Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Examination Of Entrainment In Typically Developing Children, Kiersten A. Pope

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Purpose: Conversational entrainment describes the tendency for individuals to align their behavior with their communication partners and is essential for successful interaction. Evidence of entrainment in adults is robust, yet research regarding its development is sparse. Here, we investigate the effectiveness of a quasi-conversational paradigm for the purpose of identifying the speech rate entrainment abilities of children.

Method: Data were collected from a total of 50 typically developing children from 5-14 years old. Participants completed an entrainment task to identify the presence of speech rate modification depending on the presence of “fast” or “slow” stimuli. The entrainment task utilized a …

Access To Dental Care In Fillmore County Minnesota, Katie M. Ristau

Dental Hygiene ETDs

Purpose: Dental care accessibility can be an issue for certain populations and can be an issue for people on Medical Assistance. This has been a struggle throughout our country. The purpose of this research was to assess if the children on Medical Assistance in Fillmore County are in need of dental services and if parents of these children are willing to accept an Advanced Dental Therapist provider. Methods: This descriptive research utilized a survey to collect data on access to care for children on Medical Assistance insurance in Fillmore County, Minnesota. Of the total number of children on Medical Assistance, …

Developing Cultural Awareness Throught Body-Based Skills And Movement With Children In The Catholic Charities Of Joliet Head Start Classroom, Natiya M. Reggans

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this project was to develop a program for Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet Head Start that cultivates social-emotional development in children. Cultural intelligence and pro-social skills are fostered through the methods of creative movement, body-based skills, and art-making. Using the Delphi Method as a guide, I employed two round of interviews. The first round was an open-ended questionnaire for the purpose of brainstorming about cultural difference, and a follow-up informal interview for open dialogue about any questions, comments, or concerns from the collaborators. The logic model was used for data analysis and resulted in the following themes: …

Examining Geographic Variation In Children's Perceived Barriers To Physical Activity And The Implications On Behaviour, Leah Gabrielle Taylor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Low levels of physical activity among Canadian children has become a national public health issue. Recent research has suggested that children’s physical activity levels are associated with their perceptions of their everyday environments. A better understanding of the formation of these perceptions within different contexts is needed to explain the extent of the relationship. Using a multi-tool quantitative protocol, this thesis examines geographic variation in socio-ecological factors influencing children’s perceptions of barriers to PA, and the extent to which perceptions mediate the relationship of the environment and PA. Results indicate that perceptions form within contexts, and have an influence on …

Determinants Of Hydration In Children: The Role Of Physical Activity And Parental Dietary Habits, Hyun-Gyu Suh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of these studies was 1) to examine the factors that influence the water intake in children and 2) to identify the optimal time window to assess hydration status that would be equivalent to 24-hour urine sample in children. METHODS: Study 1: Data for 200 parents (age:3-13y, female:62%, BMI:28.4±7.0kg∙m-2) and 200 children (age:7.5±2.9y, female:44%, BMI:17.7±3.9kg∙m-2) were recruited. Subjects recorded their fluid and food consumption on the 2-day diary, and food data were analyzed by using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) program. Physical activity levels were assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). All urine samples …

Evaluation Of A Youth Emergency Room Enhancement Program For Behavioral Health, Anne Thatcher

Dissertations

Problem. Pediatric mental health complaints and subsequent hospitalizations have been steadily increasing. The Behavioral Health Network (BHN) developed an intensive outreach case management program aimed at reducing youth mental health emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient psychiatric admissions. The Youth Emergency Room Enhancement (YERE) program was a process improvement initiative to provide immediate case management to youth and caregivers for mental health care.

Methods. A Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method utilizing a retrospective case record review occurred over a six-month period. A convenience sample of youth aged 6-20 years presenting to one of eight healthcare facilities for either ED or inpatient hospitalization …

Implementation Of National Pediatric Guidelines To Prevent Chemotherapy Induced Nausea And Vomiting In Children With Cancer, Taryn Sandheinrich

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of supplemental, as needed (prn) pharmacologic interventions for uncontrolled acute chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children with cancer after implementation of new pediatric CINV prophylaxis guidelines. Description of Project: A retrospective chart review was completed on forty-three children admitted to the hospital for chemotherapy during a 3 month period in 2017 to document the use of medications given for acute breakthrough CINV. The pre-implementation group received anti-emetics based on the institutional standard of care. A second retrospective chart review was completed on thirty-three children admitted to …

Reduce Challenging Behaviors And Enhance Functioning In Youth With An Intellectual Disability: A Meta-Analysis Of Behavioral Interventions Using Single Case Design, Brett A. Stone

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 1.8% of students in the public school system have an intellectual disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder. These disabilities cause impairment in multiple domains of functioning. If these students also have challenging behaviors, such as noncompliance, aggression, and stereotypies, these behaviors have been found to cause impairment over and beyond those of the core symptoms associated with the disability. Challenging behaviors in youth with developmental disabilities do not typically subside on their own and need intervention. Thankfully, there are evidence-based behavioral interventions for individuals with developmental disabilities to reduce challenging behaviors and increase more functional behaviors including Applied Behavioral Analysis, …

Articulatory Patterns In Children Who Use Cochlear Implants: An Ultrasound Measure Of Velar Stop Production In Bilingual Speakers, Katherine Javier

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coarticulation occurs in running speech when one speech sound or phoneme overlaps with another. It can be considered a result of the way we sequence and organize our articulators to efficiently produce consecutive consonants and vowels in fluent speech. Previous research has suggested that measures of coarticulation can provide insight into the maturity of the motor speech planning system (Barbier, Perrier, Ménard, Payan, Tiede, & Perkell, 2013; Zharkova & Hewlett, 2009; Zharkova, Hewlett, & Hardcastle, 2011). Speech stability has also been suggested as an indicator of motor speech maturity in previous research using ultrasound imaging of velar-vowel targets (Frisch, Maxfield, …

Focus On Fitness: Incorporating Exercise Into The Treatment Of Children And Adolescents With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Kristin Lulich

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Psychotropic medications, particularly stimulants are frequently used as the first-line treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Many patients and their caregivers have concerns about psychotropic options for treatment. Review of current literature demonstrates the efficacy of physical activity in reducing symptoms of ADHD. Purpose: This evidence based practice (EBP) project introduced regular, scheduled aerobic activity into the treatment plan of children and adolescents with ADHD. The aim of this EBP was to reduce symptoms of ADHD measured by caregivers using the Vanderbilt Ratings Scale. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence Based Practice Model was used to implement this project. …

Imagination Station: Activating Creativity In Children With Disabilities, Allison Dukes

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Play is a major topic of conversation when discussing childhood development is associated with creativity and imagination. Although there has been some research involving the creative process amongst children, little has been explored in regards to expressive arts as a technique to further current studies on play. This paper presents a combined method of intermodal expressive arts therapies and play therapy techniques to aid in the fostering of creativity within children with disabilities by utilized the theoretical framework provided by the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC). A current review of literature on the ETC, cognitive functions, and expressive arts modalities is …

A Dance Movement Therapy Warm Up Method In Bereavement Peer Support Groups For Children, Amanda Moffitt

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Every year in the United States, millions of children experience the death of a parent (Owens 2008; Stikkelbroek, Prinzie, de Graaf, ten Have, and Cuijpers 2012). Parental death in childhood can lead to severe impairments in physical and mental health, as well as overall life satisfaction, because of the potential traumatic nature of the event (Li, Vestergaard, Cnattingius, Gissler, Bech, Obel, & Olsen, 2014; Marks, Jun, & Song, 2007; Perkins & Harris 1990). Children have previously been neglected in regards to grief theory and the traumatic experience such loss impacts children. Recently, research has demonstrated that self-regulation is instrumental in …

Understanding Vegetable Feeding Practices Among Families With Young Children Using Farmers’ Market Coupon Programs: Does Participation Increase Children’S Vegetable Consumption?, Heather Brubaker

Theses - ALL

Background: Children consistently consume low levels of vegetables. Research shows that adults participating in incentivized vegetable programs purchase and consume more vegetables. It is not clear if children in those households eat more vegetables.

Objective: To understand vegetable feeding practices of families with young children using farmers’ market coupon programs: current experiences, program impacts, and additional supports.

Study Design, Settings, Participants: A mixed-methods design was used, which included a demographic survey, children’s vegetable screener, and semi-structured interview. Participants were parents/caregivers (n=23) of children ages 2 to 5 years, using coupons (WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, Health Bucks) at a downtown …

Melodic Contour Identification And Speech Recognition By School-Aged Children, Michael P. Morikawa

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Using the Sung Speech Corpus (SSC), which encompasses a single database that contains musical pitch, timbre variations and speech information in identification tasks, the current study aimed to explore the development of normal-hearing children’s ability to use the pitch and timbre cues. Thirteen normal hearing children were recruited for the study ages ranging from 7 to 16 years old. Participants were separated into two separate groups: Younger (7-9) and Older (10-16). Musical Experience was taken into account as well. The Angel Sound ™ program was utilized for testing which was adopted from previous studies, most recently Crew, Galvin, and Fu …

A Systematic Review Of Language Therapy In Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors, Ari Watt

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Purpose: Brain tumors and associated treatments in children have been shown to cause long term neurological damage. While there is a large body of research focusing on treating associated cognitive deficits, relatively little research has focused on improving linguistic ability in this population. This systematic review identified and summarized the available evidence related to language treatment for pediatric brain tumor survivors.

Methods: A systematic electronic database search resulted in the identification of four relevant treatment studies, two position papers and one online forum. A data extraction manual and form was used to methodically extract study information related to participant demographics, …

Family Dynamics And Auditory Verbal Therapy, Casey Baldwin

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) is an intervention approach that is structured around caregiver involvement. While this model emphasizes the need for interventions to occur throughout the week within activities of daily living, many families have different dynamics and are drifting away from the “standard” two-parent structure. This study aims to explore the different family structures and dynamics of children who are receiving AVT services. Findings demonstrated that AVT does not seem to interfere with participation in extracurricular activities, it may be beneficial for families to have different people in the family taking the child to therapy and facilitating therapy at …

Prevalence Of And Factors Associated With Overweight, Obesity And Metabolic Syndrome Among School Children And Adolescents In Ras Alkhaimah, United Arab Emirates – 2016-2017, Mouza Mohammed Yahed Al Zaabi

Medical Education Dissertations

Introduction: The prevalence of childhood obesity is reported to be increasing rapidly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Excess adiposity is a key independent risk factor for the future development of cardiometabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome. Population-based studies using representative samples are required to provide accurate and valid estimates of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Currently, there is a dearth of pediatric obesity research conducted in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome among school children in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

Method: …

Speech Perception In Mandarin- And Cantonese-Speaking Children With Cochlear Implants: A Systematic Review, Sum Yee Fong

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Current cochlear implants are limited in their ability to convey pitch and tone information. Poor representation of pitch and tone information in cochlear implants hinders lexical tone perception for cochlear-implant users who speak tonal languages such as Mandarin and Cantonese. As the demand for cochlear implants in China is increasing, it is necessary to understand the speech perception abilities of Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking cochlear-implant users and the factors that contribute to improved speech perception for these users.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to perform a systematic review on the speech perception abilities in children with cochlear implants …

Perceptions Of Applied Behavioral Analysis In Speech-Therapy With Individuals With Autism, Irene Cortez

Theses and Dissertations

Speech language pathologists in the pediatric setting will typically find themselves working with children with autism and implementing behavior management strategies in order to implement the most effective therapy. Many of these behavior management strategies fall under the category of applied behavioral analysis, however applied behavioral analysis is not widely implemented as a whole in speech therapy. This thesis reviews current literature regarding autism, behavior management, and Applied Behavioral Analysis in speech therapy; and how speech language pathologists currently perceive applied behavioral analysis and its usefulness in speech therapy. General findings of this thesis revealed that the majority of speech …

Occupational Therapy Led Handwriting Programs In General Education, Angela Hamel, Collin Skilling

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

PIO: Does integrating occupational therapy led handwriting programs into a classroom’s curriculum improve overall handwriting in all children?

Feasibility Trial Intervention “Let’S Move Away From Screen”, Oksana K. Lidke

Doctoral Projects

“Let’s Move Away From Screen” was a six-week quality improvement project implemented in one of West Michigan’s after school programs among students attending 6th and 7th grades. The purpose was to implement physical activity and health education (nutrition, physical activity, and recreational screen time) with major intentions to (a) establish healthy lifestyles and decrease recreational screen time in the after school program and (b) evaluate the project’s acceptability and sustainability by students, parents, volunteers, and the organization. The project’s need was driven by the health needs assessment conducted in February 2016 by the school’s health center. One of the biggest …

Improving Therapeutic Relationships Among Psychiatric Nursing Staff And Adolescent Patients, Carla Kay Cozart

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This Doctor of Nursing Practice Project examined the effect of an evidence-based staff development education program on the attitudes and knowledge levels of nursing staff regarding the mentally ill adolescent patient population, for which they provide treatment and supervision. A convenience sample of 61 nursing staff members participated in the Improving Therapeutic Relationships among Psychiatric Nursing Staff and Patients project, with 74% of the available sample completing all project surveys. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the scores for the responses of participants to the Community Attitudes toward Mentally Ill (CAMI) pre and post-surveys. Concepts scored by this survey included: …

Is Asenapine Or Aripiprazole More Effective Than A Placebo For Reducing Episodes Of Mania In Children With Bipolar I Disorder?, Nicole Silva

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not asenapine or aripiprazole are more effective than a placebo for reducing episodes of mania in children with bipolar I disorder.

Study Design: Review of two randomized control trials (RCTs) published in 2013 and 2015, and a flexible-dose, open-label, extension study published in 2016.

Data Sources: Each article used was published in English and found using PubMed database. All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals.

Outcomes Measured: The clinical superiority of asenapine and aripiprazole were measured by a change in baseline in the Young Mania Rating Scale …

Do Positive Distractions Improve Pediatric Patient Satisfaction In Children Undergoing Medical Procedures?, Audrey Jeon

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not positive distractions improve pediatric patient satisfaction in children undergoing medical procedures.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review compiling data from two randomized controlled trials and one convenience prospective trial between 2012 and 2015, all in the English language.

DATA SOURCES: After a thorough search of PubMed and Cochrane, three pertinent studies were found to include in this review. The selected studies were evaluated to assess the effectiveness of positive distraction techniques in improving pediatric patient satisfaction.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Decrease in anxiety and pain symptoms measured by the Yale …

Is Virtual Reality An Effective Pain Management Treatment During Wound Care Of Pediatric Burn Patients?, Angelica Mcgowan

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is virtual reality an effective pain management treatment during the wound care of pediatric burn patients?”

Study Design: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published, in English, in peer-reviewed journals between 2008-2014.

Data Sources: The three RCTs were found using the PubMed and Ovid databases.

Outcomes measured: All three studies measured pain perception and intensity using self-reporting questionnaires, and visual analogue scales.

Results: Jeffs et al. and Miller et al. both showed that patients using the virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) mechanisms …

Using Foot Pressure Analysis To Predict Reoccurrence Of Deformity For Children With Unilateral Clubfoot, Juanita Jean Wallace

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Reoccurrence of deformity can affect upwards of 64% of children with clubfoot. The ability to use foot function as a measure of reoccurrence has not been previously assessed. The purpose of this investigation was to utilize foot pressure analysis to predict the probability of reoccurrence in children with unilateral clubfoot. Retrospective foot pressure data revealed predictive algorithms detecting the probability of experiencing any type of reoccurrence (overall reoccurrence) and for experiencing a tibialis anterior tendon transfer (TATT). The equation for overall reoccurrence reported sensitivity and specificity of 0.82 and 0.81 and the equation for TATT reported values of 0.81 and …

Psychotropic Medications And Children: Perceptions Of Mental Health Professionals, Elinor Jane Brereton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project explores mental health professionals' perspectives on the prescription of psychotropic medications to children. It emphasizes the placement of biomedicine within its larger social, economic, and political context, and the influence these structures have on the way mental illness is conceptualized and treated in children. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted in Denver, Colorado with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and a pharmaceutical board member to capture multiple perspectives from different positionalities within the field. Participants discussed factors that they believe influence prescribing practices including: professional role changes, issues of access, limited evidence, cost, and institutional pressures to practice within a …

Cultural And Environmental Determinants Of Dental Discoloration Among School-Aged Children In Nigeria, Ogbudu Gabriel Ada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dental discoloration from fluorosis is a global public health problem. In Nigeria, 11.4% of the population is impacted by this disorder. Dental discoloration is caused by successive exposures to high fluoride concentrations during tooth development in utero and it is linked to the development of a variety of psychological and physiological problems, from dental aesthetics to a reduction in intelligence and skeletal changes. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine the cultural and environmental determinants of dental fluorosis in children in a rural community in Nigeria. A multilevel theoretical model was used to develop possible fluoride exposure …

Childhood Asthma In The Midwest, Tiffany Delane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In spite of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines outlining how to diagnose, treat, and educate asthmatics, asthma morbidity and mortality rates are still mounting. Furthermore, the minority population has disproportionately higher rates of unfavorable outcomes from asthma, thereby diminishing their quality of life. The study's theoretical framework was based on the health belief model and explored associations of asthma control with self-efficacy and asthma education. Few studies focus on asthma inequity. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess relationships between asthma control, race, asthma education, and healthcare utilization amongst asthmatic children residing in the Midwest. …

Individual Differences In Music Discrimination And Their Relation To Reading And Reading-Related Skills In Children, Elaina C. Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that there may be a relationship between music and reading. Some researchers have found that musical rhythm is related to reading in children, while others have found that it is musical pitch and not rhythm that correlates with reading. Prosody is the melodic element of language that encompasses both pitch and rhythm. In the past, these have been studied separately. In the present study, we analyzed pitch and rhythm discrimination skills, phonological awareness, prosody and reading in thirty-nine seven and eight year old children. We predicted that music and reading skills would be related, and that prosody would …