Bridging Access Gaps In Radiotherapy: Knowledge-Based Planning In A Resource-Constrained Clinical Setting, Milton E Ixquiac Cabrera, Erick O Montenegro, Matthew Schmidt, Baozhou Sun, James A Kavanaugh, Taoran Li, Angel Velarde, Vicky De Falla, Francisco Reynoso

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/purpose: Radiotherapy access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is severely limited by shortages of trained personnel, high patient volumes, and large waiting times for manual treatment planning. Knowledge-based planning (KBP) has shown promise in high-income settings, yet its feasibility in resource-constrained environments remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of adapting a KBP model developed at a high-income institution for clinical use at Liga Nacional Contra el Cáncer (LNCC) in Guatemala for gynecological radiotherapy planning.

Materials and methods: A RapidPlan KBP model (Varian-Siemens Healthineers, Palo Alto, CA, USA) originally developed at Washington University in St. Louis using …

High-Penetrance Rare Variants Underlying Familial Lung Cancer Risk: Insights From Genetic Epidemiology Of Lung Cancer Consortium, Yanhong Liu, Yafang Li, Jinyoung Byun, Vikram R Shaw, Claudio Pikielny, Bo Peng, Chao Cheng, Spiridon Tsavachidis, Xiangjun Xiao, Dakai Zhu, Younghun Han, Ivan P Gorlov, Olga Y Gorlova, Michael Cole, Colette R Gaba, Erin L Crawford, Kristen Purrington, Ellen L Goode, Ping Yang, James Mckay, John K Field, Geoffrey Liu, Rayjean J Hung, Jun Xia, Jiyeon Choi, Matthew B Schabath, Jaclyn Lopiccolo, David C Christiani, Joan Bailey-Wilson, Ann G Schwartz, James C Willey, Diptasri Mandal, Susan M Pinney, Christopher I Amos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Rare, deleterious germline variants are key contributors to inherited lung cancer (LC) risk. The Genetic Epidemiology of LC Consortium (GELCC) has curated valuable high-risk LC families and is uniquely positioned to uncover rare, high-penetrance variants underlying familial LC (FLC).

Methods: We performed whole-genome and exome sequencing on germline DNA from 120 high-risk LC families (177 FLC cases, 309 unaffected relatives). We prioritized rare (allele frequency < 1% in the genome aggregation database), potentially deleterious variants present in two or more FLC cases. These variants were then validated in 10,085 sporadic LC (SLC) cases and 612,970 controls.

Results: We identified 118 candidate variants, 28 of which were validated in SLC with strong statistical support. We discovered a novel pathogenic axis of three truncating variants in GALNT6, MUC4, and ERBB3 genes, which …

Noncanonical Clock Regulators Control Stress Responses In Digestive Diseases, Dishu Zhou, Roberto E López-Valiente, Samer G Mattar, Dongyin Guan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The digestive system is essential for nutrient absorption, processing, and waste elimination. The expression of many genes and physiological processes within this system exhibits a 24-h rhythmicity. However, modern lifestyle factors, such as jet lag, shift work, and irregular eating patterns, significantly disrupt these rhythms, triggering various stress responses and contributing to numerous digestive disorders. Here, we focus on emerging studies on noncanonical clock regulators involved in stress responses, integrate these novel findings into the established model of the core circadian clock, and highlight recent advances in the development of novel therapeutics targeting these 24-h regulators. In addition, we discuss …

Risk Factors For The Development Of Food Allergy In Infants And Children: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Nazmul Islam, Alexandro W L Chu, Falana Sheriff, Farid Foroutan, Gordon H Guyatt, Romina Brignardello-Petersen, Paul Oykhman, Alfonso Iorio, Ariel Izcovich, Katherine M Morrison, Yetiani Roldan Benitez, Rachel J Couban, Dorota Borovsky, Yiming Zhang, Leonardo Ologundudu, Keerthana Pasumarthi, Syed Fahad Farooq, Kyle Tong, Wang-Choi Tang, Haseeb Faisal, Muhammad Faran Khalid, Mohammad Saad Asif, Shannon French, Susan Waserman, R Sharon Chinthrajah, Hugh A Sampson, S Shahzad Mustafa, Jay A Lieberman, Kirsi M Järvinen, Sally Bailey, Philippe Bégin, Scott H Sicherer, Jennifer Gerdts, Melanie Carver, Lynda Mitchell, Kelly Cleary, Matthew J Greenhawt, Julie Wang, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Marcus S Shaker, Anita Chandra-Puri, Patricia C Fulkerson, Robert A Wood, Derek K Chu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: The incidence and risk (predictive) factors for early life food allergy development remain uncertain.

Objective: To estimate the incidence and quantify risk factors for food allergy development.

Data sources: MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched to January 1, 2025. Data were analyzed from June 1, 2025, to November 25, 2025.

Study selection: Incidence estimates included studies confirming food allergy via food challenge. Risk factor analyses included cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies in any language assessing children younger than 6 years using multivariable analyses.

Data extraction and synthesis: Paired reviewers independently extracted data. Random-effects meta-analyses pooled incidence and adjusted odds …

Stochastic Universal Differential Equations For Epidemiological Modeling: Uncertainty Quantification In Disease Transmission Dynamics, Alice Menaya Armah-Bonney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Epidemic forecasting requires not only predictions of expected case counts, but also quantification of uncertainty, although existing surrogate modeling frameworks for agent-based models remain fundamentally deterministic. In this thesis a Stochastic Universal Differential Equation framework is presented that extends the deterministic Universal Differential Equation approach by incorporating a learnable stochastic diffusion term, enabling calibrated probabilistic forecasts while preserving the mechanistic interpretability and computational efficiency of the deterministic baseline. In doing so, a two-phase training algorithm is introduced to ensure stable convergence and the framework is validated against the ensemble output from ExaEpi, an exascale agent-based model of a COVID-19 outbreak …

University Student Mental Health: Service Utilization, Equity Gaps, And Strategies To Improve Access, Richard Mutua Kilonzo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student mental health and access to care are pressing concerns in higher education. This study assesses mental health outcomes and access to campus mental health services at East Tennessee State University. Survey data from the 2023–2024 Healthy Minds Study were analyzed to report the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation across the student population. The study evaluates disparities in these outcomes and barriers to care across student groups, with particular attention to equity-impacted students, especially sexual and gender minority students.

Findings indicate widespread psychological distress alongside persistent barriers, including long wait times, limited-service availability, and stigma-related concerns. These barriers …

Bergsonian Blend: Subjective Temporality Within Modernist Aesthetics Of Mental Illness, Lydia Victoria Gervais

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Henri Bergson was a modernist French philosopher who wrote extensively on the topic of the lived experience of time, which he called durée, or duration. His contemporary, Sigmund Freud, was developing psychoanalytic theory in a growing field of psychological study, which serves as a prominent ancestor to modern psychiatry and current psychoanalytical literary studies. Fiction writers of the 1900s absorbed the zeitgeist of melded chronology and consciousness, interweaving themes of time and trauma in their works. Utilizing Henri Bergson’s durée as a philosophical framework, I examine the moralization of time-consciousness in connection with mental illness and investigate representations of …

A Covalent Allosteric Molecular Glue Suppresses Nrf2-Dependent Cancer Growth, Nilotpal Roy, Ilah Bok, Harit Panda, Dhaval P Bhatt, Emily M Wilkerson, Soma Saeidi, Paul Zolkind, Michael B Major, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

UNLABELLED: The NRF2 transcription factor is constitutively active in cancer, in which it functions to maintain oxidative homeostasis and reprogram cellular metabolism. NRF2-active tumors exhibit NRF2 dependency and resistance to chemotherapy/radiotherapy (RT). In this study, we characterize VVD-065, a first-in-class NRF2 inhibitor that acts via an unprecedented allosteric molecular glue mechanism. In the absence of stress or mutation, NRF2 is rapidly degraded by the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)-cullin3 (CUL3) ubiquitin-ligase complex. VVD-065 specifically and covalently engages Cys151 on KEAP1, which in turn promotes KEAP1-CUL3 complex formation, leading to enhancement of NRF2 degradation. Previously reported Cys151-directed compounds decrease KEAP1-CUL3 interactions …

Differences In Injury Rates By Competition Level Among Scholastic And Collegiate Female Lacrosse Athletes: A Systematic Review, Carrie J Froemming, Daniel C Touhey, Robert H Brophy, Derrick M Knapik

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Women's lacrosse is an increasingly popular sport. Current rules allow incidental body and stick-to-stick contact, with limited required protective equipment. Injuries to the head, face, and lower extremities are common, especially at higher levels of competition. Differences in injury rates and types based on competition level remain largely unknown.

PURPOSE: To systematically review the literature to better understand injury differences between scholastic and collegiate female lacrosse athletes.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: Under PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses), 543 studies were identified in September 2025 in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, …

Adhesion G Protein-Coupled Receptors, Tobias Langenhan, Garret R Anderson, Demet Araç, Gabriela Aust, Monserrat Avila-Zozaya, Sofie Morsing Bagger, Patrick Barth, Sandra Berndt, Stephen C Blacklow, Beatriz Blanco-Redondo, Antony A Boucard, James P Bridges, Lara-Sophie Brodmerkel, Kathleen M Caron, Yin Kwan Chung, Andrew N Dates, Virginea De Araujo Farias, Daniel Del Toro, Joseph G Duman, Felix B Engel, David M Favara, Caroline J Formstone, Chaoyu Fu, Alain Garcia De Las Bayonas, Anastasia Georgiadi, David E Gloriam, Randy A Hall, Jörg Hamann, Peter W Hildebrand, Cheng-Chih Hsiao, Bill X Huang, Jonathan A Javitch, Hee-Yong Kim, Robert J Kittel, Gunnar Kleinau, Richard Leduc, Ines Liebscher, Hsi-Hsien Lin, Joshua Linnert, Marie-Gabrielle Ludwig, David C Martinelli, Signe Mathiasen, Daniel Matúš, Mariam Melkumyan, Ana L Moreno-Salinas, Jan Mulder, Michael A Nash, Kasturi Pal, Daniel T Pederick, Nicole A Perry-Hauser, Xianhua Piao, Yu-Qi Ping, Dimitris G Placantonakis, Fabian Pohl, Simone Prömel, Mette M Rosenkilde, Laurent Sabbagh, Richard C Sando, Patrick Scheerer, Torsten Schöneberg, Elena Seiradake, Mareike Selcho, Florian Seufert, Abhishek K Singh, Georgios Skiniotis, Katja Spiess, Norbert Sträter, David Strutt, Thomas C Südhof, Jinpeng Sun, Gregory G Tall, Doreen Thor, Douglas G Tilley, Kimberley F Tolias, Mario Vallon, Erwin G Van Meir, Benoit Vanhollebeke, Giselle R Wiggin, Uwe Wolfrum, Jie Yan, Nathan A Zaidman, Yimin Zou, Nicole Scholz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) constitute a structurally and functionally distinct group within the superfamily of GPCRs. In 2015, the International Union of Pharmacology invited the Adhesion GPCR Consortium to publish a comprehensive review about aGPCRs and establish a unified nomenclature. Since then, substantial progress has been made in delineating the biological roles, molecular architecture, biochemical properties, expression profiles, ligand repertoire, and activation and signaling strategies of aGPCRs. Commensurate with these advances, their relevance to human pathophysiology has become increasingly apparent. In a coordinated effort, the Adhesion GPCR Consortium has reviewed recent progress in this field and provides a comprehensive …

Mif-Cd74 Signaling Drives Immune Modulation In Medulloblastoma, Benjamin Draper, Zhen You, Dean Thompson, Xu Guo, Alaide Morcavallo, Diego Chillon Pino, Carlos Lorenzo Gido Nery, Sumana Shrestha, Chantelle E Bowers, Courtney Himsworth, Alberto Delaidelli, Bethany Remeniuk, Sonia Morlando, Brandon Wade, Freya Gordon, Yara Sanchez-Corrales, Bei Hopkins, Natalie Monteiro, Darren Locke, Miao Liu, Jacob Torrejon Diaz, Kevin Greenslade, Barbara Martins Da Costa, Karen Barker, Colin Kwok, Olumide Ogunbiyi, Anya Fletcher, Stacey Richardson, Carlos Custodia, Rafael Roque, Thomas Jackson, Regan Barfoot, Sergi Castellano, Rebecca M Hill, Olivier Saulnier, Thomas S Jacques, Michael D Taylor, Claudia C Faria, Olivier Ayrault, Poul H Sorensen, John Anderson, Louis Chesler, L Frank Huang, Steven C Clifford, Laura K Donovan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Relapsed medulloblastoma remains a significant therapeutic challenge as it is near universally fatal. The tumor microenvironment of medulloblastoma plays a critical role in tumor progression, influencing tumor growth, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance. We hypothesized that defining tumor-immune interactions in diagnostic and relapsed medulloblastoma may uncover mechanisms of immune evasion and identify novel therapeutic targets.

Methods: We analyzed paired primary and recurrent RNA-sequencing data from 140 medulloblastoma patients to profile immune cell composition and validate spatial relationships within the TME. To identify key tumor-immune interactions, we developed a novel algorithm to detect receptor-ligand pairs using single-cell RNA-sequencing data. These …

Pancreatic Cancer Risk In Patients With Low-Risk Cystic Lesions, Arya Haj Mirzaian, Nooshin Abbasi, Avinash R Kambadakone, Ronilda Lacson, Yasmin G Hernandez-Barco, David X Jin, Kunal Jajoo, David W Bates, Ramin Khorasani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Low-risk pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) represent common incidental findings with potential for malignant transformation, warranting long-term surveillance. However, data on their long-term cancer risk are limited, leading to inconsistency in current surveillance strategies.

Objective: To determine the long-term incidence of pancreatic cancer among patients with low-risk PCLs, and to identify baseline clinical and imaging factors associated with cancer development.

Design, setting, and participants: This cohort study was conducted among adults (aged ≥18 years) who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2021, at a large, multisite health care …

Leading Academic Health Centers In Times Of Uncertainty, Wendy L. Ward

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Times of uncertainty and rapid change can negatively impact academic health centers (AHC) in complex ways, creating challenges for leaders. These include policy uncertainty, financial instability, workforce stress, reputational risk, operational disruptions, and advocacy pressure. There are also potential opportunities for AHCs during this time of immense change and disruption. This perspective piece reviews the diverse negative and positive impacts of political turmoil on academic health centers. Five considerations are offered for leaders navigating times of uncertainty.

Optimizing Antibiotic Strategies With A Clinical Pathway Approach: Enhanced Initiation And De-Escalation In Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Ahmad Behzadpour

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a leading cause of hospitalization, mortality, and health care expenditure worldwide. Inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics contributes to antimicrobial resistance, adverse drug events, and increased costs. Antibiotic stewardship and standardized clinical pathways are key strategies to improve prescribing practices.

Methods

This quality improvement (QI) initiative was conducted at a 240-bed tertiary care teaching hospital from January 2023 through January 2025. A CAP-specific digital clinical pathway was developed using Curbside Health® and integrated into the electronic health record (EHR), accessible through a structured order set to support real-time clinical decision-making. The intervention included provider education and …

Food Fortification Strategies To Address Micronutrient Deficiencies In Cambodia: A Scoping Review Of Policy Implementation, Industry Capacity, And Public Health Outcomes, Sokha Yem, Sreypeov Tun, Sokunthea Kem

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies remain a major public health challenge in Cambodia, with iron deficiency anaemia, iodine deficiency disorders, zinc deficiency, and vitamin A deficiency disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age and children under five. Food fortification—the deliberate addition of essential micronutrients to commonly consumed foods—has been widely recognised as a cost-effective population-level intervention to address nutritional gaps. Objective: To systematically map and synthesise existing evidence on food fortification strategies in Cambodia, focusing on policy implementation, industry production capacity and compliance, regulatory enforcement, and public health outcomes. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework and …

Applying Lean Six Sigma To Optimize Pediatric Liver Transplant Workflows: An Investigational Quality Improvement Initiative And Process Improvement Framework, Sarah E. Auletta

Online/Hybrid MPH Integrative Learning Experience (capstone projects)

For children with end-stage liver disease, liver transplantation is the only cure. While organ scarcity is a national challenge, internal pre-listing processes remain within an institution's control. This quality improvement initiative applied Lean Six Sigma and mixed-methods process mapping to the pediatric deceased donor liver transplant pathway at Boston Children's Hospital. By integrating five years of electronic health record data with multidisciplinary interviews, the project developed a comprehensive process map and performance dashboard.

The study revealed a median of 65 days elapsed between referral and waitlist activation—a timeline entirely within internal operational control. This delay was concentrated in two specific …

Knowledge Gaps In High-Energy Sacral Fracture Treatment And Management, Ashraf N. El Naga, Marko H. Neva, Ahmed Abdelazim Hassan, Gregory D. Schroeder, Mohammad El-Sharkawi, Sebastian F. Bigdon, Andrei F. Joaquim, Klaus Schnake, Richard Bransford, Emre Yilmaz

Rothman Institute Papers

High-energy sacral fractures (HESF) are often challenging injuries due to the location of the sacrum at the junction of the spine and pelvis, the complex biomechanics of the pelvic ring and the wide spectrum of injury patterns, which make treatment standardization challenging. Despite advances in classification systems - particularly the AOSpine Sacral Injury Classification - significant gaps remain in understanding optimal management. To review and discuss the management and identify knowledge gaps related to HESF. A narrative review of the literature was conducted, focusing on five domains: 1. Relative instability and biomechanics affected in different injury patterns; 2. The significance …

The Role Of Dollar Store Proliferation In Influencing Diabetes And Obesity Rates In West Virginia, Kelli L. Keith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dollar stores are the fastest growing food retail format and are highly concentrated in rural, low-income communities including West Virginia, where diabetes and obesity prevalence rank among the highest in the United States. Although these retailers increase physical access to food, concerns remain about their limited healthier food options and potential contribution to chronic disease disparities. Guided by the socioecological model, this three-manuscript dissertation examined how dollar store density and healthier food availability related to county-level diabetes and obesity prevalence in West Virginia. Manuscript 1 used a cross-sectional ecological design with all 55 West Virginia counties, using data from USDA, …

The Role Of The Ventral Tegmental Area In Reward And Addiction: A Comprehensive Review, Emad Ali Albadawi

Neurosciences

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a central hub in reward and motivation, integrating heterogeneous neuronal populations and projection-defined circuits to regulate learning, decision-making, and addiction. This review synthesizes anatomical organization and cellular diversity (dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons, including multitransmitter co-release), and maps major efferent pathways constituting the mesolimbic and mesocortical systems. We highlight computational roles of VTA activity, including reward prediction errors, incentive salience, and context memory integration, and summarize drug class-specific mechanisms that perturb VTA output. We then outline time-dependent neuroadaptations across mesocorticolimbic networks and discuss therapeutic implications spanning pharmacological, behavioral, and emerging circuit-targeted interventions. Together, these …

Alterations In Gut Microbiota And Their Association With Intestinal Mucosal Injury In Children With Febrile Seizures, Lin Yang, Shuan Yin, Wenchao Zou

Neurosciences

Objective: To explore the correlation between diversity of the gut microbiota and key markers of inflammation and intestinal mucosal injury in pediatric febrile seizures (FS).

Methods: This study compared 15 FS children (FS group) and 15 healthy individuals (normal control group). The participants underwent 16S rDNA sequencing to analyze gut microbiota profiles. ELISA was employed to measure peripheral blood concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, as well as intestinal mucosal injury indicators such as endotoxin (BT), D-lactate (D-Lac), and diamine oxidase (DAO). Analysis assessed the correlation between gut microbiota composition, inflammatory factors, and indicators of intestinal mucosal damage …

Timing Matters: Optimizing Oncology Involvement In Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Pathways In Saudi Arabia, Ali H. Algiraigri, Mohammed Basamh, Ghadeer Alobaid, Lama M. Alsulami, Razan A. Almutairi, Zahraa S. Alsultan, Rawan M. Hammad

Neurosciences

Objective: To explore current practices and barriers in pediatric neuro-oncology care coordination, and to identify opportunities to optimize care pathways. Timely coordination between pediatric neurosurgery and oncology is critical for optimal outcomes in children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. However, in many centers, pediatric oncologists are not involved until after surgery, which contributes to treatment delays and repeated procedures. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among neurosurgeons and pediatric oncologists in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire addressed the timing of oncological involvement, neuroimaging practices, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology collection, and opinions on care coordination solutions. Results: A total of 62 …

Role Of Bevacizumab In Multiple Glioblastomas: A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis, Yongrui Zhao, Yidong Chen, Leiming Wang, Ye Cheng, Feng Yan, Jiankun Xu

Neurosciences

Objective: To explore the prognostic factors of multiple glioblastomas (M-GBMs) and the role of bevacizumab (BEV) in M-GBMs. Methods: 162 patients treated for primary glioblastoma (GBM) from 2020 to 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to compare progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between the single glioblastoma (S-GBM) group and the M-GBMs group. Independent predictors of OS among M-GBMs patients were evaluated via multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results: 116 patients had S-GBM, and 46 had M-GBMs. Compared with S-GBM patients, M-GBMs patients had poorer PFS (6.5 vs. 11 months, p<0.001) and OS (15.5 vs. 21 months, p=0.005). In the M-GBMs group, based on the RANO resection criteria, both univariable analysis and multivariable Cox models confirmed that the extent of resection, use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, p53 overexpression, and use of BEV were all factors that significantly influenced OS. Specifically, the use of BEV prolonged OS from 12 months to 19.5 months (p = 0.017). From the initiation of BEV therapy, the median PFS was 5.5 months (95% CI 4.45–6.56 months), and the median survival was significantly longer than in those who did not received BEV (10 vs. 3 months, p = 0.021). Conclusion: The extent of resection, radiotherapy/chemotherapy, p53 …

Integrating Nutrition Education To Improve The Effectiveness And Sustainability Of Makan Bergizi Gratis Programs, Akifa Laila Rusyda, Dewi Firda Sari, Ida Fransiska Pandiangan, Putri Mulifajar Gintings

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

The Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program represents Indonesia's strategic effort to strengthen human capital by addressing malnutrition among school-aged. However, evidence suggests that school feeding alone is insufficient without structured nutrition education to promote sustained behavioral change. The present study examines opportunities and feasibility for embedding nutrition education within MBG implementation. Two-stage design was performed, including curriculum content reviews and qualitative case study design. A systematic curriculum content analysis was conducted across the school-based curriculum (KTSP) (2006), K-13 curriculum (2013 – 2017), and the Merdeka curriculum (2022 - present), using predefined nutrition competencies and behavioral domains as analytical frameworks. Purposive …

Implementation Of Positive Reinforcement To Promote Staff Adherence To Bowel And Bladder Plans At A Long-Term Care Facility, Alfonso Segura Sanchez

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Background: Bowel and bladder plans (BBPs), also known as toileting programs, are individualized restorative nursing programs that have strategies to promote continence in residents and reduce the negative consequences of incontinence (Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual Version 1.20.1, 2025). Purpose: Senior nursing students implemented positive reinforcement in a quality improvement (QI) project to reduce rates of incontinence and inconsistent adherence to BBPs at Elim Wellspring, a skilled nursing facility for long-term care in Princeton, MN. According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Minnesota Department of Health, the most recent report on quality indicators for …

Patient Experience (Px) In Low- And Middle-Income Countries (Lmics): A Scoping Review, Yara Abou Harb, Geoffrey A. Silvera

Patient Experience Journal

Patient Experience (PX) is a growing subject in the healthcare industry due to its association with improved clinical outcomes, patient safety, and business motives. While PX is well studied in high income countries, little is known about the state of PX in Low and Middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective: The study aims to examine literature on PX and related concepts in LMICs. Methods: This study executes a PRISMA literature review of academic databases (Ovid Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and Google Scholar) as well as hand searching of PX related websites from 2005 to 2024. Results: 67 references met search criteria. Four themes …

Multilevel Factors Shaping The Patient Experience With Health Services In Torbat Heydarieh, Iran, Fatemeh Pourhaji, Mohammad Hossein Delshad

Patient Experience Journal

Background: One of the main aims of public health is to ensure that health services are used and available. However, access alone does not guarantee a positive patient experience, which is critical to achieving optimal health outcomes and ensuring health equity. Aims: The objective of this study is to analyse in a comprehensive way the multiple factors influencing the patient experience and subsequent use of healthcare services by households in Torbat Heydarieh, Iran, by examining the independent and interactive contributions of individual, household and environmental (community) determinants using THUMS data. Methods: This analytical study, which covered a 1-year period, looked …

Exploring Gender As An Analytical Framework In The 2018-2019 Revolution And Ongoing Civil War: The Role Of Gendered Violence And Sudanese Women's Resistance, Ami John

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper will interrogate the intersection of gender, war, and political upheaval within Sudan while focusing on the role of women in both the 2019 resistance and the ongoing conflict and revolution. By the end of 2018, mass protests had called for the ousting of Omar al-Bashir, the long-standing Sudanese president. This event set off a chain reaction which led to events that fueled the long-standing rivalry between the two militant groups that were active in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The tension caused by this rivalry created unforeseen circumstances for the local …

Prevalence Of Medication Prescription Patterns For Iraqi Outpatients Visiting Otolaryngology Clinics, Mirna. K. Faiq

Al-Mustaqbal Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of drug use patterns among ENT outpatient settings in Kirkuk, Iraq. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in Kirkuk, Iraq, involving the collection of data from the e-Prescribing system and the review of written prescriptions, including 582 outpatient records from ENT clinics, from January 2024 to December 2024. Results: Most patients were below 20yr age (18.73%), with a male predominance (57%). Ear-related complaints like otitis media were the most frequent (35.22%). The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.82. The percentage of prescriptions in which an antibiotic was prescribed was 84.7%. The percentage …

Associate Degree Program Administrator Perceptions Of Clinical Dishonesty, Cynthia Moore Swineford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of associate degree nursing program administrators regarding faculty reporting of dishonest clinical behaviors by pre-licensure nursing students. Aristotle’s theory of virtue ethics guided this examination of how administrators interpret ethical responsibility, leadership influence, and professional accountability related to clinical dishonesty. The central research question asked, “What are the perceptions of associate degree program administrators regarding faculty reporting of dishonest student behaviors in clinical settings?” The sample included 11 associate degree nursing program administrators from programmatically accredited nursing programs in three mid-Atlantic states. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, …

Parent Well-Being In Early Intervention: The Case For Assessing Parental Stress, Karla Michelle Chaff

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Importance:

Research shows that parental stress negatively impacts child developmental outcomes, indicating caregiver well-being can directly influence intervention responses. Parental stress is a well-documented barrier to effective early intervention that remains unmeasured.

Objective:

This quality improvement project aims to assess the potential for adoption of a parent stress measure into family assessment to ensure caregiver well-being is systematically identified, documented, and addressed.

Design:

A feasibility project design was used to evaluate relevance, usability, barriers, and facilitators to introducing a standardized stress measure in practice.

Setting:

The project is based in an early intervention program.

Participants:

Key stakeholders were recruited from …