Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Relationship Between Internet Use, Perceived Social Support, And Obesity Among African American Young Adults, Marketta Mccollough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The disproportionately high prevalence of obesity among African American young adults is a significant public health crisis rooted in systemic inequities. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the relationships between internet use for health information, perceived social support (online and offline), and obesity in this population. Grounded in the social cognitive theory (SCT), this study investigated how these behavioral and environmental factors interact to influence body mass index. Using secondary data from the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a complex samples logistic regression with a Bonferroni correction (α = .0125) was conducted on an …

Proposal For A Comprehensive Workplace Violence Program In An Acute Care Facility, Christin V. Timmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare is a growing threat to caregiver safety, workforce stability, and patient outcomes. At a newly opened acute care facility, the absence of a comprehensive WPV prevention program posed a gap in practice, creating safety risks and regulatory vulnerability. A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed/ MEDLINE, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health collection, and Google Scholar. A total of 50 articles were identified with 11 articles meeting all inclusion criteria. Collectively, findings supported comprehensive, multicomponent WPV prevention programs to integrate leadership engagement, structured governance, staff education, environmental controls, and continuous data monitoring to improve safety …

Barriers To Recommendation Of Integrative Oncology Modalities In Supportive Care: A Mascc/Sio Survey, Alexandre Chan, Dalia Kagramanov, Reem Nasr, Chioma Asuzu, Ting Bao, Yin Ting Cheung, Jung Hye Kwon, Judith Lacey, Richard T. Lee, Maryam Lustberg, Beatrice M. Ohaeri, Santosh Rao, Enrique Soto-Perez-De-Celis, Claudia M. Witt, Ana M. Lopez

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Integrative oncology (IO) modalities aim to improve the quality of life of persons with cancer, including strategies to manage treatment and disease-related symptoms. As evidence increases to include IO in supportive care, interest grows globally. Understanding barriers to IO recommendation is key to facilitating its uptake.

METHODS: Members of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) were invited to complete an online survey in Fall 2023 assessing barriers to IO recommendation on a 5-point scale. Descriptive statistics assessed demographic data and general counts of scaled agreement, while logistic regression analysis …

Safe Steps: Protecting Pediatric Patients From Pivie's, Nya Saturley, Mikayla Cruz, Edlira Hoxha, Chelsea Valdez-Martinez, Evan Niimi, David Estrada Gonzalez, Michael Seeger

2025

No abstract provided.

Cultural Traits May Replace Human Mobility Data In Forecasting Covid-19 Mortality: A Deep Learning Approach, Saif Abbas, Tamer Oraby, Michael G. Tyshenko, Samit Bhattacharyya

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for accurate epidemic forecasting to support public health decision-making. Most existing approaches depend heavily on human mobility data, while largely neglecting population behavior shaped by socio-cultural norms. In this study, we analyze daily COVID-19 mortality and Google mobility data from 72 countries during the first 130 d of the pandemic, a period characterized by high uncertainty and behavioral heterogeneity. In particular, we examine whether Hofstede’s country-level cultural dimensions can serve as latent behavioral forecasters of mortality in lieu of dynamic mobility indicators. Using 100 d for training and 30 d for forecasting, we employ …

Segmented Profile Analysis (Sepa): Plane-Wise Decomposition Of Within-Person Variation Via Ipsatized Singular Value Decomposition, Se-Kang Kim, Joe Grochowalski

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Traditional profile analyses summarize multivariate person data with overall mean levels and relative patterns, but existing methods often blur these sources of variation or reduce each individual to a single best-fitting profile. Segmented Profile Analysis (SEPA) offers a unified, ipsatized singular-value decomposition (SVD) framework that decomposes individual profiles into orthogonal level (LE) and pattern (PE) effects and, crucially, introduces plane-wise segment profiles (summaries of each person's response pattern within each variable-contrast dimension) as primary person-oriented objects. Within each low-dimensional plane, SEPA defines a projected response pattern (segment profile), domain-person cosines that index variable-by-variable alignment, and plane-fit correlations that summarize how …

A Phenomenological Study Of Parent Experiences During Transition From Early Intervention To School-Based Services, Kelly F. Gregoire, Halie Mayfield, Jeryl D. Benson, Johnna Estep

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Abstract

Importance: Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners and members of the Early Intervention (EI) to school-based transition should understand the barriers to a successful transition to better advocate for their clients and tailor their involvement in the transition process.

Objective: To explore the lived experience of parents of young children participating in the transition process.

Participants: Fourteen parents of young children (ages 2.5-6 years) with a developmental disability.

Outcomes and Measures: Semi-structured interviews focusing on parent and family experiences with the transition process.

Results: Seven resulting themes emerged from the data representing parent perceptions related to their experience of the system. …

Electroceuticals In Neuromodulation: Mechanisms, Clinical Applications, And Future Directions, Albashir Tahir, Nura Bello

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Electroceuticals have emerged as an innovative therapeutic approach that employs targeted electrical stimulation to modulate neural circuits and restore physiological balance. Unlike conventional pharmacological treatments, which act through systemic biochemical pathways, electroceuticals enable precise spatial and temporal control of neural activity. The rapid proliferation of electroceutical devices across clinical and investigational settings, combined with accelerating advances in artificial intelligence, closed-loop engineering, and bioelectronic interface design, has generated an urgent need for rigorous, critically appraised synthesis to guide evidence-based clinical adoption and inform future research priorities. This review addresses the rapidly expanding field of bioelectronic medicine by providing a critical synthesis …

Association Between Resource Availability And Wellbeing Of Autism Patients In Ghana, Kwabena Aduse-Poku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that presents significant challenges for children and families in Ghana, where resources remain limited. Grounded in the social ecological model, this quantitative cross-sectional study examined the associations between autism management programs and wellbeing, defined briefly as independent functioning in daily life and learning of autism patients enrolled in selected institutions in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Data were collected from N=122 autism patients using structured questionnaires that were completed by caregivers and program staff. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess relationships between program type, regional location, and years of enrollment and …

Recognizing Ibd In Kids: What Every Pediatrician Should Know, Mike Smith, Julie A. Bass

Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast

This episode walks through how to identify inflammatory bowel disease in children, the key red flags that matter, and practical steps primary care providers can take before referral. It’s essential because earlier recognition of pediatric IBD can prevent growth problems, nutritional deficiencies, and serious complications. Guest: Julie Bass, DO, Medical Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at Children’s Mercy and Professor of Pediatrics, offers clinical tips from years in pediatric gastroenterology. You’ll hear about stool testing like fecal calprotectin, basic blood work including CBC and CRP, growth monitoring, and when to consider colonoscopy or urgent referral for suspected Crohn’s …

Wellness Literature Review – 2025, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Clinician well-being remains a persistent challenge, with ongoing burnout and psychological distress despite efforts by systems and individuals. This Journal of Wellness annual review covers studies published in 2025.

Methods: The Editors searched PubMed and Google Scholar for prospective and interventional studies / clinical trials in humans, with focus on well-being. Authors utilized artificial intelligence (AI)–based large language model (LLM) (ChatGPT, OpenAI^TM) to assist with preliminary identification of relevant studies, however authors noted significant AI-associated errors and outright misrepresentations requiring hand curated product generation and manual PubMed searches.

Literature in Review: We continue to appreciate a shift …

Pit Stop: Improving Resuscitation Efforts Within A Level Iv Nicu, Sierra Pharr, Kendall Shaw, Hannah Biscardi

2025

No abstract provided.

A Program Proposal For A Leadership-Driven, Evidence-Based, Intentional Rounding Playbook, Jacqueline Butler Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient experience is a key indicator of healthcare quality. In an acute care hospital in Northeast Georgia, intentional rounding is an established practice. Inconsistent communication, variable leadership engagement, and limited accountability are practice gaps that have reduced its effectiveness in improving patient experience outcomes. A comprehensive literature review using PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library yielded 15 peer-reviewed studies that consistently support intentional rounding as an evidence-based strategy for improving patient satisfaction. As the team leader for this Executive Leadership System Improvement Project, I proposed the development of an Evidence-Based, Leader-Driven Intentional Rounding Program Playbook to standardize enhanced rounding …

Loss Of Atp-Dependent Citrate Lyase Drives Left Ventricular Dysfunction By Metabolic Remodeling, Shijie Liu, Seth T Gammon, Lin Tan, Yaqi Gao, Kyoungmin Kim, Mahmoud H Elbatreek, Adrian Arrieta, Ian K Williamson, Rebecca L Salazar, Janet Pham, Angela Davidian, Radhika Khanna Neicheril, Benjamin D Gould, Heidi Vitrac, Alia Sadiq, An Q Dinh, Evan C Lien, Francisca N De Luna Vitorino, Joanna M Gongora, Sara A Martinez, Melanie T Odenkirk, Anna K Boatman, Jessie R Chappel, Lawrence S C Czer, Evan P Kransdorf, David J Lefer, Blake M Hanson, Benjamin A Garcia, Erin M Baker, Matthew G Vander Heiden, Philip L Lorenzi, Heinrich Taegtmeyer, David Piwnica-Worms, James F Martin, Anja Karlstaedt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Metabolic adaptation and maladaptation are hallmarks of the failing heart and may be a target for therapeutic interventions. For example, sustained glucose oxidation during cardiac stress is associated with increased activity and abundance of ACL (ATP-dependent citrate lyase, Acly), which produces acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) from citrate and CoA and supports de novo lipid synthesis. However, our understanding of how ACL supports cardiac metabolic adaptation and its potential to modulate disease pathophysiology has not yet been investigated.

Methods: We used human heart tissue samples from healthy donors and patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Next, we used CRISPR (clustered, regularly interspaced …

Molecular Mechanism Leading To Human Coronary Atherosclerosis Assessed By Proteomic Analysis And Rna Sequences, Sarah J Parker, Chunhong Mao, David L Caudell, Austin Lyle Seals, Yizhi Wang, Thomas D Green, Joseph M Mcclung, Joshua T Maxwell, Jacolby T Roddey, Kiarash Shakeriastani, Chiung-Ting Wu, Yingzhou Lu, Do-Kyun Kim, Justyna Fert-Bober, Dongping Du, Archana Bhat, Niveda Sundararaman, Matthew Ayres, Rakhi Pandey, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Genesio M Karere, Dana Troxclair, Fannie Jackson, Gordon L Love, Richard Vander Heide, James Hixson, Jennifer E Van Eyk, Yue Wang, David Herrington

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and aims: Atherosclerosis results from cellular and extracellular changes in the arterial wall, preceded by molecular shifts that initiate disease and drive tissue conversion, yet these changes are not yet fully described. More data are needed concerning these early changes in the coronary artery molecular landscape that signify the initiation of atherosclerosis and the subsequent tissue pheno-conversion to atherosclerotic plaque. This report summarizes results from a large biorepository of human coronary artery tissue, applying state-of-the-art omics technology, advanced data analytic methods, and an arterial organoid model system to predict molecular dynamics and identify potential regulatory mechanisms that could interrupt …

Unpredictability Is A Childhood Adversity That Contributes To Mental Health Problems, Laura M. Glynn, Sabrina R. Liu, Charles Golden, Michael Weiss, Candice Taylor Lucas, Louis Ehwerhemuepha, Hal S. Stern, Tallie Z. Baram

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Although adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase risk for mental illness at the population level, existing ACEs screens are less helpful in forecasting individual outcomes, suggesting they may not capture significant elements of childhood adversity. We have previously identified unpredictable parental and household experiences as an ACE that portends poorer cognitive and mental health. However, the contribution of unpredictability to established ACEs in real-world settings is unknown. Here, leveraging existing ACEs screening in California, we added the five-item Questionnaire on Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC-5) in 19 pediatric clinics spanning broad sociodemographic constituencies and compared in ~30,000 children the link of each …

Association Between Opioids And Leukemia/Lymphoma In Adults Living In The United States, Brenda Sue Newberry-Colasanti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid prescribing rates and opioid misuse remain high throughout the United States. Exposure to opioids has been positively associated with various cancers; however, research evaluating associations between opioid exposure and hematologic cancers like leukemia and lymphoma is limited. Using the Socio- Ecological Model as a foundation, this quantitative cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the association between medicinal opioid use, opioid misuse, and leukemia/lymphoma while exploring how selected social determinants of health (SDOH) may modify that relationship. Secondary data were pooled from the 2015–20-year United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). One thousand three hundred and twenty binary …

Health Literacy And Diabetes Self-Care Behavior, Eucharia Amaefule

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited health literacy is a significant barrier to effective diabetes self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet nationally representative evidence using comprehensive health literacy measures remains limited. Guided by the health belief model, the purpose of this quantitative, secondary data analysis using cross-sectional data was to examine the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-care behaviors among U.S. adults with T2DM and determine whether education level moderated this relationship. Data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed for U.S. adults (N = 9, 535) with self-reported T2DM. Diabetes self-care behaviors included blood glucose monitoring, …

Exploring The Motivations And Educational Needs For Undergraduate Nursing Students To Enter Into Critical Care: A Qualitative Study., Christina S. Pradhan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Critical care nursing is a specialty that demands a high level of skill and dedication. In this high-stress, fast-paced environment, nurses must think fast and act decisively with sound clinical judgment and knowledge. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study was to understand the motivating factors that cause nurses to enter the field of critical care, as well as to explore the ways in which undergraduate nursing studies may be improved to better prepare future critical care nurses. Knowles’ adult learning theory was well suited for nursing students bound for a critical care path. Students at two different baccalaureate …

Identifying The Effects Of Racial Bias On Levels Of Medical Mistrust Among Black And White Young Adults, Clayton L. Westmoreland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional group comparison was to examine whether differences exist in levels of medical mistrust, healthcare avoidance, and preference for racially concordant providers between young Black adults and young White adults residing in Texas. An electronic, pilot-tested survey was distributed via social media and included demographic items and Likert-scale measures to assess trust levels and healthcare decision-making behaviors. Independent samples t-tests were conducted using IBM SPSS software to compare group means. Results indicated statistically significant differences across all three variables. Young Black adults reported significantly higher levels of medical mistrust (lower scores indicating greater mistrust; …

The Effects Of Anti-Gdnf On The Sensory And Autonomic Nervous System In The Heart, Tryphosa Konadu

Honors Theses

Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death; about 1 in every five deaths is due to heart disease. “Heart disease” is a catch-all phrase that encompasses a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. Many of these symptoms can be attributed to dysfunction within the parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory nervous systems. Neurotrophic factors like GDNF (Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor), BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor), and NGF (Nerve growth factor) promotes neuronal survival, and regeneration of the nerve fibers of the heart, especially sensory and autonomic nerve fibers. Studies have suggested that increased expression of …

Internalized Colorism As A Gendered Barrier To Skin Cancer Information Avoidance Among Hispanic College Students, Soo Yun Kim, Wan-Lin Chang

Communication Faculty Publications

Skin cancer disparities persist among racial and ethnic minority populations, yet sociocultural factors shaping engagement with preventive health information remain understudied. This study examines whether internalized colorism functions as a barrier to skin cancer information avoidance among Hispanic college students and whether these associations differ by sex. Using survey data from 300 undergraduates at a Hispanic-serving institution, hierarchical regression analyses examined how three dimensions of colorism, including self-concept, attractiveness, and upward mobility, were associated with skin cancer information avoidance. Results indicated that only the attractiveness dimension predicted information avoidance. This association was moderated by sex, such that attractiveness-based colorism was …

Pedagogy Challenged: A Phenomenological Examination Of Teaching Through A Prolonged Technological Disruption, Jerry Cervantes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of nursing faculty in a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program who taught during a prolonged technological disruption caused by a ransomware attack at a private college in Ohio. The theories guiding this study were transformative learning theory and resilience theory as they relate to how educators make meaning of disorienting events and sustain professional functioning when established systems fail. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and reflective journals from purposively selected nursing faculty participants and were analyzed according to the phenomenological procedures …

Experiences Of Cholesterol Management Among Obese Individuals: A Qualitative Exploration Of Statin Use, Diet, And Physical Activity, Ke'andra S. Foggie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia has increased over the past decade, with obesity identified as a major contributing factor. This study examined how individuals with obesity and hypercholesterolemia managed cholesterol and experienced related challenges within their daily lives. Guided by the Chronic Care Model, the research explored participant-reported experiences of statin therapy and lifestyle practices, including dietary behaviors and physical activity, as components of cholesterol management. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis to analyze participant-reported barriers, supports, and contextual factors that shape how these practices are incorporated into daily routines. Although extensive research has examined statin …

Understanding The Experience Of Separation On The Substance-Exposed Mother-Infant Dyad, Tamara Lee Depascale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Maternal-infant separation following birth is a profoundly distressing experience that may have significant emotional, relational, and health implications for mothers with substance use disorders (SUD). Guided by Caring Science and Swanson’s Theory of Caring, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the dimensions of the health challenge associated with maternal-infant separation among mothers with SUD following birth and the approaches mothers used to navigate and respond to that experience. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with mothers who had experienced separation from their infants following birth and analyzed using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Findings revealed …

Using Mask-Making To Foster Growth Mindset And Address Implicit Bias, Nazeh Saad, Rima Charara, Jennifer Mendez, Dena Nazer

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Implicit biases, defined as unconscious attitudes influencing clinical decisions, can negatively affect patient care and contribute to health care disparities. Growth mindset—the belief that abilities can be developed through effort—encourages learners to view biases as modifiable rather than fixed. The mask expression project is an educational activity designed to foster growth mindset in first-year medical students and promote patient-centered care.

Methods: Three hundred five (305) first-year medical students completed the project during a service-learning course. Students wrote or drew on a paper mask template divided into two halves: one side challenged identified implicit biases; the other depicted actions …

Exploring Nursing Students' Experiences Of Simulation-Based Learning In Developing Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning And Clinical Judgment In The Management Of Mental Health Patients: A Qualitative Case Study, Irene Bellew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore how simulation-based learning experiences shape the development of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment for associate degree nursing students when caring for patients with mental health needs. It addressed the need to narrow the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in clinical settings, enhancing the preparedness of novice nurses. By positioning nurse educators as facilitators of innovative strategies, this study advocates for the integration of simulation-based learning within nursing curricula. Roy’s adaptation model guided the study, and data were collected through observation of simulation sessions, semi-structured interviews, and reflective …

A Connection A Day Keeps The Patient Away: How Remote Patient Monitoring Connected To The Internet Of Things Will Change Us Healthcare Into The Us Healthcare System, Ethan Sinn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The importance of this study was due to the market inefficiencies hindering US healthcare. The three market inefficiencies of excessive cost, access challenges, and low outcome yields have puzzled industry stakeholders for years. These inefficiencies continue gobbling up resources now accounting for around 20% of American GDP. The inefficiencies are symptomatic results of two surface level problems in the US healthcare market: financial misalignments and informational fragmentation. The financial mismatches and informational gaps have caused havoc to the natural market’s daily flow since making their way to the surface and remain firmly connected to the root cause of US healthcare’s …

Effective Strategies To Improve Telemedicine Services For Veterans In Baltimore, Maryland: A Qualitative Single-Case Study, Dolapo Uthman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative single-case study investigated the inefficiency and limited accessibility of telemedicine services within a selected healthcare organization located in Baltimore, Maryland. The purpose of this study was to investigate how telemedicine services can be improved to enhance healthcare outcomes for patients and their overall quality of life. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 16 participants, supported by fieldnotes, and publicly available documents, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Methodological triangulation was used to validate the findings to ensure credibility and consistency. The research indicated that telemedicine enhances access to healthcare and supports continuity of care, especially for …

Rsv Can Infect The Human Nasal Epithelium Via The Basolateral Route And Shows Distinct Subgroup Infectivity And Basal Cell Tropism, Ashley Murray, Divya Nagaraj, Emily M Schultz, Gina Aloisio, Erin Nicholson, Sarah E Blutt, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Pedro A Piedra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes millions of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young children, older adults, and immunocompromised populations every year. RSV infection initiates in the upper respiratory tract and can progress to the lower airways, resulting in bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and even death. RSV primarily infects epithelial cells apically, but we hypothesized that basolateral exposure of the respiratory epithelium could provide an alternative mechanism of infection that contributes to LRTI development. Using a human nose organoid-air-liquid interface (HNO-ALI) model, we performed apical and basolateral inoculations with contemporaneous RSV strains (RSV/A/Ontario [RSV/A/ON] and RSV/B/Buenos Aires [RSV/B/BA]) representing the two RSV …