Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Acute Exercise On Cognition: Consideration Of Potential Moderators, Mary G. Jackson, Lucy Wilson, Mara Liston, Elizabeth Gaines, Mckenzie Cotten, Reese Carwile

Honors Theses

The present thesis aims to determine the effects, if any, of six potential moderators on the effects of acute moderate-intensity exercise on cognitive functioning. The modes of exercise undertaken by the participants included treadmill (Experiment 1) and stationary bike (Experiment 2) exercise. Participants in each experiment either exercised or rested for twenty minutes and then participated in either a memory recall task or cognitive functioning (“Stroop”) task. The bouts of either exercise or rest on the stationary bike were followed by a rest period during which the participant would be exposed to either standard air oxygen levels (normoxia) or hypoxic …

Knowledge, Skills, And Barriers To Palliative Care Referrals By Oncology Providers, Audra Meador, Bailey Waldron

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Palliative Care is an evidence based and integrative aspect of cancer care that has demonstrated improved quality of life and diminished symptomology, however, barriers to referrals exist. With the growing interest in and demand for specialized healthcare services, more research on integration and referral practices surrounding palliative care is necessary. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and barriers to referring cancer patients to outpatient palliative care at a teaching and research hospital. In one cancer center, 50 physicians, Advance Practice Providers, and nurse case managers responded to an electronic survey regarding interest and support for palliative care …

Multilevel Considerations For Youth Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Prognosis And Management: Examining The Relationship Between Health Care Factors And Familial Factors In Families Of Children And Adolescents With Adhd, Carey A. Wheelhouse

Theses & Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder impacting up to 10% of U.S. youth, and is associated with several negative social, health, and academic or occupational outcomes. Risk and prognostic factors for ADHD are multifactorial, and the management of youth ADHD is multimodal. Familial environments are one prognostic factor for ADHD, with family resilience being positively associated with youth ADHD prognosis. Researchers exploring multilevel interventions for the management of youth ADHD have proposed health care systems as a setting for interventions targeting family resilience, however little research examines the relationship between health care system factors and family factors in families …

Yoga Therapy For Psychological Safety In Healthcare Staff, Kristen Fabiszewski

Doctoral Projects

Establishing a culture of psychological safety is a necessary foundation for creating a High Reliability Organization. Healthcare professionals must practice emotional self-regulation to maintain equanimity and facilitate positive communications with their colleagues. This can be exceptionally challenging when increasing numbers of healthcare professionals are experiencing burnout. Using the framework of Polyvagal Theory, yoga practices have been demonstrated to support emotional self-regulation and reduce symptoms of burnout. The purpose of this project was to implement yoga therapy to increase the perception of psychological safety in healthcare staff. Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System (VALBHS) staff invited to attend one 45minute yoga …

The Rural Cancer Paradox: When Poverty Outweighs Policy In Mississippi And Andalusia, 2010-2025, Elizabeth Hurst

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how regional economic histories and national healthcare policies interact to shape cancer care delivery in Mississippi (United States) and Andalusia (Spain)—two regions with parallel histories of agricultural dominance followed by economic decline, yet operating under fundamentally different healthcare systems. Through comparative policy analysis focused on the Affordable Care Act (2010) and Spain's Royal Decree Law 16/2012, this research challenges conventional fixation on healthcare system type as the primary determinant of patient outcomes. Instead, it reveals a “rural cancer paradox” where historically impoverished regions face similar barriers to effective cancer care despite their contrasting funding models. The research …

Physical Therapists’ Confidence With Patients Expressing Suicidal Thoughts Or Behaviors, Amber J. Schwanebeck

Honors Thesis

This study was conducted as part of an undergraduate honors thesis, and it explored how physical therapists feel and manage situations involving patients experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Assessed via survey, the researchers gathered responses from practicing physical therapists, examining demographic information, confidence levels in managing suicidal situations, and a qualitative question about their perceived role in suicide prevention. Key findings revealed that most physical therapists did not routinely discuss suicide with patients. Despite this, many reported feeling confident in identifying patients with suicidal ideations, even in the absence of training. Individuals who received training after earning their physical therapy …

Revenue Cycle Management: Audit Of A Primary Care Clinic, Strategy, & Future Improvements, Izaak Colgrove

Capstone: Master of Health Administration

Healthcare practices that offer primary care, an essential service, are dependent upon financial liquidity for survival. This project evaluated the financial wellbeing of a local primary care clinic through the process of revenue cycle evaluation. The clinic has transitioned from the startup phase into a period of growth and as the clinic scales up, it faces new challenges related to revenue cycle management (RCM) and overall operational efficiency.

For any practice, the process of evaluating the revenue cycle, formally known as Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), is critical to help ensure financial stability. Central to managing the revenue cycle is the …

From Vector To Consequence: Integrating Vector Surveillance, Environmental Drivers, And Public Health Impact Into Lyme Disease Risk Management, Kathleen E. Angell

Theses & Dissertations

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in North America. This dissertation examines (1) how crowd-sourced compares to active vector surveillance and whether they are associated with Lyme disease, (2) how ecological factors relate to tick abundance and whether they can predict high disease years, and (3) estimated health and economic burden of Lyme disease and savings when interventions are applied. Tick abundance data from active and passive surveillance were compared and tested for association with Lyme disease in the first aim. We found differences in tick life-stage, species, and seasonality. Tick observations were positively correlated with Lyme disease. …

Coordinating Connections: A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Relational Coordination And Interprofessional Team Development With Health Professions Students And Survivors Of Stroke, Teresa Marie Cochran

Theses & Dissertations

The need for effective healthcare teams is widely recognized, yet strategies for team education and evaluation remain areas of ongoing investigation. This study presents a longitudinal, interprofessional tele-team learning initiative designed to enhance health professions students’ collaborative skills through Salas’ “Big Five” of Teamwork and Gittell’s Relational Coordination Theory. Additionally, the project aimed to mitigate social isolation among stroke survivors by forming nine interprofessional tele-teams composed of students from medical nutrition therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. Over six virtual meetings, these teams engaged with stroke survivors, assisting them in progressing toward self-selected goals.

Using an explanatory …

Strengthening Addiction Recovery In Adults Through Mindfulness, Sara Christenson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Addiction is a significant health issue that affects millions of people. Individuals experiencing addiction face challenges in their everyday lives which often results in health issues, financial and/or legal issues, and broken relationships with family and friends. Additionally, there are often many barriers to seeking treatment which ultimately prevents recovery from substance use disorder. Throughout history, addiction has often been misunderstood, however, it is now recognized as a chronic illness that permanently changes the way the brain functions. Mindfulness is an intervention that promotes a nonjudgmental, nonreactive awareness that can strengthen the recovery process by acceptance of the craving response …

Biomarkers That Could Explain Parasite-Induced Behavioral Alterations In The Golden Shiner (Notemigonus Crysoleucas) – Posthodiplostomum System, Laura D. Nicolas

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Trophically transmitted parasites require an intermediate host to be consumed and often manipulate host phenotype (i.e., morphology, physiology, and/or behavior) to increase predation risk by definitive hosts. Posthodiplostomum is a trematode with a complex life cycle involving snails as first hosts, fish as second intermediate hosts, and piscivorous birds as definitive hosts. In fish hosts, Posthodiplostomum infection has been linked to increased predation, suggesting suppression of antipredator behaviors. However, the specific physiological pathways remained unexplored and changes in the host’s neural, endocrine, and immune systems could be involved. Thus, I examined whether Posthodiplostomum infection intensity was associated with brain serotonin …

The Impact Of Motivational Interviewing On African-American Men With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Jamekia Kitchens

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

African-American men with type 2 diabetes face an immense health disparity in the United States, with alarming mortality rates compared to their counterparts. This pilot study examined the impact of motivational interviewing on African-American Men with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The researcher conducted motivational interview sessions using the components of the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale to guide the meetings. Pre- and post-confidence levels and pre- and post-hemoglobin A1c levels were collected and analyzed. After the completion of three motivational interview sessions, participants displayed significantly higher self-efficacy scores with significantly decreased A1c levels. The results suggest that motivational interviewing has a …

Psychoeducational Training For Community Health Workers To Improve Confidence In Providing Mental Health Services To Migrants, Nimota M. Akintoye

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

There is a higher prevalence of mental health illnesses among migrants. This minority group is faced with challenges in accessing healthcare due to poverty, stigmatization, and fear of discrimination. Research has shown that community health workers (CHWs) bridge the gap between the health and social service sectors and the patients by improving patient access to care and healthcare outcomes. A translational project was implemented to evaluate how psychoeducational training improved the CHWs’ confidence and knowledge level in providing mental health support to the patients and community members. Sister Calista Roy’s Adaptation Model was used to guide the study by incorporating …

The Contribution Of Catholic Compromise Principles In Global Health, Scott N. Helstad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Roman Catholic tradition has developed comprehensive ethical principles to address complex practical scenarios that encounter foundational value compromises. These are referred to as compromise principles and they have both a narrow and a broad focus. Narrowly, these compromise principles are critical for Catholic healthcare organizations in the United States with regard to the guidelines of the US Bishops in their Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. More broadly, these compromise principles are relevant in the secular realm regarding global health. This dissertation examines these varying perspectives, hence its title, “The Contribution of Catholic Compromise Principles …

Hospital Organizations’ Obligation To Promote Spiritual Well-Being Among Nurses: Development Of A Normative Ethical Argument, Michael Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents an innovative strategy to promote the support of nurses' spirituality within hospital organizations. By focusing on the spiritual well-being of nurses by hospital organizations, with a natural extension into nursing schools, the approach aims to enhance nurse’s ability to protect their own spirituality, provide comprehensive spiritual care to patients, and increase nurse moral resilience. By investing in nurses' spirituality and spiritual growth, hospitals can potentially increase job satisfaction among nursing staff, improve patient care outcomes, and create a more holistic healing environment for both nurses and patients. As the nursing shortage continues and the number of nurses …

The Menstrual Cycle And Exercise Performance: A Literature Review, Reagan E. Burchill

Honors Thesis

This literature review will examine the current research investigating the relationship between the female menstrual cycle, exercise performance, and exercise instruction. The menstrual cycle is a physiological series of events that includes specific hormones at each stage. These hormones may play a role in how females recover from exercise. This is particularly significant when considering the hormonal fluctuations across the female menstrual cycle, which influence recovery, injury risk, and exercise performance. This could indicate that the suggestions doctors and exercise trainers present to females may not be as beneficial for their health because the research is not specifically tailored to …

A Qualitative Evaluation Of Diabetes Solutions Telehealth Coaching Services, Caroline Brock

Honors Theses

Diabetes remains a growing public health concern, particularly in underserved regions such as rural Mississippi, where barriers to healthcare access and diabetes education contribute to poor disease management. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of 27 participants enrolled in Diabetes Solutions, a telehealth-based diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES/T) program offered by the Mississippi Diabetes Network. Using a phenomenological approach and structured interviews, the study identifies four major themes: structural benefits of the program, knowledge gained, common changes by participants, and quality of life outcomes. Participants consistently emphasized the value of personalized coaching, emotional encouragement, and practical education on …

Using Video Education To Improve Patient Knowledge Of Cellular Therapy Side Effects: Cytokine Release Syndrome, Neurological Toxicities, & Prolonged Pancytopenia, Leslie Bennett

Doctoral Projects

This project evaluated the effectiveness of short educational videos on CAR T-cell therapy, cytokine release syndrome, neurological toxicities, and prolonged pancytopenia for blood cancer patients. At Stanford Health Care in California, in the ambulatory clinic of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (BMT-CT), we obtained a convenience sample of individuals with multiple myeloma or lymphoma preparing for CAR T-cell therapy. A pre-and post-questionnaire assessed the patients' knowledge of CAR T-cell therapy and its side effects. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to determine changes in knowledge. Thirteen patients enrolled, eight completed post-surveys, and four watched the videos. The median knowledge …

Achieving Health Equity For Minorities, Marginalized And Vulnerable Populations: The Ethical Challenge For Improving Addiction Health Services And Policies In The Health Care System, Jasia A. Baig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the past few decades, health disparities and substance misuse have transformed into unprecedented healthcare crises facing contemporary society. Although enormous contributions through policies and interventions have been made to promote health equity, substantial health inequalities and disparities persist, particularly in addiction health services and policies at multiple healthcare system levels for the marginalized, minoritized, and vulnerable populations.

The thesis of this dissertation asserts that a biopsychosocial ‘systems’ thinking towards treating addictive disorders along with systematic interventions and coordinated improvements specifically focused on minorities, marginalized and vulnerable populations at research, clinical, public health and global levels will significantly reduce health …

Investigating Neural, Neurovascular, And Vascular Function: Insights From Imaging 5-Ht2ar Compounds, Optogenetic Motor Mapping, And Cross-Modal Functional Mapping, Jonah Aryeh Padawer-Curry

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Understanding how brain activity relates to behavior and cognition remains a central challenge in neuroscience. Brain function emerges from interactions between electrical, chemical, and blood dynamics across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Capturing this complexity requires methods that assess both large-scale neurophysiological activity and precise, cell-type-specific processes. Widefield optical imaging (WFOI) enables high-resolution monitoring of cortical function by simultaneously measuring hemodynamic and calcium dynamics. WFOI is particularly valuable for studying psychedelics, which show therapeutic potential but may alter neurovascular coupling, complicating the interpretation of hemodynamic signals. Using WFOI, we examined the hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonist DOI in awake mice, revealing …

Staff Education On Bias Awareness, Macbarbara Amaechi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The project was a staff education initiative focused on addressing a knowledge gap about bias for treatment of patients on controlled substances at the practice site. I aimed to fill this practice gap by developing an education program that delivered evidence-based methods to reduce bias. The practice-focused question was: Will a staff education project result in an increase in staff knowledge and awareness around implicit bias among patients who are taking controlled substances? The purpose of the project was to determine if a formal educational program could enhance the knowledge of the staff and decrease bias, which would lead to …

Staff Education To Standardize Handoff Communication Protocols: Enhancing Patient Safety, Delali Adjele Tetteh-Assiakoley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) staff education project focused on providing a staff education program on standardized handoff communication protocols to enhance patient safety and communication efficiency and effectiveness of information exchange at the practicum site. The practice problem is the lack of consistency regarding handoff communication, which results in miscommunication, inefficiencies, and possible preventable patient harm. Under conditions of poor handoff communication, medical errors, delays in treatment, and adverse patient outcomes are well documented. The project sought to improve the nursing staff’s knowledge of standardized handoff tools through a structured education program guided by the following practice-focused …

Expanding “Brain Games”: What Have We Learned From A Program Designed To Support Healthy Brain Aging In Older Adults?, Ella Mckinney

Honors Capstones

This study was part of a larger investigation examining the feasibility and impact of “Brain Games,” an intergenerational program designed to provide brain health education and cognitive training for healthy aging adults to maximize cognitive function and quality of life. The purpose of this project was to explore whether and how short- and long-term effects of “Brain Games” were tempered by demographic variables, including cognitive self-efficacy and socioeconomic factors. Study participants included older adults residing in two senior living centers in the DeKalb area. All participants received cognitive training and brain health education via “Brain Games”, which was offered in …

Associations Of Muscular And Cardiovascular Fitness Variables With Cardiovascular Disease In Older Adult Athlete Populations, Lauren T. Zick

Honors Thesis

This data analysis examined associations between cardiovascular and muscular fitness indicators and the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adult athletes. Using cross-sectional data from 1,110 participants aged 50 and older who completed the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) at state-level Senior Games events, we evaluated both objective performance metrics and self-reported exercise behaviors. Cardiovascular measures included systolic blood pressure (SBP), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI). Muscular fitness was assessed through grip strength, maximum walking speed, and chair stand time. CVD status was defined as the presence of two or more self-reported cardiovascular …

Improving Staff Knowledge And Patient Care Outcomes Through Targeted Educational Interventions On Diabetes Management In Home Health Agencies, Chikita Domonique Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Healthcare Provider Comfort Surrounding Adverse Childhood Events (Aces), Cameo Culcasi

Doctoral Projects

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are strongly linked to long-term health outcomes, yet discussions around ACEs in clinical settings remain inconsistent. This study investigates the comfort levels of healthcare providers in addressing ACEs with their patients, identifying barriers and facilitators to such conversations. Using a Quasi-experimental, single group, pretest-post test experimental design, we surveyed a diverse group of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants working in a primary care setting, providing ACE training, and an opportunity for learning reflection. Preliminary results indicate that while most providers acknowledge the importance of discussing ACEs, many report discomfort due to time constraints, lack of …

Health Equity And Social Determinants Of Health Nurse Education, Jacqueline Arana Clements

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The primary care setting provides integrated healthcare services where nurses address many healthcare needs, develop patient relationships, and practice in the context of family and community. To provide comprehensive care, nurses must complete a social determinants of health screening that addresses the social factors that impact clinical outcomes. In 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a nursing education strategy on educating nurses on social determinants of health. This project aimed to develop a staff education program to prepare primary care nurses on the concepts and terminology encompassing social determinants of health, identifying the severity of health …

Staff Education To Address Communication In Correctional Healthcare, Pamela Renee Bredy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was a staff education initiative focused on enhancing staff knowledge of Situation Background Assessment Recommendations (SBAR) communication through structured educational intervention in correctional healthcare settings. The practice problem centered on significant deficiencies in standardized communication. The practice-focused question was, Will implementing staff education on SBAR communication increase staff knowledge and confidence? I aimed to enhance staff communication and knowledge through SBAR implementation using live sessions, hands-on practice, and reference materials.

Investigating The Association Between Metabolically Healthy And Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity With Disease, Colleen Marie Cohick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a global health concern, affecting individuals of all ages and ethnicities worldwide. A key factor in health concerns related to obesity is metabolic health: Obese individuals are either metabolically healthy obese or metabolically unhealthy obese, leading to different degrees of risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.. There is a lack of comprehensive research examining the association between metabolic health status among obese individuals and kidney, liver, and stomach diseases. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to examine whether metabolic health status is a significant predictor of kidney, liver, and stomach diseases among obese individuals when lifestyle is a …

Reducing Medical Supplies Waste By Managing Healthcare Resources In A Clinical Setting In The United States: Lessons Learned From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Chiatuogu Anna Ukaga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The gap in practice identified for my DNP capstone project is reducing medical supplies waste by managing healthcare resources in a clinic setting in the United States of America. The Organizational Change Process (OCP) Evaluation project assessed a tracking and exchange system to track the inventory of supplies used in different worksite clinics and their expiration dates. Knowledge of the expiration dates enabled exchange or shift to high-utilization areas before the supplies expired, thereby reducing waste, costs, and environmental pollution. The healthcare organization was a mix of ambulatory clinics and hospitals of varying scopes and sizes. The small clinics served …