Digital Commons Network^™

“Do You Even Lift, Bro?”: Correlates Of Muscle Dysmorphia Symptomatology In Filipino Male University Students, Pamela Paula C. Pioquinto

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) is a subtype of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and is marked by the desire to increase muscularity and reduce body fat. MD is typically more prevalent among younger male populations, and it often drives comorbid disorders, including substance abuse, eating disorders, and social anxiety. Despite the growing literature on MD, it remains understudied in certain racial/ethnic populations, such as Filipinos. Acculturation, defined as the process in which an individual adopts, acquires, and adapts to a new cultural environment as a result of immigration, influences body image by reshaping an individual’s perceptions of beauty and muscularity standards. Guided …

Piloting The Inclusion Of Dollar Stores In The Modified Retail Food Environment Index (Mrfei) In Urban Clark County, Nevada, Tiana T. Tu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Food insecurity is the condition of having limited or uncertain access to adequate food. It contributes to poor diet-related health outcomes which are in turn influenced by the food environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI) to characterize food environments by measuring the proportion of healthy and non-healthy retailers. The CDC mRFEI considers a variety of establishments but fails to include dollar stores, which contribute to the food environment by offering food and, in some cases, fresh produce. This study proposed an “expanded mRFEI” that modified the CDC mRFEI methodology …

Advancing Remote Monitoring For Patients With Alzheimer Disease And Related Dementias: Systematic Review, Mohmmad Arif Shaik, Fahim Islam Anik, Md Mehedi Hasan, Sumit Chakravarty, Mary Dioise Ramos, Mohammad Ashiqur Rahman, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed, Nazmus Sakib

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Using remote monitoring technology in the context of Alzheimer disease (AD) care presents exciting new opportunities to lessen caregiver stress and improve patient care quality. The application of wearables, environmental sensors, and smart home systems designed specifically for patients with AD represents a promising interdisciplinary approach that integrates advanced technology with health care to enhance patient safety, monitor health parameters in real time, and provide comprehensive support to caregivers. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study included evaluating the effectiveness of various remote sensing technologies in enhancing patient outcomes and identifying strategies to alleviate the burden on health care professionals …

Narratives Or Not? Examining The Roles Of Message Format And Individuals' Stages Of Change In The Context Of Hpv Vaccination Promotion, Mengfei Guan, Shawn C. Chiang, Regan M. Murray, Wen-Juo Lo, Larry T. Hill, Ann C. Klassen, Jennifer A. Manganello, Amy E. Leader, Philip M. Massey

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Narrative persuasion has been widely used in health communication campaigns and persuasive message design. However, several meta-analyses showed that the relative effectiveness of narratives in promoting behavior change was not consistently observed in the existing literature. With the goal of exploring boundary conditions of narrative effects, this study investigates the interaction effects of narrative persuasion and stages of change on promoting behavior change in the context of encouraging parents to vaccinate their children against human papillomavirus (HPV). Findings from an online experiment (N = 593) showed that non-narrative messages were more effective in bolstering behavioral intention than narrative messages among …

Implementation Of An Adolescent Women’S Health And Wellness Education Program, Lauren Acker, Laynee Conner, Jennifer Cera

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Objectives: The goal of this research study was to provide scientific evidence supporting the importance and effectiveness of implementing a women’s health and wellness education course and its effect on (1) adolescent knowledge of sexual health and hygiene, (2) self-efficacy in menstrual management, and (3) self-empowerment in managing their own reproductive health.

Design: This was a mixed methods pilot study utilizing a pre/post-test single intervention efficacy trial. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained.

Setting: The setting included two different sites including one outpatient ambulatory obstetrics/gynecology clinic and one community outreach center. Both sites were located within a midwestern metropolitan …

Identification And Preclinical Assessment Of Novel Therapeutic Modalities In Environmental Exposure-Induced Lung Disease, Aaron D. Schwab

Theses & Dissertations

Environmental lung diseases are preventable respiratory conditions either caused or made worse by inhaled environmental exposures. Contemporarily, environmental lung diseases are most associated with workplace exposures given specific occupational processes aerosolize inflammatory agents that can be inhaled at high concentrations. Although a considerable amount is known regarding immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated responses to environmental exposures, little is known about non-IgE mediated respiratory conditions resulting from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-enriched organic dust exposure(s). Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis have all been identified as environmental lung diseases caused or exacerbated by such environmental dusts. Therapeutic …

Healthcare Experiences And Pain Dismissal By Healthcare Professionals, Amanda Warren

Honors Theses

Background. Pain dismissal by healthcare professionals has gained recent attention in popular culture as people have come forward to discuss their own experiences with this issue. Pain dismissal is prevalent within the healthcare system, and college-aged young adults may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing pain dismissal because of their age. College students may also be influenced by societal factors that may affect their attitudes towards seeking help and advocating for themselves during healthcare visits. There is limited research on college students' attitudes and behaviors on seeking help after experiencing pain dismissal by a healthcare provider. This study aims to 1) …

Cardiovascular Disparities In Mississippi: A Sociological Study Of Heart Health Literacy Among University Students, Laney Etheridge

Honors Theses

Mississippi ranks among the worst states in the United States for cardiovascular health, with high rates of heart disease, obesity, and hypertension. This thesis examines how race and gender influence heart health literacy and behavioral practices among University of Mississippi students. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study combines quantitative survey data from a stratified random sample of 1,000 students with qualitative interviews from a public health professional specializing in cardiovascular health and a student heavily involved with on-campus heart health programs. The findings suggest that disparities in heart health literacy both align and differ with broader social stratification patterns observed …

Integrating Positive Psychology And Spirituality To Foster Meaning And Well-Being In Older Adults, Crystal Morris

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the integration of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) and spirituality in therapy to foster meaning and well-being in older adults. It highlights exercises such as the positive introduction, positive legacy, character strengths, mindfulness, mindful-based yoga, and a manifestation prayer journaling. The interventions presented are tools to support older adults that may experience depression, difficult life transitions, and the search for renewed meaning. Therapists who integrate PPIs and spirituality into therapy can promote a holistic, non-pathological approach to treatment.

Evaluating Algorithmic Bias On Biomarker Classification Of Breast Cancer Pathology Reports, Jordan Tschida, Mayanka Chandrashekar, Alina Peluso, Zachary Fox, Patrycja Krawczuk, Dakota Murdock, Xiao-Cheng Wu, John Gounley, Heidi A. Hanson

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: This work evaluated algorithmic bias in biomarkers classification using electronic pathology reports from female breast cancer cases. Bias was assessed across 5 subgroups: cancer registry, race, Hispanic ethnicity, age at diagnosis, and socioeconomic status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized 594 875 electronic pathology reports from 178 121 tumors diagnosed in Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Seattle, and Utah to train 2 deep-learning algorithms to classify breast cancer patients using their biomarkers test results. We used balanced error rate (BER), demographic parity (DP), equalized odds (EOD), and equal opportunity (EOP) to assess bias. RESULTS: We found differences in predictive …

Achieving Health Equity For Minorities, Marginalized And Vulnerable Populations: The Ethical Challenge For Improving Addiction Health Services And Policies In The Health Care System, Jasia A. Baig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the past few decades, health disparities and substance misuse have transformed into unprecedented healthcare crises facing contemporary society. Although enormous contributions through policies and interventions have been made to promote health equity, substantial health inequalities and disparities persist, particularly in addiction health services and policies at multiple healthcare system levels for the marginalized, minoritized, and vulnerable populations.

The thesis of this dissertation asserts that a biopsychosocial ‘systems’ thinking towards treating addictive disorders along with systematic interventions and coordinated improvements specifically focused on minorities, marginalized and vulnerable populations at research, clinical, public health and global levels will significantly reduce health …

Investigating The Association Between Metabolically Healthy And Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity With Disease, Colleen Marie Cohick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a global health concern, affecting individuals of all ages and ethnicities worldwide. A key factor in health concerns related to obesity is metabolic health: Obese individuals are either metabolically healthy obese or metabolically unhealthy obese, leading to different degrees of risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.. There is a lack of comprehensive research examining the association between metabolic health status among obese individuals and kidney, liver, and stomach diseases. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to examine whether metabolic health status is a significant predictor of kidney, liver, and stomach diseases among obese individuals when lifestyle is a …

Institutional Connectedness And Social Support Among College Students: Links To Campus Involvement, Carissa Strum

Honors Theses

Background. College is a pivotal period in the lives of students, and an important aspect of the experience is involvement within the campus. College student wellness is also a growing area of interest in higher education, with increased attention on ways to help students thrive. This study explores which aspects of campus involvement contribute to students’ feelings of connectedness and social support. This study aims to 1) assess the association between campus involvement and social support among college students, 2) assess the association between campus involvement and institutional connectedness among college students, and 3) examine whether the association between campus …

Tackling Social Stigma: An Ethical Obligation In Healthcare Intervention To Involuntary Childlessness, Persis Naumann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The stigma associated with involuntary childlessness has negatively affected health and well-being for several decades. This situation is particularly exacerbated for women within the Tamil socio-cultural context, resulting in feelings of shame, neglect, denial, isolation, and constituting a significant barrier to long-term access to healthcare services. Although advancements have been made in the provision of biomedical care, the psychosocial support remains inadequately addressed. Moreover, there are currently no healthcare interventions that specifically target the stigma associated with this issue, which hinders open communication with healthcare providers, delays necessary treatments, and adversely impacts overall health outcomes. The central thesis of this …

Fall Incidences, Risk Factors, And Health Effects Among Early- And Middle-Aged Elderly People In Rural Areas Of Border Provinces In Southern Thailand, Phnom Sukchan, Tapanan Prateepko, Arinda Ma-A-Lee, Kruawan Hounkong, Penporn Sujiwattanarat, Gornganok Piboonpol

Journal of Health Research

Background: Elderly individuals with physical and psychological challenges face a high risk of falls. This study aimed to assess the incidence, health effects of, and risk factors for falls among those aged 60-79 years old in Thailand's three southern border provinces.

Methods: A community cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2021 and September 2022. Questionnaires were administered though verbal face-to-face conversations. Descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and logistic regression were used.

Results: A total of 419 elderly participants were recruited, while 374 participated in the study. The incidence of falls was 37.4% with an average of 1.7 …

Podcasts In Mental, Physical, Or Combined Health Interventions For Adults: Scoping Review, Elizabeth M. Dascombe, Philip J. Morgan, Ryan J. Drew, Casey P. Regan, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Myles D. Young

Faculty Publications

Background:

The increasing prevalence of poor mental and physical health in adults is a global health concern. Given the scope of this problem, scalable and effective treatment interventions are needed. While podcasts (online digital audio files) are becoming more popular, the extent of podcast use in mental, physical, or combined health interventions has not been reviewed.

Objective:

This scoping review primarily aims to summarize the available evidence regarding the use of podcasts in health promotion interventions. A series of 5 research questions was designed to systematically review and accurately represent podcast use in current research interventions.

Methods:

We conducted a …

The Lasting Legacy Of Dr. Fritz Smith And Dr. Aminah Raheem: Founders Of Zero Balancing And Soul Lightening/Insight Acupressure, Deanna Waggy Otr

Journal of Transformative Touch

Dr. Fritz Smith and Dr. Aminah Raheem were pioneers in the field of holistic bodywork. Their innovative techniques, Zero Balancing (ZB) and Insight Acupressure (formerly Soul Lightening International), helped shape integrative medicine practitioners around the globe. Their marriage not only symbolized a personal union but also a professional synergy, with their complementary therapies offering a yin-yang approach to mind-body healing. Their legacy continues through the many practitioners trained in Zero Balancing and Soul Lightening/Insight Acupressure and the various organizations that uphold their commitment to research, education, and professional standards.

Psycho-Sociodemographic And Substance-Related Correlates Of Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior, Nicole Doyle, Krishen Samuel, Samantha Cohen-Winans Ms, M. Allison Ford, Vinayak K. Nahar, Oluwatoyin Olatunde, Juliet Igboanugo, Mercy Irungu, Robert E. Davis

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: College students face challenging environments in which risky coping mechanisms, such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and substance use may be used to mitigate psychological strain. The purpose of this research was to examine relationships between substance use, psychological distress, and various aspects of NSSI.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were collected from students recruited from a large university in the southern United States (n = 502). Instrumentation included validated and reliable scales on substance use, psychological conditions, NSSI behaviors, demographics, and suicidality measures.

Results: In all, 21% reported engagement in some form of NSSI within the past year. A …

Neighborhood Change As A Social Determinant Of Health: Assessing Associations With Mental Health And Psychosocial Attitudes Among Resident Clusters, Christopher Williams, Nathaniel Woodard, Charlene Kuo

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Neighborhood change (NC) can be understood as a social determinant of health with direct psychosocial and economic impacts. Our objective was to define resident groups’ perceptions of NC and self-rated mental health in a community experiencing an intense form of NC known as gentrification. We conducted a cross-sectional study using random and convenience sampling. Our measures included a combination of scales and indexes that were used for conducting bivariate and cluster analyses. Our study included 143 responses from Phase II. Two of the three groups or clusters were statistically different in mental health and perceptions of NC impacts on community …

Experience Of Coparents/Partners Of African American Mothers Participating In Breastfeeding Education, Samantha Hickson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coparents and partners of African American mothers are critical in the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding and influence a woman’s decision to breastfeed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experience of coparents/partners of African American mothers participating in breastfeeding education and its impact on the support they provide. Bandura’s social cognitive theory provided the theoretical foundation for this study. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 11 participants. Data analysis followed the traditional seven steps of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings showed that while coparents and partners of African American breastfeeding mothers found breastfeeding education to be …

Examination Of Eating Disorder Risks And Body Image Dissatisfaction Among Division Iii Student-Athletes, Maddie Wisener

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Eating disorders (ED) and pathogenic behaviors are prevalent concerns among collegiate athletes due to performance pressures and body image expectations. This cross-sectional study examined the risk of ED among 243 student-athletes (Males: 54.9%, Females: 44.3%, Non-Binary: 0.4%) at a private institution in the Midwest. The convenience sample included student-athletes from baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling teams. The participants were given a demographic survey, the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and Sex-Specific Figural Stimuli Silhouettes to assess eating behaviors and perceived and desired body images. Overall, 22.1% of participants were at risk for …

Impact Of Implementing An Updated Cervical Cancer Screening Protocol In The Primary Care Setting, Teri A. Koch

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women globally. Current screening methods by clinicians include cytology sampling, high-risk human papillomavirus sampling, or co-testing with both methods. These tests may detect cell changes before they become cancerous, yet the uptake of these methods has decreased in recent years (Aginga, 2022; Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2023; Popalis et al., 2022; Sung et al., 2021). The primary purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to determine if the implementation of an updated cervical screening protocol improved the linkage of abnormal results to appropriate clinical follow-up …

Unseen And Underserved: A Narrative Review Of Binge Eating And Binge-Eating Disorder In Black Women, Vidhani Goel, Roberto Sagaribay, Kavya Gururaj, Laksh Ghai, Akriti Kapoor

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Prevalence & Health Disparities:

Black women engage in binge eating at similar or higher rates than White women. Lower diagnosis and treatment in black women.

Barriers to Treatment:

Limited access to mental health resources. Implicit bias in clinical settings. Lack of culturally tailored interventions.

Future Directions & Solutions:

Need for inclusive clinical research. Culturally responsive treatment models. Policy reforms to improve healthcare accessibility.

Contributing Factors:

Racial stress, trauma, and socioeconomic constraints. Food insecurity, stigma, and healthcare disparities.

Stress And Glucose Regulation In Adults At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Secondary Analysis From A Randomized Controlled Trial, Sophia Lysne, Regina Dispa, Brenna Way, Bea Francene Pilnade, Donya Shahamati, Romina Ballesteros, Christopher Acosta, Keren Morales, Esther Adaji, Ohis Egbaidomeh

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health concern, significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Additionally, prediabetes is a critical precursor, as it elevates the risk of developing both T2DM and CVDs. (2)

Recent literature reveals among individuals with severe perceived stress, there is a higher likelihood of HbA1c% levels meeting the criteria for prediabetes (5.7– 6.4%) as compared to those with lower perceived stress. (3)

Studies show that psychological stress has hyperglycemic effects in individuals with T2DM, suggesting that stress is associated with poorer blood glucose control. (4)

Parental Vaccine Hesitancy And The Decision To Vaccinate Children Against Covid-19, Jessica Mckee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While there is a significant body of literature regarding vaccine hesitancy, there is a gap in the literature on its impact to parents’ decisions to vaccinate their children against a pandemic pathogen. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental vaccine hesitancy, measured using the health belief model (HBM) theoretical framework constructs of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS; the degree to which an individual trusts in vaccine efficacy, safety, the reliability and trustworthiness of vaccine programs, community impact, perceived risks, and the importance of childhood vaccinations), and parents’ decision to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 with …

A Tobacco Treatment Training Program Expands The Number Of Healthcare Providers Trained To Use Evidence-Based Practices And Methods, Alex Hurst, Maher Karam-Hage, Jennifer Cofer, Mehwish Javaid, Diane Beneventi, Janice Blalock, Tiffany Winter, Paul M. Cinciripini, Ernest Hawk

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Tobacco-use disorder remains a global health challenge, despite declining rates, and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among special populations that disproportionally do not have access to comprehensive treatment services. The lack of trained providers and slow dissemination of new tobacco treatment knowledge are obstacles to accessing comprehensive evidence-based treatments. Less is known about the impact of specialized training programs on healthcare professionals' ability to effectively treat tobacco use. This paper reports on the evaluation of the tobacco treatment training program, training methodology, and the demographics of the specialists trained.

MD Anderson’s Tobacco Treatment Training Program (TTTP) …

Heartache In The Heartland: Unraveling The Social Roots Of Deaths Of Despair In Kentucky, Lyndsey K. Blair, Madeline M. Tomlinson, Michele Abee-Biskis, Jessica Hume, Gabri Warren

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Deaths of despair (DoD), encompassing suicides, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related liver diseases, have emerged as a critical public health crisis in the United States, with their rise particularly pronounced from 1995 to 2013 and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kentucky, grappling with high rates of substance use disorder, poor mental health, and economic hardship, is at the forefront of this issue, particularly in its rural and Appalachian regions.

Purpose: This study explores the social determinants contributing to DoD in Kentucky, focusing on economic and social factors that influence rising rates of suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol-related liver disease. The …

Finding Freedom In Appalachia: Evaluating A Mental Health Intervention In West Virginia, Elizabeth A. Claydon, Karen Haring, Jessica Haring, Kelsey Riggi, Beth Currence

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Rural areas have limited capacity to provide comprehensive mental health treatment and resources. This creates the need for interventions to ensure individuals with mental health concerns have access to resources to improve their mental health.

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods evaluation was to assess the effectiveness and impact of Libera, a mental health program tailored for girls and women within the Appalachian region.

Methods: Quantitative surveys, including validated measures for depression, anxiety, and eating disorder symptoms, and life satisfaction, were collected pre- and post-Libera intervention for participants. Simultaneously, annual surveys were sent to Listeners in addition to qualitative …

Breaking Barriers: Exploring The Impact Of Social Media On Women's Behaviors, Attitudes, And Barriers In The Free-Weights Room, Kate Jensen

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine social media’s impact on women’s habits and attitudes on the weight-room area of a college recreation center. Using non-experimental quantitative methods, the frequency and type of weightroom use by women was measured, as well as the type and frequency of fitness-focused social media use.

Promotion Of Women’S Preventative Health Behaviors For Breast And Cervical Cancer, Shelby Lopez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Women’s health prevention is typically not a significant topic for discussion. Health prevention measures are often discussed after a new diagnosis, rather than being a proactive approach toward improving women’s health. Breast and cervical cancer continue to be prevalent today and, to decrease the number of women diagnosed with late-stage cancer, this scholarly project will focus on improving the participation in prevention behaviors among women 18-45 years of age, but also acknowledge the role self-efficacy and perception of health behaviors has on the participation in prevention measures. Pender’s Health Promotion Model will help acknowledge how social-behavioral factors affect prevention behaviors. …