Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Outcomes Of Client Education Interventions To Reduce Caffeine Intake In The College-Age Population, Mackenzie Leonard, Mikayla Evans

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

This scoping review aimed to explore health interventions that address excessive caffeine consumption in college students aged 18–23 years. Excess caffeine intake is associated with a range of health concerns, including neurological, cardiovascular, and behavioral issues, highlighting the need for effective interventions to mitigate its impact on overall wellness. The literature exploring interventions aimed at modifying health behaviors among the college student population is notably limited. Furthermore, there has been a lack of studies replicating interventions aimed at reducing caffeine intake. These gaps suggested the need for further investigation and exploration of reports pertaining to health promotion. The results of …

Maladaptive Influences Of Direct-To-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising: The Moderating Influence Of Age And Consumer Loneliness, Sanjay Puligadda

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Caring For Caregivers: A Health Care Marketing Opportunity, Yvette Lynne Bonaparte Dr.

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Effects Of A Major Disruption On Mental Health Of Pregnant Women In South Carolina, Lizmarie Maldonado

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Mental health conditions are a leading cause of death among pregnant and postpartum women, and untreated mental health conditions are associated with adverse maternal and birth outcomes. Major disruptions, such as pandemics, hurricanes, or wildfires, create unprecedented challenges and may impose additional stressors during an already vulnerable time. Community or medical care disruptions during such events may lead to adverse health outcomes. This dissertation seeks to characterize the impact of a recent major disruption on mental health outcomes among pregnant women using administrative claims data for all births in South Carolina in 2019 and 2020. By leveraging unique data sources, …

The Role Of Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging In 30-Day Readmissions Among Acute St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients, Britta Watson

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the largest contributor to deaths that result from cardiovascular disease. When CAD is left untreated, it can result in an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). To treat coronary blockages caused by CAD, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is performed. A PCI is a non-invasive procedure that uses coronary balloons and stents to open a narrowed or blocked coronary artery and restore blood flow.

An acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a major cause of early hospital readmissions. Technological …

Relationship Between Hepatitis B Virus Screening, Vaccination, And Spread In Sierra Leone, Muhammed Sarmodu Mansaray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) presents a significant public health burden in Sierra Leone. Although the estimated prevalence was 8.7% in 2021, comprehensive statistical data has been limited in general. Programmatic interventions for HBV control such as systematic screening and vaccination have remained limited as well. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between screening and vaccination practices and HBV prevalence in Sierra Leone while controlling for age, sex, education and health care access. The theoretical framework incorporated the Integrated Screening Action model, which highlights screening as a critical disease prevention strategy, and the Social Ecological …

Sociodemographic Factors And Dating Violence Among Adolescents Living In Rural Southern U.S. Communities, Kiara Patricia Sims-Thrasher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a significant public health issue that disproportionately affects youths in southern rural communities, yet these populations remain underrepresented in research. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the association between ADV and sociodemographic factors (gender, race, age, and education level), alcohol consumption, and bullying among adolescents in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi using data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Guided by the social-ecological model, binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess relationships between ADV victimization and the selected predictors. Results indicated that females had significantly higher odds of reporting …

Association Between Childhood Exposure To Family Substance Abuse, Mental Health Issues, And Cervical Screening Among Women Ages 18-65 In South Carolina, Ashley Laine Hamm

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with adverse health outcomes in adulthood; however, less is known about their relationship with preventive health behaviors such as cervical cancer screening. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine associations between selected ACEs and cervical cancer screening among women aged 18–65 in South Carolina. Data were drawn from the 2020 South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and included 1,323 women. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine unadjusted and adjusted associations between ACE exposures and being up to date with Pap testing, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, income, …

The Association Between Advanced Technology Use And Quality Of Life Among Those With A Disability, Sarah Antus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Advanced medical technology use among individuals with physical disabilities remains understudied, creating a significant gap in understanding its impact on quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes across demographic and age groups. Guided by the social ecological model, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine associations between advanced medical technology use, disability status, demographic factors (age, gender, and race/ethnicity), and QoL outcomes using 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. The sample included 9,254 individuals age 6 years and older with physical functional limitations and complete technology-use and QoL data. Advanced medical technology use was significantly associated with improved QoL (p < .001). Disability status demonstrated a statistically significant but modest association with technology use, OR = 0.84, 95% CI [0.83, 0.85], p < .001. Age-stratified analyses indicated that advanced technology use significantly predicted improved QoL among adults aged 20 years and older, OR = 6.90, 95% CI [6.89, 6.91], p < .001, but not among youths aged 6–19 years (p = .929). Gender was a significant predictor of technology use, with females having higher odds than males, OR = 1.07, 95% CI [1.06, 1.08], p < .001. Race/ethnicity was also significantly associated with technology use; compared with non-Hispanic White adults, Mexican American (OR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.42, 0.44], p < .001), other Hispanic (OR = 0.58, 95% CI [0.57, 0.59], p < .001), and non-Hispanic Black adults (OR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.78, 0.80], p < .001) had lower odds of advanced medical technology use. The study may inform health care stakeholders about strategies to promote equitable access to advanced medical assistive technologies for social change

2026 Abstract Book (Pdf), School Of Public Health

School of Public Health Delta Omega Honors Day Poster Sessions

The collection of abstracts for the 2026 Delta Omega Honors Day Poster Session.

Noise-Induced Gains: Are You Damaging Your Hearing While You Train?, Taylor Hitschmann, Lillian Beauvais, Blake Roth, Andrew Gannon

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study investigated the potential risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among individuals who listen to music during exercise. Survey data were collected alongside sound intensity measurements to better understand listening behaviors in fitness settings. Results indicated that although most participants reported listening at recommended safe levels, a notable proportion exceeded these thresholds, potentially increasing their risk of NIHL. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring listening habits during workouts. Hearing health professionals are encouraged to enhance public awareness and promote safe listening practices to help reduce the likelihood of long-term auditory damage.

Using Somatic Experiencing To Mitigate Symptoms Of Secondary Traumatic Stress In Female Helping Professionals, Jillian Christie Guinta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological and quantitative study explored the lived experiences of a dozen women within the veterinary, social work, and nursing communities and how secondary traumatic stress impacts their lives. Faced with unanticipated patient illnesses, facilitating compassionate end-of-life procedures, and rapidly moving from one emotional state to the next between patients, professionals are carrying tremendous unprocessed emotional burdens that can affect them physiologically and psychologically. Somatic Experiencing (SE) indicates tremendous promise in rehabilitating practitioners’ trauma-impacted nervous systems by offering techniques to release emotional stress and re-regulate the nervous system (Kuhfuß et al., 2023). This mixed-methods study explored the world of these …

Can The Implementation Of The Pause Decrease Death Anxiety And Poor Mental Health In Practicing Nurses?, Lilli Meyer

Undergraduate Theses

Practicing nurses are frequently exposed to patient death, placing them at increased risk for death anxiety and compromised mental health. Despite this, there remains a lack of structured, in-the-moment interventions to support emotional processing within clinical settings. This study evaluates whether the implementation of “The Pause,” a brief moment of silence following a patient’s death, may reduce death anxiety and improve mental health outcomes among practicing nurses. A quantitative survey consisting of eight questions was distributed to nurses in the Louisville, Kentucky area over a three-month period, yielding 26 responses. Findings indicated that 80.8% of participants reported no improvement or …

The Mommy Wine Culture: A Scoping Review Using The Person-Environment-Occupational Model., Sabina Khan

Student Dissertations

Maternal alcohol use as a coping response to parenting-related stress has received growing attention in public health and psychology but remains underexplored within occupational therapy. This gap limits understanding of how daily role demands, environmental pressures, and individual vulnerabilities combine to shape drinking as a functional coping behavior. This dissertation aimed to identify and synthesize factors associated with maternal alcohol use in the context of parenting stress and interpret these determinants using the person–environment–occupation model. A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases were systematically searched without date or …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Role Of Religious Coping In Childhood Interpersonal Trauma Recovery Among Latinx Adults, Christina Mancebo-Torres

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the role religious coping plays in recovery from interpersonal adverse childhood experiences (ACES) among Latinx adults attending Pentecostal churches in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The theory guiding this study was Pargament’s Theory of Religious Coping (1997), which posits that religious coping strategies are ways in which individuals attempt to understand and deal with sacred- related negative life events, including traumatic experiences (Xu, 2015). This study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenology research design. The purposive sample consisted of 12 individuals who self-identified as Latinx, 18 years of age or older, and having a …

Improving Anesthesia Provider Confidence In The Identification, Management, And Treatment Of Postoperative Delirium, Brittany M. Whistle, Charles Dustin Phelps

Scholars Week

Purpose: Postoperative Delirium (POD) is a potentially devastating complication of anesthesia that is poorly understood by clinical staff leading to poor outcomes for surgical patients. This study is meant to determine if a focused knowledge presentation accompanied by visual aids could increase anesthesia providers confidence in identifying, diagnosing, and treating Postoperative Delirium.

Methodology: Utilizing a statistical model to analyze respondents results on a standardized test administered before and after an informational presentation with visual aids on the topic of Postoperative Delirium.

Results: Results indicated a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores, with a p-value of .002, t(11) = …

Plastics, Microplastics, And The Gut Microbiome: Restoring Scientific Communication To Fight For Public Health, Benjamin Sanders '26

Honor Scholar Theses

Over the course of eight years from 2016 to 2024, a study by Nature Medicine found that the concentration of plastics in the brain increased by 50%. Even samples from patients with a documented dementia diagnosis showed a greater accumulation of microplastics (Nihart, 2025). In one of the most protected regions of our body, microplastics have made themselves known. In one of the most exposed regions of the human body, the story is no different. With the emergence of gut microbiome science and understanding, researchers are just beginning to discover the unique interplay between the microbiota of our gastrointestinal tract …

Psychosocial Mediators Of A Physical Activity And Dietary Intervention In Pregnant Women With Overweight Or Obesity, Meghan Baruth, Sarah Wilcox, Jihong Liu, Rebecca Schlaff

Faculty Publications

Background

Mediation analyses provide insight into both ‘pieces’ of the mediation chain; they allow us to look into the ‘black box’ that is behavior change. They allow researchers to better understand the ‘how’ of an intervention’s effects and/or the ‘why’ behind why an intervention worked or did not work. The lack of publications in pregnant populations highlights the need for additional studies to be conducted and published. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychosocial mediators of physical activity and dietary outcomes in a sample of pregnant women with overweight or obesity participating in the Health in Pregnancy …

Fast-Food Consumption And Metabolic Syndrome Risk In African Children And Adolescents, Norkinsha Willis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity and excessive fast-food intake represent a significant public health concern among African American children. Grounded in the social-ecological model, this quantitative, cross-sectional study examined whether frequency of fast-food or pizza meal consumption and reliance on low-cost food was associated with total cholesterol (mg/dL) and waist circumference among African American children and adolescents aged 6–15 years while controlling for key sociodemographic factors (age, gender, parental education status, and annual household income). Secondary data from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed (N=184). Descriptive statistics, nonparametric analyses, and a multiple linear regression model were used to analyze …

Non-Diabetic Kidney Disease In A Patient With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Diagnostic Challenge, Nikhil R, Mahabaleshwar Mamadapur , Assistant Professor, Harshwardhan S Patil

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. However, non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD) can coexist or mimic DKD, leading to misdiagnosis. Case Presentation: A 46-year-old female with type 2 diabetes presented with vomiting and abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed non-blanching erythematous papules on both lower limbs. Investigations showed uncontrolled diabetes, metabolic acidosis, and active urinary sediment. Absence of diabetic retinopathy prompted renal biopsy, which revealed immune-complex–mediated glomerulonephritis with small-vessel vasculitis. Diagnosis: Immune-complex–mediated glomerulonephritis with small-vessel vasculitis, not consistent with diabetic nephropathy. Management: Supportive care and immunosuppressive therapy were initiated with improvement in renal function. …

Untangling Impacts Of Socioeconomic Position, Chronic Disease, And Low-Level Pm2.5 Exposure On Mortality Among Native American Medicare Beneficiaries, Judy Wendt Hess, Wenyaw Chan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with increased mortality at concentrations below current regulatory standards. Studies of low-level exposure often rely on large administrative cohorts whose geographic and demographic composition may influence observed associations. In a prior analysis, we observed an association between long-term PM2.5 and all-cause mortality among Native American Medicare beneficiaries living in zip codes within the lowest decile of PM2.5 exposure. The present study, a case-control analysis of 1,713,399 low-PM2.5-exposed beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare during 2015-2016, evaluated whether this association could be explained by geographic context, socioeconomic position (SEP), or baseline health status. We used …

Lived Experiences Of Shingles Vaccine-Hesitant Adults Over Age 50 In Riverside County, California, Michelle Beatrice Loomis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Shingles (herpes zoster) causes substantial morbidity, especially among adults over age 50 in the United States. There is a need to better understand the reasons behind low vaccination rates among adults over age 50 given the associated risks for infection and adverse health outcomes that can reduce their quality of life. This qualitative interpretative phenomenological study explored how individuals’ perceptions of the benefits, barriers, susceptibility, and severity of shingles influence vaccine intentions and identified what factors influence vaccine uptake. The health belief model was used to guide the study. Data were collected from one-on-one semistructured virtual interviews with eight adults …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Vitamin D Supplementation, Lifestyle, Social Determinants Of Health, Asthma, And Respiratory Tract Infections, Yun O'Donnell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypovitaminosis D is a significant public health concern in the United States associated with inadequate sunlight exposure and insufficient dietary intake. Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that progressively worsens over time. While asthma is typically managed through individual-level treatment approaches, population-level strategies such as vitamin D supplementation and food fortification policies have not been implemented. A five-tier Public Health Impact Pyramid theoretical foundation guided this nonexperimental quantitative cross-sectional study. Data from 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 NHANES (n = 1,456) was evaluated for relationships between vitamin D supplementation, duration of sunlight exposure, and food security index, with asthma, asthma exacerbation severity, …

Antibiotics And You: A Comprehensive Guide, Brady Haas

Senior Theses

Antibiotic resistance is a rapidly emerging issue within public health. As resistance grows, the effectiveness of traditional antibiotic therapies diminishes while risk of treatment grows. Alongside novel therapies, public knowledge is a strong combatant of the resistance-related risks of antibiotic usage. Through a comprehensive review of current literature, this work serves as an accessible guide to the mechanisms of antibiotics, bacterial resistance, and the challenges related to current antibiotic usage. Additionally, the ability of current policy and emerging novel treatments, such as nanoparticles and bacteriophage therapy, to fight antibiotic resistance is evaluated. This analysis highlights the importance of improving public …

A Mixed-Methods Research Study: Nc Health Department Directors’ Perspective On Local Impact Of Early Medicaid Expansion, Asma Warrich

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

North Carolina became the 41^st state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The bipartisan expansion addressed longstanding challenges; however, little is known about how Local Health Departments (LHDs) adapted to this policy change, especially in the 24 months following expansion. This study sought to fill that gap by documenting the perspectives of LHD Directors in North Carolina utilizing a ten-question REDCap survey with closed- and open-ended questions. Purposeful sampling targeted all 86 LHD Directors. Data was collected anonymously between November 2025 and January 2026. Descriptive and thematic analyses were conducted. Thirty LHD Directors completed the survey, which …

Program Development For Maternal Mental Health During The Transition To Motherhood, Lindsey A. Lindsley, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The transition to motherhood can be both rewarding and challenging, with many women experiencing increased vulnerability to postpartum depression (PPD). This capstone project focused on developing and implementing a six-week maternal mental health program designed to support postpartum women through education, occupational engagement, and peer connection. Grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), the program used a hybrid format combining in-person and virtual sessions to improve accessibility. Program outcomes were evaluated using surveys, the Occupational Self Assessment (OSA), and participant feedback. Participants demonstrated increased knowledge of postpartum mental health, greater confidence in their maternal roles, and improved ability to …

Paws And Practice: Overcoming Barriers To Mindfulness, Hazel Norris

2026 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents & Media

With the rise in chronic illnesses, healthcare professionals have sought to improve habits and behaviors to extend longevity and quality of life. However, for many people, unhealthy habits, such as smoking or binge eating, may develop as a way of coping with life stressors, which can make behavior changes harder to implement. Recently, there has been an increase in new research on whether improving mindfulness could be used to combat this problem. If mindfulness does encourage more engagement in health-promoting behaviors while protecting against risky behaviors, mindfulness-based behavior interventions could be very valuable for improving the health of college students …

Using Ai-Based Predictive Scheduling To Improve Patient Flow And Reduce Wait Times In Healthcare Clinics, Oscar Martinez

Posters - 2026

• Healthcare systems face increasing challenges in patient access and wait times
• Average wait times for specialist care continue to rise, creating:
  • Delays in treatment
  • Reduced patient satisfaction
  • Increased system inefficiencies (Sanford, 2025)
• A major contributor is operational bottlenecks, defined as:
  • Points of congestion that slow or disrupt service flow
• Hospitals typically operate under process layouts, which:
  • Handle diverse patient needs
  • Reduce specialization efficiency
• Contributing factors to bottlenecks:
  • Physician shortages and burnout
  • Administrative burden
  • Inefficient scheduling systems (Moura & Pinho, 2025)
• AI offers potential solutions through:
  • Predictive scheduling
  • Automation of administrative processes
  • Data-driven optimization of patient flow

Use Of A Structured Rounding Model To Improve Interprofessional Communication And Collaboration Among Mds And Rns In A Medicine Unit – An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Jackie Raygoza,

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose/Aims

This DNP project aims to improve communication and collaboration between physicians (MDs) and registered nurses (RNs) on medical units by implementing a structured three-step communication-rounding model integrated into the daily workflow and leveraging existing communication tools. As patients’ conditions become more complex and healthcare demands increase, it is crucial to foster an environment where communication among providers and staff is clear, transparent, respectful, and collaborative. By leveraging information technology and evidence-based strategies, the project seeks to strengthen interprofessional collaboration and improve patient satisfaction and the quality of care. The project includes educational sessions for both MDs and RNs to …

Factors Associated With Lapses In Care Among People Living With Hiv In South Carolina, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Fanghui Shi, Shujie Chen, Gavi Samuel, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Utilizing statewide electronic health records (EHR) data, this study aims to assess the factors determining the occurrence of lapses in HIV care among people with HIV (PWH) in South Carolina (SC). All adult (≥ 18 years old) PWH who were diagnosed with HIV between 2006 and 2018 with at least two HIV care encounters and at least 1-year follow-up record were included in the analysis. The outcome, a lapse in care, was defined as a repeated measure of HIV care encounter that occurs over a year following the previous visit. Generalized Estimation Equation models were employed. The study cohort had …