Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Resilience And Social Support On Depression Risk For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients In South Tangerang, Indonesia, Adhityawarman Menaldi, Sali Rahadi Asih, Farah Ainul Mardhiyyah

Kesmas

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health concern with psychosocial impacts, such as reduced resilience and depression. This study examined the moderating role of perceived social support on the relationship between resilience and depression among individuals diagnosed with COPD in South Tangerang, Indonesia. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted between January and February 2024 using self-administered questionnaires. Participants were adult patients with clinically diagnosed COPD, recruited from all public health centers (PHC) in South Tangerang. A total of 125 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Participants had a mean age of 41.46±15.69 …

Impact Of Eating Disorder Type On General Population Perceptions Of Stigma And Likelihood Of Comorbidity, Gabri Notov, Grace Schroeder, Kaz Skelton, Kevin Summers, Sarah Huff

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Eating disorders carry a significant risk of mortality, necessitating further research. Previous work has examined how stigma influences treatment seeking in other mental health conditions, creating a potential area for improving disordered eating outcomes. Additionally, prior meta-analyses have discovered high comorbidity of other mental health diagnoses with disordered eating. Some work has attempted to examine the perception of comorbid mental health problems alongside eating disorders, but this construct has not been studied in depth within general populations. To date, no work has simultaneously examined stigmatization and knowledge of common mental health problems with disordered eating in this population. This study …

Internalized Homophobia As An Influence On Participation In Hiv Prevention Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men (Ymsm), Kasey I. Brazee

Honors Scholar Theses

Stigma is a known barrier to accessing preventative services for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), however, the types of stigmas involved in this relationship remain not well defined. Homophobia, or negative attitudes directed towards homosexuality, is a particularly important type of stigma considering the disproportionate effect of HIV on men who have sex with men (MSM). Young MSM (YMSM) are especially impacted, making them a key population in the context of HIV prevention research.  Internalized homophobia, which refers to homophobia that one directs towards themselves, is under researched regarding its role in participating in HIV prevention. In this study, we aimed …

Lessons Learned In Providing Infant And Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rashele Wade

Journal of Global Awareness

Access to quality childcare is a protective factor from lifelong issues such as school failure, school drop-out, and incarceration. Conversely, preschool suspension and expulsion are significant risk factors. Evidence-based interventions, such as Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, aim to reduce and eliminate the incidence of preschool suspensions and expulsions. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to quality childcare for many children across the country and globally. This study utilized a qualitative action research approach and generic qualitative inquiry to examine the research question, “How can we improve Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation through lessons learned during the …

Caring For The Carers: Exploring The Mental Wellbeing Of Informal Palliative Caregivers Of Cancer Patients In Kenya, James Kariuki, Rose Njiraini

Journal of Global Awareness

Cancer cases have been on the increase globally, and this has led to economic burden on the affected households. One way of reducing the cost of care is through home-based care by informal palliative caregivers who include family members, friends, and other people assigned by the family members to take care of the patient. The objectives of this study were to assess the status of the mental wellbeing of palliative caregivers of cancer patients; to examine the relationship between the ability of the patient to cope with cancer diagnosis and the mental wellbeing of the caregiver; and to investigate the …

Navigating Burnout: The Role Of Workplace Support For Social Work Clinicians, Melanie Fulton

Journal of Global Awareness

The shortage of mental health workers is a growing concern in the United States, and social workers a substantial portion of employees who work with individuals with mental health concerns. This shortage stresses the importance of studying factors that impact burnout for mental health clinicians, particularly social work clinicians. While burnout among social workers in some settings have been documented in the literature, less research has focused on independently licensed clinical social workers in private practice. This study had participants complete a survey to examine the relationship between workplace support, burnout, and professional fulfillment among this population (N = 57). …

Five Corridors: A Community Health Needs Assessment Of Horry County, Stephen Borders, Hayley Bilko, Molly Craig, Olivia Guthrie, Ashley Mcconnell, Emily Mcgowan, Anna Quick, Abigail Rike, Makayla Wilson

Public Health

This report presents a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) of Horry County, South Carolina. Its central analytical contribution is a five-corridor framework derived from k-means cluster analysis of the county's 76 residential census tracts, drawing on social and economic indicators from the American Community Survey and health estimates from the CDC PLACES program. The analysis organizes the county into five distinct community types — Affluent Coastal Retirement, Moderate Coastal Retirement, Inland Rural/Suburban Transitional, Concentrated Disadvantage, and Hispanic Hospitality Worker — each with a characteristic profile of social and health conditions.

Within this framework, the assessment examines a range of social …

Soft Power, Arab Media And Sports Mega Events: Coverage Of Fifa 2022 And Lessons For Future Arab Hosting, Lynne Kennedy, Maaira Shahbaz, Ala Al Rajabi

All Works

Sport mega-events (SMEs) increasingly transcend athletic competition, functioning as strategic instruments for national identity formation, statecraft, and soft power projection. This dynamic is particularly pronounced in the Gulf, where Qatar’s successful hosting reignited regional rivalries and attracted unprecedented global scrutiny. While existing scholars have extensively examined Western media portrayals of SMEs, a notable gap remains for academic engagement with Gulf media. Dismissed as state-controlled and analytically lacking, we contend that such media offer a rich site for exploring how small states use media as soft power, to construct and contest legitimacy, identity, and global influence. This analysis suggests how state-aligned …

Waterway: A Steam-Based Therapeutic Device System, Mingyuan Dong

Masters Theses

Across history and global cultures, water has played a central and often spiritual role in practices of care, from cleansing rituals to saunas and steam therapies. Yet, within contemporary product design, water is typically treated as a utility rather than as an experiential material capable of shaping perception, attention, and well-being. This thesis, Waterway, investigates how water, specifically in its steam state, can be designed as both a therapeutic medium and a ritualized experience that engages the body and mind.

Waterway proposes a steam-based wellness system that addresses physical pain and somatic discomfort while cultivating slower, more attentive interaction. Rather …

Health Practices And Use Of Traditional Medicine Among Asian Indian Immigrants In The United States: A Pilot Study, Parita Patel, Anil N.F. Aranha

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: Health Practices and Use of Traditional Medicine Among Asian Indian Immigrants in the United States: A Pilot Study

Authors

Parita Patel, MPH¹; Anil N.F. Aranha, PhD^1,2

Medical Education¹, Internal Medicine², Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Traditional and alternative medicine (TAM), including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, and home remedies, remains widely used among Asian Indian (AI) immigrants in the United States alongside Western medicine. Cultural familiarity, family influence, and perceived safety shape these practices. This pilot study examined TAM prevalence, patterns, and perceptions among AI immigrants and …

Comparing Injury Incidence Between Major League Soccer And The English Premier League During The 2024/2025 Season: A Retrospective Cohort Study, William Gadbois, Youssef Salama, Kevin Reck, Scott Mohamed El-Sayed Yaekle

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background

Major League Soccer (MLS) and the English Premier League (EPL) differ substantially in geographic footprint, travel requirements, competition structure, and scheduling. These structural differences may influence player injury risk, yet no study has directly compared injury incidence between the two leagues within the same competitive season. In 2024, MLS introduced a centralized, standardized injury-reporting system that improved transparency and created a unique opportunity for direct comparison with the EPL.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study will analyze all reported time-loss injuries during the 2024 MLS and 2024–25 EPL seasons. Injury data will be collected from publicly available league reports, club …

Environmental Mercury Alters Immune Pathways Linked To Autoimmune Risk In Mice Mirroring Humans, Maurgan Lee, Paul Stemmer, Randall Gill, Allen Rosenspire, Anil Aranha, Heather Gibson

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background and Purpose: Mercury is a pervasive environmental contaminant, and human epidemiologic studies have linked chronic low-level exposure to increased autoimmune disease-risk. Dysregulated lymphocyte activation and impaired signaling tolerance are central mechanisms in human autoimmunity. Protein phosphorylation governs lymphocyte differentiation and function, alterations in phosphoproteomic networks may represent a signature of immune disruption. This study evaluates how low dose mercury exposure modifies B and T cell abundance and intracellular signaling patterns in BALB/c and Diversity Outbred (DO) mice.

Methods: BALB/c and DO mice were exposed to low dose HgCl2 in their water for two weeks or provided standard water controls. …

Real-World Clinical Outcomes Of Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Propensity-Matched Comparative Study, Hassan Yassine, Amir Ghafarian, Jawad Saad, Abdel Kareem Hilo, Muaaz Wajahath, Khaled Saleh

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background:

Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) is increasingly utilized to improve component alignment and soft-tissue balance, yet its impact on clinically meaningful outcomes in large real-world populations remains uncertain. Although prior studies demonstrate improved radiographic accuracy, whether robotic assistance reduces postoperative complications, opioid utilization, or midterm mechanical failure has not been established at scale.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective, propensity-matched cohort study using the TriNetX US Collaborative Network to identify adults undergoing primary TKA from 2018–2023. Robotic-assisted procedures were defined by CPT 27447 with concurrent robotic navigation codes. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to balance demographics and comorbidities, yielding …

Electronic Research Notebooks And Partnership Checklists: Fostering Cultured Collaboration In Evidence Synthesis Projects Using Labarchives And Swirl-Sr, Gary Kaplan, Mslis, Ahip, Abby Adamczyk, Mlis, Ahip, Emmett Booth, Mlis, Ahip, Stephanie Roth, Mlis, Ahip

Academic Commons and Scott Memorial Library Staff Papers and Presentations

Background

Librarians providing evidence synthesis services often face project management challenges, from tracking progress on search strategy development to clarifying team roles. Librarians have a variety of tools to address these challenges.¹ We propose using electronic lab notebooks (ELNs), which standardize how scientists record research progress. Institutions have adapted ELNs to protect intellectual property and improve rigor and reproducibility.

Although many published systematic reviews report following guidelines such as PRISMA, they still lack rigor and reproducibility.² Therefore, one of the authors developed the Standards for Working with Research Librarians-on Systematic Reviews (SWiRL-SR) checklist to facilitate collaboration and improve …

The Impact Of Translated Phq-9 And Gad-7 Scales On Treatment Recommendations In An Adult Vietnamese Population: A 3-Month Primary Care Evaluation, Vivienne Bui

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Depression and anxiety are prevalent yet underdiagnosed in limited-English-proficient (LEP) populations due to language barriers, cultural stigma, and provider bias. Vietnamese-speaking patients are particularly vulnerable to under-recognition in primary care. This quality improvement project evaluated whether implementing Vietnamese-translated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) tools would improve mental health diagnosis and referral rates. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, a pre–post design was conducted at a San Diego clinic from March 26 to June 26, 2025. Vietnamese-speaking adults (≥18 years) completed translated PHQ-9 and GAD-7 forms during intake. Providers used scores in conjunction with clinical …

Beyond Stabilization: Biological Healing, Structural Exclusion, And The Recovery Gap After Border-Fall Trauma At The U.S.-Mexico Border, Julia Robinson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This honors thesis examines the biochemical, ethical, and public health consequences of insufficient post-operative follow-up care for undocumented immigrants injured in border falls. Discussing pathways of inflammation resolution, wound healing, and bone remodeling, this thesis argues that recovery depends on tightly regulated molecular and cellular processes that are highly vulnerable to disruption without continued monitoring and rehabilitation (Loi et al., 2016; Maruyama et al., 2020). When follow-up care is absent, these processes can be predicted to derail, leading to infection, impaired healing, and permanent disability (Chung & Sohn, 2025; Howard et al., 2020; Kruidenier et al., 2018). Framed through principles …

Psychological Impact Of Career Roles On African American Women: A Qualitative Study On The Long-Term Effects On Behavioral Health Providers' Field, Yolanda Seals-Stewart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is an untold narrative regarding the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. This leaves a gap in researchers understanding systemic, cultural, and social factors that shape mental health outcomes in a unique way. There is also a deeper need for exploration of resiliency and coping skills strategies utilized by African American women in the behavioral health field, as well as how behaviors such as discrimination, workplace dynamics, and microaggression impact the overall psyche. By addressing these gaps, a more thorough understanding of the long-term psychological effect can be addressed, and these women can receive support mechanisms and interventions that …

Disney Princess Films Representation Of Food And Their Effects On Teenage Girls' Eating Norms, Addison Benninghoff

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Media portrayal obviously have some profound impacts on our society. The problem at hand is that there have been and will continue to be body image and eating habits linked to the media in teenage girls' lives. A mainstream example of this can be seen early on in young girls' lives when they are first exposed to princess films, which have representations of both femininity and the idealized female form. Disney maintains these body ideals whether the heroine is Asian, Scottish, African-American, or Native American.  How are these body ideals broadcast through eating habits? What messages about normative eating might …

Building Resilience: Empowering Baccalaureate Nursing Students For Enhanced Well-Being And Success, Jessica Imrie Dnp, Emily Nowak Phd, Roxanne Wilson Phd

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Providing baccalaureate students with resilience-building modules such as stress management, mindfulness, optimism, socialization, and reflection can increase psychological well-being and success through a nursing program. It can also decrease the number of meetings faculty have with students regarding psychological concerns

Prenatal Care, Pregnancy Risk, Birth Outcomes And The Role Of Neighborhood Characteristics, Monica Garcia-Perez Phd, Randy Huard Phd, Christopher Thoms Phd, David Tilstra Md

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

This study links 2024 CentraCare Health birth records with neighborhood census tract conditions from the National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA, 2020/2021) to examine how place, prenatal care, and clinical risks influence birth outcomes in Central Minnesota. Neighborhood factors are standardized and paired with measures of prenatal-care adequacy and pregnancy-risk indicators in a series of multivariate linear models to explore their effect on birth outcomes. Analyses adjust for maternal demographics and clinical risks to identify independent neighborhood effects. A privacy-preserving, tract-linked dataset is also created to help local partners target high-need prevention areas.

Approval Motivations In Sharing Humorous Tiktok's, Mariam Al-Areedy

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

TikTok is a short-form video platform where users create and share content that is often centered around humor, trends, and everyday social experiences. In face-to-face interactions, people typically rely on immediate feedback to navigate conversations, often using approval seeking behaviors to gain positive reactions and rejection-avoidant behaviors to reduce the risk of negative judgement. While these motivations are well-established in in-person settings, less is known about how they function in digital environments like TikTok, where teens privately share humorous content without immediate social cues to guide their interactions. My general hypothesis was that both rejection avoidance and approval-seeking behaviors will …

Paving A Path For Equitable And Inclusive Nurse Leadership Within Practice Settings: The Innovative Role Of A Transcultural Equity & Inclusion Nurse Leader, Theresa Reichert

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Growing cultural diversity in communities and health care practice environments require nurses and nurse leaders to effectively navigate cultural differences and relationships in practice settings (Teixeira et al, 2023)

Recognizing this important shift:

• health care accrediting bodies (such as the Joint Commission)
• professional practice-based nursing organizations (such as the American Nurses Association), and
• professional recognition bodies (such as Magnet)

are incorporating culturally congruent, socially just care within their expectations. The innovative Transcultural Equity & Belonging Nurse role was designed to support nurses and nurse leaders incorporate these expectations within everyday nursing practice.

Health-Seeking Behaviors Of Ethiopian Women In The United States: A Pilot Qualitative Study, Hanna Belay, Felicia Leammuda, Ahmed Ugbad, Beamlak Kebede

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

This study explores how Ethiopian immigrant women understand health and navigate healthcare in the United States. Using qualitative interviews with two participants, findings show that health is viewed holistically, with strong reliance on traditional remedies. Participants engage with the U.S. healthcare system selectively, often seeking care only when symptoms become severe. Barriers such as system complexity, fear, and time delays influence healthcare decisions.

When Faced With Persistent Crying, Will Adults Follow The Advice To Take A Break?, Lauren J. Duplessis, Remington K. Asta, Benjamin N. Witts

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Inconsolable crying in early infancy can have detrimental effects on caregiver mental health, the caregiver-infant relationship, and infant safety. Professionals often advise caregivers to walk away and take a break. This study used n-of-1 methodology to examine how frequently undergraduate students will follow this advice when tasked with calming a simulated inconsolable infant. Results are mixed, but suggest active training prior to the baby’s arrival might yield promising outcomes

Awareness And Attitudes Toward Female Genital Mutilation At A Mid-Sized Midwestern University, Kaafiya Salad

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

This study utilized a confidential survey to examine awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among the Saint Cloud State University community. Participants were recruited through campus outreach methods, and responses were collected voluntarily. The survey included questions assessing familiarity with FGM, sources of information, knowledge of associated health risks, and perceptions of the importance of awareness and public education.

The Influence Of Social Media On Body Image, Self-Esteem, And Eating Disorder Risk In Adolescent Females, Nestanet A. Molla

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

• This literature review explored how appearance-focused social media affects adolescent girls. The studies showed that social media is linked to body dissatisfaction, comparison behaviors, lower self-esteem, and unhealthy eating behaviors, especially when use is intensive, problematic, or strongly appearance-focused^1–4

• At the same time, protective factors such as media literacy, family support, and body-positive interventions may help reduce these negative effects^4,5

Using Weekly Guided Meditation To Develop Community, Connection And Improved Overall Experience And Wellbeing At Work, Mary Patterson Friedmeyer

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

The majority (99%) of respondents rated the Weekly Guided Meditation (via zoom) as being both impactful and valuable in their lives. The majority (82%) of respondents reported finding more balance in the workday and improvement in overall well-being. The majority (63%) of respondents were neutral on building community, with just over one third (36%) of respondents responding positively to community building.

Cultura, Collaborations, And Chisme: The Latinx Caucus’ Oral History Project, Adela Justice, Brandon Kennedy, Jessica Diaz, Manuel Pasos, Saily Marrero, Sandra Desjardins

Library Staff Publications

The MLA Latinx Caucus began an oral history project featuring its members. Using a collaborative, community-based approach, the project brings together medical library professionals to share their experiences and reflect on cultural identity, professional growth, and collective advocacy. This poster describes the development of this significant project.   Background: In Fall 2025 one of the caucus leaders shared that they had a robust oral history project at their library organization, and had learned oral history processes and standards. This began the idea of forming an oral history project at the MLA caucus level. Lessons learned from the MLA AAMLA Caucus showed …

Learning How To Walk Like A Secretary: To Lead Or To Be Led, Timon T. C. Hogenaar

Middle Voices

Commentary

Global Health Financing Of Diagonal Interventions: Building Resilient And Sustainable Health Systems In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lucy Kim

Master in Public Policy Theses

Background: Global health financing has historically prioritized disease-specific “vertical” programs over broader “horizontal” strengthening of general health systems. Vertical programs in HIV have led to unprecedented reductions in mortality worldwide, but HIV remains a significant public health threat in sub-Saharan Africa, where vertical strategies have long been criticized for creating fragmented health systems. In response, global health strategies have shifted towards combining vertical investments with broader horizontal activities, commonly referred to as “diagonal” programming. While evidence suggests that diagonal programming has the potential to create more resilient and sustainable health systems, evaluating its value for money is challenging due to …