Digital Commons Network^™

Empowering Providers To Empower Their Patients: One Model To Expand Knowledge, Competency, And Awareness For The Perinatal Substance Use Workforce, Jacqueline Jacobs

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Perinatal substance use (PSU) is a serious and growing public health concern. It is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes for both mother and child and has been shown to negatively impact the parent-child relationship. Despite the growing prevalence of PSU, there are notable deficits in provider knowledge regarding, and comfortability with, PSU. Moreover, providers report feelings of judgment, resentment, fear, and hesitancy related to their work with women with PSU. Subsequently, women with PSU struggle to find appropriate, compassionate, and effective treatment for their substance misuse. Widespread and accessible training is needed to bolster provider knowledge base, …

Parent Implementation Of A Treatment For Late Talkers Based On Cross-Situational Statistical Learning Principles: Treatment Fidelity And Acceptability, Suzanne J. Meldrum, Jennifer Fisk, Jennifer Stopher, Emily F. Hunt

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose:

Early intervention based on principles of cross-situational statistical learning (CSSL) for late-talking children has shown promise. This study explored whether parents could be trained to deliver this intervention protocol with fidelity and if they found the intervention to be acceptable.

Method:

Mothers of four English-speaking children aged 18–30 months who scored < 10th centile for expressive vocabulary were recruited to an 8-week group training program. Parents were taught principles of CSSL and asked to perform 16 home treatment sessions (30 minutes each) in total, providing auditory bombardment of target words in full sentences at high dose number and syntactic variability, using a range of physical exemplars. Home diaries and two videotaped sessions measured treatment fidelity. Pre- and post-treatment questionnaires measured acceptability. Result: One parent discontinued the study after the second group training session. Three parents completed 15/16 group training sessions and reported completing 87% of home sessions. Two parents demonstrated implementing the intervention as per the target dose number by the first fidelity session (Weeks 2/3), and the third parent was very close to meeting target dose number by the second fidelity session (Weeks 7/8).

Conclusion:

Parents can be trained to deliver an intervention based on cross-situational statistical learning principles.

It's Day To Day Problems: Experiences Of People With Aphasia Who Live Alone, Deborah Hersh, Clare Williamson, Emily Brogan, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Living alone is increasing and associated with health and social risks. Aphasia compounds these risks but there is little research on how living alone interacts with aphasia. This study is a preliminary exploration of this issue. Method: Five people with aphasia who lived alone participated in two supported semi-structured interviews, with the second interview including sharing an artefact that held significance for living alone with aphasia. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. Result: Four themes encompassed meaning-making about living alone with aphasia: relationships and reliance on others; risk, vulnerability, and uncertainty; loneliness and time …

Beyond The Strong Black Woman: Navigating Resilience And Mental Health Using Social Media For Culturally Tailored Resources, Muchaneta N.M. Chikawa

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Society views the strength of Black women as commendable as it shows positive qualities such as resilience and perseverance. While these traits are characterized as positive, Black women’s survival in American society has heavily depended on their strength, resulting in mental health illnesses such as anxiety and depression. The idea that Black women must exude strength and fortitude through adversity is labeled the Strong Black Woman Schema (SBWS). The SBWS is a race-gender schema that prescribes culturally-specific feminine expectations for Black women.

There are limited culturally-tailored resources for Black women to address mental health at collegiate institutions. As a result …

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Message from the Dean: Stuart H. Tedders, PhD
• JPHCOPH Research
• Our AHEC Work
• Passing the Torch: Mentor to Innovator
  • Dr. Joseph Telfair
  • Dr. Tilicia Mayo-Gamble
• The MHA is BACK
• Life After JPHCOPH
• College Milestones
• CAR: Center for Addiction Recovery
• CPHPR: Center for Public Health Practice & Research
• Office of Practice and Research: Continued Strong Funding for in FY 2024
• Eagles Talking about the Public's Health (ETAPH)
• Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium (GS4)
• Congratulations to our Students of the Year!

Environmental Sustainability, Healthcare Workers And Healthcare Students: A Literature Review Of Attitudes And Learning Approaches, Pamela R. Mccauley, Kavita Mathur, Reza Kamali Miab, Nina Cohen, Kedena Henriques-Thompson, Jyo Gopinath

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Today, increased attention has been placed on the healthcare industry and its workers in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Increases in facemask production, personal protective equipment, and the number of patients admitted into hospitals have resulted in a sharp rise in medical waste and environmental concerns. This has led to a greater interest by the research community to study the type of training and education that healthcare workers and students receive which could facilitate the implementation of sustainability activities during their work.

Design/Methodology: We have conducted a literature review (2010 to 2024) on healthcare worker …

Critical Dialogue And Capacity-Building Projects Reduced Alcohol And Substance Use In A Randomized Clinical Trial Among Formerly Incarcerated Men, Liliane Cambraia Windsor, Ellen Benoit, Carol Lee, Alexis Jemal, Kari Kugler, Douglas C Smith, Rogério M Pinto, Salma Musaad

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background:

Rates of alcohol and/or substance use (ASU) among residents of predominantly Black and marginalized communities are similar to ASU rates in White communities. Yet ASU has worse consequences in predominantly Black and marginalized communities (e.g., higher incarceration).

Objective:

We randomized participants to one of 16 intervention conditions using a 2⁴ full factorial design to optimize a multilevel intervention reducing ASU among 602 formerly incarcerated men with substance-use-disorders (SUD). Candidate intervention components included (1) critical dialogue (CD; six weekly 2-hour-long group sessions vs. no CD sessions), (2) Quality of Life Wheel (QLW; six weekly 1-hour-long group sessions vs. no …

Call The Experts: Identifying Stakeholders In The Long-Term Care Of Youth With Hypospadias, Vinaya P Bhatia, Kristin Ebert, Shannon Cannon, Walid A Farhat, Heidi W Brown, Jane Mahoney, Marisa E Hilliard, Kristina L Penniston

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Long-term follow-up for individuals with hypospadias remains a critical area of need, yet evidence-based guidelines for such follow-up are lacking, and the role of involvement of relevant experts is not yet established. Using our hypospadias-specific health-related quality of life conceptual framework and a subsequent qualitative study of prepubertal males and parents of males with hypospadias, we identified potential priorities for long-term follow-up of youth with hypospadias. Using thematic codes from our patient and parent interviews, we searched PubMed for relevant articles and identified the specialties represented by all the authors of these articles. Our search strategy revealed consistent expertise across …

Using Education To Confidently Identify And Report Concerns Of Child Abuse And Neglect: A Qualitative Improvement Initiative Through Staff Development, Sarah E. Neilson

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Pre-licensure education on child abuse and neglect is crucial for nurses in the healthcare field. It helps to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively identify, report, and intervene in cases of child abuse and neglect. Having this education available and understanding the signs and effects of child abuse and neglect, empowers nurses to take quick and decisive action in early intervention and prevention. Within the microsystem of a local Operating Room (OR), this quality improvement (QI) project will determine the muchneeded addition to the healthcare curriculum.

METHODS: The Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) framework was …

Improving Postpartum Depression Education Within The Microsystem, Mackenzie A. Sturdevant

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health issue affecting a substantial percentage of new mothers, ranging from "baby blues" to severe forms like postpartum psychosis. Maternity nurses play a crucial role in early detection and education due to the gap in postpartum care follow-up appointments, which can delay necessary interventions.

LOCAL PROBLEM: Despite the critical role of maternity nurses, there is variability in their preparedness to educate and support patients regarding PPD during the immediate postpartum period. This study aims to enhance maternity nurses' knowledge and confidence in providing PPD education through a quality improvement (QI) project within …

Delivering Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Care In Parkinson's Disease: An International Consensus Statement, Jennifer G Goldman, Daniele Volpe, Terry D Ellis, Mark A Hirsch, Julia Johnson, Julia Wood, Ana Aragon, Roberta Biundo, Alessandro Di Rocco, Glenn S Kasman, Robert Iansek, Janis Miyasaki, Victor M Mcconvey, Marten Munneke, Serge Pinto, Karen A St Clair, Santiago Toledo, Michele K York, Ronnie Todaro, Nicole Yarab, Kristin Wallock

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder impacting everyday function and quality of life. Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in improving symptoms, function, and quality of life and reducing disability, particularly given the lack of disease-modifying agents and limitations of medications and surgical therapies. However, rehabilitative care is under-recognized and under-utilized in PD and often only utilized in later disease stages, despite research and guidelines demonstrating its positive effects. Currently, there is a lack of consensus regarding fundamental topics related to rehabilitative services in PD.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the international Parkinson's Foundation Rehabilitation Medicine Task Force was …

Decreasing Compassion Fatigue In Inpatient Nurses Using Debriefing And Group Care Program, Hanh Nguyen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: The quality improvement project's purpose was to use a group care program to decrease compassion fatigue (work-related stress) in nurses. The project aimed to reduce compassion fatigue in nurses by 25% and nurse turnover rates by 10% post-intervention.

Background: The project was implemented on two inpatient units in Texas. Decrease in compassion fatigue can help improve nurse well-being and nurse retention, promoting safe quality nursing care.

Methodology: The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) survey measured compassion satisfaction and burnout pre-intervention. Twelve weekly program sessions were completed using strategies: debriefing, breathing exercise, and muscle relaxation. A …

Shsp Dean's Newsletter, Winter 2024, Robert W. Amler

SHSP Dean’s Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Challenges And Coping Strategies In Transitioning From Caregiving To Widowhood: A Systematic Review, Abby Baumbach, M. Courtney Hughes, Yujun Liu

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Ninety-one percent of surviving spouses in the U.S. cared for their spouses before they died. This review explores the challenges of the transition from caregiving to widowhood and different coping strategies used by widowed spousal caregivers. A systematic review of literature on the transition from caregiving to widowhood was conducted using four major academic search engines. Overall, 280 articles were identified, with 22 meeting the inclusion criteria. Challenges for widowed caregivers included experiencing care burden, letting go of the caregiver role, grief, and triggers. Widowed caregivers’ coping strategies included social support and services use, filling the time gap, finding spirituality, …

Us Hospices’ Approach To Racial/ Ethnic Minority Inclusion: A Qualitative Study, M. Courtney Hughes, Erin Vernon, Monica Kowalczyk, Marlon Basco-Rodillas

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Objective: To examine hospices’ approaches to improving the current racial/ethnic hospice utilisation disparity.

Methods: During June and July 2020, we conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews with 22 hospice leaders from across the USA. The interviews focused on inclusive strategy approaches. We analysed the data using qualitative methods.

Results: Multiple themes emerged about racial/ ethnic minority inclusion strategies: (1) hospices tailor strategies to the local communities they serve; (2) improvement involves addressing social determinants of health that extend beyond end-of-life care; (3) costs of strategies are not a primary concern and the benefits are worth the costs; and (4) hospices want to …

Always Politically Correct: Supporting Seriously Ill Older Populations And Their Families, M. Courtney Hughes, Erin Vernon

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

We have been researching outcomes related to seriously ill individuals for over a decade, critically examining countless research articles from around the world, and extensively interviewing various stakeholders in this space, including hospital leaders, hospice leaders, lobbyists, nurses, social workers, and informal caregivers. We have also experienced firsthand the heartwrenching difficulty of caring for seriously ill loved ones. While we have learned a tremendous amount along the way, two specific observations consistently stand out. First, regardless of culture, income level, or politics, most people can personally identify with caring for seriously ill individuals. Second, the research evidence indicates that not …

Somewhere Between Despair And Hope: Reflections Of A Medical Student, Meyer Herzog

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Sex Work Criminalization On Sex Workers In Oregon: A Pilot Study, Stephanie Wahab, Katie Shammel

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Executive Summary

Context for the Study
In July, 2023, Oregon legislators voted to fund research exploring the impacts of the criminalization of sex work in Oregon. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the budget item, stating that the private sector should fund this type of public health research and noting the need for additional public discussion about the issue. To date, there have been no attempts to study the impacts of prostitution laws on the people most impacted by them in Oregon. The research presented in this report seeks to address this gap.

This qualitative pilot study was designed to better understand …

Developmentally Appropriate Care In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu), Ashten Cenkus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As specialized healthcare professionals educated in developmental care, occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have a role in educating, coaching, and assessing the needs of infants, their families, and the staff in the NICU. These high-risk and medically fragile infants require specialized care that considers the incorporation of neurodevelopment, neurobehavioral regulation, sensory stimulation, and motor development through supportive and appropriate interventions. A project addressing these needs across 14 weeks was implemented as part of an Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) capstone experience at WVU Medicine Children’s in Morgantown, West Virginia. This project examined the results of the NICU staff's confidence, knowledge, and awareness …

Burnout In Forensic Psychology Related To Personal Traits And Vicarious Trauma, Olivia Shae Bruno

Theses and Dissertations

Burnout is described as having three components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feelings of ineffectiveness (Maslach et al., 1997). Burnout is considered a major occupational hazard due to the consequences for the afflicted and the population they work with (Leka & Jain, 2012) including low quality care, job dissatisfaction, absenteeism, and high turnover rates (Maslach et al., 2001). Previous research has identified some occupations and settings which are linked to high rates of burnout, including psychologists (Rodriguez & Carlotta, 2017) and those working in a high stress field, such as police officers (Vazquez et al., 2021), corrections officers (Herlickson, 2010) or …

Interventions Connecting Young People Living In Africa To Healthcare; A Systematic Review Using The Re-Aim Framework, Titilola Abike Gbaja-Biamila, Chisom Obiezu-Umeh, Ucheoma Nwaozuru, David Oladele, Alexis Engelhart, Thembekile Shato, Stacey Mason, Victoria Carter, Juliet Iwelunmor-Ezepue

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Africa's young people are among the least focused groups in healthcare linkage. The disproportionally high burden of youth-related health problems is a burden, especially in developing regions like Africa, which have a high population of young people. More information is needed about factors that impact linkages in healthcare and the sustainability of health interventions among young people in Africa.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed from October 2020 to May 2022 in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Global Health, and the Web of Science. Studies included in the review were conducted among young people aged 10-24 living in Africa, written …

Grounded Theory Approach To Understand Self-Management Of Opioid Recovery Through Pregnancy And Early Parenting, Nicole M. Mattson, Jennifer M. Ohlendorf, Kristin Haglund

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To develop a theory to explain the processes women use to self-manage recovery from opioid use disorder during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and early parenting.

Design

Constructivist grounded theory approach.

Participants

Women (N = 16) who gave birth during the past 12 months and used medication for opioid use disorder for recovery through pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Methods

We recruited participants through seven medication-assisted treatment clinics in a mid-size Midwestern city and the surrounding suburbs and through online parenting and recovery community groups with national-based memberships. We conducted semistructured, individual audio interviews from November 2020 to July …

Health Sciences Students’ Career Commitment, Mental Health, And Physical Activity During The Covid-19 Pandemic, David Wrucke, Marie K. Hoeger Bement, April L. Harkins, Sandra K. Hunter, Stacy Stolzman, Astrida S. Kaugars

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To understand the biopsychosocial dimensions of university health sciences students’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants: Health sciences students (n = 297) from two universities in July and August 2020.

Methods: Participants completed a Web-based survey asking about depression, anxiety, physical activity, coronavirus threat, and career commitment.

Results: Moderate or severe depression and anxiety were reported by 28.6% and 31.3% of respondents, respectively. Depression and anxiety were positively correlated with perceived coronavirus threat and negatively correlated with career commitment and strenuous physical activity. A change in career commitment interests during the COVID-19 pandemic was reported by 11% of …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To Managing Financial Toxicity In Oncology Patients, Katelin Muse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with a cancer diagnosis are counseled at length about the standard of care treatment options, which may include surgery, radiation, anticancer medications, and chemo/immunotherapy through an informed consent process. Unfortunately, the potential economic burden and the accompanying psychological burden is seldom discussed up front. There is a significant need for routine screening and a multidisciplinary approach to the prevention of financial toxicity for the oncology patient. The purpose of this doctoral project was to lead an interprofessional team in the development of a clinical practice guideline for routine financial screening using the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool …

Mental Health And The Black Church: Decreasing The Division In Divinity, Latonya Gray

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Racial disparities in mental health care persist for Black Americans, with only one in three who need treatment receiving it. The care they do receive is often of a poorer quality than that of other groups. Faith communities serving Black members could help address this gap by partnering with mental health professionals to meet congregants' needs. With mental health now at the forefront of public discourse, considering the specific needs of the Black community is critical. Black Americans face disproportionate mental health burdens but are more likely to seek counsel from clergy due to cultural stigma. Educating clergy on mental …

Examining Stigma In Rural Mental Health Care Settings: A Mixed Methods Approach, Lainie Krumenacker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

More than half of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime (CDC, 2021), yet stigma towards mental health affects both patients and providers. Although programs exist to address stigma, improve cultural competency among providers, and educate families on the importance of support, facilities are often limited on programs they provide due to allocation of resources and funds. Without a shift in treatment and programing, stigma will continue to impact patient care and outcome.

This study explored stigma among mental health providers in rural communities, while exploring potential differences in treatment among patients due to race. Mental …

Advancing Opportunities For The Autistic Community At West Virginia University, Drew D. Altizer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder often have difficulties with social integration and sensory challenges on collegiate campuses. These difficulties are sometimes tied together as social integration spaces are not always sensory-friendly and can be overwhelming for the individual. Creating a sensory-friendly space within the potentially overstimulating environment can provide the student with a place to recharge and recover and still access the desired social events. This capstone project focused on the design and development of a sensory room in the West Virginia University Mountain Lair Student Union, working directly with the students in the West Virginia University Autism Support Program …

Teaching Cultural Humility Practices In Appalachia: The Value Of Conducting Conversations Based In Education, Bailey A. Riggs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recent literature highlights the paradigm shift from utilizing cultural competence practices to cultural humility practices within the field of occupational therapy, and health sciences (Fisher- Borne, et al., 2015). The idea of cultural competency suggests that culture is unchanging, and individuals can master cultural knowledge. The perception of knowing culture can be perceived as an unwillingness to learn about culture. In contrast, cultural humility promotes the value of lifelong learning and introspection, encouraging greater self-awareness, reflection of personal biases, and recognition of power imbalances. This approach aims to better integrate educational approaches to serve diverse populations in a culturally affirming …

Envisaging A Thriving Future: The Integration Of Positive Psychology Into Brief Psychotherapy And Family Therapy Practice, Richard Lakeman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper delves into the pragmatic integration of positive psychology, particularly Seligman's PERMA model, and brief psychotherapy to foster a vision of a thriving future for clients. Despite the entrenched tribalism within psychotherapy that often resists the incorporation of new techniques, a deliberate and flexible approach to integration, rooted in congruence with theoretical frameworks, can overcome these barriers. Positive psychology dovetails neatly with the goals of family therapy by highlighting strengths and resilience. The PERMA model—encompassing Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment—captures the essence of a flourishing life. While primarily applied in non-clinical settings, its potential to enhance wellbeing …

Prospective Associations Of Psychedelic Treatment For Co-Occurring Alcohol Misuse And Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among United States Special Operations Forces Veterans, Stacey B Armstrong, Yitong Xin, Nathan D Sepeda, Martín Polanco, Lynnette A Averill, Alan K Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This study evaluated prospective associations of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT treatment for risky alcohol use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among United States (US) Special Operations Forces Veterans (SOFV). Data were collected during standard clinical operations at pre-treatment and 1-month (1 m), 3-months (3 m), and 6-months (6 m) post-treatment in an ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT treatment program in Mexico. Of the 86 SOFV that completed treatment, 45 met criteria for risky alcohol use at pre-treatment (mean age = 44; male = 100%; White = 91%). There was a significant reduction in alcohol use from pre-treatment (M = 7.2, SD = …