Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Healing Touch: Enhancing Quality Of Life, Julia Mccann-Khludenev

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Healing touch (HT) is a non-invasive energy therapy used in the management of symptoms of various health conditions. HT utilization has demonstrated enhanced comfort and relief of symptoms such as chronic pain, post-traumatic-stress, depression, and anxiety. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to promote awareness and appointment compliance rate of HT amongst veterans, and also to determine effectiveness of HT intervention on symptom relief and well-being. The PICO question was: “For Veterans, what is the effect of HT education material and mail notification on appointment compliance rate, and HT delivery on symptom relief and well-being as compared …

Therapy Dogs And The Impact On Employees In The Pediatric Medical Setting, Laine Foith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

More than 40% of nurses reported experiencing significant burnout. Burnout is characterized by disengagement, cynicism, negative views of personal accomplishment and ability, and emotional exhaustion. The healthcare providers that experience burnout can possibly expect a decrease in ability to recognize/report errors, increase of negative feelings toward the patient, and decrease levels of patient satisfaction (Ernest, 2014). One of the ways Schub (2015) suggested to regulate burnout for employees was to provide psychosocial support to colleagues to reduce stress. This study is one of the first attempts to bridge the gap between the unknown correlation between qualitative and quantitative benefits of …

Determining The Knowledge, Attitudes And Beliefs Of Healthcare Providers In Treating Non-Specific Acute And Chronic Back Pain, Stacey L. Kale

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

An Abstract of the Scholarly Project by

Stacey Kale

Managing back pain has become a public health and clinical challenge (Krein et al., 2016). Incidence of back pain related complaints requiring treatment in the US is estimated at 11.2% of the adult population (Dowell, Haegerich, & Chou, 2016). New research suggests that it is the most common pain problem (Pauline, 2016). It is the third most expensive health disorder and is exceeded only by cancer and heart disease. Many health care providers lack formal pain management education and training thus leaving them at risk for failing to properly manage patients …

Comparative Evaluation Of Three Pharmaceutical Medications And White Willow Bark, Jazzmin Washington

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Pharmaceuticals have become a big business today. However, the costs of medications are continuously increasing, due to several factors such as an increased demand. This is one of the many reasons herbal remedies continue to be used; 80% of the world still uses herbal medicine as their primary form of treatment. Due to this, one must evaluate and compare herbal remedies to their pharmaceutical counterparts to ensure that individuals have the same quality of medicine. Different brands of commercial aspirin were compared to its herbal counterpart, white willow bark, to validate their similarities in chemical structure. This project will serve …

One-Pot Syntheses And Characterizations Of “Click-Able” Polyester Polymers For Potential Biomedical Applications, James F. Beach Ii

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

In this study, a synthetic polyester polymer was designed using polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, glutaric acid and 4-pentynoic acid as monomers. The synthesis was carried out using standard melt polymerization technique and catalyzed by Novozyme-435, an enzyme suitable for polyesterification of biocompatible compounds. The progress of the reaction was monitored with respect to time and vacuum exposure, with samples being subjected to standard characterization protocols. Polymers with high molecular weight and water solubility were chosen for further modification into folate-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to cancer cells. This was achieved by employing a solvent diffusion method, wherein the polymer …

The Power Of Plants, Rebecca Barchus

Senior Honors Projects

Natural and homeopathic remedies have seen quite a resurgence in popularity over the past few years. Many people are seeking natural solutions or treatments for a wide variety of conditions. There are almost as many different modalities as there are plants. In the realm of natural solutions plants can be used in their raw, unadulterated state in the same way plants are used as food. Plants can also be further processed into concentrated supplements, tinctures, and essential oils. While the interest in the use of plants as a complementary and alternative medical practice has increased, many still dismiss the topic …

A Clinical Practice Change Initiative To Incorporate Animal Assisted Therapy In Advanced Practice Registered Nurses' Clinical Practice For Children And Adolescents, Donna Rae Cowell

Doctoral Projects

Background: Children and adolescents mental healthcare needs is vital for the future of our nation’s welfare (American Psychology Association, 2014). Research has indicated AAT may be a considerable choice to help with pediatrics mental healthcare and may be utilized as an adjunct to enhance the care within the psychiatric healthcare field (Chandler, 2012). AAT has become popular within the healthcare realm (Friesen, 2009; Uyemura, 2016) and is a unique method for providing “patients” health care, which may improve patient outcomes (Chandler, 2012; Cowell, 2013; McCullough, 2016; McQuarrie & Urichuk, 2008). Research supports that “providers” in the health care field may …

Humor In Medicine: A Literature Review Of Humor’S Potential Therapeutic Value In Health Care, Weston Michael Grant

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Using humor and laughter within the health care field has the potential to be relevant to patients during treatment, to the patient-caregiver relationship, to the subjective well-being of health care providers, and to the environments’ (e.g., work settings) impact on group relationships (e.g., colleagues). A review of the literature examines how the psychological and physiological effects of laughter and humor within the human body impact health and well-being, how humor and laughter improve the patient-practitioner relationship, and if humor and laughter can potentially impact physician burnout. Several possible implications for these findings are discussed, such as professional medical comedians, improvements …

Comparative Evaluation Of The Antibacterial, Anti-Biofilm And Anti-Spore Effects Of Theaflavins And Palmitoyl-Egcg, Gabriella M. Appice

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Tea, one of the most common beverages, originates from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Two major groups of tea are fermented black tea and unfermented green tea. Theaflavins (TFs) are the major polyphenols present in black tea, while mono-palmitoyl-epigallocatechin-gallate (pEGCG) is a modified green tea polyphenol. In this study, the antibacterial effects of TF and pEGCG were evaluated against six selected bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris, using an antibacterial assay. A viability assay using SYTOX® staining and flow cytometry was also used to determine the effect of these compounds …

Cross-Cultural Investigation Of Birth Experience : A Comparison Between Mexico And The United States., Alice J Darling

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

This study investigates the maternal birth experience through a cross-cultural lens. While the field of medical anthropology has researched birth practices of many cultures, few cross-cultural studies have been performed and no recent studies have suggested a transition in birthing. Ethnographic interviews with women and practitioners in Yucatán, Mexico and with women in Kentucky, United States allowed for a better understanding of the respective birthing environments. Grounded theory was then employed to develop a birth transition theory explaining changes occurring when society transitions from traditional birth practitioners to allopathic birth practitioners. The themes of knowledge, expectation and power were isolated …

The Pharmacognosy And Therapeutic Efficacy Of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa): A Systematic Review, Maghan Ballantyne

Senior Honors Projects

Turmeric is a well-known natural product, native to Southeast Asia, commonly

used for a variety of cultural traditions and health benefits. Generally referred

to as curcumin, it is a member of the Zingiberaceae, or ginger family, utilized

for its roots and known for its vibrant yellow hue. Culturally, it is primarily

incorporated into cooking and as an integral part of religious rituals and

ceremonies. Chemically, turmeric is classified as a phenolic compound, made

up of many curcuminoids, each with varying levels of activity. Therapeutically,

its health benefits include anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-oxidant

and anti-pruritic properties. The pharmacognosy of curcumin modulates

inflammatory …

Tucker's "The End Of The Island: Finding Life In The Movements Of Human Suffering, Pain, And Loss" (Book Review), T-Ann Currie

The Christian Librarian

Tucker, J. C. (2016). The end of the island: Finding life in the movements of human suffering, pain, and loss. Eugene, OR: Resource Publications. 159 pp. $22.00. ISBN 9781498279062

Determining The Protective Effects Of Quercetin Against Cadmium Toxicity In Human Embryonic Kidney Cells, Caroline N. Smith

Undergraduate Theses

Cadmium is a toxic industrial and environmental pollutant found in groundwater, air, soils, food and cigarettes. Chronic intake of low levels of cadmium has been shown to result in renal dysfunction due to cell death which can occur via apoptosis as well as necrosis. Previous studies have shown that plant extracts containing quercetin, a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables, protect against cadmium toxicity in rat liver hepatocytes. To determine if quercetin may have a protective effect in a cadmium-treated human embryonic kidney cell line, HEK-293 cells were treated using concentrations of cadmium chloride from 10 to 50 μM …

Reconnecting The Mind And Body: A Pilot Study Of Developing Compassion For Persistent Pain, Sarah L. Parry Dr, Zoey Malpus Dr

Patient Experience Journal

As an alternative to the more typical cognitive behavioural approach to pain management, a novel pain management group based on the principles of compassionate mind training was developed for a particular sub-group of patients. Participants were patients of a community pain clinic, who were invited to participate in this alternative approach to pain management. The eight-week Compassion in Pain Groups included psychoeducation around persistent pain, the underlying principles of compassionate mind training, practical exercises such as diaphragmatic breathing, followed by a series of compassionate imagery exercises and group discussions. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were undertaken to gain further insights …

Effects Of Therapeutic Music On Pain In Spinal Surgery Recovery, Michael Poulsen

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Pain is one of the most common experienced symptoms reported by more than 80% of postoperative patients. Approximately 77-98% of postoperative patients report pain following their procedure with 40- 80% having moderate to severe pain. Pain is shown to elevate stress levels manifesting in increased heart rates, blood pressures, and oxygen demand. Inadequate pain control can develop into surgical complications causing surgical failure, blood clots, pneumonia, and chronic pain. Complimentary and alternative medicine such as music can be used in combination with opioid medication help improve pain control leading to successful surgical outcomes. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project …

Benefits Of Having A Pet At College: Perception Of Today’S College Students, Morgan Jenkins

Georgia College Student Research Events

The present literature review examined data from 10 studies that examined the benefits of pet therapy and well-being. Florence Nightingale, a pioneer of nursing, recognized these benefits in the early 1800s when she used animals to provide support to mentally ill patients. Since then, pets, but mainly dogs, have been used across various populations and in numerous settings such as with geriatrics in nursing homes, in disaster relief, with war veterans suffering from PTSD, with inmates in correctional facilities, with terminal patients in hospice care, and with pediatric patients in the hospital setting. In all of these scenarios, findings suggest …

The Body Creates: A Panel, Hala M. Akhtar, Benjamin Ly, Henry Nguyen, Anna Villarreal, Ryleigh Bryant

Collin College Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Student Research Conference

Papers presented:

"Correlation of Skeletal Muscles and Vitamin D" by Hala M. Akhtar & Benjamin Ly

"There is More than Meets the Eye" by Henry Nguyen, Anna Villarreal & Ryleigh Bryant

The eyes are a very important organ so it is important that we take good care of them. The eye allows us to see and life as we know it could not be possible if we did not have eyesight. There is more than meets the eye as it can be threatened by disease that cannot be simply seen without the use of specially designed instruments or machines. Some …

Pilates And Yoga As Alternative Interventions For The Treatment Of Chronic Lower Back Pain In The Primary Care Setting: An Evidence-­‐Based Practice Project, Corinna Bellwood

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The purpose of this project is to answer the clinical PICO question: In patients with chronic lower back pain (CLBP) how do yoga and Pilates compared to conventional treatment of chronic lower back pain affect pain control?

Veterans Experience Using Acupuncture As An Alternative Treatment, Stacy Leet

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

There is growing dissatisfaction within the veteran community with their conventional health care options. This dissatisfaction has led to an increase in seeking complementary and alternative treatments, like acupuncture. There is increased need to understand the experience of veterans who use acupuncture as an alternative treatment for their physical or mental health care needs. This phenomenological study interviewed veterans (n=6) to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences using acupuncture as alternative treatment. The outcomes of this study will add to the knowledge base and provide social workers and health providers a wider range of care options that will continue …

Treatment Alternatives To Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: An Evidence-Based Project, Katherine Oberwager

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

To answer the clinical PICOT question: in adults with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), how does augmenting a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) compare to monotherapy with an SSRI in terms of symptom severity and to translate this evidence into practice.