Digital Commons Network^™

The Clinical Phenotype Of Motor Neurone Disease In A Kenyan Hospital – Based Population, Effie Nailah Kamadi

Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine

Introduction: Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a rare, disabling and incurable illness marked by relentless degeneration of motor neurons with loss of voluntary motor function and eventual death. In the West, patient demographics and clinical characteristics are well documented. Available African research is mostly for North, West and South Africa with a knowledge gap existing on the East African illness. This study characterized MND phenotype in a Kenyan population.

Objectives: To describe the clinical phenotype and outcomes of MND in a Kenyan hospital-based population.

Methods: The medical charts of all adult MND patients assessed at AKUHN between …

Abnormal Urine Drug Screens In Pregnancy- Opportunity For Laboratory Stewardship, Anil K Chokkalla, Sahil Malik, Ridwan Ibrahim, Sridevi Devaraj

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Clinical testing for drugs of abuse typically involves initial screening followed by confirmatory testing. Due to limited evidence-based guidelines, the healthcare provider makes the decision to confirm abnormal screens based on the clinical context. This two-step approach proved to be inadequate in scenarios like maternal substance abuse and subsequent fetal/ newborn exposure. The goal of this study is to assess and improve the confirmatory testing rate of abnormal screens among pregnant patients at our women's center.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess the confirmation rates among positively screened pregnant patients, and a lab stewardship initiative was …

Patterns Of Dietary Fatty Acids And Fat Spreads In Relation To Blood Pressure, Lipids And Insulin Resistance In Young Adults: A Repeat Cross-Sectional Study, Richard Woodman, Arduino A. Mangoni, Sarah Cohen-Woods, Trevor A. Mori, Lawrence Beilin, Karen Murphy, Jonathan Hodgson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objectives: Determining whether dietary fatty acids and the use of fat spreads are associated with cardiovascular risk factors is difficult due to the multicollinearity of fatty acids and the consumption of multiple spread types. Methods: We applied clustering methodologies using data on 31 different fatty acids and 5 different types of fat spreads (high fat: butter, blended butters, and margarines; lower fat: polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) and investigated associations with blood pressure, serum lipid patterns and insulin resistance in the Raine Study Gen2 participants in Western Australia, at 20 and 22 years of age. Results: Amongst n = 785 participants, there …

A Study Of Secondary Traumatic Stress In Health Care Professionals In Long-Term Care., Bethany Proudfoot

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a significant concern for healthcare professionals in long-term care (LTC) settings. This study explores the impact of STS on clinical staff, addressing the research question: How has STS affected employees within the LTC sector, and what resources or support can be provided to mitigate its effects? The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data from clinical staff across five LTC facilities in Ohio, incorporating the survey data measuring levels of STS and qualitative responses. Findings revealed that 64% of participants experienced high to severe levels of STS, with symptoms including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, …

"Our Vision Is That Black Mothers And Birthing People, Fathers, And Partners Are Safe, Honored, And Respected Throughout Pregnancy And Parenthood": Black Birth Workers' Agenda For Black Maternal Health In Oregon, Sarah Marguerite Applin

University Honors Theses

Black women and Birthing People (BWBP) face disproportionate rates of mortality within the United States healthcare system. BWBP are three times more likely to suffer a pregnancy-related death than White women. Therefore, addressing and consulting with BWBP about the birthing experience that BWBP sustains when they are bearing children is imperative. The inclusion and application of this key knowledge and understanding should be emphasized and at the root of further development toward reproductive justice. This participatory story was led by Dr. Roberta Hunte. Interviews and focus groups with Black birth workers, birthing people, and public health professionals were conducted in …

Integrated Mental Health Care In Specialty Clinics For Children With A Diagnosis Of Asthma Or Diabetes: A Mixed Methods Study, Joan P. Totka, Maria Peña, Joshua A. Steinberg, Peter M. Wolfgram

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

Using patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) in a shared-space mental health-integrated specialty clinic, we explored the feasibility, acceptance, and experience of youth with asthma and diabetes, their families, and the healthcare team.

Method

Using mixed methods, we examined feasibility, acceptability, and experience of PROM inclusion in caring for youth with asthma (n = 7) and diabetes (n = 11), their families (n = 18), and healthcare providers (n= 13). Completion and receipt of PROM (feasibility), postvisit surveys (acceptance), and structured interviews (experience) between June 2019 and February 2020.

Results

Targeted PROM met feasibility goals (80%) …

The Effects Of Competitive Plyometric Training On Speed, Strength, And Defensive Skills Of Handball Players, Abbas Abdulhamza Kadhem

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: The importance of this research lies in preparing handball players with enhanced physical and skill capabilities through modern methods such as competitive plyometric training. The study was motivated by observed performance inconsistencies among Iraqi handball teams, particularly a decline in players' physical and technical execution toward the end of matches. This issue is attributed to the use of traditional training programs, which fail to develop the players’ physical fitness and technical performance adequately.  Objective: This study examines the effects of competitive plyometric training on handball players' speed, strength, and defensive skills. Methods: The research was driven by the observation …

Socio-Epidemiological Perspectives Of Sexual Trauma Experiences And Influential Factors On Sexual Orientation In Men Who Have Sex With Men, Rico Januar Sitorus, Misnaniarti Misnaniarti, Legiran Legiran, Rizma Adlia Syakurah, Diana Dewi Sartika, Asri Maharani, Retta Patresia

Kesmas

The complexity of sexuality and sexual trauma experiences, including harassment, unwanted touching, sexual urges, and forced sexual intercourse, should not be underestimated because of the tendency to initiate adverse psychosocial impacts. Sexual harassment can increase mental health risks, which may influence sexual orientation decisions. This quantitative study, using a cross-sectional design, aimed to determine a relationship between sexual trauma experiences and sexual orientation in men who have sex with men (MSM). This study population was MSM living in Palembang and Prabumulih City, with a sample size of 216 respondents. The proportion of respondents with homosexual orientation was 57.1%, and the …

Pornography, Problematic Use And Academic Outcomes In College Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Promise Tewogbola, Victoria Bodunde, Deborah Odaudu

Journal of Graduate Education Research

Background: The prevalence of pornography consumption among college students has raised concerns about its potential impact on academic performance. This study aims to examine the relationships between pornography use, academic outcomes, and problematic pornography use among university students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 739 students from a Midwestern U.S. state university. Participants completed an online survey assessing demographics, grade point average (GPA), pornography consumption frequency, Academic Success Inventory (ASI) scores, and Problematic Pornography Use (PPU) scale scores. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine associations between variables.

Results: Pornography consumers had 41% lower odds of …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - February 27, 2025, Lindsay Hughes

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the Thursday, February 27, 2025 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter -- Watercooler.

Contents include:

• Casselli joins Microbiology and Immunology faculty
• New members selected for Gold Humanism Honor Society 
• USA Health Obstetrics and Gynecology Conference planned for April 3-4 in Biloxi
• Whiddon COM alumna McDade Hancock joins pediatrics faculty

The Transition To Adulthood: A Qualitative Study Of Autism Spectrum Disorder From Military And Veteran Parents And Military-Dependent Young Adults, Antonio F Pagán, Mara C Montenegro, Mark Ahlenius, Ana C Ramirez, Miriam Ortiz, Estefani Bernal, Cecilia Montiel-Nava, Jennifer Bittner, Katherine A Loveland, Ron E Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Given the unique experiences of military service members and their families, military-dependent young adults (18-25 years old) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their military or veteran families experience unique barriers to accessing quality mental health care during the transition to adulthood. In fact, developing services to address ASD challenges for military families is a burgeoning area of interest for the department of defense. However, there is a limited knowledge on the specific needs of military families as the young adult's transition outside of high school and lose supports.

Materials and methods: The present study conducted 3 focus groups …

Developing Evaluation Metrics To Measure The Us National Institute Of Health Plans To Enhance Diverse Perspectives: A Protocol For A Consensus-Based Study, Yulia A Levites Strekalova, Sanjay Jain, Pinaki Sarder

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: The diversity of participating investigators representing diverse disciplines, career stages, stakeholder groups, regions and types of institutions is essential for the success of large-scale research programmes. In 2021, the National Institutes of Health introduced a requirement for some of its large grants to include a separate section that describes the project's plan for enhancing diverse perspectives (PEDPs). Our project aims to develop consensus-based PEDP evaluation metrics and instruments that can be systematically and sustainably collected across the projects.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Evaluation work is organised into three objectives. First, shared knowledge about PEDP infrastructures, activities and outcomes will be …

Feeding And Swallowing Disorders In Children With Autism: What Caregivers Need To Know, Olivia Hopkins

Undergraduate Publications

This study investigates the complex topic of feeding and swallowing disorders in children with autism, highlighting the significant challenges they pose, particularly related to sensory sensitivities and oral motor difficulties, and the persistent lack of understanding. We examine diagnostic criteria, risks, familial impacts, cultural nuances, and evidence-based intervention strategies, with a focus on practical guidance for caregivers, to equip them with resources for navigating these challenges (Schulz & Eden, 2016). Despite the prevalence of these disorders, many remain unaware of the struggles, underscoring the urgent need for targeted investigations and supportive measures. Specifically, this paper aims to provide Speech Language …

The Dementia Care Partner Hub: An Innovative Approach To Addressing Unmet Social And Health Needs, Sherril Gelmon, Jenn Reed, Walter D. Dawson

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

The well‐being of care partners of people living with dementia, who are family, friends, or neighbors and often unpaid, is often not addressed explicitly in clinical dementia care. Care partners, especially those from systematically marginalized communities, experience substantial unmet social and behavioral needs. We reviewed role model programs and conducted focus groups and interviews with care partners and representatives of community organizations and government agencies. We developed the concept of a Dementia Care Partner Hub as a “one‐stop shop” to connect dementia care partners and service providers with information and resources, meeting a need that is not currently addressed in …

Exploring Faculty And Academic Advisors’ Experiences Supporting College Students With Mental Health Challenges: A Qualitative Study Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Shantalea Johns

Social Work Faculty Publications

This interpretive phenomenological study explores faculty and academic advisors’ experiences in supporting students with mental health challenges. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, which suggests that personal beliefs, prior experiences, and familiarity with symptoms influence behavior, the study examines participant narratives to identify key factors that shape their approaches to supporting students. Findings indicate that personal beliefs about mental health, prior experiences with individuals facing mental health challenges, and campus-based mental health training opportunities all significantly enhance mental health support mechanisms for students outside traditional counseling settings. The ability of faculty and academic advisors to recognize signs of mental …

Building Blocks For New Kinship Partnerships And Coalitions, Kathy L. Dial, Daniel J. Koltz, Janet Salo, Erin Beasley

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Building successful kinship partnerships and coalitions requires intentional effort to establish trust, align goals, and foster inclusivity. These collaborations are essential for addressing the unique and evolving needs of kinship families, who often face limited access to resources due to the informal nature of many caregiving arrangements. Effective partnerships prioritize clear missions, open communication, and active engagement with stakeholders, particularly those with lived experiences such as kinship caregivers. Research demonstrates that coordinated efforts among organizations enhance resource availability, improve advocacy capabilities, and strengthen service delivery. By integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, coalitions can ensure that diverse perspectives shape solutions …

Counseling Students’ Perceptions Of Support During The Covid-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Study, Breahannah Hilaire, Galaxina G. Wright, Lea H, Laurie O. Campbell

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the counseling programs in clinical instruction, mentorship, and student’s perception of the university. The qualitative data presented in this paper identifies eight counseling students’ beliefs of support during their time in counseling program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews. An interpretive phenomenological analysis resulted in four themes: including higher education response, personal resources, emotions in crisis, and transitions in crisis.

Rideshare Services For Transportation Assistance In Gynecologic Oncology: A Quality Improvement Study, Anna Jo Smith, Sam Pancoe, Mary Pat Lynch, Megan Wachlin, Kristina Powell, Stefanie N. Hinkle, Nathanael C. Koelper, Meredith Doherty, Justin E. Bekelman, Fiona Simpkins, Emily M. Ko

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

OBJECTIVE: Transportation barriers can lead to delays in care and suboptimal treatment. Our objective was to assess the utilization of a novel transportation pilot intervention in gynecologic oncology.

METHODS: Since May 2022, we have provided donor-funded transportation to patients receiving gynecologic cancer treatment at 5 University of Pennsylvania practices. Patients are screened for transportation barriers at first visit and re-screened during care. Patients who screen positive are referred to the intervention, a HIPAA-compliant ride-sharing service. There are no income or insurance restrictions; distance was limited to 25 miles. We report descriptive statistics on ride completion, distance traveled, and cost.

RESULTS: …

Staff Education To Increase Substance Use Screening And Treatment For Adolescents In An Outpatient Primary Care Mental Health Facility, Surekha Gorantla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement staff education DNP project addressed the practice issue relating to adolescent substance abuse in the project mental health facility. The facility does not have a uniform process for addressing this problem. Follow-up care for adolescents treated in the clinic is a challenge because each provider uses a screening tool of their preference, creating inconsistencies in care and missed care opportunities. Therefore, identifying, reducing, and preventing the negative consequences related to adolescent substance abuse in this clinical setting is vital and needs to be prioritized. I developed and implemented a staff education program using screening, brief intervention, and …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - February 13, 2025, Lindsay Hughes

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the Thursday, February 13, 2025 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter -- Watercooler.

Contents include:

• Solidarity Week highlights human connection in healthcare
• Cardiology fellows win state Jeopardy championship for second consecutive year
• Whiddon COM showcases data-driven research on physician wellness and healthcare disinformation
• USA welcomes Moreno-Walton as vice chair of emergency medicine

Nurse Educators’ Experiences With Medical Cannabis Education, Rachel Ann Parmelee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medical cannabis is legal in more than half of the United States, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing has provided guidelines indicating that nurses need to know about medical cannabis. However, most nurses report a lack of knowledge and education but believe that cannabis has therapeutic potential. The problem addressed in this study was the limited research on nurse educators’ experiences with medical cannabis education and its meaning for nursing education. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study, supported by an emergent framework, patterns of knowing, was to explore nurse educators’ experiences with medical cannabis education …

Preventing And Managing Delirium In The Pediatric Cardiac Icu, Jordan Aragon, Anya Hirsch, Keara Hughes, Ella Melnyk, Megan Sally, Anna Tisdale

2024

No abstract provided.

Counseling Students’ Perceptions Of Support During The Covid-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Study., Breahannah Hilarie, Galaxina G. Wright, Lea H., Laurie O. Campbell

Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the counseling programs in clinical instruction, mentorship, and student’s perception of the university. The qualitative data presented in this paper identifies eight counseling students’ beliefs of support during their time in counseling program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews. An interpretive phenomenological analysis resulted in four themes: including higher education response, personal resources, emotions in crisis, and transitions in crisis.

Trajectories Of Supportive Care Needs For People Who Travel To Receive Cancer Treatment: A Longitudinal Study In Australia, Susannah K. Ayre, Elizabeth A. Johnston, Michael Ireland, Sonja March, Jeff Dunn, Suzanne Chambers, Belinda C. Goodwin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To describe trajectories of change in unmet supportive care needs over a two-year period among people diagnosed with cancer and assess whether these trajectories vary as a function of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: This analysis used data from a longitudinal study of people in Queensland, Australia who travelled largely from regional and remote areas to metropolitan centres to receive cancer care (N = 784). Supportive care needs were measured at baseline, then at 3-, 12-, and 24-month post-baseline across five domains (‘psychological’, ‘physical and daily living’, ‘health systems and information’, ‘patient care and support’, ‘sexuality’) using the Supportive …

Sexual Behavior Stigma Among Cisgender Gay, Bisexual, And Other Men Who Have Sex With Men In Nine Nhbs Cities Across The United States: Burden And Associations With Prep Continuum And Hiv Care Continuum Outcomes, John Mark Wiginton, Sarah M Murray, Bridget J Anderson, Kwa Sey, Yingbo Ma, Colin P Flynn, Danielle German, Emily Higgins, Timothy W Menza, E Roberto Orellana, Stephanie Sanz, Nabeeh A Hasan, Alia Al-Tayyib, Jennifer Kienzle, Garrett Shields, Zaida Lopez, Paige Wermuth, Stefan D Baral

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In the United States (US), sexuality-based stigma continues to undermine HIV prevention and care efforts. We assessed sexual behavior stigma burden across family, healthcare, and social domains and determined associations with HIV-related outcomes among cisgender gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in nine US metropolitan statistical areas. MSM (N = 4,086) recruited at places of MSM social congregation via venue-based, time-sampling procedures completed a survey on sexual behavior stigma, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) continuum and HIV care continuum outcomes, sociodemographic characteristics, and other measures. We calculated prevalence and overall mean stigma subscale scores (range: 0.00–1.00) …

Expanding Library Services At Pen Bay Medical Center, Christina Kratzman Ma, Mi

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

No abstract provided.

Best Practices For Delivering Neoadjuvant Therapy In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Jordan M Cloyd, Angela Sarna, Matthew J Arango, Susan E Bates, Manoop S Bhutani, Mark Bloomston, Vincent Chung, Efrat Dotan, Cristina R Ferrone, Patricia F Gambino, Ajit H Goenka, Karyn A Goodman, William A Hall, Jin He, Melissa E Hogg, Shiva Jayaraman, Avinash Kambadakone, Matthew H G Katz, Alok A Khorana, Andrew H Ko, Eugene J Koay, David A Kooby, Somashekar G Krishna, Liliana K Larsson, Richard T Lee, Anirban Maitra, Nader N Massarweh, Sameh Mikhail, Mahvish Muzaffar, Eileen M O'Reilly, Manisha Palta, Maria Q B Petzel, Philip A Philip, Marsha Reyngold, Daniel Santa Mina, Davendra P S Sohal, Tilak K Sundaresan, Susan Tsai, Kea L Turner, Timothy J Vreeland, Steve Walston, M Kay Washington, Terence M Williams, Jennifer Y Wo, Rebecca A Snyder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Neoadjuvant therapy (NT) is an increasingly used treatment strategy for patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Little research has been conducted on cancer care delivery during NT, and the standards for optimal delivery of NT have not been defined.

Objective: To develop consensus best practices for delivering NT to patients with localized PDAC.

Design, setting, and participants: This study used a modified Delphi approach consisting of 2 rounds of voting, and a series of virtual conferences (from October to December 2023) to reach expert consensus on candidate best practice statements generated from a systematic review of the literature …

Cultural Consensus Modeling To Identify Culturally Relevant Reasons For And Against Suicide Among Black Adolescents, Ryan M Hill, Danielle Busby, Jennifer L Brown, Eric Sumlin, Estefania Fernandez, Carla Sharp

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The development of evidence-based treatments relies on accurate theoretical frameworks sensitive to the lived realities of the populations from which they are derived. Yet, the perspectives of Black youth are vastly underrepresented in extant theories of suicidal behavior. Cultural Consensus Modeling provides an evidence-based approach for developing a culturally informed understanding of suicide risk among Black youth.

Method: Participants were 50 Black adolescents (Mage = 16.20 years; 76.0% male) who completed Phase 1 of a Cultural Consensus Modeling study. Participants freely listed reasons for suicide and reasons for living among similar peer Black youth. Responses were synthesized and coded …

Exploring Reciprocal Links Between Early Adolescent Coping And Internalizing Symptoms, Caitlyn Mytelka, Sarah C Narendorf, Elizabeth Baumler, Chiara Acquati, Jeff R Temple

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The rising prevalence of depression and anxiety among adolescents is a public health concern. Early adolescence is a key developmental period to reduce risks for internalizing symptoms through primary prevention programs, yet additional research is needed on modifiable factors, such as coping skills, to target to mitigate risk factors. Therefore, we investigated the reciprocal link between coping style and internalizing symptoms among a racially/ethnically diverse sample of early adolescents (n = 1273) from 12 middle schools over 1 year.

Methods: We leveraged a longitudinal data set of a cluster, randomized trial of a preventive intervention from 12 middle schools …

Validation Of A Brief Food Parenting Measure For Fathers: A Test Of Factorial Validity, Measurement Invariance, Internal Reliability, And Concurrent Validity, Brian K. Lo, In Young Park, Melissa Mcternan, Yilin Wang, Alejandra Cantu-Aldana, Brent A. Mcbride, Katherine W. Bauer, Jess Haines, Kirsten K. Davison

School of Medicine Publications

Fathers are underrepresented in food parenting research partly due to the lack of succinct, theory-informed, and father-mother equivalent food parenting measurement tools. To address this, we 1) tested the factorial validity of a brief food parenting measure utilizing a subset of items from the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) to represent coercive control, structure, and autonomy support, 2) assessed the extent to which the brief tool works similarly in fathers and mothers (i.e., measurement invariance), and 3) evaluated its internal reliability and concurrent validity. Participants included 1071 fathers of children aged 2–6 years and 487 of their co-parents (mothers) from …