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Ethical Engagement In Global Missions: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Planner Motivations And Host Experiences, Harrison J. Ihrig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Short-term mission (STM) trips are limited duration service experiences, commonly organized by faith-based organizations (FBO), in which volunteers travel domestically or international to provide ministry, community outreach, and/or health-related services. In recent decades, the number of these trips organized by organizations in the United States has increased exponentially, but the phenomenon is difficult to accurately measure due to its decentralized nature and the lack of standardized terminology. Despite their prominence, limited research has been conducted to examine planning, implementation, and evaluation processes of international STMs organized by FBO, particularly through a public health lens. The purpose of this study was …

Ihelp Foundation 2025 Uganda Medical Mission, Kade Spencer Robison

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Uganda faces significant barriers to health care access, particularly in rural communities, due to physician shortages and limited resources. As a result, care is concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations disproportionately affected by both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

This Honors Capstone project focused on preparing for and supporting the iHelp Foundation’s 2025 Uganda Medical Mission. The iHelp Foundation works to reduce barriers to care in Uganda by partnering with local hospitals to provide short-term rural clinics and specialized surgical care for advanced otolaryngological conditions.

In this project, I contributed to mission preparation by training volunteers and coordinating physician licensing. …

The Effect Of Induction With Remimazolam Vs. Propofol In The Incidence Of Postoperative Delirium In Geriatric Patients, Bailey R. Byrne, Mary Beth Greenway

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute disturbance in mental status that typically occurs within the first five postoperative days. Its incidence increases with age, affecting up to 50% of patients over 60. Risk factors include benzodiazepine use, female gender, emergency surgery, and comorbidities such as diabetes and cerebrovascular disease. The development of POD is associated with increased morbidity and prolonged hospital stays.

A 71-year-old Caucasian female underwent a total laparoscopic robotic hysterectomy. Her medical history included anxiety, hypertension, and diabetes. Although anxious preoperatively, she did not receive anxiolytic medication. General anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, lidocaine, propofol, and succinylcholine. …

Adaptive Reuse Of Underutilized Strip Malls: Creating Mixed-Use Continuum Care Campuses For Seniors, Julie Le Nguyen

Theses

As suburban commercial landscapes continue to decline, underutilized strip malls present an opportunity to reimagine aging-supportive environments through adaptive reuse. This thesis investigates how these sites can be transformed into mixed-use senior housing and continuum-care campuses through adaptive reuse strategies. Using a comparative case study methodology, the research examines a range of precedents—including senior housing retrofits, dementia villages, and community-based mixed-use developments—to identify key spatial, programmatic, and environmental principles that support aging populations. A five-part evaluative framework assesses project performance across site integration and green space, social and intergenerational engagement, programmatic and service integration, mixed-use activation, and cognitive and environmental …

Curing The Peasant's Disease : Frank Oldt’S Work And Research On Hookworm Disease In South China, 1905-1926, Jiaying Fu

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

While current scholarship on “hygienic modernity” in China focuses on the construction of urban health systems and institutional infrastructures, this study proposes an alternative analytical lens by foregrounding the domain of agricultural health. It aims to investigate how early twentieth-century medical researchers uncovered public health models grounded in China’s agrarian conditions. Taking the case of Frank Oldt (1879–1976), a medical missionary living in Guangdong between 1905 and 1926, this research examines how he identified, interpreted, and sought to mitigate the problem of hookworm disease—a parasitic condition intricately linked to China’s farming practices and rural environmental conditions.

Specifically, this thesis aims …

Havana To Port-Au-Prince: Cuba’S Medical Internationalism Aid To Haiti, Wilner Saint Cyr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Haiti ranks among the lowest in healthcare quality in the Americas, according to the health indicators used by the World Health Organization. Despite national and international efforts to improve health service delivery, access to primary medical care and preventive services is limited, especially in rural areas. In response to a request from the Haitian government following the devastating Hurricane Georges, the arrival of the first Cuban doctors to support ongoing public health needs commenced in December 1998. Recognizing an opportunity for international cooperation, the Haitian president sought assistance from Cuba by signing a bilateral cooperation agreement for initial and ongoing …

Patchworks - A Design Framework For Repairing Systems, One Patch At A Time., Jack A. Martinez

Masters Theses

Design interventions for social good often fall short—ineffective at best and harmful at worst. Even successful projects tend to have fleeting impacts. Despite prototyping, innovation, and scaling expertise, designers struggle to create lasting community change. Skills that drive capitalist markets remain underutilized in the social sector. Reducing barriers to entry in the design for social good field might foster a more equitable, service-oriented design practice.

This thesis examines how designers can collaborate ethically and effectively with community organizations to support their missions. It examines the challenges and benefits of applying a ‘patchwork design approach’ to social good through real-world partnerships. …

Application Of Science And Technology Studies To Global Medical Device Donation Policy, Jolie Crunelle

Theses

In low and middle income countries, the World Health Organization estimates that nearly 80% of medical devices and equipment are procured through donation (WHO 2000). While these donations have the potential to play a critical role in the recipient communities’ health, the donated devices sometimes fall short of their potential due to improper use or lack of support—despite the existence of a variety of guidelines and regulations for medical equipment donations. While conducting volunteer biomedical equipment technician work in Guatemala and Uganda, I came to notice the disparity between the guidelines and the reality on the ground. This study aims …

Laro Kwo-Saving Lives: Evaluating The Role Of Community Health Workers In Healthcare Delivery And Disease Control In Northern Uganda, Brett Albee

Public Health Theses

Background: Northern Uganda faces persistent health challenges due to a legacy of armed conflict, poverty, and fragile health infrastructure. In Pader District, malaria remains the leading cause of under-five mortality, and rural communities face ongoing barriers to accessing timely care. Community health workers (CHWs) serve as critical intermediaries in care delivery, but their effectiveness is limited by structural and resource constraints.Methods: This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design informed by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles. Qualitative data were collected through 11 semi-structured interviews and 6 focus group discussions with CHWs across six sub-counties in Pader District. Quantitative data were …

A Feminist Evaluation Of The Joint Programme: Assessing The Cultural Sensitivity Of Unicef And Unfpa's Strategies On Female Genital Cutting/Circumcision In Senegal And Nigeria, Coumba Soumare

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Female Genital Cutting/Circumcision (FGC) encompasses procedures involving the partial or total removal of female external genitalia or other genital injuries, performed for non-medical reasons. Typically carried out on young girls, often between infancy and age 15, FGC is widely condemned in global discourse as a harmful and barbaric practice. However, within certain cultures, it is viewed as a rite of passage or a necessary tradition. I argue that to effectively address FGC, organizations must adopt a culturally sensitive approach. This research examines the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) initiatives in Senegal and Nigeria. …

In Pursuit Of Sovereignty: Transformations Of Colonial Medicine From Wilhelmine To Nazi Germany, Veda Joshi

All ETDs from UAB

After the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, the Great Powers of Europe, including the newly-born German Empire, greatly expanded their influence and colonial possessions in Africa, with colonies in East Asia and the South Pacific quickly following suit. The German Empire, like its contemporaries, engaged with medicine as a necessary part of its colonial endeavors in order to keep both its native laborers and European settlers healthy. Using documents from the German Bundesarchiv (Federal Archive), including official reports made to the German Colonial Office and documenting of formally conducted expeditions, as well as the writings of colonial doctors, this research examines …

Exploring The Contribution Of Mobile Money To The Well-Being Of Rural Tanzanian Villagers And Assessing Their Readiness To Adopt A Similar Model To Advance Their Healthcare Access An Exploratory Study, Sr. Magdalena P. Chubwa

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Background: Healthcare for rural villages in Tanzania has always been rudimentary. Lack of the infrastructure and poverty are among the many obstacles facing this population’s access to healthcare. While, the rise of telehealth has improved access to healthcare in many parts of the world, its use in rural Tanzania has been extremely limited to poor internet access. However, given the availability of non-internet connected mobile phones in rural Tanzania, the potential to use this devise to improve healthcare access exists. Individuals using mobile phones for financial transactions may be motivated to access healthcare via telehealth by using their non-internet connected …

Implementation Of Menstrual Cycle And Fertility Awareness Education For Community Healthcare Providers Serving Guatemalan Women, Alissa Struble

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Research indicates that lack of reproductive knowledge, literacy & academic attrition, lack of educator support, poverty, religion, gender inequality, and decreased access to electronic devices contribute to high numbers of teenage pregnancies in Guatemala. Educating United States (U.S.) healthcare providers and Guatemalan volunteers/workers about fertility awareness using Standard Days Method® (SDM) and CycleBeads® has the potential to empower young Guatemalan women and encourage them to make independent, informed reproductive decisions. In December 2023, a quality improvement project was implemented in a Guatemalan rural health clinic. Likert scale questionnaires were utilized to assess knowledge and comfort levels regarding fertility awareness. Analysis …

Identifying And Improving Developmental Delays In Children Within Central America, Alyssa Blake

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Roughly 40% of children living in low-income countries worldwide are at an increased risk of not reaching developmental milestones. Many of these children are at risk due to lack of resources, quality healthcare, and proper developmental screenings. Short-term medical mission trips (STMMs) aim to improve the health of those residing in developing countries. However, although the U.S. does carry out many STMMs to developing countries within Central America to help improve health outcomes, pediatric developmental screenings are often not a part of routine health visits during these STMMs. This may be due to providers having a general lack of experience …

Establishing Routine Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation During Pregnancy In An Impoverished Guatemalan Community, Marissa Schuette, Erin Brueggemann

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Pregnant and breastfeeding women in impoverished settings face heightened nutritional demands, placing them and their children at increased risk of inadequate nutrition's detrimental effects. Existing literature suggests that supplementing with multiple micronutrients (MMS) may offer superior protection against morbidity and mortality compared to traditional iron and folic acid (IFA) formulations. This research is set in the Land of Hope (LOH) clinic, located in Escuintla, Guatemala, a community served by the non-profit organization ER Abroad. The study aims to assess the feasibility of standardizing MMS provision to pregnant women at LOH, coupled with supplementary education on pregnancy and nutrition. The team …

Impact Of Supervisors’ Person-Centered Listening On Sense Of Belonging Among Occupationally Minoritized Healthcare Professionals, Nelu Nedelea

Theses and Dissertations

Significant gender and racial disparities are evident when comparing the composition of the U.S. healthcare workforce to the general U.S. population. Latinx individuals are underrepresented across all professions, while non-White individuals and women are occupational minorities in executive roles and in physician, surgeon, and advanced practitioner roles. Lack of diversity poses problems for underrepresented healthcare professionals, their organizations, and their patients. While diverse professionals experience various forms of microaggression, discrimination, prejudice, and diminished sense of belonging in their fields, these conditions can compromise communication among the various healthcare professionals involved with a patient, in turn, potentially threatening patient safety and …

An Overview Of Sino-Indian Relations In The Last 15 Years, Suchi Patel

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

India and China are emerging as two of the most powerful countries in the world, threatening the dominance that Western nations have known for so long in recent history. With a rich and dynamic history behind both of these nations, there are many geopolitical factors at play when analyzing the nature of their relationship. Previous media that is widespread in news and magazines have often painted one as a villain and the other as heroic, depending on its political stances. Through analysis of peer-reviewed journals, economic data from the respective governments and the Observatory of Economic Complexity, along with cross-sectional …

Short Term Medical Mission Gerd And Ulcer Treatment Guideline, Robin Risky

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The United States conducts over 6,000 international medical mission trips each year. The short-term nature of these trips, unfamiliarity with the patient population, language barriers, limited resources, and inadequate staff training are just some of the factors that make it challenging to provide quality care. One way to avoid doing harm is to follow evidence-based guidelines when treating common conditions. This quality improvement project sought to provide an evidence-based protocol for short-term medical missions (STMMs), guiding providers and pharmacy staff on the treatment of GERD and peptic ulcer. This project was implemented in a rural health clinic at the Land …

Compassion Fatigue And Burnout In Mission Trip Providers, Camille Roland

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO), lack of compassion satisfaction, and impaired mental health have had catastrophic effects on nurses, providers, and support staff in the past few years due to COVID-19, labor shortage, an influx of critically ill patients, and long hours. Compassion fatigue was coined by Figley as a state of exhaustion and dysfunction biologically, psychologically, and socially because of prolonged exposure to compassion stress. Related concepts identified as burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) play an inclusive role in one’s ability to cope with daily environmental stressors causing physical, emotional, and mental breakdown. The link between …

Importance Of Eye Exams As A Secondary Preventative Measure For Diabetic Retinopathy: Winning The War On Blindness, Alondra S. Arredondo, Olivia Demeyer, Rachel Louise Pfenning-Wendt, Samuel Wolfe

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite current efforts by medical professionals to reduce the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a microvascular complication of uncontrolled diabetes, this noncommunicable disease remains the leading cause of preventable vision loss worldwide (Cheloni et al., 2019). Research estimates 90% of DR cases could be prevented if detected early through routine eye exams, yet certain social determinants of health still remain a significant barrier for many individuals to receive this care. According to Wong & Sabanayagam (2020), only 25% of DM patients in developing countries receive routine care with adequate eye screenings. The goal of this community service project was to …

What Impact Does The Ability To Access Healthcare Have On Maternal Outcomes In Africa?, Helena Harris

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Maternal mortality rates reflect health inequities in access to obstetric care in some parts of the world including many African countries. Geographical barriers and limited number of skilled human resources have put women in rural areas at a significantly higher risk of maternal mortality.

Research Question: What impact does the ability to access healthcare have on maternal outcomes in African rural areas compared to urban cities?

Methods: A literature review was performed of credible databases. Six articles were reviewed extensively highlighting the purpose, strengths, and limitations of each study. Refer to Appendix A for the literature review table.

Findings: …

The Successful Characteristics That Contribute To Black Male Students Matriculating Into Medical School, Cedric Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In 2019, individuals that identified as Black represented 13.4% of the U.S. population, 12.5% of the undergraduate student enrollment population and 7.1% of the medical school population. Subsequently, this has yielded a 5% Black physician population and workforce consisting of just 2.3% Black male physicians (AAMC, 2018). The disproportionately low Black physician representation contributes to greater healthcare disparity outcomes within the U.S. Black population. This study is centered on the post-positive characteristics of Black male medical students that have successfully overcome barriers to entry and matriculated into medical school. The phenomenological post-positive study was conducted through the lens of Self-Efficacy …

อนาคตภาพการบริหารจัดการองค์การพยาบาล โรงพยาบาลสังกัดกองทัพอากาศ ช่วงพุทธศักราช 2570-2574, ศิริณา กมณฑลาภิเษก

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาอนาคตภาพการบริหารจัดการองค์การพยาบาล โรงพยาบาลสังกัดกองทัพอากาศ ช่วงพุทธศักราช 2570-2574 โดยใช้เทคนิคการวิจัยแบบเดลฟาย ผู้ให้ข้อมูลคือผู้เชี่ยวชาญเกี่ยวกับการบริหารจัดการองค์การพยาบาล โรงพยาบาลสังกัดกองทัพอากาศ จำนวน 18 คน วิธีการดำเนินการวิจัยประกอบด้วย 3 รอบ คือ รอบที่ 1 สัมภาษณ์ความคิดเห็นของผู้เชี่ยวชาญเกี่ยวกับอนาคตภาพการบริหารจัดการองค์การพยาบาล โรงพยาบาลสังกัดกองทัพอากาศ ช่วงพุทธศักราช 2570-2574 รอบที่ 2 นำข้อมูลที่ได้จากการสัมภาษณ์มาวิเคราะห์เนื้อหาแล้วสร้างแบบสอบถาม เพื่อให้ผู้เชี่ยวชาญแสดงประมาณค่าแนวโน้มความน่าจะเป็นในแต่ละข้อ และรอบที่ 3 นำข้อมูลที่ได้จากรอบ 2 มาคำนวณหาค่ามัธยฐาน ค่าพิสัยระหว่างควอไทล์ และจัดทำแบบสอบถามให้ผู้เชี่ยวชาญยืนยันความคิดเห็น เพื่อสรุปเป็นอนาคตภาพการบริหารจัดการองค์การพยาบาล โรงพยาบาลสังกัดกองทัพอากาศ ช่วงพุทธศักราช 2570-2574 ผลการวิจัยพบว่า อนาคตภาพการบริหารจัดการองค์การพยาบาล โรงพยาบาลสังกัดกองทัพอากาศ ช่วงพุทธศักราช 2570-2574 ประกอบด้วย 7 ด้าน ดังนี้ 1) ด้านวางแผนการบริหารองค์การ ได้แก่ การวิเคราะห์ภาระงานยุทธการด้านการแพทย์ทหาร 2) ด้านรูปแบบการบริการพยาบาล ได้แก่ การให้บริการเชิงรุกแก่ข้าราชการและครอบครัว รวมถึงผู้ทำการในอากาศ 3) ด้านการจัดการความรู้และเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ ได้แก่ การนำเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศมาใช้ในการบริหารจัดการ 4) ด้านนวัตกรรมและการพัฒนางานคุณภาพ ได้แก่ การยกระดับความสำเร็จในการผลิตผลงานวิจัย นวัตกรรมทางการพยาบาลและงานพัฒนาคุณภาพ 5) ด้านการจัดการทรัพยากรมนุษย์ ได้แก่ การพัฒนาทักษะที่จำเป็นให้กับบุคลากรพยาบาลอย่างต่อเนื่อง 6) ด้านสนับสนุนการจัดการศึกษา ได้แก่ การพัฒนาหลักสูตรพยาบาลศาสตรบัณฑิตให้มีคุณลักษณะและสมรรถนะเชิงวิชาชีพเป็นไปตามความต้องการขององค์การพยาบาล และ 7) ด้านการเตรียมพร้อมรับภารกิจด้านการแพทย์ทหาร สถานการณ์ฉุกเฉินและการบรรเทาสาธารณภัย ได้แก่ การพัฒนาศักยภาพของบุคลากรพยาบาลด้านการปฏิบัติการแพทย์ฉุกเฉิน

International Academic Partnerships In Orthopaedic Surgery, Michael Jesse Flores

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Abstract: INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS IN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY. Michael J. Flores. Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Introduction: Orthopaedic-related disease (ORD) is one of the leading health challenges faced worldwide and is a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In recent years, international orthopaedic outreach to address the global burden of ORD has received greater attention due to initiatives such as the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCGS). Many strategies have been considered to address the global burden of ORD, most commonly though volunteer trips by …

Clinical Vaccination Education Guideline For The African American Community, Margaret Chinedum Nwoji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractVaccination hesitancy is high among African Americans and other people of color. The practice gap addressed in this project was the lack of a culturally sensitive clinical guideline for vaccination education relevant to the African American community. The practice-focused question was answered by developing an evidence-based Clinical Vaccination Education Guideline for the African American Community (CVEGAAC) that was validated by a group of four content experts using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation tool. The content experts scored each of the domains above 90%, implying that the CVEGAAC is of high quality and ready for implementation. The end users …

Voices From Below: The Politics Of Leprosy Control In Southeastern Nigeria, 1926-1960, Odinakachukwu Kingsley Eze

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leprosy was an endemic disease in colonial Southeastern Nigeria but became an epidemic between the 1920s and 1940s. Unlike malaria and sleeping sickness, its endemicity did not impede European penetration at the dawn of the twentieth century. However, its spread across Nigeria intensified during colonial rule, with acute prevalence in regions hitherto prone to the disease. Therefore, from the 1920s to 1960, Southeastern Nigeria became the epicenter of British policies tailored towards preventing, curing, and eradicating leprosy disease in Nigeria. Existing research has established the involvement of different actors in this course–including Christian missionaries, colonial officials, specialized agencies, and international …

Kenyan Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions Of Global Health Engagements In Relation To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Erick Amick

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Over the past 30 years, there has been a significant increase in opportunities available for individuals living in high-income countries (HICs) to participate in programs that provide health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These global health engagements (GHEs) have become common in many LMICs around the world, including Kenya. Prior to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the research exploring individuals’ perspectives of GHEs were situated from the viewpoint of participants traveling from HICs to participate in global health programs. Few studies have examined perspectives of constituent groups in LMICs, such as healthcare professionals (i.e., healthcare …

Politics & Religion In Comparative Perspective: Papal Pastoral Visits To Mexico In 1990 & 1993, Kiara Catherine Black

Theses

This research examines the multi-layered agency of Pope John Paul II and the diplomatic relationship between the Holy See and the United States of Mexico from 1990-1993. Specifically, the research aims to examine Pope John Paul II’s pastoral visits to Mexico in 1990 and 1993 and how his activities are shaped by religious mission and statecraft. The pastoral visits of Pope John Paul II to Mexico in 1990 and 1993 are major inflections as the diplomatic relationship changed from one of cold hostility to normalised, and even congenial, in 1992. The research project is established via a detailed description of …

Searching For Association Of Gsk3Β Rs13314595, Msx1 Rs3821949, Tgfβ3 Rs3917201, And Bmp4 Rs17563 With Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip And Palate, Gabrielle Wainwright, Marie M. Tolarová Md, Phd, Drsc, Mirek Tolar

Orthodontics and Endodontics Theses

Introduction: Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NCL±P) is characterized by a multifactorial etiology with both genetic and environmental factors playing a role in its embryonic development. Recent genetic studies have identified susceptibility loci and genetic variations in several genes that were associated with the risk of developing NCL±P. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of MSX1, BMP4, TGFβ3, and GSK3β gene variants with NCL±P in a casecontrol data set from Karaikal, India. Methods: The case sample consisted of 331 individuals who were diagnosed with CL (bi/unilateral cleft lip), CLP (bi/unilateral cleft lip and …

Petroleum, Health, And Power: The Anglo-Persian Oil Company And The Colonial Dimensions Of Company Medicine In Iran, 1902–1931, Arman Azimi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

“Petroleum, Health, and Power: The Anglo-Persian Oil Company and the Colonial Dimensions of Company Medicine in Iran, 1902-1931” investigates the medical and public health work of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC, later Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), and today BP P.L.C., or British Petroleum) in southwest Iran in the period prior to the Iranian central government’s assumption of control over public health in the region. To ensure that its operations functioned without disruption, the British-owned oil company constructed an extensive and integrated medical infrastructure and carried out substantial public health programs. Based on archival material from the BP Archive and the …