Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Use Of Podcasts As Emerging Technology In Occupational Therapy Education, Abbigail Kubiak, Karen Jacobs, Varsha S. Kulkarni, Maruška Vizek

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Podcasts are an emerging modality with a developing evidence base to reinforce their use in educational settings; in particular, to support knowledge retention and introduce topics. This research demonstrates the potential of podcasting in an educational context. Podcasts were used to educate occupational therapy (OT) students about emerging and innovative OT career opportunities. A series of 13 standardized 20- to 30-min podcasts featuring occupational therapists in emerging and innovative practice areas (E/IPA) globally were developed. In each podcast, the occupational therapist described implicit and explicit aspects of their career experiences. The podcasts were piloted in an entry-level OT doctoral course …

A Qualitative Study Of Disabled Performance Art In Occupational Identity Formation And Empowerment, Lisa Mahaffey, Kristin Chrissos, Kate Wettergren

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Disabled performance artists use their occupation of performance art to challenge the attitudes of their audience toward disability, leading to a greater sense of empowerment and a strong identity as disabled people.

Method: This project used a narrative approach to qualitative inquiry to explore how engagement in performance art influences occupational identity and empowers disabled artists. Personal connections and snowball sampling resulted in six self-identified disabled performance artists participating in 60- to 90-min interviews. A thematic analysis resulted in three overarching themes.

Results: (a) Belonging to a community of disability activists promotes feelings of empowerment for disabled performance …

Globally Inclusive Occupational Therapy Scholarship, Molly Bathje

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a global profession and OJOT supports global scholarship through its open-access, online format. OJOT is read in over 200 countries and global/international authorship is encouraged. This article describes the global reach of OJOT and suggests how OJOT authors can embrace the opportunity and responsibility of producing scholarship that has the potential for global impact.

Motivational Interviewing For Weight Loss: A Review Of Evidence-Based Outcomes In Overweight And Obese Adults, Marian Dover

Dissertations

Obesity is a significant clinical problem affecting 41.9% of adults in the United States, with profound implications for individual health and healthcare economics. Standard weight loss interventions, often limited to pharmacological treatments and dietary guidance, frequently fail to achieve sustained adherence and meaningful longterm outcomes. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the integration of motivational interviewing (MI), a patient-centered counseling strategy, into routine clinical practice at Innovafusion, a medically supervised weight loss clinic in Aubrey, Texas. The aim was to enhance adherence to lifestyle modifications, promote intrinsic motivation, and improve weight loss outcomes among adults aged 18–65. Using a retrospective …

Screening For Depression And Anxiety In Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Nicole M. Bondurant

Dissertations

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted endocrine disorder that affects up to 20% of women of reproductive age and is associated with an increased prevalence of psychiatric conditions, particularly depression and anxiety. Despite international guidelines recommending routine screening for these mental health conditions in women with PCOS, consistent implementation in clinical practice remains limited.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) pilot project aimed to address this gap by developing and implementing a standardized screening protocol for depression and anxiety within a suburban concierge OB-GYN clinic specializing in women’s reproductive and sexual health using validated tools—the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) …

Implementation Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions And Weekly Visits To Reduce Loneliness In Older Adults, Victoria E. Cobb

Dissertations

Implementation of Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Weekly Visits to Reduce Loneliness in Older Adults

Abstract:

Problem: Social isolation and loneliness have emerged as a significant public health issue for the older adult population. Loneliness has been linked to both physical and mental health effects. According to current literature, there is no standard intervention to treat loneliness in the older adult population.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project utilized a descriptive cohort design and the Visit-A-Bit screening assessment instrument. Undergraduate nursing students implemented mindfulness interventions during weekly visits over an eight-week period at an independent living facility located in the Midwest. Descriptive …

Implementing Behavioral Management And Social Skills Training For Pediatric Patients With Adhd And Their Caregivers, Meagan A. Conwell

Dissertations

Problem: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 11.4% of children in the United States. Patients diagnosed with ADHD struggle with focus, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, resulting in executive and emotional dysfunction, poor social skills and quality of relationships, and poor school performance.

The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommend that school-age children diagnosed with ADHD should receive both medication management and behavioral management training (BMT) for the best treatment outcomes. Research over the last decade has found that combining social skills training (SST) with BMT results in even better outcomes for these patients. Less than half of pediatric …

Race-Neutral Pft: Implementing Patient Activation Measure Following Race- Neutral Pulmonary Function Testing, Ann M. Way

Dissertations

Abstract

Background

The introduction of a race-neutral equation to predict normal values on pulmonary function testing (PFT) has led to changes in the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases previously diagnosed using a race specific equation. Minority patients appear to be most likely impacted by this change, potentially impacting how they self-manage their pulmonary health. Patient self-management can be measured and assessed by using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) tool.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to assess patient activation levels amongst minority patients with a new or changed pulmonary diagnosis to identify a possible need for interventions to improve patient …

Implementing A Turn Team Process To Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries On A Telemetry Unit At A Hospital In The Midwest, Sally Wang

Dissertations

Problem: Pressure injuries (PI) are localized wounds to the skin and soft tissues that typically result from sustained pressure on specific areas of the body (Zaidi & Sharma, 2024). Hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) refers to pressure injuries that develop while a patient is in the hospital (Rondinelli et al., 2018). PI can cause patients to experience pain, decreased feelings of dignity, increased feelings of depression and anxiety, reduced levels of social activity, difficulty sleeping, and impaired cognitive function (Roussou et al., 2023). The Advanced Cardiac Care Unit (ACCU) at Missouri Baptist Medical Center experienced an increase in HAPI cases: …

The Psychological Impact Of Parenting Child Victims Of Trauma, Stephanie Faulkingham

Dissertations

Abstract

Research indicates that non-offending caregivers of traumatized children (NOC) is a population with an elevated risk for increased levels of depression and anxiety and are an underserved population for mental health services. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if screening caregivers of traumatized children using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) improves identification of depression and anxiety. Participants of this investigation were individuals enrolled in the Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis’ 12-week parenting group, TASK (Trauma, Assessment, Skills, and Knowledge). Each participant was asked to complete the PHQ-8 and …

Depression Screening In The Adult Inpatient Oncology Population, Erica Bizub

Dissertations

Routinely screening oncology patients for depression is recommended due to the higher rates of depression in this population as well as the negative impact of untreated depression. The goal of this QI project is to implement a standard depression screening protocol for patients admitted to this hospital, where there is currently no standard screening protocol. There were 110 patients included in this study, and 67 (60.91%) of patients received a PHQ-9 screening. Of the patients who completed the PHQ-9, 21 (19.09%) had a positive screening, which was a score of seven or higher. While there were high rates of provider …

A Program Evaluation: Insomnia In Adults With Major Depression Disorder With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia (Cbt-I), Taylor E. Wilson

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: In 2023, Compass Health Network (CHN) data analysts found that 91% of CHN patients in the United States who have died by suicide reported problems with sleep, which was the highest risk factor for suicide. The objective of this program evaluation project is to evaluate CHN CBT-I effectiveness on patients ‘suicidality by improving their insomnia.

Methods: CHN quality improvement (QI) project used a quantitative method pre/post score design. Quantitative aggregate data was collected on the participants who met the inclusion criteria via retrospective and prospective chart review prior to CHN implementing the intervention. CBT-I clinicians collected PHQ-9, Columbia-Suicide …

July 15, 2025 — Ada Letter To House Subcommittee On Health, Energy And Commerce Committee On "Legislative Proposals To Maintain And Improve Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, And Over-The-Counter Medicines.", American Dental Association

Advocacy in Action letters

No abstract provided.

Care Coordination In Pediatric Primary Care, Alyssa K. Durzo

Dissertations

No central documentation of care plans exists for children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) in the electronic health record (EHR). Providers of a large pediatric primary care office in St. Louis Missouri were asked to identify CSHCN in the practice. Clinic nurses completed a comprehensive chart review of the patients identified and constructed care coordination documents using a pre-established smart-text phrase. Subsequently, these were documented centrally in the EHR under the Problem List.

Likert score data was obtained from providers on the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the intervention through the verified tools: Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness …

Priority Ir: Protocol For Implementation Research On Single-Dose Postpartum Iv Iron To Treat Iron-Deficiency Anemia Among Women In India And Pakistan, Valerie L. Flax, Narjis Rizvi, Umesh Charantimath, Saleem Jessani, Avinash Kavi, Sarah Saleem, Manjunath Somannavar, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Anika Hannan, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Simal Thind, Rosemary Frasso, Richard Derman

Global Health Articles

BACKGROUND: Anemia among women of reproductive age has remained highly prevalent globally. Intravenous (IV) iron is well tolerated and proven effective for treating postpartum iron deficiency anemia in high-income countries, but evidence from LMICs, where oral iron is standard treatment, is limited. The PRIORITY trial will test the effectiveness of IV iron compared to oral iron for postpartum women with moderate anemia in eight LMIC sites. An implementation research (IR) study will be conducted alongside the PRIORITY trial in India and Pakistan to gather information on the intervention characteristics and the implementation process, and to assess feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and …

Screen Foundations: How Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Can Implement ‘Family Media Use Plans’ In Primary Care To Reduce Pediatric Behavior Concerns, Katie Anderson

Dissertations

Abstract for:

Screen Foundations: How Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Can Implement ‘Family Media Use Plans’ in Primary Care to Reduce Pediatric Behavior Concerns

Problem: Parents of children 2-5 years-old increasingly reach out to PCPs for escalating behavior concerns, including when the child doesn’t listen well, is inattentive, having tantrums, meltdowns, hitting, yelling, etc. Referrals to psychiatry and/or play therapy result in long waits, or referrals not accepted. Coincidingly, toddler and preschool aged children continue to exceed daily screen time recommendations. This results in a gap of care for families with young children and externalizing behavior.

Methods: This quality improvement project addressed …

Best Practice Toolkit For Burnout Prevention In Emergency Department Nurses, Moises A. De Oleo

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Burnout Syndrome (BS) is a serious problem in emergency department (ED) nurses and is associated with higher nurse turnover rates. A burnout prevention toolkit is needed.

PICOT: The project was guided by the following PICO question: "For emergency department nurses (P), how does the development of the best practice burnout prevention toolkit (I), compared to the absence of a structured intervention (C), support the establishment of nurse burnout best practices when evaluated using the CDC Program Evaluation Framework? (O)".

Evidence: The analysis of the literature supported the implementation of active interventions in the form of workshops.

Intervention: A …

Dysphonia In Division I Collegiate Sideline Cheerleaders, Anna Riley Reed

Student Theses and Dissertations

Many research studies have focused on voice disorders in occupational voice users (i.e., teachers, singers, coaches). However, there is limited research on voice disorders in cheerleaders. Therefore, this study investigated the presence of dysphonia in division I collegiate sideline cheerleaders before and after the 2023 football season. Participants included twenty-six collegiate sideline cheerleaders at a division I university. Participants completed a demographic survey and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). In addition, their modal, high, and low pitch frequencies were measured, and voices were assessed using the Consensual Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice. This study found significant results regarding the alteration subjective …

Centering And Shaping Abilities Of Three Different Cross-Section Rotary Systems In Curved Canals Using Cbct, Sherif Shafik

Dentistry

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to examine the centering and shaping abilities of the E3 Azure, T Blue and XPRS rotary devices in severely curved root canals utilizing CBCT. 51 mesial roots were used in this study, then distributed into three groups of 17 mesial canals each according to the instrumentation technique: T-Blue, E3 Azure and XPS. The final apical size of instrumentation was 30/0.04 for all groups. At 2 mm, all pairwise comparisons were statistically significant, with Azure showing the highest transportation, followed by T-Blue, and XPS showing the least (p< 0.001). At 4 mm and 6 mm, Azure and T-Blue showed significantly higher transportation than XPS (p< 0.001). For XP-Shaper files, centering ratios followed a descending order from 6 mm to 4 mm and were lowest at 2 mm, with all pairwise comparisons being statistically significant (p< 0.001). it was concluded that XPS show lesser transportation and better centering ability.

Lichen Planopilaris With Pili Torti And Ectodermal Dysplasia: A Hair Curling Case Report, Collins Langley, Elena Plakotaris, Nicole E. Rogers

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a well-known cicatricial alopecia with a frontal fibrosing variant. LPP has a prevalence rate of 13.4 per 100,000 persons. It is understood that LPP favors the female populations. What is not commonly known is that LPP can be preceded by other signs and symptoms such as pili torti. Case Report: We present a case report of a 70-year-old female whose initial flare of LPP was preceded by a flare of pili torti. This patient's case is also complicated by her history of ectodermal dysplasia. She experienced progressive itching, shedding, and mid-scalp hair loss along with …

Current Trends In Clinical Trials For Merkel Cell Carcinoma (Mcc), Tilak Patel, Rachel Butz, Brian Boulmay, Vilija Vaitaitis

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous malignancy with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. The treatment of MCC has historically involved surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy; however, current clinical trials are investigating immunotherapies, intratumoral injections, and combination therapies to improve outcomes. This review explores the current trends in clinical trials for MCC, highlighting recent advances in management.

Promoting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Regimen Adherence Through A Multifaceted Approach To Increase Adherence: A Quality Improvement Project, Queen C. Ezenwome

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this scholarly project was to implement the use of daily text message reminders to promote PrEP medication regimen adherence, thereby reducing the risk of HIV acquisition in an at-risk population. Patient interviews and surveys were also conducted to obtain valuable information regarding barriers and facilitators to PrEP regimen adherence.

Background

The project was implemented at a homeless shelter in Harris County, Houston, Texas, that houses homeless youth ages 18-24 while also providing medical, educational, and financial services or assistance. Due to risky behaviors prevalent in this population, coupled with living in the Houston area, these patients …

Baseline Characteristics Of Newly Registered Diabetic Patients In Primary Care Settings In Oman, Fathiya Al-Shariqi, Shaima Al-Mazoori, Zaher Al-Kharusi, Mohammed Al-Hinai, Samira Al-Maimani

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the baseline demographic characteristics, clinical profile and cardiovascular risk factors of newly registered diabetic patients in Muscat Governorate, Oman, in 2022. Methods: This cross-sectional study included newly registered diabetic patients attending all primary care centres in Muscat Governorate in 2022. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory parameters were collected from the national diabetic registry and Al-Shifa health information system. Results: A total of 1,309 patients were included and their data analysed, of which 51% were male and the mean age was 53.89 ± 12.47 years. Approximately 50% of the participants were obese …

Analyzing Environmental Health: Air Pollution And Human Health Using Geospatial Data Science, Yanhong Huang

Geography ETDs

Air pollution from industrial emissions and wildfire smoke poses growing threats to public health. This dissertation employs geospatial data science to examine these challenges through three interrelated studies. The first study investigates the relationship between maternal residential exposure to industrial pollutants and low birth weight, identifying five chemicals as significant risk factors. The second study assesses the impact of industrial air pollution on lung and bronchus cancer survival, finding that exposure to 1,1,1-trichloroethane and cobalt is associated with reduced survival. The third study explores disparities in wildfire smoke PM_2.5 exposure and its association with asthma exacerbations. Results show disparities …

Transforming Health Care Through Research: Highlights From The 2025 Annual Conference Of The Health Care Systems Research Network, Michael A. Horberg, Suzanne Simons

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

During this unprecedented time of uncertainty and disruption, the 2025 Annual Conference of the Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN) took place on April 8 to 10, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand. Nearly 265 participants from 19 HCSRN member institutions came together to network, collaborate, and connect at the conference, which featured the theme, “Optimizing Collaborations to Advance Health in a Dynamic Research Landscape.”

Abstracts From The 2025 Health Care Systems Research Network (Hcsrn) Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, Health Care Systems Research Network

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN) comprises 19 learning health systems with integrated care delivery and embedded research units. The network’s annual conference serves as a forum for research teams from member institutions to disseminate project findings, explore scientific collaborations, and share insights about population-based research practices that can measurably improve health and health care for all. The theme of this year’s conference was “Optimizing Collaborations to Advance Health in a Dynamic Research Landscape.” Abstracts presented at HCSRN 2025 are published in this issue supplement of the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, the journal of record for …

Correction: Bid-Induced Release Of Aif/Endog From Mitochondria Causes Apoptosis Of Macrophages During Infection With Leptospira Interrogans (Frontiers In Cellular And Infection Microbiology, (2017), 7, (471), 10.3389/Fcimb.2017.00471), Wei-Lin Hu, Hai-Yan Dong, Yang Li, David M. Ojcius, Shi-Jun Li, Jie Yan

Pacific Faculty Work

In the published article, there was an error in Figure 1E as published. The representative flow dot plots were misplaced. The corrected Figure 1 appears below. Apoptosis, pathological changes, and MMP decrease in leptospire-infected macrophages. (A) Apoptosis of macrophages infected with L. interrogans strain Lai at the optimal apoptosis-causing time for different MOIs. J774A.1 and THP-1 cells were infected with leptospires at 4 h. Bars show the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. Five thousand cells were analyzed in each specimen. *p < 0.05 vs. apoptotic ratios in leptospire-infected macrophages with an MOI of 10, 50, 100, or 500. (B) Apoptosis of macrophages infected with L. interrogans strain Lai at the optimal apoptosis-causing MOI for different times. J774A.1 and THP-1 cells were infected at an MOI of 100. Bars show the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. Five thousand cells were analyzed in each specimen. *p < 0.05 vs. apoptotic ratios in each macrophage type before infection. (C) The representative pathological changes in the nucleus and mitochondria in macrophages infected with L. interrogans strain Lai (MOI 100) for 4 h. a: healthly cells showed normal cellular morphology, b: chromatin margination in leptospire-infected macrophages crescent, c: mitochondrial shape in healthly macrophages, d: disappearance of mitochondrial cristae in leptospire-infected macrophages. (D) The representative MMP changes in macrophages during infection with L. interrogans strain Lai for the indicated times determined by fluorescence microscopy. The red cells have a high MMP while the green cells have a low MMP. (E) The representative MMP changes in macrophages during infection with L. interrogans strain Lai for the indicated times determined by flow cytometry. The FL2 channel indicates high MMP (red) while the FL1 channel shows low MMP (green). (F) Statistical summary of MMP changes by flow cytometry in leptospire-infected macrophages. Statistical data from experiments such as shown in (E). Bars show the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. The values at “0” h show the MMP values before infection. Five thousand cells were analyzed in each specimen. *p < 0.05 vs. MMP value of the macrophages before infection. (G) CSA blockage of the apoptosis in macrophages infected with L. interrogans strain Lai. Bars show the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. Five thousand cells were analyzed in each specimen. *p < 0.05 vs. apoptotic ratios in each macrophage type unpretreated with CSA infected with the spirochetes. The authors apologize for this error and state that this does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way. The original article has been updated.

Predictors Of Final Visual Outcome In Patients With Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy Treated With Lenadogene Nolparvovec Gene Therapy, Robert C Sergott, Valerio Carelli, Nancy Newman, Valérie Biousse, Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Catherine Vignal-Clermont, Constant Josse, Magali Taiel, José-Alain Sahel, Piero Barboni

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: This exploratory analysis aimed to identify predictive factors of final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) harboring the m.11778G>A mutation who received lenadogene nolparvovec gene therapy.

METHODS: The following covariates were individually evaluated as possible factors associated with improved final BCVA: age, gender, timing of treatment, baseline BCVA value, and baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters. Univariate analyses were performed from three phase 3 studies (RESCUE, REVERSE, and REFLECT), using BCVA at 1.5 years post-treatment as the dependent variable.

RESULTS: In 113 eyes treated at least 6 months after disease onset, the …

Comparative Efficacy And Safety Of Cryoballoon Vs Laser Balloon Ablation For Pulmonary Vein Isolation In Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, Mahmoud Ali, Dorota Magdon, Abdulghani Mounir, Lynn Erickson, James Adefisoye, Jim Kanani, Andy Kieu, Abdullah Malik, Ali Ali, Nour Ghosoun, Jodi Zilinski, Arshad Jahangir, M. Eyman Mortada, Imran Niazi, Atul Bhatia

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia in older adults, is often treated with cryoballoon ablation (CBA) or laser balloon ablation (LBA) when refractory to medication. We used real-world patient data to investigate differences in arrhythmia-free survival, procedure and fluoroscopy times, and complications between these techniques.

Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study of 178 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF referred for first-time pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), 103 underwent CBA, and 75 underwent LBA. Recurrence was defined as any atrial arrhythmia of > 30 seconds’ duration after a three-month blanking period. Complications at 30 days were recorded. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used …

Patient Information Needs During Ambulatory Medication Changes: A Qualitative Study, Elaine Giletta, Vanessa B. Hurley, Yushi Yang, Jessica L. Schwartz, Rabia Jalalzai, Nicole L. Mollenkopf, Raquel Mayne, Samantha I. Pitts

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: We performed interviews with patients and caregivers to explore whole-person, whole-regimen information needs at times of routine outpatient medication changes. We categorized information needs in this relatively unstudied context and identified which needs were commonly recognized as insufficiently met.

Methods: We explored the content of the semi-structured interviews, which involved nine patients and two caregivers of pediatric patients, all of whom experienced a recent medication change in the outpatient setting of a large urban academic healthcare system. We used inductive thematic analysis to organize information needs into categories to identify key information gaps.

Results: We identified five categories of …