Digital Commons Network^™

The Association Between Pain Catastrophizing, Somatization, Psychological Distress And Low Back Pain Severity Among Academics In Malaysia, Noordiyana Izyanti Mohamad Saufi, Eva Nabiha Zamri

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Psychological factors may influence the severity of low back pain (LBP), especially in high-stress professions such as academia. This study aimed to identify the relationship between psychological factors and LBP severity among Malaysian public university academics.

Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between psychological factors and LBP among academics at four public universities located in the northern region of West Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, work information, lifestyle factors, LBP presence and intensity, and psychological factors. Data were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression and reported in terms …

Risk Factors Of Acute Gastroenteritis And The Implementation Of Community-Based Total Sanitation In Banyuwangi, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Citra Al Karina, Juniastuti Juniastuti, Budi Utomo, I Made Dwi Mertha Adnyana

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: In Banyuwangi Regency, Indonesia, diarrhea remains a major health problem, even though the community-based total sanitation (CBTS) program has been implemented for ten years. This household survey study aimed to identify the risk factors of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and to evaluate the implementation of CBTS in Banyuwangi Regency.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Banyuwangi Regency. Characteristic data from patients with AGE were collected from the two primary healthcare working areas, followed by collecting data of their family members and CBTS in their houses. Data were obtained through interviews and direct observation. The CBTS evaluation results …

Academic Burnout And Its Association With Sleep Quality, Physical Activity, And Social Media Addiction Among University Students In Perak, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kai Eng Joanne Lim, Khang Jin Cheah, Farzana Athirah Abdul Latif, Fatin Izzaty Mohd Shahrin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Academic burnout among Malaysian undergraduates is a rising concern, driven by academic pressure and compounded by lifestyle and behavioural factors. This study aimed to examine the associations between academic burnout, sleep quality, physical activity, and social media addiction.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 382 undergraduate students was conducted using an online survey to collect the data. The chi-square test was used to assess bivariate associations, and multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify independent predictors of academic burnout.

Results: The majority of respondents were aged 21 to 23 years (59.7%) and female (60.7%). Overall, 56.0% of …

Psychometric Properties Of The Turkish Version Of The Palliative Care Attitude Scale (T-Pcas-9) In Cancer Patients, Sevgi Demir Çam, Neşe İşcan Ayyildiz, Hasan Evcimen, Timüçin Çil, Berna Bozkurt Duman

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: A reliable, validated Turkish measurement tool will allow researchers to measure the impact of attitudes towards palliative care on other health outcomes in individuals with chronic and critical illness. This study aimed to examine the Turkish psychometric properties of the Palliative Care Attitude Scale (PCAS-9) for individuals with cancer.

Methods: The Turkish adaptation of the PCAS-9 (T-PCAS-9) included 505 cancer patients, who were aged >18 years, had a diagnosis of cancer, and no mental problems. The factor structure of the T-PCAS-9 was examined using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent-divergent validity, and measurement invariance analysis.

Results: The three-factor …

A Study On Nutritional Status Among Regular Gym Goers In And Around Chennai, India, Ettiyappan Thirumurugan, Kalpana Devi Venkatesan, Pavithra Tamilmani, Devika Preetha, Joyce Albert Princy Mariya Selvanathan, Dhanyasree Mohandas, Ameer Basha Sathik, Santhosh Kumar Manjunathan, Ashika Kannadhas Sheeba

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The increasing sales of sports supplements indicate a concerning trend, as many gym-goers may misuse these products owing to misinformation and insufficient knowledge, potentially impacting their performance. This issue is further compounded by specific gym trainers who may lack comprehensive information and inadvertently influence their clients' choices. To address this concern, the present study evaluated dietary supplement practices and sports nutrition knowledge among regular gym-goers at fitness centers in Chennai, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2023 to May 2024 using a validated questionnaire distributed across Chennai, India. A total of 450 participants were …

Evaluation Of Palliative Care Awareness Among Hospitalized Patients And Their Relatives In Türkiye, Füsun Uzgör, Ayşe Özkaraman, Hülya Özen

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Today, with the advances in medical knowledge and technology, chronic diseases have increased worldwide in parallel with the prolonging life expectancy and the aging of the population. This has increased the need for palliative care in the delivery of medical services. This study aimed to evaluate the palliative care awareness and level of knowledge of inpatients receiving health services in a university hospital and their relatives in Türkiye.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 360 patients and their relatives who volunteered to participate in the research. The study data were collected in face-to-face interviews using …

Oral Hygiene Practices, Treatment Needs And Barriers To Dental Care Among Adolescents Attending Special Education Schools In Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Nur Hafizah Nor Wira, Noraida Mamat, Maryani Mohamed Rohani, Aimi Kamarudin, Sofia Anis

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the oral health practices, status, and treatment requirements of adolescents with special healthcare needs attending special education schools in Selangor, Malaysia. The adolescents’ parents perceived challenges to oral healthcare were also established. Methods: The current study employed a cross-sectional approach involving 131 adolescents with varying special needs. The participants were between 13 and 18 years old and fulfilled the pre-determined inclusion criteria. The participants’ parents supplied information on sociodemographic, oral health practices, and possible obstacles to dental care through an online survey form. The oral examination on decay, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), simplified …

Cooling Protocols Impact On Nickel-Titanium Rotary Instruments Cyclic Fatigue Resistance Under Extreme Curvatures And Sodium Hypochlorite, Palak Ravjibhai Ranparia, Chintan Joshi, Mona Somani, Aashray Patel, Urooj Desai, Janki Prajapati

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: In this work, Hyflex CM, TruNatomy, and Plex V heat-treated nickel titanium rotary instruments were evaluated at body temperature (36 °C ± 1 °C) with and without a cooling protocol to assess the cyclic fatigue resistance. Methods: A 90° curved stainless-steel block was used for cyclic fatigue tests on 60 randomly selected rotary instruments, divided into two groups of 30: body temperature (n = 10) and body temperature with cooling (n = 10). Instruments were further subdivided into 6 groups of 3 different instruments. Cooling protocol group instruments received 5-second spray cooling every 30 seconds, along with continuous 5% …

Development And Comparative Evaluation Of A Novel Aloe Vera–Vinegar Gel As A Sustainable Histological Slide Coating Agent, Jayagopi Deepasakthi, Palati Sinduja

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: Reliable tissue adhesion to glass slides is critical for accurate histological evaluation. Egg albumen, a commonly used coating agent, often results in background staining and inconsistent performance. Aloe vera, known for its biocompatibility and adhesive properties, presents a sustainable alternative. This study aimed to develop a novel aloe vera–vinegar gel formulation and compare its slide-coating performance with that of traditional egg albumen. Methods: Fresh Aloe vera gel was extracted and combined with nonfruit vinegar, filtered, and refrigerated. Thirty paraffin-embedded tissue sections were divided into two groups: one coated with aloe vera–vinegar gel and the other coated …

Positive And Negative Personality Traits In Relation To Oral Health-Related Quality Of Life And Satisfaction After Implant-Supported Prosthetic Treatment, Naimeh Hasheminejad, Maryam Farzadmoghadam, Mohammad Mohammadi, Amir Nekouei, Mohammadreza Rostamizadeh

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: This study aimed to determine patients’ positive and negative personality traits in relation to treatment satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in patients who have received dental implant-supported prosthesis. Methods: This study was carried out on 135 adults above the age of 30 who had received reasonable implant treatment and prosthesis in the last 1–24 months in a private and a public dental office. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire, which was sent to patients via WhatsApp and email. Also, the Persian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 and the Positive Affect Negative …

Self-Medication Behavior Of Dental Students With Oral Ulceration Lesions: A Cross-Sectional Study In Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Fita Fathaya Iriana, Hendri Susanto, Rosa Amalia

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: Self-medication refers to medication behavior for self-diagnosed symptoms. Oral ulcers are self-medicated lesions in the oral cavity. Dental students have different knowledge about oral cavity lesions and may self-medicate using drugs. This study aimed to determine the self-medication behavior of dental students for oral ulcers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on dental students in the Faculty of Dentistry from different batch years. Purposive sampling was used to select students with oral ulcer lesions in the last six months. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used to assess self-medication behavior. Data collection using the online form. Student behavior …

Perception Of Conventional Cigarettes And Vaping Among Smokers And Nonsmokers: A Cross-Sectional Study, Indrayadi Gunardi, Rahmi Amtha, Firstine Kelsi Hartanto, Niko Falatehan, Alyah Heriandi, Angelita Victoria Kurniawan, Najla Nadiah, Wiwiek Poedjiastoeti, Andrijanto Andrijanto, Elizabeth Fitriana Sari

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objectives: The growing popularity of vaping has introduced additional challenges, as potential health risks are still under investigation. Exploring differences in smoking perceptions between smokers and non-smokers could provide valuable insights into smoking behavior and inform effective intervention strategies. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the perceptions of smoking, specifically vaping and conventional cigarette use, among young adult smokers and non-smokers. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional design was employed, with 542 university students included through random sampling, using a questionnaire consisting of 8 items. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Rasch model analysis. Results: Of the subjects, 259 …

Neutral Zone Vs. Conventional Denture Fabrication: A Randomized Crossover Study On Denture Performance, Karthik Kannaiyan, Arunima Chauhan, Vijayendranath Nayak, Riyshmaa Devendaran, Dashmita Peterson, Pavittra Kanesan, Vityaa Lakshmi

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objectives: It is challenging to achieve satisfactory outcomes in a complete denture for patients with resorbed residual ridges. Utilization of neutral zone techniques to guide posterior denture tooth arrangement and denture base contouring has been considered for many decades. However, the evidence is still not enough to revise protocols. This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction and stability of neutral zone denture with conventional denture. Methods: A crossover clinical trial was conducted among patients with resorbed mandibular ridges. Each participant received two sets of dentures: one fabricated using the neutral zone technique and one using the conventional method, in a …

Papillon–Lefèvre Syndrome: A Report Of Four Cases In One Family, Muhammed Abdullah Çege, Dilek Aynur Çankal, Ebru Binici, Bilge Turhan Bal

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the cathepsin C gene and inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. The risk of its occurrence is heightened by consanguineous marriages. PLS affects both genders and presents with hyperkeratotic patches on the hands and feet and precocious aggressive periodontitis. Although teeth initially erupt normally, rapid resorption in periodontal tissues leads to swift tooth loss, and prosthetic rehabilitation is complicated due to aggressive alveolar bone resorption. Case report: In 2021, a brother and sister sought dental treatment at Gazi University’s Faculty of Dentistry. After thorough examinations, the brother underwent …

Comparison Of Pharyngeal Airway And Dentoskeletal Effects Of 2 And 4 Premolar Extraction Treatment In Adult Orthodontic Patients, Esra Genc, Ahmet Karaman

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: This study aimed to compare pharyngeal airway and dentoskeletal effects of 2 and 4 premolar extraction treatments in adult patients separately for each gender. Methods: The study was conducted with 60 adults (26 males; 34 females) aged 18-35 years. Individuals were divided into 3 groups as non-extraction, 2-premolar extraction, and 4-premolar extraction. Pre-treatment (T0) and post-treatment (T1) dentoskeletal and pharyngeal airway measurements were performed on cephalometric radiographs. Results: A significant increase in nasopharyngeal airway (PNS-ad2) and anterior hyoid bone movement (CV3ai-H) was observed in the 4-extraction group; whereas in the 2-extraction group, inferior oropharyngeal airway (IAS) narrowing and hyoid …

Effectiveness Of Resin-Infiltration In Masking White Spot Lesions And Enamel Defects, Color Stability And Inhibition Of Caries Progression: A Systematic Review, Amaradri Sravya, Chandrappa Vinay, Kadidal Uloopi, Peddi Ravigna, Penmatsa Chaitanya, Spandana Cheeli

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: The study aims to demonstrate the efficacy of resin-infiltration in masking white spot lesions and enamel defects, color stability, and caries progression inhibition in primary and permanent teeth. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane library, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched from 2018 to 2022 and only randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT’s) were included. The studies were analyzed regarding the clinical efficacy of resin-infiltration in masking white spot lesions and enamel defects, color stability, and inhibition of caries progression. Results: Of the 14 articles identified, 5 RCTs were included. The quality of the studies was assessed …

Open Science Is Coming To Theory Construction: The Case Of Document Analysis, Sarah R. Bostrom, Gina L. Levalley, Katrina Cooley, Richard E. Niemeyer

The Qualitative Report

Growing concerns about the reproducibility of scientific findings have led to efforts to enhance the transparency and rigor of social science research. Improving the accuracy and precision of theory development and adopting Open Science practices, such as open data, are widely considered effective means to achieve these ends. However, current Open Science practices primarily target quantitative methodologies and tend to ignore qualitative methods, like document analysis, due to perceived insurmountable obstacles. Since document analysis is often crucial for constructing accurate and precise theories, the inability to integrate Open Science practices with qualitative research methods undermines the effectiveness of these solutions …

Institutionalized Bullying In Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria And Perceived Mental Health Impacts: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Chika Bosah, Casey Mace Firebaugh, Tara R. Zolnikov

The Qualitative Report

Institutionalized bullying is when bullying moves beyond individual instances of bullying and is culturally embedded in an institution, such as a school or workplace. This type of bullying has not been thoroughly examined in tertiary school settings in Nigeria. This phenomenological qualitative study examined the experiences of tertiary students (from four different institutions in Nigeria) and their experiences of institutionalized bullying to determine if and to what extent this practice is occurring. There were (n=48) tertiary students engaged in open-ended, semi-structured interviews in Nigeria in 2022. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Overall, this study found that institutionalized bullying …

Learning How To Interview For Qualitative Research, Kathryn Roulston, Brigette A. Herron, Caprial Farrington

The Qualitative Report

A key component of qualitative methods coursework has been the interview assignment, which typically prepares scholars to conduct in-person, individual, and open-ended interviews. This study examined what novice researchers did and learned during an interview assignment in an introductory qualitative methods course. Interview transcripts and reflections from 12 graduate students who enrolled in an online or face-to-face section of the course were analyzed. Findings review students’ reflections on the process of conducting the interview project, beginning with the preparation phase, what they discussed concerning how the interviews transpired and their experiences of the transcription process. The article reports on how …

Exploring Technology-Enhanced Learning: A Comparative Study Of Online And Offline Interactive Practices In The Iranian Higher Education System, Naser Rashidi, Mohamad Reza Farangi, Ali Hosseini

The Qualitative Report

This study explored how interactive teaching and learning are enacted through technology-enhanced methods in Iran’s higher education system. Using an exploratory qualitative design, it investigated the pedagogical strategies employed by instructors and examined whether these practices align with the principles of Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) across online and in-person contexts. Data were collected through the analysis of 263 class reports and 37 semi-structured interviews with university instructors. Thematic analysis using MAXQDA revealed six cohesive and interpretive themes: fostering human connection, empowering student voices, learning as dialogue, adaptive teaching, multimodal engagement, and feedback as dialogue. These themes reflect a holistic view of …

Biomarkers For The Diagnosis Of Indeterminate Pulmonary Nodules: Are We There Yet?, Kevin C Mcgann, Timothy A Khalil, Michael N Kammer, Edwin J Ostrin, Harvey I Pass, Jun-Chieh James Tsay, Leopoldo N Segal, Melissa Potter, Stephen A Deppen, Fabien Maldonado, Eric L Grogan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs), which are nodules that cannot be classified as definitively benign or malignant at the time of detection, are now diagnosed on the order of millions per year. Management of IPNs remains heavily debated, and routine practice ultimately involves some balance of overall clinical risk assessment and additional diagnostic tests or procedures which may generate significant risk, cost, and worry. Biomarkers are biologically based tests or indicators capable of accurately characterizing the physiologic properties of homeostasis and disease that are not otherwise easily evaluated by the clinician. Accurate biomarkers thereby serve as reliable surrogates for biological aberrancy, …

Expression Graph Network Framework For Biomarker Discovery, Yang Liu, Jason Huse, Kasthuri Kannan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Biomarker discovery for complex diseases, such as cancer, hinges on uncovering molecular signatures that capture intricate, interconnected relationships within biological data-a challenge that traditional statistical and machine learning methods often fail to meet due to the complexity of high-dimensional gene expression profiles. To overcome this, we introduce the expression graph network framework (EGNF). This cutting-edge graph-based approach integrates graph neural networks with network-based feature engineering to enhance the predictive identification of biomarkers. EGNF constructs biologically informed networks by combining gene expression data and clinical attributes within a graph database, utilizing hierarchical clustering to generate dynamic, patient-specific representations of molecular interactions. …

Auprc: A Metric For Evaluating The Performance Of In-Silico Perturbation Methods In Identifying Differentially Expressed Genes, Hongxu Zhu, Amir Asiaee, Leila Azinfar, Jun Li, Han Liang, Ehsan Irajizad, Kim-Anh Do, James P Long

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In silico perturbation models, computational methods that can predict cellular responses to perturbations, present an opportunity to reduce the need for costly and time-intensive in vitro experiments. Many recently proposed models predict high-dimensional cellular responses, such as gene or protein expression to perturbations such as gene knockout or drugs. However, evaluating in silico performance has largely relied on metrics such as $R^{2}$, which assess overall prediction accuracy but fail to capture biologically significant outcomes like the identification of differentially expressed (DE) genes. In this study, we present a novel evaluation framework that introduces the AUPRC metric to assess the precision …

Braingenebot: A Framework For Variant Prioritization And Generative Pretrained Transformer-Informed Interpretation Across Polygenic Risk Score Studies, Gang Qu, Nitesh Enduru, Xinyi Liu, Xiaoqian Jiang, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are widely used to assess genetic susceptibility in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. However, the rapid expansion of PRS studies has led to dataset-specific biases-stemming from factors like population makeup, genotyping methods, and analysis pipelines-that result in inconsistent variant prioritization and limit generalizability and reproducibility. To address these challenges, we propose a transductive learning framework that integrates multiple PRS datasets for more robust risk variant prioritization, incorporating genome-wide association study (GWAS) priority scores as biologically informed priors. Additionally, we introduce BrainGeneBot, an AI-driven tool leveraging generative pretrained transformers with retrieval-augmented generation technology to streamline genomic analyses in …

Methodological Insights From Evaluating A Family Member's Voice Reorientation Programme: An Interpretive Descriptive Approach., Johnson U. Gideon, Towell-Barnard Amanda, Mclean Christopher, Robert Glenn, Ewens Beverley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Delirium is a prevalent acute brain dysfunction in patients within intensive care units. Delirium is marked by a fluctuating mental state, inattention, and altered consciousness. This condition affects a substantial proportion of patients in intensive care units, and which leads to increased mortality, severe physiological and psychological consequences, and a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. Despite the evidence that supports the use of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent or minimise the impact of delirium such as orientation, sensory stimulation, early mobilisation, and family involvement, their implementation in intensive care units remains inconsistent. The involvement of family members in the …

Improving Perioperative Nursing Residency Student Retention: Identifying And Mitigating Factors Causing Attrition In A Nursing Residency Program, Bridgette D. Mangan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Background: The nursing workforce decreased by 100,000 nurses from 2021 to 2022. Such a drop has not been seen in the last 40 years of the nursing profession. The frequency of job turnover among newly hired nurse graduates is troublesome. Research reveals 30% to 69% of new graduate nurses voluntarily leave their positions within a year of employment. Nurse residency programs help new graduate nurses’ transition from advanced beginners to competent professionals and focus on areas critical to new graduate success. The cost of training a new graduate nurse to be a competent perioperative nurse may be upwards of …

Racial Identity And Belonging Among Asian American Undergraduate Students In The Midwest, Seema M. Dahlheimer

Dissertations

Asian American students are often deemed overrepresented in higher education, leading to inequities in admissions, scholarships, and student support. This perception feeds and is fed by the model minority stereotype, which characterizes Asian Americans as hard-working and high-achieving and creates intense pressure to succeed academically (Poon et al., 2016). In addition, Asian American college students often experience racism and xenophobia, which can undermine their sense of belonging on campus. However, in the Midwest, where their immigration is more recent and conversations about race are often framed in terms of Black and white, Asian Americans often feel invisible and othered (Lee, …

Characterizing Fish Communities Using Traditional And Emerging Monitoring Approaches In San Diego County Estuaries, Natalie Katherine De Wet

Theses

Fish communities are essential to estuarine health, playing key roles in food webs, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem functioning. However, the persistence of native fish populations is increasingly threatened by the cumulative impacts of coastal development, pollution, and climate change. Rapid, effective monitoring of species distributions is a priority, enabling timely conservation and management. However, the study of any ecosystem is limited by time, resources, and the consideration that research of a system can damage the ecosystem under study.

This research aimed to characterize fish species richness and evaluate the benefits and limitations of different estuary monitoring approaches. Specifically, this study …

The Gendered Role Of Friendships For Advanced Care Planning And Health In Later Life, Zee Kee Emily Lim

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Friendship is becoming more pertinent to older adults because they are increasingly living with fewer family ties in later life due to changing social and demographic trends (Fiori et al., 2020; Verdery et al., 2019). However, friendships are not as extensively studied as compared to family relationships (Blieszner et al., 2019). Thus, additional research is needed to better understand the influence of friendships on health and health behaviors in later life.

This dissertation includes three studies that focus on the association between friendship and loneliness, advanced care planning, and cognitive function, examining the role of gender in these three studies, …

Global Commons, Local Crises: The Ecological Embeddedness Of Global Production Networks, Christopher R. Whynacht

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Notions of Global Production Networks (GPNs) are popular approaches to studying the complex, dispersed, and socially embedded production of goods and services. Yet, these concepts have largely struggled with incorporating environmental resources, risks, and actors. My dissertation leverages insights from Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to contextualize ecological elements of production as coequal participants with social stakeholders. I describe how GPNs are ecologically embedded and nested within the natural environment. I draw from ANT to develop a GPN framework that internalizes ecological dimensions. The second chapter in this dissertation develops these ideas and provides theoretical framing for further empirical chapters. The third …