Digital Commons Network^™

"Foul Death, Bitter Death": On Ivan Illich's Amicus Mortis, Babette Babich

Articles and Chapters in Academic Book Collections

No abstract provided.

The Lived Experiences Of Deaf People In Carceral Settings, Grace Lester

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

There is a paucity of research that explores the deaf experience within carceral settings, and a lack of large, rigorously designed studies that provide conclusive evidence of this phenomenon. Similarly, policy development regarding the abolition of, or reformations to, the corrections system in the United States rarely addresses the needs of deaf people within this system. A lack of understanding of the experiences of deaf individuals creates a barrier to the assurance that justice is provided equitably through effective, accessible services and facilities which carceral structures may be inherently unequipped to provide. Through semi-structured interviews, this preliminary study inquired formerly …

Covid-19 Patients Who Discharge With Home Oxygen Have Lower Readmission Rates Than Covid-19 Patients Who Discharge Without Oxygen, Samantha G. Landers

2023 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

The purpose of this study was to explore what the best care should be at discharge after being diagnosed with COVID-19. This was a retrospective study using data from electronic health records. Patients discharged to home with oxygen (O2) were less likely to be readmitted within 30 days. Linear Regression was computed to determine variables that could predict if discharge with and without O2 would affect readmission rates. When adjustments were made for co-variants, it was determined that patients having been in the ICU on the ventilator were 2.6 times more likely to be readmitted within 30 days. However, COVID-19 …

A Survey On Digital Agriculture In Five West African Countries, Degila Jules, Ida Sèmévo Tognisse, Anne-Carole Honfoga, Sèton Calmette Ariane Houetohossou, Fréjus Ariel Kpedetin Sodedji, Souand Peace Gloria Tahi, Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo

AGriDI

This study focuses on agriculture, which is the main source of economic growth in many West African countries. In recent years, conventional agriculture has undergone a remarkable evolution and digital technologies are widely used for different purposes. While the world is rapidly using advanced digital technologies to grow their agriculture, Africa seems to be lagging behind, especially West Africa. To know how to contribute effectively, it is important to know what is being performed about this issue. The objective of this study is to examine the state of digital agriculture in five countries, namely, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, …

"The Intersection Of Healthcare And Technology: Reflections And Impact From My Netsmart Internship”, Jacob Anderson

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Internships provide valuable opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in their field of study. As a Solution Delivery Analyst intern at Netsmart, a healthcare technology company, I had the opportunity to work in the human services and post-acute care sector. During my internship, I shadowed the development and implementation of innovative technology solutions aimed at improving patient outcomes and increasing efficiency in healthcare delivery. I will provide a comprehensive overview of my internship experience as a Solution Delivery Analyst at Netsmart. I will discuss a project and tasks that I worked on during my internship, including learning about software …

Developing Meaningful Leisure Activities For Residents In An Assisted-Living Facility, Mabry Watson

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Ultimately, residents’ engagement in leisure activities within assisted living facilities are crucial to increase their overall quality of life, self-esteem, and longevity. The lack of activity coordinators not providing resident-centered activities promotes the need for meaningful leisure activity programs to decrease occupational deprivation. Occupational therapists’ primary obligation is to promote independence within assisted-living facilities and any client they are presented with. OTs determine what their clients identify as meaningful to them in their daily occupations. They have a unique perspective on health and wellness, allowing them to design programs that focus on the benefits of providing meaningful and productive occupations …

The African-American Experience In United States Emergency Departments, Grace Elizabeth Sloan

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The research presented addresses the following question: Are African American patients more likely to have a negative experience and outcome than White patients in United States emergency departments? This research was completed using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey dataset from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This collection of data, most recently gathered in 2019, contains over 900 variables documented about patient visits in 24-hour emergency departments around the United States. A select number of variables were isolated and analyzed within the context of race to identify if Black patients fared worse than White patients in terms …

Opioids: The Silent Painkillers Of The 21st Century, Alfonso R. Ibanez Iii

Whittier Scholars Program

This research paper is not solely meant for college academics to add to the tedious job of reading and grading another senior symposium. Instead, I hope this reading finds numerous individuals inside and outside the college institution. It’s important to spread awareness to the general public about opioid addiction, pharmaceutical corruption, and the overall health (well-being) of individuals who live in present day American society.

This paper is organized into numerous sections detailing the history and mass production of pharmaceutical opioids within the United States. The author then focuses on the drug OxyContin for its role within the opioid epidemic …

Report: North Dakota Alzheimer’S And Dementia State Plan: Current Status Of, And Recommendations For, Meeting The Needs Of Individuals And Families With Alzheimer’S Disease And Other Dementias, Shawnda Schroeder, Rebecca Quinn, Laura Hand, Gretchen Dobervich

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

North Dakota reports the fourth highest mortality rate for Alzheimer’s disease in the United States (U.S.) at 52.9 per 100,000 North Dakota residents. The rate for the U.S. is 37 per 100,000 residents. Although leading in mortality, North Dakota is one of a few states with a State Plan for Alzheimer’s and Dementia over 12 years old. This plan was written in July of 2007 and is less than two pages. Although it does mention Alzheimer’s and other other dementias, it does not specifically outline a plan to address services for those living with, or supporting those living with, dementia …

Beyond Covid-19: The Impact Of Recent Pandemics On Medical Students And Their Education: A Scoping Review, Moneb Bughrara, Stephanie Swanberg, Victoria Lucia, Keaton Schmitz, Dawn Jung, Tracy Wunderlich-Barillas

Posters

Over the past two years, COVID-19 has greatly altered undergraduate medical education (UME) as well as daily life. Medical schools across the world were disrupted and had to immediately adapt the educational experience to the online environment in order to continue the delivery of quality UME. However, COVID-19 was not the only recent pandemic. This posed the question, were similar disruptions and adaptations also seen in recent past pandemics such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) that could have prepared UME for COVID-19? This scoping review investigated the educational and personal impact of recent …

Medical Falsity: The False Claims Act’S Quagmire For Medicare And Medicaid Claims, Jordan R. Einhorn

Buffalo Law Review

No abstract provided.

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Commencement: May 2023, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Conceptualization Of Evidence Used By Surrogate Decision-Makers To Determine A Patient’S Wishes, Michael Bourgoin, Zach Armstrong, Abram Brummett, Mark C. Navin, Jason Wasserman, Stephanie Swanberg

Posters

Many modern concepts within clinical bioethics can be conceptualized in various ways. This subjectivity is demonstrated when analyzing ideas in the literature about the types of evidence that can or should be used by surrogate decision-makers to determine a patient’s wishes. This project aims to explore normative claims on this topic in order to map out the current landscape of the various understandings of this concept.

Decreasing Hospital Readmission Rates Of Heart Failure Patients: An Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Project, Elizabeth Rodriguez

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Teach back is an evidence-based health literacy intervention that encourages patient engagement in own treatment, adherence to treatment, medications, and quality of care. Implementation of teach back method could positively impact readmissions to the hospital in patients experiencing heart failure and any other chronic diseases and it could improve patient’s outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project was to implement teach back method in a home care agency in the Hartford area in patients with HF to prevent readmission to the hospital.

METHODS: The IOWA model was used and PSDA as tools to support EBP project.

RESULTS: Pre and …

Standardizing Initial Inpatient Palliative Care Consultations For Patients Receiving Left Ventricular Assist Devices At A Large Urban Hospital, Deborah A. Szeto

Doctoral Projects

For patients with advanced heart failure (HF) ineligible for or awaiting heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation can be considered. LVADs have helped to improve recipients’ survival rates and quality of life. However, LVAD patients are at risk for complications such as stroke, bleeding, infection, and right ventricular failure. Moreover, events such as end-stage malignancy or progression of a neurodegenerative disorder may occur. Such complications and repeated hospitalizations can pose questions about the acceptability of LVAD therapy. As such, both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission require that palliative care (PC) be part …

Evaluation Of A Care Management Program On Family Caregivers Of Persons With Dementia, Victoria L. Jackson

Doctoral Projects

Dementia due to Alzheimer’s and other disease is a growing concern for healthcare providers as the number of individuals in the U.S. population ages. Persons with dementia (PWDs) rely on caregivers, primarily family caregivers (FCGs), for basic and instrumental activities of daily living as the disease progresses. There may be negative outcomes, such as depression, strain, and distress for FCGs of PWDs. Routine assessment and intervention by healthcare providers can address needs of FCGs of PWDs. There are multiple interventions that have demonstrated effectiveness in caring for PWDs and FCGs; one such intervention is care management. The University of California, …

Dean's Research Newsletter, May 2023, Jerry L. Nadler

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Music Therapists' Perspectives On The Use Of Heavy Metal Music In Music Therapy, Jessie E. Davis

Theses & Dissertations

There is little research on heavy metal music in general, and even less research on the application of this genre in music therapy. This study collected data from 201 board certified music therapists who have experience using heavy metal music in their music therapy practice. A variety of open- and closed-ended questions were answered by these participants to gather their perspectives on this topic. Analyzation of quantitative data occurred using cross-tabulation descriptive statistics through Google Forms and qualitative data were analyzed through coding and a content analysis. Quantitative data concluded that participants would like to see an increase in the …

Mental Confidence In Alzheimer's Disease, Harrison Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A simple symptom like forgetfulness can lead to a gradual, subtle decline in the individual’s sense of identity. In dementia, self-efficacy is the foundation that allow individual to prolong their capacity of independence and identity. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prominent form of dementia with tens of millions in the world currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. AD is most often associated with impaired memory, confusion, language impairment, and unpredictable, agitated, aggressive, and paranoid behavior. While there are many studies examining the quality of life in individuals with AD, there are fewer investigating the psychological effects of AD on the …

Perceived Outcomes And Barriers Of Advance Care Planning From Healthcare Professionals, Faith Parsons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Advance care planning (ACP) is the process of aligning patients’ values and preferences to their future medical care. ACP is important in promoting patient autonomy and helping patients and their families prepare for end-of-life conversations. Healthcare teams, made up of physicians, nurses, or social workers, carry the responsibility to engage patients into such conversations. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals regarding ACP outcomes and barriers. This cross- sectional study used survey responses of a convivence sample of 18 allied healthcare professionals and 4 physicians in a not-for-profit, faith-based hospital system in …

Education, Beliefs, And Health Literacy Of Care Providers On Mouth Care Of Older Adults, Molly Lakin

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Oral health is important to one’s overall health and quality of life as it can lead to chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders (Haumschild et al. 2021). In long-term care facilities, it is important that dependent older adults are provided mouth care to maintain their oral health and decrease their chances of developing a chronic illness; however, there are barriers affecting the level, quality, and quantity of mouth care being provided in these facilities. A survey was developed to look at the education, beliefs, and health literacy of care providers on providing mouth care in hopes …

Enhancing Communication Pathways Between Care Environments To Improve Patient Outcomes, Heather Tucker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Conducting hand-off communication among healthcare providers can impact patient outcomes. Lack of communication between healthcare entities at the time of care transition can produce patient harm and lead to adverse events such as medication errors, hospital readmission, and unnecessary emergency department visits. The project goal was to evaluate the impact of communication between acute care and primary practice nurses using a standardized, electronic communication tool within the EHR upon patient discharge from a community-hospital based setting. During implementation, forty-two patients were included in the project based on primary practice follow-up location. Of the 42 eligible patients, the acute care nurses …

Subcutaneous Infusions For Comfort Care Patients, Kelci Steeples

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Over 75% of hospice cases fail to eliminate pain despite high quality hospice care (Herr et al., 2010). The purpose of this quality project was to improve pain management in end-of-life patients via subcutaneous medication administration. An orderset was created to include subcutaneous infusion medications using the collaborative efforts of pharmacy leadership and palliative medicine leadership. Patients requiring pain management who were under hospice or palliative care and, lost intravenous (IV) access, were considered for this quality improvement project. A total of eleven patients met project qualifications, but unfortunately, two patients passed away before receiving pain medications subcutaneously. Project findings …

Advance Care Planning In Primary Care, Isabel Butterfield, Darby Creasey, Jenna Dean

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Advance care planning (ACP) is the process of preemptively making choices regarding medical preferences for end-of-life care, while still having decision-making capacity. Many patients don’t have an advanced directive (AD), or documentation of these decisions. This planning improves the individual’s perception of quality of life, a good death, and autonomy over their healthcare. The discussion regarding ACP can take place in primary care at wellness visits for patients over 18 years old, while healthy and able to discuss their wishes with a trusted medical provider. Providers have tools to aid patients in completing AD; however, barriers include lack of knowledge, …

Reluctancy In Monterey County To Get Covid-19 Vaccine, Kyle Silim

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The agency is Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association & Hospice. The Clinic department of the agency would be implementing the project. The communities served are Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. The problem related to my project is the vaccine hesitancy within Monterey County. The project’s purpose is to address the issue of vaccine hesitancy in Monterey County. The implementation method would be to do outreach within the county about upcoming vaccine clinics. The expected outcomes would be that more people would attend said vaccine clinics. The most important finding is that more people participated when there was outreach …

What Is The Importance Of Social Work Involvement In Hospice Care Transitions For Ill Children And Their Families, Natalie Rodas, Guillermina Morales

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Thousands of children who face terminal illnesses die annually in the United States, 10% of those children and their families have hospice care services available. Through this study, the importance of social work involvement in hospice care transitions for ill children and their families were examined. Due to the scarcity of social work in hospice care settings, this study helped amplify research on the importance of social workers in hospice care for ill children and their families. The study consisted of individual interviews held via Zoom with medical social workers that have experience working in pediatric hospice care. The individual …

Cezzartt: Building Community Through The Arts, Cesar Aguiar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In this project, I propose Building Community through the Arts in San Bernardino California. In the recent decade, the city of San Bernardino has lost so much of its motivation and dedication to care for the art community. The local art community has always been present, however, overseen by the lack of resources and efforts in bringing the art community back to life through events, art shows, gatherings, or awareness within the city. The purpose of this project was to educate and bring awareness to the city and its people regarding the forgotten art community in the city of San …

How Are Medical Social Workers Equipped With Adequate Training To Detect And Report Elder Abuse In Hospice, Crystal Garcia, Katherine Barba

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Purpose: This study explored how equipped medical social workers are with adequate training to detect and report elder abuse in hospice.

This study was carried out in Southern California with the help of participants who currently or have previously worked as medical social workers in hospice. The eleven participants are all women of varying backgrounds in age, ethnicity, cultures, work experience, and licensures.

In the United States, elder abuse is known to affect approximately one out of ten Americans aged sixty and over. However, there are ways we can combat elder abuse. One of the major ways is by properly …

The Psychometric Properties Of The Modified Fear Of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire In Parkinson’S Disease And Older Adults, Billy La, Arturo Aldaco, Ashley Haller

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background/purpose: The Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire (FFABQ), developed in 2011 to measure fear of falling avoidance behavior, has good evidence for reliability and validity. However, a recently modified version (mFFABQ) is theorized to be easier to understand for those completing the questionnaire because the Likert responses are more logical in completing the item stem. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the mFFABQ in adults with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and older adults aged 60-90 years. Methods: Thirty-nine participants (age 72.21 ± 9.5; 29 men, 10 women) diagnosed with PD (diagnosis …

Exploring How Social Determinants Of Health Affects Rates Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Copd) In The Des Moines Metro, Kyla Winkelman

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is consistently in the top ten leading causes of death and most recently ranked fourth in the United States (Heron, 2021). Research on health disparities and SDOH has increased recently as investigators learn their importance in diagnosing chronic conditions. Several studies show that a person’s life and environment can determine their risk of exposure, susceptibility, course, and disease outcome. UnityPoint Health (UPH) clinics were utilized for this project to explore how the social determinants of health and health disparities affect COPD rates in Des Moines, Iowa. Initial data was obtained surrounding COPD statistics in the …