Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Correlates Of Transactional Sex Among Black Men And Women Who Misuse Opioids, Shemeka Thorpe, Paige Orphé, Gabriella Pitcher, Kendall Mccleod, Natalie Malone, Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

The rise in opioid misuse coincides with increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV incidence. Transactional sex is an under-researched phenomenon among Black Americans who misuse opioids, and may increase their risk of STI or HIV transmission. Given the disproportionate impact of the opioid epidemic on Black Americans and the risks associated with opioid misuse, the current study aims to investigate sociostructural factors, history of violence, and sexual risk factors associated with transactional sex among Black men and women. A sample of n = 375 Black adult Kentuckians reporting opioid misuse completed a survey including transactional sex, sociostructural, violence history, …

Childhood Dairy Consumption Is Associated With Lower Age Of Menarche In A National Representative Sample Of Us Women, Jacqueline Vernarelli, Sara Szollosy

Public Health Faculty Publications

Background and aims: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and leader in cancer-related deaths among women with a variety of established risk factors.

Methods Data from a nationally representative sample of 5,574 women who participated in the 2015–2018 NHANES was used to evaluate the correlation of childhood and adolescent dairy milk consumption and age of menarche. Reproductive history was asked of women > 12y. Data regarding dairy consumption between the ages of 5–12 was available for women > 20y. Survey regression models were used to calculate adjusted age of menarche for categories of dairy consumption after adjusting for relevant confounders.

Results …

Impact Of Education On Mobility Selection, Nicole La Rochelle

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Parents/caregivers desire quick and efficient ways to access educational materials for their child with mobility impairments. There is a lack of research surrounding receptivity to the provision of pediatric power mobility educational materials despite evidence of its benefits. This scoping review investigated 13 articles to highlight successful strategies for parents/ caregivers and best ways to develop the educational intervention. The purpose of the review is to conclude which multimodal educational materials are needed to provide the population with the resources that will help them increase their understanding, make the most age-appropriate selection, and confidence in their selection to support their …

Evidence Synthesis Methodology: Promoting Reproducible Methodology Through Modified Assignments, Laura Lipke, Neyda Gilman

Library Created Resources

Initially, systematic reviews in healthcare served to synthesize findings from clinical studies, aiding comprehensive access to the most effective treatments within evidence-based practice. Over time, their scope has broadened beyond treatment effectiveness, leading to a surge in publication. Consequently, many health science faculty now assign systematic reviews in classrooms without a full grasp of the standardized process, leaving students ill-equipped due to insufficient guidance and resources.

While mastering systematic review techniques is crucial for evidence-based practice, faculty can opt for modified assignments to foster a deeper understanding of the review process. These modified tasks, can be completed within a semester, …

Association Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Approval On Suicide Rates Among Patients With Cancer: A Pre-Post Analysis With Seer, Rachel Wang

Public Health Theses

Objective: Patients with cancer are at elevated suicide risks compared to the general population, and patients diagnosed with advanced cancers have higher suicide risks compared to those diagnosed with early-staged cancers. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) were initially approved to treat metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and an unpublished study observed a decreased suicide risk in patients with these cancers at all stages. This study evaluates suicide risks in patients with breast, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, and prostate cancer, of which ICIs have limited effects on, to assess if the lower suicide rates observed previously …

Grammaticality Judgements Of Tense By Young Adult Speakers Of Shona, Mcloddy R. Kadyamusuma

Faculty Publications – Communication Sciences and Disorders

This study examined grammaticality judgements of tense by 40 young adult native speakers of Shona during an online task. This study reports response accuracy and reaction times on the reading of time reference violations in which verb forms do not match a time frame previously set by an adverb. The judgements were elicited using 240 sentences with and without grammatical violations during an online reading task. Overall, in the experimental task, the native speakers performed below 78% across the four conditions, despite the sentences having received acceptability ratings of 1 = acceptable, 2 = unacceptable for grammatical and ungrammatical sentences, …

Sepsis Screening And Bundle Adherence: Staff Education As An Intervention To Increase Knowledge In A Medical Surgical Clinical Microsystem, Nicole Elise Maheu

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Sepsis-related deaths outnumber those caused by opioids, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined (Nguyen, 2020). Sepsis places a significant health burden and cost burden on both an individual and a systemic level, emphasizing the need for proper care of the sepsis patient in all inpatient settings.

Local Problem: Within a medical-surgical microsystem, it was found that care of the sepsis patient was inadequate. A pre-intervention survey was conducted which demonstrated a lack in knowledge of the inpatient sepsis workflow, including use of the sepsis best practice advisory (BPA) within EPIC® and the sepsis bundle of care. Additionally, according to …

Microlearning In Asynchronous Online Rn To Bsn Program, Chandra Carter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project aimed to incorporate microlearning teaching methods, specifically short videos of less than 10 minutes, into the online setting of the Nursing Research course to improve student engagement and autonomy. Literature reviews revealed microlearning teaching methods improved students’ confidence, satisfaction, and engagement. Identifying teaching methodologies that allow students to learn the material and complete the work independently is essential for the student to be successful. The students completed a pre and post-survey measuring the students’ perception of microlearning teaching methods, satisfaction, and autonomy in completing work during weeks one and seven, and the analysis was completed using …

The Impact Of Improved Staff Education And Equipment Competency On Enhancing Hypertension Knowledge In Patients At A Rural Urgent Care Clinic, Mekeilah Johnson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hypertension is a persistent medical condition characterized by its progressive nature, potentially leading to long-term complications if not managed appropriately. Accurate measurements of blood pressures play a pivotal role in determining the appropriate source of treatment in this chronic illness. High blood pressure is one of the most critical risk factors for ischemia, heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney and other internal organ damage, and dementia (Zhou et al., 2021). The absolute burden of hypertension has consistently increased from 87.0 million in 1999-2000 to 108.2 million in 2015-2016 (Journal of American Heart Association [JAHA], 2018). This quality improvement project aimed to …

Lncreasing Clinical Judgment And Critical Thinking Skills Using The Ncsbn Clinical Judgment Measurement Model In Licensed Nursing, Kathryn Roberts

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Licensed nurses are having problems with critical thinking and using clinical judgment when caring for patients (Rogers & Franklin, 2023). There has been increased emphasis on critical thinking and clinical judgment in nursing school curriculum but not in hospital/orientation curriculum (Dickison et al., 2019). This quality improvement project aims to address the gaps in critical thinking and clinical judgment skills among licensed nurses by focusing on integrating the NCSBN-CJM, and cues into the prebriefing of the Respiratory Distress/Oversedation Scenario within the project hospital orientation program. The project utilized a quasi-experimental study design to investigate the cause-and-effect relationship by integrating the …

Impact Of An Education Program On Screening For Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Lauren Rucker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has the potential for multiple complications which include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The American Diabetes Association (ADA) updated its guidelines recommending screening of patients with T2DM for NAFLD (ADA, 2023). Screening is prompted by the increased incidence of NAFLD in patients with T2DM. Approximately 70% of people with T2DM suffer from NAFLD which can progress to hepatic steatosis or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (ADA, 2023). NALFD is a common diagnosis leading to the need for liver transplantation (Alkhouri et al., 2020). This project aims to determine if an education program for primary care providers and …

A Conservative Treatment Protocol For Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis, Adam Waggener

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project sought to construct a written conservative treatment protocol for thumb CMC OA, emphasizing evidence-based practices. As a hopeful hand therapist, clinical observations led me to realize thumb CMC OA was a common condition present in many cases. A written protocol would be beneficial to both client and practitioner to increase knowledge and awareness of best practice while educating clients as they seek treatment. Initial development of the protocol included communication with current hand therapists to better understand needs of both client and practitioner. Following this, a thorough analysis of current literature was completed for best evidence based …

Aging At Home, Breanna Putnam

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project, "Aging at Home," explores the role of occupational therapy (OT) in facilitating aging-in-place. Motivated by the challenges a 95-year-old family member faces, the project aimed to equip aging adults with OT resources to support their desire to remain in their homes. The project was conducted primarily at the Lexington Senior Center and involved two key phases: Leadership through Inquisition and Program Development and Education. The first phase included meetings, workshops, and experiences with senior living organizations to understand the needs and concerns of aging adults. The second phase focused on developing and delivering the "Aging at Home" …

Prenatal And Postnatal Experience Focusing On Women’S Mental And Physical Health, Ebony Sivils

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

Women’s mental and physical health concerns prenatally and postnatally is a common concern within the United States. According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH), postpartum depression commonly occurs six weeks after childbirth, affecting 6.5 percent to 20 percent of women (2022). Pregnancy related physical concerns are also a common concern with prenatal/postnatal mothers with difficulties such as back pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, hip/knee pain, cesarean section (c-section) issues, and several other concerns. Physical concerns have been shown to affect mothers ability to walk, work, sleep, and participate within everyday routine potentially leading to depression (O’Connor, et.al, 2013). It is …

Prenatal And Postnatal Experience Focusing On Women’S Mental And Physical Health, Karen Stamper

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone experience was about creating an activity enrichment program for the hospital's swing bed program. This program can easily be transferred to other areas as need be but for this experience it was directed towards an inpatient rehab swing bed program. For the creation of the program data collection was used, a total of three assessments were utilized, the SLUMS a cognitive assessment, the geriatric depression scale to measure depression levels, and an activity interest checklist was used to gather information on meaningful activities that those participating enjoyed. Once data collection was finished, a continued literature search was conducted …

Workplace Analysis And Body Mechanics Education Program For Radiologic Technologists In Acute Care, Katelyn Richards

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

My capstone project focused on Workplace Analysis and Body Mechanics Education for Radiologic Technologists in Acute Care. I collaborated with the radiology department at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital to determine current body mechanic practice and education to identify any needs for improvement to address reported injuries within the radiology department. I began my project by completing observations of current x-ray procedures and determining where there was a need for adjustments. This information allowed me to efficiently develop an educational training module and multiple reference guides for safe patient handling and proper body mechanics that can be used to …

Literacy And Language Barriers In Healthcare, Kaylee Cloud

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

My name is Kaylee Cloud and I am an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral student at EKU. I completed my Capstone project with a focus on health literacy and language barriers in healthcare. I completed my project at CHI St. Joseph Hospital in Berea, KY. This hospital is a Critical Access Hospital, meaning it is located in a rural area where patients have difficulty accessing healthcare. I began my project by assessing organizational health literacy and personal health literacy of patients, providers, and resources at the hospital to determine the needs of the hospital. I then worked to create resources and …

Enhancing Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Referral Through Accessible Education For Clinicians And Patients, Madelyn Murphy

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

Pelvic floor dysfunction has been identified as a significant public health issue and is estimated to affect around 50% of women. Still, less than 25% seek medical help and only 12% receive subspecialty care (Yohay et al., 2022). Studies show a lack of knowledge among women and their providers and that education programs are necessary to fill this gap (Yohay et al., 2022). After surveying both doctors and patients at Med Center Health, this project aimed to fill this educational gap by developing an educational video program. This program targeted both doctors and patients, aiming to increase awareness about pelvic …

Program Development Of Pediatric Therapy Clinic For Rural Hospital, Mauri Rhodes

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project focuses on addressing the critical need for pediatric occupational therapy services in rural western Kentucky. The purpose of this project and experience was to assist in program development of a comprehensive resource for Livingston Hospital to guide the establishment of a pediatric therapy gym including clinic design, equipment suggestions, and various marketing and survey components. The main goals that were completed throughout this experience included: design/develop an outpatient pediatric therapy gym, examine current outpatient pediatric clinics’ practices and procedures, inspect current pediatric therapy clients’ parents and current hospital workers feelings/thoughts/ideas on rural outpatient pediatric therapy, and design …

Implementing Nature-Based Occupational Therapy In School-Based Settings, Megan Evans

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

In school-based settings, Occupational Therapists work with students on various areas related to a student's Individualized Learning Plan (IEP). As technology use increases in academic settings for young students and time spent outdoors decreases, the exploration of a potential solution to this relationship was discovered. Nature-Based Occupational Therapy is an emerging practice area focused on incorporating outdoor play and materials from the outdoors into treatment sessions while still addressing areas of concern to increase a child’s independence in daily occupations.

This capstone project focused on four objectives:

1. Design a nature-based activity guide for students in the school system setting that …

Effects Of Providing A Moho-Informed Education Session For College Peer-Mentor Self-Efficacy, Sarah Roberts

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

As an occupational therapy student, I recognized the support our profession can offer to assist with various student and faculty needs across campus, specifically peer mentor programs. A thorough literature review illustrated limited representation for peer mentor roles, expectations, and potential impact on retention. Along with these findings, it was revealed that academic outcomes improve with involvement in evidence-based interventions as well as support for the Model of Human Occupations (MoHO) to understand and support human well-being.With this in mind, this study sought to develop and implement an evidence-based education session to identify and improve resources for peer mentors and …

Grow As We Go: Education, Efficacy, And Empowerment For Life Skills Trainers, Shelby Mitchell

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

In this ALE experience, I sought to bridge the existing gaps in research pertaining to most effective approaches and methodologies for rehabilitation in an adult day treatment setting, specifically in those with a traumatic brain injury. Fragmented and variable care compounded by poor communication are barriers to rehabilitation. However, it was also noted that traumatic brain injury survivors' long-term recovery was positively impacted by joining a peer network such as NeuroRestorative. Following this analysis, a needs assessment was conducted on-site at NeuroRestorative in Lexington, KY to enable more smooth daily programming and cohesive planning with life skills trainers. Goals included …

Accessible Shores: Promoting Beach Accessibility In Florida, Sara Swartz

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This research experience sought to improve beach accessibility for members of the community facing barriers to occupational participation. Beach accessibility is essential for creating meaningful experiences and improving well-being through exposure to blue spaces. Despite its benefits, numerous environmental and systemic barriers hinder individuals with disabilities from safely accessing spaces. To further research this issue and challenges to participation, survey responses from community members of Jacksonville, Florida were gathered and analyzed for common themes. Conversations with professionals in the area allowed for greater insight on available resources and assistive device technology that could improve beach accessibility. To showcase this information …

Health Consequences Of Racial Disparity In Access To Abortion: A Systematic Review, Lacy M. Frye, Calvin Odhiambo

University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal

Prior to the 2022 Dobbs decision, Black women already experienced negative maternal health outcomes at an alarmingly disparate rate in comparison to White women. Given that the Dobbs decision emboldens state power to enforce abortion restrictions or protections, there has been significant strides made in both directions. Nonetheless, within states where reproductive rights have been significantly eroded, the heightened abortion restrictions may compound the limited access that Black women previously had before Dobbs. This, in turn will exacerbate the already disparate negative maternal outcomes that Black women experience. However, research on the relationship between the lack of access to abortion …

Reliability And Validity Of The Turkish Version Of The Infant Motor Activity Log In Infants With Upper Extremity Functional Asymmetry: How Often And How Well?, Kübra Seyhan Biyik, Cemi̇l Özal, Kivanç Deli̇oğlu, Mi̇ntaza Kerem Günel

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Functional asymmetry in the upper extremities may occur in infants with neuromotor problems due to neurodevelopmental or musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Infant Motor Activity Log Scale (IMAL-T), which asks about the frequency (how often) and quality (how well) of the affected arm usage during activities in infants with functional asymmetry in the upper extremities.Materials and methods: The IMAL-T was administered face-to-face to parents of 102 infants (60 infants at high risk of cerebral palsy (CP) and 42 infants with brachial plexus birth injury …

Effect Of Δnp63Β On Cell Cycle And Apoptosis In T98g Cells, Buse Turegun Atasoy, Fi̇kret Sahin

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The p53 protein, a crucial tumor suppressor, governs cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Similarly, p63, a member of the p53 family, exhibits traits of both tumor suppression and oncogenic behavior through its isoforms. However, the functional impact of ΔNp63β, an isoform of the p63 protein, on human glioma cancer cells like T98G cells remains poorly understood, representing the novelty of this study in the current literature.Materials, methods: Employing the pRetroX-Tet-On vector system, we investigated ΔNp63β's apoptotic effects on T98G cell lines and assessed its influence on the cell cycle. Initially, we established a rtTA-expressing vector, a component of the …

Investigating The Biomarker Potential And Molecular Targets Of Tigd1 In Lung Cancer Using Bioinformatics, Merve Gulsen Bal Albayrak, Tuğcan Korak, Murat Kasap, Gurler Akpinar

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aimLung cancer, a predominant contributor to cancer mortality, is characterized by diverse etiological factors, including tobacco smoking and genetic susceptibilities. Despite advancements, particularly in non-small cell carcinoma (NSCC), therapeutic options for squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) are limited. Transposable elements (TE) and their regulatory proteins, such as Transposable element derived (TIGD) family proteins, have been implicated in cancer development. TIGD1, upregulated in various cancers, including LUSC, lacks a defined function. This study aimed to elucidate the biological functions, associated pathways, and interacting proteins of TIGD1.Materials and methodsThe GSE229260 microarray dataset were investigated using GEO2R tool to identify the differentially expressed genes …

Epidemiology Of Heart Failure In Türkiye, Nai̇m Ata, İnci̇ Tuğçe Çöllüoğlu, Anil Şahi̇n, Mehmet Bi̇rhan Yilmaz, Sanem Nalbantgi̇l, Şuayi̇p Bi̇ri̇nci̇, Mustafa Mahi̇r Ülgü, Emi̇ne Arzu Kanik, Di̇lek Ural, Lale Di̇nç Asarcikli, Emre Demi̇r, Yüksel Çavuşoğlu, Selda Murat, Ahmet Çeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim:The epidemiological data on heart failure (HF) vary between regions within the same country.We aimed to investigate the epidemiological data on HF in Turkiye across all age groups regarding seven geographical regions.Materials and methods:We included all patients in the Turkish population with a first diagnosis of HF between January 1, 2016 and December, 31 2022, with the use of ICD-10 codes from the National Electronic Healthcare Database.The data were categorized by seven geographical regions of Turkiye.Results:The median age of index diagnosis of HF was 70(60-78) years in all age groups and 4(1-12) years in pediatric population.Prevalence rate of HF was …

Approaching A Nationwide Registry: Analyzing Big Data In Patients With Heart Failure, Tuğçe Çöllüoğlu, Anil Şahi̇n, Ahmet Çeli̇k, Emi̇ne Arzu Kanik

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim:Randomized controlled trials usually lack generabilizity to real-world context.Real-world data, enabled by the use of big data analysis, serve as a connection between the results of trials and the implementation of findings in clinical practice.Nevertheless, using big data in the healthcare has difficulties such as ensuring data quality and consistency.This article aimed to examine the challenges in accessing and utilizing healthcare big data for heart failure (HF) research, drawing from experiences in creating a nationwide HF registry in Turkiye.Materials and methods:We established a team including cardiologists, HF specialists, biostatistics experts, and data analysts. We searched certain key words related to …

Diagnostic Approach To Heart Failure In Türkiye, Di̇lek Ural, Lale Di̇nç Asarcikli, İnci̇ Tuğçe Çöllüoğlu, Anil Şahi̇n, Yüksel Çavuşoğlu, Mehmet Bi̇rhan Yilmaz, Sanem Nalbantgi̇l, Nai̇m Ata, Mustafa Mahi̇r Ülgü, Şuayi̇p Bi̇ri̇nci̇, Selda Murat, Emre Demi̇r, Emi̇ne Arzu Kanik, Ahmet Çeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim:Final diagnosis of heart failure (HF) relies on a combination clinical findings, laboratory and imaging tests.The aim of this study was to review the diagnostic approach to HF in Turkiye.Materials and methods:This study is a subanalysis of the nationwide TRends-HF study based on anonymized data of National Electronic Database between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022.Variables including date of birth, sex, socioeconomic development index, place of initial HF diagnosis, comorbidities, investigations, and diagnostic procedures were reported.Laboratory variables, including complete blood count, natriuretic peptides (NP), estimated glomerular filtration rate, uric acid, electrolytes, albumin, lipid profile, ferritin and hemoglobin A1c levels …