Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Peer Support Group On Rates Of Suicide Attempts, Suicidal Thoughts, And Incidences Of Self-Harm For Sexual-Minority High School Students, Samantha Fleming, Rebecca O'Neill, Allyson Jett, Haley Mann, Ashlee Peters, Deja Dixon

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The torment sexual minority youth experience can take a psychological toll without access to a support system. The purpose of this proposal is to determine whether an after-school peer support group for sexual minority youth could decrease incidences of suicidal thoughts, attempts, and/or self-inflicted injuries.

Research Proposal: The Effects Of Therapeutic Interventions On Illicit Drug Abuse Among Homeless Adolescents, Alice Baillio, Meghan Stanley, Sarah Kroupa, Rania Ajaj, Paige Rabidoux

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: To compare case management versus community-based therapy on illicit drug abuse among homeless adolescents

Background: Homeless adolescents are at high risk for illicit drug abuse.

Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, multiple baseline time series design

• 52 sessions over a 12-month period

• Baseline assessment and survey on demographics

• Follow-up: closed-ended questionnaire (every four months)

Analysis: Repeated ANOVA test and dependent t-test

Limitations: Lack of recent evidence-based research, a small sample size, self-report data, and length of the study.

Impact Of After-School Activities On Meeting Cdc Requirements In Virginian Adolescents, Dorcas Bentil, Leah Crouch, Vignette Kaltsas, Christina Luchau, Phoebe Wallen, Lily Zheng

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: To assess the correlation between after-school program attendance and meeting the Center for Disease Control (CDC) requirement of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day.

Background: Less than 50% of all children meet the CDC required amount of MVPA.1

Methods: Survey provided to 350 students in grades 6-12 describing participation in after-school programs

Analysis: We will analyze how many students participate in the after-school programs and how long those programs dedicate to physical exercise. We will also analyze what type of exercise is performed.

Limitations: We are limited to the …

Efficacy Of Elder Support And Education On Measles Vaccination Rates In Amish Communities, Amber Porter, Alfaro Mariateresa, Lan Marietta, Kristen Schriver, Michelle Douglas, Bonnie Lozy, Emily Burgos

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Background: Proposed study within Amish community to increase measles vaccinations and education about measles: etiology and transmission, aseptic techniques, and quarantine/isolation.

Significance: The majority of Amish people are unvaccinated. Massive outbreaks of measles (363 cases in Ohio) within Amish communities.

Method: Non-random, convenience sampling of participants in two Amish communities: Indiana and Illinois.

Analysis: Closed-ended questions with nominal data. Biological measurements with integral data. Qualitative analysis, chi square and statistical analysis used to determine outcome and results.

The Effect Of Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes On The Initiation Rate And Duration Of Breastfeeding, Rebecca Rupnarine, Sarah Hall, Jasmine Harris, Sarah Mariano, Kelley Everhart, Christen Hansel, Arianne Kris Eichas

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: To determine whether an educational prenatal breastfeeding class will increase the initiation rate and duration of breastfeeding among mothers.

Background: Breastfeeding rates continue to be low, particularly among teenage mothers and nonwhite mothers. Some of the factors that contribute to this are social support, education about breastfeeding, social stigmas, and time.

Significance: Breastfeeding can provide many positive benefits to mothers, babies, and communities. Having no breastfeeding education makes women less likely to initiate and maintain breastfeeding.

Methods: Correlational quasi-experimental design. Prenatal breastfeeding class lasting 8 weeks prior to childbirth. Phone interview at 1 week postpartum …

Exploring Community-Based Nutrition Education Programs On Children’S Knowledge Of Effective Budgeting And Nutritional Analysis, Danielle Beard, Katie Harris, Charlotte Harrison, Amanda Hawley, Kerri Healy, Ashley Tuttle

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Children from low-income areas, ages 5-18, are at high risk for obesity and other related nutritional issues, partially due to lack of knowledge about effective budgeting and nutritional content analysis. Little information is known about the education provided by current community programs in Hampton Roads for teaching children to 1) shop smart, 2) read nutrition labels, and 3) the importance of eating healthier. We propose a longitudinal (12-week) observational study to determine what community-based education is provided to children on how and why to shop smart and read nutritional content; and to determine whether or not the education is effective. …

Impact Of Social Activities On Healthy Aging In Community-Dwelling Adults, Karen Perry, Carl Rojas, Michelle Ross, Sutarto Soeng, Shana Williams, Rachel Jones, Jordan Kaoudis

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Humans are highly social beings which is evidenced by our desire to continually establish social relationships with each other. Healthy social relationships promote engagement in social activities and provide access to social support which greatly benefits overall health outcomes. In our research study, we provide an overview of the impact of social activities on the quality of life among nursing home residents (65+) and evaluate different aspects of social relationships on various health, physiological and psychological functioning. Evidence suggests that a level of social engagement increases life satisfaction and is also associated with a lower risk of physiological dysregulation while …

Missed School Days: A Correlational Study Between Children With Asthma And Presence Of School Nurses, Shea Brodeur, Caitlyn O’Connor, Rebekah Synowietz, Carrie Carson, Olubukola Goboze, Cierra Patterson

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Currently, there is a lack of research on the relationship between full-time nurse presence in schools and absenteeism among school-aged children with asthma. The purpose of this paper is to determine the correlation between the amount of time school-aged children are absent and the amount of time a school nurse is absent. A nonexperimental quantitative descriptive correlational study will be conducted with 14 randomly selected participating schools in the Chesapeake public school district. Each school will receive a questionnaire inquiring about the number of asthmatic children enrolled in the school, number of absences of said children, weekly hours the school …

The Effect Of An Interprofessional Registered Nurse-Physical Therapist Team On Reducing Prescribed Opioid Dependence In Patients With Chronic Lower Back Pain, Amber Chesney, Stephanie Jan, Amanda Pedrazoli, Brandon Simmons, Kaylene Woods, Nicole Yeats

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Long-term prescribed opioid use for chronic pain is shown to reduce recovery potential and increase risk for dependence, which is contributing to the nationwide opioid crisis. There is a need for an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to address prescription opioid dependence. We propose implementation of a community-based interprofessional registered nurse-physical therapist team (IRNPTT) focused on reduction of opioid dependence in adult patients with chronic lower back pain.

Introduction: Nursing Research Project Posters, Jamela Martin, Janice Evans Hawkins

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Nursing 363, Principles of Practice: Research as Foundation for Practice, is a required course in the undergraduate nursing curriculum at Old Dominion University. This course, offered every spring, focuses on the theories and concepts utilized in the scientific investigation of nursing practice. Students are introduced to scientific inquiry in nursing which forms the basis for nursing practice and theory. To meet course requirements, student groups create professional scientific research posters of their research proposal projects. What follows is a compilation of their research posters which were presented at the College of Health Sciences Interprofessional Poster Presentation day in the spring …

Examining The Attitudes And Knowledge Of Pregnant Teens On The Topic Of Sids, Delani Beilsmith, Emily Garzon, Maurice Jones, Erika Jurist, Catherine Knapp, Nicole Page, Ashley Smith, Courtney Wagner

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Background: Norfolk has the second highest teen pregnancy rate and third highest infant mortality rate in Southeastern Virginia. SIDS is the third leading cause of infant death in Virginia. Providing a group education intervention modeled after centering pregnancy gives teen mothers the opportunity to learn and receive support in a safe space in hopes of making a positive impact on their attitudes and knowledge regarding SIDS.

Hypothesis: Do the attitudes and knowledge of pregnant teens and recent teen mothers change positively after a group education intervention on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Method: Quasi-experimental non-randomized group trial. …

Drug Court Versus Incarceration: Which Is More Effective?, Erin Alexander, Kathryn Apperson, Megan Flannigan, Sarah Jean, Lintag Rosalina, Jennifer Lynch, Ethan Schwartz

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: This study explores the affect drug court treatment programs have on the sobriety and employment status of the participants.

Background: Drug addiction has been an ongoing issue nationwide, and with addiction comes drug related crimes. Currently the preferred solution to this epidemic is to impose longer and longer lengths of incarceration for every incurred infraction. Methods: A descriptive correlational design will be used for this research study to evaluate the effectiveness of drug court compared to incarceration. The participants will be chosen by a random sampling of 100 residents of the Hampton Roads area of Virginia--50 …

Targeted Educational Interventions To Increase Knowledge And Influence Attitudes About Nutritional Concepts In School-Aged Children, Chelsea Weaks, Ashley Montoya, Angela Nelson, Shivanee Sathia, Rachael Evans, Jessica Siechman, Caroline Crilley

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Good nutritional habits have been linked to increased overall health and wellness, therefore working with children has the greatest impact on their overall lifestyle and lifelong habits. Nutritional interventions decrease the risk of future health complications that can result in premature death. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge base of school-aged children sampled from an existing after-school nutrition education program and measure the efficacy of an additional two-step intervention. Our two-step intervention includes a content knowledge educational intervention on day one and a play-based learning intervention on day two to allow for knowledge acquisition and subsequent application of knowledge …

Effectiveness Of Interactive, Collaborative Vs. Traditional, Lecture-Based Educational Interventions For Adolescents In Low-Income Areas To Increase Knowledge Regarding Sexually Transmitted Infections, Nelan Tagra, Maia Jimenez, Christina Benedicto, Christopher Tucker, Gerrard Norman, Charmein Harris, Stephanie Green

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: To assess whether teens who live in low-income areas who participate in interactive, collaborative sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevention education will have a significant increase in learning outcomes in comparison to students who participate in a traditional, lecture-based approach.

Background: More STIs are reported each year. Among those infected, young people are of the highest incidence at 50% of new STIs in the US annually. High STI incidence is an unintended health outcome as a result of engaging in risky sexual behaviors. This highlights the need to improve STI education among adolescents.

Methods: A quasi-experimental method …

Efficacy Of Formal Training And Education On Foster Child Abuse In Newly Hired Nurses, Andrea Jefferson, Caroline Stascavage, Nico Foronda, Michael Andrews, Brillant Ngoune, Rudolfo Agustin

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Foster care child abuse cases are more prevalent in the United States. Evidence suggests a significant gap between self reports of abuse and reports by health professionals. 120 nurses will be selected to participate in formal training. A time series design will be used to test the participant’s knowledge before, immediately after, and six months after the formal training. The data collected will be analyzed using descriptive statistics for demographic variables and an one-way ANOVA test will determine significant differences among group scores. Limitations to the study include accessibility to sample size, turnover of participants, the self reporting nature of …

The Effect Of A Drinking Water Education Program On The Threat Perception Of Nitrate Contaminated Water By Pregnant Women, Beatrice Asomani, Yedda Descalo, Meliss Dillard, Brandy Hudgins, Caitlin Niblick, Kristina Wall

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a drinking water education program in a rural community on the perceived threat of nitrate-contaminated water by pregnant women. The proposed study aims to reach out to at least 120 pregnant women in their first trimester. Data will be collected using a Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) scale pretest and posttest that will gauge pregnant women’s perceived threat of nitrate-contaminated drinking water before and after the education program. The data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A paired sample t-test will be used to determine the effects of …

The Effect Of Community Health Education On Respiratory Illnesses In Children Living In Under-Heated Homes, Allora Vico, Daisy Estep, Raynee Hamilton, Ruby Melton, Zhanna Gelman

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of community health teaching focused on the importance of increasing home temperature in order to reduce respiratory symptoms and disease. Studies exists that prove that under-heated homes cause high-risk for children to develop respiratory illnesses. Our methods include a pretest-posttest which will be used to evaluate the learning of the parents. An adapted Health Belief Model survey using a standard Likert scale will also be used. Analysis will be conducted using demographic information and reported using descriptive data. Survey data will be reported using inferential data and analyzed with a matched t-test to …

Nutritional Status Of Food Insecure Older Adults, Chelsie Walker, Lindsey Asbury, Javier Way, Brent Johnson, Alex Biddle, Courtney Wagner

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Approximately 9.8 million seniors across America were at risk of going hungry in 2015. The percentage of seniors who faced the threat of hunger was equivalent to the percentage of seniors compared with the whole population of the United States. The prevalence rate of hypertension, which contributes to heart attacks and strokes, is over 50%, and the prevalence rate of diabetes is over 25% in seniors. Both heart disease and diabetes are among the top 10 leading causes of death in America with heart disease being number one. Appropriate dieting is recommended as a way to prevent and treat both …

Impact Of After-School Activities On Meeting Cdc Requirements In Virginian Adolescents, Dorcas Bentil, Leah Crouch, Vignette Kaltsas, Christina Luchau, Phoebe Wallen, Lily Zheng

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: To assess the correlation between after-school program attendance and meeting the Center for Disease Control (CDC) requirement of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day.

Background: Less than 50% of all children meet the CDC required amount of MVPA.1

Methods: Survey provided to 350 students in grades 6-12 describing participation in after-school programs

Analysis: We will analyze how many students participate in the after-school programs and how long those programs dedicate to physical exercise. We will also analyze what type of exercise is performed.

Limitations: We are limited to the …

Telehealth And Ehealth In Nurse Practitioner Training: Current Perspectives, Carolyn M. Rutledge, Karen Kott, Rebecca Poston, Christianne Fowler, Tina S. Haney

Nursing Faculty Publications

Telehealth is becoming a vital process for providing access to cost-effective quality care to patients at a distance. As such, it is important for nurse practitioners, often the primary providers for rural and disadvantaged populations, to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to utilize telehealth technologies in practice. In reviewing the literature, very little information was found on programs that addressed nurse practitioner training in telehealth. This article provides an overview of both the topics and the techniques that have been utilized for training nurse practitioners and nurse practitioner students in the delivery of care utilizing telehealth. Specifically, this …

Dna Methylation Patterns In Cord Blood Of Neonates Across Gestational Age Association With Cell-Type Proportions, Susan M. Braid, Kwame Okrah, Amol Shetty, Hector Corrada Bravo

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: A statistical methodology is available to estimate the proportion of cell types (cellular heterogeneity) in adult whole blood specimens used in epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). However, there is no methodology to estimate the proportion of cell types in umbilical cord blood (also a heterogeneous tissue) used in EWAS.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether differences in DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns in umbilical cord blood are the result of blood cell type proportion changes that typically occur across gestational age and to demonstrate the effect of cell type proportion confounding by comparing preterm infants exposed and …

Holistic Self-Care: Tai Chi, Qigong Training For Caregivers At An Alzheimer Disease Assisted Living Facility, Sunny Alperson, Christianne Fowler

Nursing Faculty Publications

With the growing number of older persons with chronic illnesses, the demand for professionals who can provide complex care is increasing as well. However, evidence shows that health professionals’ burnout rate has been consistently increasing for the last 3 decades. In an effort to alleviate some of the issues associated with caregiver burnout, we conducted mind-body training of self-compassion for professional caregivers at an Alzheimer disease (AD) specialty center for 5 weeks. The intervention combined seven simple centering movements of tai chi and qigong in a context of mettā (loving kindness meditation) language mindfulness. Data showed significant improvements in caregiver …

Detecting Agitation Onset In Individuals With Dementia Using Smart Phone Sensors, Christianne Fowler, Ajay Gupta, Kurt Maly, Karen Karlowicz, Maheedhar Gunnam, Rohila Gudipati, Mahesh Kukunooru, Rahul Rachamalla

Nursing Faculty Publications

Individuals living with dementia (ILWD) often experience problematic agitated behaviors, this occurs in up to 80% of ILWD. These behaviors lead to stress for caregivers and increased frequency of institutionalization. There are many proven methods to intervene during agitated behavior outburst and the earlier these methods are used the better the results. Technology has been used successfully to monitor many aspects of health monitoring for older adults. Technology is now being investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of predicting the onset of problem behaviors, especially escalating agitation in ILWD. Off the shelf technology, smart watches and android phones, are being tested …

Stand At Ease, Then Forward, March!, Janice E. Hawkins

Nursing Faculty Publications

(First paragraph) I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1985. After reporting for basic training, I learned to execute military formation maneuvering commands. Military formations help organize ceremonial parades, gain tactical advantage, and create discipline. It occurs to me that the same elements that contribute to effective functioning of a military unit- ceremony, tactical planning, and discipline- also contribute to achieving one's goals after completing graduate school.