Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Socioeconomic Status, Parental Sex Education, And Race: Intersecting Influences On Adolescent Sexually Transmitted Infection Rates, Kiersten Hawkins-Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescents and young adults represent many of the new sexually transmitted infections diagnosed each year in the United States, with pronounced disparities among minority racial and ethnic groups. This study examined 3,480 participants aged 15-24 from the 2017-2019 National Survey on Family Growth to explore the influence of race and socioeconomic status (SES) on the likelihood and comprehensiveness of parental sex education before the age of 18, using the Intersectionality Theory and Social Determinants of Health as frameworks. Controlling for formal sex education, binary and multinomial logistic regression models demonstrated that formal sex education significantly increased the odds of adolescents …

Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Mental Health Clinic Practices: Increasing Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge And Self-Assurance In Opioid Abuse Screening Tools In Healthcare Professionals Treating Adolescents, Festus Obonna

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This study aimed to address the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner’s unfamiliarity and inadequate confidence in utilizing the CAGE-AID screening tool in detecting opioid use in adolescents undergoing treatment at a psychiatric mental health clinic. The goal was to find out how structured training affected providers' understanding of and confidence in using the screening tool. Eight psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, participated in a quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention design. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and Cronbach's alpha reliability analysis were used to look at the data. There was a significant improvement in providers' self-reported familiarity, confidence, and efficacy in using the …

Flip For Function Event Development For Increased Effectiveness And Promotion Of Community Engagement, Chloe D. Nedds

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Flip for Function, a therapeutic gymnastics program that promotes self-confidence through adaptive athletics and child-led activities. The aim of this project was to enhance the efficiency of events to promote visibility and awareness of Flip for Function within the community. To reach these goals, research-based sensory activities, graphics, programming, and effective timelines were established to ensure seamless execution of events and promote awareness within the community. Alongside this, a choice board was created and implemented within the gym to promote access to communication resources for all individuals. As a result, events …

Lecture Series Supporting Maternal-Infant Health Population: Educating Parents And Training Occupational Therapy Students, Katherine Henry

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed in collaboration with both the Belmont University School of Occupational Therapy and Ella’s House, a nonprofit organization that supports pregnant and parenting college students finishing their education. A needs assessment was completed to identify what type of project would be most beneficial to both organizations, with a final decision to create a series of courses that support infant and maternal health and well-being. Course topics included basic newborn childcare skills; perinatal mental health; and caregiver roles, routines, and supports. With each presentation of a course, students reviewed the course to compare knowledge prior to and …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors In Reducing Migraine Frequency In Adults: A Literature Review, Samantha Tully

Nursing Capstones

This scoping review aims to evaluate current literature on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for migraine prevention and prophylaxis in adults. Key themes and gaps in the research are identified. A systematic review was completed across two databases including PubMed and Cochrane. Fifteen studies have been examined in this review with a range of publication dates from 1999 to 2022. Based on this literature review, the author concludes that SSRIs may reduce migraine frequency and severity in the adult population through their action to increase serotonin availability and stabilize serotonin levels. Further research is needed in this area.

The Effect Of Patient-Centered Discharge Instructions In Reducing 30-Day Readmission Rates In Heart Failure Patients, Ashley Spiering

Nursing Capstones

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospital readmissions, with nearly one in four patients experiencing rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge. Readmissions within this timeframe present a significant clinical and economic challenge for patients and healthcare services. Reducing 30-day readmissions has become a central goal for hospitals aiming to improve patient outcomes and minimize financial burdens.

Purpose: To evaluate whether patient-centered discharge instructions are an effective tool in reducing 30-day readmission rates for patients with HF.

Method: A literature review was conducted using PubMed and CINAHL databases. Keywords such as heart failure, readmission, education, discharge, and instructions …

Risk Factors Of Self-Reported Prediabetes Status In New York State, Kari Ann Hunter Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prediabetes affects over 4 million people in New York State and increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Prior research identified risk factors such as poor diet, inactivity, obesity, hypertension, and smoking; but no studies examined these collectively or assessed their interactions. This quantitative, cross-sectional study analyzed a sample of 289 non-institutionalized adults aged 18 or older with landline or cellular phone, from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The study examined relationships between prediabetes and 16 factors in five categories: demographic (age, race, sex, education), socioeconomic (income, employment), behavioral (fruit intake, vegetable intake, physical activity, smoking), physiological (hypertension, BMI), …

Executive Summary: Quality Improvement Initiative Retrospective Program Evaluation Of Sms Reminder System In Decreasing Outpatient Mental Health Clinic No-Show Rates, Jordan Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project presents an organizational quality improvement initiative implementing a text message reminder system to decrease appointment no-show rates in the outpatient mental health clinic. The project was developed based on the high rate of appointment no-shows at the DNP project site. Appointment no-shows are costly to both clinics and patients. Clinics experience decreased revenue and efficiency, and patient outcomes can be compromised. The project evaluated whether text message reminders sent 24 hours before a scheduled appointment time decreased no-show rates by at least 10%. Preimplementation data were collected for months October, November, and December, …

Speed Of Shear Waves As A Function Of Frequency In Micellar Fluid, Michael Basha

Honors Theses

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the frequency dependence of shear wave speed in a micellar fluid. A high-concentration CTAB-NaSal micellar fluid seeded with microspheres was used in the experiment. Shear waves were generated using a wave driver and a function generator, while a high-speed camera captured video recordings. Since the frequency of the wave driver producing the shear waves in the micellar fluid is a constant value set by the experimenter, changes in shear wave speed can be determined by measuring their wavelengths at different frequencies.The captured video was then broken down into frames using MATLAB. These …

The Impact Of Marijuana Edibles On Fetal Development In Pregnant Adolescents And Young Mothers, Rachel Doyle

Honors Theses

With the growing prevalence of marijuana use for both recreational and medicinal purposes, this study explores the impact of edible cannabis consumption on fetal development in pregnant adolescents and young mothers. While most existing research focuses on smoked cannabis in adult populations, this review highlights a significant gap regarding the unique risks of edibles among younger, vulnerable users who may perceive them as safer. Through a comprehensive literature review, the study examines the physiological effects of THC in edible form, as well as the social, economic, and healthcare factors influencing its use. Key areas of focus include maternal health, placental …

Improving Admissions Planning In A Specialized Adult Foster Care Program, Jessie Sullivan

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background: Specialized adult foster care (AFC) programs have the unique ability to facilitate and coordinate continuity of care with an interdisciplinary approach internally and with community provider collaboration. The lack of communication in the transition of care admissions process leads to negative patient safety outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to identify barriers to improve communication, continuity of care, reduce negative health outcomes, and provide a culture of safety.

Methods: The Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) guided this quality improvement project. Assessment of quality measures and outcomes included the administration of pre- and post-implementation …

Guideline Development And Implementation For Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery, Lauren Moad

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Since the 1990s, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become the standard for many thoracic operations, providing a minimally invasive approach. Traditional VATS management with general anesthesia (GA), muscle relaxation, and one-lung ventilation (OLV) poses risks of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) that can lead to a prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS). Recently, non-intubated VATS (NI-VATS) has become popular due to fewer anesthesia-related complications and faster recovery, especially for patients with compromised respiratory function who may not tolerate GA or intubation. NI-VATS combines regional anesthesia with spontaneous non-invasive ventilation mechanisms, avoiding GA, intubation, and OLV complications. Studies show NI-VATS leads to …

Evolving Move Inclusive Dance's Evaluation System, Taylor L. Nock

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with MOVE Inclusive Dance in Nashville, Tennessee. MOVE Inclusive Dance is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals of all ability levels to learn life skills through dance. The aim of this project was to promote goal setting for each dancer, and to develop manageable systems for evaluation data and progress monitoring. Goals promoted occupational therapy-based skills such as independent sensory regulation, social participation, memory, and sustained attention. The project involved creating a web-accessible platform to easily input dancer progress and implementing suggestions from staff as they utilized the platform. Efficient data …

Elopement: Developing An Improved Plan Of Care For Vanderbilt Pediatric Seating And Mobility Clinic, Chloe Nease

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt within the Pediatric Seating and Mobility clinic. There has been an increased number of referrals to the clinic for equipment aimed at preventing elopement behaviors, primarily for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The goal of this capstone project was to improve the current plan of care regarding elopement evaluations to decrease strain on therapists and families. The objectives for this project were based on information from various stakeholders, including therapist and caregiver feedback, equipment vendors, and insurance providers. Outcomes included the creation of …

Road To Recovery: Reboot Recovery, Brooke Gephart

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with REBOOT Recovery, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing trauma healing through faith-based, peer-led courses. The purpose of this project was to create content to aid the participants and the leaders of REBOOT to overcome trauma and improve their well-being. Life guides were created to address feelings of anxiety and depression, substance use disorder, and provided education on implementing coping skills to help improve their daily functioning. Educational content was developed for leaders regarding the complexities of overcoming trauma for autistic people and highly sensitive people, to best equip leaders to assist …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Care Of Informal Caregivers Of People With Dementia: A Concept Analysis, Ashley M. Taylor

Student Capstone Papers

Informal caregivers (care partners) are people, such as family members, who provide care to those who cannot care for themselves, including people with dementia (PwD). Care partners assist PwD in their daily occupations, often without training. Caring for PwD can lead to emotional, physical, financial, and occupational challenges for care partners. Occupational therapy (OT) has a role to play in the care of PwD. However, if clinicians do not operate from a dyadic model, care partners’ needs may be overlooked. Problem: Although addressing the care partner dyad is important to the delivery of OT, the role of OT in the …

Training And Thickening Skills Among Food Service Professionals In Early Intervention Day Treatment Facilities, Keelin G. Fullen

Student Theses and Dissertations

Dysphagia, defined as impaired swallowing, affects children and is often treated by modifying food textures and thickening liquids before consumption. Early intervention day treatment (EIDT) facilities serve children with developmental delays and medical conditions that may require food modification such as thickened liquids. Inaccuracies in thickened liquid consistency have been documented in multiple professions, leading to potential negative health implications for the consumer. This study aimed to evaluate food service providers in EIDT facilities and the implementation of thickened liquids plans, training factors, and the accuracy of liquid thickening. Using interviews with five administrators (n=5) and observation of thickened liquid …

Enhancing Provider Knowledge With Phq-9 Education, Laurette Abunaw

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression represents a significant public health concern that often remains undiagnosed or untreated, primarily due to insufficient systematic screening in primary care settings. The lack of standardized screening tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) elevates patient risks, increasing symptom severity, increasing suicide rates, and delaying interventions. Research studies show that a significant number of individuals with depression go untreated for long durations, with primary care settings recognizing only a small percentage of cases. The PHQ-9 is an effective tool for assessing and monitoring depression in a primary care setting, leading to early detection of symptom severity. Clinical practice …

Nourishing Movement: Nutrition For Parkinson's Wellness, Alexa E. Shever

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was conducted in collaboration with Bridges for Parkinson's, an organization designed to connect people living with Parkinson's Disease to a community that engages them in a specialized fitness program that helps them rediscover hope and joy and connect them to other resources to improve overall quality of life. The primary objective was to understand the lived experience of individuals with PD and develop PD specific nutrition education and programming for PD fighters and their care partners to use in fighting back against PD. The specific nutrition topics in the education and programming include Whole Foods, Hydration, …

Implementing A Six-Week Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy Program For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease: A Practitioner-Based Perspective, Sara Adams

Expressive Therapies Theses

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor function, emotional well-being, and social engagement. While traditional rehabilitation approaches emphasize physical therapy and medication management, emerging research highlights the potential of creative arts therapies in addressing the multidimensional challenges of PD. This thesis explores the implementation of an intermodal expressive arts therapy intervention designed to support individuals with PD through dance, music, drama, and visual arts. Conducted over six weeks within a community support group in Nova Scotia, the program included guided visualization, Brain Dance exercises, creative movement, drama-based activities, and reflective art-making. A qualitative, practitioner-based method was used, …

Utilization Of Zinc As A Supplemental Treatment To Prostate Cancer, Cony Cs Chow, Vishal Ahuja, Luis Mangiafico

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Prostate cancer remains as a significant contributor to mortality among men worldwide, and despite advancements in treatment, there is still a need for adjunct therapies that could assist in mitigating the progression of this disease. Zinc is an essential trace element which plays a crucial role in the function of the prostate and has shown signs of influencing the development of prostate cancer. This prospective study will aim to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on the progression of prostate cancer through a controlled experimental design. Participants will include patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer (stages 1-3) and will …

Teachers’ Knowledge Of Pediatric Voice Disorders And Their Attitudes Toward Children With Voice Disorders, Hannah G. Hopper

Student Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study aims to observe elementary school teachers’ knowledge and attitudes of voice disorders in children. Method: Seventy-nine elementary school teachers electronically completed the survey on Qualtrics. Results: The results of this study support the theory that teachers have limited knowledge of voice and voice disorders and that children with abnormal voices are rated less favorably than their peers with normal voices. In addition, it was found that teachers' knowledge does not correlate with their attitudes toward pediatric voice samples. Conclusion: Data from the current study reveal that teachers have limited knowledge and often do not view children equally …

Students In Healthcare Professions: Their Knowledge Of Speech-Language Pathology, Savannah Hicks

Student Theses and Dissertations

This research provides insight into interprofessional collaboration between healthcare students and advocates for speech-language pathology (SLP) by highlighting the necessity to increase the awareness of SLPs’ responsibilities and interprofessional education across all disciplines throughout college education. Specifically, healthcare professionals need to have a complete understanding of what type of care patients are receiving or who they may need to be referred to. In this research study, healthcare students completed a survey to determine their knowledge of speech-language pathology and the amount of collaboration with SLPs. The qualitative results were analyzed with coding, which created a thematic analysis. The results revealed …

Speech-Language Pathology And Counseling: Confronting Communication And Swallowing Disorders At The End Of Life, Samuel Parker Wooten

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study was conducted to gain a better understanding of how speech-language pathologists (SLP) prepare for and provide professional counseling to those at the end-of-life stage. Participants in this study consisted of SLPs from northeast Arkansas with at least three years of experience providing counseling in an English-speaking setting to individuals at the end-of-life stage. Interviews were conducted using Zoom software, where they were recorded and then transcribed via a speech-to-text transcription service. The data were then analyzed by the primary investigator to determine themes and attitudes regarding professional counseling at the end of life. The results of the …

Agricultural Farmers' Perceptions Of Farm-Related Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, Charlene Phillips

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to assess Arkansas farmers’ hearing health, perceptions, and knowledge of noise-induced hearing loss and the use of hearing protection devices. Three questions were formed to outline the primary focus areas of the current study. The following questions are outlined: What is the hearing health of farmers in Arkansas? What are the attitudes of farmers in Arkansas toward noise-induced hearing loss and the use of hearing protection devices? What is the knowledge level of farmers in Arkansas regarding noise levels, noise exposure, and harmful effects of noise-induced hearing loss? Ninety-six Arkansas farmers electronically completed a thirty-question survey on …

The Caregiver Perspective Of The Speak Out!® Program, Caitlyn Marie Moore

Student Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study aims to explore the perspectives of caregivers of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) participating in the SPEAK OUT!® program and to assess its potential to alleviate some aspects of caregiver burden. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with six caregivers. These results highlighted overarching themes of program benefits, caregiver challenges, and caregiver rewards while expressing challenges with the program. Caregivers mentioned that the participants had challenges with inconsistent practice and resistance to applying the skills they learned from the program daily. While caregivers did perceive benefits and no adverse changes due to the SPEAK OUT!® program, …

Increasing Resources And Meaningful Participation For A Successful Community Reentry, Lindsay A. Molloy

OTD Capstone Projects

Dismas House is an approved Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), 501(c)(3) non-profit residential re-entry program serving men who are returning to the community from Tennessee prisons and county jails. The purpose of this capstone experience is to work with the residents of Dismas House by supporting them as they face barriers reentering society after incarceration. Dismas House offers services under their "Four Pillars of Programming", which includes basic needs, health & well-being, life skills, and legal support. These four pillars were taken under consideration when creating resources and implementing new programming for the residents. Outcomes of this project included creating …

Evidence Based Resource Creation: Building Knowledge And Supporting Curriculum Rationale For Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At Friends Life Community, Ruth D. Jones

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed in collaboration with Friends Life Community (FLC), a nonprofit, community-based day program that serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A comprehensive needs assessment revealed a gap in evidence-based research supporting the purpose and impact of FLC’s daily curriculum. Additionally, there was a need for custom outcome measurement tools to better capture the growth and progress of program participants. In response, the focus of this capstone was to develop an educational resource tailored for multiple stakeholder audiences, including FLC staff, parents/caregivers, board members, and donors. The goal of the resource was to reinforce the …

Making Moves: Magnifying The Move Inclusive Dance Professional Development Workshop 2025, Abigail G. Smith

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with MOVE Inclusive Dance in Nashville, Tennessee. MOVE Inclusive Dance is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals of all ability levels to learn life skills through dance. The aim of this project was to create a full-scale professional development program for special education teachers to learn how to incorporate movement into their classrooms. An occupational therapy-based handout was created using evidence-based research and provided to all workshop participants. The project involved planning and executing the workshop, while also providing participants with resources to learn more about to importance of movement in …

Neural Patterns Of Self-Efficacy And Resulting Changes After Cognitive Rehabilitation In Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Emma N. Tribbey

Theses

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often leads to cognitive impairments, which can significantly affect recovery outcomes. Although there are many different interventions available for individuals with mTBI, evidence-based research has indicated that cognitive rehabilitation programs can lead to significant improvement in psychological symptoms as well as psychosocial and vocational functioning in mTBI. Additionally, clinical research has identified a construct, self-efficacy, or the belief in one's capacity to achieve goals, that may play a critical role in further improving cognitive rehabilitation outcomes. Current research examining self-efficacy and cognitive rehabilitation in mTBI has found that higher self-efficacy is associated with greater treatment …