Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Dental Practice Success Vol. 7 No. 1, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

Dental Practice Success

No abstract provided.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Intra-Articular Injections In Reducing Pain And Improving Function In Patients With Osteoarthritis, Chelsea M. Brekke

Physician Assistant Capstones

Whether the complex and time-intensive requirements for administering PRP warrants its use for intra-articular (IA) therapy in OA is in question and should be examined. If PRP is at least or even more effective than corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid (HA) for relieving pain and restoring function, then it can be recommended with confidence to OA patients who are appropriate candidates for intra-articular injections. In addition, if its beneficial effects are more durable than other IA agents, it may become the preferred treatment of choice.

Observation Versus Surgery?: A Treatment Paradigm Shift For The Fastest Rising Cancer Diagnosis In The World: Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Emily Clyma

Physician Assistant Capstones

Papillary thyroid cancer has increased in incidence dramatically over the past three decades making it the fastest rising cancer diagnosis in the world. The prognosis of this disease remains excellent despite this dramatic rise which has called into question the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of this disease. The American Thyroid Associated (ATA) currently recommends surgical treatment for all confirmed malignant thyroid nodules over 1 cm in diameter. However, some research suggests that tumors under 1 cm have a greater prevalence of lymph node metastases while other research suggests that observation is an appropriate option for tumors greater than 1 …

Which Diet Should Providers Recommend To Patients To Help Reduce Their Risk Of Cognitive Decline And Alzheimer’S Disease?, Becca E. Escoto

Physician Assistant Capstones

Recent studies indicate that in the United States 6.1 million people had clinical Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment in 2017. This number is expected to grow to 15 million by 2060.1 The World Alzheimer Report of 2015 estimated the global cost of AD to be one trillion US dollars in 2018, and AD is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.2 As life expectancy throughout the world increases, these numbers will continue to grow. Interventions and preventative measures are important to implement in all patient populations as they could delay disease onset …

Human Trafficking In Healthcare And The Efforts To Identify And Rescue, Josephine Appeng

Physician Assistant Capstones

Given the covert nature of HT, there exists little compelling evidence of its full extent in healthcare. Nonetheless, there is growing development in research, training, and interventions to improve the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers. To apply this in the clinical setting, researchers must demonstrate, for clinicians likely to encounter HT victims, how the knowledge and confidence levels to identify and respond to HT victims compare before and after a training session.

Effects Of Exercise On The Progression Of Multiple Sclerosis, Nicole Briggs

Physician Assistant Capstones

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a vast array of clinical presentations, yet the science of its pathophysiology has not evolved adequately to target or prevent the sequelae of the disease. What is known, however, is that MS is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system due to demyelination of the axons of white matter resulting from infiltration of lymphocytes and astrocytes. 1 This axonal loss leads to the neurologic and constitutional (or systemic) deficits: visual disturbances, tremors, weakness, fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression/anxiety, poor motor control, and overall very poor quality of life from reduced mobility. 2 The …

Utilization Of Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Access In The Reduction Of Central Venous Catheter Insertion, Megan Culberson

Physician Assistant Capstones

Intravenous (IV) catheter placement is the most frequently performed hospital procedure. IV catheters are essential for administering medications, fluids, radiographic contrast media, and collecting blood specimens. , However, IV catheter placement can be problematic in patients with veins that are not palpable or visible as this may delay the course of treatment. Most studies define difficult venous access as undergoing at least two IV attempts without success or use of other methods of IV placement. Alternative means of IV access include the use of an atypical vein (i.e., external jugular vein), ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter (USGPIV) placement, intraosseous (IO) device …

Knee Osteoarthritis And The Efficacy Of Different Forms Of Exercise: Is One Form Better Than Another?, Cayla Clark

Physician Assistant Capstones

Osteoarthritis affects 20% of the global population, making it the most common musculoskeletal problem in the world. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) increases in prevalence with age and affects women more than men, although both are affected. Eighty percent of persons with knee OA experience pain and 25% struggle to perform activities of daily living. These decreases in function and mobility can affect the overall quality of life for these individuals. Several studies have examined different forms of exercise in knee OA patients (resistance training, aerobic exercise, dynamic training, mind-body exercise, and retro and forward walking) as a means of improving pain, …

Supervised Injection Facilities And Harm Prevention In Recreational Drug Users, Kirsten Dorsey

Physician Assistant Capstones

Supervised Injection Facilities (SIF) are a proposed public health intervention for improving access to medical care, decreasing comorbidities related to drug use and overdose related deaths, as well as changing drug use patterns. SIF are medically staffed clinics where drug users may bring and consume their own illicit drugs. Medical staff are available to intervene and stabilize patients in cases of overdose, but can also instruct patients on safe venous access, provide access to clean needles, give prescriptions for narcan, and provide symptomatic treatment for withdrawal symptoms. Some clinics are also beginning to offer counseling and psychiatric services as well …

The Effects Of Exercise On Quality Of Life In People With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Brooke Fletcher

Physician Assistant Capstones

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic disease that results in bone and joint destruction, commonly effecting joints of the hands and feet, leading to pain and physical limitations. Because of these limitations, quality of life in patients with RA can be heavily impacted.1 Quality of life (QOL) is described as the standard in which a person or group experiences happiness, solace, and a sense of well-being.2 QOL may be affected by various factors in a person’s life and can range widely from individual to individual. For people with RA, quality of life is considered as a combination of several …

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease –The Gut Microbiome As A Risk Factor, Kristin J. Gedda

Physician Assistant Capstones

As it remains, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the leading cause of mortality across the globe accounting for as many as 17.9 million deaths per year and projected to increase to more than 23.6 million deaths by 2030.1 Of the CVD related deaths, the majority are due to acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) and cerebral vascular accidents (CVA) and are associated with modifiable risk factors such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes.2 Lifestyle modifications for decreasing these risk factors have been actively emphasized in healthcare, but do not eliminate the risks entirely. In addition to diet, exercise, and smoking cessation, other …

The Role Of Entertainment Education In Health Literacy And Implications For The Future, Christina Vu Pham

Physician Assistant Capstones

Entertainment television remains a source upon which Americans have increasingly relied. Entertainment-education (EE) is a growingly popular strategy that incorporates educational messages into media sources to positively influence awareness and knowledge and subsequent attitude and behavior.6 Although EE is not limited to entertainment television, familiar examples include: the use of emergency contraception in the prime-time drama ER, the demonstration of condom efficacy in the sitcom Friends, and a storyline involving HIV in the daytime drama The Bold & The Beautiful.6 Though it remains a promising health communication strategy, not enough information is known regarding audience involvement with EE messages.

This …

The Effects Of Coping Mechanisms On Success And Overall Health Of Medical Students, Ariella Mahgerefteh

Physician Assistant Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current published literature in determining the following question. In students studying medicine, how does seeking professional mental health assistance for anxiety and depression compared to trying self-remedies effect overall health and academic performance throughout their medical training education?

The Provider’S Approach To Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy, Leslie Hohenbrink

Physician Assistant Capstones

Heralded as one of the greatest innovations in medical science was the discovery and implementation of vaccines to prevent illness. It is why our society is no longer plagued with diseases such as smallpox and polio on a large scale. In recent years though, society has faced a new emerging threat in the form of vaccine skepticism and avoidance. Different terms have been used to describe this distrust in vaccines. The current preferred term of vaccine hesitancy is associated with refusal or postponement of vaccination despite vaccine accessibility and availability. This term is preferred over previous labels such as anti-vaxers, …

Culturally Competent Diabetes Self-Management Education Improves Hba1c Levels In Hispanic Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Sirena Sechslingloff

Physician Assistant Capstones

There are several techniques that have been employed to make diabetes self-management programs culturally tailored to Hispanic communities. Among these include leading the self-management courses in Spanish and even more so with an instructor of the same cultural background. Another widely used approach is encouraging participants to bring a family member to the classes. In addition, many culturally tailored DSME programs hold classes in a community setting instead of health care centers to increase attendance rates. Lastly, incorporating cooking classes or educating patients on healthier eating based on culturally traditional foods has been utilized in culturally tailored DSME courses.

Effectiveness Of Mannitol Vs Hypertonic Saline For Intracranial Hypertension From Traumatic Brain Injury, Jennifer Saephanh

Physician Assistant Capstones

Since elevated ICP is complicated by higher mortality and serious neurologic deficits, its prevention and treatment are key. Osmotic agents can decrease cerebral edema and thus, ICP. This therapy is used in TBI patients who have clinical manifestations of cerebral edema and ICH or have a documented elevated ICP.3 Specifically, two osmotic agents, hypertonic saline (HTS) and mannitol (MNT), have been shown to be effective for ICP.3 Nonetheless, whether one agent is superior to the other has yet to be determined. Each osmotic agent has theoretical advantages. HTS has several theoretical advantages over MNT including intravascular volume replenishment and prevention …

A Comparison: Symptomatic Improvement Of Childhood Asthma Versus Occupational Asthma After Removal Of Causative Agents, Brandon Wong

Physician Assistant Capstones

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes airway inflammation and narrowing which leads to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and dyspnea.1 In 2017 it was estimated that 25.1 million Americans had asthma, including 6.1 million children and 19 million adults.2 From 2008-2013 the average cost of asthma in the United States (US) was $81.9 billion a year, this includes medical costs, lost days of work, and lost days of school.1 Asthma is often a result of environmental triggers both children and adults experience throughout their day. The consequences of asthma have been studied at great lengths …

The Role Of Eicosapentaenoic Acid For Residual Cardiovascular Risk Despite Statin Therapy, Donald Vertrees

Physician Assistant Capstones

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was responsible for over 840,000 deaths in the United States in 2016 and costs an estimated $352 billion annually in both direct and indirect costs. Approximately every 40 seconds, an American will have an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and at a similar rate an American will have a stroke. In patients who experienced AMI from 2010 to 2016, statin use at hospital discharge increased from 92% to 99%. Nonetheless, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and more than one million coronary events are expected to occur in individuals in 2019; approximately …

Efficacy Of Radiofrequency Ablation Or Spinal Cord Stimulation For Management Of Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain, Angela Stroman

Physician Assistant Capstones

With over 191 million prescriptions for opioid medications being written annually, 11.5 million Americans abusing opioid prescription medications each year and on average 130 Americans dying from opioid overdoses every day1, finding alternatives to opioids for the management of chronic pain is more important now than ever. Since the early 1999s opioids have been the primary method for managing chronic pain. While the number of opioid prescriptions has decreased since its peak in 2010, the morphine milligram equivalents of the prescriptions written today are generally three times greater than they were in 1999. Non-pharmacological methods for chronic pain management such …

Comparison Between Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair And Medical Management Of Type B Aortic Dissections On Cardiovascular Outcomes, Meghan Tuominen

Physician Assistant Capstones

Objective: To quantify the benefits and the survival rates between Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) and medical management for Acute Uncomplicated Type B Aortic Dissection (TBAD).

Methods: The investigation was based on a literature review of evidence-based articles that were relevant to the study. The articles were critiqued to compare the benefits of TEVAR and medical management of TBAD on cardiovascular outcomes and survival rates in concerned stakeholders.

Results: The literature review reflected that TEVAR is more effective than the medical management of TBAD when the condition was in the acute and uncomplicated stages. Uncontrolled blood pressure remains an independent …

Neighborhoods And Mental Health: Understanding The Social, Environmental And Structural Factors To Better Support Our Youth And Communities, Meghan Murtagh

Community Engagement Student Work

The social, structural and environmental characteristics of neighborhoods can have a significant impact on the social, emotional, behavioral and cognitive development of children and adolescents. The Center for Disease Control reports every 1 out of 5 children (22%) living below 100% of the federal poverty level have a mental, behavioral and/or developmental disorder (CDC, 2019). Through the utilization of ecological frameworks and a “place” based framework called The Social Determinates of Health, research was conducted to examine the link between neighborhoods and health outcomes in children and adolescents. These findings were then shared through a workshop with the target audience …

Euthanasia Of The Coronavirus - Covid-19, Sheila P. Davis

Journal of Health Ethics

At the time of this editorial, COVID-19, aka the Novel Coronavirus, has wrecked havoc and left in its path of destruction, death, unemployment, the instability of nation’s economies, misery, uncertainty, despair, and a fear regarding what the new tomorrow will look like. And, perhaps more importantly, the question of who will be here tomorrow lingers. Now classified as a pandemic, this virus has resulted in over 1,381,014 cases worldwide with 78,269 deaths to date. Presently, Louisiana and Detroit are emerging as the next hot spots behind New York as the fastest rate of increase for COVID-19 cases in the world. …

Recognizing Social Determinants Of Health To Better Care For The Most Vulnerable Populations, Lauren Marcello

Community Engagement Student Work

The history of healthcare has transitioned from an effort to care for people who were ill to a profitable business through the process of medicalization. Which today makes receiving comprehensive care extremely difficult or impossible for individuals who are considered vulnerable or have significant social determinants of health. Through the recognition of social determinants of health in the institution of government health insurance, the opportunity for a healthier population.

In Healthcare Providers, What Is The Effect Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions Compared With No Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Stress And Burnout In 4 Weeks Or More?, Anne Chan

Physician Assistant Capstones

High suicide rates and job burnout are associated with the healthcare profession, especially among physicians. The healthcare work environment is characterized by stress, demanding workloads, long shifts, and strong emotions that impact the well-being of healthcare providers (HCPs).1-3 HCPs may experience symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia. The well-being of healthcare providers ultimately affects medical-decision making and quality of patient care.1,4-6 Mindfulness practice has been proposed to reduce workplace stress experienced by HCPs.1,6 Mindfulness is a form of training in which an individual maintains attention on the unfolding present experience in a non-judgmental way.1 Practicing mindfulness is believed to …

Beta-Blockers For The Treatment Of Cardiovascular Disease In Copd Patients, Veshudha Kang

Physician Assistant Capstones

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have high rates of cardiovascular comorbidities, including hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure. These comorbidities further complicate management of COPD patients. Cardiovascular complications are especially difficult to manage during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Multiple factors are contributory, including hypoxemia, tachycardia, increased inflammation, and arterial stiffness. Cardioselective beta-blockers have been proven to be safe and effective in managing cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure and arrhythmias and are recommended for acutely decompensated heart failure and myocardial infarction in the setting of AECOPD. Benefits include reducing all-cause mortality and the …

Short Sleep Duration And The Risk Of Hypertension And Diabetes, Jacob Novick

Physician Assistant Capstones

Per the CDC, in the year 2016, essential hypertension as a primary diagnosis lead to 1 million emergency department visits. Outpatient visits with that same diagnosis and year were staggering as well, at 32.8 million visits.5 Mortality in 2016 exceeded 35,000 deaths due to primary hypertension.5 The numbers are just as concerning for diabetes, per the CDC’s report that 11.4% and 11.5% of emergency department visits and physician office visits, respectfully, involved diabetes in 2016. In addition, diabetes was responsible for more than 83,000 deaths in 2016.6

These statistics highlight the importance of determining the relationship of short sleep durations …

Effective Therapies For Post-Partum Depression—What Choices Do Women Have?, Anzule Navarrete

Physician Assistant Capstones

Many factors influence treatment success, especially treatment adherence. Adhering to any therapy is challenging for a new mother because her time and attention are devoted to taking care of her newborn around the clock, thus leaving little reserve for taking care of her own needs. However, clinicians must remind patients that a successful mother must first care for herself. This factor highlights the importance of individualizing therapy and involving the patient in treatment decisions in order to optimize adherence.

In addition to recognizing the integral role of patient adherence, successful therapy requires a knowledge of the efficacies of various PPD …

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation: A Natural Way To Lessen Symptoms Of Adhd, Chelsea Payne

Physician Assistant Capstones

The outcomes of combination omega-3 fatty acid supplementation compared to traditional stimulant treatment alone, on symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity will be examined. If adjunct therapy with fatty acids reduces ADHD symptoms, clinicians may be able to decrease traditional stimulant doses which would, in theory, reduce the negative side effects associated with that drug class and improve the patient’s quality of life.

The Predictive Value Of C-Reactive Protein In Relation To The Development Of Cardiovascular Disease, Ramon Simpson

Physician Assistant Capstones

The American Heart Association estimates that by 2035 over 130 million or 45.1 percent of the American population is projected to have some form of cardiovascular disease, defined as coronary heart disease, stable/unstable angina, heart failure and stroke. It is expected that the total cost of treatment for patients with cardiovascular disease will reach 1.1 trillion by 2035 accordingly. Approximately 17.9 million deaths that were reported in 2016 were related to cardiovascular disease based on the World Health Organization statistics. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association suggest that primary prevention is accredited to early identification of modifiable …

Ua35/8 Reveille, Vol. 28, No. 1, Wku Veterans Upward Bound

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about WKU Veterans Upward Bound.

• COVID-19 Temporarily Closes Veterans Upward Bound
• Veternas Administration Partners with Treasury Department to Deliver Economic Impact Payments to Veternans & Survivors