Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Commentary: See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me, Peter G. Holub

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

The title of my commentary is from the rock opera Tommy. Tommy doesn’t ask for a high-tech medical cure for his disease. He isn’t interested in prescription drugs. He craves the simple human touch - a low-tech form of caring that has no negative side-effects. The healing power of the human touch is validated by scientific research. So, other than the fact that it doesn’t have an ICD-10 medical billing code, why don’t doctors and other caregivers like to touch their patients?

Opportunities And Challenges In The Use Of An External Interprofessional Reviewing Body In A Curricular Review Process In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Curriculum, Jill Fitzgerald, Kelly Hawthorne

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the opportunities and challenges of a curricular review process in an entry-level doctor of physical therapy geriatric curriculum. The curricular review process utilized an external interprofessional reviewing body, in conjunction with an established internal curricular reviewing body, to determine inclusion of Essential Competencies in order to prepare students for best clinical practice in the care of the older adult. Method: The methodology of our curricular review process included both internal and external reviewing bodies but the intent of this article is to highlight how the review process was implemented including an …

Interprofessional Scenario-Based Learning For New Graduates In A Regional Setting: A Pilot Study, Priya Martin, Matthew Newby, Monica Moran, Matthew Browne, Saravana Kumar

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: Globally there is an increased emphasis on the provision of high quality healthcare and improved productivity under mounting financial constraints. Interprofessional collaboration and practice are considered crucial in promoting teamwork and optimising patient outcomes. However, there is a lack of structured, evaluated interprofessional learning opportunities for graduates in regional and rural health services in Australia. This pilot study reports on a novel interprofessional new graduate learning program that was developed and implemented to address the lack of structured post-qualification interprofessional learning opportunities in the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service. Methods: Twenty-one participants enrolled in the six-month program, which …

Caregivers Of Stroke Survivors: Exploring The Role Of Spousal Caregivers Through An Occupational Therapy Lens, Lisa J. Knecht-Sabres, Karley Kammer, Matthew K. Kilian, Kim Veverka

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the occupational needs of caregivers of stroke survivors and to identify potential implications for occupational therapy’s role with this population. Methods: Focus groups and a semi-structured interview were used to gather an in-depth perspective on caregivers’ needs and level of participation in valued activities. Interactions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis included open coding, formulation of categorical patterns, and thematic analysis. Rigor was enhanced through peer review, multiple coders, member checking, and triangulation. Results: Four primary themes emerged: (1) the essential need for additional services and support; (2) the amount …

The Development Of Narrative Reasoning: Student Physical Therapists’ Perceptions Of Patient Stories, Kathryn C. Nesbit, Kenneth E. Randall, Toby B. Hamilton

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Narrative reasoning is an inductive cognitive strategy used to understand patients’ experiences with illness within the biosocial context of their lives. The purpose of this study is to examine the meaning of the patient’s illness experience to physical therapist students and propose a theory of narrative reasoning development in these novice clinicians.The data collected from twenty-one first year physical therapy students consisted of narratives written during their clinical internships describing a patient’s experience with illness and post-internship interviews telling the patient’s story. Data were analyzed in a process of constant comparison, evolving codes, and researcher memoing using both grounded theory …

The Use Of An Online Module To Increase Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge And Skills, Brad E. Egan, Susan Cahill, Cheryl Huber-Lee, Minetta Wallingford

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an optional, self-paced, online module to increase occupational therapy practitioners’ knowledge and skills related to evidence-based practice (EBP). Method: Participants’ EBP knowledge and skills were evaluated using the Adapted Fresno Test (AFT) after they completed the online module. Results: Twenty-nine occupational therapy practitioners (25 OTR/L, 4 COTA/L) completed the entire 17-month initiative. Nineteen practitioners (65.5%) used the supplemental online module and 10 (34.5%) did not. Analyses of AFT scores revealed a mean test score of 83.00 (n = 19, SD + 31.11) for participants who utilized the online EBP module and …

Aphasia Rehabilitation Service Delivery In A Stroke Rehabilitation Unit In Australia: A Clinical Audit Of Speech Pathology Practices, Laleh Rej, Sebastian Doeltgen, Amy Rodriguez, Willem Van Steenbrugge

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To investigate service delivery of aphasia rehabilitation in a metropolitan rehabilitation hospital by speech pathologists and assess adherence to both the National Stroke Foundation (NSF) Clinical Guidelines and the Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre (AROC) database of benchmarks. Method: A retrospective audit of 34 discharged patients was conducted within a dedicated stroke rehabilitation unit from March 2012 to July 2013 in Australia. Discharge reports, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores and clinical time statistics derived from the organization’s electronic database were studied and compared with NSF’s Clinical Guidelines for best practice recommendations and AROC benchmarks. Results: Patients with aphasia were admitted …

The Effects Of Plyometric Training On Spinal And Supraspinal Motor Control, Jeffrey R. Doeringer

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of plyometric training on spinal and supraspinal motor control in healthy active females. Methods: A 2 (Group) x 2 (Session) x 2 (Stance) mixed model design was used for homosynaptic depression (HD) and recurrent inhibition (RI) data. A 2 (Group) x 2 (Session) mixed model design was used for H:M ratios and V-waves (V:M ratios) data. Thirty-one participants were recruited to participate in the study. Participants participated in either the training or control group for 6-weeks. All participants were measured pre- and post-intervention on H:M ratios, HD, RI, …

The Role Of Rehabilitation In Cancer Treatment, Jennifer C. Smith

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

No abstract provided.

Is Professionalism Important In Physician Assistant Education?, Susan Ryan

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study was designed to demonstrate the importance of a formal professionalism curriculum in physician assistant (PA) education. The PA concept arose from the medical profession, and PA education was designed to follow the medical model of education. Courses have been mandated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to include professionalism. Just as in the curriculum in medical schools, PA educators have been allowed to create their own professionalism curricula. The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) have mandated that professionalism and ethics must …

The Mmp-2-Rf And College Students: Do We Remain Stuck In A Normative No-Man’S Land?, P. Kevin Bolinskey, Janice P. Guidi, Kevin R. Myers, Dianna Cooper-Bolinskey, Kelly M. Schuder, Allison V. James, Daniel V. Hudak, Yelena Gonzalez, Eric Mctiernan, Elizabeth A. Smith

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Sixty-plus years of research have demonstrated that college students tend to score significantly higher than older adults on the earlier forms of the MMPI (i.e., MMPI and MMPI-2). Relatively little research has examined whether this pattern of results holds with the newer MMPI-2-RF. The present study compared MMPI-2-RF scores of college students, both by gender and combined, to a reference group composed of equal numbers of men and women from the MMPI-2 normative sample. Results demonstrated that this pattern of higher scores among college students remains a concern when using the MMPI-2-RF. Of particular concern is the finding that women’s …

Outcome Measures For Mild Balance And Cognitive Decline In A Pre-Old Adult: A Case Report, Melissa Chan, Shari Rone-Adams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background and Purpose. Early detection and treatment of age-related decline, particularly balance and cognition, are increasingly being emphasized in current research. However, the majority of research on older adults focuses on participants who are 65 years and older. For individuals who are 60-64 years old, this is an age range where they may or may not be considered an older adult. This poses a problem applying the results of these studies to pre-old adults to accurately diagnose, measure and classify risk in the areas of cognition and balance. Case Description. The patient is a 61-year-old woman with a clinical diagnosis …

A Phenomenological Study: Foster Care Youth Aging Out Of The System, Guy Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to explore the lived experiences of teens aging out of foster care, in an effort to better understand their needs. While the child welfare system is geared towards family preservation, reunification, and adoption, most young adults transitioning from the foster care system are not reunited with family members or are only reunited as a last resort. Unfortunately, every year, thousands are leaving the support of the foster care system, unprepared. Youth departing the child welfare system are not gradually transitioned into becoming self-sufficient. They do not have an effective support system available if …

Direct Phenotypic Screening In Mice: Identification Of Individual, Novel Antinociceptive Compounds From A Library Of 734 821 Pyrrolidine Bis-Piperazines, Richard A. Houghten, Michelle L. Ganno, Jay P. Mclaughlin, Colette T. Dooley, Shainnel O. Eans Torrey Pines Institute For Molecular Studies, Radleigh Santos, Travis Lavoi, Adel Nefzi, Greg Welmaker, Marc A. Giulianotti, Lawrence Toll

Mathematics Faculty Articles

The hypothesis in the current study is that the simultaneous direct in vivo testing of thousands to millions of systematically arranged mixture-based libraries will facilitate the identification of enhanced individual compounds. Individual compounds identified from such libraries may have increased specificity and decreased side effects early in the discovery phase. Testing began by screening ten diverse scaffolds as single mixtures (ranging from 17 340 to 4 879 681 compounds) for analgesia directly in the mouse tail withdrawal model. The “all X” mixture representing the library TPI-1954 was found to produce significant antinociception and lacked respiratory depression and hyperlocomotor effects using …

Evaluation Of Frictional Forces Between Brackets Of Different Types At Various Angulations And An Arch Wire: With And Without Pulsating Vibration, Benjamin M. Christman

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of pulsating vibration on the sliding resistance between orthodontic brackets and stainless steel wires. Brackets were placed at two different angulations (0° and 5°) to simulate leveling of a tipped tooth during tooth movement. Pulsating vibration was delivered via the AcceleDent device.

Background: Friction is defined as a force that retards or resists the relative motion of two objects in contact, and its direction is tangential to the common boundary of the two surfaces in contact. This has been of interest to the orthodontist since the mid-20th century. Since …

Humeral Retrotorsion In Developing Children And Its Relationship To Throwing Sports, Elliot M. Greenberg

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Baseball players exhibit a more posteriorly oriented humeral head or humeral retrotorsion (HRT) in the dominant arm, likely representing an adaptive response to the stress of throwing. This adaptation is thought to occur while skeletally immature, however there is limited research detailing how throwing while young influences the development HRT. In addition, it is currently unclear how this changing osseous orientation influences shoulder motion within young athletes. Purpose: To determine the influence of throwing and age on the development of asymmetry in HRT and shoulder range of motion (ROM); and analyze the relationship between HRT and ROM. Study Design: …

Assessing Orthodontic-Bracket Impacts On Lip Profile At Bonding And Debonding Stages, Martin Trockel

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: One factor that contributes greatly to the lower face appearance and orthodontists have the ability to affect is lip profile. Clinical assessment of the lip profile is an important element in the decision of orthodontic treatment planning and in the evaluation of treatment progress and outcome. Three known factors influence the lip profile; the lip thickness, the underlying bone, and the tooth position. The positions and inclinations of the anterior teeth can affect the lip position, but it is unclear whether orthodontic brackets bonded to the labial surface of anterior teeth move the lip position and thereafter change the …

Effects Of Sodium Hypochlorite On Enamel Composition, Sonni Pellillo

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium hypochlorite on the organic and inorganic composition of enamel. Background: With the advent of enamel bonding for orthodontic appliances in the late 1970s, it has been shown that traditional phosphoric acid etching affects the inorganic portion of the enamel.1, 2 In an attempt to enhance the acid etching pattern and, furthermore, the bond strength, additional pretreatment techniques that target the organic components of the enamel biofilm have been proposed. One such method is the non-invasive enamel pretreatment with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) prior to phosphoric acid etching.3, 4 …

Investigating The Role Of The Host Multidrug Resistance Associated Protein Transporter Family In Burkholderia Cepacia Complex Pathogenicity Using A Caenorhabditis Elegans Infection Model, Pietro Tedesco, Marco Visone, Ermenegilda Parrilli, Maria Luisa Tutino, Elena Perrin, Isabel Maida, Renato Fani, Francesco Ballestriero, Radleigh Santos, Clemencia Pinilla, Elia Di Schiavi, George Tegos, Donatella De Pascale

Mathematics Faculty Articles

This study investigated the relationship between host efflux system of the non-vertebrate nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) strain virulence. This is the first comprehensive effort to profile host-transporters within the context of Bcc infection. With this aim, two different toxicity tests were performed: a slow killing assay that monitors mortality of the host by intestinal colonization and a fast killing assay that assesses production of toxins. A Virulence Ranking scheme was defined, that expressed the toxicity of the Bcc panel members, based on the percentage of surviving worms. According to this ranking the 18 Bcc strains were …

The Genome Russia Project: Closing The Largest Remaining Omission On The World Genome Map, T. K. Oleksyk, Vladimir Brukhin, Stephen J. O'Brien

Biology Faculty Articles

We are witnessing the great era of genome exploration of the world, as genetic variation in people is being detailed across multiple varied world populations in an effort unprecedented since the first human genome sequence appeared in 2001. However, these efforts have yet to produce a comprehensive mapping of humankind, because important regions of modern human civilization remain unexplored. The Genome Russia Project promises to fill one of the largest gaps, the expansive regions across the Russian Federation, informing not just medical genomics of the territories, but also the migration settlements of historic and pre-historic Eurasian peoples.

Color Of Porcelain Veneer After Final Cementation In Comparison To Try-In Paste And Permanent Cement: An In Vitro Study, Abdulelah Aldahlawi

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the color of porcelain veneers with try-in paste in relation to porcelain veneers with permanent cement. Also, to evaluate and compare combinations of three different shades and thicknesses of porcelain veneers and three cement shades before and after final cementation. Additionally, to evaluate and compare the color of porcelain veneers with cured permanent cement before and after aging. Background: Porcelain veneers and ceramic restorations have become one of the most popular approaches in the anterior area due to their natural appearance and esthetics. However, more conservative approaches have led to thinner restorations with increased translucency. …

Adjunctive Appliance Wear And Gender Affect Patients' Oral Health-Related Quality Of Life During The Late Stage Of Orthodontic Treatment In Adolescents, Monica Dinh

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Objective: This study was conducted to determine how oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) changes during the late stage of comprehensive fixed orthodontic treatment in adolescents and what factors may be involved. Background: Completion of orthodontic treatment has been shown to improve patients’ OHQoL due to the changes in esthetics, function and emotional well-being. The levels of OHQoL fluctuate throughout treatment where an initial decrease within the first 6 months occurs followed by an improvement towards patients’ pre-treatment levels. At 18 months of fixed orthodontic treatment, the level is unclear. The aims of this study were to clarify the changes …

Medical Education Digest, Vol. 17 No. 6 (November-December 2015), Nova Southeastern University

Medical Education Digest

No abstract provided.

Access Denied: Barriers For Unauthorized Immigrants Pursuing The American Dream, Kristin Mcmillen

OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry about Health through Occupation

Millions of immigrants from all around the world are living in the United States without legal authorization. Most have come in search of a better life for themselves or their children, with the belief that through enough hard work, they can achieve the “American Dream.” However, upon arrival, many unauthorized immigrants face cultural, economic, and political barriers that limit their opportunities for community participation and lead many individuals to live their lives in fear. This paper aims to: (a) explore the barriers encountered by unauthorized immigrants in the United States; (b) consider the occupational significance of these barriers; and (c) …

Societal Statement On The Role Of Occupational Therapy With Survivors Of Human Sex Trafficking In The United States, Chelsea Bryant, Lillian Freeman, Meghan Granata, Annie He, Hillarie Hough, Shree Patel, Ashley Stedman, Stephanie Silvia, My-Lynn Tran

OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry about Health through Occupation

As part of a specialized course, OTD 8340 Wellness and Health Promotion in Occupational Therapy, students from the Nova Southeastern University Entry Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, drafted a Societal Statement on the role of occupational therapy with survivors of human sex trafficking in the United States. The students explored the issue of domestic human sex trafficking from an occupational perspective, under the guidance of their professor, Mirtha Montejo Whaley, PhD, OTR/L. As of the publication of this journal, the document is under review by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

Ex Vivo Effects Of An Orthodontic-Specific Bleaching System On Tooth Color And Existing Bracket Bonding, Kirk James Bean

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Objective: The purpose of this ex vivo study was to assess the changes in tooth color and existing orthodontic bracket bonding when exposed to a bleaching agent. Methods: 120 freshly extracted human premolars were equally divided into 4 groups: a negative-control group, a positive-control bleaching group, a bracket-bonded group, and a bracket bonded-bleached group. The bleaching protocol was carried out as recommended by the manufacturer of Opalescence Go® – 30 minutes each day for 10 consecutive days. The color value of each tooth was measured daily by spectrophotometry for the negative-control group and the positive-control bleaching group in 6 different …

Global Issue Of Clean Water As It Impacts Occupation, Hillary E. W. Anderson

OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry about Health through Occupation

The purpose of this position paper is to explore the global impact of the lack or limited access to clean water on occupational engagement. The majority of the developed world has access to clean water, however, an alarming number of individuals do not have access to s governs, and impedes occupational engagement of millions globally. In order to enforce occupational justice, afforded from clean water, on a global scale, a fueling passion for change must be experienced by a collaborative force in a focused effort. Ultimately, access to clean water should be a basic human right propagated to all.

Living The Implicit Curriculum, Leaving A Legacy, Ricardo Carrasco

OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry about Health through Occupation

This paper introduces the inaugural issue of OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry for Stu dents, Faculty & Other Practitioners Advocating for Health through Occupational Studies. The paper asserts that implicit or hidden curriculum partners with the implicit curriculum, especially in health care education that promotes the students’ journey that employs doing, in the transfor - mative process in being and becoming entry-level practitioners.

The Occupational Benefits Of Children Farming, Ellie Edrissi

OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry about Health through Occupation

This paper analyses the positive outcomes of youth responsibilities, routines, autonomy, youth programs and scholarships, cultural identity, educational and life experiences through the occupation of farming during seasonal and/or after school hours. The multidimensional context of children willingly working in the agricultural industry allows positive psychological, economical, and cultural experiences while building a stronger family unity. The occupation of farming allows youth participation with the environment, social skills, inter-generational transfer of skills, and increased confidence for future aspirations as they mature to adulthood.

November 2015 Issue, Occupation: A Medium Of Inquiry For Students, Faculty & Other Practitioners Advocating For Health Through Occupational Studies

OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry about Health through Occupation

No abstract provided.