Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Supporting Mental Health In Children By Providing Basic Skills And Knowledge Of Mental Health To Middle-School Teachers, Mariaelena Falcon

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Mental health first aid training in middle school is an effective way to help teachers gain the necessary knowledge and confidence needed to support students with mental health distress and provide early interventions.

Local Problem: Lack of mental health training may result in teachers facing challenges in identifying and addressing mental health issues among their students. Specific problems resulting from this include limited awareness, insufficient skills, and strategies to effectively communicate and engage with students in mental health distress, and stigma surrounding mental health may make teachers uncomfortable discussing mental health.

Methods: The project will take place at Harper …

Promoting Parent-Child Relationships Through Community-Based Family Wellness Programs To Improve Mental Health In Children, Maria Elena Falcon

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences can affect a child mentally and lead to mental, health, and learning problems later in life. Establishing healthy parent-child relationships through family-oriented programs can promote mental well-being, improve behavior and learning in children and strengthen positive parent-child relationships.

Methods: A systematic electronic search using databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, and PsycINFO, contextualized current research on the importance of parent-child relationships and their influence on mental health. The inclusion criteria for the review used were articles in the English language and relevant dates from 2014 to 2021. The key terms used …

Cm-Ii Meditation As An Intervention To Reduce Stress And Improve Attention: A Study Of Ml Detection, Spectral Analysis, And Hrv Metrics, Sreekanth Gopi

Master of Science in Computer Science Theses

Students frequently face heightened stress due to academic and social pressures, particularly in de- manding fields like computer science and engineering. These challenges are often associated with serious mental health issues, including ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression, and an increased risk of suicide. The average student attention span has notably decreased from 21⁄2 minutes to just 47 seconds, and now it typically takes about 25 minutes to switch attention to a new task (Mark, 2023). Research findings suggest that over 95% of individuals who die by suicide have been diagnosed with depression (Shahtahmasebi, 2013), and almost 20% of students …

Encouraging Medication Compliance By Implementing A Medication Adherence Tool, Regina Taylor

Doctoral Projects

Medication non-adherence has been a common and challenging problem in health care, especially among mental health patients. Studies show medication compliance among psychiatric patients has been at a lower rate than patients with physical conditions. Non-compliance with medications has been one of the considerable contributions to rapid psychiatric hospital readmission. Rapid readmissions have been costing health care billions of dollars annually. The stigma behind mental health has a large contribution to why mental health patients are non-compliant with their psychotropics. Utilization of the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) on a patient to evaluate the patient's willingness and ability to take …

Differences In Mental Health Outcomes And Services By Gender Identity Among Sexual And Gender Minorities During The First Shelter-In-Place Order Of The Covid-19 Pandemic In Texas, 2020, Mariah Victoria Alvarez Ramirez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Within the United States, sexual and gender minorities (SGM), face unique barriers when seeking health services, such as uninsurance, postponing care, and lack of competent services. Within SGM, transgender and gender-expansive (TGX) individuals are more vulnerable as they have higher rates of discrimination and face more barriers to accessing healthcare services. Purpose: Identify differences in mental health outcomes and services by gender identity among sexual and gender minorities residing in Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis of the SGM participants of the COVID-19 and You Survey study (n=1288). Descriptive statistics, bivariate associations …

Associations Between Mental Health Outcomes And Childhood Trauma And Experiences Of Violence During The First Shelter-In-Place For Covid-19 Among Sexual Minority Men Living In Texas, 2020, Sonam Deki

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased mental health issues, disproportionately affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). The relationship between mental health and experiences of trauma and violence are understudied in this population. Purpose: To assess if rates of childhood trauma and COVID-19-related violence are higher for those with depression and anxiety than those without such experiences among cisgender sexual minority men in Texas. Methods: This secondary data analysis is among the cisgender sexual minority men in the COVID-19 and You Survey Study in Texas during the first shelter-in-place order. Descriptive statistics and bivariate associations between trauma and experiences …

Implementing Community Health Workers To Improve The Management Of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases In Children, Julia L. Newell

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Childhood obesity, asthma, and untreated mental health conditions are three examples of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNDs) that pose a host of negative consequences later in life. Minority children from low-income families, especially those with environmental disadvantages, face additional risk factors for the development of these diseases. Community health workers (CHWs) are in a unique position to help address these negative health externalities by being attuned with the linguistic, cultural, and socioemotional needs of members of their communities. Research has demonstrated success in CHW-led interventions curtailing the negative impacts associated with these diseases in low-income, minority communities.

Methods: A literature …

A Quality Improvement Project To Screen For Food Insecurity In Adults With Anxiety Or Depression, Kelsie Evelyn Kroll

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background Food insecurity is the limited availability and inconsistent accessibility of healthy foods (Coleman-Jensen et al., 2022a). Food insecurity contributes to mental health problems. Individuals with food insecurity have greater odds of screening positive for depression and anxiety (Wolfson et al., 2021). The Hunger Vital Sign™ screening tool is a 2-questions evidence-based tool used to identify food insecurity (Hager et al., 2010). Purpose. Implement the Hunger Vital Sign™ tool at a non-profit behavior health clinic to identify food insecurity in adults who screened positive for anxiety or depression, offer resources for them to obtain nutritious food, and provide additional information …

Association Between Frequent Mental Distress And Insurance Status Using The 2022 Brfss, Christina Clayson

Capstone Experience

Objectives

Determine if there is a direct relationship between frequent mental distress and health insurance coverage.

Methods

Data from the 2022 BRFSS was used to calculate adjusted percentages. Crude odds ratios for both mental distress and insurance coverage. Multivariate analysis calculated crude and adjusted odds ratios for frequent mental distress by insurance coverage with income as a covariate.

Results

Individuals reporting frequent mental distress had lower income, less education, and were younger. Individuals without health insurance were more likely to be younger, Hispanic, and not have graduated high school. There was no significant association between frequent mental distress and not …

Reducing The No Show Rates For Mental Health Appointments Among Young Adults, Johnnie Carrico

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Missed patient appointments have become an increasingly significant issue for healthcare organizations, private practices, and clinics. No show appointments can negatively impact the operational functions of these organizations including lost revenue. The clinical practice site’s pre-intervention no-show rate for young adult mental health appointments was 21%. The high percentage of missed mental health visits has resulted in both lost revenue for the clinic and disruptions in patient care.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In young adults 18-25 years with mental health appointments (P) how does patient preferred appointment reminders (I) compared to …

Prevalence Of Type A And Type B Personality Among Undergraduate Nursing Students At Private School Of Nursing Karachi Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study, Farhana Shaheen

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Academic institutions strive for exceptional graduates. However, personality and learning psychology affect student performance. Type A personality students may develop heart palpitations due to impatience and stress. They are less sociable than Type B personalities but more idealistic, competitive, and deadline oriented. These disparities among personalities may impair their academic and job success, especially in healthcare, where interpersonal skills are vital.
Aims: The primary aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of Type A and Type B personality among undergraduate nursing students and to find the association between personality Types and academic years.
Methodology: In this …

Crossing Schools, Language, And Migration Borders: The Experiences Of Latinx And Caribbean Emergent Multilingual Mothers In K-12 Public Schools, Michelle Angelo-Rocha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anti-immigrant sentiment and "English-only" ideologies have a significant impact on educational policies, practices, and processes. This includes parental engagement, the quality of education and life opportunities offered to immigrant children, and families’ well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine how Latinx and Caribbean mothers in Florida with various immigration statuses (i.e., undocumented, asylum seekers, refugees, international students, and mixed-status) and often with limited financial resources attempt to steward their children through the U.S. educational system. The research question was: How did emergent multilingual immigrant mothers experience the K-12 education system in Florida? The sub-question was: How did schools …

Integrative Review: Job Satisfaction Among Nurse Leaders, Meghan Wheeler, Sharrissa Beckford, Chelsey Smith

Master of Science in Nursing Final Projects

The intention behind this research was to identify trends and factors that impact the job satisfaction of nurse leaders in the healthcare setting in America today. The organizational support provided to nursing leaders was consistently found to be a key part of job satisfaction. Mental health and well-being were also identified as integral pieces to ensure nurse leaders were confident in their role and decrease intent to leave. Work/life balance was also found to be an important factor in ensuring nurse leaders experienced high levels of job satisfaction. The burnout of nurse leaders can happen for a variety of reasons …

“I Was Doing The Best With What I Had”: Exploring Student Veterans’ Experiences With Community Reintegration, Food Insecurity, And Health Challenges, Jacquelyn N. Heuer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity is a concern for many populations, including college students and military veterans. The impacts of food insecurity on student veterans are understudied, especially in relation to community reintegration and health. Employing the theoretical frameworks of structural violence and embodiment, this dissertation explores how community reintegration, food insecurity, diet quality, and health interact and influence one another among post-9/11 student veterans in Florida. In doing so, this dissertation considers how the experiences of student veterans are shaped by social inequities (i.e., structural violence) and how these experiences become embodied, thereby shaping student veterans’ health outcomes.

Utilizing findings from surveys …

Community Health Worker Program: Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases In Children, Julia L. Newell

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity, asthma, and untreated mental health conditions, are three examples of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNDs) that pose a host of negative consequences later in life. Community health workers (CHWs) are in a unique position to address these negative health externalities by leveraging linguistic, cultural, and socioemotional connectedness within their communities.

Local Problem: Minority children in the Central Valley of California, face additional risk factors for the development of CNDs. CHWs working in this area require enhanced training on CNDs to improve their practice.

Methods: In partnership with Save the Children (STC), the University of San Francisco (USF) …

Impact Of Resiliency And Self-Care Training On Student Nurses, Johanna V. Grimaldi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The nursing workforce is currently facing a predicted shortage which has been further exacerbated by the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Factors such as increased patient load and acuity, poor staffing conditions, violence in the healthcare system, burnout, and poor mental health among nurses contribute to the complex situation. There is immense need to prepare the next generation to prevent high turnover and low retention rates within the nursing profession.

The purpose of this project was to create and implement a training program to improve the knowledge and application of resiliency and self-care tactics among nursing students at a …

The Social Anxiety Stigma Scale (Sass): Development, Factor Structure, And Validation, Ruba Rum

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary reason people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) do not seek treatment is due to stigma concerns. Yet, our understanding of SAD stigma hinges heavily on measures that assess general mental illness stigma, which may not capture the distinct aspects of SAD. The goal of this research program was to develop and validate a measure of social anxiety stigma that assesses personal stigma towards people with SAD: the Social Anxiety Stigma Scale (SASS). The SASS was evaluated across three studies. In Study 1 (N = 221), an initial item analysis was conducted on 33 items to remove weak items …

Evaluation Of Sensory Room Education To Promote Usage In An Inpatient Psychiatric Setting: A Quality Improvement Project., Breanna M. Coulardot

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Seclusion and restraints are intended to be used as a last resort intervention if a patient presents as harmful to themself or others. However, the use of seclusion and restraints in mental health practice has been questioned for several decades. A 26-year study that researched restraint-related fatalities among children and adolescents in the United States from 1993 to 2018 disclosed 79 deaths (Nunno et al., 2022). Seclusion and restraints also restrict autonomy which can cause retraumatization if a patient was previously neglected or abused (Hammer et al., 2011). Many patients presenting to the project site are survivors of neglect and …

Advanced Mental And Behavioral Health: Community-Based Practice, Erin Crouch

Graduate Projects & Research

The purpose of this Masters project was to emphasize community psychosocial practice through collaboration with a local mental health organization by conducting a needs assessment, implementing a project at the community site, and evaluating the outcomes. Prior to collaboration with the organization, a literature review was conducted analyzing the role of occupational therapy working with individuals with serious mental illness. From this, it was found that occupational therapists can work with individuals with serious mental illness to engage in meaningful occupations, increase a sense of accomplishment, competence, and satisfaction, and participate in community living. Additionally, it is within occupational therapy's …

The Influence Of Minority Stress, Coping, And A Pandemic On The Relationship Between Sexual Orientation And Mental Health: A Mixed Methods Study, James Michael Macchia

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

For decades, scientific literature has shown that sexual minority individuals across populations are disproportionately affected by negative mental health outcomes when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. These disparities are largely attributable to minority stress. Coping is a significant factor that can impact the content and severity of mental health outcomes and coping behaviors have been shown to vary based on sexual orientation. Mental health outcomes may also differ between sexual minority subgroups due to additional factors such as double discrimination and bisexual invisibility/erasure. Moreover, factors such as internalized homophobia and community connectedness have demonstrated strong associations with sexual minority mental …

Mental Health And Parenting Among Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness With And Without Their Children, Rebecca Bergh

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Background: Parent-child separation and custody loss are common among parenting young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH). These experiences may be traumatic for YAEH, a population already vulnerable to mental health disorders and high levels of trauma. Little is known about how YAEH who have their children with them compare to YAEH separated from their children in terms of mental health and risk and resilience factors. Further evidence is needed to better understand the parenting and mental health support needs among YAEH, particularly surrounding parent-child separation.

Aims: This study aimed to examine the characteristics of (1) parenting YAEH living with their children …

Understanding Veteran Perceptions About Mental Health And Its Treatment, Quinn Turner Stoddard

Dissertations and Theses

Mental health illnesses are a growing issue for a large part of the country, and veterans in particular are vulnerable to the numerous negative effects they pose. Despite the high number of people that may benefit from treatment, a variety of issues with trust, stigma, and attitudes may act as barriers to care utilization. In response, this study investigated the perceptions that veterans within the Pacific Northwest hold in regards to mental health treatment as well as their intentions to seek it out should they require it. Using the integrated model of behavioral prediction (IMBP), data was gathered about veterans’ …

Ontario Adults' Mental Health, Wellbeing, And Prosocial Behaviour During The First 16 Months Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study, Katie J. Shillington

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The overall purpose of this dissertation was to provide a detailed assessment of the mental health, wellbeing, and prosocial behaviour of Ontario adults aged 30–59 (those at highest risk for losing years of healthy life due to chronic disease) during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020–August 2021). To address this dissertation’s purpose specifically, four distinct yet thematically connected articles were written. Article 1 provides the starting point of this program of research via an overview of Ontario adults’ inter-related health behaviours (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and dietary intake) and outcomes including, mental health, and wellbeing …

Stress Reduction In Correctional Healthcare Workers: A Survey Of Healthcare Staff Stress Levels In A Tennessee Correctional Facility Using The Perceived Stress Scale, Lashelle Melton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Correctional nurses’ function in a high-stress environment due to the nature of their clients and the importance of environmental security. Job stress and satisfaction are theorized relational concepts that influence intent to stay, and turnover as described in the anticipated turnover model. Acute stress can occur in correctional nurses when faced with unexpected or intense situations, such as a medical emergency, a violent incident, or a suicide attempt. Several factors can contribute to acute stress in correctional nurses, leading to overwhelming feelings and making it difficult for nurses to provide quality care.

Purpose: The DNP project aims …

Impact Of A Standardized Checklist On Post Discharge Appointment Attendance And Readmission Rates Of Veterans With A Mental Health Diagnosis, Henretta N. Milton-Williams

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Inpatient readmissions are among the most severe problems facing hospitals. Readmissions are most common in the first two to five days after discharge, especially among veterans with mental illnesses at the Columbia Veteran Administration Hospital System (CVAHS) inpatient units. The discharge planning process should begin as soon as a patient is admitted and should be updated throughout the inpatient stay to ensure a safe transition of care from inpatient to outpatient. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project is aimed to develop and implement a standardized checklist to streamline and organize the discharge planning for all veterans admitted …

Increasing Music Therapy Referrals In A Surgical Intensive Care Unit., Brandi Cecil

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Medications have been the primary intervention in intensive care unit patients due to the fact that the patients are often unconscious, critically medically ill, or unable to actively participate in nonpharmacological treatment. Researchers have found the integration of music therapy in patient care has helped ease pain, anxiety, and stress, and has been useful in vital control, such as decreasing heart rate and respiration count. A study was conducted in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) to examine the benefits of increasing music therapy consults. Critical care nurses were educated on the advantages of utilizing interdisciplinary care by consulting music …

Decreasing Restraint Times On An Inpatient Psychiatric Unit., Maria Siegel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Restraints are widely used on inpatient psychiatric units when psychiatric patients exhibit escalating behaviors. Physical restraints, including seclusion, increase patients’ risk for injury and psychological trauma. Acute inpatient psychiatric units should aim to use restraints only as a last resort and for as little time as possible to keep the patient and others safe. The literature suggests that ways to decrease restraint rates on inpatient psychiatric units include risk assessment for early identification and proper use of alternative measures. Nursing staff education has been proven to play an important role in decreasing overall restraint times on inpatient psychiatric units. The …

On-Campus Mental Health Service Use Among College Students With Autism: A Case Study Applying The Andersen Behavioral Model Of Health Services Use, Estella C. Lilyquist

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The unique set of impairments and limitations presented by students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) make the accessing of campus-based nonacademic resources more difficult and complicated than their typically developed peers. Each year, the rate of students entering college with disabilities continues to grow, but their mental well-being is relatively poor. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to apply the conceptual framework of the Andersen behavioral model of health services use (ABMHSU) to the experiences of college students with ASD to understand and predict their utilization of campus-provided mental health resources. The participants were seven college students with …

Fostering Resilience In Children Of United States Navy Seals Using A Social Media Platform, Riley Walker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Having resilience helps children overcome, cope, and manage stressors that they encounter throughout life and provides intrinsically protective factors to help a child thrive in the face of adversity.

Local problem: Children of United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land Operators (SEALs) face consistent stress as their parent is away from home more than 240 days per year doing high-risk training exercises.

Methods: Resilience education to mothers of children whose fathers are United States Navy SEALs delivered virtually on a social media platform. Pre- and post- intervention surveys using the Likert scale were conducted to measure the mothers’ understanding …

Be Kind To Your Mind: The Use Of Mobile Based Applications To Reduce Stress And Improve Health Outcomes, Akira Hanson Finn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Now more than ever mental health is in the spotlight on a global scale. Professionals from a variety of different disciplines are being encouraged to evaluate several different coping techniques in order combat the magnitude of societal crisis being discovered post-pandemic. At the top the list is Mindfulness-based interventions. The concept of mindfulness practices is nothing new. Evidence suggests it has existed for thousands of years; however, it is getting more notoriety in the past decade due to increasing expansion of mobile-based applications. These types of technology driven applications offer an easily accessible, convenient, and trackable way for individuals to …