Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Addressing And Supporting Mental Health Today: Society-Wide And In Hospital Emergency Departments, Kira La Sage

University Honors Theses

Mental health has become one of the most pressing public health issues of the 21st Century. Westernized societies offer much of their attention to childhood obesity, to COVID-19, to undiagnosed and diagnosed Americans living with diabetes. America even sees extended U.S. Senate hearings focusing on opioid use and abuse. Each of these concerns legitimately commands public health official attention, but what the world does not see is any level of sustainable attention given to emotional and mental health crises affecting tens of millions in Westernized countries. Suicide, the most serious of mental health crises, has become the second leading cause …

Evaluating The Pragmatic And Moralistic Approach To Drug Policy And Addiction In Opioid Epidemic Outcomes, Brielle Seidel

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Drug use, policy and outcomes differ in all countries; however, trends exist in response to these circumstances and can typically be evaluated through a pragmatic and moralistic lens. The public health, and evidence-based pragmatic approach differs from the law enforcement-centered moralistic approach, specifically in outcomes of people suffering from substance use disorder. Particularly for opioid use disorder, countries that have taken the pragmatic approach in response to opioid epidemics have had dramatic results. Two of the countries discussed include Switzerland and Portugal, with additional information on the Netherlands. In contrast, current opioid epidemics exist in certain countries who maintain a …

Comparación Entre Las Percepciones Médicas Y Psicológicas De La Diabetes Tipo 2 Y La Tuberculosis En El Ecuador, Héctor Ortiz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Research Question: What are the differences and similarities between the perceptions of the medical and psychological management of both type 2 diabetes and tuberculosis? Objectives: The principal objective of this study is to understand the perceptions behind DM2 and TB as well as how these perceptions affect the care of these diseases. Secondary objectives are to define the epidemiological transition, describe the medical and psychological management and care of DM2 and TB, analyze how the people perceive the management and psychological care of DM2 and TB, and analyze the comparison of the perceptions of both diseases. Background: The epidemiological transition …

Shu Altop News Issue #4, Fall, Dr. Susan L. Davis, Rn & Richard J. Henley College Of Nursing

News, Magazines and Reports

Updates from the Davis & Henley College of Nursing Sacred Heart University Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Grant.

Alternatives to Opioids for Pain (ALTOP) is a HRSA funded project to help combat the opioid epidemic in Connecticut.

In this issue: • New Roles in Our Team • ANEW HRSA 2021-2022 Awardees • Southwest Community Health Center Chiropractic Care Services • Student Quality Improvement Project • Sacred Heart University Alumni Working at New Solutions Pain Management Clinic.

Barriers To Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities: A Systematic Review, Trisha L Amboree, Charles Darkoh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with poor health outcomes, including cervical cancer. Racial/ethnic minority populations experience poor health outcomes associated with HPV at higher rates. A vaccine is available to protect against HPV infections and prevent HPV-related sequelae; however, vaccination rates have remained low in the United States (U.S.) population. Thus, there is an urgent need to increase the HPV vaccination rate. Moreover, little is known about barriers to HPV vaccination in racial/ethnic minority groups. This paper highlights the most recent findings on barriers experienced by these groups.

METHODS: The PubMed database was searched on July 30, 2020, for …

Implications Of Online Gambling Legalization, William M. Schmidt

Student Publications

The tradition of gambling has been around for thousands of years, but has undergone a recent evolution into what it is perceived as today. This has turned it into an industry of its own, which will only continue to grow with the ongoing legalization of online gambling. Past trends in these legislations would project further economic growth tied to the gambling industry. However, the mental health implications that have been seen to stem from the practice of gambling are as present as ever. This problem associated with the industry will also be expected to climb as gambling becomes both more …

Telework Intensity, Work-Family Conflict, And Work-Family Balance, During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Timir Jayesh Bharucha

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased popularity, application, and utilization of telework. To vastly reduce the spread of COVID-19, governmental agencies worldwide have implemented lockdowns and emphasized businesses and corporations should implement telework wherever possible (Anderson & Kelliher, 2020; Belzunegui- Eraso & Erro-Garces, 2020; Buomprisco et al., 2021; Chong et al., 2020; Contreras et al., 2020; Mouratidis & Papagiannakis, 2021; Nguyen, 2021; Oz & Crooks, 2020; Raišienė et al., 2020; Tavares et al., 2020). States of emergency can disturb employees’ workflow and lead to financial difficulties; thus, telework presents an option to reduce that disruption. In such unprecedented times, …

Impact Of Counselor Wellness On Positive And Negative Consequences Of Covid-19 Shared Trauma, Monique Rahman

Dissertations

This study sought to explore how the shared trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Texan counselors both positively and negatively, as well as the mediating or moderating effect of counselor wellness. Negative consequences of stress such as secondary traumatic stress, burnout and compassion fatigue were explored, but also positive consequences such as compassion satisfaction and post-traumatic growth. Measures such as the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (FFWEL), the Shared traumatic and Professional Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (STPPGI), and the Professional Quality of Life Measure (ProQOL) will be utilized in addition to demographic questions and COVID-19 stress related questions mirroring Park et …

Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Clusters Differentially Predict Late Positive Potential To Cocaine Imagery Cues In Trauma-Exposed Adults With Cocaine Use Disorder, Heather E Webber, Danielle A Kessler, Emma C Lathan, Margaret C Wardle, Charles E Green, Joy M Schmitz, Scott D Lane, Anka A Vujanovic

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: While studies have investigated the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on substance use, information on these associations in the context of drug cue reactivity is lacking, which can provide meaningful information about risk for relapse. The current study assessed the associations between PTSD symptom clusters and reactivity to cues in trauma-exposed adults with cocaine use disorder.

METHODS: We recorded electroencephalogram on 52 trauma-exposed participants (M

RESULTS: Linear mixed modeling indicated that higher NACM symptomatology was associated with higher LPPs to cocaine cues and higher arousal/reactivity was associated with lower LPPs to cocaine cues.

CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight …

Outcomes Of Primary Versus Revisional Robotically Assisted Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass: A Multicenter Analysis Of Ten-Year Experience, Pouya Iranmanesh, John Fam, Thomas Nguyen, David Talarico, Kavita D Chandwani, Kulvinder S Bajwa, Melissa M Felinski, Leon V Katz, Sheilendra S Mehta, Stephan R Myers, Brad E Snyder, Peter A Walker, Todd D Wilson, Angielyn R Rivera, Connie L Klein, Shinil K Shah, Erik B Wilson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Postoperative morbidity after laparoscopic bariatric surgery is considered higher for patients undergoing revisional versus primary procedures. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare outcomes between patients undergoing primary versus revisional robotically assisted laparoscopic (RAL) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

METHODS: Data of all patients who underwent RAL primary and revisional RYGB between 2009 and 2019 at two accredited, high-volume bariatric surgery centers-the Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, and the Tower Health, Reading Hospital, Reading, PA, were analyzed. Primary outcomes were early (< 30 days) and overall postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative complications, operative times, conversions to laparotomy, length of hospital stay, early (< 30 days) postoperative readmissions and deaths.

RESULTS: Data of 1072 patients were analyzed, including 806 primary and 266 …

Crisis Preparedness In Acute And Intensive Treatment Settings: Lessons Learned From A Year Of Covid-19, Jarrod M Leffler, Cassandra L Esposito, Elisabeth A Frazier, Michelle A Patriquin, Meredith K Reiman, Alysha D Thompson, Carl Waitz

Staff and Researcher Publications

The impact of COVID-19 changed the use and delivery of health care services, requiring an abrupt shift in treatment and staffing models 1,2. This is particularly salient in youth acute and intensive treatment services (AITS), including inpatient psychiatric hospitals (IPH), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), because of challenging issues of maintaining high-quality care and a safe therapeutic milieu during increased demand for acute services,3 all while limiting transmission of COVID-19 on locked units, in close quarters, and for youths traveling back and forth to day-programs. Over the past year, AITS adapted and evolved without the ability …

Spatial Disparities: The Role Of Nativity In Neighborhood Exposure To Alcohol And Tobacco Retailers, Georgiana Bostean, Luis A. Sánchez, Jason A. Douglas

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Studies of retail environment, one of the social determinants of health, document racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to alcohol and tobacco (A and T) retailers, but have largely overlooked nativity. We examined associations between A and T retailer density and rates of foreign-born Latinx and foreign-born Asian residents in California census tracts (N = 7888), using spatial regressions and controlling for population and ecological confounders (e.g., population density, zoning, residential instability, urbanicity). Socio-demographic data came from the American Community Survey (2012–2016); census tract density of A and T retailers came from geocoded addresses from state license data for off-sale alcohol distributors …

Animal-Assisted Play: A Strategy For Promoting Children’S Physical Activity Play, Jennifer A. Boisvert, W. Andrew Harrell

International Journal of Playwork Practice

This article explores how animal-assisted play might be used as a strategy in playwork to support children’s right to play, enrich their play experiences, encourage their physical activity play and better their health and life quality. Children’s interactions with pets or companion animals in free play or animal-assisted activities (AAA) can yield therapeutic benefits by increasing physical and mental health and well-being and also offer possibilities for more outdoor play, agency, risk-taking, fun and enjoyment, as well as high-quality play experiences. We invite playwork practitioners to consider the important role of animals in children’s lives and the potential value of …

Associations Between Air Pollution Exposure And Empirically Derived Profiles Of Cognitive Performance In Older Women, Andrew J. Petkus, Diana Younan, Xinhui Wang, Daniel P. Beavers, Mark A. Espeland, Margaret Gatz, Tara Gruenewald, Joel D. Kaufman, Helena C. Chui, Joshua Millstein, Stephen R. Rapp, Joann E. Manson, Susan M. Resnick, Gregory A. Wellenius, Eric A. Whitsel, Keith Widaman, Jiu-Chiuan Chen

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background:Elucidating associations between exposures to ambient air pollutants and profiles of cognitive performance may provide insight into neurotoxic effects on the aging brain. Objective:We examined associations between empirically derived profiles of cognitive performance and residential concentrations of particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in older women. Method:Women (N = 2,142) from the Women’s Health Initiative Study of Cognitive Aging completed a neuropsychological assessment measuring attention, visuospatial, language, and episodic memory abilities. Average yearly concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2 were estimated at the participant’s addresses for the 3 years prior to the assessment. Latent profile structural equation models identified subgroups of women exhibiting similar profiles across tests. Multinomial regressions examined associations between exposures and latent profile classification, controlling for covariates. Result:Five latent profiles were identified: low performance across multiple domains (poor multi-domain; n = 282;13%), relatively poor verbal episodic memory (poor memory; n = 216; 10%), average performance across all domains (average multi-domain; n = 974; 45%), superior memory (n = 381; 18%), and superior attention (n = 332; 15%). Using women with average cognitive ability as the referent, higher PM2.5 (per interquartile range [IQR] = 3.64μg/m3) was associated with greater odds of being classified in the poor memory (OR = 1.29; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.10–1.52) or superior attention (OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.10–1.53) profiles. NO2 (per IQR = 9.86 ppb) was associated with higher odds of being classified in the poor memory (OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.17–1.63) and lower odds of being classified with superior memory (OR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.67–0.97). Conclusion:Exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 are associated with patterns of cognitive performance characterized by worse verbal episodic memory relative to performance in other domains.

What Predicts How Safe People Feel In Their Neighborhoods And Does It Depend On Functional Status?, Alfredo J. Velasquez, Jason A. Douglas, Fangqi Guo, Jennifer W. Robinette

Health Sciences and Kinesiology Faculty Articles

Feeling unsafe in one's neighborhood is related to poor health. Features of the neighborhood environment have been suggested to inform perceptions of neighborhood safety. Yet, the relative contribution of these features (e.g., uneven sidewalks, crime, perceived neighborhood physical disorder) on perceived neighborhood safety, particularly among people with disabilities who may view themselves as more vulnerable, is not well understood. We examined whether sidewalk quality assessed by third party raters, county-level crime rates, and perceived neighborhood disorder would relate to neighborhood safety concerns, and whether functional limitations would exacerbate these links. Using data from the 2012/2014 waves of the Health and …

Deviating From The Zero Balancing Protocol, John Hamwee

Journal of Transformative Touch

When is it appropriate to deviate from the Zero Balancing protocol? John Hamwee shares when there are exceptions to the rule and the times it makes more sense to deviate from the protocol than to observe it.

The Use Of Digital Mediums In Expressive Arts Therapy, Katherine Mcadams

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In recent years, there have been considerable advances in technology, which have made digital devices such as computers and cellphones cheaper and more accessible for most Americans. The Pew Research Center (2019) reports that 96% of adult American’s own a cellphone, with 81% owning a smartphone. Usage rates for cellphones and other digital devices amongst children and adolescents are also high with 95% of teens, aged 13-17, report owning a smartphone (Jiang, 2018). Despite these staggering statistics the field of psychology and creative therapies have been slower to adopt and incorporate the use of digital media and technology into the …

Post-Concussion And Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Shared Vulnerability Factors?, Emily R Fisher, Janelle J Montroy, Gerardo Duque, Charles S Cox, Linda Ewing-Cobbs

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-concussion symptoms (PCS) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) occur commonly; however, it is unknown to what degree they overlap. The study examined PCS and PTSS persisting 7 weeks after injury in children and adolescents ages 8-15 years with TBI (n = 89) or extracranial injury (EI; n = 40) after vehicle collisions. TBI was divided into mild, complicated-mild/moderate, and severe groups. Parents retrospectively rated children's pre-injury symptoms and behavior problems, and children completed self-report measures after injury. PCS and PTSS total scores were significantly correlated in TBI and EI groups, respectively, for child …

Human- Animal Interaction To Support Well- Being At University: Experiences Of Undergraduate Students In The Uk, Aliya Khalid, Anne Rogers, Emily Vicary, Helen Brooks

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

In the context of increasing concerns about student mental health and the therapeutic value of companion animals for mental health, there is limited understanding of the potential contribution of human- animal interaction in relation to undergraduate well- being. This study aimed to develop an in- depth understanding of the meaning and well- being roles attributed to human- animal interactions by undergraduate students in the UK. Using a qualitative research design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 60 students aged be-tween 18 to 23 years at a UK university of whom 39 implicated the role of companion animals in their well- being …

Can The Visits Of Dogs (Canis Lupus Familiaris) Influence The Mental Health (Anxiety And Depression) Of Male Aging Patients Institutionalized With Dementia In Health Care Units? A Pilot Study Of Madeira Island, Portugal, S. Vasconcelos, J. Azevedo, C. Casanova, H. Jardim, D. Neto, S. Jardim, C. Viegas

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Despite the fact that in the last decades, several mental health studies have shown that companion animals contribute to psychological and social well- being in humans (e.g., positive impacts have been observed in the elderly medicated for chronic diseases such as anxiety, dementia, and depression), bonds between humans and other animals continue to be under-estimated. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of an animal’s visits (twice a week, N = 30) in depression and anxiety levels of an institutionalized male population diagnosed with dementia. While some of these patients are being partially medicated with antidepressants and/or …

Emergency Medicine Shift Factors Causing The Most Stress Among Emergency Medicine Residents, Mohamad Moussa, Kristen Hayden, Chia-Hao Shih, Sadik Khuder, Zayd Safadi, Connor Parsell

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Past studies demonstrate that stress and anxiety affect emergency medicine physicians, but the causal factors identified are usually from sources outside the work shift. We attempt to show the relationship between intrinsic factors of a work shift and anxiety perceived by residents, while also examining differing gender responses.

Methods: In 2018, a cross-sectional survey of emergency medicine residents in the United States was distributed anonymously through the Emergency Medicine Residents Association. The survey consisted of demographic questions, novel questions identifying intrinsic factors, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. Spearman correlation, independent t-test, and multivariate analysis of variance …

The Association Of Parent-Child Communication With Internet Addiction In Left-Behind Children In China: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jingjing Cai, Yun Wang, Feng Wang, Jingjing Lu, Lu Li, Xudong Zhou

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: Internet addiction has emerged as a growing concern worldwide. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of Internet addiction between left-behind children (LBC) and non-left-behind children (non-LBC), and explore the role of paternal and maternal parent-child communication on LBC.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in rural areas in Anhui, China. The complete data were available from 699 LBC and 740 non-LBC. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine 1) whether LBC were more likely to develop Internet addiction, and 2) the association between parent-child communication and Internet addiction among LBC.

Results: LBC had a higher likelihood to report …

Wellness Review 2021, Part 1, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson, Jacob Shreffler

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: This article presents a curated selection of the wellness literature from January to June of 2021. JWellness editors offer a summary of recent publications within the wellness domain to seek an understanding of both burnout prevention and, more importantly, thriving in the medical profession.

Methods: For the interval of Jan 1 to June 30, 2021, a UofL librarian queried PubMed for empirical research studies, review articles, and editorials related to healthcare professional wellness. Excluding papers related to COVID-19 (due to extensive prior coverage) and editorials/commentaries, the editors narrowed to 43 articles (systematic reviews, meta-analyses, general reviews, and clinical trials) …

The Effect Of Stress And Acculturation On The Self-Rated Health Of Arab Americans, Abdul-Rahman Suleiman, Arash Javanbakht, Keith Whitfield

Office of the President Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The self-rated health of Arab Americans has been found to be worse than non-Hispanic whites. Psychosocial factors such as stress and acculturation may explain this disparity. As a result, we designed this survey to better understand the effects of stress and acculturation on the self-rated health of the Arab-American community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a convenience sample, we surveyed 142 self-identified Arab Americans regarding demographics, stress, acculturation, and self-rated health. Stress was measured using instruments assessing perceived stress, everyday discrimination, and acculturative stress. Acculturation was measured using a modified Vancouver Index of Acculturation. To measure self-rated health, participants were …

Scoping Review: The Empowerment Of Alzheimer’S Disease Caregivers With Mhealth Applications, Eunhee Kim, Andrius Baskys, Anandi V. Law, Moom R. Roosan, Yan Li, Don Roosan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative chronic diseases. As it progresses, patients become increasingly dependent, and their caregivers are burdened with the increasing demand for managing their care. Mobile health (mHealth) technology, such as smartphone applications, can support the need of these caregivers. This paper examines the published academic literature of mHealth applications that support the caregivers of AD patients. Following the PRISMA for scoping reviews, we searched published literature in five electronic databases between January 2014 and January 2021. Twelve articles were included in the final review. Six themes emerged based on the functionalities provided …

From Ridicule To Reform: Potential Solutions To The Domestic Violence Crisis, Kelly Gordon

Undergraduate Research Symposium

During the grassroots campaigns of the 1970s, American citizens saw a rise of concern for victims of domestic violence. The knowledge gathered over the past half-century has explained the detrimental effects intimate partner violence has on victims, the potential reasons partners become violent, and the most effective approaches to ending this epidemic. To curve the high rates of recidivation seen among domestic violence offenders, current rehabilitation programs must change to mirror the needs of the abuser. A new approach, Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV), works to address comorbidities that potentially prevent offenders from shaking off their violent pasts. This …

Associations Between Parent Characteristics And Acceptability Of Exposure-Based Treatments For Child And Adolescent Anxiety, Allison Rumelt

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly exposure therapy, is the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (Kendall et al., 2005). Little research has been done to explore parent acceptability of treatment for anxiety in children and adolescents, and no research has explored the acceptability of exposure for this population. The purpose of the present study was to examine parent acceptability of exposure for child and adolescent anxiety as well as variables associated with acceptability. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale (Zimmerman et al., 2010), and the Family Accommodation Scale – Anxiety (Lebowitz et …

A Decarceral Cadence: Neurologic Music Therapy As An Abolitionist Project, Mallori D. Thompson, Richard A. Kirby

Connecticut Law Review

Because police and prison abolition must be approached while simultaneously improving quality of life, and thus reducing harm, abolitionist discourse should include health policies that regard the (de)regulation, use, and culture of addictive substances. This Essay calls for research into neurologic music therapy as a response to addiction, improving quality of life and paving the way for police and prison abolition.

Mental Health During Covid-19 Pandemic Among Caregivers Of Young Children In Kenya’S Urban Informal Settlements. A Cross-Sectional Telephone Survey, Vibian Angweny, Margaret Kabue, Esther Chongwo, Adam Mabrouk, Ezra Too, Rachel Odhiambo, Carophine Nasambu, Joyce Marangu, Derrick Ssewanyana, Eunice Njoroge, Eunice Ombech, Mercy Mokaya, Emmanuel Obulemire, Anil Khamis, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

The emergence of COVID-19 has profoundly affected mental health, especially among highly vulnerable populations. This study describes mental health issues among caregivers of young children and pregnant women in three urban informal settlements in Kenya during the first pandemic year, and factors associated with poor mental health. A cross-sectional telephone survey was administered to 845 participants. Survey instruments included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, and questions on the perceived COVID-19 effects on caregiver wellbeing and livelihood. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and univariate and multivariate analysis. Caregivers perceived COVID-19 as a threatening condition …

An Evaluation Of An Integrated Multidisciplinary Early Identification And Triage Of College Students At Risk For Anxiety And Depression, Sarah J. Templeton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College students across the U.S. are experiencing an increasing prevalence of mental health concerns, such as anxiety and depression. Suicide is currently the second most common cause of death among U.S. college students. At the project site, the university health services report that mental health issues significantly impact the students’ academic progress, contributing to poor performance, inability to complete assignments, and sometimes forces attrition. Campus providers traditionally respond when students approach, often at the point of crisis or exacerbation. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated the impact of a pilot program using an interdisciplinary approach to universal proactive …