaging with poststructural discourse analysis. In it, I detail how I flexibly adapted this methodology to meet my study’s aims. I begin by outlining poststructural understandings of discourse and explaining why a researcher may choose a poststructural discourse analysis for a study’s theoretical and methodological framework. While published poststructural discourse analyses commonly draw upon Foucauldian concepts to guide analysis, in this paper I share a more expansive approach. I demonstrate how developing and asking questions of the data can be one way to analyze diverse texts for the presence of …

Analyzing Accessibility And Efficacy Of One Research Survey Website To Test Readability Of Physical Activity Promotion Material Disseminated Online: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Jafra D. Thomas, Anuraj Dhillon, Yi Sheng Wu, Jasmine C. Wong, Regina F. Hockert

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Volume 7: Issue 1, Article 2, 2026.  Accessibility is the effort and ability required to access and navigate environments and participate in activities. Physical activity educational materials disseminated to the public and used within behavior change interventions may be hard to read and navigate, decreasing their accessibility and a study’s validity. This study documented, and addressed, issues that may hinder researchers’ ability to gauge accessibility of their online educational materials using the cloze procedure (a direct readability measure, requires guessing missing words from text passages). A multi-stage, mixed methods pilot study was utilized (August 2022 to May 2023). Phase 1: …

Feasibility And Pilot Study Of Implementing Mindfulness-Based Attention Training In A Pediatric Health Care Setting, Thomas B. Ayres, Seth Sonnevile, Angela Myers

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

We present herein our preliminary evidence from a pilot study of the feasibility of implementing Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) in a pediatric health care institution. MBAT has been implemented primarily in military settings, representing another high-stress work environment. Furthermore, MBAT has had favorable evaluations from being implemented with medical students. Mindfulness-based interventions have received increasing attention in health care environments. This interest from health care institutions and the focus on developing attention-based resources through MBAT created a use case for implementing MBAT. We had 5 health care workers with a variety of job roles in our institution complete a train-the-trainer …

Pebbles In The Shoe: A Multidisciplinary Program To Identify And Resolve Workplace Inefficiencies In A Pediatric Oncology Division, Reeja Raj, Kate Gazouleas, Pavilia Francis, Nancy Gordon, Vidya Gopalakrishnan, Amy Heaton, Ishwaria Subbiah, Priti Tewari, Harjeet Singh, Aaron Walton, Shehla Razvi, Martha Askins, Lisa Triche, Karen Moody

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Introduction: Occupational burnout is a significant concern among pediatric oncology faculty and multidisciplinary staff, characterized by emotional depletion, detachment from work, or a diminished sense of professional achievement. Inefficient work processes can be important contributors to burnout. This report describes the implementation and outcomes of Pebbles in the Shoe (also referred to as Pebbles), a pediatric division–wide initiative designed to address workplace concerns and inefficiencies.

Methods: The Pebbles program was developed and led by our pediatric division's wellness task force. Division members were invited to anonymously submit work-related concerns and irritations through a QR code–accessible electronic form. Five discipline-based work …

Creating A Culture Of Well-Being By Removing Barriers To Participation In A Multi-Campus Cancer Center, Adam Siegman, Miranda M. Phillips, Jennifer Bickel

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: Healthcare professionals in geographically distributed cancer care settings may face barriers to accessing workforce well-being resources due to geographic distance, staffing constraints, and operational demands. Disconnect & Refresh was developed to improve access to restorative wellness opportunities across community-based cancer care sites.

Methods: Disconnect & Refresh was implemented at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center across 4 Houston area locations. The initiative included BeWell Paws, virtual reality meditation, chair yoga, and creative wellness activities delivered during the workday. Participation was voluntary and tracked through employee badge scans. Participants were invited to complete an anonymous post-event survey, and …

Implementation Of A Low-Cost Tobacco-Free Intervention In A Permanent Supportive Housing Program To Address Cancer Disparities Among People Who Have Experienced Homelessness, Ammar D. Siddiqi, Phoebe Wong, Cathy Crouch, Lorraine R. Reitzel

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Objectives: Permanent supportive housing residents who have experienced homelessness use tobacco products at elevated rates, contributing to higher cancer risk. Agencies that provide wraparound support services to this group are committed to rebuilding their stability by improving their health. Yet, their delivery of tobacco screening and cessation care is limited, as is information about their clients’ tobacco use behaviors. Here, we evaluated a low-cost intervention for an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship project conducted in a permanent supportive housing program with 650 adults who had experienced homelessness in Houston, Texas.

Materials and Methods: Between August 2024 and February 2025, client-facing staff members …

Evaluation Of Shortened Irinotecan Infusion Times And Adverse Effects Incidence For Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Patients, Rachel N. Ochs, Daniel J. Donovan, Neha A. Betrabet, Wendy M. Covert

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: Irinotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, is commonly used to treat gastrointestinal cancers. The infusion time of irinotecan is usually over 90 minutes; however, studies support the safety and feasibility of 30-minute infusions. A shortened infusion duration may improve patient quality of life, optimize infusion chair utilization, and reduce wait times. Faster infusion rates may increase the risk of acute cholinergic side effects, reported in up to 50% of patients (all grades). Current institutional practice in the gastrointestinal medical oncology (GIMO) clinic involves administering irinotecan over 90 minutes and using atropine as needed for reversing cholinergic symptoms. For patients who …

Why Should A Data-Driven Cancer Center Prioritize Well-Being?, Peter Pisters

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

No abstract provided.

Actualizing Leaders To Inspire A Group Network (Align): Feasibility And Pilot Of Implementing A Commensality Group Program For Leaders In A Pediatric Healthcare Setting, Thomas B. Ayres, Kristin Ray, Angela Myers

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: Leadership behaviors in pediatric health care settings are strongly linked to leader burnout, professional fulfillment, and self-care in addition to influencing their teams. Despite their pivotal role, leaders often face substantial emotional burdens associated with their roles. Commensality groups, defined as small, recurring gatherings centered around shared meals and structured discussions, have emerged as a promising approach to enhancing connection, community, and resilience among health care professionals. A gap in the literature regarding commensality groups is understanding the mechanism of this well-being intervention. Our hypothesis is that commensality groups act as resource caravans and provide psychosocial resources to health …

Ai-Enhanced Predictive Model For Adverse Clinical Outcomes Of Chronic Diseases In Older Adults, Grace C. Giles

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

The Application Of Electronic Games In Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation In Saudi Arabia, Alaa Mohammad Arafah, Bdoor Khalid Bajamal, Jumana Fawaz Alharbi, Shahad Hussein Majhoom, Wesam Qurban

Journal of Medical Rehabilitation Science

Objectives: This study explores the application of electronic games in occupational therapy rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia, focusing on therapists' knowledge, usage patterns, and perceived benefits and barriers.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 103 occupational therapy professionals working in Saudi Arabia. The survey included 25 questions on the use of electronic games in their rehabilitation settings.
Results: The results revealed that only 39.8% of respondents currently use electronic games in clinical practice. Nevertheless, 87.2% of therapists acknowledged increased patient engagement as a major benefit, while 66.7% noted improvements in motor skills and motivation. Additionally, 67% of participants reported receiving …

Factors Contributing To Executive Function In Young Adults, Lindy Janae Stevenson

McNair Scholars Research

Executive functions (EF) are skills used to complete desired behaviors and inhibit undesired ones. These skills are necessary for everyday life, and even more so in higher education and the workplace. This study examined the combined impact of sleep and exercise on five facets of EF in young adults enrolled in undergraduate or graduate courses. It also examined how perceived effort and performance in college classes interact with EF. The first five hypotheses studying sleep and exercise were analyzed using a 2x2 between-groups ANOVA. The data divided participants into those averaging fewer than 7 hours of sleep a night and …

Associations Of Subclinical Hypothyroidism And Thyroid Autoimmunity With Insulin Resistance Independent Of Adiposity: An Analysis Of Nhanes, Iman Taher Hussein

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

A thyroid–inflammation–insulin pathway has been proposed in which thyroid dysfunction promotes inflammation and thereby reduces insulin sensitivity, but adiposity-adjusted population evidence is limited. This cross-sectional analysis examined whether subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and thyroid autoimmunity are associated with insulin resistance independently of body mass index (BMI), and whether C-reactive protein (CRP), the only inflammatory biomarker available, is associated with either, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2012 data. Non-pregnant adults aged 18–60 years with fasting glucose < 126 mg/dL and normal free thyroxine were included; SCH was defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 4.5–10 mIU/L, and insulin resistance was quantified by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Linear regression of log HOMA-IR accounted for the complex survey design (strata, clusters, weights) and was adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and survey cycle, with sensitivity and interaction analyses. Among 2,434 adults (89 with SCH), no association with HOMA-IR was detected for TSH (β = 0.009 per mIU/L; 95% CI -0.014 to 0.032), SCH (β = -0.035; 95% CI -0.186 to 0.115), or thyroid peroxidase …

Specific Effects Of Pulsed Field Ablation On The Cardiac Tissue, The Nervous System And The Conduction System In Experimental And Clinical Studies, Josselin Duchateau, Iwanari Kawamura, Gurukripa N Kowlgi, Elad Maor, Moritz Nies, Christian W Zemlin, Tomás García-Sánchez, Samuel J Asirvatham

2020-Current year OA Pubs

AIMS: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as a novel ablation modality for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and has rapidly reshaped contemporary electrophysiology practice. This article provides a comprehensive analysis on the mechanisms underlying the specific effects of PFA on myocardial, neural tissue structures, and the cardiac conduction system, integrating biophysical principles with preclinical and clinical evidence relevant to contemporary electrophysiology practice.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This document provides an exhaustive mechanistic explanation for the preferential effects of PFA on myocardium and the limits of the 'tissue-selectivity' concept. The complex interplay between cellular and tissue-level biophysics, biological responses, and tissue …

Bridging The Gap: Patient Perspectives On Transition Of Care In Hirschsprung Disease, Stefanie F. Faucher

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Narrative Medicine: Essays On Health And Care Vol 2, Robert B. Hackey, Will Toner, Megan Lessard, Jessica A. Smith, Glorimar De Los Santos Mejia, Jillian M. Spinali, Paige M. Daly, Brianna De La Fuente, Julia M. Renzelmann, Clare C. Diffin

Narrative Medicine: Essays on Health and Care

No abstract provided.

Listening To Patients, Michael Stout Md

Narrative Medicine: Essays on Health and Care

No abstract provided.

Innovative Development Of Synthetic Biology Industry From Perspective Of Deep Integration Of Four Chains, Qin Guo, Chao Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Future industries represent the development direction of technological innovation and emerging industries, and are the main path to accelerate the formation of new quality productivity. As an important subsector of the future industry, synthetic biology industry is becoming a new track and new format for new quality productivity, and various regions are making cutting-edge directions such as synthetic biology industry a hot topic for future industrial layout. Based on the analysis of typical cities such as Shenzhen, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Changzhou, the current integration of the Four Chains in the synthetic biology industry is facing a four-dimensional dilemma …

Ai-Driven Drug Innovation Research: Trends, Challenges, And Countermeasures, Tian Miao, Qi Zhou, Lianzheng Zhou, Weijun Xu, Siyuan Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly transforming the innovation paradigm, industrial ecosystem, and business model of drug research and development. In recent years, the global AI-driven pharmaceutical market has grown rapidly. Major economies, multinational pharmaceutical enterprises, and technology giants are accelerating their strategic deployment. AI pharmaceutical industry has entered a critical stage of transitioning from proof-of-concept to commercial-application. China attaches great importance to the integrated development of AI and the biopharmaceutical industry, but it still faces challenges, including data scarcity, talent shortages, algorithmic black-boxes, regulatory lag, and weak foundations. This study proposes measures from the aspects of data supply, talent cultivation, …

Murine Typhus In Georgia: Historical Context And A Probable Case Of Resurgence Where Previously-Thought Eradicated, Giovanni Mella-Velazquez, Christopher He, Bolanle Akinsola, Judson Miller

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a flea-borne illness historically endemic to the southeastern United States, with initial cases reported in Atlanta, Georgia in 1913. Following vector control efforts, incidence declined significantly, and the disease was removed from the nationally notifiable disease list in 1987. While recent cases have been reported in select regions, murine typhus has not been documented in Georgia for decades. We present a pediatric case in Atlanta that may represent the first reported instance in nearly 40 years, suggesting possible reemergence in the Southeast.

Methods: We conducted a case report analysis of a pediatric …

Intouch Week Of October 19, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Class of 2030 Dons White Coats and Embraces the Values of Medicine
• 5th Annual Meeting of the Minds Showcases Research and Innovation
• Campus Celebrates National Physical Therapy Month
• NYMC Students Have a Gourd Time at Pumpkin Carving Contest
• NYMC Community Shows Off Its Safety Style
• From the Collection of Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A.
• Survival Benefits Outweigh Cognitive Risks for Diabetics Taking GLP-1s
• TCDM Launches New Digital Training Center
• Student Spotlight: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with LMSA Co-President Melissa Arboleda
• Alumni Spotlight: Allison Zeitounian, M.S. ‘18, Breaking Communication Barriers as a Bilingual SLP

From Zoom To The Room: A Practical Model For Holographic Instructor Presence In Multi-Campus Dpt Education, Stacie Mae Larreau Christensen, Brad Dexter

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Use Of Standard Visual Education Tools To Improve Npo Compliance In Pediatric Day Surgery, Alma Rivera

EBP Fellowship

Practice Problem Non-compliance with perioperative fasting (NPO) instructions is an ongoing safety and operational challenge in pediatric day surgery. Day-of-surgery cancellations result in financial losses, with unproductive OR time costing $1,430-$2,025 per hour. NPO violations cause 4.5% - 13.6% of lost OR time in children's hospitals and are the third leading cause of elective surgery cancellations. At our pediatric hospital, NPO violations contribute to same-day surgical delays and cancellations, particularly in the high-volume Otolaryngology (ENT) service line. This Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) project sought to answer whether, among caregivers of pediatric patients scheduled for ENT Day surgery (P), implementing a health …

Taking Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Further: Reviewing Recent Developments And Innovations In Ipa Research, Jonathan A. Smith

The Qualitative Report

This paper reviews recent developments in interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research methodology: longitudinal; multi-modal; mixed methods. For each of these developments the paper describes how the innovation is being implemented and the distinctive contribution arising from making these advancements in IPA design. I also provide two detailed examples of studies using each of the advanced methodologies along with suggestions for further reading. The paper also includes briefer discussion of recent changes in some of the terminology employed in IPA analysis and recent guidance on writing and evaluating high quality IPA.

Testing Personalization In Llm-Based Mental Health Support: A Proposed Experimental Design For College Students, Tchalim P. Agninoube, Greg Williams

Annual DBA Scholars Conference

Rising student mental health demand has outpaced campus counseling capacity. This paper proposes a 2x2 between-subjects experimental design to test whether a personalized LLM-based chatbot, grounded in just-in-time adaptive intervention principles and cognitive load theory, provides better short-term anxiety reduction than a standard chatbot across stress and neutral contexts. The personalized chatbot uses wearable stress data, sleep quality, self-reported overwhelm, and support preferences to select between low-load and elaborative support paths. The design contributes a practical framework for evaluating personalization in AI-driven mental health tools and informs scalable, responsible institutional deployment.

Bridging Awareness And Action: A Multilevel Model Of Organizational Learning, Safety Climate, And Sickle Cell Trait Safety Compliance, Kimberly Snowden

Annual DBA Scholars Conference

Despite the existence of NCAA and National Athletic Trainers’ Association guidelines, preventable sickle cell trait (SCT)-related adverse events continue to occur in athletic settings. This study examines how organizational learning capacity, safety climate, leadership commitment, and individual risk perception influence compliance with SCT safety protocols and related safety outcomes. Drawing on Organizational Learning Theory, Safety Climate Theory, and the Health Belief Model, the study proposes a multilevel framework tested through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Findings are expected to identify organizational predictors of compliance and provide practical recommendations to strengthen SCT safety implementation and reduce preventable athlete harm.

Drooling In Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Retrospective Observational Study Of Clinical Characteristics, Severity, And Treatment, Kamel Awadh Alenazi, Lama Dakhakhni, Nancy Hassan, Wejdan Almuhraj

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To report the characteristics, severity, and treatment of drooling in cerebral palsy (CP) children.
Methods: This retrospective observational study included CP children with active complaints of drooling from the Drooling Clinic, Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Drooling severity was assessed via the Modified Drooling Questionnaire (MDQ). The functional motor and manual ability levels were classified via the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS).
Results: In total, 122 patients were identified. Mean age was 6.28 ± 2.71 years, and 67/122 (54.9%) were boys. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was noted in 23/122 (18.9%). …

Incidence Rate And Factors Predicting The Recurrent Cerebral Ischemic Events After The First-Ever Ischemic Stroke: A Single-Center Exploratory Study From The Eastern Region Of Saudi Arabia, Azra Zafar, Mustafa Al-Qarni

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: First-ever ischemic stroke (FIS) patients carry a higher risk of recurrent ischemic strokes (RIS). This study reports the incidence rate and describes the factors predicting recurrences in FIS patients.
Methods: This retrospective study, enrolling patients with FIS, was carried out at the King Fahd Hospital. Association between different variables and RIS was determined by estimating the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and odds ratio (OR).
Results: The majority of patients were Saudi (74.1%) and male (72.9%). Over a 5-year follow-up study, the incidence rate was 26.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 22.2-30.1) for all recurrences and 22.7% (95% CI …

Cultivating The Growing Self, Kelly Allen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Khanna Blithe O. Cortes-Amores, MAOT, OTRP, clinician, assistant professor at Cebu Doctors’ University, and co-founder of The Growing Self, a mental health occupational therapy clinic in Cebu, Philippines, provided the cover art for the fall issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). The watercolor painting, titled Peace (2017), features a dreamlike image of a serene female figure with hair that merges into the limbs and branches of a tree. A leafy green vine winds upward around her torso, becomes transparent as it partly overlays her face, and defines the crown of her head. Colorful abstract petal and earthen …