Digital Commons Network^™

Collaboration Between People Admitted To Acute Mental Health Units, Their Family Members And Nurses In The Detection Of Mental State Changes And Recovery: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Karen Foster, Coventry, Yvonne Middlewick, Lindsay Smith, Beverley Ewens

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mental health nurses can engage with people with mental health challenges and their families due to their presence on acute mental health units. This presence helps to facilitate recovery-focused care within a physically and emotionally safe environment. Mental health care should be person-centred, individualised, and include wherever possible family and other people in the person's support network. The objective of this systematic review was to explore the existing qualitative literature that describes experiences of collaboration between people with lived experience of mental health challenges, their family members, and nurses in relation to changes in mental state during an admission to …

Disuse-Induced Muscle Atrophy And Muscle Weakness From Hospitalization To Spaceflight: Exercise Succeeds In Prevention And Treatment—A Meta-Analysis, Camila S. Padilha, Figueiredo, Rafael Deminice, S. Ribeiro, Robert U. Newton, Nicolas H. Hart, José Cesar Rosa-Neto, Marília Seelaender, Fábio Santos Lira

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Exercise has been proposed as both a preventive and therapeutic countermeasure; however, its effectiveness across different disuse conditions and timings of implementation remains uncertain. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42021256599) searched ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Central, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL and SciELO from inception to May 2021, with an update in March 2025. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials examining exercise interventions during or after muscle disuse were included according to the PICOS framework. Random-effects meta-analysis evaluated effects on muscle strength, power and mass across hospitalization, bed rest and spaceflight conditions. Effect sizes (ES) are reported as …

Impact Of Cannabis And Cannabis Legalization On Us Atrial Septal Defect Rates, Albert Stuart Reece, Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Atrial septal defect (ASD) affects 1:11.3 children in some US states; however, the antecedents of these trends are yet to be identified. A total of 1882 ASD rates (ASDRs) for 2003–2020 were sourced from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network reports. A total of 406,893 ASDs are reported. Substance (cigarettes, binge alcohol, cannabis, cannabinoids, analgesics, cocaine) exposure data were taken from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health. Income and ethnicity data were derived from the US Census. Adjustment was performed by mixed effects, survey and generalized additive regression. Causal analysis was by inverse probability weighting and E-values. Data …

Longitudinal Assessment Of Health-Related Quality Of Life In Adults With Ckd, Owen Ng, Teixeira-Pinto, Anh Kieu, Anita Van Zwieten, Anoushka Krishnan, Kirsten Howard, Wai H. Lim, Jeremy R. Chapman, Simon D. Roger, Michael J. Bourke, Shaundeep Sen, Steven J. Chadban, Carol A. Pollock, Allison Jaure, Jonathan C. Craig, Jean Yang, Germaine Wong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Key Points: Dialysis linked with poorer quality of life compared with transplant patients and patients with CKD. Quality of life trends were similar in both domain-specific and overall quality-of-life measures. Background: There are sparse data about the change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with the temporal progression of CKD. In this study, we assessed the association between change in CKD stages, overall and domain-specific quality of life and determined the factors that were associated with this change. Methods: Data were sourced from a multicenter study that included 1290 adult patients aged 18 years and older across six centers in …

The Importance Of Holistic Care: The Development And Implementation Of Spiritual Resources For Caregivers And Staff At Joni’S House El Salvador, Chloe Veilleux

Capstone Projects

It is within the occupational therapy (OT) scope of practice to not only address client needs related to mind, body, and spirit, but also those of caregivers as a means of fostering overall improved quality of life. Additionally, when OTs address spirituality and implement spiritual/spirituality-informed interventions, correlations of improved psychosocial factors such as well-being, motivation, and reduced stress have been shown, as well as improved hope and reduced burden for caregivers. There remains, however, a gap in the research and implementation of spiritually informed care and resources specifically as it pertains to caregivers of those with disabilities. To address this …

Reducing Humpty Dumpty Syndrome In Pediatric Inpatients, Jeanene Burns

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Doctor of Nursing Practice project examined pediatric inpatient falls. The healthcare agency involved in the project identified concerns regarding pediatric inpatient falls. Data were collected on pediatric inpatient falls that occurred on two nursing units at this agency based on the Generalized Risk Assessment for Pediatric Inpatient Falls and the Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Scale. Results from the project indicated marginal statistical significance, with approximately a 60% reduction in falls after the implementation of the Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Scale. A recommendation for future research is a comparison of the two pediatric fall risk assessment tools after the Humpty …

Implementing Hypertension Guidelines Into Clinical Practice, Misti Michele Mays

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is a complex chronic disease process, and it is essential to educate the patient on the disease process, as well as on all aspects of self-management. It is essential that providers choose an evidence-based guideline by which they will manage their hypertensive patients. In addition, providers must schedule regular follow-up appointments with their patients, along with a wide variety of other multifactorial components in regard to the management of patients diagnosed with hypertension. In addition, providers have a responsibility to stay informed on new approaches to blood pressure management by reviewing the professional literature on a regular basis. Much …

How Do I Set Up New Hires For Long-Term Success?, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

HR expert Jodi Schafer addresses the common challenge of employee retention through effective onboarding strategies. She clarifies that onboarding is a long-term process of integration and belonging, distinct from simple orientation. The article provides practical tips for reducing new-hire anxiety, such as sharing first-day agendas and assigning mentors. Schafer emphasizes the importance of pacing training, setting clear performance expectations, and establishing ongoing feedback loops during the first few weeks. By measuring metrics like time to proficiency, practices can refine their integration processes to build a stable and committed workforce.

Managing Oro-Antral Communications After Tooth Extractions: A Guide For General Dentists, Ross Brockman Dmd, Md, G. E. Ghali Dds, Md

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This clinical feature provides general dentists with a detailed guide on managing oro-antral communications (OACs) resulting from tooth extractions. It distinguishes between acute OACs and chronic oro-antral fistulas (OAFs), identifying anatomical and surgical risk factors. The authors outline conservative management strategies for small communications, including sinus precautions and pharmacotherapy, as well as surgical techniques like the buccal advancement flap for larger defects. The article concludes with specific criteria for specialist referral, ensuring that dentists can optimize patient outcomes and prevent long-term complications such as chronic sinusitis.

Enhancing Patient Care: The Power Of Librarian-Mediated Literature Reviews, Heather J. Martin, Carrie Grinstead, Danielle Linden

Publications 2026-present

Background: Our health system library fields thousands of requests for literature searches each year in support of research, policy, evidence-based practice projects, and care for individual patients. With fewer library staff than comparable institutions and an engaged, multidisciplinary clinical workforce, we face ongoing pressures to do more with less and to demonstrate our value.

Case Presentation: A 2021 article in the Journal of Hospital Librarianship offered an existing survey and basic project design that we used to assess our impacts. We adapted, with permission, the survey and methods of “Analysis of a Hospital Librarian Mediated Literature Search Service at a …

Examining The Relationship Of Work Stressors And Resilience Among Inpatient Oncology Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study:, Blanca Melida Vasquez-Clarfield

Theses & Dissertations

Burnout among inpatient oncology nurses remains a concern in a specialty marked by high patient acuity, complex care regimens, emotional intensity, and repeated exposure to suffering and death. Resilience is often discussed as a protective resource in nursing, yet less is known about how personal resilience and work resilience relate to work stress and burnout within inpatient oncology practice. This study examined the relationships among perceived work stress, personal resilience, work resilience, and burnout among registered nurses working in inpatient oncology units. It also explored whether selected nurse characteristics were associated with these variables and how nurses described workplace stressors, …

Exploring The Relationship Between Workplace Social Capital, Organizational Commitment, And Intent To Stay Among Clinical Nurses In The Acute Care Setting, Leigh Erin Griffis-Cogan

Theses & Dissertations

Background

The persistent nursing shortage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent “Great Resignation,” continues to challenge healthcare systems nationwide. High turnover rates among acute care nurses negatively affect patient outcomes, organizational stability, and healthcare costs. Prior research highlights the importance of workplace factors, such as social capital and organizational commitment, in shaping nurses’ intentions to stay in their roles. However, limited studies have examined these relationships collectively within the acute care setting.

Purpose

The purpose of the quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the relationships between workplace social capital, organizational commitment, and intent to stay among clinical nurses …

A Market Of Care Skills: Profiting From Professional Education And Practice, Yasmin Y. Ortiga

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Who profits from the commodification of care and how does such accumulation occur? Focusing on the case of the nursing care market, this paper shows how professional schools and local hospitals within source nations like the Philippines profit from nurses seeking the credentials to qualify for jobs overseas. While existing studies show how nursing skills are exploited and undervalued, this paper argues that it is the process of skilling itself that allows for the accumulation of profit, regardless of whether nurses leave their origin countries to work abroad. This study reveals how global care economies are tightly linked to local …

Detailed Single-Cell Mapping Of The Transcriptional Response To A Virus Infection Driven By Copy-Back Viral Genomes, Yanling Yang, Emna Achouri, Munyaradzi Tambo, Carolina B. López

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The antiviral response to several clinically significant viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus, is driven by copy-back viral genomes (cbVGs) generated during virus replication. However, the broader impact of cbVGs on the functional states of host cells remains undefined. Here, we developed a single-cell RNA-sequencing and computational framework to map cbVG-driven host responses during Sendai virus infection. Unsupervised profiling identified distinct transcriptional states throughout the course of infection, highlighting a shift from early antiviral signaling to later inflammatory and remodeling programs. Stratifying infected cells by cbVG status demonstrated that cbVG-positive cells initiate interferon and chemokine programs, which later …

Metabolically Reprogrammed Eosinophils Impair T Cell Immunity And Cause Chronic Skin Infection, David Barinberg, Heidi Sebald, Tobias Gold, Baplu Rai, Daniel Radtke, Dominik Lerm, David Voehringer, Jonathan Jantsch, Stefan Wirtz, Alina Ulezko Antonova, Marco Colonna, Christian Bogdan, Ulrike Schleicher

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Eosinophils exhibit antimicrobial, cytotoxic and immunoregulatory effects, but our knowledge of their transcriptional and functional heterogeneity is still limited, especially in non-intestinal tissues. Here, we used a mouse model of chronic cutaneous inflammation elicited by the protozoan pathogen Leishmania mexicana to investigate the function and transcriptional dynamics of skin eosinophils. Infection of C57BL/6 mice triggered local and systemic eosinophilia that was driven by type 2 innate lymphoid cells and interleukin-5. Genetic and pharmacological eosinophil depletion led to an enhanced Th1 response, polarization towards M1-like macrophages and resolution of clinical disease, despite an unexpected simultaneous upregulation of IL-4. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed …

Mental Health Symptom Screening Among Adult Emergency Department Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jacob Langkiet, Rachel M Ancona, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: Mental health symptoms profoundly influence healthcare outcomes and utilization. Although mental health conditions are common in emergency department (ED) patients, routine, noncrisis screening is not consistently implemented; thus, problems may go unrecognized outside of psychiatric crisis presentations. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of current symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among ED patients using validated screening tools.

METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 1305 randomly selected, adult patients from 3 urban, academic EDs. Validated survey instruments included (i) Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety Short Form 8a, (ii) Emotional Distress …

Preoperative Imaging For Cochlear Implantation: A Global Consensus, Farid Alzhrani, Craig Buchman, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Preoperative imaging is vital for cochlear implant surgeries, aiding diagnosis, and surgical planning. This study evaluated global practices and the value of preoperative imaging through an international survey.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among international cochlear implantation experts using a 112-item questionnaire. The study explored imaging modalities, anatomical targets, evaluated parameters, and different imaging approaches' perceived value and risks. Participants were recruited from a global consortium of otolaryngology, otology, neurotology, and cochlear implant surgery professionals.

RESULTS: Thirty-nine practitioners from 36 centers in 16 countries completed the survey (95.1% response rate). All used computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance …

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Mimicking Dementia In A Patient Treated With Imatinib, Ashley Jones, Samuele Bonomi, Keith E Stockerl-Goldstein, Randall J Bateman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the cornerstone of chronic myeloid leukemia treatment. Newer agents have more potency and a broader spectrum of action, but also a higher potential for neuropsychiatric side effects. We present a case of a patient on imatinib who developed progressive cognitive, mood, and behavioral alterations. He was investigated for dementia and psychiatric disorders but ultimately improved only after discontinuing imatinib. His decompensation years after therapy start, followed by complete and rapid remission, is atypical. We also review the most recent neurobiological findings on the role of tyrosine kinase alterations in dementia and their importance for mood regulation.

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Sexually Active Individuals Toward Trichomoniasis In The Ashaiman Municipality, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study, Christopher Yaw Dumevi, Percival Delali Agordoh, Yaw Osei Owusu, Josephine Afi Nukpedu Banini, Roberta Araba Amoquandoh, George Boateng Kyei, Patience B Tetteh-Quarcoo, Irene Ayi, Patrick F Ayeh-Kumi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Trichomoniasis is a significant public health concern due to its implications for reproductive health and HIV transmission. Despite its prevalence, there is limited understanding of community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding trichomoniasis in Ghana. This study aimed to assess KAP toward trichomoniasis among sexually active individuals in the Ashaiman Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2024 among 397 sexually active individuals aged 15-65 years. Participants were selected via simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and Stata version 17. Descriptive statistics summarized …

Sensitivity And Concordance Study Of An Open Source Epid-Based Linear Accelerator Test Suite, Lana C Critchfield, Cory S Knill, Ellie Durussel, Justin K Mikell, Michael Barnes, Michael Pillainayagam, William P Donahue, Seng Boh Lim, John J Demarco, Mario Perez, Nilendu Gupta, Hania Al-Hallaq, Richard A Popple, Jim Irrer, Jean M Moran

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) enhance linear accelerator (linac) quality assurance (QA) efficiency but are not universally used beyond patient-specific IMRT QA. A multi-institutional Consortium seeks to standardize linac QA utilizing an EPID-based test suite.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the sensitivity of a test suite to intentional linac and plan errors and the concordance with linac fluctuations over time.

METHODS: Baseline and error-introduced tests were performed on a Varian TrueBeam and Clinac. Evaluated parameters included enhanced dynamic wedge factors (EDW) (6MV), central axis dose (6MV, 6MV FFF, 16MV), focal spot alignment and beam symmetry (6MV, 16MV), dose rate-gantry speed …

The Femoral Head Edema Zone: A Novel Classification Scheme To Better Predict Osteonecrosis Progression, Deniz C Ince, Vivek P Shah, Kenichi Kikuchi, Kyle P O'Connor, Elizabeth L Yanik, John C Clohisy, Cecilia Pascual-Garrido

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: This study proposed a new classification, the Edema Zone classification, that uses magnetic resonance imaging images to grade the extent of edema in osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The purpose of the study was (1) to examine how the Edema Zone classification compared to the Japanese Investigation Committee (JIC) classification's prognostic ability for early conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA), and (2) to determine how accurately and reliably the Edema Zone classification performed as a classification system.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study of hips that converted to THA from a core decompression within 26 months compared to hips …

Education And Training In Water Operator Certification And Its Role In Water Utility System Performance, Heath A. Edelman

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Access to safe and reliable drinking water is a foundational component of public health and environmental protection. The United States drinking water sector is highly regulated and increasingly challenged by workforce shortages, aging infrastructure, and variability in operator training requirements across states. Despite the federal mandate for operator certification under the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of certification policies in improving regulatory compliance outcomes remains limited.

This study examined the relationship between operator certification policies and drinking water compliance outcomes under the Safe Drinking Water Act, with particular attention to differences across violation …

"On The Same Rope": An Exploratory Study Of Staff Experiences At The Mountain Seed Foundation's Healing Base Camp Program, Jill C. Kivikoski

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Since the escalation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainians have faced significant social and public health challenges, particularly among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF), including disability, traumatic stress, and barriers to mental health care (Kostenko et al., 2024; Krasnodemska et al., 2023; O’Grady & Galouchka, 2023). Retreat based programs grounded in shared military identity may offer an accessible form of support (Barrett & Currin, 2024). Mountain Seed Foundation’s (MSF) Healing Base Camp (HBC) was developed to promote healing and resilience among Ukrainian SMVF (Mountain Seed Foundation, n.d.).

This qualitative dissertation used a single-case study design (Yin, …

Perceptions Of Virginia Dentists And Dental Hygienists Towards Emerging Alternative Dental Hygiene Workforce Provider Models, Lauren B. Mangum

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Background: A perceived shortage of dental hygienists in the United States has been linked to delays in preventive care and concerns about declining oral health outcomes. In response, some states have proposed alternative pathways permitting internationally trained dentists, dental students, and oral preventive assistants (OPAs) with limited or inconsistent education requirements to provide dental hygiene services. Limited evidence exists regarding whether these strategies would effectively address access to care and workforce challenges. Concerns have also been raised about the potential effects of expanding scope of practice for providers with limited education or training on patient safety and quality of care. …

Ptsd Symptoms And Cannabis Use Among College Students: Examining The Role Of Trauma-Related Cannabis Use To Cope, Christopher T. Latourrette

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more than four times as likely to develop cannabis use disorder (CUD) as those without PTSD. This common co-occurrence is often interpreted through a self-medication framework in which cannabis is used to manage PTSD symptoms. Prior work has relied heavily on veteran samples, includes measures of cannabis coping that are not specific to PTSD, and has most commonly examined total PTSD symptom severity, limiting precision in understanding how discrete symptom clusters relate to cannabis outcomes. The present study sought to examine associations between individual PTSD symptom clusters and cannabis use severity and to …

Electromyography, Prosthetic Properties, And Running Biomechanics In Recreationally Active Persons With Lower Extremity Amputation, Paige M. Agnew

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Lower extremity loss affects nearly 150,000 individuals in the United States yearly yielding extreme health care costs annually. Typically, prosthetic devices are prescribed for 5-8 years despite known changes to an individual’s gait as time progresses. Patients can expect to undergo approximately 8-12 weeks of gait retraining to improve their comfort and efficiency. Biomechanical changes occur when running with a specific running prosthetic including considerable biomechanical and neuromuscular interlimb asymmetries and alterations in loading patterns. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the biomechanical demands for lower extremity prosthesis users during running. The first study synthesized peer reviewed evidence …

Axillary Management After Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy (Net), Laura Leonard, Min Yi, Emma Wingate, Puneet Singh, Abigail Caudle, Rosa F Hwang, Isabelle Bedrosian, Vicente Valero, Jennifer Litton, Nuhad Ibrahim, Kelly K Hunt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: In patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients with clinical stage I-III, HR

RESULTS: A total of 230 patients were included; 120 (52.2%) were clinically node-negative (cN0), while 110 (47.8%) were clinically node-positive (cN+). In the cN+ group, 7.3% (8/110) had a nodal pathologic complete response (pCR). In total, 76.4% (84/110) in the cN+ group underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as the initial axillary procedure, and 90.9% (100/110) underwent ALND overall. In total, 98.3% (118/120) with cN0 disease underwent sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND), and 28 (23.7%) had positive nodes. …

Modeling Early Indicators For Success In An Associate Degree In Nursing Program, Joseph D. Moss

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Persistent nursing workforce shortages across the United States have increased the importance of Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs as primary entry points into the profession. Community colleges prepare a substantial portion of the nursing workforce; however, attrition within ADN programs limits the number of graduates entering practice. Understanding factors associated with academic performance and program completion is essential for strengthening nursing education pathways and supporting workforce development. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine early academic and sociodemographic factors associated with successful completion of an ADN program at a suburban community college.

Guided by Becker’s Human Capital …

Exploring The Perceptions Of United States Dentists And Dental Hygienists Towards Implementation Of New Workforce Shortage Policies, Hite N. Jones

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Background: There is a perceived national dental hygiene shortage causing delays in receiving preventive treatment and potentially increasing oral disease risk. States are proposing alternative pathways to allow less-trained individuals to provide dental hygiene care to fill this perceived gap. There is no research to support whether such measures would mitigate the shortage issue. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of United States (U.S.) dentists and dental hygienists (DH) towards the implementation of new workforce shortage policies and contributing factors and solutions to the workforce shortage. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study included a convenience …

Learning In Motion: How Small Groups Can Promote Self-Regulated Learning In Physical Therapy Students, Sara Mclaren

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a critical skill for success in rigorous graduate health professions programs, where students must independently manage complex academic demands. Despite its importance, limited research has examined SRL processes among Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students in the didactic phase of training. Guided by Zimmerman’s cyclical model of self-regulated learning, this study examined SRL behaviors among second-year DPT students and explored how small group learning contexts may influence engagement in SRL processes and academic performance.

This mixed-methods study included 39 DPT students enrolled in a physical therapy program at a public university in the southeastern United States. …