Effect Of Ginseng On Obesity And Neurogenesis, Hayden L. Withers, Claudia A. Grillo, Lawrence P. Reagan, Natalia Maciejewska, Sai V. Nallu, Jennifer L. Woodruff

Senior Theses

Obesity and major depressive disorder are two conditions with high comorbidity as well as overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms, including neuroinflammation, metabolic/endocrine dysfunction, and impaired hippocampal neurogenesis. Panax ginseng, a medicinal herb, is known to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and metabolic regulatory properties. Ginseng has demonstrated its effective antidepressant-like effects within preclinical studies, but its potential to restore neurogenesis in the context of obesity-induced depression is not clear. Within this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were tested in either a high fat diet (HFD) or control diet (Cont) for 12 weeks and then was treated subsequently with daily intraperitoneal injections of either ginseng or saline …

Increased Backbone Rigidity Of Artificial Transcription Factors, Jasmine Glover, Emma Otey, Joanna K. Kwao, Nicholas Truex

Senior Theses

Programming DNA-binding proteins is an effective strategy for developing therapeutics that regulate gene expression. These proteins can directly bind to DNA to activate or repress transcription of specific genes. Zinc finger proteins are a class of DNA-binding proteins commonly found in eukaryotic organisms. Their DNA-binding function is derived from unique amino acid sequences within each domain that recognizes specific nucleotides, allowing each finger to selectively recognize three DNA base pairs. Adjoining of multiple domains in tandem allows recognition of a specific DNA sequence. Artificial transcription factors can be made of multiple zinc finger domains arranged in tandem and engineered to …

Empowering Mothers: Occupational Therapy Video Series For Postpartum Depression, Brenda J. Ramos

Student Capstone Papers

The purpose of this research is to highlight the importance of maternal mental health and the use of self-regulation techniques to improve PPD. OTs can use self-regulation techniques as an intervention to assist mothers feel regulated and get through day-to-day tasks.

Educating Staff Nurses On Pain Reassessment, Katie Louise Pemberton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pain is one of the most common reasons that patients seek medical care, and chronic pain is a major health problem. The goal of this project was to address a lack of current, evidence-based knowledge of nurses regarding pain reassessment. The context for this project was a medical-surgical area in a rural hospital. The Doctor of Nursing Practice project attempted to answer the practice focus question on whether education improved knowledge related to improving pain reassessment. The project framework utilized in the doctoral project was the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model. An education program was designed with the …

Effect Of The Senior Clinical Practicum On Baccalaureate Nursing Student Self-Efficacy, Allyson N. Mattingly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

While nursing shortages are increasing and nurses are reporting higher rates of burnout and job-related stress, it is critical that educators in pre-licensure nursing programs identify strategies to better prepare novice nurses for entering the workforce. Using Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory as a framework, this study sought to investigate whether a senior clinical practicum experience increases general and nursing competence self-efficacy, which may indicate better ability to cope in the face of adversity. This study was a quantitative one-group pretest-posttest design, investigating undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students from accredited institutions in Kentucky. Results suggest that the clinical …

Staff Education To Improve Mental Health Staff Knowledge On Mobile Health Applications For Medication Adherence, Chipasha Chingwengwezi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite rising evidence supporting the efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) applications to enhance medication adherence among individuals with mental health conditions, there is little utilization of these applications within mental health facilities. This project aimed to address the issue of implementing an interactive education program to enhance the knowledge of mental health staff and skills in the application of mHealth apps to enhance medication adherence. The main objective of this project was to fill the gap between conducting research and implementing its outcomes by providing staff with the knowledge and skills to incorporate mHealth applications into their daily practice. The …

Nursing Students’ Attitudes About Correcting Health Misinformation On Social Media, Heather Ann Hill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health misinformation on social media is a global public health concern. Research has shown that health misinformation causes significant harm in communities, especially for vulnerable populations with existing health disparities. Nurses have been urged to play a more significant role in combating health misinformation. Existing research has shown that nurses are hesitant to correct health misinformation on social media, but attitudes among current nursing students have not been examined. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore nursing students' attitudes about correcting health misinformation on social media. Guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior and Paterson and Zderad’s …

Education To Improve Knowledge On Effective Communication Among Health Care Staff, Afolake Olajumoke Benson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was conducted at a family practice clinic to assess the impact of staff education on the clinic staff knowledge of the use of situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) as a communication tool. Miscommunication among healthcare staff is a practice problem at the clinic caused by unstructured sharing of information, which often results in delay in patient care, occurrence of medical errors, and decrease in patient safety, thus the need to address this problem. The purpose of the project was to use staff education on SBAR to increase the clinic staff knowledge on the use of SBAR as …

Improving Pre-Nursing Retention Through Structured Readiness Modules: Development Of The Pre-Nursing Information Hub, Amber M. Carter

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Amber M. Carter on March 30, 2026.

Examining Predictors For Surgical Site Infection Following Abdominal Hysterectomy Among Women In New York, Nicole Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain one of the most frequent and preventable complications following abdominal hysterectomy. Existing literature has focused on clinical and procedural risk factors, while less is known about how social conditions shape surgical outcomes. This gap is especially concerning for women in New York State (NYS) where differences in income, marital status, primary payer, rurality, and county-level food insecurity may influence postoperative outcomes and subsequent care. The socioecological model provided the foundation for this retrospective cohort study by examining how social drivers of health (SDoH) are associated with SSI incidence following abdominal hysterectomy, and whether food insecurity …

U.S. Pharmacists’ Perceptions Of Getting The Covid-19 Vaccine And How That Affects Their Interactions With The Public, Megan Boals

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pharmacists play a pivotal role in public health, particularly in promoting vaccination. However, vaccine hesitancy among pharmacists significantly undermines their willingness to provide effective patient counseling and to advocate for vaccination, potentially eroding public trust in vaccines. This descriptive-phenomenological study sought to understand the factors contributing to pharmacists’ COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and how this hesitancy affected their willingness to recommend vaccines to patients. Twenty practicing pharmacists were interviewed via Zoom between September 23 and October 14, 2025. The health belief model helped interpret the study findings. Thematic analysis, as described by Braun and Clarke, was conducted to identify and interpret …

Ribosomal Stress In The Pathogenesis And Treatment Of T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Kimberly Bridget Johansson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy in which activating mutations in the Notch pathway are thought to contribute to transformation, in part, through activation of c-Myc. Increased expression of c-Myc induces oncogenic stress that can lead to apoptosis through the Mdm2-p53 tumor suppressor pathway. Since the great majority of T-ALL cases maintain wildtype MDM2 and TP53, we hypothesized that T-ALL cells are selectively sensitive to MDM2 inhibition. Treatment with idasanutlin, an MDM2 inhibitor, although only inducing modest apoptosis in T-ALL cells, resulted in a significant upregulation of pro-apoptotic BH3 domain genes BAX and BBC3. This prompted …

Implementing An Acuity-Based Staffing Model To Improve Staffing Equity And Patient Safety In An Inpatient Mental Health Unit, Vivian Emuobe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understaffing during the weekends has been related to issues in patient safety, delayed responses, and increased nurse fatigue and turnover in a majority of inpatient mental health units. This practice improvement Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to address disparities in nurse staffing ratios between weekdays and weekends within inpatient mental health units. The purpose of the project was to design and test an evidence-based acuity-based staffing model, supported by structured staff education and compliance monitoring, to promote equitable workload distribution and improve patient and organizational outcomes. The guiding practice question asked: How does the implementation of an acuity-based …

Falls In Inpatient Hospital Settings, Merlina Constantine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inpatient falls are a common and preventable problem that affects health care costs, patient safety, and clinical quality. Inpatient falls occur within hospitals, cause harm, extend hospitalization, and require additional healthcare funding. Falls harm a patient’s physical health and cause emotional trauma, decrease patient satisfaction, and undermine confidence in the hospital care systems. Falls are therefore a significant concern in the nursing practice environment because nurses form the first component of prevention, monitoring, and intervention. This doctoral project aimed to re-educate and reinforce staff understanding of clinical guidelines to prevent inpatient falls through evidence-based interventions targeting environmental, behavioral, and organizational …

Enhancing Staff Education For Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring In Rural Clinics, Judi Brown Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This is an educational intervention project targeted was developed to fill a knowledge gap in the treatment of hypertension in a rural primary care clinic. The project focused on enhancing staff education for Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring (RBPM) to enhance the desired patient outcomes regarding continuous monitoring and early interventional actions. The practice problem focuses on the lack of effective methods in managing hypertension that can facilitate the identification of hypertensive crisis and in rural areas. This project's primary research question is: "How can staff education on RBPM enhance knowledge and skills about hypertension management in rural clinics?" The project …

Theory, Experiments, And Image Recovery Algorithms For X-Ray Interferometry, Hunter C. Meyer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: X-ray grating interferometry is a form of X-ray phase contrast imaging capable of simultaneously measuring attenuation, differential-phase, and dark-field images arising from X-ray absorption, refraction, and small-angle scattering, respectively. These additional contrast mechanisms have potential clinical and industrial applications, particularly for lung tissue characterization and disease identification. As grating interferometers approach clinical viability, key challenges include reducing X-ray dose, mitigating mechanical instability, and correcting spectral artifacts resulting from beam hardening.

Methods: The modulated phase grating interferometer (MPGI) is a potential solution for reducing X-ray dose by eliminating the analyzer grating used in alternative interferometer designs, including the Talbot-Lau interferometer …

Assessing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Christine A. Mccaulay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice capstone project presents the development and evaluation of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the assessment and management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in adults. The project addresses the ongoing challenge of diabetes-related complications and hospitalizations, highlighting the critical role of personalized patient education and the integration of smartphone technology for home monitoring. Central to this initiative was the question of whether an expert panel would endorse an evidence-based guideline for diabetes monitoring using innovative technology, as evaluated by the AGREE II tool. A robust review of the literature supported the guideline’s development, with high-quality …

Reducing Social Isolation In Elderly Hospice Patients Through Structured Social Interventions, Ashley Babayan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was conducted as a quality improvement organizational change initiative aimed at reducing social isolation among elderly hospice patients through structured social interventions. Social isolation is a significant psychosocial concern in hospice populations and is associated with increased emotional distress, depression, and decreased quality of life. Despite hospice care’s holistic philosophy, structured and standardized social engagement interventions are inconsistently implemented across settings, creating a gap in practice. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: In elderly hospice patients experiencing social isolation, how do structured social interventions (regular visits, group activities, and emotional support systems), compared to standard hospice …

Strategic Planning Time Horizons And Hospital Performance Outcomes, David Meyer

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Background: Despite widespread adoption of strategic planning in healthcare, empirical evidence linking strategic planning time horizons to hospital financial and quality performance outcomes remains limited. Healthcare executives invest substantial resources in strategic planning processes, yet lack evidence-based guidance on whether longer or shorter planning horizons yield enhanced financial and quality-related results.

Methods: This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design combining executive survey data with archival performance data. A REDCap survey was administered to 22 hospital CEOs, CFOs, and other C-suite executives between January and February 2026. Survey responses were matched to publicly available financial and quality performance data from …

Evaluating U.S. Health Policy Levers Using Difference-In-Differences: Hospital Acquisitions, Global Budgets, And Income Policies, Kola Adegoke

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Background: U.S. health policy relies on multiple levers to influence system performance, financial stability, and population health. This dissertation uses a three-paper portfolio to evaluate organizational change (hospital acquisitions), payment reform (Maryland all-payer global budgets), and income-related state policies, applying difference-in-differences (DiD) designs with prespecified diagnostics to support causal interpretation.

Methods: Study 1 examined hospital change-of-ownership (CHOW) acquisitions using a national hospital-year panel from RAND HCRIS (2014–2023), linked to CHOW timing data from 2016–2023. Effects on revenue outcomes were estimated using a staggered difference-in-differences design implemented with the Callaway and Sant’Anna estimator, using doubly robust inverse probability weighting, hospital-level …

Utilizing Proactive Rounding With Nursing Leadership To Improve Patient Satisfaction Scores In An Adult Medical-Surgical Unit, Lily A. Bogyah

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Patient satisfaction is a key quality indicator that reflects patients’ perceptions of care and the healthcare system’s performance. Patient satisfaction scores at the project site were significantly lower than the national benchmark, particularly on the adult medical-surgical unit.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In patients on an adult medical-surgical unit (P), how does the use of proactive patient rounding conducted by nurse leaders (I) versus current practices alone without such rounding (C) affect patient satisfaction scores over an eight-week period (T)?

Evidence: A literature review of multiple studies found that implementing daily nurse leader …

Spatial Narrative Beyond The Proscenium: Set Design As A Tool For Wellness, Christina Griffey

LSU Master's Theses

Inspired by a health crisis that led to spending time in medical settings, this thesis examines how our surroundings impact our well-being. By developing a framework that explores the topics of storytelling, space, place, theatre, and expanded scenography, I propose that set design can be used as a tool for wellness. I explore several disciplines through the lens of set design and highlight the disciplines, professionals, and designers that are contributing to the creation of therapeutic environments using scenographic practices.

Qualitative Versus Quantitative Analysis Of Entheses: Using An Ordinal Scale And 3d Scanned Metrics To Understand Entheseal Differences In The Charity Hospital Cemetery (16or108), Gillian Stewart

LSU Master's Theses

Using a sample from New Orleans’ Charity Hospital Cemetery (16OR108), an analysis between ordinal scores and digital quantitative analysis (DQA) measurements of the entheses (muscle attachment sites) was performed. The skeletal elements (n = 235) examined were the humerus, radius, femur, and tibia. The entheses were 3D scanned using an Artec Space Spider scanner and processed with the Artec Studio Professional© v.2018 and Geomagic Wrap® v.2021 software. Entheses were analyzed by: left and right sides, male and female, and distribution of scores across elements. The analyses yielded significant differences between proliferative and erosive score distribution. Scores between elements exhibited variation. …

Evaluation Of Nurses' Leadership Self-Efficacy In Belize, Ruth Rosalee Reina Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing leadership in Belize is lacking but crucial to the well-being of patients, families, and the healthcare team. The purpose of this non-experimental, descriptive, comparative study was to a) determine the difference in leadership self-efficacy for current nurse leaders with three years or less of leadership experience compared to current nurse leaders with more than three years of leadership experience in Belize, and b) examine the differences in leadership self-efficacy between nurses in a leadership position and nurses not in a leadership position in Belize. The theories supporting the study were Burns’ transformational leadership theory and leadership self-efficacy, based on …

Evidence-Based Practice Medication Reconciliation Protocol: Process To Increase Adherence To Medication Reconciliation Process, Oksana Bregman

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The practice problem for the primary care facility is the inconsistent completion of medication reconciliation (MR) by primary care providers (PCPs), despite attempts by some providers to compare the clinic medication list with the external records and update the electronic health records (EHR). The absence of a standardized evidence-based practice (EBP) MR protocol has resulted in variable practices and increased risk for medication discrepancies during patient encounters.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In primary care providers (P), how does the Evidence-based practice process redesign and workflow optimization protocol (I) compared to current practice (C) …

Anxiety, Cognitive Load, And Simulation Effectiveness In Pre-Licensure Bsn Students, Brittany Behrens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-fidelity simulation experiences are an integral component of pre-licensure nursing curricula, providing students with realistic, controlled environments to develop clinical judgement skills. While these simulations enhance learning, they can increase anxiety and cognitive load, potentially impairing students’ ability to process information and derive meaningful outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the relationships among pre-simulation anxiety, cognitive load, and perceived simulation effectiveness in pre-licensure BSN students. Data were collected from 90 participants using the shortened Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Cognitive Load Measurement–Naïve Rating Questionnaire, and the Simulation Effectiveness Tool–Modified (SET-M). Pearson correlation analyses indicated …

Improving Depression Screening For African American Adolescents Through Staff Education On The Phq-A, Yvonne Anutatu Nkeze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improving Depression Screening for African American Adolescents Through Staff Education on the PHQ-A

Unpacking Low Glycaemic Index (Gi) Food Purchase Intentions In An S-O-R Framework: The Multidimensional Moderating Roles Of Consumer Knowledge And Trust, Cao Henglei

Student Works (2020-2029)

Research aim: Examine Malaysian consumers’ decisions to purchase low-GI foods using the S–O–R framework, while considering how knowledge and trust shape these decisions. Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative survey was conducted among 302 Malaysian consumers, with data analysed via confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modelling, and moderation analysis. Research findings: Attitudes toward low-GI foods are shaped by health consciousness, environmental concern, and social influence, but not price perception. Purchase intention is directly influenced by trust, with moderation observed only for subjective knowledge. Theoretical contribution/Originality: Extends the S–O–R framework through differentiating knowledge type and clarifying the role of trust in low-GI food consumption. …

Pediatric Simulation And Emergency Nurse Confidence, Katherine E. Wright

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Nurses working in a general emergency department (GED) with a low (3.3%) pediatric patient volume expressed a lack of confidence caring for complex pediatric patients.

PICOT: In general emergency department nurses (P), how does participating in a pediatric simulation event (I), compared to current practice (C), affect nurse confidence scores caring for pediatric patients (O) over 6 weeks (T)?

Evidence: A review of over 17 evidence-based resources found good quality evidence that suggested participating in a simulation event can improve nurse confidence.

Intervention: Over six weeks, GED staff members participated in a pediatric simulation event. The simulation utilized …

Hybrid Diabetes Coaching Model: Integrating In-Person And Telemedicine Strategies To Improve Glycemic Outcomes, Sandis A. Mundackal

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: In patients with type 2 diabetes, poor glycemic control among adults remains a significant challenge in primary care settings, particularly within federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that serve underserved populations. At the FQHC practice site, patients were managed using standard care with quarterly follow- up visits, without a structured hybrid coaching approach. This inconsistency contributed to a high number of patients with hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) levels ≥ 9%, placing them at increased risk for diabetes-related complications.

PICOT Question: In adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (HgbA1c ≥ 9%) (P), does monthly hybrid coaching delivered through in-person and/or …