Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Consensus On Best Practices In Neuroscience-Informed Treatment Of Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress In Military Veterans: A Delphi Study Of Experts In The Field Of Mental Health, Danielle Lauren Winters

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to capture consensus among mental health professionals who work with combat trauma-afflicted veterans and/or utilize a neuroscience-informed counseling approach, about a set of best practices for uniting neuroscience-informed treatment modalities with the treatment of veterans who present with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). A multi-round Delphi study was used to elicit information from mental health professionals, which led to the proposition of ways in which mental health professionals may more efficiently work with combat veterans while utilizing neuroscience-informed treatments such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) neuro-informed Cognitive Behavioral therapy (nCBT), …

Perturbation-Based Gait Training, Julia Bohlman, Ashwini Kulkarni

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Background:

Falls during walking are common in older adults and individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) [1]. These falls are often caused by trips [2]. Injuries caused by falls can be severe, in all age groups and populations. Given the potential severity of injuries resulting from falls, it is crucial to implement interventions aimed at preventing falls. Such interventions focus on anticipatory and/or reactive mechanisms. Perturbation-based gait training (PBT) addresses both mechanisms by intentionally destabilizing participants to induce a loss of stability, triggering a motor response to regain postural stability. PBT works on the principle of specificity. While earlier studies on …

Global Strategies For Addressing Communication Disorders In Justice-Involved Youth, Sophia Martinez, Anne Marie Perrotti, Brooke Baker, Allison Chappell

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Throughout all stages of processing, most juveniles who encounter the justice system demonstrate cognitive-communicative difficulties (CCDs). Empirical evidence reveals that 19-22% of female and 28-38% of male youth offenders, culminating in approximately 50-60% of youth offenders, demonstrate language disorders that require intervention, but most have never received services (Snow et al., 2014; Winstanley et al., 2021). Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are communication experts certified to assess and treat CCDs. While nations abroad recognize the value of SLP involvement in all stages of processing for justice-involved youth (JIY), America lags in utilizing SLPs to improve JIY outcomes and lower youth's risk of …

Addressing Weight In Primary Care: Perspectives Of African American Young Adults With Serious Mental Illness, Sang Qin, Lindsay Sheehan, Janis Sayer, Kristin S. Williams, Julius Mercer, Ashley Scott, Tevin Anderson

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) experience disproportionate rates of physical illness. Morbidity and mortality are even worse for young African Americans with SMI, especially those who are overweight. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have an important role in addressing weight management. Current research explored these young patient’s perceptions of weight management and how PCPs can best address their weight concerns. Using community-based participatory research, we interviewed 25 African American aged 18-30 who were overweight and had a SMI. Results revealed 1) patient perceptions around weight and 2) patient preferences. Participants identified both positive and negative aspects of being overweight, …

College Of Health Sciences Newsletter, College Of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University

Ellmer College of Health Sciences Newsletters

February 2024 issue of Old Dominion University's College of Health Sciences Newsletter.

Acculturation And Immigrant Parental Perceptions Concerning Sexual Communication, Kwame Owura Frimpong

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Abstract:

Acculturation presents challenges to many immigrant parents that are adjusting to new lives in the United States. The rationale for conducting this study stemmed from the effects that acculturation can have on the wellbeing of immigrants, adversely affecting their health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of Sub-Saharan African immigrant parents concerning having a conversation with their pre-adolescent children about sexuality and sexual practices. Findings revealed communication barriers due to cultural beliefs, cultural taboos, and shame. The findings from this study are beneficial to behavioral healthcare providers that work with immigrant families, parents, and …

Discussing Systemic Racism And Racial Privilege At A Large, Academic Health Center Using A Modified Privilege Walk, Elizabeth A. Brown, Rosemarie Jones

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: There is a motivation for organizations to understand race and racism from the perspective of minoritized individuals. Academic health centers (AHC) are ideal organizations to have these conversations as they educate healthcare providers, support research in health disparities, and care for diverse patients.

Methods: We piloted and evaluated a virtual Modified Privilege Walk (MPW) with faculty, staff, and students at an AHC in July 2020 to promote difficult conversations about race/racism, social class, and privilege. Each MPW session was voluntary, held virtually over Zoom, and lasted one hour and thirty minutes. Before attending, participants answered questions based on their …

Patient Perceptions Of Audio-Only Versus Video Telehealth Visits: A Qualitative Study Among Patients In An Academic Medical Center Setting, Ryan Kruis, Elizabeth A. Brown, Jada Johnson, Kit N. Simpson, James Mcelligott, Jillian Harvey

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Telehealth utilization surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering expanded health care access. Audio-only visits emerged as a crucial tool for patients facing technology or connectivity barriers to still use telehealth. This qualitative study aims to better understand patient perceptions of audio-only versus video telehealth visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how patients perceive the role of each in their overall health care. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 adult patients seeking care at an academic medical center located in the Southeast region of the United States. Patients had experienced both an audio-only and video telehealth visit within the …

A Comparison Of Machine Learning Surrogate Models Of Street-Scale Flooding In Norfolk, Virginia, Diana Mcspadden, Steven Goldenberg, Binata Roy, Malachi Schram, Jonathan L. Goodall, Heather Richter

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Low-lying coastal cities, exemplified by Norfolk, Virginia, face the challenge of street flooding caused by rainfall and tides, which strain transportation and sewer systems and can lead to personal and property damage. While high-fidelity, physics-based simulations provide accurate predictions of urban pluvial flooding, their computational complexity renders them unsuitable for real-time applications. Using data from Norfolk rainfall events between 2016 and 2018, this study compares the performance of a previous surrogate model based on a random forest algorithm with two deep learning models: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). The comparison of deep learning to the random …

Different Spectrum Of Space Radiation Induced Cognitive Impairments In Radiation-Naïve And Adapted Rats, Richard A. Britten, Arriyam S. Fesshaye, Alyssa Tidmore, Ella N. Tamgue, Paola A. Alvarado-Arriaga

Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases (CINID) Faculty Publications

NASA's decision to resume manned deep space mission, first to the Moon and then Mars, necessitated a detailed assessment of the potential health effects that astronauts may experience on long-duration missions. Multiple studies suggest that there may be significant space radiation (SR)-induced impairment of neurocognitive processes, including advanced executive functions. However, given the multitude of SR-induced changes in the CNS, it is possible that completely different SR-induced sequelae will be induced in previously exposed individuals. Thus, current risk estimates are likely to be pertinent only for the early stages of a deep space mission, and even then only for astronauts …

Allied Dental Students' Perceived Knowledge, Confidence, And Attitudes Regarding Disaster Victim Identification Topics, Samantha C. Vest, Brenda T. Bradshaw, Marsha A. Voelker, Ann M. Bruhn, Tara L. Newcomb, Sinjini Sikdar

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose Disaster victim identification (DVI) service requires knowledge, confidence, and an attitude (KCA) of readiness. The purpose of this study was to assess allied dental students’ perceived KCA regarding DVI skills and topics.

Methods A convenience sample of senior dental hygiene students (n=27) and senior dental assistant students (n=14) were recruited by email then presented mismatched simulated antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) bitewing radiographs and asked to indicate correct matches. Collectively, participants made 205 radiographic matches and indicated 205 degrees of certainty binarily as “positive” or “possible” (one per match). Participants also completed a researcher designed pretest/posttest electronic survey with …

1-800-Help-Me-With-Open-Science-Stuff: A Qualitative Examination Of Open Science Practices In Communication Sciences And Disorders, Danika Pfeiffer, Austin Thompson, Brittany Ciullo, Micha E. Hirsch, M. El Amin, Andrea Ford, Jessica Salley Riccardi, Elaine Kearney

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of communication sciences and disorders (CSD) assistant professors in the United States related to barriers and facilitators to engaging in open science (OS) practices and identify opportunities for improving OS training and support in the field.

Method: Thirty-five assistant professors (16 from very high research activity (R1) institutions, 19 from institutions with other Carnegie classifications) participated in one 1-hour virtual focus group conducted via Zoom recording technology. The researchers used a conventional content analysis approach to analyze the focus group data and develop categories from the discussions.

Results: …

Role Of Occupational Therapy Assessment And Office Ergonomics To Support Students With Accommodations In Higher Learning: A Narrative Review, Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, Christi Tam, Raabia Khan, Bushra Alam, Sujatha Alla

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Postsecondary students with disabilities (SWDs) face significant challenges to their academic and personal well-being. There is a demand for more supportive strategies to facilitate fulfilling and equitable academic experiences for SWDs. This review aimed to (1) determine the effectiveness of various interventions, programs, and accommodations for enhancing the overall well-being of postsecondary SWDs and (2) evaluate the implications of these support strategies for disability service providers at postsecondary institutions. A narrative review was conducted, examining 13 studies aimed at enhancing the well-being of postsecondary SWDs. Studies were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Model. Ergonomics, …

Data Driven Trade-Off Analysis For Cybersecurity, Goskel Kucukkaya, Murat Ozer, Murat Balci, Emrah Ugurlu

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Trade-off analysis, a specialization of systems engineering, addresses design criteria like security, cost, performance, and compliance. Monte Carlo simulations are commonly employed to generate impact scenarios for trade-off analysis combined with solution alternatives that accommodate industry-specific considerations and uncertainties. In the cyber domain, this paper proposes a methodology for data-driven trade-off analysis in cybersecurity, leveraging industry reports as primary data sources using confidentiality, integrity, and availability as trade-off analysis objectives. Distribution functions are derived to manage and model uncertainties for various industries. The approach given in this study aims to facilitate informed choices and to enhance cybersecurity decision making and …

Effects Of Food Bar Chewing Duration On The Physiologic, Metabolic, And Perceptual Responses To Moderate-Intensity Running, Thomas R. Geaney, Zachary A. Sievert, J. David Branch, Patrick B. Wilson

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Purpose

Chewing duration can affect food particle size, gastric processing, and postprandial glycemia, but these effects have not been investigated with exercise. This study examined how the chewing duration of a food bar impacts glycemic and metabolic responses, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, psychological affect, and performance during endurance running.

Methods

This randomized, unblinded, crossover study had 15 males (35.2 ± 7.4 years, VO_2peak: 56.1 ± 5.2 ml/kg/min) attend three laboratory visits. Visit 1 required a VO_2peak test, 10 min familiarization run at 60% VO2peak, and familiarization time-to-exhaustion (TTE) test (10 min at 90% VO_2peak, followed by …

Development Of A Positive Urinalysis Criteria Using A Machine Learning Approach, Kari Flicker, Jessica Parrott, Tammy Speerhas, Turaj Vazifedan, Theresa Guins, Jeffrey Bobrowtiz, Anne Mcevoy, Jade Eves, Debra Conrad, Benjamin Klick

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a commonly encountered diagnosis at pediatric urgent care (UC) centers. The urinalysis (UA) is usually the initial study in UC settings used to guide decisions regarding initiating empiric antibiotics and/or pursuing urine culture. However, studies in pediatric UC settings examining the ideal threshold for a positive result are lacking.

Methods: UA result data were extracted from the records of 6,327 pediatric patients, which were collected as part of a previous QI project. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of positive urine cultures. Decision trees for a positive UA result for both clean …

Career Counselors Addressing Social Determinants Of Mental Health In Rural Communities, Kaprea F. Johnson, Alexandra Gant-Howrey, Bisola E. Duyile, Lauren B. Robins, Natese Dockery

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Career counselors practicing in rural communities must understand and address social determinants of mental health (SDOMH). This conceptual article details the relationships between SDOMH domains and employment and provides evidence-based recommendations for integrating SDOMH into practice through a rural community health and well-being framework. Description of the adaptation of the framework for career counselors in rural communities, SDOMH assessment strategies and tools, and workflow adjustments are included. Conclusions suggest next steps for practice and research.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Of Professional School Counselors As Predictors Of Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, And Secondary Traumatic Stress, Eric M. Brown, Melanie Burgess, Kristy L. Carlisle, Desmond Franklin Davenport, Michelle W. Brasfield

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

School counselors work closely with students and are often the first point of contact regarding traumatic experiences. It is generally understood that exposure to other individuals’ trauma may lead to a reduction in compassion satisfaction and an increase in secondary traumatic stress, while long-term exposure may result in professional burnout. This study examined the role of school counselors’ (N = 240) own adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as related to compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Results indicated that 50% of the professional school counselors in this convenience sample had personal histories of four or more ACEs, which is significantly …

Self-Efficacy Of Undergraduate Human Services Students With Integrated Behavioral Health, Kristy Carlisle, Nic Schmoyer, Danielle Rodgers, Katherina Nako, Richie Kubilus, Zubede Akpakir

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Human services professionals (HSPs) are poised to contribute to interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) settings as care enhancers. Interprofessional Education (IPE) effective for training HSPs requires changes or addition to curriculum. The purpose of the current study was to present workshops adjunct to curriculum to HSPs targeting their engagement in IBH settings. The study explored their self-efficacy with IPC after such training using a pre- and post-test design. Results indicated a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy from before and after the workshop. Discussion includes implications for human services educators in using workshops to augment the IPE their …

Unlocking Adolescent Mental Health: Exploring Social Determinants And Depression With The Social Ecological Model, Lauren B. Robins, Danielle Rodgers, Yusuf Barburoglu, Jasmine Griffith, Cearra L. Arnold

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Employing the robust framework of the Social Ecological Model (SEM) and drawing insights from the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), this research sought to uncover the interplay between SDOH and mental health among adolescents. With a focus on depression, the study unraveled how various social determinants, both individually and collectively, shape the mental well-being of adolescents, leveraging the rich dataset provided by the National Survey of Children’s Health 2018. Utilizing advanced statistical techniques, the study revealed the predictive power of SDOH in understanding adolescent mental health. Results illuminate the significant influence of social determinants on depression, underscoring the imperative for …

Translational Neuroscience Contributes To Understanding Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Of Dostoyevsky's "Brothers Karamazov" With Treatment Implications, Stephen I. Deutsch, Jessica A. Burket, Jeffrey Elikan Jd, David R. Spiegel

Department Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Dostoyevsky's novels raise profound ethical, moral, philosophical and theological issues and, as a result, both he and his novels serve as fertile subjects of scholarly inquiry across a variety of academic disciplines. In particular, major characters in "The Brothers Karamazov" lend themselves to classical psychodynamic formulations, such as the influence of adverse childhood experiences on adult social and occupational outcomes, which in the case of Dmitry, the eldest son of Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, are considered in exquisitely fine detail. Prosecutor and defense attorney provide differing interpretations of how early traumas, largely due to paternal neglect and abuse, affected Dmitry's adult …

Athletic Trainers' Perceptions Of Salary Negotiation Decision-Making During The Hiring Process, Julie M. Cavallario, Kim Detwiler, Leanne Jones, Indigo White, Cailee E. Welch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Appropriate salaries for athletic trainers (ATs) have been a contentious topic for decades. While professional advocacy efforts to increase ATs' salaries have gained traction, little is known about ATs' experiences with negotiation during the hiring process.

Objective: To explore the reasons, influences, and factors influencing ATs' negotiation decisions.

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: Individual video interviews.

Patients or other participants: 28 ATs who participated in a previous study and indicated a willingness to participate in the qualitative follow-up were interviewed (17 women, 10 men, 1 non-binary individual; age = 37.8±8.9 years; athletic training experience = 15.1±8.3 years). Of the 28 …

Assessments Used By Athletic Trainers To Decide Return-To-Activity Readiness In Patients With An Ankle Sprain, Ryan S. Mccann, Cailee E. Welch Bacon, Ashley M. B. Suttmiller, Phillip A. Gribble, Julie M. Cavallario

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Athletic trainers (ATs) often care for patients with ankle sprains. Expert consensus has been established for rehabilitation-oriented assessments (ROASTs) that should be included in ankle-sprain evaluations. However, the methods ATs use to determine return-to-activity readiness after an ankle sprain are unknown.

Objectives: To identify ATs' methods for determining patients' return-to-activity readiness after an ankle sprain and demographic characteristics of the ATs and their methods.

Setting: Online survey.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Patients or Other Participants: We recruited 10 000 clinically practicing ATs. A total of 676 accessed the survey, 574 submitted responses (85% completion rate), and 541 respondents met the …

Effect Of Family-Centered Care Interventions On Well-Being Of Caregivers Of Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review, Deepalaxmi Paresh Poojari, Shashikiran Umakanth, G. Arun Maiya, Bhamini Krishna Rao, Sonia Khurana, Senthil Kumaran D., Radhika Attal, Marie Brien

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Caring for a child with long-term functional limitations can have a negative impact on the physical and psychological well-being of the caregiver. Family-centered care (FCC) interventions have the potential to empower caregivers and contribute to their well-being. This systematic review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness of FCC interventions in improving the well-being of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP), and identify the key components of such interventions that are most commonly practiced and deemed effective.

Methods: This review systematically searched seven databases for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of any FCC intervention on …

Predicting The Need For Cardiovascular Surgery: A Comparative Study Of Machine Learning Models, Arman Ghavidel, Pilar Pazos, Rolando Del Aguila Suarez, Alireza Atashi

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This research examines the efficacy of ensemble Machine Learning (ML) models, mainly focusing on Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), in predicting the need for cardiovascular surgery, a critical aspect of clinical decision-making. It addresses key challenges such as class imbalance, which is pivotal in healthcare settings. The research involved a comprehensive comparison and evaluation of the performance of previously published ML methods against a new Deep Learning (DL) model. This comparison utilized a dataset encompassing 50,000 patient records from a large hospital between 2015-2022. The study proposes enhancing the efficacy of these models through feature selection and hyperparameter optimization, employing techniques …

Energy Harvesting Face Mask Using A Thermoelectric Generator For Powering Wearable Health Monitoring Sensors, Ugur Erturun, Cansu Yalim, James E. West

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

A wearable energy harvester (EH) incorporating a face mask with a thermoelectric generator is demonstrated. The function of this device is to generate electrical power from the heat produced by the human body, particularly breath, with the specific aim of powering wearable sensor applications. A prototype was built using a commercially available N95 face mask, a thermoelectric generator, and a heatsink. The performance of this EH device was assessed using experimental and numerical methodologies. The experimentally tested power output of the prototype was found to be ≈100 µW, with a corresponding power density of ≈30 µW/cm3, for a temperature difference …

Political Prioritization For Digital Health And Health Equity Through Global Health Diplomacy, Vijay Kumar Chattu, Sujatha Alla, Bawa Singh

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

[Introduction] We have found the article "Digital health and health equity: How digital health can address healthcare disparities and improve access to quality care in Africa" published in the recent issue to be very relevant and interesting.¹ Qoseem et al have highlighted that there is a great need for continuous advocacy for strengthening the health systems through telehealth promotion and increasing access to healthcare services to achieve health equity.

The Impact Of Scaling And Root Planning Combined With Mouthwash During Pregnancy On Preterm Birth And Low Birth Weight: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, May Salama, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Denise C. Mckinney, Estiar Rahman, Anwar T. Merchant

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The effect of treating periodontal disease (PD) during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth (PTB) and/or low birth weight (LBW), remains unclear. This is partially due to the fact that Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) have used different combinations of treatment approaches to test this hypothesis. In this meta-analysis of RCTs, we assessed the impact of treating PD during pregnancy with scaling and root planning (SRP) and mouthwash use on PTB and LBW.

Background

The effect of treating periodontal disease (PD) during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth (PTB) and/or low birth weight (LBW), remains …

Prevalence Of Sexually Implicit Attitudes In Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Students, Monica Drew, Emily Ludwig, Jessica Suedbeck, Adaira Howell

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: There has been an increase in the number of persons identifying as LGBTQ+ in the United States. LQBTQ+ individuals are also subject to social stigmas and discrimination which create barriers to obtaining quality healthcare. Providers may harbor implicit or unconscious biases which may negatively affect their ability to provide impartial health or oral healthcare. An awareness of biases early in education may promote equitable care and increase quality of oral healthcare delivered to diverse populations. The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of sexually implicit attitudes in entry-level dental hygiene students in one university.

Methods: This cross-sectional …

Effects Of Ultrasonic Use On Hearing Loss In Dental Hygienists: A Matched Pairs Design Study, Jessica Suedbeck, Emily A. Ludwig, James Blando, Nathan Michalak

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Dental professionals are exposed to hazardous noise levels on a daily basis in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare the hearing status of dental hygienists who utilize ultrasonic scalers in the workplace compared to age-matched control participants (non-dental hygienists) who were not exposed to ultrasonic noise.

Methods: A convenience sample of nineteen dental hygienists (experimental) and nineteen non-dental hygienists (control) was recruited for this study. A matched pairs design was utilized; participants in each group were matched based on age and gender to eliminate confounding variables. The testing procedure consisted of an audiologist performing a …