Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

State Requirements For Mandatory Vaccine Education Prior To Exemption, Chelsea Lynn Schult

Theses and Dissertations

Background: To prevent the spread of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD’s), school-aged children in the United States are required to receive vaccinations. In certain states, parents have the option to exempt their child from becoming vaccinated due to medical, religious, or personal reasons. The purpose of this research was to identify which states require mandatory vaccination education prior to granting vaccine exemptions and to identify the various types of required vaccination education.Methods: Immunization program managers from states requiring parents seeking exemptions to receive mandatory vaccination education were asked a series of open-ended questions. The interviews were conducted via telephone. The education-related …

Opioid Prescription And Use After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Valynn Christina Haslam

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Opioid abuse has become a serious public health issue. While adequate pain management is an ethical responsibility for health care providers, responsible stewardship of controlled substances is of equal concern. Opioids are often prescribed for treatment of acute pain post-operatively. The purpose of this study is to examine opioid prescription practices and use of opioids after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: A convenience sample of 42 patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled in the study. Using a descriptive study design, patients were interviewed by phone 6-10 days post-operatively using a scripted questionnaire. The average number of excess prescribed opioid medication …

Identifying United States And Territory Requirements For Childhood Vaccination Exemptions, Emily Groth Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Children are required by law to receive vaccinations to enter school. States and territories offer exemptions for parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. Types of exemptions vary by state or territory, as does the exemption claiming process. The purpose of this research was to identify the various education-related processes implemented by states and territories which allow parents to exempt children from vaccinations. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to immunization managers in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, the United States Indian Health Service, and eight United States territories. Managers reported vaccination requirements for their jurisdiction (collectively referred …

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Are Emergency Department Providers Identifying Which Patients Are At Risk?, Barbara Kay Stuart

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Identify patients with specific emergency department (ED) discharge diagnoses who later report symptoms associated with a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), compare frequency and severity of MTBI symptoms by discharge diagnoses, investigate the frequency of head injury education provided to ED patients with each diagnosis, and finally, to learn what type of changes have occurred in the lives of patients as a result of their injury.

Methods: Fifty-two ED patients, aged 18 to 28 who were at least two weeks post injury, spoke English and were discharged with a diagnosis of concussion/closed head injury (CHI), head laceration, motor vehicle …