Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Unlocking The Power Of Experiential Learning: Student Reported Changes Following Combined Nicu Instruction, Megan M. Black, Natalie A. Perkins, Valerie F. Mcdaniel

Pacific Journal of Health

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the impact of in-person observation, in conjunction with didactic lectures, on students' perceived knowledge of speech-language pathology's (SLP) role and the roles of other healthcare professionals within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Method: Data for this study were initially collected for educational purposes and were later retrospectively analyzed with Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Ten participants who met the inclusion criteria underwent a didactic lecture on SLPs in the NICU followed by observing an SLP in action at a local NICU. Participants completed multiple surveys, allowing for a comparison of their perceived knowledge …

Participation And Outcomes Of A Community-Based Fall Prevention Program Before, During And After Covid-19 Pandemic., Bhavana Raja, Preeti Oza

Pacific Journal of Health

Introduction: Several community education programs aim to minimize risk of falling in community-dwelling older adults. However, due to the covid-19 pandemic most of these programs stopped or were delivered virtually. A matter of balance (MOB) is one such program that was delivered virtually during pandemic. The purpose of this study is to assess the differences in outcomes between in-person and virtual MOB program in San Joaquin County of California.

Methods: Participants were recruited from the community. Each MOB course ran for 8 sessions in-person or 9 sessions in the virtual format. A retrospective analysis was conducted on deidentified pre-post survey …

Insight - Spring 2024, Dugoni School Of Dentistry

Insight

Welcome to the spring issue of Insight, a newsletter celebrating the accomplishments of our community of scholars. We aim to spotlight insights from people at the Dugoni School working in all areas of scholarship, including clinical or biomedical research, the scholarship of teaching and learning, improvement of the health care system, and professional partnerships that advance the field.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Helicobacter Pylori, Erin Raspet

Pacific Journal of Health

Helicobacter pylori is a widespread infectious disease most commonly associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. The ability of this organism to influence immune function has been associated with a proinflammatory state that has been associated with several other conditions that can lead to significant mortality and morbidity. Treatment is possible with antibiotic regimens, however, increasing resistance requires treatment be informed by susceptibility information followed by a test of cure to ensure eradication of the infection. Given the global burden of this infection, it is important for providers to appropriately identify, diagnosis, and treat this condition to reduce …

U.S. Military Veteran Identity And Civilian Adjustment, Darren A. Sosa

Pacific Journal of Health

U.S. military veterans transitioning back into the civilian sector often experience a variety of challenges and need to readjust into non-military environments. In order to examine the psychological challenges involved in the transition and readjustment processes among U. S. active military veterans, a qualitative study was conducted. For 6 months, data was collected from veterans in California, Nevada, Texas, Florida, and New York. Following an IRB approval, semi-structured open-ended self-developed interviews were developed and conducted with sixteen military veterans who have served in 4 branches of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Data and information …

Rapid Direct Wax Up For Provisional Crown Fabrication, Debra A. Woo Dds, Ma, Chi Tran

Pacific Journal of Health

While there are numerous choices for provisionalization, this technique is advantageous when a patient presents with an immediate need for temporization and there is limited time in the schedule for both the patient and provider. Providing an efficient solution using readily available materials that address the esthetics, function and reduction of sensitivity until the patient can be appointed for definitive treatment is illustrated.

Global Perspective: Comparison Of Prehospital Use Of Pas In The United States And The Netherlands, Brendan K. Lucas, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

The prehospital use of advanced clinicians, including physician assistants (PAs), can potentially improve clinical outcomes and reduce unnecessary burdens on emergency departments. This literature review offers a global perspective by comparing the use of PAs in the prehospital setting in the United States and the Netherlands. While there is limited research on clinical outcomes and the clinical utility of advanced clinicians in alternative transport models, the domestic and international examples evaluated in this review have the potential to impact the American healthcare system significantly. The Dutch healthcare system, which utilizes PAs in the prehospital setting, is known for being accessible, …

Whole Blood In Trauma, Jason P. Prevelige

Pacific Journal of Health

Abstract: Hemorrhage is a leading cause of death in trauma patients. Whole blood administration in trauma has gained a renewed interest in recent years, however the concept is not new at all, with its origins spanning over 100 years. Field experience in United States’ military conflicts has provided important data on the efficacy of whole blood in reducing mortality and amount of blood product administration. Civilian trials however have not necessarily shown similar results. The safety of whole blood however does not seem to be in question given the available data, and is an acceptable option for blood replacement in …

Exploring The Role Of Physical Activity Influencing Emotional Regulation And Mental Health In Adolescents, Alejandro G. Martinez, Lindsay Gietzen, Valerie F. Mcdaniel

Pacific Journal of Health

This research paper explores the intricate relationship between physical activity, emotional regulation, and mental health in adolescents through an in-depth content analysis grounded in catharsis theory and the transactional theory of stress and coping. It underscores physical activity as the best practice for adolescents to manage emotions and mental health, identifying key themes that highlight its role in enhancing emotional regulation skills and reducing anger, anxiety, and depression. The catharsis theory suggests physical activity releases negative emotions, while the transactional theory explores how adolescents perceive and respond to stressors. Emphasizing the positive impact of physical activity on emotional regulation and …

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome From Combined Allopurinol And Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors: A Narrative Review, Isabella M. Fabian, Kirsten Maddox, Cameron Robicheaux, Rahib K. Islam, Ahmed Anwar, Bradley Dorius, Christopher L. Robinson, Adam M. Kaye, Giustino Varrassi, Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Sahar Shekoohi, Alan D. Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe and potentially debilitating skin reaction frequently related to medication use. Allopurinol and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are commonly prescribed medications for prevalent health conditions worldwide, and their interaction associated with SJS warrants further investigation. A comprehensive literature search was performed to investigate cases as studies related to SJS occurring in patients with concomitant use of allopurinol and ACE inhibitors. We identified case reports and studies detailing hypersensitivity reactions, including SJS, attributed to a combination of allopurinol and ACE inhibitors. Despite the drug-drug interactions or lack thereof seen in patient populations, there is no definitive …

Zeitlin’S Top 200 Dental Deckades (January 2024), Benjamin D. Zeitlin

Pacific Open Texts

Pharmacology courses in any institution are information intensive with a constant, high volume of new material. With that in mind, the standards that the American Dental Education Association set for Pharmacology include that: “the student must identify the influences drugs taken for non-dental purposes may have on a proposed treatment (…) and the student must recognize therapeutic agents used in the routine practice of clinical dentistry.” This requires that students at a minimum, recognize common drugs and know their major implications for dental therapy.

This learning tool has been created to address the drug recognition aspect of that standard.

See …

Efficacy Of Modified Psychotherapy To Mitigate Depression Among African American Adults And Older Adults: A Systematic Review, Bridget Ashaolu, Nassrine Noureddine

Pacific Journal of Health

It has been established that due to several factors, African American adults and older adults in the United States respond poorly to pharmacologic intervention in treating depression. The study will help to provide evidence and raise awareness on how to better serve the African American population with depression. This systematic review of the literature examines the effectiveness of using modified evidence-based psychotherapy and faith-based resources in improving depression among older African American adults over the use of conventional pharmacological intervention. 21 studies that recommended utilizing psychotherapy intervention to improve depression in this population were reviewed to better understand the need …

The Effect Of Covid-19 On Antibiotic Resistance, Debra A. Woo Dds, Ma, Karen A. Schulze Dds, Phd, Mali K. Mcguire Dds, Ms

Pacific Journal of Health

Over three years have passed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. During these times we have experienced significant changes in all areas of our life. In healthcare, more attention was focused on COVID-19 than other concerns. An unexpected consequence of the pandemic was a silent progression of an increased spread of multi-resistant pathogens. While antibiotic use during the pandemic varied across healthcare settings, antibiotics were prescribed for COVID-19 patients, even though antibiotics are known not to be effective against viruses.¹ In dentistry, antibiotics were prescribed to prevent potential dental infections, since many dental offices were not open. Antimicrobial …

Insight - Fall 2023, Dugoni School Of Dentistry

Insight

Welcome to the fall 2023 issue of Insight, a newsletter celebrating the accomplishments of our community of scholars. We aim to spotlight insights from people at the Dugoni School working in all areas of scholarship, including clinical or biomedical research, the scholarship of teaching and learning, improvement of the health care system, and professional partnerships that advance the field.

Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students’ Experience With Microaggressions In The Clinic: A Call To Action, Jocelin T. Friedman, Todd E. Davenport

Pacific Journal of Health

As Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students fulfill off-campus clinical experience requirements at healthcare institutions, they are mentored by clinical instructors who are employees of said healthcare institutions. Clinical instructors, patients, or other staff members there may commit microaggressions against physical therapy students with varying subject matters, intentions, and effects on the students. Microaggressions are brief verbal humiliations which may or may not be intentional, but nonetheless convey derogatory slights or insults towards a target group. This article explores DPT students’ real-life experiences with microaggressions within the clinical education realm and the challenges a Director of Clinical Education faced in …

Criminal Justice Interventions For Individuals With Mental Health Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review, Fidelis Azeke, Nassrine Noureddine

Pacific Journal of Health

In the criminal law, with few exceptions, for a finding of guilt, the physical act and the state of mind to commit the offense must be present at the time of the commission of the offense. People with mental disabilities often lack the state of mind required to commit the offense for which they are eventually charged for and or convicted. This paper examines the effectiveness of some past and present criminal justice system interventions that addresses the mental health disabilities of criminal offenders pre-adjudicative proceedings. A systematic review of the literature was used to examine past and present criminal …

The Effects Of Night Shift Work On Heart, Gut, And Reproductive Health, A Systematic Review, Courtney Grayson, Preeti Oza

Pacific Journal of Health

Night shift work, a commonplace in today’s society, creates a variety of health-related challenges for individuals who participate in it. Often, the only adverse health effects discussed in relation to night shift work are sleep dysfunction and mental health issues. This systematic review examined the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and fertility health effects that plague individuals working night shift. The goal of this work is to illuminate these lesser known, but equally important, health effects in an effort to bring awareness to the issues. By educating night shift workers and health care providers of the acute risks associated with this type of …

Is Early Sport Specialization Harming Our Children?, Kendra Dunsford Dpt, Scs, Stc, Preeti Oza Pt, Phd

Pacific Journal of Health

Sports and physical activity in children are healthy and have numerous positive mental and physical health benefits. Recently, there has been a shift away from deliberate play and focusing on specializing in a single sport from a young age. Participating in rigorous training and competition schedules 8 months out of the year for prepubescent athletes has garnered attention from the medical community. It is assumed that this type of early specialization has the potential to cause negative effects, especially in terms of overuse injuries, nutritional deficiencies, poor sleep hygiene, and mental health concerns. While there appears to be a consensus …

Assessment Revision Of ‘Perceptions Of Disabled Veterans In The Civilian Workforce’, Rebecca L. Reed

Pacific Journal of Health

As there continues to be limited research related to perceptions of disability status in the workforce, specific to the veteran population, the importance of employer understanding as well as willingness to provide accommodations is necessary to help promote change. This study carefully reviewed the assessment tool used by Reed (2016) to measure perceptions towards hiring disabled veterans as they enter the civilian workforce. To help support validity and/or reliability of the tool previously used, two professional experts were interviewed to provide feedback on the data tool in support of revisions. The vignettes, job attainment questionnaire, and demographics questionnaire were revised …

What We Know About School-Based Health Centers: Literature On Outcomes, Cost Impact, Implementation, And Sustainability, Michelle R. Coble, Valerie F. Mcdaniel

Pacific Journal of Health

Many children lack access to adequate healthcare in the United States. School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are a useful resource for accessing those needed services. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the available research for the strengths of SBHCs with improving health outcomes and health equity, cost impact of SBHCs, and best practices for implementing and sustaining an SBHC. The focus of this study was on reviewing the current literature on the impact of SBHCs on improving health equity, health outcomes, cost impact, and to establish best practices for implementing and sustaining an SBHC. Although the current literature …

Lifestyle And Dietary Modifications For Reducing Psoriatic Disease Activity: A Comprehensive Review, Andrea Nguyen, Jessica Garner

Pacific Journal of Health

Abstract: Psoriasis is a prevalent, immune-medication disorder affecting millions of individuals in the United States, leading to substantial healthcare costs (Armstrong, 2021; Brenzinski, 2015). Psoriasis has an established correlation with comorbidities such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, obesity, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome (Al-Mutairi, 2010). Due to the substantial socioeconomic burden psoriatic disease poses on modern day society, significant benefit could be derived from identifying nonprescription strategies for patients to adopt in order to reduce disease activity. This comprehensive review includes 33 publications from 2008 to 2023, evaluating non-prescription therapeutic strategies including lifestyle modification and anti-inflammatory dietary changes. The analysis suggests …

From Life To Life: Transitioning To Freedom After 45 Years Of Incarceration- A Single Subject Case Study, James O. Mackey, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

This case study delves into the complex process of reintegrating an elderly parolee who recently emerged from a 45-year-long incarceration within California's state prisons. The research explores this unique individual's reentry experiences and compares them with those of parolees of average age and sentence length. Factors such as family support, educational background, criminal history, health, social support, employment, access to age-appropriate resources, and recidivism rates are meticulously examined to provide valuable insights into the successful reintegration of elderly individuals back into society.

Veterans In Crisis: Identifying And Reducing Suicide, David C. Cole, Natalie A. Perkins, Lindsay Gietzen, Zohair Hussain, Dione M. Cole

Pacific Journal of Health

The base of this Integrative Review is built on the foundation of information from research by Ramchand (2021), “Veterans are committing suicide at a rate twice the non-veteran.” (p.2) and “From 2005 to 2018 the suicide rate went from 20% to 32%” in the veteran population. (p.3). According to Ahmedani et al. (2019), “The majority of persons committing suicide (71.2%) had received health care in the 180 days prior to their death.” (p.6). This review analyzed and organized the findings to spotlight 4 common themes that lead to a better understanding of best practices. Eligibility criteria started with the PICOT …

Comprehensive, Evidence-Based, Consensus Guidelines For Prescription Of Opioids For Chronic Non-Cancer Pain From The American Society Of Interventional Pain Physicians (Asipp)., Laxmaiah Manchikanti, Adam M. Kaye, Nebojsa Nick Knezevic, James Giordano, Megan K. Applewhite, Alexander Bautista, Amol Soin, Susan K. Blank, Mahendra R. Sanapati, Jay Karri, Paul J. Christo, Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Alan D. Kaye, Aaron Calodney, Annu Navani, Christopher G. Gharibo, Michael Harned, Mayank Gupta, Mustafa Broachwala, Nalini Sehgal, Andrew Kaufman, Bradley Wargo, Daneshvari R. Solanki, Eric S. Hsu, Gerard Limerick, Allen Dennis, John R. Swicegood, Konstantin Slavin, Lee Snook, Ramarao Pasupuleti, Radomir Kosanovic, Rafael Justiz, Robert Barkin, Sairam Atluri, Shalini Shah, Vidyasagar Pampati, Standiford Helm Ii, Vahid Grami, Vicki Myckowiak, Vincent Galan, Vijay Singh, Vivek Manocha, Joshua A. Hirsch

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

BACKGROUND: Opioid prescribing in the United States is decreasing, however, the opioid epidemic is continuing at an uncontrollable rate. Available data show a significant number of opioid deaths, primarily associated with illicit fentanyl use. It is interesting to also note that the data show no clear correlation between opioid prescribing (either number of prescriptions or morphine milligram equivalent [MME] per capita), opioid hospitalizations, and deaths. Furthermore, the data suggest that the 2016 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have resulted in notable problems including increased hospitalizations and mental health disorders due to the lack of appropriate …

Effects Of Interactive Video Games (Nintendo Wii™) On Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment, Krista Antonio, Sarah Kelly, Kayla Livingston, Bailey Stewart

Occupational Therapy Student Research

The population being served includes the clients at Triple R adult day program in Sacramento, CA. These clients are older adults and all present with a form of memory loss. Currently, health management, specifically physical activity, and social participation are affected in the program as there are limitations to exercise routines that are appropriate for the clients as well as lack of engagement from all clients. We believe that all of the residents are affected by this issue at the facility and would benefit from the use of technology to enhance these areas of needs in the specific occupations. Within …

Tactus Therapy: Mobile At For Aphasia, Francis Gonzales, Robert Swayze, David Vong

Occupational Therapy Student Research

Pacific Speech, Hearing and Language Center

• Adults with communicative impairments and disorders (language, hearing, speech).
• Aphasia apps focus on communication by improving vocabulary, memory, reasoning, attention, differentiation, and organization of concepts, presented as pictures, text, or audio (Galletta & Barrett, 2014).
• Aphasia can affect populations such as those who have autism, TMI, stroke, and encephalitis (Galletta & Barrett, 2014).

Closing Gap In Digital Divide Of The Vulnerable Women In The Community Via Assistive Technology: The Chromebook, Deanne Nguyen, Brian Rogers, Hazel Yang

Occupational Therapy Student Research

• Aims to address the gap in digital division by providing low-income individuals with essential computer skills.
• These individuals are currently facing health challenges due to economic constraints, limited access to healthcare services, and overall lack of familiarity in digital literacy.
• At Wellspring Women’s Center, nearly 200 individuals are affected by this issue.
• The Chromebook could be delivered in a flexible model such as in-person workshops, online tutorials, and 1:1 mentoring.
• This approach ensures accessibility and empowerment of the participants to develop essential digital literacy skills to promote independence in their own health management.
• The Chromebook can open gates to enhancing …

Meristem (Monday): Checklists, Maribel Gutierrez, Josephine Hernandez, Benjamin Magallon, Margerie Vinoya

Occupational Therapy Student Research

Occupational therapy (OT) students from the University of the Pacific assessed needs in various classrooms at Meristem, a college program for individuals in the neurodivergent population to expand life skills of independence. OT students identified the use of checklists, a low-cost assistive device in creating structure of expected tasks in the classroom. The goal of the checklist is to reduce dependency on instructors for reminders and prompts, and promote resilience, autonomy, and enhanced participation in the classroom. The checklist can be personalized for each instructor to fit the needs of their classroom expectations.

Supporting Mental Health Of Wellspring Women’S Center, Lio Inumerable, Sophia Kohgadai, Christie Ledezma, Taylor Sanders

Occupational Therapy Student Research

Wellspring Women’s Center located in Sacramento, CA

• Serves vulnerable women and their children.
• Safe space for community gathering and various basic needs including:
  • Nutritious meals
  • Safety net items
  • Children’s area for learning
  • Women’s Wellness Program
    • Counseling
    • Case management
    • Advocacy
    • Art therapy

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Assistive Technology: Video Modeling, Abigail Waisner, Molly Mcdavid, Haley Morris, Luis Perez

Occupational Therapy Student Research

Population and Site:

• Meristem is an educational program serving young adults who have autism or other neurodiversity (Who we are, 2023).The program promotes vocational and independent living skills through classes, community experiences, and dorm life that address physical, social, and cognitive skills. Students living in dorms are given additional opportunities to develop independent living skills such as cooking, cleaning, organization, community mobility, and social participation.

• Our goal as a group was toidentify ways to support students in the acquisition of independent living skills. The ideal assistive technology for this population would be a technology that is easily accessible,portable, …