Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

School Policy, Food And Physical Activity Environment, And Childhood Obesity, Ruicui Liu

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of school food and physical activity environments on energy balance-related behaviors and Body Mass Index (BMI) and to simulate the effect of school-based nutrition and physical activity policies on childhood obesity prevention. Four models based on the Social Ecological Framework of childhood obesity were developed. Parameters of these models were calibrated and validated with empirical data derived from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 and the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. The correlation between observed and simulated BMI was 0.85 for 5th grade children …

A Test Of The Behavioral Model Of Health Services Use On Non-Emergent Emergency Department Use, Moira Crosby Mcmanus

Health Services Research Dissertations

Even though emergency departments (EDs) were created to treat trauma and emergent cases, there has been an increase in emergency department (ED) utilization for non-emergent reasons over the past half of a century. As non-emergent utilization grows as a result of the ED becoming a prevalent substitute for primary care, overcrowding of the ED and increased wait times will continue. Additionally, unnecessary cost to both the ED and the patient will be incurred. Previous research has examined and determined various reasons and risk factors driving non-emergent ED use, among them the influence of living location and the number of non-emergent …

Body Image And Quality Of Life Among Postsurgical Bariatric Patients, Amy Leigh White

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

In recent decades, bariatric surgery has become an increasingly popular intervention for the treatment of morbid obesity. Bariatric surgery leads to substantial improvements in physical health (e.g., weight loss, increased life expectancy) and psychological health (e.g., body image, quality of life). After bariatric surgery, many patients undergo subsequent surgical procedures to remove excess skin (“body contouring”), which are also associated with positive medical and psychological outcomes.

The present study sought to expand upon existing research into the psychosocial outcomes of bariatric surgery, investigate correlates of patients’ desire for body contouring, and determine whether presurgical motivations were associated with postsurgical outcomes. …

A Study Of Visible Tattoos In Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Education Programs, Kathryn R. Search

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey entry-level dental hygiene program directors in the United States to assess their perceptions of dental hygienists with visible tattoos as well as their satisfaction with current program tattoo polices. Methods: After IRB approval, a 14-item survey was administered online to 340 entry-level dental hygiene programs. Participants used a seven-point Likert type scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (7), to indicate their opinions of visible tattoos on the basis of professionalism, concern within the school, dress code policy satisfaction, tolerance toward visible tattoos, whether tattoos needed to be covered, …

Dental Hygiene Alternative Practice Models: Preparedness And Confidence Of 2015 Graduates, Futun Nasser Alkhalifah

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: evaluate dental hygiene graduates’ perceived preparedness and confidence to practice in alternative settings. Methods: a survey was sent through ADHA to all members who graduated within the last year (2015-2016) with a minimum of one-week work experience. The survey consisted of demographics, and two alternative practice scales. Independent variables characterized as follows: (1) graduate of a baccalaureate degree dental hygiene program within an allied health science program, (2) graduate of a baccalaureate degree dental hygiene program within a dental school, or (3) graduate of an associate degree dental hygiene program. The dependent variables were preparedness, confidence and practice management …

An Evaluation Of Pathways To Community College Student Success In Anatomy And Physiology I, Staci Brooke Forgey

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

The demand for healthcare workers is increasing nationwide. Higher education is responding by examining various interventions designed to increase completion (Abele, Penprase, & Ternes, 2011). Anatomy and Physiology is often identified as a gatekeeper course for students, since many withdraw or fail this course (Hopper, 2011). Within the VCCS, two colleges have implemented a prerequisite course, NAS 2, for Anatomy and Physiology. This study analyzed student data from before and after NAS 2 implementation, and examined General Biology to determine if it was a predictor of success in Anatomy and Physiology.

When NAS 2 was a significant predictor of grade …

Effects Of Auditory Vection Speed And Directional Congruence On Perceptions Of Visual Vection, Isabella Alexis Gagliano

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Spatial disorientation is a major contributor to aircraft mishaps. One potential contributing factor is vection, an illusion of self-motion. Although vection is commonly thought of as a visual illusion, it can also be produced through audition. The purpose of the current experiment was to explore interactions between conflicting visual and auditory vection cues, specifically with regard to the speed and direction of rotation. The ultimate goal was to explore the extent to which aural vection could diminish or enhance the perception of visual vection. The study used a 3 × 2 within-groups factorial design. Participants were exposed to three levels …

Design Of Drug Nano-Carriers For Study Of Multidrug Resistance In Single Live Cells, Pavan Kumar Cherukuri

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Multidrug resistance (MDR) exists in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. MDR is responsible for ineffective treatment of a wide range of diseases, such as infections and cancer. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) membrane transporters (efflux pumps) are one of the largest and most diverse super-families of membrane proteins found in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. All ABC transporters share a common structure of four core domains; two transmembrane domains (TMD) with variable sequence and topology and two nucleotide-binding domains (NBD) with conserved sequences. Conventional methods for the study of the efflux functions are radioactively labeled substrates and fluorescent …

Application Of A Theory-Based Educational Intervention To Increase The Frequency Of Performing Oral Health Assessments On Children Among Advanced Practice Registered Nurses And Nurses, Denise Michelle Claiborne

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of a theory-based educational intervention would increase the frequency of performing oralhealth assessments (OHAs) during well-child visits among nurses. A randomized experimental design was conducted to determine if the educationalintervention would improve frequency of performing OHAs, in addition to, knowledge, confidence in performing OHAs, and advising parents. Using a non-probability sampling frame, “snowball technique,” a total of 46 participants were recruited. After exclusion criteria, 33 advanced practice registered nurses(APRNs), registered nurses (RNs), and licensed practical nurses (LPNs); were randomized into a control or experimental group. Data collection occurred over …

Training Needs Of Licensed Veterinary Technicians Employed In Augusta County, Virginia, Jeannie Kay Skelton

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem of this study was to determine the training needs of Licensed Veterinary Technicians in Augusta County, Virginia to improve their knowledge and skills in the veterinary field. The study was guided by research questions that were developed to determine what the training needs of Licensed Veterinary Technicians are, what their preferred method is for obtaining continuing education credits, what methods they use to obtain new knowledge and skills, and if on the job training is effective. A survey was designed to determine what training methods are being used, what is preferred, and what training is needed in the …

Response Shift And Functional Outcomes In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Cameron J. Powden

Health Services Research Dissertations

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries sustained by those who are physically active. One in three individuals will develop a condition known as chronic ankle instability (CAI) after suffering a single ankle sprain. These individuals suffer from recurrent bouts of ankle instability, residual symptoms, and a myriad of other mechanical and functional impairments as well as health-related quality of life (HRQL) deficits. Due to the abundance of health consequences associated with this condition it is imperative to establish evidence based interventions that are focused on restoring function and HRQL to pre-injury statuses.

The overarching purpose of this …

The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model: An Examination Of Obesity Prevention Behavioral Change In Children Who Participated In The Afterschool Program Virginia Beach Let’S Move, Marilyn Miroshlava Bartholmae

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model (IMB) as a foundation to design childhood obesity prevention afterschool programs. This study employed a secondary analysis of pre (n=172), post (n=170), and 1-year follow-up (n=32) evaluations of the obesity prevention afterschool program Virginia Beach Let’s Move for children ages 5-11 years. Independent variables included demographic characteristics for the participating children and their parents. Dependent variables used in this study were the IMB constructs information and motivation. Motivation was measured by the attitudes of the children and information was measured by the children’s knowledge.

The …

Examining Changes In College Counseling Clients’ Symptomology And Severity Over An Eight Year Span, Caroline Lee Bertolet

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The current college counseling literature has conflicting findings regarding the extent to which the severity of mental health symptoms has increased for college students. Some researchers claim that over time student’s mental health symptoms have become more complex rather than more severe. This study examined archival data to analyze both the severity and complexity of symptoms in an eight year time span. The study also examined how disruptiveness and treatment demand have changed over the eight year period. The data were analyzed using multiple regression. The results of the study supported perspectives found in the current literature indicating little increase …

The Effects Of Alarm System Errors On Dependence: Moderated Mediation Of Trust With And Without Risk, Eric T. Chancey

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Research on sensor-based signaling systems suggests that false alarms and misses affect operator dependence via two independent psychological processes, hypothesized as two types of trust. These two types of trust manifest in two categorically different behaviors: compliance and reliance. The current study links the theoretical perspective outlined by Lee and See (2004) to the compliance-reliance paradigm, and argues that trust mediates the false alarm-compliance relationship but not the miss-reliance relationship. Specifically, the key conditions to allow the mediation of trust are: The operator is presented with a salient choice to depend on the signaling system and the risk associated with …

The Relationship Between Landing Error Scoring System-Real Time And Dorsiflexion Range Of Motion In Recreational Athletes, Hannah M. Twiddy

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Participation in physical activity is important for overall health; however, lower extremity injuries are a major risk associated with physical activity. Injuries can lead to time away from physical activity and be associated with negative health consequences. The most common injuries are traumatic injuries to the knee and ankle; which may be related to poor landing mechanics and decreased range of motion. Previous research utilizing motion analysis systems have determined people with greater dorsiflexion range of motion (DROM) demonstrated smaller ground reaction forces and greater knee and hip flexion displacement while landing; indicating a softer landing strategy. The ability to …

Neuropathy Detection, Quality Of Life Tools & Treatment For Type 2 Diabetes, Jennifer J. Brown

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus has become the epidemic of the new millennium, with an estimated 382 million people affected worldwide as of 2013, and statistics projected towards 592 million by the year 2035. With the development of diabetes, complications have risen, with diabetic neuropathy becoming one of the most prevalent, affecting between 10–90% of those with the disease. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is difficult to detect in early stages of pathology, yet devastating once significant damage has taken place. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), which is often silent, is associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction and increased risk for …

The Effects Of Fitness Level And Sex On Epoc Following High Intensity Interval And Moderate Intensity Aerobic Exercise, Rachel Lauren Simmons

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

In the past few years, much attention has been directed toward shorter-duration vigorous intensity aerobic exercise as opposed to longer-duration moderate intensity exercise. There is conflicting evidence as to whether vigorous exercise can result in a greater excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and thus more calories burned when compared to moderate continuous exercise performed for a longer duration. In addition, the literature contains a dearth of information isolating and investigating male and female response to these exercises, as well as fit and unfit subjects. The purpose of this study was to quantify EPOC following moderate intensity aerobic exercise (MOD) and …

The Relationship Between Counselors' Multicultural Counseling Competence And Poverty Beliefs, Madeline Elizabeth Clark

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The relationship between increased levels of poverty and decreased levels of psychological wellbeing and overall wellness is well documented. Although poverty clearly impacts mental health and wellness, little research in counseling has been conducted exploring the poverty attitudes of counselors. This study explored the relationship between professional counselors’ multicultural counseling competence (MCC), poverty beliefs, and select demographic factors (i.e. counseling specialty, gender, age, ethnocultural identity, poverty counseling experience, and personal poverty experience). Data were collected using survey-based methods from professional counselors of all specialties. Results of a hierarchical linear regression indicate that increased MCC, adjusted for select demographic factors, is …

The Effects Of Instrument Handle Design On Forearm Muscle Activity During Scaling By Dental Hygienists, Jessica Rae Suedbeck

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 4 different commercially available instrument handle designs (A. 16 grams and 12.7 mm diameter; B. 23 grams and 11.1 mm diameter; C. 21 grams and 7.9 mm diameter; D. 18 grams and 6.35 mm diameter) on the muscle activity of four forearm muscles during a simulated scaling experience. Methods: A convenience sample of 27 dental hygienists used a Columbia 13/14 curet with four different instrument handles to scale artificial calculus. While scaling, each participant’s muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG). Participants completed an end user opinion …

The Effect Of Magnification Loupes On Posture During Instrumentation By Dental Hygienists, Emily Anne Ludwig

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dental magnification loupes on posture during instrumentation. Methods: A convenience sample of twenty-seven righthanded dental hygienists with no history of injuries or disabilities of the head, neck, and trunk regions was enrolled. Baseline posture calibration was taken. Accelerometers were placed on four locations of the head and trunk (occipital pole of head, cervical vertebrae: C5, thoracic vertebrae: T5, lumbar vertebrae: L1) to measure changes in posture. Accelerations in three axes were recorded (anterior/posterior (AP), medial/lateral (ML), vertical (VT)). Mean accelerations of the three axes were used to compute …

A Model To Predict Pre-Hospital Endotracheal Intubation Success, Leigh Ann Diggs

Health Services Research Dissertations

Background: Pre-hospital endotracheal intubation (ETI) is one of the most critical skills performed by paramedics and is considered the “gold standard” of airway management. Pre-hospital ETI success rates are variable, ranging from 33% to 100% across EMS systems in the U.S. Previous investigative efforts have identified factors associated with pre-hospital ETI success, but the generalizability of findings is limited. Few researchers have controlled for the concurrent effects of multiple factors when examining pre-hospital ETI success. Methods: In this retrospective exploratory study, we used national data from the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) and data from a four state …