Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Mental Confidence In Alzheimer's Disease, Harrison Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A simple symptom like forgetfulness can lead to a gradual, subtle decline in the individual’s sense of identity. In dementia, self-efficacy is the foundation that allow individual to prolong their capacity of independence and identity. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prominent form of dementia with tens of millions in the world currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. AD is most often associated with impaired memory, confusion, language impairment, and unpredictable, agitated, aggressive, and paranoid behavior. While there are many studies examining the quality of life in individuals with AD, there are fewer investigating the psychological effects of AD on the …

Long-Term Health Outcomes For Adult Women Who Experienced Sexual Assault, Jodie Flynn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of sexual assault pre- and post-sexual assault on health, health care experience, and health-related quality of life in adult women. Research identifying quality of life as a health outcome post-sexual assault is limited. No long-term studies to evaluate differences in health-related quality of life pre-and post-sexual assault have been conducted. In addition, only a few studies have investigated mental health changes over time. An exploration into self-perceived general health pre-and post-sexual assault and overall current quality of life needs to be conducted to determine improvements in health care services for …

Factors Affecting Quality Of Life And Asthma Control In Older Adults With Asthma., Karen Schuckmann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Approximately 7.7 percent of adults over the age of 65 have asthma in the United States (U.S), further, the population of older adults in the U.S. will increase to 20% by 2030. Health Related Quality of Life is low for this age group and asthma is often misdiagnosed and undertreated creating a need for research to improve factors that influence Asthma Quality of Life. Aims: This study explored two aims. The first aim evaluates the relationship between medication numeracy and asthma self-management knowledge with asthma self-efficacy. The second aim evaluates medication numeracy, asthma self-management knowledge, asthma self-efficacy, and asthma …

Oral Health-Related Quality Of Life In Us Adults With Type 2 Diabetes., Giang Truong Vu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focused on the relationship between type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and the factors associated with this relationship in the US. The objectives of the dissertation research were a three-part process: (1) to understand the relationships of T2DM with poor OHRQoL, clarify risk and preventive factors that affect this association, and identify research gaps in the literature, (2) to analyze risk factors associated with poor OHRQoL in US adults with T2DM using a nationally representative random probability cluster sample, and (3) to apply structural equation modeling (SEM) to a simplified Andersen’s Behavioral Model …

Person-Centered Care Education For Caregivers Of Patients With Dementia In Long-Term Care Settings, Dawn Buckmire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Person-centered care (PCC) guidelines are being used as a care model to improve health outcomes for residents with impaired cognition. The researcher utilized PCC guidelines to educate caregivers in residential homes to provide care based on the residents’ individualized needs and choices to reduce worsening health conditions and potentially avoidable hospitalizations. The researcher created an educational tool to improve prompt management of health conditions for residents with cognitive impairment and set up a control group (n = 4) and an intervention group (n = 4) to conduct this project. The intervention group received the PCC education guidelines, whereas …

Impact Of Concussion And Orthopedic Injuries On Physical Activity And Quality Of Life After Sport Retirement, Makenna Hancock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

CONTEXT: Concussions and orthopedic injuries represent a significant risk related to participation in collegiate athletics. These injuries can create significant long-term impairments and functional limitations which may also decrease former athletes’ quality of life (QoL) and inhibit their ability to engage in physical activity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate QoL and physical activity levels of former collegiate athletes with a history of concussion and orthopedic injury, orthopedic injury only, and healthy controls. DESIGN: Descriptive, experimental study.
SETTING: Daily life as former National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate athlete.
PARTICIPANTS: Former Division I collegiate athletes competing in football, women’s soccer, baseball, softball, …

Post-Diagnosis Quality Of Life And Mortality In Non-Hispanic White And Hispanic Women Diagnosed With Invasive Breast Cancer., Delvon T. Mattingly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of breast cancer is increasing, and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of breast cancer survivors may help to further understand survivorship. This study evaluated HRQOL as a potential prognostic factor for mortality among Non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Hispanic women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Data were used from the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study. Data for 351 participants were analyzed for associations between HRQOL scores (subscale, component) and mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted to assess the relationship between HRQOL and mortality outcomes (all-cause, breast cancer-specific, non-cancer). Median follow-up time from HRQOL assessment (approximately …

A New Surgical Approach For O-C2 Fusion, Solving The Problem Of Dysphagia., M. Kathryn Mcclure

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The fusion of the second cervical vertebrae to the occipital bone (O-C2 fusion) for head stabilization can result in postoperative dysphagia and dyspnea, negatively impacting the patient’s quality of life. Currently, the O-C2 angle is used for head placement, which may not place the head neutrally. We hypothesize that aligning the external auditory meatus with midline of the C2 will reduce oropharyngeal stenosis, reducing dysphagia. One male patient with poor swallow quality of life who required a revision of a previous O-C2 surgery was evaluated via videofluoroscopy and completed the standard swallow quality of life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) before and after …

Quality Of Life And Healthcare Utilization And Costs Among Adults With Autism, Krutika Maulik Jariwala-Parikh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are to: 1) assess construct validity of the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument, 2) evaluate quality of life (QOL) among adults with autism and 3) assess the prevalence, healthcare utilization and costs, and medication use among adults with autism enrolled in the Medicaid program. METHODS The study methodology included both primary and secondary data collection techniques. For objectives one and two, a cross-sectional, descriptive quantitative design was utilized. An internet-based survey using Qualtrics was administered to adults with autism enrolled with the Interactive Autism Network (IAN). The WHOQOL-BREF instrument was validated …

The Perceived Effects Of Dance For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease And Healthy Amateurs, Taylor Marie Mastin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of dance participation on physical and psychological functioning as perceived by two distinct groups of dancers: dancers with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy amateur (HA) dancers. Dancers in the Parkinson's sample group were gathered from participants in the Dance for PD® program, while healthy amateur dancers were recruited from university dance departments and through social media. Both groups were administered measures related to affect, self-efficacy, quality of life, and which aspects of dance classes were most helpful and/or challenging. Several open-ended questions for both groups were included, along with …

Is Conflict A Factor In A Population's Quality Of Life? A Comparative Study Of University Students In The Palestinian Territories And Jordan, Yara Asi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As nearly one third of the world's population lives in an area that is in some way touched by war, researchers have long been interested in the varied impacts of conflict on civilians. Many indicators, measuring both physical and mental constructs, have been assessed in war-torn populations from around the world, one of which is health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt) are one region in which copious research on health indicators has been undertaken in an effort to understand how long-term conflict manifests itself in noncombatant populations. However, existing studies focus primarily on indicators within the …

A Study Of Fetal Tissue Implantation For The Treatment Of Parkinson's Disease: Can Self-Efficacy And Social Support Predict Physical Functioning And Perceived Treatment?, Bethany L. Fiebelkorn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Few studies have comprehensively explored the benefit of fetal tissue implantation in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. This type of investigation is necessary to better understand how and why some participants in a double-blind investigation of fetal tissue implantation for PD improved following the surgical procedure while others did not (Freed et al., 2001). Data for the present study were collected during a quality of life (QoL) study conducted by McRae et al. (2004) that sampled PD patients who participated in Freed et al.'s (2001) double-blind investigation of fetal tissue implantation. Several aspects of QoL were examined in McRae et al.'s …

A Longitudinal Study Of Fetal Tissue Transplantation Surgery: The Effects On Quality Of Life And Personality For Individuals With Parkinson's Disease, Cynthia C. Cole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive condition that affects the physical, emotional, and social functioning of individuals. Freed et al. (2001) conducted a double-blind sham-controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of fetal tissue transplantation of those with PD. The authors investigated the effects of the surgery across the dimensions of physical and neurological functioning. A quality of life (QoL) study was conducted to determine if there were differences in QoL when comparing those who received the fetal tissue transplantation to those who received the sham surgery (McRae et al., 2004).

While there is little research on the effectiveness …