Improving Chemotherapy Patients' Confidence And Preparedness Through Dual-Format Teaching, Jasmine Esther Aminpour, Harshpreet Kaur, Ana Ruvalcaba, Sarah Muwanas

Master's Projects and Capstones

Section I: Abstract

Objective

Chemotherapy initiation is widely recognized as a period of heightened anxiety and cognitive overload for oncology patients, often limiting their ability to retain essential information during traditional one-time, nurse-led education sessions (Gucuyener & Karabacak, 2025; Howell et al., 2020). This quality improvement (QI) project sought to address gaps in comprehension, preparedness, and digital engagement within an outpatient oncology infusion microsystem by integrating evidence-based digital chemotherapy education with structured follow-up support.

Aim

The project aimed to determine whether a nurse-guided walkthrough of a digital chemotherapy education platform, paired with standardized follow-up calls, would improve patient comprehension, confidence …

Beyond Compliance: How Targeted Education Improves Psychotropic Medication Documentation And Patient Safety In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Dyani Williams

Master's Projects and Capstones

Psychotropic medications are routinely prescribed in skilled nursing facilities to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms, but inadequate documentation poses risk to patient safety and leads to regulatory noncompliance. Objective: This project aimed to improve nursing staff knowledge and confidence in documenting psychotropic medication use in order to safeguard patient safety and follow Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines. Aim: A targeted education session and standardized flowsheets were developed to enhance documentation adherence and staff confidence in psychotropic medication administration. Methods: To assess knowledge, comfort, and adherence to documentation standards a pre- and post-intervention survey were administered to nursing …

A Visual Nudge Toward Safer Skin: Reducing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (Hapi) At The Bedside, Iris Quach

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: With the increasing prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) among trauma patients at Highland Hospital, a quality improvement initiative was developed as a call to action. The overarching goal of this project was to design and implement a Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) intervention that was both feasible and cost-effective to address existing gaps and disparities during hospitalization at Highland Hospital, part of Alameda Health System in the Bay Area. Aim: The project aimed to evaluate whether a bedside visual cueing system could strengthen nursing compliance with pressure-injury prevention protocols and improve the consistency of communication among interdisciplinary …

Structured Ai Conversations On Ethical Reasoning In Introductory Psychology, Brianna Mccartney

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This strategy integrated structured AI conversations using Perplexity into an introductory psychology course to strengthen students’ ethical reasoning. Guided prompts led students through analyzing historical unethical studies, applying APA and Belmont principles, and proposing ethical redesigns while receiving immediate feedback. The activity concluded with a final paper and AI acknowledgment, fostering both deeper ethical understanding and responsible use of AI in academic work.

Mental Health Literacy In Biology Graduate Teaching Assistants: Perception, Knowledge, And Training Needs In College Stem Education, Kanza Arshad, Ricardo Montoya, Nicole Scheuermann, Heather E. Bergan-Roller

Honors Capstones

College students experience a high prevalence of mental health challenges, and STEM students exhibit lower mental health literacy than students in other disciplines. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a crucial role in supporting undergraduate students, yet little is known about their mental health literacy (MHL) or how they navigate student disclosures in instructional settings. This preliminary study examines MHL among GTAs in biology, as well as their knowledge, perceptions, and training needs regarding MHL. We used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to examine how biology GTAs understand mental health, their responsibility related to student well-being, and what supports they identify …

Suprasegmentals And Small Talk Skills: An Adult Esl/Efl Teacher Training And Curriculum Design, Katya Davida Landau

Master's Projects and Capstones

There is inadequate education and training for Adult ESL teachers on how to teach pronunciation, especially the essential suprasegmental feature of intonation. This leads to the perpetuated issue of lowered intelligibility amongst ESOL learners, which limits their opportunities in English-speaking settings. Through the provision of innovative curriculum and teacher training videos that share pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) on the subject of suprasegmental phonemes, these issues can be addressed.

Any curriculum developed to teach suprasegmentals must consider the role of creative and engaging activities to inspire learners, comprehensibility and intelligibility, embodied pronunciation techniques, and the impact of explicit, communicative, and task-based …

The Writing On The Wall, Haley Chiles

Undergraduate B.F.A. Theses in Studio Art

No abstract provided.

Cv: Huma Zia (Criminal Justice, Paralegal Studies), Huma Zia

Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

How To Describe A Massacre? A Collaborative Metadata Justice Project, Bailey Hoffner, Eugene Albin, Jennifer Watson, Jay Shorten, Jacquelyn Slater Reese, Todd Fuller, Karie Antell

Collaborative Librarianship

Throughout the summer of 2020 and into the following fall, a cross-unit working group at the University of Oklahoma Libraries (OU Libraries) collaborated to compile and submit a proposal to change the Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) Tulsa Race Riot, Tulsa, Okla., 1921 to Tulsa Race Massacre, Tulsa, Okla., 1921. The working group members situated this project in the context of the metadata justice movement, which seeks to correct problematic descriptions. They also see this proposal as part of the broader work undertaken over many decades by Tulsa activists and community leaders. This successful proposal required working group …

Archivist, Subject Librarian, And Education Faculty Collaboration: Co-Instruction In History Of Education Classes, Laura Cameron, Kara Flynn

Collaborative Librarianship

In many academic libraries, primary source instruction happens in a vacuum, and students don’t always make connections between the skills they learn in a primary source instruction session and skills they may have already learned in information literacy-focused library instruction that they have participated in previous courses. This case study describes the design and objectives of an instructional partnership formed between an Education & Engagement Archivist, Education Librarian, and History of Education professor at a public, four-year university. The Education & Engagement Archivist and Education Librarian worked in tandem to develop interconnected lesson plans, allowing the Education & Engagement Archivist …

Enhancing Academic Efficiency Through Ability Grouping And Remedial Classes: The Cases Of India And Vietnam, Samwel Lwiza

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Improving the performance of academically weak students remains a major challenge in developing countries, particularly in the context of the ‘leave no one behind’ agenda. This study examines the roles of ability grouping and remedial classes in enhancing academic efficiency among students in India and Vietnam. Drawing data from 17,866 students in the 2016/17 Young Lives School Survey, this study estimated efficiency scores by using the order-alpha partial frontier approach, and their determinants were assessed through a bootstrap truncated regression model. The findings indicate that ability grouping increases students’ efficiency by 3%, whereas remedial classes decrease it by the same …

The Interplay Of Morphology, Syntax, And Semantics In Kuria Verb Extensions Within The Mara Region, Mary Charwi

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Verb extension morphological affixes that significantly alter verb meaning are a defining characteristic of Bantu languages. This paper investigates the morphosyntactic behaviour, semantic implications, and functional roles of extensions within Kuria, a Bantu language of Tanzania. The study adopts Hyman’s morphocentric approach, specifically the CARP template (Causative-Applicative-Reciprocal-Passive), as its foundational framework to test whether Kuria adheres to this pan-Bantu default ordering. The data were collected in Tarime District (2014-2015) using a mixed methods approach, comprising questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and video stimuli with 13 rural and urban speakers, and text analysis (the Kuria Bible). Through rigorous morphosyntactic parsing, the analysis reveals …

The Experience Of Suicidal Ideation In Adults With Adhesive Arachnoiditis, Kathleen J. Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. Chronic pain has been linked to death by suicide, and a considerable amount of research has examined how conditions that produce chronic pain increase the risk of SI and suicide attempts. Adhesive arachnoiditis (AA) produces chronic, intense pain and has not been well-studied. It was thought to be a rare condition, but the number of cases has grown dramatically in recent years. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore the experience of SI in individuals with AA. The interpersonal theory of suicide was …

Learned Resiliency: Lived Experiences Of First Responders, Kevin Francis Sullivan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Scholarly literature has found that post-traumatic stress impacts first responders; however, little attention has been paid to how first responders learn resiliency through post-traumatic growth (PTG). The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore a gap in the literature of first responders who learned resiliency through posttraumatic growth following a critical incident in the line of duty. The research study was grounded in Heidegger’s philosophy of hermeneutic phenomenology, guided by resiliency theory , and informed by post-traumatic growth theory. Seven first responders from multiple disciplines were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews designed to provide rich and reflective …

African American Small Business Success Strategies, Zena Foster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract African American small businesses fail at disproportionately high rates, contributing to job losses, economic instability, and reduced wealth-building opportunities in underserved communities. African American entrepreneurs who fail to address strategic, operational, relational, financial, adaptive, and personal dimensions of business ownership increase the risk to the long-term sustainability of their businesses. Grounded in entrepreneurship theory and human capital theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies African American entrepreneurs in the southeastern United States employ to sustain their businesses beyond five years. The participants were six African American small business owners who had operated their …

Psychological Capital Of Hospital Nurses In The United States During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mary Jean Erschen-Cooke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to explore lived experiences, perceptions, and associated meanings reported by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine what protected their well-being. A plethora of research focused on the negative impact of exhaustion, compassion fatigue, moral distress, and burnout; however, there was a gap in information regarding supports for emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health, particularly among U.S. nurses. The foundational theory of psychological capital (PsyCap), focusing on the positive psychological traits of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, grounded this investigation. A basic qualitative research design yielded rich data from semistructured interviews with 16 nurses working full …

A Rodent Model Of Enhanced Anticipation Of Positive Events: Sex-Specific Modifications In Cognitive Bias And Emotional Resilience, Sarah C. Hartvigsen, Megan Hooper, Olivia Harding, Evelyn Barringer, Aditya Narayanan, Brendan Crockett, Yulia Shatalov, Paean Luby, Braden Wixted, Molly Kent, Kelly Lambert

Psychology Faculty Publications

While it is known that chronic unpredictable stress and negative events adversely affect neurobiological outcomes, much less is known regarding the neurobiological impact of positive emotions such as chronic anticipation of appetitive events. From a translational perspective, an enhanced understanding of the impact of extended exposure to positive emotions may provide novel insights into effective non-pharmacological, behavior-based approaches to enhance mental resilience. Here, we investigate a novel rodent model of chronic Unpredictable Positive Event Response (UPER) training in male and female Long Evans rats to examine behavioral, neural, and endocrine effects of enhanced anticipation of positive events. Rats were exposed …

Media Disparity? Analyzing The Media Coverage Of Violent Vs. Non-Violent Crimes In Central Arkansas, Alicia Dorn

Theses and Dissertations

The media's disproportionate coverage of violent crimes compared to non-violent crimes may create a skewed public perception of crime rates and safety in Central Arkansas, potentially influencing policy decisions and community relations. This research examines whether news outlets in Central Arkansas cover violent crimes more frequently than non-violent crimes and compares this coverage to actual crime statistics from law enforcement agencies. The study aims to understand the potential impact of media representation on public perception of crime. The study employed a mixed-methods content analysis of three major Central Arkansas newspapers (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Pine Bluff Commercial, and Hot Springs Sentinel Record) …

Comparison Of The Combination Of Prp And Topical Minoxidil To Topical Minoxidil Alone On Androgenetic Alopecia, Leia Hyunyoung Son, Ashley Olivia Owens

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To assess the efficacy of combination therapy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and topical 5% minoxidil compared to topical 5% minoxidil alone in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Methods: A PubMed search using the term “PRP hair” was conducted. The following criteria were used for the search: published in the last 10 years, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, free full text, and full text. Three articles that met these criteria were chosen for systematic review. Results: In all three studies, the combination of PRP with topical 5% minoxidil had increased hair density and higher patient satisfaction compared to topical minoxidil alone. Conclusion: …

Oral Ketamine For Treatment Resistant Depression: A Literature Review, Maeve Buni, Alanna Eisenbeiser

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: Assess the efficacy and safety of oral ketamine as alternative therapy for those with treatment resistant depression (TRD). Design: Literature review. Methods: On November 14, 2024, a search was done in Pubmed and James Madison University’s EBSCO Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection for the terms “ketamine” and “treatment resistant depression,” excluding parenteral routes of administration and including only randomized controlled trials in adults published in 2018-2024. Results: Three randomized controlled trials that utilized evidence-based surveys to assess antidepressant effects were analyzed. Conclusion: The antidepressant effects of oral ketamine found in these RCTs were somewhat mixed. Oral ketamine did appear …

Is Hormonal Contraceptive Use Associated With An Increased Incidence Of Depression?, Natalie Montesano, Virginia H. Billings

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To investigate the proposed positive association between hormonal contraception (HC) use and depression incidence. Design: Literature review. Method: A search across CINAHL Plus with Full Text and PsycInfo databases was conducted to find three prospective cohort studies with a focus on HC use and depression which were evaluated individually and collectively. Results: Three studies were found that met search criteria: de Wit et al., Johansson T et al., Skovlund et al. Conclusion: All studies found a positive association between depression in adolescent HC users while only two of the three (Skovlund et al., Johansson T et al.) found this …

Capstone Project Proposal: The Role Of Nutrition Education On Dietary Vitamin B12 Intake In Decreasing Postpartum Depression- A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Andrea Villalba Torres

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental health condition that affects many women after giving birth but tends to go untreated. Research has identified that nutrition has an essential role in neurological health, including iron, folate, and the B vitamins. However, recent research regarding PPD and dietary interventions is limited. To address this gap, a 12-week-long pilot randomized controlled trial is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of a text-based nutrition education program, encouraging dietary vitamin B12 intake, on reducing PPD symptoms in women 2-6 weeks postpartum. 128 participants will be recruited from 15 different Miami-Dade WIC clinics. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression …

Bearing The How: Self-Compassion, Religiosity, And Basic Psychological Needs As Predictors Of Meaning In Life, Benjamin Wenndorf

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

While meaning in life (MIL) has been established as a significant contributor to psychologists’ understanding of wellbeing (Pollet & Schnell, 2017; Steger et al., 2008; Steger et al., 2011), some theorists believe MIL to be the fundamental human drive (Frankl, 1946/1962). Despite the significance that has been placed on MIL as a core component of human existence, little research has explored more than one variable at a time in relationship to MIL. Recent literature has explored self-determination theory’s (SDT) basic psychological needs microtheory as a predictive model for understanding MIL within a greater context of positive psychology (Martela et al., …

Application Of Augmented Reality Technology As A Dietary Monitoring And Control Measure Among Adults: A Systematic Review, Gabrielle Victoria Gonzalez, Bingjing Mao, Ruxin Wang, Wen Liu, Chen Wang, Tung Sung Tseng

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Traditional dietary monitoring methods such as 24 h recalls rely on self-report, leading to recall bias and underreporting. Similarly, dietary control approaches, including portion control and calorie restriction, depend on user accuracy and consistency. Augmented reality (AR) offers a promising alternative for improving dietary monitoring and control by enhancing engagement, feedback accuracy, and user learning. This systematic review aimed to examine how AR technologies are implemented to support dietary monitoring and control and to evaluate their usability and effectiveness among adults. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase identified studies published between 2000 and 2025 that evaluated …

The Adverse Digital Childhood Experiences (Adces) Framework: A Transformative Paradigm For Decoding Digital Adversity And Safeguarding Human Agency In Child Development And Lifespan Trajectories, Asrat G. Amnie

Publications and Research

Childhood is no longer confined to physical spaces; It increasingly unfolds within digitally saturated environments where algorithmically mediated technologies shape attention, learning, and identity formation from the earliest years. Traditional adversity frameworks, particularly the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) model, do not capture the distinctive, persistent, and often invisible risks of digital life. To address this gap, this study advances the Adverse Digital Childhood Experiences (ADCEs) framework, an empirically informed and theory-driven extension of ACEs that systematizes ten interrelated domains of digital adversity encompassing social, cognitive, and environmental stressors. These include cyberbullying and exploitation, commercial surveillance and privacy harms, technoference and …

Netflix And Kill: The Role Of True Crime Consumption In The Development Of Acquired Capability For Suicide, Chandler Jayne Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) identifies acquired capability as a key factor contributing to suicidal behavior. Previous research has shown that violent media exposure can increase suicidal risk through desensitization, imitation, and trauma activation. However, little is known about the role of true crime consumption (TCC), a popular form of violent media engagement, in relation to IPTS constructs. This study examined whether TCC predicts acquired capability for suicide, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. A total of 215 participants were retained after data cleaning. Hypotheses predicted that higher TCC would be associated with higher acquired capability (H1), that TCC would …

Anxiety, Stress, And Depression As A Predictor Of Established Vaping Among High School Students, Autumn Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has linked initiation of e-cigarette use with mental health but has not identified how mental health factors impact patterns of use of these products in adolescents. I tested the hypothesis that adolescents who report vaping to cope with stress, depression, and anxiety have more established patterns of use with data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey. Crosstabulations and logistic regression outcome measures included current use, intensity of use, and cumulative lifetime use. Reasons for initial and current use related to mental health were associated with current e-cigarette use, more intense use, and higher cumulative use. Mental health plays …

Equity By Design: A North Glenn High School Equitable Practices Policy Guide, Kelli Andrews Jarrett

Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project addresses equity gaps in dual enrollment programs in Mississippi, with a focus on North Glenn High School, a pseudonym for a high-poverty rural school. While dual credit opportunities have expanded statewide, disparities remain for first-generation, low-income, and minority students. A significant barrier is Mississippi’s reliance on ACT benchmarks for eligibility, which disproportionately excludes marginalized groups. The study examines the potential of the Pre-ACT in grades 9 and 10 as an early diagnostic tool to identify readiness gaps and inform targeted interventions before students take the ACT. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the Dual Enrollment Equity …

Advancing Equity In Adolescent Mental Health: A Literature Review And Telehealth Program Design For School-Based Access, Renatta Lindsey

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents in the United States (U.S.) are experiencing a mental health crisis, with disproportionately high prevalence rates among marginalized youth. Approximately 1 in 5 adolescents are diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral condition (Panchal, 2024; Sappenfield et al., 2024). Yet, an estimated 40% (1.8 million) of adolescents aged 12-17 who experience a major depressive episode did not receive treatment (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, 2024). This project examines existing barriers that hinder access to care for this population. While schools are the most common settings for adolescent mental health supports, more than half report difficulties with meeting …

A Tale Of Four Cities: The Effect Of Job Specialization On Employee Turnover Within Mississippi’S Local Police Departments, Wesley Bunch

Theses and Dissertations

Unusually high employee turnover among local law enforcement officers in the United States has been well documented. This exploratory case study examines employee turnover from a bilateral perspective of both generalists and specialists within local police departments. The purpose of this study is to determine if working in a specialized unit has any effect on employee turnover amongst local police officers in Mississippi. This study used qualitative methods to conduct interviews with thirty-four officers from four different police departments encompassing Mississippi’s northern, southern, eastern, and western regions. The interviews were conducted with individuals at the rank of officer and having …