Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Perceived Stress In First-Year Pre-Med Students And First-Year Medical Students At Usd, Maggie Derner

Honors Thesis

Stress can be caused by many factors, including money, relationships, promotions, grades, and responsibilities. In college, these stressors can be exacerbated. This research dives into stress in both undergraduate students as well as medical students. Previous literature has indicated that high levels of stress are present in students, and it is likely to have negative effects on the students, whether that is their mental or physical well-being. Schools have put interventions in place to help combat the stress levels present in their students. At the University of South Dakota (USD) and USD Sanford School of Medicine (USD SSOM), perceived stress …

Validation Of A Non-Invasive Physiological Stress Assessment: Agreement Of Salivary And Blood Cortisol Among Firefighters, Caiti Dodge, Hunter Martaindale, Steven E. Martin, Lisa C. Colvin, Drew E. Gonzalez, Matthew J. Mcallister

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Salivary cortisol has been used as an indicator of stress exposure among tactical personnel (i.e., firefighters). Assessing cortisol concentrations, whether via blood or saliva samples, can provide valuable insight into the physiological stress load placed upon the firefighter. Cortisol levels provide a reflection of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Salivary cortisol is unbound and has been suggested to provide a better reflection of HPA axis activity compared to blood cortisol, which is bound to soluble corticosteroid-binding globulin. Importantly, the use of salivary biosample collection also offers a more practical and non-invasive method to assess physiological stress biomarkers when blood sample …

Stress Response To Winter Warfare Training: Potential Impact Of Location, Lauren M. Visconti, Andrea C. Givens, Lorraine P. Turcotte, Laura Arrington, Karen R. Kelly

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Winter Warfare Training (WWT) is a critical component of military training to prepare individuals to move effectively in harsh conditions. Moving through snow and heavy terrain increases overall stress to the entire human system. PURPOSE: The purpose of this effort was to quantify the stress response during WWT to determine the level of physiological adaptation to extreme environments. METHODS: Mountain and mobility operators (age: 31.5±1.4 years; height: 71.1±0.5 inches; weight: 192.5±6.6 lbs.; body fat percentage: 18.0±5.0%) were recruited for this effort. Participants engaged in baseline laboratory metrics at their home station located in Colorado (CO) prior to WWT for one …

Exploring Physician Assistant Students' Perceptions Of Stress And Help Seeking Behavior, Kayla Cetrone

Educational Studies Dissertations

Physician Assistant (PA) students, similar to other students enrolled in medical education, experience a variety of stressors throughout their education and training that can inhibit their academic and clinical success and affect patient care outcomes. The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to explore PA students' and alumni's perceived stressors, their experiences of the stressors, and the help-seeking behaviors they employ and perceive as useful to address them. Following an explanatory sequential design, all PA students and alumni (n = 288) from one program in the northeast were invited to complete an anonymous online survey assessing their perceptions and …

Sources Of Stress, Burnout, And Career Decisions Of Male Health And Nursing Professionals: A Qualitative Inquiry Of The Challenges During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Luis Miguel Dos Santos

The Qualitative Report

The human resources and workforce shortage of registered health and nursing professionals has been a long-term problem in health systems internationally, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many health and nursing professionals face stress and burnout, which may influence their career decisions and long-term human resources development. The purpose of this study is to investigate and understand the relationship(s) between sources of stress and the reasons why male health and nursing professionals decide to leave the profession within the next six months. With the employment of the social cognitive career and motivation theory and general inductive approach with 40 male health …

Effect Of Relaxation Intervention On Stress Levels And Cognitive Skills In Professional Students, Sandhra Sabu, Ravikiran Kisan, . Swapnali

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Medical Professional training is likely to encounter a variety of hassles and stress in relation to the developmental tasks associated with transition from school life to professional college life. The vast syllabus, peer competition for academic performance, continuous evaluation, and long duration of the training makes medical education stressful. Many students feel a need to relieve stress and it is a necessity to equip students with proven techniques to reduce stress and cope up with the situation. Proper cognitive functioning has been found to be an important factor for academic performance.

Methods: The present study is a cross …

Barriers To Adopting Lifestyle Behaviors Under The Prism Of Lifestyle Medicine, Janyll Barber, Zacharias Papadakis, Matthew Manierre, Ali Boolani, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

According to the ACSM, lifestyle medicine (LM) is in the top 20 worldwide fitness trends for 2022. The LM pillars of a plant-based diet, physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, social interactions, and avoidance of risky substances have been proposed as effective strategies for preventing and treating chronic conditions. However, implementing lifestyle behavioral changes to improve noncommunicable chronic disease outcomes has still been problematic. Individuals’ mental and physical status has been suggested as a key component in closing the gap between the intention to adopt a healthy lifestyle and actually adopting that behavior. PURPOSE: To examine the associations of …

The Effects Of A Guided Mindful Walk On Stress, Mindfulness, And Physical Activity In University Students, Ashley Burdick, Sarah Camhi

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Creating effective resources on college campuses is needed to address low physical activity and low mental health in university students. PURPOSE: The purpose was to 1) measure changes in mental health (stress, mindfulness and anxiety) and 2) measure physical activity after participation in a guided mindful walk in a diverse student sample. METHODS: Students at the University of San Francisco were eligible if ≥18 years, able to read/write English, had access to a cell phone, able to stand/walk for 25 minutes. The mindful walking route included seven stops that asked participants to stop, reflect, notice their current surroundings …

Coping Strategies For General Anxiety In University Students: A Scoping Review, Thilini S. Wickramarachchi, Alane Daugherty, Nivitigala Sumitta, Zakkoyya H. Lewis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: For students with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), stress becomes a way of living. GAD is a condition used to characterize chronic long-term, intense, and excessive worry. Managing stress during college can be extremely challenging. Learning how to manage stress may help students cope with every day social and academic pressures; thus, enhancing college experience. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify coping mechanisms used by university students to manage their stress and anxiety. METHODS: The databases searched are as follows: Google Scholar, CPP One Search (which includes databases such as PubMed, ERIC, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science) and …

Effect Of A University Physical Activity Challenge On Levels Of Anxiety, Depression, Stress, And Perceived Dependency Of Wearing A Physical Activity Tracker, Emily M. Jackson, Sarah M. Camhi, Stephanie L. Cooper

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Many studies have researched the benefits of physical activity (PA) and well-being, leading many universities to promote PA on campus. There is limited research on how university-based PA promotion impacts mental health, as well as the impact of wearing a physical activity tracker (PAT) and its potential to create dependency on wearing the device. PURPOSE: To understand the effects of a 4-week campus-wide PA challenge on levels of anxiety, depression, and stress in college students, and the potential dependency effects of wearing a PAT. METHODS: For the duration of the 4-week challenge, 44 undergraduate and 6 graduate students …

Exploring The Impact Of Stress On Healthcare Student Competency: A Cognitive Model For Self-Regulating Performance During High-Stakes Scenarios, Michael J. Teachey

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

Stress and anxiety are part of healthcare and are experienced not only by patients but also by clinicians. This work explores an issue prevalent in healthcare education, outlining the detrimental effects of stress-induced anxiety on student performance during practical assessments. Included in this paper are the research and investigative details that elaborate on the process taken towards resolving the issue. Research conducted in the fields of education, law, and medicine is used to explore how these areas address stress with regard to performance. Through the various processes of research and engagement, this action research project uncovers the underlying issue of …

Using Animal As Metaphor In Drama Therapy With Psychiatric Patients In An Intensive Outpatient Program Group Therapy Session: An Intervention, Juliana Fort

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Abstract

Drama therapy may be uniquely suited to help people with mental illness who have negative beliefs about what it means to be mentally ill. It focuses on helping the individual expand their sense of what a person with mental illness can be, as well as their awareness of the other roles they may play in their lives. In the current study, the author developed a drama therapy intervention for psychiatric patients in an intensive outpatient program (IOP). The intervention uses pre-made cards that depict images of various animals. During the intervention, the participants were asked to discuss how they …

Impact Of Menstrual Phases On Stress Markers: A Pilot Study, Bailey C. Weishaar, Hunter S. Waldman, Kyle T. Patek, Matthew J. Mcallister

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Previous research has shown that different phases of the menstrual cycle may impact biometrics such as markers of stress and inflammation [e.g., cortisol (CORT), interleukin-6] as well as body composition. However, there is scarce literature regarding markers of stress and oxidative stress such as salivary a-amylase (sAA), immunoglobin-A (SIgA) and uric acid (UA), in relation to the four different menstrual phases. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of menstrual phases on sAA, CORT, UA and SIgA. METHODS: 21 pre-menopausal women with regular menstrual cycles (n=9) oral contraceptive users (OC) and ( …

Effect Of Various Sports And Overall Stress On The Presence Of The Dermatological Condition Acne Mechanica, Taylor Baccus

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Acne mechanica is a form of acne due to irritation to the skin being pressured, occluded, rubbed, squeezed, stretched, or heated. Mental stress might also contribute to the formation of acne mechanica. PURPOSE: Observe the effect of different sports, gear, and overall stress on the formation of the dermatological condition acne mechanica. METHODS: Fifty-nine Southwestern University student athletes participated in submitting pictures of their face and back for acne quantification over the course of 10 weeks during their athletic season. Stress was determined by their rated level of stress for that given week. Data was analyzed using two separate two-way …

Reducing Stress, Anxiety, And Depression For Nicu Parents, Amy Patton, Kylie Dunavan, Kyla Key, Steffani Takahashi, Kathryn Tenner, Megan Wilson

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

This project aims to appraise evidence of the effectiveness of various practices on reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The project contains six research articles from both national and international journals. Study designs include one meta-analysis, one randomized controlled trial, one small scale randomized controlled trial, one prospective phase lag cohort study, on pretest-posttest study, and one mixed-methods pretest-posttest study. Recommendations for effective interventions were based on best evidence discovered through quality appraisal and study outcomes. All interventions, except for educational programs and Kangaroo Care, resulted in a statistically significant …

Associations Among Stress, Anxiety, Depression, And Emotional Intelligence Among Veterinary Medicine Students, Julia Wells, Kylie Watson, Robert E. Davis, Syed Siraj A. Quadri, Joshua R. Mann, Ashutosh Verma, Manoj Sharma, Vinayak K. Nahar

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Background: Veterinary students are faced with immense pressures and rigors during school. These pressures have contributed to elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (SAD) among veterinary students relative to the general population. One proposed concept to help students combat SAD is that of emotional intelligence (EI). We explored the relationship between EI and SAD among veterinary students at a college in the Southeast United States. Methods: A crosssectional study design was implemented among a convenience sample of 182 veterinary medical students. The survey instrument contained 56 items that elicited information about students’ demographics, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, and …

Shooting Accuracy And Precision After Tactical Exercises Among Special Weapons And Tactic (Swat) Team Members, Kristina M. Woodford, Monica V. Kock, Jacob D. Fanno, Heather E. Webb

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Law enforcement is one of the most stressful occupations and investigations have demonstrated law enforcement officers (LEOs) have greater CVD-related morbidity and mortality than the general population. LEOs are chronically exposed to events including physical dangers and psychological stress. Every day, LEOs utilize their training to save lives and keep themselves and their communities safe, however, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams have duties that are beyond the scope of normal law enforcement personnel. Part of this training includes the use of firearms to prepare officers to protect themselves and others in highly dangerous situations. Engaging in these dangerous situations …

Mindfulness Based Stress Interventions In Physician Assistant Programs, Lucas Vance

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) have been used successfully in a variety of venues from the treatment of chronic pain to reducing stress in the workplace. The benefits of MBI programs that have been studied range from self-reported anxiety, depression, and empathy levels to levels of cortisol¹ to amygdala changes seen on magnetic resonance imaging.² MBI programs have been studied in pre-medical, medical, and graduate schools, as well as, nursing programs, and generalized healthcare cohorts.

The Effects Of Moderate-Severe Plaque Psoriasis On Patient Well-Being And Prevention Of Flares, Glenn Devera

Nursing | Senior Theses

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is indicated by red, patchy and scaly skin that can be painful when irritated. Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk for a number of chronic diseases. Despite the expansion of treatments for moderate-to-severe psoriasis over the last decade, patients may still find that treatment strategies are not as successful, leaving them dissatisfied with their treatments. A relationship built upon trust between the nurse and the patient diagnosed with psoriasis may serve to help ensure optimal care. A comprehensive literature review was performed and found that best practices for patient management need to …

The Influence Of End Of Life Education On Stress, Anxiety, And Attitude Of The Healthcare Profession Student, Chiquesha Davis

DNP Final Reports

Providing comfort and support to the dying patient is a significant part of the dying process. When soothing a patient, who is dying, the goal is to prevent or relieve suffering as much as possible. Respecting the patient's health and quality of life goals and decisions is essential. Healthcare profession students can experience multiple levels of anxiety, stress, and a negative attitude while taking care of the dying patient. The implementation of a successful intervention is at the cornerstone of helping reduce stress, anxiety, and attitude change in healthcare profession students. The application can also have a positive impact on …

Influence Of Fitness On Stress Reactivity As Measured With The Trier Social Stress Test, Andrea Guerrero, Sonio David Garcia, Alexis Ortiz, Dana Day, Rebekah Ortiz, Aliyah Medina, Angelika Lapetoda, Stacy Cantu, Deborah Parra-Medina, Daniel Hughes

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Psychosocial stress is associated with multiple health complaints which a higher cardiorespiratory fitness may reduce stress reactivity. A higher level of fitness may assist in the reduction of stress-related risk factors. Limited studies have investigated the health and cortisol response of promotoras’ (Latina community health educators) physical activity (PA) behaviors along the South Texas Mexico Border Region. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of promotoras’ fitness on stress reactivity in promotoras. METHODS: 17 promotoras’ anthropometric measures (body mass index (BMI)), were assessed before performing Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Salivary cortisol was collected before, 10-minutes, …

Southwestern University Student Athlete Wellbeing Survey - Pilot Study, Nadia Netek, Vanessa Mikan Phd, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

1 in 5 Americans live with a mental health condition. Student athletes' mental health is imperative for their performance and overall health. The pressures and challenges student athletes face can contribute towards a poor mental state. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is encouraging athletics departments to create a culture of mental wellness. PURPOSE: To assess the wellbeing (state of health and happiness emotionally, physically, and psychologically) of student athletes at Southwestern University. METHODS: Using Google Forms, a survey was created including questions that would examine the anxiety (BECK anxiety scale) and stress (combination of the Student Stress …

Sex Difference In Cardiorespiratory Stress From High-Intensity Interval Exercise, Paolo Miguel Salvador, Mauricio Martinez, Joaquin Gonzales, Eric Rivas

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

High-intensity interval exercise is time efficient and has similar cardiorespiratory health benefits as moderate-intensity continuous exercise. However, the prescription of high-intensity exercise may differ between men and women due to sex differences in cardiovascular function. PURPOSE: Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine whether sex differences exist for absolute and relative oxygen uptake (VO₂) and heart rate (HR) when exercise was performed at a percentage of maximal cycling work rate measured in watts (W_max). METHODS: We recruited 8 active college-aged participants (5 men, 3 women). Participants completed an incremental maximal exercise test on a …

Can A Dynamic Warm-Up Reduce The Magnitude Of Immune Perturbation Following Vigorous Aerobic Exercise, Mahmoud T. Elzayat, Emily C. Lavoy

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Exercise transiently increases several leukocyte populations in peripheral blood in an intensity-dependent manner, with numbers returning to baseline or lower during recovery. This mobilization of immune cells is explained in part by sympathetic activity and the release of stress hormones (catecholamines and cortisol). The literature examining immune responses to exercise has by and large failed to control for the presence of a warm-up prior to the experimental bout. Gradually increasing exercise intensity over a period of minutes may reduce the stress of the exercise bout and thus may influence the immune response to a given exercise protocol. PURPOSE: To …

Medice, Cura Te Ipsum (Physician, Heal Thyself): A Documentary Film Exploring How The Passions Of Medical Students Will Make Them Better And Healthier Physicians, Ryan Emhoff

Phase 1

It is a well documented, yet largely ignored fact that physicians, residents and medical students are experiencing a pandemic of depression, burnout, dissatisfaction, and suicide. The principal cause may be the institution of medicine, which is slow to change, abusive, and dismissive of these complaints. While interventions are necessary at all levels of training, medical students may be the most in need as their mental health is the poorest of these groups.

Emotion-focused coping activities focus on alleviating stress. The humanities can function as emotion-focused coping activities, and exposure to them in medical education has been correlated with higher empathy …

Applications Of The Reflective Practice Questionnaire In Medical Education, Shane L. Rogers, Lynn E. Priddis, Nicole Michels, Michael Tieman, Lon J. Van Winkle

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: We sought to determine whether the Reflective Practice Questionnaire (RPQ) is a reliable measure of reflective capacity and related characteristics in medical students. We also planned to learn how the RPQ could be used in medical education. Methods: The RPQ is a 40 item self-report questionnaire that includes a multi-faceted approach to measuring reflective capacity. It also includes sub-scales on several other theoretically relevant constructs such as desire for improvement, confidence, stress, and job satisfaction. The reliabilities of reflective capacity and other sub-scales were determined by calculating their Cronbach alpha reliability values. In the present study, the RPQ was …

Mindfulness: An Underutilized Tool For Patients And Providers Alike, Candice Wolf

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

A healthy body begins with a healthy mind, and a healthy mind begins with mindfulness. Mindfulness means paying attention on purpose and without judgment. It has been shown to reduce: anxiety, blood pressure, gastrointestinal distress symptoms, PTSD, pain, insomnia, depression, and healthcare cost. 63% of American’s are stressed about the future of the nation, money, work, the political climate, violence, and crime. Primary care providers have the opportunity to introduce patients to mindfulness to compliment and/or potentially replace current alternative pharmacologic options.

Impact Of Physical Activity On Stress Levels And Methadone Maintenance Treatment Outcomes, Praneeja Matta, Robert Sterling, Phd

Phase 1

Introduction: While the opioid epidemic has continued to intensify over the last decade, unfortunately the likelihood of achieving stable long-term abstinence using methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) remains as low as 60 percent. Perceived stress has been identified as a factor predictive of premature termination and relapse, making stress reduction an important area of study in MMT. However, little research is available on the effects of active stress-coping mechanisms on MMT outcomes.

Objective: To address this gap, the current study was conducted to examine the impact of physical activity on stress reduction and treatment outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort …

Implementation Of A Sustainable Peer Mentor Program In Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (Srnas)”, Kristin Cox

Doctoral Projects

Evidence has shown that Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist’s (SRNAs) stress is perceived as above average and is correlated with substandard patient care during clinical courses (Chipas et al., 2012). Some studies have indicated SRNAs experience low self-efficacy during clinical, which could lead to difficulty in thinking clearly or responding to clinical situations (Imus, Burns, & Weglarz, 2017). Peer mentoring has shown to result in stress reduction and improvement in self-efficacy in students (Barker et al., 2012; Giordana & Wedin, 2010). Despite the current evidence, a nurse anesthesia program in the southeastern United States did not have an organized peer mentor …

Incontinence And Pelvic Floor Pt In The Primary Care Setting, Nikolas A. Moring

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Stress incontinence and overactive bladder are two causes of decreased quality of life in the general population. Many patients report a long latency between the onset of symptoms of incontinence and identification and treatment. This project aimed to provide educational materials to both providers and patients about incontinence to help better identify patients who may benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy. Pelvic floor physical therapy has been demonstrated as a safe, non-pharmacological intervention for stress incontinence which may be overlooked in the primary care setting.