Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Occupational Therapy With Refugees And Asylum Seekers, Hana Listes

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The capstone project aimed to define the role of occupational therapy in the reintegration of refugee families in Jacksonville, Florida, in collaboration with Muslim American Social Services. The project focused on utilizing occupational therapy to identify and address barriers faced by refugees during their resettlement process. Following assessment of barriers, culturally sensitive intervention strategies were implemented to improve independence and participation in meaningful daily activities. Interventions focused on the development of targeted programs that addressed challenges such as language barriers, access to resources, and cultural adjustment. Implications of the project aim to advocate for occupational therapy as a stakeholder in …

Reducing Hapi On A Medical Surgical Telemetry Unit, Emily Nicole Johansen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) are a global issue that harms patients, prolongs lengths of stay, and increases hospital costs and financial burdens. Because HAPIs are preventable, hospital organizations worldwide are implementing prevention strategies to improve the quality of care and quality of life and decrease costs associated with them.

Context: The 24-bed medical-surgical telemetry unit is one of five adult inpatient units within a Northern California hospital. The patient population includes an increased number of patients who are at risk of HAPI. The unit struggles with HAPI prevention, and the staff is challenged with implementing proper HAPI prevention …

Increasing Operating Room Efficiency Through Decreased Turnover Times, R. Keith Wolfskill

Student Scholarly Projects

The Operating Room (OR) is the financial engine of the modern hospital or surgical center. Over 40% of the hospital's cost is invested in the OR, but the facility recoups a monetary return of around 60-70%. Turnover time is a crucial factor in reducing costs. Uncontrolled, it can inflate operating costs, but when managed effectively, it can boost surgeon, patient, and staff satisfaction, enhance patient safety, and significantly reduce operational costs. The literature underscores the importance of reducing the time between operating room turnovers to improve OR efficiency. A key strategy that research consistently shows to be effective is the …

Enhancing Patient Throughput From Emergency Department To Inpatient Unit With Electronic Handoff Implementation, George Hanania

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background: This evidence-based improvement project aimed to address communication issues during information exchange among healthcare professionals and the operational impacts of ineffective nurse-to-nurse reports among the emergency department (ED) to the inpatient units at a northern California hospital-based system hospital in San Leandro. The impacts of miscommunication and ineffective ways of giving nurse-to-nurse reports over the phone can result in delays in treatment and diagnosis, leading to ED overcrowding and decreased throughput.

Problem: Communication issues during information exchange, specifically operational impacts of ineffective nurse-to-nurse report/handoff between the ED and inpatient units.

Interventions: This project aimed to implement an electronic handoff …

Interprofessional Collaboration For Nurse Leaders: Practical Applications To Enhance Team Effectiveness On Telemetry, Paul Alegria

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Background: According to the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC), there are four core competencies that promote team engagement and collaboration among professionals: 1. Establish shared values 2. Clarify roles and responsibilities 3. Effective communication 4. Teamwork. Together, the competencies create structure and team integration that potentiates favorable outcomes in work culture and patient care when operating in complex, quality-based care settings. The setting for this quality improvement project is on a telemetry unit, assistant nurse manager (ANM) team in the greater Sacramento region of California.

Problem: The Gallup Q12 is an employee engagement survey that identifies inter-relational domains of influence …

Implementing Joy In Practice And Addressing Nurse Burnout, Courtney Repetto

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Background: This quality improvement project, a beacon of hope in the face of nurse burnout, examined its effects and how nurse leader engagement and the transformative Joy in Practice Initiative can promote wellness, joy in practice, and significantly improve patient outcomes. Problem: According to the Institute of Healthcare Improvements (IHI) 2019 National Forum on Quality Improvement in Healthcare (IHI, 2019), burnout can be characterized by depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and lack of personal accomplishment. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nurse burnout rates have been at an all-time high, posing a significant threat to patient care. This has revealed alarming results: Nurse …

Improving Utilization Of Interqual Among Case Managers/Patient Care Coordinators At Santa Clara Medical Center, Czar Binuya Viesca

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: The utilization management department at Santa Clara Medical Center had low compliance with InterQual criteria, at 35%. This resulted in inconsistent care decisions, poor resource allocation, and regulatory penalties, affecting patient care and performance.

Context: The project aimed to enhance InterQual utilization, aligning with Santa Clara Medical Center's goals of evidence-based, patient-centered care. The initiative was guided by Jesuit values and ANA ethical standards, focusing on service, justice, excellence, patient advocacy, and professional responsibility.

Interventions: The project implemented three main interventions: comprehensive training programs, regular audits, and performance recognition. These interventions aimed to address gaps and ensure the …

Improving Patient Care Experience By Increasing Medication Communication, Honey Varghese

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background: Patient [DA1] care experiences profoundly impact a hospital's competitiveness and financial viability. Effective communication about medications and their potential side effects is not just a communication strategy but a powerful tool that signifies safe patient care, leads to improved health outcomes, improves medication compliance, and reduces readmissions related to medication side effects and non-compliance.

Problem: Effective communication about medications and their potential side effects is a significant indicator of safe patient care and improved health outcomes. The cardiac telemetry unit of a medical center in Northern California has not met the regional benchmark related to medication communication.

Context: The …

Promoting Awareness In Nurses: Developing Culturally Competent Hair Care Education To Eliminate The Equity Gap For Bipoc Children In Inpatient Settings, Sharlene S. Lansiquot

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem

A survey that was administered to staff members on nine units at a pediatric hospital assessing their awareness of hair care for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) indicated a lack of awareness. This impacts the fundamentals of nursing care, which encompasses cultural sensitivity and promoting health equity. In this survey, 12.18% (n=52) of the 427 patients on the nine participating units between December 12, 2023, and January 19, 2024, identified as BIPOC. Although this was the case, the survey sent out on December 12, 2023, to staff members on nine units which included 491 nurses, with 104 …

Tumour-Intrinsic Endomembrane Trafficking By Arf6 Shapes An Immunosuppressive Microenvironment That Drives Melanomagenesis And Response To Checkpoint Blockade Therapy, Yinshen Wee, Junhua Wang, Emily C Wilson, Coulson P Rich, Aaron Rogers, Zongzhong Tong, Evelyn Degroot, Y N Vashisht Gopal, Michael A Davies, H Atakan Ekiz, Joshua K H Tay, Chris Stubben, Kenneth M Boucher, Juan M Oviedo, Keke C Fairfax, Matthew A Williams, Sheri L Holmen, Roger K Wolff, Allie H Grossmann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tumour-host immune interactions lead to complex changes in the tumour microenvironment (TME), impacting progression, metastasis and response to therapy. While it is clear that cancer cells can have the capacity to alter immune landscapes, our understanding of this process is incomplete. Herein we show that endocytic trafficking at the plasma membrane, mediated by the small GTPase ARF6, enables melanoma cells to impose an immunosuppressive TME that accelerates tumour development. This ARF6-dependent TME is vulnerable to immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICB) but in murine melanoma, loss of Arf6 causes resistance to ICB. Likewise, downregulation of ARF6 in patient tumours correlates with …

A Comparative Analysis Of Helical Tomotherapy Planning With Active Versus Total Bone Marrow Sparing Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography, April E. Premo

Masters Projects

Purpose: This study aims to compare helical tomotherapy (HT) plans using active bone marrow (ABM) sparing contouring versus traditional bone marrow (BM) sparing contouring using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in the treatment of gynecologic (GYN) cancers. The goal is to evaluate the effects of using ABM contours in optimization on organs at risk (OAR) and planning target volumes (PTVs).

Methods: The study involved creating HT plans for GYN cancer patients, utilizing both ABM and BM contouring techniques. DECT was used to distinguish between active and inactive bone marrow. Dosimetric comparisons were made between BM and ABM sparing plans. Statistical analyses …

The Bench To Community Initiative: Community-Based Participatory Research Model For Translating Research Discoveries Into Community Solutions, Jazma L. Tapia, Abigail Lopez, D. Bing Turner, Tonya Fairley, Tiah Tomlin-Harris, Maggie Hawkins, Pastor Rhonda Holbert, Lindsey S. Treviño, Dede K. Teteh-Brooks

Health Sciences and Kinesiology Faculty Articles

Methods: Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an effective methodology for translating research findings from academia to community interventions. The Bench to Community Initiative (BCI), a CBPR program, builds on prior research to engage stakeholders across multiple disciplines with the goal of disseminating interventions to reduce breast cancer disparities and improve quality of life of Black communities.

The BCI program was established to understand sociocultural determinants of personal care product use, evaluate the biological impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals, and develop community interventions. The three pillars of the program include research, outreach and engagement as well as advocacy activities. The research …

Is Mild Really Mild?: Generating Longitudinal Profiles Of Stroke Survivor Impairment And Impact Using Unsupervised Machine Learning, Achini Adikari, Rashmika Nawaratne, Daswin De Silva, David L. Carey, Alistair Walsh, Carolyn Baum, Stephen Davis, Geoffrey A. Donnan, Damminda Alahakoon, Leeanne M. Carey

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Overuse Injury Prevention Program For High School And College Flutists, Judy Kim, Cassandra M. Nelson

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

College and high school flutists face significant health risks, including a high prevalence of playing-related injuries and associated psychological stress and social pressures to perform despite the pain. The asymmetrical posture and specific hand and arm positions required for playing the flute increase the risk of musculoskeletal injuries due to repetitive, non-ergonomic movements. This program addresses these unique health challenges by integrating occupational therapy (OT) principles, providing comprehensive education, and injury prevention and management strategies. The program seeks to raise awareness of overuse injuries, enhance self-confidence in managing stress, and implement injury prevention techniques. Expected outcomes include a deeper understanding …

Acceptability Of Heart Rate-Based Remote Monitoring Of Smoking Status., Matthew Mitnick, Shelby Goodwin, Mikaela Bubna, Justin S White, Bethany Raiff

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: Digital interventions present a scalable solution to overcome barriers to smoking cessation treatment, and changes in resting heart rate (HR) may offer a viable option for monitoring smoking status remotely. The goal of this study was to explore the acceptability of using smartphone cameras and activity trackers to measure heart rate for use in a smoking cessation intervention.

METHODS: Participants (N=410), most of whom identified as female (75.8 %) with mean age 38.3 years (SD 11.4), were recruited via the Smoke Free app. They rated the perceived comfort, convenience, and likelihood of using smartphone cameras and wrist-worn devices for …

Measuring Program Effectiveness Of The Assistive Social Skills And Employment Training, Alyssa A. Chappel

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Medical Assistants Adherence To The Jnc-8 Guidelines In A Primary Care Clinic, Mary Jacob

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hypertension (HTN) is currently one of the most common diseases that is underdiagnosed and under-treated in the primary care setting. The identified gap in practice is that medical assistants need to gain knowledge of the current JNC-8 HTN guidelines and, therefore, do not apply the JNC-8 guidelines to patient management. This project aimed to educate medical assistants in a primary care clinic on the Joint National Committee 8 (JNC-8) guidelines to improve their HTN management knowledge over four weeks. The social cognitive theory and Kurt Lewin’s change management theory guided the project. The project adopted a quantitative, quasi-experimental design whereby …

The Role Of Southern Red-Backed Voles, Myodes Gapperi, And Peromyscus Mice In The Enzootic Maintenance Of Lyme Disease Spirochetes In North Dakota, Usa, Michael W. Dougherty, Nathan M. Russart, Robert A. Gaultney, Emily Marie Gisi, Haley M. Cooper, Lindsey R. Kallis, Catherine A. Brissette, Jefferson A. Vaughan

Biology Faculty Publications

Lyme disease has expanded into the Great Plains of the USA. To investigate local enzootic transmission, small mammals were trapped in two forested tracts in northeastern North Dakota during 2012 and 2013. Peromyscus mice and southern red-backed voles, Myodes gapperi, comprised over 90% of all mammals captured. One site was dominated by Peromyscus (79% of 100 mammals captured). At the other site, M. gapperi (59% of 107 mammals captured) was more abundant than Peromyscus (36%). Immature stages of two tick species parasitized small mammals: Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis. Larval I. scapularis ectoparasitism was significantly higher on Peromyscus (81% …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy & Postpartum Care, Paula A. Rodriguez

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The aim of this study involved researching the role of occupational therapy in the transition into motherhood. The Scale of Occupational Disruption (SOD) was used to gather data about which occupations were the most and least disrupted, as reported by the research participants. Participants were recruited to complete the SOD anonymously through RedCap and were recruited through social media platforms and mom groups. In total, 142 participants participated in the study. Of the total 142 recruited participants, 117 completed the SOD in its entirety, and their data was able to be used for this study. The participants had a mean …

Sensory Processing Assessment In Alzheimer’S Disease And Related Dementias: A Research Capstone Experience, Clarissa Benzarti

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Educational Experiences Of Juvenile Offenders In Minnesota, Danielle Petruska

Theses and Graduate Projects

Objective of Study. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of positive adult/teacher relationships in juvenile detention educational settings in Minnesota on juvenile offenders’ perceptions of school, as well as their future plans for attending college after high school. Method. Data were obtained from the 2019 administration of the Minnesota Student Survey, involving 280 juvenile offenders (83 girls) from correctional educational facilities. Hypotheses were tested using correlational analyses to examine the relationship between perceived adult/teacher relationships and school perceptions, as well as the association between these relationships and post-high school plans. Results. Results revealed …

Diagnosis, Distress, And Displacement: The Economic Burden Of Breast Cancer In California, Vaibhavi P. Nimkar

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: This paper addresses the economic burden of breast cancer and the social determinants of health influencing it among women in California.

Methods: I have prepared a critical review of peer-reviewed literature. The literature was assembled from two databases: PubMed and Springer Link. I limited the search to the years 2014-2024, filtered the results for free full text followed by restriction to a gender filter for women. Of the total forty-two articles gathered, I identified eighteen articles based on the economic burden of breast cancer, excluded all systematic reviews and selected eleven articles including a combination of qualitative, quantitative, …

Approaches To Teaching Evidence-Based Medicine In Residency: A Systematic Review, Kathleen Matheson Phd, Cip, Megan Weemer Dhsc, Mches, Laura Lipke

Library Scholarship

ABSTRACT Background Studies of evidence-based medicine (EBM) curricula in graduate medical education are common, but little consensus exists on the best methods to teach EBM.

Objective The purpose of the current study was to evaluate EBM teaching approaches for graduate medical trainees and to update a 2014 systematic review.

Methods We conducted a systematic literature search of major health and education databases for articles published from January 2014 through October 2022. Articles were independently screened to ensure they described an experimental or quasi-experimental evaluation of EBM teaching for graduate medical trainees. Quality of included studies was appraised using the Medical …

Enhancing Discharge Process For Home Iv Milrinone Patients With Advanced Heart Failure, Kaitlyn Bauer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: Discharge processes for patients with heart failure on home intravenous inotrope support is fraught with barriers and complexities, and causes patients, caregivers, and bedside nurses’ high levels of stress leading to potentially unsafe, complicated discharges. This project aimed to decrease discharge times and improve nurses’ ability to safely and effectively discharge patients.

Background: The project was implemented in a 42-bed advanced heart failure IMU in the Texas Medical Center, where discharge times were longer than hospital standards at over 6 hours.

Methodology: Using elements of the Transition of Care Model, a discharge checklist was created to help staff prepare …

Inspire : Vol 7 Issue 8, Department Of Medicine

INSPIRE – Department of Medicine Archives

• Medicine at National and International Forums
• SESAM conference | Dr Faisal Ismail
• HIV Science and Community
• 34th ECCMID | Infectious Diseases Section
• Poster presentation | Cardiology
• Featured Faculty | Dr Sajid Hameed | Neurology Section
• Poem Section
• What Academics are reading this month?
• Upcoming Events

Enhancing The Visual Environment Of Indoor Housed Laboratory Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca Fascicularis) To Reduce Stress And Maladaptive Behavior, Jeannine C. Rodgers

Theses and Dissertations

Nonhuman primates housed in indoor laboratory environments are generally exposed to nondescript background visual stimuli. This environment is not ideal for species whose primary sensory modality is visual. To provide a more naturalistic visual environment that would potentially improve their welfare, this study assessed the efficacy of a passive natural visual stimulus in the reduction of stress and stereotypy and agonistic behaviors in a cohort of four (2 male, 2 female) Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) housed in an indoor laboratory facility in New York City. The macaques were exposed to four different videos depicting scenes of natural landscapes that were …

Increasing Breast Cancer Screening Rates Among Women Ages 40 To 74 In An Urban Safety Net Primary Care Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project, Wilder Pinnock

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background and Problem Description: Breast cancer continues to be the most common and second most lethal form of cancer among women in the U.S. Although there have been improvements in breast cancer screening in the US, major disparities persist. The national breast cancer screening rate for the year 2021 was 75.6%; the rate for the underserved and minority population was 54%. This QI project took place at a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides medical care to medically underserved and vulnerable populations.

Purpose and Aim: This project aimed to increase breast cancer screening at the proposed site to optimize early …

Translational Modeling-Based Evidence For Enhanced Efficacy Of Standard-Of-Care Drugs In Combination With Anti-Microrna-155 In Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Prashant Dogra, Vrushaly Shinglot, Javier Ruiz-Ramírez, Joseph Cave, Joseph D Butner, Carmine Schiavone, Dan G Duda, Ahmed O Kaseb, Caroline Chung, Eugene J Koay, Vittorio Cristini, Bulent Ozpolat, George A Calin, Zhihui Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Elevated microRNA-155 (miR-155) expression in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) promotes cisplatin resistance and negatively impacts treatment outcomes. However, miR-155 can also boost anti-tumor immunity by suppressing PD-L1 expression. Therapeutic targeting of miR-155 through its antagonist, anti-miR-155, has proven challenging due to its dual molecular effects.

METHODS: We developed a multiscale mechanistic model, calibrated with in vivo data and then extrapolated to humans, to investigate the therapeutic effects of nanoparticle-delivered anti-miR-155 in NSCLC, alone or in combination with standard-of-care drugs.

RESULTS: Model simulations and analyses of the clinical scenario revealed that monotherapy with anti-miR-155 at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg …

Non-Receptor Tyrosine Kinases: Their Structure And Mechanistic Role In Tumor Progression And Resistance, Abdulaziz M. Eshaq, Thomas W. Flanagan, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Sara A. Al Asheikh, Waleed A. Al-Amoudi, Simeon Santourlidis, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Maryam O. Alamodi, Marcelo L. Bendhack, Mohammed O. Alamodi, Youssef Haikel, Mossad Megahed, Mohamed Hassan

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) function as key molecules in the signaling pathways in addition to their impact as a therapeutic target for the treatment of many human diseases, including cancer. PTKs are characterized by their ability to phosphorylate serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues and can thereby rapidly and reversibly alter the function of their protein substrates in the form of significant changes in protein confirmation and affinity for their interaction with protein partners to drive cellular functions under normal and pathological conditions. PTKs are classified into two groups: one of which represents tyrosine kinases, while the other one includes the …

Characterization Of Turbo, A Tlr Ligand-Based Adjuvant For Glycoconjugate Vaccines, Kishore R. Alugupalli

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Many bacterial polysaccharide vaccines, including the typhoid Vi polysaccharide (ViPS) and tetravalent meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate (MCV4) vaccines, do not incorporate adjuvants and are not highly immunogenic, particularly in infants. I found that endotoxin, a TLR4 ligand in ViPS, contributes to the immunogenicity of typhoid vaccines. Because endotoxin is pyrogenic, and its levels are highly variable in vaccines, I developed monophosphoryl lipid A, a nontoxic TLR4 ligand-based adjuvant named Turbo. Admixing Turbo with ViPS and MCV4 vaccines improved their immunogenicity across all ages and eliminated booster requirement. To understand the characteristics of this adjuvanticity, I compared Turbo with alum. Unlike alum, …