Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Florida Healthcare Workers Responses To Covid-19, Kristen K. Hicks-Roof

Showcase of Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activity

These two articles were published to describe the landscape of Florida healthcare professionals' responses to COVID-19. These data were collected in mid-2020 when times were unpredictable. These findings shed a lot of light on how we need to better train healthcare professionals on telehealth, interprofessional collaboration and communication among each other and patients.

Alcohol Consumption And Anxiety Amongst College Students, Eardley Belime, Angela Wright, Nathan Jubran, Abigail Lake

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Honorable Mention Winner

“According to a national survey administered by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA 2020) and a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) anxiety is one of the top concerns regarding college students. (APA, 2013) This systematic review was done to determine if there is a relationship between alcohol consumption and anxiety in college students. A total of 26 articles published between the years 2010 and 2020 that were retrieved from Psycinfo met the inclusion criteria needed for the analysis. In looking at the relationship between anxiety and alcohol consumption, the mediators of …

Nutrition Professionals’ Knowledge, Consumption And Recommendations Of Whole Grains, Krystal Walker, Tamara Marsh, Cristina Reyes Gonzalez, Kelly Toups

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Project of Merit Winner

Research outcome: To determine the relationship between nutrition professionals’ knowledge, consumption, and recommendations of whole grains. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with nutrition professionals (n=480). Participants were recruited via email and social media from October 2020-February 2021. The participants completed a validated 21-question survey about whole grain knowledge, consumption, and recommendations. Analysis: The analyses included descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation tests. Results: Survey respondents included 72.5% Registered Dietitians Nutritionists (RD/RDN) and 27.5% RD in training (e.g. dietetic intern, student). Nutrition professionals felt whole grains were important in their own diet (93%) and their patient/clients’ diet …

Systematic Review Of Water-Related Diseases In The Florida Environment, Mckinley Chapman, Amber N. Barnes

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Honorable Mention Winner

Background: Florida’s environments are suitable reservoirs for many disease-causing microorganisms. Pathogens and toxins in Florida waterways hold the potential to infect vectors, animal and human hosts. Many conditions are reportable to the Florida Department of Health. Our objective in this review was to determine which waterborne, water-based, and water-related pathogenic organisms have been documented in Florida’s environments over the last twenty years. Methods: Nineteen databases were searched using keywords relating to the waterborne, water-based toxins, and water-related vector-borne diseases. Peer-reviewed journal articles were included if written in English, published between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2019, …

Dental Disparities: A Quantitative & Regional Analysis Of Male Oral Health In The United States, Hannah Merritt, Gordon Rakita

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Project of Merit Winner

Multiple factors contribute to the oral health of male individuals in the United States, including economic, regional, and gender disparities. My study compares health care coverage and poverty rates to indicators of oral health status and dental care access such as percentage of tooth lost, number of dental visits, and oral health services at federally qualified health centers. This oral health data is drawn from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention across all fifty states in the year 2018 and from the United States Census. By examining this data, I will be able to answer …

Loneliness In Older Adults: The Unspoken Pandemic Under Covid-19, Jacob Perez, Kelly Perniciaro, Tes Tuason

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Project of Merit Winner

Loneliness in older adults has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though loneliness has been a prior public health concern for this population. Loneliness is a perceived lack of social interaction when an individual desires more (Wong, 2017). COVID-19-related social isolation causes older adults to be vulnerable to the effects of loneliness, including increased risk to physical and mental decline, anxiety, depression, and an elevated likelihood of mortality (Levy et. al, 2018; Eldercare Locator, n.d.). Barriers to caring for lonely older adults are the effects of ageism, the increased vulnerability of this population during COVID-19, and …

Physical Activity Patterns Among Adults With Arthritis And Diabetes Who Receive Self-Management Education, A. M. Hall, J. R. Churilla, D. C. Segura, M. R. Richardson, T. M. Johnson

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Project of Merit Winner

PURPOSE: To examine the physical activity (PA) patterns among adults with arthritis and diabetes who receive self-management education. METHODS: Sample (n=28,860) included adults (≥ 18 years of age), with arthritis and diabetes who participated in the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Categories of PA were classified as highly active (HACT), moderately active (MACT), low activity (LACT), and inactive (INACT). Multinomial logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, race, smoking status, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: When compared to a referent group of inactive adults, our findings suggest that adults with arthritis and diabetes …

Obesity Among Hispanics: The Relationship To Lifestyles, Socioeconomic Characteristics, And Education, Stacey Harmer

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Honorable Mention Winner

In the Hispanic community, there are multiple factors that increase the probability of obesity. Among them are the diets and changes in diets over the past several decades, lifestyles and urbanization that have promoted sedentarism, status in society and stratification, education, and gender. Among the populations, women have higher risk of obesity in the Hispanic community. Education and socioeconomic status plays differing roles in the rates of obesity in developed and developing countries. Socioeconomic status affects the resources and support that are available. Urbanization increases the likelihood of adopting diets that are higher in fats and refined …

Psychological Well-Being, Eating Disorder Risk, & Weight-Related Concerns In First Semester College Students, Madisen Reasonover

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Both mental health and eating disorders are increasing health concerns for college students. This study aimed to examine associative links between psychological distress, adverse childhood experiences, food addiction, and weight-related concerns among first semester college students. Freshman students 18 years or older in all majors in a southeastern university were invited to take an online survey. The measures included demographic characteristics, psychological behaviors and eating disorder risks. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to assess associations. Ninety-two students (79.3% female, 61.5% white) completed the survey. Psychological distress was significantly correlated with higher eating disorder risk (stress r=0.28, anxiety r=0.28, depression r=0.42; …

Importance Of Asking For Pronouns: Assessing Cultural Competency Among Bsn Nursing Students, Vincent Doan, Carlee Correia, Julie Baker-Townsend

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

As evidenced by research, the use of personal pronouns in the clinical setting is not very common and is why the LGBTQ+ patient population experiences health care disparities. The improper use of personal pronouns is due to a lack of culturally competent training and awareness among health care workers. This is a quality improvement project for the proper use of gender pronouns, endorsed by the American Nurses Association. It is essential to ask about patient preferences regarding pronouns because it creates a safe space for gender minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Correctly identifying pronouns as healthcare professionals shows …

How Can Project-Based Mentorships Enhance The Dietetics Profession?, V. Tarbell, K. Cottey, M. Sandoval Rodriguez, C. Mccleskey, B. Krpec, K. Beathard, K. Hicks-Roof

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Research Outcomes: The RD Mentorship Program is designed to provide dietetic students (mentee) with the opportunity to gain one-on-one experience with a Registered Dietitian (mentor). This nationwide program evaluates project-based mentorships. Methods: Potential mentors and mentees completed an initial survey that indicated mentor projects and mentee interests. Mentees (n=378) were matched to a mentor (n=264) based on their project preferences and interests. Matches met virtually monthly from September 2020 to April 2021. A mid-program evaluation was sent out in December 2020. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data Results: The mid-program evaluation indicated that 96% (n=265) of participants …

Psychosocial Effects Of Infertility, Elizabeth Kulikov

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Infertility, or the inability to conceive a child, is a symbolic loss that affects up to 20% of couples in the United States. A symbolic loss is a loss due to something other than death. Infertility has been described as a disenfranchised and anticipatory loss that can lead to complicated grief reactions. Disenfranchised losses are those wherein the grief often goes unrecognized, unacknowledged and misunderstood. Despite its prevalence and the severity of the grief and loss associated with infertility, academic literature examining the psychosocial effects of infertility is scarce. The purpose of this project was to investigate the existing literature …

Thriving During Covid-19: Predictors Of Psychological Well-Being And Ways Of Coping, Lauren Boyd, C. Dominik Guess, Teresa Tuason

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

COVID-19 has led to global dramatic shifts in daily life. Following the biopsychosocial model of health, the goal of the current study was to predict people’s psychological well-being (PWB) during the initial lockdown phase of the pandemic and to investigate which coping strategies were most common among people with low and high PWB. Participants were 938 volunteers in the United States who responded to an online survey during pre-peak of the lockdown in April 2020. The main findings were that all three groups of variables—biological, psychological, and socio-economic—significantly contributed to PWB, explaining 53% variance. Social loneliness and sense of agency …

Fuel For Motivation: The Impact Of Empathy In An Educational Setting, Meghan Cosby, Jen Ross, Andrea Arikawa, Kristen Hicks-Roof

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Honorable Mention Winner

According to Merriam Webster, empathy is defined as “the action of or capacity for understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another.” While research related to empathy has mainly focused on the importance of teaching empathy to students, little is known about the relationship between instructor empathy and student outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of empathy on motivation and student outcomes in a sample of undergraduate and graduate students at the University of North Florida. Focus groups were conducted via zoom to …

Planning Care For Visually Impaired Children In The Inpatient Setting: A Literature Review., Aubrey Townsend

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Project of Merit Winner

Topic: In visually impaired children experiencing hospitalization (P), how do specific and age-appropriate interventions (I) compared to that for a child with no visual deficits (C) affect the quality of care (O) during an overnight hospital stay? (T) Methods: This literature review was conducted through PubMed and CINAHL. The keywords searched were “Visual Impairment,” “Visually Impaired,” “Blind*,” “Pediatric*,” “Hospital*,” “VIP,” “Inpatient” and “Child.*” Results: The literature review yielded 20 articles, which were eventually narrowed down to 8 applicable articles. Analysis of the articles identified the need for further research on this topic. Analysis: Two systematic reviews …

Painful Body Surface Area Variance Between Pre-Op And Post-Op Lung Cancer Patients, Brianna Pendergrass, Keesh Powell-Roach, Prashant Singh, Yingwei Yao, Diana J. Wilkie

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Honorable Mention Winner

The focal point of my study is painful body surface area (BSA). BSA is the calculated surface area of the human body. Alot of studies focus on pain intensity (PI) variance rather than painful BSA variance. In this study, painful BSA will be measured before and after lung cancer patients under-go a thoracotomy (lung resection surgery). At the conclusion of this study, the following questions should be answered. Does painful BSA increase, decrease, or remain constant after a thoracotomy surgery? Is there a relationship between PI and BSA? If so, are they inversely related or directly related? …

Safe Sex Practices Among Racial And Ethnic Minority High School Students: 2019 U.S. Yrbs, Hannah Lovett, Rachel Tindel, Aramis Chapman, Anna Schneider, Judith Rodriguez

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

This study explores trends of sex safe practices in high school students, specifically the differences between white students and students of minority races and ethnicities. Past research and data have shown that condom and contraceptive use has decreased across all races, but more significantly among students of racial and ethnic minorities. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is part of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Data is collected at the national level from designated middle and high schools. This study uses data from the 2019 YRBS to analyze current trends of condom use and other birth control use. …

Center For Nutrition And Food Security: Hunger Map, Adremae Alotaya

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Honorable Mention Winner

Environmental Center Leadership Program Project

Food insecurity is an inconsistent access or inability to prepare nutritious foods. In the United States, about 1 in every 6 adults lack the access to nutritious foods. In Duval County, 20.1% of adults suffer from Food Insecurity. Causes of food insecurity is multifactorial and can have a negative effect on an individual’s mental and physical health. The Center for Nutrition and Food Security at the University of North Florida (UNF) is working to address the food insecurity in Northeast Florida by creating a Hunger Map. The Hunger Map consists of four …

Invisible Tolls Of Immigration: Mental Health Among Young Immigrants, Mira Shoukry, Nuria Ibanez

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

This brief literature review details existing research surrounding the topic of mental health among young immigrants while bringing attention to a widely ignored issue. While those born in the United States are generally aware of the large Hispanic immigrant population in the country, most do not witness the extremely difficult and often traumatic process of immigration. A search of the PubMed database has revealed a severe lack of research into the unique factors affecting the mental health of young immigrants. Despite limited studies, there appears to be a general consensus that immigrant children in particular are at a significantly increased …

Toward An Evidence-Based Definition And Classification Of Carbohydrate Food Quality: An Expert Panel Report., Judith C. Rodriguez, Kevin B. Comerford, Yanni Papanikolaou, Julie Miller Jones, Joanne Slavin, Siddhartha Angadi, Adam Drewnoski

Showcase of Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activity

(Article Abstract) Carbohydrate-containing crops provide the bulk of dietary energy worldwide. In addition to their various carbohydrate forms (sugars, starches, fibers) and ratios, these foods may also contain varying amounts and combinations of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, prebiotics, and anti-nutritional factors that may impact diet quality and health. Currently, there is no standardized or unified way to assess the quality of carbohydrate foods for the overall purpose of improving diet quality and health outcomes, creating an urgent need for the development of metrics and tools to better define and classify high-quality carbohydrate foods. The present report is based on …

Apple Cider Vinegar Weight Loss Drinks On Pinterest, Sydney Chamberlain, Jana Mitchell, Davis Major, Lena Elimam, Cassandra Cleland

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Background: More than a third of adults in the U.S. are currently trying to lose weight. Social media, specifically Pinterest with more than 322 million users, has changed the way people seek health information specifically weight loss. Apple cider vinegar has shown great promise for weight loss in controlled lab settings, yet these claims are widely shared on social media and may not yield the same benefits.

Purpose: This study used directed content analysis to examine how apple cider vinegar weight loss drinks were portrayed on Pinterest, a social media website used to bookmark online content. Methods: Using the search …

Normative Does Not Mean Inclusive: A Diverse Approach To Size In Public Health Training, Courtney Boggs, Melinda Rule

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Western cultures, like the United States, typically adhere to the medicalized model of weight and weight loss (Kasardo, 2018; Matacin & Simone, 2019). The medicalized model upholds a Weight Normative Approach which assumes that: weight and disease are positively and causally related, weight loss correlates to better health, bodyweight is controllable, and significant weight loss is possible and sustainable for the majority of people (Calogero, Tylka, Mensinger, Meadows, & Danielsdotir, 2018). This model stigmatizes fat people in order to promote health; it may also create socialized internal weight stigmas (Calogero et. al., 2018). Internalized weight stigma is associated with stagnate …

Orthorexia Nervosa In College Students: Eating Disorder History, Gender, And Dieting Behaviors, Katrina Agger, Brittany Moran, Zhiping Yu Phd, Rnd, Ldn

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Objective: College students are at higher risk for the development of orthorexia nervosa (ON), a term used to describe the pathological obsession with healthy eating. This study aimed to assess how the factors of eating disorder (ED) history, gender, and dieting behaviors affect the ON in this population.

Methods: Students 18 years or older in a southeastern university were invited to take an online survey. Survey questions include Bratman Orthorexia Test (BOT), Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and participant characteristics.

Results: 411 students (ages 18-65, BMI 15.1-55.5, female 75.2%, white 75.6%, graduate students 16.1%) have completed the survey. Comparing to students …

Regenerative Medicine Therapy: Adipose Derived Extracellular Vesicles In Viral Myocarditis, David Gorelov, Damian N. Di Florio, Gary R. Salomon, Angita Jain, Nick E. Saikaili, Danielle J. Beetler, Swikriti Shrestha, Ming Tian, Joy Wolfram Phd, Delisa Fairweather Phd, Katelyn Bruno Phd, Judith D. Ochrietor Phd

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Objective: Myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, is an autoimmune heart disease that can be caused by viruses, bacteria and toxins. Myocarditis can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure. Currently there are no disease-specific therapies for treating myocarditis or preventing progression to DCM. Adipose Extracellular Vesicles (AEVs) are lipid bilayer nanoparticles that are released into the outside environment of adipocytes and provide promising regenerative potential for inflammatory diseases like myocarditis.

Methods: Lipoaspirate was obtained from women and men and AEVs isolated from the lipoaspirate using tangential flow filtration. We injected wild type male BALB/c mice with 250uL AEVs …

Feline-Human Zoonoses Transmission In North Africa: A Systematic Review, Breck Peterson

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Throughout human history, domestic animal species have represented a unique zoonotic disease risk for the transmission of pathogens ranging from viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal. In North Africa, cats have a particularly long record and occupy a specialized niche within many communities. This systematic review was conducted to analyze the current and historical literature documenting the breadth and variety of zoonoses in North Africa, specifically relating to the domesticated feline. Multiple electronic databases were searched on January 16, 2019 for published reports on feline zoonoses in North Africa. A total of 76 studies met the inclusion criteria for a full …

Celebrities In Rehab: Who Is More At Risk?, Skye Downey, Anastasia Kuhles, Beth Kulikov, Vanessa Martinez, Karl Schneider, Sydney Weinreb, Tes Tuason Phd

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Does celebrity status make people more likely to need rehab? The purpose of the current study is to better understand the trends in substance abuse rehabilitation admittance among celebrities from 2005 to 2020. The authors became interested in the topic due to its myriad implications within the clinical mental health counseling field. Popular lore indicates a positive correlation between celebrity status and substance abuse. Previous studies have covered the predictive factors of celebrity downfall, but few have gone into specific trends among rehabilitation admittance. This mixed method review is designed to further look at the specific factors in celebrity status …

Association Between Exposure To Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons And Stroke Among Adults In The United States, Breck Peterson

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants released through multiple processes including manufacturing, automotive emissions, and tobacco smoking. Previous evidence has shown that exposure to PAHs is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, but the association with stroke has not specifically been examined.

Methods: The study used cross-sectional data from the 2005 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 8,650 subjects. Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to investigate the association between exposure to PAHs and an outcome of stroke. The exposure distribution for each PAH was divided into quintiles with the lowest level of exposure …

Forgiveness And Resiliency: The Role Of Forgiveness In Mitigating The Effects Of Daily Stressors And Fostering Overall Wellbeing, Danielle C. Free

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

The field of contemplative science has produced promising research supporting the connection between prosocial skill-building and mental health. From a counseling perspective, this information can be utilized to improve present methodologies and analyze how concepts like forgiveness and meaning-making effect areas of dysfunction, mitigate the effects of daily stressors, and transform the impact of transgressions. The current presentation examines data from two pilot studies (St1 and St2) analyzing the theorized constructs of dispositional forgiveness, how these constructs can be reliably measured, and the benefit of cultivating forgiveness as a form of mental wellness inoculation.

Potential Predictors Of Nodal Metastasis In Early Tongue Cancer Found Through Aperio Image Analysis, Robin Pupo, Neda Qosja, Mohammad Tehseen, Omer Farooq, Arif Jamshaid, Fatima Rehman

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Introduction: Excessive use of cigarettes cigars/ pipe as well as smokeless tobacco is one of the most common cause of oral cancer. In Shaukat Khanum Memorial Center Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC) in Pakistan, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Tongue (SCCOT) is the second most common head and neck malignancy. Approximately 20-30% of patients with early oral tongue carcinoma will have occult neck nodal modal metastasis. Presently, elective neck dissection remains the only reliable way to predict regional and or distant metastasis. There is a pressing need to find reliable biomarkers and non-invasive predictors of metastasis and patient response in early …

Intake Of Fermented Vegetables And Inflammatory Markers In Women: A Pilot And Feasibility Clinical Study, Lauren Larger, Andrea Y. Arikawa

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

The aim of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility and effect of consumption of fermented vegetables on blood markers of inflammation in women. A total of 34 women were randomized into one of three groups: fermented vegetable (Group A, n=11), non-fermented vegetable (Group B, n=13), and control (Group C, n=10). Participants in the vegetable groups were provided ½ cup of vegetables/day for six weeks, while the control group was asked to maintain their regular diet. Blood samples were collected before and after the intervention for measurement of inflammatory markers. Blood pressure, body composition, dietary intake, side effects and …