Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Lady Luck: The Rise Of Women Problem Gamblers, Antonia Massa

Capstones

Gambling addiction, once considered a nearly exclusively male affliction, is becoming more common among women. This story looks at the lives and addictions of two women problem gamblers. The project includes text, audio, images and a web app for smartphones, designed to help women who think they may have a gambling problem.

Effects Of Reduced Muscular Strength On Running Kinematics Relating To The Planus Foot, Adam D. Froats

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The potential for injury is present in all forms of physical activity, particularly events involving repetitive motion. In attempt to identify kinematic changes following running induced reductions in muscular strength, 15 participants completed recorded treadmill runs before and after an outdoor run. Kinematics were recorded using a Vicon motion capture system and processed using 3D GAIT custom software. Using repeated measures ANCOVA with side (dominant and non-dominant) and time (pre-run and post-run) as within subject factors, and strength and arch height as covariates, no statistically significant differences were obtained. Using Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients to compare successive strides, post-run reductions …

Avoiding 30-Day Readmissions Of Acute Mi Patients Utilizing Cardiac Rehabilitation, Patricia T. Forsberg

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

A significant number of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) patients were readmitted to an urban San Francisco Medical Center within 5-7 days post discharge this year. Two of the main identified causes were symptom management issues and medication instructions, both of which are part of the discharge instructions. It’s not surprising that 80% of all discharge teaching is forgotten by patients by the time they hit the parking lot. With the recommended timeframe for post discharge follow up appointments at 48 to 72 hours post discharge and as those appointments are not typically available within the recommended timeframe, patients are more …

Improving Interdisciplinary Communication To Improve Patient Satisfaction, Jennifer J. Barnes

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Clinical Nurse Leader project took place at a Magnet Hospital in Northern California. It involved the nursing staff on a 23-bed Post-Surgical Medical Surgical unit, as well as the therapists providing care to their diverse patient population. The goal was to improve interdisciplinary communication to decrease the frequency of missed or postponed therapy sessions. A review of literature revealed that this preventable issue could be the most significant factor resulting in an extended length of stay and affecting overall patient satisfaction. Project data was gathered from a variety of sources, including a unit assessment, shadowing therapists, interviews with key …

Lack Of Medicaid Funding For Occupational Therapy Serving The Autism Spectrum Disorder Population Ages 0-5 Years, Nadia Yala

Honors Theses

The prevalence of autism in the United States is currently 1 in 68 children (Autism Alliance of Michigan, 2014). This is considered an epidemic. There are a variety of treatments available in the state of Michigan for children with autism, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA). Effective April 1^st, 2013, Michigan increased their funding cap for ABA therapy for treating children with autism. However, there is a lack of knowledge within the community and amongst professionals in regards to the critical treatment occupational therapy practitioners provide and as a result, there …

The Relationship Of Plantar Sensation With Standing Balance And Gait Post-Stroke, Stephen Parsons

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Gait and balance dysfunction after stroke limit independence and quality of life. Numerous contributing factors have been investigated but the role of sensation deficits has received little attention. This thesis investigated the relationship between plantar cutaneous sensation and 1) standing balance, 2) gait, and 3) use of vision to compensate for sensory loss with a secondary analysis of data from individuals with subacute stroke. Associations between standing balance, gait and sensation were investigated with Spearman correlations. Individuals classified as impaired or intact sensation were compared on gait and standing balance measures. This thesis found plantar sensation is related to standing …

Effect Of Dual Tasking On Walking Over Even And Uneven Surfaces In Functionally Independent Community Older Adults, Olajide L. Kolawole

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

While several studies have reported a decrement in performance by older adults while walking and concurrently performing a dual task on even surfaces, to date the effects of dual tasking while walking on uneven surfaces commonly found in the community has received less attention. Thus, we sought to test the hypothesis that an incremental decrement in gait parameters will be observed, when walking on an uneven versus an even surface and furthermore, that this decrement would be dependent upon the concurrent performance of a secondary cognitive and/or motor task in functionally independent-living-community older adults.

Dynamic Gait Index assessed the subject’s …

Sailing As A Therapy Modality For Occupational Therapy; Requirements Prior To Participation, Carrie Bell

Honors Theses

Many outdoor activities are currently being utilized by recreational therapists to aid in the development of play and leisure skills, education, social skills training, and even therapeutic community. The process of using these outdoor activities can aid clients in emotional, physical, cognitive and social functions. Although these types of activities have been primarily utilized in recreational therapy intervention sessions, these activities carry the potential to also fit within the domain of occupational therapy. In order to engage in the recreational activity of sailing, persons must have specific cognitive, physical, emotional and social abilities. The purpose of this study is to …

Use Of Mobility Devices In Developing Countries; A Comparative Literature Review Introducing The Contextual Factors Surrounding Accessibility And Use Of Mobility Devices In Ghana, Bangladesh, And Guatemala., Bethany Shadel

Honors Theses

Disability in the developing world encompasses 10% of the global population and much of that population requires the use of a mobility device in order to engage in meaningful occupation. The use and accessibility of mobility devices is shaped by the significance of the barriers surrounding mobility. This research looks comparatively at the factors affecting accessibility and the use of mobility devices in three developing countries; Ghana, Bangladesh, and Guatemala. Trends within literature revealed that economic, environmental, and cultural barriers all had an impact on accessibility. Overall, this study determines that accessibility solutions are not possible without removing barriers to …

Leadership Styles Of Clinical Coordinators And Clinical Instructors In Physical Therapy Clinical Education, Allison Kellish

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The APTA has identified the roles of the CCCE and CI as leaders in physical therapy clinical education. In the literature there appears to be an absence of studies examining the CCCE and CI leadership style and its impact on the preparation for clinical instruction, extra effort, job satisfaction and effectiveness of quality clinical education. The purpose of this study was to examine the leadership styles of CIs and CCCEs and to discern if there was a correlation between CI’s and CCCE’s perceptions of leadership style and perceptions of leadership effectiveness based upon three leadership outcomes. The second purpose of …

Sensor Technology For Supporting Independence Among Cognitively Impaired Elders, Kelsey Wright

Honors Theses

Dementia is the most expensive disease in the United States and its prevalence is rapidly increasing as the older adult population grows. The number of older adults diagnosed with dementia living alone is also rising, which brings about numerous safety risks. Due to the declining cognitive skills and behavior changes seen with dementia, it is important find approaches for monitoring their safety. This literature review discusses commercially available monitoring systems and empirical studies using sensor technology with older adults. It also describes a current pilot study that is exploring the use of sensor technology in the homes of cognitively impaired …

An Examination Of The Mental Health Services Provided To Students At Western Michigan University, Melissa Rex

Honors Theses

Introduction: All college students will experience stress related to academic demands, changing social situations and new environments. For some students, these multiple stressors can create overwhelming challenges. Students who are not able to receive needed support may be unable to successfully navigate the world of higher education, and are at higher risk of developing mental illness. The purpose of this study is to assess mental health services available at Western Michigan University (WMU) in comparison to other similar size universities within the state.

Method: The information used in this study was collected via several methods. Information was gathered from …

Biomechanical Joint Demands And Functional Outcomes During Manual Wheelchair Use In Pediatric Patients With Spinal Cord Injury, Christine M. Aurit

Theses and Dissertations

The biomechanical demands of the upper extremities (UEs) during pediatric manual wheelchair (MWC) use have not been fully explored. Children who use MWCs for mobility engage in a range of functional activities that may place large biomechanical demands on the UEs leading to a high risk on overuse injuries. This study aims to analyze the kinematics and kinetics of pediatric manual wheelchair use during propulsion, starting, stopping and weight relief tasks. Fourteen pediatric patients with spinal cord injury were recruited and data were collected using a 14-camera Vicon MX motion analysis system (Oxford Metric Group, Oxford, UK) and a SmartWheel …

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Retrospective Analysis Of Conservative Treatments, Sarah E. Johnson, Britta L. Carlson, Maureen G. Meyers

Hand and Upper Extremity

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify which conservative occupational therapy (OT) treatment(s) were most effective in reducing pain in patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Design: A retrospective study of 222 de-identified treatment cases of patients seen from January 1st, 2004 to December 31st, 2013 were examined. Paired sample t-tests determined statistical significance between eight initial and final outcome measures. Binary logistic regressions determined statistical significance of clinically effective treatments that reduced pain at rest and pain with activity.

Setting: The 222 cases were from 31 outpatient rehabilitation clinics offering occupational therapy services.

Subjects: Participants were …

Nutrition Students’ Perception Of Osce & Its Effect On Perceived Readiness To Clinical Placement, Elaf Farahat

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Objective: Explore nutrition and dietetic students’ perception of the educational value of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) and to examine the change in their perceived readiness to practice after completing three OSCEs.

Participants: Students from the Schools of Public Health (SPH) and Allied Health Professions (SAHP) enrolled in Medical Nutrition Therapy course, mean age 26.6±5.4 years, 95% females (n=37).

Methods: Mixed-method sequential exploratory design. Three focus group discussions (11 participants) were conducted as part of the qualitative phase to elicit themes related to perception of OSCE as an education tool. In the quantitative phase, a pre-post test design …

Exploring Experiences, Expectations And Perceptions Of Parents Of Children With Asd In Receiving Parent Education From Speech-Language Pathologists, Vinaya Hindane Kulkarni

Theses and Dissertations

EXPLORING EXPERIENCES, EXPECTATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF

PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ASD IN RECEIVING PARENT EDUCATION

FROM SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS

by

Vinaya Kulkarni

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2014

Under the Supervision of Professor Paula Rhyner, Ph.D.

As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rises, an increasing number of

parents are faced with questions related to diagnosis and intervention for their child with

ASD. The purpose of the present study was to examine parental experiences,

expectations, and level of satisfaction regarding parent education received on ASD from

practicing speech-language pathologists (SLPs). A 36-question online survey: Parent

Education in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Experiences, …

Meeting The Needs Of Students With Traumatic Brain Lnjury, Heather K. Koole

Dissertations

School reintegration following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) presents a number of challenges. This dissertation comprises three studies exploring common themes of best practice, training, and supporting success for students with TBI in school settings.

Study 1 reports the results of a survey of 70 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who responded to questions about their use of clinical activities that described more or less contextualized services. Current literature supports contextualized service delivery as best practice. Findings indicated that 98% of participants reported using at least one contextualized practice. Higher use of contextualized practices was associated with working in schools (compared to …

Effect Of Accessibility Information On Restaurant Selection Of Consumers With Disabilities, Rachael Nicole Baumann

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The study addressed the research question, "How does accessibility information about restaurants affect the diversity of restaurant choices for people with disabilities compared to others who only have general review information about restaurants?" The literature describes that people with disabilities experience limited participation in community activities. One community activity is dining out at restaurants. It is hypothesized that the availability of accessibility information will diversify restaurant choices, as it would minimize the risk of encountering unforeseen barriers that enable them to prepare for ones that they anticipate.

METHOD: Participants (N-14), half with disabilities and half without disabilities, selected dining …

Physical Therapy Non-Treatment Of The Acute Hospital Inpatient, Daniel Lee Young

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The detrimental effects of inactivity and mobility extend to the most ill and injured patients in the acute hospital setting. Facilitating the activity and exercise of these most critical patients often requires the skill and expertise of a physical therapist. When physical therapists are involved in the care of hospital inpatients they experience significant benefits; patients experience fewer secondary complications related to their primary illness or injury, they spend less time in critical care units and less time in the hospital overall, and when they leave they go to less restrictive environments and more comfortable care settings. These known benefits …

Moderators Of The Relationship Between Perceived Employability And Voluntary Turnover, Joseph Kenneth Morrison

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports a quantitative research project examining the relation between perceived employability and voluntary turnover and the moderating roles played by job embeddedness and perceived organizational support. This examination uses archival data from 230 participants from a multinational organization using zero-order correlations and moderated binary logistic regression techniques. Significant correlational effects were found between perceived employability and voluntary turnover. Significant moderated logistic regression effects were found when adding job embeddedness and perceived organizational support to the perceived employability and voluntary turnover logistic regression model. Following the results is a discussion of the implications of this research, both theoretically and …

Coordination Between Hand And Trunk Movements In A Fitts' Law Task, Fuwen Cai

Open Access Dissertations

It has been shown that limb movements are coupled in space and time in a bimanual Fitts' task. The present study was designed to examine whether coordination of hand and trunk share some sets of coordinative principles with bimanual coordination. Participants (n = 28) were required to perform a Fitts' task with the dominant hand and a Fitts' task with the trunk. These tasks were performed separately or together. The task required moving the trunk, the dominant hand or both, such that the cursor/cursors on a computer screen was/were moved from the starting position/positions to the designated target/targets as fast …

Respiratory And Laryngeal Function In Teachers Pre- And Posta 1-Hour Vocal Loading Challenge, Nicole E. Herndon

Open Access Theses

Teachers use their voice as a key part of their profession, often speaking at an increased loudness for multiple hours a day. This places teachers at a high risk for voice disorders, which costs the United States billions of dollars annually. Vocal fatigue, or worsening of the voice as the day progresses, is a common complaint from teachers. The present study investigated respiratory and laryngeal function in teachers pre and post a 1-hour vocal loading challenge. Six teachers and three student teachers (total of 9 subjects) produced four speech tasks and completed two perceptual ratings pre and post a 1-hour …

Psychometric Evaluation Of Self-Report Pain And Disability Measures For Elbow Disorders, Joshua Vincent

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Elbow disorders are one of the commonest musculoskeletal problems with a prevalence of 9% in men and 8.1% in women. Patient centered care is the goal of current healthcare delivery models; but optimizing treatment outcome and clinical research is hampered by a lack of outcome measures. Since pain and disability resulting from elbow disorders are experienced differently across individuals, they are best captured by patient reported outcome measures (PROM).

PROMs like the Patient-rated Elbow Evaluation (PREE); American Shoulder and Elbow surgeons – Elbow form (pASES-e) have been developed for use in elbow disorders, but important questions remain about their measurement …

Body Image And Quality Of Life: An Exploration Among Individuals With Head And Neck Cancer, Melissa M. Nash

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: One of the most distressing aspects of head and neck cancer (HNC) is the potential for physical disfigurement. Such changes may impact one’s body image (BI) with a secondary potential to impact long-term functioning; hence, changes in perceived BI may be seen as a critical component that influences post-treatment quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Forty participants completed 4 validated questionnaires during regular clinical follow-up visits.

Results: Perception of BI image does influence perception of QOL following HNC treatment(s), yet perceptions are highly individualized. Gender related differences are notable on BI questionnaire scores.

Conclusions: Data suggest that efforts to …

Cortical Mechanisms Of Human Pelvic Floor Muscle Synergies, Skulpan Asavasopon

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The human pelvic floor is an anatomically, functionally, and morphologically complex region that is associated with many disorders such as chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), chronic low back pain, and urinary incontinence. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the cortical mechanisms that underlie human pelvic floor muscle synergies. Our first original experiment involved the study of 20 healthy male controls who were instructed to perform a variety of muscle tasks presumed to be associated with pelvic floor muscle synergies. Surface electromyography (EMG) method was used to detect timing onsets, as well as activation patterns of the pelvic floor, …

Effect Of 17Β Estradiol & Foot Strike Patterns On Physiological & Biomechanical Changes In Runners, Iman Akef Khowailed

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It is well established that female runners are at a significantly increased risk of incurring injuries when compared to their male counterparts. Gender-specific factors such as anatomical, hormonal, and altered neuromuscular activation patterns have been implicated as causative factors. An association have been observed between hormonal fluctuation and ACL injury risk indicating potentially hormonal effect on both passive and dynamic knee stabilizer.

A growing contingency believes that we were designed with all we need in our feet to be able to run with minimal shoes that mimic barefoot running striking pattern. Habitual barefoot runners tend to FFS, compared to habitually …

Inter-Relationships Of Functional Status In Children With Cerebral Palsy: An Extension, Emily Dyszuk

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The primary aim of this study was to establish functional profiles for children with cerebral palsy (CP), by determining the relationships between three classification systems (the Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Manual Ability Classification System, and the Communication Function Classification System). The secondary aim of this study was to investigate the number and impact of health conditions in the most prevalent clusters. Data were analyzed on 222 children with CP with an average age of 6.1 years, from several locations across North America. A total of 56 out of 125 possible combinations were recorded; four most prevalent cell combinations …

An Exploration Of Parental Experiences With Interventions For Children And Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kaity Gain

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a group of pervasive developmental disorders that cause clinically significant impairments in social, occupational and overall functioning. The current body of research highlights the importance of community based interventions, programs and services for this population across their lifespan. This dissertation explores parental experiences with interventions, programs and services for their children and adolescents with ASD.

This dissertation contains three manuscripts in addition to the introductory and concluding chapters. The first manuscript explores the current literature on occupational therapy based interventions for school aged children with ASD. Manuscript two presents the findings of an …

Stride Length-Speed Relationship During Body Weight Supported Running, Carmen Chona

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine if body weight support influences the stride length-speed relationship. Additionally, the purpose was to determine if impact characteristics of running are influenced by body weight support and speed. Subjects (n=10; 6 female, 4 male) volunteered to participate in this study. All subjects were injury free and were comfortable running on a treadmill for 30 minutes. Subjects ran on a lower body positive (LBPP, Alter-G, G-Trainer) treadmill for 4 conditions of body weight (100, 40, 30 and 20% of body weight) and 4 running speeds (100, 110, 120 and 130% of the preferred …

Two Single-Subject Experiments Of An Ipad Protocol When Training Special Education Professionals In Video Modeling, Alyssa Schmitz

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: This research was conducted to determine if an iPad training protocol using a teach-back strategy can feasibly be used in an educational setting and to determine if measures of use and technology perception are appropriate outcome measures. The studies were carried out in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin school district and involved two elementary level special education teachers. Utilizing single-subject methodology, two studies were carried out, including one study in which a subject received iPad training protocols and completed them independently and one study in which another subject received the same iPad training protocols combined with a teach-back strategy. The teach-back strategy …