Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Ubu-Unique But United: A Movement-Based Curriculum For An Inclusive Pre-School Classroom Focusing On Social-Emotional Learning, Julie Schadeck

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this program development is to address the problem of true inclusion by focusing on the role of the body and movement in social-emotional learning (SEL) among pre-school children. Every year, millions of 3 to 4 year old children leave the safe cradle of their home and embark on a life-long journey of discovery where they soon find out that not everyone is like them. To teach them that different does not mean necessarily separate, I used the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension logic model to develop a movement-based curriculum for an inclusive pre-school classroom focusing on SEL. …

Exploring The Conceptual Foundations Of Social Communication In Preschool And School-Aged Children, Kristen H. R. Izaryk

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: Social communication is a complex and dynamic construct that is an important component of human functioning. However, an agreed upon conceptual understanding of social communication within the field of Speech-Language Pathology has been a persistent challenge. Among main issues that obscure our current understanding are those pertaining to terminology, classification, and the boundaries of social communication within social skill. All three impede the advancement of knowledge and sound clinical application. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to investigate the conceptual foundations of social communication.

Method: Two approaches were taken to begin to address these issues. The Delphi …

Developing An Informed Clinical Practice Through The Embodied Discovery Of Somatic Countertransference: An Artistic Inquiry, Nell Mccarty

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

This thesis is an arts-based research project exploring how a new clinician developed an informed clinical practice through gaining embodied awareness of somatic countertransference when working with children who had experienced sexual abuse. Through embodied movement sessions, choreography, and public performance, a dance was created presenting a collection of movement qualities that reflected this author’s somatic countertransference experiences that were had during her time at her internship. A review of literature was conducted on the development of an informed clinical practice for dance/movement therapists, somatic countertransference, 95 pages. embodiment, and artistic inquiry used in research. A description of this project’s …

Prevalence Of Sepsis In Pediatric Populations, Brittany Barnes

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Sepsis and more specifically septic shock in the pediatric population is a diagnosis that is full of complexities. There are instances where a neutropenic oncology patient observes a better outcome than a previously healthy patient who is suffering from the same pathogen related sepsis. Sepsis is the 10th leading cause of death according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and each year between 20,000 and 42,000 children are diagnosed with severe sepsis (Riley & Wheeler, 2012). Even with significant advances in medical treatment, sepsis is still associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. A retrospective study of patient …

Understanding Childhood Hunger: A Qualitative Look At The Issues Hindering Progress In The United States, Samantha Kropp

Honors Theses

This thesis examines childhood hunger as roughly 1 in 5 kids live in households that struggle to put food on the table. These children experience physical problems as a result of their food instability, but this problem is connected to other personal and societal issues, such as poor education. To understand how hunger affects children, this study began with a historical analysis of the past 60 years of government supported programs and policies, such as the school breakfasts and summer lunch programs. Four interviews were conducted with different experts in the field, specifically three individuals from a prominent national non‐profit …

Moving Thru: Dance/Movement Therapy Based Program For Direct Caregivers Of Childhood Survivors Of Human Trafficking And Commercial Sexual Exploitation In Belize, Amy Vanbecelaere

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this project was to; identify the biopsychosocial needs of child survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in Belize and to develop a dance/movement therapy based program that Belizean caregivers can utilize to better serve the children they work with. The Moving THRU (Trauma Healing, Recovery + Understanding) program was developed based on current literature regarding post-trafficking mental health care and information provided in interviews by Belizean direct caregivers currently working with youth who have been trafficked and exploited in the Cayo District of central Belize. The curriculum is designed to help direct caregivers utilize techniques …

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 …

Exploring Holistic Comfort In Children Who Experience A Clinical Venipuncture Procedure, April Athena Bice

Doctoral Dissertations

Children often experience the uncomfortable effects of invasive procedures as a part of primary health supervision and during times of illness. Inadequate procedural comfort management can lead to numerous lasting harmful effects including distrust of healthcare providers, future intensified pain responses, negative cognitive and emotional experiences, and psychosocial health problems (Czarnecki et al. 2011). Holistic comfort has been well documented in adult literature but little research exists on the understanding of holistic procedural comfort from the child’s perspective. The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives of children age 4 to 7 years and their caregivers regarding procedural holistic …

Preliteracy Skills Promoted In Children’S Spanish-Language Books, Katherine Marie Suter

Masters Theses

As of July 1, 2013, the latest census figures indicate that there are approximately 54 million Latinosliving in the U.S. (US Census Bureau, 2013). However, many Latino children still do not receive the services or resources they need to perform well academically. The primary aim of this research study is to determine if the books available to Spanish-speaking Latino¹ populations in two Michigan Counties contain features that might be used to facilitate beginning pre-literacy skills.

Children’s Spanish-language books from bookstores and public libraries were analyzed to determine the presence of features that might facilitate print awareness, phonological awareness, and …

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 …

I'Ve Been Diagnosed: A Champion! Crohn's & Colitis Family Day, Samantha M. Goldberg

Honors College Theses

This Honors thesis outlines the creation of “I’ve Been Diagnosed: A Champion! Crohn’s & Colitis Family Day”—an experience designed to provide Southeast Georgia children and families affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) an opportunity to enhance community involvement and build a support network through therapeutic recreation, team-based activities, education, and a positive family-centered environment. Following the nursing process focusing on the community as the patient, this paper is organized by assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation. A literature review was conducted and interviews with a medical professional and a patient were completed. Specific interventions were planned using the nursing process …

Is Rabeprazole A Safe Treatment For Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease In Children Ages 1-16 Years?, Sarah Applegarth

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of the selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Rabeprazole is a safe treatment for GERD in children less than sixteen years old.

Study Design: Review of three randomized controlled studies. All three studies were published in English between 2007-2013.

Data Sources: Three randomized, un-blinded, controlled studies found using Medline and PubMed

Outcomes Measured: Each trial measured the adverse events that occurred with the use of Rabeprazole for the treatment of GERD in children less than sixteen years of age. This was done by using subjective reporting of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE’s). Differences in the …

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act And High School Obesity, Derek Grills

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

United States high school student obesity rates have doubled in the past 30 years to 13%, threatening the health of millions of adolescents. To mitigate the epidemic, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) in 2010, which mandated significant changes to school nutrition and physical education. From a public policy perspective, the HHFKA changed school nutrition and exercise policy to affect obesity rates by changing intake and energy expenditure at school, though no study using national-level data examined this relationship. As such, the purpose of the study was to examine whether HHFKA policy compliance had a statistically significant effect …

Does Low-Level Arsenic Exposure Predict Blood Pressure In Children?, Tania Angelica Mayorga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background & Significance: Inorganic arsenic is a heavy metal naturally found in soil and human exposure to this heavy metal causes adverse effects. Exposure risks are particularly high in developing children. Arsenic is mainly found in bedrock. It is also a by-product of smelting, it is used in cement production, and historically is has been found in crop pesticides. Among other ill-effects, arsenic exposure in humans can cause respiratory diseases, peripheral neuropathy and liver fibrosis. In particular arsenic has been shown in many studies to be a contributing factor in the risk for hypertension in adults however no studies have …

Monolingual And Bilingual Intervention Outcomes In A Bilingual Child With Autism, Victoria Alexander

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: When treating bilingual children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the language of intervention has been a controversial topic among professionals. There is limited research on the treatment of bilingual children with ASD.

Purpose: To extend the limited research on the use of language of intervention in bilingual children with ASD. This study compared a monolingual English treatment and a bilingual English-Spanish treatment, to examine which one was more efficient.

Methods: A single-subject alternating treatment design with a baseline was used to compare the efficacy of two treatment conditions in increasing language skills in a bilingual child with ASD. The …

Comparison Of Blood Lead Levels Between Children In An Urban Setting And Children In A Rural Setting, Juan Manuel Alvarez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Environmental heavy metal exposure is a public health problem that is of great concern because it is highly toxic for children. The urban setting in downtown El Paso is historically known to be contaminated through various sources of contamination of heavy metals. The goal of this study was to compare whether children in a historically contaminated urban downtown area had significantly increased levels of lead exposure as compared to children in a demographically similar rural area approximately 20 miles north of the urban center, while controlling for gender and age. Cadmium and mercury were also measured for comparison purposes. It …

Therapeutic Animal Camp For Children Affected By Cancer, Katie Fleck

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project looks at the therapeutic benefits of an animal camp for children touched by cancer. Animal assisted therapy techniques were used for children to connect with animals during a week long summer camp. The benefits of working with animals are discussed, as well as research on many therapeutic activities including reiki, labyrinth walking, zentangle drawing, yoga, and drumming. Past camp attendees were recorded and interviewed about their personal experiences at camp. Caregivers of campers were also interviewed, who shared about the positive impact camp had on their family. Multiple benefits were found for this type of camp in …

Silence Improves Anxiety Levels And Test Scores Among Children With Disabilities, Hanna Matatyaho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students with disabilities may experience more anxiety when taking a test than do students without a disability. The purpose of this study was to assess whether a technique called 1-minute of silence reduces anxiety and improves test scores among students with disabilities. The theoretical framework for this study was the theory of planned behavior/reasoned action and the health belief model. Two research questions were used, one to determine the difference in anxiety levels in students with special needs and the other to determine the difference in New York State (NYS) Math posttest scores in children with special needs (no silence, …

African American Eighth Grade Students' Attitudes Toward Hiv/Aids In The District Of Columbia, Enock Kolawole Adewuyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The group most affected by HIV/AIDS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is African Americans. The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge of HIV/AIDS held by African American children as a first step towards developing prevention strategies for these youths. In order to bridge the knowledge-behavior gap, this study sought to investigate the attitude towards HIV/AIDS of African American 8th grade students. The study involved secondary data from the 2012 District of Columbia (DC) Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, obtained from the District of Columbia Office of Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Guided …

Predictors Of Use Of Hydroxyurea And Its Impact On Clinical And Economic Outcomes Among Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Manasi Datar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of use of hydroxyurea (HU) and its impact on clinical and economic outcomes in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) enrolled in Medicaid. Methods: A cohort of patients with SCD was identified in 2006 using ICD-9-CM codes from Medicaid claims from 40 US states. Patients who filled three prescriptions of HU in within 6 months in 2007 were identified as HU users. HU users were then matched with non-users and the impact of HU use on the presence of crises and economic outcomes including presence of …

Caregiver Perceptions Of Healthcare Providers And Environments Related To Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deanna Klettlinger, Lynn Wirfel, Brittany Bielak

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The healthcare setting can be intimidating for any child. For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in particular, this setting can cause anxiety and elicit disruptive behavior. The reactions of children with ASD to healthcare settings have not been widely studied. This study explores the lived experience of caregivers of children with ASD related to healthcare providers and environments. A qualitative phenomenological approach and methods guide the study. Purposive sampling was utilized at a resource center to identify and recruit participants fulfilling inclusion criteria. Sample size consisted of four female and two male adults. Semi-structured interviews were performed and voice …

Demographic Disparities In Children With Behavioral Or Conduct Disorders, Caitlin Dunworth

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

This study examines the demographic disparities in children with externalizing behavior disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder, utilizing secondary data from the 2011/2012 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Current literature suggests that children with externalizing behavior disorders are more likely to be male, live in a low-­‐income family, receive lower grades in school, and to develop later conditions such as depression. Chi square tests and logistic regression were used to examine the associations of presence of a current behavioral or conduct problems with age group, race/ethnicity, sex, household income level, and insurance type. Additionally, associations were …

Beverage Selections And Presence Affect Healthy Eating Index Scores In Lunches Of Elementary Age Children, Whether From Home Or School, Mary K. Barbee

All Master's Theses

Objectives: Examined differences in school lunch meals (served and consumed) brought from home (LBFH) versus National School Lunch Program (NSLP) using Healthy Eating Index 2010 scores for assessment of Meal Quality by component food groups. Influence of beverage selections on HEI-2010 scores were examined for each meal origin. Methods: Digital plate waste estimations were analyzed for 509 NSLP meals and 524 LBFH from 2nd-5th-grade students in four elementary schools during the 2011-2012 academic year. Nutrient Data Software for Research (NDSR) determined food groups and nutrients for calculations. Independent t-tests compared NSLP and LBFH meal components. Two one-way ANOVA tests compared …

Farm To School Programs And Children's Dietary Behaviors, Kathleen Evers

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

There is an increasing promotion of the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption through prevention efforts, specifically in school systems, to control and prevent childhood obesity. Farm to School (FTS) programs offer interactive hands on experiences involving fruits and vegetables. This study examines a specific FTS program including a farmer interaction, and a broccoli taste testing experience for kindergarten and fourth grade students in a rural Kentucky county. By using a digital still photography method of plate waste, the decisions of approximately 115 students to take/not take broccoli and percentage of students’ consumption of broccoli was analyzed. Using chi-square and …

Physical Activity In Nature And Children's Mental Health, Stephanie Marcia Bless

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The aim of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between children's physical activity and wellbeing, and if that relationship is enhanced by physical activity in nature. This study was a non-experimental retrospective multi-informant data review conducted at an outpatient pediatric psychiatric clinic in the Northeast. The theoretical framework used to guide this study was the Health Promotion Model, suggesting Advanced Practice Nursing investigate the relationship between health promoting behaviors and personal factors that support mental wellness in children and protect against mental illness. Data collected included age, sex, and exercise and wellbeing subsections of the Vermont …

Outcomes Of A Combined Mindfulness, Stuttering Modification, And Fluency Shaping Intervention For Children Who Stutter, Jennifer Kordell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A week-long intervention for five school-age children who stutter was implemented using techniques of fluency shaping, stuttering management, and mindfulness training. The purpose of this study was to investigate if children who stutter stuttered less frequently, stuttered with less struggle, and demonstrated changes in mindfulness measures after the completion of this week-long intervention. Pre- to post-treatment measures were analyzed by individual and group-level results. A comparative analysis between reading and narrative tasks was also performed. Findings indicate that three out of five children reduced the total number of disfluencies during the reading task, and two children reduced this total during …

The Experience Of Occupational Therapists' Approaches And Interventions For School-Aged Children And Adolescents With Anxiety, Meg O'Brien, Emily Terhaar

Occupational Therapy Capstones

In the realm of occupational therapy there is not a clear or cohesive evidencebased approach that OT's use to guide intervention planning with school-aged children or adolescent who have anxiety or anxiety secondary to another medical condition. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the experience of 6 pediatric occupational therapists in an outpatient setting in developing and implementing interventions for this population. Researchers utilized a phenomenological qualitative research method completing six interviews to understand the experience of the participants. Findings suggest that occupational therapists who participated in this study feel that they have skills …