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Depaul Digest

DePaul Magazine

Marquee - Peace Team: Daniel Schober and Chicago-area graduate students collaborate with community partners to understand and reduce gun violence; Memoranda: Alumni & Family Weekend 2022; Milestones: DePaul news briefs; In Memoriam: Trustee John L. Brennan (1962-2022); Master Class: How to make a festive eggnog

Medication Assisted Treatment: Prescription Drug And Opioid Addiction Expansion Project, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katharine Knight Mph, Mark Richards Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Greater Portland Health (GPH) in collaboration with Preble Street Resource Center was awarded a Medication Assisted Treatment: Prescription Drug & Opioid Addiction (MOUD-PDOA) grant from SAMHSA. The GPH MOUD-PDOA project will include a mixed-methods evaluation led by Catherine E. Cutler Institute. The evaluation team will build knowledge and provide feedback to inform the implementation and refinement of the GPH MOUD-PDOA Program.

Evaluation Goals:

• Document program strategies and identify barriers and facilitators to implementation
• Examine the efficacy of using a continuum of treatment services to increase access to MOUD among vulnerable populations in underserved communities
• Assess the impact of the intervention …

Alcohol Use Disorder And Major Depressive Episodes: Findings From The National Survey On Drug Use And Health, Samantha Madler

Theses and Graduate Projects

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability among individuals in the United States (Bergmann et al., 2013; Jung, 2019; Sliedrecht et al., 2019; Witkiewitz, 2019). A number of individuals reporting an AUD diagnosis also report difficulties related to numerous physical, social, and mental health consequences, most notably, major depression. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and AUD co-occur at high rates, and researchers have been investigating the negative consequences and outcomes related to these co-occurring illnesses (McHugh & Weiss, 2019; Tolliver & Anton, 2022). Using a large nationally representative sample of 18–36-year-olds, treatment completion within …

Critical Race Feminism, Health, And Restorative Practices In Schools: Centering The Experiences Of Black And Latina Girls, Thalia González, Rebecca Epstein

Michigan Journal of Gender & Law

Restorative practices (RP) in K-12 schools in the United States have grown exponentially since the early 1990s. Developing against a backdrop of systemic racism, RP has become embedded in education practice and policy to counteract the harmful and persistent patterns of disparities in school discipline experienced by students of color. Within this legal, social, and political context, the empirical evidence that has been gathered on school-based restorative justice has framed and named RP as a behavioral intervention aimed at reducing discipline incidents—that is, an “alternative” to punitive and exclusionary practices. While this view of RP is central to dismantling discriminatory …

Good Faith: Surveillance And Evaluation Of 911 Good Samaritan Laws In The United States, Shane W. Reader

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

To fight soaring overdose mortality rates in the United States, lawmakers adopted a variety of harm reduction tools. Among these, 911 Good Samaritan Laws (GSLs) derive their name from the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, a bystander who broke cultural convention to come to the aid of a man beset by thieves. These laws provide limited criminal immunity for bystanders in possession of controlled substances to encourage them to report drug overdoses. While previous studies associate GSLs with a modest reduction in opioid mortality, analyses often model them as equivocal or divide them coarsely across individual provisions. Evaluating these …

Trauma-Informed Care In Nursing Curricula: Development Of A Simulation-Based Educational Framework To Guide Health Professions, Heather Guest

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Individuals of all ages, genders, social and ethnic backgrounds, and cultures suffer traumatic experiences. Trauma does not discriminate. The immense number of individuals struggling with trauma requires that health care providers approach patient care through a trauma-informed lens. Trauma-informed care is an evidence-based approach to patient-centered care and is vital to the healthcare provider-patient relationship. The increased responsibility of healthcare providers to provide trauma-informed care to all individuals demands a scientifically-based framework to guide the development of a trauma-informed health care professions education program. Healthcare simulation allows health professions’ students to experience real-life scenarios in a safe setting before transitioning …

Anxiety, Depression, And Suicidal Ideation Among Transgender Individuals With Gender Receiving Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy, Rosa E. Diaz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: Gender may align with one’s sex but doesn’t always and sometimes leads to Gender Dysphoria (GD). Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is often one of the first medical treatments used for GD yet few studies have examined the effects of GAHT on mental health (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation).Methods: Participants were 18 years or older and self-reported as being diagnosed with GD and recruited across the United States using snowball and convenience sampling. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to measure depression scores, General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was used to measure anxiety scores, and Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) was …

Identifying & Addressing Barriers To Child Care For Formerly Incarcerated Mothers, Joanne Bird

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

As women’s incarceration rates have risen significantly in recent decades, gender-specific programs are needed to meet the needs of formerly incarcerated mothers (FIM). Although child care can be difficult to access for many families, this marginalized population faces unique obstacles to accessing child care. In order for FIM to be employed and reintegrate, they must be able to access child care; however, FIM experience unique barriers to securing child care services. This policy brief aims to identify the special considerations FIM face, as well as to explore why existing programs are not meeting their specific needs. A literature review was …

Correctional Career Pathways: A Reentry Program For Incarceration, Taylor M. Dula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For the past several decades, the United States led the world in incarceration rates. With nearly 2.3 million people being held in state or federal prisons or local jails in 2019, incarceration rates in the United States are over four times higher than in other developed countries. Disparities exist by gender, race, ethnicity, and other special populations. Males are 13 times more likely to be incarcerated than females. Additionally, black males are 5.7 times and Hispanic males are 2.8 times more likely to be incarcerated than white males. Individuals who experience incarceration have poorer mental and physical health outcomes. People …

An Analysis Of Equity In Service Provided By The Snap-Ed Program: A Comparison Of Dietary Outcomes Among African American And White Participants In Louisiana, Matthew Greene, Rhiannon Kroeger, Samuel Stroope, Bailey Houghtaling, Denise Holson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Structural racism has contributed to increased poverty, food insecurity, and obesity rates among African Americans relative to Whites. Nutrition education programs should therefore consider how well they serve this population. The objective of this investigation was to assess whether African American and White Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) participants in Louisiana had comparable dietary behavior outcomes by conducting secondary data analysis of previous program evaluations from 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 among African American and White SNAP-Ed participants (n = 434). Variables measured included pre- to post-intervention changes in dietary behaviors (e.g., self-reported consumption frequency of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat …

Exploring The Experiences Of Clients Receiving Opioid Use Disorder Treatment At A Methadone Clinic In Kenya: A Qualitative Study, Sarah Kiburi, Jackline Mwangi, Geoffrey Maina

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Assessing the experiences of individuals on methadone treatment is essential to help evaluate the treatment program’s efectiveness. This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients receiving methadone treatment at a clinic in Nairobi, Kenya.

Method: This study employed an exploratory qualitative study design. Through purposive sampling, participants were enrolled from individuals attending a methadone clinic for at least 2 years. Semi-structured individual interviews were used to collect data on substance use and experience before methadone treatment and experiences after starting methadone treatment, including benefts and challenges. Interviews were transcribed, and NVIVO 12 software was used to …

Lifestyle Choices Related To Food Consumption And Their Relationship To Depression, Steven L. Jennings Jr.

Dissertations

Dieting, or the act of restricting oneself to small amounts or particular kinds of foods on the basis of health, spirituality, lifestyle, and moral decisions, is a practice that dates to 1066 A.D. However, with social media being as influential as it is, one might believe dieting is a new obsession or at least an obsession to which popular culture is returning. Despite this, it is only in recent years that researchers have begun to focus on the health benefits of such behaviors. The present study was designed to take this focus a step further by exploring the potential risks …

Addressing Substance Use And Misuse In East Texas: Stakeholder-Driven Needs And Priorities, Yordanos M. Tiruneh, Kimberly S. Elliot, Linda Oyer, Emmanuel Elueze, Vanessa Casanova

School of Medicine Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: This project sought to assess needs, perceived challenges, and priorities regarding substance use disorder (SUD) in East Texas and develop a community-driven research agenda to address those challenges. Methods: Data were gathered through nine focus-group discussions (FGDs) with stakeholders: people living with SUD, families, medical providers, counselors, representatives of community-based organizations, and law enforcement officers. We asked participants how substance use manifests in their communities, which challenges they confronted in coping with substance use and misuse, and in which order their needs should be prioritized. Findings were reported at community forums to confirm the list of challenges and prioritize …

Homicidal Ideation And Psychiatric Comorbidities In The Inpatient Adolescents Aged 12–17, Ching-Fang Sun, Zeeshan Mansuri, Chintan Trivedi, Ramu Vadukapuram, Abhishek Reddy

School of Medicine Publications

Objectives: Adolescents with a homicidal tendency is a growing concern in the United States. Studies in the past have showcased the relationship between homicidal ideation (HI) and psychiatric illnesses, but very limited information is available on the adolescent and inpatient population. We aim to evaluate the prevalence of demographic characteristics and psychiatric disorders in adolescents with and without HI.

Materials and methods: Adolescent (age 12–17) population admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of homicidal ideation was identified from the 2016–2018 National Inpatient Sample Dataset (NISD). Patients without HI were defined as the control group. The prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities …

Using Social Media To Examine Disabled Veterans’ Adaptive Sports Lived Experience At The National Veterans’ Wheelchair Games, Heather Harding

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Considered the world’s largest annual rehabilitative wheelchair games event for Veterans in the United States, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG or the Games), co-hosted annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, is a long-standing event that offers a view into how adaptive sports and recreational activities can impact Veterans with disabilities. This hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study sought to discover if the Veteran athletes, who participated in the NVWG between 2017 and 2021, described their lived experiences through the lens of their public social media posts on Instagram, and if so, what can be gleaned …

The Effect Of Biologic Therapy For Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases On Clinical Outcomes Of Covid-19 In The Greater Houston Area: A Retrospective Chart Review, Michela Tinelli, Raphael Wittenberg, Michelle Cornes, Robert W Aldridge, Michael Clark, Richard Byng, Graham Foster, James Fuller, Andrew Hayward, Nigel Hewett, Alan Kilmister, Jill Manthorpe, Joanne Neale, Elizabeth Biswell, Martin Whiteford

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There are long-standing concerns that people experiencing homelessness may not recover well if left unsupported after a hospital stay. This study reports on a study investigating the cost-effectiveness of three different 'in patient care coordination and discharge planning' configurations for adults experiencing homelessness who are discharged from hospitals in England. The first configuration provided a clinical and housing in-reach service during acute care and discharge coordination but with no 'step-down' care. The second configuration provided clinical and housing in-reach, discharge coordination and 'step-down' intermediate care. The third configuration consisted of housing support workers providing in-reach and discharge coordination as well …

A Descriptive Analysis Of Patients With Attempted Suicide At A Rural Level I Trauma Center, Evelyn Coile, Tatiana Eversley-Kelso, Eric K. Shaw, Cynthia Ponir, Mickey M. Ott

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Objectives

For patients with self-harm, suicide attempt, or suicide completion, the trauma bay is often the single point of contact. Regional differences and patterns exist for suicide that should be studied to enhance preventive strategies. Our goal was to critically evaluate the suicidal population of Southeast Georgia over a 9-year period.

Methods

A retrospective review of our trauma database from January 2010 through December 2019 was conducted at a Level I Trauma Center. All ages were included. All patients arriving with attempted suicide or death due to a suicidal complication were included. Patients with deaths highly suspicious for suicide were …

Dating App Facilitated Sexual Assault: A Retrospective Review Of Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Charts, Julie L. Valentine, Leslie W. Miles, Kristen Mella Hamblin, Aubrey Worthen Gibbons

Faculty Publications

Dating app facilitated sexual assault (DAppSA) is a concerning phenomenon with minimal published research. This retrospective study explored if DAppSAs were different than other sexual assaults (SAs) committed by acquaintances through a review of 3,413 sexual assault medical forensic examination (SAMFE) charts from 2017 to 2020 in a Mountain West state in the United States. Routine Activities Theory and Confluence Model of sexual aggression provided the theoretical framework for the study. Inclusion criteria for DAppSA cases included (1) victim was 14 years of age or older; (2) victim indicated meeting the perpetrator on a dating app; (3) SA occurred at …

Genetic Addiction Risk And Psychological Profiling Analyses For "Preaddiction" Severity Index, Kenneth Blum, Mark S Gold, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Since 1990, when our laboratory published the association of the

2022 Celebration Of Scholarship, Creativity, And Engagement, Todd Bruns, Beth Heldebrandt

Programs

At this annual celebration, the entire Division of Academic Affairs is pleased that the important work of faculty continues and evolves as EIU’s professors have individually and collectively redefined the boundaries of scholarship, creativity, and innovation for the emerging post-COVID era. Indeed, we are excited to come together to celebrate the achievements and outstanding contributions of our colleagues and students to their disciplines and professions. And, as the following pages illustrate, faculty have engaged in continuing scholarly and creative activities that have provided outstanding mentoring experiences for our undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to sharing faculty productivity, research excellence …

Exploring Parenthood And The Influence Of Lived Experiences On Parenting Behaviors Among Child Welfare-Involved Adults, Veronica Howell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The World Health Organization asserts the healthy development of children is essential. Cases of violence and maltreatment impede the development of children worldwide. Six in 10 adults in the general US population have reported at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), while vulnerable populations, including child welfare-involved adults (i.e., parents and caregivers), often report more. This history is associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates alongside higher economic costs; therefore, preventing ACEs and promoting safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between parents and children is critical. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to understand the meanings and responsibilities associated …

Developing An Anti-Racist Practice In Occupational Therapy: Guidance For The Occupational Therapist, Justin E. Lerner, Angie Kim

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

A strong anti-racist practice is critical for occupational therapists who represent an overwhelmingly white and female workforce yet serve people from all ethnic and racial backgrounds. These therapists are commonly unprepared to work with a racially diverse clientele because of a lack of reflective and critical practice grounded in anti-racism. This article provides some critical literature about race and racism in occupational science. We present important concepts for therapists to deepen their understanding of anti-racist practice, including intersectionality, agent and target groups, and equity and equality. We then explore some critical theoretical frameworks that can help conceptualize anti-racist practice, such …

Detailing The Effects Of Cbd On Parp And Survivin Expression In Ewing Sarcoma, Tyler Carter

Theses

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive pediatric bone cancer with low five-year survival rates, particularly with recurrent disease because ES often becomes resistant to chemotherapy in these recurrences. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been identified as a potentially promising therapeutic for patients with ES. In other cancer types, CBD has demonstrated effects on two major proteins that contribute to chemotherapy resistance. The first, Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase I (PARP1), is a DNA damage repair enzyme that is overexpressed in recurrent ES. Though chemotherapy induces DNA damage in these cancer cells, the high levels of PARP1 facilitate repair of the DNA, allowing the mutated …

Improving Patient Outcomes In Substance Use Disorder Through Behavioral Therapy In Depression Development And Impacts Of Social Determinants Of Health During And After Substance Use Treatment, Jerry Ryan Armstrong, Chyanne Napp

Doctoral Projects

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a growing problem in the United States (U.S.) and worldwide and relapse is a common occurrence among those facing SUD. Limited scholarly research has been published addressing evidence-based treatment improvement strategies. This study focused on improving SUD treatment through the incorporation of depression tracking from admission to and discharge from inpatient treatment, as well as the incorporation of social determinants of health education during treatment, with an evaluation of relapse rates 30-days after inpatient treatment discharge. Results indicated a significant improvement in depression scores from admission to discharge. Results also revealed improved knowledge regarding social …

First-Stage Development Of The Pitjantjatjara Translation Of The World Health Organization’S Alcohol, Smoking And Substance Involvement Screening Test (Assist), Matthew Wr Stevens, Dom Barry, Sue Bertossa, Mark Thompson, Robert Ali

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Substance use is a leading contributor to global disease, illness and death. Compared with non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are at an increased risk of substance-related harms due to the experience of additional social, cultural, and economic factors. While preventive approaches, including screening and early interventions are promising, currently there are limited options available to healthcare workers that are culturally appropriate for use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. Therefore, the aim of this research was to translate and culturally adapt the World Health Organization endorsed, Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) into Pitjantjatjara. …

Concentrated Incarceration And The Public-Housing-To-Prison Pipeline In New York City Neighborhoods, Jay Holder, Ivan Calaff, Brett Maricque, Van C Tran

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Using public housing developments as a strategic site, our research documents a distinct pathway linking disadvantaged context to incarceration-the public-housing-to-prison pipeline. Focusing on New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing developments as a case study, we find that incarceration rates in NYCHA tracts are 4.6 times higher than those in non-NYCHA tracts. More strikingly, 94% of NYCHA tracts report rates above the median value for non-NYCHA tracts. Moreover, 17% of New York State's incarcerated population originated from just 372 NYCHA tracts. Compared with non-NYCHA tracts, NYCHA tracts had higher shares of Black residents and were significantly more disadvantaged. This NYCHA …

Therapeutic Jurisprudence In Practice: Applying Goffman’S Dramaturgical Approach To Mental Health Courts, Karen A. Snedker

Sociology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"This chapter draws on qualitative data from two MHCs [mental health courts] to show how team members translate the tenets of therapeutic jurisprudence into the performance of their social roles in both formal and informal court settings. I argue that the successful operation of teamwork lies at the heart of MHC effectiveness. Judges, acting as both audience and team member, can undermine the work of the team. MHCs clearly rely upon a well-functioning collaborative team, working partially in backstage settings, with a judge willing to alter frontstage performances for the sake of collaboration and therapeutic effects for clients."

Biomarker, Treatment, And Socio-Demographic Factors Affecting Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Retention, Fernand A. De Los Reyes

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

Biomarker, Treatment, and Socio-Demographic Factors

Affecting Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Retention

by

Fernand A. De Los Reyes

Advisor: Martha Velasco-Whetsell

Increasing mortality from opioid overdose and low treatment engagement are significant public health concerns. Along with increasing health care and criminal justice enforcement costs, there is an urgent need to study the factors associated with treatment retention in opioid use disorder. The study investigated the relative impact of the biomarker cholesterol on treatment retention in an opioid treatment program (OTP) clinic. Further, it examined the medical comorbidities, treatment, and socio-demographic variables that impact opioid use disorder treatment retention. This …

Nutritional Cooking Program With Girls Inc., Taunton, Ma, Chantel Almanzar

Honors Program Theses and Projects

As a member of the Institutional Review Board-approved research team comprised of Dr. Maura Rosenthal, Dr. Angela Bailey, and Christina Elderbee, I led a six-week community-based health program that included cooking lessons for girls aged 10 to 13. I taught girls how to prepare healthful foods that they may cook with their family and friends at home. The larger project, Building Equity Through Collaboration with Girl's Inc., aims to study the outcomes of girls’ participation in after school and summer camp programs in 2021 and 2022. One part of this research, which intends to learn more about girls' current and …

Addressing Complex Primary Care Needs For An Older Man Recently Released From Incarceration With Multiple Emergency Department Visits., Saffia Bajwa, Ariba Khan, Michael L. Malone

Journal of Geriatric Emergency Medicine

Purpose: Older prisoners being released into the community need to be placed in a system to help them transition from living in prison to living in a free society. They must adapt in order to find housing, community services, medical, dental and psychiatric care. When the complex social needs of these persons are not fully met, the emergency department is used as a safety net.

Methods and Findings: This paper describes a patient who had multiple emergency department visits which was his routine method of seeking medical care.

Health Care Policy Implications: We believe that public health policy requiring …