Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Nursing Educational Program For Recognizing And Managing Emotional Labor, Kathleen Kuzelka

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a one hour learning module on emotional labor for all staff that will enable them to recognize and manage emotional labor for themselves and their coworkers in their daily work. This project presents the concept of emotional labor and emotional labor in nursing. A one hour learning module is described. The presentation of this module is discussed. There is discussion of the implications of emotional labor for nursing research, nursing practice and nursing education.

Brad: A Model Of Caring For Persons With Frontotemporal Dementia, Jennifer Mcguire

Theses and Graduate Projects

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is caused by u progressive degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain (Boxer & Miller, 2005), This degeneration causes profound alterations in personality, social behavior, and language skills. FTD is particularly devastating due to the fact that it commonly affects people during mid-life or earlier. Evidence has shown that caregivers face higher rates of burden, distress and isolation when providing care for someone with FTD than other forms of dementia (de Vugt, Riedijk, Aalten, Tibben, van Swieten, & Verhey,2006; Kumamoto, Arai, Hashimoto, Ikeda, Mizuno, & Washio, 2004). The Behavioral Recognition, Assessment and Delivery (BRAD) …

The Association Between Lead Exposure And Respiratory Health In Children, Colleen Coleman

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The substantial impact of indoor air quality and environmental hazards in the home on one’s health has long been recognized in the field of public health. This cross-sectional study investigates the risk between home based hazards, specifically lead, and respiratory health in children. The objective of this study is to examine the extent to which children testing positive for blood lead exposure are at an increased risk for having poor respiratory health. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 977 children ages 1- 6 years was obtained from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Information from the …

Examining The Association Of Fruit And Vegetable Intake And Breast And Prostate Cancer Screening, Mark Yu

Theses and Dissertations

Breast and prostate cancer incidence and mortality have been steadily decreasing. Reasons for these reductions may be related to increased rates of cancer screening and other factors such as improvements in diet, including consumption of fruits and vegetables. We wanted to determine if individuals who get screened for breast and prostate cancer are more or less likely to consume adequate servings of fruit and vegetables. A cross-sectional study using the BRFSS survey was conducted. Individuals included in this study (n=26,222), were asked about their breast or prostate cancer screening history. They were also asked about their servings per day of …

Cardiovascular Reactivity To Forgiveness In Females, Carolyn Mccrocklin

Theses and Dissertations

Empirical evidence exists directly relating forgiveness to physiological markers of cardiovascular health based on the manner in which individuals respond to interpersonal offenses. Extant literature has identified the harmful effects of stress in cardiovascular disease and health in general and unforgiveness has been identified as a stressor with potential implications for cardiac health. Understanding cardiac response to the stress of unforgiveness may have favorable implications for heart disease prevention and treatment in women and may prove to be beneficial in reducing allostatic load.

Building Community Among Older Oromo Women Struggling With Sadness In A Large Urban Setting, Fatuma Kotile

Theses and Graduate Projects

Older Oromo women who immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s have experienced several stressful life events including war, famine, acculturation, harsh northern climate, a new language (English), and multiple experiences different from those in their native country, Ethiopia. Coping with these new experiences, correlates with a high level of depressive symptoms that Oromo people call "sadness." The purpose of this project is to create and describe a transcultural model of nursing practice in community that aims to decrease sadness among older Oromo women by promoting community building and healthy life choices in the midst of change. A …

Community Voice: Taking It To The People, Guidelines For Conducting A Process Evaluation, Tiffany Mcghee

Theses and Dissertations

Background The Community Voice program is designed for African-Americans and explores key factors that can contribute to African-American infant mortality. This program was implemented in Henrico County based on Virginia Health Statistics that the White infant mortality rate average during the years of 2001-2005 was 5.3 deaths per 1,000 live births and in the same time period the infant mortality rate for African-Americans was 13.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. At the time of implementation of the program, no plans to evaluate the program had been made. Objective This evaluation was designed to develop guidelines regarding the evaluation process of …

Developing A Community Clinic To Address The Health Needs As Experienced By A Small Rural Village In Sierra Leone, Doris K. Acton

Theses and Graduate Projects

Developing countries experience a disproportionate amount of health care inequities due to extreme poverty, lack of education, minimal resources and marginalization from health care services. Additionally, barriers such as access, availability and affordability prevent people from seeking care. Development of community based clinics can help to address the health disparities that the people of these countries often experience. Utilizing Madeleine Leininger's Culture Care Theory and the Sunrise Enabler provide a framework on which to develop clinics and health care programs in ways that are culturally congruent and acceptable. This paper addresses the health needs of Manonkoh, a small village in …

Vitamin B6 Metabolism And Regulation Of Pyridoxal Kinase, Amit Gandhi

Theses and Dissertations

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is the cofactor for over 140 vitamin B6 (PLP)-dependent enzymes that are involved in various metabolic and biosynthetic pathways. Pyridoxal kinase (PL kinase) and pyridoxine 5’-phosphate oxidase (PNP oxidase) are the two key enzymes that metabolize nutritional forms of vitamin B6, including pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxine (PN), and pyridoxamine (PM) to the active cofactor form, PLP. Disruption of the PLP metabolic pathway due to mutations in PNP oxidase or PL kinase result in PLP deficiency, which is implicated in several neurological pathologies. Several ingested compounds are also known to result in PLP deficiency with concomitant neurotoxic effects. How …

Effect Of The Interactive Computerized Information For Surrogates Icu Program In Increasing The Understanding Of Informed Consent And The Knowledge Of Genetic And Genomics Research, Ann Kathleen Shelton

Dissertations

Background: A significant and growing number of clinical research studies conducted in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) today have some genetic and genomics component. Surrogates approached to authorize participation in clinical research for a loved-one in the ICU may not be prepared to make informed decisions. A model of stewardship of genetic and genomics research was used as a framework for this study. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of an educational program, the Interactive Computerized Information for Surrogates (ICIS) ICU Education Program in assisting surrogates to (1) increase their understanding of the process of informed …

Developing A Comprehensive Youth Obesity Initiative For The State Of Virginia, Jennifer Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The 2009 Virginia General Assembly Session unanimously voted to change the legislation governing the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation to create the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) and incorporate childhood overweight and obesity prevention and reduction in its mission. In order to successfully meet the requirements of this legislation, VFHY needed assistance developing a strategic plan for the obesity initiative and a knowledge base to draw from. A comprehensive assessment of the status of Virginia’s childhood obesity problem was conducted, including the prevalence of the illness, the barriers existing to and the benefits to obesity prevention programs, the need for …

Use Of Oral Chemotherapeutic Medications In Non-Traditional Ambulatory Settings, Sameer Arora

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in economically developed countries. The use and availability of oral treatment for cancer has increased dramatically in the past 10 years. Few studies have described the use of oral chemotherapy in non-traditional ambulatory settings by health care professionals across different specialties. Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe the usage of oral chemotherapeutic medications in ambulatory settings. Methods: Cross sectional study of 2007 NAMCS Survey analysis involving 21,761 subjects aged 18 years and above with cancer who participated in the 2007 National Ambulatory Medical Survey (NAMCS). Main Outcome Measure: …

Association Between Obesity And Depression And Anxiety Disorders: Results From The 2008 National Health Interview Survey, Monica Gaidhane

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Obesity is one of the most important medical problems in the U.S. and is considered to be an epidemic with over 30% of the population being obese. Obesity is associated with increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and a shorter life expectancy. Recent studies have shown that higher BMI levels are also significantly associated with several lifetime mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders as well as panic attacks and panic disorders. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantify the extent to which higher BMI increased the likelihood of Depression, Anxiety Disorder …

Association Between Preconception Multivitamin Use And The Risk Of Preeclampsia/High Blood Pressure In Pregnant Women, Krisandra Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia are significant causes of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women and neonates. This study examined the relationship between multivitamin use and incidence of reported high blood pressure or preeclampsia using data from the 2007 Oregon State Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Overall there were n=1894 women included in the study. Women were asked two to four months after delivery to report their multivitamin or prenatal vitamin usage in the month prior to conception and were categorized as daily users, or less than daily users. The unadjusted prevalence of high blood pressure or preeclampsia was 13.4% …

Client Perceptions And Working Alliance: Predictors Of Outcome?, Theresa Do

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND In recent years, there has been a push to measure and monitor the quality of health care and the delivery of effective services. Substance use disorders are debilitating and in order to better understand this facet of substance abuse, it is important for organizations and providers to assess the quality of services, client satisfaction, and the relationships that exist between clients and treatment providers. PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to (1) assess the extent of the relationship between measures of client perceptions of satisfaction and treatment outcomes and (2) to assess the relationship between measures of therapeutic …

The 2009 H1n1 Influenza A “Swine Flu” Virus Presentation In Virginia 2009, Tammie Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: 2009 H1N1 influenza was first detected in the Northern Hemisphere in April 2009. National data have suggested that the novel influenza virus disproportionately causes severe illness in children and young adults, a somewhat different presentation from traditional seasonal flu which normally strikes hardest in the very young and older adults. This may or may not be the case in Virginia, which, if it is different, may suggest a need to alter flu prevention messages and vaccine policy as the outbreak continues through the fall 2009-10 influenza season. This report examined the early presentation of the new influenza virus in …

Intimate Partner Violence And Pregnancy: Data From The Chicago Women's Health Risk Study, Anne Zehner

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy increases the risks of adverse outcomes for both mothers and their unborn children, including maternal and fetal death. However, more research is needed to determine if IPV increases in frequency or severity during pregnancy and to determine what the risk factors are for IPV during pregnancy. Objectives: To use data from the Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study to determine (1) if abuse is more prevalent during the pregnancy period, 2) if abuse during the pregnancy period increases in frequency or severity, 3) if pregnant women who are abused are at increased risk for …

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors And Innate Immunity In Septic Shock, Joseph Bertsche

Theses and Dissertations

Innate immunity depends on pattern recognition receptors, which recognize pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPS), such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which detects the gram-negative bacterial toxin, lipopolysaccharide. Engagement of TLR4 by LPS sets off a cascade ending in the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interferon-β (IFN-β) which alerts the host to the infection. However, these responses can be mal-adaptive, especially in the context of bacterial sepsis, where a "cytokine storm" results in death of the host. Pharmacological modulation of these responses may therefore be a promising treatment modality. Inhibition of classic pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α has been …

The P600 Event-Related Potential Across Ages And Ear Conditions, Kyla Lewis Tree

Theses and Dissertations

Studying language development through event-related potentials provides specific information regarding how the brain processes specific aspects of language over time. In this study, the P600 component, a positive wave occurring approximately 600 ms post-stimulus and known for detecting syntactic errors, was specifically analyzed. Thirty children between the ages of 5 and 12 years listened to linguistically correct, syntactically incorrect, and semantically incorrect sentences in three ear conditions: monaurally to the right ear, monaurally to the left ear, and binaurally. The participants were instructed to judge the sentences to be correct or incorrect. Comparisons were then made of the latency and …

Reproductive Diseases Of Dairy Cattle, Christina Suzanne Tortosa

Dairy Science

The efficiency of today’s dairy has increased due to the growing number of cows per herd and the production of pounds of milk per cow. Increased milk production however has resulted in a reduction of conception rates causing a loss of income for the dairy producer since the dairy industry relies heavily on milk production, which is caused by good conception rates. Many reproductive disorders like dystocia, metritis, endometritis, and retained placenta affect conception rates, and can lead to metabolic diseases like rumen acidosis, milk fever, and displaced abomasums. Recurrent metabolic diseases can eventually lead to culling of the herd. …

Impact Of Parent’S Hiv Status On Their Uninfected Child—A Comparative Analysis Of The Child’S Healthcare Utilization, Access And Health Outcomes, Arijit Ganguli

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

With the advent of effective antiretroviral medication and increased expectancy of life span among HIV-infected individuals has lead to an increase in the at-risk population of uninfected children living with their HIV-infected parent(s). The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of parent’s HIV status on their child’s access to healthcare resources, healthcare utilization and health outcomes.

This was a cross-sectional study in which the information on the children of HIV seropositive parent(s) was collected through a face-to-face interview of the HIV-infected parents having children currently residing with them. The comparative group comprising of children of HIV seronegative …

Structural Characterization Of The C-Terminus Of The Cochlear Motor Protein Prestin: Intrinsic Disorder Linked To Voltage Sensor Function, Michael S. Podgorski

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The sensitivity of mammalian hearing relies upon the ability to amplify sound. Outer hair cells (OHCs) in the cochlea have motile properties that support this function. The motor protein called prestin resides in the lateral wall of the OHCs. Prestin undergoes voltage-dependent conformational changes, which correlates to the movement of charge through the membrane or non-linear capacitance (NLC). This property underlies OHC electromotility. A mechanistic understanding of prestin’s function remains unknown. Previous research has tied prestin’s C-terminus (residues 499-799) to the voltage-dependent events that occur in the membrane. The folding and biochemical properties of prestin’s C-terminus were characterized. This information …

Cognitive Processes And Race Differences: Possible Factors Contributing To Ptsd, Christina Fay

Graduate Theses

Past research suggest differences in racial group’s perceived experiences in traumatic situations and different ways of coping can affect individual levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The author examined how race, methods of coping and risk/resilience factors interact with PTSD symptomology. A total of 28 Black, Hispanic and Non Hispanic Caucasian Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans were assessed for PTSD symptoms, methods of coping and risk/resilience factors related to deployment. Findings indicate no significant differences for minorities and non Hispanic Caucasians on level of PTSD symptoms. Findings indicate significant differences between minorities and non Hispanic Caucasians on …

Hands On Health Symposium: Student Research And Creative Endeavors, Jessica Lynn Rogers

Kinesiology and Public Health

This paper explains the organization and planning process for the student research section of the first annual Hands on Health Symposium that was held on the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo campus. The event was to promote and make public awareness of healthy living. I did a write up of the sources I used, and what I did, so that the next student in charge of putting on the student section, will have a guideline.

Social Service Needs And Perceptions Of Low-Income Latinos In Metro Denver, Marissa M. Kaesemeyer

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The Latino population has the highest uninsured rates among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Latinos are likely to be poor, and have difficulties accessing social services. The purpose of this study is to understand what social services Latinos need, as well as Latino perceptions regarding access to social services. In order to provide better social services and ultimately maintain good health, it is important for social service organizations to understand their clients' needs and perceptions. The research question is "What are the social service needs of low-income Latinos and how do they perceive access to these …

Reading & Writing Health: Nurses' Experience Of Patients' Health Literacy, Susan Herrgott

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

The ability to read, understand, and act appropriately on healthcare information directly affects an individual's ability to access services and successfully communicate with healthcare providers. This ability is called health literacy and it includes the skills patients need to communicate with providers, read medical information, adhere to treatments, and decide when and how to seek medical care. Most of the research around health literacy has focused on patients’ experiences. In order to fully understand the problem, though, the experience of providers needs to be understood, too. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into nurses’ experience of patient …

Giving End Of Life Care To Persons With Intellectual Disabilities: A Model Of Support For Community Based Caregivers, Emily K. Gress

Theses and Graduate Projects

Persons with intellectual disabilities are living longer lives, often outliving family caregivers, and experiencing chronic illnesses known to the general aging population. Ultimately, this translates to a need for end of life care. Hospice care seeks to provide individualized physical, emotional, and spiritual support to assist persons and their families in attaining the highest quality of life in the face of a life limiting illness. Hospice services have been underutilized for persons with intellectual disabilities and little has been studied about end of life care provided by community based residential caregivers. The purpose of this project is to use Margaret …

Selected Barriers And Incentives For Participation In A University Wellness Program, Trever J. Ball

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Evidence supporting the benefits of worksite health promotion (WHP) programs is extensive. Research shows these programs can improve the health of participants, lower health care costs, and improve the bottom line of employers. Although the evidence of these benefits is vast, reported participation in WHP is not optimal. Little published data exists on employees' perceived incentives and barriers for participation in WHP.

The purpose of this study was to determine perceived barriers and incentives for participation in an existing WHP program at a large land-grant university. Opinions of eligible WHP participants were collected using a web-based questionnaire (n = …

The Effectiveness Of A Specialized Upper Body Stretching Protocol On Ncaa Division I Athletes, Brandon M. Howard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Previous studies with college athletes determined that the shoulder girdle plays a vital role in a variety of athletic activities. The previous research showed that a decrease in shoulder range of motion (ROM) was associated with a higher risk injury. Decreased shoulder ROM was shown to be a primary reason that many athletes were unable to perform many overhead lifting variations within their strength and conditioning programs.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate a group of athletes by means of a postural assessment using the overhead squat test. This study consisted of a pretest-post test control group design. …

The Development Of An Advanced Filial Therapy Model, Amy Cathleen Wickstrom

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study sought to develop an advanced filial therapy model by examining the experiences of seven parents who participated in a preliminary advanced filial therapy intervention. These parents had previously completed a 10-week basic filial therapy model called Child Parent Relationship Therapy. A phenomenological qualitative design was employed, wherein data was obtained from parent playtime notes, researcher field notes, group process transcriptions, and focus groups. Parent experiences of the intervention were examined from a systems-relational lens, and four categories emerged, which include relational epiphanies, enhanced understanding of the playtimes, model format, and skill development. Additionally, a variety of themes were …