Mental and Social Health Commons^™

How Does Access To Healthcare Affect Life Expectancy?, Yara Mahmoud

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Access to health care is a pressing issue in the United States, whether it be the cost of care or not having enough of it. To emphasize the importance of this topic, this paper assesses the impact of access to health services on life expectancy. A comparison is made between the universal health systems in France and Spain and the mixed system in the United States. Even though the United States spends the most on health care in the world, its statistics fall below those of other developed countries. After addressing other risk factors, it was found that individuals under …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Maternal Mental Health Within Transition From Nicu To Home, Victoria Briltz

Student Capstone Papers

The purpose of this capstone project is to identify OT’s role in maternal mental health following the transition home from a NICU setting. This capstone project focused on mothers’ roles, routines, and environment during the transition from the NICU to home. Mothers may feel unprepared for the discharge home when their babies are ready to leave the NICU (Boykova, 2016). Occupational therapists address occupational performance through skilled interventions for women during the perinatal period; however, there is a lack of evidence guiding occupational therapy for providing services for maternal wellness (Slootjes, 2016).

Data analysis for this capstone project consisted of …

Changing Minds: Measuring The Impact Of A Student-Led Club To Reduce Mental Health Stigma Among Teenagers, Jennifer Anolin

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction: Stigma is a major barrier for teenagers to access mental health services. Additional barriers include low health literacy, and demographic factors, such as gender, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity. Studies show that successful solutions to decreasing stigma involve interventions inside of schools. The purpose of this project was to measure impact of the Bring Change 2 Mind (BC2M) program and recommend program improvement needs.

Methods: Four survey instruments were used to evaluate BC2M’s student-led club program and to determine the club’s impact on reducing stigma at each participating high school. Each survey consisted of both qualitative and quantitative questions fielded …

A Systematic Review Of Gambling-Related Findings From The National Epidemiologic Survey On Alcohol And Related Conditions, Jasmine M.Y. Loo, Shane W. Kraus, Marc N. Potenza

Psychology Faculty Research

Background and aims: This systematic review analyzes and summarizes gambling-related findings from the nationally representative US National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) data. Methods: Systematic literature searches in accordance with PRISMA guidelines found 51 eligible studies that met inclusion criteria. Eight studies utilized both Waves 1 and 2 NESARC data, and selection of sample sizes varied from 185 to 43,093 individuals, consistent with specified research objectives of each study. Results: The prevalence of lifetime pathological gambling was 0.42% (0.64% among men, 0.23% among women), while past-year prevalence was 0.16%. Pathological gambling rates were generally higher in populations …

The Never-Ending Lap, Ennica D. Jacob, Alexis Reese

Capstones

This personal film documents the journey of a Haitian-American woman dealing with sexual trauma in a culture that doesn’t speak candidly on the topic. How can women of the African- American diaspora break the cycle of sexual trauma and what are coping mechanisms to navigate their life choices with awareness?

The Never-Ending Lap will follow Ennica’s own healing process, delving delve into the cycles of sexual trauma. The film will explore past experiences through journal entries, therapy sessions and her love for track and field as she is on the road to search for coping mechanisms and healing.

Link: https://ennicajacob.myportfolio.com/videos

Offering Medical Providers Capacity And Competence In Caring For Transgender And Non-Binary Patients: Evaluation Of A Pilot Digital Training Program, Lexis Manzara

Master's Projects and Capstones

Purpose: Stigma and discrimination in health care settings contribute to health disparities for transgender and non-binary (TGNB) people. Evidence suggests that a lack of training on the care for transgender and non-binary TGNB patients in medical school curricula has contributed to providers feeling unprepared to provide quality care for this population. Health care providers have the opportunity to play a key role in the reduction of health disparities for TGNB patients.

Methods: Twenty-five health care providers completed the eight-module digital training program. Pre- and post-tests assessed provider knowledge, self-efficacy, preparedness, and behavior. Paired samples t-tests were conducted to compare pre-and …

Knowledge And Attitudes About Sudden Death In Epilepsy Among People Living With Epilepsy And Their Healthcare Providers In Mulago Hospital, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study, Carol Bixen, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess level of knowledge and attitudes of SUDEP among people living with epilepsy (PLWE) and healthcare workers providing epilepsy care in Uganda. Methods: This cross-sectional study of 48 PLWE and 19 epilepsy care providers used a tailored questionnaire to evaluate epilepsy and SUDEP knowledge, frequency of SUDEP discussion, reasons for not discussing SUDEP, timing of SUDEP discussions, and perceived patient reactions to being provided information on SUDEP. Results: Median PLWE sample age was 25 (IQR; 19-34) years, 10 (20.8%) were male, median age of onset of epilepsy 12 (IQR; 6-18) years. Half …

An Exploratory Study Of How Millennials Approach And Communicate Mental Health In The Workplace, Johanna I. Seitenbach

Student Theses and Dissertations

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 300 million people. As more millennials take on leadership positions, it is important to understand how companies are currently addressing mental health in the workplace and compare this to how millennials approach the subject. The quantitative analysis completed through this study helped to determine what a mentally healthy workplace looks and feels like for millennials. Companies are increasingly investing in mental health initiatives for several reasons: to increase brand recognition, to improve company culture, to mitigate potential lawsuits, and to increase employee engagement and retention. This survey assessed how …

Sex Differences In Cognitive Changes In De Novo Parkinson’S Disease, Ece Bayram, Sarah J. Banks, Guogen Shan, Nikki Kaplan, Jessica Z.K. Caldwell

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Objective: To evaluate the sex differences in cognitive course over 4 years in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to controls. Methods: Four-year longitudinal cognitive scores of 257 cognitively intact PD, 167 PD-MCI, and 140 controls from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative were included. Longitudinal scores of men and women, and PD with and without MCI were compared. Results: Women had better verbal memory, men had better visuospatial function. There was no interaction between sex, diagnostic group, and/or time (4-year follow-up period). Conclusions: Sex differences in cognitive course in de novo PD are similar …

A Single Case Study Of Sophomore College Students’ Self-Awareness And How It Relates To Teamwork At A Private College, Jeanne Thomas

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Teamwork is considered an essential 21st-century skill and is now included in most university curricula. Working in teams helps college students learn skills such as leadership and problem-solving, that can transfer to the workplace. Effective teams are defined as those with members who communicate well and whose members possess a high degree of self-awareness (SA). SA is the primary component of Goleman’s framework of emotional intelligence (EI). A single case study was conducted at a private college in the United States to better understand how sophomore students described SA and how it relates to teamwork. The participants were sophomore …

Memantine: Can It Be Used To Treat Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder?, Austin Brown, Katherine Liu, Pul Lee, Rachel Muhlenkamp, Manoranjan D'Souza

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in social, behavior and communicative skills. The current therapy for ASD only targets the associated symptoms such as aggression, self-harming acts or temper tantrums but not the core symptoms of social dysfunction. The pathology of ASD is not fully understood. Interestingly, imaging studies in ASD patients have reported abnormal high levels of glutamate in certain brain regions that play an important role in social interaction and communication. Thus, it has been hypothesized that medications attenuating glutamate transmission may be used as treatment for some of the core symptoms of …

Fentanyl: Abuse Potential And Prevention Strategies Tor Pharmacists, Margaret Rowland, Amanda Hoersten, Sarah Webb, H. Paige Stewart, Lindsey Hallman, Michael Milks

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

The abuse of fentanyl is becoming more prevalent, with patients devising new methods of extraction in order to abuse it. Fentanyl patches were originally intended for the opioid tolerant patients still requiring pain relief, but illicit use and drug diversion of this medication continues to grow at an alarming rate. Several cases of abuse have been documented in which patients were chewing patches for oral absorption, distilling the drug into liquid form for injection, or rectally inserting the patches. To discourage and prevent abuse, a keenly aware pharmacist can provide patients with important counseling points on proper use, disposal and …

Creative Arts-Based Parents Training Program For Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jung Eun Park

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study evaluated the impact of the Creative Arts-based Parents’ Training (CAPT) program. The 6-week long, creative arts therapy-based program and its impact on parental stress and sense of competence for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was examined. Korean Parenting Stress Index Short-Form (K-PSI-SF) and Korean-Parenting Efficacy Test (K-PET) were used as quantitative measurements. Qualitative data were also collected for the experimental group (n = 17) using questionnaires, art journaling, and a 30 min focus group interview. The control group (n = 15) only participated in quantitative measurements. There was no difference in age between …

The Use Of Propranolol In The Treatment Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Tana M. Peterman, Alison L. Huet, Sarah E. Drake, Jamie L. Drees, Robert D. Raiff, B. Shane Martin

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

This article examines the rising issue of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and possible treatment options. PTSD is a behavioral disorder resulting from memory formation and association with a traumatic event. A search of the published literature reveals several positive studies and case reports suggesting that propranolol, a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist, may be useful for both treatment and prevention of PTSD. Additionally, current studies are being completed in different population groups to determine the overall effectiveness and mechanism by which propranolol is able to provide relief from certain symptoms common to the disorder. This article discusses the medical evidence and …

Prescription Drug Abuse: A Guide For Pharmacists, Brieann J. Miller, Amanda C. Mcdavid, Nicholas J. Edmonds, Joshua P. Stevens, Cynthia C. Nguyen, Ryan W. Naseman, Michael M. Milks

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Millions of Americans use prescription psychotherapeutc drugs for nonmedical purposes. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are painkillers, followed by sedatives and stimulants. The first step towards ending prescription drug abuse must be taken by the pharmacist. Professional and student organizations, as well the as the newly founded Ohio Rx Abuse Prevention (OhioRAP) Coalition, provide resources to pharmacists and pharmacy students who want to reduce prescription drug abuse. This article discusses these various resources and provides a guide for pharmacists to take an active role in reducing prescription drug abuse and positively impact patient outcomes and their communities.

Role Of The Pharmacist In Improving Treatment For Children With Concurrent Gastrointestinal And Autism Spectrum Disorders, Whitney R. Henry, Kaitlin A. Sanders, Jenna L. Schaffner, Leslie M. Hart, Whitney N. Detillion, Anne F. Gentry

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Over the last several years, a noteworthy association between gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been documented, although no large population-based studies exist. GI disorders in ASD children may stem from the underlying behavioral, communication, sensory or neurological issues intrinsic to the autistic disorder itself; therefore, the incorporation of alternative therapies, including behavioral modification, may be compelling treatment additions to the GI care traditionally recommended in children. To improve GI symptoms and quality of life in ASD children, a multidisciplinary approach is optimal, with pharmacists playing an active role in determining appropriate pharmacotherapy. Although there is a …

Off-Label, On Brand: How Psychiatric Drugs Reached Unsuspecting Youths, Charles J. May, Danielle Hyams, Larisa Karr

Capstones

This capstone project takes a deep dive into the world of off-label medicine, specifically focusing on psychiatric drugs for children. Off-label medicine is common practice, but not many people understand the potential dangers of this practice if doctors are not forthcoming and honest with their patients about potential side effects. Throughout this report, we detail the experiences of youths who took antipsychotics and antidepressants for off-label purposes, and the life-changing side effects the experienced as a result.

https://medium.com/@charlie.may/off-label-on-brand-how-psychiatric-drugs-reached-unsuspecting-youths-cdcb22315789

Ontrack: A Program Evaluation, Justin Mynatt

Doctoral Projects

OnTrack is a program that provides coordinated specialty care (CSC) services for patients who have experienced their first episode of psychosis (FEP). Appropriately identifying and aggressively treating this vulnerable population, while providing support to both them and their families is critical for improved outcomes. Appropriate treatment of FEP patients can improve their quality of life, preserve brain matter, improve overall functioning, and lessen the burden of the clients’ family who may be involved in their care, such as caregiver strain or financial hardship. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the success of OnTrack, a FEP program, at improving …

Chapter 12: Dementia: Detection, Assessment, And Intervention, Sally Pelon

Books and Contributions to Books

This chapter considers various forms of dementia as well as the assessment and diagnosis process from a uniquely social work perspective. It also explores various psychosocial and practical interventions that may utilized by social workers as they support and assist both those with a dementia diagnosis and their loved ones.

Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 1 Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Olivia Dooley Mpa, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This report summarizes the Year 1 activities of the Healthy Acadia Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project. Through a collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia, its providers, the Downeast Substance Treatment Network and Downeast Substance Use Response Coalition, the project utilized multiple evidence-based strategies to combat opioid use disorder (OUD) in Downeast Maine.

Key findings focused on:

• capacity building,
• stakeholder engagement,
• organizational and peer support,
• payment and reimbursement issues,
• the creation of low-barrier access to MAT,
• barriers, including stigma, to MAT
• patient-centered approaches
• auxiliary recovery supports

For more information, please contact M. LIndsey Smith, PhD at [email protected]