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Complete Issue Vol. 8, Issue 2

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Complete Issue Vol. 8, Issue 2

Depression And Psychotic Disorders Elevate Inpatient Burden After Posterior Cervical Decompression And Fusion: Prioritizing Screening And Targeted Discharge Planning, Leonidas E. Mastrokostas, Paul G. Mastrokostas, Daniel Yusupov, Abigail Razi, Aaron B. Lavi, Luke B. Schwartz, Sean Inzerillo, Mohamed Said, Alexander Kucherina, Pemla Jagtiani, Arie Monas, John K. Houten, Christopher K Kepler, Jad Bou Bou Monsef, Afshin E. Razi, Mitchell K. Ng

Rothman Institute Papers

CONTEXT: Psychiatric comorbidity has been associated with worse perioperative outcomes and greater healthcare utilization after spine surgery.

AIMS: This study compared complications and healthcare utilization among posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) patients with depression, psychotic disorders, or no mental-health diagnosis.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis of the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2022.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The database was queried for elective adult PCDF encounters. Mental-health exposures were defined using Elixhauser indicators for depression and psychoses. Outcomes included medical complications, non-routine discharge, inpatient mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square and multivariate logistic …

Effectiveness Of Medical Clowns In Improving Emotion For Children Undergoing Invasive Treatments, Pao-Li Pan, Wei-Wen Wu, Cheng-Shi Shiu, Meng-Yao Lu, Leigh Lu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and Objective: Children diagnosed with cancer often find hospitalization and medical procedures confusing and distressing due to limited developmental understanding. Hospitalized children frequently experience heightened anxiety, especially during invasive procedures. Among psychosocial interventions, medical clowning has emerged as effective in improving emotional well-being. In Taiwan, past study suggested group-based medical clown services improve children’s emotional well-being, but evidence for individualized services—recently adopted in Taiwan—is limited. In other countries, individualized clown interventions before procedures, such as intravenous insertion or surgery, significantly reduce anxiety and distress. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of individualized medical clown services in enhancing the …

Using Greater Resilience Information Toolkit As A Transformative Strategy For Native American Women, Kathy Prue-Owens, Marie Zephier, Lauren Shaw, Nicole Weis

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Purpose: Native Americans (NAs) exhibit lower quality of life due to poverty, inadequate health services, historica/ongoing discrimination. NA women are underrepresented when it comes to the epidemic of violence, mental health and wellness outcomes.The purpose of this mixed method study was to explore the relationship between Native American (NA) women cultural beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions by gathering cultural input on the Greater Resilience Information Toolkit (GRIT) program.

Methods: This is a mixed-method community-based participatory research (CBPR) study. Self-efficacy is the theoretical framework. Upon Institutional Review Board approvals, flyers were posted at the tribal wellness center. Prior to focus groups, participants …

Leaving Against Medical Advice In The Ed: Understanding A Preventable Threat To Patient Safety, Chhaya Gupta, Shakti Shishodia, Pallavi Sehgal, Deborah Eke

URGENT Matters

No abstract provided.

Dnp Final Report: Improving Length Of Stay Outcomes Using Structured Barrier Rounds: A Quality Improvement Project, Martha Kwamboka Apella

DNP Final Reports

Prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the acute care setting is a challenging issue driven by multiple factors. Increased LOS is associated with mortality, hospital-acquired infections, patient safety events, functional impairment, decreased quality of life, social isolation, and increased cost of care. The causes of increased LOS in the medical-surgical unit are unclear, necessitating an evidence-based project to address the problem. The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to implement structured interdisciplinary barrier rounds and evaluate their effect on LOS, opportunity days, and estimated cost of care in a medical-surgical unit. The facility complex care coordinator (CCC) was identified …

Board Of Trustees Agenda, Jul. 24, 2026, Indiana State University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees

Indiana State University Board of Trustees meeting agenda

Mapping Media Literacy Assessment: A Systematic Review To Connect The Dots, Lara Azar, Casey Frechette, Hafsa Zia, Joy Amulya

Journal of Media Literacy Education

The goal of this study was to address persistent challenges in assessing media literacy by reviewing assessments developed between 2011 and 2020. We combined landscape analysis, research synthesis, and grounded theory to select assessments, identify key attributes, iteratively code, analyze, and create an integrated synthesis of approaches to media literacy assessments. The analysis classified media literacy constructs by learning dimension (knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors) and participation mode (consumption, engagement, creation). The results showed that while most assessments focused on consumption-oriented constructs, engagement- and creation-oriented constructs were also included. Assessments primarily served three research purposes: evaluating media literacy levels in populations, …

Early Indicators Of Transition To Severe Dependency In Older Adults With Dementia, Kuei-Min Chen, Szu-Yu Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Functional assessment plays a critical role in monitoring dementia progression. However, the early identification of individuals who are at risk of rapidly deteriorating into severe functional dependency remains a significant challenge in dementia care. This study aimed to address this issue by examining the association between cognitive impairment and functional ability among older adults with dementia.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional survey design, recruiting 258 older adults from 22 adult daycare centers in southern Taiwan. Data collected included demographic characteristics (age, sex, education, marital status, and cohabitation status), chronic diseases, cognitive impairment, psychiatric and behavioral symptoms, and functional …

Secondary Traumatic Stress In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Kristen N. Oakley, Linda Carman Copel, Jennifer Gunberg Ross

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nursing students undergoing clinical training are at risk of developing negative physical and psychological secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. However, the study of STS in this population has been limited by both a lack of clarity on the concept of STS and the lack of generalizable findings. Therefore, the purpose of this multi-method study was to determine the prevalence, severity, and experience of STS in traditional, non-accelerated prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students in the United States. The relationship between STS and personal and clinical learning environment factors was also explored. A descriptive, correlational multi-method survey design was used. Instruments included a …

Prescribing Poetry: Incorporating Literary Arts Into Patient Recovery, Amanda K. Bauer

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: Poetry can help people understand and express complex emotions that often become apparent during illness. This literature review aims to determine whether poetry therapy -i.e., reading, writing, or listening to poetry- affects patient well-being when compared with standard of care treatment.

Methods: Google Scholar and Valparaiso University's databases were searched using primary keywords "poetry therapy" and "poetry in medicine" to find six English-language studies published after 2008 that used poetry as the primary intervention.

Results: Across three studies, poetry therapy showed reductions in anxiety and stress levels. Patients also showed improvements in emotional regulation, with one study citing reductions …

Getting Tolkien Right: Middle-Earth In The National Review, Craig Franson

Journal of Tolkien Research

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings entered Anglo-American popular consciousness as an emblem of 1960s, leftist youth culture, but the novel slowly gained currency across the political right. In the U.S., conservative intellectuals published book notes and articles on Tolkien’s writing in their movement’s leading journals, gradually habituating their readers to seeing the once-obscure English fantasist as a canonical writer for American conservatism. The most prominent of these journals was William F. Buckley’s National Review, which recurrently promoted Tolkien’s writing and offered a distinctly partisan interpretation of his texts. This paper offers a partial outline of the conservative …

Lived Experiences Of Emotional Competence Development Among Online Doctoral Clinical Psychology Students During Clinical Training, Michelle Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emotional competence is essential for effective clinical practice, professional development, and client care. However, limited research has examined how emotional competence develops among students in fully online doctoral clinical psychology programs. This qualitative descriptive phenomenological study explored how students enrolled in online doctoral clinical psychology programs experience the development of emotional competence during clinical field training. Guided by Goleman’s emotional competence framework, the lived experiences of doctoral students as they developed emotional awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and relationship management skills was examined. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 purposively selected participants enrolled in online doctoral clinical psychology programs …

Leadership Role In The Formation Of Leadership Qualities, Culture Of Business Communication, And Emotional Intelligence Of Future Higher Education Professionals, Larysa Hren, Arseniy Khaziyev, Kostiantyn Kachailo, Ivan Kirsanov, Mykola Chebotarev

Higher Learning Research Communications

Introduction/Aims: The study was conducted among 2nd- and 3rd-year undergraduate students and 1st-year master’s students majoring in three specialties: psychology, social security, and medicine. The research examined the influence of leadership qualities on professional training, emotion management, and business communication skills of students in higher education institutions. It explored how these competencies collectively enhance adaptability and preparedness for professional activities in fields such as psychology, social work, and medicine, addressing gaps in educational methodologies.

Methods: We employed a comprehensive, four-stage methodology with content analysis as the primary data collection method. The study involved 63 participants from the National …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors In Counselor Education And Supervision Doctoral Programs: A Phenomenological Study Of Self-Efficacy And Professional Identity, Bryana Lynn Caviness

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceived impact of doctoral studies on self-efficacy for school counselors who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) from CACREP-accredited programs. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory as it emphasizes the role of beliefs in one’s capabilities to manage prospective situations. This study sought to understand the lived experiences of these professionals and how their doctoral education influenced their confidence in performing the multifaceted roles of school counseling. By capturing these lived experiences, the study aimed to identify both the strengths …

The Phenomenology Of Residential Youth In Child Welfare Settings And The Social Workers Who Work With Them., April Leigh Rorabaugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study examines the experiences and challenges faced by social workers in child placement for adolescents aged 12-18 within North Carolina’s child welfare system, an issue that warrants immediate attention. Hardworking and determined social workers are on the ground fighting in an already overtaxed system that is resulting in options that are frighteningly few for the care our youth so desperately need. Many of the most vulnerable children in the welfare system are being placed in other states for residential treatment. This is not only traumatic but also robs youth of everything they are familiar with at such a …

The Vcu School Of Dentistry Craniofacial Team, Bhavna Shroff Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Va Dent J April, May And June 2011

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Developing An Empirically-Driven Immigration Policy Towards Socially Inclusive Hong Kong: A Social Justice-Oriented Acculturation Framework, Gizem Arat, Narine Kerelian

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

We conducted a qualitative study to develop an empirically driven social justice-oriented acculturation framework by exploring educators’ perceptions of diverse ethnic groups’ social inclusion in Hong Kong. Twenty in-depth interviews with educators serving ethnic minorities in Hong Kong were conducted adopting a vignette methodology using examples of specific groups relevant to Hong Kong. Based on our findings, we developed a social justice-oriented acculturation framework centred on four categories (assimilation, separation, marginalization, and integration) for understanding the interplay of factors in the exclusion or inclusion of diverse groups in mainstream society; and distinguishing the interchangeable uses of assimilation and acculturation—as a …

Beyond The Classroom: Five Considerations For Actualizing Social Justice In Practicum Education, Priscila Llamosa

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

Social justice, a core tenet of social work, is variably integrated into education programs' explicit curricula, leaving students with a limited conceptual understanding. Practicum[1] education, crucial for theory-practice integration, offers opportunities for developing social work skills while upholding social justice principles. This paper addresses how practicum instructors can nurture students’ social justice-oriented practice by presenting a framework for practicum education and examining its five components. Drawing from theory, empirical literature, and practice experience, the author suggests ways for practicum instructors to engage each component. Incorporating these into practicum education can enable students to actualize ADEI values in practice and …

A Critical Review On Enhancing Equity Of Mental Health Treatment Of African American Families Through Social Support And Social Capital, Julie Radlauer-Doerfler, Morgan E. Cooley, Heather M. Thompson, Atensia Earp Bowen, Gabe Caress, Alicia Best

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

African American adults and children experience both disproportionality and disparity when in contact with the mental health delivery system. There are a number of contextual factors that influence the treatment of African American families, such as systemic oppression or racism in both society and the behavioral health system or individual expressions of mental health symptomology. This review will provide an overview of how mental health disparities crossover systems, perceptions of mental health and mental health treatment among African American families, provide some context for why this review was written, as well as discuss the context of social support and social …

Breaking Barriers: A Student Led Racial Equity Assignment, Emily Murphy, Carol Bennett- Speight, Cecily Mitchell-Harper

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

This paper presents an innovative student led racial equity assignment in a small bachelor’s in social work program in the New York metropolitan area. This paper will define epistemological racism and utilize concepts from Narrative Theory and Critical Race Theory, to critically analyze what is taught about the pioneers of social work, identifying the stories and narratives that are told and the ones that are not told. This operationalization of the theories in practice with students will cultivate mindset shifts and strategies that enable participants to engage in social work practice that fully embodies the core values of the profession. …

Building Transgender And Gender Expansive Capacity In Social Work Education, Ashling Hallford, Aisha Chapra

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

The problem to be addressed through this paper is the lack of advocacy and curriculum around transgender and gender expansive (TGE) issues in Social Work higher education. TGE people face threats to their rights through oppressive, state-level legislation, with 437 anti-trans or anti-LGBTQ+ bills as identified by the American Civil Liberties Union being debated (2024). Prock, et al, (2022) found that 40% of social work programs in religiously affiliated institutions used discriminatory language targeting TGE people in their student and faculty literature. This paper will describe recommendations for social work education and social work practice around TGE issues including faculty …

Screening And Treatment Protocols Used In Nicus Across Minnesota For Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (Pmads), Rachael Witt

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

Parents of infants with prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalizations are a population that is overlooked in recommended routine screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), yet this population is at greater risk for developing diagnosable mental health disorders. Previous research shows that across the US, PMAD screening and treatment practices vary widely, with many NICUs not providing any routine PMAD screening, psychoeducation, or treatment options to parents. The objective of this study was to explore the current mental health screening and treatment protocols used in NICUs across the state of Minnesota to learn if there are areas …

Utilizing Personal Stories Of Race In Child Welfare Education, Laura D. Boltz, Veronica Knowles, Amari Cooper

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

Families of color are overrepresented in the child welfare system. This is an issue that needs to be addressed in multiple ways, including social work education. However, policy changes may make it more difficult to address race in the classroom in a way that doesn’t attract attention. One of the ways that educators can address this is by using personal stories from their own practice experience to educate their students. In this study we discuss the literature around using personal stories and include our own personal stories that we have used in the classroom to have difficult discussions surrounding race …

Evaluating The Authentic Family Engagement And Strengthening Approach, Morgan E. Cooley, Vaughn J. Crichlow, Gabriel T. Cesar, Marianna L. Colvin, Corey B. Best, Kristin Smyth, Robin Jimenez-Bean

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

Persistent racial disproportionality of Black and brown families in the child welfare system across decades and generations highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of child removal and the urgency of authentic family engagement initiatives. The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether a group of child protective investigators who received (1) specialized training and (2) monthly family engagement and antiracism coaching during supervision sessions demonstrated fewer monthly removals of children from families compared to a group of investigators in the same service area who did not receive specialized training or coaching. The secondary purpose …

Street-Level Mentors And Counselors’ Educational Support To Adolescents In Urban Kenya, Benta A. Abuya Dr., Nelson Muhia

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This article seeks to establish the experiences of mentors and counselors as “street-level bureaucrats” who worked with students and parents to deliver an after-school support program in urban Kenya. Data were collected from interviews with six mentors and four counselors at the endline evaluation of the Advancing Learning Outcomes for Transformational Change (ALOT Change III). The interviews were conducted in November and December 2021 with parents/guardians, mentors, counselors, and community leaders. We employed the analytical approach by Miles and Huberman to answer the research questions. Our findings showed that mentors and counselors were pillars of the intervention, respectively, with after-school …

Adolescent With Pediatric Liver Transplantation: The Perspectives Of Quality Of Life And Self-Care, Ya-Hui Chang, Bih-Shya Gau, Ming-Chih Ho, Jia-Feng Wu, Hsiao-Ling Yang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and Significance: Many children with end-stage liver disease have their lives extended by liver transplantation, growing into adolescence and even adulthood. Therefore, it is important to understand the long-term health outcomes of liver transplantation and provide relevant assistance during this developmental process. However, there is a lack of domestic research on the long-term and comprehensive health outcomes of pediatric liver transplantation, and less attention is paid to the children's own self-care ability and development.

Objective: To understand the attributes, health-related quality of life, and chronic disease self-care ability of adolescents who have received liver transplantation in early childhood and …

Residual Effects Of Childhood Sexual Victimization On Black Caribbean Immigrants’ Adult Functionality, Sophia Elaine Profit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual victimization is associated with long-term psychological, emotional, and functional challenges that may persist into adulthood. Despite a growing body of literature on childhood trauma, limited research has explored its residual effects on adult functionality among Black Caribbean immigrants. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the residual effects of childhood sexual victimization on adult functionality among Black Caribbean immigrants. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 9 participants through social media platforms. Rational choice theory served as the conceptual framework to examine how trauma-related and sociocultural factors shaped participants' decision-making processes. Data were collected …

Administrative Discharge Strategies To Decrease Readmission Rates Of Black Patients In Acute Care Hospitals, Patricia Cummings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High 30-day hospital readmission rates among Black patients remain a healthcare administration problem associated with high costs and poor care quality. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based discharge planning strategies to reduce hospital readmissions among Black patients. The review question was used to examine strategies healthcare administrators can implement to enhance discharge planning for Black patients. Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome model guided the review. A literature search yielded 87 relevant articles; 27 articles published from 2021 through 2026 were appraised using the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice model, and 25 were used in this review. Thematic analysis resulted in …