Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of A Educational Program On Depression And Anxiety For Low Socioeconomic Latina Postpartum Mothers, Lizbeth Valdez Duran

Nursing | Senior Theses

Postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety are significant mental health challenges that affect many mothers, especially Latina women with low socioeconomic backgrounds. These mothers often face barriers to care, health literacy, and access to healthcare resources. The problem is compounded by a lack of culturally competent care, which can contribute to mistrust of healthcare providers and discourage Latina mothers from seeking help. The literature review articles highlight that health literacy plays a crucial role in managing mental health, with effective education potentially reducing negative outcomes by improving coping strategies and bringing awareness to symptoms that are associated with postpartum. This research …

State Schooling Policies And Cognitive Performance Trajectories: A Natural Experiment In A National Us Cohort Of Black And White Adults, Min Hee Kim, Sze Yan Liu, Willa D. Brenowitz, Audrey R. Murchland, Thu T. Nguyen, Jennifer J. Manly, Virginia J. Howard, Marilyn D. Thomas, Tanisha Hill-Jarrett, Michael Crowe, Charles F. Murchison, M. Maria Glymour

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Education is strongly associated with cognitive outcomes at older ages, yet the extent to which these associations reflect causal effects remains uncertain due to potential confounding. Methods: Leveraging changes in historical measures of state-level education policies as natural experiments, we estimated the effects of educational attainment on cognitive performance over 10 years in 20,248 non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White participants, aged 45+ in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Disparities in Stroke cohort (2003-2020) by (1) using state- and year-specific compulsory schooling laws, school-term length, attendance rate, and student-teacher ratio policies to predict educational attainment for US Census microsample …

Income, Education, And Family Structure: Drivers Of Teen Pregnancy In Rural And Urban Ohio, Adam Klauck, Maggie Stiefel, Catherine Wilson

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Teen birth rates in Ohio have been declining; however, due to the potential adverse ramifications of any teen birth, for either the mother or the child, understanding the strongest predictors of teen birth rates in Ohio will allow physicians to preventatively care for their young female population. Our objective was to identify some qualitative factors that best indicate the environment in which a teenage pregnancy is most likely to occur, giving special attention to the difference between rural and urban environments. Relevant data was obtained from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. This study used qualitative methods and SPSS to analyze …

A Holistic Treatment Team For Autism: The Professional Education Benefits Of A Medical-Legal Partnership For Autism Involving Students From Graduate Programs In Law, Applied Behavior Analysis, And Occupational Therapy, Melina Healey, Kayla Finuf, Karrie Lindeman, Rena B. Purohit, Linda Rini

Journal of Race, Gender, and Ethnicity

This article will outline the distinct special education and related service needs of children with autism and describe a new model for a medical-legal partnership tailored to address those needs and educate the professionals who work with children with autism. We will share results supporting the use of this model from a series of Interprofessional Education (“IPE”) case studies and consultations the authors conducted through interdisciplinary coursework shared among several graduate schools within Touro University. Part I explains the legal and client-centered framework within which the medical-legal partnership operates. Part II identifies the advantages of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and …

War-Displaced International Students: A Qualitative Study Of Factors Influencing The Integration Of Ukrainians At A Midwestern Healthcare College, Ivan Riapolov

Dissertations

Problem

The war in Ukraine has disrupted the country’s higher education system, displacing Ukrainian students and affecting their mental well-being. These students encounter numerous challenges while adapting to new academic and cultural environments abroad. Higher education professionals must recognize and address the unique experiences and needs of international students by region of origin to better serve these populations. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence the social and academic integration of Ukrainian international students into a new culture and to inform institutions of the best practices for creating supportive environments for international students.

Method

The qualitative study explored …

Supporting Social Justice In Physical Education Teacher Education Programs: A Qualitative Analysis Of Adapted Pe Teachers' Perspectives, Ann-Catherine Sullivan, Christianna Blanchard-Alworth, Cynthia K. Piletic, Linda Hilgenbrinck

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Despite attention to sociocultural issues in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE), the role of Adapted Physical Education (APE) teachers as social justice advocates remains underexplored. A primary responsibility of APE teachers is to provide specially designed instruction to students with disabilities (SWD), so they have access to the general physical education curriculum to make progress toward grade-level standards. This study presents a qualitative analysis of the perspectives of National Adapted Physical Education Teachers of the Year (APE TOYs) on advocating for social justice within PETE programs. A phenomenological approach with mixed-methods design was used. Findings emphasise the importance of fairness, …

Nursing Education For End-Of-Life Oncology Pain Management, Anilyse Deisher, Savannah Phongsouvanh, Beau Glenn, Kaitlyn Woods

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The project addresses the lack of confidence and education among nurses in end-of-life care and pain management for cancer patients, specifically regarding ethical concerns related to hastening death. Nurses currently experience knowledge deficits in pain management and symptom control, which contributes to suboptimal care, ethical challenges, and inconsistent use of tools like RDOS and CPOT. The goal is to improve nursing confidence and their ability to efficiently manage pain and provide ethical treatment. By implementing the ELNEC training program, nurses will gain the skills necessary to assess and respond to symptoms of active death, ensuring proper care that reduces suffering. …

Rcpneoperu Trial: A Cluster Randomized Pilot Trial To Assess Traditional Neonatal Resuscitation Compared To Partially Virtual Training In Remote Areas., Carlos A Delgado, Enrique Gómez Pomar, Pablo Velásquez, Víctor Sánchez, Roberto Shimabuku, Luis Huicho

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a neonatal resuscitation training program using traditional training and partial distance learning.

METHOD: Through an open cluster-randomized trial, the authors compared a traditional approach involving face-to-face theory and practice sessions using information and communication technology to offer theory and distance examination, followed by face-to-face practice. Twelve health facilities were allocated by blocked randomization. Comparisons were made adjusting for clustering in qualitative and quantitative data. The primary outcome was the percentage of infants with heart rates ≥100 per minute at the second minute after birth. The authors performed a cluster-level analysis for cluster randomized trials, …

Letter Of Concern From The Association Of Academic Chairs Of Emergency Medicine Regarding Acgme Proposed Changes, Richard J. Hamilton, Lance B. Becker, Richard E. Wolfe, D. Adam Algren, Arnold Thomas, Michael Baumann, Ross P. Berkeley, Terrell S. Caffery, Chad Cannon, Theodore J. Corbin, Michael E. Chansky, Harinder S. Dhindsa, Charles L. Emerman, David A. Farcy, Chris Fox, Michael A. Gibbs, Christopher S. Goode, Steven "Andy" Godwin, Dietrich Jehle, David Johnson, Samuel M. Keim, Babak Khazaeni, Barry J. Knapp, Clint Hawthorne, John D. Hoyle Jr., Michael Christopher Kurz, Evan Leibner, Robert Mcnamara, Robert F. Mccormack, Edward A. Michelson, Chadwick Miller, Ashley Norse, Andrew Nugent, Brian J. O'Neil, David T. Overton, Edward A. Panacek, William F. Paolo, Denis R. Pauzé, Amanda L. Perez, Ralph J. Riviello, Scott W. Rodi, Peter S. Pang, Juan A. Gonzalez Sanchez, David P. Sklar, Ben C. Smith, Jeffrey R. Stowell, Marc D. Squillante, J. Jeremy Thomas, Terry Vanden Hoek, Gregory A. Volturo, E. Lea Walters, Thomas E. Wyatt, Donald M. Yealy

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

This letter, signed by over 50 academic chairs of emergency medicine, urges the ACGME to reconsider a proposed mandate requiring all emergency medicine residency programs to adopt a four-year training model. The authors argue that current three-year programs are supported by data demonstrating equivalent educational and clinical outcomes compared to four-year formats. They criticize the flawed survey methodology underpinning the proposal, note the loss of milestone-based training flexibility, and highlight the lack of added scholarly or clinical value in the fourth year. The letter also outlines negative consequences for fellowship participation, workforce development, trainee debt, and diversity. The signatories advocate …

“Nice To See You”: Addressing Plant Awareness Disparity With Locally Specific Ecological And Cultural Plant Education, Cecilia Muecke

Pomona Senior Theses

Plants form the basis of life on Earth. However, due to the phenomenon of plant awareness disparity, a self-perpetuating cycle whereby plants are overlooked on an individual and global level ensues. Lack of plant awareness leads to a lessened emphasis on plants in sustainability and conservation as well as biology education, resulting in negative impacts on biodiversity and food security. The severity of plant awareness disparity is dependent on cultural context, and Indigenous and/or traditional societies are less likely to experience plant awareness disparity because of they are typically more connected to plants for their everyday needs. Native plants are …

The Impact Of Diabetes Education & Post Discharge Interventions For African American Adults At Risk For & After Myocardial Infarction, Trinity L. Billingsley

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Cardiovascular disease or CVD refers to a multitude of conditions that affect both the heart and blood vessels. Being the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease claims 919,032 lives; the risk of death becomes more likely when accompanied with comorbidities like diabetes (CDC, 2024). While heart disease is a leading cause of death across all populations, it accounts for a larger proportion of deaths in African American, or AA, adults at 22.6% compared to White adults at 18.0% and Hispanic adults at 11.9%, highlighting persistent racial disparities in cardiovascular outcomes (CDC, 2024). Diabetes as a comorbidity …

Educating Nurses On Culturally Competent Intimate Partner Violence Care, Nicole Lee

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

This Is How You Can Be A Cool Adult, Angelica Angelica

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

“This Is How You Can Be a COOL Adult” is an interactive and self-reflective lesson designed to help high school juniors through college seniors practice being more compassionate, open-minded, optimistic, and laughing-out-loud (humorous) in their everyday lives. By the end of this lesson, students will be able to describe and explore research-based strategies that foster compassion, open-mindedness, optimism, and humor, and create a personalized “COOL Action Plan” with self-reflection logs to track progress. The lesson takes place in an unconventional classroom setting (outdoors) and includes mini-lectures, meditation, collaborative games, creative role-play, personal reflection, and practical methods for applying these qualities …

The Impacts Of Social Media On Teacher Environment Perceptions, Victoria Puglia

Doctoral Dissertations

Social media significantly influences teachers’ perceptions of their professional environment, shaping job satisfaction, respect, autonomy, and professional support. This dissertation, split into three articles, investigates how exposure to positive, negative, or mixed social media posts impact these perceptions, addressing concerns surrounding teacher well-being and attrition in K-12 education. The study began with a literature review in Article 1 to establish a theoretical framework, followed by a series of validation steps to refine a survey instrument aligned with teaching perception constructs in Article 2. The final survey was administered to 406 K-12 teachers across the United States in Article 3, using …

Expanding Education Skills: Case Study And Content Creation For Theatre Educators At Um, Ren E. Shepherd

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

A love of theatre does not spring into the hearts of people from thin air. It is not something given by the universe, but something cultivated through years of going to performances, researching late at night, and the guidance of theatre educators. Despite the influence of Theatre Educators, they are largely overlooked when considering theatre professionals and their training. This lack of oversight is a nation-wide issue, but by focusing on just the University of Montana, there is a chance for greater understanding and change at a local community level. By employing academic research, surveys of UM faculty and students, …

In-Depth Exploration Of Ot In An Alf, Madison J. Jones

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

My Capstone project focused on occupational therapy’s role in maintaining independence for individuals living in an assisted living facility (ALF) through advocacy, education, and hands-on experience. My goal throughout the project was to reach out to friends, family, and residents living in this retirement community to inform them about OT and the role OT can have to maintain their independence through physical activities, cognitive activities, and meaningful occupations. Different education and advocacy events were created and completed during the project to reach out to the residents and staff members about therapeutic services offered to support aging in place. My Capstone …

Long Story Short: Addressing Health Literacy In The Acute Care Setting, Madeline K. Ebright

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project targeted patient and family education in the acute care setting. The primary goals were focused on understanding what education was already being provided and what improvements can be made to educational methods. The primary problem that was addressed through a literature review and needs assessment was a lack of physical resources available. Five core resources were then created across three different departments in order to improve the overall system of health education in the acute care setting and consequently improve patient health literacy. To evaluate the efficacy of the resources they were provided to patients and practitioners …

Adverse Childhood Experiences In The School System, Hollie Hedrick

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

Through my ALE, focused on education in Boyd County Public Schools, I implemented trauma-informed interventions to support students affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). My goals were to help children develop emotional and sensory regulation skills, educate school staff on how to support students navigating trauma, and raise awareness of the lifelong impact of ACEs and the value of therapeutic services. ACEs—such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction—can disrupt childhood development and lead to poor long-term health and increased need for medical and educational services. It is crucial that professionals help students process and manage these experiences. I delivered 1:1 …

3d Printed Adaptive Technology, Mackenzie Polster

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

For my Capstone experience, I worked with Hancock Health in the outpatient department in Greenfield, IN. My primary ACOTE focus areas were program development (creating 3D printed adaptive technology (AT) for patients) and education (educating about benefits of 3D printing for functional use). Project goals included: educate occupational therapists and patients about 3D printed AT benefits, create 3D printed AT for patients, assess 3D printed AT from patient perspective, and assess relevance of 3D printed AT from OT perspective. There is limited existing research of 3D printing being used for AT. 3D printing often is dismissed due to vendors utilizing …

Dynamic Movement Intervention (Dmi): Understanding Occupational Therapy's Role In Pediatric Gross Motor Development, Katarina Porter

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose of this capstone experience was to complete an advanced clinical practice in Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) and to explore the role of occupational therapy in pediatric gross motor development at Marshall Pediatric Therapy in Lexington, Kentucky. As part of this project, an educational brochure was developed to inform parents and practitioners about the benefits of DMI for children with gross motor delays. Additionally, a student guide was created to link DMI exercises to pediatric developmental milestones and to highlight their relevance to occupational therapy. This capstone experience allowed me to advance my understanding of pediatric gross motor development, …

Exploring The Benefits Of Occupational Therapy In Women's Health, Makayla Witt

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The primary goal of this ALE presentation was to educate healthcare providers, patients, and staff on occupational therapist’s contributions to women’s health. In collaboration with Dr. Byram Ratliff at Sterling Women’s Health, I explored the role of occupational therapy in individualized women’s care. Initial research revealed a lack of awareness regarding how occupational therapy can support women through different life stages. This project involved shadowing my site mentor to understand clinic workflows, then assessing baseline knowledge of occupational therapy using an online survey completed by patients, staff, and providers. Survey results identified limited awareness of occupational therapist’s role, prompting the …

Increasing Referrals To Ot Breastfeeding Specialists Through Accessible Education, Kameron Grigsby

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This project aimed to educate mothers and healthcare providers about the role of occupational therapy (OT) in infant feeding, with the goal of increasing occupational performance satisfaction by promoting appropriate referrals to OT lactation specialists. A significant gap exists in understanding the distinction between other healthcare professionals and OT roles in infant feeding, and the literature lacks detailed OT interventions to support mothers during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding struggles. To address this, I conducted a patient survey to guide the creation of a pamphlet outlining OT’s role in feeding and developed a presentation demonstrating OT interventions for both providers and mothers. …

Expanding Awareness Of Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Education For Perinatal Women, Cassandra Mcneil

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

For my doctoral capstone project, I partnered with PT Solutions Outpatient Therapy in Lexington, Kentucky with mentorship from an occupational therapist specializing in pelvic health therapy. The primary ACOTE focus areas were advocacy and education to support increased awareness of the benefits of outpatient pelvic health therapy services for perinatal women. This project aimed to educate, advocate, and increase awareness of perinatal pelvic health therapy by reaching the following goals: Understand occupational therapy’s role in pelvic floor therapy for perinatal women through evidence-based practice, clinical observation of pelvic floor therapy sessions, and hands-on clinical practice, advocate pelvic floor therapy to …

Ot For Independence: A Shelter-Based Approach, Joshua A. Dotson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This Capstone project was conducted at the Clark County Homeless Coalition in Winchester, Kentucky, focusing on supporting individuals experiencing homelessness through occupational therapy (OT). The main objective was to understand shelter staff roles and clients’ occupational needs while helping clients engage in meaningful activities to improve their quality of life and independence. Research showed a strong need for OT services among homeless and mentally ill populations, with client-centered, choice-based interventions proving most effective. Tools like the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) informed the approach, though outcome measurement was limited by inconsistent client participation. Nonetheless, the COPM guided meaningful goal-setting. Informal …

Promoting Inclusion: Creating A Sensory Space In A Local Church, Ashleigh N. Dotson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project took place at a local church, The Creek, in London, KY. Specifically, this project took place within the Kid’s church area. The ACOTE focus areas for this project were program development, education, and advocacy. The goals of this Capstone/ALE project were to learn more about and better understand the sensory system and how it works; to create a sensory room for children with disabilities who may need to regulate their sensory system; to create resources and educational guides for adults and volunteers who may be in the sensory room to guide them on the appropriate ways to …

A Quality Improvement Project To Enhance Chronic-Condition And Self-Care Knowledge In Adolescents With Spina Bifida, Ann Paris

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Spina Bifida is the most common central nervous system disorder in the United States (CDC, 2024). Even with early surgical repair, patients may have chronic, disabling, multisystem needs (Phillips et al., 2017). Adequate care of Spina Bifida requires a multidisciplinary approach. As such, patients with spina bifida require multiple specialty providers, clinic appointments, care-tasks, and interventions (CDC, 2024, Phillips, et al., 2017). Synthesizing information from multiple care providers can be daunting, especially for adolescents as they grow more autonomous in their care, and especially as they enter the age of pediatric-to-adult transition (Psihogios et al., 2015).

Purpose: …

Large‐Vessel Occlusion Stroke Knowledge And Training For Stroke Severity Assessment Among Emergency Medical Services Personnel In The United States, Kaiz S. Asif, Robin Novakovic, Thanh N. Nguyen, Santiago Ortega‐Gutierrez, Youngran Kim, Amanda Jagolino‐Cole, Sushanth Aroor, Alicia Castonguay, Prateek Kumar, Ameer E. Hassan

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Prehospital identification of large‐vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke facilitates the development of a regional triage protocol that could lead to an improvement in intrahospital and interhospital workflows. This requires stroke education of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to improve stroke recognition, severity assessment, and prenotification. However, the current state of EMS personnel's knowledge of LVO stroke, their training for stroke severity assessment, and their preferences for educational methods are unknown. We conducted a nationwide EMS survey across the United States to glean insights that can inform and customize future EMS educational efforts.

Methods

The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, …

Innovative Teaching Strategies And Lesson Plans To Support Students With Adhd, Celeste Grantham

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how creativity, imagination, and problem-solving can be harnessed to improve student outcomes – specifically engagement, motivation, and academic achievement – for students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in elementary classrooms. Rather than conducting a data-driven study, this project draws upon interdisciplinary research from educational psychology, cognitive science, and pedagogy to design inclusive research-informed teaching strategies. The cognitive processes underpinning creativity and imagination – such as divergent thinking, mind-wandering, and creative incubation – are examined as potential strengths often underutilized in traditional classrooms. A comprehensive literature review establishes how these variables interact and influence the learning experiences of students …

Social Media Strategy For The Continuing And Professional Education Program, Kayla Ford

Theses and Dissertations

Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) allows adults to pursue professional or personal development opportunities outside of a college degree. When it came to marketing these opportunities, CPE relied more on traditional marketing from a lack of digital marketing professionals, creating a weak social media presence. To help elevate their social media presence, a social media marketing strategy approach was utilized to improve CPE’s digital presence by setting objectives that focus on engagement, awareness, and as well as a campaign that focuses on the importance of continuing education. Data from research studies and professional articles specializing in digital marketing directed what …

Why A Healthy Diet Is Important For Women's Health, Halley Doster

Theses and Dissertations

Nutrition plays a critical role in women’s reproductive health, yet many women face barriers to maintaining a balanced diet. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nutritional intake and reproductive health outcomes among women of reproductive age, as well as to assess their knowledge and challenges related to healthy eating. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 50 women at a community health center and analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics and explore patterns through chi-square and regression analyses. Findings revealed that most participants had moderate to low fruit and vegetable intake, and fewer than half …