Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Epidemiologic Study Of Vaccination Exemptions And Pertussis Risk, Corinne B. Tandy

Doctoral Dissertations

The incidence of pertussis, a vaccine-preventable disease that can have severe complications in infants, has been increasing in the United States over the past three decades. Vaccine hesitancy and refusal have also increased and are associated with vaccination exemptions, which in turn are associated with outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including pertussis. Understanding attitudes towards vaccinations and identifying geographic disparities of vaccination exemptions and pertussis risks is useful for guiding control programs. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: (i) investigate attitudes towards vaccinations; (ii) identify county-level geographic disparities and sociodemographic predictors of vaccination exemptions in Florida; (iii) investigate county-level …

Qualitative And Quantitative Improvements For Positron Emission Tomography Using Different Motion Correction Methodologies, Tasmia Rahman Tumpa

Doctoral Dissertations

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) data suffers from low image quality and quantitative accuracy due to different kinds of motion of patients during imaging. Hardware-based motion correction is currently the standard; however, is limited by several constraints, the most important of which is retroactive data correction. Data-driven techniques to perform motion correction in this regard are active areas of research. The motivation behind this work lies in developing a complete data-driven approach to address both motion detection and correction. The work first presents an algorithm based on the positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) technique and makes use of time-of-flight (TOF) information …

The Psychosocial Experiences Of African American Sexual And Gender Minority Caregivers Of People With Dementia, Lakeva Harris

Doctoral Dissertations

Over 50 million people in the United States provide unpaid care to a family member or friend. One-third of these caregivers (16 million) provide care to someone with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Of these caregivers, more than 20% state caregiving has led to a decline in their health. African American caregivers are less likely to report being in very good or better health than their white caregiving peers. Similarly, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) caregivers are more likely to report fair or poor health than their heterosexual, cisgender peers. The overlap of these minoritized identities may …

Psychosocial Effects Of Providing Nursing Care To Patients From A Multi-Casualty, School-Associated Shooting Event, William Travis Mccall

Doctoral Dissertations

Secondary traumatic stress describes symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder but that result from witnessing or experiencing the trauma of another individual through a helping relationship. The associated symptoms include intrusions, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Secondary traumatic stress is also associated with the development of compassion fatigue and burnout. The current state of the science identifies that secondary traumatic stress may affect those nurses who provide care to critically ill or injured patients. Research has most commonly examined the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout among nurses in emergency department settings. While attention is frequently given to the …

Anti-Inflammatory And Chemopreventive Activity Of Lunasin From Tofu Whey For The Management Of Gastrointestinal Diseases, Cindy Andrea Nieto Veloza

Doctoral Dissertations

Gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are pathological conditions associated with chronic inflammation, characterized by intestinal damage, debilitating symptoms, and detrimental health consequences. The increased risk of CRC in IBD patients, and the adverse effects associated with current therapeutic strategies, point out the need for safer alternatives to reduce chronic inflammation in the bowel. Lunasin is a bioactive peptide naturally occurring in soybeans, with chemopreventive and anti-inflammatory properties demonstrated in several extra-intestinal diseases. However, to date, there is no evidence of the biological activity of lunasin on the gastrointestinal tract as a target site. …

Biomaterials For Soft Tissue Applications, Alisha P. Pedersen

Doctoral Dissertations

Biomaterial applications in the biomedical field have resulted in great advancements in the availability and efficacy of medical devices and therapeutic options for a host of conditions. Applications of biomaterials span all organ systems and tissue types, and have served a range of purposes including mechanical support, drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and reduction of surgical complications. Biomaterials are delineated by their ability to be utilized on or within the body with minimal-to-no adverse reaction and can be manipulated to feature various structures, degradative properties, topographies, and inclusion of bioactive substances or drugs. Soft tissue applications of biomaterials is an expansive …

Rural Hospital Closures And Perceived Access To Care: A Qualitative Descriptive Study In An Appalachian County Of Tennessee, Amanda M. Letheren

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Tennessee has suffered more hospital closures per capita than anywhere else in the nation. The impact of hospital closures on access to care in rural and economically distressed Appalachian counties of Tennessee is of particular concern because these communities experience great health disparities. Hospital closures may exacerbate these disparities and create additional barriers when accessing care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe community residents’ perceptions of health and access to care following a hospital closure in a rural and economically distressed Appalachian county of Tennessee.

Methods: This study used a qualitative descriptive approach to present community …

Emerging Adults’ Experiences As Receivers Of Sexually Transmitted Infection Disclosures From Sexual Partners: A Three-Part Examination, Kayley D. Mcmahan

Doctoral Dissertations

Each year in the United States, over 20 million cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diagnosed, mostly among those in the developmental period of emerging adulthood (ages 18-29). Research on STI disclosure to romantic and sexual partners has increased over the last two decades, but this research has (a) generally lacked a developmental and theoretical focus, (b) not examined disclosure recipients, and (c) not been systematically and critically synthesized. To address these limitations, I conducted a three-part examination. First, I systematically reviewed the STI disclosure literature and summarized findings, critical limitations, and future research and intervention directions. Next, I …

Using A Cognitive Behavioral Approach In Individual Counseling With Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery, Nina Marie Ditommaso

Doctoral Dissertations

Morbid obesity is linked to physical and psychological well-being. Bariatric surgery has shown tremendous success with rapid weight loss in the patient population with morbid obesity. These patients experience issues with weight regain post-surgery, which can be linked to psychological and social factors. Despite this, mental health counseling is rarely offered in bariatric surgery programs. The primary investigator used a six-session Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach in individual counseling with patients following bariatric surgery. The primary investigator used a single case research design to treat four participants. The primary investigator measured the effectiveness of a six-session CBT treatment, assessing for …

A Collective Metamorphosis Of Breastfeeding Mothers: A Phenomenological Exploration Of A Face-To-Face Healthcare Provider Facilitated Peer Support Group, Emily Alexandria Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations

This research study used phenomenology to examine a face-to-face healthcare facilitated breastfeeding support group. Participant observations and phenomenology were used to address the following research questions: 1) what are the lived experiences of the women participating a breastfeeding support group, 2) how does the group influence their lived experiences, and 3) what were the common experiences of these women? The support group participants were observed while the researcher acted as a participant observer over the course of an eleven-month period. There were a total of seven women interviewed about their lived experiences breastfeeding and attending the support group. Data from …

Cultural Influences Related To Childhood Obesity In Burmese Children And Adolescents In The Southeast United States, Rebecca Elizabeth Chatham

Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

Childhood obesity is an unrelenting public health problem disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic minorities. There are multiple, complex factors related to the prevalence of childhood obesity from genetics to behavior to environment. Although ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by childhood obesity and have a variety of cultural identities, research rarely examines cultural factors. In addition, qualitative research into childhood obesity rarely seeks the perspectives of children. This research study sought to address these gaps by interviewing children from an ethnic minority. The purpose of this study was to discover cultural influences that contribute to or prevent childhood obesity from …

Therapeutic Exercise Influences On Activity Of The Multifidus Muscles In Horses, Tena L. Ursini

Doctoral Dissertations

Back pain is a worldwide debilitating condition that affects humans and animals alike. Lower back pain in humans can be caused by a myriad of conditions, including idiopathic origin. Spinal stability is compromised during disease, and a lack of stability also contributes to pathologic spinal conditions. Regardless of species, the stability of the spine depends on bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Muscles provide the only active component that can counteract various loads applied to the body. There are several muscle groups that contribute to spinal mechanics. The erector spinae group are large superficial muscles the lie along each side of …