Digital Commons Network^™

Determining The Differences Of Racial Microaggressions Faced By Multiracial Versus Monoracial Minority Patients Within Healthcare Settings, Elizabeth S. Ommi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the disadvantages that multiracial patients face when seeking healthcare in the United States in comparison to the disadvantages encountered by monoracial minority patients. Specifically, this study mainly focuses on the impacts of racial microaggressions within such medical settings. This was explored using a critical discourse analysis, analyzing discourse presented from past research published from 2014 to 2023. Discourse was collected based on its relevancy to the given topic and was analyzed to identify general disadvantages presented for each subpopulation. It was found that multiracial patients face different disadvantages when receiving medical care in comparison to monoracial minority …

The Effect Of Video Game Participation On Ophthalmoscopy Simulation Performance, Abdullah M. Rashid

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study investigates how video gaming experience influences performance in simulation tasks on an ophthalmoscope simulator among premedical and medical students. Participants were categorized based on their gaming habits, and completion times for simulation tasks were recorded. Results indicate that individuals with greater gaming experience, both casual and hardcore gamers, demonstrated quicker and more accurate performance compared to non-gamers across all skill levels assessed. However, no significant difference was found between casual and hardcore gamers. These findings suggest that moderate engagement in video gaming may enhance visuospatial skills and hand-eye coordination relevant to simulation-based training, with potential implications for medical …

Investigating The Relationship Between Loneliness And Stress In College Students, Daniel A. Serpas-Medina

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Loneliness in college students has been identified as a contributing factor to worsened mental health leading to greater rates of symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and others. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the severity of loneliness due to social isolation, however the relationship between loneliness and stress may have changed now in a post-COVID-19 world. This study hypothesized that loneliness does contribute to greater rates of stress in college students and that demographic factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, and first-generation student status influence that interaction. A survey was conducted at the University of Central Florida and acquired 47 total complete responses. …

Postpartum Depression Among Latina Women: A Literature Review, Juan M. Martinez Jr.

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Hispanic population in the United States has increased to 62.1 million, significantly shaping the country's demographic landscape, with Hispanic women exhibiting the highest fertility rates. Concurrent with the population's growing trend is an increased prevalence rate of postpartum depression, with Latinas facing heightened risk factors. The inadequate representation of Latinas in postpartum depression research and healthcare guidelines exacerbates their vulnerability. The prevalence of postpartum depression among Latina women makes this condition a serious public health concern. Due to insufficient research on marginalized groups, emphasis is needed on culturally competent healthcare. This literature review aims to explore the underlying factors …

Fertility Preservation: A Critical Review Of Information Available To Testicular Cancer Patients, Markram Groenewald

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Fertility preservation remains a crucial component of Testicular Cancer patients’ health-related quality of life. Significant inconsistency is present in the availability and accessibility of information related to fertility preservation for patients with Testicular Cancer. The purpose of this critical review was to determine the quantity and quality of fertility preservation provided through the websites of top cancer care centers. A total of 15 centers were chosen based on the top cancer centers from US News and World Report and expanded upon using Definitive Healthcare’s top 10 centers treating Testicular Cancer by volume. Webpages were collected and graded for accessibility of …

The Prevalence And Determinants Of Substance Use Disorders Among Sexual Minority Adults In The United States, Katheryn Olmos

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Substance Use Disorders (SUD) continue to be a significant public health concern as drug use reaches a worldwide high. Research has consistently shown that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are at a heightened risk of having an SUD than their heterosexual counterparts. While notable work has been done to understand the factors contributing to SUD among LGB populations, there is a substantial gap in research regarding the intersection of race/ethnicity and sexual identity. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the disparities in SUD among sexual minorities across different racial/ethnic and sex groups and the determinants that …

Curanderismo And Healing: Insights From Hispanic Young Adults, Allisa Castro

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Curanderismo is a holistic form of traditional medicine primarily used by Latin American populations and Hispanic communities in the United States. This type of care focuses on several aspects of health including physical, emotional and spiritual (supernatural). Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority population in the United States and yet healthcare access to this population remains limited by various barriers including lack of insurance, legal status, language, poverty, and other structural factors. Within this context, exploring the perceptions and role of traditional medicine, like curanderismo, as a form of healthcare becomes crucial in understanding and addressing the unique healthcare needs …

The Battle Over Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion And Critical Race Theory In Florida: A Case Study On The Stop W.O.K.E. Act, Grace Anne Castelin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Accelerating from 2022 and continuing through 2024, the state of Florida has experienced significant policy changes, particularly within the realm of higher education and affairs of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Many progressive officials, experts, and activists assert arguments that the state is on the verge of evolving into an authoritarian regime while many illiberal policies are being produced through the Florida legislature and current executive leadership—social and economic sectors are consequently threatened in order to maintain political oppression. The Stop W.O.K.E. Act has served as a catalyst for shifting the state's political stance on DEI, culminating in a chain …

Experiences Of Healing With Ayahuasca In The United States, Rebecca Galinanes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Ayahuasca is a psychedelic brew originating from the Amazon in South America. Commonly associated with religious use among indigenous and mestizo populations, ayahuasca has made its way to the United States, where it is currently criminalized as a Schedule I drug. Nevertheless, a church in the United States provides ayahuasca to its members as both a sacrament and tool for healing through spiritual retreat weekends. Based on participant observation and semi-structured interviews with church members, volunteers, and staff in 2023, this thesis examines how members perceived the healing they experienced during multiple ayahuasca ceremonies and interactions with church volunteers and …

Ratón Pérez: A Translation Of The Spanish Tooth Fairy Legend, Sasmeta Giriraj

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Ratón Pérez story is an essential landmark in the childhoods of many, especially in Latin American culture. The tale serves as a tool to help children with the anxiety and pain that may be associated with loss of their primary teeth and creates an exciting tradition for them to partake in. Despite the prevalence of this story among Hispanic populations, the last translation of it into English was by Ada Margarete Smith, Lady Moreton (1914). Given the large oral health disparity between the Hispanic population and other ethnic groups in the United States, a more updated translation may serve …

Caring For The Caregiver: A Study On The Quality Of Life Of Informal Caregivers Of Aging And Elderly Adults With Down Syndrome, Isabel E. Latorre-Lagos

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This research studied the quality of life of informal caregivers of aging and elderly adults with Down syndrome. Prior research indicates some degree of deteriorating Quality of Life (QoL) for caregivers, however, there is no empirical research isolating the aspect QoL affected. This study seeks to research the following two questions: 1) What are the trends in the four domains that influence Quality of Life, both positively and negatively, of informal caregivers of aging and elderly adults with Down syndrome? and 2)What supports do caregivers of aging and elderly adults with Down syndrome want to improve their own Quality of …

Childhood Trauma, Stress, Gender, And Depression's Impact On Suicidal Behavior, Emily H. Mezni

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in young adults. Continuous prevention and intervention efforts throughout the world have been made to reduce suicide risk in this population. Two of the biggest known risk factors for suicide is childhood trauma, a traumatic event or events that occur during youth, and depression. Researching the impact childhood trauma and depression make in conjunction with other factors will help to increase knowledge of suicidal behavior. In this study, recent stress and gender will be factored with childhood trauma and depression severity to predict suicidal ideation and attempt. Recent stress is useful …

Studying Implicit Racial Bias In Breast Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, And Treatment: A Scoping Review, Lillian C. Nguyen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Breast cancer remains a significant public health concern worldwide, with persisting disparities in several aspects of breast cancer care. Implicit bias has emerged as a potential contributor to these disparities. While previous research has examined implicit bias in healthcare, particularly in the context of racial and ethnic disparities, no review has been conducted to examine the association of physician implicit bias and breast cancer care. There remains a need for further investigation into its role in breast cancer care. This scoping review aims to systematically analyze the existing literature on physician implicit bias in breast cancer care to discern its …

Investigating The Role Of Glycemic Control In Cognitive Impairement Risk Among Elderly Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Scoping Review, Julia Pessaia

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), presents a significant health burden globally, affecting millions of individuals, especially in the elderly population. While its association with cardiovascular diseases and cognitive impairments is well-documented, further research on the precise influence of glucose control on cognitive outcomes in elderly T2DM patients is necessary. This scoping review aims to address this gap by investigating the impact of HbA1c levels representing glycemic control on the risk of developing cognitive impairments in elderly patients with T2DM. A literature search was conducted on MEDLINE and eligible studies involved T2DM patients aged 60 or older, with documented cognitive function …

A Holistic Approach To Animal Farming: Integrating Bioregionalism And Socialist Ecofeminism Within The Context Of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, Sarah R. Spears

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This paper addresses the harmful effects of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) within animal farming systems, including poor animal welfare, environmental damage, and environmental injustice. I argue that bioregionalism and socialist ecofeminism can help inform a holistic approach to mitigating these harms and evoke ethical and sustainable animal farming systems. Bioregionalism emphasizes local resource use, community engagement, and ecological knowledge within a specific region, while socialist ecofeminism critiques oppressive systems and seeks to uplift the viewpoints of all beings, including animals, nature, and humans of various identities. Through a scaffolded hypothetical case study informed by the CAFOs-practicing hog farms in …

The Promise Of Graphic Medicine In Provider Training To Promote Mental Health, Prevent The Empathy Decline, And Improve Learning, Maeher Sukhija

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As medical students progress through their training, they experience a decline in empathy, mental health struggles, and difficulties in learning. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and burnout among medical students, along with the decline of empathy in medical students can impact their professionalism and quality of patient care as future physicians. This literature review shows how the integration of graphic medicine in provider training can address these problems, giving a new perspective on what medical education should look like. Thirty-three articles were found and reviewed by searching through the databases Academic Search Premier, PubMed, and Google Scholar, along with the …

The Influence Of Intersectionality On Identity And Resilience, Stephanie Washburn

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Co-occurring multiple minority group membership (e.g., ethnic/racial minority and sexual/gender minority) has come to be referred as intersectionality. The purpose of this study was to explore if intersectionality is related to identity and resilience in undergraduate adults. The participant pool consisted of college students from a large metropolitan university in the Southeastern United States, (N = 340), who took an anonymous online self-report survey battery in exchange for course credit. Higher levels of resilience were associated with lower levels of identity distress. Further, identity commitment, but not identity exploration, predicted resiliency. Sexual/Gender Minority (SGM) individuals had lower resiliency than …

Religious Trauma And Identity, Kylie N. Angiel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Religious trauma is most often the result of prolonged emotional and mental trauma, rather than a one-time occurring physical experience, which can thereby lead to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). This prolonged form of trauma can have negative impacts on one’s psychological well-being and possibly one’s sense of identity. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how religious trauma may be related to identity development. College students (N = 223) completed an anonymous online survey battery for course credit. Scores on a measure of religious and spiritual struggles was positively correlated with identity distress and …

Historical Legacies & Contemporary Anti-Americanism In Latin America, Ana Bello Marín

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Latin America is often cited as a prime example of historically rooted and deeply embedded opposition to the United States. There exists a prevalent assumption in the literature that suggests a legacy of foreign intervention can breed anti-Americanism. From this theoretical point of departure, we would expect individuals who lived through periods of intervention to express more negative opinions of the U.S. This thesis aims to explore whether historical legacies continue to live on and impact individual-level evaluations of the United States. By exploiting cross-country variation in the years and types of intervention, this study tests the empirical significance of …

Health-Outcomes Related To Smartphone Use In The College Student Population: A Scoping Review, Gregory Deglomine

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Objective: A scoping review was employed to consolidate what is currently being studied and reported on concerning interactions with smartphone devices and correlated negative health-outcomes, specifically within the college student population. We are specifically concerned with this population due to the unique demands of technology use coupled with free time use of smartphone devices. Information such as study focus, study design, and summarized results are be provided within this compilation of available data. Results: The existing data findings are heavily skewed in favor of a positive correlation between smartphone use and negative health-outcomes. Sampling 17,069 total participants across 41 studies, …

The Nebulous Binaries Of C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, Amantia Menalla

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Much of C.S. Lewis’ novel Till We Have Faces can be examined through one of two binaries. The tension between rationality, or reason, and spirituality, or religion, is one of the core facets of both the text and its main character, Orual. Orual feels the pull of both ideas and thus spends most of the novel in a nebulous space between them. This tension is further complicated by the space between the feminine and the masculine which she also inhabits. By covering her face and body, Orual de-emphasizes her feminine identity and takes on a masculine role, dressing as a …

Exploring The Link Between Neurocognitive Function And Long Covid: A Comprehensive Review, Dinamaris Aguilar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to provide an in-depth overview of the neurological manifestations associated with long COVID. The review aimed to assess the cognitive functioning symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 post-infection (PASC), investigate the potential mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 affects the nervous system, contributing to cognitive fatigue, brain fog, and cognitive dysfunction, and explore the parallels between SARS-CoV-2 and Alzheimer’s Disease. Neuroinflammation emerges as a shared element among these mechanisms, significantly impacting cognitive function. The parallels between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's Disease offer insights into how Alzheimer's affects cognition, aiding in understanding COVID-19's impact. The review underscores a notable gender …

Motivations For Retaliatory Aggression On Social Media Among Borderline Personality Endorsers, Hannah Grimes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Social media has become a popular way of connecting with people, but it has also led to an increase in cyber aggression. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition that is characterized by retaliatory aggression, difficulty in interpersonal relationships, and high impulsivity. Those who endorse BPD symptoms experience unstable interpersonal relationships and struggle to maintain connections with others which can lead to problematic behaviors on social media like retaliatory aggression. Understanding the motivations behind those behaviors can help inform the experiences of the diagnosed population, mitigate problematic behaviors, and facilitate healthy social relationships. This study aims to explore the motivations …

An Investigation Of Students' Modes Of Thinking Concerning Linearity In Linear Algebra, Noa Levy

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to investigate student approaches to linearity within a linear algebra context, focusing on definitional, computational, and theoretical skills. Linear algebra’s abstract nature constitutes a major challenge for a significant sector of STEM students, with the course often serving as undergraduates’ first encounter with mathematical proofs and extrapolations. The current student struggle is reflected through the prominent gap in knowledge derived from a lack of a concrete understanding of rudimentary concepts (like linearity), pivotal to student success. As such, this investigation aimed to bridge this gap by considering students’ modes of thinking regarding the elementary …

Healthcare Disparities Among Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder And Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Patients, Brooke A. Martinez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is the most common subtype of rare connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder (HSD) is a connective tissue disorder that presents itself similarly to hEDS. Both disorders primarily affect individuals assigned to females at birth (AFAB), and symptoms range from joint instability, musculoskeletal pain, dizziness, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Due to many factors like lack of education or attitudes among medical professionals (MPs), receiving a diagnosis of either of these conditions can be a challenging and grueling journey for patients. An online survey was conducted and distributed over social media platforms to …

Assessment Of Quality Of Life Among Patients Undergoing Semaglutide Treatment For Weight Loss, Muhammad Sameed

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Purpose: The study aims to assess the Quality of Life (QoL) among patients undergoing semaglutide treatment for weight loss. The primary hypothesis is that patients’ QoL will improve after semaglutide treatment. This can be due to losing weight, having better physical and mental health, or due to the perceived betterment in life after treatment.

Introduction: Obesity is becoming more prevalent in America, and it has a huge effect on the person's medical conditions, life expectancy, and QoL. Though there has been a surge of treatments to deter the obesity rates in America from rising. One of the more popular and …

Palliative Care Integration Into Critical Care In People With Terminal Conditions, Arielle Westfall

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Palliative care is of value to the quality of life in people with terminal conditions when initiated early. The purpose of this literature review was to identify barriers to early initiation of palliative care consultation. The secondary purpose was to examine characteristics that prompt palliative care consultation. The TLC model of palliative care was used to explore palliative care in the critical care setting in people with terminal conditions. The concepts of the model support optimal palliative care as collaborative and comprehensive, with shared decisions made by the patient, practitioners, and loved ones. A literature review was conducted to identify …

Understanding Guardian Perceptions Of Whole-Foods Plant-Based Diets As Interventions In Pediatric Medicine, Vijay R. Luthra

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The obesity epidemic is widespread in American society, often affecting children who bear its consequences innocently. Due to a lack of nutrition knowledge, children rely on caregivers to meet their nutritional needs and instill healthy habits. This study examines parents' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors, as well as perceived barriers to adopting a whole-foods plant-based diet (WFPD) for their children. Using a modified survey instrument by Morton et al., this study focused on parents and children regarding dietary choices. Participants were recruited from the waiting area of a pediatric clinic at the Medical College of Georgia between April and May 2023. …

The Effects Of Bilingualism And Trust On Digital Scam Susceptibility, Grace M. Casanova

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Trust is an essential component of social relationships and is connected to how we make informed decisions. Humans tend to use mental shortcuts to arrive to decisions, a strategy which may be exploited by scammers. As online scams have become more common, it is critical to understand factors that can influence appraisal of potentially untrustworthy sources. The present study focused on language, in the form of self-reported bilingualism, and its relation to scam susceptibility. Language is a factor that contributes to alterations in brain structure, cognitive performance, and cognitive control systems. Bilinguals show advantages in the form of increased synaptic …

Deceptive Realities: Exploring The Nexus Of Fake News, Artificial Intelligence, And Public Perception, Victor E. Milanes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Our research delves into two critical areas: fake news and artificial intelligence (AI). Historically, fake news predates the printing press, but its resurgence after the 2016 US Presidential Election garnered mass attention. Studies indicate its potency, with one fake article found to be as influential as a campaign ad (Allcott & Gentzkow, 2017). However, partisan media likely skews its impact on public perception.

Conversely, AI's integration has surged in recent years, sparking both excitement and concern among the public (Pew Research Center, 2022). Its ability to generate hyper-specific images, demonstrated by DALL·E 2 and Midjourney, poses challenges in distinguishing real …