Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Culturally Competent Diabetes Self-Management Education Improves Hba1c Levels In Hispanic Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Sirena Sechslingloff

Physician Assistant Capstones

There are several techniques that have been employed to make diabetes self-management programs culturally tailored to Hispanic communities. Among these include leading the self-management courses in Spanish and even more so with an instructor of the same cultural background. Another widely used approach is encouraging participants to bring a family member to the classes. In addition, many culturally tailored DSME programs hold classes in a community setting instead of health care centers to increase attendance rates. Lastly, incorporating cooking classes or educating patients on healthier eating based on culturally traditional foods has been utilized in culturally tailored DSME courses.

Effectiveness Of Mannitol Vs Hypertonic Saline For Intracranial Hypertension From Traumatic Brain Injury, Jennifer Saephanh

Physician Assistant Capstones

Since elevated ICP is complicated by higher mortality and serious neurologic deficits, its prevention and treatment are key. Osmotic agents can decrease cerebral edema and thus, ICP. This therapy is used in TBI patients who have clinical manifestations of cerebral edema and ICH or have a documented elevated ICP.3 Specifically, two osmotic agents, hypertonic saline (HTS) and mannitol (MNT), have been shown to be effective for ICP.3 Nonetheless, whether one agent is superior to the other has yet to be determined. Each osmotic agent has theoretical advantages. HTS has several theoretical advantages over MNT including intravascular volume replenishment and prevention …

A Comparison: Symptomatic Improvement Of Childhood Asthma Versus Occupational Asthma After Removal Of Causative Agents, Brandon Wong

Physician Assistant Capstones

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes airway inflammation and narrowing which leads to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and dyspnea.1 In 2017 it was estimated that 25.1 million Americans had asthma, including 6.1 million children and 19 million adults.2 From 2008-2013 the average cost of asthma in the United States (US) was $81.9 billion a year, this includes medical costs, lost days of work, and lost days of school.1 Asthma is often a result of environmental triggers both children and adults experience throughout their day. The consequences of asthma have been studied at great lengths …

The Role Of Eicosapentaenoic Acid For Residual Cardiovascular Risk Despite Statin Therapy, Donald Vertrees

Physician Assistant Capstones

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was responsible for over 840,000 deaths in the United States in 2016 and costs an estimated $352 billion annually in both direct and indirect costs. Approximately every 40 seconds, an American will have an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and at a similar rate an American will have a stroke. In patients who experienced AMI from 2010 to 2016, statin use at hospital discharge increased from 92% to 99%. Nonetheless, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and more than one million coronary events are expected to occur in individuals in 2019; approximately …

Efficacy Of Radiofrequency Ablation Or Spinal Cord Stimulation For Management Of Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain, Angela Stroman

Physician Assistant Capstones

With over 191 million prescriptions for opioid medications being written annually, 11.5 million Americans abusing opioid prescription medications each year and on average 130 Americans dying from opioid overdoses every day1, finding alternatives to opioids for the management of chronic pain is more important now than ever. Since the early 1999s opioids have been the primary method for managing chronic pain. While the number of opioid prescriptions has decreased since its peak in 2010, the morphine milligram equivalents of the prescriptions written today are generally three times greater than they were in 1999. Non-pharmacological methods for chronic pain management such …

Comparison Between Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair And Medical Management Of Type B Aortic Dissections On Cardiovascular Outcomes, Meghan Tuominen

Physician Assistant Capstones

Objective: To quantify the benefits and the survival rates between Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) and medical management for Acute Uncomplicated Type B Aortic Dissection (TBAD).

Methods: The investigation was based on a literature review of evidence-based articles that were relevant to the study. The articles were critiqued to compare the benefits of TEVAR and medical management of TBAD on cardiovascular outcomes and survival rates in concerned stakeholders.

Results: The literature review reflected that TEVAR is more effective than the medical management of TBAD when the condition was in the acute and uncomplicated stages. Uncontrolled blood pressure remains an independent …

Neighborhoods And Mental Health: Understanding The Social, Environmental And Structural Factors To Better Support Our Youth And Communities, Meghan Murtagh

Community Engagement Student Work

The social, structural and environmental characteristics of neighborhoods can have a significant impact on the social, emotional, behavioral and cognitive development of children and adolescents. The Center for Disease Control reports every 1 out of 5 children (22%) living below 100% of the federal poverty level have a mental, behavioral and/or developmental disorder (CDC, 2019). Through the utilization of ecological frameworks and a “place” based framework called The Social Determinates of Health, research was conducted to examine the link between neighborhoods and health outcomes in children and adolescents. These findings were then shared through a workshop with the target audience …

Euthanasia Of The Coronavirus - Covid-19, Sheila P. Davis

Journal of Health Ethics

At the time of this editorial, COVID-19, aka the Novel Coronavirus, has wrecked havoc and left in its path of destruction, death, unemployment, the instability of nation’s economies, misery, uncertainty, despair, and a fear regarding what the new tomorrow will look like. And, perhaps more importantly, the question of who will be here tomorrow lingers. Now classified as a pandemic, this virus has resulted in over 1,381,014 cases worldwide with 78,269 deaths to date. Presently, Louisiana and Detroit are emerging as the next hot spots behind New York as the fastest rate of increase for COVID-19 cases in the world. …

Recognizing Social Determinants Of Health To Better Care For The Most Vulnerable Populations, Lauren Marcello

Community Engagement Student Work

The history of healthcare has transitioned from an effort to care for people who were ill to a profitable business through the process of medicalization. Which today makes receiving comprehensive care extremely difficult or impossible for individuals who are considered vulnerable or have significant social determinants of health. Through the recognition of social determinants of health in the institution of government health insurance, the opportunity for a healthier population.

In Healthcare Providers, What Is The Effect Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions Compared With No Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Stress And Burnout In 4 Weeks Or More?, Anne Chan

Physician Assistant Capstones

High suicide rates and job burnout are associated with the healthcare profession, especially among physicians. The healthcare work environment is characterized by stress, demanding workloads, long shifts, and strong emotions that impact the well-being of healthcare providers (HCPs).1-3 HCPs may experience symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia. The well-being of healthcare providers ultimately affects medical-decision making and quality of patient care.1,4-6 Mindfulness practice has been proposed to reduce workplace stress experienced by HCPs.1,6 Mindfulness is a form of training in which an individual maintains attention on the unfolding present experience in a non-judgmental way.1 Practicing mindfulness is believed to …

Beta-Blockers For The Treatment Of Cardiovascular Disease In Copd Patients, Veshudha Kang

Physician Assistant Capstones

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have high rates of cardiovascular comorbidities, including hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure. These comorbidities further complicate management of COPD patients. Cardiovascular complications are especially difficult to manage during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Multiple factors are contributory, including hypoxemia, tachycardia, increased inflammation, and arterial stiffness. Cardioselective beta-blockers have been proven to be safe and effective in managing cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure and arrhythmias and are recommended for acutely decompensated heart failure and myocardial infarction in the setting of AECOPD. Benefits include reducing all-cause mortality and the …

Short Sleep Duration And The Risk Of Hypertension And Diabetes, Jacob Novick

Physician Assistant Capstones

Per the CDC, in the year 2016, essential hypertension as a primary diagnosis lead to 1 million emergency department visits. Outpatient visits with that same diagnosis and year were staggering as well, at 32.8 million visits.5 Mortality in 2016 exceeded 35,000 deaths due to primary hypertension.5 The numbers are just as concerning for diabetes, per the CDC’s report that 11.4% and 11.5% of emergency department visits and physician office visits, respectfully, involved diabetes in 2016. In addition, diabetes was responsible for more than 83,000 deaths in 2016.6

These statistics highlight the importance of determining the relationship of short sleep durations …

Effective Therapies For Post-Partum Depression—What Choices Do Women Have?, Anzule Navarrete

Physician Assistant Capstones

Many factors influence treatment success, especially treatment adherence. Adhering to any therapy is challenging for a new mother because her time and attention are devoted to taking care of her newborn around the clock, thus leaving little reserve for taking care of her own needs. However, clinicians must remind patients that a successful mother must first care for herself. This factor highlights the importance of individualizing therapy and involving the patient in treatment decisions in order to optimize adherence.

In addition to recognizing the integral role of patient adherence, successful therapy requires a knowledge of the efficacies of various PPD …

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation: A Natural Way To Lessen Symptoms Of Adhd, Chelsea Payne

Physician Assistant Capstones

The outcomes of combination omega-3 fatty acid supplementation compared to traditional stimulant treatment alone, on symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity will be examined. If adjunct therapy with fatty acids reduces ADHD symptoms, clinicians may be able to decrease traditional stimulant doses which would, in theory, reduce the negative side effects associated with that drug class and improve the patient’s quality of life.

The Predictive Value Of C-Reactive Protein In Relation To The Development Of Cardiovascular Disease, Ramon Simpson

Physician Assistant Capstones

The American Heart Association estimates that by 2035 over 130 million or 45.1 percent of the American population is projected to have some form of cardiovascular disease, defined as coronary heart disease, stable/unstable angina, heart failure and stroke. It is expected that the total cost of treatment for patients with cardiovascular disease will reach 1.1 trillion by 2035 accordingly. Approximately 17.9 million deaths that were reported in 2016 were related to cardiovascular disease based on the World Health Organization statistics. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association suggest that primary prevention is accredited to early identification of modifiable …

Ua35/8 Reveille, Vol. 28, No. 1, Wku Veterans Upward Bound

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about WKU Veterans Upward Bound.

• COVID-19 Temporarily Closes Veterans Upward Bound
• Veternas Administration Partners with Treasury Department to Deliver Economic Impact Payments to Veternans & Survivors

Is Physical Activity During Late Pregnancy Related To Infant Body Composition At Birth?, Brenna Menke

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Exercise is typically regarded as having a positive impact on maternal and infant health. However, the relationship between maternal physical activity and infant body composition is unclear. The aim of this project was to determine how a physically active lifestyle during late pregnancy influences infant anthropometrics at birth. Pregnant women (34-39 weeks gestation) with low-risk pregnancies were given the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and an accelerometer to wear on their non-dominant wrist for seven consecutive days. Approximately 24-48 hours after delivery, infant body composition was assessed utilizing air displacement plethysmography at the patients’ bedside. Fifty-five pregnant women participated (age: …

Effects Of Bingocize® On Overall Physical Activity, Functional Performance, Blood Glucose Level, Sleep Quantity, And Quality Among Older Adults In Assisted-Living Facilities, Sepehr Rassi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Bingocize® has been established as an effective falls prevention exercise program for older adults, but its effects on older adults residing in assisted-living facilities have not been examined. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of Bingocize® on overall physical activity level, functional performance, blood glucose level, sleep quantity and quality in older adults who live in assisted-living facilities. Participants (N = 13; mean age 86.23 ± 3.90) were asked to participate in Bingocize® while wearing activity trackers (Fitbit Charge 3 HR) for 10 weeks. The activity trackers were used to assess the average number of steps …

Team Creation Methods In Practice: Understanding The Potential Effects Of Nonverbal Communication In The Leadership Of Team Formation, Troy Allen Robertson

Dissertations

Teams require leadership, even if they are self-managed. The group of individuals who make up a team must be gathered in some form or another. For self managed teams to function successfully, the first step is the process of creating the team. Many aspects may factor into the creation process. Often time is of the essence and methods to quickly assess and form teams show merit. First impressions in general are based largely on nonverbal communication. The focus of this mixed-methods concurrent embedded study is to analyze the potential effects of nonverbal communication on influencing team creation. A group of …

The Things We Don’T See: Oppressive Mental Health Language In 1940’S East Texas, Shannon R. Groce

Undergraduate Research Conference

In the mental health files I examine, the oppressive mental health language, descriptions, and inaccurate twentieth-century perceptions of female patients will be brought to light and reexamined. It is my hope that, by doing so, the patients who suffered will be remembered, and their stories never again repeated.

Effects Of A Rehabilitation Program For Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury In Shanghai, China, Fengshui Chang, Qi Zhang, Haixia Xie, Yuhui Yang, Mei Sun, Airong Wu, Jinghua Wu, Gang Chen, Feng Shen, Chengyue Li, Jun Lu

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Specialized Institution-Based Rehabilitation (SIBR) is the cornerstone of care and treatment for individuals with spinal cord injury, but most people with chronic spinal cord injury (CSCI) living in China have no SIBR experience after acute care hospital discharge. In 2009, an SIBR facility was set up in Shanghai (China) to fill this important gap in care. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated rehabilitation training program among individuals with CSCI living in Shanghai.

Methods: A within-subject pre-posttest design was used to evaluate the SIBR. The sample included 455 individuals ≥1 year post-SCI, who …

Occupational Stressors Among Firefighters: Application Of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (Mcdm)Techniques, Fazel Rajabi, Hossein Molaeifar, Mehdi Jahangiri, Shekofeh Taheri, Sean Banaee, Payam Farhadi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Firefighters are exposed to a wide range of occupational stressors due to the nature of their job. Multicriteria decision-making technique (MCDM) is a method for identifying, evaluating, and preventing occupational stressors among firefighters. The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize the occupational stressors among firefighters using the fuzzy delphi method (FDM) and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP).

Methods: This qualitative-descriptive study was carried out in two stages. First, the most important occupational stressors of firefighters were identified and screened using a systematic review of scientific references and expert opinions based on the FDM. Then, all of …

Season Of Birth And Sugary Beverages Are Predictors Of Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices Scores In Adolescents, Reem Al-Sabah, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Abdur Rahman, Lemia Shaban, Anwar Al-Harbi, Olusegun Mojiminiyi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

To investigate factors associated with cognitive functioning in healthy adolescents, a school-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 1370 adolescents aged 11-16 years that were randomly selected from all governorates of Kuwait. Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), a non-verbal test of intelligence, was used to measure cognitive functioning of the study participants. Data on predictors of cognitive functioning were collected from parents and adolescents. Weight and height of the participants were measured in a standardized manner and blood samples were tested in an accredited laboratory under strict measures of quality control. In multivariable linear regression analysis, factors that showed significant association …

Ua94/6/1 My Story: Wku Mens Basketball's Taveion Hollingsworth, Taveion Hollingsworth

Student/Alumni Personal Papers

My Story is a series of first-person feature articles written by WKU student-athletes. The student-athletes will be telling their own stories in their own words. This article written by men’s basketball junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth, whose mission of advancing to the NCAA Tournament with his teammates was halted when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Police Social Work In Minnesota: Starting The Conversation, Jenny Ellsworth, Taylor Fish, Alison Niesen, Natalia Pitts

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Even with enhanced police officer training focused on improving responses to mental illness, chemical dependency, and other crisis-related calls, police officers remain ill-equipped to serve as trained mental health professionals. Officers respond to these service-related calls more frequently than crime-related calls, which is why community partnerships between police officers and social workers are needed to promote the safety and well-being of people in crisis.

Cultivating Appropriate Prescribing In A Primary Care House Calls Practice: A Quality Improvement Project, Sarah J. Marzolf

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem Description: Polypharmacy in the frail elderly can lead to suboptimal management of medical issues. Primary Care Providers (PCPs) often lack knowledge of best practices regarding deprescribing and lack a systematic process for assessing mediation appropriateness. A quality improvement project was developed and executed at Housecall Providers, a home-based primary care practice in Portland, Oregon to facilitate the incorporation of deprescribing into daily practice.

Interventions: Following a literature review, a curriculum was developed and utilized during an educational intervention for PCPs regarding deprescribing best practices. A system for introducing new PCPs to evidence-based deprescribing for the frail elderly. This information …

The Splashing Effects Of Aquatic Therapy For Children With Developmental Disabilities, Eric Bradway, Ots, Mikaela Mcgraw, Ots, Katie Boshoven, Ots

Collaborative Research and Evidence shared Among Therapists and Educators (CREATE Day)

PICO Question

• What are the effects of aquatic therapy on participation in childhood occupations for children with developmental disabilities?

Objectives

• Define aquatic therapy within the scope of occupational therapy practice for children with developmental disabilities
• Discuss the current evidence on effective aquatic based interventions to facilitate participation in childhood occupations in children with developmental disabilities
• Discuss ways to apply this information to practitioners’ own clinical setting

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Zeitgeist, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

2020 Talisman yearbook:

• Mohr, Olivia. Zeitgeist
• Disrupted – Photo Essay, COVID-19
• Brandt, Jess. Cut Short – Edward Games, Grace Jones, Jarred Corona, Joshua Crask
• Zambrano, Max. Point of No Return? – Stuart Foster, Climate Change
• Francis, Kristina. Weapons Women Carry
• Steele, Emma. Now & Again – Talisman
• Gordon, Zora. Not Just Numbers – Sam Aldrich, Social Media
• Christensen, Nicole. The K-Pop Phenomenon – Music
• Hornsby, Morgan. Everything Starts with Mama – Warren County Regional Jail
• McCormick, Dillon. Evolving Sport – Esports, Video Games
• Sheffield, Catherine. Perfect Match – Travis Hudson, Volleyball
• Dozer, Claire. Follow the Signs – Deafness, American Sign …

Alcohol Consumption And Its Effect On Liver Transplant Failure, E. Short, R. Pinchot

Lake Campus Research Symposium Abstracts and Posters

There is a stringent process to determine who can receive liver transplants. Alcohol is an important part of this process, with US transplant centers requiring a period of abstinence prior to transplant, lack of access to livers for alcoholics due to beliefs about their ability to stay sober, and monitoring of people considered "high risk" for recidivism after the transplant. While there is clear data on post-transplant alcohol use in transplant recipients with alcoholic hepatitis, more recent data has shown comparable alcohol use rates in non-alcoholic hepatitis patients, which makes the impact of alcohol use on transplant failure rates regardless …

Pcos And Obesity’S Effects On Pregnancy, Mya Hager, Kylee Kiel, Jordan Sailor

Lake Campus Research Symposium Abstracts and Posters

PCOS is one of the most prominent female reproductive disorders and with that comes fears for women about their health and ability to safely bear children. Women diagnosed with a reproductive disorder commonly fear they won’t be able to reproduce. This is not the case for the majority of obese women, PCOS does increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes, hypertension, and preterm labor. All of these complications can negatively affect the outcome of her pregnancy, therefore the mom needs to be closely monitored and healthcare workers intervene when appropriate. Pregnancy for an obese woman with PCOS can be challenging …