Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Working Conditions For Erotic Dancers: A Review Of Health And Safety Concerns From A Minneapolis Based Needs Assessment, Alexander Twohy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The present studies utilizes data from a needs assessment for dancers in Minneapolis-based strip clubs focusing on structural and in-club safety concerns as well as levels of cleanliness within the club. Research was conducted utilizing Participatory Action Research with help from the Sex Workers Outreach Project: Minneapolis. The assessment consisted of an online survey utilizing both quantitative and qualitative questions (n = 62) with follow-up interviews for willing participants (n = 33). Questions regarding personal safety, structural safety, cleanliness levels, and exposure to diseases were reported using descriptive statistics, and qualitative responses were examined with thematic analysis. Data indicated that …

Program Review Of Naloxone Training Within The Wisconsin Department Of Corrections’ Community Corrections Division, Chelsea Calhoon

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

One of the fastest growing drug problems in the United States is the abuse of opioids (United States Department of Health & Human Services, 2018). With the rising overdose rates, the criminal justice system may offer a pivotal role in the decrease of overdose deaths through opioid overdose recognition and naloxone administration training (World Health Organization, 2014). Training evaluation based on the Effectiveness Theory find significant predictors of training effectiveness and retention to be correlated with the training program, age, and employment tenure (Cowman & McCarthy, 2016). This thesis’ research question is, “Do demographics correlate to training retention for opioid …

Evaluation Of A Cognitive Training Program And Its Effects On Healthy Older Adults, Nathan Jensen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

As one ages, some degree of cognitive decline is expected. Despite this, declines in cognitive abilities and the possibility of dementia is a common concern among older adults. In response to these concerns, a variety of cognitive training programs have been developed that aim to improve or maintain cognitive functioning. Prior literature has shown mixed or limited findings on cognitive changes after implementation of cognitive training. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive training program designed for older adults with no to minimal cognitive decline. The current study included 18 participants who engaged in two one-hour cognitive training sessions …

A Needs Assessment: The Barriers Preventing Students At A Large Midwestern University From Accessing The Dental Clinic On Campus For Preventative Care, Pamela Briese

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Preventive maintenance and dental care for college students is just as important now as it was when they were living with their parents, but even though colleges have been offering campus-based medical care to their students for many years, oral health care has not been included in this health prevention effort. Because of the impact that oral health has on the overall health and well-being of college students, and in following the Healthy People 2020 Oral health goal to “Prevent and control oral and craniofacial diseases, conditions, and injuries, and improve access to preventive services and dental care” (HP2020), this …

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Survey To Assess Adults Knowledge, Attitudes, And Consumption Patterns Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Jeff Schafer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have a direct impact on the general health of the country when looking at the rising obesity levels (CDC, 2017a). The USDA’s dietary guidelines suggest that the daily intake of added sugar should be limited to 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men (Hughes, 2017). However, the average American consumes 20 teaspoons of sugar daily (Hughes, 2017). These extra calories are converted into fat and stored in the body. Data collected throughout the years indicates a rise in the number of Americans living with a weight above healthy recommendations, which is termed, obese. Obesity is …

Blood Pressure Screening Practices Among Dental Hygienists, Mariah Sullinger

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

“There is consensus on the importance of early detection and treatment of hypertension and dental care is one of the few medical services which involves a considerable proportion of the population returning for routine check-ups” (Berne, Engstrom, Gahnberg, & Svardsudd, 2011, p 194). Little is known about the frequency and consistency of blood pressure screening practices or barriers affecting these procedures. Research findings may support efforts to increase or routinize scope and frequency of this preventive procedure among dental healthcare providers or make it a standard of care. Data from the survey was used to assess what type of setting …

Certified Nursing Assistant Turnover & Impacts On Rural Skilled Nursing Facilities A Qualitative Study & Recommendations For Practitioners, Marisa E. Hansen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The cumulative growth in the aging population in the U.S. calls for a high demand for long-term care (LTC) facilities. Furthermore, the LTC (e.g., nursing homes and assisted living facilities, etc.) consumers have become widely diverse (i.e., not just limited to older groups but now included children and adults with disabilities); demand for wide range of needs and support services. In coping with this changing environment, the LTCs, especially operating in rural settings, are faced with multifaceted challenges related to direct care staffing and turnover. In response to this outlook, the present study explores a research question to understand, how …

Demography, Risk, And Power: An Examination Of The Deceased Patient Population At The Hastings State Hospital, 1900-1978, Dawn T. Whitney

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research is to investigate the Hastings State Hospital (HSH) and its cemetery (HSHC) within a multidisciplinary framework, invoking discourse analysis, demography, and critical race theory to examine how power and risk factors impact the treatment and disposal of the body at death. It incorporates perspectives from both anthropology and sociology to interpret the data, relying heavily on the ideas of Michel Foucault. Integrating these diverse analytical tools is important to this research because social and structural forces all intersect in the creation of identity, power, and inequality.

All data in this study represent patients that have …

Burnout Levels Of Teachers Within A Selected School District In Minnesota, Adam Whirley

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify feelings of burnout within a selected school district in Minnesota and to identify contributing demographic factors. For this study, a random school district in Minnesota was chosen to be surveyed. By identifying feelings of burnout and demographic factors associated with these feelings, appropriate mental health interventions will be developed and implemented within school districts and the workplace. By implementing these interventions there will be a reduction in occupational burnout and stronger mental health among employees. The study showed a significance relationship between 9-12(High School) teachers and higher levels of burnout when compared …

Assessment Of Perceived Levels Of Stress And Coping Mechanisms Among University Students, Nancy Adomako-Saahene

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Majority of researchers have documented stress among college students. This study contributes to the existing literature on stress by assessing the relationship between perceived stress levels and the coping strategies utilized by university students. The study was conducted using a descriptive, inferential, cross-sectional, and correlational research design. The population for this study was students at a large, Midwestern university. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the students for the study. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess the participant’s perceived level of stress, whereas COPE Inventory was used to examine strategies participants use in coping with stress. …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Social Communication: A Survey Study, Chey Maree Robertson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Speech-language pathologists work with individuals who have experienced various levels of adversity. The title of this thesis is The Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Social Communication: A Survey study. The researcher, Chey Robertson, from the communication sciences and disorders program from a university in the Midwest investigated the relationship between ACEs and social communication such as social cognition, social interaction, and pragmatics. ACEs includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and physical and emotional neglect. ACEs also includes household dysfunction such as a household member with mental illness, witnessing domestic violence, incarceration of a household member, household member who …

Incentive-Use In Worksite Wellness Programs In Mn Government Agencies, Sandra Bromley

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

We used a digital email-based survey to collect information on WWP in government agencies in Minnesota. In terms of associations between incentive-use and success rates, results were inconclusive. Due to limitations in responses on the survey we are unable to draw a correlation between incentive-use and cost savings outcomes for agencies surveyed. Survey results did provide other information that can be useful by health educators to improve and grow WWP. Results showed that compared to national rates, government agencies in Minnesota may not be utilizing additional funding resources for WWP. Future research on the use of grant and insurance company …

Assessing Knowledge, Attitude And Practices Of Hand Hygiene Among University Students, Linda Afia Mbroh

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: Proper hand hygiene is the key to reducing occurrence of infectious diseases in many different types of communities, including the healthcare settings, daycare centers, and grade schools. College students have been found to inadequately wash their hands, which increases their chances of contracting infectious diseases. The purpose of this research is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of hand hygiene among students at a large midwestern university.

Participants and Methods: Using a cross- sectional survey, and three self-reported questionnaires, data were collected from 406 undergraduate students, ages 18 years of age and above enrolled at Minnesota State University, …

The Effect Of Dorsal Rhizotomy On Renal Sodium Excretion Following Dorsal Spinal Stimulation, Tanko Tijani Ahmed

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Hypertension is one of the most common risk factors in the development of heart disease, stroke and end stage renal failure. Sympathetic overactivity is believed to be one of the main mechanism behind resistant hypertension. Renal denervation has been used to treat resistant hypertension, although this procedure is an invasive one. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a known modality to treat ischemic pain, angina pectoris, and peripheral vascular diseases. In previous studies in this laboratory, unilateral spinal cord stimulation in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) at 67% of the motor threshold increased urinary sodium and water excretion significantly, without affecting mean …

Positive And Negative Effects Of Social Media On Adolescent Well-Being., Katie Kennedy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Social media use is rapidly growing among adolescents, studies cite that the rates of “constant use” doubled from 2015 to 2018 (Anderson & Jiang, 2018; Lenhart, 2015). Social media use can have a serious negative impact on areas of well-being including feelings of depression, anxiety, fear of missing out, body image, bullying and sleep. Mojtabai, Olfson and Han (2016) cite the problematic use of mobile phones and social media applications as one of the trends aligning with the increase in major depressive episodes. Conversely, use of social media can promote positive feelings of well-being including creating a sense of community, …

The Relationship Of Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring And Hypertension Control, Durga Mishra

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this structured literature analysis is to review the relationship of blood pressure self-monitoring and hypertension control. Blood pressure self-monitoring can help reduce the high blood pressure burden among people with hypertension, minimize the risk of heart disease and related complications. Self-care is an important component in managing chronic illness. Self- monitoring of blood pressure may allow people with hypertension to be concerned about their long-term health. Furthermore, blood pressure self-monitoring may lead to lifestyle modification behaviors and adherence to treatment. The positive relationship of blood pressure self- monitoring and hypertension control may help people to understand the …