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Popliteal Tendinopathies In The Athlete: A Narrative Review Of Popliteus, Hamstring, And Gastrocnemius Tendon Pathologies At The Popliteal Fossa, Ryan L. Russell, Nathan Katz, Allison N. Schroeder

Faculty Scholarship

Purpose of Review: Tendinopathies affecting the popliteus, distal hamstring, and proximal gastrocnemius tendons at the popliteal fossa can result in persistent pain, reduced function, and time-loss from sport. The goal of this paper is to review the literature on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of popliteal tendinopathies. Recent Findings: Understanding popliteal fossa tendon anatomy and muscle actions is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective management. Treatment options range from conservative, non-surgical approaches to surgical interventions, with phased progression through stretching, strengthening, and biomechanical optimization of the affected muscle/tendon unit being key to rehabilitation. Summary: There is a paucity of literature …

Prevalence Of Sleep Disturbances And Factors Associated Among School Going Children In Uganda, A Cross-Sectional Study, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Sleep disturbances greatly impact children's academic performance and social well-being. This study set out to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances and factors associated among school going children in Kawempe division, Kampala, Uganda. Methods: In a community cross-sectional study, 548 study participants using random cluster sampling were enrolled. The children start lessons at 8am and end the days classes at 5pm. Random cluster sampling method was used to select participants from the 19 parishes in Kawempe district. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression were …

Implementing A Nurse Navigator Role In An Outpatient Procedural Setting To Improve Patient Satisfaction Scores: A Quality Improvement Project, Lashanti King

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Much focus has been placed on patient experience since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010 due to its regulatory, financial, and business growth implications. Patient satisfaction is crucial to maintaining and growing a customer base and fulfilling the target growth established in institutional strategic plans. This project aimed to determine whether implementing a nurse navigator role to perform rounds in the preoperative and waiting areas for two months would increase patient-reported satisfaction scores regarding being informed about delays and the likelihood of recommending the facility. Due to its subjective nature, it is challenging to consistently maintain …

Improving Post-Resuscitation Debriefing Completion Rates In An Acute Care Community Hospital: A Quality Improvement Project, Tiffany Tolden

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Post-resuscitation debriefing improves team dynamics and CPR quality and can identify systemic barriers to quality care delivery. However, completion rates remain low in acute care settings. Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated whether a one-hour training session for rapid response nurses and charge nurses, combined with weekly reminder emails, would increase completion rates of post-resuscitation debriefings and influence nurses’ perceptions of their usefulness in an acute care community hospital. PICOT Questions: Will a one-hour training session (I) with rapid response nurses and unit charge nurses (P), along with a weekly reminder system (I), increase the completion rate (O) of …

Work-Related Pathology At Tell El-Amarna: The Physical Cost Of Building A New Capital City In The New Kingdom, Egypt, Heidi Suzanne Davis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines patterns of work-related indicators of physical stress in a skeletal sample from the non-elite adult population of the South Tombs Cemetery (STC) of Amarna, Egypt. Assessing work-related pathology using an integrative model of physical stress, this study considers the interactions of demographic parameters of age, sex, and injury recurrence, along with archaeological and documentary data to provide a biocultural contextual approach to physical stress in this population. The STC sample is compared to other samples from Egyptian and Nubian sites as well as historical samples believed to be under high physical demands and stressful conditions. The STC …

Effects Of Commission Errors During Prompting On Skill Acquisition And Maintenance, Molly K. Mutchler

Dissertations

Procedural fidelity refers to the extent to which procedures are implemented as intended. Engaging in procedural fidelity errors can lead to detrimental outcomes during skill acquisition and maintenance. The purpose of this study was to parametrically evaluate and compare two commission errors during prompting procedures using an arbitrary tacting task taught to college-aged students. Participants learned to tact four sets of arbitrary pictures and names. Prompting errors consisted of either providing the correct letters for a name in an incorrect order (i.e., an error within a component of the name) or providing the correct name for another picture (i.e., an …

Environmental Beliefs Among Evangelical Leadership, Jeffrey Stark

Dissertations

There has been consensus among climate scientists for over a decade about the reality of human caused climate change. Even with this consensus, the public understanding of this issue remains divided based on factors generally unrelated to the science. Evangelical Protestants are one group which consistently polls as more skeptical of climate change. This is true not only when compared to the general population but also when compared to other religious demographics. Most large-scale surveys of evangelicals assume the demographic to be a monolith and do not attempt to break the demographic down further. In this mixed methods study, we …

Administration Plan For Use Of Hippotherapy In Occupational Therapy, Ryanna Blake

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The intention of this capstone experience was to promote the use of hippotherapy as a treatment strategy in the occupational therapy profession from an administrative and educational standpoint. Hundreds of research studies have indicated the effectiveness of hippotherapy for a variety of ages and diagnoses. However, there are still barriers that prevent hippotherapy from being more accessible and well-known, both by practitioners, client families, and the community. The project was executed at a startup psychotherapy clinic preparing to offer equine-assisted services in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The mutually beneficial partnership led to the creation of a generalized administration plan for an occupational …

Educational Program To Prevent Long-Term Complications For Individuals With Diabetes, Emily M. Ware

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This doctoral capstone project aimed to create an educational program to improve quality of life for individuals with diabetes by enhancing daily self-management and occupational engagement to prevent long-term complications. The literature states that although diabetes complications are common, they are also highly preventable through self-management strategies. Because diabetes self-management is deeply embedded into daily routines, occupational therapy practitioners can play a unique role in supporting individuals in this process. Prior to participation in the educational program, participants completed a screening tool assessing their diabetes management routines and confidence in the context of daily activities. An occupational therapy-informed, six-week educational …

Educating Caregivers To Increase Participation In Sensory Integration Interventions, Hannah G. Williams

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This capstone project aims to educate caregivers on the foundational three sensory systems and sensory integration (SI) interventions to enhance children’s participation in daily occupations. Research consistently highlights the vital role caregivers play in supporting their child’s sensory regulation and overall well-being. However, existing literature offers limited investigation into the relationship between SI dysfunction and caregiver education. Sensory integration enables the organization of sensory input to facilitate meaningful interaction with the environment; however, caregiver participation in applying SI-based interventions remains underrepresented in research and practice. To address these issues, this project utilizes an approach called knowledge translation through the creation …

Education And Advocacy For Implementation Of Biofeedback Therapy In Pediatrics With Anxiety And Migraine Headaches, Mckenly Roberts

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This capstone project explores the implementation of biofeedback therapy in occupational therapy for treating pediatric migraines and anxiety. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, examining peer-reviewed articles from 2000–2024, which revealed biofeedback therapy’s efficacy in addressing stress-related symptoms across age groups. The study focuses on adolescents’ academic and extracurricular occupations, where stress significantly impacts mental and physical health. The project aims to establish a biofeedback therapy program at the Abilene Christian University Psychology Clinic, addressing gaps in current literature and practice guidelines. Utilizing the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model, the research highlights biofeedback’s potential to improve functional performance and participation for children …

Oncology Rehabilitation In Occupational Therapy, Callie D. Freeman

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This doctoral capstone project examined the need for occupational therapy (OT) services among individuals diagnosed with cancer and cancer survivors. Evidence indicates that cancer-related fatigue, decreased participation, and diminished quality of life are common challenges following different types of cancer treatment. Occupational therapy addresses these issues through occupation-based interventions, fatigue management education, energy conservation strategies, and activities that promote strength, stability, and social participation. Nevertheless, a gap persists in the utilization of OT services within oncology treatment care. Over a 14-week period, this project implemented group-based interventions to enhance the quality of life and engagement among cancer survivors affiliated with …

Program Development And Administration Of Experiential Learning Practices In Ot Education, Elizabeth Ann Marie Beeman

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Experiential learning opportunities enhance occupational therapy students’ clinical skills, confidence, and professional preparation through hands-on practice. This capstone project focused on program development and administration at Abilene Christian University’s occupational therapy department. Initially centered on establishing a student-run campus clinic, the project pivoted during week one when needs assessment revealed the clinic concept no longer aligned with departmental and university strategic goals. The revised focus incorporated experiential learning theory and interprofessional education. Over 14 weeks, I conducted nine faculty interviews and four student focus groups. Findings indicated unanimous support for mandatory, scheduled experiential learning opportunities while identifying common implementation barriers, …

Education Of Trauma-Informed Care In The School System: An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Jada F. Muller

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This capstone experience focused on providing education to faculty and staff of elementary-aged children. This includes education about signs of trauma, techniques to use for the classroom, and how occupational therapy can contribute to trauma-informed interventions in the school system. More research is needed to show the implications of trauma informed practice and the role of occupational therapy within the school system. To address this gap, this doctoral project was designed to fulfill the need for trauma-informed education and add to the body of knowledge. This project took place at Denison Independent School District, where I created deliverables addressing different …

An Analysis Of Face Synthesis Methods And Their Influence On Human Perception, Maha Habib Almaimani

All Dissertations

Synthetic faces (e.g., computer-generated characters) have been increasingly utilized across various fields, including entertainment, healthcare, and education. Perceptual studies are often conducted to understand how synthetic faces are perceived by humans, aiming to enhance both quality and user experience in these domains. Over the years, numerous methods have been developed to create synthetic faces, ranging from traditional techniques such as image composites, Active Appearance Models, and 3D Morphable Models to more recent machine-learning-based frameworks like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs).

Despite the growing adoption of synthetic face generation and the variety of algorithms available for their creation, …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Lack Of Contractual Protections In Female Dominated Opportunities: Collegiate Competitive Dancers And Cheerleaders Compared To Ncaa Student-Athletes And National Pageant Organization Titleholders Compared To Employees/Independent Contractors, Abigail Church

Michigan Journal of Gender & Law

The lack of contractual protections and regulations throughout female-dominated opportunities is abundantly clear in the collegiate competitive dance & cheer and the national pageant organization titleholders. Collegiate competitive dancers and cheerleaders have no standardized contractual requirements regarding their commitment to an academic institution or their engagement in NIL opportunities. Their NCAA recognized student-athlete counterparts, on the other hand, have extensive regulations and protections in place for both categories of contracts. In the pageant industry, pageant titleholders have no protection against the all-too-common procedural and substantive unconscionability of their service agreements, which can be found in confidentiality and arbitration clauses. In …

Health Care Civil Rights: Addressing The American Maternal Mortality Disparity Through Health, Law, And Policy, Victoria Pedri

Michigan Journal of Gender & Law

The United States is facing a pressing issue in maternal health, standing out as uniquely dangerous among similarly situated nations, with significant disparities in maternal mortality rates, particularly affecting Black American pregnant people. This paper, “Health Care Civil Rights: Addressing the American Maternal Mortality Disparity Through Health, Law, and Policy,” argues that by addressing the root cause of the Black Maternal Mortality Disparity (BMMD)—structural racism—and implementing rigorous, enforced standards of care, the United States can ensure safer childbirth experiences for Black pregnant people. Utilizing intersectional and anti-racist frameworks, the analysis identifies inferior medical care, particularly in diagnosing and treating preventable …

Declined Charge: An Attempt At The Horror Game Genre, Fernando Sepulveda Guizar

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Books and movies are a great medium for people to experience new worlds and experiences through a usually passive method. This can be great for stories with a set story and have all the pieces fall into place as the author intended. Video games on the other hand can give players a more active role in the worlds and stories that they experience. Players have direct control over the player character, and their actions have consequences that may or may not persist throughout the entire game, which is not usually the case with movies or books. This is why horror …

The Power Of Core Memories In Financial Education For Gen Alpha Children, Karen Richel

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Financial education plays a critical role in shaping lifelong financial behaviors and decision-making skills. To create a lasting impact, it is essential to establish core memories associated with money management from an early age. This article explores the significance of these foundational experiences and their role in financial education for Gen Alpha children.

A series of eight immersive financial education events was developed to meet state and national standards for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. These events employ play-based and object-based learning approaches, immersing students in engaging, age-appropriate activities that incorporate real-world scenarios. By creating a fun and memorable …

Enhancing Youth Learning Outcomes Of Travel Programs Through Storytelling, Gary Ellis, Parisa Paymard, Dottie Goebel, Darlene Locke, William F. Zanolini, Emily Catalan, Kelley Ranly

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

We conducted two studies to evaluate strategies that Extension educators may use to enrich youth travel program experiences. Study 1 evaluated the effects of telling stories about attractions before site visits on youth experiences and learning outcomes on site. Seventeen youth in a 4-H program designed to promote cultural understanding visited eight attractions in Costa Rica. The evening before visiting three sites, youth were told a fictional or cross-fictional story about the sites. The stories elicited imaginary travel to the site (narrative transportation). After visiting the sites, the youth reported the extent to which they felt like they were in …

Food Access And Food Insecurity Among Early Childhood Educators And Staff Prior To And During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Rahel Mathews, Leah Pylate, Will Davis, Elizabeth Thorne, Jamila Taylor, Shecoya White, Bennett Pope, Emma Bryant

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Emerging research indicates that 40% of early childhood education (ECE) workers experience food insecurity. The purpose of this study was to describe the food insecurity and food access of Head Start teachers and staff in Mississippi before the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand how COVID-19 affected food access. A mixed-methods design was employed using cross-sectional surveys, at two different time points, and three focus groups. Three Head Start centers from the Mississippi Coast participated. Approximately 52% of teacher and staff respondents experienced food insecurity before COVID-19; during the pandemic, their level of food insecurity worsened from low to very low …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Relationship Education For Latino Adolescents, Joshua J. Turner, Esra Şahin, Kay Bradford, Brian J. Higginbotham

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Adolescent romantic relationships are often characterized as exploratory and fleeting; however, they have lasting impacts on individual well-being and relationship quality during and beyond adolescence, shaping future relationship expectations and quality (Collins, 2003; Madsen & Collins, 2011). Adolescent relationship education is an important programmatic feature under the broader umbrella of family life education (Simpson et al., 2018). Previous evaluative studies document positive outcomes in educating adolescents on how to build and recognize healthy relationships (Bradford et al., 2023; Kerpelman et al., 2010); however, research remains limited in addressing potential benefits for adolescents from historically underrepresented groups. This study addresses this …

Referral Strategies For Recruitment And Engagement Of Community Adults Into Online Extension Health Programs, Cheryl L. Eschbach, Dawn A. Contreras, Holly B. Tiret

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This article shares details behind building organizational capacity to establish program referrals for statewide recruitment of community adults into Cooperative Extension’s online health programs. This study explores the role of intentional recruitment strategies (active and passive) to increase participant program enrollment into health education and shares examples from one state that has created a trained workforce that offers ongoing research- and evidence-based programs. After many years of trying paper, phone, and electronic medical record methods to increase program reach, Michigan State University Extension tried an electronic referral process via a QR code and web link, accompanied by program marketing, to …

Teaching Leadership In The Context Of Crisis: Connecting Organizational Leadership And Crisis Competencies In A Faculty Leadership Education Program, Caitlin Lunzmann, Nicole Lamee Perez Stedman, Matthew Sowcik

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This research focused on enhancing leadership instruction in colleges of agriculture. A multi-institutional research team initiated a program to teach agricultural and natural resource faculty how to create leadership-oriented case studies for undergraduates. Forty faculty members participated in an online training academy centered on Bolman and Deal’s Organizational Frames and case study writing. Following the academy, these faculty members participated in field experiences in the southeastern U.S. to gather data on natural disasters, which they used to write case studies about leadership in agriculture. Though the program focused on organizational leadership, it also discussed leadership in the context of natural …

Exploring The Educational Needs Of Family Caregivers For Patients With Dementia, Karen L. Franck, Janet Fox, Ann A. Berry, Kristen Johnson, Jessica Taylor, Matt Devereaux

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Family members who care for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia often face significant stressors and challenges that impact their quality of life. As part of a project to develop Extension educational materials and resources specifically for family caregivers, we conducted an online needs assessment survey with 196 adults in the U.S. Participants identified doctors, the internet, and caregiver support groups as top sources of information about dementia. They were interested in strategies to help them manage stress, address patient behavioral issues, and access locally available resources. Furthermore, they were interested in attending educational programs with other caregivers. These findings …

The Wisdom-Ing Of Academia: A Servant-Leadership Perspective, Kathleen Patterson, Jeffrey Brauch, Don Finn, David Wallace, Jeffrey Anderson, Dorothy Hargett

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

This article looks at the wisdom-ing of academia as more faculty members choose to delay retirement, continue working in varied ways, and are vibrant to the academy. Robert K. Greenleaf (1998), who is best noted as the Father of Servant Leadership, called aging the ultimate test of spirit. The authors represent Regent University’s Faculty Senate and look at this wisdom-ing, or graying, of faculty members through a Servant Leadership lens, a Biblical perspective, and then cognitive considerations, to provide insight into higher-education at large. We, the Regent University Faculty Senate, then share insights we learned from anecdotal casual conversations with …

Reviving Civil Discourse: A Leadership Imperative In The Age Of Polarization, Katie Herritage

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

This paper examines the current erosion of civil discourse as a pressing leadership challenge in an era defined by polarization and distrust. Civil discourse, the respectful and constructive exchange of ideas, underpins democratic societies yet is increasingly undermined by hostile rhetoric and deepening societal divides. Drawing on servant-leadership and relational leadership theory, this study explores how leaders can counteract this decline by fostering trust, empathy, and open dialogue. The discussion is grounded in the philosophical contributions of bell hooks, Friedrich Nietzsche, Viktor Frankl, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., whose ideas illuminate pathways for revitalizing civil discourse through compassion, …

A Critical Reflection On Servant-Leadership Through The Lens Of Gender And Race-Ethnicity, Helen H. Chung, Don Lee, Brie Solberg

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

To date, gender and race-ethnicity as social identities are underexplored in the servant-leadership literature. In our critical reflection, we problematize this gap by discussing some underlying assumptions about the promise of servant-leadership flattening relational hierarchy and rendering women an advantage. This paper integrates a review of 51 journal articles published from 2009 to 2023 that explore servant-leadership related to gender and race-ethnicity and researcher paradigms that define constructs of gender and race-ethnicity. Our discussion is guided by two broad questions: 1) How are gender and race-ethnicity explored in the servant-leadership literature? 2) How do servant-leaders conceptualize or experience their own …

Dei And The Servant-Leader, Carmen Dela Cruz

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

After the June 2023 Supreme Court decision eliminating race as a consideration in college admissions, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education became a target. As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, some states began closing or renaming their DEI offices even before President Trump’s reelection. Since President Trump began his second term, his administration has made dismantling DEI initiatives a top priority. So, now is a crucial time to continue the work of civil rights and social justice in the United States. It is essential that we have leaders that are willing to carry out DEI …

Chapter 8 Slides: Self-Care, Stress, And Safety In Rehabilitation Professions, Lisa Dunkley

Internship, Practicum, and Capstone: A Guide for Health Sciences

No abstract provided.