Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Normative Dimensions Of Health Disparities, Andrew Ward, Pamela Jo Johnson, Mollie O'Brien

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Understanding what conditions must be satisfied for a health inequality to be a health inequity (disparity) is crucial for health policy makers. The failure to understand what constitutes a health inequity, and confusing health inequalities with health inequities threatens the successful creation of health policies by diverting needed attention and resources away from addressing health inequalities that are health inequities. More generally, the failure threatens to undercut our ability to tell what research is relevant to the creation of health policies that aim to mitigate or eliminate health inequities. With this in mind, the principal aim of the present paper …

Discrimination In Medical Settings And Attitudes Toward Complementary And Alternative Medicine: The Role Of Distrust In Conventional Providers, Tetyana Shippee, Carrie Henning-Smith, Nathan Shippee, Jessie Kemmick Pintor, Kathleen T. Call, Donna Mcalpine, Pamela Jo Johnson

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This study examines the relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination in medical settings, distrust in conventional medicine, and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among a racially/ethnically diverse sample. We also investigate how this relationship differs by nativity. Data are from a 2008 statewide stratified sample of publicly insured adults in Minnesota (N=2,194). Discrimination was measured as self-reported unfair treatment in medical settings due to race, ethnicity, and/or nationality. Outcomes are trust in conventional providers/medicine and attitudes toward CAM modalities. Discrimination in medical settings was positively associated with 1) distrust in conventional providers and 2) favorable attitudes toward CAM. Foreign-born …

A Diabetes Prevention Program Provided By Home Care Nurses To Residents Of Public Housing Communities, Robin Whittemore Phd, Alana Rosenberg Mph, Sangchoon Jeon Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The purpose of this pilot study was 1) to modify the Diabetes Prevention Program protocol collaboratively with home care nurses, health professionals, and residents of public housing: 2) to evaluate the feasibility (reach and implementation) and the preliminary efficacy of the modified diabetes prevention program (mDPP) provided by home care nurses to adults at-risk for T2D on clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial outcomes compared to an enhanced standard care control group. A mixed-method sequential design was used. The sample (n=67) was primarily female (79%), with a mean age of 40 years, and of diverse race and ethnicity (76% non-White). Home care …

Lessons Learned From Training Of Promotores De Salud For Obesity And Diabetes Prevention, Erica T. Sosa, Lesli Biediger-Friedman, Zenong Yin

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Promotores de Salud are impactful in reducing health disparities for Hispanic communities. The purpose of this paper is to present the training process and fidelity of study protocol implementation using a promotora model for community-based diabetes prevention.

Methods: Five Hispanic bilingual promotores were recruited from a Community Health Worker program and received intensive 30-hour promotora training on how to recruit participants, lead group sessions, and support participants making behavior changes. Evaluation of the training included a survey and focus group to assess promotores’ feedback, a post-training knowledge test to assess knowledge acquired during the training and an observational assessment …

Gender Differences In Frontal Plane Lower Extremity Kinetic Variability During Landing, Andrew Nordin

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

Investigations of human movement variability have been used as a
means of exploring neuromotor functioning, where performance variability is
thought to provide the system with flexibility and a mechanism for adaptation to
movement repetition [1,2,4,6]. Operationally, variability has been considered to
fall within optimal limits (Figure 1), while excessively high or low variability has
been implicated in injury susceptibility [1,2,4,6]. Landing has been explored
due to a high incidence of injury in athletic performance, as well as the ability
to easily control task demands through increases in landing height [3,4].
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate changes in …

Pre- And Post-Interrvention Perceptions Of Illness, Health, And The Home Environment Among Nevada Healthy Homes Participants, Michelle Ching, Shawn Gerstenberger

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The Nevada Healthy Homes Partnership (NVHHP) is a collaborative program between the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), Rebuilding Together (RBT), HELP of Southern Nevada, and other public/private housing authorities and health agencies in Southern Nevada.

Quantifying Head Injury Severity Following Pediatric Patient Falls, Janet Dufek, N.A. Ryan-Wenger, K.C Mefferd

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively calculate the head injury criteria (HIC) values for pediatric patient falls and correlate these values to documented injury severity (MERP) scores. A second purpose was to examine the relationship between child ages and associated HIC15 values in an attempt to scale the values obtained from pediatrics to adult values.

Interactive Video Gaming: Do We Feel Like We Are Exercising?, Antonio Santo, Shaelee Allen, Janet Dufek, Paul Hafen, Michael Jarrett, Krystina Moschella, Robert Rietjens, James Navalta, Richard Tandy, Jacob E. Barkley

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and hedonics (liking or enjoyment) changed during 30 contiguous minutes of playing select, interactive video games on the Nintendo Wii system. A secondary purpose was to determine if RPE and liking differed among games.These data suggest that individuals do perceive difference in the amount of work they are performing during extended play of the same game or among sedentary and physically interactive games. Additionally, liking was similar during extended game play and among games suggesting that the physical interaction with the game may be …

Cardiovascular Risk Factors Prevalent Among Filipino-Americans: A Cross-Sectional Study, Alona Angosta

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

Filipino Americans are the 2nd largest Asian subgroup in the United States and their leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite this, little is known about their prevalence of CVD risk factors. This study revealed that many Filipino Americans living in Clark County, Nevada are at risk of heart disease because of the presence of CVD risk factors. Intensive lifestyle modification and treatment are recommended to help decrease the prevalence of heart disease in this group and improve their overall health outcomes. Nurses and nurse practitioners are in excellent position to educate their Filipino American clients regarding heart …

Examining Lower Extremity Range Of Motion And Movement Variability Chages Due To Focus Of Attention During Landing, Andrew Nordin, Janet Dufek

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

Attentional focus (AF) has been explored among a variety of motor skills providing evidence that external AF promotes automaticity and enhanced performance [6]. External focus of attention is distinguished from internal focus such that external focus is directed toward movement effect rather than body movements [6]. Movement variability provides a means of assessing functional characteristics of the neuromotor system, where normal functioning is suggested to occur within optimal limits, while excessively high or low movement variability is indicative of system dysfunction [2,4,5]. Additionally, the ability of the motor system to vary, or broadly distribute, internal loads is thought to reduce …

Teaching Qsen Competencies To Entry Level Nursing Students, Brianna Clouet, Melissa Glasper, Cheryl Perna

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public state university with a fully accredited School of Nursing (SON), which typically admits 48 students every trimester into their accelerated pre-licensure BSN program. UNLV is:

• Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

• Fully Approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing (NSBN),

• Continuously working to meet and uphold external standards and to remain current and competitive.

A team consisting of two Level 4 BSN students and the BSN Coordinator identified the need to better integrate the QSEN competencies into current nursing curriculum. Although the competencies are embedded into …

The Impact Of Interdisciplinary Code Simulation On Perceptions Of Collaboration And Team Performance Among Internal Medicine Residents And Nursing Students, Cynthia Herrick, Michael Michael Nasiak, Aditi Singh, Sandhya Wahi-Gururaj, C. Sue Witt, Jessica Doolen, Kevin Gulliver

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

• Allows for inter-disciplinary training
• Provides safe environment to practice patient care with immediate feedback-quality improvement
• Results in better adherence to protocols
• Well received by learners
• In one study, almost half of IM residents surveyed felt ill- equipped to lead code teams even after ACLS training

Crisis Resource Management (CRM)

• Communication and cooperation
• Leadership and management
• Situational awareness
• Decision-making

A Single Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Experience With A Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program, Daniel Young, Cathy Borris-Hale

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

This study describes the experience of a single, long-term care acute hospital (LTAC) with the Medline Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program (mPUPP)

• The growing light being shed on pressure ulcer (PrU) costs for the people that get them and the health care systems that treat them, has challenged care facilities to look for programs to reduce nosocomial PrU
• Each PrU can cost between $700 and $135,000 in medical care related expenses and litigation
• Recent evidence suggests that successful PrU prevention programs have common characteristics

Preliminary Results Of Using A Student Success Facilitator In An Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Program, Jennifer Bellsey, Cheryl Perna, Tish Smyer, Carolyn B. Yucha, Antonio Gutierrez,

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

Competing demands of work, family, friends, and the academic rigor while in an accelerated baccalaureate nursing program often lead to high levels of anxiety and may contribute to unsuccessful student progression. This phenomena is not unique to the UNLV School of Nursing but is an issue that nursing programs grapple with nationwide. While there is nursing research literature related to student success programs there are limited studies that describe the use of a Student Success Facilitator (SSF) coupled with a Student to Student Mentoring Program (SSMP). IRB Exempt #1205-4167

Self-Management And Self-Management Support On Chronic Low Back Patients In Primary Care, Jennifer Kawi

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

• Chronic low back pain (CLBP) afflicts 28.5% of adults costing $100-200 billion dollars.
• In response, the Institute of Medicine (2011) strongly recommended self-management (SM) to engage patients to care for themselves adequately.
• Healthcare professionals are also urged to provide effective self-management support (SMS) to empower patient’s ability to self-manage.
• SM and SMS have shown success in improving other chronic disease outcomes; current knowledge base are insufficient in non-malignant CLBP

Timeliness Of Electronic Laboratory Reporting Vs. Traditional Laboratory Reporting In Southern Nevada From 1999-2012, Jennifer Lucas, Christopher Cochran

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

This project aims to compare timeliness between traditional laboratory reporting, ELR, and reporting after the implementation of TriSano, a modern electronic surveillance system, for common GI illnesses in Southern Nevada, with a prediction that ELR will be faster than traditional reports, and TriSano will be faster than the other two methods.

Effectiveness Of A Reference Accuracy Strategy For Faculty Scholarship, Kirsten Speck, Barbara St. Pierre Schneider,

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The dissemination of scholarly information through scholarly publishing is one of the most important requirements to be successful in academia. Approximately 25-45% of nursing scholarship has at least one reference error. Reference inaccuracy occurs in scholarly publishing because most faculty authors focus more on the writing than on the accuracy of the references or these authors inadvertently miss the reference errors. Nevertheless, inaccurate references hinder the retrieval of material if author names are misspelled or the year or volume number is incorrect. Also, this lack of precision can raise questions about the accuracy of other parts of the material and …

Barriers To Health Care For People With Disabilities And Practice Administrators’ Knowledge Of The Ada: Nevada Compared With The Nation, Jennifer Pharr, Michelle Chino

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The purpose of this study was to determine if the number of barriers reported in the clinics could be predicted by characteristics of the administrators or
characteristics of the practice.To increase accessibility to health care, interventions should focus on practices located in buildings built before 1993, practices with administrators who are younger and have limited experience as administrators, administrators with low levels of ADA knowledge and practices with smaller number of patients.

Evaluation Of The Childhood Blood Lead Screening Component Of The Southern Nevada Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Melissa Breunig, Shawn Gerstenberger

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The objective of this paper is to highlight the progress of the lead poisoning prevention program in Southern Nevada. Specifically, we present blood lead screening results for Clark County, Nevada from 2006 through 2011, and review the progress towards recommendations made by Rothweiler et al. for Nevada in 2007.7

Immediate Effects Of Neurodynamic Versus Muscle Stretching On Hamstring Flexibility In Subjects With Short Hamstring Syndrome, Yolanda Castellote-Caballero, Marie C. Valenza, Louie Puentedura, Cesar Fernandez-De-Las-Penas, Francisco Albuquerque-Sendin

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

To compare the effectiveness of an isolated neurodynamic sciatic sliding technique (Neurodynamic group) versus static stretching (Stretching group) in comparison to a Control group receiving a placebo intervention.

Effects Of Footstrike On Low Back Posture, Shock Attenuation, And Comfort In Running, Traci L. Delgado, Emilia Kubera-Shelton, Robert R. Robb, Robbin Hickman, Harvey Wallmann, Janet Dufek

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

To determine if a change from rearfoot strike (RFS) to forefoot strike (FFS) would change lumbar lordosis, influence shock attenuation, or change comfort levels in healthy recreational/experienced runners.

Levels Of Adoption Of Electronic Health Records And Patient Safety: Effectiveness And Efficiency, Scott Neishi, Yili Gan, Christopher R. Cochran, Jay J. Shen

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

• Patient safety, including hospital acquired infections has become one of the major concerns in healthcare delivery in recent years
• Electronic health records are becoming an integral aspect of the health care delivery
• Health policies have been looking to improve quality / patient safety and efficiency of healthcare through the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems
• Can EHR adoption improve patient safety?
• Can EHR adoption reduce cost?
• H1: Patients treated at hospitals with a higher level of EHR adoption are less likely to incur poorer patient safety indicators
• H2: Patients treated at hospitals with a higher level of EHR adoption …

Isolation Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Youth: A Dimensional Concept Analysis, Michael Johnson, Elaine Amella

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

Present the findings of a dimensional concept analysis of isolation within the context of LGBT youth. LGBT youth are at greater risk for negative health outcomes as compared to heterosexual youth, including depression, anxiety, suicide, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Some studies suggest LGBT feeling and being isolated is related to some negative health outcomes. Other research reveals a relationship between isolation and negative health

Physically Interactive Games Increase Vo2 Above Resting Metabolic Rate, Shaelee Allen, Jacob E. Barkley, Janet Dufek, Paul Hafen, Michael Jarrett, Krystina Moschella, James Navalta, Robert Rietjens, Richard Tandy, Antonio Santo

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The purpose of this study was to determine the energy cost, beyond resting metabolic rate (RMR), of playing select games on the Nintendo Wii for 30 contiguous minutes. Physically interactive games (i.e. Basic Run and Basic Step) increase energy expenditure above resting values compared to a sedentary game (Tanks!) and therefore may help individual’s become more active. Furthermore, Basic Run and Basic Step elicited MET values of 3.9 and 3.2, respectively, which is considered moderate-intensity exercise and could be used to meet daily recommendations for physical activity.

Interactive Video Gaming Maintains Vo2 & Hr At Current Recommended Exercise Intensities For Cardiovascular Fitness, Michael Jarrett, Shaelee Allen, Jacob E. Barkley, Janet Dufek, Paul Hafen, Krystina Moschella, James Navalta, Robert Rietjens, Richard Tandy, Antonio Santo

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The purpose of this study was to determine the energy cost of playing select games on the Nintendo Wii for 30 contiguous minutes and whether or not the physical interaction of the participant with the gaming system and subsequent physiologic intensity diminishes with playing time.

6th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day Event, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

This is an event by the Division of Health Science.This will be an exciting day of networking and learning about the research that is occurring within our schools.

Still In The Shadows: A Content Analysis Of Sexual Addiction In Couple Therapy, Austin Ellis, Quintin Hunt, Tod Young, Rebecca Nemecek, Jordan Staples, Stephen Fife, Colleen Peterson

Graduate Research Symposium (2010 - 2017)

There is no universally accepted definition of “sex addiction” in the literature, though it is generally understood as persistent patterns of sexual behaviors acted out despite negative consequences to self or others (Kafka, 2010; Levine, 2010). Though sexual addictions are often addressed individually, most take place within a social context that includes family members and/or intimate relationships. The purpose of this presentation is to present the results of a content analysis of M/CFT peer-reviewed journals and summarize the extent to which this literature addresses sexual addictions and couples therapy. The content analysis adds to the existing literature by examining the …

Coping With Pediatric Cancer: Conversational Methods Utilized By Parents And Children When Dealing With Pediatric Cancer, Chelsi Morgan Walls

Graduate Research Symposium (2010 - 2017)

This thesis sought to analyze how parents communicate with their child regarding pediatric cancer treatments. When dealing with pediatric cancer, it is vital that parents and their child communicate about the illness in order to effectively cope with the cancer. Using Uncertainty Management Theory, along with sub-concepts of the theory (i.e., appraisals, inferences, and illusions), this thesis sought to discover which coping mechanism (i.e., affect-management or buffering) would be chosen to manage the illness. Under UMT, appraisals were assessed, resulting in positive and negative appraisal, which indicated whether the individual handled the issue with either an inference based on general …

Health Status Of Children Entering Kindergarten: Results Of The 2012-2013 (Year Five) Nevada Kindergarten Health Survey, Nevada Institute For Children's Research And Policy Reports, All Nevada County School Districts, Nevada School District Superintendents, Nevada State Health Division, Head Start Collaboration & Early Childhood Systems Office, Amanda Haboush, Dawn Davidson, Tara Phebus, Enrique Lopez, Chad Pitts

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

Academic achievement for children is vital to their success in life. Those that do well in school have greater opportunities for post-secondary education, and later have better prospects for employment. One of the major factors that can affect a child’s academic achievement is his or her health status. Academic outcomes and health conditions are consistently linked in the literature (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). Children with poor health status, and especially those with common chronic health conditions, have increased numbers of school absences and more academic deficiencies (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). In a study concerning excused versus unexcused absences, children with …

Awareness And Beliefs Regarding Intimate Partner Violence Among First-Year Dental Students, Rhonda J. Everett, Karl Kingsley, Christina A. Demopoulos, Edward E. Herschaft, Christine Lamun, Sheniz Moonie, Timothy J. Bungum, Michelle Chino

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Intimate partner violence (IPV) may affect one to four million individuals per year in the United States, with women accounting for the majority of both reported and unreported cases. Dental professionals are in a unique position to identify many types of IPV because injuries to the head and neck may be indicators or predictors of IPV abuse. Fewer than half of dental programs surveyed have reported having IPV-specific curricula, and most dental students surveyed have reported having little experience or training to recognize IPV. Based on this information, this pilot study sought to assess the awareness and beliefs regarding IPV …