Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Advancing Postpartum Mental Health Services At White River Health, Hannah Crowl

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This doctoral capstone project focused on addressing gaps in postpartum mental health care by developing two complementary resources: a comprehensive mental health assessment tool (Maternal Occupational Mental Health Assessment - MOMHA) and an educational manual, both grounded in CBT principles and framed within the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th edition (OTPF-4).

Structured Physical Activity In A Preschool, Rachel Heard

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project consists of creating program resources to implement structured physical activity in a preschool setting. The resources consist of a program manual and Pre-K activity toolkit. Each activity offers age-appropriate physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development, promoting the child’s overall growth. Each deliverable incorporates the Occupational Adaptation Theory by providing modifications in order to allow each child to reach relative mastery based on their abilities.

Tackling Concussions: Occupational Therapy’S Role In Concussion Care, Skylar Campbell Wilkins

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project is to identify and advocate for occupational therapy’s role in concussion care and support its inclusion in multidisciplinary treatment. This was achieved through collaboration with other professionals, evidence-based research, identifying the needs of teenage athletes during recovery, and demonstrating OT’s value in concussion management.

Wildly Inclusive: A Sensory Inclusive Initiative At The Memphis Zoo, Brianna Jernigan

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project is to address the need by applying occupational therapy principles to advance sensory inclusivity at the Memphis Zoo. Through the Wildly Inclusive program, efforts were created to foster a more supportive environment, encouraging meaningful participation and improving the quality of life for individuals with sensory processing differences.

Enhancing Accessibility Awareness In Arkansas State Parks, Kathryn Jones

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The project caption focuses on conducting in-depth environmental assessments of natural and man-made structures within all Arkansas State Parks to identify potential areas of success or barrier for individuals with disabilities interested in visiting the state parks.

Occupation-Based Hand Therapy Protocols Program, Logan Gilbertson

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project consists of creating an Occupation-based Hand Therapy Program that consists of site - specific common upper extremity injury descriptions, surgeon biomechanical protocols, benefits of the types of treatments and modalities, and occupation-based home exercise programs. The program will help therapists provide occupation-based treatments and home exercise programs to improve their clients’ occupational outcomes while also meeting the surgeon’s biomechanical outcomes.

Reaching For More: Advancing Holistic Ot In An Outpatient Therapy Facility, Libby Hembrey

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project was to explore and enhance the integration of occupation-based interventions (OBIs) in outpatient therapy for individuals recovering from upper extremity injuries. The project aimed to promote more client-centered, meaningful therapy sessions that align with the values and goals of the profession.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Farm-Based Therapy, Casey Mcnair

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Farm-based therapy can be a beneficial intervention for occupational therapists to utilize in practice, promoting client outcomes. Skills can be further developed within the pediatric population through occupations such as social participation, education, play, and leisure, utilizing farm-based therapy.

Restoring Connection: Promoting Social Participation & Mental Wellness In A Rural Assisted Living Facility, Madison Rogo

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project highlights the important role of occupational therapy in addressing emotional well-being and promoting occupational justice within rural assisted living facilities.

Fostering Holistic Practice In The Outpatient Setting With Upper Extremity Impairment, Montanna Tapper

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project is to develop a program that improves psychosocial challenges faced by clients with upper extremity injuries or conditions. The program is designed to be implemented by occupational therapists in the outpatient setting and aims to increase holistic practice with this population by broadening focus past the physical impairment by addressing psychosocial factors.

Bridge & Bloom: Empowering Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Through Activities Day Camp, Peyton Summers

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project consist of developing a six-week day camp, available one day a week, for adults with intellectual disabilities residing in local group homes, ICFs, and family homes. Through the development of Bridge & Bloom Summer Day Camp, participants were provided the opportunity to engage in enriching and meaningful activities, showcasing various avenues of hobbies, leisure activities, and leadership, vocational, and social-emotional skills. The goal of this Doctoral Capstone Project was to empower every participant through engaging, hands-on experiences that celebrate individual differences and help foster a sense of purpose.

Occupational Therapy For Older Adults Grieving Non-Death Loss, Zoe Sloas

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

An occupation-based grief support group was developed through literature review, enhancing therapeutic skills, and inter and intra professional collaboration through employing grief-specific occupational therapy interventions with the older adult population.

The Effect Of Administered Animal-Assisted Therapy On University Students' Anxiety And Stress, Chloe Penton

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on undergraduate student anxiety and stress, comparing the effectiveness between an individual AAT session to a group study session without AAT. Animal-assisted therapy is a type of canine therapy that may be a helpful tool to decrease student test anxiety, and potentially, a meaningful stress-reducing intervention for university students. Our results sought to examine differences in traditional study practices vs the use of AAT prior to exams, and support or refute animal-assisted therapy as a low-cost, minimal-risk, effective solution for undergraduate student anxiety. …

Global Perspectives In Nursing Education: The Impact Of Study Abroad Programs On Nursing Students, Julia E. Molleston

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Studying abroad as a nursing student is an under-researched topic that has many perceived and identified beneficial outcomes for students who participate. This expanded literature review utilizes 20 studies and one literature review to explore the facets of an immersive and international study abroad program on nursing and healthcare students. There are many benefits to professional, personal, and cultural growth that come from the experience of international study abroad. Such programs have shown to positively impact students' perceptions of their own cultural competence, abilities to overcome barriers, expand their perspectives, and grow in confidence. There are also many precipitating and …

Who Cares For The Caregivers? How Dance And Movement Can Benefit Caregiving Parents Of Children With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: A Literature Review, Haley E. Gilbert

Expressive Therapies Theses

Caregiver parents of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) are not able to care for themselves as often as they should be able to for their own mental and physical wellness due to their caregiving responsibilities that often carry into adulthood. These can lead to anxiety, depression, grief, and dysregulation for the parent. Dance and movement practices have been found to relieve the symptoms of these experiences while helping the child with IDD and the parent connect more, building stronger relationships. This thesis will include a comprehensive literature review of body-based theories such as the Polyvagal Theory (Polyvagal Institute, 2025), Bowlby’s …

Use Cases For Art Therapy Intervention In Clinical Psychedelic Praxis, Kaitlin Maud

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Psychedelic medicine has existed for thousands of years as a traditional, sacred practice and is now in varying stages of legalization for clinical application in the United States. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy uses specific psychoactive substances to facilitate altered states of consciousness in which clients have access to unconscious material and there is a greater cognitive openness to new perspectives and possibilities. Art Therapy is a modality of psychotherapy with decades of data to support its clinical efficacy in treating mental illness and other chronic conditions. A review of the literature shows a range of use cases for art in the context …

Functional Analysis Of Chromatin Remodeler Csb In Parp1/2- Mediated Oxidative Dna Lesion Repair, Rabeya Bilkis

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

The ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler Cockayne syndrome protein B (CSB) is essential for maintaining genome integrity. Mutations in CSB are the primary cause of Cockayne syndrome (CS), a premature aging disorder with severe sun sensitivity and neurodevelopmental symptoms. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the disease etiology remain poorly understood. Given the critical roles of oxidative stress in aging and neurodegenerative disorders, this research sought to determine the mechanisms of CSB’s functions in oxidative DNA damage repair.

In the first aim, we investigated how CSB participates in PARP1/2-mediated oxidative DNA repair. We showed that PARP1 and PARP2 recruit CSB to oxidized chromatin …

Exploring The Landscape Of Pharmacist-Led Hormonal Contraceptive Counseling By Indiana Pharmacists, Anna Rose Greathouse

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Indiana pharmacists were authorized to prescribe birth control in 2023. An over-the-counter birth control pill was approved in 2024. It is imperative to understand and address pharmacist comfort when counseling on these medications. The purpose of this research project is to understand pharmacist confidence in counseling on hormonal birth control and identify barriers to hormonal contraceptive counseling in pharmacies in Indiana. An 18-question survey was sent to all members of the Indiana Pharmacist Association listserv. Pharmacists were invited to participate in the survey. This study was approved by the Butler University Institutional Review Board. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze …

Is The Price Of Organic Foods Worth The Potential Benefits To Your Health?, Jenna C. Warren

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

What foods are healthier for you? This study will determine this based on where the food comes from, including the meat, dairy, and farming industries and how they treat animals and plants, and the nutrients these foods contain. From these findings, this study will choose foods for an average American’s three meals in a day for a organic and non-organic option. Then, it will compare the prices of a typical day’s worth of food and determine whether the price is worth the quality of food you are consuming.

The Interaction Between Phonological Reading Skills And Executive Functioning In Adults With Cochlear Implants, Tierney Marie Maurer

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Little research has been conducted concerning the interaction between phonological reading skills (the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of language) and executive functioning (a set of processes that are necessary for the cognitive control of behavior) in adults with hearing loss. The current study examined the potential association between phonological reading skills, hearing loss, and executive functioning in post-lingually deaf and hard of hearing adults who use cochlear implants. Two hypotheses were tested: 1) adult cochlear implant users have weaker executive functioning and phonological reading skills compared to their hearing peers; 2) adults with hearing loss who use …

Influence Of Hearing Loss On Self-Reported Hearing Ability And Listening Fatigue In Persons With Aphasia, Ashlyn Kilgore

Honors Theses

Aphasia is an acquired disorder, often caused by stroke, that results in language deficits. It can greatly impact a person's ability to communicate with others. Cognitive deficits may accompany aphasia. Additionally, hearing loss is a disability likely to co-occur with aphasia, as they both most commonly impact the same age group. When a person has hearing loss, the quality of the auditory signal is degraded when it reaches the brain. The poor signal quality, compounded with linguistic and possible cognitive deficits that are associated with aphasia, makes it more difficult for persons with aphasia (PWA) to comprehend speech.

For all …

Acceptability And Competency Of Motivational Interviewing (Mi) Training And Mi Spirited Communication In An Undergraduate And Graduate Nursing Program, Grace Koons

Honors Theses

Problem- There is a move towards patient-centered care in nursing and Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been one approach to accomplish positive communication. While the use of MI has been increasing in healthcare settings, undergraduate and graduate nursing programs have been slow to incorporate it into their curricula.

Aims- This study aimed to determine the acceptability and MI competency for the use of MI Spirited Communication (MISC) among undergraduate and graduate nursing students at a university in the Southeast region of the U.S. Methods- The design of this pilot study was a descriptive, quasi-experiment with no control group. The …

Treatment Of Adult Adhd, Megan Bryn

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly considered a childhood disorder diagnosed and treated in adolescents. Options for management of adverse symptoms associated with ADHD are primarily pharmaceutical therapy, most commonly stimulant therapy. There has been significantly less research regarding the management of adult ADHD in contrast with children diagnosed with ADHD. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to determine in adults with ADHD if nonpharmaceutical therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, and mindfulness behavioral therapy are effective alternatives to pharmaceutical therapy. Current research provides significant data supporting the use of pharmaceutical therapy for the management of adult ADHD, as …

Efficacy Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy For The Treatment Of Children With Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Sarah Herman

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition in children, characterized by persistent and excessive worry that interferes with daily functioning and overall quality of life. Anxiety disorders are considered the most common psychiatric disorders among children. The trajectory of untreated anxiety in early life can result in more resistant and chronic presentations in the future, complicating both therapeutic engagement and outcomes. Parent- Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) has emerged as a potential alternative treatment for children displaying anxiety symptoms, particularly those diagnosed with GAD. This literature review endeavors to assess the effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy as an …

Telemedicine Vs. Clinic Monitoring: Adherence In Hypertension Management, Kimberly Hinkle

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Hypertension affects over a billion adults worldwide and remains a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and mortality. Effective management requires consistent medication adherence and lifestyle changes, but barriers such as limited healthcare access often hinder follow-up. This literature review evaluates the efficacy of home blood pressure (BP) monitoring combined with telemedicine follow-up in improving medication adherence among adults with hypertension compared to traditional clinic-based follow-ups. A literature review was conducted, resulting in the inclusion of six studies that examined interventions such as telepharmacy, remote BP monitoring, bidirectional text support, and mobile health applications. Results demonstrated that telemedicine significantly enhances BP …

Efficacy And Safety Of P2y12 Inhibitor Monotherapy Versus Dual Antiplatelet Therapy In Patients Who Have Received Drug Eluting Stents Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome, Jordan Saxerud

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

According to the American Heart Association, there are approximately 1.4 million people who are hospitalized and 700,000 deaths attributed to acute coronary syndrome on a yearly basis in the United States. It is standard therapy for patients to receive a drug eluting stent and dual antiplatelet therapy to prevent occlusion of the stent and other coronary arteries. Dual antiplatelet therapy typically consists of aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor. Dual antiplatelet leads to an increased risk of bleeding. This literature review aims to investigate if earlier initiation of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy decreases the risk of bleeding while maintaining adequate protection against …

Pharmacological Treatment Options For Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Resmetirom Vs Glp- 1 Receptor Agonists, Debbie Zabel

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is continually rising and has now emerged as one of the leading causes of cirrhosis requiring liver transplantation (Maurice et al., 2018). Until recently, the management of this disease has been limited to lifestyle modification and treatment of comorbid risk factors. In March 2024, the FDA approved resmetirom, the first and only medication for the treatment of this condition. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the efficacy of GLP-1 and dual GLP/GIP or GLP/GCGR receptor agonist medications for the reduction of liver fat content in comparison to resmetirom. A literature review …

Oral Nsaids Vs. Topical Anesthetics For Pain Management During Iud Insertion: A More Effective Standard Of Care, Hannah Ulven

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a highly effective, long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) option for patients from menarche until menopause. Despite its effectiveness, pain associated with IUD insertion remains a significant barrier to IUD insertion use. Unrelieved pain during the procedure may lead to serious complications, such as vasovagal shock and cardiac arrhythmias, which may negatively impact patient experience and adherence to contraceptive methods. To this day, there is no standard, effective recommendation for pain management during IUD insertion. This literature review aims to compare the efficacy of oral NSAIDs, which are commonly used due to their nonspecific analgesic property, and …

Benefits Of Succession Planning In Medical Laboratories, Christina Jones, Samantha Peterson, Robert Porter

Medical Laboratory Science Independent Study Projects

This discussion examines the potential impact of implementing a succession plan in the laboratory to reduce survey deficiencies. It highlights the importance of understanding the determinants of quality in the lab, addressing staffing shortages and turnover, and the role of succession plans in improving workplace quality. Quality encompasses various aspects from quality control to quality management. Accreditation and inspection processes, such as those required by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA ‘88), play a crucial role in ensuring quality laboratories.

However, frequent turnover, including leadership changes, poses challenges to maintaining quality. The laboratory workforce faces high turnover rates …

Who’S In Control? Perceived Stress And Emotional Regulation Partially Mediate The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) On Mental Health And Life Satisfaction., Mary A. Burdan

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur during the first 18 years of life and have a strong potential to negatively impact health and well-being in adulthood. The exploration of this connection is important because health and lifestyle behaviors have been linked to the leading causes of death in the United States. ACEs have been found to alter brain development and have been associated with mental health issues and lower life satisfaction, but information about the pathway between these connections is scarce. The present study aimed to investigate if inadequate emotional regulation and higher levels of perceived …