Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Improving Dopamine Monitoring With Ncam And The Effects Of Intranasal Oxytocin On Dopamine Signaling In The Rat Brain, Darren Earl Ginder

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Dopamine (DA) is a neurohormone highly involved in learning and memory. Oxytocin (OXT), another neurohormone, has also been implicated in learning and memory. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is a method used for the real-time examination of DA neurotransmission in the brain. Implanting FSCV electrodes is an invasive technique that likely results in an inflammatory response (i.e. gliosis) that can restrict FSCV recording of DA signals. Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) may reduce gliosis and potentially improve the ability of FSCV electrodes to monitor DA signaling. Chapter 1 Methods: FSCV electrodes were coated with NCAM and implanted in the rat brain. …

Perceptions Of Dental Hygienists' Role On The Prenatal Care Team, Lisa Westhoff

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine dental hygienists’ perceptions of their role on the prenatal care team and perceptions of obstetricians towards the role of dental hygienists as part of the prenatal care team. Methods: Data was collected from an anonymous electronic Likert-style survey sent to obstetricians at Denver Health and Hospitality Authority (DHHA) and Colorado Dental Hygienists’ Association (CODHA) members. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics to provide an overview of survey data from all three subscales: knowledge (subscale 1), scope (subscale 2), and perceptions (subscale 3) and the standard t-Test to determine differences between demographics (collaboration …

Detecting And Mapping Real-Time Influenza-Like Illness Using Twitter Stream Data, Elisha D. Brunette

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Influenza has been identified by the World Health Organization as a global issue that could be more effectively served through an accelerated and widely-accessible public health surveillance tracking process. The ability to map and predict influenza outbreaks in a real-time heat map would be invaluable to health care systems to prepare for influenza outbreaks. In this study, the Twitter stream data is filtered to identify potential influenza-like illness (ILI) cases. Then the tracking of real-time influenza cases is further explored and analyzed through various machine-learning models. Among seven learning models developed to identify ILI tweets, the ELMo deep neural network …

Digital Scan To Enhance Patient Education, Dana Leann Tasche

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the use of a 3D intraoral scan as a visual aid improves a patient’s communication self-efficacy and risk-literacy concerning their periodontal disease status.

Methods: This study used a parallel experimental research design and collected quantitative data through a pre-test and two post-tests for both groups. The Ask, Understand, Remember Assessment (AURA) survey was used to collect quantitative data pertaining to patient communication self-efficacy and the Protection Motivation Survey (PMS) was used to evaluate each patient’s risk-literacy of their periodontal disease. The addition of four Likert-scale questions concerning experience with the …

Exploring Student-Led Interprofessional Education Through A Community Service Project, Lindsay Ann Doerschuk

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore the effectiveness of a student-led interprofessional education (IPE) workshop in improving student attitudes and perceptions toward IPE. Students from four health science programs including Dental Hygiene, Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech and Hearing, Health Services Administration and Occupational Therapy participated in a community service event. Students provided screenings to veteran patients including a health history intake, hearing test, and sleep screening while other students observed.

Methods: Students were asked to attend an orientation, the Vets Day IPE workshop, and a debrief session. This mixed methods approach study utilized the Readiness for Interprofessional …

Naturopathic Physicians’ Attitudes, Knowledge, And Practices Regarding Xylitol In Clinical Practice, Agatha Stavnesli

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Abstract

Purpose: The intent of this study was to assess naturopathic physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of xylitol clinical practice. Methods: This study utilized a convenience sample of naturopathic physicians (NPs) (N=325) through an online survey via SurveyMonkey®. Results: The majority of NPs were knowledgeable of the medical and dental uses of xylitol (84%; n = 53 and 95%; n = 60, respectively). Ninety percent (n=57) viewed the current demand for naturopathic medicine as increasing. The medical literature was the highest ranked source of information on xylitol (45%; n = 28) with clinical practice guidelines being reported …

Endoscope Use To Improve Students’ Periodontal Debridement Skills And Self-Efficacy, Sandra J. Walker

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to determine if using the dental endoscope altered dental hygienists’ perception of periodontal disease, changed their instrumentation skills, helped increase self-efficacy, and if multiple uses had an effect on participants’ self-efficacy in debridement skills. Methods: This mixed-method convenient sample study included dental hygienists (N = 34) recruited from Eastern Washington University Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene or Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Program. EWU Alumni with at least one experience using the dental endoscope during patient care completed an anonymous self-efficacy survey through SurveyMonkey®. The survey included seven demographic questions, …

Perceptions And Attitudes Of Healthcare Students Towards Marijuana, Carrie Crosby

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Perceptions of marijuana were studied in healthcare students at EWU. It was found that most students had an average self-reported knowledge of marijuana use. Marijuana comes in several forms such as, edibles, smoked, patches, and lotions. With its recent legalization in Washington State, sales tax alone has accumulated $400 million dollars in the past 3 years. With this increase in use an examination of healthcare students was warranted. Most students also felt there was a need for more education on marijuana and that their current knowledge level was not enough to be competent when talking with patients about use. Overall, …

The Lasting Impact Of Intraprofessional Education Between Dentists And Dental Hygienists, Kimber Satter

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program at the University of Washington (UW) allows first year dental students to take courses with Eastern Washington University dental hygiene (DH) students. This study was conducted to see if the RIDE program is effective as an Intraprofessional Education (IntraPE) program in improving dentists’ attitudes towards teamwork and understanding the roles and responsibilities of the DH.

Methods: UW School of Dentistry alumni from 2012-2017 were invited to participate in this study. Attitudes towards teamwork and roles and responsibilities were assessed using two online surveys: a demographic survey containing open-ended questions, and a …

A Survey Of Dental Hygiene Program Directors: Curriculum Development And Implementation For The Dental Hygiene-Based Dental Therapist, Heidi Desmarais

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: This study used a survey of program directors and program chairs to analyze relationships related to curriculum development for a dental hygiene-based dental therapist and the question of how external variables affect allied health workforce development and implementation.

Methods: A survey instrument was utilized to help identify the relationship between a dental hygiene-based dental therapist curriculum and the external influences of future needs of the dental hygiene profession and workforce; external influences; and institutional influences on curriculum design and implementation using Spearman’s rho testing. The open-ended question was studied through the application of grounded theory analysis. (N=340).

Results: Upon …

Efficacy Of Brushing With Probiotics For The Reduction Of Gingivitis, Cheri L. Barton

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of brushing with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri on plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation. This study included 34 healthy adult subjects, ages 18-65, exhibiting gingivitis. Participants were asked to participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study testing whether brushing with L. reuteri probiotic drops added to toothpaste reduced the clinical parameters of gingivitis more than brushing with a placebo drop added to toothpaste.

Methods: Biological measurements of plaque accumulation were recorded using disclosing solution and an O’Leary Plaque Score (PS), and gingival inflammation was recorded using a modified …

Veterans Court: Examining The Effectiveness Of Veteran-Specific Rehabilitation, Rochelle Sundeen Diconti

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Due to the growing percentage of mental health illnesses related to combat trauma and traumatic brain injuries, the rates of incarceration, suicide, and substance use disorders are skyrocketing in the returning veteran population. The Veterans Court program directs veterans with certain criminal issues into a program designed to treat veterans in need, as opposed to incarcerating them. The purpose of this study is to conduct an initial examination of the effectiveness of this program by measuring four specific factors directly linked to veteran trauma and mental health. I included measures of problematic-anger, shame, thriving, and veteran-specific reintegration issues. Data was …

Use Of Instructional Videos In Remediation To Enhance Dental Hygiene Students’ Restorative Skills, Cristina Lu

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Performing restorative procedures is one of the scopes of practice for dental hygienists in Washington State. To ensure dental hygiene students are clinically competent with their skills upon graduation, remediation is inevitable. However, with current challenges faculty face with traditional remedial interventions such as heavy workload and faculty availability, an alternative effective method of providing restorative remediation for dental hygiene students would be beneficial. This study investigated whether the use of instructional videos in remediation enhanced dental hygiene students’ restorative skills. Methods: This mixed-method study used a convenience sample of senior dental hygiene students. In this counterbalanced experimental design, …

Childhood Abuse, Dissociation, And Callous-Unemotional Traits, Malika Bains

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between childhood maltreatment (physical, sexual, psychological, neglect and exposure to family violence), dissociation, and callous-unemotional traits. Past literature has recognized that a significant subset of children are developing with an extensive history of abuse in an environment that is devoid of nurturing (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, 2016). Unfortunately, children developing in maladaptive environments often develop unhealthy coping mechanisms that impact their personality later in life (Ford, Chapman, Mack & Pearson, 2006; Messman-Moore & Coates, 2007). One example of this phenomenon is the development of …

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Educational Intervention Of Dental Hygiene Students, Kathrine Pottle

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Dental hygienists (DHs) have a unique opportunity to screen for OSA, but receive limited OSA education within the DH curriculum. This study was conducted to determine if an online educational intervention could significantly increase the knowledge of information relevant to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening in dental hygiene (DH) students. Methods: OSA knowledge was assessed with a 17 question, comprehension based pre-test and post-test. The convenience sample consisted of first year DH students enrolled in DNHY 341S Management of the Medically Compromised at Eastern Washington University (EWU). Participants completed the pre-test, viewed the OSA educational video, completed a post-test, …

A Prospective Investigation Of Joy And Trait Gratitude, Madeline R. Greaves

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This prospective study examined the relationship between trait gratitude and future joy. The purpose was to determine if trait gratitude could predict future joy. Previously, studies have not examined the specific relationship between these two emotions, but there is good reason to believe that joy is a distinct positive emotion, and gratitude may be foundational for the experience of joy. The study was done with university students taking the GRAT, GQ-6, and measures of joy at two time points, seven to nine weeks apart. Data were analyzed from 149 participants recruited from psychology classes. Participants with higher trait gratitude at …

Upper Extremity Strength And Power Field Tests As Predictors Of Pole Vault Performance In Female Collegiate Athletes, Carmen Schluter

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"The purpose of this study was to determine if select upper-extremity strength and power field tests, and the test battery, predict pole vault performance in female pole vaulters. There is very little research on female pole vault athletes, specifically non-elite athletes. Field tests previously shown to be predictive of performance in males were examined to determine if they were also predictive for females. Four tests were used (8 lb backwards medicine ball (MB) throw, 3 m seated rope pull, three pull-ups for time, and maximum pull-ups) to determine if pole vault performance (season personal record for each athlete) could be …

The Impact Of Oral Health On Quality Of Life In The Aging Population, Jana Mannen

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: This study sought to bring awareness to the scientific community of the need for regular dental care in skilled nursing facilities (SNF) by proving access to oral care has an effect on oral health and may have an impact on the SNF residents’ daily performance and Quality of Life (QoL). Methods: This study was conducted at a private SNF in a southern metropolitan area with a sample size of 30 (N=30). The PI and two research assistants conducted interviews and oral exams using a modified 10 item Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) with two free response (QoL) questions, …

Caffeine And Human Perception Of Time, Trevor Fry

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of caffeine on several components of time perception in an attention-demanding task. Review of the current literature shows that the rhythm of the brain's internal clock, controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is believed to mediate the perception of short durations, is sensitive to a variety of stimuli including stimulants. This study expands on previous research on the effect of caffeine on prospective time estimation by having participants estimate multiple short durations while completing a cognitively complex time estimation task involving math. The study included a moderate dose caffeine …

Examining Sexual Satisfaction And Pretending Orgasm, Chelsea Twiss

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

An article in popular women’s magazine, Cosmopolitan, recently revealed a startling admission from its readers: 86% of respondents reported pretending orgasm during intercourse with a partner (Kylstra, 2011). Despite its apparent frequency, there is yet to be a study conducted investigating the relationship between pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction (Ippolito, 2012). Sexual satisfaction is linked with important facets of life such as overall relationship satisfaction and general wellbeing. The present study examines the relationship between experiencing orgasm, pretending orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction. Participants were Eastern Washington University college students recruited via an online survey website (Qualtrics), and who …

Where Should Baby Sleep?: An Examination Of Discourse Regarding Bed Sharing In The United States, Kari Mcclure Mentzer

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Interprofessional Education On Oral Care For Cancer Patients In Dental Hygiene And Nursing, Shaun Christenson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Interprofessional education (IPE) provides academic experiences for students to learn about different professions, their roles, and improving attitudes toward communications between professions with the intent of improving patient overall healthcare. This study evaluated the impact of IPE and knowledge the students gained on oral healthcare for cancer patients.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a convenient sample of nursing and dental hygiene students. Participants were given a pre and post survey to collect quantitative data that included a Readiness for Interprofessional Survey (RIPLS) and a PI-designed multiple-choice survey to determine students’ attitudes and learning. A module of IPE and oral …

The Effects Of A Compassion Focused Intervention On A Non-Clinical Student Population, Adrian Kunemund

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Previous research has suggested that Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is beneficial for individuals suffering from a variety of mental health concerns including depression, shame, and self-criticism. The present study assessed the effects of a 10-week university Introduction to CFT course that includes a group orientation to CFT including exposure to CFT intervention exercises. It was hypothesized that those receiving the CFT course would show reductions in shame, self-criticism, and fears of compassion, and increases in gratitude, positive affect, and self-compassion relative to controls. While some differences were observed between the CFT and control groups, none of the hypothesized group X …

The Relationship Between Simple Pleasures And Trait Gratitude, Megan Shupe

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Grateful disposition is associated with positive affect, happiness, high levels of overall well-being and an appreciation of simple pleasures. This study further examined the relationship between simple pleasures and trait gratitude. I hypothesized that people with higher trait gratitude scores would notice more simple pleasures in their lives and feel more gratitude for simple pleasures than less grateful people. I acquired data from 169 undergraduate students at Eastern Washington University. Results suggested that grateful people experienced the same number of simple pleasures as less grateful people but were more grateful for them. This suggests that although grateful people do not …

Cardiologists Referring Patients For Periodontal Evaluation, Valerie Maxey

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"The association of periodontal disease and atherosclerotic vascular disease is proven in current scientific literature, however there is no empirical evidence that suggests cardiologists recognize this association or collaborate with dentists to address this association for patients. This study utilized qualitative research method to investigate the current beliefs and practices of five cardiologists. Using a standardized open-ended interview technique, the cardiologists were asked 12 interview questions designed to answer three research questions. Grounded theory method of analysis was followed in order to generate theories to answer the research questions. Results imply that while cardiologists accept the oral-systemic link as associative …

Student Participation In Course Evaluations: A Comparison Within Degree Levels, Yvonne Aitken

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Purpose. Identifying participation motivation within degree levels may offer insight and improve Course Evaluations (CEs) effectiveness. Problem Statement. CEs have been used widely in educational settings to gain feedback from students. Studies within literature address participation as a critical factor in gaining feedback. Literature also demonstrates purpose and meaning behind CEs, factors that contribute to participation, and recommendations for improvement, in addition to gaps in research. Little is known how level of degree (undergraduate, Graduate, and Doctorate) affects participation in CEs. Method. This study was designed to address the following research objectives: (a) to determine health professional students' awareness of …

Characteristics Essential To A Career In Dental Hygiene, Andrea J. Bennett

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

With the increase in the number of dental hygiene schools, and decline in graduating dentists, the potential for an excess supply of dental hygienists could result in increased difficulty for dental hygienists to gain employment. Using a quantitative research design in the form of a cross sectional, Likert style survey, this study targeted desirable employability characteristics of dental hygienists by dental employers. The sample was randomly selected from five regions in the US. Each participant was sent three emails containing an introductory letter, consent form, and survey link with a response rate of 5.70% (N=53). Data was analyzed using frequency …

Dental Hygienists' Role In Education Of Oropharyngeal Cancers Caused By Human Papillomaviruses: A Thesis, Lacey Anesi

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"This qualitative design study collected Likert style survey data to describe feelings, perceptions, and attitudes of dental hygienists about their knowledge about oral HPV and its associated risks for OPC. The research quantitatively analyzed the dental hygienists responses from the survey to determine if relationships exist based upon dental hygienists' demographics and knowledge, comfort, and likelihood to discuss oral HPV and HPV vaccine options with patients. The survey found that 81% of surveyed dental hygienists perform an intraoral exam on every patient they care for (n =341, 80.61%). The respondents also indicated that 49.88% (n=212) of dental hygiene patients complete …

Oral Education For Nursing Home Staff: Minimum Data Set 3.0, Katie Pudwill

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"This research study is based on an educational module presented to nursing home staff addressing assessment criteria of the Minimum Data Set 3.0 (MDS) dental section, a tool used by staff to evaluate residents' overall health. Relationships were tested between educating nursing home staff on the dental section and accurate completion of the MDS; between educating staff on correct oral assessment and resulting subsequent referrals for dental treatment; and between dental education and staff perceptions regarding the provision of oral assessment and home care. MDS assessments for nursing home residents (N=176) were collected pre- and post-implementation of the educational module, …

Survey Of The Cancer Patient Experience With Oral Care Information, Debbie Mahre

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Cancer incidence continues to rise. Standard cancer management therapies are known to cause oral complications, such as mucositis (OM), that can range from mild to very severe. Severe OM can require interruption of treatment, and possibly hospitalization for IV rehydration, pain control, and nourishment. Utilizing good oral care practices during treatment has been shown effective to help limit severity and/or reduce duration of OM. Patient education on this concept, and on ideal products and self-care techniques are integral to patient implementation of supportive oral health practices. Unfortunately, patients may not receive comprehensive oral health education that promotes good oral health. …