Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating Viability, Developmental Competence, And Chromatin Configurations Of Cryopreserved Equine Oocytes, Tricia Adams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Assisted reproduction technology and the use of specialized laboratories have increased in the horse breeding industry over the last decade. This expansion has highlighted the inability to routinely cryopreserve oocytes and preserve female genetics. Oocyte vitrification, a cryopreservation process, continues to be characterized as an experimental procedure in horses. The goal of this dissertation was to evaluate the viability, developmental competence, and nuclear structures of cryopreserved equine oocytes to illuminate potential areas of improvement in the vitrification process. Oocytes were collected from abattoir derived ovaries and exposed to either varying lengths of in vitro maturation (IVM) or pretreated with a …

Comparing Student And Np Faculty Simulation Satisfaction And Confidence Following Debriefing, Rhonda D'Agostino

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

The utilization of simulation technology can increase critical thinking, as well as advance practice skills, satisfaction and confidence in learning. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of in-person student debriefing on students and NP faculty confidence and satisfaction in student learning utilizing standardized patient simulation. The study was open to the 50 enrolled students and 10 faculty participating in the summative SP simulation for advanced health assessment at Pace University’s Pleasantville campus. Students were randomly selected to undergo in-person debriefing by faculty. After simulation, students and faculty participated in a survey. Of the 33 students, 15 …

Staff Education To Nurses Of Five Departments Performing Point-Of-Use Treatment, Natalia G. Nunez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff Education to Nurses of Five Departments Performing Point-of-Use Treatment by Natalia G. Nunez MPH, Walden University, 2019 BS, Florida International University, 2011 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University November 2024 Point-of-use treatment (POU) treatment is the first step of sterilization, and it is critical for staff performing this process to undergo proper education and training as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Performing proper POU treatment reduces the risk of infections in patients and extends the life of the instruments and devices. A …

Moving Teamwork Into Teaming: Evaluating A Team-Based Model Of Nursing Care, Katie Lynn Maloney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing practice faces staffing shortages, complex patient care, and a need to develop creative ways to fill staffing holes within the acute care clinical setting (Beckett et al., 2021). A hospital in New Hampshire, United States implemented a team-based nursing care model on a geriatric psychiatric unit in January 2023. The model has been in place for 18 months. The focus of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) evaluation project was to determine if implementing the team-based nursing model of care improved patient outcomes such as falls, restraint use, and hospital-acquired pressure injuries and reduced the number …

Strategies To Reduce Meditation Errors Hospitals, Elizabeth Davies

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Each year, nearly 100,000 patients in the United States die as a result of medication errors. Medication errors are a concern to hospital leaders, resulting in increased expenses, extended hospital stays, and patient harm. Grounded in the Lean Six Sigma quality model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies three hospital managers in one hospital system in the eastern United States used to reduce medication errors. Data were collected through semistructered interviews, archival hospital documents, and analyzed using Yin's 5-step approach. The findings revealed key themes, including prioritizing staff training, building a safety culture, …

Home And Community-Based Case Manager Job Satisfaction During The Covid-19 Public Health Emergency, Timothy Frederick Conroy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is limited information on the impact on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) case managers’ job satisfaction as COVID-19 policies altered the way their jobs were performed. Many HCBS case managers in the United States experience high levels of turnover and burnout, resulting in difficulty maintaining appropriate service levels. Public health emergency (PHE) policies used to limit exposure of high-risk community-based individuals to COVID-19 resulted in various adjustments to traditional job responsibilities. The purpose of this research was to qualitatively study the impact of HCBS policy changes on the job satisfaction of HCBS case managers prior to and throughout the …

Executive Summary: Clinical Practice Guideline Obstetrics Diabetes Management, Carole N. Louis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary A clinical practice guideline (CPG) was developed because the perinatal department lacked standardized management of pregestational and gestational diabetes. The practice issue is relevant since managing maternal glucose ranges during pregnancy mitigates adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The practice-focused question asks, “What are the best practices to manage diabetes in the intrapartum and postpartum settings?” The project was designed to develop an evidence-based protocol to provide standardized management for nurses and providers. Most studies in the literature search were quantitative sources with either A or B overall quality ratings. Based on the evidence, the intrapartum target maternal glucose range …

The Experience Of Young Adult Caregivers Of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices (Lvads), Amy Emmarco

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Advanced heart failure is a serious diagnosis that is associated with limited options at the end stage of the disease. Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) are mechanical circulatory support systems that can be used for patients with end stage heart failure. These devices are complex and require specialized training to manage. Visiting home care services are unable to provide support and the management responsibility falls solely on the patient and their designated caregiver. Young adults serve in this caregiving role and very little is known about their specific journey. The aim of the study was to understand the experience of …

Staff Education To Use The Mental Health Risk Assessment Tool, Nkeiruka Okwuoma Okonkwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide/self-harm continues to be one of the most common sentinel events that could result in significant harm or death especially among mental health patients (Mills et al., 2020). Environmental hazards seem to be the primary contributing factor in patient suicide and self-harm cases. Thus, patient suicide remains a safety concern, especially in mental health facilities. It is important that nurses have the knowledge to prevent, identify, assess, and respond appropriately whenever they encounter patients at risk for suicide/self-harm. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project focused on educating staff on how to use the Mental Health Environmental Risk …

Universal Suicide Screening In Outpatient Primary Care And Specialty Care, Tamaria Featherlin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Native Americans are disproportionately affected by suicide, with mortality rates that are 2.5 higher than White and non-Hispanic Americans. Nursing staff in an Indian Health Service (IHS) outpatient and specialty care clinic inconsistently assess for suicide risk before outpatient and specialty clinic appointments due to sporadic use of screening tools and lack of confidence to ask patients suicide risk screening questions. The purpose of this staff education project was to determine if interactive education of outpatient nursing providers regarding universal screening for suicide risk using the Ask Suicide Screening Questions (ASQ) for patients who are 8 to 11. Patient Safety …

The Application Of Therapeutic Communication Between Staff And Patients, Aloysius Mokom Tamufor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The practice problem identified was the limited use of therapeutic communication among staff at the project site facility, which was attributed to low knowledge. The purpose of the project was to improve nurses’ knowledge of and intent to use therapeutic communication when interacting with patients with mental health disorders. The question that guided the project was: Does staff education about therapeutic communication improve nurses’ knowledge of and intent to use it when interacting with patients? A sample of 20 healthcare staff, which included advanced practice registered nurses and registered nurses who practiced in a mental health facility completed the education …

Chikungunya Pathogenesis In Cardiac Tissues And Its Evaluation In Stem Cell Derived Cardiac Models, Elizabeth M. Traverse

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) is a single stranded RNA alphavirus primarily vectored by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos. CHIKV has circulated in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa and Asia, but outbreaks in the past two decades have seen the virus spread to Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Disease from CHIKV infection typically results in fever, malaise, and sometimes debilitating arthralgia. However, there are concerning abnormal presentations that affect the human heart, including myocarditis, heart failure, and death. These symptoms are seen in all age groups and sexes and are not connected to particular strains or mutations in the …

Inclusiveness Of English As A Second Language Nursing Students In The Academic Setting, Bahgat Youwakeem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the perceptions of English as a Second Language (ESL) nursing students regarding inclusiveness in nursing programs in the southern United States. The problem addressed is the limited research on how ESL nursing students perceive inclusiveness in academic environments, particularly in the Southern States, where diversity is increasing. Previous studies have focused on the general challenges faced by ESL students, but few have examined their specific perceptions of inclusivity in nursing programs. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study, guided by Whannell and Whannell’s identity theory, was to gain insights into ESL nursing students' lived experiences of inclusiveness. …

Staff Education Project For Adult Icu Nurses, Hani Ayyad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project is a crucial initiative designed to enhance nursing knowledge and skills in the care of central lines. Its overarching goal is to reduce the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in a teaching hospital. Given that CLABSIs are a major concern in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), due to higher morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditures, this project is very important. My goal was to fill these gaps by providing a comprehensive staff education program addressing this critical issue. The evidence-based practice question (EBP) guiding this Doctor of Nursing Project (DNP) project was: Does the Staff Education …

Lived Experiences Of Low-Income African American Burn Survivors In Greater Washington, Dc, Angela White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burn injuries are wounds that affect the skin and other organic tissue, categorized according to the mechanism of injury and brought on by heat, electricity, chemicals, fire, or flames. In the United States, researchers have shown that race and other healthcare inequalities lead to increased burn injuries among African Americans but have yet to explore their lived experiences after sustaining these injuries. This phenomenological study explored perceptions and understanding of the manifestation of burn injuries of seven African American burn survivors. Participants were recruited in health services public waiting areas, community storefronts, mailers, and on Facebook. Data were collected via …

A Phenotypic Characterization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia Clinical Isolates, Sara Dj Daniels

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is a human pathogen of serious concern because of its ability to cause serious and wide-ranging disease. Of particular concern is the ability of S. aureus to cause bacteremia (SAB), allowing the bacteria to disseminate and spread to various organs. This study addressed this issue through the phenotypic characterization of two methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates taken from patients with sustained complicated bacteremia at Tampa General Hospital, referred to as SA1097 and SA1098. A battery of phenotypic tests was conducted on these strains, including a growth curve, hemolysis and proteolysis screenings, cytotoxicity assays using human neutrophils, blood …

Expert Consensus In A Politically-Charged Environment: Motivated Reasoning In Information Processing, Austin L. Katz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the abundance of information online, what drives news consumption? It has been theorized that there are two distinct conflicting motivations which operate simultaneously when consumers encounter new information: the motivation to reach accurate conclusions and the directional motivation to reach conclusions that are consistent with a person’s preexisting beliefs or predispositions (e.g., Kunda 1990). This experiment tests situations in which both motivations are simultaneously made salient in the context of reading headlines to decide what news to read and how accurate the news is likely to be.

A new fact-check manipulation was used to draw attention to the accuracy …

Pneumonia Pathway’S Effectiveness In Decreasing Length Of Stay In An Acute Care, Marie Carline Hollant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can be detrimental to patient outcomes. One major challenge affecting care for CAP is hospital length of stay (HLOS), which is associated with multiple factors, mainly comorbid conditions. One way to improve the efficiency of CAP hospital care is the implementation of pneumonia clinical pathways to ensure effectiveness in application of pneumonia treatment and care. This project evaluated the effectiveness of using pneumonia pathways by evaluating HLOS before and after the health care staff in the project site implemented pneumonia pathways. Use of the pneumonia pathways in the project site started in 2021, but there had not …

Impact Of Drinking Water And Sanitation Facilities On Child Mortality In Sierra Leone, Christie Ben-Carew

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are viewed as key contributors to the high rates of under-5 child deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. In one of the countries in the region, Sierra Leone, there was an absence of studies on the potential impacts of WASH on child mortality. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how variables related to access to toilet facilities and safe drinking water in rural and urban areas of Sierra Leone impact child mortality. Secondary data from the United Nations Children's Fund 2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (N = 18,006) were analyzed as part of this …

Rictor, A Mtorc2 Protein, Regulates Lymphatic Valve Formation And Maintenance Through The Akt-Foxo1 Signaling Axis, Richa Banerjee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The lymphatic vasculature maintains tissue fluid homeostasis by absorbing interstitial fluid to form lymph and transporting it back to the bloodstream. Collecting lymphatic vessels have lymphatic valves (LVs) that prevent the retrograde flow of lymph generated by hydrostatic pressure from the blood vasculature. Backflow and accumulation of lymph leads to a lymphatic pathology called lymphedema. This implicates the involvement of defective LVs in the pathogenesis of lymphedema and warrants the study of lymphatic valve development and maintenance. The LVs are formed through a process called mechanotransduction which signals through the intracellular PI3K-AKT pathway in lymphatic endothelial cells. However, the activation …

The Lived Experiences Of Work Related Violence Against Public Health Professionals During Covid-19 Pandemic, Cynthia Howell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Work-related violence (WRV) against public health professionals is increasingly prevalent worldwide but received much greater attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study addressed a gap in the literature by exploring public health professionals' experiences with WRV threats, what factors contributed to their vulnerability, and the severity of these threats during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Rogers' (1975) Protection Motivation Theory was the conceptual framework for phenomenological study. Twelve public health professionals, both male and female, including epidemiologists, nurses, physicians, researchers/scientists, and community health workers, who actively worked during the COVID-19 pandemic and were residents of New York …

Examining The Relationship Between Employment And Health Status Among Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) In The United States, Winifred Beckles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by challenges in social communication and repetitive behaviors, is a developmental disability that impacts over five million adults in the United States. Despite the significant amount of research literature on the association between health and employment in the general population, there remains a gap in research on the relationship between health and employment in adults with autism. Utilizing the Social Ecological Model (SEM) framework, this study examined whether there is a relationship between employment, current living status, non-paid activities, United States Census regions, type of health insurance, and health status when controlling for age, race, …

Black Women’S Perceptions Of Perinatal Healthcare In New York City Community Health Centers, Asiyah Franklin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of Black women who have received perinatal care in New York City (NYC) community health centers and the perceived impact on their maternal health behaviors and outcomes. Although maternal health care delivery and outcomes among Black women have been explored in research, socially and economically disenfranchised Black women in NYC who rely on community health centers for perinatal care have not been included in this research. This study involved addressing the lack of knowledge of Black women’s experiences with perinatal care in NYC’s community health system and consisted of …

Abstract Education On Agency For Healthcare Research And Quality Ideal For Health Ministry, Francesse Charles-Cherelus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Education on Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality IDEAL for Health Ministry by Francesse Charles-Cherelus MS, Walden University, 2020 BS, Clayton State University, 2018 Project in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University November 2024 The problem addressed in this project was lack of access to community resources for care of patients with behavioral or mental health conditions. Without adequate resources, patients are at risk for rehospitalization. The purpose of the doctoral project was to develop a staff education program for health ministry staff and evaluate effectiveness to increase staff confidence in …

Staff Education To Improve Medication Compliance In Older Patients In Home Settings, Chika Ugoala Okwonna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education intervention intended to improve medication adherence at a long-term care facility. The practice gap identified was that staff lacked current evidence-based knowledge in medication compliance. The project addressed whether educating staff on medication compliance would increase knowledge. The purpose of this project was to increase knowledge with the overall goal to improve patient outcomes. Planning strategies included undertaking a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) assessment of the organization’s readiness. The project involved creating and implementing an in-person 60-minute presentation. Eighteen nursing staff voluntarily participated in the education intervention, …

Racial Bias In The Treatment Decision Of Breast Cancer In African American And Caucasian Women, Hayaat Mariette Amara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer stands as a formidable health challenge in the United States, ranking as the most prevalent and deadly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women. Of particular concern is the disproportionate impact on African American women, who experience elevated mortality rates compared to other demographic groups. This quantitative study, grounded in critical race theory, investigated whether there is an association between race as well as comorbidity score and first-course treatment plans for breast cancer among women in the State of Georgia, United States, adjusting for the stage of breast cancer, age, and household income. …

Marijuana Legalization And Opioid Use Disorder In Ontario, Canada, From 2015 To 2021, Luke Ome Agada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the trends in opioid-related hospitalizations and deaths in Ontario, Canada, from 2015, to 2021, with a particular focus on the periods before and after cannabis legalization. The social problem addressed was the ongoing opioid crisis, exacerbated by rising opioid-related health issues. Grounded in the harm reduction theory, this research explored whether cannabis legalization could serve as a substitute to mitigate opioid use disorder. Data were extracted from the Discharge Database, Emergency Department Database, National Ambulatory Care Reporting System, and Hospital Morbidity Database. Analysis using the generalized estimation equation (GEE) method revealed a significant increase in opioid-related hospitalizations, …

Neural Correlates Of Socially Rewarding Memories In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Kyle P. Blidy

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Significance. Memory disturbances for emotional content are central to PTSD, yet most research focuses on trauma memories. Recent evidence suggests that enhancing access to positive memories could improve mood, affect regulation, self-esteem, and integration of trauma memories. However, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying positive memory encoding in PTSD are poorly understood. No study has examined memory for positive social items in PTSD, which is important because PTSD entails social withdrawal and reduced accessibility to positive memory. Additionally, positive memories embedded in a social context have enhanced subjective value and strengthening their accessibility may confer greater benefits to wellbeing compared to non-social …

Essays On Information Technology In Healthcare, Gleb Zavadskiy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Information technologies (IT) and information systems (IS) have profound significance across various sectors of society, including healthcare, business, education, government, and beyond. First, IT facilitates instant communication globally through email, messaging apps, video conferencing, and social media, revolutionizing how individuals and organizations interact, collaborate, and share information (Hacker et al. 2020; Tang and Hew 2020).

Secondly, the Internet and digital libraries provide worldwide access to vast amounts of information, what makes knowledge and education available to everyone, empowering individuals to learn and stay informed on diverse topics (Haleem et al. 2022). Another aspect of IT systems in various industries is …

The Association Between Oral Microbiome, Oral Inflammation, Periodontal Disease, And Systemic Metabolism In Individuals With/Without Type 1 Diabetes, Mianli Xiao

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the associations between oral microbiomes, periodontal disease (PD), and systemic metabolism in individuals with and without Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Data were obtained from 208 participants (99 with T1D, 109 non-diabetic) in the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes (CACTI) pilot study and 283 participants from the Oral Microbiome ancillary cohort study. Both studies included the collection of saliva or subgingival plaque samples. Microbial DNA was extracted, and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Machine learning models, including Random Forest (RF) and Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), were applied …