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Graduate Studies Newsletter (Fall 2025), Csusb - Office Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies Newsletter

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Resilient Families, Thriving Communities, Melanie Phillips

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal as a future marriage counselor is to reduce the number of marriages that end in divorce in my community. I aim to achieve this through preventative measures designed to increase relationship resilience and promote the overall well-being of families and the community. Significant Findings: This paper explores the rising divorce rates in Thatcher, Arizona, and highlights preventative measures to strengthen marriages in order to reduce marital dissolution. Key findings suggest that proactive interventions, such as marriage education programs and the passing of pro-marriage public policies, are more cost-effective than addressing the consequences of divorce (U.S. National …

Mechanisms For The Age-Related Increase In Fatigability Of The Elbow Flexor Muscles In Healthy Adults, Blaine E. Arney, Andrew Kuplic, Mitchell D. Adam, Christopher W. Sundberg, Sandra Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

The mechanisms for the age-related increase in fatigability of the elbow flexor muscles during dynamic contractions are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of supraspinal and contractile mechanisms for the age-related increase in fatigability of the elbow flexor muscles. Twenty-eight young (23.2 ± 2.6 years; 14 females) and 32 older adults (72.6 ± 5.6 years; 15 females) performed 80 maximal velocity contractions at 20% of maximal isometric strength. Voluntary activation and muscle contractile properties were assessed before and immediately following the fatiguing exercise using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electrical stimulation. Fatigability (% reduction in …

Digital Learning And Healing: Impacts Of Ai In Art Therapy, Cassandra E. Buffington-Bates

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Art therapy, a creative approach to mental and emotional healing, is evolving with digital technologies to improve accessibility and care. This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) enhances art therapy by fostering emotional intelligence, collaboration, and personalized interventions. It highlights AI’s potential to support therapy while addressing challenges like empathy, data privacy, and training gaps. Through a literature review, the study offers insights into integrating AI with human-centered practices, providing innovative solutions for emotional and cognitive well-being.

Recommended Best Practices For Construct-Centered Adaptation Of The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol, Emily Briceño, Darina Bassil, Pranali Khobragade, Anthony Ngugi, Martine Bejjani, Eric Ochieng, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Salima Douhou, Kazione Kulisewa, Miguel Rentería

Population Health, East Africa

Objectives The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) neuropsychological assessment approach aims to support the collection of harmonizable data on cognitive function for cross-national cognitive aging and dementia research. As the measurement of cognition is sensitive to differences in contextual, cultural, educational, linguistic, social, and other factors that may influence cognitive test performance, HCAP requires adaptation to be appropriate for the contexts in which it is administered. We aim to provide methodological recommendations for the adaptation and implementation of the HCAP and other cognitive data collection tools in novel settings.

Methods We drew from existing guidelines on cross-cultural psychological test adaptation …

Feasibility And Usage Of A Virtual Assistant Device In Cognitively Impaired Homebound Older Adults, Matthew Nunez, Prisha Patel, Lindsey Ulin, Leslie Kian, Martin Cominsky, Jason Burnett, Jessica L Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Social technology in older adults can improve self-rated health; however, there can also be difficulties using it. Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of virtual assistant device (VAD) use in cognitively impaired homebound older adults. 52 newly referred Meals on Wheels clients aged 60 and older were recruited for a three-phase study: 6 weeks of meals alone (control), followed by 6 weeks of meals+Alexa Echo Show 8 (AES8) basic usage, and lastly 6 weeks of meals+AES8 advanced usage. Technology acceptance with the AES8 was significantly higher by the end of the study and participants anecdotally enjoyed playing …

I’M Here Whether I Like It Or Not: A Focused Ethnographic Description Of Transition Into Residential Aged Care, Stacey Scott, Annette Raynor, Julie Dare, Jennifer Grieve, Leesa Costello

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Transition into residential aged care (RAC) is a challenging process, often characterised by vulnerability, fear, and isolation. This study aimed to provide a contextualised description of transition within a care-facility in Australia to deepen our understanding of this major life event. A focused ethnography was conducted, which included formal interviews with residents during their first 6 months of living in RAC. The findings provide an account of the participants’ views on acceptance, highlight the challenges of loss, and showcase the coping practices new residents used. This paper provides a type of report card for the sector, which reveals that there …

Healing Right Way: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Aiming To Enhance Quality Of Life For Aboriginal Australian Survivors Of Stroke And Traumatic Brain Injury, Elizabeth Armstrong, Tapan Rai, Judith M. Katzenellenbogen, Sandra J. Thompson, Meaghan Mcallister, Natalie Ciccone, Deborah Hersh, Leon Flicker, Dominique A. Cadilhac, Erin Godecke, Graeme J. Hankey, Neil Drew, Colleen Hayward, Deborah Woods, Mel Robinson, Ivan Lin, Sanita Kratina, Jane White, Juli Coffin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To determine the effect of cultural security training (CST) for health professionals and access to an Aboriginal Brain Injury Coordinator (ABIC) for Aboriginal Australians with stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial; the intervention package consisted of CST for hospital professionals and 6-month access to ABICs providing education, support, liaison and advocacy; the commencement order of the intervention phase was randomised. Setting: Four urban and four rural hospitals in Western Australia, 2018–2022. Participants: Aboriginal adults ≥ 18 years hospitalised with stroke or TBI. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome was quality of life …

College Of Nursing Apr 2024 Self-Study Report, Unm Academic Program Review

UNM Academic Program Review

College of Nursing complete an annual academic program review and included in the self-study report for AY2024

Exploring Patients' Perceptions Of An Advance Care Planning Intervention In The Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study, Youkie Shiozawa, Saaya Morton, Nanako Shirai, Hannah Oelschlager, Lucy Kiernat, Anita N Chary, Anna C Revette, Adrian Haimovich, Smit Desai, Kai-Wei Chang, Shan W Liu, Maura Kennedy, Mara A Schonberg, Kei Ouchi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Emergency department (ED) visits offer opportunities for seriously ill patients to formulate future medical care goals, yet ED clinicians lack practical strategies for these conversations. ED GOAL, a behavioral intervention, engages seriously ill yet clinically stable older adults in the ED to address advance care planning (ACP) with their outpatient clinicians. In a randomized trial, goals-of-care documentation was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to controls after three (24.3% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.03) and 6 months (31.4% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.01). This study is a sub-analysis to learn about intervention arm participants' perceived benefits and obstacles of the intervention.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews between October 2022 and August 2024 (N = 52) with intervention-arm patients …

The Representation Of The Grandmother In Arab American Fiction: Alia Younis’S The Night Counter As A Case Study, Asmaa Belbachir, Eman Mukattash

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

The increasing phenomenon of long-living grandparents and their novel roles and positions within both family and society in today’s world has inspired authors to produce literary works that address this subject. This article, in turn, aims to offer a clear representation of the grandmother’s character in Alia Younis’s The Night Counter (2009) by analyzing the various roles that the grandmother’s character plays in the lives of her grandchildren. As an Arab-American, Younis has an extensive background in the structure, norms, and values of the Arab Lebanese family, which are reflected in the novel. By choosing the grandmother as a central …

Factors Influencing Decisions On Dental Services Among Caregivers Of The Elderly In Buriram Province, Thailand, Jeerasak Thipsoonthornchai

Journal of Health Research

Background: Dependent elderly individuals face challenges in accessing dental services. Caregivers play a key role in facilitating this access. This study explored factors influencing caregivers’ decisions to bring bedridden elderly individuals to receive dental care.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 540 randomly selected caregivers from a total of 1,216 in Buriram province. Data collected included caregiver demographics (age, gender, education, income, household size, living arrangements, and transportation used) and factors affecting access to public dental services. A structured interview tool assessed five dimensions: service adequacy (α = 0.776), service access (α = 0.864), convenience (α = 0.720), ability …

Dermatological Primary Health Care Services For Older Adults In Thailand, Chinmanat Lekhavat, Jiruth Sriratanaban

Journal of Health Research

Background: The increasing population aging worldwide poses challenges to accessibility to dermatological care, especially in rural areas with limited dermatologist availability. Establishing dermatological primary health care (PHC) services for older adults is crucial for improving access, efficiency, and equity. However, no study has systematically explored such a system.

Method: This mixed-methods study employed a participatory action research (PAR) model to identify structural and procedural requirements, patient journeys, health needs, and expectations. Data were collected through focus groups, in-depth interviews, and surveys. Design thinking workshops, guided by PAR principles, were used to develop dermatological PHC services. A survey was conducted across …

The Limits Of Snap In Addressing Older Adult Food Insecurity, Colleen M. Heflin, Madonna Harrington Meyer

Population Health Research Brief Series

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to address the economic roots of food insecurity. However, SNAP participation rates among older adults substantially lag behind those of other age groups. Based on the book, Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adults Food Insecurity, this brief describes how SNAP is not well designed for older adults in three respects: (1) the high levels of administrative burden associated with eligibility, certification, and benefit-determination processes, (2) the low value of SNAP benefits compared with the high costs associated with redeeming them, and (3) the high levels of state variation in SNAP policies …

Social Disparities, Delirium Occurrence, And Related Outcomes Among Hospitalized Older Adults, Alan P Pan, Kathryn Agarwal, Thomas Potter, Karim Borei, Sara Nowakowski, Courtenay R Bruce, George E Taffet, Farhaan S Vahidy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Underlying socio-economic and health burden may variably impact delirium presentation among older adults. We characterized differences in patient factors related to social marginalization and studied their effects on delirium occurrence and hospital outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a 7-year retrospective analysis of older adults (aged ≥ 70 years) who systematically underwent screening for delirium at an 8-hospital healthcare system. Our primary exposure included patient characteristics related to demographics and social marginalization. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to identify factors associated with increased odds of delirium occurrence, either (1) present-on-admission (D-POA) or (2) hospital-acquired (HAD). Secondary outcomes included hospital length …

Ethical Technology Assessment Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) And The Internet Of Things (Iot) Among Gen Z Population In Thailand And The Philippines, Melvin Jabar, Penchan Pradubmook Sherer, Seung Chun Paek, Elena Chiong-Javier

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

With the use of the ethical technology assessment model by Palm and Hansson (2006), this paper examines the knowledge and perceptions about the ethics of and experiences with artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) among the Generation Z population in Thailand and the Philippines. A total of 1,060 Thai and 1,499 Filipino Gen Z students participated in the online survey. Results revealed that Gen Z respondents from Thailand and the Philippines muse heavily on privacy, social contact, autonomy and control, as well as human reproduction and health issues. Moreover, both groups are most bothered by the potential …

Paws And Effect: Canine Companionship And Outcomes In The Chronic Health Condition Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Kimberley C. Schenke, Joanna Foster, Danielle Stephens-Lewis

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Emerging research suggests canine companions may support the management of health conditions, yet evidence within complex, long-term conditions like hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) remains limited. hEDS is a multifaceted condition often associated with social withdrawal. Thus, the current research provided a high-powered investigation into whether the nonjudgmental support of canine companions could improve health and well-being outcomes for individuals with hEDS. An online survey of 401 participants was utilized to compare differences in health and well-being among individuals with hEDS who have a canine companion to those who do not. Results revealed that participants with canine companions experienced fewer difficulties …

Dilemmas And Prospects Of Infectious Disease Prevention In Long-Term Care: A Qualitative Study, Po-Jen Kung, Ching-Min Chen, Nancy Reynolds

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To explore the experiences of long-term care workers in preventing emerging infectious diseases, the challenges they faced during the pandemic, and how they were addressed.

Design: This study used an exploratory qualitative research design.

Methods: The study involved various long-term care institutions across Taiwan. Twelve interviewees, including four nurses, four nursing assistants, and four managers, were recruited via purposive sampling. All interviewees worked in the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, were actively involved in clinical care or institutional management, and were proficient in Mandarin. In-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face between July and August 2024, and data …

Pandemic Prevention Competencies Of Long-Term Care Institution Workers: A National Survey In Taiwan, Po-Jen Kung, Ching-Min Chen, Katherine Ornstein

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To assess the self-perceived pandemic prevention competencies of health and care workers in Taiwan’s long-term care institutions and identified key factors influencing these competencies.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from June to July 2024 using stratified proportional sampling of health and care workers (nursing and nursing assistants) from various types of long-term care institutions (assisted living facilities, residential care homes and nursing homes). Participants were actively employed during the survey, involved in COVID-19 prevention efforts, and proficient in reading traditional Chinese. Data on pandemic prevention competencies were collected, using the Emerging Infectious Disease Prevention Competencies …

Developing And Validating An Emerging Infectious Disease Prevention Competencies Scale, Po-Jen Kung, Ching-Min Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To develop an instrument and evaluate its psychometric properties for emerging infectious disease assessing prevention competencies among health and care workers in long-term care institutions.

Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive design utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods was employed.

Methods: The scale was developed according to scale development guidelines in two phases, namely the scale development phase and scale testing phase, with the staff of long-term care institutions as the study population and their workplaces as the sampling unit.

Results: The scale comprises 27 items across three dimensions: 14 items pertaining to professional role performance, 7 items addressing workplace resources, …

Health And Care Workers’ Roles In Infectious Disease Prevention In Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review, Po-Jen Kung, Ching-Min Chen, Yi-Yuan Cheng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To describe how health and care workers contribute to the prevention of emerging infectious diseases in long-term care facilities.

Design: A scoping review.

Methods: A systematic search of literature dating from 2002 to 2022 was conducted in the following databases: EMBASE, Medline (Ovid), Cochrane Library, CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCOhost), Web of Science, and AgeLine. Studies were selected if they focused on health and care workers in long-term care facilities, offered a perspective on the prevention of emerging infectious diseases or infection prevention and control, and were original qualitative or quantitative studies in English. Data were extracted, cross-checked …

The Role Of Community Engaged Dental Education In Producing Socially Accountable Graduates In The Context Of The General Dental Council's Safe Practitioner Framework, Anastasios Plessas, Martha Paisi, Nilufar Ahmed, Zoe Brookes, Robert Witton

Peninsula Dental School

The General Dental Council's Safe Practitioner Framework sets out the required behaviours and learning outcomes for UK graduates across four domains, and social accountability is a new competency in the domain of professionalism. Community engagement is a type of community-based education, which has been advocated as a promising pedagogical approach to help institutions produce socially accountable graduates. It is conceptualised as a form of experiential education which uses community exposure educational programmes or activities (i.e., students are exposed to the population/community of interest usually in a non-clinical setting) to highlight and address community health care needs. Community engaged education can …

Reflection And Appreciation: A Journey To Improving Care For Older Adults After Critical Illness, Cheryl Chia-Hui Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

With 25 years of research, my work has focused on improving outcomes for critically ill older adults by addressing delirium, frailty, malnutrition, and functional decline. I’ve advocated for care bundles to prevent complications and support recovery. In this International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame session, I’ll share my journey to advancing care for older adults after critical illness. This award is humbling and reflects the collective efforts of my colleagues, mentors, and students.

Building A Program Of Research To Improve Communication And Care For Older Adults, Kristine N. Williams

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Upon Induction to the Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, Dr. Williams presented the development of her program of research focused on improving communication and care for older adults.

Industries, Self-Rated Health, And Status Characteristics: An Exploration Of Health In Industries At The Intersection Of Race/Ethnicity, Gender, And Disability, Emmanuel Legarreta

Dissertations and Theses

While industries, occupations, and health outcomes have been widely studied, research has neglected self-rated health (SRH) and the intersectionality of different status characteristics in various industries. Using an IPUMS version of the Current Population Survey, this study explores the possible relationships between industries and SRH. More specifically, it seeks to find if workers' disability status, racial minority status, or gender moderates (i.e., differentiates) the relationship between their industry and SRH. Findings show that certain industries are significant predictors of SRH, and that women with disabilities working in Mining and Construction, and Business and Repair Service have significantly worse SRH than …

Music And The Journey Of Black Male Phd Graduates In Counseling, Vincent Sears

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Black male PhD graduates from CACREP- accredited counseling education programs who are now professors within the academy. It examined the integration of music as a coping mechanism to address the psychological impact of isolation, tokenism, and hypervisibility connected to attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs/ HWIs). Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and participants shared bespoke musical playlists. The results of this study revealed three overarching themes and associated sub-themes: the impact of racism and systemic barriers (structural barriers and racial inequities); navigating predominantly or historically white institutions; and music as …

Association Of Chronic Conditions With Bladder Health In Women: Cross-Sectional Results From The Rise For Health Study, Camille P Vaughan, Gerald Mcgwin, Jean F Wyman, Siobhan Sutcliffe, Diane K Newman, Ariana L Smith, Colleen M Fitzgerald, Todd Rockwood, James Griffith, Sheila Gahagan, Alayne D Markland, Prevention Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (Plus) Research Consortium

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Women with multiple chronic conditions are more likely than women without them to report lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS); understanding the association of common and coexisting chronic conditions with bladder health across adulthood may inform prevention efforts.

METHODS: Data were collected from May 2022 through December 2023 from a regionally representative cohort of community-dwelling adult women in the US. Chronic conditions were assessed by self-report and bladder health, and LUTS were measured using validated questionnaires. Analyses were limited to women aged 40 years or older and included multivariable linear and logistic regression models, adjusted for age, body mass index, …

Integrating Social Determinants Of Health Into Advanced Health Assessment: A Sustainable Model, Heather Jones, Beth Ammerman, Elizabeth Kuzma

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), including economic stability, access to quality healthcare and education, neighborhood characteristics, and social context, are critical factors influencing the health and well-being of individuals and communities.¹ These factors are recognized as core objectives by Healthy People 2030² emphasizing the need for healthcare providers to address SDOH in clinical settings. The purpose of this initiative was to integrate content on SDOH into an Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) course, a foundational course for all APN students. Building content in this course sets the stage for further integrating this essential content and …

Outcomes Of A Strength- And Power-Focused Exercise Program In An Adult With Multiple Comorbidities Due To Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report, Frances Rom Lunar, Jeffrey Ralph Luces, Kyla Tan, Mark Gorgon, Eunice Gerona, Abbeygail Abella, Edward Gorgon

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction. People with multiple significant comorbidities are commonly excluded from clinical trials of exercise and therefore less is known regarding the outcomes in this population. This case report describes the outcomes of strength- and power-focused exercise training in an adult with multiple comorbidities.

Methods / Case description. A 40-year-old male with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus resulting in stage 5 chronic kidney disease and left-sided below-knee amputation underwent a four-week program that consisted of four clinic-based and eight self-supervised exercise sessions. The design of the exercise training program was guided by principles of muscle power training while also informed by the …

A Comparison Between Phalangeal Skeletochronology And Cephalic Parietal Rings In Lizards, Marco A.L. Zuffi, Roberto Sacchi, Marcello Mezzasalma, Maria José Amaral, Miguel Angel Carretero, Fabio Maria Guarino

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The well-defined, layered organization of the cephalic scales in many lacertilians could offer a noninvasive alternative for estimating the individual age of these vertebrates. This study aimed to validate the method of age determination based upon the cephalic scale rings in the genus Podarcis, comparing it to phalangeal skeletochronology, a widely used and highly reliable indirect method for estimating the age of ectotherm vertebrates. We analyzed individuals of P. bocagei (n = 48), P. muralis (n = 16) and P. siculus (n = 8). For each individual, we compared the number of cephalic layers with the number of lines of …