Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Literature Review And Case Study Of The Functionality Of Video Self Modeling, Carly Conklin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report includes a literature review and case study examination to determine the functionality and effectiveness of video self-modeling as a speech-language therapy technique for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research has shown that video modeling is effective to teach language skills to individuals with ASD. This case study focused on teaching a child with ASD receptive language skills to identify emotions based on body language and tone of voice. A single subject pretest posttest design was used to measure the results for the case study participant.

Body Image Differences Between University Students’ Major Of Study, Alissa C. Parsons

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Body image is a psychological feeling, which varies greatly based on factors including age, sex, and exercise participation. Body image is a critical factor to consider; positive body image is important in the prevention of health-related problems. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate if body image differences exist among students (Exercise Science and Engineering majors) at The University of Akron. This comparative study examining students, representative of educational background, was to explore if students’ major study of focus affected body image. METHODS: A 14-item survey using the Body Image States Scale (BISS), with questions related …

Wellness Wednesday: Monitoring Lifestyle Changes Via The Transtheoretical Model, Mariah J. Bloom Ms.

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Physical activity has been shown to improve cognition, functional and overall health indicators across the lifespan. Older adults are less likely to participate in physical due to barriers and risk related factors. Additionally, lower income, underserved populations experience added barriers as well. Interventions addressing negative health behaviors in these populations have rarely been implemented. PURPOSE: Using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) behavior change theory, the purpose of this study was to determine if five, monthly educational and exercise classes targeting these populations will improve motivation levels and result in facilitating increases in physical activity levels. METHODS: One validated TTM survey was …

A Comparison Of Empathy In Sophomore And Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Alexandra I. Woods, Stephanie Malachin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Empathy is a cognitive process rather than an emotional and is often learned through life. Hildegard Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations explains the importance of the nurse having a shared experience with the patient. Empathy is a crucial skill for nursing students to develop because it is shown that nurses showing empathy is directly related to improved patient satisfaction. Empathy levels tend to decrease as students progress throughout nursing school. The purpose of this study is to examine the empathy levels in sophomore baccalaureate nursing students compared to senior baccalaureate nursing students. Using a descriptive comparison design and a cross-sectional …

Puzzling Your Puzzler, Samantha Brown

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The following is summarizing a proposed experimental study based on current literature review and research to evaluate a new interventional therapy for the treatment of concussion compared to current therapeutic practices.

Background and Purpose: Concussions have become a major concern in the medical field in recent years. Several research studies have been conducted to learn the signs and symptoms regarding concussions. Recent literature has found that the signs and symptoms of a concussion are similar to those of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Treating Alzheimer’s disease has changed in recent years. Research has found that mental rehabilitation, also known as …

United States Food Insecurity And The Need For Improved Nutrition And Additional Nutrition Education In Local Food Assistance Programs, Carissa Hohider, Elizabeth Sain

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Animal Camp For Children Affected By Cancer, Katie Fleck

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project looks at the therapeutic benefits of an animal camp for children touched by cancer. Animal assisted therapy techniques were used for children to connect with animals during a week long summer camp. The benefits of working with animals are discussed, as well as research on many therapeutic activities including reiki, labyrinth walking, zentangle drawing, yoga, and drumming. Past camp attendees were recorded and interviewed about their personal experiences at camp. Caregivers of campers were also interviewed, who shared about the positive impact camp had on their family. Multiple benefits were found for this type of camp in …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Imidazolium Salt Derivatives For Anti-Tumor Activity, Ryan W. Pearce

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Several aldehydes (butanal, pentanal, hexanal, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) were reacted with 1,3-bis(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)-imidazolium bromide (1) to produce novel C² substituted imidazolium salts for the potential use against non-small cell lung cancer in humans. Compounds 2-(1-hydroxypentyl)-1,3-bis(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)-imidazolium bromide (3) and 2-(1-hydroxyhexyl)-1,3-bis(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)-imidazolium bromide (5) were successfully synthesized with structures supported by NMR and mass spectrometry. Characterization by ¹H NMR showed evidence of 1 in both compounds. The tumor cell growth inhibition of 3 against non-small cell lung cancer lines NCI-A549, NCI-H460, HCC827, and NCI-H1975 was tested and found to be comparable to cisplatin as measured by MTT assay. …

Geropsychiatric Medical Problems, Daniel Giorgio

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With a growing elderly population in the United States, the development of

efficient methods to ensure high-quality care for geriatric patients is more important than

ever. In the emergency department (ED), geriatric patients account for up to 24% of

stays. Many of these patients come to the ED for neuropsychiatric reasons and some are

admitted to geropsychiatric units. These patients require medical screening to identify

issues that may in part account for their mental state. The purpose of this study was to

characterize the patients who were admitted from the Summa Health System ED to

geropsychiatric units. It was hypothesized …

Review Of The Accuracy Of Two Pain Assessment Tools In Nonverbal Adult Patients, Mackenzie Mosley, Emily Hartman, Kristen Tankovich, James Galantis

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Intensive care units frequently have patients that are unable to verbally communicate their pain, thus negating conventional pain assessment techniques and making pain assessment difficult. Pain management is often a priority in all patients’ circumstances and therefore, assessment and reassessment are included in the plan of care. Different observational pain scales have been used in intensive care units, but often times these scales must be adapted to fit the patient’s circumstances. Pain scales that are used for nonverbal patients typically include behavioral indicators and some are adapted to incorporate physiologic indicators such as vital signs. The aim of this review …

The Effect Of An Educational Hunger Cues Intervention On Awareness In Mothers With Infants, Juliana F. Gill, Ellen A. Vierheller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Stress to an infant can inhibit the ability to properly feed and gain the nutrients that are essential for efficient growth. Mothers who are unaware of early hunger cues from their infant have the potential to stress the infant if their early hunger cues are not attended to. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an educational hunger cues intervention on awareness in mothers with an infant. The following research question will be answered: Will new mothers who complete an educational intervention show increased awareness of hunger cues in their infants, in comparison to before the …

Low Cost Shear And Pressure Sensor, Kyle L. Rohrig, Phaethon D. Kotantoulas, Brandon J. Lloyd, Hazim H. Abualola, Tao Ruan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Elevated pressure and shearing stresses at the foot-shoe interface are believed to play a role in diabetic foot ulceration. The main goal of this project was to design a simple insole that could distinguish between sites of high pressure and sites of excessive shearing stresses at the foot-shoe interface. Wear patterns that relate specifically to shear and pressure acting on the plantar surface of a patient’s foot also needed to be exhibited. The team used reflective tape that was applied to the surface to various types of insoles to look for visible wear patterns. These wear patterns were identified by …

The Relationship Among Math Anxiety, Mathematical Performance, And Math Education In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Joshua D. Beall, Troy Roebuck, Paul Penkalsky

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Although nurses spend up to 40% of their day calculating and administering medication doses, undergraduate nursing students often perform poorly on nursing math exams. The purpose of this study was (a) to examine the relationship among mathematical education, performance, and anxiety and (b) to compare the mathematical education, performance, and anxiety in sophomore and senior baccalaureate nursing students at a public university in the Midwest. This cross-sectional, descriptive study was guided by Bandura's self-efficacy theory. Math performance was measured with an 11-item math instrument, math education was measured with number of math courses, and math anxiety was measured with Fennema–Sherman …

Honoring The Victims: How The Change In Ethics Ruined Science In The Third Reich And What To Do With The Remaining Medical Data, Kathleen M. Mitchell

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper analyzes both sides of the debate over using the Nazi medical data and brings forth one possible compromise. While using the data can provide the scientific community information that can be beneficial for society—and thus salvaging some good out of the evil—are the survivors’ sentiments on the subject truly being heard? The idea that the victims are once again being abused by using the information without their consent is not a matter to be taken lightly. On the other hand, if the data is valuable, it can be detrimental to scientific experimentation to deny access or destroy the …

Shotblocker® - Bionix® Senior Design, Samuel Dockery

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Morphometric Analysis Of Left & Right Tonsils In Adult Symptomatic Type 1 Chiari Patients And Healthy Controls, Louis J. Konstan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Historically, CMI has been radiographically defined by cerebellar tonsillar descent below the foramen magnum (FM) more than 5 mm (2). This measurement is typically made with a single sagittal plane T1-or T2-weighted MR image. Studies have obtained additional morphometric measurements to help diagnose CMI, and establish normal values (3,4). These studies were somewhat These studies were somewhat successful in differentiating CMI patients from healthy subjects. However, results from these studies have shown that the standard TD measurement does not necessarily correlate with neurological symptom severity as patients with CMI-like symptoms have been found with a TD of less than 5 …

Women's Fitness Week, Claire T. Lucas, Tiffany M. Finch

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project addressed women’s wellness. Many women experience physical and mental health issues related to a lack of physical activity or psychological support. Women’s Fitness Week was offered to women of the University of Akron and the outside community, providing opportunities to learn more about and improve upon the various dimensions of wellness – emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social/cultural, and spiritual. Events were held at the University’s Student Recreation and Wellness Center and encompassed topics such as nutrition, weight training, and self-defense. The goals of this project were to: increase knowledge levels of fitness, health, and wellness, increase …

A Systematic Review: Non-Pharmacological Interventions For Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea And Vomiting, Miranda L. Ayers, Olateju F. Olowe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Around 70-80% of patients receiving chemotherapy are at risk of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), which can interfere with appetite and the ability to perform normal activities for daily living. When CINV is severe, psychological distress, depression, and physiological impairment occur. Patients may also stop chemotherapy treatments, which can lead to untimely deaths. The aim of this systematic review was to identify, describe, and evaluate the evidence about the use and effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions, compared to no use of non-pharmacological interventions, on self-reported episodes of CINV among the cancer patients. Twenty articles were reviewed on the use of acupressure, …

Kangaroo Care And Preterm Infants, Natalie Schindler, Kathryn Lynn

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Infants that are born near-term or before they reach their full gestational age of 40 weeks are at risk for facing future health problems and disparities in terms of proper development (Ladewig, London, & Davidson, 2012). This has been a major concern in the medical realm because of the high cost of managing preterm newborns and the complications that can develop. However, kangaroo care may aid in physical growth and cognitive development of these infants. The purpose of this integrative review was to determine if current research shows that kangaroo care has a positive effect on preterm infants in the …

A Systematic Review: Immediate And Maintenance Effects Of Interventions On Handwashing Compliance In Healthcare Workers, Brent E. Gibson, Dajana Markovic

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

There has been a drastic rise in the number of nosocomial infections of patients in intensive care units. Handwashing is generally accepted as an effective and inexpensive method that healthcare providers in hospital settings can use to decrease the likelihood of nosocomial infections, however, studies have shown that healthcare providers are often not compliant with handwashing protocol. The purpose of this systematic review of literature is to not only obtain information on handwashing compliance and non-compliance among different healthcare providers, but also to identify, describe, and evaluate evidence about the effect of various interventions on handwashing compliance in healthcare providers. …

The Effects Of Vitamin D Supplementation On Influenza, Jonah M. Spoerndle

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Recently the role of vitamin D in other non-classical capacities has been evaluated. One of these non-classical vitamin D roles is assisting in maintaining proper immune system health. One disease that has a great effect on the immune system is influenza. Vitamin D helps to prevent and limit influenza by moderating the inflammatory cytokines as well as promoting the production of monocytes that help destroy the invading materials. Through the use of vitamin D supplementation the recommended daily amount of vitamin D can be assured and optimal health could be achieved. The purpose of this project was to design a …

Relationship Between Stages Of Change And Hpv Vaccine Attitudes And Beliefs In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Megan M. Stein, Michael Sabo, Julia Caverly

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to: (a) determine if there is a relationship between attitudes/beliefs about Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and stages of change and (b) investigate gender differences in attitudes/beliefs and stages of change in undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students. The study employs a cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design and it was guided by the Trans-theoretical Model of Change (TMC). The convenience sample was comprised of 131 participants at a large urban public university in Midwest United States. Data were collected with online surveys distributed via university email. A positive, moderate relationship was found between HPV vaccination attitudes/beliefs and …

Caregiver Perceptions Of Healthcare Providers And Environments Related To Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deanna Klettlinger, Lynn Wirfel, Brittany Bielak

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The healthcare setting can be intimidating for any child. For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in particular, this setting can cause anxiety and elicit disruptive behavior. The reactions of children with ASD to healthcare settings have not been widely studied. This study explores the lived experience of caregivers of children with ASD related to healthcare providers and environments. A qualitative phenomenological approach and methods guide the study. Purposive sampling was utilized at a resource center to identify and recruit participants fulfilling inclusion criteria. Sample size consisted of four female and two male adults. Semi-structured interviews were performed and voice …

A Survey Of Speech-Language Pathologists On Facilitating Support Groups For Those With Communication Disorders, Danielle A. Hower, K. Todd Houston Ph.D

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Support groups are used in a variety of settings and can be helpful for group members to develop coping strategies. This research aims to evaluate Ohio Speech-Language Pathologists’ perceived knowledge of planning and implementing support groups. Another goal for this research is to gain information on how many Speech-Language Pathologists are using this knowledge to conduct a support group, what type of populations are benefiting, and in what setting type utilizes support groups.

Induced And Spontaneous Labor Education: Evaluation, Knowledge, And Intent To Discuss Options In Pregnant Women, Kathleen Hartzell, Katherine Bartolotta

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Labor inductions are increasing worldwide, with rates continuing to rise each year. Currently 30% of labors in the United States result from inductions. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of an educational intervention about induced and spontaneous labor on knowledge and intent to discuss options with health providers in pregnant women. This study was guided by the health-belief model which explains that people’s beliefs about how a health care decision may affect their lives affect how they make the decisions. This study was conducted using a quantitative and descriptive design with pre and post paper and …

The Effects Of Sustainability As A Positive Attribute On Equine Therapy Design: An Interdisciplinary Study, Andria Sinclair

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Interdisciplinary studies have brought benefits to introducing new solutions to the traditional environment and traditional therapies. Sustainability in relation to design has been suggested in 2006, by the Center for Building Performance and Diagnostic (CBPD) at Carnegie Mellon University to incorporate daylight, solar, heat and ventilation of the natural environment combined with the innovations of current technologies (Whitmore, 2011). This paper will look at how sustainability plays a key role of benefits including those that are health associated with equine therapy design and its relationship to the patient, or end user. Interdisciplinary research in the therapeutic value of equine-human bonding …

Polymer Interactions With Nucleic Acids Under Various Physiological Conditions, Matthew S. Obrzut

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this project is to improve our understanding of nucleic acid interactions with cationic polymers with the theory that the polymers could protect the nucleic acids from degradation caused by biological enzymes. We seek to understand what the limitations of the cationic polymers are which, in this case, is mainly polymer-DNA compatibility. This experiment utilized peptide-dextran hybrid polymers with differing functionalizations to condense anionic nucleic acids into nanometer-sized polyplexes. Techniques of dynamic light scattering and zeta-potential were utilized to determine the particle sizes and surface charges of polyplexes.

In this experiment, dextran with a molecular weight of 20 …

The Effect Of Personal Contact On Attitudes Toward Mental Illness In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Jessica Ashe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Many people who suffer from serious mental illness also suffer from the stigma associated with such illness. Because nurses frequently come into contact with the mentally ill, it is important that they do not stigmatize these individuals. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a guest lecture by an individual with a serious mental illness on attitudes about mental illness in a sample of baccalaureate nursing students. The theoretical framework that guides this study is Goffman’s (1963) theory of social stigma. The sample used for this research is a convenience sample of 50 junior level nursing …

Assertiveness In Nursing Students, Kaitlin F. Amicone, Rachel Miller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The problem that this study focused on was that there was minimal evidence on whether or not nursing students become more assertive throughout their academic education. The purpose of this study was to compare the assertiveness scores of sophomore level nursing students and senior level-nursing students. The study was guided by Hildegard Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations in nursing, which focuses on the therapeutic process between nurses and patients, rather than on internal patient pathology. The descriptive, comparative study used a 15-question survey design and a convenience sample of sophomore and senior level nursing students at a large urban Midwest …

The Effects Of Instructional Strategies On Adherence To A Flexibility Program And Physiological Outcomes, Taylor M. Graham

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Health care professionals construct exercise prescriptions for clients and patients to complete on their own. Exercise specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and exercise physiologists are all considered health care professionals for this study. Furthermore, the importance of flexibility and stretching is commonly overlooked. The purpose of this research study was to compare whether or not different instructional techniques affect adherence to a stretching routine, and if followed were improvements gained in quadriceps and hamstring flexibility. Thirty-one students from The University of Akron between the ages of 18 and 37 with an average height of 66.7 inches and average weight of …