Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Increasing Swim Instructors' Perceived Knowledge Of Sensory-Based Strategies When Coaching Children Who May Have Sensory Differences, Gabrielle Palmer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Although swim instructors are solely taught water safety regulations and correct swimming techniques, they are nonetheless viewed as mentors by the kids they work with. They are required to finish both their basic swim instructor (BSI) course and their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification, which primarily covers the fundamentals (American Red Cross Training Services, 2023; Kraft & Leblanc, 2018). However, neither provides a method of teaching swimming to children who might have sensory processing differences. This lack of education may affect both the child's participation and the swim instructor's capacity to impart knowledge. Research revealed that swim instructors are not very …

Computational Study For Tissue-Specific Dosimetric Quantities Of Secondary Radiation For Mars Exploration, Sungmin Pak

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The two main sources of primary space radiation, Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and Solar Particle Events (SPEs), encompass a spectrum of ions, ranging from protons (Z=1) to nickel ions (Z=28), with energies spanning from less than 1 keV to exceeding a few TeV. While SPEs represent sporadic events primarily comprised of a high flux of low- to intermediate-energy protons, GCRs are characterized by continuous low flux of diverse ions with higher energies, peaking in intensity near the solar minimum. During a Mars mission, astronauts will encounter primary particles of high energy from GCR and SPE spectra, capable of penetrating spacecraft …

Tummy Time Toolkit: Incorporating Social-Emotional Strategies To Increase Caregiver Home Programming Compliance, Marsha Rattler

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Tummy time is a crucial developmental activity for infants. However, many infants are not receiving the recommended amount of time in prone positioning. This doctoral capstone project aims to address this gap through the implementation of an occupational therapy (OT) based tummy time educational resource titled Bonding Through Tummy Time: A Caregiver’s Guide. The resource, a tummy time toolkit, focuses on caregiver and infant interaction during the co- occupation of play using social-emotional developmental strategies as a driving force to complete more tummy time in the home environment. Recruitment of caregivers was done through purposive sampling and participants were surveyed …

Mixed Methods Approach To Assess ‘Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor’ Activity Within ‘Alternative’ Health Contexts Of Human Maternal Placentophagy, Jacob C. White

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Rats with elevated opioid levels experience an even greater increase in pain threshold after placenta or amniotic fluid consumption via placental opioid-enhancing factor (POEF) in the afterbirth. POEF only enhances opioid hypoalgesia; it cannot produce hypoalgesia alone. Although the POEF molecule remains unidentified and its efficacy in humans is unknown, it could be a safe, novel pain treatment. People who consume placenta as an alternative postpartum health practice are ideal for testing POEF bioactivity. Though rat models show that bioactive POEF is highly sensitive, some forms of the practice in humans may conserve POEF.

This project is the first attempt …

Comparing Ait And Eft In Reduction Of Negative Emotions Associated With A Past Memory: A Randomized Control Study, Gregory Brown, Kavita Batra, Emily Dorin, Raveena Bakhru, Andrew Han, Arianna Palermini, Robert Sottile, Sherine Khanbijian

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Faculty Research

PURPOSE: To assess whether Quick AIT was statistically equivalent to Basic Recipe Clinical EFT for the reduction of negative emotion associated with a past event.

The Impact Of Educating Interprofessional Healthcare Workers On The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Cardiac Acute Care Setting, Jennifer L. Taosuvanna

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The acute care setting has been a vastly growing practice area for the occupational therapy profession. Occupational therapists assist clients in the acute care setting with activities of daily living retraining and functional transfer training to increase independence. Each client demonstrates a different discharge course from the acute care setting and occupational therapists play a key role in assisting the clients the most appropriate rehabilitative setting. All professionals in the acute care setting work cohesively to provide clients with the best outcome.

The doctoral project explored the importance of interprofessional healthcare worker education about occupational therapy practices in the acute …

The Effects Of Implementing An Early Childhood Education Health And Wellness Program In Underserved Elementary Schools In Las Vegas On Student Mentors And Elementary Staff: Anatomy Academy, Alexa Blazek, Amber Berumen Baker, Kevin Chan Shum, Alexander Young

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Academy (AA) is a seven/eight-week program implemented by select University of Nevada, Las Vegas Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) students to promote health and wellness at a Title I elementary school and help bridge the health education gap that underserved youth populations may be facing. We aimed to assess and improve the overall satisfaction of both the faculty members at the elementary school and the physical therapy students who participated in the program, while enhancing the health education of 5th grade students. Our aim was centered on stakeholders (elementary school administrators) and student mentors (DPT students) having the desire to …

Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices To Improve Treatment For Patients With Neck Pain: A Pilot Study, Kristine David, Sarah Kaderka, Christoffer-Judd Villarias

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: To determine physical therapists’ barriers to implementation and subsequent maintenance of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for treating neck pain from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) neck pain Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) over the course of six months.

Materials and Methods: Participating physical therapists were trained on the EBPs of treating neck pain through a live 90-minute webinar followed by a hands-on, in-person 90-minute session. Clinics were supplied with all necessary equipment and reference guides. Assessment of participant maintenance to neck pain EBPs included data collection from a baseline Knowledge Check survey prior to educational sessions, an Implementation survey at …

Introduction Of The Anatomy Academy Program To Children In A Rural Elementary School, Rox Aurelio, Madison Dobbs, Nicole Horn, Gianni Terrana

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Children in rural communities experience health and education disparities. Early exposure to health promoting habits can positively impact future health habits. Healthcare providers who grew up in rural areas are more likely to practice in rural areas. Doctor of physical therapy students and physical therapists implemented Anatomy Academy, a service-learning program aimed at promoting healthy living and introducing healthcare occupations, to elementary students in a rural area as this program had previously only been implemented in urban areas. The Biomedical Institutional Review Board at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas approved this study. A 40-minute lesson was delivered weekly for …

A Low Dose Of Electro-Psychedelic Treatment Increases Neuronal Dendritic Arborization And Filopodic Spine Density, Elaine Aquino Vasquez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Neuropsychiatric disorders remain a formidable challenge to the global healthcare system, necessitating innovative treatments to address their complex pathophysiology. Alternative therapeutic approaches, including electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) and psychedelics, have gained attention for their capacity to relieve a broad range of symptoms. ECT is a long-standing effective therapy for patients, especially treatment-resistant ones. Psychedelics, like psilocybin, can induce profound and sustained therapeutic effects. The limited understanding of their mechanisms of action, compounded by the negative stigma surrounding ECT and psilocybin, prevents them from being used as adjunct agents. ECT and psilocybin promote synaptic plasticity and modulate neural remodeling, yet their comparative …

Seasonal Climate And Environmental Conditions Associated With Physiological Variations Of Southwestern United States Pines, Taylor Brewer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Juvenile and adult conifers in the southwestern United States are vulnerable to a range of different abiotic and biotic factors, yet it is unclear how their stress tolerance varies across environments. Predicted increases in the frequency and intensity of disturbance as well as greater climate and weather variability across the region highlight the potential for differential physiological responses across tree species and populations. This thesis focuses on two physiologic mechanisms, hydraulic vulnerability and mortality, that could be altered by climate change in two broadly distributed southwestern United States conifers: ponderosa pine and pinyon pine.

In chapter 2, I measured the …

The Influence Of Bilateral Dual Source Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation On The Progression Of Muscle Fatigue, Eliza Clinton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied unilaterally to the primary motor cortex (M1) can significantly prolong the time to task failure (TTF) of a fatiguing contraction. The primary purpose of the study was to examine the influence of bilateral dual source tDCS (dstDCS) applied over the left and right M1s (ds-tDCS) on the TTF of a precision grip task. This was accomplished through the utilization of a double-blind, randomized, SHAM-controlled, within-subjects design. Fourteen participants completed two experiments (ds-tDCS and SHAM stimulation conditions) with a seven-day washout period between sessions. Each experiment involved the performance of a sustained isometric fatiguing contraction …

A Sensory Room Protocol For Snf Staff To Improve Confidence With Emotional Regulation In Adults With Cognitive Challenges: Through An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Marisa Pagan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adult sensory rooms are an emerging area of practice for occupational therapy, as this holistic approach uses sensory tools for input to one or more of the five senses, which promotes emotional regulation in individuals seeking calming and alerting outcomes. This sensory protocol proposal was created to assist healthcare workers within a skilled nursing facility and provide a tool that could be utilized in various settings to increase awareness of adult sensory rooms.

Methodology This quality improvement protocol project was conducted at Henderson Health and Rehabilitation to determine the need for and develop a protocol for an adult sensory room …

Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Program To Reduce Fall Risk Of Older Adults In Nevada, Hanna Brunty, Jordynn Cowan, Taylor Derose, Kanosha Gray, Kerry Margolin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, we completed a service-learning project to deliver a free evidence-based fall prevention program to senior residents of Nevada. “Stepping On” is a 7-week fall prevention program from the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging that is designed for older adults who are at risk or fearful of falling or for those who want to increase their awareness of fall prevention strategies. The program includes learning balance and strengthening exercises, discussing fall prevention strategies, and collaborating with community partners and healthcare professionals. The first objective of this service-learning …

A Comparison Of Spinal Reflex Function And Morphological Adaptations Of The Achilles Tendon Between Individuals Chronically Post-Stroke And Healthy Controls, Migi Contreras, Mira Seekins, Johanna Mendez, Trevor Diez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose/Hypothesis: The hallmark gait deviation in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis is slow walking speed. Reduction in gait speed after stroke is influenced by decreased propulsive forces, which may likely be related to impaired spinal circuit function and spasticity of the paretic plantarflexors. Chronic muscle tone maladaptations in paretic ankle plantarflexors can result in altered Achilles tendon (AT) morphology, therefore leading to altered mechanical properties, force transmission capabilities and subsequent insufficient propulsive forces during walking. The purpose of this study is to characterize the chronic maladaptations in both the spinal Ia afferent loop excitability and AT morphology after stroke lesions in …

The Impact Of Anatomy Academy In Underserved Las Vegas Elementary Schools, Jean Angeles, Edgar Armengual, Katrina Myers, Perceval Vollmer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Anatomy Academy is an interactive, service-learning experience that allows doctoral physical therapy students to pose as educators for elementary-aged adolescents. Through instructional and activity-based learning, mentors formulated the program to encase anatomical, physiological, nutritional, and general health and wellness topics that translate into overall healthy behaviors. The experiment enveloped 7 major sectors of anatomy, including the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, pulmonary system, oral cavity/nutrition, gastrointestinal system, sensory system, and central nervous system. Throughout the length of the program, the doctoral candidates reviewed the quality of the content delivered, the engagement of the students and staff, and the effects this had …

Better Gait Quality And Speed In Adults With Down Syndrome When Wearing Supportive Shoes Compared To Unsupportive Shoes And Barefoot, Bailey Gosse, Kimberly Nguyen, Zoe Zelensky

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS), often experience a slower gait speed and decreased quality of gait. Different types of footwear have shown changes in gait in people without DS. The current study aimed to examine the differences between wearing commercially available supportive shoes, unsupportive shoes, and no footwear on gait quality and speed in people with DS.

Methods: In this repeated measures study, 20 adults with DS walked under three footwear conditions: supportive, unsupportive, and no footwear. Gait deviations were scored according to the Rancho Los Amigos Observational Gait Analysis (OGA) and gait speed was measured using the 10-Meter …

Development And Pilot Testing Of A Surface Discrimination Test For People With Lower Limb Amputation, Colin Kruger, Kyle Mcknight, Sharlene Lim, Samuel Straus

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: There is a lack of understanding as to how sensory loss and sensory deficits impact those with LLA. The purpose of this research is to determine the extent to which people with LLA can discriminate between surfaces underfoot, in order to better understand the relationship between people with LLA and their perception of the ground they are walking on. We developed a test to determine which qualities of surfaces may be easier to distinguish.

Methods: 10 unimpaired adults and 2 adults with LLA participated. Participants compared surfaces underfoot that consisted of ceramic, rough tile, gravel, sand, and sandpaper to …

Preparing Occupational Therapy Students In A Role-Emerging Private School-Based Setting, Jerome Amigo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This capstone project occurred in collaboration with Cornerstone Christian Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a role-emerging area of practice, occupational therapy must focus on integrating services in private schools just as much as public schools. The need for resources to support future fieldwork students at Cornerstone Christian Academy makes it difficult for occupational therapy students to enhance their experiential learning opportunities and serve an underserved population of primary and middle school students.

The capstone project consisted of daily engagement with Cornerstone Christian Academy’s educational personnel, attending students, and the parents of the students for 14 weeks to ensure all …

Differential Expression Of Microrna Mir-145 And Mir-155 Downstream Targets In Oral Cancers Exhibiting Limited Chemotherapy Resistance, Conner Belnap

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: New evidence has suggested that non-coding microRNAs play a significant role in mediating and modulating chemotherapy resistance, particularly among oral cancers. One recent study found that the expression of miR-145 and lack of miR-155 expression strongly correlated with a limited chemotherapy resistance to Cisplatin, 5-Fluorouracil and Paclitaxel , although the mechanism(s) responsible for these observations remain unidentified.

Methods: Using commercially available cell lines of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), RNA was isolated using phenol:chloroform extraction. The isolated RNA was converted into cDNA by reverse transcription and subsequently screened for the presence or absence of downstream targets of miR-145 and …

Cost Benefit Analysis Of Anesthesia Providers Within Gastroenterology Outpatient Practices, Jennifer Buffum Brown

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Anesthesia delivery in ambulatory and office-based settings has seen significant growth in the last 25 years. The advances in effective short-acting anesthetic drugs, combined with the rise in demand for minimally invasive surgery, allows for an increase in the number of surgical procedures to be achieved outside the hospital setting. Ambulatory anesthesia promotes patient health by reducing recovery times. It also contributes to sustainability by lowering costs otherwise associated with overnight hospital stays. Patient preferences for minimally invasive outpatient surgery, and faster recovery times have spurred an increased demand for business relationships between modern medical practices and anesthesia providers. Certified …

Occupational Therapy-Led Tai Chi: Elevating Perceived Competence In Daily Activities Among Semi/Fully Retired Adults, Lester Buenviaje

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This doctoral capstone project explored the impact of a Tai Chi intervention led by the occupational therapy student researcher, on self-perceived competence and engagement in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) among semi/fully retired adults at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Using the Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA) questionnaire, the project measured changes in participants' confidence and abilities before and after the participation of the Tai Chi program.

The Tai Chi intervention was a six-week Tai Chi program designed to accommodate the physical and cognitive capabilities of semi-retired and retired adults. This program not only …

Study Of Plan Of The Day Adaptive Radiation Therapy Validity, Zane W. Burnett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Radiation therapy is the use of radiation sources or generators to treat patients. The most common usage is in the treatment of cancers. Adaptive radiation therapy (ART) is the use of either multiple radiation therapy plans or adjusting a radiation therapy plan for daily anatomical changes. Soft tissue in the lower abdomen and pelvis can be greatly displaced depending on a variety of factors, especially bladder and rectum fill. This paper focuses on the creation of multiple plans prior to treatment to have options each day. Depending on the alignment and anatomical changes, clinicians can choose which one is most …

Development And Usage Of Analytic Tools And Recommendations For Validation And Reliability Studies Using Consumer-Grade Wearable Technology, Bryson Carrier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Wearable technology is increasingly utilized across various fields, yet the validity and reliability of the physiological data these devices provide are often unverified due to a lack of rigorous testing standards.

Purpose: This dissertation contains three primary works, and therefore multiple purposes. The purpose of the first project (Chapter 2) is to introduce a new risk of bias assessment tool, specifically for assessing methodological quality and the risk of bias in validity and reliability studies using wearable technology, with a focus on consumer-grade wearable technology. The purpose of the second project (Chapter 3) was to perform a systematic review …

Sens"Ability" Coaching: Inspire And Empower Parents With Occupational Performance Coaching Using Dunn’S Model Of Sensory Processing – A Manualized Education Program For Clinicians, Kelby Christian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: The current literature found a need for improved collaboration styles and programs that can adapt to the needs of the various mental health diagnoses. This capstone project focused on creating a manualized education program called SensABILTY Coaching, which aims to improve clinicians’ confidence in educating caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on Dunn’s Model of Sensory Processing using principles of Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC). Improving clinicians' confidence increases positive reactions and enhances caregiver and clinician collaboration. This capstone project outlines the benefits of using the principles of OPC intervention styles and sensory-based strategies for their effectiveness when …

Educational Series On Sensory Processing Differences And Sensory-Related Responses: An Occupational Therapy Perspective To Promote Caregiver Understanding, Jessemae Delarmente

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The objective of this doctoral capstone was to create and conduct a five-part online educational series for caregivers of children ages 0-5 about the impact sensory processing differences (SPD) has on occupational participation and performance, as well as how to navigate sensory-related responses (SRRs) on a daily basis. SPD and SRRs are complex topics commonly talked about on a graduate level as it requires knowledge of the nervous system and child development. Caregiver resources on SPD and SRRs are difficult to obtain and may not present the information appropriately for varying health literacy levels. This leads many caregivers to have …

Can Occupational Therapy Take A Hit? A Guide To High-Intensity Training In Stroke Rehabilitation, Jared Demke

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: Stroke has been considered a leading cause of functional impairment (Tsao et al., 2022). Recent evidence has supported a treatment approach that increases dosage (Scheets et al., 2021). High-intensity training (HIT) has shown promising evidence for functional recovery poststroke (Crozier et al., 2018). There have been minimal programs related to Occupational therapy (OT) and HIT have been created (Lamoureux, 2023). This doctoral capstone focused on program development of the OT-based HIT program. Theoretical frameworks included the Model of Human Occupation and Motor Learning Theory to provide a foundational structure.

Methods: A needs assessment was performed at the Saint George …

Increasing Self-Efficacy With Menstrual Management For Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness Using The Inclusive “U N Me” Education Program, Edellene Ignacio

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of the study was to increase self-efficacy with the occupation of menstrual management in young adults experiencing homelessness using the "Understanding and Navigating Menstrual Experience" or "U N ME" program. The objectives of this study were a reported increase in self-efficacy with menstrual management, the development of the U N ME program, and to promote the spread of accurate information to other menstruators in the community.

This study was a convergent parallel mixed-method study rooted in a phenomenological approach. The intervention featured four weekly workshops featuring education, group discussion, and an activity to tie the topic of the …

Osteoarthritis In The Temporomandibular Joint And Knee Joint: A Macroscopic Study Of Cadaver Specimens, Jeremy James

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this study, thirty-one TMJs and twenty-eight knee joints were dissected from seventeen cadaveric subjects aged 69 to 95. Degenerative/osteoarthritic changes on the mandibular condyles, mandibular fossae, and femoral condyles were evaluated macroscopically and assigned a score on a disease severity scale (DSS) from 0 signifying “normal cartilage” to 4 signifying “severe OA”. Osteoarthritic changes were found in all TMJ and knee specimens. The average mandibular condyle DSS score was 2.68 ± 0.96, while the average mandibular fossa score was 2.90 ± 0.76; this difference in scores was significant (P = 0.035). Additionally, the mandibular fossa was equally or more …

Developing A College Readiness Skills Program Aimed At Improving Self-Efficacy For Foster Youth In Academic Settings, Natasa Janjusic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The proposed work focused on the development and feasibility of a project aiming to introduce college readiness skills to youth who were in the foster care system in order to increase their perception of self-efficacy in an educational setting. With this increase in self-efficacy, foster youth who are generally disadvantaged when attaining and completing a college degree can have the skills necessary to combat this barrier. The project involved the development of contents of the program and the procedures performed at Bamboo Sunrise Foster Care Agency, where this Capstone project was carried out. Participants in the program consisted of three …