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The Role Of Digital Gaming In Addressing Loneliness Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review, Eunie Jung, Jiadong Yu

Pacific Faculty Work

As the world’s population of older adults continues to grow rapidly, combating loneliness and social isolation has become an emerging health concern for this group. Though there has been increasing interest within the scientific community in exploring digital games as an intervention for loneliness, research on gaming as an intervention is a relatively new field of study. This scoping review examines the current state of research on the impact of digital gaming on loneliness in the older adult population and was conducted in accordance with the 2018 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) …

Building An Interdisciplinary Workforce In Geroscience: Aligning Perspectives And Educational Goals, Iman M Al-Naggar, Miranda E Orr, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The National Institute on Aging-funded Geroscience Education and Training Network held the "Building an Interdisciplinary Workforce in Geroscience: Aligning Perspectives and Educational Goals" preconference workshop at the 2023 Gerontological Society of America's Annual Meeting. Parties involved in geroscience education and interested stakeholders addressed the development of didactic educational materials, training, and career development opportunities to equip learners with the skills to meet the demands of the emerging field of geroscience, from research to clinic and industry. Recent successes were presented, existing opportunities, gaps, and challenges identified and discussed, and solutions and future directions described.

Southern Adventist University Commencement Program Summer 2025, Southern Adventist University

Commencement Programs

Program for Southern Adventist University Summer 2025 graduation. The commencement service took place on August 22, 2025 at 10 am in Iles Physical Education Center.

Widowhood, Health, And Depression: Intergenerational Relationships, Social Support, And Psychological Well-Being Among Korean Older Adults, Yooumi Lee

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation focuses on Korean older adults and their experiences with widowhood and health issues in later life. Specifically, it examines the associations between stressful life events, such as recent widowhood and poor health, and depressive symptoms. It then further explores if intergenerational relationships and social support mediate the distressing consequences of these stressful life events. Using longitudinal data from 2006 to 2020 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, this study estimates residualized change Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression models predicting depression at Tw as a function of depression at Tw-1 and other covariates among individuals who are 60 or older …

Impact Of Primary Care Providers’ Beliefs On Intentions To Conduct Brief Cognitive Assessments, Debra Antista-Bianchi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2011 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandated that Primary Care Providers (PCPs) offer brief cognitive assessments during the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), but this practice was inconsistent at best. This study investigated factors that influenced PCPs intentions to routinely assess cognition during the AWV. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used to assess the relationship between PCPs' behavior beliefs, subjective norm beliefs, perceived behavioral control (PBC) beliefs, and external control factors and their intentions to conduct brief cognitive assessments during the AWV. Using a quantitative correlational design, a cross-sectional online survey was administered to 86 …

Ectopic Adipose Tissue In Subsistence Populations With Minimal Coronary Disease, Large Left Atria, And Very Low Rates Of Atrial Fibrillation, Randall C. Thompson, Benjamin C. Trumble, Daniel K. Cummings, Angela D. Neunuebel, Paul L. Hooper, Samuel Wann, Adel H. Allam, Frances Neunuebel, Benjamin D. Gans, Samantha I. King, Edmond Seabright, Caleb E. Finch, Margaret Gatz, Kenneth Buetow, Michael I. Miyamoto, Guido P. Lombardi, M. Linda Sutherland, James D. Sutherland, Christopher J. Ward, Madeleine J. Lee, Ashna Mahadev, Daniel Eid Rodriguez, David E. Michalik, Chris J. Rowan, Tianyu Cao, Jonathan Stieglitz, Cameron M. Quick, Gregory S. Thomas, Jagat Narula, Damini Dey, Michael Gurven, Hillard Kaplan

ESI Publications

Background

Methods

Registered Nurses' Autism Knowledge And Preparedness To Care For Autistic Patients, Bronte Elisa Weissman

Theses and Dissertations

Autistic individuals frequently report negative experiences during healthcare interactions and numerous provider-level barriers to accessing quality care, including stereotyping, perceived lack of autism knowledge, challenges with communication, and insufficient accommodations. Reports of healthcare providers’ experiences caring for autistic patients in the U.S. have largely come from physicians, who endorse inadequate training, resources, and practical guidelines. Although patients spend far more time with nurses than other healthcare providers, registered nurses (RNs)’ perspectives on caring for autistic patients in the U.S. are largely unknown and autism-focused trainings for nurses are minimal. In the current study, a survey was nationally disseminated to a …

Student-Athlete Vs Athlete-Student: Differences In Athletic Retirement Expectations, Terrie L. Bradshaw

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological Dissertation in Practice was to define the terms student-athletes and athlete-student by discovering any differences in non-cognitive variables between the two groups. Additionally, this study attempted to identify any differences in career transition expectations between student-athletes and athlete-students. Thirteen NCAA athletes from various universities across the United States were included. With the use of one-on-one semi structured interviews, five themes emerged. The themes that emerged were 1) Both types of athletes attend college for different reasons. 2) Differences in level of commitment. 3) Both types of athletes strive for academic success. 4) Different expectations …

Decreasing Administrative Burdens For Promoting Social Equity: Three Essays On Innvations In Public Service Provision, Kyungmin Lee

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation investigates three aspects of administrative burdens in public service delivery and explores how these burdens—which often discourage eligible individuals from accessing needed services—relate to individuals' perceptions of and behaviors toward those burdens and ultimately to user outcomes. The first essay examines whether a shift from in-person to virtual service modalities imposes additional administrative burden—digital administrative burden—for service users. Using the secondary data from the 2022 “Survey of Citizens’ Perceptions of Public Administration” conducted in South Korea, the study applies Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM) to assess the relationship between service modality and digital administrative burden. The findings suggest no …

Implementation Of The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Moca) Tool For Early Detection Of Dementia, Nadege Djeukui

DNP and Student Works

As the population ages, the prevalence of cognitive impairment increases (Hilsabeck et al., 2024). There are about 10 million new cases reported annually, and over 55 million people worldwide are currently living with dementia, a number projected to increase to 78 million by 2030 (WHO, 2023). Dementia is a growing public health concern that is often underdiagnosed in primary care, leading to missed opportunities for early intervention, care coordination, and patient support. Early detection of dementia is crucial for timely intervention, effective care planning, and enhanced patient outcomes. Early identification of cognitive impairment is critical in improving patient outcomes, enhancing …

Implementing Nurse-Led Late Life Depression Screening In An Acute Care Setting, Kate A. Barba, Shannon Mahoney

General Submissions: Clinical Settings Materials

Aims of the study were: (a) examine the effectiveness of a geriatric-specific depression screening and referral protocol in identifying depression in hospitalized older adults; (b) assess outcomes when a patient screens positive for depression and is referred to a social worker; and (c) evaluate nurses’ perceptions of the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the GDS-5 in an acute care setting.

Senior Living: Filling The Gap, Katy J. Johnson

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper explores how colleges and universities can help address the housing crisis for Americans aged 65 and older by integrating seniors into college campuses. This approach not only helps to fill dormitories but also provides students with valuable work experience. The paper examines three key issues: the Silver Tsunami (the growing senior population), declining enrollment leading to campus housing vacancies, and the financial burden of higher education. By advocating for intergenerational living, the proposal offers an innovative solution that benefits seniors, students, and universities.

Effects Of Mode And Transitioning To A Mixed-Mode (Web/Phone) Design On Categorical Survey Estimates: Do Question Characteristics Matter?, Mengyao Hu, Vicki A Freedman, Justin Kamens

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

An increasing number of telephone surveys are introducing a web option. Limited experimental research has explored the implications of such design changes and how they vary by question characteristics. Using an experimental design and propensity score matching techniques, this study examines the effects of mode (web vs. telephone) and transitioning to a mixed-mode design (from telephone-only to the choice of web or telephone) on survey estimates and how effects differ by question characteristics. We draw upon an experiment embedded in the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC), in which half of NSOC-eligible caregivers were randomized to a telephone-only design and the …

Implementation Of Medication Administration Education To Increase Medication Technician Knowledge And Confidence, Nicole C. Yan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Medication technicians have minimal formal training and education in medication administration. Insufficient knowledge and a lack of confidence present safety concerns, such as medication errors, which decrease the quality of patient care.

Context: The setting is an assisted living facility in the San Francisco Peninsula that provides around-the-clock patient care, promoting independence in a safe and home-like environment for 53 patients.

Interventions: The proposed intervention involves implementing a quality improvement (QI) project to educate medication technicians on medication administration safety. The educational sessions, completed in two in-person sessions, include a PowerPoint lecture, interactive case studies, and group discussion.

Measures: …

Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis And Systemic Inflammation: A Cadaveric Study For Dental Insights, Nathan Kent Bs, David Patterson Bs, Alyssa Luu Bs, Samantha Pipkin Bs, Jason Ciccotelli Dpt, Phd, Jeremy James Dmd, Ms, Jessica Immonen Phd, Ms

The Journal of Integrative Physiology

The objective of this study was to determine if gross signs of cadaveric osteoarthritis (OA) have

a tendency to present systemically and if this presentation includes pathology found at the

temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Signs of OA were then correlated to gross alterations of the aorta and common carotid arteries seen with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Ipsilateral synovial joints including the TMJ, knee joint, radiocarpal joint and trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint were all assessed for signs of OA in 4 cadaveric donors (3 males; 72, 82 and 92 years-old / 1 female; 89 years-old) using a validated scale of disease severity. A Grade …

Staff Education To Promote Medication Adherence In Hypertension, Amie Sankoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A primary care medical clinic experienced an increase in hospital readmission for hypertensive patients, as evidenced by a consistent lack of standardized patient education on medication adherence and a notable increase in readmission rates for uncontrolled hypertension. Hypertension is a significant public health problem associated with an elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. The gap in practice identified was a lack of knowledge among the medical staff in teaching patients about hypertension medication adherence. The practice-focused question was: Does educating primary care medical staff on the importance of medication adherence in hypertension improve knowledge, as evidenced by …

Adapt & Thrive: Parkinson’S Training For A More Meaningful Life, Alyson Chew

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

As of 2022, there are 107,601 people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in California with 78% of cases above 70 years old (California Department of Public Health, 2024). Falls are the most common cause of injury for adults 65 years and older with over 14 million falls reported annually (CDC, 2024). Occupational therapy is an underutilized profession that can assist both people with PD and caregivers to reduce falls and injuries from occurring.

Navigating Sensory Challenges: Understanding The Sensory Experience Of Adults With Dementia In Adult Day Centers, Bailey Stewart

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Staff had not yet received formal training on how to identify a variety of sensory based behaviors and how to best utilize the sensory room and tailor its use to meet specific individual’s needs from an OT lens.

Educating Primary Care Professionals On The Management And Treatment Of Dementia Patients, Rosemarie Ashmeade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement staff education program addressed the delayed treatment of patients with dementia at the outpatient project facility. Patients with depression were treated according to protocol; however, the practitioners were not recognizing that some of these patients with depression had dementia and required a different plan of treatment. This knowledge gap had the potential to result in delayed diagnosis, inadequate patient support, and less favorable patient outcomes. This evidence-based education program was developed to increase healthcare practitioners’ competency in recognizing dementia and providing early referral and treatment. I determined the effectiveness of the educational intervention by analyzing the data …

Transcription Fidelity In The Face Of Oxidative Damage, Eastilan Gyiwah Appiah

Theses and Dissertations

It is very important that the process of transcription is correctly carried out in the cell for the faithful expression of the genetic code. However, should mistakes happen, they can result in transcription errors which interfere with the protein-making machinery of the cell. This will result in accumulation of proteins and dysfunctional proteins that have the potential of causing diseases like Alzheimer’s. Oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide is known to cause transcription errors in organisms like yeast. It is therefore important to investigate the extent to which hydrogen peroxide can damage cells.

In Good Times & Bad: Measuring Ambivalence In Custodial Grandparents, Marin Gail Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Like other forms of caregivers, custodial grandparents experience both the joys and trials of raising their grandchildren. This culmination of positive and negative feelings is called “caregiver ambivalence." It has only recently been studied in relation to caregiver burden and wellness in the form of caregiver ambivalence theory (CAT). By collecting data from approximately 395 custodial grandparents via an online survey, the current study aimed to test if custodial grandparents’ feelings of burden influence their perceived well-being and if feelings of ambivalence mediate this relation. Implications of this research include identifying areas of strength and growth within custodial grandparents and …

Design For Longevity: A Relational And Systemic Perspective, Sheng-Hung Lee

Nordes Conference Series

As Relational Design (RD) grows in popularity, Casual Loop Diagrams (CLD) can complement RD in systemic analysis by visualizing relationships between variables. This study integrates CLD with RD within the context of longevity planning, which considers dimensions of financial, social and physical wellness. While RD maps static relationships, CLDs model dynamic interactions and feedback loops, enhancing innovation through a holistic and adaptive approach. By bridging relational and systemic perspectives, this preliminary study advances discourse in service design, system thinking, and research methodologies, demonstrating how RD and CLD contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of longevity planning. Findings emphasize the importance …

We Are All Old: Decentralising Visions, Hayley Ho, Elsa Vaara

Nordes Conference Series

This paper seeks to understand how a mixed methodology of speculation, design practices, and artistic practices can help design researchers understand how people of different ages and backgrounds may distribute their visions about being old. Our overall motivation for the research is that countries in the world are struggling to shape good societies while the pace of population aging is accelerating faster than in the past. The world’s problems are often perceived as complex, leading some to lose faith in their ability to effect change. Every person is a piece of the larger puzzle, and we argue that when individuals …

Design Facilitation Skills: Discrepancies Between Research Focus And Industry Needs In Us Job Postings, Wenqi Zheng, Mauricio Mejia, Catalina Cortes

Nordes Conference Series

In design, designers often act as facilitators, helping cross-functional teams capture, evaluate, and integrate diverse ideas to create improved products. While the broader application of facilitation has been extensively explored, the specific demand for design facilitation in the industry remains understudied. This study bridges the gap by exploring the call for design facilitation in the U.S. job market. Through a content analysis of job postings and a novel approach for tracking skill trends over time, we identify key design facilitation-related skill employers seek, uncovering four patterns. We also discuss implications for design education, proposing curriculum changes to better prepare students …

Is Therapeutic Lying Ethically Justifiable If It Leads To Improved Care?, Deborah Murphy

Journal of Social Care

Problem statement

Although therapeutic lying is used extensively as an intervention in dementia care, its use is ethically controversial, firstly, because lying is usually viewed negatively, and secondly, because people with dementia are an especially vulnerable cohort. It is claimed that therapeutic lying improves wellbeing and supports a person-centred approach to dementia care.

Research Question

Is lying to people with dementia ethically justifiable if it leads to improved care?

Aim

To investigate whether care can be improved using therapeutic lies, to explore the ongoing ethical debate around its justification and to examine whether therapeutic lies support person-centred interventions.

Method

This …

Staff Education Program To Improve Nursing Knowledge On Fall Prevention Strategies, Chioma C. Achonye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In nursing practice, falls among adults aged 65 and above are a critical concern due to their potential to cause serious injuries and complications. As a result, fall prevention has become a top priority for healthcare providers striving to ensure patient safety and quality. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was designed to address the issue of falls in long-term care facilities by implementing a staff education program focused on patient fall risk assessment, identifying intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing falls, and implementing evidence-based interventions. The DNP project practice-focused question was Does an education program on fall prevention strategies …

Variability Of Immune Response To Coronavac In The Indonesian Population: A Retrospective Cohort Study In Bantaeng, South Sulawesi,Indonesia, Sitti Musafirah Arif, Juliani Ibrahim, Antariksa P. Winarno, Andi Nur Anna, Andi Weri Sompa, Ami Febriza S. Achmad, Nurdiana Nurdiana, Zulkifli Zulkifli, Irwan Ashari

Journal of Health Research

Background: The COVID-19 vaccine, including CoronaVac, is crucial in reducing severe infections and mortality due to COVID-19. However, variability in antibody responses across different populations remains a subject of investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of age and BMI on Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels three months post-CoronaVac vaccination in a healthy Indonesian cohort.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 299 healthy individuals aged 18–70 in Bantaeng, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. IgG levels against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood samples were collected about 90 ± 7 days …

Staff Education Program For Fall Prevention, Priya Sebastian Vadakkan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls are the most common adverse events leading to increased injury, length of hospital stay, and costs among hospitalized patients. I developed a staff education project to address the identified practice problem of increased fall rates on the cardiac floor of the project site. The practice-focused question guiding this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was whether a comprehensive staff education program on evidence-based fall prevention strategies could improve the nurses’ knowledge when compared to standard fall prevention practices. The purpose of this DNP project was to provide staff education to increase nurses’ knowledge about the early identification of fall …

“Literally Made Me Cry”: The Impact Of Course Material Costs On University Of Kentucky Students, Stephen Krueger

Library Reports and White Papers

The Student Course Materials Cost Survey was administered September 16 – October 6, 2024. It was open to current students at the University of Kentucky (UK). The goals were to help UK Libraries better understand how the cost of course materials affects students at UK and to provide a snapshot of student spending across the university. The questions were based on similar research done at other institutions in Virginia (Virginia Course Materials Survey, 2021) and Florida (2022 Student Textbook and Instructional Materials Survey, 2022). Other work based on those surveys includes the 2023 Illinois Course Materials Survey (CARLI, 2023) and …

Aging Is Not All Doom And Gloom: How Do Beliefs About Aging Moderate The Effects Of Mortality Salience On Ageism Attitudes?, Kristen Schwindt Edmondson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of the study is to examine how young adults’ beliefs about aging moderate the effects of mortality salience on their ageism attitudes. Past research suggests that ageism is, in part, due to the presence of elderly people reminding people of their own aging process and mortality (Martens et al., 2004). Little is known, however, about how individuals’ beliefs about aging may moderate the impact of mortality salience on their attitudes toward aging. Some people tend to perceive aging-related changes as relatively fixed (i.e., essentialist belief), whereas others perceive them as relatively malleable (nonessentialist belief). Would a more malleable …