Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Crisis Narratives In Crisis? A Comparative Investigation Into National Covid-19 Narratives, Mouse D. Bennett

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency for only the sixth time in its history. On March 11, 2020, it was stated that COVID-19 constituted a pandemic. How did countries respond? This dissertation traces the evolution of national crisis narratives in four states and assesses their relative success. The findings of this study are that pandemic crisis narratives are not generalizable to all crisis situations but require a high level of compliance to be effective in stopping the crisis. There is no formula for government success, there are no decisive variables determining outcomes. …

A Reflection Of Experiences Of Adults With Type 1 Diabetes In Integrated Physical Education Classes, Kalleigh West

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of type 1 diabetics in integrated physical education classes. In this study, we interviewed young type 1 diabetic adults and asked them to reflect on their school-based physical education experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach was adopted to guide data collection, analysis, and interpretation for this retrospective study. Eight participants (ages 19 to 32) were enrolled in this study, and semi-structured interviews focused on their physical education experiences acted as the primary data. Transcribed interview data were analyzed using an IPA approach. Three interrelated themes emerged …

Nightmares And Self-Injury Among High-Risk Adolescents: Examining The Role Of Emotion Regulation, Kinjal K. Patel

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) are a public health concern among youth. SITB rates rise drastically during adolescence -- a critical and sensitive developmental period characterized by dramatic changes in biological and social systems. Prior research has identified distal risk factors which tell us who is at risk for SITBs. Emerging research suggests proximal risk factors may be useful to identify when an individual may be at risk for SITBs. One promising proximal risk factor for SITBs is sleep problems. Although the relation between sleep problems and SITBs has been widely documented, little is known about the short-term, proximal links …

African-American Parents’ Cultural Understandings Of The Concept Of Autism And Implications For Parental Communication And Health Management, Kellie J. Fennell

Communication & Theatre Arts Theses

In 2023 the Centers of Disease Control reported that around 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with Autism in America and that the prevalence has increased by 178% since 2000 (CDC, 2023). Despite increases in awareness and diagnosis past research finds that the discussions of ASD in African American communities is minimal (Fombonne, 2003; Yeargin Allsopp et al., 2003). This disparity is important considering that African American children receive an ASD diagnosis years later than their white counterparts and are much more likely to be misdiagnosed (Mandell et al., 2009, 2002).

Given the history of a lack of representation of …

Examining The Experience And Impact Of Teen-To-Teen Crisis Line Work For Youth Volunteers: A Pilot Study, Taylor Kalgren

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

For young people, suicide is a leading cause of death. In addition, suicidal thoughts and behaviors begin during adolescence, and rates are high during this developmental period. Crisis lines are one of the oldest suicide prevention strategies used today. Crisis line work is challenging, and therefore, examining the health and safety of these operators is critical. Teen-to-teen (t2t) crisis lines are a unique resource where adolescent volunteers help their similarity aged peers. The goal of this pilot study was to begin to evaluate the impact of t2t crisis lines for youth volunteers. Twenty youth crisis line volunteers (ages 15-20) were …

Tobacco Smoking Among Saudi College Students: Validation Of An Arabic Health Belief Model Instrument, Saad Abdullah S. Alotaibi

Health Services Research Dissertations

This dissertation intended to learn more about Saudi college students' behavior in relation to the use of tobacco smoking. Multiple interrelated projects have been carried out in order to achieve this ambitious goal. The goal of the first study was to evaluate the scope of the existing smoking issue as indicated by research, by systematically estimating the prevalence of tobacco use among higher education students in Saudi Arabia. The second study aimed to systematically analyze and integrate the existing information on the determinants of smoking among Saudi college students. The last project aimed to develop a psychometric instrument to evaluate …

Predicting E-Cigarette Use Among Emerging Adults Using Perceived Social Norms And Outcome Expectancies, Stephen N. Hanson

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Despite low rates of combustible tobacco use rates among adolescents and young adults, e-cigarettes continue to gain popularity. A few factors have been shown to be related to e-cigarette use based on prior research. One such example is social enhancement expectancies. Additionally, greater perceptions of harm have been found to be inversely related to e-cigarette use such that those that expect increased risk to their health are less likely to report using e-cigarettes. I hypothesized that social enhancement expectancies would mediate the relationship between perceptions of social norms and e-cigarette dependence. I also hypothesized that perceived harm, such as greater …

Examining The Roles Of Acculturative Stressors And Cultural Factors In Major Health And Safety Issues Among Hispanic/Latino Farmworkers, Brenda Berumen-Flucker

Health Services Research Dissertations

Statement of the problem: Hispanic/Latino farmworkers are at increased risk of adverse health and safety outcomes. Heightened levels of acculturative stress and the unique cultural characteristics and beliefs reported by this group increase workers’ vulnerability for adverse outcomes.

Method: The first project consisted of a systematic review examining threats to the health and safety of Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers attributable to climate change, focusing specifically on their risk for heat-related illnesses (HRI) and cultural factors and beliefs increasing workers’ vulnerability for HRI. The second project was a secondary data analysis focused on identifying potential relationships between acculturative stressors, cultural factors, and …

Racial Differences In Tobacco Use And Risk Factors Among Young Adults: Roles Of Expectancies And Emotion Regulation, Laurel Brockenberry

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

African Americans experience higher mortality from lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases than Caucasian Americans (Kochanek et al., 2016) despite engaging in cigarette and e-cigarette use significantly less or at comparable rates to other racial groups (CDC, 2015; Schoeborn, 2013). During adolescence, smoking prevalence is lower among African Americans than Caucasian Americans, but there is a “cross-over effect” whereby smoking rates become similar later in adulthood (Belgrave et al, 2010). The mechanisms driving this effect are poorly understood. Thus, examining motivating factors for tobacco use, such as outcome expectancies and emotion regulation, may be especially illuminating for young adult African …

Blood Lead Levels In Minority Children: A Case Of Environmental Racism, Erick Rivera

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Racial minorities in the United States have suffered from being disadvantaged. Among these disadvantages is environmental racism. This includes minority communities being ‘sacrifice zones’ for toxic waste and being exposed to lead poisoning. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in blood levels between white children and children of color. This research will follow a bivariate model for the first research question, “Do youth of color (under the age of 18) have higher BLLs than white children?” The bivariate model will look at the relationship between ethno-racial group and BLLs. Specifically, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be …

The Politics Of Medicine: Power, Actors, And Ideas In The Making Of Health, Claire Wulf Winiarek

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

The practice of medicine has become the prescribing of medicine. Reflecting a construct of health defined by Rationalism, individualism, and biomedical science, medicines (pharmaceuticals) are politically constructed to be the first – and sometimes only prescribed – line of defense against illness and disease. Pharmaceuticals also represent a highly desirable, ‘recession-proof’ component of many Nation-states’ (states’) export strategies, helping advanced economies, in particular, to maintain favorable trade balances and economic growth amidst the headwinds of deindustrialization.

Higher use and the overreliance on pharmaceuticals promote an outsized role for certain actors and ideas in the making of global health, referring to …

Examining The Use Of Immersive Clinical Experiences In Athletic Training Education, Bailey Christine Jones

Health Services Research Dissertations

Clinical experiences are an essential aspect of athletic training education that offer students opportunities to practice their skills and engage in a variety of settings. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) sets accreditation standards for athletic training programs to meet, including clinical education standards. In fall 2020, new standards took effect that include a few additions to the standards surrounding clinical education; these additions require programs to afford students opportunities to engage in immersive clinical experiences (ICEs), implement behaviors associated with core competencies, and identify strategies that account for patients’ social determinants of health. Educators believe ICEs …

The Assessment Of Clinical Reasoning In Preceptors Across The Athletic Training Profession, Gary Wayne Cohen Jr.

Health Services Research Dissertations

Clinical reasoning (CR) is defined as a complex multi-factorial metacognitive process for diagnosis formulation. Clinical reasoning begins as a student and develops over a career. Students are typically taught an analytical approach defined as hypothetico-deductive reasoning (HDR). Expert clinicians use a non-analytical approach defined as the Knowledge Based Model (KBM) of CR. It is accepted that clinicians use the KBM with cases that they have more experience to streamline the evaluation process. Unfortunately, because of the nuance of CR there have been limited investigations within athletic training to evaluate CR outside of the student population.

The overarching purpose of this …

Nursing Students’ Knowledge And Attitudes About Pain Management And Opioids, Hedieh Hatami Sirjani

Health Services Research Dissertations

Statement of the problem: healthcare professionals’ knowledge of using opioids for pain management safely is critical in preventing opioid abuse and overdose. Undergraduate curricula of health professional schools, including undergraduate nursing programs, need to improve and adopt a comprehensive education regarding this issue.

Method: the first project was a systematic analysis of the literature regarding the educational interventions’ impact on healthcare professional knowledge and practice behavior regarding prescription opioids. The second project was a qualitative study of nursing students to explore their experience, self-efficacy, and knowledge of prescription opioid use for pain management and whether they feel the need for …

A Meta-Analysis Of Group Treatment Outcomes For Veterans With Substance Use Disorders, Robert “Tony” Dice

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Group therapy is commonly used in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). Many studies exist related to the efficacy of group interventions for veterans with SUDs. A meta-analysis and systematic review of the literature addressing the use of group therapy, specifically psychoeducational groups, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups and support groups, in the treatment of SUDs with veterans was conducted. The following questions guided the research: What are viable treatment outcomes for psychoeducational, CBT, and support groups of veterans with SUDs? and What are the measures that capture outcomes related to psychoeducational, CBT, and support groups of veterans with …

Attitudes Of Virginia Dental Hygienists Toward Dental Therapists, Helene Mesina Burns

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Problem: The purpose of this study was to determine the opinions and attitudes of Virginia dental hygienists toward dental therapists (DTs) and to determine if current education level and years of practice affected opinions regarding education requirements for DTs. Methods: After IRB approval, a 22-item questionnaire was distributed online to a convenience sample of 910 Virginia dental hygienists. Questions assessed attitudes of participants toward the DT using a seven-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Additionally, participants were asked to respond to demographic questions and open-ended questions about potential advantages and/or disadvantages to DTs. Independent …

Air Pollution And Outdoor Recreation On Urban Trails: A Case Study Of The Elizabeth River Trail, Norfolk, Va, James E. Mccann

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Poor air quality represents a significant health risk, especially when recreating outdoors in urban parks and trails. It is important for managers of urban parks and trail to understand how potential visitors’ perceptions of air quality and health risks and benefits may affect visitation. The goal of this study was to investigate temporal variance in air quality along the Elizabeth River Trail, an urban trail located in Norfolk, Virginia, as well as trail users’ perceptions of air quality and of health benefits in relation to trail use. The researcher rode a bicycle with a Dylos DC1700-PM mobile air quality monitor …

A Three Article Study Examining Sexual And Gender Minority Competency Of Health Service Providers, Corrine N. Wilsey

Health Services Research Dissertations

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals endure a number of health disparities, such as higher rates of violence, mental health conditions, and more medical conditions. These disparities are exacerbated by the fact that SGM individuals face issues such as accessing health insurance, social support programs, and health service providers who are knowledgeable about SGM health issues. Certain health service provider governing organizations (i.e., the American Psychological Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association) have recognized the need for guidelines regarding SGM care in recent years and published guidelines for health service providers regarding …

The Determinants Of Physical Activity, Self-Monitoring Of Blood Glucose, And Poor Glycemic Control Among Individuals Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes In Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study Based On The Saudi Health Interview Survey (Shis), Mohammed Abdulrahman S. Alsuliman

Health Services Research Dissertations

The prevalence of diabetes and poor glycemic control in Saudi Arabia has increased that contributed to the growing number of deaths in Saudi Arabia. It is known that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) can be prevented but there is a lack information about the magnitude of the of diabetes at national level as well as the risk factors for physical activity (PA), self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and poor glycemic. Thus, through utilizing Health promotion model (HPM), the aims are to examine the personal factors, cognitive-perceptual, and behavioral determinants of three outcomes; physical activity, SMBG, and poor glycemic control. A secondary …

Predictors Of Dental Students’ Behavioral Intention Use Of Teledentistry: An Application Of The Unified Theory Of Acceptance And Use Of Technology (Utaut) Model, Jafar Hassan Alabdullah

Health Services Research Dissertations

Shortages of dental professionals and access barriers to dental care are challenges to improving oral health and decreasing the burden of dental diseases. There are more than 57 million individuals in the U.S. who live in dental health professional shortage areas (DHPSA). The U.S. DHPSA areas need 9,951 dental practitioners to overcome the obstacles to oral care access. Due to dental care needs for these populations, it is imperative to find a new method to reach these underserved populations. Teledentistry is an innovative technology that can be used to improve access to care and oral health outcomes. Unfortunately, there is …

Social Vulnerability And Hurricane Evacuation Behavior In Hampton Roads, Va: Emergency Management Stakeholders’ Perceptions Of Low-To-Moderate Income Households In A Social Construction Paradigm, Mechelle Bonit Smith

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to examine current emergency management (EM) evacuation policies and practices with respect to vulnerable populations’ hurricane evacuation behaviors. The response of vulnerable households and local and state governments’ implementation of emergency evacuation policies and practices provide possible linkages to continual problems faced by local governments in addressing its most vulnerable residents. Using social construction as a theoretical foundation provides context for the consideration of vulnerable populations in emergency management policy and hurricane evacuation.

This research is a qualitative case study of emergency management policies, practices, and perceived household evacuation behaviors in several cities of …

Personal Beliefs About The Effectiveness Of A Primary Seat Belt Law In Virginia Versus North Carolina, Rochelle A. Rushlow

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Seat belt law strength (primary versus secondary) affects the ability of law enforcement to enforce consistent seat belt use, especially in secondary seat belt law states. Certain demographics correlate with seat belt law effectiveness beliefs and overall seat belt use. The current study used an overall omnibus model to determine the strength of the relationship among demographics and beliefs in the effectiveness of primary seat belt laws. A survey was deployed to Mechanical Turk (MTurk) users who were Virginia or North Carolina residents, held a valid United States driver’s license, and were at least 18 years old. Three hundred twenty-four …

Popular Television’S Health And Safety Message: What Has Changed In The Past Generation?, Heather Ann Leon

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The assertion that television has an impact on viewers is well-supported in theory and empirical research. Hundreds of researchers have conducted hundreds of studies focused on limited, specific programming content or specific effects to contribute to this evidence. However, far fewer researchers have conducted broad, comprehensive programming content analysis. One exception is a 2005 study from Will et al. examining multiple health and safety behaviors including sexual activity, driving behaviors, intoxicating and unhealthy substance use, and violence depicted in the 1997/1998 primetime television season. Results of their research showed overall that primetime television promoted the perception that the observed health- …

Examine Predictors Of Bmi Classification And Perception Of Overweght Status Of Caregivers Of Preschool Children, Beth H. Chopp

Health Services Research Dissertations

Since the 1970’s the rate of childhood obesity in the United States has tripled and now one in five school-aged children is obese (Ogden et al., 2016). The childhood obesity epidemic will have medical, social, economic implications for future generations. Risk factors for childhood obesity include genetics, food intake, and physical activity, maternal health during pregnancy, parental weight, maternal employment and sociodemographic influences. This study examined the relationship between caregiver misperception of their preschoolers’ overweight/obese weight status and possible predictors that may assist in future interventions. The study evaluated NHANES data of 1245 caregivers with a child under age five …

Understanding Young Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancers’ Participation In Late Effects Screening: A Mixed Methods Approach, Kristen Trost Mantlo

Health Services Research Dissertations

Significant advancements in the treatment of childhood cancers have helped to increase the 5-year survival rate from 56% in the early 1970s to approximately 80-85% in the early 2000s (Greenlee, Murray, Bolden, & Wingo, 2000; Hampton, 2005). Treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and radiation have led to many serious long-term side effects, known as late effects. Between 60% and 90% of survivors develop some form of long-term chronic condition due to their treatment and up to 40% of those conditions will be life-threatening (Howlader, N. et al., 2013). While the majority of young adult survivors of childhood cancer are at …

Depression Among Expectant And New Mothers: A Multi-Study Investigation Of Rates, Correlates, And Training For Healthcare Providers, Molly M. Long

Health Services Research Dissertations

Perinatal depression (PD) is a common concern among women. PD has been shown to have negative effects on the mother, child, and mother-child relationship. Screening for PD is inconsistent and low among healthcare providers. However, several governing organizations (e.g., The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The American Academy of Pediatrics) have provided guidelines for screening and treating PD, indicating the importance and utility of screening and treating PD by a variety of healthcare providers. Few studies, with low methodological rigor, have attempted to improve PD screening, treatment, and referral practices. Therefore, it is important to implement and assess additional …

Asthma-Related Health Outcomes In New Jersey After A Natural Disaster Event, My Ngoc Thuy Nguyen

Health Services Research Dissertations

The occurrence of a natural disaster event such as a hurricane may further hinder the asthma management of asthmatic individuals. Unmanaged asthma has led to increased work absenteeism, preventable emergency department visits, costly hospitalizations and possibly death in severe cases. To improve asthma management in asthmatic adults in New Jersey (NJ) following a natural disaster event, this study examined whether predisposing, enabling and need factors are predictors for asthma exacerbation and asthma-related health care utilization in New Jersey. A retrospective secondary analysis of New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NJBRFSS) data and New Jersey Asthma Call Back Survey (NJACBS) …

Usefulness Of An Expanded Health Belief Model With Added Constructs (Self-Efficacy And Ecological System Measures) In Modeling Compliance With Healthy Lifestyle Recommendations In Women With A Recent History Of Gestational Diabetes, Phyllis M. Woodson

Health Services Research Dissertations

Problem Statement: Gestational diabetes (GDM) has been reported to affect as many as 18% of all pregnancies in the U.S. This diagnosis is costly and presents health risks to both baby and mother. The main risk to the mother with a history of GDM is her increased risk for diabetes which has been estimated at 35% to 60% in the following 10 to 20 years; more recent studies report a 7 to 8 times occurrence in the following 3 to 6 years. It is recommended that lifestyle efforts of eating healthfully and exercise can reduce this risk

Methods: Subjects (n=153) …

Design And Manufacture Of An Inertial Cascade Impactor For Industrial Hygiene Purposes, Hector Joel Gortaire

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Inertial cascade impactors are devices commonly used for industrial hygiene and pharmaceutical studies. Their main purpose is to separate particulate matter suspended in aerosols according to their sizes, which can vary from over 10 µm to 0.5 µm. Their versatility and ease of operation make them suitable for on-site sampling; however, designing them requires a careful consideration of the different geometric parameters that characterize them.

In this thesis, a 5-stage inertial cascade impactor was designed, modelled, constructed, and tested. The main design parameter was the volumetric flow rate, 40 l/min, which was provided by a vacuum pump. By continuous iterations, …

Examining The Association Of Environmental Degradation And Poor Cardiovascular And/Or Respiratory Health Outcomes In A Disadvantaged Community, Khyati Niranjan Kantaria

Health Services Research Dissertations

Air pollution is associated with poor cardiovascular and/or respiratory health outcomes. The poor air quality in certain communities due to the emission of toxic air pollutants from industries and major roadways has been a growing concern. The main objective of this study was to examine whether residential proximity to environmental air pollution sources, individual-level risk factors (age, gender, and body mass index (BMI)) and number of years at same residence are associated with observed poor cardiovascular and/or respiratory health outcomes in the residents of Southeast community in Newport News, Virginia. Logistic regression was conducted to assess this association using the …