Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Family Perceptions Of End-Of-Life Care For Terminally Ill Individuals In The Intensive Care Unit, Yunju Kim

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) provides specialized care for critically ill individuals, but despite aggressive treatments, the risk of mortality remains high. Transitioning from life-saving interventions to end-of-life care (EoLC) can be emotionally challenging for families and the healthcare team. Fear of EoLC can lead to a continuation of futile treatments, leading to ethical conflicts, emotional distress, and unnecessary suffering. The primary purpose of this literature review is to explore incongruencies in family expectations for EoLC in terminally ill individuals in the ICU in the transition of care from life-saving measures to EoLC. The secondary purpose of this literature review …

The Effects Of Nurse-Led Physical Activity On The Aging Population, Kaitlyn P. Carruba

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The aging population in the United States is increasing in proportion, yet older adults' physical activity levels have not increased much. The lack of physical activity leads to numerous health complications, such as an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, increased risk for falls and fractures, as well as lead to obesity and diabetes. Unfortunately, few healthcare facilities monitor or audit physical activity. Older adults are frequently placed on fall risk precautions, which heavily encourages a sedentary hospital stay. This commonly leads to older adults with declining abilities to accomplish their activities of daily living (ADLs) after hospitalization. Nurses, spending the …

From Tricare To Medicaid: Dental Insurance Disparities Among U.S. Veterans And Active Duty Service Members, Madeline K. Mcnutt Ms

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Oral health plays a critical role in systemic well-being, yet dental care access in the United States remains deeply unequal, particularly among low-income and historically marginalized populations. Among those significantly affected are military veterans, who frequently experience barriers to oral healthcare due to eligibility restrictions within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system. This study offers a comparative analysis of dental insurance satisfaction between recipients of Medicaid and the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP), two federally funded programs that reflect the divide between civilian and military healthcare access. While TRICARE ADDP provides comprehensive and uniform coverage for Active Duty …

The Effectiveness Of Trauma-Informed Care Education On The Self-Efficacy Of Pediatric Nurses: An Integrative Literature Review, Mackenzi N. King

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pediatric nurses often care for patients who have experienced various forms of trauma, including medical traumatic stress, abusive head trauma, child maltreatment, and sex trafficking. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a clinical approach that acknowledges the psychological and physical effects of trauma, supports the identification of trauma survivors, and seeks to prevent re-traumatization during healthcare encounters. Research has highlighted the need to improve nurses' self-efficacy in delivering TIC effectively. This integrative literature review explores the impact of TIC training on pediatric nurses’ knowledge, confidence, and competence in providing TIC. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using CINAHL Ultimate, APA PsychInfo, and …

A Systematic Review Of Dietary Trends, Influencing Factors, And Their Impacts On Cardiovascular Health In Turkish Populations, Pelin L. Özoğlu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, including in Türkiye. One key factor influencing CVD prevention is dietary patterns, which directly impacts cardiovascular health. Türkiye traditionally follows the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), which is acclaimed for its cardiovascular benefits. Despite this, Türkiye continues to experience high rates of CVD, with projections indicating that CVD mortality will double for both men and women by 2030. It is crucial to address diet-related factors, including potential nutritional deficiencies, to reduce cardiovascular health risks.

This research aims to analyze the Turkish community's adherence to the Mediterranean diet to understand why CVD prevalence …

Improving Safe And Effective Management Of Pain At Home, Alayna V. Olivarez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pain is the most common clinical symptom in individuals with a cancer diagnosis. Additionally, home is the preferred place for cancer care which introduces numerous challenges for cancer pain management. The primary purpose of this literature review is to identify support interventions to enhance pain control, prevent exacerbations in pain, and optimize quality of life in individuals with cancer transitioning from the acute care setting to home. The secondary purpose of this review is to analyze patient-specific barriers influencing self-efficacy of pain management and overall health outcomes in the target population. A systematic literature search was conducted using CINAHL, EBSCOhost, …

The Effects Of School-Based Menstruation Education Programs On Anxiety And Self-Efficacy In Adolescent Girls: A Systematic Review, Hannah C. Hart

Honors Undergraduate Theses

A significant global knowledge gap exists for adolescent girls regarding what constitutes a healthy menstrual cycle, proper menstrual hygiene practices, and the implications of reproductive maturity that is ushered in by menarche. This limited understanding can lead to poor health outcomes and the development of negative sentiments and beliefs surrounding the normal experience of menstruation.

This systematic review aims to comprehensively investigate the current state of research regarding the effects of school-based, formal menstruation education programs on adolescent girls, particularly the effects on anxiety and self-efficacy related to the management of menstruation. Furthermore, this work aims to take a stance …

Cultural Competence In Pre-Medical Education: Examining Preparedness For Cross-Cultural Care, Fiza N. Khan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As the U.S. population continues to grow more diverse, there is an urgent need for future healthcare providers to develop strong cultural competence. This study investigates undergraduate pre-medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and comfort levels toward caring for diverse patient populations, including immigrants, refugees, and individuals from varied cultural backgrounds. The goal was to assess how well students are prepared to provide culturally responsive care before entering medical school. Recognizing that the foundation for medical training begins at the undergraduate level, this study aims to identify specific gaps in readiness that may hinder equitable patient care in the future.

A modified …

Meta-Analysis Of The Effect Of Vagus Nerve Stimulation On Functional Heart Failure Outcomes, Ariana B. Labrada

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Globally, Heart Failure (HF) is a significant cause for concern. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is an emerging therapy for patients with HF. It involves the activation of efferent vagal signals, which result in the release of acetylcholine (ACh). In practice, VNS has obtained relatively mixed results in clinical trials so far. In order to ascertain the extent of the effects VNS has on functional clinical outcomes, this meta-analysis consolidates studies that involve patients with Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) and Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). Outcomes were measured through the change in mean heart rate (HR) …

Genomic Epidemiology Of Staphylococcus Aureus Sequence-Type 72, Sachitaa Senthilkumar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, SA) is a gram-positive bacterial colonizer and pathogen commonly carried on the skin and in the anterior nares of humans. SA colonization may lead to a variety of non-invasive (e.g., skin and soft tissue infections, SSTIs) and invasive (e.g., bacteremia and osteomyelitis) infections. The SA population is comprised of multiple lineages that can be delineated through multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), which compares nucleotide sequences within seven housekeeping genes. Strains belonging to an MLST share a common evolutionary history and phenotypic characteristics like antibiotic resistance or virulence. As a result, the epidemiology of lineages can be …

High-Throughput Drug Screening For Disease-Modifying Arthritis Therapy, Janapriya Vijayakumar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Current therapy for arthritis predominantly focuses on the symptoms rather than the underlying causes of disease progression. Thus, it is necessary to identify novel drugs which target the underlying molecular basis of such diseases. Using high-throughput cell-based drug screening, we screened 458 different compounds, narrowed down from 811 starting compounds from the NIH Mechanistic Set. We selected drugs from the Mechanistic Set following Lipinski's Rule of 5 to ensure optimal pharmacokinetic properties. The study used modified primary human chondrocytes (IIAM-PRG4Luc), which secrete a lubricin promoter-driven luciferase reporter. We use this luciferase expression as a proxy to measure lubricin, a compound …

Investigation Of Lubricin-Stimulating Fda-Approved Compounds For A Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritic Drug, Swathi S. Menon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects many people worldwide. Current methods of treatment are palliative, and no treatment exists to fully reverse or cure OA once it begins to progress. The discovery of a disease-modifying osteoarthritic drug (DMOAD) would increase the quality of life for millions and reduce the need for invasive procedures. Screening FDA-approved drugs ensures more promise due to their known safety profile and potential for faster translation to the clinic. The goal of this project was to conduct dose-response assays with FDA-approved drugs that have been shown to stimulate lubricin production in cells that mimic …

Development Of A Proposed Selective Medium For The Isolation And Differentiation Of P. Sordellii, Dimyana Bottros

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Clostridium, a genus of anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria, includes clinically and ecologically significant species like Clostridium difficile and Paeniclostridium sordellii. C. difficile causes antibiotic-associated colitis, while P. sordellii is linked to fatal infections and spontaneous abortions. Recent studies found both species in marine sediments, suggesting their role in environmental and wildlife health disturbances, including the 2013 mass mortality of over 300 manatees in the Indian River Lagoon. However, isolating and differentiating P. sordellii is challenging due to the lack of selective media optimized for its growth. This thesis proposes a novel selective medium tailored to P. sordellii’s physiological …

“Regression To The Mean”: The Confluence Of Eugenics And Statistics In The 19th And 20th Centuries, Emrys G. King

Pomona Senior Theses

The work of this thesis is twofold — first, qualitatively characterizing the confluence between the British eugenics and statistics movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and second, quantitatively analyzing the effect of this foundation on pedagogical materials in the growing field of statistics between 1880 and 1970. Towards the first goal, the history of the method of least squares, state statistics, and positive and negative eugenics are outlined, followed by a close reading of the foundational texts authored by Francis Galton and Karl Pearson that introduced linear regression. Towards the latter goal, English-language statistics textbooks published between …

Biomechanics Of The Atherosclerotic Lipidome: (Un)Expected Statin Interactions And Membrane Remodelling, Ethan M. Fong

Pomona Senior Theses

Statins interact with lipid membranes in ways that shape their pharmacokinetics, off-target effects, and pleiotropic actions, yet these interactions' mechanical and biophysical consequences remain poorly understood. This thesis employs a combination of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), and rheological modelling to characterize how representative statins intercalate within biomimetic supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) of healthy and diseased composition. SPR reveals that lipophilic statins exhibit higher apparent affinities and slower dissociation kinetics, especially in cholesterol- and anionic lipid-rich membranes. QCM-D analyses demonstrate that statins alter membrane mass, dissipation, and interfacial stiffness in a statin- and membrane-dependent …

A Qualitative Case Study Exploring The Implementation And Influence Of An Inter/Intragenerational Digital Equity Training Program, Josie Santilli

Open Access Dissertations

Background: Many older adults are unable to fully engage in society because of the digital divide, leaving them disconnected from essential services, social networks, and community engagement. This lack of access to technology leads to greater isolation and loneliness, significantly increasing their risk of physical and mental health issues. It also threatens their ability to age in place, as they struggle to navigate everyday tasks like managing healthcare, finances, and communication. Without digital literacy, maintaining independence becomes an increasingly difficult challenge, leaving them vulnerable and reliant on others for support. The purpose of the research completed in manuscript 1 …

Investigating Mono-Driver Versus Multi-Driver Oncogenesis Via Alterations To Cell Signaling Pathways, Abygail Chapdelaine

Open Access Dissertations

The latest edition of Global Cancer Statistics released by the American Cancer Society reported approximately 20 million newly diagnosed cancer cases worldwide in 2022 with 9.7 million deaths. This ranks cancer as the second leading cause of death worldwide. For the majority of cancer patients, the standard treatment approach is chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, and while this has been successful in some patients, a lack of specificity to cancer cells causes severe side-effects when these agents damage healthy cells. Despite extensive efforts that have gone into developing targeted cancer therapeutics that block functions specific to cancer, they have not been …

Digital Health Literacy On Diabetes Knowledge Among Older Adults In The United States, Jung Eun Kim, Susana J. Calderon, Myoungjin Kim

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between selected socio-demographics and digital health literacy on diabetes knowledge among older adults in the United States.

Design

Cross-sectional study

Methods

The eHealth Literacy Scale and the Short Diabetes Knowledge Instrument were used. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s r, point-biserial correlation coefficient, Kendall’s tau, ANOVA, and Poisson regression were used for data analysis.

Findings

The mean age was 71. The mean sum score for digital health literacy was 28.32 (SD = 7.95; range, 8–40), and the mean score for diabetes knowledge was 8.8 (SD = 2.3; range, 2–13). The education level, annual income, number of digital …

One Man Show/ Who Am I, Devin Baker

Dance (MFA) Theses

Historically, stereotypes of ideal masculine physiques and attributed qualities have led to discriminatory and exclusionary practices that adversely affect black queer men and how they show up in various performance and social spaces. As a result, black male bodies in these spaces have employed the alter ego as a tool to imagine themselves inside/outside these constructed masculinities. How can the alter ego aid in transcending dated notions of race and gender, beholden to black male bodies within concert dance? Through the intertwining of personal narrative and research rooted in psychology and gender studies, this work examines the alter ego as …

State Of The States: Blueprints For Building Age-Friendly Futures, Megan Stubbs-Richardson, Lauren E. Etheredge, Tockie V. Hemphill, Zaccheus J. Ahonle, Danielle K. Nadorff

Publications

Executive Summary:

Mississippi’s aging population growth mirrors national trends and suggests a need to establish equitable and sustainable age-friendly policies and programs. This report offers an overview of the best practices from age-friendly states, which can be adapted to meet unique challenges and opportunities for Mississippi’s aging population. We highlight five age-friendly policy areas that can improve Mississippi’s livability.

• Aging in Place: Best practices from California, Florida, and Massachusetts can be adapted to promote aging in place through structural changes to homes via universal design and home modifications, or through supportive housing programs and home care.

• Cross-Sector Collaboration: …

Wound Care 101, Kristen Delarosa, Katelyn Moore, Lauren Rossi, Marissa Yorita

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Know Your Birth: Improving Patient Education Through Informed Maternity Care In Sega, Kenya, Morgan Thaxter, Puneet Dhillon, Angela Kokhovets, Sarah Aguiar, Zainab Bahia

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Empower Birth: Black Maternal Health Project Improving Health Literacy And Health Management In Black Pregnant Women, Harman Aujla, Carsyn Hoogendoorn, Blair Price, Morgan Rohmann

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Mindful Aging Project Mental Wellness Education In Partnership With Older Adults In Sacramento County, Yesica Garcia, Sarah Molla, Kristin Provencher, Sharon Yeong

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Empathetic Dementia Care Through Cognitive Training: A Holistic Approach To Improving Patient Outcomes, Truyen Do, Yasmin Khouri, Millie Patel, Levan Petrossian

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Camino A La Salud: Culturally Tailored Diabetes Education For Hispanic Older Adults In Stockton, California, Alondra Aldaba, Alexis Irvine, Jazmyn Monares, Marissa Doblados-Wood

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

AIM: Camino a la Salud addresses diabetes in one of the most affected populations in San Joaquin County, older Hispanic adults and their caregivers. This project aims to increase diabetes knowledge, confidence, and self-management among older adults in Stockton through culturally tailored education and hands-on learning. The project also provided glucometers and visual teaching tools to support skill development and improve diabetes awareness and prevention in this community.

METHODS: This project included three weekly bilingual diabetes education sessions held at El Concilio during their senior food distribution program. Each session covered a different topic: diabetes risks and complications, understanding glucose …

The Sweet Solution Project - Improving Gestational Diabetes Management Of The Mothers In Stockton, California, Joelynn Ali, Cayla Cook, Jessica Frey, Hector Rizo, Teresa Serna

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Tam Receptors Mediate The Fpr2-Driven Pain Resolution And Fibrinolysis After Nerve Injury, Beate Hartmannsberger, Adel Ben‑Kraiem, Sofia Kramer, Carolina Guidolin, Ida Kazerani, Kathrin Doppler, Dominique Thomas, Robert Gurke, Marco Sisignano, Pranav P. Kalelkar, Andrés J. García, Paula V. Monje, Michael Sammeth, Asma Nusrat, Alexander Brack, Susanne M. Krug, Claudia Sommer, Heike L. Rittner

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nerve injury causes neuropathic pain and multilevel nerve barrier disruption. Nerve barriers consist of perineurial, endothe- lial and myelin barriers. So far, it is unclear whether resealing nerve barriers fosters pain resolution and recovery. To this end, we analysed the nerve barrier property portfolio, pain behaviour battery and lipidomics for precursors of specialized pro-resolving meditators (SPMs) and their receptors in chronic constriction injury of the rat sciatic nerve to identify tar- gets for pain resolution by resealing the selected nerve barriers. Of the three nerve barriers—perineurium, capillaries and myelin—only capillary tightness specifically against larger molecules, such as fibrinogen, recuperated with …

Extracellular Vesicles Released By All Patients Contain Hne-Adducted Proteins: Implications Of Collateral Damage, Jenni Ho, Suriyan Sukati, Tamara Taylor, Sherry Carter, Brittany Fuller, Amy Marmo, Caryn Sorge, John A. D'Orazio, D. Allan Butterfield, Subbarao Bondada, Heidi Weiss, Daret K. St. Clair, Luksana Chaiswing

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Off-target neuronal injury is a serious side-effect observed in cancer survivors. It has previously been shown that pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors have a decline in neurocognition compared to healthy age-matched counterparts. Elevated oxidative stress has been documented to be a mediator in off- target tissue damage in cancer survivors. Early detection of oxidative stress markers may provide an opportunity to prevent off-target tissue damage. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have surfaced as a potential diagnostic tool due to molecular cargo they contain. We investigated the potential for EVs to be a sensitive indicator of oxidative stress and off-target tissue damage …

Engaging Nurses In Effective Cost Of Care Conversations To Address Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity: Results From An Exploratory Survey, Jean Edward, Amanda T. Wiggins, Louis G. Baser, Haafsah Fariduddin, Joanna F. Doran, Monica F. Bryant, John August D'Orazio, Kimberly D. Northrip

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Few evidence-based trainings exist on how to equip healthcare providers, particularly nurses, with the skills to engage in cost of care conversations with patients/caregivers to mitigate the impact of cancer-related financial toxicity. This study evaluated a pilot training developed in collaboration with Triage Cancer® to prepare oncology nurses to identify and assist patients/caregivers facing financial and/or legal barriers to care. Ten pediatric oncology nurses completed the training and pre/post-surveys on behaviors related to financial and legal need screening, frequency and comfort level of answering questions, knowledge, and behavior changes, along with training evaluation questions. At baseline, six nurses reported never …