Medical Specialties Commons^™

Impact Of Serratus Plane Block On Pain Scores And Incentive Spirometry Volumes After Chest Trauma, Nadia Hernandez, Johanna De Haan, Dallis Clendeninn, David E Meyer, Semhar Ghebremichael, Carlos Artime, George Williams, Holger Eltzschig, Sudipta Sen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adequate pain control is difficult to achieve in patients with multiple rib fractures (MRF). Serratus plane block (SPB) is a novel technique for alleviating rib fracture pain. Several published case reports support this hypothesis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of SPB in MRF at our level 1 trauma center.

Methods: Our hospital’s Regional Anesthesia Registry was queried for all trauma patients with MRF who underwent SPB between August 2014 and January 2018. Data were compared in each patient as a matched pair for the time periods before and after undergoing SPB. Thirty-four patients …

Sexual Behaviours Of Adolescents In Creek Town, Cross River State, Nigeria, Kabiru K. Salami, Rowland E. Edet

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Risky sexual behaviors of adolescents in Creek Town have not been fully profiled. This study investigated the sexual behaviors of adolescents and their various dimensions in Creek Town, in Cross River State, Nigeria. This cross-sectional survey design adopted multi-stage sampling procedure to administer a 112-items questionnaire to 422 adolescents, to elicit information on their sexual behaviors and practices. Four focus group discussion sessions were also conducted with in-school and out-of-school adolescents. The mean age of adolescents was 17 years. Majority (65.4%) of the adolescents were sexually active. The mean age at sexual debut was 15 years for both male and …

Improving Access To Clean Water In Rural Ecuador: The Connection Between Willingness To Pay And Population Health, Micalea Leaska

Capstone Collection

Climate change is affecting social and environmental determinants of health through access to safe drinking water, safely managed sanitation systems, and access to health care services and the ability for individuals to break free from unsuitable circumstances. Ecological disturbances such as those caused by climate change can cause a shift in host vectors or a change in habitat that results in a greater likelihood of the pathogen coming in contact with humans. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and their accessibility to populations can directly impact a community’s vulnerability to diseases and limiting factors to increase economic growth. If rural …

Gay Men And Satisfaction With Health Care Interactions, Michael Huggins

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

The purpose of this research was to determine relationships among depression, anxiety, self-rated physical and mental health, self-advocacy, internalized homophobia, and quality of patient-provider communication to satisfaction with health care interactions. These were measured while controlling for select demographic variables: age; ethnicity; urban or rural domicile; relationship status; household income; highest educational attainment; health insurance; disclosure to health care provider as a gay man; reason for last healthcare visit; and, general health self-rating. The specific aims of this study were to: 1) identify general characteristics of gay men in this sample; 2) examine how levels of satisfaction with health care …

Evaluation Of A Cognitive Training Program And Its Effects On Healthy Older Adults, Nathan Jensen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

As one ages, some degree of cognitive decline is expected. Despite this, declines in cognitive abilities and the possibility of dementia is a common concern among older adults. In response to these concerns, a variety of cognitive training programs have been developed that aim to improve or maintain cognitive functioning. Prior literature has shown mixed or limited findings on cognitive changes after implementation of cognitive training. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive training program designed for older adults with no to minimal cognitive decline. The current study included 18 participants who engaged in two one-hour cognitive training sessions …

Associations Between Income, Acculturation, Country Of Origin, And Type Ii Diabetes Among African Immigrants To Ontario, Canada, Girma Aman Goshe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes has become a longstanding public health challenge around the world. Over the last 3 decades, the number of people with Type II diabetes (T2DM) has grown to an epidemic level in Canada. Prior research indicated African immigrants residing in Ontario, Canada experienced a 2-4 times higher prevalence of T2DM than Canadian-born individuals. The social determinants of health theoretical framework guided this study assessing the relationship of the risk factors with T2DM. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed using the 2007-2014 Canadian Community Health Survey data. The random sample included 1,526 African immigrants residing in Ontario, Canada. Descriptive, bivariate, and …

Examining Fear Of Recurrence In Cancer Survivors, Christina L. Dixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improvements in the medical field have given many cancer patients and survivors better odds of long-term survival. As more patients become survivors, the demand for psychological treatment becomes greater. The most prevalent concern of survivors is getting help with a psychosocial condition known as fear of recurrence (FOR). Prior to this study, few researchers had explored how having a more aggressive cancer influences the development of FOR. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether cancer stage and type (a measurement of severity) are predictive of FOR development in the high-risk cancer groups lung and bronchus and female …

A Qualitative Case Study Exploring Hand-Hygiene Standards In An Intensive Care Unit, Lyndon Augustine, Walter Mccollum, Richard Brown, Phoenix Mourning-Star

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that occur in patients during their time of care in a hospital. Considerable emphasis is currently placed on reducing HAIs through improving hand-hygiene (HH) compliance among healthcare professionals because HAIs are a critical challenge to public health in the United States. By focusing on meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HH standards, the purpose of this qualitative research was to explore how noncompliance with these standards and lack of technology usage affect HAIs in the intensive care unit. Additionally, the goal of this research was to explore behavioral factors and best practices that influence …

Reducing Barriers To Accessing Fistula Repair: Implementation Research In Uganda, Justus Barageine, Charity Ndwiga, Hassan Kanakulya, Pooja Sripad

Reproductive Health

The Population Council, in collaboration with Fistula Care Plus and EngenderHealth, conducted implementation research to understand whether a comprehensive information, screening, and referral intervention reduces transportation, communication, and financial barriers to accessing fistula screening, diagnosis, and treatment in Uganda. Following a baseline assessment, researchers implemented a multi-pronged intervention utilizing a mobile hotline, transport voucher, and mass media tools to increase community awareness. This brief provides key messages and recommendations for overcoming barriers hindering access to fistula care services. Health systems and external stakeholder support are essential for sustaining trends.

Depression Screening For Bariatric Surgical Patients, Cova Teresa Stidham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity in the United States has increased to epidemic numbers over the last decade. Practitioners need to reverse the trend. To address the problem of depression in obesity, a practice guideline from a bariatric clinic for under-served populations was proposed to an expert panel. The Spell Out on First Use (PHQ-9) screening is a valid and reliable self-screening tool to assist the practitioner in determining the level of depression if any. The PHQ-9 has nine questions. No formal screening existed at the bariatric clinic, and the practice guideline (with algorithm and revised workflow) was proposed for use at the clinic. …

The Experience Of Pregnant Women In Remission From Anorexia Nervosa, Meghan Butcher

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study explored the subjective experience of pregnant women in remission from Anorexia Nervosa (AN). This subject matter is of importance due to the high relapse rates of AN, the ability for women to become pregnant while in remission from AN, the significant physical and emotional tolls of pregnancy, and the known dangers of AN behaviors during pregnancy. Prior to this study, minimal research had been conducted pertaining to the experience of women who became pregnant while in remission from AN. This study utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to inform interpretation of narrative responses collected through semi-structured interviews. Participants …

Long-Term Use Of Beta-Blocker Medication In Pediatric Long Qt Syndrome Patients: Neuropsychological Profiles, Kara J. Rudisill

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a heart rhythm disorder characterized by a disruption of the heart’s electrical activity that may cause accelerated and uncontrolled heartbeats referred to as ventricular fibrillation. LQTS is primarily treated with beta-blocker medications, which reduce the risk of experiencing an arrhythmia through regulating the heart rate. However, the potential neuropsychological side-effects associated with the use of beta-blocker medication may impact the executive functioning skills, mental health, and behavior of the affected pediatric population at home. As a result, a child’s academic performance and emotional regulation etiology may be misunderstood by his or her parents, caregivers, and …

The Influence Of Obstetrician And Gynecologists' Avoidance Behaviors On Maternal Morbidities, Nakisha Rene'e Boulware

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of maternal morbidities continues to increase in U.S. women of lower socioeconomic status and non-Hispanic Black women despite the efforts of health care practitioners to reduce the disparities. Two decades of research has shown that physicians avoid patients based on insurance and socioeconomic status or their malpractice history. Reducing maternal illness and complications is one of the federal government's top 10 maternal health indicators in the Healthy People 2020 initiative. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of malpractice allegations on patients at high-risk for maternal morbidity. Supported by the theoretical foundation of human factor …

Understanding The Utilization Of Community-Based Services In Late Old Age: A Participatory Approach For Connecting Through The Communication Ecology, Carrie Leach

Wayne State University Dissertations

As the pool of eligible recipients continues to grow, understanding service system utilization and barriers can help ensure very old adults can access support from their communities when needed. Mounting research demonstrates that investment in community-based services to ensure seniors remain independent translates to saved government dollars. As a contributing researcher of a multi-year county-wide older adult needs assessment in Monroe County, Michigan, data collected from 1,870 people revealed a communication disjuncture between seniors and service providers. In response, officials convened a post assessment working group that focused on communication and outreach. Along with members of the Community Advisory Group …

Screen Time And The Effects On Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cassandra Starks

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to determine if an educational intervention with families decreased overall screen time use in school-aged children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODS: This study was a single group pre-test, post-test interventional study design. The sample population consisted of the parents/guardians of 30 school-aged children diagnosed with ADHD (5-12 years) recruited from the University of Kentucky Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic between November 2019 and February 2020. Parents completed a survey about their child’s daily screen time exposure (tablets/cell phones, laptops/computers, video games, and television) and were educated how screen time can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, …

Differences In Sexual Delay Discounting Among In-Treatment Adults With Opioid Use Disorder, Jonathan J.K. Stoltman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous research has found impulsive decision-making to be a core component of addiction (Moody, Franck, Hatz, & Bickel, 2016). One way to measure impulsive choice is through the use of a delay discounting task. The delay discounting task provides a way to measure choice of immediate, smaller rewards compared to delayed, larger rewards (Odum, 2011b). An emerging area of research in addiction science is the intersection of addiction and sexual health. Previous sexual delay discounting research has focused on whether attractiveness or STD risk can shift the likelihood of waiting until a condom was available (Johnson & Bruner, 2012). This …

ความหมายของชีวิตในบุคลากรทางการแพทย์ผู้ดูแลผู้ป่วยระยะสุดท้าย, สุนทร ลิ่มหลัก

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ที่มาและเหตุผล: การมีความหมายของชีวิตเป็นส่วนสำคัญในชีวิตมนุษย์ทุกคนและทุกช่วงวัย การค้นพบความหมายของชีวิตและส่งผลในเชิงบวกต่อสุขภาพกาย สุขภาพจิต และสุขภาวะทางจิตวิญญาณ ที่ผ่านมายังไม่มีการศึกษาความหมายของชีวิตในบุคลากรทางการแพทย์ผู้ดูแลผู้ป่วยระยะสุดท้ายซึ่งเป็นทีมสุขภาพที่ทำงานใกล้ชิดกับความเป็นความตาย การรับรู้ช่วงสุดท้ายของชีวิตผู้ป่วยอาจเป็นประโยชน์ต่อการรับรู้ความหมายของชีวิต และนำไปสู่วิถีการดำเนินชีวิตที่ดีและความอยู่ดีมีสุข วัตถุประสงค์: เพื่อศึกษาความหมายของชีวิตในบุคลากรการแพทย์ผู้ดูแลผู้ป่วยระยะสุดท้ายและปัจจัยที่มีผลต่อความหมาย และศึกษาความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างความหมายของชีวิตกับทัศนคติในการดำเนินชีวิตและการดูแลผู้ป่วย วิธีการศึกษา: การวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพในบุคลากรทางการแพทย์ผู้ดูแลผู้ป่วยระยะสุดท้ายจำนวน 12 คนโดยเก็บข้อมูลด้วยการสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึกส่วนบุคคลและแบบกึ่งโครงสร้าง จากนั้นทำการวิเคราะห์เปรียบเทียบข้อมูลและหาความสัมพันธ์ของข้อมูล และทำการสังเคราะห์ข้อมูลจนเหลือแต่คุณลักษณะที่มีความหมายร่วมกันมาประกอบกับทฤษฎี ผลการศึกษา: แนวคิด “ความหมายของชีวิต” ในบุคลากรทางการแพทย์ผู้ดูแลผู้ป่วยระยะสุดท้ายค้นพบทั้งสิ้น 5 แก่น ได้แก่ 1) การก้าวข้ามตัวตน; 2) ความรักและความผูกพัน; 3) การทำหน้าที่และทำสิ่งที่เป็นประโยชน์ให้กับโลก; 4) การชื่นชมและปีติกับความงามของชีวิต และ 5) การมีจุดมุ่งหมายในชีวิต โดยปัจจัยที่ทำให้เกิดความหมายคือประสบการณ์การดูแลผู้ป่วยระยะสุดท้ายและปัจจัยอื่นๆ เฉพาะบุคคล โดยพบว่าการมีความเข้าใจความหมายของชีวิตย่อมส่งเสริมสุขภาพจิตและพฤติกรรมในเชิงบวก ผู้ที่มีความหมายของชีวิตชัดเจนย่อมมีเป้าหมายในชีวิต รู้ความต้องการปลายทางของชีวิต ความหมายของชีวิตมีผลอย่างมากต่อมุมมองชีวิต โลกทัศน์ และวิถีชีวิต สรุปผลการศึกษา: การทำหน้าที่ดูแลผู้ป่วยในช่วงสุดท้ายของชีวิตและการมีโอกาสได้เห็นผู้ที่กำลังจะเสียชีวิต ส่งผลให้เกิดการตระหนักรู้ความหมายของชีวิต ซึ่งมีผลต่อวิถีการดำเนินชีวิต การดูแลสุขภาพกายและใจ รวมถึงมีการดูแลคนรอบข้างและผู้ป่วยที่ดีขึ้น แนวคิดความหมายของชีวิตนี้ สามารถนำไปประยุกต์ใช้ได้ในเวชปฏิบัติด้านการดูแลแบบประคับประคองในการค้นหาความหมายของชีวิตผู้ป่วย หรือด้านจิตเวชในการบำบัดรักษาทางสุขภาพจิตสำหรับผู้ที่ขาดความหมายของชีวิต เป็นกระบวนทัศน์ใหม่ในการดูแลผู้ป่วยอย่างรู้คุณค่าและมีความหมาย และสามารถนำไปใช้ส่งเสริมการมีความหมายของชีวิตในบุคลากรทางการแพทย์และสาธารณสุขกลุ่มอื่น รวมทั้งยังส่งเสริมคนในสังคมตระหนักรู้ถึงความสำคัญของความหมายแห่งการมีชีวิตอยู่ การมีเครื่องมือไว้จัดการความทุกข์ และช่วยทำให้ชีวิตมีความสุขได้ง่าย ปล่อยวางความเป็นตัวตนได้มากขึ้น และช่วยให้ชีวิตอยู่ในสมดุลและผาสุก

Motivational Interviewing In A Team-Based Wellness Clinic: Perceptions And Fidelity, Jodi M. Winship

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidenced based counseling style to elicit health behavior change. Team-based student clinics are an ideal climate for students to learn and practice team-based care, yet little is understood as to how client-centered communication styles such as MI are implemented in a team setting.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this dissertation was to conduct an exploratory study using mixed methods to better understand how an MI training translates to team-based communication with clients, the factors impacting team-based implementation of MI, and how team-based MI impacts clients’ perceived autonomy at a student-led, interprofessional, team-based wellness clinic for …

Prenatal Risk For Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd): Fetal Cortisol Exposure Predicts Child Asd Symptoms, Sheena Ram, Mariann A. Howland, Curt A. Sandman, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is multifactorial, complex, and likely involves interactions among genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. With respect to environmental influences, a growing literature implicates intrauterine experiences in the origin of this pervasive developmental disorder. In this prospective longitudinal study, we examined the hypothesis that fetal exposure to maternal cortisol may confer ASD risk. In addition, because ASD is four times more prevalent in males than in females, and because sexually dimorphic responses to intrauterine experiences are commonly observed, we examined whether or not any associations differ by fetal sex. Maternal plasma cortisol was measured at …

An Evaluation Of The Impact Of Medication On Behavioral Intervention Effectiveness For Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury, Sulay Martinez

Capstone Projects

A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify articles implementing both pharmacological and behavioral interventions with subjects with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Limitations of pharmacological interventions were evaluated and compared to the implications for behavioral interventions for adults with TBI. Results of this study indicate further research is necessary to adequately evaluate the effects of medication on behavioral intervention effectiveness for adults with TBI.

A Scoping Review Of The Associations Between Mental Health And Factors Related To Hiv Acquisition And Disease Progression In Conflict-Affected Populations, Erica Koegler, Erica Koegler, Caitlin Kennedy

Social Work Faculty Works

The association between poor mental health and factors related to HIV acquisition and disease progression (also referred to as HIV-related factors) may be stronger among conflict-affected populations given elevated rates of mental health disorders. We conducted a scoping review of the literature to identify evidence-based associations between mental health (depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and factors related to HIV acquisition and progression in conflict-affected populations. Five electronic databases were searched on October 10, 2014 and updated on March 7, 2017 to identify peer-reviewed publications presenting primary data from January 1, 1994 to March 7, 2017. Articles were included …

The Critical Need For Mental Health Education To Be Mandated In New Mexico's Public Schools, Bonnie L. Murphy

Shared Knowledge Conference

Based on a review of research and best practices in mental health awareness and skills, this inquiry project argues for state legislative policies that would require mental health awareness and skills in the K-12 curriculum. Mental health affects individual accomplishments in every stage of people’s lives beginning in early childhood and throughout the life cycle. Prevention and treatment of mental illness plays a key role in the ability of an individual to cope with loss and develop resiliency and perseverance in challenging times and to make better decisions that improve the individual’s life and the lives of those around them. …

How Younger Adults With Psychosocial Problems Experienced Person-Centered Health Consultations, Line Soot, Kirsten S. Freund, Jørgen Lous, Mikkel Vass, Lotte Hvas

Patient Experience Journal

Much attention is focused on the social determinants of health. Family medicine is challenged with a growing number of vulnerable persons with psychosocial or lifestyle related problems. The objective of this work was to explore how vulnerable younger adults experience person-centered preventive health consultations with their general practitioner. The design and setting for this work were a secondary qualitative analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Danish general practices. Younger adults (20-45) were consecutively invited to answer a screening questionnaire about psychosocial and lifestyle-related problems when visiting general practice (28 general practitioners (GPs)) for ordinary consultations. The 30% most …

Patients Educating Health Care Providers On Lynch Syndrome, Kelsey Hennig, Barry Decoster, Rebecca Chu, Wendy Parker, Lisa Campo-Engelstein, Allison M. Burton-Chase

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: Lynch syndrome (LS) patients are at an elevated risk for early-onset cancers, including endometrial and colorectal (CRC). Prior research has shown a deficit in provider knowledge of LS, which may affect patient satisfaction and adherence to recommended screening and surveillance regimens. Studies suggest patients with LS may educate providers perceived as lacking LS knowledge; however, little is known about these interactions. The goal of this study is to assess patient-reported outcomes from clinical interactions where LS patients educate their providers.

Methods: Participants (n=55) were asked to complete an in-depth telephone interview.

Results: Out of 55 participants, …

Octo- And Nonagenarians' Outlook On Life And Death When Living With An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Ingela Thylén, Debra K. Moser, Anna Strömberg

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Elderly individuals are increasingly represented among patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), but data describing life with an ICD are scarse among octo- and nonagenarians. Moreover, few studies have reported those elderly patients’ perspective on timly discussions concerning what shock deactivation involves, preferences on battery replacement, and their attitudes about turning off the ICD nearing end-of-life. Consequently, the aim of the study was to describe outlooks on life and death in octo- and nonagenarian ICD-recipients.

Methods: Participants were identified via the Swedish Pacemaker- and ICD-registry, with 229 octo- and nonagenarians (82.0 ± 2.2 years, 12% female) completing the survey …

The Impact Of Stuttering On Development Of Self-Identity, Relationships, And Quality Of Life In Women Who Stutter, Charn Nang, Deborah J. Hersh, Katie Milton, Su Re Lau

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: The experiences of women who stutter have been underresearched. Clinicians have little guidance from the research literature on issues specific to women who stutter and are likely to have less clinical contact with this group than with men who stutter because of the higher prevalence of stuttering in men. This study explored the experiences of a small group of women who stutter with a particular focus on what the main current issues are and how gender may have influenced experiences with stuttering.

Method: This qualitative study involved recruitment of 9 women who stutter (aged 35-80 years) through a support …

Tumor Biology And Racial Disparities In Reconstruction After Mastectomy: A Seer Database Analysis, Sarah J. Ullrich, Michael C. Smith, Paul J. Chung, Sara Y. Kim, Gainosuke Sugiyama

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Introduction:

Significant disparities in immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy have persisted, and may even be increasing, despite large-scale efforts to minimize them, such as the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998. Immediate breast reconstruction has been shown to lead to higher rates of surgical satisfaction, minimize delay in post-operative cancer treatment, and improve the quality of life and overall well-being of mastectomy patients. However only 25-40% of eligible women in the United States receive reconstruction. The rate of reconstruction is even lower in African American and Hispanic women compared to White women. To better understand this disparity, …

Metaanalysis Of The Relationship Between Violent Video Game Play And Physical Aggression Over Time, Anna T. Prescott, James Sargent, Jay G. Hull

Dartmouth Scholarship

To clarify and quantify the influence of video game violence (VGV) on aggressive behavior, we conducted a metaanalysis of all prospective studies to date that assessed the relation between exposure to VGV and subsequent overt physical aggression. The search strategy identified 24 studies with over 17,000 participants and time lags ranging from 3 months to 4 years. The samples comprised various nationalities and ethnicities with mean ages from 9 to 19 years. For each study we obtained the standardized regression coefficient for the prospective effect of VGV on subsequent aggression, controlling for baseline aggression. VGV was related to aggression using …

Older Adults' Health Care Utilization A Year After Experiencing Fear Or Distress From Hurricane Sandy, Laura P Sands, Yimeng Xie, Rachel Pruchno, Allison Heid, Yili Hong

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether self-reports of disaster-related psychological distress predict older adults' health care utilization during the year after Hurricane Sandy, which hit New Jersey on October 29, 2012.

METHODS: Respondents were from the ORANJ BOWL Study, a random-digit dialed sample from New Jersey recruited from 2006 to 2008. Medicare hospital, emergency department (ED) and outpatient claims data from 2012 and 2013 were matched to 1607 people age 65 and older in 2012 who responded to follow-up surveys conducted from July 2013 to July 2015 to determine their hurricane-related experiences.

RESULTS: In total, 7% (107) of respondents reported they experienced …

Using Virtual Reality In Medical Education To Teach Empathy, Elizabeth Dyer, Barbara Swartzlander, Marilyn R. Gugliucci

Library Services Faculty Publications

Objective: The project adopted technology that teaches medical and other health professions students to be empathetic with older adults, through virtual reality (VR) software that allows them to simulate being a patient with age-related diseases, and to familiarize medical students with information resources related to the health of older adults.

Methods: The project uses an application that creates immersive VR experiences for training of the workforce for aging services. Users experience age-related conditions such as macular degeneration and high-frequency hearing loss from the patient’s perspective. Librarians and faculty partner to integrate the experience into the curriculum, and students go to …