Digital Commons Network^™

Pharmacy Students' Attitudes And Perceptions Of "Virtual Worlds" As An Instructional Tool For Clinical Pharmacy Teaching, C Englund, M Gustafsson, G Gallego

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

The objectives of this study were to explore pharmacy students’ perceptions and experiences of three-dimensional virtual worlds (3DVWs) as an instructional tool for clinical pharmacy teaching. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with Master of Science in Pharmacy students who had participated in communicative exercises in a 3DVW. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. More than half of the students were positive to using 3DVWs for educational purposes and see the advantages of having a setting where communication can be practiced in an authentic but ‘safe’ environment available online. However, many students also reported technical difficulties in …

An Education Intervention To Improve Health Literacy And Decision Making About Supporting Self-Care Among Older Australians: A Study Protocol For A Randomised Controlled Trial, C Smith, E Chang, G Gallego, L Balneaves

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Older Australians are high consumers of complementary and alternative medicines (CM). To help older people to take an active role in their health, we will develop and evaluate a novel educational intervention to support decision self-efficacy, and improve health literacy skills.

Methods: The primary hypothesis is that participants receiving a web/DVD plus booklet intervention compared with a booklet-only group will demonstrate an increase in decision self-efficacy. This study is a randomized controlled trial. One hundred and sixty-eight people aged 65 years and older will be recruited from community settings comprising retirement villages and community groups, based in Sydney, Australia. …

Does The Doctrine Of Double Effect Apply To The Prescription Of Barbiturates? Syme Vs The Medical Board Of Australia, Xavier Symons

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

The doctrine of double effect (DDE) is a principle of crucial importance in law and medicine. In medicine, the principle is generally accepted to apply in cases where the treatment necessary to relieve pain and physical suffering runs the risk of hastening the patient’s death. More controversially, it has also been used as a justification for withdrawal of treatment from living individuals and physician-assisted suicide. In this paper, I will critique the findings of the controversial Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing Syme vs the Medical Board of Australia. In that hearing, Dr Rodney Syme, a urologist and euthanasia …

Detection And Management Of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia In Primary Care In Australia: Protocol For A Pragmatic Cluster Intervention Study With Pre-Post Intervention Comparisons, Diane Arnold-Reed, Tom Brett, Lakkhina Troeung, Alistair Vickery, Jacquie Garton-Smith, Damon Bell, Jing Pang, Tegan Grace, Caroline Bulsara, Iain Li, Max Bulsara, Gerald F. Watts

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), an autosomal dominant disorder of lipid metabolism, results in accelerated onset of atherosclerosis if left untreated. Lifelong treatment with diet, lifestyle modifications and statins enable a normal lifespan for most patients. Early diagnosis is critical. This protocol trials a primary care-based model of care (MoC) to improve detection and management of FH.

Methods and analysis: Pragmatic cluster intervention study with pre-post intervention comparisons in Australian general practices. At study baseline, current FH detection practice is assessed. Medical records over 2 years are electronically scanned using a data extraction tool (TARB-Ex) to identify patients at increased …

The Prevalence Of Insomnia In The General Population In China: A Meta-Analysis, X. Cao, S. Wang, B. Zhong, L. Zhang, G. Ungvari, N. Chee, L. Lu, H. Chiu, G. Lok, J. Lu, F. Jia, Y. Xiang

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

This is the first meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of insomnia in the general population of China. A systematic literature search was conducted via the following databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE and Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Interne (CNKI), WanFang Data and SinoMed). Statistical analyses were performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis program. A total of 17 studies with 115,988 participants met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The pooled prevalence of insomnia in China was 15.0% (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 12.1%-18.5%). No significant difference was found in the prevalence between genders or across time period. The pooled prevalence of insomnia in …

Longitudinal Changes In Prospective Memory And Their Clinical Correlates At 1-Year Follow-Up In First-Episode Schizophrenia, Fu-Chun Zhou, Chuan-Yue Wang, Gabor S. Ungvari, Chee H. Ng, Yan Zhou, Liang Zhang, Jingjing Zhou, David H.K. Shum, David Man, Deng-Tang Liu, Jun Li, Yu-Tao Ziang

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

This study aimed to investigate prospective memory (PM) and the association with clinical factors at 1-year follow-up in first-episode schizophrenia (FES). Thirty-two FES patients recruited from a university-affiliated psychiatric hospital in Beijing and 17 healthy community controls (HCs) were included. Time- and event-based PM (TBPM and EBPM) performances were measured with the Chinese version of the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CCAMPROMPT) at baseline and at one-year follow-up. A number of other neurocognitive tests were also administered. Remission was determined at the endpoint according to the PANSS score _ 3 for selected items. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant …

Mind The (Treatment) Gap: A Global Perspective On Current And Future Strategies For Prevention Of Fragility Fractures, H C.W. Harvey, E V. Mccloskey, Paul Mitchell, B Dawson-Hughes, D D. Pierroz, J Reginster, R Rizzoli, C Cooper, J A. Kanis

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

This narrative review considers the key challenges facing healthcare professionals and policymakers responsible for providing care to populations in relation to bone health. These challenges broadly fall into four distinct themes: (1) case finding and management of individuals at high risk of fracture, (2) public awareness of osteoporosis and fragility fractures, (3) reimbursement and health system policy and (4) epidemiology of fracture in the developing world. Findings from cohort studies, randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, in addition to current clinical guidelines, position papers and national and international audits, are summarised, with the intention of providing a prioritised approach …

“Life Within The Person Comes To The Fore”: Pastoral Workers’ Practice Wisdom On Using Arts In Palliative Care, Clare O'Callaghan, Libby Byrne, Eleni Cokalis, David Glenister, Margaret Santilli, Rose Clark, Therese Mccarthy, Natasha Michael

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Pastoral care (also chaplaincy, spiritual care) assists people to find meaning, personal resources, and connection with self, others, and/or a higher power. Although essential in palliative care, there remains limited examination of what pastoral workers do. This study examined how pastoral workers use and consider the usefulness of art-based modalities.

Methods: Qualitative research was used to examine the practice wisdom (tacit practice knowledge) of pastoral workers experienced in using visual arts and music in palliative care. Two focus groups were conducted. Thematic analysis was informed by grounded theory.

Results: Six pastoral workers shared information. Three themes emerged. First, pastoral …

What Is The Scope To Test A Smoking Cessation Intervention Aimed At Young People Admitted To Hospital?, George Tambakis, Jonathan Darby, Moyez Jiwa

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Young adults are reluctant to use evidence-based smoking cessation interventions. Subsequently, they are less successful at giving up smoking compared to older adults. This highlights the need for innovative strategies to engage young people in smoking cessation. A novel intervention using photoageing technology has been shown to be an effective trigger for smoking cessation.

Aims: To conduct a pilot study deploying photoageing care technology to trigger smoking cessation attempts in young adults admitted to hospital.

Method: A randomised controlled trial was designed. Thirty participants were recruited from a regional hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were allocated to the intervention …

Is Saying “Sorry” Enough? Examining The Effects Of Apology Typologies By Organization On Consumer Responses, May O. Lwin, Augustine Pang, Jun-Qi Loh, Marilyn Hui-Ying Peh, Sarah Ann Rodriguez, Nur Hanisah Binte Zelani

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Apology has been found to be the most effective strategy in times of crises. However, there is a dearth of research on the kinds of apology used and how primary stakeholders, in particular consumers, received them. This study aims to examine consumer responses to the types of apologies offered post crises against the levels of attribution of responsibility. We also assess the potential mediating role of ethical concerns by developing the Perception-Behavioral Model of Crisis Response. An experiment was conducted to ascertain consumers’ impression of the organization post-apology. The results showed that the attribution of crisis responsibility significantly influences complaining, …

Evidence For A Comprehensive Approach To Aboriginal Tobacco Control To Maintain The Decline In Smoking: An Overview Of Reviews Among Indigenous Peoples, Catherine Chamberlain, Susan Perlan, Sue Brennan, Lucie Rychetnik, David Thomas, Raglan Maddox, Noore Alam, Emily Banks, Andrew Wilson, Sandra Eades

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Tobacco smoking is a leading cause of disease and premature mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians. While the daily smoking prevalence among Indigenous Australians has declined significantly from 49% in 2001, it remains about three times higher than that of non-Indigenous Australians (39 and 14%, respectively, for age ≥15 years in 2014–15). This overview of systematic reviews aimed to synthesise evidence about reducing tobacco consumption among Indigenous peoples using a comprehensive framework for Indigenous tobacco control in Australia comprised of the National Tobacco Strategy (NTS) and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan (NATSIHP) principles …

Student Leadership In The Middle Years: A Matter Of Concern, A Coffey, S Lavery

Education Papers and Journal Articles

Traditionally, student leadership has been seen as the prerogative of senior students. Very little research has been conducted on how schools nurture and develop leadership skills in students in the middle years of schooling. This article provides an overview of student leadership in six secondary schools with a particular focus on student leadership opportunities in the middle years. These schools were drawn from the Government, Catholic and Independent sectors in Western Australia. Specifically, the opinions and experiences of either principals or their delegates were sought in order to develop a sense of the importance placed on student leadership in the …

Reflections About Grasshoppers And Inchworms In The Information And Communication Technologies Era, Boris Handal, H Gonzales

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This article presents a multifaceted reflection on the different prevailing strategies to obtain knowledge in the educational system. In an effort to illustrate this complex process, the paradox of the grasshoppers and caterpillars are brought in their applications to the education system. This paradox has great relevance in the contemporary educational system because it points to a process that will alter the foundations of teaching and learning particularly in this age where ICT have achieved highly sophisticated levels. Grasshoppers’ dispositions — intuitive oriented, non-lineal and proactive—and those from the caterpillars — structured, predictive and reactive — have a profound and …

Patient Evaluation Of Emotional Comfort Experienced (Peece): Developing And Testing A Measurement Instrument, A Williams, L Lester, C Bulsara, A Petterson, K Bennett, E Allen, D Joske

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: The Patient Evaluation of Emotional Comfort Experienced (PEECE) is a 12-item questionnaire which measures the mental well-being state of emotional comfort in patients. The instrument was developed using previous qualitative work and published literature.

Design: Instrument development.

Setting: Acute Care Public Hospital, Western Australia.

Participants: Sample of 374 patients.

Interventions: A multidisciplinary expert panel assessed the face and content validity of the instrument and following a pilot study, the psychometric properties of the instrument were explored.

Main outcome measures: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis assessed the underlying dimensions of the PEECE instrument; Cronbach’s α was used to determine the …

Lack Of Evidence For Decreased Protein Stability In The 2397 (Met) Haplotype Of The Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 Protein Implicated In Parkinson’S Disease, Ryan S. Anderton, Lauren Hill, Rhiannon Morris, Frank L. Mastaglia, Wayne Greene, Sherif Boulos

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Missense mutations in the leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are the leading genetic cause of autosomal dominant familial Parkinson’s disease. We previously reported that two mutations within the ROC domain, namely R1441C and A1442P, exhibit increased protein degradation leading to lowered steady state LRRK2 protein levels in HEK293 cells. More recently, the common WD40 domain LRRK2 haplotype, Met2397, which is a risk factor for Crohn’s disease, has been shown to lower steady state protein levels in HEK293 cells. In view of recent evidence implicating LRRK2 and inflame-mation in PD, we investigated the effects of Met2397 on LRRK2 expression, …

Changes In Fatty Acid Composition Of Human Milk In Response To Cold-Like Symptoms In The Lactating Mother And Infant, Andrew S. Gardner, Ibrahim A. Rahman, Ching T. Lai, Anna Hepworth, Naomi Trengove, Peter E. Hartmann, Donna T. Geddes

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Infants rely on their innate immune systems to protect them from infection. Human milk (HM) contains fatty acids (FAs) and monoacylglycerols that are known to exhibit antiviral and antibacterial properties in vitro. The specific fat content of HM may potentially affect the efficacy of this antimicrobial activity. This preliminary study investigates whether the proportions of FA in HM change in response to infections, leading to cold-like symptoms in the mother or infant. Milk samples were obtained from mothers (n = 26) when they and their infants were healthy, and when mother, infant, or both suffered cold-like symptoms. The milk was …

What's The 411 On Sex In The African American Church? A Qualitative Exploration Of African American Girls' Exposure To Sex Communication In The Church., Brittany Berry

Theses and Dissertations

WHAT’S THE 411 ON SEX IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH? A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRLS’ EXPOSURE TO SEX COMMUNICATION IN THE CHURCH

By: Brittany M. Berry, Ph.D.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017.

Major Director: Dr. Faye Z. Belgrave, Professor, Psychology

The purpose of this dissertation research was to explore sex communication with African American girls in the African American Church. This research was guided by two objectives: (1) to explore African American adolescent girls’ exposure to sex communication in …

Mathematical Models Of The Inflammatory Response In The Lungs, Sarah B. Minucci

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation in the lungs can occur for many reasons, from bacterial infections to stretch by mechanical ventilation. In this work we compare and contrast various mathematical models for lung injuries in the categories of acute infection, latent versus active infection, and particulate inhalation. We focus on systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), agent-based models (ABMs), and Boolean networks. Each type of model provides different insight into the immune response to damage in the lungs. This knowledge includes a better understanding of the complex dynamics of immune cells, proteins, and cytokines, recommendations for treatment with antibiotics, and a foundation for more …

Big Data Visualization Platform For Mixed Reality, Aliakbar Panahi

Theses and Dissertations

The visualization of data helps to provide faster and deeper insight into the data. In this work, a system for visualizing and analyzing big data in an interactive mixed reality environment is proposed. Such a system can be used for representing different types of data such as temporal, geospatial, network graph, and high dimensional. Also, an implementation of this system for four different data types are created. The data types include network data, volumetric data, high dimensional, and spectral data for different mixed reality devices such as Microsoft HoloLens, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, and Android ARCore were created. It …

Synergy: Game Design + Qur'an Memorization, Sultana Jesmine Moulana

Theses and Dissertations

The rise of digital technology has transformed nearly every part of our daily lives, including the way we learn and memorize. Such transformations raise interesting questions for one of the most long-standing and demanding memorization tasks in the world: the memorization of the Islamic holy book, The Qur’an. For Muslims, The Qur’an is a timeless, sacred text, cradling within its covers many profound images, stories, and parables. Despite rigorous research in the fields of game design and memorization techniques, very little work has been done in combining these two areas of research to create a game-based memorization experience of The …

Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type Ii (Camk-Ii) Is Required For Hematopoietic Stem Cell Specification, Camden E. Kurtz

Theses and Dissertations

Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II (CaMK-II) is a Serine/Threonine protein kinase that is activated by Ca2+ and Calmodulin to phosphorylate substrates involved in myriad developmental processes. This project implicates CaMK-II in specification of HSCs, and zebrafish provide an ideal embryonic model to study hematopoiesis. Zebrafish genetic manipulation was achieved through: incubation in chemical inhibitors; injection of notochord-targed WT and DN CaMK-II constructs with Transposase; and injection of camk2g1 translation-blocking morpholino antisense oligonucleotide (MO). Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) and immunolocalization on zebrafish embryos allowed visualization of key HSC markers and pathway components that implicated CaMK-II in the specification of HSCs. …

Examining Health Behaviors In College Students With And Without Chronic Conditions, Duc-Thi J. Barsell

Theses and Dissertations

Many college students are in a developmental period in which they are transitioning from pediatric to adult health care. This time period can be challenging for all college students and especially for students with a chronic condition. The current study investigated the association between various health-related factors (health locus of control [HLOC], health literacy, health self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life [HRQOL]) and health behaviors in college students, as well as the moderating effect of having a chronic condition on those associations. These health behaviors were further operationalized as healthy lifestyle behaviors (preventative and wellness behaviors, dietary behaviors, physical activity) …

Three Measures Of Coping In Video Games (Civ-Iii): The Development, Construct Validation, And Profile Analysis Of The Civ-Iii, Chelsea M. Hughes

Theses and Dissertations

Video games provide a competitive, goal-oriented environment. They involve individuals who often seek intentionally to frustrate their opponents’ goals. The gaming community is made up of players who vary in their interpersonal style, learning histories, and skill levels. In this rich and dynamic environment, stress is a common experience. Given the prevalence of gameplay in the population and the frequency of gameplay among gamers, it is important to examine coping responses to stressors, particularly maladaptive ones. The present research entails three studies. In Study 1, I use exploratory factor analyses to develop three scales purported to measure maladaptive coping strategies …

Role Of The Pediatric Dental Provider In Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Education, Meredith L. Dugoni

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study investigates knowledge about HPV and examines if pediatric dental providers should include HPV education for guardians of patients 10-18 years.

Methods: Legal guardians of 10-18 year-old patients of the Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Dental Clinic were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Participants completed a baseline survey, were provided HPV education, completed an initial follow-up survey, and then completed a 6-month follow-up survey.

Results: A total of 54 participants completed the baseline and initial follow-up surveys and 17 completed the 6-month follow-up survey. The average number of correct responses was 3.4 of 6 knowledge questions, which significantly …

Art For Recovery, Lucy Dabney

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the design of a space for opioid addicts in recovery that combines an art therapy studio with a gallery space. It would provide a new type of therapy available to the area, engage and educate the Richmond community and spread awareness of the disease of opiate addiction. It will also enable addicts to express themselves in a non-verbal, creative format that allows for them to create a legacy and leave an imprint on the community.

Positions Of Place: Converging Viewpoints In Visual Communication, Gregory J. Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis includes a body of work that explores our visual relationship to the physical spaces and places we inhabit in our everyday lives. Today we live in a complex world where we are bombarded with fragments of information and inundated with distractions. As designers, we are equipped with tools and methods that allow us to experience and interpret our environment through multi-faceted perspectives and from different viewpoints. My approach to graphic design adopts techniques and practices from a mix of different disciplines. The work focuses on a design process that alternates between the parallel depiction of first-person and third-person …

Spooky Action At A Distance, Jonathan A. Rehwoldt

Theses and Dissertations

The question posed is “Can I experience remote human intimacy?” This is only posed after a network of computer code, images and entities have worked through the studio apparatus. These objects only materialize after khaos, the gap, the chasm has been recognized and a remote position has been realized. The work is about examining this constellation of objects and processes in their aspiration to answer the stated question in the affirmative. The resulting presentation is an experience of the failures and illuminations of both the material and the work.

Wiped Clean, Elizabeth H. Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

It seems that all forms of pain, quotidian and monumental, are catalogued in the same muted and inaccessible space in our memory. In my installation Wiped Clean, I question whether human capacity to externalize physical trauma is aided by a the physical design of our institutions. I examine the architectures and structural mechanisms that mediate traumatic and intimate experiences with our bodies, and explore the potential of self-formation within these conditions.

Active Design: Creating A Blue Zones Model For Interior Environments, Alexis Holcombe

Theses and Dissertations

How might interior environments play a role in promoting life long well being? According to Passarino, et al., genetic variety only accounts for about 25% of the variation of human longevity. A combination of diet, environment and exercise comprise the greatest factors. The amount of time Americans spend indoors presents a challenge to increasing physical activity: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that Americans spend 93% of their lives indoors (Roberts, 2016). Therefore, if physical activity is crucial to living longer, the design of interior environments could logically be a critical factor in promoting natural movement and sustaining lifelong well-being. …

Sub For More, Chelsea Lee

Theses and Dissertations

This written thesis unpacks the thoughts and motivations behind the decisions I have made in my artistic practice that have ultimately culminated in my M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition: Sub for More. By merging images of my own work as well as internet sourced images of the culture that drives my work, I have created a platform to begin to understand my experience during graduate school. This text examines and explores my belief in the inherent power in pop culture, my obsession with fame, celebrity, and my self-identity as a participant in current pop-culture.