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Counternarratives In Art Education: Portraitures Of Underrepresented Students A Decade After Graduation, Marianna Elrayes

Art Education Masters Theses

The research sought to better understand and advocate for underserved and underrepresented art students in public education through the utilization of counternarratives. How can we effectively resolve social justice issues in art education if we do not listen to the voices and perspectives of the students these issues directly impact? Foundational theory for this research has been the works by Paulo Freire (1970/2017), Antonia Darder (2012), and bell hooks (1994). Through the lens of critical theory, the research provided an overview of academic socio-political issues and oppressive systems in place perpetuating the stigma around underserved and underrepresented students. The research …

Proactive Planning For Contextual Fit: The Role Of The Implementation Premortem, Guillermo M. Wippold, Kaylyn A. Garcia, Ariel Domlyn, Dylan Wong, Maria E. Fernandez

Faculty Publications

Background

Implementation failure is a major barrier to program success. It is widely acknowledged that context matters—individual, community, and organizational norms, values, environment, and priorities influence successful program implementation. A mismatch between how the program was intended to be delivered and the constraints of the context in which it was delivered is a major cause of implementation failure. The barriers to implementation are usually understood after a program has failed. Although there are tools that can help accommodate for, or overcome, contextually-driven sources of implementation failure, there remains a significant gap – a tool and structured approach to analyze data …

Unmasking The Shadows: A Comprehensive Exploration Of Serial Killers, Erica D. Lewis

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership

Using a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative literature review and qualitative case study analysis, this capstone investigates the developmental pathways of serial killers. The study investigates a variety of biological, psychological, and sociological elements—such as genetic predispositions, neurological disorders, childhood traumas, and environmental stressors—interact to shape serial killers. The study offers a multidisciplinary perspective, grounded in criminological models such as routine activity and labeling theories, sociological frameworks such as social disorganization and strain theory, and psychological theories such as psychopathy and attachment theory. Theoretical findings are contextualized through case studies of notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and …

Understanding The Collaborative Role Of Occupational Therapists And Personal Trainers With Young Onset Parkinson’S Populations, Anthony Cervania

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The lack of resources and research on YOPD decreases overall quality of life for individuals with YOPD and decreases treatment quality provided by healthcare professionals due to lacking Evidence Based Practice (EBP).

Navigating Sensory Challenges: Understanding The Sensory Experience Of Adults With Dementia In Adult Day Centers, Bailey Stewart

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Staff had not yet received formal training on how to identify a variety of sensory based behaviors and how to best utilize the sensory room and tailor its use to meet specific individual’s needs from an OT lens.

Advancing The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Diabetes Self-Management: A Community-Focused Approach In Stockton, Benjamin Angel Magallon

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Key Barriers: Lower Socioeconomic Status (LSES), low health literacy, and lack of culturally appropriate diabetes care hinder effective self-management. Gap in Services: Occupational therapy is underutilized in chronic disease care, with unmet needs in addressing diabetes-related depression, physical rehabilitation, and health education. Purpose: Equip occupational therapy students and early-career practitioners to address gaps in diabetes care using evidence-based, client-centered approaches.

Mindfulness, Meaning, And Mental Health: Occupational Therapy At The Heart Of Community Wellness At Acc, Hazel Hyeonjin Yang

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Despite growth, limited research exists on culturally sensitive healthcare interventions and utilization patterns in this group. Aimed to increase awareness and support older adults in accessing mental health services, promotes mindfulness and highlights the role of occupational therapy in community wellness by addressing cultural and generational barriers through workshops.

From Trauma To Triumph: Occupational Therapy Approaches To Addressing Aces And Empowering Change, Kayla Livingston

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem statement: Despite the number of children who are exposed to ACEs, there is limited literature that mentions the relationship between current interventions and the scope of OT.

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Addressing Physical & Psychosocial Health Needs Within The Dance Community To Optimize Artist-Athlete Longevity, Krista Narvasa Antonio

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Purpose: This capstone project seeks to advocate for holisitc and sustainable training approaches in dance by creating a system of improving awareness of current evidence-based protocols and practices surrounding dancer health.

Traumatic Brain Injury In The Criminal Justice System, Molly Mcdavid

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Between 51 - 60.25% of incarcerated individuals and 47% of those on probation have one or more traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) in their lifetime. Despite this, the criminal justice system (CJS) lacks: • Routine screening for TBI, • CJS worker education, on TBI and it’s impact, • TBI specific resources for clients and workers.

Amputation Trends Among People Who Use Drugs In The Context Of Philadelphia’S Increasingly Xylazine Adulterated Drug Supply, Rose Laurano, Monika Pogorzelska-Maziarz, Traci C. Green, Sara Beachy, Kristin L. Rising, Jeffrey K. Hom, Megan K. Reed

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Xylazine-adulterated fentanyl has rapidly spread across the United States and has been increasingly detected in overdose deaths in Philadelphia, PA through medical examiner reports, clinical testing, and widescale drug checking. Xylazine use has been associated with wounds which may lead to amputation, but the extent of this outcome has not been explored.

METHODS: Utilizing the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes, we conducted a de-identified retrospective analysis of data for patients identified with opioid related disorders (ICD-10 code F11) admitted to four different hospitals in Philadelphia, PA between 2018 and 2023. Exposure to xylazine use …

"Check-The-Box" Enrollment Will Limit Participation In Trump Accounts: Lessons From Asset-Building Research, Jin Huang, Margaret M. Clancy, Stephen Roll, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

As the U.S. Treasury Department considers the implementation of Trump Accounts, one proposed enrollment method is a “check-the-box” option on the federal tax return, requiring parents to actively grant permission to open an account. This policy brief draws on evidence from prior research to explain why such a check-the-box opt-in model is very unlikely to achieve full participation in Trump Accounts

Implementation Of Cognitive Therapy Online Modules To Impact Advanced Practice Leader Burnout: A Quality Improvement Project, Courtney Cambell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Advanced Practice Provider (APP) leaders face unique stressors due to their dual roles as clinicians and administrators, which places them at an elevated risk for burnout. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the impact of self-paced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs, specifically Learn to Live and Lyra, on burnout among APP leaders at a medical center affiliated with a university and a children's hospital. Theproject spanned over six weeks, during which participants completed the Mini-Z Worklife Questionnaire for Leaders, assessing the effectiveness of the CBT programs. Although the original statistical analysis plan included a …

Quality Improvement Project Nursing Lab Instructors’ Experiences Using A Structured Prebriefing Tool In Simulation Education, Avion Smith-Samms

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) endorses the inclusion of prebriefing as a Standard of Best Practice to enhance psychological safety, clarity, and engagement in simulation; without a structured approach, nursing students often experience anxiety, reduced confidence, and a lack of preparedness. At the project site, a university’s simulation learning lab, nursing lab instructors reported inconsistent prebriefing practices, leading to suboptimal simulation experiences. This Quality Improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the impact of implementing the INACSL prebriefing tool on nursing lab instructors’ perceptions of preparedness, confidence, and student performance. A quasi-experimental design was used over …

Quality Improvement Project Increasing Job Satisfaction Among Nurses, Sarah Hines

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Ineffective nurse leadership has been attributed to low nurse satisfaction, a decrease in morale, and can increase nurse turnover rates. Patient care and safety can be affected when nurses are dissatisfied with their workplace. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase nurses’ satisfaction rates on three behavioral health units by providing leadership classes for nursing leaders to attend to help combat nurse dissatisfaction rates. The methods utilized a quantitative design with pre- and post-intervention measurements. Pre- and post-intervention Likert-scale questionnaire data collected from direct-patient care registered nurses who met inclusion criteria on three behavioral health units by …

The Relationship Between Hindrance Demands And Work Engagement: The Moderating Role Of Resilience, Adoré Davis

Master's Theses

The coronavirus pandemic decreased work engagement globally due to increased hindrance demands. Many organizations were motivated to increase work engagement, which is positively correlated with beneficial organizational outcomes. The intention of this study is to examine if personal resources like resilience moderate the relationship between hindrance demands and work engagement. Hindrance demands are refined from job demands and hindrance stressors, which are stressors that impede progress in employees. Resilience is a personal resource correlated with pro-social behavior, internal locus of control, and higher levels of empathy. Resilience as a personal resource has mainly been studied as a predictor of work …

The Case For Mass Media Communication Theories In The Study Of Artificial Intelligence: A Uses And Gratifications & Parasocial Interaction Theory Approach, Colin Farmer

Theses

This study analyzes communication and relationship building between textual generative Artificial Intelligence programs and their users through the lens of parasocial interactions and uses and gratifications. It measures loneliness, knowledge gaining, and task completion as the primary reasons motivating perceived relationship development with AI applications. Through a quantitative survey, it explores the connections between time spent using AI, as well as the previously mentioned factors and seeks to determine what influences a user’s perceived relationship with an AI chatbot program. Comparisons are also drawn between the relationships with AI and the user’s relationships with celebrities, further expanding the justification for …

More Than A Ramp: Rethinking School Design For Sensory And Cognitive Inclusion, Andrew Ho

University Honors Theses

This thesis advocates for the integration of the ASPECTSS framework, developed by Magda Mostafa, into legislative standards that would govern the design of educational environments that accommodate students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Drawing on evidence from a case study demonstrating significant improvements in student behavior and overall satisfaction through ASPECTSS-based interventions, the thesis highlights the urgent need for these principles to move beyond voluntary adoption and rather, toward enforceable design mandates.

The ASPECTSS framework includes the seven following criterias; Acoustics, Spatial Sequencing, Escape Spaces, Compartmentalization, Transitions, Sensory Zoning, and Safety. This model provides a comprehensive and actionable approach to …

Discontinuation Rates And Predictors Of Medical Cannabis Cessation For Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Mohammad Khak, Sina Ramtin, Juliet Chung, Asif M. Ilyas, Ari Greis

Rothman Institute Papers

Medical cannabis (MC) is increasingly used as a treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain, but there is limited data on factors influencing its discontinuation. This study aims to investigate the rates of MC discontinuation and explore factors influencing it in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 78 patients certified for medical cannabis over a 2 year period. Patient demographics, pain origin, and Global Physical Health (GPH) and Global Mental Health (GMH) scores were collected before intervention. Discontinuation rates were measured at three-month and one-year follow-up. Statistical analyses, including Fisher's Exact Test and two-sample t-tests, were performed …

Branching Out: Expanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy Through Nature-Based Practice, Sarah Kelly

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The current intake and outtake process lacks uniformity and there is no structured system in place to effectively monitor client progress and outcomes during the program or after its completion. Develop a streamlined process for screening, goal setting, and following up on goal progression at the end of camp.

Independence Beyond Sight: Occupational Therapy's Role In Promoting Functional Independence In Low Vision Communities, Kristina Holcomb

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Many individuals with low vision experience a multitude of barriers limiting access to community and healthcare services. Interviews highlighted the need to expand outreach to youth, build an updated community resource guide, and the need for community events for all programs.

Play With Intent: A Community Based-Approach In Promoting Inclusive And Child-Led Engagement With Easterseals Superior California, Margerie Vergara Vinoya

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Neurodiverse children may require additional environmental support to successfully engage, socialize, and adapt due to differences in their sensory systems. However, there’s a lack of inclusive, child-led, and sensory-rich environments that promote meaningful participation and social success.

Implications Of Occupational Therapy In Veterans Returning And Reintegrating Into Higher Education, Michael Siyluy

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

There is the need to expand the resources and support in the student veteran population for return and reintegration in higher education.

Exploring Mental Health Utilization Among First-Generation College Students, Sophia Kohgadai

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Background & Purpose: One or more parents did not earn a 4-year college degree. Compared to their non-firstgeneration peers, First Generation College Students face higher rates of unaddressed mental health issues and other unique challenges. Despite reporting greater symptom distress, they are less likely to utilize psychological services on campuses.

Enhancing Health Literacy Among Spanish-Speaking Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, Christie Ledezma

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Parkinson’s disease may be significantly under-represented and inadequately treated in rural areas, specifically in the Spanish-speaking community due to lower health literacy levels and limited resources. Project: Determine barriers faced by Spanish-speaking individuals with Parkinson’s disease and implement into solutions.

Growing Through The Senses: A Sensory Garden Approach To Support Emotional Regulation And Sensory Awareness In Young Adults With Visual Impairments, Deanne Nguyen

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Young adults with visual impairments are at a greater risk of experiencing mental health challenges. Encounter unique challenges that impact emotional, social, and personal development.

From Plan To Practice: Enhancing Lifestyle Management Through Effective Carry Over Strategies Using Occupational Therapy Perspective, Josephine Hernandez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Explore and build on existing knowledge of occupational therapy’s role in lifestyle management techniques through embodied experience. Explore evidence-based research on embodied interventions with multidisciplinary care. Explore and exercise advocacy skills within a multidisciplinary team. Explore and apply marketing and outreach initiatives for increased community awareness of resources.

Reclaiming Your Body, Reframing Your Mind: An Ot Perspective On Postpartum Exercise Participation, Abigail Waisner

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Perinatal Mental Health conditions affect up to 84% of birthing women. These include: Depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorders, and Psychosis. These mental health challenges may be influenced by stress, lack of sleep, role changes, family history, social determinants of health, etc.

Understanding Biological Behavior 2nd Edition, Emily Marler

Open Educational Resources Collection

Understanding Biological Behavior, 2nd Edition, compiled by Emily Marler in collaboration with UMSL Libraries, is a Open Educational Resource (OER) that offers free access to an engaging exploration of where biology and psychology intersect. As an openly licensed textbook, it removes financial barriers to quality education while helping students understand how our biological systems directly influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

The web version of this text can be found at https://umsystem.pressbooks.pub/ubb2e/

This resource systematically progresses through twelve carefully structured units that build upon each other to create a complete understanding of biological psychology. Beginning with fundamental concepts of nerve …

Older Adult Men’S Well-Being: The Impact Of Masculinity And Negative Perceptions Of Aging, Darby D. Mackenstadt

Theses and Dissertations

Stereotype embodiment theory states that individuals who hold negative aging stereotypes may internalize them, and thus view their own aging process as negative. This study aimed to evaluate how older adult men may be influenced by their adherence to masculinity standards, such as men are expected to be strong and independent, in older adulthood. A sample of 438 men aged 55 and older living in the southern United States was analyzed, finding that beliefs of masculinity moderated the relationship between negative perceptions of aging and depression. Participants who reported a high adherence to masculinity beliefs and a negative perception of …