Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Humor's Effect On Short-Term Memory In Older Adults: An Innovative Wellness Paradigm, Gurinder Singh Bains

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Context: With ageing, the detrimental effects of stress can impair the ability to learn and sustain memory. Humor and the associated mirthful laughter can reduce stress by decreasing the hormone cortisol. Chronic release of cortisol can damage hippocampal neurons leading to impairment of learning and memory. Objectives: To examine the effect of watching a humor video on short term memory in older adults. Design: A randomized, controlled trial. Setting: Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA. Participants: 30 subjects: 20 normal healthy, older adults, 11 males and 9 females; 10 Type 2 Diabetic older adults, 6 males and 4 females. Intervention: …

Screening For Torticollis And Plagiocephaly: The Role Of The Pediatrician, Lisa Ann Change-Yee Hwang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of providing a standardized screening examination to a group of attending and resident physicians on the rate of torticollis and plagiocephaly diagnoses, the age at time of diagnosis, and the attitudes and practice patterns of the physicians. All subjects were given a standardized screening procedure by verbal instruction and handout, and also completed a pre-­‐ and post-­‐intervention questionnaire, which assessed the 􀂕􀂗􀂄􀂌􀂇􀂅􀂖􀂕􀇯􀀃 practice regarding the diagnosis and management of torticollis and plagiocephaly. A retrospective chart review was conducted to ascertain the changes in frequency and mean age of patients diagnosed …

Patient Safety Culture And High Reliability Organizations, Jared D. Padgett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A 1999 evaluation of case studies performed by staff from the Institute of Medicine found that between 40,000 and 98,000 patients died from preventable errors, while 43,598 individuals died in car accidents that year. A 2011 report increased that estimate nearly 10 times. Widespread preventable patient harm still occurs despite an increase in healthcare regulations. High-reliability organization theory has contributed to improved safety and may potentially reverse this trend. This explorative single case study explored how the perceptions and experiences of nursing and respiratory staff affected the successful transition of a healthcare organization into a reliability-seeking organization. Fourteen participants from …

Changes In Glutamate Receptor Subunits Within The Medulla In Goats After Section Of The Carotid Sinus Nerves, Justin Robert Miller, Suzanne Neumueller, Clarissa Muere, Samantha Olesiak, Lawrence Pan, John D. Bukowy, Asem O. Daghistany, Matthew Hodges, Hubert Forster

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

The mechanisms which contribute to the time-dependent recovery of resting ventilation and the ventilatory CO₂ chemoreflex after carotid body denervation (CBD) are poorly understood. Herein we tested the hypothesis that there are time-dependent changes in the expression of specific AMPA, NMDA, and/or neurokinin-1 (NK1R) receptors within respiratory-related brain stem nuclei acutely or chronically after CBD in adult goats. Brain stem tissues were collected acutely (5 days) or chronically (30 days) after sham or bilateral CBD, immunostained with antibodies targeting AMPA (GluA1 or GluA2), NMDA (GluN1), or NK-1 receptors, and optical density (OD) compared. Physiological measurement confirmed categorization of each …

Investigating Educators’ Views Of Sexuality, Hiv And Aids Education In Working With Students With Disabilities In South African Schools, Julia S. Louw, John Kosciulek, Roy K. Chen

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

The misconception that persons with disabilities are asexual and sexually inactive often relegates teaching sexuality education in special needs schools to a priority of low importance. The access, or lack thereof, to such information causes students lvith disabilities to be at an increased risk of HIV infection; therefore, providing them with sexuality education is imperative. The purpose of the present study was to examine the teachers' and childcare providers' views of teaching sexuality, HIV, and AIDS programs in special needs schools. A survey questionnaire was employed to collect the data. The results showed that among the four major study constructs, …

Research Brief: "The Impact Of Sport And Physical Activity On The Well-Being Of Combat Veterans: A Systematic Review", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the influence that sports and exercise have on veterans' well-being and therapies that impact the well-being of combat veterans. In policy and practice, healthcare practitioners should prepare comprehensive treatment models that encompass physical activity and sports where appropriate, and support groups should encourage veterans to participate in competitive sports or other recreational activities; the DoD could expand programs to provide sports to more disabled combat veterans and the VA should re-evaluate its programs to ensure there are no barriers to participation. Suggestions for future research include studying the effects of sports and exercise on the well-being …

Fall Risk Prediction Using Wearable Wireless Sensors, Thurmon Lockhart, Chris Frame, Rahul Soangra, John Lach

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Wearable wireless sensors and nonlinear dynamics identify postural characteristics relevant to balance control and dynamic stability, revealing predictive risk of falls among older adults.

Safety Of Infusing Rituximab At A More Rapid Rate In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From The Rate-Ra Study, Charles H. Pritchard, Maria W. Greenwald, Joel M. Kremer, Norman B. Gaylis, William Rigby

Dartmouth Scholarship

As recommended in the current prescribing information, rituximab infusions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) take 4.25hours for the first infusion and 3.25hours for subsequent infusions, which is a burden on patients and the health care system. We therefore evaluated the safety of infusing rituximab at a faster rate for an infusion period of 2hours in patients with RA.

Integrating Guided Motor Imagery And Cross Education Into Rehabilitation: Scientific Review And Clinical Application, Emily Bouchard

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

BACKGROUND: Guided motor imagery and cross education are two concepts that build upon motor programs. Guided motor imagery consists of imagining a specific action, thereby activating the respective motor program without an actual movement. Cross education incorporates contralateral training to activate the motor program of an action to the resting limb. These techniques yield neurological actions that can lead to improved performance outcomes when integrated into physical therapy programs. PURPOSE: This literature review investigated guided motor imagery and cross education within the scientific literature, identified and summarized evident themes and provided suggestions for incorporating these methods into rehabilitation programs. METHODS: …

Technology Improving Spinal Cord Injured Outlook: Our Experience With The Diaphragmatic Pacing System, Amanda Morina, Pt, Dpt, Ncs, Catharine Farnan-Kennedy, Ms, Crrn, Onc, Cbis

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

Introduction

Technology is always changing and that is a certainty. Integrating it into a population in a cost effective manner is always a challenge. One of the benefits of technology is the power to improve quality of life for those who are spinal cord injured. Five years ago in 2009, our rehabilitation team had the opportunity to partner with a young spinal cord injured patient with a newly implanted diaphragmatic pacer device (DPS). Since then we have had several patients with chronic spinal cord injury with this technology. The following poster will review the literature related to this device in …

The Effects Of Statis Stretching On Measures Of Gross Motor Coordination During Vigorous Physical Activity, Stephanie Gaiko

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Static stretching has been linked to lesser performance in many sport activities. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of static stretching upon gross motor coordination patterns (GMCP) and power and fatigue markers exhibited during vigorous cycling. The performance of 28 females between the ages of eighteen and thirty were analyzed during the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Using a counterbalanced design, participants completed the test under two conditions, following static stretching and no stretching. While results showed statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between conditions for the assessed dependent variables, no statistically significant differences were found between …

Access To Therapy For Children With Autism: A Population-Based Analysis, Teal W. Benevides, Phd, Otr/L, Henry J. Carretta, Mph, Phd, Shelly J. Lane, Otr/L, Faota

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

1. Objective: Examine population-based trends in access to needed therapy services for children with ASD under the age of 18 years
2. Compare differences in access to needed therapy services between children with ASD and children with other special health care needs (CSHCN)
3. Identify individual, family enabling, and child need characteristics that contribute to reduced access to therapy services

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Functional Capacity Card Sort: Measuring Caregiver Appraisal Of Functional Capacity In Persons With Dementia, Catherine V. Piersol, Phd, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Background

Caregivers play a vital role in the safety and well-being of people with dementia

• Majority of people with dementia live at home, are cared for by families or close friends/neighbors, and require supervision or assistance with daily activities

• 80% of care provided in the home is delivered by unpaid caregivers (Alzheimer’s Association, 2013, Family Caregiver Alliance, 2006)

  Functional capacity in the person with dementia is usually assessed by caregiver interview

• Caregiver report is an important proxy measure in dementia care as the person with the cognitive impairment tends to overestimate function (Karagiozis et al., 1998; Kiyak, et al., 1994) …

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The Effect Of Telephone Follow-Up On Pain Experienced By Patients After Knee Replacement Surgery, Laurie J. Jones

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Hospital length of stays are decreasing throughout the U.S. in an effort to contain healthcare costs, but these measures can be detrimental to patients. Those who get knee replacement surgery are finding their length of stay reduced from an average of 3 to 4 days to 24 to 48 hours, which can affect pain control and interfere with rehabilitation and recovery. This affects many people, as more than 632,000 knee replacements occur each year (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2008). The purpose of this evidence-based project was to evaluate the effect of telephone follow-up on pain experienced by knee replacement …

Systematic Review: Occupational Therapy And Chronic Conditions In Primary Care, John Flood, Jillian Petty, Noreen Reidy, Shannon Whyte

Collaborative Research and Evidence shared Among Therapists and Educators (CREATE Day)

Learning Objectives:

• Define occupational therapy’s role in the primary care setting with a focus on those with chronic conditions using Occupational Therapy Practice Framework terminology.
• Describe the current evidence on occupational performance related to occupational therapy services in primary care.
• Discuss the future implications for occupational therapists working in primary care.

An Examination Between Swimming Ability, Gender, And Race- An Exploratory Investigation, Laynie E. Brown

Honors College Theses

One of the leading causes of unintentional death worldwide is drowning. From 2005-2009, an estimated 3, 107 people in the United States over the age of fifteen died from drowning (Peden, Oyegbite, & Ozanne-Smith, 2008). Research has found higher amounts of drowning deaths to be males than females and African-American than Caucasian (Saluja et al., 2005). However, no significant differences have been found in real or perceived water competency between gender or age groups (Moran et al., 2012). Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine ability to swim between gender, race, and school classification of college students. Quantitative …

Exploring The Neuro-Occupational Relationship Between Routine Family Mealtimes And Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Megan Shea

Neuro-Occupation Papers

There is a widely held opinion that eating is one of the most significant, emotional, and enjoyable daily occupations. Mealtimes provide a sense of familiarity, comfort, and structure to our days, while the preparation of meals often provides opportunities for us to socialize, acquire new skills, and develop meaningful roles (Hasselkus, 2002). The sharing of routine family meals is associated with numerous neurological, psychosocial, developmental, and educational benefits, including increased family communication and cohesiveness, and opportunities for parents to model healthy eating patterns and behaviors (Absolom & Roberts, 2011). However, prevalence rates indicate that mealtime difficulties are very common in …

Keeping Memory Alive: Exploring The Personal Experiences Of Women In Midlife, Mary Konz

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore how women in their midlife years use activities of daily living to address possible memory loss by exploring their personal experiences. The review of the literature provides an overview of memory disorders including Alzheimer's disease and other dementias as well as three specific aspects of memory that are affected by these: verbal, spatial, and procedural memory. A questionnaire that targeted women between the ages of 50 and 60 years of age was distributed via social media and e-mail for four weeks. Eighteen women completed the questionnaire. Results of the study suggest that …

First Generation Americans' Perceptions On Asd: A Comparison Of Generational Worldviews On Services, Samantha Tejada

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand why parents of different ethnicity do or do not seek services or follow-up with recommendation for services for children with autism. Data was collected using an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire asked demographic information about their family’s cultural roots; the age of diagnoses and available services for a child with ASD; and worldviews on health and services for children with ASD, which was distributed via social media. A total of 26 individuals began the questionnaire but only thirteen complete it. A comparison was made between first generation American parents, those who come from …

Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Internationally, Erika Lynn Davee

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and treatment priorities for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) internationally. The materials for this study included a questionnaire developed from literature and that was electronically distributed. Ten individuals from four countries that stretch across three continents completed the questionnaire. Results indicated According to the SLP’s that answered the questionnaire, the minimum education level for a practicing SLP is a master’s and some have obtained a Ph.D. The majority of SLP’s internationally, have treated 1-5 TBI’s in the last twelve months. According to the survey, SLP’s around the world align closer to …

Understanding Dysphagia: The Social And Emotional Impact, Savannah Learned

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the social and emotional impact of dysphagia on the lives of adults with dysphagia and their caregivers. Four adults participated in this study. Five narratives were elicited, two from adult caregivers for children, two from an adult who assisted with family members, and one from an adult who experienced dysphagia. The semi-structured interviews conducted with these adults were audio taped and transcribed word for word. They were then member checked for accuracy. Themes were abstracted from the data set using narrative analysis. Emotional issues associated with dysphagia were the most common themes …

Exploring The Utility Of The Children’S Kitchen Task Assessment For Use With Six-Year-Olds, Vanessa Mae Clemente Carzon, Charisa Justine Kelly, Alexandra Maria Rodriguez

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Objective The Children’s Kitchen Task Assessment (CKTA) is an ecologically valid assessment that was designed to assess executive functioning skills in children age 7-10. Currently there is a lack of ecologically valid assessments that test executive functioning in children under seven years of age. For this reason, this study explored the utility of the CKTA for use with six-year-olds.

Methods This study used an exploratory, qualitative, case study design to facilitate its implementation and used quantitative data to make qualitative inferences about the results. Children were given the CKTA and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV Digit Span), a …

Haptic And Exoskeleton Devices For Neurorehabilitation Of Upper Limb Paralysis: A State Of Art And A Night Landing Task, Samantha Renee Wagner

All NMU Master's Theses

Rehabilitation is an important training phase for those suffering from upper limb paralysis as a result of brain injury. When successfully completed, the re-trained limb should be able to successfully complete daily life activities. An alternative to traditional therapy is the usage of effective rehabilitation by using haptic devices in a virtual environment. The type of haptic device and task are crucial for the success of the therapy training sessions. After presenting a state-of-art literature review of several haptic devices that has been used in research and clinical facilities, we thought to use the black hole illusion (BHI), a night …

Effects Of Jump Training On Bone Mineral Density In Young Adult Females, Battogtokh Zagdsuren

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Physical activity is critical to bone health. However, not all physical activity has optimum effect on bone health and metabolism. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a short term progressive jumping protocol on bone mineral density in college age Asian females. Sixteen participants aged18-28 years enrolled in the study. Participants were assigned to exercise (n=9) and control (n=8) groups. The exercise group completed a two-legged depth jump from an approximate 20cm stepbench followed immediately by a maximum vertical jump using arm swings for five days per week for two weeks. Each depth jump and vertical …

Factors Affecting Attitudes Towards Individuals With Schizophrenia: Perceptions Of Mexican American College Students, Valerie Paredes

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study is designed to examine the effects of acculturation and level of familiarity on stigma of Mexican American college students towards individuals with schizophrenia along the border of Texas and Mexico (N = 223). The area has a history of high levels of disparity in regards to the utilization of mental health services. Data was collected by surveying Mexican American college students through a convenience sample at two separate post-secondary southwestern Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) along a border community. The instrumentation for the study was composed of a demographic questionnaire, The Acculturation Scale for Mexican-Americans-II (Cuéllar, Arnold, & Maldonado, 1995), …

Effect Of Therapeutic Listening® Quickshift On Bilateral Coordination In Healthy Adults, Madeleine Haas, Amy Marie Sequeira Boeschen

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The purpose of this research study was to examine the influence of Therapeutic Listening® Quickshift on the bilateral coordination of healthy adults with no history of developmental or motor delays. Additional studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of the Therapeutic Listening® modality using measurable outcomes are necessary as many therapists currently use this program, even though few studies prove its effectiveness. This study recruited 14 freshman and sophomore students aged 18-21 years. Seven participants received Therapeutic Listening® Quickshift intervention one time for 20 minutes and seven received no intervention, but instead listened to white noise for the same duration. The participants …

The Preschool Kitchen Task Assessment (Pkta): A Pilot Study Exploring Executive Functioning In Children Ages 3 To 6 Years, Annette M. Yuson, Mallory Hope Engelhardt, Fanny Canlas Dizon

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Background and purpose. The Preschool Kitchen Task Assessment (PKTA) is a newly developed assessment tool based on the principles of the Kitchen Task Assessment (KTA) and may be a valuable tool for assessing executive function (EF). There is a lack of age-appropriate assessments for EF in occupational therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of the PKTA as a new assessment and determine if it is a valid measure of EF in preschool children.

Subjects. The total sample consisted of 11 willing preschool-aged children and their parents, with a female to male ratio of 8:3 and …

The Effect Of Trigger Point Dry Needling To The Multifidus Muscle On Resting And Contracted Thickness Of Transversus Abdominis In Healthy Subjects, Sarah Buckingham, Crystal Montoya, Daniella Morton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Study Design: Randomized, blinded, controlled cross-over trial with each subject receiving both interventions within a seven-day span.

Objective: To determine if differences occurred in resting- or contraction-thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle following application of trigger point dry needling (TPN) of the lumbar multifidus (MF) muscle in asymptomatic subjects.

Background: Recent studies have shown TPN decreases pain in areas throughout the body. The effect of dry needling the MF on low back pain (LBP), and its effect on core stabilization have not been investigated.

Methods: Forty-three healthy individuals who had not experienced LBP in the previous six months were …

The Effects Of A Progressive Exercise Program On Functional Activity And Quality Of Life For Older Overweight Women With Knee Osteoarthritis, Ty Carlson, Devin Edvalson, Tyler Peck, Brad Robison

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common symptomatic condition experienced by older adults, especially in the overweight population, that affects the knees in particular. This study compares the effectiveness of two progressive exercise protocols (walking and stepping) on function and quality of life in older, overweight women with OA. This study includes self-management training and assesses participant selfperceived efficacy in managing OA.

Subjects This is a quasi-experimental design utilizing 16 women ≥ 50 years of age (60.44 ± 6.04) with a BMI > 25 (34.21 ± 7.28) and radiographic diagnosis of OA in at least one knee.

Methods and Measures …

Ability Of Ages And Stages Questionaire 3rd Edition To Identify Children In Need Of Comprehensive Motor Evaluation, Courtney Michele Carmichael, Elizabeth Ann Willison, Qing Zhang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

PURPOSE: The Ages and Stages Questionnaire Third Edition (ASQ-3) is a widely used screening tool designed to identify children who need comprehensive developmental assessment. Its accuracy for identifying children in need of additional motor assessment has not been determined. The purposes of this study were to establish concurrent validity between ASQ-3 gross motor (GM) and fine motor (FM) scores and their corresponding Peabody Developmental Motor Scales Second Edition (PDMS-2) quotients, and to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the ASQ-3 using the PDMS-2 as a gold standard reference test.

MATERIALS/METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a previous study in which …