Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Investigating Student Approaches To Learning With Structured Or Unstructured Client Collaboration, Cara E. Masselink

Masters Theses

As a profession, occupational therapists pride themselves on providing client-centered treatment. It is hypothesized that increased structured client collaboration as well as incorporating reflective journaling in the fieldwork setting (to meet the students at their level of learning) will improve student's critical thinking skills, and encourage them to seek deeper learning techniques to ensure they are providing 'best practice' occupational therapy for the client and his/her family. In this pilot study, the learning approaches of students in two existing University-based clinic programs were measured over the course of one semester. The treatment group was required to participate in structured, intentional …

Compressive Sensing Framework For Mass Spectrometry Data Analysis, Khalfalla Ahmad Kh. Awedat

Dissertations

Mass Spectrometry (MS) data is ideal for identifying unique bio-signatures of diseases. However, the high dimensionality of MS data hinders any promising MS-based proteomics development. The goal of this dissertation is to develop an accurate classification tool by employing compressive sensing (CS). Not only can CS significantly reduce MS data dimensionality, but it also will allow for full reconstruction of original data. The framework developed in this work is based on using L2 and a mixed L2-L1 norms, allowing an overdetermined system to be resolved. The results show that the L2- based algorithm with regularization terms has a better performance …

Is Preoperative Functional Status A Predictor Of Postoperative Mortality, Morbidity And Quality Of Life In Open Heart Patients?, A. Kate Macphedran

Dissertations

The very nature of mortality and morbidity surrounding cardiac surgery is complex with numerous risk factors involved and researchers have found functional status to be a stronger predictor of outcomes than the admitting diagnosis. Preoperative functional status, however, is not measured by any of the cardiac risk scores. Functional status can be objectively measured using validated outcome tools such as the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI). In 3 studies, the impact and association of functional status changes over time was explored in patients who have undergone elective open heart surgery. Analyses in Study 1 demonstrated significantly improved functional status …

This Medication May Kill You: Cognitive Overload And Forced Commercial Speech, Devin S. Schindler, Tracey Brame

Bioethics: Preparing for the Unknown

The Federal Government requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide prospective customers with an extraordinary amount of information. Justified under the doctrine of informed consent, the Food and Drug Administration has imposed comprehensive guidelines that regulate virtually every aspect of how medications can be marketed. Similar obligations are imposed on physicians involved in biomedical research.

Although informed consent is a cornerstone to the ethical practice of medicine, recent studies employing fMRI technology suggest that mandated disclosure of “too much” information can result in cognitive overload and irrational decision making. The paradoxical effect of the mandated disclosure requirements is that they likely lead …

Can The Principle Of Procreative Beneficence Justify The Non-Medical Use Of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis?, Biplab Kumar Haldar

Bioethics: Preparing for the Unknown

The Principle of Procreative Beneficence (PB) is a pronatal view in reproductive ethics which was originally formulated by Julian Savulescu in his paper “Procreative Beneficence: Why We Should Select the Best Children”. Further development of the principle was done in another paper titled “The Moral Obligation to Create Children with the Best Chance of the Best Life” in collaboration with Guy Kahane. The principle states that the parents have a moral obligation to select the best possible child, when selection is possible, by means of the genetic screening of the embryos. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a reproductive technology that …

Just Caring: Parsimonious Care In Certain Uncertain Circumstances, Leonard M. Fleck

Bioethics: Preparing for the Unknown

Uncertainty is a Hydra-headed phenomenon in health care. From a physician’s perspective there often is uncertainty (many degrees) with respect to diagnosis (and the reliability of the technologies needed to establish a diagnosis), prognosis (and the infinite variety of genetic, physiological, pharmacological, behavioral, technological, economic, and cultural factors that affect the outcome of prognostic judgments), the appropriateness of a therapeutic intervention (perhaps related to medical disagreement), the likely effectiveness of a therapeutic intervention, the risk/ benefit ratio of a therapeutic intervention (potentially complicated by co-morbid conditions), the likelihood of a patient complying with the behaviors needed to maximize the likelihood …

Bioethics: Preparing For The Unknown- Abstracts, The Center For The Study Of Ethics In Society, Western Michigan University

Bioethics: Preparing for the Unknown

Abstracts from the March 17-18, 2016 conference on Bioethics: Preparing for the Unknown. This was the 30th anniversary conference for The Center for the Study of Ethics in Society at Western Michigan University.

Bioethics: Preparing For The Unknown - Conference Program, The Center For The Study Of Ethics In Society Western Michigan University

Bioethics: Preparing for the Unknown

On March 17-18, 2016 at Western Michigan University a conference was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the WMU Ethics Center. The conference was on Bioethics: Preparing for the Unknown and this is the conference program.

Dean Li Attends Meijer Alumni Breakfast, College Of Education And Human Development

Family and Consumer Sciences News

Dean Ming Li attended a WMU Alumni Breakfast at Meijer in Grand Rapids on February 17.

Dietetic Interns Receive Student Sustainability Grant, College Of Education And Human Development

Family and Consumer Sciences News

Western Michigan University Dietetic Interns are proud to announce they have received a Student Sustainability Grant for $235 from the WMU Office for Sustainability.

Fashion Merchandising And Design Professor Has Article Published In National Journal, College Of Education And Human Development

Family and Consumer Sciences News

Fashion merchandising and design professor Barbara Frazier recently published an article in Clothing and Textiles Research Journal.

Portrait Of An Ot Artist: Using Mindfulness To Find Life Balance, Lydia Royeen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Lynn Davies, a Canadian-based occupational therapist, understands the skill set and practice required to employ a balanced work/play/leisure routine, even for an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists can easily foster this balanced routine for clients; however, they may fall short of adopting this balanced routine in their own lives. Lynn uses art and mindfulness strategies to strive for a meaningful routine. Balancing her work as a therapist and her engagement in art is an ever-evolving orchestra, as she has a passion for both.

Assistive Technology Accessibility And Abandonment: Challenges For Occupational Therapists, Daniel Mc Cruz, Maria Luisa G. Emmel, Mariana G. Manzini, Paulo V. Braga Mendes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Outcomes Associated With A Leisure-Time Activity Program For Disadvantaged Youth, Juanita Bester, Maatje Kloppers

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The SLEAK (Skills, Learning and Educational Activities for Kids) program was established in 2008 as a joint partnership between a community leader and the Division of Occupational Therapy Stellenbosch University. The vision of the SLEAK program is to create a sustainable, non-profit, leisure-time activity program for the youth (10-13 years of age) of the community in order to curb drug and gangster-related activities and to foster healthy work-related skills in the youth to make them responsible and productive members of their community.

The SLEAK program was evaluated in its entirety and this article will focus on the results for the …

An Elective Course Exploring Occupational Justice Through Occupational Storytelling And Story Making, Julie A. Bednarski

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The purpose of this study was to examine whether second-year Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) students who enroll in the elective course “Occupation in Long-Term Care (LTC)” would be able to apply concepts of occupational justice in the nursing home environment through engaging residents in occupational storytelling and story making in order to facilitate resident self-advocacy for participation in a valued occupation. The occupational therapy elective course was developed and implemented with students alternating between the classroom and the nursing home environments. Outcome evaluation measurements included analysis of student reflective journaling to obtain qualitative data. The researcher found that students …

Role Performance And Role Valuation Among Occupational Therapy Students In Norway, Tore Bonsaksen, Hildegunn Kvarsnes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Model of Human Occupation describes roles as providing the person with a framework around which to organize daily occupations. Role performance and role valuation in young adults may be related to gender, but there are few research studies to date to support this view.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional design using a sample of 87 occupational therapy students in Norway. We used the Role Checklist to assess the students’ performance and valuation of roles, and a variety of statistical procedures were employed in the analysis.

Results: Compared to the female participants, males performed roles in the community, …

Using Technology To Increase Physical Activity In Health Profession Students, Mary Ann Stark, Kelly Elrod, Sara Haller, Andrea Mahon

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Health profession students may need help establishing and maintaining positive health behaviors when they are in college. This study explored the effectiveness of text messaging as an innovative method for promoting an increase in daily physical activity. A convenience sample (N = 134) was recruited from students at a college of Health and Human Services in Michigan. The participants were randomized into an intervention or control group (n = 67 each). The intervention group received daily affective text messages encouraging more physical activity by taking more steps. The control group received only messages reminding them to report their number of …

Attitudes Of Occupational Therapists And Occupational Therapy Assistants Toward The Entry-Level Bachelor’S Degree For Otas, Randy P. Mccombie

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Discussions at the local, state, and national level often focus on the value of and prospect for a change from the current entry-level master’s degree to the doctorate degree as the required entrance degree for occupational therapists (OTs). While this debate is not without merit, what appears to be lacking is comparable attention to and consideration of the entry-level bachelor’s degree for occupational therapy assistants (OTAs). The present study examined the attitudes and opinions of OTs and OTAs in regard to the entry-level bachelor’s degree for OTAs. Responses from 144 OTs and 77 OTAs to a postal mailed survey found …

The Use Of Personal Projects Analysis To Enhance Occupational Therapy Goal Identification, Mary Egan, Lori Scott-Lowery, Cynthia De Serres Larose, Liane Gallant, Chantal Canada Jaillet

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Client-centered occupational therapy begins with the identification of personally-relevant patient goals. This study aimed to determine whether the elicitation module of Personal Projects Analysis (PPA) could help patients in an acquired brain injury day hospital program identify more meaningful goals than those identified using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) alone.

Method: Ten patients completed the COPM. They rated the importance of each goal and their confidence that they could attain each goal. During the next session, using the elicitation module of PPA, they identified personal projects just prior to their brain injuries, current personal projects, and future desired …

A Phenomenological Study On The Perception Of Occupational Therapists Practicing In The Emergency Department, Gregory Chown, Theresa Soley, Susan Moczydlowski, Christine Chimento, Amy Smoyer

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of the study was to increase the scope of knowledge regarding the perception of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners working in the emergency department (ED). A literature review identified a gap in knowledge of OT practitioners working in the ED.

Methods: The 10 participants in this study were registered and licensed OT practitioners working at five acute-care settings with experience working in the ED in Pennsylvania hospitals. A qualitative phenomenological research study was conducted using semi-structured interviews of participants’ lived experiences.

Results: Using qualitative data analysis program Atlas.ti 7®, the central themes discovered were discharge recommendations that ensure …

Outcomes After Cognitive Perceptual Motor Retraining (Cpm) Of Patients With Acquired Brain Injury (Abi), Kara Christy, Natasha Huffine, Tammy Hannah, Marita B. De Leon

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Remediation of deficits is one approach used by occupational therapists in the treatment of clients with acquired brain injury (ABI). This retrospective study examined outcomes after participation in Cognitive Perceptual Motor Retraining (CPM) of clients with ABI and identified demographic and injury characteristics of clients that were associated with outcomes. CPM was delivered as part of the standard treatment and was not designed for research purposes.

Method: A retrospective review of 59 client records was completed. CPM evaluation test scores, demographic information, and injury characteristics were extracted from the records.

Results: There were moderate improvements in CPM test scores …

State Of The Journal Year 3: Finding Our Balance, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Family Studies Graduates With National Honors, College Of Education And Human Development

Family and Consumer Sciences News

Jerry Phelps, a family studies student who graduated in fall 2015, is one of 29 students from across the country graduating with National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) honors.

Student Nurse Behaviors And Barriers To Successful Completion Of The Traditonal Bachelor's In Science Of Nursing (Bsn) Program., Carri Shaw

Honors Theses

Change is often said to be the only constant in life. This holds true to the rapidly growing field of nursing. In order to meet the demands of new challenges that emerge in nursing, the way future nurses are educated also has changed. Not all nursing students find that the profession is for them. Therefore, some attrition from school is expected. This descriptive study will explore factors that the literature suggests are related to attrition at a mid-sized public university in the Midwest. A survey given to two different level nursing cohorts will give insight to pre-licensure nursing students’ experiences …

Family Centered Care In Icu Settings, Victoria Kingsinger

Honors Theses

More than 5 million patients are admitted each year to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in the US, and approximately 55,000 critically ill patients are cared for each day. ICU patients are a diverse population that has a need for an increased level of care. These patients often require ventilatory or cardiovascular support, invasive monitoring, and intense nursing and physician observation (Society of Critical Care Medicine, 2015). There are five primary admitting diagnoses for adults, which include respiratory failure, postoperative management, ischemic heart disorders, and sepsis. The mean age of patients is rising, particularly due to the baby boom generation, and …

Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Study Of Mikey, Gabrielle Lober

Honors Theses

This paper describes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including diagnostic criteria, suspected causes, prevalence, comorbidities, and influences on client factors. A hypothetical case study is presented to give readers an illustration of what someone with ASD might look like. Possible treatment based on evidence and selected frame of references will be given for the hypothetical client. This paper is not all inclusive of the role of occupational therapy in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, but gives an illustrative example.

Recommendations For The Development Of New Hospital Guidelines Due To The Effects Of Antibiotics On Clostridium Difficile Colitis, Megan Kohsel

Honors Theses

Clostridium difficile colitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the colon and diarrhea. This can even lead to death in some cases. The incidence of this infection and its overall effects have been on the rise throughout the last twenty years as antibiotics have been prescribed more frequently. Therefore, it is necessary that the rate of C. difficile infection is lowered by improved guidelines for hospitals, so that fewer people are infected and also that fewer antibiotics are prescribed to avoid the infection with C. difficle.

Potential Cellular Mechanisms Of Estrogen's Effects On Maintaining Sperm Production In Aging Rats, Matthew Pate

Honors Theses

Testosterone production by Leydig cells declines during aging in both men and rodent models. Previous results from our lab demonstrated that daily sperm production also declines in aging rats and alterations in the estrogen environment of the testis contribute to this decline. Importantly, estrogen treatment during aging was able to attenuate the age-associated decline in sperm production. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which estrogen maintains sperm production remain unclear. These experiments were designed to further investigate the effects of estrogen on sperm production in an attempt to further define the cellular mechanisms regulated by estrogen within the testis. …

Interior Design Student Organization Sends Armed Forces Holiday Greetings, College Of Education And Human Development

Family and Consumer Sciences News

Family and Consumer Science’s Interior Design Student Organization (IDSO) recently made holiday cards for the armed forces personnel that will be away from home during this holiday season.

A Comparison Of Gastrointestinal Bacterial Population Between Indoor Cats And Outdoor Cats, Farhana Binti Ikmal Hisham

Honors Theses

This study used fecal samples from four indoor cats and four indoor-outdoor cats in order to identify the microbial communities in the gut of cats. This information was then used to compare the microbial phyla between both groups for any differences. Total microbial DNA was isolated from each fecal sample, and the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq high throughput method. The sequences were identified using the bioinformatics program mothur. The results show that indoor cats had a more diverse microbial community as compared to outdoor cats. Indoor cat samples had 26% more microbial species, and eight more …