Evaluating An Educational Intervention On Screen-Time And Behavior Change: A Pilot Study, Kayla L. Sweeney

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Excessive screen time among adolescents has been associated with negative health outcomes, including sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Despite growing awareness, many parents lack sufficient understanding of these risks and their impact on adolescent well-being. This project evaluated whether a brief educational intervention improved parents’ knowledge of the health effects of excessive screen time. Methods: A pre-and post-survey design was used to assess changes in parents’ understanding following an educational video intervention. The educational intervention consisted of evidence-based content highlighting the impact of screen time on mental health and sleep. The survey measured knowledge, beliefs, behavioral intentions, and strategies …

Addressing Sexual Health For Older Veterans By Healthcare Providers: A Mixed Method Study, Andrew James White

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Older adults remain sexually active, yet sexual health is frequently under-discussed in healthcare settings, particularly within veteran populations. Sexual health is essential to overall quality of life, and prior studies have shown that older patients value these conversations. However, veterans often face unique factors such as military-related trauma, including military combat exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder, in addition to compounded stigma from these topics in regards to open discussions about sensitive health issues to their healthcare providers. This study is significant in its potential to uncover systemic, cultural, and interpersonal influences that shape these dynamics, with a particular emphasis …

Pain Management In Opioid Users, Dawn Starbinski

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

ABSTRACT

Chronic pain remains a significant public health concern in the United States, contributing to disability, reduced quality of life, and over-reliance on traditional opioids. Amid the opioid epidemic, healthcare systems are increasingly seeking safer alternatives to conventional opioid prescribing. (NIDA, 2023).This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to evaluate nursing knowledge on the implementation of buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) as a pain management strategy in adult patients with chronic opioid use. The project was conducted in an inner-city Subacute Nursing facility with a population of adult patients experiencing long-term pain who were either opioid-tolerant or at high risk for opioid-related …

A Quality Improvement Project: The Implementation Of A Nurse Driven Morbidity And Mortality Review In An Emergency Department Setting, Abby Beutel

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Background: Morbidity and mortality reviews/conferences (MMR) are a mandatory curriculum requirement for medical residency programs throughout the United States to identify and reduce medical errors. Only within the past few decades have hospital organizations expanded MMRs to multidisciplinary teams to include medical professionals who are rendering care at the bedside more than medical providers.

Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project focuses on the application of a nurse drive MMR amongst emergency department (ED) nurses in a community hospital in Northern Bergen County, New Jersey. This ED nurse driven MMR measured the ED nurse’s knowledge and confidence levels as it …

Exploring Practicing Registered Eeg Technologies' Opinions And Preferences Regarding Electroencephalographic Scope Of Practice Standard Forms Of Occupational Regulations, Richard A. Steer

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract Background: Neurodiagnostic (NDT) is the study and recording of electrical activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems, it is essential for providing critical information that can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. EEGs are the most frequently performed NDT procedures. The proportion of hospitalizations involving EEG use increased by 122.7% from 2003 to 2014, an average increase of 11.2% annually and continues to grow. The rate of rEEG use increased by 49.4% over 11 years (4.5% annually), while cEEG use increased by 302.3% (27.5% annually) (Bernheimer et al., 2018). Under existing law, the EEG profession …

Exploring Direct Support Professionals' (Dsps) Attitudes Regarding Trauma Informed Care And Its Impact On Turnover Intention, Lorraine D'Sylva-Lee

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The relationship between Direct Support Professionals’ (DSPs’) attitudes toward trauma-informed care (TIC) and their turnover intention has remained empirically untested, despite DSPs’ exposure to primary and secondary trauma. An estimated 8.38 million Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) depend on this workforce, yet 2024 turnover rates reach 53.7%. This convergent mixed methods study examined TIC attitudes, turnover intention, and their relationship among 109 DSPs in IDD provider agencies in New Jersey. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the cross-sectional design used the ARTIC-10, TIS-6, and two open-ended items. DSPs with more favorable TIC attitudes were significantly less …

Multiple Interest Holder Perspectives Of The True Grit Sci Residential Program: A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation, Keara Mcnair

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Young adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) face significant challenges during the transition to adulthood, including barriers to independence, community participation, and psychosocial adjustment (Ingimarsdóttir et al., 2023; Zebracki et al., 2010). Current rehabilitation models in the United States prioritize short-term physical recovery and offer limited support for the developmental and contextual needs that shape long-term outcomes after SCI, particularly during transitions from inpatient rehabilitation to the community (Anderson et al., 2024; Bryden & Gran, 2024). Community-based programs may help address these gaps, though few have been rigorously evaluated using implementation science frameworks that attend to health equity, contextual influences, …

The Moderating Role Of Psychological Power Distance On The Relationship Between Moral Disengagement And Submissiveness To Authority In Senior Healthcare Executives, Carl Kirton

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Background: Understanding how senior healthcare executives respond to authority is critical in complex health systems where ethical decision-making, hierarchy, and organizational culture intersect. This study explored the relationships among moral disengagement, submissiveness to authority, and psychological power distance (PPD) in U.S. healthcare executives, as well as the influence of selected demographic and professional covariates.

Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used with a non-probability sample of senior healthcare executives (N = 98). Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and three validated instruments: the Submissiveness to Authority Scale (SOAS), the Moral Disengagement through Displacement of Responsibility Questionnaire (MDDR), and the Psychological Power …

Incivility In Nursing: The Experience Of Registered Nurses In The Emergency Department, Karen Voorhees

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) predicts that due to the anticipated retirement of the “baby boomer” generation coupled with an expanded need for medical care across the United States, the need for nurses will expand 6% by 2032 (AACN, 2024). This need will be impeded by nurses leaving the profession due to feelings of a poor work environment, burnout and job dissatisfaction. Incivility in nursing has been shown to be a contributor to nurses leaving their current work environments or the profession of nursing entirely.

Incivility in nursing has roots in organizational psychology and has been shown …

Healthcare Provider Trust As A Predictor Of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Nevada Residents, Joanna Joseph

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Trust in healthcare providers is one of the strongest predictors of vaccine hesitancy in the literature, yet it has not been examined as an independent predictor of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Nevada. Nevada ranks last nationally in healthcare providers per capita and is among the lowest in immunization coverage for both adults and children. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated negative vaccine attitudes, and vaccine hesitancy continues to be a central public health issue. Prior Nevada analyses identified vaccine hesitancy across racial, political, educational, and economic groups but did not assess the role of provider trust in vaccine hesitancy. This cross-sectional study …

Mid- To Long-Term Recovery After Non-Traumatic Lower Limb Amputation: A Scoping Review Of Longitudinal Research Studies, Chloe Akiona-Bannan, Jocelyn Contreras, Kayla Cheyenne Bonsol Francisco, Kentaro Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective

Longitudinal research studies are essential for understanding the time course of functional recovery after lower limb amputation (LLA). The purpose of this scoping review was to evaluate the existing evidence base regarding mid- to long-term outcomes following non-traumatic LLA.

Data Sources

A scoping review was conducted per Joanna Briggs Institute and Open Sciences Framework guidelines. Based on purpose, seven databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, SportDiscus, and Google Scholar) were searched for studies published between 2000–2024, in English, Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Persian, or Spanish.

Study Selection

Eligible studies must include at least 50% of participants with non-traumatic …

The Impact Of Youth Sport On Occupational Balance: A Survey Study, Sean Jones

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Youth sport has been highly researched, exploring both positive and negative health impacts (Adetunji & Akendutire, 2017; Brengtsson et al., 2025; Conway, 2024; Hoffman et al., 2022). Despite the high prevalence of youth sport participation, and variability of health-related outcomes, there has been no research regarding the impact youth sport participation has on occupational balance, an occupational therapy concept that has been linked with overall health and well-being (Park et al., 2021). A mixed-methods, cross-sectional survey study was used to gain better insights into the impact youth sport participation may have on occupational balance. A sample size of 466 Nevada …

Exploring Lifestyle Habits Between Gamers And Non-Gamers: A Survey-Based Approach, Janavi Sathappan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Video gaming is a prevalent and meaningful occupation for a growing number of young adults, yet its relationship to health behaviors is inconsistent and unclear in literature. This cross-sectional survey-based study examined the differences in nutritional pattens, sleep hygiene, and physical activity between self-identified gamers and non-gamers in a sample of young adults aged 18-34. Recruitment occurred primarily through the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and associated networks. Participants were asked to complete the Mini Eating Assessment Tool, Sleep Hygiene Index, and the International Physical Activity- Short Form. Data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests and Pearson’s chi-square tests, and …

Associations Between Father–Mother Food Parenting Practices And Children’S Dietary Intake, Brian K. Lo, Natalie Grafft, Mariane Helen De Oliveira, Sebastien Haneuse, In Young Park, Alejandra Cantu-Aldana, Katherine W. Bauer, Rebekah Levine Coley, Jorge E. Chavarro, Kirsten K. Davison, Jess Haines

Human Genetics Publications

Objective: To examine whether the number of parents using high levels of structure or coercive control food parenting practices is associated with children’s dietary intake.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of father–mother dyads from the Fathers & Families cohort study. Fathers and mothers independently reported their food parenting practices and child’s dietary intake. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated associations between the number of parents (0, 1 or 2) using high structure or coercive control practices and children’s intake of fruit, vegetables, fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), adjusting for demographics and recruitment site.

Setting: United States

Participants: 474 father–mother dyads with a …

Neurodiversity Among Nurses: Consequences For Wellbeing And Burnout, Megan Pohlmann

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Background/Introduction – Current research highlights three critical aspects of nurse wellbeing: the subjective personal perspective, multifaceted complexity, and variation across individuals. A particular gap in past research is a lack of understanding of how neurodivergence may impact nurses’ workplace wellbeing. Neurodiversity is the variation in human minds and neurocognitive functioning, and neurodivergence is the divergence from what society would consider the norm. Like wellbeing, it is difficult to capture, recognize, and define, which causes confusion among neurodivergent individuals and employers alike. With up to 20% of individuals displaying neurodivergent traits in the workplace, it is important to recognize that those …

Improving The Assessment And Treatment Of People With Low Back Pain, Kayla Krueger

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Low back pain (LBP) is a significant and continually growing public health problem. While some people recover from an initial episode, a proportion will develop chronic or recurrent LBP that limits their ability to perform daily functional activities. The variable and often function-limiting course of LBP underscores the clear need for improved methods of assessment and treatment. One way to improve the assessment and treatment of LBP is to develop a more comprehensive understanding of factors that contribute to LBP. In this dissertation, we investigated two categories of factors that may contribute to a person’s LBP: (1) spinal movement impairments …

The Making Of An Extremist: How Do We Become Someone Else’S Nightmare?, María Paula Morales

The Confluence

This article explores how ordinary people can be pulled into extremist movements and what psychological forces drive that process. It looks at three perspectives: social identity theory, which explains how group belonging shapes behavior, identity development, which shows how people searching for meaning may find it in extremist causes; and social neuroscience, which connects radicalization to brain activity linked to fear, loyalty, and moral judgement. Together, these approaches show that radicalization is not simply about ideology but about identity, emotion, and belonging. By understanding these dynamics, we can find better ways to prevent extremism and promote healthier, more inclusive communities.

Modeling Psychological And Demographic Predictors Of Analog Astronaut Mission Participation, Christian Yeara Herrero, Frányerson R. López Ochoa, Mackenzie Thomas, Phoebe Fleshman

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

As plans accelerate to send humans into orbit and to other celestial bodies, whether to lunar outposts, Mars bases, or commercial space stations, it becomes increasingly important to understand how to maintain healthy, cohesive, and productive crews in confined, isolated environments. A practical way to study human adaptation to these conditions is through analog astronaut missions on Earth. Although imperfect, these facilities provide the closest Earth-based simulation of space mission conditions. Currently, over ten analog research centers are operating worldwide, including NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) and the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) habitats. Selecting and recruiting …

Psychosocial Predictors Of Depression And Anxiety In Thai Stroke Caregivers, Chanatip Tongyonk, Sorawit Wainipitapong, Chavit Tunvirachaisakul, Aurauma Chutinet, Michael Maes, Thitiporn Supasitthumrong

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: Caregivers of stroke survivors often face significant psychological challenges, yet limited research in Thailand has explored how patient and caregiver characteristics jointly influence caregiver mental health outcomes.

Objective: To identify characteristics of ischemic stroke patients and their caregivers that may predict distress, sadness, and anxiety symptoms in the caregivers.

Method: To measure caregivers' burden, stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Zarit Burden Interview (22-item ZBI), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) were utilized. To define a multi-step mediation model, we used partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Result: 97 stroke patients and their …

From Early Adversity To Adult Health: Quality-Of-Life Consequences In A Mental Illness In Saudi Arabia, Rawan Saad Alghamdi, Ahmad A. Mirza, Ibrahim Fae Asiri, Fatemah Samir Alghamdi, Nawaf Abdulaziz Alharthi, Shaymaa A. Abdalal, Iman K. Ramadan

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: Childhood trauma (CT) is prevalent among bipolar disorder (BD) patients and exacerbates clinical outcomes, which may impact the quality of life (QoL). This study explores the prevalence of CT and its association with QoL among BD patients in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted among adults with BD during the euthymic phase. Sample size was estimated using a single-proportion approach (target n=141), and participants recruited by convenience sampling of eligible outpatients. CT was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and QoL using the the Brief Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder (Brief QoL.BD). Results: The CT prevalence was …

Impact Of Treatment On The Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Children With Cancer In Saudi Arabia, Fayzah Hussain Alhussain, Amany Anwar Saeed Alabdullah

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: The impact of cancer on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is considerable, particularly for children undergoing oncological treatment. While research has addressed HRQOL in childhood cancer survivors, less attention has been given to those actively undergoing treatment, including in Saudi Arabia. This systematic review aimed to address this gap by quantitatively evaluating studies reporting on the HRQOL of children in Saudi Arabia during their active cancer treatment phase. We also compare these findings with studies from around the world, emphasising demographic, medical and parental predictors of HRQOL. Methods: A comprehensive search of relevant databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, PsycINFO and …

Effects Of A Basketball Match On Heart Rate Variability In Collegiate Intramural Players, Unobatsha Mbaiwa

Master's Theses

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a standard non-invasive physiological marker used to asses the autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and cardiovascular adaptability. HRV reflects the natural variations in time between successive heartbeats (R-R intervals), which come as a result of the interaction between sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS (Shaffer & Ginsberg, 2017). Higher HRV compared to an individual's baseline is normally considered an indicator of greater parasympathetic (rest/digest) influence and more effective physiological recovery, whereas lower HRV relative to baseline is associated with sympathetic (fight/flight) dominance, fatigue, and increased physiological strain. Since the standardized HRV measurement criteria were …

Overweight And Obesity Among Southeastern Nigerian Lecturers And Its Association With Absenteeism And Presenteeism, Ezenwa Victor Ejikem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Barriers And Bridges: Exploring Factors That Shape Mental Health Service Utilization In Rural America, Margaret Wiwuga

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Despite disproportionately higher suicide mortality rates and comparable prevalence of mental illness across urban and rural communities in the United States, rural populations across the nation experience significantly lower access to and utilization of mental health services, naturally leading to worse comprehensive outcomes. This literature review examines multifaceted factors shaping mental health service use in rural America, taking note of both barrier and enabling factors that impede or enable these unique populations’ willingness and ability to access and use mental health services. Ten articles published prior to September 9, 2025, were selected from the James Madison University Libraries’ Psychology and …

Black Maternal Mental Health: Counseling Considerations For Prenatal Depression And Anxiety, Morgan Renee Williams

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

The maternal mortality rate of Black women in the United States is four times higher than white women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). The CDC defines a maternal death as “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy… but not from accidental or incidental causes” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024, para. 1). This statistic is a consequence of the inequality within and outside of the American healthcare system (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020). For the purposes of this research, Black women are defined as any women …

What’S Behind The Mask: The Diagnostic Divide In The Female Autism Phenotype, Shelley Gies Alston

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication and restrictive, repetitive behaviors; however, women are diagnosed at significantly lower rates than men. This study examined whether DSM-5-TR diagnostic practices may contribute to the underdiagnosis and delayed identification of ASD in individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB), with attention to masking behaviors, gendered social expectations, and clinician interpretation of symptoms. Grounded in the Female Autism Phenotype (FAP), a retrospective mixed-methods study surveyed 12 AFAB individuals aged 18–24 who self-identified or were formally diagnosed with ASD. Participants completed a 44-item online survey including Likert-scale and open-ended …

Keeping Families Together: Companion Animals As A Public Health Imperative, Lori R. Kogan, Rebecca Niemiec

Journal of One Health Systems

Contemporary US public health frameworks emphasize social, economic, and environmental determinants of health, yet largely overlook the reality that most households include companion animals regarded as family members. This omission has tangible consequences during crises such as housing instability, illness, domestic violence, or disasters, when families are often forced to choose between their own safety and the safety of their animals. We argue that this represents a significant public health failure. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence, we propose that companion animals function as a social determinant of health, that forced separation constitutes a public health harm, and that Human-Animal Support Services …

Family Quality Of Life And Infant Language Development: A Pilot Study Of Infants Without A History Of Chronic Otitis Media, Aubreigh Cartwright

Dissertations, 2020-current

Chronic otitis media (COM) is a condition associated with hearing fluctuations, recurrent medical interventions, and speech-language concerns. While the audiological impacts for children are well documented, there is less research pertaining to parents’ and caregivers’ experiences. The goal of the overall line of inquiry was to examine the impact of chronic otitis media on parent and caregiver quality of life. Parents and caregivers of ten typically developing infants from six to twelve months of age without COM were administered parent-proxy instruments to determine quality of life, as well as expressive and receptive lexicon. The parents were administered a family intake …

How Audiologists Are Using Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Tinnitus Management: A Preliminary Study, Katherine M. Mueller

Dissertations, 2020-current

Audiologists interact with patients reporting bothersome tinnitus frequently, however there is no standardized protocol to follow when treating/counseling these patients. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is highly researched and has been proven to alleviate bothersome tinnitus symptoms, yet audiologists are not clinically trained in this tinnitus management. Specific forms of CBT that were analyzed in this study include Attention Shifting, Neurophysiological Education, and Progressive Muscle Relaxations. This study surveyed current audiologists to determine how they are using adapted CBT techniques (aCBTt) for tinnitus management. This questionnaire aimed to investigate a) the effect of audiologists’ practice duration on their frequency to recommend …

Stigma Predicts Participation And Autonomy In Chronic Vestibulopathy: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study, Brandy L. Hollins

Dissertations, 2020-current

Many vestibular disorders are “invisible”, not widely recognized, and challenging for patients to describe. However, its impact is visible and leads to significant challenges. Research has shown that stigma associated with other chronic health conditions can detrimentally affect patient outcomes, suggesting a greater need in this area. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) elucidates the role of physical, social, and cultural factors in the manifestation of health conditions within a universal framework. A critical aspect of the ICF’s contextual factors for individuals with vestibular loss is societal perception. Few studies have reported stigmatization …