Digital Commons Network^™

Sleep Disturbances Affect Sleep Quality Of Hospitalized Adults, Tonjia Hardesty

Dissertations

Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbances affect the quality of sleep hospitalized adults experience, possibly extending patient recovery time. Treatment of insomnia frequently includes pharmacological interventions exposing patients to potential side effects, leading to negative patient outcomes.  The purpose of this project was to determine if a sleep hygiene toolkit including eye masks, earplugs, advocacy cards, and removal of nicotine patches at bedtime would improve patient sleep quality without use of pharmacological interventions.

Methods: A descriptive observational design was used in this quality improvement (QI) project. A convenience sample of 37 (N =37) participants over the age of 18 years and …

Psychotropic Medication Use In Older Adults In A Long-Term Care Facility: Implications For Screening Tool, Callie M. Johnson

Dissertations

Psychotropic medication use in older adults aged 65 years and older residing in the long-term care facility has a complex issue in the high use of psychotropic medications. Older adults residing  in long-term care (LTC) facilities are affected and prescribed at least one psychotropic or antidepressant medication.

Enhancing Well-Being: Implementing Weekly Social Interventions For Older Adults In Independent Living, Rosa Huang

Dissertations

Loneliness and social isolation significantly impact the physical and mental well-being of older adults. This quality improvement project implemented an eight-week social intervention designed to reduce loneliness and enhance well-being through weekly sessions incorporating mindfulness exercises, gratitude journaling, and structured socialization activities. The intervention was delivered by nursing students to a sample of residents in a Midwestern independent living community. While most standardized measures of loneliness and mood did not show statistically significant changes, the project resulted in a statistically significant increase in social network engagement as measured by the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6). The findings suggest that group-based …

Fostering Active Learning In Reproductive Health Classes Among Undergraduates Of A Nigerian Public University: The Role Of Cognitive Restructuring Health Education, Ndubuisi Friday Ugwu, Adewumi Segun Igbinlade, Adijat Bolanle Adams, Uchenna Anselm Anibueze, Gabriel Aderibigbe Oyegbami, Chinyere Chrysantus Onwurah, Sabina Nwakaego Igwilo, Olufemi M. Olubamise, Folasade Adediran, Oladipo Adeyeye Olubodun Phd, Jacob Kehinde Opele, Loveth Nnenna Ugwu, Amos Olorunwa Agbojo

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: This study examined the efficacy of the cognitive restructuring health education (CRHE) intervention in improving participatory learning in sexual and reproductive health classes among students at a Nigerian public university.

Methods: The study employed a randomized pretest/posttest control group design involving 130 undergraduates from Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria. Participants were randomly assigned to either a 2-week intensive health education–based cognitive restructuring program (n = 65) or a waitlist control group (n = 65). Interaction behavior was assessed at pretreatment, at post-treatment, and at a 6-week follow-up using the 14-item Interaction Behavior Checklist (reliability = 0.85). …

Long-Term Outcomes Of A Drug-Eluting Resorbable Scaffold Vs Angioplasty In Infrapopliteal Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: 3-Year Results From The Life-Btk Trial., Sahil A Parikh, Brian G Derubertis, Marc P Bonaca, Prakash Krishnan, Richard H Pin, Jen-Kuang Lee, David C Metzger, Raghu Kolluri, Mehdi H Shishehbor, Andrew H Holden, Osamu Iida, Ehrin Armstrong, Steven W C Kum, David J O'Connor, Danielle R Bajakian, Lawrence A Garcia, Shih-Wa Ying, Jin Wang, Karine Ruster, Brad J Martinsen, Zsuzsanna Igyarto, Ramon L Varcoe

Surgery Articles

Background: Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) caused by infrapopliteal disease is a major therapeutic challenge, with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) associated with high rates of restenosis and reintervention. The LIFE-BTK trial previously demonstrated superior efficacy of the Esprit (Abbott Vascular) BTK drug-eluting resorbable scaffold (DRS) over PTA at 1 year, with sustained benefits at 2 years, with comparable safety at both time points. This report presents the 3-year outcomes.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the 3-year safety and efficacy of DRS vs PTA in patients with CLTI and infrapopliteal artery disease.

Methods: In this randomized trial, 261 patients with CLTI were …

Vocabulary Acquisition Through Developmental Play, Amy Storlie

Graduate Teacher Education

As the population of English learners in the United States grew, there was a greater need for linguistically and developmentally appropriate instructional approaches for young learners. The question that guided this research on appropriate instructional approaches was: How does developmental play support the acquisition of academic vocabulary among early-emergent multilingual students in kindergarten and first grade? The research review examined peer-reviewed research across three interconnected bodies of literature: play-based learning, interactions in developmental play, and vocabulary instruction. The findings indicated that purposeful, guided play strengthened executive function, expressive language, and academic growth. In addition, collaborative practices such as translanguaging supported …

Association Between Author Specialty And Reported Outcomes In Non-Randomized Comparisons Of Prostatectomy Versus Radiation, Zakaria El Kouzi, Mohammed A Mohammed, Michael Kevin Rooney, Ramez Kouzy, Jie Jane Chen, Shalin Shah, Tarek Al Bitar, Sherif M Gadoue, Comron Hassanzadeh, Steven Frank, Phuoc Tho Tran, Chad Tang, Seungtaek Choi, Ryan Jin-Hyung Park, Karen Hoffman, Sean Eric Mcguire, Henry Mok, Quynh-Nhu Nguyen, Adam B Samman, Zain Rahman, Mohamed Shelan, Toufic Eid, Osama Mohamad

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: While the ProtecT randomized trial demonstrated comparable oncologic outcomes between radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiation therapy (RT) for localized prostate cancer, several retrospective studies have reported mixed findings. In this study, we investigated whether non-randomized studies tend to favor RP or RT and assessed whether the specialty of leading authors-urologists or radiation oncologists-correlates with study conclusions.

Methods: We identified non-randomized clinical studies published between 1993 and 2024 that compared RP and RT for localized prostate cancer and reported oncologic outcomes including biochemical, metastasis, and/or survival outcomes. Author specialty was determined based on whether the first and senior authors were …

Early Identification Of Skin Breakdown In The Medical-Surgical Setting, Brandi S. Paul, Kathryn Justice, Nic Money

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) remain a significant patient safety concern in acute care settings. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to reduce HAPI rates through a multidisciplinary intervention focused on the early identification of high-risk patients and improved adherence to pressure injury prevention practices.

Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, this quality improvement project was implemented over eight weeks on one medical-surgical unit at two southeastern U.S. hospitals. Adult patients with Braden scores ≤14 were identified as high risk. Nurses initiated the Pink Paper Initiative (PPI), which included visual bedside reminders, multidisciplinary checklists, …

Narrowband Searches For Continuous Gravitational Waves From Known Pulsars In The First Two Parts Of The Fourth Ligo–Virgo–Kagra Observing Run, The Ligo Scientific Collaboration, The Virgo Collaboration, The Kagra Collaboration, Marc Favata, Shoan Ghosh, Rodica M. Martin

Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Rotating nonaxisymmetric neutron stars (NSs) are promising sources for continuous gravitational waves (CWs). CWs may, if detected, inform us about the internal structure and equation of state of NSs. Here, we present a narrowband search for CWs from known pulsars, for which a matched-filter search can be applied. Narrowband searches are robust to mismatches between electromagnetic (EM) and gravitational emissions, in contrast to fully targeted searches where they are assumed to be phase-locked. In this work, we search for the CW counterparts emitted by 34 pulsars using data from the first and second parts of the fourth LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA observing run. …

Coherent Two-Photon Backscattering And Induced Angular Quantum Correlations In Multiple-Scattered Two-Photon States Of The Light, Nooshin M. Estakhri, Theodore B. Norris

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

We present the emergence of coherent two-photon backscattering, a manifestation of weak localization, in multiple scattering of maximally entangled pure and fully mixed two-photon states and examine the effect of entanglement and classical correlations. Quantum correlations in backscattering are investigated for finite three-dimensional disordered structures in the weak localization regime, as well as systems of a small number of scatterers with specified spatial arrangements. No assumptions are made about the statistical behavior of the scattering matrix elements. Furthermore, we study the interplay between quantum correlations induced by multiple scattering and the correlations that may be present in the illumination fields, …

Racial Profiling In Traffic Enforcement: A Qualitative Exploration Of Police Chiefs' Perspectives On Traffic Stop Data Analysis, Peter J. Didomenica

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial profiling of people of color by police departments as part of traffic enforcement practices is a pervasive practice in the United States. The practice is a form of systemic racism, the conceptual framework for this study, that has resulted in people and communities of color suffering its deleterious effects. Although statistical analysis of traffic stop data is most effective in uncovering racial profiling in traffic enforcement, most police departments fail to conduct such analysis, and for those departments that do so, there is no uniform judicially accepted method. The purpose of this study was to understand the reasons most …

Fecal Fatty Acids And Other Risk Factors Associated With Multiple Sclerosis Score, Progression And Diagnosis Among Hispanic Adults, Juliana Ayala-Viqueira

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition with insufficient research regarding risk factors influencing MS severity score (MSSS), progression and diagnosis among Hispanic adults living in the United States. This cross-sectional study assessed factors associated with MS score, progression and diagnosis using secondary data from the International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study (iMSMS). Guided by the ecological model, the study included N = 576 participants with MS. Manuscript 1 explored the association between body mass index (BMI), sodium consumption, and the MS severity score in a Hispanic adult population. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine whether age and …

Tree Layer Composition And Regeneration Status Of Quercus Floribunda Lindl. On Different Aspects Of Nainital Catchment In Kumaun Himalaya, Ambica Agnihotri, Ashish Tewari, Shahbaz Ali

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Oaks are climax-forming species found at various elevations in the Himalayas between 2100– 2700 masl. However, aspect-wise regeneration patterns of Quercus floribunda in the Nainital catchment remain poorly documented. While previous studies focused on oak forest structure, the present study provides new insight into aspect-wise variation in the regeneration stages of Q. floribunda in relation to microclimatic conditions. The present study aims to evaluate tree composition and the regeneration status of Q. floribunda forests across different slope aspects in the Nainital catchment area of the Kumaun Himalaya. Four sites representing different slope aspects were selected in the Nainital catchment. Soil …

Vertical Information Sharing Of Reference Quality In E-Marketplaces, Zhaojun Yang, Yuke Hu, Jun Sun, Xu Hu

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Purpose – The platform economy has enabled extensive information sharing among manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce platforms. While existing studies primarily examine bilateral exchanges of demand or supply data, the rise of platform-provided customer analytics allows manufacturers to better understand consumers’ reference quality and refine their product quality decisions. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether such analytics truly enhance customer satisfaction without prompting excessive or misdirected investments in product quality.

Design/methodology/approach – This study investigates a manufacturer’s optimal choice of information sources for product quality decisions by integrating game-theoretical modeling with numerical analysis. The model captures a multi-echelon supply chain …

Depaul Digest

DePaul Magazine

James Bort, assistant professor at the Driehaus College of Business, levels the playing field for underdog entrepreneurs. Arieahn Matamonasa Bennett, associate professor at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, helps connect to the natural world through equine-assisted therapy. Plus, alumni pitch in during Vincentian Service Day and the latest news from DePaul's 10 colleges and schools, from music education students teaching youth to law students engaging in international human rights work.

Full Issue: Summer 2026

DePaul Magazine

In DePaul Magazine's summer 2026 issue, learn how DePaul is living its Vincentian mission through innovative community engagement and service learning, exemplified by its Irwin W. Steans Center and Speech Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy graduate programs. Also, meet alumna Kate Steinberg who revisits her youth and DePaul days as a rising social media influencer, get the latest news from DePaul's 10 colleges and schools, and much more.

Class Notes

DePaul Magazine

From promotions to performances, see the latest accomplishments by DePaul alumni across class years and generations. Plus, read alumni spotlight profiles of Derrick M. Robinson Jr. (SCPS '11), who battles bullying through sneakers donations, and Alessandra Swanson (JD '09), a first-generation alumna who rose to partner at a prominent national law firm.

Controversial Issues In Elementary And Middle School Social Studies Education: A Twenty-Five-Year Content Analysis (2000-2025)., Jennifer Cordero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study examines how controversial issues are defined, framed, and taught in elementary and middle-level social studies over a twenty-five-year period (2000–2025). Using historical content analysis, the study analyzes more than 700 articles published in Social Studies and the Young Learner and Middle Level Learning, two practitioner-oriented journals of the National Council for the Social Studies. Articles were systematically coded using a structured, iterative framework aligned to three research questions focused on definition, implementation, and pedagogy. Findings indicate that controversial issues are more often implied through language and framing than formally defined. Authors consistently frame such issues using terms that …

Identification Of Prognostic Factors For Disease Recurrence-Free Survival (Drfs) In Breast Cancer Patients Using The Cox Proportional Hazards Model, Dwi Cahyaning Putri, Veny Prabaningrum, Samsul Arifin

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Breast cancer remains one of the most common malignancies among women worldwide, with recurrence remaining a major clinical challenge. Despite various treatment efforts, the mortality rate from breast cancer remains high, particularly among patients with worse clinical and molecular conditions. This study aims to identify factors influencing the survival of breast cancer patients using the Cox proportional hazards model. The study analyzes clinical and molecular data of breast cancer patients to identify key risk factors affecting Disease Recurrence-Free Survival (DRFS). Analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier, the Log Rank test, and the Cox proportional hazards model. The results showed that nodal …

An Early Lexical Screening Tool For British English: Psychometric Properties And Clinical Utility, Allegra Cattani, Dora Bianchi, Caroline Floccia

School of Psychology

BackgroundExisting direct measures of vocabulary for ages 2–3 years are insufficient as vocabulary increases to include nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, reflecting qualitative changes that support emerging grammatical abilities.AimsThe present study aims to establish the psychometric properties and validate a lexical screening tool for 19–36-month-old British English-speaking children, the WinG (Words in Game) test. Specifically, it examines gender differences in internal consistency, concurrent validity and predictive gender invariance across comprehension and production tasks. In addition, the study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of the tool by establishing clinical cut-off scores to distinguish children with typical versus at-risk language development. Finally, it …

Al Kuwait Hospital Dubai, Emirates Health Services 1st Research Week 2025: Research Abstracts Of Clinical And Scientific Advances, Suad Hannawi, Linda Saf Eldin, Alaa Abuquta, Yusra Abdulrahman, Maryam Yaslam, Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari, Maimouneh Qazi, Noor Majed Al Mheiri, Ahmed Alamadi, Alia Aljasmi, Sondos Al Salmi, Maria Al-Salmi, Moza Aljamri, Ahmed Ibrahim Abdulrahman, Sharifa Alamadi, Haifa Hannawi

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

The Outcome Of Thrombectomy Can Be Improved By Shortening The Door-To-Needle And The Onset-To-Door Time, Sounira Mehri, Josef Finsterer

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Provider-Reported Readiness Of Chronic Healthcare Services In Saudi Arabia Under The Health Sector Transformation Program, Aseel Aldhwaihi, Saad Alghanim

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To assess provider-reported readiness of chronic healthcare services in Saudi Arabia within the context of the Health Sector Transformation Program (HSTP), using a validated, context-specific assessment instrument. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025 among 254 healthcare providers across 5 health regions and both public and private healthcare sectors. A 34-item instrument, informed by the Chronic Care Model (CCM) and adapted to the Saudi context, assessed 7 system readiness dimensions. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analyses were performed. Results: Overall system readiness was moderately positive. Health system …

Seasonal Variation Of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Among Children And Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Single-Center Tertiary Experience, Nour Gazzaz, Fajr A Saeedi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) seasonal variations among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have been widely studied; however, findings remain inconsistent. Although several studies reported a higher incidence during colder months, others showed no consistent patterns. This study investigated whether DKA frequency and severity vary across seasons, particularly in humid cities. Methods: This retrospective cohort analyzed children and adolescents with T1DM admitted to a tertiary hospital with DKA (2015–2025). Data included demographics, seasonal admission trends, clinical severity, and outcomes. Statistical analyses involved the Chi-square and ANOVA tests. Results: A total of 369 DKA cases …

Glp-1 Receptor Agonists And Sglt-2 Inhibitors In Diabetic Nephropathy: A Comparative Study, Sara Ghadeer Alghadeer, Sama Sami Kanfar, Zakiah Dheya Algallaf, Fatimah Mudhar Alfardan, Rana Alshammrany, Maha Farhat, Cyril Cyrus

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To investigate the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RAs) on renal function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and compared their efficacy to sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) in managing diabetic nephropathy. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at King Fahad University Hospital, including 115 adults (≥ 18 years) with T2DM and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m², treated with GLP-1RAs or SGLT-2i for over 1 year. Patients on renal replacement therapy, nephrotoxic drugs, or with incomplete records were excluded. Data were analyzed with Jeffrey's Amazing Statistics Program; the significant value …

Investigating Medical Radiation Awareness Of Saudi Arabian Cardiologists In Catheterization Labs: A Survey Study, Abdulmajeed Alotaibi, Raseel Alsallum, Reemas Alotaibi, Ali M. Aldhebaib, Noha Althubaity, Oinam Gokulchandra Singh, Zyad M. Almutlaq, Abdulaziz M. Albaraikan, Winnie Philip, Abrar M. Al-Mutairi, Mostafa Alqarras, Basma Alrowailli, Abdulrahman Alkhulaifi, Dhaifallah Ziyad Alanazi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of interventional cardiologists in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) regarding occupational radiation safety. Occupational radiation exposure poses significant long-term health risks for interventional cardiologists. Understanding current safety knowledge and practices is essential for guiding improvement strategies. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was administered across several cardiac centers in KSA. The survey evaluated radiation safety awareness, use of dosimetry monitoring, and adherence to protective measures among practicing interventional cardiologists. Results: The study identified notable gaps in radiation safety knowledge and considerable inconsistencies in dosimetry monitoring. Despite these shortcomings, participants demonstrated high compliance …

Awareness Of The Mediterranean Diet And Its Perceived Effect On Cardiovascular Health In The Western Region, Saudi Arabia, Abdullah M. Alharbi, Mohammed S. Alsaedi, Mutaz S. Alharbi, Faisal F. Almutairi, Adeeb M. Aloufi, Azzam M. Alharbi, Rakan D. Alsaedi, Hatim F. Alhejaili, Motasem M. Alyamani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To increase awareness of mediterranean diet (MD) and its perceived effects on cardiovascular health, enhance knowledge and inform public health efforts aimed at improving the population's health outcomes of. The MD comprises heart-healthy eating patterns high in vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and fruits. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved adult participants who were living in the Western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data were collected online through social media platforms, then cleaned, coded, and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 21 to generate key insights. Results: A total of 390 participants were included …

Early Initiation And Dual Patterns Of Cigarette And E-Cigarette Use Among Adults In The Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Haidar A. Alridha, Nora A. Alafif

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To explore the early initiation of cigarette and e-cigarette use and the dual patterns of usage among adults in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2024 to February 2025 among adults living in the Eastern Province. An online self-administered questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, smoking behaviors, age of initiation, dual-use patterns, and quit attempts. Convenience sampling was applied, and a total of 551 participants were included. Descriptive statistics summarized distributions of smoking behavior and initiation age. Pearson's Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between smoking status, age of initiation, …

Multidimensional Predictors Of Disease Severity And Health Outcomes In Patients With Sickle Cell Disease: A Data-Driven Clinical Insight, Hind A. Alzahrani, Ruba Omar Mohammed Almaghrabi, Raed Alharbi, Abdulaziz Saleh Alghamdi, Mohammad A. Albanghali, Hanan E. Alyahyawi, Abdulmohsen M. Alruwetei, Besma Garah, Mohammed Alzahrani, Samar Hassan Hjar, Sana Shaker

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To describe the clinical, hematologic, and therapeutic characteristics of hospitalized adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) in the Al-Baha region and to identify factors that predict hospitalization as well as transfusion frequency. Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on 117 adults with confirmed SCD who were admitted to King Fahad Hospital-Al-Baha during 2022–2024. Demographic information, hematologic parameters, clinical features, hospitalization rate, transfusion history, and treatment protocols were collected from the electronic medical records. Statistical analyses (ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square tests, and Fisher's exact Test) were performed to compare between groups where applicable. Results: The cohort had a mean …

Prevalence And Clinical Correlates Of Intraspinal And Vertebral Anomalies In Congenital, Adolescent Idiopathic, And New-Onset Scoliosis: A Comparative Study In Saudi Arabia, Faisal M Alkhunein, Mishari N Alanezi, Nwaf A Alshahir, Abdulkarim S Alsulimi, Abdulrahman H Salman, Habib Ullah Chaudhary, Abdulmajeed A Alzakri

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To explore the prevalence of and clinical associations between intraspinal and vertebral abnormalities in patients with congenital scoliosis (CS), adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), and early-onset scoliosis in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective cohort investigation included patients aged 18 years or younger diagnosed with CS, AIS, or new-onset idiopathic scoliosis who underwent full-spine magnetic resonance imaging between 2015 and 2025 at a tertiary center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Clinical and radiological data were collected, and intraspinal and vertebral anomalies were classified. Statistical analyses included Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A …