Shifting The Narrative: Disabilities Are Superpowers, Samantha Bruno

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Drawing from first-hand experiences as a special education teacher's aide, I have witnessed students’ struggle, but I have also seen them be exceptional. Stories about disabilities and by people with disabilities continue to be hard to find. To understand the lived perspectives of people with various disabilities, I conducted a literature review of interviews and profiles featuring people with disabilities talking about their experiences and strengths in their own words. This research project aims to answer the question, “How can lived experience narratives better showcase individuals' diverse abilities and strengths.” This project focuses on individuals with autism, Down syndrome, dyslexia, …

Smartphone Accessibility Training Protocol, Nia Monteiro

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Despite an increase in smartphone device ownership, current research has shown that smartphones continue to be underutilized by individuals with disabilities because of barriers such as the inability to complete complex gestures, inexperience using accessibility features, lack of training and support, and more. Data from a survey created by the Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative (GARI), received from over 12,500 participants, identified a desire for more information on locating, activating, and using accessibility features on devices. This doctoral project's objective was to create a client-centered educational training program that teaches individuals with disabilities how to use the accessibility features on their …

Reliability Of Glim Criteria Compared To And/Aspen, Emilia Pronczuk

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The objective of this journal article project was to compare the accuracy and reliability of the Global Leadership Initiation on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria vs the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (AND/ASPEN) to diagnose malnutrition in hospitalized patients. As the GLIM criteria are still fairly new, it is important that healthcare professionals and institutions are aware of its functionality. The project also aimed to discuss the feasibility of implementing GLIM criteria and whether such a change is needed. Morbidity, readmission, and mortality rates were also acknowledged. The journal article took into consideration a wide variety …

Parent-To-Parent Support Groups, Breanna Mendell

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Research suggests a lack of support for parents of children diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions. Receiving a neurodivergent diagnosis can impact both the child and their caregiver’s mental health and well-being. Implementation of parent-to-parent support groups for caregivers of children with neurodivergent conditions have been found to reduce stress and anxiety. The more educated a parent is regarding their child’s diagnosis, the better they can effectively support and advocate for their child. This can create a reduction in stress and anxiety. Groups also provide a space for caretakers to empathize, express their emotions, and share the skills and knowledge they have. …

Use Of Digital Literacy Programs For Older Adults, Gianna Battista

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

In today's generation, technology is evolving faster, forcing older adults to try and keep up with daily responsibilities without the proper education or tools. Without the help of educational programs, older adults may experience decreased confidence and limited success when using their phones or computers to complete daily tasks. Many tasks such as banking, paying bills, or medical information have now switched from paper to electronic records for easy use. Due to recent events such as the pandemic, appointments can now be completed virtually through telehealth, message providers, and medical records access via patient portals. The change in accessing health …

Prosthetics In The Return To Trade Work, Jordan Chizmadia, Jennifer G. Macnie, Olivia R. Miller, Anthony L. Valentino

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Importance: There is a lack of research on how different prosthetics impact return to work for individuals experiencing an upper extremity amputation. Objective: This review aims to assess myoelectric and body-powered prosthetics' impact on return to physically demanding work and understand which is better suited for trade work demands and productivity. Data sources: Journal articles were last searched for using the databases, EBSCO, PubMed, Sage Journals and ScienceDirect, on October 13th, 2023. Study selection and data collection: Articles meeting inclusion criteria had to be peer-reviewed journal articles written in English, published in the last seven years, participants 18 years of …

Smoking Reduction & Cessation: E-Cigarettes V. Nrt, Aurora Dimarco

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project investigated the potential smoking reduction and cessation applications of nicotine electronic cigarettes (EC, e-cigarettes), compared to other NRT products and smoking cessation aids. Harmful and addictive tobacco products resulted in over 8 million deaths per year across the globe, with over 480,000 in the United States. This topic was selected in recognition of a global need for innovative research into new tools and resources that empower patients, promote stigma-free care options, and employ data-driven analysis to drive smoking reduction and cessation in adult smokers. The project yielded highly promising insights, and posited statistically significant evidence that e-cigarettes constitute …

Dermoscopy For Melanoma Diagnosis In Primary Care, Emily Martyny

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Purpose/Objective: Melanoma cases are rising in the United States placing increased importance on early detection. Dermoscopy can be implemented on the frontlines in the primary care setting to help increase diagnosis of suspicious lesions compared with solely visual inspection. Methods: Articles were collected from the Johnson & Wales University library database with terms including: “dermoscopy,” “primary care,” “melanoma,” and “visual inspection.” Results: Jones et al. found that with training, dermoscopy in the primary care setting can increase the diagnostic accuracy for melanoma with a reduction in unnecessary excisions and referrals. De Bedout et al. concluded that specificity and sensitivity increase …

Fueling College Athletes: A Nutritional Guide, Christina Klein, Rushie Vilane, Ytossie Graves, Alyssa Bernier, Mackenzie Weinberg, Erica Howard, Hayden Haldane, Haylee Canadas

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

College athletes face many nutritional challenges, such as head injuries, food insecurity, nutritional knowledge, and overall mental health. From some complaints and concerns from JWU athletes, these students feel they are experiencing many challenges in meeting their athletic nutritional needs. A needs assessment was conducted on the Division III Johnson and Wales Men’s Lacrosse team. The assessment’s data was collected from surveys and in-person interviews. The information collected included their pre-and-post meal plans, a 24-hour basis of food intake, and questions regarding their demographics, dietary restrictions, and food access and security. It will help create an overview concerning how these …

Pilot Peer Support For New Parents, Gina Orazietti

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The project was a pilot to encourage Rhode Island’s health care system to expand follow-up services for new parents and promote expansion of occupational therapy (OT) services into postpartum care for new parents. This project aimed to better understand the benefits of receiving postpartum support in a peer-support setting, focusing specifically on occupational balance and well-being of the parents themselves. The pre/post-test design was utilized to evaluate participants’ attitudes or self-perception toward occupational balance and well-being relative to their involvement in the peer support groups by utilizing two Likert scales (Occupational Self-Assessment & Occupational Balance Questionnaire) and quality assurance questionnaires.

Exercise Assessment And Prescription, Georgi-Ann Edwards

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

As an aspiring physical therapist, I hope to someday have the ability to help people feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally. Part of being able to make someone feel better is to observe, diagnose, and prescribe. By using intake screening and assessments from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), an anonymous client had a personalized corrective exercise program created to fit their specific needs and help them achieve their goals. The documentation forms used to analyze the individual include client intake screening, static postural assessment, transitional movement assessment, loaded movement assessment, dynamic movement assessment, mobility assessments, and a PAR-Q+. …

The Development Of A Scale To Measure The Fear Of Earthquake, Mustafa Filiz, Yusuf Karaşın, Yalçın Karagöz

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study aims to develop a scale to measure the fear level of individuals towards earthquakes. The population of the research consists of individuals who were directly and indirectly affected by the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş province of Turkey on 6 February 2023. The sample of the research consists of 357 people who voluntarily participated in the survey. Data were collected through an online survey. Experts’ opinions, literature review and pilot study were utilized in the creation of the scale items. Psychometric properties of the scale were analyzed by test-retest, calculation of internal consistency coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory …

Exceptionality Of Space: Sexual Violence In “The Camp. A Little Girl From Karabakh” By Gunel Movlud, Eva Lennartz

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

In the autobiographical novel “The Camp. A Little Girl from Karabakh” the Azerbaijani author Gunel Movlud describes her experiences of living in a refugee camp in the Sabirabad region of Azerbaijan. Movlud was forced to flee her home town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region during the First Karabakh War(1988-1994). For five years, she lived in the tent camp. In the novel, Movlud describes the hardships of the life in the camp and different characters from her personal perspective. What is striking from her observations is the amount of sexual violence apparent in the camp and the seemingly tacit acceptance of the …

A Rare Case Of Breast Carcinoma Metastasis Into A Meningioma In A 64-Year-Old Female Patient, Edwin Mogere, Miriam Mutebi, Allan Njau, Manel Haj Mansour

General Surgery, East Africa

This report discusses the occurrence of tumor-to-tumor metastasis—an atypical phenomenon in oncology where a secondary malignancy develops within an existing primary tumor. The case of a 64-year-old woman is presented, who, with a history of stage II invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast treated with mastectomy and chemoradiotherapy, developed neurological symptoms indicative of a secondary brain tumor. MRI and subsequent histopathological analysis post-craniotomy confirmed a meningioma with a metastatic breast carcinoma, demonstrating the clinical importance of considering tumor-to-tumor metastasis in similar patient histories.

Prospective Validation Of A Hospital Triage Predictive Model To Decrease Undertriage: An East Multicenter Study., Elise A Biesboer, Courtney J Pokrzywa, Basil S Karam, Benjamin Chen, Aniko Szabo, Bi Qing Teng, Matthew D Bernard, Andrew Bernard, Sharfuddin Chowdhury, Al-Hasher E Hayudini, Michal A Radomski, Stephanie Doris, Brian K Yorkgitis, Jennifer Mull, Benjamin W Weston, Mark R Hemmila, Christopher J Tignanelli, Marc A De Moya, Rachel S Morris

Trauma and Acute Care Articles

BACKGROUND: Tiered trauma team activation (TTA) allows systems to optimally allocate resources to an injured patient. Target undertriage and overtriage rates of

METHODS: The model was previously developed and internally validated using data from 31 US trauma centers. Data were collected prospectively at five sites using a mobile application which hosted the NEI-6 model. A weighted multiple logistic regression model was used to retrain and optimize the model using the original data set and a portion of data from one of the prospective sites. The remaining data from the five sites were designated for external validation. The area under the …

Failure Rates Of Nonoperative Management Of Low-Grade Splenic Injuries With Active Extravasation: An Eastern Association For The Surgery Of Trauma Multicenter Study., Kristen Spoor, John David Cull, Banan W Otaibi, Joshua P Hazelton, John Chipko, Jessica Reynolds, Sam Fugate, Claire Pederson, Linda B Zier, Lewis E Jacobson, Jamie M Williams, Thomas S Easterday, Saskya Byerly, Caleb Mentzer, Edward Hawke, Daniel C Cullinane, Julianne B Ontengco, Nikolay Bugaev, Madison Leclair, Pascal Udekwu, Cooper Josephs, Matthew Noorbaksh, James Babowice, Catherine Garrison Velopulos, Shane Urban, Anna Goldenberg, Gaby Ghobrial, John M Pickering, Steven D Quarfordt, Alia F Aunchman, Aimee K Lariccia, Chance Spalding, Richard D Catalano, Jordan E Basham, Philip M Edmundson, Jeffry Nahmias, Erika Tay, Scott H Norwood, Katelyn Meadows, Yee Wong, Claire Hardman

Trauma and Acute Care Articles

OBJECTIVES: There is little evidence guiding the management of grade I-II traumatic splenic injuries with contrast blush (CB). We aimed to analyze the failure rate of nonoperative management (NOM) of grade I-II splenic injuries with CB in hemodynamically stable patients.

METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study examining all grade I-II splenic injuries with CB was performed at 21 institutions from January 1, 2014, to October 31, 2019. Patients >18 years old with grade I or II splenic injury due to blunt trauma with CB on CT were included. The primary outcome was the failure of NOM requiring angioembolization/operation. We determined …

Advancing The Practice Of Trauma: Utilizing Advanced Practice Providers To Improve Patient Outcomes Through A Collaborative Team Approach., Alaina M Lasinski, Allysen Shaughnessy, Benjamin Reynolds, Raquel Forsythe, Annika B Kay, Brian K Yorkgitis, Brandy N Younge, Ashley B Christmas, Jeffrey A Claridge

Trauma and Acute Care Articles

Advanced practice providers (APPs) have become essential to trauma teams in the United States during the last few decades. The optimal utilization of APPs is not yet known and is likely highly variable secondary to many factors. We discuss three aspects of the multidisciplinary approach to caring for trauma patients. First, a review of the literature demonstrates that APPs in trauma improve quality of care, patient throughput, and decrease cost. We then report on models of APP utilization by comparing five trauma centers across the country, concluding that utilization remains highly variable due to several system and provider factors. The …

Active Nursing Research Studies As Of 1-2024 (Study Summaries),, Vicki Babb, Kelly Ray, Breann Taylor, Debbi Bowman, Kaylyn Kistler, Erin Lacross, Naomi Adamski, Brooke Randol Msn, Rn, Agcns-Bc, Cmsrn, Cws, Stacy Greene, Preston Jennings, Jennifer Sorg, Olivia Figura, Rebecca Howard, Kelly Ray, Amber Childers, Kristy Jackson, Christine Fawcett, Lisa Morgan Bsn, Rn, Cnrn, Andrea D. Conley Msn, Rn, Agcns-Bc, Mscrn, Kellie Girardot Msn, Rn, Jennifer Thieman, Stephani Schultz Bsn, Rn, Cmsrn, Holly Platt, Abby Gaff, Chelsea Tetzlaff, Donna Hitzeman, Latoshia Gilbert, Meghan Winebrenner, Jan Powers Phd, Rn, Ccrn, Andrea Conley, Kristen Emenhiser, Rebecca Havens, Philip Roberts, Jennifer Esslinger Bsn, Rn, Cfrn, Ctrn, Lindy Bilimek Msn, Agcns-Bc

Nursing Active Studies

Nursing Clinical Action Team Chair and Co-Chair Education: Back to Basics in Leading the Unit-Based Team.

PI: Vicki Babb, Kelly Ray, BreAnn Taylor, Debbi Bowman

Project ROSC-O

PI: Kaylyn Kistler

Assessment of Nurse Perceptions Related to Shared Governance Culture.

PI: Erin LaCross, Naomi Adamski, Brooke Randol, Stacy Greene, Preston Jennings, Jennifer Sorg, Olivia Figura, Rebecca Howard Kelly Ray, Amber Childers, Kristy Jackson, Christine Fawcet

Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Survey Assessing Nursing Knowledge.

PI: Lisa Morgan

Custom Machine Learning Model for Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI)

PI: Andrea Conley, Brooke Randol

Exploration of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors of Skin Injury in Intensive Care …

Energy Expenditure In Partial-Foot Amputees With Diabetes: A Scoping Review, Nicholas Obias, Madeleine G. Mehaffey, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Objective: The energy cost of walking in amputees is often cited in modern scientific literature and clinical rationales for determining amputation levels. However, many referenced papers do not study diabetic populations with partial foot amputations (PFAs) – relatively widespread conditions in podiatric patient populations. Commonly cited papers include Waters (1976), which is significantly dated, Goktepe (2010), which studies traumatic PFAs in a military academy, and Jeans (2011), which studies traumatic PFAs in pediatric populations. These papers do not study diabetic populations and PFAs specifically. We hoped to find a study population more reflective of diabetic patients with PFAs.

Methods: …

Do We Need Another Frame? A Scoping Review On External Fixator Reuse, Nicholas Obias, James Hughes, Dustin Prins, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Statement of Purpose: External fixators in the United States are sold as single-use devices. Though their efficacy is well documented, they remain underutilized due to expense. The aim of this study is to determine if it is safe to reprocess and reuse external fixator components to lower the cost burden of surgeries using external fixation.

Introduction: External fixation is a critical but costly modality for upper and lower limb pathologies, such as trauma, deformity correction, and nonunion. Despite the clinical effectiveness of external fixation using delta, ilizarov, and hexapod frames, its application in the United States as a single-use device …

An Examination Of Coping Resources And Strategies Among Appalachian Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Adults And Youth, Zachary Ramsey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background. The body of literature shows that TGNC adults and youth face a multitude of health disparities (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, body dysmorphia) due to their marginalization. Neither Meyer’s Minority Stress Model nor Testa’s Gender Minority Stress and Resilience Model sufficiently examines coping and the ways it interacts with other concepts within the model. Aims. The objective of this dissertation was to examine the coping resources and strategies of Appalachian transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. The three aims of this study were to: 1) evaluate the relationship of coping resources and strategies between TGNC Youth and cisgender …

Project Quiet: A Quality Improvement Initiative To Reduce Noise Pollution During Anesthesia Induction And Emergence, James Christopher Woods

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Problem: Excessive intraoperative noise puts anesthesia providers at risk for errors that could negatively impact patient morbidity and mortality. Distractions from excessive noise experienced during the “critical phases” of anesthesia present a risk to patient safety and need to be reduced or eliminated. Anecdotally, reports from anesthesia staff at a large academic medical center confirmed that noise pollution during induction and emergence significantly impacted the performance of critical anesthesia tasks. Objective: The goal of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a series of interventions designed to reduce noise pollution during induction and emergence, and to reduce …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To Identify Postoperative Delirium In Geriatric Patients Using A Brain Health Screening Tool, Ashlyn Mccartney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common occurrence, effecting nearly 61% of the surgical population recovering from anesthesia. POD increases risk of morbidity and mortality leading to prolonged hospital length of stay by 0.8 to 7.3 days and increased costs by $1,551 to $23,698 (Masharaf et al., 2022; Sethi, 2021). An academic medical center in northern West Virginia (WV) lacks a structured practice/protocol to identify high risk patients and assess POD. An evidence-based solution was developed based on the PICO question: Does a multidisciplinary approach to perianesthetic care utilizing a brain health screening tool, compared to lack of a screening tool, …

The Relationship Between Moral Thought-Action Fusion And Scrupulosity Across Judaism, Christianity, And Islam, Kelsey Evey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Scrupulosity is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) where individuals are upset by intrusive thoughts related to religious or moral issues. Current research suggests that scrupulosity occurs across the major world religions—including the Abrahamic religions (i.e., Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Some research suggests that moral thought-action fusion (moral TAF), a dysfunctional belief that thinking something is equal to doing it, may only be pathological under certain circumstances (e.g., if it is not culturally normative). If this is true, the current cognitive model of scrupulosity may need to be amended to reflect how cultural differences impact the role of moral TAF …

Intervention To Reduce Tobacco Use Among Prostate Cancer Patient And Informal Caregiver Dyads, Trupti Dhumal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in men. Continued tobacco use after prostate cancer diagnosis may affect a patient’s treatment outcomes, quality of life, and mortality. Despite the potential negative outcomes, 10-20% of prostate cancer patients continue to use tobacco after their cancer diagnosis. Considering risks associated with continued tobacco use, there is a lack of evidence-based tobacco cessation strategies to address tobacco cessation specifically in prostate cancer. Given the increasing prevalence of prostate cancer, the ongoing difficulty in tobacco cessation, and the limited evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions in the literature, it is important to prioritize reducing tobacco use in …

The Impact Of Normal Growth On The Ap Relationships Of The Jaws And Incisors To The Forehead: A Serial Cephalometric Analysis Of Untreated Individuals, Adam Joseph Rudmann Dr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

The Impact of Normal Growth on the AP Relationships of the Jaws and Incisors to the Forehead: A Serial Cephalometric Analysis of Untreated Individuals

Adam Rudmann D.D.S. M.S.

Background and Objectives

Growth of the craniofacial complex is a critical factor to consider when treatment planning an orthodontic case. The ability to predict how the forehead and jaws will change over time depends on the ability to find predictable landmarks either radiographically or clinically, and use them to gauge the relative growth of various facial structures. This data can then be integrated with other diagnostic information such as occlusion and …

Comparative Cephalometric Study Between Class Ii Patients Treated With Herbst Appliance And Patients Treated With Mara, Mona Meky

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Comparative cephalometric study between Class II patients treated with Herbst appliance and patients treated with MARA

Mona Meky, D.D.S.

Background and Objectives: Functional appliances have been used for over 100 years in orthodontics to correct Class II malocclusions. The Herbst and the MARA appliances have different designs that may enhance mandibular growth. Recent clinical evidence has questioned whether they really have a lasting influence on facial growth and that the effects of these appliances were mostly dentoalveolar rather than skeletal. The objective of this retrospective comparative study was to compare the dental and skeletal changes between Class II division …

Dance Intervention For Stroke Rehabilitation: Restoring Occupational Performance Through Creative Movement, Olivia Paige Allen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Thousands of individuals are affected by cerebral vascular accidents, (CVA), also known as strokes in the United States each year, (CDC, 2023). Cerebral vascular accidents are one of the leading causes of death among the elderly population in the U.S. each year, (NIH et al., 2023). The deficits caused by a CVA can be global, from hemiparetic limbs and sensory loss to psychosocial impacts on an individual and their support system. In occupational therapy, the goal is to regain as much function and independence as possible for the individual who has experienced a CVA. Although many evidence-based intervention tools are …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Low Vision Throughout The Lifespan, Ka Ki Tse

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Low vision and blindness significantly affect individuals' engagement in occupational performance. While West Virginia (WV) offers low vision rehabilitation programs to enhance occupational performance, several challenges remain unresolved. This doctoral capstone project aimed to collaborate with low vision professionals to deliver comprehensive low vision services and advocate for the integration of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in the low vision field. A needs assessment and literature review were conducted to identify gaps and develop strategies for addressing the gaps. A qualitative study design was chosen to explore the perspectives of current low vision providers regarding the role of OTPs. The study …

Advancing Opportunities For The Autistic Community At West Virginia University, Drew D. Altizer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder often have difficulties with social integration and sensory challenges on collegiate campuses. These difficulties are sometimes tied together as social integration spaces are not always sensory-friendly and can be overwhelming for the individual. Creating a sensory-friendly space within the potentially overstimulating environment can provide the student with a place to recharge and recover and still access the desired social events. This capstone project focused on the design and development of a sensory room in the West Virginia University Mountain Lair Student Union, working directly with the students in the West Virginia University Autism Support Program …