Digital Commons Network^™

Finding Your Fire A Group Therapy Manual Designed For Women Who Experience Ptsd From Sexual Violence, Brittanie Schafer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Studies have shown that sexual violence affects approximately 17.7 million women annually (RAINN, 2019). Many of these women lead busy lives, often balancing the roles set upon them by jobs and families. With this in mind, many women believe that they do not have the time to attend therapy or that their other roles in their lives are more important. Some women still do not have the confidence to go to therapy out of the fear of reliving the trauma, experiencing embarrassment, and/or coping with low self-esteem (Keefe, Wiltsey Stirman, Cohen, DeRubeis, Smith, & Resick, 2018). Occupational therapists have …

Addressing The Occupational Needs Of Children With Post Traumatic Brain Injury In The School Setting, Reghan Boldt, Madisyn Rick

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: The purpose of this project was to develop a guide for occupational therapy practitioners to use in the school setting for elementary-age children with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), to increase services for these children, and to improve their back to school transition process.

Methodology: A literature review was conducted to understand the needs and barriers of elementary-age children who transition back to the school setting after experiencing a mTBI. Sources used in the process include online databases, textbooks, and government websites. The Person, Occupation, and Environment (PEO) model by Law and colleagues (1996) was selected to direct the …

Looking Beyond The User: An Occupationally Supportive Training For Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren In The Opioid Crisis, Jenna Marton, Kaitlyn Stewart

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The U.S. opioid crisis impacts families everywhere, cutting across all racial, urban and rural lines (Chan & Trant, 2018). Parental opioid-related overdose was attributed as one of the primary causes for the rise of children entering state custody and foster care from 1999 to 2016 (Haffajee & Frank, 2018). Therefore, more relatives are raising these children due to the unforeseen circumstances associated with opioid misuse, and it is often the grandparents who assume the primary caregiving role. According to Ellis and Simmons (2014), there are approximately 2.7 million grandparent caregivers or those who have primary responsibility for grandchildren under 18 …

Comparing Romosozumab And Alendronate In The Treatment Of Osteoporosis In Postmenopausal Women, Taylor Johnshoy

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

The purpose of this literature review is to determine if there is a statistical difference in the safety and efficacy between romosozumab, the prototypical drug in the new drug class sclerostin inhibitors, versus alendronate, the prototypical bisphosphonate, in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. A comprehensive literature review was performed searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Access Medicine from the last five years. Works chosen for review were limited to articles published in English, full-text articles, clinical trials, randomized control trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Items were excluded after reviewing abstracts due to material not directly comparing the treatment modalities. The research presented …

Resting Heart Rate And Its Effect On All-Cause Morbidity And Mortality, Peter V. Tronset

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

According to the American College of Cardiology (ACA 2019), approximately every 40 seconds an individual has a myocardial infarction (MI).

▪ While the ACA reports a decrease in death rate from cardiovascular disease by 18.6% (2006-2016) and a decrease in death rate from coronary artery disease by 31.8% (2006 – 2016); Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, affecting approximately 5.7 million American adults.

▪ A literature review was conducted through systematic reviews, metaanalyses, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and peer-reviewed medical journals, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and The Journal of the American College of Cardiology …

Critically Appraised Topic: Impact Of Occupation-Based Interventions On Older Adults In Skilled Nursing Facilities Experiencing Occupational Deprivation, Kassandra Severson, Kaitlynn Stearns, Tyler Stecher

Critically Appraised Topics

Occupational therapy (OT) is “the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). OT practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability” (AOTA, 2020 p. S1) OT practitioners use meaningful occupations to promote health and a better lifestyle for people with injury, illness, or disability in all stages of life. OT practitioners use evidence-based practice, look at the environment and the task and make the …

Using Meaningful Leisure Activities In Ot To Decrease Occupational Deprivation In Older Adults, Alicia Zinger, Ellie Roche

Critically Appraised Topics

The focus population for this critically appraised topic (CAT) was older adults aged 65 years and older who lived in an urban setting in SNFs. For the purpose of this CAT, an urban setting is defined as an area with 50,000 or more people residing (US Census, 2010). According to Lui (2018) who synthesized available data on productive aging for senior citizens in a SNF, stated that the global generation of older adults is currently more populous than ever recorded in world history. The extent of this demographic is expected to dramatically increase as a result of continued advances in …

Scavenger Hunt: Zombie Tag, Karlene T. Clark

Librarian Publications

Zombie Tag was put together by the author with assistance from the Library’s outreach / activity committee, Zeineb Yousif (Digital Initiatives Librarian), and Kristen Borysewicz (Information Literacy Coordinator). This is an event that can be run after hours or later in the evening with a soft close, letting others know the building will be noisy. It indirectly introduces information literacy by having students find physical “resources” (cards such as housing, food, weapons, etc.) given to them by a librarian. The students need to avoid “zombies” while they seek out computers throughout the building designated at Centers for Disease Control (CDC) …

The Art And Science Of Transition: A Descriptive Case Study Between A Two- And A Four-Year Institution, Kaylyn Marie Bondy

Theses and Dissertations

The vast majority of students who enroll in a two-year college intend to earn a bachelor’s degree. However, only about 14% transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree within six years (Jenkins & Fink, 2016). The need to increase the number of bachelor’s degree holders (Torpey, 2018), and the increasing number of students beginning at two-year institutions demands the creation of smoother transfer pathways (Handel, 2013). Vertical transfer students comprise a majority of transfer-related studies, however, little research has focused on the efficiency and efficacy of that process (Gard, Paton, & Gosselin, 2012). Institutions can strengthen transfer student resources with a …

Automation And Visualization Of Program Correctness For Automatically Generating Code, Jason Michael Hicks

Theses and Dissertations

Program synthesis systems can be highly advantageous in that users can automatically generate code to fit a wide variety of applications from high-level specifications without needing any low-level programming skills or knowledge of which type of data structures and algorithms should be used. NASA has developed and uses two of these systems, AUTOFILTER and AUTOBAYES. Though much is gained in terms of time and cost efficiency in the use of these systems, they suffer from an issue that is inherent in all code generator systems, the verifiability of the correctness of the generated code against the input specifications. Many times, …

A Critical Race Examination Of The Lived Experiences Of Persistent African American Students At A Predominantly White Community College, Elena Favela Naca

Theses and Dissertations

For well over a century, African Americans have fought for equal rights to employment, prosperity, political power and freedom. Earning an education was the way forward. Over time, legislative and institutional policies have created greater access to education for racialized individuals. Yet, African American students remain the most underserved population, and among the lowest in degree attainment across ethnic groups. Decades of research literature places blame on students and families, highlighting student deficiencies. Far fewer explanations in the literature point to institutional barriers that perpetuate practices that place African American students at a disadvantage. Critical Race Theory (CRT) offers a …

The Role Of A Principal In Creating A School Climate In Which New American Students Thrive: An Ethnographic Case Study Of A Midwest Magnet School, Attia Noor

Theses and Dissertations

This ethnographic case study used the lens of multiculturalism to examine the role of a school principal in creating a climate in which New American students can thrive. Three discrete data gathering methods were utilized in this study including policy documents obtained from the school district website and the school, a two week period of in-school observations, and interviews of the principal and school staff members selected through purposive sampling. A focus group interview of parents was also used for data collection. Data were analyzed by using a constant comparative method to explore the meanings educators had attached to their …

Variables Influencing Help-Seeking Intentions For Early Symptoms Of Alzheimer’S Disease In An American Indian And Alaska Native Sample, Autumn Arch

Theses and Dissertations

Guided by the Sociocultural Health Belief Model (SHBM) of dementia care-seeking, this study aimed to evaluate the role of several factors, including health system barriers, cultural beliefs and knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease, in predicting help-seeking intentions for early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). Participant recruitment and study procedures took place online. Participants completed a series of online surveys designed to assessed predictor variables from the proposed model and help-seeking intentions from several care sources (i.e., informal, traditional, and biomedical). A total of 118 participants were included in the final sample. Three-step hierarchical regressions were conducted to …

Student Athlete Perceptions On Coaches' Relationships Impacting Continued Participation In High School Athletics, Mark Allen Rerick

Theses and Dissertations

The researcher’s purpose for this study was to review and analyze student-athlete perceptions of their high school athletic experience based on one school district’s collected data. This research provides athletic directors knowledge and direction to better define the philosophy, goals, and organizational structure of their athletic departments. Using quantitative and qualitative data, the researcher examined secondary data collected to identify reasons student-athletes participate in athletics as well as understand why some student-athletes may not continue their participation in high school athletics. The researcher also explored the contrasting goals of privately run sports clubs and high school sponsored athletic programs and …

Transitions In Tumultuous Times: Teachers’ Experiences With Distance Learning Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lisa Ross-Hain

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 prompted the first nationwide extended educational disruption, resulting in many challenges for teachers as they were forced to a distance teaching and learning model. Educators modified curricular content, delivery, and assessment methods to accommodate and engage learners and maintain academic expectations while at the same time attempting to mitigate undue stress for their students. Teachers met this task with little to no adaptive expertise to draw from, as few had previous experience with distance teaching. Constructivist theory guided this qualitative study exploring teachers’ experiences in distance learning through a lens of adaptive …

Critical Contingency Eva’S For 3d-Printed Planetary Habitats, James Robert Stoffel

Theses and Dissertations

This novel pilot study evaluates the potential associated tools, methods, and concept of operations required for a Critical Contingency Extravehicular Activity (CCE) repair of a 3D-printed in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) Lunar and Martian habitat. With NASA’s current 2020 Technology Roadmap and Taxonomy for TX06: Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems (e.g. Extravehicular Activities, Habitation, Human Factors), TX07: Exploration Destination Systems (e.g. ISRU, Maintenance, Repair, Operations, Safety), TX12: Materials, Structures, Mechanical Systems, and Manufacturing, and the Centennial 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, this research will provide an initial evaluation of standard repair methods on the system’s functional abilities, environmental, and human factors …

Contribution Of Intestinal Dysfunction To Alzheimer’S Disease Progression, Mona Sohrabi Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Longer life expectancies, due to advanced medical care, social, and environmental conditions, helped increase the number and percentage of Americans aging to ≥85. The number of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) age 65 or older is projected to be 7.1 and 13.8 million by 2025 and 2050, respectively. The total annual health care expense for AD patients is estimated to increase from $290 billion in 2019 to more than $1.1 trillion in 2050 (Association, 2019). Conclusively, AD is expected to become a more common cause of death and a major public health predicament due to aging of the baby boom …

Binging Behaviors And Emotional Regulation In Young Adults, Michelle Jeanne Duffy

Theses and Dissertations

Co-occurring binge eating and binge drinking is being reported more frequently in college populations and adolescents. Past research has explored various aspects of emotional regulation difficulties in these populations, as well as personality differences, negative affect and various motivations for behaviors. The current study aimed to further explore these differences in individuals who engage in binge eating and drinking separately, comparatively to those who do both binging behaviors. Female undergraduates from a large Mid-Western university (N=127) completed multiple questionnaires regarding eating and drinking behaviors, information regarding their personality traits, emotional regulation difficulties, behavioral motivations and levels of negative affect. Four …

Asexual Experiences Of Microaggressions Scale: Instrument Development And Evaluation, Evelyn Estela Ayala

Theses and Dissertations

The present paper explores the experience of microaggressions among asexuals and relevant literature. There is a dearth of research on asexuality, particularly as it relates to the experience of microaggressions. However, research suggests that microaggressions have a cumulative impact on both physical and emotional well-being as reported by all minority groups that face microaggressions (Lewis, 2009, Mayer, 2010). The development of a scale that measures the experience of microaggressions would allow for this area of research to be further studied. The paper utilized DeVellis’s (2017) method for scale development to develop a psychometrically sound scale assessing the experience of microaggressions …

An Exploration Of Indigenous Spiritual Microaggressions, Cerynn Dawn Desjarlais

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive exploratory research is amongst the first to investigate Spiritual Microaggressions experienced by Indigenous Peoples across North America. Microaggressions can further be conceptualized and categorized as microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations. Participants who self-identify as Indigenous individuals ages 18 and over, from North America, who work in or are educated in the mental health field engaged in 60-90-minute interviews to explore the spiritual microaggressions incurred upon them. A total of 8 participants who identify as mental health professionals and graduate students in the mental health field were interviewed as an intensity sample. Participants discussed the implications of Indigenous Spiritual Microaggressions …

Not Your Advisor’S Doctorate: The Doctor Of Arts And The Modernization Of Higher Education 1945-1970, Andrew Faber Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The “modernization” of higher education, 1945-1970, was a transitional period in American higher education. It was marked by a number of challenges that prompted rapid change in institutions around the United States. These changes were accompanied by expedient expansion in curriculum, faculty size, and physical plant of universities. One of the changes that came out of the period of modernization was the establishment of the Doctor of Arts degree as a way to produce professional faculty to fill open positions created by the rapid expansion of the modernization. As a result, the Doctor of Arts served as a modernization solution …

Parental Leave Policies: Implications For Higher Education Policy, Muneka Nwoko

Theses and Dissertations

A persistent disadvantage of individuals and couples navigating and negotiating parental leave policies is often embedded in biased assumptions. Oftentimes, as a result, individuals and couples inherently encounter vastly different parental leave experiences. However, recommendations from the literature and federal policy support the need for gender equity, family-focused initiatives, and workplace interventions related to individuals and couples navigating and negotiating parental leave processes. Yet because of a lack of policy standardization, policy protocols related to these recommendations have proved unsuccessful in addressing the complexities individuals and couples experience when navigating and negotiating parental leave processes. Thus, this study applies a …

At-Home Childcare Providers’ Perceptions Of Gardening With Children, Erin Lauckner

Theses and Dissertations

Children do not consume recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, which has been correlated with negative health consequences. Gardening with children has been shown to positively impact children’s consumption of these foods. While research investigating gardening with children exists, much of this has been conducted with teachers and children in schools, and limited research has been conducted with childcare providers and preschool-aged children. Little research has been conducted about this topic with in-home childcare providers and the children under their care. This pilot study utilized a cross-sectional mixed methods research design through an online survey instrument. A convenience sample of …

Impacts Of Market Forces And Agricultural Practices On Land Surfaces Related To Scientific Modeling And Remote Sensing Applications, Jon Starr

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the rotational needs of crops, homogenous crop fields, and external influences such as market and policy changes, crop production generates significant changes to the landscape on annual and semi-annual basis. In this study we looked at two aspects of this change.

In the first aspect of the study, we attempt to account for market and policy driven producer’s decision making through a new model constructed by pairing an economics model with the ALMANAC crop simulation model via a two-way coupling. This coupled model approach integrated farmer’s land-use choices based on relative economic returns and produced dynamic land use …

Maladjustment Correlates Associated With Sexual Perpetration Tactics, Katya Maureen Mickelson

Theses and Dissertations

This project completed a partial replication and extension of a prior study (Norton-Baker, Russell, & King, 2018) regarding tactical differences in sexual perpetration victimization strategies. Respondents (n = 559) completed the Revised Sexual Experiences Survey-Long Form Perpetrator (SES-LFP) before being assigned to different macro-tactical groups (i.e. Non-Violent, Coercive, Aggressive, Polytactic). Membership to groups of micro-tactics of sexual perpetration was then assigned (sexual harassment, non-consensual distribution of sexual content, voyeurism, exhibitionism, sexual coercion, sexual coercion facilitated by substances, sexual perpetration, sexual perpetration facilitated by substances, and multiparticipant offenders). Participants completed the PID-5 as well as other measures of maladjustment. Polytactic perpetrators …

Nurse Leader Influence And Nurse-Sensitive Outcomes In Critical Access Hospitals, Jennifer Diane Eccles

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Rural residents of the United States are sicker, are at higher risk of death, and have shorter lifespans than those in metropolitan areas (Singh & Siahpush, 2014). Nurse leaders may have the opportunity to influence improved patient outcomes in rural areas. No exploration of nurse leader influence as it relates to nurse-sensitive outcomes in rural healthcare settings was found in the literature. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences among nurse leader influence and nurse-sensitive outcome scores in critical access hospitals, which are rural in nature, in North Dakota as compared to other states in the …

Narrative Transportation Effects In Relationship With Empathy, Compassion For Students, And Self-Compassion In Student Affairs Professionals, Miriam Margarita Wood Alameda

Theses and Dissertations

Prior studies found that audiences can become more empathic and form a positive view of a character as a result of Narrative Transportation (NT). Thus, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effects of NT on Student Affairs (SA) professionals. 78 SA professionals were randomly assigned to one of two narrative groups (text or video). The results of this study indicated that participants in the video group show greater transportation than those in the text group. Furthermore, SA professionals showed that being familiar with the student experience was more important than sharing an identity with the student …

Statistical Analysis And Machine Learning For Coal Classification For Rare Earth Elements + Y (Rey), Zachary Bartley Young

Theses and Dissertations

Due to their exceptional properties, rare earth elements (REEs) are critical to technological innovation in renewable energy production, electronics, health care, and national defense. They make up key components for many applications in the above areas. Many countries rely upon rare earth element imports. The high demand for rare earth elements has led to the development of alternative methods for exploration and capture. Coal has been labeled a viable potential source of rare earth elements and yttrium (REY). Statistical evaluation of REY concentrations and the properties of various coal samples is critical for successful characterization.

The USGS COALQUAL database Version …

The Impact Of Clinician Attachment Style On Burnout And Job Satisfaction: Introducing Mindfulness As A Mediator, Jill Marie Calderon

Theses and Dissertations

Attachment style is theorized to develop in childhood, as a result of the bonds that develop between child and caregiver. The research has shown individuals with an insecure attachment style are more at risk for job burnout and less satisfied with their jobs. This study proposed, mindfulness may be the internal process influencing the relationship between attachment style, burnout and job satisfaction. Mindfulness is defined as paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally and has found to be positively correlated with secure attachment styles. Additionally, mindfulness has shown to have a negative relationship with burnout and a positive …

Influences On The Development Of Ethical Decision-Making In Speech-Language Pathology Students: A Phenomenological Study Of Graduate Students And Clinical Supervisors, Joni K. Mehrhoff

Theses and Dissertations

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serve as members of the interprofessional team for complex patients. As such, SLPs are required to uphold ethical practices and respond to the needs of patients, their families, healthcare organizations, and the interprofessional team. Speech-language pathology graduates are part of the ethical healthcare team during clinical experiences. Yet, limited research is available to define the development of student ethical decision-making. The purpose of this study was to explore what influences SLP graduate students and clinical supervisors ascribe to in the development of ethical decision-making. Participants included five SLP graduate students and six SLP clinical supervisors from accredited …