Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Patients' Experience Through Nurturing Care For Patients Undergoing Kidney Biopsies: A Feedback Survey, Molefe Rapalai, Mahmoud Elshehawy, Johann Nicholas, Patrick Anthony Ball, Hana Morrissey

Patient Experience Journal

Background: Renal biopsies are a key tool in diagnosing kidney diseases, providing histopathological insights for personalised treatment plans. Despite their clinical value, little is explored about how patients experience this invasive procedure. Understanding these experiences is important for improving care quality, safety, and ensuring the process is as patient friendly as possible. There is also a lack of research capturing patient experience feedback on renal biopsies, making studies like this essential for guiding service improvement initiatives. Method: Observational study, May 2022 to June 2024. Eighty-six percutaneous renal biopsies performed. Fifty eligible patients invited to complete the Kidney Biopsy Patient Experience …

Capturing Patient-Centered Quality Of Life: Usability And Initial Validation Of The Pediatric Patient-Generated Index Following Esophageal Atresia Repair, Zanib Nafees, Julia Ferreira, Elena Guadagno, Nikki Ow, Nancy Mayo, Jean-Martin Laberge, Dan Poenaru

Patient Experience Journal

The Patient-Generated Index (PGI) is an individualized measure that allows patients to define the domains most important to their quality of life (QoL). This study evaluates the usability and preliminary validity of the pediatric Patient-Generated Index (pPGI) in children who previously underwent esophageal atresia (EA) repair. We conducted a mixed-methods study including the pPGI, EuroQol-5D-Youth (EQ-5D-Y), and PROMIS Life Satisfaction Short Form-8a. Children aged 7–17 years completed self-reports, while parents served as proxies for younger children. Cognitive interviews explored how children understood and completed the pPGI, and clinician interviews assessed clinical usability. Among 25 participants, the pPGI generated 104 text …

Preventing Delirium After Surgery: A Qualitative Study Of Patients, Caregivers, And Providers, Jennifer O'Brien, Maria Cruz, Heather Dyck, Hassan Yassin, Una Goncin, Lei Xia, Huma Aftab, Lilian Thorpe, Peter Hedlin

Patient Experience Journal

Post-operative delirium is the most common complication in older adults following surgery. Symptoms include agitation, difficulty focusing, sluggishness, hallucinations, slurred speech, restlessness, rapid mood swings, and uncooperative or aggressive behaviour. It can result in longer hospital stays, increased mortality, loss of functional independence, increased need for a higher level of care post-surgery, and an increased risk of readmission to hospital. We aimed to understand and describe the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare providers with postoperative delirium, and to identify targeted initiatives to support patient and family centered care for high-risk patients. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using interviews …

Beliefs Regarding Patient Experience In The Emergency Department Among Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease, Elizabeth A. Ibiloye, Gloria N. Odonkor, Ayobami A. Aiyeolemi, Jamie C. Barner, Carolyn M. Brown, Hyeun Ah Kang, Benita A. Bamgbade

Patient Experience Journal

Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently experience intense, unanticipated pain episodes known as vaso-occlusive events (VOEs), which often require emergency department (ED) treatment. However, they often report suboptimal experiences in the ED. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study aimed to elicit salient beliefs regarding SCD patient experience in the ED. Three virtual focus group sessions were conducted with individuals with SCD recruited through a Texas SCD Association and Rare Patient Voice. Nine open-ended questions were used to elicit participants' behavioral, normative, and control beliefs regarding ED use when experiencing VOEs. Qualitative analysis was performed using a …

The Voices I Never Heard: Reflections From A Public Health Advocate On Representation, Silence, And Struggle, Araya Gautam

Patient Experience Journal

Representation of ethnic minorities among trial participants in the UK is poor. It is true that the need for diversity and inclusive language is important in research, but the practicality of making this a reality for patients from under-represented groups has not generally been the case. As a patient advocate, I have been a participant in clinical trial reviews and advisory boards during the past three years and have engaged in a national-level conversation about patient voice and equity. I draw connections between structured frameworks for patient and public involvement (PPI) in the UK and the more informal, community-based caregiving …

The Quiet End Of The Visit, Avinav Biswas

Patient Experience Journal

Reassuring language is a common and often well-intentioned feature of clinical encounters, frequently used to convey clinical confidence and bring visits to a close. This personal narrative reflects on an observed outpatient encounter during a physician shadowing experience in which reassurance appeared to function not only as comfort, but also as an implicit signal of conversational closure. From the perspective of a student observer, the piece describes a moment of patient hesitation that arose after reassurance was offered, then quietly disappeared as the visit concluded. Although the encounter was clinically appropriate and efficient, the unspoken pause highlighted how uncertainty can …

Navigating Medical Ambiguity: A Patient's Perspective On Communication, Timing, And Risk, J. Hansen

Patient Experience Journal

This essay recounts the experience of navigating re-vaccination decisions after an initial diagnosis of vaccine-associated myocarditis. A diagnosis later contested by other specialists. It is not a tale of medical error, but of diagnostic ambiguity and divergent clinical reasoning. My intent is to show how, in the absence of consensus, a patient was compelled to assume a central role in adjudicating between competing medical narratives. Recommendations are offered to make medical advice more available to patients and bridge a growing gap between medicine and the public.

Human Experience, The Boarding Crisis, And Moral Injury-A Call To Action, Thom Mayer, Wendy Dean

Patient Experience Journal

Patient experience has evolved to a broader definition of human experience, including workforce experience, and community experience. Hospital boarding is a common, pervasive problem facing healthcare, which threatens all levels of human experience, from patient experience, to workforce experience (moral injury and burnout in healthcare professionals), and community experience (delayed and denied access to care for patients, Emergency Medical Services, and even interhospital transfers. Effective system leadership across the systems and processes of healthcare, as well as stakeholder and boundary management, will be essential to deliver acceptable human experience, in addition to solutions to smooth surgical flow, improve discharge systems, …

Human Experience: A Catalyst For Global Connection, Jason A. Wolf

Patient Experience Journal

As I think about the state of play in our world today, I find we have two choices in how we react. One is with a sense of despair driven by the intentional efforts to disconnect humanity being perpetuated by some. The other, with a sense of hope, that even in the face of these forces, there are those that strive relentlessly to foster connection and opportunity. I find the path forward in holding the tension of pragmatic idealism – that we can dream, with big and noble goals, while recognizing our path forward must be grounded in practical and …

Mindful Tea Drinking As A Low-Cost Sensory Intervention For Reducing Stress In College Students, David Gabel

Honors Projects

The proposed study would investigate the effects of a tea-based sensory mindfulness exercise on stress in college aged participants. Participants would listen to a mindful tea exercise and a non-mindful tea exercise after a mild stress-inducing Stroop test. For both conditions, the participants would report their current state of distress on the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) before and after each tea exercise and their heart rate variability (HRV) would be measured during each segment of the experiment.

Descriptive statistics and a paired samples t-test would be used to compare the mindful tea condition with the non-mindful condition following …

Charity Pharmacies: An Integrative Overview Of Operations: A Continuing Education Program For Pharmacists, Stella Bertram

Honors Theses

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The goal of this activity is to educate pharmacists about Charity Pharmacies by creating an integrative overview of their purpose, laws and regulations, processes and procedures, eligibility, and opportunities for involvement. This course will ensure pharmacists are competent in the operations involved in volunteering or working within a charitable pharmacy.

Additionally, the information provided supports pharmacists in understanding their roles as well as roles of volunteers. They will understand the importance of their role in the community and the depth of their service within Charity Pharmacies.

Abortion Politics And Policy: Stigma And Access In The Silver State, Celene Fuller

Lincy Institute Events

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) overturning Roe V. Wade, states have taken divergent paths in regulating access to abortion services. In 2024, Nevada voters overwhelmingly passed Question 6 proposing to codify abortion rights into the state constitution. In November 2026, Question 6 will again be on the ballot for final confirmation. If it passes, these rights will be protected from future legislative action.

Despite Nevadans’ strong support for abortion rights, the state’s dearth of abortion providers limits access to these services. As this lecture explores, both providers and individuals seeking abortions, …

Mechanisms Of Binding And Immune Escape Resistance For Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Targeting Distinct Conserved Sars-Cov-2 Spike Epitopes: A Hierarchical Approach Integrating Mutational Profiling And Energy Landscape Analysis, Mohammed Alshahrani, Will Gatlin, Max Ludwick, Lucas Turano, Brandon Foley, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The continued evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has enabled an escape from most monoclonal antibodies, yet a subset of broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting three newly identified super-conserved RBD epitopes—SCORE-A, SCORE-B, and SCORE-C—retains remarkable activity against even the most recent JN.1-derived sublineages. Here, we employed an integrated computational framework combining conformational dynamics, mutational scanning, MM-GBSA binding energetics, and frustration profiling to dissect the molecular mechanisms by which XGI antibodies achieve broad neutralization and resistance to immune escape. Structural analysis revealed that all three SCORE epitopes share a common architecture: a highly conserved, minimally frustrated core that provides stable anchoring, flanked by peripheral regions …

Addressing Food Insecurity Through Partnering With The Community Teaching Kitchen On Lifestyle Medicine Hypertension Class, Emily Miyasako, Jill Christensen

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background: Food insecurity is defined as limited or unreliable access to adequate and nutritious food. In Oregon, approximately 1 in 8 residents experience food insecurity, with rates disproportionately affecting low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and households with children or elderly individuals. Food insecurity remains a significant threat to our patients’ health and is associated with obesity, malnutrition, and poor mental health. As a primary care provider, I have seen the effects of food insecurity on my patients, but I am thankful for the presence of our Community Teaching Kitchen. The Community Teaching Kitchen (CTK) at Providence Milwaukie provides nutritional …

How Digital News Impacts Health Knowledge And Decisions, Ellya Asatryan

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

This literature review examines how digital news and online health information (OHI) influence health knowledge and decision-making. This review focuses specifically on young adults, who increasingly rely on digital platforms for health information. Evidence indicates that OHI can support informed health decisions, such as lifestyle changes and self-care, particularly when individuals possess higher digital health literacy. However, the rise of social media, influencer marketing, and misinformation complicates these effects, making critical evaluation skills essential. Trust in digital health news is mediated by source credibility, exposure to misinformation, and individuals’ media and health literacy levels. Lower health literacy is associated with …

Staff Educational Impact On School-Based Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review, Daniel J. Kim, Di'yana Fisher, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne, Fnap

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

            Trends are consistently increasing among adolescents in regard to mental health diagnoses and suicide risks, which emphasizes the necessity for early identification via school-based psychiatric screenings. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) has proven effective in uncovering symptoms of depression; variable application and limited staff knowledge continue to be substantial hurdles. This scoping review examined the influence of staff education and training on the efficacy of school-based psychiatric screening.

Methods

            PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and JAMA were utilized to conduct this scoping review. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included if they involved adolescents aged 13-18, …

Prenatal Care Access And Pregnancy Outcomes Among Black Women Ages 15–44 In Cook County, Illinois, Deandrea Heggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal health disparities affecting Black women in the United States remain a persistent public health concern due to inequities in prenatal care access and adverse birth outcomes. Prior research has shown that socioeconomic conditions, insurance coverage, and systemic barriers influence prenatal care utilization and maternal outcomes; however, limited research has examined how Medicaid coverage, household income, preterm birth, and birth weight are collectively associated with prenatal care access among Black women in Cook County, Illinois. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationships among these factors and access to prenatal care among Black women ages 15–44 …

Cross-Sectional Associations Of Metabolically Healthy Obesity, Lifestyle Factors, And Steatotic Liver Disease In Adults From The Fels Longitudinal Study, Ariana L Garza, Audrey C Choh, John Blangero, Cici X Bauer, Stefan A Czerwinski, Miryoung Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To examine the associations of metabolic health and obesity phenotypes with liver fat accumulation and hepatic steatosis in adults.

Methods: We analyzed 676 non-Hispanic white adults (18-95 years; 55.8% female) from the Fels Longitudinal Study using a cross-sectional design. Participants were classified into metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotypes. Metabolically unhealthy status was defined as the presence of ≥1 metabolic dysfunction, consistent with prior epidemiological definitions; secondary analyses using ≥2 were also performed. Obesity was defined using DXA-derived body fat percentage. Liver fat (%) was …

Serum Metabolites Associated With Depression And Anxiety In The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Xinye Qiu, Yu Zhang, Yogesh Purushotham, Qibin Qi, Bing Yu, Jan Bressler, Krista M Perreira, Humberto Parada, Martha L Daviglus, Alejandra Cid Vega, Carmen R Isasi, Linda C Gallo, Tamar Sofer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Omics signatures for psychiatric conditions have been under-investigated. In this study, we used data from a representative observational cohort study of Hispanic/Latino adults to identify serum metabolites associated with symptoms of depression or anxiety and to develop and assess metabolite risk scores (MRSs) of these phenotypes. We conducted a metabolome-wide association study of 768 metabolites with depression and anxiety symptoms, using two separate assay batches measured from baseline samples collected between June 2008 and July 2011 for discovery (batch 1: n = 4002 adults) and replication (batch 2: n = 2178 adults). We estimated the associations via survey-based generalized linear …

Governing Addiction: An Anthropological Comparison Of Care In The United States And The Netherlands, Kiren K. Bagga

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This article examines addiction care as a form of moral governance through a comparative anthropological analysis of the United States and the Netherlands. Drawing on a Foucauldian theory of biopolitics alongside this study argues that approaches to addiction treatment reveal how states differentially value life, citizenship, and vulnerability. Joan Tronto's relational definition of ethical care is used to move beyond a solely moral context, towards an ethical understanding of both caretakers and those who require care. In the United States, addiction policy has historically functioned as a punitive and moralizing project, shaped by racialized drug criminalization, neoliberal ideals of individual …

Spatial Distribution Patterns Of Determinants Of Hypertension In West Java In 2023, Meirina Nur Asih Susanti, Wahyu Septiono

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Hypertension is a public health issue that is unevenly distributed across regions. The high prevalence in West Java (34.4%) with a large population makes the management of hypertension crucial. Differences in economic and environmental conditions are thought to influence the distribution of hypertension, thus requiring spatial analysis. This study used an ecological approach by analyzing data from districts/cities in West Java in 2023. Secondary data were used to measure hypertension prevalence and to assess socioeconomic and environmental factors. The analysis was conducted using univariate Moran's Index, Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), and the Spatial Autoregressive Model (SAR). The prevalence …

Assessment Of Health And Medical Students' Awareness, Attitude, And Preventive Practices Toward Monkeypox Outbreak, Haneen Qahtan, Taher M. Al-Fahham, Sameerah Mohammed Saeed

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which is a primarily endemic disease in Western and Central Africa. Monkeypox infections among humans have been on the rise in certain areas of Africa in recent times, leading to its identification as a major health hazard. It is important for medical college students, who will become future healthcare professionals, to actively participate in educating the general population about this illness. Their readiness and capacity to properly handle such health emergencies are strongly influenced by their knowledge, attitudes, and preventive measures regarding newly emerging infectious diseases such as monkeypox. This …

Barriers Asian Adoptees Face In Screening For Inheritable Conditions Due To A Lack Of Family Medical History, Anna Shea

Honors Projects

Adoption has been increasingly common in the United States, with more than 7.8 million people in the United States adopted (Wexler et al., 2025) and over 280,000 children in the United States adopted internationally (Orr et al., 2024). Despite this, those who are adopted, especially internationally, often face medical disadvantages compared to those biologically related to their family. The differences in treatment between adoptees and those who are biologically related are largely due to the knowledge, or lack of knowledge, of the individual’s family medical history and genetic information. Genetic or inherited disease screening is often only completed or covered …

Handgrip Strength, Handgrip Endurance And Bmi: A Comprehensive Approach To Health Assessment Among The General Population Of Madikeri, Dr Asha S. Das, Dr Ravikiran Kisan, Dr Suhas Y. Shirur, Dr Narasimha Rai K, Dr Sanjay Bhagoji

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction: Being physically fit is essential for lowering the risk of illness and enhancing longevity. While Body Mass Index (BMI) is frequently used to evaluate body composition, Hand Grip Strength (HGS) and Hand Grip Endurance (HGE) are important indicators of general well-being. Goal: To assess BMI, HGS, and HGE and ascertain how they correlate in a selected group of subjects. Methods: Fifty participants between the ages of 20 and 40 years participated in a comparative cross-sectional study at the Department of Physiology, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Madikeri. Participants were divided into three BMI groups after anthropometric measurements were taken. …

Cross-Sectional Associations Of Metabolically Healthy Obesity, Lifestyle Factors, And Steatotic Liver Disease In Adults From The Fels Longitudinal Study, Ariana L. Garza, Audrey C. Choh, John Blangero, Cici X. Bauer, Stefan A. Czerwinski, Miryoung Lee

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: To examine the associations of metabolic health and obesity phenotypes with liver fat accumulation and hepatic steatosis in adults. Methods: We analyzed 676 non-Hispanic white adults (18–95 years; 55.8% female) from the Fels Longitudinal Study using a cross-sectional design. Participants were classified into metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotypes. Metabolically unhealthy status was defined as the presence of ≥1 metabolic dysfunction, consistent with prior epidemiological definitions; secondary analyses using ≥2 were also performed. Obesity was defined using DXA-derived body fat percentage. Liver fat (%) was …

Improving Identification And Referral Of Xylazine‑Associated Wounds In Homeless Healthcare, Ramon A. Gambino

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Xylazine-adulterated fentanyl is linked to distinctive necrotic wounds and complex care needs in unsheltered populations. This quality improvement (QI) project implemented a brief survey and referral log at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH) to track suspected xylazine-associated wounds and referrals to advanced care. Methods: Final data were exported from Qualtrics, cleaned to retain finished responses, standardized categories, and de-identified. The analytic sample included 18 encounters. Results: Results showed that 55.6% (n = 10) documented suspected xylazine-associated wounds; 5.6% (n = 1) reported no suspicion; 38.9% (n = 7) were uncertain. Referrals were rarely documented overall at AHCH …

Association Between Maternal Factors And Stunting Based On The Indonesia Family Life Survey 5 (Ifls-5), Charissa Otniel Sukamto, Siti Nur Fatimah, Noormarina Indraswari

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Stunting remains a major issue in Indonesia. Maternal factors during pregnancy are one of the key determinants in preventing stunting. This study aimed to analyze the association between maternal history during pregnancy (age, height, parity, and inter-pregnancy interval) and stunting, with a comparison between urban and rural areas.

Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study used data from 3,639 children aged 1-5 years old from the household survey of Indonesia Family Life Survey 5, conducted between late October 2014 and August 2015 within 13 provinces in Indonesia. Data was analyzed using chi-square and binary logistic regression methods.

Results: …

Self-Efficacy And Health Promotion: The Roles Of Family Health And Health Literacy, Müjdat Yeşildal, Yunus Emre Öztürk

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Chronic noncommunicable diseases are the leading causes of death globally and in Türkiye, emphasizing the need to explore how individual, familial, and informational factors shape health-promoting behaviors. This study examined whether family health and health literacy sequentially mediate the relationship between general self-efficacy and health-promoting behaviors among adults in Türkiye.

Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 1,240 adults in Konya Province, Türkiye, between November and December 2022. Participants completed the Turkish versions of the General Self-Efficacy, Family Health, Health Literacy, and Health-Promoting and Protective Behaviors Scales. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and …

Examining The Psychometric Properties Of The Big Three Perfectionism Scale–Short Form (Btps-Sf) Among Malaysian Chinese Students At A Private University, Kam-Fong Lee, Ashraf Sadat Ahadzadeh, Shin Ling Wu

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Perfectionism is increasingly prevalent among young adults and is a significant predictor of pathological and behavioral outcomes. Despite its relevance, validated and reliable measures of perfectionism tailored to university students, particularly within the Malaysian cultural and academic context, are lacking. This study addresses this gap by examining the psychometric properties of the BTPS-SF among Chinese students at a private university in Malaysia.

Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional design with convenience and snowball sampling from 380 students aged 18–25 years, predominantly from a Chinese student population.

Results: The results of the exploratory factor analysis, conducted …

Questionnaire For Eudaimonic Well-Being: Psychometric Validation Among Malaysian Youth, Mohd Ahsani A. Malek, Nurulwahida Saad, Suzana Mohd. Hoesni, Muhamad Ariff Ibrahim, Nurul Shafira Adi, Mohd Nazir Mohd Nazori

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The rising prevalence of mental illness underscores the need to understand how individuals can live and flourish under such conditions. In Malaysia, research has largely emphasized diagnosis and treatment, with limited focus on positive psychology and few validated instruments. This study aimed to translate and validate the questionnaire for eudaimonic well-being (QEWB) among Malaysian youth.

Methods: The QEWB was translated into Malay using back-to-back translation and administered to undergraduates from four public universities through a cross-sectional survey design. Convenience quota sampling was used, resulting in 229 respondents completing the online form to measure sociodemographic characteristics, eudaimonic well-being, …