Other Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Path Dependency And The Politics Of U.S. Health Reform, Sophia Spadafore

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study examines the impact of path dependency on health reform efforts in the United States, specifically analyzing how past policy decisions constrain subsequent reform possibilities. Utilizing the theoretical framework of historical institutionalism, the study investigates two significant cases—the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 and the The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010—to illustrate how successful healthcare reforms embed institutional arrangements that limit future policy innovation. Through a comparative case study approach grounded in legislative records, historical texts, and scholarly analyses, the research highlights that major healthcare reforms in the U.S. have consistently been structured …

Effects Of Telesimulation On The Health Literacy Knowledge, Confidence And Application Of Nursing Students, Susan Patton

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Assessing and addressing health literacy (HL) in patients is an essential role of the nurse and a critical component of nursing student education. Yet, large gaps exist within nursing school curricula with regard to the development of HL knowledge and skills, and the confidence to implement practices that target HL. Furthermore, effective training modalities that examine the transformation of nursing students’ knowledge into practice through the development of confidence during experiential learning have not been well explored.

Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness of a HL information and a HL telesimulation intervention on the HL Knowledge, Application and Confidence of first-semester …

Distinct Neuropsychological Profile And Associated Neurochemical Changes In Individuals With Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, And Stroke-Like Episodes (Melas), Emily B. Leaffer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like Episodes (MELAS) is a maternally inherited progressive multisystemic disorder. Occurrence of seizure and/or stroke-like episode, as well as classic biomarkers (i.e., cerebral lactic acidosis, depleted N-acetylaspartate (NAA)), have been linked to neuropsychological deficit and trigger the developmental cascade of neurodegeneration affecting posterior prior to anterior brain regions. While a pattern of global deterioration has been reported, systematic examination in a large MELAS cohort has not been conducted.

Objective: First, we examined verbal and visual memory function and its relationship to brain metabolites (lactate, NAA) in individuals with MELAS. Second, we hypothesized that MELAS …

Speech Perception In Mandarin- And Cantonese-Speaking Children With Cochlear Implants: A Systematic Review, Sum Yee Fong

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Current cochlear implants are limited in their ability to convey pitch and tone information. Poor representation of pitch and tone information in cochlear implants hinders lexical tone perception for cochlear-implant users who speak tonal languages such as Mandarin and Cantonese. As the demand for cochlear implants in China is increasing, it is necessary to understand the speech perception abilities of Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking cochlear-implant users and the factors that contribute to improved speech perception for these users.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to perform a systematic review on the speech perception abilities in children with cochlear implants …

Dancing, Mindfulness, And Our Emotions: Embracing The Mind, Body, And Sole, Alisha M. Collins

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This capstone project examines dance, as an intervention and mindfulness practice that assists with managing our emotions. There is a need for dance therapy in social institutions such as, healthcare facilities, schools, and community centers. Dance therapy has the potential to reduce negative emotions, create mindfulness, improve self-expression, and promote a healthy well-being. I am proposing that dance therapy is applied as a regular practice in social institutions to develop mindfulness and promote emotional stability.

In this study, I argue that dance therapy can contribute to our well-being long term. In addition to this written thesis, a visual component of …

Psychological And Psychiatric Comorbidities Associated With Tinnitus: A Systematic Review, Shanna Hymowitz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to examine the current literature evidence pertaining to the relationship between tinnitus and psychological and psychiatric comorbidities. Literature was found discussing the prevalence of tinnitus with psychological and psychiatric comorbidities, differences in self-reports, and whether the perception of tinnitus is aided with the use of psychological counseling and psychotropic medications. Relative search strings applied to Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline Complete, and PubMed identified studies to be included in this review. (Will put total amount of studies found once collected). An assessment of all research literature found …