Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Clinical Utility Of An Fda-Authorized Artificial Intelligence Imaging Platform In Interstitial Lung Disease Diagnosis, Arjun Prakash Tambe, Ryan Boente, Gautam George, Fayez Kheir, Omid Tahamtani Omran, Kavitha Selvan

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: The diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is challenging and frequently delayed. Clinically accessible and minimally invasive diagnostic tools are needed to expedite the diagnosis of ILD while minimizing risk to patients. Fibresolve is an imaging artificial intelligence (AI) tool recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in ILD diagnosis and made available to clinicians. The objective of this study was to describe its utility in clinical practice. Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study of patients across the United States (US) in whom Fibresolve was utilized during routine clinical practice between July 2024 and …

Reply To “Comment On Primary Care Providers' Perspectives On Telehealth Medicare Annual Wellness Visits For Older Adults In Midwestern Health System”, Vaibhavi Mone, Jungyoon Kim

Health Services and Informatics Research

No abstract provided.

Sex-Aware Causal Inference Assessment Of The Immune System In Complex Neurodegenerative Diseases, Frida Lona-Durazo, Ross P Byrne, Marc-Olivier Pilon, Michael D Greicius, Marie-Pierre Dubé, Michael E Belloy, Russell L Mclaughlin, Sarah A Gagliano Taliun

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Sex differences, in terms of prevalence, symptoms and disease progression, are established in the aetiology of complex neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, but the underlying biology driving these differences remains poorly understood. There is emerging evidence from genetic and functional analyses affirming the role of the immune system in such diseases, but a thorough assessment of sex differences in the link between the immune system and neurodegenerative diseases remains lacking. Here, we applied a robust causal inference approach, two-sample Mendelian randomization, to evaluate the causal effect of immune-related protein levels on three neurodegenerative diseases …

Integrating Oncology Into Entry-Level Physical Therapist Curricula, Shana Harrington, Christopher M. Wilson, Morgan Zaranec, Lori Boright

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Print issue available for $25.

Background: Cancer and its treatments commonly result in adverse effects that impair function, well-being, and quality of life, necessitating access to skilled physical therapists (PTs). Although oncology is an essential component of physical therapist practice, entry-level education in cancer rehabilitation has historically been limited. In 2025, the Essential Competencies for Physical Therapy Entry-Level Education in Oncology were developed through a mixed-methods, modified Delphi process, establishing 19 competencies across six domains and defining minimum expectations for new graduates. To support translation of these competencies into academic curricula, a practical implementation resource was needed.

Purpose: To …

A Poetic Call For And A Reflection And Commentary On Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, And Compassion, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Finding a published poem I had written as a teenager, titled “The Heavens Weep.” this article uses that poem as the basis for a commentary that reflects on the state of the world today (2026),  As a commentary, the article uses the poetic and metaphoric words in the poem as a relevant "reality check" for what is still going on today.  In essence, the commentary is about a call for Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, and Compassion, or what I call Archetypal Energies, Higher Vibrational Energies that operate deep within our individual and collective psyches to creatively urge us to "see" …

Improving Patient Satisfaction Through Post-Urgent Care Visit Follow-Up Calls: A Quality Improvement Project, Lindsay Boyer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose This quality improvement project aimed to determine whether implementing standardized post-visit follow-up calls within 24–48 hours of urgent care visits would improve patient satisfaction by increasing the clinic’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) from a baseline of 62. Background Declining NPS scores during peak clinic seasons suggested a gap in post-visit communication and follow-up, highlighting the need for a standardized nursing intervention to better support patients after discharge.

Methodology Guided by the AIDET communication framework and the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, scripted follow-up calls were implemented across five cycles from February to April 2026 to assess recovery, reinforce discharge instructions, answer questions, …

“Caring Makes Students Learn English More Easily And Enthusiastically”: Exploring The Emotional And Academic Outcomes Of Experiencing Teacher Care In Medical Sciences University Efl Classes In Iran, Kiyana Zhaleh, Shima Azizbeigi

The Qualitative Report

Previous research on teacher care in university second/foreign language (L2) classes have primarily concentrated on non-medical sciences students, resulting in a lack of insights into its effects in medical sciences education. This is surprising considering the field-specific challenges of medical sciences education, potentially influencing teacher caring behaviors in this context. Addressing this gap, this qualitative study employed the emotional response theory (ERT) and positive psychology to explore how Iranian medical sciences undergraduates perceive teacher care in university EFL classes, how they emotionally respond to it, and how their experiences of care impacted their academic outcomes. In this descriptive qualitative research …

The Impact Of Point Of Care Hepatitis C Virus Rna Testing On Diagnosis, Treatment Initiation, And Linkage To Care In Marginalized Populations, Maria Simpson

Medical Laboratory Science Independent Study Projects

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major public health concern, particularly among marginalized and high-risk populations who experience barriers to timely diagnosis, treatment initiation, and linkage to care. Traditional laboratory-based HCV testing often requires multistep workflows and follow-up visits, contributing to delayed confirmation of active infection and loss to care. This literature review examines how point-of-care HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) testing affects time to diagnosis, treatment initiation, and linkage to care compared with standard laboratory-based testing. Evidence from systematic reviews, community-based trials, correctional settings, supervised consumption sites, diagnostic performance studies, and cost-effectiveness analyses indicates that point-of-care RNA testing shortens turnaround …

Standardized Training Methodologies For Medical Laboratory Science Students And Their Importance For Student Success, Maria Simpson

Medical Laboratory Science Independent Study Projects

Clinical education is a critical component of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) programs, serving as the primary bridge between academic instruction and professional practice. However, traditional clinical rotation training models often struggle to keep pace with rapid advancements in laboratory technology, expanding professional responsibilities, workforce shortages, and heightened patient safety expectations. The purpose of this capstone project is to examine the key factors driving the need to update training methodologies in MLS clinical rotations and to evaluate contemporary educational approaches that better prepare students for entry-level practice. This project addresses systemic challenges faced by clinical laboratories, such as staffing constraints, heavy …

Telling Their Intensive Stories: Black/African American Intensive Care Unit Nurses And Their Perceived Encounters With Icu Workplace Racism, Sharon M. Butler

Theses & Dissertations

The 2022 American Nurses Association (ANA) study on racism and racial inequality within the nursing profession both acknowledges the presence of racism in nursing and provides evidence of the diverse negative social and psychological effects of racism on minority nurses. Although the 2022 ANA study sets a precedent and shows evidence of racism’s effects across the broader professional nursing workforce, there is limited nursing research literature that offers a focused presentation and understanding of the lived experiences of minority nurses and their personal perceptions of workplace racism. There is also limited nursing research on how workplace racism impacts cultural and …

Nurse Manager Perceptions Of Strategies To Overcome The Underutilization Of Nonpharmacological Pain Control Methods In Adult Acute Care, Landen M. Bonnell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

A basic patient right is to have pain adequately managed. However, research consistently indicates that many adult patients in acute care experience inadequately managed pain, which may contribute to adverse patient outcomes. Studies have shown that nonpharmacological pain management can lead to increased patient satisfaction, shorter hospital stays, and better patient outcomes. However, many barriers exist to nurses providing effective nonpharmacological pain control therapy, primarily including heavy workload and a lack of education and support. Currently, there is insufficient research on how to overcome these barriers. Four nurse managers with experience in nursing leadership were interviewed using a qualitative descriptive …

Online Group Neurobehavioral Therapy (Nbt) For Veterans With Epilepsy And Major Depressive Disorder (Mdd), Melissa F. Fadipe

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Background: Veterans with epilepsy experience high rates of psychiatric comorbidity, most commonly major depressive disorder (MDD). Barriers to accessing mental health care—including geographic distance, transportation limitations related to seizure-related driving restrictions, and fragmented care between neurology and psychiatry, contribute to the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of MDD in this population. Neurobehavioral Therapy (NBT), a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-informed psychotherapy developed for individuals with seizures, has demonstrated benefits for psychological distress and quality of life. Internet-based interventions and short message service (SMS) text messaging offer promising strategies to address access barriers; however, limited research has examined the feasibility and acceptability of delivering …

Baseline Nutrition Knowledge And Feasibility Of A Whatsapp-Delivered Nutrition Education Intervention Among California Wildland-Urban Interface Firefighters, Lauren E. Anderson

Master's Theses

Wildland firefighters perform physically demanding work under challenging environmental conditions that place substantial demands on nutritional health and occupational performance. Despite the importance of nutrition in supporting physical performance, recovery, and long-term health, limited research has examined nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviors among California wildland firefighters or evaluated the feasibility of remotely delivered nutrition education interventions within this occupational population. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to assess baseline nutrition knowledge, nutrition self-efficacy, and dietary behaviors while evaluating the feasibility of a 12-week WhatsApp-delivered nutrition education intervention among California wildland firefighters.

Twenty-four firefighters completed the baseline assessment and …

Early Radiographic And Patient-Reported Outcomes Of Percutaneous Distal Metatarsal Osteotomy In Adolescent Hallux Valgus., David Cieremans, Sara Ruzzi, Matthew Titus, Susan Dubowy, Reid Nichols, Joseph Rosenblatt

PCOM Scholarly Works

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous osteotomy for adolescent hallux valgus has become an increasingly popular technique due to its quick recovery time and effectiveness. Few studies have assessed both the radiographic and clinical outcomes of percutaneous osteotomy. We present a series that demonstrates adequate radiographic correction and favorable postoperative patient-reported outcomes.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 27 percutaneous distal metatarsal osteotomies for adolescent hallux valgus performed by two surgeons was conducted at two urban, tertiary children's hospitals. Cases were excluded if radiographic imaging information was not available. Pre- and postoperative radiographic measurements, including hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and distal metatarsal …

From Birth To Better Health: Educating Mothers With Gestational Diabetes On Breastfeeding Benefits And Glucose Management, Jesse A. Soria Jr, Sarah Smith, Audrey Nolan Smith, Keeley Kosier

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

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases a mother's risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) later in life and can affect an infant's future health. Breastfeeding can help improve a mother's blood sugar control and may lower her future risk of diabetes, but many mothers with GDM do not know about these benefits. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated a standardized education program on breastfeeding and diabetes prevention for postpartum mothers with GDM at the Family Birthing Center at St. Joseph's Medical Center (SJMC) in Stockton, California. The intervention included a 10- to 15-minute education session and an evidence-based educational …

Improving Mobility Awareness And Jh-Amp Tool Utilization On A Cardiac Care Unit, Courtney Joe, Clarissa Chaires, Jocelyn Martin, Eunice Sanchez

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

The quality improvement project evaluated the impact of staff education and a unit-wide mobility awareness campaign on the use of the Johns Hopkins Activity and Mobility Promotion tools and patient mobilization in a 48-bed Cardiac Care Unit (CCU). The project involved registered nurses, nursing assistants, unit leaders, and adult cardiac patients represented by aggregate mobility data. A preliminary survey completed by 42 CCU staff members, CCU Partnership Council focus group, meetings with clinical nurse specialists, and a baseline unit audit identified inconsistent mobility practices, uncertainty regarding Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility tool, and limited completion of in-room mobility signs. …

Mind Over Scrubs – A Peer-Led Anxiety Reduction Program, Nhi T. Tran, Angelica Dirige, Adeleke Fashola

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

Nursing students experience elevated anxiety during the transition into accelerated programs, which can negatively affect academic performance, well-being, and retention. This quality improvement project evaluated Mind Over Scrubs, a peer-led anxiety reduction program for incoming Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing students at the University of the Pacific, consisting of four 45-minute sessions on evidence-based coping strategies. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 surveys were administered at baseline, before and after each session, and at two- and four-week follow-ups; Wilcoxon signed-rank tests evaluated matched changes. Thirty-one of 62 enrolled students (50%) attended at least one session. Post-session scores fell below individual baselines for …

Know Your Birth, Jasmine Mckelvey, Reagan L. Hunt, Michaela M. David

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

Maternal mortality remains a significant public health concern in rural Kenya because of limited healthcare resources, inadequate emergency obstetric training, and barriers to accessing timely, high-quality maternal care. This quality improvement project evaluated the implementation of the Know Your Birth educational intervention, a culturally responsive, simulation-based training program designed to improve healthcare providers' knowledge, confidence, and competency in evidence-based maternal and newborn care. The project was conducted at Sega Dispensary in Sega, Siaya County, Kenya, and included 26 healthcare staff members. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, participants completed a brief educational presentation followed by three interactive skills stations focused on …

A Word From The Writing Team (August 2026), Pam Walter, Mfa, Laura Deloretta, Phd

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

What Drives Schoolchildren's Food Choices? Insights From A Gamified Stated-Preference Choice Experiment In Tunisia, Ali Chalak, Christelle Akl, Joanne Haddad, Nehmat El Helou, Sonia Sassi, Houda Ben Gharbia, Rawan Traboulsi, Marc Haber, Jalila El Ati, Hala Ghattas Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This paper models the drivers of schoolchildren's food choices in urban Tunisia using a gamified Stated-Preference Choice Experiment (SPCE), which includes scenario attributes (food placement, preparation, and price) and contextual factors (parental/peer modeling eating behaviors). A representative sample of 2465 schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 years in Greater Tunis participated in a SPCE, which simulates real-life food choice scenarios on a typical school day. The game includes six nodes (breakfast, recess, lunch, snack on the road to/from school, afternoon snack, dinner) in various locations (home, school, neighborhood). Each choice task includes nine items to choose from (3 beverages, 3 side-meals, …

Predictors Of The Mother-Infant Bond: The Role Of Maternal Attachment Style, Parity, Race, And Motherhood Expectations, Samia Qadri

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study examined how maternal attachment style, parity, race, and motherhood expectations, individually and in interaction, predicted the quality of the mother-infant bond during the postpartum period. Grounded in a maternal feminist framework, the study used a quantitative, cross-sectional correlational design. Postpartum mothers aged 20–39 (N = 87) completed validated measures of maternal attachment style, motherhood expectations, mother-infant bonding, and depressive symptoms. Multiple regression compared a Primary Model containing the four focal predictors and planned interaction terms with a Secondary Model that added maternal depressive symptoms as a covariate. Depressive symptoms emerged as the strongest single predictor of bonding, and …

The Effect Of Telehealth Expansion On The Health Equity Of Underserved Populations, Mansi B. Satani

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The rapid expansion of telehealth, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, has changed healthcare delivery in the United States. The use of telehealth can potentially decrease disparities related to isolation, shortage of providers and barriers to transportation, however, its impact on health equity in underserved populations is unknown. This paper explores how telehealth expansion impacts rural populations' access to healthcare, health outcomes, and equity. It also examines its impact on populations with low income, racial, ethnic minorities, and Medicaid recipients who frequently encounter obstacles to healthcare and digital access (Nouri et al., 2020; Shah et al., 2024). A mixed-method design …

Impact Of Media Guidelines On Suicide-Related Reporting Quality And Suicides: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Simone Scotti Requena, Vikas Arya, Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, Mark Sinyor, Michiko Ueda, Matthew J. Spittal, Jane Pirkis

Center for Policy Design and Governance

This brief summarizes "Impact of media guidelines on suicide-related reporting quality and suicides: A systematic review and meta-analysis," co-authored by Simone Scotti Requena, Vikas Arya, Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, Mark Sinyor, Michiko Ueda, Matthew J. Spittal, and Jane Pirkis in Crisis.

August 2026, Swosu Rural Health Center

RURAL ROCKS

It's been an exciting season at the SWOSU Rural Health Center!

We are thrilled to share that SWOSU Rural Health has been awarded a second grant through Oklahoma's Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), building on the momentum of our Community-Led Wellness Microgrant. This week, we also have the privilege of welcoming representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program to SWOSU as they visit our Jerry & Margaret Hodge College of Pharmacy and Rural Health Center to highlight the innovative work happening across our region.

• Feds push back HIPAA security rule …

Evaluating The Discus Throw As An Ancient Greek Combat Training Tool Through Modern Performance Metrics, Daniel R. Porter

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This study’s purpose was to explore the correlations between peak velocity in a rotational throw with a medicine ball, peak force (PF) and rate of force development (RFD) in an isometric mid-thigh pull, time to failure in a plank test, and peak velocity in a sword thrust task, which was also tested for reliability. Twenty-seven recreationally trained male participants between the ages of 18-35 completed the study. The sword thrust task was significantly correlated with the medicine ball throw (p = 0.012, r = 0.475, r² = 0.226, 95% CI [0.724, 0.116]) and PF (p = 0.045, r …

Enhancing Quality Of Care Through Streamlined Pediatric Ot Resources, Mallori Cooper

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project focused on improving the accessibility and organization of evidence-based pediatric occupational therapy resources to support clinical staff and enhance quality of care. In pediatric practice, therapists often experience limited time for preparation outside of treatment sessions due to high workloads and administrative demands, which can make it challenging to consistently develop and access caregiver education and intervention resources. At the same time, caregiver education and coaching are essential components of pediatric occupational therapy, as they support carryover of strategies and improved functional outcomes. Through partnership with an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic, Associates in Pediatric Therapy, a centralized …

Advocating For Pediatric Therapy Services In A Rural Area, Hailee Bowman

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project was completed with Tonya Fish OTR/L at Hopewell Schools in Coshocton, OH. The primary ACOTE focus areas were education and advocacy, focusing on educating individuals in the community on occupational therapy and the importance of integrating it into the community, as well as advocating for changes to be made to current systems to allow for occupational therapy services to be available to children in the area. In Coshocton, the only opportunities for receiving pediatric occupational therapy services are in the school system or through the county board of developmental disabilities programs like Help Me Grow and Early …

Advancing Experiential Learning And Student Participation Through An Adl Suite, Megan E. Craig

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project was completed within the Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Department at Eastern Kentucky University. The practice setting was the ADL Suite; a simulated home environment located in the Dizney Building at Eastern Kentucky University. The primary ACOTE focus area(s) applied was program development, with an additional focus area on clinical practice skills. The purpose of this capstone project was to support the development and sustainable use of the ADL Suite as a learning environment for students and faculty to practice ADL/IADL skills, clinical reasoning, activity analysis, assessment, competency development, and fieldwork preparation. A needs assessment and literature …

Community-Based Sensory Kits To Support Regulation And Participation In Individuals With Down Syndrome, Kaela Surrett

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project was completed at the Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky (DSACK) in Lexington, KY. The primary ACOTE areas of focus were education and program development. The purpose of this project was to identify sensory support needs within DSACK programming, develop age-based sensory kits, and create educational materials for staff and caregivers to support participation and self-regulation during activities. A needs assessment was completed through direct observations, parent surveys, collaboration with staff, and a review of current literature. Findings showed challenges related to attention, sensory seeking, and sensory sensitivity during both structured and unstructured activities. These barriers impacted …

A Mixed-Methods Study Of Patient And Caregiver Experiences With Home Health Occupational Therapy, Peyton A. Mendias, Cassandra Nelson, Gwen Morris

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Home health occupational therapy (HHOT) promotes independence and safety within the home, yet patients and caregivers often experience challenges implementing therapy recommendations after discharge. This mixed-methods study explored the lived experiences of patients and caregivers who participated in HHOT to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing occupational therapy recommendations and inform the development of a caregiver education toolkit. Adults who received HHOT within the previous six months and informal caregivers completed an online survey, with a subset participating in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings emphasized …