Digital Commons Network^™

Nursing Home Staff Perspectives Of The Benefits And Challenges Of Providing Dementia Care, Carin M. Wong, Dominique H. Como, Cara Lekovitch, Felicia Chew, Natalie E. Leland

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To capture nursing home staff perspectives on the benefits and challenges related to caring for residents living with Alzheimer disease and other related dementias. These perspectives will inform the initial development of strategies to help with staff retention.

DESIGN: A secondary qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews conducted with nursing home staff, which was embedded within a pragmatic clinical trial.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Purposive sampling was used to capture perspectives of staff spanning across job roles from 23 nursing homes.

METHODS: During the parent study primary analysis, staff experiences providing dementia care were consistently described. In response, this study completed …

​​Living With Parkinson’S During Covid-19: A Survey Of Parkinson’S Patients During Covid-19​, Sia Shaila Pilgaonkar

Undergraduate Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), raising concerns about exacerbation of symptoms and vulnerability of the patients. This project first reviews existing literature on the interconnections between COVID-19 and PD, focusing on the physiological, psychological, and treatment-related challenges faced by patients. Then it analyzes survey data examining increased severity of COVID-19 in individuals with PD, alongside the literature researching potential mechanisms linking the two, such as inflammation and neurodegeneration. The survey’s key areas of focus included symptom management, treatment satisfaction, the impact of PD on daily living, and the impact of COVID-19 on motor and …

Math Education: A Comprehensive Guide To Teaching The Foundations, Claudia Jayne Staruch

Honors College Theses

This thesis investigates the critical need for strong foundational mathematics education for adults. More specifically, for incarcerated individuals who lack basic numeracy skills because of the systematic inequalities that they have faced, the need for a mathematics foundation is even higher. This work emphasizes a non-technological approach to teaching these basics through qualitative analysis, including teaching strategies and practical lessons, while recognizing the various barriers many learners face. This research serves as a guide for educators to use for how to sequence and pace lessons, address certain learning styles, and gain classroom engagement, comprehension, and long-term retention of the materials. …

Women, Collective Creative Practice, And Community Health, Anne Hensley

Honors Theses

A growing body of research shows that art therapy yields positive outcomes for those experiencing stress and mood disorders. Creative arts therapies have been shown to lower cortisol, improve personal and universal outlook, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase self-esteem and confidence, alleviate burnout, help individuals to cope with trauma, and support brain function through activity-dependent plasticity. However, little research has been done on collective and collaborative arts, and the enhanced benefits communal practice might bring. Additionally, art therapy is inaccessible to many, due to a dearth of practitioners and cultural and socioeconomic barriers to participation. Peri-, menopausal, and …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Employee Motivation Across Non-Profit And For-Profit Organizations, Kayla L. Lent

M.S. in Leadership

This project examines the impact of transformational leadership on employee motivation within both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Using a case study approach, the research was inspired by the author’s observations of transformational leadership in practice and its effects on employee engagement, morale, and alignment with organizational goals. A qualitative methodology was employed, featuring a semi-structured interview with a nonprofit leader to explore key components of transformational leadership: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. Findings reveal that transformational leadership fosters intrinsic motivation and strengthens organizational culture across sectors. The study concludes with practical recommendations for adopting transformational practices …

Politics Of Peace: How Social Media Impacts Advocacy In Relation To International Conflict, Madeline Shonholtz, Christopher M. Jackson

Honors Thesis

Social Media is one of the great communicators with hundreds of platforms being used regularly to connect with others, share important life updates, and occasionally see news postings. This paper tackles the question of whether or not social media, with a focus on three platforms: Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), make an impact when it relates to an individual's opinion on International Conflict. Through data comparison and analysis, the answer will be uncovered as to whether or not social media has an impact and if so, how has that impact changed overtime with the comparison of data from 2016 …

The Temporal Construction Of Fossil Fuel Threat In Who Reports: A Corpus-Based Cognitive Pragmatic Study, Nawal M. Abed, Huda H. Khalil

Uruk Journal of Human Sciences

The World Health Organization (WHO) monitors public global health and tries to assist vulnerable populations in their pursue to achieve optimal health. WHO has always voiced concerns regarding health and environmental impacts of fossil fuel consumption. Reviewing WHO website shows various reports on fossil fuel impacts from multiple perspectives. The paper aims to examine the temporal construction of fossil fuel threat in WHO reports. Such construction aims to encourage people to take preventive measures within time span that precedes the impact of the threatening element. To accomplish this aim, the paper employs Cap’s (2013, p. 16) temporal proximization strategy as …

Port-Wine Stain Treatment With 577-Nm Laser: Treatment Outcomes Of Superficial Versus Deep Lesions, Yulia Siskawati

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Port-wine stains (PWS), or capillary malformations (CM), are congenital vascular anomalies characterized by gradual enlargement of the superficial cutaneous vascular plexus, leading to low-flow malformations in the skin. Laser therapy remains the preferred treatment for PWS. The 577-nm vascular laser system is particularly suited for treating cutaneous vascular disorders. This study evaluates the efficacy of the 577-nm vascular laser for both superficial and deep PWS lesions.

Case Illustration: Three adult patients, all aged over 17 years old, were treated with the 577-nm laser. In the first case with deeper PWS, four treatment sessions resulted in flattening of hypertrophic areas, …

The Mass Murder Epidemic Of The United States: Policy, Reflections, And The Way Through, Isaiah Johnson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This work is an in-depth look at American culture and how the culture has shaped gun policies in the U.S. I also examine various policies that could be used to mitigate mass shootings in the United States, as well as some of the reasons these incidents have become so prevalent.

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 10 - December 12, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 10 - December 12, 2024. 20 pages.

Closed Domain Question Answering With Language Models: Application Of Retrieval-Augmented Generation And Parameter Efficient Fine-Tuning In Healthcare, Aaron Cummings

Master's Theses

Dementia care presents significant challenges for informal caregivers, particularly in managing behavioral symptoms that affect over 90% of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) during the moderate-to-severe stages. These symptoms, including agitation, wandering, and repetitive activities, impose emotional and physical burdens on caregivers, often exacerbated by a lack of reliable, accessible, and personalized resources. Non-pharmacological interventions, while evidence-based, are underutilized due to knowledge gaps and the inefficiency of traditional training and information retrieval methods.

This research explores the adaptation of large language models (LLMs) to address these challenges by developing a framework for closed-domain Question Answering (QA) systems, …

An Integrative Review Of Trauma Informed Care With Pediatrics To Minimize Psychological Sequelae Post Discharge, Amber Lee, Courtney Heinzelman

Master's Projects

Each year, a significant number of children sustain injuries requiring hospitalization, and while many recover physically, some face long-term psychological challenges such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression. This integrative review focuses on adolescents aged 13–18 who have experienced accidental trauma, exploring how trauma-informed care (TIC) in nursing compares to traditional approaches in reducing psychological impacts after discharge. Research suggests that many young patients report mental health symptoms for months following traumatic events. Trauma-informed care prioritizes principles such as safety, trust, peer support, and empowerment, aiming to reduce emotional distress and promote recovery. This review examines the application of these …

Social Worker Experiences Providing Mental Health Therapy To Iowa Lgbtq+ Youth, Kathy Jochims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High rates of untreated mental health issues and suicidality among LGBTQ+ youth, exacerbated by isolation and rejection in rural areas, demonstrate an urgent necessity for preventive and responsive mental health care. However, access to these essential services remains limited in many rural areas. This study involved using a generic qualitative design to explore the experiences of social workers providing mental health therapy to LGBTQ+ youth in rural Iowa, and presence of cultural humility in social worker practices. The cultural humility theory was chosen as the theoretical framework. Semistructured interviews with 10 Iowa social workers were evaluated using thematic analysis. Study …

Sixth Joint Amended Plan

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

Disrupting The Status Quo: Narratives Of Women Of Color Leaders At California Community Colleges, Lesley Doricely Meza

LMU Theses and Dissertations

The California Community College (CCC) system is the largest higher education system in the United States and serves diverse students. However, CCC’s leadership does not mirror the diversity of its student population. Senior-level positions continue to be dominated by White men, highlighting the lack of diversity among leadership at these institutions and exposing the ongoing underrepresentation of women, especially women of color (WOC), in leadership positions due to the ingrained hierarchal and patriarchal systems in CCCs. This qualitative study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of WOC, who are midlevel administrators at the CCC system. A …

Personalized And Culturally Tailored Features Of Mobile Apps For Gestational Diabetes Mellitus And Their Impact On Patient Self-Management: Scoping Review, Catherine Jones, Yi Cui, Ruth Jeminiwa, Elina Bajracharya, Katie Chang, Tony Ma

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an increasingly common high-risk pregnancy condition requiring intensive daily self-management, placing the burden of care directly on the patient. Understanding personal and cultural differences among patients is critical for delivering optimal support for GDM self-management, particularly in high-risk populations. Although mobile apps for GDM self-management are being used, limited research has been done on the personalized and culturally tailored features of these apps and their impact on patient self-management.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to explore the extent to which published studies report the integration and effectiveness of personalized and culturally tailored features in …

Social Worker Experiences Providing Mental Health Therapy To Iowa Lgbtq+ Youth, Kathy Jochims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High rates of untreated mental health issues and suicidality among LGBTQ+ youth, exacerbated by isolation and rejection in rural areas, demonstrate an urgent necessity for preventive and responsive mental health care. However, access to these essential services remains limited in many rural areas. This study involved using a generic qualitative design to explore the experiences of social workers providing mental health therapy to LGBTQ+ youth in rural Iowa, and presence of cultural humility in social worker practices. The cultural humility theory was chosen as the theoretical framework. Semistructured interviews with 10 Iowa social workers were evaluated using thematic analysis. Study …

Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding The Inclusion Of Students With Learning Disabilities In Assistive Technology, George Edward Avent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Special education teachers do not always include assistive technology (AT) in instructional practices to promote the academic success of students with learning disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the reasons special education teachers only sometimes include the use of AT in instructional practices. The conceptual framework was observational learning theory, also known as social learning theory, which focuses on human learning patterns based on observations of other human beings. A basic qualitative design with open-ended, semistructured interviews was used. The participants included 12 special education teachers from the school study site. The research questions framed the study’s …

More Than Just A Grade: Factors Influencing Secondary Students’ Engagement With Digital Feedback, Mandy Prior

Dissertations

The increasing use of technology in secondary education has shifted teacher feedback practices to digital environments. While digital feedback offers many promising affordances, the factors that influence how students engage with and use digital feedback are not well understood. Previous research indicates that digital feedback poses unique challenges for engagement. New paradigm feedback models seek to identify processes and actions that promote feedback engagement. However, these models require further study in digital and pre-higher education contexts. This qualitative single-case study investigated the factors influencing secondary students' engagement with digital feedback. Data included 24 student interviews conducted across four grade levels …

Business Governance Strategies Needed To Reduce Corruption, Colin Milverton Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corruption undermines businesses by distorting competition, reducing performance, and hindering economic growth. Business leaders must understand and implement strategies to address fraud and corruption in order to ensure long-term success, benefiting both their companies and the broader economy. Grounded in stewardship theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that small manufacturing business leaders use to implement business governance guidelines needed to reduce corruption in international transactions. Data were collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews and a review of company documents. he participants in this study were five business leaders from two firms who implemented successful strategies …

Sel For Well-Being And Equity In Higher Education, Colleen Conley, Deborah Donahue-Keegan

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The understood overarching purpose of higher education is to prepare students, typically young adults, with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate, thrive in, and be contributing members of society (Hurtado, 2019). In this time of unprecedented cross-sectoral complexity and volatility on a global scale, institutions of higher education must consider a more expansive set of learning and competency outcomes (Gopalan et al., 2022). This paradigm shift is essential given the alarming rise in mental health challenges on college and university campuses, deep polarization, and an increased demand for prosocial skills in workplaces across sectors (Dermody et al., 2022; Padurean …

Adjustment To College Following The Covid-19 Pandemic, Neco Xyavier Johnson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Adjustment to College following the COVID-19 Pandemic Objective: The present study examined the relationship between college adjustment and individual differences following the COVID-19 pandemic. It compared the adjustment of students who attended college pre-pandemic (2019) and post-pandemic (2022) and investigated the role of individual difference variables in this adjustment. Method: The study involved 118 pre-pandemic and 250 post-pandemic first-time college students. Both cohorts’ adjustment was assessed at the end of their first semester. The post-pandemic cohort was also evaluated on individual difference measures like loneliness, personality, and emotion regulation. Results: Post-pandemic students exhibited poorer adjustment compared …

Culturally Responsive Social-Emotional Training And Supplemental Resources For Early Childhood Teachers, Danielle Johnson

Masters Projects

Black students are overrepresented in discipline and behavior referrals in the early childhood setting. Given the increasing need for young black children to learn social emotional skills, how can teachers effectively support them with inadequate curriculum? There is significant research that shows the possible reasons why there is an over representation of black students being labeled as a behavior problem in early childhood educational settings. These reasons can create a negative cycle for black students causing much harm to their education and their views of school. Teachers can attempt to resolve this issue by implementing a culturally responsive Social-Emotional Learning …

Investigating Student Expectations, Buy-In, And Engagement In Lower Division Undergraduate Chemistry Labs, Elizabeth Blanche Vaughan

Dissertations and Theses

Laboratory courses constitute an integral aspect of chemistry education at the undergraduate level. Despite their prominence, a growing number of researchers have begun to think more critically about the value of laboratory learning experiences. As pedagogical decisions should be based on evidence, it is necessary for chemistry education researchers and practitioners to investigate the claim that teaching laboratories are a valuable part of science education. Therefore, the aim of this dissertation was to address one small section of this gap in the literature by obtaining a more robust understanding of students' expectations, buy-in, and engagement in lower division, undergraduate, chemistry …

School Principals’ Perception On Their Job Satisfaction, Arti Narayan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The school principal’s roles have become quite complex and strenuous causing an impact on school principals’ job satisfaction. The problem that was addressed through this basic qualitative study was the low job satisfaction of school principals at a school district in California. The framework used for the study was the job demands and resource theory. The purpose of this research study was to examine the perceptions of TK-12 school principals regarding their job satisfaction based on the job demands and resource framework. Using a basic qualitative research design, data were gathered through semistructured interviews with nine school principals out of …

Predictors Of Reported Serious Health Outcomes And Death A After Covid-19 Vaccine In The United States, Jean Amost Cadet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 vaccines have been available in the United States since December 2020. However, very few studies have looked at the serious health outcomes reported by those who received a COVID-19 vaccine. Guided by the social ecological model, factors associated with reported serious health outcomes and deaths within the first 2 months after taking a COVID-19 vaccine were examined. A total of 720,210 cases from the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System data from December 2020 to December 2022 were analyzed using multiple logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression to determine if medical conditions predict the number of reported deaths and …

Business Governance Strategies Needed To Reduce Corruption, Colin Milverton Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corruption undermines businesses by distorting competition, reducing performance, and hindering economic growth. Business leaders must understand and implement strategies to address fraud and corruption in order to ensure long-term success, benefiting both their companies and the broader economy. Grounded in stewardship theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that small manufacturing business leaders use to implement business governance guidelines needed to reduce corruption in international transactions. Data were collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews and a review of company documents. he participants in this study were five business leaders from two firms who implemented successful strategies …

Firsthand Versus ‘Secondhand’ Perspectives Of Harm: Emphasising Teens’ Firsthand Perspectives Of Online Sexual Content, Harrison W. See, Giselle Woodley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article examines interview data from 24 Australian families, exploring how teens express perceived harms associated with online Sexually Explicit Material (SEM). For many teens, an encounter with SEM occurs prior to their first partnered sexual experience, often before their first kiss (Crabbe et al. 1; Power et al. 11; Woodley et al., Teen Perspectives 2). Of relevance was how teens expressed the potential harms of online SEM. Specifically, this article examines the difference between instances of teens expressing perceptions of SEM via the perspectives of others (secondhand perspectives) in contrast with instances of teens citing their own encounters with …

Climbing The Not-For-Profit Leadership Ladder In Australia: Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion, Cheng Yen Loo, Shajimon Peter, Ian Moore, Michael Grove, Loretta Baldassar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This qualitative study examines equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the leadership roles of not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) where a significant number of social workers engage in professional practice. Two focus groups—one with members of the senior management of NPOs (n = 5) and another with emerging (aspiring and less experienced) leaders of NPOs (n = 6)—were conducted to gather perspectives and opinions on EDI in their organizations’ leadership roles. Four major themes emerged from the findings for promoting EDI, which include a whole of organization commitment, multilevel consideration with recruitment, mentorship, training, and advisory board as an untapped potential. Recommendations …

Trebuchets Were Not Siege Guns, So Why Use Them?, Michael S. Fulton

'Atiqot

Counterweight trebuchets were the most powerful ballistic weapons of their day, but their association with later siege guns has led to misunderstandings of their destructive capabilities. This article is an attempt to correct some misguided ideas by providing a short overview of the power and value of mechanical artillery and contextualizing its use in the Levant during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. After addressing the origin of certain theories that these engines were far more destructive than seems to have been the reality, a brief assessment of their actual power is conducted by looking at the ways sources exaggerate the …