Digital Commons Network^™

Oral Health Provider's Perspective: The Impact Of Public Health Programs Improving Patients' Access In Marginalized Communities, Bridgette Long Hickey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to public oral healthcare in Alabama’s Black Belt Region has been a persistent systemic challenge for working poor adults ages 19–64. This population continues to face barriers to oral healthcare because of socioeconomic disparities, geographic isolation, lack of insurance, provider shortages, limited infrastructure, and the need to travel long distances for quality or specialized services. This study investigated whether public health programs have improved access to oral healthcare for working poor adults in rural communities, from the perspective of oral healthcare providers. The Social Ecological Model served as the theoretical framework. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 13 …

Exploring Stigma In Access To Treatment For Women With Co-Occurring Substance Use And Sex Addiction, Maria Alejandra Knox-Lugo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the high prevalence of substance use disorder among adult women in the United States, treatment engagement remains low, particularly for women experiencing co-occurring substance use disorder and compulsive sexual behavior. Although stigma is a documented barrier for individuals with substance use or compulsive sexual behavior in accessing and remaining engaged in behavioral health services, its effects on treatment access for adult women with co-occurring substance and compulsive sexual behavior have not been adequately scrutinized. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how human services and behavioral health professionals perceive stigma experienced by adult women with co-occurring …

Counselors-In-Training’S Perceptions Of Counselor Educators’ And Supervisors’ Roles In Developing Grief Counseling Self-Efficacy, Tonya Andrews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Counselors-in-training (CITs) encounter grieving clients despite limited grief-specific preparation. Understanding these experiences could inform preparation for supporting grieving clients. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explored these perceptions. The purposive sample included 10 CITs who were master’s-level students completing field experience or postgraduate counselors under clinical supervision, lacked independent licensure, attended or graduated from Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)–accredited programs without required stand-alone grief coursework. None had a direct supervisory, instructional, or evaluative relationship with the researcher. The research question was: How did CITs perceive and make meaning of the role …

Why Do Indonesians Travel Abroad For Medical Treatment? A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Lucky Sarjono Buranda, Aries Wahyuningsih, Steven Busby

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

More than one million Indonesian citizens travel abroad for medical treatment each year, generating financial transactions exceeding IDR 180 trillion (USD 11.5 billion). This study aimed to explore the reasons why Indonesians seek medical treatment overseas. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed using in-depth interviews with Indonesian citizens who had received or were currently receiving medical treatment outside Indonesia. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through coding to identify themes, subthemes, and related properties. Interviews were conducted with 18 participants from three major Indonesian cities (Makassar, Surabaya, and Batam), as well as individuals receiving treatment in Singapore and Malaysia. …

Board Of Trustees Agenda, Sep. 25, 2026, Indiana State University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees

Indiana State University Board of Trustees meeting agenda

Cognitive Impairment In Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Conceptual Framework And Therapeutic Implications, Brandon Shin, Vishnu Achyuth Suresh, Nicholas Borg

Student Publications

Background: Cognitive impairment is an increasingly recognized but poorly understood manifestation of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Although deficits in attention, executive functioning, memory, processing speed, and reaction time have been reported, the characteristics, trajectory, and underlying mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction remain incompletely defined. Interpretation of the literature is limited by heterogeneity in study design, variability in neurocognitive assessment methods, and the absence of standardized cognitive outcome measures. Consequently, cognitive morbidity is overlooked in clinical practice and is not incorporated into treatment decision-making, which remains centered around visual outcomes and papilledema.

Methods: In this narrative review, we synthesize evidence from IIH …

Mapping Coastal Community-Based Tourism Empowerment: Public Policy And Sustainable Development On Bangka Island, Putra Pratama Saputra, Hadiyanto Abdul Rachim, Arie Surya Gutama, Moch. Zaenal Hakim

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study analyzes the conceptualization and practice of community-based tourism empowerment on Bangka Island, serving as a strategic approach to promote sustainable and inclusive coastal tourism. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, data were gathered through interviews with nine key informants, observations, and policy document analysis. Findings reveal that these empowerment initiatives significantly strengthen individual and institutional capacities, enhance community participation in tourism planning, and drive economic diversification from extractive industries to sustainable tourism. Furthermore, this approach facilitates economic transformation through the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and coastal ecotourism, concurrently reinforcing environmental conservation and cultural preservation. However, …

Imsa 2026 Profile, Office Of College And Academic Counseling

IMSA Profile

The nationally-ranked Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) develops creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As a teaching and learning laboratory created by the State of Illinois, IMSA enrolls academically talented Illinois students in its tuition-free residential Academy for grades 10-12. Students are challenged with a rigorous curriculum designed to develop them into problem solvers and critical thinkers. Notable IMSA students include YouTube Co-Founder Steve Chen, PayPal Co-Creator Yu Pan, Yelp Co-Founder Russell Simmons, SparkNotes and OkCupid Co-Founder Sam Yagan, and Hearsay Social Founder Clara Shih.

Fitness Standards For Police, Kam Robles

PNHA Review

This research addresses the inherent stressors within police work and the health and wellness problems prevalent among law enforcement officers. Police officers are at a higher risk of many of the health concerns currently plaguing the population of the already unhealthy United States. Of particular note is that back injury and pain stands out as potentially the most prevalent among the health issues experienced by law enforcement personnel. Worsening this fact is the recent trend of law enforcement administrators shying away from the issue of the unhealthy employees of law enforcement agencies. The solution of implementing widespread voluntary physical fitness …

The Psychology Of Healthy Aging: A Blend Of Cognitive And Behavioral Aspects For Staying Healthy, Esther B. Noah

PNHA Review

Human life expectancy has increased in most parts of the world with a noticeable demographic shift toward a larger population of older adults. This increase and shift have created an unexpected gap in our healthcare system and society. With these changes, how can older adults be guaranteed increased longevity, quality of life, and a healthy life span? This article explores the psychology of healthy aging, emphasizing that proactive health management plans and positive health behaviors contribute to healthy aging among the older adult population. While primary data collection through interviews was conducted to support the study, the analysis primarily relies …

From The Editor-In Chief, Richard W. Jelier

PNHA Review

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Pnha Review

PNHA Review

No abstract provided.

Mental Health Standards In Michigan Juvenile Detention Facilities: At Odds With Best Practice And State’S Own Public Health Code, Jessica M. Montgomery

PNHA Review

This paper details the current standards and qualifications established for mental health providers in Michigan juvenile justice system (JJS) detention facilities. The state policies regulating JJS detention facilities are compared with Michigan’s Public Health Code Act (1978) and best-practice recommendations published by national mental health and juvenile justice authorities. This paper finds that Michigan policies regulating JJS detention facilities fall below both national best-practice recommendations and the state Public Health Code (1978), and effectively establish a standard of mental health care for youth in JJS detention facilities that is below what is established for youth in the general public. It …

Differences In Mental Toughness Among Mixed Martial Artists And Physically Active Individuals, Savannah M. Calleja, Soleil Ramos, Victoria Potvin, Anthony A. Ricci, Gabriel J. Sanders, Corey A. Peacock

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a physiological and psychological demanding sport. While the majority of the literature conducted in MMA regards physiological health and risk of injury, researchers are beginning to assess the psychological profiles of MMA athletes. Previous studies have evaluated mental toughness (MT) within MMA; however, no study has examined MT in MMA athletes at the professional division. Therefore, the primary purpose of this research was to evaluate the difference in mental toughness between professional MMA athletes and physically active individuals. Secondary aims are to evaluate potential variations in mental toughness within the professional level between champion and …

Business Writing Performance And Instructional Practices Under English Medium Instruction: A Multisite Mixed-Methods Study Of Diploma Students In Saudi Arabia, Shaykhah Saeed Raffaa

UB Journal for Humanities

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 treats English Medium Instruction (EMI) as a central instrument in vocational colleges, on the assumption that delivering content in English develops the professional literacies, business writing among them, that the labour market demands. This study examined business writing performance and the instructional practices associated with it among diploma students in Marketing and Business Administration at five Saudi public applied colleges, using a convergent mixed-methods design that combined a writing performance task (N = 130), a perceptions and affective-beliefs questionnaire (N = 130), semi-structured instructor interviews (N = 18), and structured classroom observations (N = 10). Because …

The Thank-All-Nearby Primitive: One-Tap Anonymous Gratitude Transfer To Everyone Nearby Over Bluetooth Low Energy Proximity, Thon Ly

Defensive Publications Series

We specify a one-tap broadcast operation for anonymous peer-to-peer value transfer to every co-present, human-verified recipient within Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) proximity, optionally carrying money or time, in which each recipient receives a verifiable receipt and the sender receives no exportable record. The recipient set is resolved by physical co-presence rather than account lookup: devices advertise rotating, unlinkable proximity beacons, with ultra-wideband ranging and peer-to-peer nearby-connection APIs as optional substrates, and the platform learns only that two devices were in range, never absolute location. Components: (1) sender authentication by a per-action passkey signature, within a proof-of-humanity layer attesting a distinct …

Respiratory Biofeedback Coupled To Ai-Mediated Contemplative Guidance: A Wearable Closed-Loop Breathing Sensor With Adaptive Audio Meditation Guidance, Thon Ly

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure specifies a closed-loop respiratory biofeedback system: a chest-worn wearable respiration sensor (respiratory inductance plethysmography, with inertial and acoustic alternatives) streams breathing rate, depth and rhythm, in privacy-preserving form, to an AI meditation-guidance agent, which returns adaptive audio guidance to the wearer in real time. The device also renders the breath visibly, as ambient light modulated to the breathing cycle, so the practitioner receives continuous external feedback and the guidance agent receives a live physiological signal rather than self-report.

Three aspects are disclosed as prior art: (I) the integrated closed loop — sensor, on-device processing, guidance agent grounded in …

Verified-Human Anonymous Local Gratitude Transfer: Proximity-Bounded Anonymous Peer-To-Peer Payment With Per-Action Proof Of Personhood, Thon Ly

Defensive Publications Series

We specify an anonymous peer-to-peer payment and tipping method in which one signed transaction binds three properties: per-action proof of personhood by user-verified FIDO2/WebAuthn signing on an attested platform authenticator, physical proximity attestation by Ultra-Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) ranging, and sender anonymity toward the recipient. The device-signed ranging transcript is placed inside the payload over which the WebAuthn assertion is computed, with a verifier-issued single-use nonce, so user verification and co-location are attested by one signature over one object.

Proximity requires one UWB ranging (IEEE 802.15.4z secure ranging where exposed) or two agreeing mechanisms among UWB, BLE …

The Time-Locked Gift Tag: Qr- And Nfc-Addressed Gift Labels With Scheduled Reveal Of The Message, The Sender And A Pledge Of Time, Thon Ly

Defensive Publications Series

We specify a QR- or NFC-addressed physical gift label that replaces a handwritten gift tag with a scanned, time-locked reveal: the sender, recipient and message fields are each independently sealed and released at a chosen date or occasion. Scanned before that moment, a web page shows the structure of the gift (which sealed fields exist, with a countdown) but not their content; re-scanning the label at or after the moment unlocks the fields without an app install. Beside the message, the label carries a pledge of the giver's own time to the recipient, rendered as an offer of presence with …

Analysis Of Factors Affecting Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Performance In Private Hospital “X” Surabaya, Yuliana Yuliana, Dewi Sri Surya Wuisan

International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR)

This study investigates the effect of six key factors on pharmaceutical supply chain performance (PSCP) at Private Hospital “X” in Surabaya: inventory level control, demand forecasting, supply chain flexibility, supply chain integration, supply chain visibility, and information sharing. A quantitative approach was applied using a questionnaire survey in April 2025, with 187 medical and non-medical staff meeting the inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), complemented by Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) and Prediction-Oriented Segmentation (PLS-POS). Results show that all factors positively and significantly influence PSCP (p < 0.05), with inventory level control being the most dominant (β = 0.336), followed by supply chain visibility (β = 0.224). IPMA identifies inventory level control and demand forecasting as high importance–high performance, while supply chain visibility shows high performance but lower perceived importance. These findings align with the Resource-Based View (RBV), highlighting the strategic value of integrated internal resource management. The study recommends enhancing pharmaceutical supply chain systems to improve hospital efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability.

Fear, Threat, And Google Searches: Examining Ideological Shifts Using Big Data, Erin M. Cerasaro

Master's Theses

In their review of research on factors that affect political conservatism, Jost et al. brought together research from several theoretical viewpoints. This produced a model of psychological needs and motives in individuals which react with stimuli that make them feel fearful and threatened (F/T), increasing adherence to conservative ideology. While some research supports these claims, evidence shows that in some contexts these variables increase ideological polarization overall, but may also have a greater impact on conservative attitudes specifically. Researchers have had difficulty in investigating these relationships in naturalistic settings due to an inability to manipulate events that precipitate this ideological …

Social Frailty In Asia: A Scoping Review Of Interventions, Gaps, And Priorities, Julienne Ivan Dagondon Soberano, Jed Montayre

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: Social frailty (SF) is a multidimensional state of social vulnerability linked to adverse outcomes in older adults. Asia’s rapidly aging population poses challenges for health systems, particularly in addressing SF-related conditions. This scoping review aimed to describe existing SF interventions in Asian countries, assess evidence volume and characteristics, and identify research gaps.

Methods: A systematic search of eight databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) identified English-language studies published from January 2020 to September 2025. The review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Interventions were synthesized across the care continuum (prevention, …

Virtual Reality Simulation Prebrief: Promoting Psychological Safety And Clinical Reasoning, Holldrid Odreman, Ryan Mcnally, Christian Baltus

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

A review of the simulation literature highlights the need to further understand the relationship between psychological safety and students’ clinical performance. Guided by Situated Learning Theory, this study aimed to determine to what extent there were differences in the experience of psychological safety and the performance of clinical judgement between three different pre-briefing techniques. Situated learning theory purports that learning is experienced within an individual's environment which is supported by the individual's active participation and shared with others. Therefore, as the collaboration and interaction between learner and educator during a pre-briefing activity increase, the level of support for learning and …

Perceptions Of Ai Caring Behaviors Among University Students In Kenya And The United States, Rachel W. Kimani, Rose Maina

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

As AI tools increasingly mediate health communication, questions arise about whether users perceive these systems as capable of relational behaviors such as caring, empathy, or emotional support. Existing scholarship emphasizes accuracy and safety, yet little is known about how the emotional tone of AI communication, caring versus neutral, shapes user perceptions across cultural contexts.

This research-in-progress pilot examines how college students in the United States and Kenya interpret caring-tone and neutral-tone AI responses in health scenarios. Using a 2 (Tone: Caring vs. Neutral) × 2 (Health Context: Mental vs. Physical) × 2 (Site: U.S. vs. Kenya) mixed factorial vignette design, …

Identifying Barriers To Reporting Concerning Behaviors In A Public Secondary School, Will Durgin

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Threat assessment is an effective school safety practice that allows schools to identify concerning behavior and intervene before it reaches a crisis. Because this process often begins with a staff member recognizing and reporting a concern, this study examined how school staff interpret concerning behavior, understand their responsibility to report it, and what can make reporting more difficult.

The study used a two-phase action research design in a small, rural public school district in western New York. The first phase used a survey built around five behavior vignettes, while the second phase consisted of staff interviews.

Staff generally agreed when …

Exploring Sub-Saharan African Immigrants’ Perceptions Of The American Criminal Justice System, Martin B. Kalala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored sub-Saharan African immigrants’ perceptions of the United States criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and correctional institutions. Despite the significant and growing presence of sub-Saharan African immigrants in the United States, their perspectives remain underrepresented in criminal justice research. Grounded in critical race theory and informed by a narrative inquiry lens, this study sought to understand how race, immigrant status, and cultural background shape perceptions of fairness, trust, and legitimacy within the justice system. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 sub-Saharan African immigrants residing in the United States. The data were analyzed …

Strategic Effort For Employee Retention In The Financial Industry, Gail Nichole Flores

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to properly retain financial industry employees can cause a chain reaction of detrimental issues, including financial consequences, high turnover rates, and vulnerabilities to an organization’s overall health and success in the industry. Financial industry leaders may struggle to maintain an appealing organization for current and prospective employees, hindering their ability to retain talent profitably and sustainably and gain a competitive advantage in the financial industry. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies that financial industry leaders use to retain employees and remain profitable and sustainable. Using Herzberg’s two–factor theory of motivation, …

The Role Of Counselors In Facilitating Family Involvement In The Treatment Of Individuals With Severe Mental Illness: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Shanice Stephenson-Walcott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore counselors’ experiences with family involvement in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Although family involvement has been associated with improved treatment outcomes, limited research has explored counselors’ experiences facilitating family involvement in SMI treatment, leaving a gap in understanding the challenges counselors face in clinical practice. Guided by Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology, this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study included six licensed professional counselors experienced in counseling individuals with SMI. The research question asked: How do counselors experience family involvement facilitation in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness? …

Epistemic Resilience As A Media Literacy Goal: Moving Beyond Detection In The Age Of Generative Ai, Author Information Removed

JMLE Submissions Open for Review

Generative AI, encompassing large language models, image generators, and voice synthesis tools, has transformed the information landscape in ways that extend well beyond the production of fabricated content. By undermining the evidentiary signals through which individuals and communities have historically calibrated epistemic trust, it poses a structural challenge to existing media literacy frameworks. These frameworks, built around a “detect-and-debunk” paradigm, equip learners to identify false content through source verification, fact-checking, and evidence evaluation. These skills remain valuable but rest on assumptions that generative AI has rendered progressively less tenable. This article proposes “epistemic resilience” as a complementary goal: the cultivated …

Online Humiliation And Audience Responsibility In Adolescent Media Literacy Education, Author Information Removed

JMLE Submissions Open for Review

Online humiliation raises an educational problem that extends beyond identifying harmful messages: audience participation can make another person's embarrassment socially rewarding. This essay develops an argument for teaching responsibility for reactions and redistribution. Five student quotations reported in a Ghanaian doctoral manuscript illustrate tensions between recognition, joking, unwanted exposure and silent disagreement. They inform a conceptual discussion rather than a new analysis of focus-group transcripts. Drawing on scholarship on adolescent peer relations, bystander behaviour and media literacy, the essay distinguishes interpreting a message from judging what one's participation does to others. It proposes a classroom sequence using fictional exchanges to …