Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Decreasing Work-Related Injuries Among Working Adults In Labor Intensive Fields, Calin Clark

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Developing the Doctoral Capstone Health and Wellness Program Manual consisted of formulating of a ready-to-work screening tool and utilizing it to formulate client-centered, diagnosis-specific intervention plans. The intervention plans address many factors, including decreasing the risk of work-related injury and improving occupational performance through education, proper body mechanics, ergonomics, rest/sleep strategies, and any other resources they might need. The Health and Wellness Program Manual includes the ready-to-work screening tool and diagnosis-specific intervention plans focusing on improving the health and wellness of the working adult. To promote health and wellness, the objectives of the Doctoral Capstone project were to 1.) increase …

Enhancing Resources For Individuals Diagnosed With Parkinson’S Disease In Northeast Arkansas, Tinsley Clark

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The doctoral capstone experience and project aim to provide the same holistic approach to all PD clients to ensure that every client’s needs are being met to improve occupational performance and QOL. The literature strengthens the need for the Doctoral Capstone project to address disease-specific interventions, interprofessional collaboration, and access to local resources such as support groups and a disease-specific boot camp program.

Enhancing Rehabilitative Services For The Spinal Cord Injury Population In Northeast Arkansas, Emily Nichols

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The student promoted occupational justice by enhancing the spinal cord injury population’s access to quality care services in an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

Improving Health, Well-Being, And Quality Of Life Of Older Adults With Alzheimer’S Disease Residing In Assisted Living Facilities, Allison Landreth

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life among residents with Alzheimer’s by addressing common barriers to their leisure and social participation found within the literature and during the needs assessment conducted at the site.

Forming The Foundation For Success In Occupational Therapy Doctorate Students, Danielle Harris

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Create a preparatory bootcamp for incoming occupational therapy doctorate students to provide education on studying methods, coping strategies, stress management, occupational balance, and mindfulness practices to prepare students and promote their success within the occupational therapy doctorate program.

Farm Chores For Life Skills: A Farm Based Therapy Program, Katelyn Murphy

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project is to advocate for farm-based therapy services through the development of an evidence-based farm-based therapy program.

Bucks For Better Mental Health: Supporting Community College Students, Ansley Simmons

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The main project for the doctoral capstone project was to create a professional development course to educate faculty and staff on how to best support student mental health on campus.

Identifying Barriers To Successful Transition For Foster Adolescents To Adulthood, Madi Wood

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

For the Doctoral Capstone project, an Independent Living Skills Program was developed for Northeast Arkansas foster adolescents consisting of life skills modules, a mentorship module, and community partnerships. The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model (PEOP) was used to guide the project.

Fostering Futures: Serving As The Collegiate Mentor For The Utah 4-H Stem And Agriscience Ambassadors, Cassandra G. Ivie

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Combining principles of community engagement, psychology, and computer science, this project was created to apply academic knowledge to a community based need. Whereas girls have been shown to be less likely to believe they had the necessary qualities to study STEM (Merayo & Ayuso, 2022), report having learned about fewer STEM concepts by the end of high school (Merayo & Ayuso, 2022) and indicate higher rates of avoidance due to feeling incapable (Gallup, 2023), girls involvement in STEM was a primary focus for the project. As rural students also see a drop in STEM interest, have less access to advanced …

Examining Time Spent On Social Media And Its Effects On Mental Health In Terms Of Body Image Concerns, Self Esteem And Overall Quality Of Life Among U.S. Adults, Rigel Macarena Pinon

Theses and Dissertations

Daily exposure and dependence on computer-based technologies (smartphones) allows for 24/7 constant access to social media (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and other sites) and has empirically shown to have a positive and negative impact on the mental health of individuals across cultures in our society. Depending on user intent, exposure, and interests, social media platforms can create a sense of community; however, some of the platforms and what users post about themselves has led to cyberbullying, low self-esteem, user addiction, suicide, self-harm behaviors such as eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, and other mental health issues such as depression and …

Sex And Age Differences In Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Responses And The Resulting Influences On Cognition, Miranda K. Traylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Vascular dysfunction is the earliest known marker of neurodegeneration. However, limited research has been conducted to determine if changes in peripheral vascular function track differences in brain health. Therefore, the purpose was to determine if previously reported sex differences in near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) vascular occlusion test (VOT) parameters persist across the lifespan and if these differences track age- and sex-related differences in a cognitive task. Ninety-nine healthy, cognitively intact adults (50 women, 49 men) across the adult lifespan (19-81 yrs) were used for analysis. The combination of NIRS-VOT was used to quantify microvascular function. Cognition was defined as the time …

Modeling Sex-Specific Changes In Myocardial Fibrosis, Grace Martin

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Heart disease the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Cardiac fibrosis, or accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the heart, can occur after a heart attack and increase the risk for further complications. Current treatments for heart disease do not include extracellular matrix regulators, partly due to the complicated signaling network responsible for the production of these proteins. By using a computational model of the signaling network in cardia fibroblasts, the relationship between particular molecules and downstream extracellular matrix production can be examined.

Biological sex is an important factor for cardiac health and …

An Examination Of Products That University Of Mississippi Students Consume For Managing Their Stress, Kiersten Rickard

Honors Theses

Students are notoriously one of the most stressed groups in our society. Stress is a complex topic; causes, mitigation methods, and manifestations of stress all vary in an individual. Being that stress is an universal experience, this research capitalizes on the importance of stress and the methods used to mitigate stress. This study looks at, among other ideas, stress on the University of Mississippi campus in regards to demographics and the products (caffeine, sleep aids, over the counter medicines, stress supplements, and CBD) that students use. Results demonstrate that, overall, higher stress levels correlate to higher product usage rates. The …

A Potential Klebsiella Bacteriocin With Efficacy Toward The Enterbacteriaceae Family, Kasey Barber

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Drug resistance is unfortunately becoming a prevalent issue in the course of patient treatment, ranging from chemotherapy resistance to antimicrobial resistance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2016 that at least 23,000 people die every year in the United States from an infection with an antibiotic-resistant organism (Munita, et al, 2016). Carl Friedlander was the first scientist to describe Klebsiella pneumoniae in 1882 as an encapsulated bacillus after isolating the bacterium from the lungs of patients who had died from pneumonia (Ashurst and Dawson, 2022). Klebsiella pneumoniae is the type species for the Klebsiella genus and …

Major Factors Of Sustaining Recovery After Relapse From A Substance Use Disorder, Amanda Tei Sandhurst

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Relapse is a common and often-expected occurrence among individuals with substance use disorders. Relapse can be defined as returning to a problematic behavior after abstaining for a period of time (Marlatt & Witkiewitz, 2005). It is the inability to maintain life in sobriety and is not an isolated event, but rather a process (Gorski & Kelley, 1996). The problem with relapse is that it can result in continued substance use and abuse, which can then lead to other major consequences. This study looks at ten individuals in recovery who experienced a past relapse after having a period of abstinence and …

University Students’ Perspectives Of Public High School Nutrition Education And Current Dietary Habits, Selena Gomez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Understanding the roles of food and nutrition during adolescence is critical, given they support physical growth and prevent, manage, and treat chronic disease as adolescents reach adulthood. Food and nutrition education interventions in schools may modify adolescent eating patterns and encourage the selection of healthier options among adolescents. Students attending public schools in the U.S. receive less than eight hours of nutrition education each year and high school students receive an average of seven hours. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives, exposures, and attitudes towards nutrition education and dietary habits during and after public high …

Code For Care: Hypertension Prediction In Women Aged 18-39 Years, Kruti Sheth

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The longstanding prevalence of hypertension, often undiagnosed, poses significant risks of severe chronic and cardiovascular complications if left untreated. This study investigated the causes and underlying risks of hypertension in females aged between 18-39 years. The research questions were: (Q1.) What factors affect the occurrence of hypertension in females aged 18-39 years? (Q2.) What machine learning algorithms are suited for effectively predicting hypertension? (Q3.) How can SHAP values be leveraged to analyze the factors from model outputs? The findings are: (Q1.) Performing Feature selection using binary classification Logistic regression algorithm reveals an array of 30 most influential factors at an …

Factors Affecting The Use Of Food Pantries By California State University Students, Beyza Aktepe

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Food insecurity is one of the major public health issues world-wide including the United States. A significant proportion of students within the California State University (CSU) system, approximately 41.6%, experience food insecurity. The purposes of this study was 1) to determine the factors and barriers that affect the use of campus food pantries by university students on seven CSU campuses, 2) to determine the improvements that can be implemented in the on-campus food pantries, 3) to evaluate the effectiveness of the management of food pantries, and 4) to evaluate the effectiveness and utilization of nutrition education services provided in conjunction …

Photon Irradation And Cisplatin Enrich Cancer Stem Cells In Ovarian Cancer, Ashley Antonissen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) has a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest gynecological diseases and the 7th most common female cancer worldwide. Ovarian cancer patients generally have a poor prognosis despite the relatively successful treatments. When conventional cancer treatments, such as cisplatin chemotherapy and photon irradiation, are administered, residual cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) can survive, leading to CSC enrichment. CSCs are a small population of cancer cells that exhibit stem-like characteristics: quiescence (slowing of the cell cycle), differentiation, proliferation, and self-renewal to regenerate new CSCs. We hypothesized that providing cancer …

Art Therapy For Bereaved Siblings After Pediatric Cancer Death, Daniela Ramirez-Ibarra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Children and adolescents whose siblings die due to pediatric cancer are at an increased risk for several mental health issues and high risky behavior engagement. There is currently very little literature on the topic of a sibling’s grief despite its potentially critical and persisting consequences. Through qualitative research in analyzing art projects made by bereaved siblings, this is an exploratory study of how an art program may help bereaved or grieving children access their feelings using a non verbal modality of expression. The research study was conducted at a community-based non-profit organization which focuses on supporting families of children with …

Effects Of Group Visits On Self-Care Management For Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, James Nwaizugbu

Doctoral Projects

Individuals diagnosed with type two diabetes mellitus (DM2) can be overwhelmed by daily choices, leading to self-care neglect. Self-care is vital to DM2 management to avoid chronic complications. This project utilized group visits to increase self-care management and improve outcomes among veterans with poorly controlled DM2.

This evidence-based practice (EBP) project used a single-group quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design to evaluate a self-care management program for US veterans with poorly controlled DM2 who were enrolled a clinic within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Northern California Healthcare System (NCHCS). The study facilitator provided education on DM2, medication, diet, and exercise. Participants (N …

Primary Care Access In San Luis Obispo County- Primary Care Practitioner’S Perspectives, Jessica Peckham

Doctoral Projects

This study investigates healthcare access and utilization among Primary Care Providers (PCPs) in SLO County, utilizing a mixed-methods approach. Survey responses from PCPs when applied to Levesque’s Theoretical Framework reveal variations in provider approachability and acceptability, alongside significant wait times for both new and established patients, indicating barriers in healthcare reaching. Qualitative interviews further illuminated dimensions of healthcare access, including socioeconomic disparities and provider burnout. These underscore the complexities of ensuring equitable access to primary care services. The relationship between provider and consumer dimensions, such as work-life balance, workload, and the role of advanced practice providers, highlight the intricate dynamics …

Reduction Of The Length Of Stay At The Emergency Department Of The Audie L. Murphy Hospital, Arwa Al Shikrian

Theses

We implemented the DMAIC framework (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) and Lean Six Sigma methods to reduce the length of stay (LOS) in the Emergency Department (ED) at Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, a crucial issue affecting operational efficiency and patient care quality. This project was conducted in conjunction with an internship at the Hospital; our efforts were an integral part of a Green Belt project being conducted by Mr. Roarke Verkaik-Bushby, Hospital Administration Service, to

whom this author reported.

We employed quantitative research design, meticulously observing, measuring, and analyzing ED processes. We tracked patient flow, identified bottlenecks, and …

Impact Of Medicaid Redetermination On Underserved Populations In Region 7 States: A Review, Brianna Parr

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

When the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended in May of 2023, Medicaid began the process of redetermination across the states and returned to its original eligibility rules. Because of this, the healthcare status of many Americans was affected, resulting in the loss of healthcare coverage for millions of people. Of those who have lost coverage, children make up almost half of the total. This paper assesses the negative effects of Medicaid redetermination on children and other underserved populations in communities across the four states in Region 7 (Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas) and identifies programs that these states can implement …

How To Evacuate When Disaster Strikes: A Literature Review Of Hospital Evacuations, Grant Orr

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Hospitals are an essential component of any community’s infrastructure, and due to the nature of their services they are vulnerable when a disaster strikes. If a disaster is severe enough to warrant a hospital evacuation, both hospital and community leaders must decide how to proceed with the resources at their disposal. Organizations such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services offer general guidance, but specifics as to how a hospital should proceed with an evacuation are left to individual hospital leaders and emergency management teams. This capstone project will …

Evaluation Of Community Healthcare Workers Of Faith-Based Workers In Northern Omaha, Ashley Piwkiewicz

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) developed a training and certificate program for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in faith-based organizations in Northern Omaha. Each recruited trainee developed an experimental program they implemented in their faith-based community. This research study aims to explore and analyze the implementation of these programs in the community, the effects that these programs have on the community, and the extent to which the goals of the CHWs' implemented programs were met.

To achieve this, data was collected through a 41-question survey administered via REDCap to 12 CHW trainees. Descriptive statistics of this data were analyzed …

Identifying Barriers To Healthcare Access And Utilization Experienced By Lgbtq+ Adults With Chronic Diseases Through The Lens Of The Social Ecological Model, Devin Mottier

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The purpose of this literature review is to comprehensively examine and synthesize existing research on present barriers to health access and utilization that contribute to the disparities in chronic disease prevalence within the adult LGBTQ+ population. In the context of this review, the social-ecological model (SEM) was used to describe the nuanced and multifaceted nature of healthcare access and utilization. This literature review was based upon the following question: ‘Using the social-ecological model, what are the barriers to health access and utilization that contribute to high rates of chronic disease in LGBTQ+ adults?’ Outcome measures of interest included the following …

Disabilities And Snap Work Requirements: A Scoping Review, Jacquelyn Platt

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

This scoping review aims to assess if the criteria to determine Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirement exemptions provide equal access to individuals with disabilities (IWDs) using a modified PRISMA analysis framework. IWDs applying for SNAP must meet at least one of three requirements to be exempt from work requirements, but these requirements may be disproportionately burdensome for them. SNAP has a long history of expanding food security throughout the U.S., benefiting millions of families. Almost two-thirds of SNAP participants are children, older adults, or IWDs. Children and older adults are exempt from work requirements and IWDs may be …

Non-Tnfi Biologic And Targeted Synthetic Dmards In Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: A Comparative, Propensity Score-Matched Study Using National Veterans Affairs Data, Halie E. Frideres

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background/Objectives: There is a paucity of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of non- TNFi biologic therapies in RA-ILD, this study aimed to compare treatment outcomes in RA-ILD between rituximab, abatacept, IL-6i, and JAKi using the Target Trial Emulation Framework.

Methods: We emulated 3 trials comparing abatacept, IL-6i, and JAKi with rituximab (reference). Patients fulfilling validated RA-ILD algorithms initiating one of these non-TNFi b/tsDMARDs were propensity score (PS)-matched (1:1) using national Veterans Affairs (VA) data from 2006 to 2020. PS models included demographics, comorbidities, general health status indicators, and RA- and ILD-related severity measures. Study outcomes were death and respiratory-related …

Optimizing Malaria Control In Nigeria: A Comprehensive Review Of Llin Effectiveness And Policy Frameworks, Jash Mehta

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

This comprehensive literature review examines the effectiveness of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and the policy frameworks governing their use in Nigeria, with the goal of optimizing malaria control strategies in the country. The review explores the scientific underpinnings of LLINs, evaluates their effect on malaria incidence, and examines the operational, sociocultural, and economic aspects that affect their use. It also examines Nigeria's policy environment, assessing the creation, application, and efficacy of policies pertaining to LLIN. The summary of research results from several studies emphasizes the importance of LLINs in preventing malaria and the challenges associated with implementing policies in different …