Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Examination Of Organizational Influences On Coach Decision Making, Arien Elizabeth Faucett

Dissertations

Sport coaching occurs in an ambiguous, complex, and dynamic environment bounded by rules, structures, and traditions unique to the context in which it occurs (ICCE et al., 2013; Jones & Wallace, 2005; Nash & Collins, 2006). Coaching is therefore not only pedagogical in nature but also features social and political elements (Abraham & Collins, 2011) focused on athlete development within a specific social and organizational context (ICCE et al., 2013). At the heart of this coaching practice is a constant process of decision-making (Abraham et al., 2006; Lyle & Vergeer, 2013; Vergeer & Lyle, 2009). However, research on the decision-making …

An Improvement Science Approach To Understanding Adaptive Leadership As A Tool For Diabetes Educators To Teach Patient Self-Efficacy, Allie Carter

Dissertations

Background: Worldwide diabetes is estimated at 415 million, and that number is expected to increase to 642 million by 2040 (Roberts et al., 2017). Certified Diabetes Care and Educational Specialists (CDCES) and other health care providers strive to teach patients with diabetes skills that assist them in developing and maintaining self-efficacy. Current education methods are not always enough to help a patient navigate effects of their diabetes. Using the adaptive leadership principles can provide educators an interventional practice that facilitates patient self-management. This study explores the effectiveness of adaptive leadership when applied to the diabetes education delivery and confirms the …

Developing Mental Health And Wellness Awareness In Schools, Leah Wood

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic increased concerns for anxiety and depression in adolescents (Jones et al., 2021). As these concerns increased, students’ coping skills and mental health declined (Meherali et al., 2021). This mixed-methods study based in improvement science sought to develop mental health supports for teachers and students in a secondary setting. A mental health team convened for the purpose of this study completed a root cause analysis for a high school to determine the barriers to mental health supports. We identified the problem and potential barriers preventing proper mental health education and supports for teachers, students, and parents. The analysis …

Examining The Relationship Between Psychological Well-Being And Academic Performance Among First-Year College Students In A U.S. Mid-South University, Ya-Hsin Hsiao

Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between psychological well-being and college students. In addition, I looked at how COVID-19 impacted their psychological well-being. I used Ryff and Keyes’ (1995) 18-item Scale of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB-18) to measure participants' psychological well-being. Other demographic information such as race, gender, first-generation college student status, college readiness, and Pell Grant eligibility were collected from the WKU’s Institutes of Research.

Data were analyzed using multiple regressions that controlled for the effects of ethnicity, gender, first-generation status, and socioeconomic status. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 on psychological well-being was evaluated and reported. In this dataset, the internal …

Inviting The Outside In: Nature's Contribution To Counselor Wellness, Naomi Medina

Dissertations

The positive influence of nature on client wellness and psychological health (BonhamCorcoran et al., 2022) is well reflected in the emergence of nature-based counseling interventions such as wilderness therapy, walk talk therapy, and horticulture therapy, among other counseling modalities that involve aspects of the natural world (Lewis et al., 2022). This suggests that the inclusion of nature within the counseling session could also contribute to the wellness of the counselor. The purpose of this research was to determine the extent to which presence of nature contributes to counselor wellness and which of the five senses may play a greater role …

Lived Experiences Of School Counselors Working In Conjoint Roles In A Multisystem Framework To Address The Mental Health Needs Of Students, Angela Cano Sampson

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of school counselors working in conjoint roles as social–emotional leaders and mental health professionals (MHPs) to address the mental health needs of students through multisystem collaboratives (MSCs) and school-based systems of mental health care (SBSMHC).

The role of the school counselor has expanded into becoming a social–emotional leader and school MHP advocating for comprehensive social–emotional learning and the “school-linked” movement that coalesced their exclusive professional proficiency with both school-based and community resources working to enhance initiatives for student psychosocial development in ways that would increase student assets …

The Motherhood Crusade: Rural Low-Income Mothers, Support, And Empowerment, Christina Castellano

Dissertations

Previous research has shown that postpartum women with untreated mental health conditions are more likely to fail to manage their own health, have inadequate nutrition, abuse substances, experience abuse, be less responsive to their baby’s needs, have fewer positive interactions with their baby, experience difficulties breastfeeding, and question their abilities as a mother. Rural culture plays a complex role in the transition to motherhood, influencing whether mothers seek out and use resources. While more is known about location and access issues, less is known about how rural culture and, more specifically, how empowerment and social support impact postpartum experience. The …

Effectiveness Of Follow Up Phone Calls On Postpartum Women After Discharge: A Program Evaluation, Camille Williams

Dissertations

After an expectant mother gives birth, they are closely monitored for 48 to 72 hours after delivery and then discharged from the hospital. They are then typically seen by their physician for a postpartum follow up appointment within six to eight weeks for their postpartum follow up visit. Although complications during this postpartum period can still arise, postpartum women are rarely assessed during this time. Follow-up phone calls have been known to improve patient outcomes and communication between patients and providers once patients are discharged from the hospital. In January of 2020, the Mother/Baby Unit at a midwestern metropolitan hospital …

Where Have All The Surgical Nurses Gone? Staffing Shortages In Surgical Departments Post Covid-19 Shutdowns, Phoenix Neal

Dissertations

March 2020 changed the healthcare field entirely. When the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the United States in early 2020, it was recommended that surgical departments nationwide shutdown altogether or at least decrease their workloads to exclusively emergent procedures. This step was taken both to save surgical equipment for more critical patients and to offload those staff members from surgical departments to more critical areas in the hospital systems.

This exploratory study was completed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 surgical department shutdowns on current surgical staffing. This research explored different factors such as health insurance availability, childcare availability, shift change, …

The Lived Experiences Of Icu, Med-Surg, And Er Nurses In The United States Attempting To Breastfeed During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amy Seay

Dissertations

Breastfeeding is important to promote the health of both mothers and babies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021). Many mothers experience workplace barriers and stress which negatively impact breastfeeding duration (McCardel & Padilla, 2020; Nagel et al., 2022). However, a gap in the literature exists surrounding specific barriers and the impact of stress on U.S. nurses who breastfeed. Specifically, workplace challenges and stress among nurses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic lack exploration.

This interpretive phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of ICU, Med-Surg, and ER nurses who attempted to breastfeed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Roy’s adaptation model was …

Nursing Faculty Perceptions Of Stress, Coping, And Intent To Leave The Profession In The Ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Study, Lynlee Morgan

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all of society to varying degrees; this impact was especially true in higher education due to an overnight transition to distance learning and incessant pivots to meet new guidelines and overcome obstacles. Nursing faculty were significantly impacted due to the responsibility of producing safe, qualified, competent practitioners to provide care in the clinical setting. The limitations in or exclusions from clinical experiences combined with the fact that faculty were managing personal concerns and had never encountered these unprecedented conditions exacerbated the challenge of preparing new nurses. This study was critical due to the faculty role and …

Maternal Vitamin B12 And D Status, Depression, And Dietary Intake And Neonatal Outcomes Following Bariatric Surgery, Amna Salem Al Mansoori

Dissertations

Bariatric surgery is a more effective approach than dieting for women with morbid obesity and can reduce comorbidities, such as hypertension and gestational diabetes, while improving fertility. Vitamins B₁₂ and D have essential roles in ensuring a healthy pregnancy and favorable neonatal outcomes. However, pregnancies following bariatric surgery may be complicated by micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of vitamins B₁₂ and D. This study aims to investigate vitamin B₁₂ and D status and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women who underwent sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass compared with those of women who did not. Additionally, the dietary intake and …

Prevalence Of Metabolic Syndrome And It’S Associated Factors In Emirati Adults: The Uae Healthy Future Cohort Study, Shamma Jauaan Almuhairi

Dissertations

In the last few years United Arab Emirates showed a rapid growth in economic field which was associated with growth of other types of related diseases, specially in non-communicable disease; mainly type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) & cardiovascular related diseases (CVDs). The presence of multiple risk factors simultaneously in Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) has been shown to increase the risk for atherosclerosis development in young and middle-aged adults. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors and has many different definitions according to different international organizations. Aims and objectives:This study has three main objectives; it aimed to estimate the prevalence …

Effect Of Fandom On Sports Gambling, Drake Deitch

Dissertations

The goal in this study was to investigate the relationship between fandom and betting. The hypothesis was that sports fans who gambled on their favorite teams would be more likely to make irrational decisions based more closely on emotional attachment than logical thinking. A total of 191 fans of the Chicago Bears (n = 80), Green Bay Packers (n = 57), and Minnesota Vikings (n = 54) were recruited for the study. Participants completed a survey that assessed their knowledge of and love for the three teams. Results indicated fans were far more likely to bet on their team regardless …

Celiac Disease Prevalence And The Characteristics Of Celiac Patients In The United Arab Emirates, Two Centers Study, Asma Hamed Alnababteh

Dissertations

Celiac Disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder caused by genetic susceptibility to gluten and affects around 1% of the population worldwide. CD can occur at any age and is diagnosed by detecting specific serological biomarkers and histopathological changes in the duodenal biopsy. In the United Arab Emirates, there is a lack of studies describing CD in children or adults; this thesis aimed at researching the epidemiology of celiac disease in among the populations in the United Arab Emirates.

Two Studies were conducted to achieve the research objectives, study one was conducted in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) and …

Factors Affecting Changes In Road Traffic Collision Related Injuries And Deaths Over Time: The Global And The United Arab Emirates Perspectives, Yasin Jemal Yasin

Dissertations

Road traffic collisions (RTCs) cause 1.35 million deaths per year worldwide. Approximately 50% of these deaths were among pedestrians and motorized 2-3-wheeler users. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), RTC deaths were higher compared to other high-income countries (HICs). The United Nations (UN) Decade of Action for road safety 2011-2020, aimed to reduce road traffic deaths by 50% by the year 2020. The aim of this dissertation was to investigate factors affecting changes in RTC-related injuries and deaths over time at global and UAE levels. Multiple research methods were used to investigate the research questions. Global data on pedestrian and …

A Critical Analysis Of Discrepancies In Behavioral Health Program Ratings By Evidence-Based Practice Registers For Behavioral Health, Miranda Jade Lee-Easton

Dissertations

Decision makers in the behavioral health disciplines are under increasing pressure to identify and implement evidence-based practices (EBPs). These decision makers often do not have the time or expertise to assess primary studies of program efficacy or effectiveness. They could benefit from tools to assist them in identifying and implementing EBPs. One tool is an evidence-based practice register (EBPR). Prior studies have documented that when multiple EBPRs rate a given program, they may come to seemingly conflicting program ratings. The prior research concerning the reason for these conflicts is sparse. The purpose of the present study is to understand how …

The Relationship Among Emotional Intelligence, Coping Strategies, And Occupational Burnout For Child Protective Service Workers, Yvette Longoria

Dissertations

There are low retention rates of child protective service caseworkers and this impacts the quality of care of the families served. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence, coping strategies and occupational burnout for CPS caseworkers. In addition, examining the relationship between education type, education level, and caseload size as it relates to emotional intelligence, coping strategies, and occupational burnout among child protective caseworkers. The theoretical framework utilized was the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping. A convenience sampling was used to collect participants employed as FBSS or CVS caseworkers at Texas Department of …

Single-Case Pilot Study For Longitudinal Analysis Of Referential Failures And Sentiment In Schizophrenic Speech From Client-Centered Psychotherapy Recordings, Travis A. Musich

Dissertations

Though computational linguistic analyses have revealed the presence of distinctly characteristic language features in schizophrenic disordered speech, the relative stability of these language features in longitudinal samples is still unknown. This longitudinal pilot study analyzed schizophrenic disordered speech data from the archival therapy audio recordings of one patient spanning 23 years. End-to-end Neural Coreference Resolution software was used to analyze transcribed speech data from three therapy sessions to identify ambiguous pronouns, referred to as referential failures, which were reviewed and confirmed by multiple raters. Speech samples were analyzed using Google Cloud Natural Language API software for sentiment variables (i.e., score, …

Assessing And Characterizing Marijuana Use Disorders (Dsm-5) — National Survey On Drug Use And Health, United States, 2020, Alejandro Azofeifa-Ujueta

Dissertations

Despite that marijuana (cannabis) is still considered, under federal law, an illegal Schedule I drug, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States. National trend data has shown that the prevalence of marijuana use has increased over time, particularly among those aged 18 years and older. Some individuals can use marijuana without harm; however, long-term and heavy marijuana users may experience health consequences, including marijuana use disorders (addiction). For the last 20 years, existing national and statelevel epidemiological, surveillance, and research data have analyzed marijuana use disorders (MUD) using previous diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV). There is limited …

Research Training And Certification Protocol For Medical Students, Michelle Arisleida Padley

Dissertations

Early and frequent exposure to research is imperative to initiating and sustaining long term for medical student research interest. The attitude and approach of physician mentors has been demonstrated to have a substantial effect on student perceptions of research involvement. The purpose of this study is to determine best practices for assessing student perceptions for a research certification program. An additional long-term objective is to utilize these findings to help maintain interest in research throughout their medical careers. Research is an essential aspect of the prestige of medical schools, and the benefits of academic research institutions have numerous facets, including …

Experiences Of Counselors Who Assist Women In Midlife Who Display Depressive Symptoms: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Carla Tovar

Dissertations

In this dissertation, I present a transcendental phenomenological study conducted with 12 counselors who worked with women in midlife who displayed depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences, clinical and personal, of licensed professional counselors (LPCs) who worked with women in midlife who displayed depressive symptoms. Through the study, I sought to recognize the essence and themes that emerged from these LPCs who worked with this population. Moreover, this study was designed to obtain a better understanding of how these LPCs managed their feelings and thoughts, how they helped when working with these women, …

Disease Risk Of Reintroducing Primates Confiscated From The Illegal Wildlife Trade, Ana Patricia Mendoza Becerra

Dissertations

Zoonotic infections are easily shared between human and other primates, and thus primate trafficking poses a high risk of introducing zoonotic pathogens into urban environments as well as spreading human-associated diseases into natural environments when infected primates are released. The magnitude of these risks has not been thoroughly studied in the context of primate trafficking and rehabilitation of Neotropical primates. In this dissertation, I address some knowledge gaps in disease risk analysis of reintroducing trafficked primates. In chapter 1, I describe the dynamics, diversity, and composition of live wildlife trafficking in urban markets in Peru. I found these markets are …

Internet Pornography Use, Loneliness, And Adult Attachment Patterns Among Asian Indian Young Adults: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design, Anish Baby

Dissertations

Internet pornography consumption among Asian Indian Americans, an ethnic minority group, is largely underrepresented in current scholarly literature despite their growing population in the United States. The purpose of this research was threefold: (a) to measure the prevalence of internet pornography use among Asian Indian American young adults and adults; (b) to explore the relationship between internet pornography use, loneliness, and attachment patterns; and (c) to describe the lived experience of problematic porn consumers. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, I conducted this study in two distinct phases: quantitative followed by qualitative. In the quantitative phase, I employed an …

The Impact Of School-Based Intervention For Overweight And Obese 9-13-Year-Olds On Anthropometry, Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes, Selfefficacy And Dietary Behaviors, Sara Zuarub

Dissertations

Childhood obesity has emerged as a significant public health concern in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study evaluated the effects of school-based nutrition education on knowledge, attitude, dietary practices, self-efficacy, and anthropometric measurements of overweight and obese school children aged 9-13 years. Additionally, the parents' perceptions on factors contributing to childhood obesity were examined. A 6-month intervention program based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) was undertaken by children from 36 public schools located in Dubai and Sharjah emirates, UAE. The overweight/obese school children (n = 403) were classified into three categories, including two intervention groups (1 and 2) and …

Adherence To Antihypertensive Medications Among African Americans Adults, Obiageli Obah-Mbanefo

Dissertations

Purpose: To describe adherence to antihypertensive medications among African Americans adults aged 35 to 65 years in south Los Angeles.

Study Aims: Aim 1: Describe patient sociodemographic factors (age, gender, education, insurance, employment, living arrangement and income), clinical factors (history of current depressive symptoms, comorbidities, comorbidity Charlson score and number of comorbidities), health literacy level, and medication adherence to hypertension (HTN) medications. Aim 2: Describe the relationships between sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, health literacy level, and medication adherence. Aim 3: Compare medication adherence between patients with high health literacy level, low possible health literacy, and low health literacy level.

Background: …

Chaos Is Not Rational: Nursing Leadership And Intuition In Disaster Preparedness And Response, Sarah Banks

Dissertations

Nurses are looked upon as leaders in disaster preparedness and response. Charged with making life-altering decisions, experienced nurse leaders utilize analytical and intuitive strategies to manage crisis situations. Rarely recognized by upper-level management and educational institutions, intuition is our natural ability to know something without any evidence or validation. Intuition allows us to make decisions in ever-changing circumstances when solutions are not obvious. Though difficult to explain, intuition is a powerful skill that gives nurse leaders the confidence needed to make decisions based on their previous experience. Experienced nurse leaders utilize intuition to arrive at a solution without conscious awareness …

Variation In Organizational Factors Influencing The Implementation Of The Pediatric Annual Physical Therapy Visit, Katherine Anne M. Smith

Dissertations

Hypothesis and Research Question

The research hypothesis is “Organizational Factors influencing the implementation of the Pediatric Annual Physical Therapy Visit (PAPTV) vary by practice setting, geographic location, and experience implementing the PAPTV.” The related research question is “How do organizational factors influencing the implementation of the PAPTV vary by geographic location, practice setting, and therapists experience with the PAPTV?

Problem and Purpose of Research

While health promotion and wellness (HPW) initiatives are widely accepted as beneficial to both the patient and the healthcare system, the rollout of new initiatives is often challenging. The PAPTV has been a significant HPW initiative …

Structural Impact Of Epstein-Barr Virus- Encoded Small Rna -1 On Its Transport And Function, Zubaida Hassan

Dissertations

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Encoded RNAs (EBERs) are two small, noncoding, structurally conserved transcripts that are expressed in millions of copies in all stages of EBV infection. Despite their abundant expression, the role of EBERs in EBV biology or pathogenesis is not well defined. However, they are associated with driving cell proliferation and improving intercellular communication via their secretion in exosomes. In spite of the pathogenic potentials of EBERs, the mechanisms involved in their transport and function remain to be elucidated. The aim of this PhD dissertation was to investigate the structural impact of EBER1 in its transport and function. The conserved …

Childhood Trauma And The Faith Maturity Of Seventh-Day Adventist Pastors And Seminarians, Pete A. Palmer

Dissertations

Problem

Unfortunately, Childhood Trauma is a fact of life. For instance, children lose parents/guardians through death or divorce. Children grow up in impoverished situations. Children have parents who suffer from mental illness and/or commit suicide. In addition, more unfortunately, some children are mistreated, neglected, and/or abused. The long-lasting impact of Childhood Trauma includes increased morbidity and mortality, and decreased opportunities for prosperity. This research sought to establish a statistical relationship between Childhood Trauma and Faith Maturity. Childhood Trauma has been demonstrated to affect attachment processes in children and, since religion is an attachment process and God is an attachment figure, …