Digital Commons Network^™

Addressing Transportation Barriers For Adaptive Recreation Programs, Nicole Gargiulo

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Promotes Children’S Wellbeing In The First Year Of Life And Parental Confidence Through Evidence-Based Knowledge, Jocelyn Ong Najera

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Health Promotion Within General Aviation, Nancy Smith

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Exploring Strategies To Improving Awareness For Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders Within Dental Students, Tim Zeng

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Supporting Spanish-Speaking Parents Navigate Services For Children With Atypical Development, Anali Flores

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Promoting Social And Emotional Competencies With A Trauma-Informed Approach To Early Education, Kaelyn O'Bryan

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Concussion Recovery For The Adult Population, Nikki Atis

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Social Emotional Learning In Outdoor Education Programs For Adolescents, Brianna Swain

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Accessible Travel Facilitating Access Capstone, Wynter Hale

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Supporting Uop Trio Success Students From The Occupational Therapy Perspective, Carolyn Ly

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Healthy Living For Older Adult And Aapi Populations With Chronic Conditions, Cierilyn Legaspi

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Epbc 2010/5491: Weaber Plain Development Project Compliance Report - 1st May 2023 To 30th April 2024, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Irrigated Agricultural Development in the North

The Weaber Plain Development Project (Goomig Project) was approved on 13 September 2011. The approval reference is EPBC 2010/5491 (the Approval).

The Goomig Project comprises irrigated farmland, associated infrastructure, and a buffer area on the Weaber Plain located about 30km north-northeast of Kununurra in Western Australia. Figure 1 shows the location and layout of the Goomig Project and interface with other projects including the Knox Creek Plain Irrigation Development (EPBC 2014/7143), Sorby Hills Silver Lead Zinc mining project, and Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) Stage 1 'Cave Springs' farms.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is the Goomig …

Dobbs And Sterilization Decision-Making: Understanding The Coercive Spillover Effects In Reproductive Choice, Thomas Williams

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

The Supreme Court majority in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization argued their decision would have limited impact beyond abortion rights. This Article examines how Dobbs and subsequent state abortion restrictions are likely to increase women’s reliance on permanent sterilization procedures, particularly among already marginalized populations. Drawing on emerging data and historical context, I argue that some post-Dobbs sterilizations should be understood as effectively coerced by state policies, implicating reproductive justice concerns and potentially undermining fundamental rights established in Skinner v. Oklahoma. Then, I demonstrate how interdisciplinary bioethics frameworks and methodologies can help courts better understand the full implications of …

Supporting Resource Equity For Oregon’S Home Visiting Workforce: Exploring Program Model And Regional Differences, Nicole M. Lauzus, Yumi Lee, Beth L. Green, Erin Gaines, Ron Joseph

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Prenatal and early childhood home visiting is an effective strategy for promoting positive birth outcomes, improving family well-being and preventing child abuse and neglect. One key to successful services is having a strong, well-supported home visiting workforce. In Oregon and nationally, this critical workforce is facing a crisis as programs struggle to hire and retain skilled home visitors, and workers face low pay, difficult working conditions and high job stress.

This learning brief is the second in a series to share findings from a 2023 survey of Oregon’s home visiting workforce, which provides a wealth of information about how to …

In This Issuereview Articleoriginal Articlescase Report

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Retrospective Analysis Of The Clinical Utility Of Multi-Cytokine Profiles In Smear-Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Xuemei Li, Weidong Zhao, Hong Han, Zhi Yang, Fengqing Bi, Yingchun He

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate cytokine profiles and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) for their diagnostic capabilities in the differentiation of tuberculosis (TB) from non-TB conditions, as well as smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPT) from smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (SPPT). Methods: A total of 125 participants were included, 77 of whom had TB and 48 who didn’t, and demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, including cytokine levels and IGRA results. The TB patients were further divided into 2 subgroups: SNPT (n=42) and SPPT (n=35). Results: Compared to non-TB, the TB group had lower BMI, higher WBC, neutrophils, monocytes, ESR and CRP ( p <0.05). TB patients showed higher IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8 ( p <0.001) and higher IGRA positivity (88.3% versus [vs.] 29.2%, p <0.001). Between SNPT and SPPT, moderate effect sizes were observed for IFN-α, IL-2, IL-10, IL-8 (Cohen’s d 0.59-0.76), with lower IGRA positivity in SNPT (81.0% vs. 97.1%, p =0.015). ROC analysis indicated IFN-α, IL-2, IL-10, IL-8 had moderate accuracy for SNPT diagnosis (AUCs 0.668-0.734), and combining these improved accuracy (AUC 0.759, 80% sensitivity, 64.2% specificity). Conclusion: A multi-biomarker approach combining these cytokines demonstrates enhanced diagnostic accuracy for tuberculosis.

Incidence And Predictive Factors Of Bleeding Following Tonsillectomy Among Pediatrics: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Shmokh Alsalamah, Sultan Alsumairi, Abdulaziz Alaraifi, Abdulrhman Alfayez, Mohammed Halawani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To estimate the incidence of post tonsillectomy bleeding and to identify its predisposing factors among the pediatric population. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included 1280 pediatric patients (18 years or younger) who underwent tonsillectomy at King Abdullah Specialized Children Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 2019 and 2020. The study sample was divided into 2 groups based on the development of postoperative bleeding and were compared using Chi-square test and independent t-test. Significant variables ( p -value ≤0.05) were included in the logistic regression model to determine the predictors of bleeding following tonsillectomy. Results: The bleeding rate following tonsillectomy was …

Deciphering Water Quality And Algal Dynamics In Clear Lake Through Hyperspectral Analysis Using Emit Data, Wenzhao Li, Shahryar Fazli, Surendra Maharjan, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study evaluates the potential application of hyperspectral Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) remote sensing for monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs) and water quality in Clear Lake, California. The research focuses on correlating the chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations with EMIT spectral signatures, using waterbody-wide statistical analysis of Chl-a and EMIT data sampling at various lake locations. Results demonstrate distinct spectral signatures associated with varying Chl-a levels, highlighting the potential of hyperspectral imaging in differentiating algae levels and assessing water quality variables. It also indicates the EMIT’s utility in filling data gaps and offering high-resolution monitoring. This study underscores the …

Religious And Spiritual Communities Must Adapt Or Die: Surviving And Thriving During Challenging Contemporary Times, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

Current trends within both religious and secular communities suggest that contemporary times mean that people spend more time alone than with others. Community engagement in general has been declining, while religious and spiritual community engagement in particular has dropped off significantly in recent decades, and most especially following the COVID-19 global pandemic. Although humans are social beings and benefit from community engagement, we tend to avoid or minimize our affiliations and associations, including our religious and spiritual ones today. Religious and spiritual communities must adapt to changing times or risk becoming irrelevant, diminishing further, and losing their sustainability to continue …

Barreling Down On Ergonomics To Improve Occupational Functioning: Exploration Of An Ergonomic Program To Decrease Occupational Deficits & Musculoskeletal Disorders For Brewers, Clara Jayne Davenport

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Ergonomics is an important consideration for all workspaces due to its impact on the productivity and health of employees. Poor ergonomics can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders which have detrimental effects on long-term physical and mental health. These factors influence the workplace but also impact the daily occupations of employees outside of work and may affect their quality of life. Based on the literature, ergonomic programs have been found to be an effective form of improving body mechanics and environmental factors to improve productivity and health in the workplace. An online ergonomic program was developed for brewers employed …

Exploring Burnout Program Effectiveness With Adult Day Health Providers, Katy R. Maguire

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Stress and burnout are frequently experienced by those in healthcare professions. While extensive research has been done on the impact of stress and burnout on nurses and physicians, other healthcare fields are less researched. One of these populations of health providers excluded from current studies is adult day health providers. Health providers at adult day health centers provide specialized services to persons with acquired, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. They orient these individuals to the community, administer their medications, provide opportunities for socialization and learning, accommodate leisure activities, and many other services that promote community and personal independence for their clients. …

Implementing A Sensory-Friendly Adaptive Aquatics Program At The Springfield Jewish Community Center For Children With Intellectual And/Or Developmental Disabilities, Michelle Kennedy

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) can present with impairments in the areas of physical development, learning, language, sensory processing, and behavior. These impairments can lead to difficulties with daily life activities and participating in other meaningful occupations such as play, education, and social participation. Occupational therapy can aid in decreasing the impact of these challenges using several different approaches. Aquatic therapy is one approach that benefits children with I/DD. This is due to the physical properties of the water that create a supportive physical and sensory environment for an individual and their needs (Brokaw, 2022). The aquatic environment’s …

Preventing Wounded Warriors: Addressing Gaps In Education Of Joint Protection Strategies For The Rotc, Joseph Rodriguez

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"In the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), injury during the first 9-weeks of training has the highest risk for injury (Sefton et al, 2016; Radzak et al, 2020; Wooldridge et al, 2022). Most injuries are musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) and occur most of the time within the joint or supporting structures (Chiaramonte, 2019; Radzak et al, 2020). The cadets often do not fully understand the consequences to occupational domains from injuries, and fewer than half are confident to prevent injury (Wooldridge et al, 2022). Education of ergonomics in cadet-specific domains and non-specific domains is a barrier to cadets being independent of …

Addressing Employment Barriers Of Young Adults With Disabilities Transitioning Into Employment Post-Education, Mary M. Hall

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"This project focused on addressing barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities by considering the stakeholders in the employment cycle and expanding the involvement of Occupational Therapy Practitioners (OTPs) in transition services. The initial research identified a need for more OTP involvement in transition (Mankey, 2011). Over fourteen weeks, this student undertook the development, implementation, analysis, and modification of a program named World Seekers. The initial World Seekers program partnered with Western New England University’s BEARPAW Center (BPC) and Hampden- Wilbraham Regional Schools (HWRS). The participants were students in the transition school at HWRS. This program, which consisted of six …

The Inspired Minds Expansion: The Effectiveness Of A Functional Support Group On The Mood Of Clients With Neurological Impairments, Molly Elaine Manning

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"The purpose of this mixed methods research was to assess the effectiveness of a functional support group on the mood of clients with neurological impairments. An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an insult to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, or degenerative. An acquired brain injury encompasses all types of brain injuries (Biausa, 2022). The population included 16 clients with acquired brain injuries at The Resource Center through the Mental Health Association, recruited by use of convenience sampling. Data was collected through a researcher- developed 5-question survey utilizing face scales and open-ended questions. This survey, delivered once at the …

Accessibility And Inclusion On The Western New England University Campus, Brian Buttrick

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"This report aims to act as a culminating product that demonstrates the key works completed during the doctoral experiential capstone, as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the entry-level doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Western New England University. The project accomplished by this student involved the completion of a thorough needs assessment of the Western New England University campus, regarding accessibility and inclusion. This report includes the condensed versions of a preliminary needs assessment and population profile, a literature review, the results of an IRB-approved survey and campus-wide accessibility assessment, a discussion of the results, and the resources created to …

Assessing Attitudes, Knowledge, And Practices Of The Community Regarding Pelvic Floor Health, Ivy Rivers

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the community toward pelvic floor health. Flyers were distributed throughout Western MA that included a quick response (QR) code. Participants scanned the QR code and were directed to an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was a mix of open response and Likert style questions that assessed the knowledge, practices, awareness, and attitudes surrounding pelvic floor health. A total of 110 women completed the online questionnaire. The findings of the questionnaire underscore a concerning trend: a significant portion of Springfield and the surrounding communities lack basic knowledge about pelvic floor health. Many participants admitted …

Occupational Therapy And Artificial Intelligence: A Collaborative Approach To Improve Quality Of Life While Recovering From Concussion, Lindsey Kiltonic

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Literature surrounding occupational therapy’s role with concussion management is sparse. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of occupational therapy (OT) in combination with Brainbot, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) phone application for tracking and managing post-concussive symptoms. This study is composed of qualitative and quantitative data on five individuals ages 18+ who have sustained one or multiple concussions within the past five years. The researcher administered the following through pre and post assessments: The Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), the Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool (SCOAT-6), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). In addition, the researcher conducted the …

Understanding Differential Reductions In Undernutrition Among Districts In Rwanda Through The Perspectives Of Mid-Level And Community Actors On Policy Commitment And Policy Coherence, Elyse Iruhiriye, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Deanna K. Olney, Emmanuel Niyongira, Simeon Nanama, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, Eugene Rwibasira, Paul Mbonyi

Faculty Publications

Understanding the drivers of improvements in child undernutrition at only the national level can mask subnational differences. This paper aimed to understand the contributions of factors in the enabling environment to observed differences in stunting reduction between districts in Rwanda. In 2017, we conducted 58 semi-structured interviews with mid-level actors (n = 38) and frontline workers (n = 20) implementing Rwanda's multi-sectoral nutrition policy in five districts in which stunting decreased (reduced districts) and five where it increased or stagnated (non-reduced districts) based on Rwanda's 2010 and 2014/15 Demographic and Health Surveys. Mid-level actors are government officials and service providers …

Cultivating Leaders In Care: Establishing An Intercollegiate Occupational Therapy Student Leadership Society, Rianna Lafleche

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Occupational therapy (OT) students currently do not have access to an inclusive student leadership society. There are student organizations that exist, however they do not provide the opportunity to solely develop leadership skills. These organizations also do not offer the opportunity for intercollegiate collaboration. The purpose of this research project was to develop an inclusive, intercollegiate student leadership society for OT students. Through the distribution of a survey, recruitment of student volunteers, board member meetings to develop the society and a focus group to understand the effectiveness of this organization, an inclusive OT student leadership society has been developed. This …