Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Working Mothers’ Lived Experiences Of Maintaining An Exercise Practice During A Pandemic, Sabrina Marie Cali

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Working mothers have been associated with low levels of exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. This population faces many challenges and obstacles to exercise as they manage a household and work; this lack of exercise could leave their health at risk. Researchers have not yet considered working mothers’ lived experiences with exercise during a pandemic. Existing research on working mothers indicates there are barriers to exercise for this population, but more information on what allows these mothers to sustain exercise is needed. This qualitative narrative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of working mothers who maintained an exercise practice …

Obesity's Impact Among Asian Americans In Southern California, Alyssa Mae Sunga Carlos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity continues to be an important public health issue in the United States, especially among minority populations. However, one minority group experiences the lowest obesity rate: Asian Americans. As a result, there is not much research available involving the impact of obesity and weight gain among this population. The purpose of this basic qualitative exploratory study was to improve the understanding of obesity’s impact on the Asian American population, specifically in Southern California, whose goals were to lose weight and become more informed about obesity’s impact on health. The study consisted of three main research questions. Twenty-five participants were interviewed …

Nutrition And Physical Exercise Prevention Strategies To Reduce Obesity During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Carmesha Vajill Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has reached an epidemic level of 75 million obese adults and 15 million obese children in the United States. The research problem addressed in this study is the lack of information on how obese people manage their weight-loss strategies to prevent or reduce obesity during shut-in place restrictions for the COVID-19 Pandemic. This study included the Prochaska and DiClemente Trans-Theoretical Model of Behavioral Change and the Stage of Change Theory. The phenomenon approach using phenomenology described participants' lived experiences of being obese. The researcher completed data collection and evaluation among sixteen participants using email questionnaires to analyze participant's responses …

The Role Of Self-Efficacy Against Workplace Stress, The Intent To Leave, And Burnout In Nursing, Alexis Collier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare administrators must sustain the nursing workforce by minimizing workplace stress, the intent to leave, and burnout while maintaining a safe, accessible, high-quality, patient-centered care environment. This quantitative study examined the relationship between the independent variable of self-efficacy and the dependent variables of nurse burnout, workplace stress, and the intent to leave. The theory that grounded this study was the theory of self-efficacy. The research questions were formatted to determine the correlation between the self-efficacy levels of nurses and burnout, workplace stress, and the intent to leave. A quantitative, nonexperimental, cross-sectional (analytical) design addressed the research questions. The secondary data …

Staff Nurse Education To Improve Adherence To Hypertension Management, Veronica Ositadinma Dike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAdherence to hypertension management medication(s) and lifestyle modification improve outcomes for patients diagnosed with hypertension. In this project, an educational program was developed to reduce the knowledge gap among staff nurses regarding addressing patients’ nonadherence to hypertension management in an outpatient clinic in the southern United States. Guided by andragogy and the health belief model, the staff nurse educational program was developed from evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and best practices from literature to evaluate the impact of education on improving staff nurses’ knowledge related to addressing patients’ nonadherence to hypertension management with the goal of reducing the associated medical costs, …

Adolescent Cyberbullying Program Experiences Of White Rural Males, Lonnie Lynn Erskine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Technology has become a gateway to use aggression against others. Cyberbullying is an ongoing problem, often causing severe mental, physical, and emotional issues. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of White rural males between the ages of 18–30 who experienced cyberbullying prevention and intervention programs when they were between the ages of 15–18. The research question directly addressed this purpose. Prevention and intervention can be powerful if utilized correctly, providing adolescents with assistance, safety, and assurance to cope with cyberbullying effectively. Vygotsky’s social development theory guided this study. Eight individuals participated in semistructured interviews. …

Relationship Between Incentive Program Costs, Incentive Payments, And Profitability, Claire Claire Turner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of profitability among primary care businesses can have harmful impacts on business operations. Primary care businesses owners must remain profitable to remain in business and provide quality health care to patients. Grounded in Freeman’s stakeholder theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between incentive program costs, incentive payments, and profitability. Data were collected from 73 primary care physician business owners in the Inland Empire region of southern California. The multiple linear regression analysis results indicated the model was able to significantly predict profitability, F(2,70) = 1343.6, p <.001, R2 = .975. Incentive payments (t = 51.837, p < .001,  = .928) was the only statistically significant predictor. Key recommendations include educating primary care physicians on the potential financial benefits of full participation in the commercial line of business pay-for-performance incentive programs and creating a campaign to bring in patients for wellness visits. The implications for positive social change include the potential for an additional revenue stream for primary care physician business owners, which could support more clinics, increasing patient access. Patients having better access to healthcare could positively affect the health and wellness of individuals in local communities.

Pharmacists’ Responses To Medication Management Following Disasters, Rellamichelle W. Tyree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disasters, both natural and human made, can cause emerging health threats in the United States and the Caribbean. The disasters that pharmacists experienced and reported for this study included hurricanes, snowstorms, ice storms, flooding, and a pandemic. The purpose of this research was to investigate the challenges and outcomes associated with pharmacists’ medication management practices during and following disasters. This generic qualitative study focused on pharmacists’ experiences and their responses to disaster planning and medication management activities. The ecological model of disaster management was the conceptual framework used to investigate the pharmacists and their responses and actions used to address …

Parents' And Caregivers' Attitudes About Child Passenger Safety, Latoya Wider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of childhood injury and death in the United States. Many car seats are installed incorrectly, and many children under the age of 6 are seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between age of child, age of parent/caregiver, attitudes, and behaviors of child passenger safety among parents and caregivers in South Carolina. The influence of age and attitude on consistent car seat use was also examined. The study was based on the theory of planned behavior. A survey design featuring questions …

Improving Nurse Retention: Experiences Of 1st-Year Nurses With A Residency Program, James Uchenna Akwarandu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse residency programs have been identified as a strategy for supporting new nurses as they transition to clinical and professional practice but the impact has not been adequately explored. Exploring the transition experiences of new nurses in residency programs supports healthcare administrators’ understanding and may provide enhancements. Guided by Bridges’s transition theory, this research gave nurses who had recently graduated from a residency program, the opportunity to express their unique transition experience. Using snowball sampling and semi structured telephone interviews, participants responded to the guiding question of how new nurses describe their transition experiences in a nurse residency program. Interviews …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge About Suicide Screening, Cidia Alysia Awyie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHealthcare workers play an essential role in healthcare facilities to help patients with mental health challenges and those at risk of committing suicide. The practice gap that the healthcare facility was experiencing was a knowledge deficit among healthcare staff on the importance of suicide screening. The importance of equipping staff with suicide screening knowledge is to help decrease suicide attempts, suicide thoughts, and completed suicide in patients. The practice-focused question for this staff education project asked if staff education for nursing staff and psychiatrists would increase their knowledge about suicide prevention methods and suicide screening techniques. The purpose of the …

Investigating The Relationship Between The Microbiome And Neuroactive Metabolites In Huntington Disease Model Mice, Christian Millot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Huntington Disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. HD is characterized by neurological symptoms, including motor, cognitive, and psychiatric decline. A non-neurological symptom, metabolic dysfunction, is also common in HD and can cause weight change, a feature recapitulated in HD mice. There is a need for a better understanding of the weight changes associated with HD, because patients with a higher body mass index show slower disease progression. Our lab has shown that metabolic dysfunction in HD mice is the result of a disrupted circadian feeding rhythm …

Pulmonary Function And Blood Dna Methylation: A Multiancestry Epigenome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis, Mikyeong Lee, Tianxiao Huan, Daniel L. Mccartney, Geetha Chittoor, Maaike De Vries, Lies Lahousse, Jennifer N. Nguyen, Jennifer A. Brody, Juan Castillo-Fernandez, Natalie Terzikhan, Cancan Qi, Roby Joehanes, Josine L. Min, Gordon J. Smilnak, Jessica R. Shaw, Chen Xi Yang, Elena Colicino, Thanh T. Hoang, Mairead L. Bermingham, Hanfei Xu, Anne E. Justice, Cheng-Jian Xu, Stephen S. Rich, Simon R. Cox, Judith M. Vonk, Ivana Prokić, Nona Sotoodehnia, Pei-Chien Tsai, Joel D. Schwartz, Janice M. Leung, Sinjini Sikdar, Rosie M. Walker, Sarah E. Harris, Diana A. Van Der Plaat, David J. Van Den Berg, Traci M. Bartz, Tim D. Spector, Pantel S. Vokonas, Riccardo E. Marioni, Adele M. Taylor, Yongmei Liu, R. Graham Barr, Leslie A. Lange, Andrea A. Baccarelli, Ma'en Obeidat, Myriam Fornage, Tianyuan Wang, James M. Ward, Alison A. Motsinger-Reif, Gibran Hemani, Gerard H. Koppelman, Jordana T. Bell, Sina A. Gharib, Guy Brusselle, H. Marike Boezen, Kari E. North, Daniel Levy, Kathryn L. Evans, Josée Dupris, Charles E. Breeze, Ani Manichaikul, Stephanie J. London

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Rationale: Methylation integrates factors present at birth and modifiable across the lifespan that can influence pulmonary function. Studies are limited in scope and replication.

Objectives: To conduct large-scale epigenome-wide meta-analyses of blood DNA methylation and pulmonary function.

Methods: Twelve cohorts analyzed associations of methylation at cytosine-phosphate-guanine probes (CpGs), using Illumina 450K or EPIC/850K arrays, with FEV₁, FVC, and FEV₁/FVC. We performed multiancestry epigenome-wide meta-analyses (total of 17,503 individuals; 14,761 European, 2,549 African, and 193 Hispanic/Latino ancestries) and interpreted results using integrative epigenomics.

Measurements and Main Results: We identified 1,267 CpGs (1,042 genes) differentially methylated (false discovery …

Early-Life Farm Exposures And Eczema Among Adults In The Agricultural Lung Health Study, Annah B. Wyss, Thanh T. Hoang, Hilde K. Vindenes, Julie D. White, Sinjini Sikdar, Marie Richards, Laura E. Beane-Freeman, Christine G. Parks, Mikyeong Lee, David M. Umbach, Stephanie J. London

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Background

Several studies conducted in Europe have suggested a protective association between early-life farming exposure and childhood eczema or atopic dermatitis; however, few studies have examined associations in adults.

Objectives

We investigated associations between early-life exposures and eczema among 3217 adult farmers and farm spouses (mean age, 62.8 years) in a case–control study nested within an US agricultural cohort.

Methods

We used sampling-weighted logistic regression to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for associations between early-life exposures and self-reported doctor-diagnosed eczema (273 cases) and polytomous logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for a 4-level outcome combining …

Assessing Patient Safety Culture In United States' Hospitals, Abdulmajeed Azyabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Patient safety is founded on continuous learning because there is an urgent need to report and learn from errors, accidents, near misses, and adverse events. The traditional approach to patient safety, based on forming mortality committees and investigating accidents, will no longer be effective. Frameworks, surveys, and assessment tools have been developed over the last decade to assist organizations in measuring and understanding their culture. This a retrospective cross-sectional study included 67,010 respondents from Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ) 2018 comparative database was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). This research explored whether the …

A Marginal Identity Model For Those In The "In-Between", Francine S. Singson, Sonia Meyer, Christine A. Reid

Graduate Research Posters

Background: In existing models exploring the formation cultural identity, there is emphasis on development from the perspective of race or country of origin. While these models have made significant contributions to the study of identity development in the fields of counseling and psychology, research on the identity development of people who exist within the spectrum between traditionally acknowledged identities (Deaf/Hearing, LGBTQIA+, first/second generation) is lacking.

Methods: To explore the merit of establishing a distinct theory exploring development of individuals whose identities exist between the existing binaries of identity, a systematic review and analysis of current literature was performed. …

Overcoming Resistance To Sg-Aris In Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer, Chaohao Li

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the most diagnosed type of cancer and the second leading cause of death in men. Androgen receptor (AR) signaling plays a pivotal function in promoting the survival and progression of PCa. Therefore, medication for PCa mainly focuses on the inhibition of AR pathway, which is termed androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, the disease eventually progresses and develops to a lethal stage called castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that is characterized by resistance to canonical ADT. To deal with this situation, several second-generation AR inhibitors (SG-ARIs) have been created that have better efficacy against AR, including Enzalutamide …

Child Life Student Approaches To And Purposes Of Play, Taylor L. Brower

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The aim of this study was to research and gain a greater understanding of what child life students are learning about play. Qualitative data was collected via Qualtrics. Participants reported learning child-led play, structured play, and expressive play as learned approaches to play. Students reported the most learned purpose of play being self–expression, and normalization. Participants provided self-given definitions of the theories and concepts of play as the survey prompted in keeping with the researcher’s goals. The Daisy model in the communication theory Coordinated Management of Meaning provided the theoretical framework, supporting preparation or familiarization, express emotions, process, or cope, …

The Role Of The Host Factor Sptbn1 In Hiv-1 Infection Of Microglial Cells, Marc Gordon Havlicek

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

HIV-1 is the etiological agent that cause AIDS. Since the 1980’s when HIV-1 was discovered, much has been discovered, however a cure for HIV-1 has eluded researchers. Effective therapeutics do exist but can have adverse side effects including HAND/HAD which leads to neurodegeneration in patients regardless of viral suppression. One area of research that holds the possibility of discovering new viral targets and therapeutics is host factor interaction within the replication process. One host factor that can cause a decrease in HIV-1 infectivity is SPTBN1. SPTBN1 is a cytoskeletal protein that was shown to bind to the capsid and nucleocapsid …

Cesarean Skin-To-Skin Contact: Who Gets The Experience In The Operating Room?, Jessica S. Junk-Wilson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

For the past decade, skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth has been the general recommendation for all births, as there is evidence that it provides many benefits for mothers and infants. Yet, research has shown that immediate skin-to-skin contact is not the standard practice after most Cesarean births. This study assessed access, incidence, and circumstances surrounding Cesarean skin-to-skin contact (CSSC) in the operating room and examined influencing maternal characteristics of age, education, race, and number of births via a survey of 2327 people. Women who experienced a Cesarean section birth in the past 10 years were recruited through Facebook groups for …

Characterization Of Nanoparticles Using Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Jabez D. Campbell

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Nanomaterials are a relatively new class of materials that have many applications which span a wide host of fields from medical products to consumer products. The possible compositions and forms of nanomaterials are just as varied as the applications. Therefore, a versatile characterization method is needed for researchers and regulators alike to ensure nanomaterials are properly used. Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) is a functional method that could fill the characterization need in the nanomaterial research field. Using data from both SP-ICP-MS tests and data from literature established characterization methods, the viability of making SP-ICP-MS the standard …

Utilizing Virtual Reality Goggles During Pediatric Laceration Repairs To Reduce Perceived Pain In Pediatric Patients, Emily C. Bozzer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

In pediatric emergency departments, several providers assess pediatric patients in need a laceration repair, require procedural sedation in order to ensure compliance and complete the laceration repair. This study explored one safe alternative to procedural sedation during pediatric laceration repairs by assessing what pain scores pediatric patients report when undergoing a laceration repair utilizing virtual reality goggles. Pediatric patients ages 6-17 years old perceived pain scores utilizing FACES pain scale was documented. This study found a majority of patients reported lower pain scores during the laceration repair in comparison to their baseline pain score.

A Comparison Of The Magnitude Of The Mental Health Benefits Of Exercising Outdoors Vs Exercising Indoors: A Review, Greta M. Rueschmann

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Many people in the United States suffer from poor mental health which can lead to suicide, self-harm, or negative effects on job performance and relationships. Not everyone can afford traditional therapy nor feels comfortable with it. With a greater emphasis placed on taking care of one’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, there should also be a greater emphasis placed on finding alternative types of therapy that can be matched to individuals based on their personalities and preferences. One such alternative is outdoor exercise. This review was conducted to examine whether exercising or performing physical activity outdoors results in greater …

Physical Activity As A Predictor Of Obesity In Autistic Children, Cody A. Mullins

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Research has found autistic children to be 40% more likely to be obese compared to their non-autistic peers. Reduced physical activity (PA) is thought to be a contributing factor to the increased prevalence of obesity in autistic children. This was one of the first studies to investigate the PA behaviors of autistic children during an adapted physical education (APE) class using accelerometry. The purpose of this study was to examine the PA of autistic children and determine the relationship between PA and obesity. Participants were recruited from a school for students with disabilities who participate in a once-weekly APE class …

Role Of Cyclophilin A And Trim5Α In Hiv-1 Infection And Capsid Uncoating, Emma Lk Wise

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Microglial cells are immune cells that protect the central nervous system and are subject to HIV- 1 infection. HIV-1 infection of these cells can lead to HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND). Since HIV-1 only codes for 15 different proteins, the virus also uses cellular factors, like Cyclophilin A (CypA), to assist in viral replication. The cell also has antiretroviral restriction factors, like tripartite motif-containing protein 5 (TRIM5α), to protect against infection. The goal of this project is to investigate the role of CypA in the early steps of HIV-1 replication and TRIM5α restriction in microglial cells. I hypothesize that CypA …

Effectiveness Of Stabilized Hypochlorous Acid In Acute Peritonitis Treatment: A Murine Surgical Study, Benjamin Michael Pomeroy

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Peritonitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the mesothelial cells that line the peritoneal cavity and is commonly induced by bowel perforations. This medical emergency is treated through antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention followed by tissue irrigation (lavage). Acute treatments aim to remove the bacterial burden, however recurring peritoneal infections occur at high rates and contribute to patient morbidity. These recurring infections are likely due to the inability of lavage solutions to remove the entire massive intra-abdominal bacterial load due to intestinal perforation. Numerous antiseptic solutions and antibiotic additives have been evaluated in their ability to improve source control by abdominal …

Parent Style Of Coping Based On Attachment In The Nicu, Claire Elizabeth Payne

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This quantitative study sought to identify any relationship between attachment type and coping style in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, to better understand and provide resources and support to families in this environment. This study included ten participants who had an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for at least five days. Each participant met the additional criteria of being older than the age of 18 and speaking English. Responses were recorded through a self-report survey, consisting of 115 Likert scale statements. Results indicated that most parents self-report secure attachment and that styles of coping varied within those securely …

The Role Of Actin Associated Sptbn1 Host Factor In Hiv-1 Infection In Microglial Cells, Hannah Matheney

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a chronic illness affecting more than 32.7 million individuals worldwide. The virus infects immune cells, weakening the immune system overtime eventually leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated. Infection starts with a fusion step, followed by uncoating of the HIV capsid once in the cytoplasm of the cell. HIV uses host cell proteins to complete the infection process, like the actin associated factor, SPTBN1. The Hulme lab has previously shown that SPTBN1 knockdown by siRNA in microglial cells decreased HIV infection and delayed uncoating of HIV. Because fusion is prior to uncoating, it …

Speaker Encoding For Zero-Shot Speech Synthesis, Tristin W. Cory

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Spoken communication, for many, is an essential part of everyday life. Some individuals can lose or not be born with the ability to speak. To function on a day-to-day basis, these individuals find other ways of communication. Adaptive speech synthesis is one of those ways. It recreates a user’s previous voice or creates a voice that blends with their regional dialect. Current adaptive speech synthesis techniques that achieve human-like speech require thirty minutes, to a few hours of high-quality audio recordings of a target speaker. This amount of recorded audio is not commonly possessed by people in need of a …

Birthing While Black: Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practices For Improved Maternal Health Outcomes, Sara Hall

DSW Capstone Projects

Black women die at a disproportionate rate than white women in the United States due to maternal mortality. Black women are three times more likely to die because of a maternal complication than any other demographic. Although the United States has a highly developed healthcare system, it also has the worst maternal mortality rate out of developed nations. The focus of this research is social work practices that can be implemented to improve Black maternal health outcomes.

The systematic literature review focuses on gaps in social work literature related to maternal mortality and health equity, solutions for social workers to …