Physical Therapists' Perspectives Of Implicit Racial And Ethnic Biases And The Influence On Physical Therapy Practice, Michael Blizniak, Mary Shotwell, Cheryl Kerfeld, Shanda Gore

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Problem: Physical therapy (PT) outcome disparities exist among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Implicit racial and ethnic biases (IREBs) may contribute to these inequities. Understanding IREBs within PT practice is crucial for addressing disparities and helping physical therapists comply with the American Physical Therapy Association Code of Ethics Principles. Purpose: This study examines the role of IREBs in PT by exploring physical therapists' awareness of them and their potential influence on PT practice. Methods: A virtual explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Fifty-one United States physical therapists participated in the …

Perceptions Of Shared Decision-Making And Interprofessional Education At National Collegiate Athletic Association Institutions, Shelene Thomas, Rebecca Downey, Kaylyn Mcanally Star, Erin Choice, Anthony P. Breitbach

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: When a shared decision-making design is employed in the return to sport (RTS) Continuum, the athletes’ outcome improves. Yet, many professional programs (i.e., athletic training and medicine) integrate interprofessional education into curricula differently or not at all. Therefore, there may be a mismatch between theory, curricula, and practice implementation. This discrepancy could impact care team operations and RTS outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess perceptions of shared decision-making practices, communication strategies, and perceived barriers among interprofessional RTS care team members in NCAA intercollegiate athletics.

Methods: A mixed-methods, cross-sectional study including anonymous, web-based survey responses from 253 …

Operational And Implementation Evaluation Of A Short-Term Medical Service Program In Rural Guatemala, Mitchell M. Michalak, Shamecka Douglas, Oscar Gonzalez, Giovanna Sanguinetti, Ashley Sweat

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Fall Risk And Lower Extremity Strength In Diabetic And Non-Diabetic Older Adults: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Maimoona Shahid, Yasha Sajjad, Shumail Fatima, Ayesha Tuba, Wajida Perveen, Asim Raza

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Many studies have been conducted on falls in individuals older than 60 years of age with diabetes, so the current study focused on comparing and contrasting the fall risk and lower extremity strength in diabetic and non-diabetic people of 50 years of age and above and early identification of fall risk. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study recruited 210 older adults 50 years of age and older from community dwelling areas. Thirty-one (31) participants were healthy and free of diabetes, while 179 of the same age range were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The study was conducted over a period of …

Effect Of Exercise On Modifying Progression Of Physical Symptoms In Parkinson’S Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Ruiping Xia, Mitchell Stanford, Robert S. Phillips

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Emerging evidence suggests a promising treatment of combining exercise with medication. This systematic review with meta-analysis examined effect of exercise on modifying PD progression of physical symptoms. Methods: E-databases were searched to date. Randomized trials were included if they compared effect of exercise with no exercise/other exercise, and measured motor function for >=12 months. Results: Ten trials were included with eight eligible for meta-analyses. The pooled effect of exercise on UPDRS-III was a standard mean difference of 0.327 (95% CI: -0.052 to 0.707; p < 0.091). Mean difference in off-medication exceeded minimal clinically important difference. The pooled effects were 0.927 (95% CI: 0.015 to 1.839, p = 0.046) for Timed Up-and-Go, and 0.338 (95% CI: 0.022 to 0.654, p < 0.036) for PD Questionnaire-39. All findings were in favor of exercise intervention to improve patients’ motor severity and function/participation for at least 12 months. Conclusions: This study suggests that physical therapy …

Defining Success Differently: The Clear Model For Allied Health Admissions, Ladarius Woods

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

This opinion paper argues that threshold-based lottery admissions offer a strategically necessary response to equity challenges, enrollment pressures, and evolving definitions of merit in allied health education. Current admissions models, whether traditional or holistic, often reflect underlying tensions between academic metrics and institutional missions and may unintentionally privilege certain applicant groups. As demographic shifts and the looming enrollment cliff intensify these pressures, allied health programs must reconsider how they define and identify admissions excellence. Drawing on examples from other sectors and recent literature, this opinion piece argues that a threshold-based lottery system, applied to applicants who meet baseline academic criteria, …

Burnout And Professional Fulfillment Among Academic Faculty In U.S. Graduate Physical Therapy Programs: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Joshua Cleland, Paul Mintken, Megan Donaldson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Burnout among academic faculty is a growing concern, particularly within health professions education. This study examines the prevalence of burnout, associated risk factors, and protective factors, including professional fulfillment, among faculty and leadership in U.S. graduate physical therapy (PT) programs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to program leaders in graduate PT programs for distribution. The survey included validated metrics from the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index along with custom items assessing workload, institutional culture, mentorship, and wellness factors. Comparative analyses were conducted between individuals who reported burnout and those who did not. Results: A total of 152 responses were …

An Academic–Community Partnership: A Faculty-Student Collaborative Occupational Therapy Clinic For Health Equity And Experiential Learning, Jennifer Martin, Nancy Saucedo, Jazmine Jacobo, Monica Gendy, David John, Yolanda Escalante

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This descriptive report outlines the development and operation of a faculty–student collaborative occupational therapy (OT) clinic embedded in a community-based primary care setting serving uninsured individuals. The clinic’s dual mission is (1) to reduce disparities in access to OT services and (2) to serve as an educational model for developing student competence, cultural humility, and advocacy skills. Description: Established in 2019 and relaunched in 2023, the clinic operates one day per week, providing consultative OT services primarily for musculoskeletal conditions, with additional referrals for neurological and systemic issues. Over two academic years, the clinic delivered 229 service hours across …

Agreement Among Experienced Physical Therapist Clinicians In Naming Nystagmus: A Mixed-Methods Study Design, Lori Ann Leineke, Alessandra N. Garcia, Bridget Eubanks

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Labeling nystagmus requires clinicians to consider multiple aspects of its presentation. The extent to which physical therapists (PTs) use consistent terminology for describing nystagmus is unknown. Recommendations for proper terminology exist, but adherence during clinical assessment has not been determined. This study investigated whether PTs with advanced vestibular rehabilitation skills and training consistently use standardized vocabulary to describe nystagmus patterns. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed-methods study utilized an online survey methodology, which included eight free-response questions. Participants viewed videos of nystagmus through Infrared or Frenzel goggles and documented their observations. A codebook of responses was created for each question, …

Cognitive Predictors Of Functional Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury, Disha A. Thakkar, Charles J. Golden

Archives of Assessment Psychology

This study examined whether the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT), administered during acute rehabilitation, improved the prediction of 5-year functional outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) beyond standard demographic and injury-severity variables. Data were obtained from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) National Database (N = 6,880; enrolled 2017 onward). Missing data were handled using multiple imputation (20 datasets). Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended (GOS-E) as outcome measures. Demographics (age, sex, education, race) were entered in Block 1, injury severity indicators (post-traumatic amnesia [PTA] duration, …

Self-Esteem Development And Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Bahaa Al Ghraibeh

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Self-esteem is a fundamental psychological construct that develops across the lifespan and influences academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Research consistently links healthy self-esteem with positive developmental outcomes, including improved educational achievement, stronger interpersonal relationships, and better mental health. At the same time, emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are associated with persistent emotional, behavioral, academic, and social difficulties that can interfere with healthy self-development. This paper reviews the developmental trajectory of self-esteem from early childhood through adulthood and examines how the experiences commonly associated with EBD may negatively affect that trajectory. The review discusses how children begin forming self-esteem at …

Prior Traumatic Brain Injury As A Predictor Of Cognitive Deficits After Moderate-To-Severe Injury, Disha A. Thakkar, Charles J. Golden

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Prior traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common among individuals who later sustain a moderate-to-severe TBI (msTBI), and cumulative injury models suggest repeated TBIs may worsen long-term cognitive outcomes. This study tested whether prior TBI history independently contributes to cognitive performance one year after an index msTBI beyond demographic and injury-severity factors. Data were drawn from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database (N = 6,880 enrolled since 2017). 2,773 participants completed the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone at one-year follow-up. Hierarchical regression models evaluated whether prior TBI history accounted for incremental variance in overall cognitive status and …

Limits Of Post-Activation Performance Enhancement: Asymmetry Persists Despite Performance Gains, Talia Thompson, Monique Mokha

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) protocols are commonly used to improve power, yet their influence on inter-limb force symmetry remains unclear. This study examined the effects of a PAPE protocol on inter- and intra-session symmetry and performance during a countermovement (CMJ. Ten American football players preparing for the National Football League’s draft completed a complex PAPE protocol consisting of two baseline CMJ trials on dual uniaxial force plates, followed by three sets of maximum effort lower-body lifts (e.g., split squats) alternated with two CMJ trials. Jump height (JH), reactive strength index modified (RSImod), and asymmetry indices for concentric impulse (CIA), eccentric …

Exploring Imagined Identities And Communities Among Learners Of English As A Lingua Franca: A Qualitative Narrative Inquiry, Özge Kuru, Enisa Mede

The Qualitative Report

Exploration of imagined identities and communities has been recognized as critical aspects in learning English as a foreign language. These two aspects perspectives differ as to how learners view themselves with respect to others through narratives and how they practise the language not only face to face but also in virtual interactions. This study aimed to explore how being a participant in virtual communities of practice affect the identity construction among English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) learners coming from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds (Jenkins, 2006). Specifically, we tried to find out how three Turkish ELF learners positioned themselves …

Introducing The Qualitative Software Article Data Analysis Checklist (Qs-Adac), Sheryl L. Chatfield

The Qualitative Report

Authors and researchers have many alternatives to consider when seeking reporting guidance or assessing the thoroughness of reporting in published qualitative research articles.  However, widely used reporting guidance and checklist processes such as CASP, COREQ, SRQR, and the American Psychological Association JARS-Qual have few prompts related to researcher use of Qualitative Data Analysis Software (QDAS) for data preparation, processing, or analysis. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of the Qualitative Software Article Data Analysis Checklist (QS-ADAC), a tool developed to provide authors with reporting guidance and to provide students with a consistent process for examining details …

Making Sense Of Hospitalization: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Covid-19 Patients’ Psychological Experiences In Indonesia, Mira Wahyu Kusumawati, Heni Dwi Windarwati, Setyawati Soeharto

The Qualitative Report

While previous research has probed into the experiences of COVID-19 patients during isolation in hospitals, little is known about their psychological experiences and the meaning of such experiences. To address the gap,this study was designed to explore the psychological experiences of patients who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 while undergoing isolation in hospitals. Using a phenomenological approach, we recruited 19 COVID-19 survivors who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the first six months of the pandemic entering Indonesia, located in Madiun Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. We conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with health protocols and analysed the data using the …

Exploring The Stress Coping Strategies Of Indonesian Elementary School Teachers: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Anak Agung Gede Agung, I Ketut Gading, Basilius Redan Werang, Ni Luh Putu Agetania

The Qualitative Report

Teachers play a pivotal role in delivering quality education and shaping students’ future lives. The growing demands and responsibilities on teachers can lead to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, which threatens their well-being—a condition commonly referred to as work stress. Our study aimed to explore the strategies used by elementary school teachers in Bali Province to cope with work-related stress. This study adopts a qualitative research approach with elementary schools in Bali Province, Indonesia, serving as the research setting. A phenomenological research design was employed, involving 25 purposively selected teachers as participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed …

Exploring Grounded Theory In Educational Research: Literature Review, Reflexivity, And Conceptual Development In Doctoral Research, Huidan Niu

The Qualitative Report

My article explores the application of grounded theory in educational research, focusing on the literature review process, reflexivity, and conceptual development. I address common misconceptions about grounded theory, especially for novice researchers, and advocate for its use as a comprehensive methodology rather than solely as a data analysis tool. Drawing on my doctoral research experience, I argue that grounded theory offers a valuable framework for fostering theoretical sensitivity and independence, making it particularly suitable for educational research. Through detailed examination, I offer novice researchers practical strategies for navigating the methodological complexities of grounded theory and for contributing conceptually robust and …

Gendered Politics Of Pictures: How Images In A Pakistani English Textbook Homogenize Female Identities, Liaquat Ali Channa

The Qualitative Report

This qualitative multimodal analytical study draws upon Kress and van Leeuwen’s ideas about pictures and problematizes textbooks of English that supposedly teach only English in Pakistan. It aims to understand the identities of an adult female as shown in the images of an English textbook. It uses Foucault’s theories of discourse and discursive formation, and a Vygotskian sociocultural view of the development of consciousness. By following Braun and Clarke (2006, 2019), all the pictures of the My English Book 4 are first analyzed thematically. Later, O’Toole’s (1994) method of analyzing pictures is employed for a detailed examination of a representative …

Gun Rights And Public Safety: A Constitutional Tension, Kirsten Zonkowski

NSU Undergraduate Law Journal

This paper examines the constitutional tension between gun regulation and the right to bear arms in the United States. By analyzing landmark Supreme Court cases and major legislative developments, tracing the historical foundations of the Second Amendment, exploring judicial interpretations, and identifying ongoing doctrinal challenges, it highlights  the central constitutional conflict: the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms, yet that right often clashes with the government’s responsibility to protect citizens and maintain public safety. Courts and legislatures continue to struggle to define the limits of governmental authority without infringing upon fundamental constitutional rights, revealing an …

The Prosecution Of Nicolás Maduro, Jose Manuel Vanegas

NSU Undergraduate Law Journal

This paper examines the complex legal and political issues that came from the capture of Nicolás Maduro by United States authorities, an event that has generated controversy in both domestic and international legal debate. It begins by providing the necessary background of Maduro’s rise to power, his role as president, and the broader political and economic conditions of Venezuela under his administration. The paper then analyzes the criminal charges brought against him in U.S. federal court, including allegations of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and related offenses tied to alleged collaborations with transnational criminal organizations. Building on this foundation, the …

Property And Social Justice In Thomas Paine’S Agrarian Justice: Revaluating Modern American Property Law, Amanda Infante

NSU Undergraduate Law Journal

This paper critically examines the philosophical core of property law through the lens of Thomas Paine’s Agrarian Justice. Paine challenges the conception of property as a natural right, instead theorizing land ownership as a social construct contingent on communal needs and obligations. This framework is situated as an intellectual precursor to contemporary legal debates regarding the legitimacy and moral limits of private property. The analysis engages with pivotal Supreme Court decisions, including Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co., Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City, and Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, to set …

The Manifestation Of George Orwell’S 1984 In The Legal Profession’S Use Of Ai, Alexa Cedras

NSU Undergraduate Law Journal

George Orwell’s 1984 tells the chilling story of an oppressive regime that uses information control and manipulation to further its political agenda. Within the realm of 1984, the Party, the head of the regime, weaponizes instruments, such as a telescreen, to subject citizens to ongoing surveillance with the promise that any suspicious activity will be punished. In furtherance of that agenda, the Party controls every existing narrative of the past, present, and future, using their authoritarian position to alter primary and secondary sources for their benefit. Lastly, by creating a new language to serve as a linguistic constraint, the Party …

Tissue-Specific Heavy Metal Accumulation And Sediment–Mangrove Dynamics In Port Everglades, Florida, Dimitrios Giarikos, Amy Hirons, Jason Gershman, Sophie Welch

SECLER Data

Coastal wetlands near industrialized waterways face increasing heavy metal contamination, yet the role of mangroves as biogeochemical buffers remains poorly understood. This study quantified 16 heavy metals in sediments and red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) tissues (roots, branches, and leaves) across four sites near Port Everglades, Florida, examining tissue-specific partitioning, contamination patterns, and sediment-to-plant transfer. The South Turning Basin (STB) was the principal contamination hotspot, with geometric mean (GM) concentrations of arsenic (As; 27.8 µg/g) and zinc (Zn; 203 µg/g) exceeding threshold effect levels, while Cu exceeded its probable effect level (PEL; 193 µg/g). Mercury (Hg) exceeded its PEL …

A Functional Nutrition Literature Review For Brain Fog And Adhd-Like Symptoms In Adults, Natalie Elisani Aldahondo-Matos

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD-like symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating, mental fatigue, and problems with executive functioning, are increasingly recognized in adults. Although medication is commonly used to manage ADHD, there is growing interest in whether nutrition may also play a role in supporting brain function and attention. Several nutrients involved in brain health including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, magnesium, iron, and choline  have been suggested as potential contributors to cognitive performance and attention. However, the research examining the connection between diet and ADHD symptoms is still limited and sometimes shows mixed results.

The purpose of this project was …

Histological Analysis Of Six Atlantic Scleractinian Coral Species Exposed To Three Hydrocarbons, 1-Methylnapthalene, Phenanthrene, And Toluene, Jalyn R. Lee

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Coral reefs are biologically diverse marine ecosystems that provide numerous goods and ecosystem services. These sessile organisms are vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, habitat degradation, climate change, and pollution, particularly Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. Previous research has characterized coral species' sensitivity to hydrocarbons, using a continuous passive dosing system, but the specific histological impacts of petroleum hydrocarbons remain underexplored. This study investigates the histological effects of three petroleum hydrocarbons, 1-methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, and toluene, on six Atlantic scleractinian coral species: Acropora cervicornis, Porites astreoides, Porites divaricata, Solenastrea bournoni, Stephanocoenia intersepta, and Siderastrea siderea. Coral fragments were exposed to species-specific hydrocarbon concentrations, and …

Coordinated Telehealth For People With Parkinson’S Disease: A Qualitative Comparison Of Providers’ And Patients’ Experiences, Erin J. Bush, Reshmi L. Singh, Josephine Cox, Merrill R. Landers, Annalisa V. Piccorelli

The Qualitative Report

Telehealth increases access to allied healthcare in rural areas. People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) need improved access to health care, and from a patient-centered perspective, the coordination of their healthcare should be a priority. Four speech-language pathologists, two physical therapists, two pharmacists, and two study coordinators provided a coordinated allied healthcare intervention for people with PD in rural Wyoming and Nevada. Both the providers of the intervention, as well as the participants who received it, were interviewed about their experiences with the eight-week intervention and asked about aspects that were successful or unsuccessful. Through a naturalistic paradigm using a qualitative …

Testimonios De Una Estudiante De Doctorado: Regaining Joy In Graduate School Through Research-Practice Partnerships, Sophia Piral Lee

The Qualitative Report

Through an epistolary critical autoethnography and Latina and Chicana feminist framework, I explore the question of how international graduate students of color can overcome cultural, linguistic, ethnoracial, and social class isolation on predominantly white campuses and in college towns. By writing a letter to my mother (one of my methods for survival in academia), I share my challenges as a Guatemalan, first-time mom, first-generation college student, international student, and non-English native speaker in graduate school during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, this writing helps me recognize how I overcame my isolation and regained my joy and …

Writing As A Process Of Inquiry In Autoethnography For Meaning-Making: Reflections And Some Points For Consideration, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

This article explores writing as a process of inquiry and meaning-making in the autoethnographic tradition, offering reflections on the recursive, emergent, and dialogical/dialectical nature of writing, along with some points for consideration. Drawing on perspectives from qualitative research and narrative inquiry (Riessman, 2008), I argue that autoethnographic writing serves as a method of inquiry and/or discovery, generating ontological, epistemological, and axiological-driven cultural meaning that functions as a site of reflection, interrogation, and re-storying of lived experiences. This recursive, often messy, and reflexive act allows researchers to excavate, analyze, and interpret their lived experiences. Rather than viewing writing as a final-stage …

Beyond Victimhood, Expanding Narratives: A Generative Inquiry With Trafficking Survivors, Giacomo Chiara, Celiane Camargo-Borges, Diego Romaioli, Alberta Contarello

The Qualitative Report

This study is a generative inquiry with survivors of trafficking from a social constructionist perspective. Inspired by the principles of Appreciative Inquiry, its focus is collaboration between researchers and trafficking survivors with a view to shaping and understanding their trafficking experiences together, expanding understanding of the topic and co-constructing a relational space in which counter-narratives on victimhood can be generated. It consisted of 10 interviews with women survivors of trafficking at the Italian Anti-Trafficking System. These women were from a range of nations and their experiences of exploitation varied. Taking a constructionist approach to research, we formulated an episodic-generative interview …