Digital Commons Network^™

Research And Social Activism In Gender-Based Violence, Ziwei Qi, April Terry, Sonia Salari, Annie Fukushima

BRIDGE Resource Hub

This virtual roundtable, Research and Social Activism on Gender-Based Violence, brings together scholars committed to bridging academic research and grassroots advocacy in addressing gender-based violence. Held on March 16, 2021, and sponsored by the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence at Fort Hays State University, the event features interdisciplinary perspectives from Dr. Annie Isabel Fukushima, Dr. Sonia Salari, Dr. April N. Terry, and Dr. Ziwei Qi. Panelists discuss their respective research on human trafficking, elder abuse, rural criminology, and community-based interventions—exploring how structural inequalities, policy gaps, and geographic isolation impact the lived experiences of survivors. Highlighting innovations in …

Falls In Young Adults: The Effect Of Sex, Physical Activity, And Prescription Medications, Hyeyoung Cho, Michel J.H. Heijnen, Bruce A. Craig, Shriley Rietdyk

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Falls are a major public health issue not only for older adults but also young adults, with fall-related injuries occurring more frequently in adult females than males. However, the sex differences in the frequency and circumstances of falls in young adults are understudied. This research quantified the frequency and circumstances of falls as a function of sex, physical activity, and prescription medications in young adults. For 16 weeks, young adult participants (N = 325; 89 males; 19.9±1.1 years) responded to a daily email asking if they had slipped, tripped, or fallen in the past 24 hours. Falls and fall-related injuries …

Exploring The Impact Of Care Delivery On Families Of Children With Medical Complexity, Shelby Pawlowski

DNP Projects

Background: Children with medical complexity (CMC) are considered most medically fragile and require the most health care needs. Medical care for CMC is described as fragmented, uncoordinated, and crisis-driven with a tendency to over-medicalize the child and under-support the family. The intimate link between caregiver and child health supports further exploration of factors that may influence family health-related quality of life (FHRQOL) in families of CMC. Purpose: The purpose was description of the population of CMC receiving rehabilitation services in the community setting and exploration of the impact of a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility (CORF) on FHRQOL. Review of Evidence: …

Sarcopenia: A Functional Chronic Disease, Mike Haines, Md

Department of Family & Community Medicine Presentations and Grand Rounds

Objectives

• Define sarcopenia as a clinical diagnosis as described by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older Persons (EWGSOP2)
• Recognize, identify, and describe sarcopenia as a distinct disease process
• Review impact on health outcomes and healthcare costs
• Explain tools used to aid in diagnosis in clinical practice
• Explore the nuances of therapeutic interventions
• Discuss role of the primary care physician

Outline

● What is sarcopenia?

• Definition provided by EWGSOP2
• Brief overview of pathophysiology

● Why is it important?

• Epidemiology
• Impact on health outcomes
• Healthcare costs

● Diagnosis

• Review EWGSOP2 framework for clinical practice
• Questionnaires
• Office based testing
• Imaging

● …

Multimorbidity Accumulation Among Middle-Aged Americans: Differences By Race/Ethnicity And Body-Mass Index., Anda Botoseneanu, Sheila Markwardt, Corey L. Nagel, Heather G. Allore, Jason T. Newsom, David A. Dorr, Ana R. Quiñones

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Obesity and multimorbidity are more prevalent among U.S. racial/ethnic minority groups. Evaluating racial/ethnic disparities in disease accumulation according to body-mass index (BMI) may guide interventions to reduce multimorbidity burden in vulnerable racial/ethnic groups.

Exogenous Ketone Supplements For Reducing Anxiety-Related Behavior, Csilla Ari D'Agostino, Dominic Paul D'Agostino

USF Patents

Methods of treating anxiety disorders or reducing anxiety-related behaviors. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of ketone supplementation, such as butanediol, ketone esters (e.g., 1,3-butanediol-acetoacetate diester) and/or ketone salts (e.g., beta-hydroxybutyrate-mineral salt), chronically, sub-chronically, or acutely, with or without admixture with a medium chain triglyceride or in combination. It was determined herein that ketone supplementation reduced anxiety in rats on elevated plus maze as measured by less entries to closed arms, more time spent in open arms, more distance travelled in open arms, and delayed latency to entrance to closed arms, when compared to control. Along with reducing …

Compliance In Fall Prevention In Dementia Vs Non-Dementia Nursing Home Units, Garima Shrestha

Merge

The student nurse researcher performed a research study to determine if there was a difference in the compliance of fall prevention interventions between dementia and non-dementia nursing home units. The student nurse researcher hypothesized the dementia nursing home units would be more compliant with fall prevention interventions than the non-dementia nursing home units. In contrast, the null hypothesis stated there would be no statistically significant difference in the compliance of fall prevention interventions between the dementia and the non-dementia nursing home units. The Fall Prevention Intervention Checklist was used to assess environmental fall hazards in occupied resident rooms. Of the …

Implementation Of Aromatherapy With Lavender Essential Oils To Reduce Chronic Paint In The Long-Term Care Setting, Anna Bumgardner, Abigail Braun, Laura Leonard

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

No abstract provided.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions For Terminal Restlessness In End-Of-Life Care, Amber Destigter, Anna Hiebner, Josie Post

Celebration of Research

A literature review was conducted between October 2020 to November 2020 to identify the best non-pharmacological interventions for dementia patients facing terminal restlessness. Eight pieces of literature were selected by researchers for review regarding end-of-life patients with dementia. The focus was on non-pharmacological interventions, as research showed that they may be more efficacious and have less adverse reactions then common pharmacological approaches. Methods were developed to implement non-pharmacological interventions for dementia patients specifically for Spencer Hospital in Spencer, Iowa. Outcomes of this project include that the non-pharmacological interventions aromatherapy, touch therapy, environmental modification, caregiver training and communication are best for …

Assessment Of Modified Patient Education Materials For People With Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Jennifer Fortuna, Anne Riddering, Linda Shuster, Cassie Lopez-Jeng

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Existing research on health literacy identifies a disconnect between the readability of patient education materials (PEMs) and the reading abilities of American adults. For people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), central vision loss creates an additional barrier to health literacy. This study explored how evidence-based guidelines for creating easy-to-understand written materials influenced the usability of PEMs in people with AMD.

Methods: Evidence-based guidelines were applied to modify one PEM. Standardized tools quantified differences in readability and suitability between the original and modified PEM. Twelve people with AMD rated the comprehensibility (design quality) and shared personal preferences during semi-structured interviews. …

Gc Minutes Apr 15, 2021, Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

50 Update: Multidisciplinary Certificates In Uni's Gen Ed Program, University Of Northern Iowa. General Education Re-Envisioning Committee.

General Education Re-envisioning Committee Documents

A spreadsheet of proposed multidisciplinary certificates submitted through April 12, 2021.

Approved Programs, April 13, 2021, Programs Committee

Programs Committee (PC)

No abstract provided.

Agenda, April 13, 2021, Programs Committee

Programs Committee (PC)

No abstract provided.

Brain Cancer Caregivers Experience High Emotional Distress, Sunny Mathaun

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Sunny Mathaun, Dr. Laurie Minns

Brain Cancer Caregivers Experience High Emotional Distress

Glioblastoma multiforme grade 4 is a type of highly malignant tumor that has an extremely poor prognosis, which leads to major emotional challenges such as heavy and unhealthy burden on caregivers. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most severe types of cancer with an average prognosis of 15 months. Due to its high mortality rate, GBM creates major health challenges for patients in a fast rate, but also significantly impacts the caregivers who are caring for these patients. Caregivers can be categorized in a formal and informal …

A Study Of Covid-19 Mortality Under Varying Patient Frailty, Alison Sifuentes, Olcay Akman, Daniel Hrozencik

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

For this study, we modeled the spread and mortality of COVID-19 throughout the city of Chicago. By incorporating group frailty into a classic SEIR infectious disease model, we were able to differentiate the population of Chicago by their response to COVID-19. Three age groups with different COVID-19-induced death rates were examined, and the model sought to showcase the multiplicative deviation of each age group death rate from the average disease-induced death rate. This adjustment for different death rates among age groups accounted for heterogeneity within the population, and sought to introduce a more accurate manner for modeling the spread of …

Dementia Friendly 18: A Program To Increase Community Dementia Awareness, Bailey Rustad, Anne Gradoville

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The purpose of the Dementia Friendly 18-day email training is to provide participants with a unique and efficient way to learn about dementia through articles and videos in 5 to 15 minutes daily. The content of the presentation will include why and how we got involved in this project, our goals, our methods, the results and feedback received from participants, and ideas for future improvements.

Benefits Of Montessori Method Use In Activity Involvement On Individuals With Dementia, Megan Canzoneri

MOT Student Capstones

Background: The Montessori Method was a teaching approach developed by Dr. Maria Montessori for children who did not have access to proper education and materials. She used this method by teaching them through familiar tasks, puzzles, and self-driven interest. This taught them independence, problem-solving, and decision make. This project discusses the use of the method within the geriatric and memory care population to help them remain independent through choosing activities that interest them. These activities consist of familiar tasks such as setting a table, washing dishes, and folding clothes. Method: This project used a needs survey, pre- and post-survey, and …

Combating Loneliness In Assisted Living Facilities: An Evidence-Based Practice Guide For Social Work Practitioners Working With Older Adults, Annie Alexis Romano

Evidence-Based Social Work Practice Guide Series

It has been well documented that social needs do not change with aging (Teater, Chonody, & Davis, 2021), but often, older adults are left out of the conversation when it comes to loneliness and the feelings that come with social isolation. In the same way that researchers are de-stigmatizing the mental health conversation for youth and middle-aged adults, we need to bring to light the issues that come with those who live in assisted living facilities or nursing homes and the social issues presented in that population.

The Integrative Trust-Expectancy Framework For Understanding Hearing Aid Non-Use: An Introduction And Call For Research, Heather Reid

Student Research Symposium

Research shows that 80% of the people who would benefit from hearing aids (HAs) are not using them (McCormack & Fortnum, 2013), despite the fact that HA use elevates quality of life for individuals (Yamada et al., 2017), reduces fatigue in daily life (Holman et al., 2019), and facilitates communication (Perepa, 2017). Increasing the number of people using HAs would benefit them in many aspects of their lives. Audiology research alone has not led to a significant increase in HA use to date, and thus a different approach is warranted. For this paper, we surveyed the literature at the intersection …

Validating Occupational Therapy's Role To Facilitate Aging In Place: The Need To Raise Clinical Awareness, Laura B. Ferguson

MOT Student Capstones

The concept of staying in one's home as they age, known as aging in place (AIP), presents an emerging area of practice in which occupational therapy (OT) professionals can utilize their skills within the clinic and community to fill a niche that has been underserved. However, lack of awareness of occupational therapy, as well as the complex nature of aging in place, may weaken the understanding of the important role that OT holds to facilitate aging in place. A systematic review of evidence-based literature was conducted to establish a platform to validate occupational therapy's complex role to facilitate aging in …

Alcohol Consumption And Cognitive Aging: Can It Be Beneficial?, Margarita Velikova, Bistra Galunska, Raya Dimitrova, Zlatislav Stoyanov

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

We present a literature review which summarizes the data supporting one of the alternative perspectives on the effect of alcohol consumption on cognitive aging – the possible positive effect of low to moderate drinking. Some of the main theories about aging, the mechanisms of brain aging, and the pathogenesis of cognitive decline and dementia are briefly described. In this context, the putative mechanisms of the protective action of non-alcoholic components in alcoholic beverages or low doses of ethanol against oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, brain insulin resistance, and production of amyloid-β peptides are presented. The review article does not favor …

Looking Into The Effects Of The Age Of The Internet, Sarah Schaefer

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

The internet has grown to play a large part in our society in the past couple decades, but with the rapid change in technology we have been ill prepared for the effects of our reliance on digital content. Looking into how different demographics and age groups are affected, we come to a conclusion that the general population needs to work to better educate themselves on the impact caused from an overuse of the internet.

Exploring Animal Assisted Therapy As A Therapeutic Tool For Use In Occupational Therapy, Malia Proveaux

MOT Student Capstones

Occupational therapy (OT) is an evidence-based and effective therapeutic approach; however, patient compliance and participation are the most significant factors determining outcome measures. Animal Assisted Therapy (AA T) is a therapeutic approach used for various disorders and medical diagnoses and has been showing strong growth in recent years. Animal-assisted therapy is the interaction of a patient and a trained animal to aid the patients' progress toward their functional goals and is a valuable complement to OT. The purpose of this study is to examine the evidence-based research supporting the inclusion of AAT during skilled OT interventions to improve clinical impact. …

Montana Kaimin, April 8, 2021, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

A Rapidly Aging World In The 21st Century: Hopes From Glycomics And Unraveling The Biomarkers Of Aging With The Sugar Code, Xinwei Yu, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A global rise in life expectancy comes with an increased burden of serious life-long health issues and the need for useful real-time measures of the aging processes. Studies have shown the value of biochemical signatures of immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycosylation as clinically relevant biomarkers to differentiate healthy from accelerated aging. Most human biological processes rely on glycosylation of proteins to regulate their function, but these events appear sensitive to environmental changes, age, and the presence of disease. Specifically, variations in N-glycosylation of IgG can adversely affect inflammatory pathways underpinning unhealthy aging and chronic disease pathogenesis. This expert review highlights the …

Loneliness In Older Adults: The Unspoken Pandemic Under Covid-19, Jacob Perez, Kelly Perniciaro, Tes Tuason

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Project of Merit Winner

Loneliness in older adults has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though loneliness has been a prior public health concern for this population. Loneliness is a perceived lack of social interaction when an individual desires more (Wong, 2017). COVID-19-related social isolation causes older adults to be vulnerable to the effects of loneliness, including increased risk to physical and mental decline, anxiety, depression, and an elevated likelihood of mortality (Levy et. al, 2018; Eldercare Locator, n.d.). Barriers to caring for lonely older adults are the effects of ageism, the increased vulnerability of this population during COVID-19, and …

What Does It Mean To Be Never Married In Later Life? Application Of Phenomenology In An Aging Study, Arya Hamedanchi, Nasibeh Zanjari, Hamid Reza Khankeh, Yadollah Abolfathi Momtaz

The Qualitative Report

The growth of the aging population and the increase of age at marriage will result in a rise in the number of never-married people in the future, although there is not sufficient qualitative evidence on this emerging phenomenon. The present study aimed to explore the lived experience of never-married older adults. The lived experiences of 12 never-married older adults were collected using an in-depth interview. The hermeneutics method of Van Manen was used for identification, description, and interpretation of emergent themes. Reflection on the lived experiences of the participants uncovered six themes, including: feeling of independence, combating loneliness, moving up …

Economic Insecurity As A Risk Factor During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Klaus E. Cavalhieri

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently spreading at a rapid rate worldwide. The current pandemic may have several adverse effects on overall psychological functioning and health behaviors. Economic insecurity, operationalized as financial strain and employment uncertainty, can be a significant risk factor for both psychological outcomes and compliance with shelter-in-place recommendations (i.e., health behaviors). One hundred and twenty four participants answered survey data on economic security, fear of COVID-19, health care system distrust, anxiety, well-being, and compliance with CDC recommendations to curb the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., health behaviors; CDC, 2020). Economic security was significantly associated with well-being, …

Talking To Your Patients About Antibiotics: What Nurse Practitioners Need To Know, Danae M. Titensor, Katreena Collette-Merrill

Student Works

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to our current ways of treating infections. The overuse of antibiotics is a major contributor to this threat, especially with the prevalence of unnecessary prescriptions written for upper respiratory infections (URIs). Better education tools are needed for providers and patients regarding antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this project was to use evidence-based practice to produce an educational video about antibiotic resistance. Following a review of the literature, a 6-minute video was made using Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning. A convenience sample of 15 family nurse practitioner (FNP) students, from one master’s program, participated …