Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Factors Contributing To Risky Sexual Activity In The Study Abroad Environment, Tiffany Marcantonio

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers suggest that study abroad students may be an un-identified high risk group for risky sexual activity. The goal of this study was to determine whether factors predictive of risky sexual activity at home (sexual sensation seeking, alcohol and sex expectancies, alcohol consumption and previous risky behaviors) may also influence such behavior while abroad. Data was collected longitudinally with a pre and post survey that assessed the above constructs. Twenty-four study abroad students completed the pre survey and six completed the post survey. Two Independent samples t-tests were conducted to clarify differences between gender and students who completed the pre-survey …

The Effects Of Family Responsibilities And Gender On Seeking Substance-Abuse Treatment, Holly Weiss

Theses and Dissertations

It is evident in the media, from news reports to published research, that substance use is a serious and extensive problem (SAMHSA, 2012). The problem with drug use is not a new issue, but with a changing society the substance abuse issue is changing as well. With substance abuse at its highest in about ten years, it would be expected that treatment admissions would be at the highest levels as well, yet the numbers have remained constant (SAHMSA, 2012). The changing society has helped foster increased drug use, but it has also assisted in developing new difficulties that those affected …

Effects Of Violent Video Games On Sexual Aggression In Males, Elizabeth Ealer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to investigate the link between short-term violent video game play and engagement in sexually aggressive behaviors. In this study, participants were randomly assigned to play 15 minutes of Grand Theft Auto (experimental group) or Tetris Evolution (control group) on an Xbox. After game play, participants engaged in a joke telling paradigm, in which participants were given 10 sexually aggressive jokes, and were instructed to tell between 0-10 of the jokes to a female confederate. The number of jokes told is related to sexually aggressive behaviors outside of the laboratory. The researchers of this study …

The Relationship Between Cognitive Inhibition, Mental Illness, And Creativity, Christina Carter

Theses and Dissertations

The current study explored how the symptom severity of the affective and schizophrenia spectrums related to performance on a divergent thinking task and self-reports of creative achievement, as well as the contribution of cognitive inhibition as a moderating factor between these variables. 98 participants completed a 1.5 hour battery of tests that combined measures between this study and another study. Measures pertaining to this study included self-report measures of schizotypy and hypomania, a divergent thinking creativity task, a computerized stimuli-response task, and two self-reports of creative achievement. Correlations were conducted to examine linear relationships, nonlinear regression models were conducted to …

Glad Nanostructured Arrays With Enhanced Carrier Collection And Light Trapping For Photoconductive And Photovoltaic Device Applications, Hilal Cansizoglu

Theses and Dissertations

Solar energy harvesting has been of great interest for researchers over the past 50 years. Main emphasis has been on developing high quality materials with low defect density and proper band gaps. However, high cost of bulk materials and insufficient light absorption in thin films led to utilization of semiconductor nanostructures in photovoltaics and photonics. Light trapping abilities of nanostructures can provide high optical absorption whereas core/shell nanostructured arrays can allow enhanced charge carrier collection. However, most of the nanofabrication methods that can produce uniform nanostructure geometries are limited in materials, dimensions, and not compatible with industrial production systems. Therefore, …

Outness As A Protective Factor Against Risky Sex In Gay Males, Margaret Levicoff

Theses and Dissertations

Homosexual men between the ages of 15 and 25 constitute a disproportionate majority of new sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS, worldwide (Harper, 2007). Men who have sex with men (MSM) more frequently engage in riskier health behaviors, such as drinking, substance use, and risky sexual practices than their heterosexual counterparts (Hamilton & Mahalik, 2009). The current study sampled 150 self-identified homosexual men between the ages of 18 through 30 to assess whether or not level of outness influenced the likelihood of an individual to engage in risky sexual behaviors. Participants completed an online survey that measured each individual's level …

Examining The Relationship Between Anemia, Cognitive Function, And Socioeconomic Status In School-Aged Ecuadorian Children, Angela Chamberlain

Theses and Dissertations

Background and Objectives: It is estimated that over 40% of children in Ecuador are anemic. Anemia in children can influence physical and cognitive development and have lasting effects on adulthood productivity and quality of life. The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate the relationship of anemia and cognitive function, and (2) determine the influence of demographic factors on cognitive function. Population and Setting: The sample consisted of 175 school-aged children between 5 to 11 years old attending a school in a poverty stricken area of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Methods: A descriptive correlational cross sectional design was used to study …

Automated Grammatical Tagging Of Clinical Language Samples With And Without Salt Coding, Andrea Nielson Hughes

Theses and Dissertations

Language samples are naturalistic sources of information that supersede many of the limitations found in standardized test administration. Although language samples have clinical utility, they are often time intensive. Despite the usefulness of language samples in evaluation and treatment, clinicians may not perform language sample analyses due to the necessary time commitment. Researchers have developed language sample analysis software that automates this process. Coding schemes such as that used by the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software were developed to provide more information regarding appropriate grammatical tag selection. The usefulness of SALT precoding in aiding automated grammatical tagging accuracy …

The Effects Of Marital Attachment And Family-Of-Origin Stressors On Body Mass Index, Merle Natasha Bates

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effect of couple's attachment behavior on family-of-origin (FOO) issues and body mass index (BMI). Previous research has indicated that family and couple relational factors may influence BMI. The vulnerability and stress model provided a theoretical framework for understanding how attachment behaviors may give greater adaptability to managing vulnerabilities from family stress. 1214 couples between the ages of 18 and 70, who identified themselves as in a serious relationship were surveyed using the RELATE questionnaire; both partners responded. Results indicated that there was a significant association between FOO stress and adult …

Establishing Normative Data For Contact Patterns Of Fricative Production By Native German Speakers: An Electropalatography Study, Lisa Diane Isaacson

Theses and Dissertations

Electropalatography (EPG) provides real-time visual biofeedback for linguapalatal contact during speech and swallowing. Historically, EPG has proved to be an effective tool for assessment and treatment of a variety of speech disorders across a wide age range. The present thesis is part of a larger study examining the effectiveness of using EPG in assisting second language (L2) learners to acquire the German fricatives , [x], and //. Real and nonsense word productions were collected from six native German speakers. Electrode activation levels were generally highest for and lowest for [x]. Even when considering the impact of vowel context, [x] consistently …

The Cost Effectiveness Of Psychotherapy For Treating Adults With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Micah Lavar Ingalls

Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents results from cost-analysis research for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in adults. Data for this research was provided by Cigna, a nation-wide healthcare manager in the United States of America. The sample size was 12,845 adults who were diagnosed with PTSD and received outpatient individual and family psychotherapy from one of the following mental health care providers: Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs), Master’s Nurses (RNs), Medical Doctors (MDs), Professional Counselors (LPCs), Psychologists (PSYs), and Social Workers (MSWs). Results were compared across treatment modality, across practitioner license type and between practitioner educational levels. The results demonstrated that family therapy …

Rural Emergency Nurses' Suggestions For Improving End-Of-Life Care Obstacles, Kelly Elizabeth Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: In 2010, of the 129 million visits to the emergency department (ED), 240,000 resulted in the patient dying or being pronounced dead on arrival. This number is likely to continue to increase as a significant portion of the American population ages and seeks care in the ED. Though care in the ED is focused on saving lives, death cannot always be prevented. Consequently, nurses face many barriers to providing quality end-of-life (EOL) care in the ED when death occurs. The purpose of this study was to identify suggestions emergency nurses have to improve EOL care specifically in rural ED's. …

Nicu Nurses' Perceptions Of Obstacles And Supportive Behaviors In End-Of-Life Care, Ann Rogerson

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Losing an infant is difficult for parents to face. To improve EOL care for dying neonates and their families, NICU nurses need to overcome obstacles and implement supportive behaviors. Understanding the size of obstacles and supportive behaviors will better enable NICU nurses to provide quality EOL care. Objectives: To determine the largest obstacles and supportive behaviors in NICU EOL care. Methods: A descriptive quantitative study of a random national sample of 1058 NICU nurses who were members of NANN (National Association of Neonatal Nurses). The National Survey of NICU Nurses' Perceptions of End-of-Life Care questionnaire was mailed twice yielding …

Music Therapy As Treatment For The Psychological Distress Of Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence: Comparing Expressive And Receptive Music Interventions, Kristiana Miner

Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence refers to physical, sexual, or emotional harm committed by a current or former intimate partner. Intimate partner violence has varied and serious repercussions in the lives of its victims. The direct consequences of violence combined with the physical aftermath of emotional distress, fear, and anxiety can lead to a variety of ailments. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and suicide are both major concerns for female victims of IPV. Considering that the issues faced by many victims of DV are pervasive and complex, treatment for survivors needs to be comprehensive and multifaceted. Music therapy is an evidence-based …

The Efficacy Of Bibliotherapy For Social Anxiety And Depressive Symptomology, Paige Palumbo

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the efficacy of a self-help treatment was examined. Participants were undergraduates experiencing comorbid social anxiety and depressive symptoms. It is hypothesized that those in the treatment condition (n=5) would experience a significant reduction in social anxiety and depressive symptoms over the course of the nine week treatment. In addition, it is hypothesized that these gains would be greater than the gains experienced by individuals in the wait-list control condition (n=5). The results of this study did support the hypotheses.

By Word Of Mouth: A Qualitative Approach To Understanding The Integration Of Preventive Dental Health In Primary Care Settings, Joni D. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Childhood and adolescence are sensitive periods in the lifespan when oral and craniofacial appearances can help determine social interactions and lifetime outcomes. In this respect, oral health can be viewed as more than just brushing or flossing for healthy teeth; children’s oral health can influence their social development and behaviors, impact their academic growth, affect their guardian’s responsibility for healthcare cost and create a potential pathway for negative impacts on quality of life. Access to quality oral healthcare is vital for the prevention of unwanted diseases and to avoid the burden of oral health complications. Oral health disparities may not …

Prostate Specific Antigen (Psa) Growth Curves: A Method To Improve Prostate Cancer Screening, Azza Shoaibi

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer (PrCA) screening aimed at detecting aggressive disease represents a significant public health issue. Development of biomarkers to predict PrCA that is likely to kill if left untreated is a major challenge. This dissertation focused on analyzing existing repeated measures of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) to develop and validate a tool to improve both sensitivity and specificity of the PSA-based screening test to detect high-risk PrCA. We used the Prostate Lung Colorectal and Ovarian trial data (PLCO) for PSA growth model building. Using 6 years of annual PSA measurements we established the PSA growth curves for four groups of …

Association Between Electronic Prescribing Among Ambulatory Care Providers And Adverse Drug Event Hospitalizations In Older Adults, Grishma Patel Bhavsar

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose.

This dissertation research sought to determine whether the proportion of physicians using electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) was associated with the hospitalization rate for adverse drug events (ADEs) among patients aged 65 and older in 2011. Additionally, we sought to determine whether increases in the proportion of e-prescribing physicians in a county were associated with decreases in the hospitalization rate for ADE among older adults.

Methods.

Two study designs were used, a cross-sectional study using 2011 data and a pre-post- study using 2008 and 2011 data. Data from the 2008 and 2011 State Inpatient Databases, the Office of the National …

Ecpat: Development And Testing Of Mobile Technology To Engage Youth In Active Living Policy, Systems, And Environmental Health Promotion Efforts, Gina M. Besenyi

Theses and Dissertations

Modifying the built environment is a promising way to promote youth physical activity and reduce obesity. Parks, in particular, are key intervention venues given their low cost and legislated ubiquity. Creating healthy communities, including better parks, will require the interest and participation of multiple constituencies, including youth. Creation of mobile technology environmental audit tools can provide a more interactive way for youth to engage with communities and facilitate participation in participatory action research (PAR) and health promotion efforts.

The purpose of the first study was to describe the development and validity and reliability testing of an electronic version of the …

Spatial Analysis And Correlates Of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking Among College Students In The United States, Frederick Richard Kates

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: In the United States, young adults have the highest prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) according to National Adult Tobacco Surveys (NATS) published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Experimentation of different tobacco products is highest among 18-24 year olds. Most recently, WTS has surged in popularity among this demographic group. The rapid diffusion of WTS among this population has been accelerated by marketing efforts on the Internet. There are misperceptions that WTS is less harmful than smoking cigarettes and there is a proliferation of WTS establishments due to tobacco retail exemptions. Presently, WTS establishments are almost completely …

Diagnostics And Model Selection For Generalized Linear Models And Generalized Estimating Equations, Chelsea Boquet Deroche

Theses and Dissertations

The use of generalized linear models and generalized estimating equations in the public health and medical fields are important tools for research, specifically for modeling clinical trials, evaluating preventive measures, and secondary data analysis. It is important for these researchers to have the necessary tools to analyze and model their data correctly. This dissertation focuses on a penalized maximum likelihood estimation method for generalized linear models, measures of association such as the coefficient of determination and R² for generalized estimating equations, and a modified quasi-likelihood information criterion for generalized estimation equations.

Common problems that arise during estimation of generalized …

Smoking Cessation In Pregnancy And Gestational Weight Gain In South Carolinian Mothers, 2009-2011, Laquenta Latreese Weldon

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To determine if smoking cessation during pregnancy is associated with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG).

Methods: Data came from the 2009-2011 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), an ongoing population-based survey of live births in South Carolina (n=2,603). Participant smoking status was classified as nonsmoker (did not smoke before or during pregnancy), persistent smoker (smoked before and throughout pregnancy), or quitter (smoked before but quit during pregnancy). Multinomial logistic regression model was estimated to examine the association between smoking status and meeting the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines, while linear regression model was used for the continuous outcomes such …

Longitudinal Study Of The Effectiveness Of The South Carolina Medicaid Policy For The Application Of Fluoride Varnish For Children Age Three And Under, Christine N. Veschusio

Theses and Dissertations

In South Carolina, the burden of dental decay disproportionately affects disadvantaged children enrolled in Medicaid (Dye et al., 2012; Martin et al., 2012; Ayers et al., 2013). To address this oral health disparity, South Carolina’s Medicaid Program initiated payment to physicians for the delivery of fluoride varnish (FV), an evidence-based preventive dental service at the well-child visit, to children up to thirty-six months of age. Fluoride varnish has been found to reduce dental decay by thirty-seven percent when applied two to four times a year (Weyant et al., 2013; Marinho et al., 2013).

Two retrospective cohort studies were undertaken to …

Cannabinoid-Mediated Epigenetic Regulation Of Immune Functions, Jessica Margaret Sido

Theses and Dissertations

The cannabinoid system consisting of exogenous and endogenous ligands as well as dedicated receptors has been proposed to play a regulatory role in immune functions. The exogenous cannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the most widely studied marijuana derivatives, has been associated with multiple anti-inflammatory properties over the years. The majority of THC research has centered on the shift from Th1 to Th2 responses however, the complexity of inflammation has since increased. Recent studies have revealed that epigenome, Th cell subsets, and immunoregulatory cell induction, are all known to impact inflammation. In the current research, we have attempted to look holistically …

Preferences For Systems Of Psychotherapy And Beliefs About The Causes Of Depression, Andrew Jarema

Theses and Dissertations

Despite multiple treatments being equally effective in treating depression, individuals may have preferences for which intervention they receive. There has been evidence that psychotherapy is preferred over medication or other professional treatments. Psychotherapy, however, is a broad term that does not capture the reality of diverse systems of therapy available to consumers. Therefore, the current study hypothesized that if given the choice between conceptually different types of psychotherapy, individuals would express a preference for at least one treatment over the others. Results from 221 college students indicate that when offered descriptions of problem-solving, cognitive, interpersonal, or behavioral activation therapies, both …

Precoding And The Accuracy Of Automated Analysis Of Child Language Samples, Rachel Christine Winiecke

Theses and Dissertations

Language sample analysis is accepted as the gold standard in child language assessment. Unfortunately it is often viewed as too time consuming for the practicing clinician. Over the last 15 years a great deal of research has been invested in the automated analysis of child language samples to make the process more time efficient. One step in the analysis process may be precoding the sample, as is used in the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software. However, a claim has been made (MacWhinney, 2008) that such precoding in fact leads to lower accuracy because of manual coding errors. No …

The Efficacy Of A Social Communication Intervention To Increase Syntactic Complexity In Narratives Of Children With Language Impairment, Alexandra Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that children with Language Impairment (LI) struggle with social communication skills in addition to their characteristic syntactic difficulties. This pilot study analyzed the potential change in grammatical complexity in narratives of five children with LI when enrolled in a social communication intervention. The intervention itself focused on teaching emotion understanding by reading and reenacting children’s stories and journaling. Grammatical limitations were indirectly addressed by clinician modeling of complex forms during the intervention sessions. Each child’s productions were assessed and analyzed for grammatical complexity during retelling a book in the Mercer Mayer “a boy, a dog, and a …

The Experience Of Siblings Of Youth With Type 1 Diabetes, Stephanie Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Background. Type 1 diabetes requires intensive management, including blood glucose monitoring, carbohydrate counting and dietary modification, and administering insulin. When a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, family dynamics are often altered as family schedules revolve around care for the child with diabetes. In addition, siblings face unique challenges as they become involved in the care of the child with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, it is important to understand experiences of siblings of youth with type 1 diabetes. Aims and Objectives. To identify experiences of siblings of children with type 1 diabetes from their own perspectives. Sample. As part …

The Efficacy Of A Social Communication Intervention On Teacher Report Of Withdrawal For Children With Language Impairment, Allyson Roscher

Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies and literature regarding children with language impairment (LI) indicate that these children have difficulty with social communication skills. This study assessed the effect of a social communication intervention on teacher perceptions of withdrawal in six elementary school age participants with LI. The social communication intervention included story sharing, identifying pictures of facial expressions, and journaling to target emotion understanding. The Teacher Behavior Rating Scale (TBRS) was utilized to measure teacher perception of withdrawal. The TBRS examined three subscales of social withdrawal: solitary-active withdrawal, solitary-passive withdrawal, and reticence. Following treatment, teacher ratings of withdrawn behavior decreased for all six …

What Do You Want To Eat? A Descriptive Study Of Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islanders' Home Food Environment, Petr Ruda

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Home food environments are created when families stock their kitchens with food, which contributes to their dietary patterns and weight management. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NPHIs) have a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. A description of their home food environment can help nurses understand NHPIs' dietary patterns. Our purpose was to describe NHPIs' home food environments by analyzing grocery store and restaurant receipts. Design and Sample: This descriptive study used analyzed qualitative and quantitative data from eight NHPI families, collected over an 8-week period. Measures: Grocery store and restaurant receipts were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Families' dietary …