Digital Commons Network^™

Burden And Preference-Based Quality Of Life Associated With Bullying In Children, Long K. D. Le, Mary L. Chatterton, Ronald M. Rapee, Sally Fitzpatrick, Kay Bussey, Jennie Hudson, Caroline Hunt, Donna Cross, Anne Magnus, Cathrine Mihalopoulos

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The objectives of this study are to assess the association between childhood bullying and preference-based health-related quality of life (QoL) in Australian school children and their parents and estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with bullying chronicity. Children aged 8–10 years completed the child health utilities (CHU-9D), while parents completed the Australian quality of life (AQoL-8D). Children were grouped into four categories of bullying involvement (no bullying, victim, perpetrator, or both perpetrator and victim) based on the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Parental data were compared across two bullying involvement groups (bullying vs. no bullying). QALYs were calculated for children over …

Professional Teaching Standards And Inclusion In Teacher Education: Insights From A Hearing-Impaired Health And Physical Education Pre-Service Teacher’S Professional Experience, Donna Barwood, John O'Rourke, Dawn Penney, Andrew Jones, Jordan Thomas

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Initial Teacher Education (ITE) is a critical arena for advancing inclusion in Health and Physical Education (HPE). This paper reports research that is engaging with the diversity of the HPE profession and practitioners. It centres on a unique case study that critically explored the school-based professional experience of an Australian secondary HPE Pre-service Teacher (PsT) who has a hearing impairment. Specifically, to enable PST success in HPE professional experiences as defined by the professional standards for teachers in Australia and to which, PSTs’ must evidence to graduate and attain teacher registration. Drawing on documentary and interview data the paper focuses …

Treatment Integrity And Differentiation In The Very Early Rehabilitation In Speech (Verse) Trial, Emily Brogan, Natalie Ciccone, Erin Godecke

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Key elements of treatment fidelity include treatment integrity (adherence to the treatment protocol) and treatment differentiation (the difference in treatment ingredients in the control and intervention groups). The Very Early Rehabilitation in SpEech (VERSE) trial established treatment fidelity at the macro level for key components of therapy.

Aims:

To complete a detailed analysis of treatment integrity and differentiation at the utterance level of a therapeutic interaction.

Methods:

This was an observational study of therapy videos collected as part of the VERSE trial. Participants were people with aphasia in the very early phase of recovery post stroke (n = 44) …

Personalizing Student Graduation Paths Using Expressed Student Interests, Nicolas Dobbins, Ali R. Hurson, Sahra Sedigh

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper proposes an intelligent recommendation approach to facilitate personalized education and help students in planning their path to graduation. The goal is to identify a path that aligns with a student's interests and career goals and approaches optimality with respect to one or more criteria, such as time-to-graduation or credit hours taken. The approach is illustrated and verified through application to undergraduate curricula at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Needing More, Needing Less: Unravelling Why A Prompt Dependency Cycle Forms In Neurodiverse Relationships, Bronwyn Maree Wilson, Susan Main, John O’Rourke, Eileen Slater

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Social interaction is a fundamental component of relationships; however, the key features of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) include marked and lifelong impairments in social interaction that adversely affects abilities to fulfil this essential relationship requirement. Despite the momentum of worldwide research on ASD, there is insufficient empirical study on adults with ASD and their relationships. This research examined the reported social interaction needs of adults when involved in neurodiverse relationships (relationships that include adults with ASD and neurotypical (NT) adults). The use of an advocacy/participatory approach allowed for a detailed investigation of the characteristics of participants’ interpersonal communication. It was …

Perceived Nexus Between Non-Invigilated Summative Assessment And Mental Health Difficulties: A Cross Sectional Studies, Amanda Graf, Esther Adama, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly led to changes in the mode of teaching, learning and assessments in most tertiary institutions worldwide. Notably, non-invigilated summative assessments became predominant. These changes heightened anxiety and depression, especially among individuals with less resilient coping mechanism. We explored the perceptions and experiences of mental health difficulties of students in tertiary education regarding non-invigilated alternative assessments in comparison to invigilated assessments. A pragmatic, mixed method cross sectional design was conducted online via Qualtrics. Thematic analysis of text was carried out using NVivo 12. In the quantitative analysis, univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic models were used to examine …

Quality Of Life Of Emirati Women With Breast Cancer, Linda Smail, Ghufran Jassim, Sarah Khan, Syed Tirmazy, Mouza Al Ameri

All Works

To examine the quality of life (QoL) of Emirati women with breast cancer (BC) and determine its relationships with their sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors. The study will play a leading role in providing information about the QoL of Emirati women with BC and will help in recognizing the aspects of QoL in BC survivorship that requires special attention. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 Emirati women using a multistage stratified clustered random sampling. The participants were interviewed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire composed of sociodemographic variables, reproductive characteristics, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of …

Examining Factors Determining The Behavioral Intention To Use Mobile Learning Systems In Higher Education: An Integrative Framework During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nessrin Shaya, Sandra Baroudi, Laila Mohebi

All Works

This paper explores mobile learning (m-learning) acceptance and use through integrating UTAUT and IS success models to examine whether quality factors (including “Information Quality,” “System Quality” and “Service Quality”) and behavioral factors (including “Performance Expectancy,” “Social Influence” and “Facilitating Conditions”) predict students’ satisfaction and their intention to use m-learning systems. Data were collected through surveys from a total of 383 higher education male and female students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Structural equation modelling and path analysis were employed to test the proposed research model, showing that “Information Quality,” “System Quality,” “Service Quality,” “Performance Expectancy,” “Social Influence,” “Facilitating Conditions,” …

Healthcare Workers' Well-Being: A Systematic Review Of Positive Psychology Interventions, Alexandra P Townsley, Jenny Li-Wang, Rajani Katta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Given persistent occupational stressors and multiple challenges in the delivery of healthcare, there is an increased focus on the well-being of healthcare workers. Responding to these challenges will require a multipronged approach, focusing on system level, organization, and individual actions. Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) represent a promising area for individual action. This systematic review indicates that PPI, delivered via many methods, holds promise for improving the well-being of healthcare workers, although there is a clear need for additional randomized controlled trials utilizing defined and standardized outcome measures. In this review, the most commonly evaluated PPIs were mindfulness-based or gratitude-based interventions. …

The ‘Homework Gap’ And Academic Achievement In High School Science: An Ecological Perspective For Policymakers And Practitioners, Tianca Crocker, David Kleitsch

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly required within K-12 educational settings, yet the impact of youth’s access to and use of digital resources outside of the classroom on academic achievement is only beginning to be explored in the literature. This study used data from the Fragile Families & Child Wellbeing Study to assess the relationship between grades in high school science and digital equity across the learner’s ecological environment. Digital inequities experienced by school-aged youth are referred to as the homework gap. The COVID-19 pandemic placed new urgency on resolving the homework gap as millions of students shifted to …

A “Post” Pandemic(S) Village Check-In: Pulse Checks And Recommendations For A Hard Re-Set In Education, Jarvais J. Jackson, Alesia Mickle Moldavan, Anne Valauri

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

Utilizing the lens of the “pandemic as portal” (Roy, 2020; Souto-Manning, 2021) and the need for a “hard re-set” (Ladson-Billings, 2021) of our current education system, this literature synthesis engages with head, health, and home to consider what a new normal could look like as we take a “village check-in” of each area. For head, we consider the systemic barriers to equitable academic achievement that have long been in place for Black and Brown students. When considering health, we look at the impact of the pandemic on teacher well-being and how this may impact their ability to teach effectively and …

Toward Modernization: Using Strategic Development To Address Deficits In The Juvenile Justice System, David A. Mcleod, Emily A. Roberts

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

The Juvenile Justice System was established on the premise of rehabilitative action for behaviors that have led youth to the criminal justice system. However, the system has increasingly moved away from this original concept toward a punitive model. The authors present how this movement resulted in the devolution of human rights for the youth involved, a decrease in public safety, and a radical departure from fiscal responsibility related to the theoretical origins of rehabilitation. Studies on topics ranging from costs of correctional centers to trauma experienced by youth in these systems, along with many others, are compared to identify specific …

Parent Education: A Key Aspect In Prevention And Intervention Of Bullying In School Communities, Kanessa M. Doss, Sherrionda H. Crawford

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

Bullying continues to be an omnipresent public health issue in school communities, affecting children’s and adolescent’s academic success, socio-emotional well-being, and overall development. Schools play a fundamental role in addressing bullying, yet parent and community involvement is equally critical. This article explores the significance of parent education in bullying prevention and intervention within school communities. The role of schools and community stakeholders with implications for each group are discussed. Resources are provided to share with parents/caregivers and facilitate their involvement in anti-bullying initiatives within school communities. The authors offer recommendations for school communities to promote anti-bullying awareness, facilitate parent education …

Advancing Protective And Promotive Factors Through The Magic City Acceptance Academy, Matthew Fifolt, D. Keith Gurley, Dwayne White

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

Introduction: In 2021, leaders in Birmingham, Alabama established one of the first LGBTQ-affirming charter school in the United States to serve students who have dropped out, are not thriving in traditional schools, or are enrolled in home-school programs.

Methods: Using deductive analysis, our research team filtered data through the five pre-defined themes of the Youth Thrive Framework: (a) youth resilience, (b) social connections, (c) knowledge of adolescent development, (d) concrete support in times of need, and (e) cognitive and social-emotional competence.

Results: Study findings suggest that MCAA’s innovative and adaptive approaches to curriculum, discipline, and student engagement align with the …

Exploring Adolescent Resilience During Covid-19 In A South African Township Context, Shannon Enid Wakefield Ms, Linda Theron Prof

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

Abstract

COVID-19 has permeated news since December 2019 and has impacted all areas of life. Despite widespread coverage of COVID-related risks, there is limited understanding of adolescent resilience in Global South contexts (e.g., Africa) and against the backdrop of COVID-19. We, therefore, conducted a qualitative secondary analysis of 79 documents (i.e., drawings and written explanations) generated by school-attending adolescents in grades eight to ten in Zamdela, South Africa, during 2020 lockdown. Using a multisystemic resilience approach, we explored what these documents revealed as resilience enabling for adolescents in a township context during COVID-19. The thematic findings highlight the importance of …

Can Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Alter Cognition Chronically? A Limbic-Cenc Multicenter Study, William C Walker, Maya E O'Neil, Zhining Ou, Terri K Pogoda, Heather G Belanger, Randall S Scheibel, Angela P Presson, Shannon R Miles, Elisabeth A Wilde, David F Tate, Maya Troyanskaya, Mary Jo Pugh, Amy Jak, David X Cifu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: While outcome from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is generally favorable, concern remains over potential negative long-term effects, including impaired cognition. This study examined the link between cognitive performance and remote mTBIs within the Long-term Impact of Military-relevant Brain Injury Consortium-Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (LIMBIC-CENC) multicenter, observational study of Veterans and service members (SMs) with combat exposure.

Method: Baseline data of the participants passing all cognitive performance validity tests (n = 1,310) were used to conduct a cross-sectional analysis. Using multivariable regression models that adjusted for covariates, including age and estimated preexposure intellectual function, positive mTBI history …

Imaging Synaptic Density In Depression, Sophie E Holmes, Chadi Abdallah, Irina Esterlis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Major depressive disorder is a prevalent and heterogeneous disorder with treatment resistance in at least 50% of individuals. Most of the initial studies focused on the monoamine system; however, recently other mechanisms have come under investigation. Specific to the current issue, studies show synaptic involvement in depression. Other articles in this issue report on reductions in synaptic density, dendritic spines, boutons and glia associated with stress and depression. Importantly, it appears that some drugs (e.g., ketamine) may lead to rapid synaptic restoration or synaptogenesis. Direct evidence for this comes from preclinical work. However, neuroimaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging …

Clinical Trial Design Challenges And Opportunities For Emerging Treatments For Opioid Use Disorder: A Review, Brian D Kiluk, Bethea A Kleykamp, Sandra D Comer, Roland R Griffiths, Andrew S Huhn, Matthew W Johnson, Kyle M Kampman, Marco Pravetoni, Kenzie L Preston, Ryan Vandrey, Cecilia L Bergeria, Michael P Bogenschutz, Randall T Brown, Kelly E Dunn, Robert H Dworkin, Patrick H Finan, Peter S Hendricks, Elisabeth J Houtsmuller, Thomas R Kosten, Dustin C Lee, Frances R Levin, Aimee Mcrae-Clark, Charles L Raison, Kurt Rasmussen, Dennis C Turk, Roger D Weiss, Eric C Strain

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Novel treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) are needed to address both the ongoing opioid epidemic and long-standing barriers to existing OUD treatments that target the endogenous μ-opioid receptor (MOR) system. The goal of this review is to highlight unique clinical trial design considerations for the study of emerging treatments for OUD that address targets beyond the MOR system. In November 2019, the Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks (ACTTION) public-private partnership with the US Food and Drug Administration sponsored a meeting to discuss the current evidence regarding potential treatments for OUD, including cannabinoids, …

Habenular Molecular Targets For Depression, Impulsivity, And Addiction, Snigdha Srivastava, Benjamin R Arenkiel, Ramiro Salas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Use Of Lithium In Pediatric Bipolar Disorders And Externalizing Childhood- Related Disorders: A Systematic Review Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Delfina Janiri, Lorenzo Moccia, Silvia Montanari, Valentina Zani, Claudia Prinari, Laura Monti, Daniela Chieffo, Marianna Mazza, Alessio Simonetti, Georgios D Kotzalidis, Luigi Janiri

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Lithium is the standard treatment for bipolar disorders (BD) in adults. There is a dearth of data on its use in the pediatric age. This review aimed to investigate the use of lithium in pediatric bipolar disorder (BD) and other externalizing childhood-related disorders.

Methods: We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses criteria (PRISMA) to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of lithium in pediatric (BD), conduct disorder (CD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. The primary outcome of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of lithium compared …

Protocol For The Promoting Resilience In Stress Management (Prism) Intervention: A Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial For Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Maeve B O'Donnell, Samantha R Scott, Britney M Ellisor, Viena T Cao, Chuan Zhou, Miranda C Bradford, Catherine Pihoker, Daniel J Desalvo, Faisal S Malik, Marisa E Hilliard, Abby R Rosenberg, Joyce P Yi-Frazier

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at high risk for elevated diabetes distress, which greatly impacts diabetes management, glycemic outcomes and overall quality of life. Developing protective skills and "resilience resources" to navigate adversity and manage diabetes distress has high potential to help adolescents with T1D achieve optimal behavioral, psychological, and health outcomes. The "Promoting Resilience in Stress Management" (PRISM) program is a manualized, brief, skills-based intervention delivered over 6 months via two 45-60 min one-on-one sessions and a family meeting with a PRISM coach, and supplemented by booster calls and a digital app. This trial (PRISM versus …

A Systematic Review Of Treatments For Misophonia, Seth A Mattson, Johann D'Souza, Katharine D Wojcik, Andrew G Guzick, Wayne K Goodman, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Research into misophonia treatments has been limited and it is unclear what treatment approaches may be effective. This systematic review extracted and synthesized relevant treatment research on misophonia to examine the efficacy of various intervention modalities and identify current trends in order to guide future treatment research. PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central were searched 4using the keywords "misophonia," "decreased sound tolerance," "selective sound sensitivity," or "decreased sound sensitivity." Of the 169 records available for initial screening, 33 studied misophonia treatment specifically. Data were available for one randomized controlled trial, one open label trial, and 31 case studies. Treatments …

Modeling Suicidality With Multimodal Impulsivity Characterization In Participants With Mental Health Disorder, Nidal Moukaddam, Bishal Lamichhane, Ramiro Salas, Wayne Goodman, Ashutosh Sabharwal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death across different age groups. The persistence of suicidal ideation and the progression of suicidal ideations to action could be related to impulsivity, the tendency to act on urges with low temporal latency, and little forethought. Quantifying impulsivity could thus help suicidality estimation and risk assessments in ideation-to-action suicidality frameworks.

METHODS: To model suicidality with impulsivity quantification, we obtained questionnaires, behavioral tests, heart rate variability (HRV), and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging measurements from 34 participants with mood disorders. The participants were categorized into three suicidality groups based on their …

Optimizing Human Performance In Extreme Environments Through Precision Medicine: From Spaceflight To High-Performance Operations On Earth, Michael A Schmidt, Jeffrey A Jones, Christopher E Mason

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Humans operating in extreme environments often conduct their operations at the edges of the limits of human performance. Sometimes, they are required to push these limits to previously unattained levels. As a result, their margins for error in execution are much smaller than that found in the general public. These same small margins for error that impact execution may also impact risk, safety, health, and even survival. Thus, humans operating in extreme environments have a need for greater refinement in their preparation, training, fitness, and medical care. Precision medicine (PM) is uniquely suited to address the needs of those engaged …

Peyronie's Disease: An Outcomes-Based Guide To Non-Surgical And Novel Treatment Modalities, Amit G Reddy, Michelle C Dai, Jeffrey J Song, Hudson M Pierce, Sagar R Patel, Larry I Lipshultz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The clinical landscape of Peyronie's disease is everchanging. There has been growing interest in non-invasive therapeutic options that could assist patients with achieving a meaningful reduction in penile curvature without surgical intervention. These therapies are wide-ranging in terms of their mechanisms of action, efficacies, and short- and long-term safety profiles. Recently, an abundance of outcomes literature on longstanding and novel non-surgical treatment modalities has been published. For sexual medicine providers hoping to offer patients the most up-to-date and evidence-based treatments for the management of Peyronie's disease, it can be challenging to gain a thorough understanding of this body of literature. …

Symptoms, Physical Activity, And Biomarkers In Children At The End Of Leukemia Maintenance Therapy, Mary C Hooke, Derek L Salisbury, Michelle A Mathiason, Alicia S Kunin-Batson, Audrey Blommer, Jessica Hutter, Pauline Mitby, Ida Moore, Susan Whitman, Olga Taylor, Michael E Scheurer, Marilyn J Hockenberry

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Symptoms in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) change over the trajectory of treatment but little is known about their symptoms as treatment ends. Physical activity may help decrease symptom distress and is vital for ongoing development. The role of biomarkers in symptom science is emerging. The purpose of the study was to explore relationships between self-report of symptoms and physical activity, actigraphy measures, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers.

Methods: Participants were children who were ages 3 to 18 years at the time of ALL diagnosis and were now in the last 12-week cycle of ALL maintenance. Self-reports of …

Employing Chronic And Rare Disease Printed Drug Information Related To Health Literacy To Improve Patients Perceived Knowledge In An Outpatient Setting: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Mikaela Dowd

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: An infusion center in a critical access hospital provides education to patients and their families to address health literacy which supports shared decision-making and patient centered care. This education includes medication knowledge to support self-care. The goal of this project was to create printed drug education rack cards (DERC) for patients to review prior to their first treatment to increase their perceived confidence in drug knowledge. There are many different aspects to consider for each drug treatment given within the microsystem including side effects, administration schedules, and lab and diagnostic procedures. Many of these aspects are unknown to …

Implementing Education For Maternity Nurses To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Regarding Postpartum Depression: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Haley Merrill

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common complication of childbirth, but often goes undiagnosed. Adequate patient education on PPD increases the patient’s knowledge and supports enhanced communication between patients and provider. Maternity nurses have continued interaction with new mothers and are in a vital position to educate patients regarding PPD. However, maternity nurses may lack confidence in delivering the appropriate education and resources for PPD to postpartum women.

LOCAL PROBLEM: Within the given microsystem, there was currently a gap that existed between PPD education for nurses and the delivery of PPD patient education.

METHODS: Utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act model, a …

Establishing A Protocol To Address Workplace Violence And Increase The Perceptions Of Safety Among Emergency Department Nurses: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Devan M. Robidoux

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Violence against emergency department nurses has become a widespread phenomenon that can greatly impact a nurse's job satisfaction and performance. Research has been scarce in examining the relationship between workplace violence and its underlying consequences. There remains a disconnect between precursors of violence against nurses perpetrated by patients and the cultural expectation that violence is a part of the nurses job and, subsequently, what they signed up for when going into the field. Nurses learn that having a greater understanding of the value in the lived experience of their patients leads to better quality delivery of care. However, culturally …

Impact Of The Covid Pandemic On Mental Health And Training Opportunities Of Public Health Residents From 4 European Countries: A Cross-Sectional Study, Giovanna Failla, Marta Caminiti, José Chen-Xu, Giuseppina Lo Moro, Nausicaa Berselli, Madalena Cabral Ferreira, Filipa Malcata, David Peyre-Costa, Roberto Croci, Giorgia Soldà, Angelo Capodici, Caterina Morcavallo, Francesco Traglia, Fabrizio Cedrone, Ilaria Storti, Alfonso Alonso Jaquete, Martina Antinozzi, Anca Vasiliu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: There is little evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Public Health Residents' (PHR) mental health (MH). This study aims at assessing prevalence and risk factors for depression, anxiety and stress in European PHR during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: Between March and April 2021, an online survey was administered to PHR from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The survey assessed COVID-19 related changes in working conditions, training opportunities and evaluated MH outcomes using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. Multivariable logistic regressions were applied to identify risk factors.

RESULTS: Among the 443 respondents, many showed symptoms of depression …