Digital Commons Network^™

Geography Of Covid-19 Waves In Georgia, Walker Tompkins

Symposium of Student Scholars

Geography of COVID-19 Waves in Georgia

Over the past 2 years everyone on the globe’s lives have been changed drastically after the COVID-19 virus spread across the world. This united and divided us more than any other event in most of our lifetimes. The pandemic everyone and now that there are two years of data, it is important to examine impacts at various geographic scales. As such, focusing on the state of Georgia, this project explores how the different variants, public policy, and vaccination of our population has changed the trajectory of the virus and how many deaths it has …

The Development Of Purpose Among Marginalized Older Adults: A Resource For Resilient Aging, Ameesha Narine, Semper Habib, Shubam Sharma

Symposium of Student Scholars

Contrary to societal presumptions, older adults can show positive adaptation despite facing declines associated with late life (i.e., resilient aging; Wiles et al.,2019). One understudied resource that older adults may use to support their resilience is having a sense of purpose. Drawing on purpose has been shown to positively relate to mental and physical health (Musich et al., 2018). However, there is limited research that has examined how older adults develop purpose, particularly those who experience challenges due to aspects of their identity (i.e., due to marginalization). The current study explores older adults’ life stories to understand how a sense …

Rethinking Malignant Hyperthermia Protocols, Kelsey Currie

Symposium of Student Scholars

Rethinking Malignant Hyperthermia Protocols

In person poster

Undergraduate Student: Currie, Kelsey

Research Mentor: Kristi Brannen

Background: Although malignant hyperthermia (MH) is rare, it is a life-threatening event that can have many nurses unprepared to manage due to its irregularity, lack of training, and supplies. MH is considered a severe medical crisis that can happen within 30 minutes of anesthetic induction. To give the patient the best outcome, hospitals have protocols in place so the team can respond quickly and efficiently. Purpose: This study aims to investigate how creating central locations for MH carts, ice, and supplies compares to yearly training …

Heat Strokes In Military Service Members, Adria Cosby, Brian A. Moore, Michael Schlenk

Symposium of Student Scholars

Heat strokes are caused when the body is overworked by extended periods of heat and dehydration that can result in convulsions, brain damage, and death (Shimazaki et al., 2022). Heat strokes are a serious health concern for active-duty military service members (SMs) due to extended exertional training (i.e., long-distance running and weight-bearing exercises) which may increase their risk of developing heat strokes (Donham et al., 2020). However, there is a dearth of literature examining heat strokes among SMs. The present study sought to address this by examining diagnostic trends of heatstroke incidence among various military SM demographic classifications between 2016 …

Effects Of Healthcare Providers Personal Life On Low-Income African American Men, Allison Oglesby

Symposium of Student Scholars

Previous research has outlined evident disparities in the development of chronic health conditions among African Americans compared to other groups, with African American men disproportionately affected by almost every disorder investigated. Examinations into health conditions such as Chronic Heart Disease (CHD) revealed that social determinants of health stemming from structural racism combined with cultural elements such as diet and risk-taking behaviors were highly related to the health burdens of African American men. Compounded by the fact that African American men are less likely to have access to adequate health insurance, a disturbing picture of healthcare emerges for many African American …

Trajectory Of Substance Use Disorders And Collegiate Recovery In Emerging Adults, Jordyn Hebert, Victoria Chaney, Rebecca Smith Msw, Thomas Bannard, Leah Weingast Ma, Danielle Dick Phd, Erica Holliday Phd

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) provide services to support emerging adults achieve academic success, while maintaining substance use disorder recovery. College and university campuses can often be considered abstinence-hostile environments, giving rise to the need of support services for students in recovery. A nationwide survey to understand the efficacy of services provided by CRPs was conducted to assess the demographics and academic profiles of students involved with CRPs. Co-occurring disorders including mental health issues, criminal histories, utilizations of recovery services and 12-step groups, and work histories of students were also assessed. CRPs can provide services and an environment to students …

Investigating The Discrimination That Members Of The Lgbtq+ Community Face When Attempting To Receive Health Care, Sumerlin Olinger, Taylor English, Kelly Spera, Alex Kalman

Symposium of Student Scholars

Key Words: LGBTQ+, Discrimination, Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceived Access to Care

Background

The LGBTQ+ community has historically faced marginalization and discrimination when attempting to receive medical care. Delayed medical care can lead to poor health outcomes and can increase prevalence of risk factors of behaviors such as drug use, higher STI and obesity rates, and other mental health issues such as depression (Quinn et al., 2015). The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts that discrimination, attitudes, and beliefs have on members of the LGBTQ+ community when seeking medical care.

Methodology

The study uses primary data obtained through descriptive …

Health Equity For All, Kirsten Davis

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Past research has found clear evidence for racial disparities of chronic disease among African Americans when considered alongside other racial groups. African American men are particularly impacted by these disparities. Social determinants of health such as structural racism combined with cultural elements such as diet and risk-taking behaviors are incredibly predictive of the health burdens of African American men. Furthermore, low-income African American men struggle with food insecurity, lack of housing, and often rely on government health programs due to a lack of health insurance. However, most research on chronic health conditions fails to focus on low-income African American …

The Periodic Table Of Women Of Color In Stem, Ella Wasson

2022 Claremont Colleges Library Undergraduate Research Award

This research project analyzes the resistance and resilience of women of color in fields of STEM by exploring three themes. The first theme investigates the historic and ongoing systemic barriers women of color face. The second theme reveals the erasure and exploitation of women of color, highlighting the testimonies and experiences of real women of color in STEM. The third theme explores possible solutions to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of STEM. This project was exhibited on an interactive physical poster, the images of which are embedded throughout.

Addressing Mental Health Concerns Among International Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Daniel Kimonyi

Liberty University Research Week

Doctoral

Theoretical Proposal

Registered Nurse Hesitancy To Providing Narcotics To Post-Surgical Neonates: A Narrative Literature Review, Jordan Slowik

Liberty University Research Week

Doctoral

Theoretical Proposal

Modeling Covid-19 Spread Through The Seird Epidemic Model And Optimal Control, Luz Melo

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Mathematical models serve as a powerful tool for visualizing and describing the dynamics of infectious diseases. In this article, the SEIRD (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered-Deceased) epidemic model consisting of a system of five non-linear differential equations is considered. By using COVID-19 data pertinent to the United States and the world situation, the use of existence and uniqueness of the disease-free equilibrium is established, the value of the basic reproductive number is determined, a stability analysis is carried out, and the parameters that fit the model to the data are estimated. An optimal control approach is performed to study the effect of quarantine and …

Environmental Education: An Active Pedagogy To Integrate Environmentalism, Engagement, And Equity, Olivia Whitmarsh

Proceedings of GREAT Day

The environmental and climate changes occurring on our planet are largely the result of human actions. In concert, rampant bias and inequity exist in many human spheres, including—but not limited to—social, academic, and civic. Environmental education (EE) is a methodology and mindset that integrates systems thinking, hands-on learning, and social justice work across a cohesive curriculum. EE empowers educators, learners, and community members in many ways. Whether it is taking an active role in learning, protecting and restoring the environment, or dismantling biases, EE provides tools for success. I provide five lesson plans that serve as a basis for the …

Black Geographic Possibilities In Higher Education, Kazon Robinson

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Past geographical research and Whiteness impact the current course content and demographics of the discipline in the United States. In fact, there is still a disconnect between how “black matters are spatial matters” (McKittrick, 2006). In this paper, I will analyze the current state of geography programs in the United States. I begin with a literature review on the intersection and removal of Blackness in geography. I use the AAG’s Guide to Geography Programs to examine geography programs in New York that have course content on Blackness. I also analyze the 107 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) using the …

The Relationship Between Social Inequality And Covid-19 Morbidity And Mortality, Allison Panaro

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has greatly impacted the world as we know it. Each country has suffered in their own ways and faced many hardships regarding the pandemic. There have been 134,957,021 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally and 2,918,752 recorded COVID-19 deaths (World Health Organization, n.d.-b). This study will analyze World Bank and World Health Organization data to examine the relationship between inequality and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality globally. The analyzed data includes, the total number of COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 deaths, percentage of total cases per population size, and the Gini coefficient (the measure of income inequality) for each …

Lgbtq+ Experiences With The Covid-19 Pandemic, Isabelle Stitt-Fredericks

Proceedings of GREAT Day

The LGBTQ+ community regularly faces discrimination at both the interpersonal and structural level, causing stress that manifests itself in adverse physical and mental health outcomes. LGBTQ+ youth and young adults are in a precarious position where they are still dependent on others and have less freedom to limit their interactions with unaccepting individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown forced most college students and young adults’ home to family, facing financial insecurity and the loss of services. The lockdown further limited the mobility of LGBTQ+ and constrained their ability to access protective factors against discrimination, such as social support and …

Mask Culture, Emily Vesperman

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This paper defines care in a college context as well as discusses the topic of mask usage in the same setting. It addresses how people have adapted to the implementation of masks and how society has changed their daily routines in order to guarantee that their masks were now a part of it. It consists of various feedback from college students surrounding the topic of masks, as well as how they, as individuals, deal with the guidelines executed across the SUNY Geneseo campus. An ethnographic research process was used to understand the usage of masks in today’s society and if/how …

Care In A College Pandemic: Masks As An Extension Of The Self, Elizabeth Mac Kay

Proceedings of GREAT Day

This visual ethnography project presents a collection of photographs depicting care and daily life in Geneseo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Student researchers discuss images they have captured in six collections: meaning and change in mask culture, creativity in celebrations and holidays, labor and precautions in essential work settings, and care for our physical, mental, and emotional health.

The Mental And Emotional Impact Of Being A College-Aged Black Woman Amid The Current Sociopolitical Climate, Drew Brody O'Neil

Proceedings of GREAT Day

Although many Americans assume that systemic racism has been washed away through history, research shows that this is far from reality. Across a range of interdisciplinary scholarly research exists a consensus that systemic racism induces Black women’s suffering. The main question guiding my research asks how systemic racism facilitates college-aged Black women’s mental and emotional health outcomes. The goals of this study included documenting where systemic racism is prevalent, analyzing the mental and emotional impact of systemic racism on college-aged Black women, examining the coping mechanisms that college-aged Black women employ to minimize race-based distress, understanding how media attention to …

Challenges Nonprofits Face With Communication Between Volunteers And The Organization And The Damaging Effect It Causes, James Cooke

Symposium of Student Scholars

Discrepancies in information, lack of communication, and losing track of data due to poor communication practices are only some reasons nonprofit organizations are less effective when dealing with emergency events. This issue does not only begin at the volunteer and organization level of communication but even at the interagency level. This article will explore organizations' shortcomings in how communication occurs between the organization's leadership, personnel, and volunteers and will peer into interagency communication issues. Many issues plague the area of communication within nonprofits that operate within disaster areas, like collecting, aggregating, analyzing, and then disseminating it to everyone who would …

Breastfeeding Education: A Training Program For Mother-Baby Nurses, Bianca Gumus

Symposium of Student Scholars

In the postpartum period, a nurse’s most vital role is educating the patient and preparing her for discharge. Breastfeeding in the postpartum period can be challenging to new mothers, and proper guidance from the nurse is essential in boosting the patient’s confidence and satisfaction. Successful breastfeeding in the postpartum period is linked to decreased bleeding, decreased risk of postpartum depression, and improved health outcomes for mother and baby (ACOG, n.d.). When postpartum mothers feel they did not receive enough education or guidance from the healthcare team, they are more likely to be dissatisfied with their overall care (Wagner & Washington, …

Characterization Of Erinacine-A, Justice Brakache

Symposium of Student Scholars

The wood-rot fungus known as the lion’s mane mushroom (H. erinaceus) has a long history of usage in ancient eastern medicine, noted for its health-boosting properties, particularly to neurological health. Claims include this mushroom’s ability to stimulate nerve growth as well as prevent the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. Recent studies on the subject have shown promising data supporting these anecdotal claims, proving the ability of extracts from this mushroom to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) in human cells, among other beneficial findings. This study seeks to assess the effectiveness of the diterpenoid erinacine-A, present in H. …

Acute Stress Disorder: Incidence Findings And Diagnostic Implications For U.S. Active Duty Service Members, Michael A. Schlenk

Symposium of Student Scholars

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a psychiatric diagnosis that can occur between three days and one month following traumatic events such as injuries, violence, and/or experienced or threatened harm (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). ASD has long been utilized as a predictor of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, literature examining ASD elucidates that predication of subsequent PTSD is not as reliable as once thought (Bonnano et al., 2012; Bryant, 2018). Further, there is a dearth of empirical literature examining ASD among active duty service members (SMs). As such, the present study sought to provide epidemiological data by …

Effects Of Nursing Overtime In Medical Errors, Camilla Byrd, Halle Borgel, Mya Kinney, Jena Killian, Mykayla Stephens

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: The recent global pandemic has uncovered health care inequities among nursing professionals. The nursing shortage has placed pressure on overworked nurses to perform higher level critical care under dire and unsafe conditions. The stress of overworked nurses is a culprit for medical errors that affect the quality and effectiveness of patient care. Methods: Kennesaw State Library, PubMed, 35 articles screened. After thorough screening of various articles addressing this topic, we examined the quantitative and qualitativestudies performed in all areas of nursing. Results: Research suggests that nurses working overtime versus full-time hours experience physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion may …

Nurturing Personal Capacities Through Engagement In Art, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Andy Wunderlin, an artist based in Vicksburg, MI, provided the cover art for the Spring 2022 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Tree with Birds” is a 10” x 13” drawing made from colored pencil (see Figure 1). Andy’s style is uniquely photorealistic. His work involves meticulous attention to detail. Each piece takes between 6 months and 2 years to complete. For Andy, drawing provides a powerful source of motivation and purpose. Art has played an important role in the development of Andy’s personal capacities and potential.

Functional Cognition: An Opportunity To Highlight The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Post-Concussion Care, Rachel Taylor Postma, John V. Rider, Robyn Otty

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

As concern surrounding concussion and the associated long-term effects grow, a continued need for comprehensive, holistic concussion care emerges. Occupational therapists are well-equipped to address the wide variety of symptoms and deficits that clients may experience post-concussion. Functional cognition is one area in which occupational therapists can demonstrate their unique value on the interdisciplinary treatment team. In this Opinions in the Profession paper, we describe how occupational therapists are poised to further establish their role in post-concussion care by becoming the primary discipline for assessing and treating functional cognition. The aim of this paper is to outline the role of …

Women’S Self-Concept, Sexual Activity, And Intimacy After Sustaining A Traumatic Brain Injury, Erin Skotzke

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have a profound impact on how people think and feel about themselves and their abilities, values, goals, personalities, physical characteristics, and roles. Preliminary research findings suggest that barriers to developing a positive self-concept after injury in women include the desire to be perceived as “normal” after the injury or the feeling that society dismisses their injuries. In the field of occupational therapy, it is critical that therapists and researchers understand that self-concept can be altered after sustaining a TBI. This outcome can have a significant impact on participation in valued occupations, including participation in …

Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Are A Moral Imperative For Occupational Therapy, Aaron R. Dallman, Kathryn L. Williams, Lauren Villa

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The term neurodiversity encompasses neurological differences such as clinical labels of autism, learning disabilities, synesthesia, hyperactivity disorders, and more. Proponents of the neurodiversity movement argue that current therapeutic and medical practices often attempt to “normalize” behaviors and ways of participation that originate from these differences in neurology and contribute to an individual’s sense of identity. This paper argues that an ethical and morally just occupational therapy practice should affirm neurodivergent ways of being, and that occupational therapists must be active agents of change by listening to and collaborating with their neurodiverse clientele. We focus the discussion on our work with …

Is It Reasonable? Reasonable And Unreasonable Accommodations For Occupational Therapy Students In Clinical Settings, Rebecca Ozelie, Jennifer Bock, Sarah Gervais, Leah Schneider, Caitlyn Silhavy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Despite the growing number of graduate students with disabilities, little is known about what accommodations are considered reasonable in various occupational therapy fieldwork settings. This study explores which accommodations fieldwork educators perceive as reasonable or unreasonable for occupational therapy students with disabilities. Snowball sampling methodology was used to distribute a virtual survey, using a descriptive design. One hundred and sixty-two occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants answered questions relating to demographic information, clinical experience supervising fieldwork students, and their clinical judgement regarding commonly requested accommodations. Using a quantitative approach, the accommodations deemed most reasonable were allowing the use of adaptive …

Use Of Standardized Patient Encounters As Predictors Of Fieldwork Performance: A Pilot Study, Linda Frasier, John V. Rider, Ashley Fecht

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Although standardized patient encounters (SPEs) are being used in occupational therapy (OT) education, limited literature exists on the value these experiences have on OT student learning outcomes and preparation for fieldwork. This study sought to examine if SPEs had the potential to predict Level II A fieldwork performance.

Method: This study used a retrospective analysis of 35 entry-level OT students. Independent variables included demographics (enrollment in an entry-level OT master's or doctoral degree, age, and overall grade point average) and SPE performance. The fieldwork Level II A final performance evaluation score was used as the dependent variable. Hierarchical regression …