Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Educating School Nurses: Returning To School During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kelle Flynn-Gulley, Tracy L. Brewer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

As schools began reopening, following government mandated school closure early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, new safety measures and protocols were put in place to keep students and staff safe. School nurses have become essential to ensuring schools reopen safely. However, as school nurses were forced to adapt to their increasing roles and responsibilities, a method for providing continuing education to school nurses within an East Tennessee school district did not exist. The goal of this evidence-based practice project was to provide continuing education to school nurses on COVID-19 return to school guidelines via an e-learning modality. Larrabee’s Model for …

The Medicaid Expansion: Modeling Of Important Factors In State Decision Making, Augustus M. White

Haslam Scholars Projects

No abstract provided.

Medical Illustration As A Tool For Health Literacy, Courtney Anne Wombles

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Health literacy is most commonly described as the ability of an individual to obtain, comprehend, and utilize information related to their health. Including the ability to read, write, speak, and display numeracy in medical situations, rates of health literacy impact the ability of an individual to navigate the healthcare system and make informed decisions. As reported by the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, only 12% of individuals have the proficiency to understand and manage their health. This research identifies problems existing in health literacy and doctor-patient communication, with an emphasis on consumer health information. It explores resources used for science …

Rural Hospital Closures And Perceived Access To Care: A Qualitative Descriptive Study In An Appalachian County Of Tennessee, Amanda M. Letheren

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Tennessee has suffered more hospital closures per capita than anywhere else in the nation. The impact of hospital closures on access to care in rural and economically distressed Appalachian counties of Tennessee is of particular concern because these communities experience great health disparities. Hospital closures may exacerbate these disparities and create additional barriers when accessing care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe community residents’ perceptions of health and access to care following a hospital closure in a rural and economically distressed Appalachian county of Tennessee.

Methods: This study used a qualitative descriptive approach to present community …

Emerging Adults’ Experiences As Receivers Of Sexually Transmitted Infection Disclosures From Sexual Partners: A Three-Part Examination, Kayley D. Mcmahan

Doctoral Dissertations

Each year in the United States, over 20 million cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diagnosed, mostly among those in the developmental period of emerging adulthood (ages 18-29). Research on STI disclosure to romantic and sexual partners has increased over the last two decades, but this research has (a) generally lacked a developmental and theoretical focus, (b) not examined disclosure recipients, and (c) not been systematically and critically synthesized. To address these limitations, I conducted a three-part examination. First, I systematically reviewed the STI disclosure literature and summarized findings, critical limitations, and future research and intervention directions. Next, I …

A Collective Metamorphosis Of Breastfeeding Mothers: A Phenomenological Exploration Of A Face-To-Face Healthcare Provider Facilitated Peer Support Group, Emily Alexandria Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations

This research study used phenomenology to examine a face-to-face healthcare facilitated breastfeeding support group. Participant observations and phenomenology were used to address the following research questions: 1) what are the lived experiences of the women participating a breastfeeding support group, 2) how does the group influence their lived experiences, and 3) what were the common experiences of these women? The support group participants were observed while the researcher acted as a participant observer over the course of an eleven-month period. There were a total of seven women interviewed about their lived experiences breastfeeding and attending the support group. Data from …

Relationships Between Postpartum Anxiety, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, And Breastfeeding Exclusivity, Rachel Eichholtz

Masters Theses

Background

Though several important barriers to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) have been identified, the relationship between postpartum anxiety and EBF remains inadequately explored.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship between postpartum anxiety and EBF and, if so, determine if breastfeeding self-efficacy moderated this relationship.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, online survey. Eligibility criteria: mothers (at least 18 years of age), with an infant (aged 4-24 weeks), and who had provided breastmilk at least once in the previous two weeks. The survey instrument included demographic questions and three scales: the EPDS (Edinburgh Postpartum …

Racial Disparities In Maternal Mortality In The United States: A Systematic Literature Review, Alexandria J. Lamie, Samantha F. Ehrlich

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Psychedelics Can Save: The Scientific And Social Case For Rescheduling Psychedelic Compounds, Galen M. Fader

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Association Between Stream Impairment By Mercury And Superfund Sites In The Conterminous Usa, Karessa L. Manning

Masters Theses

Mercury is a natural element that can cause harm to the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system, especially to fetuses developing in the womb. Many natural and anthropogenic factors contribute to mercury in the environment, such as geologic deposits, landfills, gold and silver mining operations, cement production, and atmospheric deposition. Mercury has been identified as a contaminant of concern at many National Priority List (NPL) sites, however, studies on contamination at NPL sites are often only conducted on a local level. This study was to analyze the potential connection between mercury-contaminated NPL sites and the presence of mercury impaired …

Assessing Basic Needs Insecurity Prevalence And Associated Factors Among College Students Enrolled At A Large, Public University In The Southeastern U.S., Mary Kathleen Robbins

Masters Theses

Abstract

Background: Basic needs insecurity (BNI), defined as having both food and housing insecurity, is an emerging issue on college campuses. Students experiencing basic needs insecurity may be more likely to have poorer academic performance, as well as poorer physical and mental health compared to other students. This research assesses the prevalence of food, housing, and basic needs insecurity among college students enrolled at a large, public university and identifies factors associated with experiencing food, housing, and basic needs insecurity.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted at a large, public university in the Southeast U.S. Eligible, enrolled students (n=23,444) …

Better Broadband For Better Health, Jeremy Kourvelas, Katie Cahill, Carole Myers Phd, Jennifer Tourville, Sreedhar Upendram

SMART Policy Briefs

No abstract provided.

Human Trafficking Awareness Among Psychiatric Hospital Nursing Staff, Donna J. Czech, Tracy L. Brewer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Human trafficking is a public health crisis on a global, state, and local level. Victims of human trafficking are a vulnerable population who pass-through healthcare systems unrecognized by nurses and other healthcare professionals due to a lack of awareness about identifiable signs, symptoms, and circumstances. Nurses are in a crucial position to assess trafficking victims for a referral. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) pilot project was to understand nurses’ knowledge and awareness on human trafficking and assess the perceived ability to identify trafficked individuals in a psychiatric care setting for screening and potential referral. Nurses received an online …

Embodying Healing And Joy Through Relationships And Sexual Wellness, Bilqis Amatus-Salaam

Black Issues Conference

With the ways in which Black bodies are policed and carry racial trauma, experiencing joy in a Black body is an act of resistance and liberation. This session will guide attendees in exploring ways to cultivate positive and affirming relationships with oneself and others to experience healing and joy. Foundational information about healthy relationships and healthy sexually will be shared to provide a framework for discussing barriers to experiencing joy and how to navigate these in a way that aligns with an individual’s values. All identities are welcome.

One Spark Can Light A Fire: How To Become A Mental Health Advocate, Marquinta Harvey, Shannon Jackson

Black Issues Conference

One Spark Can Light a Fire: How to Become a Mental Health Advocate

There is increasing awareness surrounding mental health and conversations are beginning to make their way to the forefront of issues that demand significant attention. However, the path from awareness to advocacy remains poorly understood. Mental Illness is an important issue that affects 1 in 4 individuals and unlike most chronic illnesses the onset occurs early in the life spectrum, usually in adolescence and young adulthood.

The issue of mental health is not limited to individual genetic predisposition and/or behaviors but involves many layers related to individual, family-related, …

Communication Strategies In Direct-To-Consumer Prescription Drug Advertisements, Ilwoo Ju

Annual Research Symposium of the College of Communication and Information

Little research has incorporated a theoretical framework for the analysis of message and creative strategies used in DTCA to date. The purpose of the current study is to extend the previous literature by providing a more complete list of DTCA message and/or creativity strategies based on Taylor’s message strategy wheel. The results show that DTCA has been used to promote drugs for such life-threatening conditions as asthma, acid reflux, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and arthritis. The most common inducement was the offer of consumer support information. In general, magazine DTC ads from 2006 to 2010 were likely to take both informational …

Prevalence Of Rats And Rodent Borne Pathogens Across Post-Katrina New Orleans, Bruno Marco Ghersi

Doctoral Dissertations

Disasters are happening at an increasingly higher rate and intensity a trend that is expected to continue as more humans migrate to coastal urban areas. Disasters, and as importantly, disaster recovery can affect how native and pest populations will recover. My aim was to improve understanding of disease risk by evaluating the socioecological conditions that have shaped commensal rat recovery and distribution, as well as the pathogens they carry, across New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I first estimated relative abundance and distribution of commensal rats from rodent trapping conducted between mid-2014 and early-2017 across 96 sites in 10 areas of …

Emerging Zoonotic Pathogens At The Human-Wildlife Interface In Protected Areas: Game In The Southeastern United States And Bushmeat In Northern Uganda, Breeanna M. Dell

Doctoral Dissertations

The emergence of zoonotic pathogens through contact with animal reservoirs is a well-documented phenomenon and growing concern for public health. Particularly in light of the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the coronavirus pandemic, the need to understand mechanisms of contact and disease transmission at the human-wildlife interface and to understand which infectious agents may reside within wildlife reservoirs crucial. In this project, we investigated the potential introduction of zoonotic cestode Echinococcus canadensis to public lands in Tennessee subsequent to elk translocation effort and aimed to identify whether a transmission cycle was established in this …

Exploring The Geography Of Neighborhood Mental Health Vulnerability In The Context Of Racial/Ethnic Residential Segregation, Donghee Koh

Doctoral Dissertations

Mental health matters because it affects all aspects of our lives. There is a growing body of literature about neighborhood effects on mental health. These studies argue that individuals living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses due to the higher prevalence of chronic stressors and their inability to cope with such problems. A neighborhood, however, is much more than just the sum of its socioeconomic characteristics, and I argue that there are many other important contextual factors that need to be considered to better understand the impact of neighborhood environment on mental health. Hence, …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Health Related Quality Of Life As Well As Cognitive Decline In Adult Population In Tennessee, Pragya Poudel

Doctoral Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to increased risk of negative health outcomes in later life. At least half of the population in Tennessee experience one ACE. Further, Tennessee ranks amongst the top five states in terms of cognitive decline in adult populations age 45 and above. To our knowledge, there is yet no study that has explored ACEs and adult health outcomes (health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and cognitive decline) in Tennessee.

The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between ACEs [by overall, individual, type/domain, and dose-response effect of ACE] and HRQOL as well as …

Applying Modern Immunology To The Plague Of Ancient Athens, Juhi C. Patel

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

During the 5^th century BCE, ancient Athens and Sparta were involved in a major war during which an epidemic disease broke out in Athens, claiming the lives of a substantial part of the population. Although the ancient Greek historian Thucydides provides a first-hand account of the symptoms of the plague, modern historians have not been able to definitively identify the pathogen that caused the deadly epidemic. In 1994, a burial tomb of Athens was unearthed that unveiled the likely remains of plague victims. In 2005, scientists conducted molecular testing on the dental remains and used suicide PCR to compare …

Centro Hispano's Role In Community Health, Annabeth Vannucci

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Role Of Income Inequality In The Impact Of Natural Disasters In Lower Middle-Income Countries, Madison L. Graham

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Comparing Hpv Vaccination Rates Between Rural And Urban Female Undergraduate Students At The University Of Tennessee, Knoxville, Brynn J. Seaton

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Type Of Health Insurance, Frequency Of Clinic Visits, And Clinic Income, Shelby M. Delille

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Park Usage In Relationship To Available Features And Amenities In A Large Urban Park, Hannah Bradford Clauss

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between park features and park use in a large urban park. At 45.33 acres, West Hills Park has amenities such as athletic courts and fields, picnic areas, and a 1.9-mile paved trail. Methods: Park usage was assessed using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities tool that measures use by gender, age, ethnicity, and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Data was collected in 18 zones over four days with three observations per day (morning, midday, and evening). Park features, amenities, and condition, were assessed using the …

Too Busy To Exercise: Examining Pregnant Women’S Exercise Preferences, Maggie R. Pepper, Kathleen Brown, Samantha F. Ehrlich, Cristina Barroso, Jill Maples

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is diagnosed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy and can usually be managed by healthy diet and exercise. There is currently a lack of clinical consensus regarding exercise prescription for GDM management. The current study aimed to elicit thoughts and feelings about exercise in women with GDM to inform the development of behavioral exercise intervention.

Methods: The research team conducted 20-minute semi-structured interviews with 15 participants. Interview questions were on the description of a typical day, opportunities to engage in exercise, challenges to exercising during pregnancy, exercise preferences during pregnancy, and thoughts about the …

Patients’ Experiences Of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice In Primary Care: A Scoping Review Of The Literature, Katherine H. Morgan, Cristina Sofia Barroso, Sarah Bateman, Melanie Dixson, Kathleen Conroy Brown

UT Libraries Faculty: Peer-Reviewed Publications

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) has been shown to improve patient safety and quality of care. Particularly, IPC assists health care providers to manage complex and chronic diseases. To this end, primary care centers around the world have begun practicing IPC; however, little is known about the patient’s experience of IPC in primary care (IPC-pc). The goals of this scoping review were to identify the studies exploring patients’ perspectives on IPC-pc and to reveal gaps in the literature for future research in order to inform policy and practice. A keyword search strategy was conducted using PubMed to identify studies published from 1997 …

A Profile Of Physical Activity In The City Of Knoxville's Lonsdale Park, Carly Scot Eakin

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Food Acquisition Strategies Within Theresienstadt Ghetto: An Analysis Of Oral Testimonies, Jaime L. Marquis

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.