Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Unseen, But In Plain Sight: Identifying Developmental Patterns Of Females With Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rebecca Lundwall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met I will document the academic objectives met in terms of posters, presentations and papers.

Standardized Education For Parents Requesting An Immunization Exemption For School Entry In Utah: A Mentored Experience, Lacey Eden

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As a pedagogical strategy, the purposes of this service-learning activity were two-fold: 1) to provide students with an organized service activity that also met identified community needs; and 2) to help augment the students’ learning, giving them a broader appreciation of any given discipline, and enhance their sense of civic responsibility. Nursing students were mentored through the process of creating an online education module for parents choosing to exempt their children from immunizations and to assist county health departments to fulfill exemption requirements. The students collaborated with the state Immunization Exemption Workgroup, the Utah Association of Local Boards of Health …

The Predictive Validity Of A Kindergarten Dynamic Assessment Of Language, Veronica White, Douglas Petersen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Kindergarten students are often administered screening instruments designed to identify weaknesses in emergent literacy skills. Unfortunately, these screeners, which only measure what a student currently knows, cannot validly differentiate between students who have low scores because of limited exposure, language/dialectal differences, or a disability. A more valid approach to identifying kindergarten students for future reading difficulty is needed. Dynamic assessment is emerging as a valid alternative to traditional screening measures. The language subtest of the PEARL (Petersen & Spencer, 2016) uses a dynamic assessment approach where students are administered a pretest (a story retell), participate in language instruction on story …

Standardized Education For Parents Requesting An Immunization Exemption For School Entry In Utah: A Mentored Experience, Lacey Eden

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As a pedagogical strategy, the purposes of this service-learning activity were two-fold: 1) to provide students with an organized service activity that also met identified community needs; and 2) to help augment the students’ learning, giving them a broader appreciation of any given discipline, and enhance their sense of civic responsibility. Nursing students were mentored through the process of creating an online education module for parents choosing to exempt their children from immunizations and to assist county health departments to fulfill exemption requirements. The students collaborated with the state Immunization Exemption Workgroup, the Utah Association of Local Boards of Health …

Interpreting Speech Perception In Children With Phonological Deficits: Evidence From Event Related Potentials (Erp), Camille Nuttall, Kathryn Cabbage

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Children with dyslexia and children with speech sound disorder exhibit differing issues in regard to their speech and language. Dyslexia is a difficulty decoding written language, such as with word recognition or spelling. Speech sound disorder is characterized by speech production errors. Although dyslexia and speech sound disorders are often co-morbid, each can occur singularly (Lewis et al, 2011). Although both disorders respond to expert intervention, the underlying deficits last a lifetime and may negatively affect quality of life. Early identification is paramount to preventing long-term negative outcomes. A better understanding of how these disorders are activating in the brain …

Improving Healthcare Through Interdisciplinary Education, Jonathan Jacobs, Katreena Collette-Merrill, Rn, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The culture of education prepares healthcare professionals in silos, then expects them to work collaboratively upon graduation. Medical errors, resulting from communication issues, are considered a leading cause of patient death. Interdisciplinary education of future professionals may prevent communication issues and reduce patient deaths. Interprofessional education (IPE) of undergraduates may improve communication of future professionals educated in universities without medical schools. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effect of interprofessional education (IPE) on undergraduate students’ attitudes of interprofessional work, perceptions of working together, and ratings of teamwork.

Transforming Health Through Precision Medicine: Content Analysis Of U.S. Guidelines Related To Genetic Counseling And Testing, Nicole Jackson, Deborah Himes

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My mentor and I conducted a descriptive, mixed-methods study involved content analysis of U.S. Guidelines as they relate to Precision Medicine. We were able to identify the prevalence of Precision Medicine healthcare guidelines through the completion of this project. In working with my mentor, I was able to learn about the research process, gain experience in the field of research and develop research skills. I was also able to develop my presentation skills and attend a national conference to learn how scholarly works are shared in the nursing profession.

Genetic Susceptibility To Co-Infections Involving Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Rsv): Impact On Immunocompromised Adults, Taylor Brown, Dr. Chantel Sloan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infects almost all infants before their second birthday and can progress to lower respiratory infections such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. However, few are aware of the effect this has on adults, particularly those who are immunocompromised through organ or bone marrow transplants, treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS), etc. Infection is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the immunocompromised. This is of note because RSV is one of the few diseases for which humans are the reservoir species, meaning that this virus only infects and lives in humans. The study investigated genetic susceptibility for a …

Whole-Genome Sequencing In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu): Nurses’ Roles In Communicating Test Results To Families, Laura Grenfell, Deborah Himes

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The grant I received through the Office of Research and Creative Activities was helpful in supporting this research project. My mentor and I started work on the project early in the year by analyzing the data we had gathered. In 2017, I attended a nursing conference hosted by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, which is where we surveyed nearly 200 NICU nurses about their understanding of whole-genome sequencing. This survey included both qualitative and quantitative questions. My mentor guided me through the process of interpreting and organizing the qualitative data, which we divided into several subsets within each question.

Literature Survey To Understand Why Parents Don’T Receive Tdap Vaccine, Analisa Dawson, Janelle Macintosh

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to understand the reasons expectant and new parents don’t receive the pertussis vaccine and then to provide educational materials for parents on the importance of receiving vaccinations, specifically to protect infants from contracting pertussis.

Studies conducted over the past several years have shown a decline in vaccination rates. In fact, one study was done just a few years ago, with the purpose of educating parents and grandparents of newborns about the importance of receiving a vaccination against pertussis. During the follow up a month later, only 8% had been vaccinated (Tam, 2009). Because information …

Can Stress Management And Personal Wellness Courses Improve Student Resiliency? A Pilot Study, Aimee Schouten, Michael Thomas

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The nursing profession is emotionally and physically demanding. Long shifts, complex and often difficult patients, as well as working in an emotionally challenging environment all contribute major stress for nurses.[1,2] Over time this stress often turns into compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue and burnout become overwhelming to nurses, leading to physical, mental, and emotional health problems. Compassion fatigue not only negatively affects the nurse but patients as well. Many nurses experience burnout and leave the profession. Resiliency has been shown to be an important factor in retention of nurses as well as positively associated with empowerment among nursing students.[3,4,5] The purpose …

Religiosity And Psychological Well-Being: A Correlational Meta-Analysis In North America, Niyeli Herrera, Yerenia Flores, Timothy Smith

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In recent years, the demographics of the United States has evolved at exponential rates and now includes an increasingly diverse population of people who are in need of a variety of services, including mental health interventions. Mental health interventions strive to promote well-being, but have historically focused on serving white populations, thus neglecting minority groups who are at an elevated risk of mental illness. Their unique cultural experiences and ethnic-specific needs are also often incompatible with theoretical frameworks, experiences and needs that must be addressed in order to provide effective mental health services (Remy, 1995).

Identifying Maternal Healthcare Needs Of Pregnant Refugee Women In Utah, Amanda Brower, Dr. Sheri Palmer, Rn, Dnp, Cne, Ctn-A,

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The refugee crisis has impacted nations and global health worldwide. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates there are currently 22.5 million refugees throughout the world (UN Refugee Agency, 2018). Since Fiscal Year 2016, over 300 refugees have resettled in the state of Utah (Refugee Processing Center, 2018); these individuals represent various cultures and health needs. Data from other regions of the world indicates there are great discrepancies and complications in maternal healthcare of refugees, including increasing risks of C-section births, preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW) infants, perinatal mortality, postpartum depression, and stillbirth (Lancaster 2017). Aim: The purpose of this …

A Comparative Study On The Developing Impact Of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners In Utah, Lauren Bretzing, Julie Valentine

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 2016, a case report was published revealing that the prosecution rate of adult sex crimes in Salt Lake County from 2003-2011 was a shockingly low 6% (Valentine, Shaw, Lark & Campbell, 2016). This research quickly became a front news story, with one local news station launching their own investigation and arriving at the same disturbing statistic (Headrick & Mashburn, 2014). The research findings and subsequent news coverage sparked a state-wide conversation concerning the far-reaching implications of sexual assault and the responsibility of each branch of government in stopping sex-crimes. In the years that followed, multiple new trainings and procedures …

Emotional Inferencing In Children With Language Impairment, Allison Barney, Bonnie Brinton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Children with language impairment (LI) present with “a significant impairment in the acquisition and use of language across modalities” (ASHA, 1993). LI is a prevalent disorder affecting 7% of kindergarteners (Tomblin et al, 1997). LI limits a child’s ability to acquire language, to establish relationships with others, and to succeed in school. In addition, children with LI experience a range of social problems including withdrawal, exclusion, and peer victimization (Fujiki & Brinton, 2017). Recent research has indicated that children with LI have particular difficulty with emotion understanding (Brinton & Fujiki, 2014; Spackman, Fujiki, & Brinton, 2006). That is, they struggle …

Meg Final Report: Peer Teaching Teamstepps, Dr. Michael Thomas

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1. Have student teaching assistants in the N293 Communication for Nurses Lab course and untrained faculty members attend the TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course.

-This objective was met at a very high level. Funds from the MEG paid for four student teaching assistants and two faculty members to attend a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course at a regional training site. At this training, I was able to make a connection with the director of the TeamSTEPPS national implementation team. Through this connection, I was able to coordinate a 2 day TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course training on-site at BYU for 55 full and …

Family Health History: What’S The Best Tool?, Dr. Gaye Raye, Dr. Karen Whitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to mentor undergraduate nursing students as they worked on a project to identify the most effective tools for collecting family health history and to assess the impact of knowledge of family health history on preventive health behaviors. This project helped to identify tools that can be used to collect family health history and provided evidence that informs clinical practice. This project provided multiple mentoring and learning opportunities for undergraduate nursing students. Those mentored had opportunities to prepare manuscripts and present study findings at conferences and directly see how evidence is translated into practice. Mentored …

N404 What Our Students Learn Through Serving Our Veterans Meg 2015 2016 Final Report, Ron Ulberg

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of the MEG proposal were met and exceeded. Specifically, students were exposed to local and national venues in which Veterans and their history are prevalent. Examples of this include visits by the students and faculty to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Arlington National Cemetery, US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, WW I Memorial, WW II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Museum of American History, etc. We also met with Senator Mike Lee from the State of Utah to discuss issues pertaining to our Veterans.

Learning History: Understanding And Facilitating Improvement In Clinical Microsystems, Dr. Bret Lyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic outcomes of the proposal were generally met (and exceeded). The proposal specified that four students would be involved in the mentoring environment, yet we found it possible to include eight students in faculty-mentored research efforts. Although only three students applied for ORCA grant funding (rather than the proposed four), the MEG Grant was sufficient to support nine students’ professional presentations and six students’ peer-reviewed publications. Five students will be continuing to work on projects made possible by this grant, including writing for publication and developing/testing research instruments based on our findings. We anticipate all ten students will ultimately …

Learning History: Understanding And Facilitating Improvement In Clinical Microsystems, Dr. Bret Lyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic outcomes of the proposal were generally met (and exceeded). The proposal specified that four students would be involved in the mentoring environment, yet we found it possible to include eight students in faculty-mentored research efforts. Although only three students applied for ORCA grant funding (rather than the proposed four), the MEG Grant was sufficient to support nine students’ professional presentations and six students’ peer-reviewed publications. Five students will be continuing to work on projects made possible by this grant, including writing for publication and developing/testing research instruments based on our findings. We anticipate all ten students will ultimately …

Meg Final Report: Peer Teaching Teamstepps, Dr. Michael Thomas

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1. Have student teaching assistants in the N293 Communication for Nurses Lab course and untrained faculty members attend the TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course.

-This objective was met at a very high level. Funds from the MEG paid for four student teaching assistants and two faculty members to attend a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course at a regional training site. At this training, I was able to make a connection with the director of the TeamSTEPPS national implementation team. Through this connection, I was able to coordinate a 2 day TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer course training on-site at BYU for 55 full and …

Family Health History: What’S The Best Tool?, Dr. Gaye Raye, Dr. Karen Whitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to mentor undergraduate nursing students as they worked on a project to identify the most effective tools for collecting family health history and to assess the impact of knowledge of family health history on preventive health behaviors. This project helped to identify tools that can be used to collect family health history and provided evidence that informs clinical practice. This project provided multiple mentoring and learning opportunities for undergraduate nursing students. Those mentored had opportunities to prepare manuscripts and present study findings at conferences and directly see how evidence is translated into practice. Mentored …

N404 What Our Students Learn Through Serving Our Veterans Meg 2015 2016 Final Report, Ron Ulberg

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met: The academic objectives of the MEG proposal were met and exceeded. Specifically, students were exposed to local and national venues in which Veterans and their history are prevalent. Examples of this include visits by the students and faculty to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Arlington National Cemetery, US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, WW I Memorial, WW II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Museum of American History, etc. We also met with Senator Mike Lee from the State of Utah to discuss issues pertaining to …

Prevalence Of House Dust Mites In Low-Income Homes In Utah County, Robert Graul, Dr. James Johnston

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Asthma is the leading chronic disease among children in U.S. Low-income populations, minorities, and children living in poor housing experience more emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma that the general population. HDM allergens are linked to the exacerbation of asthma and are found within homes all throughout the United States. Previous studies have shown that HDM exposure is lower in arid and semi-arid climates, such as Utah, but robust data is still lacking. Although HDM thrive in climates more humid than Utah, we have found that they are still present based on certain indoor environmental factors.

Cardiovascular Health And Cognitive Decline In Older Adults, Alexa Ehlert, Evan Thacker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cognitive impairment is a concerning issue among the population of older adults in the United States. This problem is compounded by the fact that science is largely uncertain of how to prevent cognitive decline; however, if we knew that particular modifiable behaviors associated with cardiovascular health were also related to cognitive health, then efforts to prevent cognitive impairment could potentially be developed. There are three principal goals of this project: 1) determine how cardiovascular health evolves in older adults over several years; 2) determine the relationship between cardiovascular health and cognitive decline in older adults; 3) determine how changes in …

A Standardized Hand-Off Tool For Undergraduate Nursing Students, Abigail Sutton, Stacie Hunsaker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In establishing patient safety, communication is one of the most important components to consider. In order to coordinate a patient’s care properly, the multiple and diverse healthcare providers must operate smoothly as a team through well-constructed communication techniques. TeamSTEPPS is a government designed program to educated healthcare professionals on how to work and communicate effectively as a team. The program initiators included specific tools to be used to perform hand-offs. Hand-offs is when a healthcare professional transfers crucial information requiring a patient’s care with another healthcare professional. This is an extremely important process because it can cause devastating results if …

Effect Of Formal Simulation Training On Perceptions Of Students, Joni Lybbert, Stacie Hunsaker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

High-fidelity simulation refers to the use of computerized manikins to simulate real-life situations. High-fidelity simulation is now a crucial part of nursing programs everywhere helping students gain necessary critical-thinking skills. The College of Nursing (CON) at Brigham Young University (BYU) includes simulation in their curriculum to assist students in developing decision-making skills in a modified clinical setting. However, more than the possession of simulation technology, the interaction between students and the simulation facilitator helps to achieve these aims.

Organizational Learning On Hospital Units: Instrument Development Cognitive Interviews And Content Validity Stages, Hannah Hoyt, Dr. Bret Lyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Approximately 400,000 deaths occur each year due to preventable errors in hospitals.¹ Organizational learning² is the process through which organizations progress toward achieving their desired outcomes. Hospital units can use principles of organizational learning to reduce errors and achieve excellent performance outcomes.³ Unit managers have limited evidence-based resources to guide their organization’s development toward achieving desired outcomes. The purpose of this project was to develop two reliable survey instruments to measure the presence of certain contextual factors (environment) and mechanisms (actions) that are conducive to organizational learning on hospital units. These contextual factors and mechanisms emerged from …

Improving Healthcare Through Interdisciplinary Education, Johnathan Jacobs, Katreena Collette-Merril, Phd, Rn

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The culture of education prepares healthcare professionals in silos, then expects them to work collaboratively upon graduation. Medical errors, resulting from communication issues, are considered a leading cause of patient death. Interdisciplinary education of future professionals may prevent communication issues and reduce patient deaths. Interprofessional education (IPE) of undergraduates may improve communication of future professionals educated in universities without medical schools. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effect of interprofessional education (IPE) on undergraduate students’ attitudes of interprofessional work, perceptions of working together, and ratings of teamwork.

Parents Of Children With Special Healthcare Needs: Relationships With Healthcare Providers, Janet Jackson, Dr. Janelle Macintosh

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to explore the significance and influence of relationships between healthcare providers (HCP) and parents of children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) regarding healthcare plans.

In exploring previous research conducted in this area, we found many examples of the stress related to raising CSHCN, including physical, mental, and social stress. Much of this stress involved caregivers feeling unsupported, isolated, and misunderstood. For this reason, we chose to conduct focus groups to gather data and provide connections for these caregivers that would help them feel less stressed.

Research previously conducted in this area lacked an emphasis, …