Digital Commons Network^™

"Bricks Without Straw": An Oral History Of Culturally Relevant Caring In Historic A.H. Parker High School In Birmingham Alabama, Penny S. Seals

All ETDs from UAB

Industrial High School, later renamed A.H. Parker High School after the inaugural principal, Arthur Harold Parker, is a predominantly African American high school located in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1900, A.H. Parker High School was established as the first four-year public high school for African American students in Birmingham. Historically, Parker has been recognized as being the heart of Black secondary education in Birmingham. Unfortunately, limited scholarly research exists detailing this historic schooling environment that motivated Black students to excel, despite vast inequities and inequalities. This dissertation tells the story of A.H. Parker High School with a focus on the culturally …

Evaluating The Association Among Demographic, Disease, And Symptom Profiles And Quality Of Life In Connective Tissue Disease-Related Interstitial Disease, Lanier O'Hare

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Connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) results in an unrelenting symptom burden and may progress to death. The morbidity and mortality associated with CTD-ILD likely has a profound impact on individuals’ quality of life (QOL). Quality of life is a phenomenon that has yet to be sufficiently described in the literature on CTD-ILD. The factors associated with QOL in other chronic lung diseases have been described, but because of the different clinical and demographic characteristics of CTD-ILD, it is unknown if these same factors are associated with QOL in CTD-ILD. The purpose of this study was to examine …

Guided Exploration Of Military Servicewomen's Healthcare Experiences And Related Outcomes (Gems Hero), Princess Victoria Jane Nash

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Purpose: This study focuses on factors related to healthcare seeking behaviors and utilization of Veterans Affairs primary care services by female African American Veterans. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to assess what factors influence seeking care at VA healthcare facilities. Research Design: This study used a modified explanatory sequential mixed methods design to assess health services utilization and healthcare experiences of African American female Veterans. This research utilized items from the Health Belief model as a guiding framework to highlight factors that could impact VA healthcare utilization. Methodology: Health services utilization analysis used national data from the …

Oral Language In The Prewriting Stage In Early Childhood: A Mixed Methods Study, Rebekah Lee Reach

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference oral language experiences during the prewriting stage of writing make in a student’s quality of writing, enjoyment of writing, and writing behaviors in kindergarten, first, and second grades. Convergent mixed methods design was used for this study. Triangulation of data was completed using three data collection methods: observations, student interviews, and writing samples produced by four kindergarten students, four first grade students, and four second grade students. Each participant engaged in a pretest and posttest for four weeks. The writing samples were scored, and repeated measure design was implemented using …

Retention Strategies For Non-Traditional Pathway Teachers: Keeping New Teachers In The Profession, Leslie Cranford Richards

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Over the past 30 years, teacher turnover has increased significantly (Simon & Johnson, 2015), contributing to the teacher shortage in the United States. This shortage of teachers has necessitated the employment of more teacher candidates from non-traditional teacher certification pathways. Espinoza et al. (2018) found that teachers from non-traditional certification pathways are “2 to 3 times more likely to leave teaching than fully prepared teachers” (p. 1). Given that teacher retention would help solve the teacher shortage problem (Ingersoll, 2001), it is important to determine what working conditions and support would encourage these non-traditional certification pathway teachers to stay in …

Superhero Media And Risk-Taking: Is Superhero Play A Risk Factor For Unintentional Injury In Preschool-Aged Children?, Casie H. Morgan

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The preschool years represent a time of rapid human development, hallmarked by exploring one’s environment through gross and fine motor movement, touching and tasting physical objects, and imaginative pretend play. This exploration is developmentally appropriate, but also presents risks. Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for preschool-aged children, and common injuries reflect exploration and risk-taking exhibited during play. Pretend play may be particularly risky if children imitate risky models like superheroes. Superhero media is extremely popular among young children, leading many children to identify closely with superheroes. Frequent exposure and subsequent identification with superheroes is concerning because media …

Examining Family Health Through Family-Centered Care Within An Organizational Context, Bria Kathryn Morgan

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Introduction: Family health is characterized as a multi-dimensional process that is shaped by a number of social determinants. Similar to individual health, various domains work in conjunction and intersect to produce family health. Family-centered care is one of the many ways that healthcare providers can support health, however, little is known about if and how it is beneficial for family health. Considering the relevance of an organizational context, this study seeks to understand the delivery of care within an organization and providers’ perceptions of family-centered care. Data/Methods: Using the case of the Ronald McDonald House, this study integrates qualitative content …

Evaluation Of A Living Shoreline Technique On A Southeastern United States Reservoir, Eric V. Muth

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The impoundment of rivers in the southeastern United States has led to the creation of reservoirs that have seen the riparian zone become heavily developed with residential real estate. As the hybrid river/lake systems started forming new shorelines, property owners reacted by attempting to reduce their losses. This has been done in a variety of ways, with the majority falling into the bulkhead category. The use of vertical hard armament has resulted in a loss of ecological function and an increase in erosion of the lakebed at the toe or escarpment. In response to this, the idea was proposed by …

Relationship Between Neighborhood Deprivation And Epigenetic Age Acceleration With Pain In Adults With Musculoskeletal Pain, Pamela Jackson

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Residents of high-deprivation neighborhoods shoulder a greater burden of age-related health conditions, including experiencing worse chronic musculoskeletal pain outcomes, compared to residents of more affluent neighborhoods. Advancing age is a risk factor for chronic health conditions, which epigenetic modifications may explain. Epigenetic age acceleration occurs when an individual’s epigenetic age is older than their chronological age, and that discordance has been identified as a strong predictor of age-related conditions. Epigenetic age acceleration has also been correlated with neighborhood deprivation. However, the mechanisms for neighborhood disparities in chronic musculoskeletal pain remain unclear. The purpose of this dissertation study was to examine …

Predicting Change In Quality Of Life In Patients With Advanced Cancer And Family Caregivers Using Gps Data, Kyungmi Lee

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Patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers often experience poor quality of life. Measuring patient and caregiver physical and mental quality of life is typically performed using participant reported outcome measures, especially validated questionnaires. However, this self-report approach has several limitations, including recall bias, respondent burden, and social desirability bias. One potential solution to these limitations may be to use passive data collected by personally owned smartphones (e.g., GPS data) to model and assess the quality of life in family caregivers and patients with advanced cancer. Yet, there is no evidence to date that passively collected smartphone data is …

Heart Rate Variability And Stress In The Intensive Care Unit Nursing Workplace, Paula Miller Levi

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Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses work in a demanding environment, facing repeated encounters with trauma and ethical issues when caring for patients. Psychological stressors can include death of patients, violent acts by patients or their families, caring for suffering patients, and moral distress from performing futile care. These factors place ICU nurses at increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Suffering from chronic PTSD symptoms can negatively impact nurses’ psychological and physical health. There are also consequences for patients and hospitals, including increased risk for substandard care, decreased government reimbursements from poor patient satisfaction scores, and retention issues. Few …

Palliative Care Experiences And Educational Needs Of Healthcare Interprofessionals In Jamaica: A Mixed Methods Study, Rebecca L. Edwards

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Universal access to palliative care (PC) is a human right that much of the world has not accomplished and educating a PC workforce is critical to PC advancement. Higher PC disparities exist in low-and-middle income countries, such as Jamaica. The World Health Organization Public Health Model and the International PC Initiative’s PC roadmap emphasize the importance of PC education. The purpose of this mixed methods dissertation study was to investigate the PC experiences and educational needs of healthcare interprofessionals who provide care for patients with late-stage serious illnesses in Jamaica. Three specific aims incorporated quantitative investigation of physicians’, nurses’, and …

The Role Of International Faculty In Comprehensive Campus Internationalization, Melissa Williamson Hawkins

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Faculty engagement is an acknowledged imperative for accomplishing the goals of comprehensive campus internationalization. In addition, transformational international and intercultural experiences are known to motivate faculty involvement in internationalization (Childress, 2018). This study proposes that the large numbers of international faculty working in permanent positions on university campuses, who have already had these transformational experiences by having adapted to a new country and culture, are an underutilized resource towards internationalization goals. In a mixed methods study conducted at a large, research university in the southeastern United States, the perspectives of international faculty on their current and potential role in internationalization …

Multilevel Influences On Physical Activity Participation In Rural And Cancer Populations With Obesity, Nashira Inika Brown

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espite the strong evidence of physical activity benefits, the prevalence of physical inactivity and associated obesity continues to increase. Rural and cancer survivor populations with obesity, in particular, remain highly inactive and are at increased risk of comorbidities. Thus, physical activity interventions are needed to promote active lifestyles. However, before developing or adapting existing multi-level physical activity interventions, more research is needed to understand the necessary components to meet the needs and preferences of these unique populations. Therefore, this project involved identifying the gaps in literature followed by three studies to investigate the multilevel influences on physical activity in rural …

Changes In Pain Intensity And Physical Activity Levels In Individuals With Acetabular Dysplasia Undergoing Periacetabular Osteotomy: A Longitudinal Cohort Study, Naif Z. Alrashdi

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Acetabular dysplasia (AD) is a condition of the hip joint that is characterized by incomplete acetabulum development leading to lack of bony coverage of the femoral head. As a result of intra-articular injury from lack of bony congruency, often, individuals with AD report hip joint instability, pain, decreased hip-related function, and are at high risk for early development of hip osteoarthritis (OA). AD is primarily affects young-to-middle-aged adults, is more common in females and those with history of a breech birth position. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is the currently-recommended surgical treatment for AD that aims to reposition the acetabulum to increase …

Embedding A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation In A Web-Based Diet And Exercise Program For Older Cancer Survivors, Jami Lee Anderson

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The purpose of this dissertation is to describe critical steps in designing a usercentered mixed methods process evaluation and implement the process evaluation within an existing program. Three objectives of this dissertation include: 1) develop a conceptual framework for conducting user-centered process evaluations of web-based diet and exercise programs for middle-aged and older cancer survivors; 2) inform the design of a user-centered process evaluation by leveraging insights from “think aloud” interviews collected during the beta-testing phase of the AMPLIFY program (a webbased diet and exercise program designed to support healthy lifestyle needs of older cancer survivors); and 3) present results …

A Pilot Mixed Methods Study Examining Factors Affecting Return To Work Among African American Stroke Survivors, Kristin D. Ashley

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BACKGROUND: Stroke is a highly prevalent and disabling condition among African Americans. Although there is limited research regarding barriers and facilitators to return to work among stroke survivors, evidence suggests that African American stroke survivors return to work (RTW) less frequently than Caucasians. Most of the research on this topic has been conducted in European countries, leaving significant knowledge gaps on RTW among African Americans in the United States. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that affect RTW for African American stroke survivors and then build upon those results to better understand facilitators and barriers to RTW. …

Exploring The Relationship Between Chronic Stressors And Protective Factors And Preterm Risk In An African American Pregnant Population, Megan Mileski

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BACKGROUND: In the United States, infant mortality is a serious public health issue, particularly for the African American (AA) population. Despite ample research investigating explanations for the significantly higher infant mortality rate (IMR) for AA infants in the United States, the reason for the racial disparity remains unknown. Reports suggest that chronic, life-course stressors may increase risk of preterm birth (PTB), the leading contributor to the high IMR for AA infants. Adverse childhood experiences and perceived racial discrimination, experienced over the life course, have the potential to increase a stress response in AA women, leading to PTB. Psychosocial resources may …

Parent And Healthcare Provider Beliefs About Chlamydia Adolescent Vaccine, Alison P. Footman

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Introduction: Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide and it disproportionally affects young people and those living in the Southern United States. If left untreated chlamydia infections can lead to complications such as infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease. Currently, chlamydia vaccines are being development. A successful chlamydia immunization program would require adolescents to be vaccinated before engagement in sexual activity and would require parental approval and recommendations from healthcare providers. Therefore, this project aims to explore parent and healthcare provider opinions about chlamydia vaccines to identify potential barriers and facilitators to uptake. Because the COVID-19 pandemic …

Examining Urban Teachers' Perceptions And Practices Of Family Literacy Partnerships In Schools, Homes, And Communities: A Case Study, Andrea M. Dailey

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This qualitative case study examined urban teachers' perceptions and experiences of family literacy practices and partnerships in urban schools, homes, and communities during remote learning. Research shows that collaboration among schools, families, and communities can help improve overall educational outcomes and literacy development of children from linguistic and low socioeconomic backgrounds (Curry et al., 2016; Henderson & Mapp, 2002; Taylor, 1989). However, there is limited research on family literacy practices and partnerships in urban settings during remote learning. Therefore, this research explores family literacy practices and partnerships between schools, families, and communities in urban environments to help improve students' literacy …

The Dyslexia Disparity: An Examination Of Inequities In The Identification And Intervention Of Early Learners Of Color, Fredeisha Harper Darrington

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Although Black students are overrepresented in the special education (SPED) population within the educational system in the United States, the number of Black students identified with dyslexia can be concluded to be significantly lower (Annamma et al., 2018; Farkas et al., 2020; Sullivan & Bal, 2013). With experts positing that dyslexia affects as many as one in five persons, attention to this matter is needed especially regarding the youngest Black students (Hyles & Hoyles, 2010; Moats & Dakin, 2017). The characteristics of dyslexia are manifested in neurological processes surrounding reading abilities, thought processes, and motor skills (Moats & Dakin, 2017). …

Comparison Of The Condyle-Fossa Relationship And Resorption Between Patients With And Without Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (Jia): A Retrospective Three-Dimensional Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study, Ahmet Arif Celebi

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Introduction: The most common disease in pediatric rheumatology is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA is considered to be an autoimmune disease with an onset before the age of 16. The temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) has been reported to be involved in up to 87% of patients with JIA. Even though much research has been conducted on JIA, limited research has studied to understand its effect on the condyle-fossa relationship and to evaluate resorption amount on condyle by using a scoring system. Aim: The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate the anatomical features of the glenoid fossa, (2) to …

A Systematic Study Of Data Security Issues In Smart Home Iot Devices, Hilal Nur Issi

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The best description of IoT comes from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which defines it as "a global infrastructure for the information society, enabling advanced services by interconnecting things based on existing and evolving interoperable information and communication technologies" (ITU, 2013). Different things, equipment, and household are employed in daily living in our world. The advantages that smart technology provides have piqued the curiosity of academics and practitioners alike. Home appliances have received a lot of attention, since smart technology has been extensively explored and put into practice. A great deal of research has gone into automating the house, making …

Optimal Antero-Posterior Position Of The Maxillary Central Incisors And Its Relationship To The Forehead In Adult Hispanic Females, Balraj Bains

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Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship of forehead inclination to anteroposterior position (AP) of the maxillary central incisors in adult Hispanic females. Materials and Methods: 70 participants were recruited for this study and smiling profile photographs were taken. All images were deidentified and placed in standardized dimension of 7.5” by 6.5”, which were then added to a PowerPoint to be evaluated by a judging panel. 24 Adult Hispanic Females (AHF) made up the control group and were seen to have an optimal incisor AP position. 46 AHF were in the study group and were judged …

Dear Former Phenom, Meredith Beretta

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Dear Former Phenom is a collection of essays and poems covering my life as a female athlete in America, beginning when I was a small child and continuing to my retirement after my senior year as a collegiate student-athlete. As it stands, the collection is incomplete. This current version contains the core memories and the foundation of my discussion. This collection tells the story of my failure to reach my full potential as an athlete. It is the story of me constantly achieving higher and higher achievements, awards, accolades, and praise until I didn’t anymore. Until there was no one …

The Roles Of Racial Discrimination And Sleep In Cognitive Functioning In Diverse Youth, Queenisha Crichlow

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Cognitive functioning is an important aspect of human development that is closely related to youth academic outcomes (Caemmerer et al., 2018). Specifically, there is evidence that cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and self-control are predictive of academic achievement in youth (Peng & Kievit, 2020). Current research suggests that chronic stress reduces cognitive functioning (Korten et al., 2014), but few studies have examined this relationship for race-related stress, specifically racial discrimination. Considering that racial discrimination is a common and reoccurring type of stress in the lives of minority youth (Hughes et al., 2016), it is possible that chronic exposure to …

The Seekers, Rachel Houghton

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The Seekers is a collection of connected short stories that follows the lives of nomads, travelers, and adventurers who leave one place in search of another. The work explores themes of belonging, visibility, grief, friendship, and survival. The characters in each story weave in and out of each other’s lives as they crisscross the country—fueled by a desire to find home, find themselves, and find connection with others. While they travel, there is the ever-present tension of finding food and shelter, catching rides, and avoiding authorities. In the midst of these challenges, the characters in The Seekers keep moving. Dumpy …

We'll Eat You Up, We Love You So: On The Changes Of The Children's Horror Genre From The 17th Century Onward, Camrie Ann Latham

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Research into the children’s horror genre is, currently, quite limited in that it is often only tangentially related to the history and qualities of the genre itself. This research is typically focused on horror at large, horror films for children, or children in horror. This thesis seeks to analyze the history of the genre and categorize the shifting purposes and intentions that, in turn, reflect larger social fears. It defines these purposes as moving from that of control, to entertainment, to empowerment, with transitionary periods in between. The thesis is also formatted chronologically, beginning in the late 1600s and continuing …

Smoking And Perceived Stress: Examining The Impact Of Racial Identity And Risk For Obstructive Sleep Apnea Through A Moderated Mediation Model, Sofia Mildrum Chana

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Background: Cigarette smoking is known to have a negative effect on individuals’ sleep quality, and symptoms of insomnia. Smoking can particularly exacerbate sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by increasing irritation and inflammation of the upper respiratory conducts. Previous research highlights the complex positive association between cigarette smoking and perceived stress. Sleep may be an important aspect intervening in the association between smoking and perceived stress, given that individuals who report high stress also report worse sleep quality and are at greater risk for OSA. However, limited research has examined the indirect association of cigarette smoking and perceived …

Crazy Town Stories, Tawanda Nyahasha

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Crazy Town Stories focuses on the themes of strife, pain, perseverance, and faith. The memoir focuses on my childhood in a town called Epworth, one of the worst towns in Zimbabwe. Epworth was a town of compromises. We couldn’t afford decent food, so we ate whatever we could as long as it filled our stomachs. We couldn’t afford to finish up the house we lived in, so we had to live in a house with no flooring, doors, and a ceiling. Since we had to make all the compromises, the town had a habit of changing people. It took people’s …