Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Aromatherapy On Academic Success, Perceived Stress, And Coping Skills Of Graduate Students, Lakisha S. Witter

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This quasi-experimental study will explore whether the use of aromatherapy increases students’ academic success and coping skills and decreases the level of perceived stress in graduate college students.

Screens, School District Employees, And Sleep: Is There A Relationship?, Mary Kay L. Bruihler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Statement of the Problem

Working in a school can be stressful and about half of educators in a national survey reported less than the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep. Smartphones and other screened devices can cause sleep loss and are becoming more prevalent. Is there a relationship between the use of screened devices and sleep among the employees of a school district?

Procedures

Employees (n=36) of a small southern Minnesota school district were given an online survey regarding their sleep habits utilizing the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), their screen time use, utilizing the Screen Time Questionnaire (STQ), …

Patient Satisfaction With Telehealth Services Compared To In-Office Visits: A Systematic Literature Review, Crystal L. Fleischhacker

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Telehealth is changing the current paradigm of healthcare. As an emerging mode of healthcare delivery, telehealth stands to help alleviate the shortage of primary care and specialty care providers especially patients in rural areas. In addition to increasing access of healthcare, this service allows for flexibility, convenience and has the potential to decrease healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes. The objective of this literature review was to examine patient satisfaction with telehealth compared to in-office visits. A systematic search was conducted and a total of 17 articles that met inclusion criteria were examined. Data and factors evolving around patient satisfaction …

Caring For Young Adults With Cancer: A Systematic Review, Sarah M. Pelletier

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Young adulthood is unique period of life in which critical developmental milestones are achieved amid dynamic physical, emotional, and social changes. During this period of life, young adults are charged with establishing personal and social independence. When challenged with a cancer diagnosis, the already turbulent late teens, twenties, and thirties are dramatically and permanently altered. Hence, the needs of young adults vary from that of their pediatric and older adult counterparts. The aim of this systematic review of the literature was to identify what age-specific needs must be addressed by healthcare professionals to enhance quality of care and outcomes for …

The Impact Of Yoga On Symptom Management In Adults With Depression, Laura S. Eggen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions worldwide. Despite continual advances in the fields of psychiatry and psychology, hundreds of millions of individuals continue to suffer due to ineffective treatment, adverse effects, lack of access to care, and the relapsing nature of the disease. Depression extends beyond the affected individual and burdens families, healthcare systems, and societies. Yoga is a mind-body modality, growing in popularity, that has been cited in the literature as a promising treatment for depression. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review recent literature on the impact of yoga on depression management …

The Efficacy Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy In The Treatment Of Adults With Obesity, Hallie M. Tiffany

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Obesity is a complex condition increasing in prevalence and consequence throughout the United States and the world. Obesity is affected not only physiologically but by one’s psychological aspects of life. Obesity contributes to countless chronic health conditions and thus greatly impacts a person’s wellness. A literature review was conducted to identify the following if in obese adults the benefit of cognitive behavioral therapy for weight loss and/or maintenance. A total of 10 articles met inclusion criteria from searches from databases that included ProQuest, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PsycINFO as well as bibliography review. Level of evidence includes two articles that …

Search For The Cause Of Vaping Associated Lung Injury In Adolescents, Alexandra E. Krueger

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In August 2019 an unexplained, exponential rise in severe respiratory illnesses in previously healthy young adults, swept across America catching the attention of medical providers. Hospital admissions for lung injury increased 10-fold over two months’ time leaving practitioners scrambling for answers. All affected patients were found to have used e-cigarettes prior to symptoms and endorsed using nicotine and marijuana vape pens. The medical community quickly began to search for the cause of these vaping associated lung injuries. Understanding the mechanism of injury is important in order to assist in educating the public about the risks associated with e-cigarettes. The aim …

Know Before You Play: Associations Between Race, Education, And Hiv Susceptibility, Anfa Mohamed Diiriye

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. This paper analyzes the associations between race, education, and HIV susceptibility, furthering previous research to understand if educational attainment reduces HIV susceptibility and if reduction patterns are similar for Black and White women. The CDC’s National Survey of Family Growth 2015-2017 was used to analyze associations using binary logistic and multiple regression models. HIV susceptibility was operationalized through four measures: condom use, having a partner with concurrent sexual relationships, having had an STD, and age at first sex. Black women were not found to be significantly more susceptible to …

Childhood Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And/Or Pharmacological Treatment, Jennifer S. Mccarthy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: Evaluate best practice in managing anxiety in the pediatric population, including both school age children and adolescents. This literature review compared pharmacological treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)’s effectiveness on the management of anxiety within the pediatric population.

Background: Up to 25% of children in the United States are affected by a mental health disorder, anxiety being the most prevalent. Childhood anxiety can have a distressing impact on social, family, and academic functioning. If persisting into adulthood it increases the risk of developing other co-occurring mental health conditions, substance abuse issues, and contributes to impaired employment retention and socioeconomic …

Metformin’S Role In The Prevention Of Type 2 Diabetes In Individuals Diagnosed With Prediabetes: A Systematic Literature Review, Jillian Williamson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The United States is facing a growing epidemic of unchecked and untreated individuals with prediabetes. While lifestyle interventions have remained the gold standard of treatment, has this been enough? A literature review was carried out to identify metformin’s role in treatment and management of prediabetes as well as perceived barriers to its prescribing. A total of 24 articles met inclusion criteria. Main findings include (a) metformin is effective in reducing the incidence of diabetes, though not as effective as lifestyle interventions; (b) certain populations did benefit more from metformin usage then other populations; (c) there was more treatment compliance with …

Benefits Of Exercise On Mental Health: Literature Review, Angela Ristau

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Providers diligently educate patients on exercise to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke. However, in recent years, providers judiciously educate patients on exercise and its correlation to improving or impacting mental health disorders. Physical activity has been steadily shown to relate to improved physical health, life satisfaction, cognitive functioning, and psychological well-being. A large body of literature examines the impact of physical activity and exercise on mental health. There is a growing interest in the use of exercise in the treatment of depression and anxiety, as a primary option or as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment. …

Medical Utilization In The Context Of Culture: Analyzing The Concepts, Benefits And Drawbacks Of Sri Lankan Biomedical And Ayurvedic Healthcare, Miriah Rajaguru

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sri Lanka is an island inhabited by a culture more than 5,000 years old. The primary medicine utilized by this culture in precolonial times is known as Ayurveda. During colonization, Sri Lanka was introduced to biomedicine and forced to negate Ayurvedic medicine. Throughout the years, rather than abandoning their indigenous medical practice, Sri Lanka incorporated biomedicine and Ayurvedic medicine into their medically plural society. Today, Sri Lankans utilized both medicines for different ailments, concerns and conditions. Utilizing a variety of anthropological methods and theories, this study gathered qualitative information from 39 Sri Lankan informants. These informants were recruited to find …

Perceptions, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Behaviors Of Mouthguard Use Among Collegiate Athletes, Heather Prosser

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With the high risk of dental trauma in contact sports, it is important that all athletes have a strong foundation of how to prevent such injuries. Properly fitted mouthguards are the best available protective equipment to prevent orofacial trauma; however, previous research has found them underutilized, with the need for evidence-based interventions to promote mouthguard use among athletes. This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational research design, focusing on studying collegiate athletes at one large, Midwestern university, to determine their current attitudes, perceptions, self-efficacy, and behaviors of mouthguard use during participation in a contact sport. A convenience sampling technique was …

Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Infection And Vaccine Knowledge And Attitudes Among University Students, Mckenzie Schmitz

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

HPV is the “most common sexually transmitted infection,” with approximately four out of five sexually active individuals getting infected at some point in their lives (Planned Parenthood, n.d.b, para.1). Cancers of the throat, mouth, cervix, anus, penis, and vagina have all been linked to HPV infections. In addition to being tested for HPV, the utilization of barrier methods and reduction of risky sexual risk behaviors, are the best ways to prevent and treat sexually transmitted infections. This study contributes to existing literature on university students’ knowledge and attitudes about HPV infections and the vaccination. This study was conducted using descriptive, …

The Effects Of Exercise On Pressure Natriuresis, Janet Komolafe

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Hypertension is a disease of high global burden and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and related deaths. The pressure natriuresis mechanism, which is an intrinsic response in the kidneys which increases urinary sodium excretion when renal perfusion pressure increases, plays a central role in the long-term regulation of mean arterial pressure. Studies have shown that a sustained impairment of the pressure natriuresis mechanism results in high blood pressure, making hypertension a disease of the kidneys.

Since exercise is recommended as a non-pharmacological treatment to manage hypertension, it is important to understand the means by which exercise is beneficial …

The Effectiveness Of Cannabidiol In Rheumatic Disease Pain: A Systematic Review, Mary C. Wiczek

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Cannabinoids have long been a part of human culture and medicine, and more recently have been rediscovered for their potential use in the management of rheumatic disease pain. The objective of this review was to evaluate the known clinical effectiveness of cannabidiol treatment for rheumatic disease related pain. The legality and current regulation of these products was also reviewed to establish the current status of federal and state rules regarding their clinical use. Basic definitions of the terms used to differentiate cannabidiol from other cannabinoid products was also outlined. A systematic literature search was then conducted to explore the current …

Best Youth Education Methods For Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention, Caitlin F. Walchonski

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sexual health education in the United States is inconsistent; information and methods vary from one location to another. Education plays a large role in developing safe sex practices, and despite the sexual education efforts, rates of sexually transmitted infections have risen for five consecutive years in the United States. A systematic literature review was conducted to determine the best methods for educating adolescents to promote behaviors to enhance sexual health. Multiple types of interventions have been studied including cognitive behavioral interventions, comprehensive sexual education, parent and teen dyad education, and abstinence only education. Sexual behavior is influenced by a variety …

Impact Of Non-Pharmacological Treatment Methods And Lifestyle Modification On Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms And Progression, Emily Moret

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, neurological, autoimmune condition that is characterized by unpredictable demyelination of the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis remains one of the most debilitating neurological diseases for young adults, affecting an average of 2.5 per 100,000 people worldwide. The objective of this research was to further assess the efficacy of non-pharmacological treatment methods for symptom management and disease progression for multiple sclerosis. A systemic literature review was conducted using 4 research databases: American Search Premier, Medline, Cochrane, and CINAHL. Studies were included if they addressed nonpharmacological treatment approaches to multiple sclerosis. A total of 21 research articles …

Homeless Tailored Primary Care And Access To Ongoing Primary Care Services, Jessica J. Stoefen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Homelessness is an increasing problem worldwide. The system for providing medical care to individuals experiencing homelessness is currently a patchwork of multiple different agencies. Many individuals do not utilize routine primary care (PC) services, instead present to emergency departments for nonemergent care. A systematic literature review was conducted using Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Consumer Health Complete – EBSCOhost, and PsycINFO from 2014-2019 with the exception of Cochrane which was searched from 2009-2019, to evaluate if tailored PC clinics focused on providing PC services with additional supports to homeless individuals were more effective at engaging …

An Assessment Of Knowledge, Behavior, And Consumption Patterns Surrounding Sugar- Sweetened Beverages Among Young Adults, Anne Harguth

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Background The obesity epidemic is a growing problem in this country. Many studies have been conducted in effort to unravel and derail the rise in obesity and overweight status among Americans. Strong evidence supports the notion that excessive sugar consumption is largely contributing to an increase in obesity and risk for many chronic diseases and conditions.

Objective This study assessed sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, knowledge of sugar-sweetened beverages, disease risk associated with consumption, and correlation between the knowledge and consumption among a sample of students at a large midwestern university. A cross-sectional, retrospective design with random sampling was utilized for this …

The Difference In Barriers To Colorectal Cancer Screening Between Men And Women In The 45-55-Year Age Group, Maren Christina Davis

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Statement of the Problem: Adults, 50 years or older, should have a screening colonoscopy every ten years and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year. However, close to 22 million adults between the ages of 50-75 in the U.S. have never been screened for colorectal cancer, which delays treatment and can be fatal if the cancer is not found in time.

Procedure: This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, survey-based design and a convenience sample of men and women between 45 and 55 years old to assess colorectal screening practices, barriers to screening, and knowledge levels about colorectal cancer screening.

Findings: A …

Probiotics And The Prevention Of Clostridioides Difficile: A Review Of Existing Systematic Reviews, Andrea L. Onstad

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of infectious diarrhea (Vernaya et al., 2017). Probiotics have been proposed to provide a protective benefit against Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The objective of this literature review was to examine the research evidence pertaining to the use of probiotics for the prevention of CDI in individuals receiving antibiotic therapy. A systematic literature review of studies published between 2015 and 2019 was performed. Five databases were searched, which yielded 10 systematic reviews that met strict inclusion criteria. Overall, the majority of evidence indicated that probiotics versus no treatment, placebo, or usual care have the potential …

Sexual Consent In Middle School Sex Health Education: An Analysis Of Health Education Standards In Minnesota, Ashley Parent

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Comprehensive sex education is designed to teach sexual health, reproductive health, human sexual anatomy, safe sex, birth control and sexual abstinence. Consent education focuses on sexually transmitted infection (STI), pregnancy prevention, sexual identity, and the risks of sexual violence (Willis, 2019). This qualitative content analysis and survey will explore consent education in middle schools adopted in Minnesota from the past ten years. The research questions for this study are: is consent a part of sex education? How has consent been taught in 8-10 grades in Minnesota over the past 10 years? What frameworks are being used to teach consent to …

Coaching Women On The Impact Of Alcohol Intake On Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Literature Review, Amy Maloney

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Alcohol intake among women has increased in recent years. Women’s bodies metabolize alcohol differently when compared to men and are at increased risk for adverse effects, both physically and mentally. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to explore the evidence related to the impact of coaching in primary care on drinking behaviors and over-all well-being of women. Four databases including PsycInfo, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL Plus with full text, and Gender Studies Database were searched using a variety of key words. Studies were included if they focused on female alcohol use and abuse, interventions specific to female alcohol …