Digital Commons Network^™

A Retrospective Descriptive Profile Of Cancer Patients Seeking Homoeopathic Care In A Semi-Rural South African Setting, Radmila Razlog

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Patient profiling renders valuable information about the population's healthcare-seeking behaviours, critical for effective patient management. Khula Natural Health Centre (KNHC) in South Africa provides healthcare to rural communities, within the scope of Homoeopathy. Objective: The study aimed to create a preliminary cancer patient profile of KNHC from April 2017 to August 2024. Method: This retrospective study adopted a descriptive, exploratory design. Anonymised patient data was extracted from the KNHC database. Data that met the inclusion criteria were descriptively analysed to summarise and describe the dataset. Results: Forty-six participants' data, presenting a range of cancers, consulted at KNHC for homoeopathic …

Actinic Lichen Planus Treated With An Individualised Homoeopathic Approach: A Case Report, Aloke Kumar Ghosh, Shilpa Mandal, Ritika Bose, Sumanta Kamila

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Introduction: Lichen planus (LP) is an idiopathic chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. Actinic lichen planus is a rare photosensitive variant that affects sun-exposed areas and may significantly impair quality of life due to its disfiguring nature. Conventional management primarily involves topical or systemic corticosteroids, which are associated with adverse effects and frequent relapses. Scientific literature on homoeopathic management of actinic LP remains limited. Case summary: A 61-year-old woman presented with pruritic, purple-black plaques over the forehead and was clinically diagnosed with actinic LP persisting for the last five months. Causticum in LM potency was prescribed after …

Research Highlights, Gandham Kumuda, Monika Chandyoke

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

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World Homoeopathy Day 2026: Homoeopathy For Sustainable Health, Candy Benny, Sonu Kumar, Divya Taneja, Pankhuri Misra, Renu Mittal, Subhash Kaushik

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

The World Homoeopathy Day (WHD) 2026 – a two-day interactive forum to commemorate the 271^st birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, founder of Homoeopathy, was held on 10^th – 11^th April 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, India. The event was organised by CCRH, NCH, and NIH under the aegis of the Ministry of Ayush. Centered on the theme of ``Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health'', the event emphasised the role of Homoeopathy in promoting and ensuring sustainable health. The event witnessed participation from approximately 1,800 delegates comprising policy makers, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students. There were a …

Quality Improvement Project: Electronic Consent's Influence On Consent Error Rates, Alexis Fogle

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Surgical consent errors increase the risk of inaccurate documentation, compromise patient safety, and disrupt procedure times. Evidence indicates that adopting electronic consent can optimize workflow, support accurate and complete documentation, improve readability, and enhance record reliability. This project evaluated whether initiating electronic consent, compared with handwriting surgical consent forms, reduced the number of improper surgical consent forms completed over six weeks. Roy’s Adaptation Model guided the change process, and the Theory of the Person as an Adaptation System provided the theoretical basis. The Plan-Do-Study-Act model supported evidence-based implementation of the electronic consent intervention. The quality improvement project was conducted on …

Quality Improvement Project Stress First Aid: Equipping Nurse Leaders, Bethany Russell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Stress among nurses can negatively affect well-being, workforce stability, and the quality of patient care, highlighting the need for nurse leaders to effectively recognize and respond to stress within their teams. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether education on the 7 Cs of Stress First Aid (SFA) improved leadership self-efficacy among nurse leaders at an urban acute-care hospital. Watson’s Theory of Human Caring provided the theoretical foundation, while Lewin’s Change Theory guided implementation of the practice change. A one-group pretest-posttest design was used, with the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework supporting project implementation. Participating nurse leaders completed an …

Average Performance And Performance Variability On A Brief Functional Fine Motor Test Reflect Distinct Behavioral Constructs In Aging, Chung-Fu Sun, Kyle B. Tomlin, Jennapher Lingo Vangilder, Andrew Hooyman, Alexandra M. Reed, Jessica L. Trevino, Sydney Y. Schaefer

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Prior work in older adults has developed a brief functional fine motor test, which involves repeated timed trials of an upper-limb task. Performance has been associated with global and domain-specific neuropsychological tests as well as putative markers of Alzheimer’s disease when scored using variability in trial time; however, the extent to which task performance depends on motor ability has not been established nor quantified. This retrospective study examined whether mean trial time and trial time variability (measured as intrasubject standard deviation in trial time) were differentially associated with standard assessments of motor and cognitive function. Forty-eight older adults with no …

Construction And Application Of Clinical Evidence Framework For Brain-Computer Interface, Wenxiu Qi, Cheng Zhou

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Brain-computer interface systems are emerging neurotechnologies that are gradually moving from laboratory research toward clinical application. However, their inherent features, including small sample sizes, heterogeneous technical pathways, and rapid product iteration, make it difficult to integrate safety and efficacy data across studies or to conduct meaningful cross-study comparisons. These challenges not only hinder the cumulative development of evidence in evidence-based medicine, but also complicate the assessment of clinical access and regulatory review. In addition, subjective evidence, such as patient experience, remains insufficiently captured in existing evaluation frameworks. It is therefore necessary to examine the structure of evidence for brain-computer interface …

Quality Improvement Project: Impacting Clinical Competency Through Faculty Preparation: A Standardized Teaching Guide Initiative, Caroline White

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Variability in clinical teaching practices can contribute to inconsistent faculty preparation and student learning experiences. This quality improvement project addressed the absence of a standardized clinical teaching resource within an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at a public technical college in the southeastern United States. The purpose was to implement a standardized, evidence-based clinical teaching guide to improve faculty confidence and clinical educator skill acquisition. Social Cognitive Theory provided the theoretical framework, and Lewin’s Change Theory guided practice change. A quantitative, quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was used. Fourteen eligible nursing faculty and clinical instructors were invited to participate; 10 participated, …

Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Is Associated With Occipitotemporal Brain Surface Area In Neonates, Alexander J. Dufford, Sun Hyung Kim, Martin Styner, Xinyi Shen, Erika Iisa, Marilyn A. Huestis, Peter Fried, Christine Conageski, Jocelyn E. Phipers, Cristina Sempio, Jost Klawitter, Pilyoung Kim, Tessa L. Crume

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Prenatal cannabis use has been associated with neurodevelopmental consequences for the offspring beginning in childhood; however, it is unclear if neonatal brain structural morphometry is impacted shortly after birth.

OBJECTIVE: We examined differences in regional surface morphometry among neonates exposed to chronic in utero cannabis compared to unexposed neonates.

DESIGN: The Moms Helping Moms study is a prospective pre-birth cohort selected based on chronic prenatal cannabis use and an unexposed control group. Exclusion criteria included alcohol, tobacco, or other substance use. Participants included in this analysis included 18 mother-neonate pairs with prenatal cannabis exposure and 21 unexposed pairs. Chronic …

Impact Of Sexual Orientation On Syphilis Diagnosis Among African American Men In Colorado, Emmanuel Bhatti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Syphilis remains an ongoing public health concern among African American men. Elevated rates during the COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the need for focused attention on this population. The risk factors driving syphilis diagnosis among African American men during a pandemic like COVID-19 remain poorly understood. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the association between sexual orientation and syphilis diagnosis among African American men in Colorado. Social cognitive theory was applied to understand the interaction among sexual orientation, HIV status, age, and syphilis diagnosis. Sexual orientation categories include men who have sex with men (MSM), men who …

Early-Onset Progressive Encephalopathy With Brain Oedema And/Or Leukoencephalopathy 1: Report Of Three Siblings, Fatema Al-Amrani, Fathiya Al-Murshedi, Khalid Al-Thihli, Eiman Al-Ajmi, Buthaina Al-Musalhi, Asmaa Al Shehhi, Amna Al Futaisi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

NAXE encephalopathy, also known as early-onset progressive encephalopathy with brain oedema and/or leukoencephalopathy-1 (PEBEL-1), is a rare and often lethal autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder. Typical presentation includes psychomotor regression, ataxia, respiratory insufficiency and seizures triggered by febrile illness. This report describes three siblings from a consanguineous family who presented to a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman, in 2022 and were found to have a homozygous pathogenic variant in the NAXE: NM_144772.2:c.827del, p.(Pro276Hisfs*43). Beyond the classic neuroradiological and clinical features of PEBEL-1, these patients exhibited novel phenotypic manifestations, including axonal polyneuropathy, Bull's eye maculopathy and a late-onset presentation of …

Faktor-Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Kejadian Prediabetes Pada Perawat Di Rumah Sakit X Tahun 2025, Putri Nurhaliza, Chandrayani Simanjorang, Agung Raharjo

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Prediabetes dapat berkembang menjadi diabetes melitus dan meningkatkan risiko penyakit kardiovaskular. Selain itu, beban ekonomi juga meningkat akibat tingginya biaya pelayanan kesehatan dan penurunan produktivitas kerja. Salah satu kelompok berisiko prediabetes adalah perawat karena karakteristik pekerjaannya, seperti penerapan sistem kerja sif serta tingginya beban dan tekanan kerja yang dapat memicu stres. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan kejadian prediabetes pada perawat di Rumah Sakit X pada tahun 2025. Desain studi yang digunakan adalah cross-sectional dengan sumber data primer yang dikumpulkan melalui pengisian kuesioner dan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari laporan hasil medical check-up tahun 2025. Populasi dalam …

Nemp1 Organizes The Meiotic Telomere-Linc Interface To Control Chromosome Movement And Telomere Integrity, Hui Zhang, Ling Zhang, Stephanie A Pangas, Andrea Jurisicova, Helen Mcneill

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Nuclear Envelope Membrane Protein 1 (NEMP1) is highly expressed in oocytes and required for fertility, yet its meiotic function remains poorly understood. Here, we identify NEMP1 as a critical organizer of meiotic telomere-nuclear envelope coupling and chromosome dynamics. Loss of NEMP1 causes telomere aggregation, loss of shelterin protection, telomere shortening, persistent DNA damage, aberrant non-homologous end joining, and chromosome end-to-end fusion, ultimately leading to aneuploidy in mouse oocyte. NEMP1 is required during early fetal meiotic prophase I for telomere-nuclear envelope attachment, bouquet formation, homolog pairing, and synapsis. Live-cell imaging revealed robust rapid prophase movements in wild-type meiocytes, which were nearly …

A Phenomenological Hermeneutic Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Pre-Licensure Nursing Students’ First Semester Clinical Rotations Following Simulation Learning, Ogochukwu Vera Nnakwe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological hermeneutic study aims to understand the lived experiences of pre-licensure nursing students during their clinical rotation semester following simulation learning at Southeastern University. The guiding theory for this study is Kolb’s experiential learning theory (Kolb, 1984). Simulation learning in nursing education is a teaching approach that lets learners practice practical nursing skills in a safe environment without risking patient safety, thus bridging the gap between theory and practice (Mishra et al., 2023). It offers students opportunities to improve their knowledge of clinical skills and enhance their abilities (Koukourikos et al., 2021). The study involved a sample of 12 …

Barriers And Facilitators To Health Literacy Among Black Americans With Overweight And Obesity In South Carolina: A Mini-Ethnographic Study, Shelly Campbell-Timmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative mini ethnography adapted from traditional ethnography with limited time and scope, was to explore and understand perceptions of barriers and facilitators to health literacy among Black Americans with overweight and obesity in three South Carolina counties. Population data showed that approximately 40.3% of U.S. adults are obese. Moreover, Non-Hispanic Black communities are disproportionately affected by overweight and obesity despite efforts to combat the weight-related health risk. Still, limited health literacy should be the focus of public health strategies like teach-back and plain language communication, to address overweight and obesity prevalence and disparities. The study was …

Harmonies Of Healing: A Secondary Data Analysis On Music Engagement And Quality Of Life In Older Adults, Theophilus Eben Nartey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional secondary data analysis was to examine the relationship between music engagement and self-reported quality of life among adults aged 60 years and older, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Guided by the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) framework, the study explored whether music engagement significantly predicted perceived well-being in later adulthood while accounting for chronic health conditions. Secondary data from the HRS public-use dataset were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 29. The final analytical sample consisted of 1,582 adults aged 60 years or older with complete data on all variables included in the …

Re-Education On Chlorhexidine (Chg) Bathing Protocol Affects Patient Chg Bathing Compliance And Surgical Site Infection (Ssi) Rates, Mary Samantha Ross

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Surgical site infections (SSI) are considered a hospital-acquired infection, leading to increased hospital length of stay (LOS), readmission rates, increased cost, morbidity, mortality rates, and poor postoperative outcomes. The literature review demonstrated the benefits of preoperative Chlorhexidine (CHG) bathing, but called for standardized protocols, improved education, and patient compliance. Research and clinical experience supported the need for improved patient compliance with CHG bathing. Consistent SSI rates even after protocol changes called for re-education of nursing staff in addition to addressing patient compliance issues. Therefore, providing re-education on the updated protocol, which addresses patient compliance issues, can lead to a reduction …

Risk Factors Associated With Moderate And Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Mortality In Admitted Older Adults: A Retrospective, Single-Center Study At A Level Ii Trauma Center., Michael Sawyers, Katherine Graham, John Elliott, Jeff Hubartt

Trauma and Acute Care Articles

Purpose: Approximately one in four adults aged ≥65 years experiences a fall each year, and over one-third of these events require medical care. Older adults are at higher risk of complications because of comorbidities. Most prior studies have focused on incidence rather than outcomes, and few have evaluated the association between age and traumatic brain injury (TBI) mortality. This study assessed risk factors and risk-adjusted mortality and morbidity among older adults with moderate or severe TBI.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of data from a single-center trauma registry. Inclusion criteria were age ≥65 years, admission ≥3 days (2019-2024), Abbreviated …

The Relationship Between Resiliency Scores And Nurse Educators Intent To Stay In Academia: A Predictive Correlational Study, Michele Lee Blash

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A shortage of both clinical nurses and nursing educators exists. These shortages have a multitude of impacts on the field of nursing, both at the bedside and in academia. The shortage of clinical nurses impacts the number of nurses available to provide quality patient care. The shortage of nursing educators can impact the number of students accepted into nursing programs and, in turn, the number of new nurses available to provide direct care to patients. The purpose of this quantitative non-experimental predictive correlational design study was to examine how the resiliency of nursing educators impacts their intent to stay in …

Progress, Poetry, And Peace: Romantic Ideals And The Present Day, Kristen Dawn Morgan Hess

Masters Theses

In the busy, technologized, and mechanized life that most people live today, it can be difficult to find true rest, comfort, and peace because the very technology and machinery that is marketed as providing these 21st-century amenities often fall short in their delivery. Taking a look backward at the Romantic era ideals presented in the poetry of William Wordsworth can offer people today the chance to gradually improve their mental, physical, and emotional health by slowing down, minimalizing, and moderating their lifestyles. This thesis talks about the historical background of three of Wordsworth’s poems— “Lines Written in Early Spring,” “The …

Novice Nurses’ Perceptions Of Caring With Empathy In An Acute Care Hospital In The Northeastern United States: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Haley Zurcher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the essence of the experience of empathy among novice nurses in an acute care facility in the Northeast United States. The Central Research Question (CRQ) for this study was: What was the perceived experience/understanding of empathy by novice nurses working in acute care settings in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States? The study was guided by Bandura’s (1977) self-efficacy theory to examine how confidence, environmental influences, and personal beliefs shaped the development and expression of empathy in early nursing practice. The study was conducted at a large acute care hospital. The sample …

Nurse-Led Remote Patient Monitoring In Outpatient Heart Failure, Jackline Ukadike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of avoidable hospital readmissions and emergency department visits due to delayed recognition of early symptom exacerbation between routine outpatient encounters. This doctoral quality improvement project evaluated whether the implementation of an evidence-based, nurse-led remote patient monitoring (RPM) standard operating procedure (SOP) improved early identification of symptom exacerbation compared to standard episodic care among adult heart failure patients (NYHA Class II–III) in an outpatient primary care setting over a 10-week period. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) and escalation protocol were developed and appraised by a 3-member …

Staff Education On Teaching Evidence-Based Chronic Pain Management, Valdane Eleonu Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project focused on educating providers to fill in knowledge gaps in how to effectively manage chronic pain. The lack of knowledge about the evidence-based recommendations for treating chronic pain was the practice gap. Standardized training protocols to instruct pain management professionals and address disparities in chronic pain management care should be in place to guarantee that all patients in need of chronic pain management have access to culturally appropriate education.

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Individuals With Post-Acute Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection (Pasc) In Rwanda: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Iliza Grace Ndatinya, Simal Thind, Fernand Rwamwejo

Global Health Articles

OBJECTIVES: To qualitatively explore the lived experiences of individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) in Rwanda, with the aim of informing context-appropriate interventions to improve patients' quality of life.

DESIGN: Qualitative, phenomenological study using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis.

SETTING: All provinces of Rwanda, including the City of Kigali.

PARTICIPANTS: Adults who tested positive for PASC during a nationwide prevalence study were purposively sampled across all study sites. A total of 30 people were interviewed before saturation was reached.

RESULTS: Participants' lived experiences with PASC were characterised by numerous themes. Despite describing significant life changes since their COVID-19 …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of Perioperative Application Of Biofeedback-Based Virtual Reality Vs Control For Pain And Anxiety In Children And Adolescents Undergoing Surgery: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Anna Lin, Brenna Rachwal, Lindsey Asti, Zandantsetseg Orgil, Isabela Santiago, Lili Ding, Susmita Kashikar-Zuck, Christopher King, Sara Williams, William Black, Peter Minneci, Vanessa Olbrecht

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The impact of biofeedback-based virtual reality (VR-BF) on pain and anxiety in pediatric surgical patients remains unexplored.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of perioperative VR-BF use in children and adolescents.

METHODS: We performed a single-blind, 2-arm, randomized pilot trial. Children aged 12 to 18 years undergoing surgery with expected moderate-to-severe postoperative pain and more than 1 overnight admission were randomized (1:1) to the intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received VR-BF using ForeVR (functional outcome response to engaging virtual reality [VR]), a novel, gamified digital intervention that integrates …

Degree Assortativity And Estimation Of Degree Distribution In A Contact Network Of People Who Inject Drugs, Peter Geissert

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation analyzes data from a respondent driven sampling (RDS) study of people who inject drugs in Portland, OR.  The objective was to assess assumptions for the use of weighted estimators to estimate a population physical contact (syringe sharing) network degree distribution.

Visualization of degree distribution for social and physical networks, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests of difference, and kernel tests of equivalence were used for comparison of distributions. Spearman's rho and GAM non-parametric regression models were used to test for association and assess non-monotonic relationship. The validity of Markov chain assumptions for RDS was assessed using a transition matrix, Markov chain graphs, …

Caregiver Burden And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Parents Of Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Ahmed K. Bamaga Bamaga

Journal of Medical Rehabilitation Science

Background: Caring for a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) places significant physical and emotional demands on parents and may negatively affect caregiver quality of life (QoL). This study assessed caregiver burden and QoL among parents of children with DMD.

Methods: This study included 77 parents of children with genetically confirmed DMD recruited from two pediatric neurology and pediatric neuromuscular clinics (King Abdulaziz University Hospital and Alsalama Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). Caregiver burden was assessed using the 22-item Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and caregiver QoL using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) physical and mental component summary scores (PCS, MCS). Group comparisons, …

Operative Vs Non-Operative Management Of Ventral Hernia: A Population Based Study Of Long-Term Benefits And Consequences, Sourav Podder, Julia A. Baran, Scott H. Koeneman, Francesco Palazzo, Nicole L. Dugan, Christopher Keating, Sami Tannouri

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Purpose: Ventral hernia (VH) management has progressed beyond simply physical repair of the defect. It now involves a strategy that purposefully restores abdominal core function and prevents future complications. This study investigates the association between ventral hernia repair (VHR) and functional disorders related to the abdominal core in addition to bowel obstruction, opioid misuse, and physical therapy utilization.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used administrative codes from the TriNetX database. The outcomes of interest were spine and pelvic floor dysfunction, constipation, incontinence, genital prolapse, bowel obstruction, opioid misuse, and physical therapy utilization.

Results: A total of 587 384 patients were …

Interface Geometry Governs Probe Insertion Mechanics And Electrode Deviation In Layered Brain-Mimicking Phantoms For Deep Brain Stimulation, Siyu Chen, Chengyuan Wu, Ethan Anders, Rungun Nathan, Olivia M. Bailey, Qifu Wang, Curtis L. Johnson, Qianhong Wu

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder often treated with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a surgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes to improve motor function. Accurate electrode placement is critical for treatment efficacy but can be influenced by tissue deformation, insertion forces, and the mechanical properties of brain tissue. In this study, we investigated the role of layer interface angle as a controlled biomechanical factor affecting insertion forces and electrode deviation. A two-layer agar gel phantom was constructed to produce a prescribed stiffness transition between a lower-stiffness and a higher-stiffness gel layer, and its small-amplitude dynamic shear-stiffness contrast was …