Digital Commons Network^™

The Use Of Music Therapy Towards Social Development In Children With Disabilities: A Rapid Review, Yuanyuan Bai

Masters Theses

Across the world, many music therapists serve children with disabilities in private practice and school settings. Although some clinical research for music therapy as a validated approach to facilitate social deficits is available, it is still limited. This study is focused on a rapid review of using music therapy towards social development in children with disabilities. Also explored is the researcher’s self-awareness of what was learned from the study and how these lessons may be transferred to future clinical work. The study's findings may also help music therapy professionals better understand (a) what aspects of social behavior music therapists tend …

The Vikings Reimagined: Reception, Recovery, Engagement, Tom Birkett, Roderick Dale

Northern Medieval World

Rediscovering the Vikings explores the changing perception of Norse and Viking cultures across different cultural forms, and the complex legacy of the Vikings in the present day. Bringing together experts in literature, history and heritage engagement, this highly interdisciplinary collection aims to reconsider the impact of the discipline of Old Norse Viking Studies outside the academy and to broaden our understanding of the ways in which the material and textual remains of the Viking Age are given new meanings in the present. The diverse collection draws attention to the many roles that the Vikings play across contemporary culture: from the …

Monkey Mind: Everyday Observations Of Mental Illness, Mikhayla Dunaj

Honors Theses

When I first was able to identify that I dealt with anxiety, I was 18 years old. At the time, I didn’t know how to explain it, and assumed it was only because I was in an unhealthy relationship, after already having been in an abusive one. At the end of my third year at Western Michigan University, I suffered a mental breakdown and started counseling.

The process of counseling was difficult, because as I opened up more, I realized that I had spent a majority of my life stuffing down things that were actually anxiety symptoms, assuming that it …

Stampede November 20, 2019, Western Michigan University

Stampede: E-newsletter for students

• Get a leg up in job interviews and grad school
• Know your impact on WMU pride
• Stanford design school names three WMU students innovation fellows
• Student veterans find place to grow, thrive at WMU
• Human resource management student wins competitive scholarship
• WMU students give back during FOCUS Kalamazoo's Impact Day
• Western Michigan twirler conquers flames, advocates for other burn survivors
• WMU to hold esports invitational as collegiate-gaming grows

25 Year Club: 38th Annual Gala, Western Michigan University

25 Year Club

25 Year Club: 38th Annual Gala

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

• Reception
• Welcome
• Dinner Buffet
• 1994 in Review
• Remarks
• Induction of New Members

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session November 6, 2019, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes
• Remarks by the Chair
• Remarks by the President
• Comments by the Faculty Senate President
• Comments by the Western Student Association President
• Comments by the Graduate Student Association President
• Moving the World Forward through Automation Research
• Public Comments Regarding Action Items
• Amendment of Documents for Asylum Lake Preserve
• WMU Apartment Rates 2020/2021
• Residency Policy for Admissions and/or Tuition and Fees Purposes
• Graduate Tuition Rates Strategy
• Consent Items
• General Public Comments

Monsters In Society: Alterity, Transgression, And The Use Of The Past In Medieval Iceland, Rebecca Merkelbach

Northern Medieval World

Dragons, giants, and the monsters of learned discourse are rarely encountered in the Sagas of Icelanders, and therefore, the general teratological focus on physical monstrosity yields only limited results when applied to them. This, however, does not equal an absence of monstrosity — it only means that monstrosity is conceived of differently. This book shifts the view of monstrosity from the physical to the social, accounting for the unique social circumstances presented in the Íslendingasögur and demonstrating how closely interwoven the social and the monstrous are in this genre. Employing literary and cultural theory as well as anthropological and historical …

The Impact Of A Goal-Setting Intervention With Custodial Grandmothers: A Demonstration Project, Julian Montoro-Rodriguez, Bert Hayslip

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

The increasing number of grandparents raising grandchildren underscores the need to provide assistance to grandparent caregivers in terms of training them not only to refresh intergenerational skills, but also developing appropriate and effective strategies associated with the setting of personally meaningful goals for themselves. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a socio-cognitive pilot demonstration program to improve the health and social psychological outcomes for grandmothers raising grandchildren using the theory of Selection, Optimization and Compensation (Freund & Baltes, 1998).

Sixteen grandmothers raising a grandchild under the age of 18 without the assistance of that child’s …

Implications Of Vital Sign Monitor And Electronic Medical Record Integration On Identification Of Patients In Deteriorating Condition, Brandon Buxton, Jefton Knight, Utkarsh Shrivastava

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

The manual transcription of patients’ vital signs often delays entry of critical information to Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems. This documentation delay within inpatient settings results in a lack of recent information on patient condition, decreased ability for providers to make clinical decisions, and an increased risk of data error. To alleviate these concerns, hospitals are adopting device interface systems which digitally integrate medical devices and EMRs. Prior studies have found that this type of system integration can potentially reduce the time spent on manual entry of information in the EMR and support other value-added activities in the hospital. However, …

Business Process Redesign In The Perioperative Process: A Case Perspective For Digital Transformation, Jim Ryan, Barbara Doster, Sandra Daily, Carmen Lewis

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

This case study investigates business process redesign within the perioperative process as a method to achieve digital transformation. Specific perioperative sub-processes are targeted for re-design and digitalization, which yield improvement. Based on a 184-month longitudinal study of a large 1,157 registered-bed academic medical center, the observed effects are viewed through a lens of information technology (IT) impact on core capabilities and core strategy to yield a digital transformation framework that supports patient-centric improvement across perioperative sub-processes. This research identifies existing limitations, potential capabilities, and subsequent contextual understanding to minimize perioperative process complexity, target opportunity for improvement, and ultimately yield improved …

November 2019 Newsletter, Haworth College Of Business

Haworth College of Business News

• Opening doors in finance
• Business Broncos serve and celebrate veterans
• Alumnus serves his country, community and fellow veterans
• Scenting success
• Thank a college of business mentor
• Celebrating alumni
• Call for class notes

November 2019 Cehd Newsletter, College Of Education And Human Development

College of Education and Human Development News

• Supporting Teacher Internships and Honoring Family
• Generous Donors Make It Possible for Students to See the World
• Together We Elevate
• $1.5 Million in Grants Strengthen WMU's Vision Rehab and Mobility Programs
• WMU Graduate Students Lead Cutting-Edge Automation Research
• Supporting the Invisible Need Project
• Elevate a Student Toady. Make a Gift. Make a Difference.

Communication Style In Medical Crowdfunding: Effect Of Emotional Framing And Updates Frequency On Funding And Emotional Support, Onochie Fan-Osuala

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

Despite the rise of medical crowdfunding and its benefits to patients including reducing financial hardships and providing emotional social support, limited attention has been paid to how a campaign organizer can drive performance. In this study, we investigate how the communication style used in a medical crowdfunding campaign can affect both the funding performance and emotional support received. We find that emotional framing and frequent updates have a positive effect on funding and emotional support and discuss the implications.

Hsp: A Tool For Heat Stress Prevention For Farm Workers, Juan C. Lavariega-Jarquín, Marc Schenker, Alfonso Ávila, Lorena G. Gomez

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

We present the initial development of an integrated application for heat stress and heat related illness prevention in farm workers. In developing the application we have follow the OSHA guidelines and an extended project includes the social, cultural and economic factors of farm workers. Even though, our development focus is on workers in the California fields, we believe our project will be useful in multiple situations where individuals are exposed to extreme heat working conditions. This paper describes the motivation for our development, the overall approach we are following, and the first version of our application.

Pressure Injury And Restraint Prevalence Surveys: Saving Time And Dollars For Patient Care By Automating Manual Chart Abstraction, Jefton Knight, Melinda Gevaart, Stephanie Wagner, Shellie Bush, Jeanann Miller

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

Bronson Healthcare Group performs quarterly pressure injury and restraint audits as part of the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI). The chart abstraction portion of the audit previously required nurses to manually abstract 31 data points. To save time and cost, we used Lean and PDSA process improvement tools to automate the chart abstraction portion of the audit, reducing the number of data points requiring manual abstraction to 2. We validated the automated abstraction by comparing it to abstractions done manually by the audit nurses. We found that an automated process has the potential to reduce the impact of …

Patient Trust And Resistance Towards Patient Portals, Ashley Spivak, Michael Dohan, Shikui Wu, Wenyao Zhao

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

Health information technologies (HITs) as facilitators of chronic disease self-management remains an ongoing topic for information system researchers. This research addresses a gap in knowledge surrounding patient trust and resistance towards using these technologies, specifically patient portals. The method used to accomplish this study is through the dispersion of a quantitative survey to participants in Ontario, Canada. This survey focused on questions related to the four variables that have been identified through the literature to be important in determining patient resistance of HITs. The results indicate the importance of patient trust in mitigating their resistance to using these technologies.

“Real World” Research Using Practice Based Research Networks (Pbrn): A Systematic Review, Elmon Oliver Iii, Robert Brown

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

Objective: While the randomized control clinical trial (RCT) has long been viewed as the “gold standard” for evidence based medicine, researchers and clinicians have also recognized limitations of RCTs when applied to clinical practice. These limitations arise from the fact that the results of interventions and procedures of RCTs conducted in controlled institutional settings often differ significantly from results obtained when the same interventions are applied in clinical practice. Consequently, there are increasing calls for more research to be carried out in the “real world” setting of clinical practices treating heterogeneous groups of patients. Studies conducted in clinical practices are …

It-Based Patient Interventions For Opioid Abuse: Evaluation Using Analytical Model, Neetu Singh, Upkar Varshney

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

The number of people in the US with opioid abuse exceeds 2 million and the total cost is approximately $100B per year. In this study, we focus on patient-level interventions and present three IT-based interventions: (a) mobile reminders, (b) electronic monitoring, and (c) composite intervention. We have developed an analytical model for evaluating interventions using Return-on-Investment (ROI). The interventions are cost-effective for higher values of intervention effectiveness, hospital, and emergency room cost. However, with QoL improvement, cost-effectiveness improves significantly. We also explored the use of financial incentives for increasing the adoption of interventions. These results will help patients, healthcare professionals, …

Usefulness And Ease Of Interactive Video Technology Integration Among Faculty Members In Online Nursing Courses, Valerie Pauli

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

A descriptive correlational design was used in this study to evaluate faculty perceptions of the usefulness and ease of interactive video technology integration in online nursing courses, in order to predict behavioral intention. This paper presents The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) related hypotheses in the study which all showed positive correlations that were statistically significant. Using innovative technology to deliver course content that relates to healthcare technology, and supports student learning, is critical to clinical technology competency acquisition and implementation of best-practice in academia.

Radical Technological Innovation And Perception: A Non-Physician Practitioners’ Perspective, Mercedes Maarup, Michael Dohan, Wenyao Zhao, Shikui Wu

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

Radical technological innovations, such as chatbots, fundamentally alter many aspects of healthcare organizations. For example, they transform how clinicians care for their patients. Despite the potential benefits, they cannot be integrated into practice without the support of the clinicians whose jobs are affected. While previous research shed important light on physicians’ perceptions, little is known on nonphysician practitioners view said innovations. This paper reports on a qualitative study, involving 10 nonphysician clinicians from Ontario, Canada, conducted to determine the perceptions and cognitions of clinicians regarding radical innovation and their previous experiences with technological change. Results indicate that clinicians as semi-autonomous …

Transactions Of 2019 International Conference On Health Information Technology Advancement Vol. 4 No. 1, Center For Health Information Technology Advancement

Transactions of the International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement

The Fourth International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement Kalamazoo, Michigan, October 31 - Nov. 1, 2019.

Conference Co-Chairs Bernard T. Han and Muhammad Razi, Department of Business Information Systems, Haworth College of Business, Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Transaction Editor Dr. Huei Lee, Professor, Department of Computer Information Systems, Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Volume 4, No. 1

Hosted by The Center for Health Information Technology Advancement, WMU

Facilitating The Creative Process Through Collaboration, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Miles Parker Scharfenberg, an artist based in Richland, Michigan, provided the cover art for the Fall 2019 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Late Night Fireworks” is a 30” x 40” painting made from acrylic on canvas. Born 15 weeks premature, Miles’ multiple health impairments have made it difficult to engage in meaningful occupations, such as painting. With support from his mother, Carol; occupational therapy students; and members of the community; Miles creates colorful abstract expressionist paintings. Collaboration is part of his creative process. In this fifth anniversary issue of OJOT, Occupation and the Artist is following …

Perceptions And Outcomes Of Occupational Therapy Students Participating In Community Engaged Learning: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Amy Mattila

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Today’s health care system requires therapists to acquire a level of confidence, flexibility, and personal growth that enables them to treat a diverse and complex clientele. Occupational therapy programs need to ensure that clinical placements can best prepare students for these demands. Community engaged learning (CEL) offers a distinctive opportunity both to meet the curricular requirements of fieldwork and to afford students the chance to develop unique sets of skills. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the experiences of graduate occupational therapy students participating in CEL fieldwork placements. The study explored the students’ self-efficacy before and after …

Use Of Standardized Assessments And Online Resources In Stroke Rehabilitation, Susan H. Lin, Pamela R. Bosch, Veronica T. Rowe, Susan E. Fasoli, Jeanne Langan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The extent to which movement-related standardized assessments and online resources are used in stroke rehabilitation is unclear in the United States.

Method: The researchers used a cross-sectional descriptive survey that examined (a) therapists use of movement-related standardized assessments, (b) factors influencing learning of new assessments, and (c) use of frequency of online resources by occupational therapists and physical therapists in the United States.

Results: Of 151 respondents (46.4% occupational therapists, 53.6% physical therapists), the most frequently used movement-related assessments by occupational and physical therapists were the Berg and Fugl-Meyer Assessment, respectively. More physical therapists use motor-related …

Health Management: Occupational Therapy’S Key Role In Educating Clients About Reliable Online Health Information, Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth, Melissa L. Johnson, Meredith Carpenter, Tincey Thomas, Ashley Sinnappan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Only 12% of Americans possess proficient health literacy skills. Among those with the lowest health literacy are individuals with chronic health conditions. Occupational therapists are well prepared to assist these clients with health literacy, given our roles in teaching new health management skills and health promotion.

Methods: An educational course was designed and taught to over 100 individuals and caregivers with chronic health conditions to assist in finding and determining trustworthy health information online. An author designed pre postsurvey was used to evaluate effectiveness.

Results: There was a significant pre-post change in four categories: finding quality …

Yoga And Autism: Students’ Perspectives On The Get Ready To Learn Yoga Program, Lauren E. Milton, Selena Bantel, Kayelee Calmer, Marlee Friedman, Elizabeth Haley, Lauren Rubarts

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Yoga, a complementary health approach known for various therapeutic effects, is used with diverse populations, including students ASD. Limited evidence exists inclusive of the first-hand perspective of students with ASD who participate in yoga. The purpose of this study is to understand the perspective of students 10 and 14 years of age with ASD who participated in a portion of the GRTL yoga program as part of a physical education class.

Method: Using a qualitative design, this study examined the student perspective on the GRTL yoga program. A convenience sample of seven male participants between 10 and …

Use Of The Star Process For Children With Sensory Processing Challenges, Sarah A. Schoen, Lucy Jane Miller, Stephen Camarata, Andrea Valdez

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study examined the effectiveness of the STAR PROCESS, an intensive, short-term intervention that combines principles of sensory integration, relationship-based therapy, and parental-therapist collaboration for children with sensory processing challenges.

Method: A nonconcurrent multiple baseline, repeated measures design was used. Four boys, aged 5 years 0 months to 7 years 9 months, participated in this study. The mean length of intervention was 22 sessions delivered 3 to 5 times per week. A behavioral coding system was used to measure change in four areas: play level, positive affect, joint attention, and novel use of equipment. The theory of …

Effects Of Maternal Views And Support On Childhood Development Through Joint Play, Amiya Waldman-Levi, Sherraine Grinion, Laurette Olson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Playful interactions draw a mother and child toward each other in positive ways; therefore, time spent in playful interactions with a responsive mother may be a developmental asset for a child. It is critical to examine how mothers support their children in joint play as well as their views of joint play.

Methods: This mixed-methods study consisted of 32 mothers and their typically developing children. The Parent’s/Caregiver Support of Young Children’s Playfulness, the Test of Playfulness, the Environmental Supportiveness Assessment, and seven open-ended interviews were used to assess joint play and maternal perceptions of this experience.

Results …

Handwriting Performance Of Typical Second-Grade Students As Measured By The Evaluation Tool Of Children's Handwriting - Manuscript And Teacher Perceptions Of Legibility, Diane M. Long, James Conklin

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of the study was to describe scores achieved by typical second-grade students on the Evaluation Tool of Children’s Handwriting – Manuscript and to compare scores with teacher perceptions.

Method: As part of a larger study, the ETCH-M was administered to 74 second-grade students. Teachers scored classroom samples of handwriting assignments using a researcher-developed scale and scores were compared to ETCH-M scores to determine cutoff values for good versus poor handwriting.

Results: Mean scores for total word legibility, total letter legibility, and total numeral legibility were 88.82%, 84.30%, and 89.26%, respectively. Cutoff scores below 82% …

Stampede October 15, 2019, Western Michigan University

Stampede: E-newsletter for students

• Your Superpower? Managing your time
• Online threats - how to protect yourself and what WMU is doing to help
• Gain marketable skills as a student staffer
• Need help with textbooks? Check out the library
• Nursing major to rep WMU on state's youth voter task force
• The unbreakable spirit of Broncos
• Students create Bronco-themed wine
• Driving driverless technology