Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Identifying Barriers To Dental Care Among Hispanics In Southwest Minnesota, Lissette Garza

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to assess the different barriers for dental health care among the Hispanic population in a rural, southwestern community in Minnesota. To collect data, an adaptation of the survey written by Vazquez and Swan (2003) was distributed to Hispanic individuals at an agricultural facility, religious organization, and an early childhood organization. The findings for the research question are presented in the cross-sectional study utilizing descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages. The results of this study indicate that not having a dental provider of the same cultural background, having a language barrier, and …

Perceptions Of Individual Burnout, Team Burnout, And Coping Resiliency Among Elite Pre-Professional Female Soccer Athletes, Kathleen Stapleton

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Mental illness is a significant contributor to physical illness and disease worldwide and is more prevalent in young adult females. Stress and burnout are both inputs and outputs affecting mental and physical health. Elite athletes are particularly susceptible to stress and burnout due to the added pressures of achieving champion status in their respective sports. Previous studies focused on individual perceptions of athlete burnout, but research is increasingly showcasing the need to understand the social aspect of team sport environments. This study used a cross-sectional survey to assess the levels of perceived burnout in a convenience sample of elite female …

The Assessment Of Emergency Preparedness Among University Students, Arliah Cox

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

University students have been an understudied population when it comes to the topic of emergency/ disaster preparedness. While there have been a few studies carried out to examine students’ perceptions of preparedness, the level of preparedness must be determined to be able to close the gap when it comes to barriers preventing them from being prepared. One hundred and eighty-seven undergraduate participants at a Midwestern university completed both online and in-person surveys in March 2022. The survey included questions regarding emergency/ disaster preparedness, perception of being prepared, and barriers which can prevent preparedness. Results showed that a lack of time …

Stress Coping Responses Of Undergraduate University Students Prior To & Since The Onset Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kaylee Diefenderfer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The stress coping mechanisms used by undergraduate university students affects their psychological well-being, stress level, and mental health outcomes. Increasing students’ use of positive coping mechanisms may increase academic outcomes, and overall health and well-being. This study evaluated the stress coping mechanisms used by undergraduate university students prior to and since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Brief COPE inventory was used to measure stress coping responses. The results of this research indicated a significant change in 9 out of the 14 main coping mechanisms used by undergraduate university students prior to since the pandemic began. The top two stress coping …

Choosing Between Medical Surveillance And Preventive Surgical Interventions Among Asymptomatic Brca Positive Women, Hillary Zupan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Women with a known BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 genetic mutation are at an increased risk for the development of cancer, most commonly breast and uterine types. Risk reduction strategies to manage cancer risk include increased medical surveillance and various preventive surgeries. This is a deeply personal decision and one that is influenced by a variety of factors. The aim of this literature review is to identify the key factors impacting the decision-making process of a woman with a BRCA mutation and how a woman ultimately decides between the cancer risk management strategies. Six electronic databases were used to obtain …

The Primary Care Provider’S Role In Screening And Intervening In The Human Trafficking Of Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review, Brittany Schmid

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Human trafficking (HT) is a growing concern within the United States (U.S.) and internationally. With the alarming number of HT victims presenting for medical care, primary care providers (PCPs) are in a unique and privileged position to encounter HT victims within the healthcare system. Adolescents, in particular, are vulnerable to HT because of minimal life experiences, inadequate social support, and limited coping mechanisms (Ertl et al., 2020). Failure to recognize and intervene in cases involving HT victims who are minors is detrimental to the individual’s health, wellbeing, and safety. With the assistance of education and training, community resources, guideline adoption, …

The Impact Of Social Media On Teenage Females Self-Esteem, Amanda C. Perkovich

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Social media has become the way we connect with the world. Social networking sites, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and TikTok, allow users to share intimate details of their lives, upload photographs, initiate and maintain relationships, plan social gatherings, observe the lives of others and express beliefs, values and emotions. In the last ten years, numerous articles have focused on the relationship between social media use and mental health however, very few studies have concentrated on self-esteem, especially in teenage females. The purpose of this literature review is to explore the associations between increased social media activity (greater than 2 …

Safety And Efficacy Of Bioidentical Hormone Therapy In Menopause: A Literature Review, Kathryn Akre

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) experienced during menopause can negatively impact a woman’s quality of life, productivity, sleep, and mood. Systemic hormone therapy (HT) is the most effective treatment for moderate to severe VMS, however safety concerns raised by the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial have led to a decrease in overall HT use and a growing demand for custom-compounded bioidentical HT. Misconceptions regarding the superior safety and efficacy of custom-compounded hormones and lack of clinician expertise in menopause management contribute to ongoing uncertainty and low uptake of United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved bioidentical HT products. This …

Reducing Disease Exacerbation In Women With Confirmed Copd: A Systematic Literature Review, Jill Essay

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Abstract

A systematic literature review was conducted to establish whether gender specific treatment exists for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), specifically, women with (COPD). The PICO question developed for this review is as follows: In women with confirmed diagnoses of COPD, does gender-specific treatment, compared to standard treatment, impact the frequency of exacerbations? Could the number of COPD exacerbations in women be reduced by incorporating interventions designed with (female) gender in mind? Four databases were included in the search: CINAHL, Pubmed, Medline, and Nursing and Allied Health. Articles included addressed gender differences in relation to the disease process, …

Assessment Of Perceived Levels Of Stress And Coping Mechanism Use Among Elementary School Teachers, Lauren Larson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The teaching profession is known to be highly stressful. Teacher stress is a real concern as there is a well-established link between job stress, burnout, and teacher attrition. Teacher attrition rates are currently at concerning levels in the United States and around the world. A cross-sectional, correlational study design was used to assess the relationship between perceived levels of stress and coping mechanism use among elementary school teachers. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of 420 public elementary school teachers in Minnesota. A 48-item survey which included the Perceived Stress Scale and Brief COPE was used to measure perceived levels …

Understanding The Implications Of Hpv Infection: Does Parental Education Impact Hpv Vaccination Completion Rates?, Heather A. Pederson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Up to 80% of United States (U.S.) citizens will contract the human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lives. HPV has the ability to cause multiple types of cancer, including cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal. The most recent HPV vaccine is effective against nine strains of the virus, which account for most cases of cancer and genital warts caused by HPV. Parents are a key component in reaching Healthy People 2030’s goal to have 80% of all adolescents in the U.S. completely vaccinated against HPV. Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine if …

Perceived Barriers And Facilitators To Cervical Cancer Screening In Asian American Women, Bouathong Thepsombath

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this systematic review is to explore barriers and facilitators of cervical cancer screening in Asian-American women. Articles selected for review were found using a database search method using select predetermined key terms. The clinical question this review sought to answer is: In Asian-American women (21-65 years of age), how does perception of cervical cancer screening impact screening compliance? Nine articles addressing the topic of interest were included in the review. Emerging themes related to answering the question under study included the health literacy of Asian-American women, modesty, acculturation, income comfortability, and self-efficacy. This review found information that …

Factors Influencing Contraception Use In Sexual Minority Women: A Systematic Literature Review, Grace M. Hudson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Contrary to widespread beliefs that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) women do not need contraceptive care, sexual minority women (SMW) engage in vaginal-penile sexual contact which puts them at risk for unintended pregnancy. SMW assigned female gender at birth are at higher risk for less reliable and consistent contraceptive use and thus unintended pregnancy (Everett et al., 2017). This leads to the question of factors which cause SMW to be less engaged in contraceptive services. Through synthesis of studies addressing SMW and contraceptives, four themes developed: attitudes towards contraception, obstacles to care, knowledge gaps, and ways to improve …

Peoples’ Experiences With Birth Doulas, Emily A. Gunderson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Birth doulas, as a non-medical resource for people going through the birthing process, have seen overall positive reception by providing a service otherwise missing from the recently medicalized birth environment (Gruber et al. 2013, Steel et al. 2015); this coincides with a time when fathers are being asked to play a more active role in their child’s birth (Coltrane 1996, Odent 2009). However, while we know a little about how mothers experience the services of a birth doula and how fathers experience birth generally, we have yet to find out how birthing people, both partnered and un-partnered, make sense of …

Know Before You Play: Associations Between Race, Education, And Hiv Susceptibility, Anfa Mohamed Diiriye

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. This paper analyzes the associations between race, education, and HIV susceptibility, furthering previous research to understand if educational attainment reduces HIV susceptibility and if reduction patterns are similar for Black and White women. The CDC’s National Survey of Family Growth 2015-2017 was used to analyze associations using binary logistic and multiple regression models. HIV susceptibility was operationalized through four measures: condom use, having a partner with concurrent sexual relationships, having had an STD, and age at first sex. Black women were not found to be significantly more susceptible to …

The Difference In Barriers To Colorectal Cancer Screening Between Men And Women In The 45-55-Year Age Group, Maren Christina Davis

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Statement of the Problem: Adults, 50 years or older, should have a screening colonoscopy every ten years and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year. However, close to 22 million adults between the ages of 50-75 in the U.S. have never been screened for colorectal cancer, which delays treatment and can be fatal if the cancer is not found in time.

Procedure: This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, survey-based design and a convenience sample of men and women between 45 and 55 years old to assess colorectal screening practices, barriers to screening, and knowledge levels about colorectal cancer screening.

Findings: A …

Sexual Consent In Middle School Sex Health Education: An Analysis Of Health Education Standards In Minnesota, Ashley Parent

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Comprehensive sex education is designed to teach sexual health, reproductive health, human sexual anatomy, safe sex, birth control and sexual abstinence. Consent education focuses on sexually transmitted infection (STI), pregnancy prevention, sexual identity, and the risks of sexual violence (Willis, 2019). This qualitative content analysis and survey will explore consent education in middle schools adopted in Minnesota from the past ten years. The research questions for this study are: is consent a part of sex education? How has consent been taught in 8-10 grades in Minnesota over the past 10 years? What frameworks are being used to teach consent to …

Coaching Women On The Impact Of Alcohol Intake On Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Literature Review, Amy Maloney

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Alcohol intake among women has increased in recent years. Women’s bodies metabolize alcohol differently when compared to men and are at increased risk for adverse effects, both physically and mentally. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to explore the evidence related to the impact of coaching in primary care on drinking behaviors and over-all well-being of women. Four databases including PsycInfo, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL Plus with full text, and Gender Studies Database were searched using a variety of key words. Studies were included if they focused on female alcohol use and abuse, interventions specific to female alcohol …

Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Infection And Vaccine Knowledge And Attitudes Among University Students, Mckenzie Schmitz

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

HPV is the “most common sexually transmitted infection,” with approximately four out of five sexually active individuals getting infected at some point in their lives (Planned Parenthood, n.d.b, para.1). Cancers of the throat, mouth, cervix, anus, penis, and vagina have all been linked to HPV infections. In addition to being tested for HPV, the utilization of barrier methods and reduction of risky sexual risk behaviors, are the best ways to prevent and treat sexually transmitted infections. This study contributes to existing literature on university students’ knowledge and attitudes about HPV infections and the vaccination. This study was conducted using descriptive, …

Best Youth Education Methods For Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention, Caitlin F. Walchonski

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sexual health education in the United States is inconsistent; information and methods vary from one location to another. Education plays a large role in developing safe sex practices, and despite the sexual education efforts, rates of sexually transmitted infections have risen for five consecutive years in the United States. A systematic literature review was conducted to determine the best methods for educating adolescents to promote behaviors to enhance sexual health. Multiple types of interventions have been studied including cognitive behavioral interventions, comprehensive sexual education, parent and teen dyad education, and abstinence only education. Sexual behavior is influenced by a variety …

Screens, School District Employees, And Sleep: Is There A Relationship?, Mary Kay L. Bruihler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Statement of the Problem

Working in a school can be stressful and about half of educators in a national survey reported less than the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep. Smartphones and other screened devices can cause sleep loss and are becoming more prevalent. Is there a relationship between the use of screened devices and sleep among the employees of a school district?

Procedures

Employees (n=36) of a small southern Minnesota school district were given an online survey regarding their sleep habits utilizing the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), their screen time use, utilizing the Screen Time Questionnaire (STQ), …

An Assessment Of Knowledge, Behavior, And Consumption Patterns Surrounding Sugar- Sweetened Beverages Among Young Adults, Anne Harguth

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Background The obesity epidemic is a growing problem in this country. Many studies have been conducted in effort to unravel and derail the rise in obesity and overweight status among Americans. Strong evidence supports the notion that excessive sugar consumption is largely contributing to an increase in obesity and risk for many chronic diseases and conditions.

Objective This study assessed sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, knowledge of sugar-sweetened beverages, disease risk associated with consumption, and correlation between the knowledge and consumption among a sample of students at a large midwestern university. A cross-sectional, retrospective design with random sampling was utilized for this …

Perceptions, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Behaviors Of Mouthguard Use Among Collegiate Athletes, Heather Prosser

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With the high risk of dental trauma in contact sports, it is important that all athletes have a strong foundation of how to prevent such injuries. Properly fitted mouthguards are the best available protective equipment to prevent orofacial trauma; however, previous research has found them underutilized, with the need for evidence-based interventions to promote mouthguard use among athletes. This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational research design, focusing on studying collegiate athletes at one large, Midwestern university, to determine their current attitudes, perceptions, self-efficacy, and behaviors of mouthguard use during participation in a contact sport. A convenience sampling technique was …

Medical Utilization In The Context Of Culture: Analyzing The Concepts, Benefits And Drawbacks Of Sri Lankan Biomedical And Ayurvedic Healthcare, Miriah Rajaguru

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sri Lanka is an island inhabited by a culture more than 5,000 years old. The primary medicine utilized by this culture in precolonial times is known as Ayurveda. During colonization, Sri Lanka was introduced to biomedicine and forced to negate Ayurvedic medicine. Throughout the years, rather than abandoning their indigenous medical practice, Sri Lanka incorporated biomedicine and Ayurvedic medicine into their medically plural society. Today, Sri Lankans utilized both medicines for different ailments, concerns and conditions. Utilizing a variety of anthropological methods and theories, this study gathered qualitative information from 39 Sri Lankan informants. These informants were recruited to find …

Search For The Cause Of Vaping Associated Lung Injury In Adolescents, Alexandra E. Krueger

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In August 2019 an unexplained, exponential rise in severe respiratory illnesses in previously healthy young adults, swept across America catching the attention of medical providers. Hospital admissions for lung injury increased 10-fold over two months’ time leaving practitioners scrambling for answers. All affected patients were found to have used e-cigarettes prior to symptoms and endorsed using nicotine and marijuana vape pens. The medical community quickly began to search for the cause of these vaping associated lung injuries. Understanding the mechanism of injury is important in order to assist in educating the public about the risks associated with e-cigarettes. The aim …

Incentive-Use In Worksite Wellness Programs In Mn Government Agencies, Sandra Bromley

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

We used a digital email-based survey to collect information on WWP in government agencies in Minnesota. In terms of associations between incentive-use and success rates, results were inconclusive. Due to limitations in responses on the survey we are unable to draw a correlation between incentive-use and cost savings outcomes for agencies surveyed. Survey results did provide other information that can be useful by health educators to improve and grow WWP. Results showed that compared to national rates, government agencies in Minnesota may not be utilizing additional funding resources for WWP. Future research on the use of grant and insurance company …

Program Review Of Naloxone Training Within The Wisconsin Department Of Corrections’ Community Corrections Division, Chelsea Calhoon

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

One of the fastest growing drug problems in the United States is the abuse of opioids (United States Department of Health & Human Services, 2018). With the rising overdose rates, the criminal justice system may offer a pivotal role in the decrease of overdose deaths through opioid overdose recognition and naloxone administration training (World Health Organization, 2014). Training evaluation based on the Effectiveness Theory find significant predictors of training effectiveness and retention to be correlated with the training program, age, and employment tenure (Cowman & McCarthy, 2016). This thesis’ research question is, “Do demographics correlate to training retention for opioid …

Burnout Levels Of Teachers Within A Selected School District In Minnesota, Adam Whirley

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify feelings of burnout within a selected school district in Minnesota and to identify contributing demographic factors. For this study, a random school district in Minnesota was chosen to be surveyed. By identifying feelings of burnout and demographic factors associated with these feelings, appropriate mental health interventions will be developed and implemented within school districts and the workplace. By implementing these interventions there will be a reduction in occupational burnout and stronger mental health among employees. The study showed a significance relationship between 9-12(High School) teachers and higher levels of burnout when compared …

Assessment Of Perceived Levels Of Stress And Coping Mechanisms Among University Students, Nancy Adomako-Saahene

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Majority of researchers have documented stress among college students. This study contributes to the existing literature on stress by assessing the relationship between perceived stress levels and the coping strategies utilized by university students. The study was conducted using a descriptive, inferential, cross-sectional, and correlational research design. The population for this study was students at a large, Midwestern university. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the students for the study. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess the participant’s perceived level of stress, whereas COPE Inventory was used to examine strategies participants use in coping with stress. …

Assessing Knowledge, Attitude And Practices Of Hand Hygiene Among University Students, Linda Afia Mbroh

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: Proper hand hygiene is the key to reducing occurrence of infectious diseases in many different types of communities, including the healthcare settings, daycare centers, and grade schools. College students have been found to inadequately wash their hands, which increases their chances of contracting infectious diseases. The purpose of this research is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of hand hygiene among students at a large midwestern university.

Participants and Methods: Using a cross- sectional survey, and three self-reported questionnaires, data were collected from 406 undergraduate students, ages 18 years of age and above enrolled at Minnesota State University, …