Medicine and Health Commons^™

An Examination Of Student Health Insurance And Student Health Center Policies Across The Southeastern Conference, Katrina Gateley

Honors Theses

Campus health care services are often overlooked by prospective students and families during the college search process, yet the access and affordability of these services may have a significant impact on the overall health of college students. This study sought to compare student health services and policies at the 14 member institutions of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Additionally, this study explored student perceptions about campus health services and policies. A mixed methods approach was used to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Institutional website reviews of all 14 SEC institutions were conducted to gather information regarding health insurance policies, health …

An Examination Of The Association Between State Medicaid Perinatal Services And Birth Outcomes, Joy Morgan Myers

Honors Theses

This thesis investigated the connection between socioeconomic status, healthcare coverage, and birth outcomes. The research question that was posed specifically looked at twenty perinatal services that states covered under Medicaid to varying degrees to see their association, if any, with premature birth rates and low birthweight rates. State-level and Mississippi county-level data were compiled regarding preterm birth rates, low birthweight rates, presumptive eligibility adoption, and coverage of twenty different perinatal services. Using these data, the correlation between state Medicaid expansion status and birth outcomes was first calculated in order to determine if variation in birth outcomes was associated with expanded …

An Exploration Of Student Athletes Perception On The Athletic Trainer/Coach Relationship, Nikki Owens

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The goal of this study was to explore how the athletic trainer and coach relationship impacts the social support provided to Division I intercollegiate student—athletes. Through a qualitative-case study design, eleven participants were recruited and interviewed for the study. Criterion for inclusion included all NCAA sports at the university. This included males and females in various years of school and sport. After the completion of data analysis, four main themes were developed. These themes included social support, positive impact, negative impact, and unforeseen findings. Seven of the eleven student—athletes reported feeling that there was a direct relationship between the athletic …

Health Care Access For Children In Latinx Immigrant Families In The Greater Philadelphia Area, Sophia King

Politics Honors Papers

This work examines the gap that exists in access to health care in the Greater Philadelphia Region for children of Latinx immigrant families in comparison to other children in the nation. It provides a critical analysis of the gap in access to coverage, noting that this exists despite wide support for a human right to health. This study draws on existing scholarly research as well as interviews with staff at two health clinics and one community outreach center that are located in Greater Philadelphia. It demonstrates that Latinx immigrant families are less likely to have health insurance and get primary …

Messer, Braden - Covid-19 Journal, Braden Messer

Personal Journals

EIU student Braden Messer recounts the transition from Spring Break to online classes. He talks of quarantine life at home, and his stepmother's role as an attorney working with forced quarantine orders.

Zamora, Celeste - Covid-19 Journal, Celeste Zamora

Personal Journals

EIU student Celeste Zamora recounts life while quarantining in Charleston, IL while maintaining her studies and also working at a local hotel. She details Covid policies as they develop, including hotel practices such as the constant wearing of gloves, putting in place a new glass window, and no admittance of out of state people.

Klepzig, Logan - Covid-19 Journal, Logan Klepzig

Personal Journals

EIU student Logan Klepzig documents travel from Charleston, IL to Mohomet, IL (approximately 1 hour) to deliver groceries to, and visit his grandparents. He also describes the difficulty of not being able to celebrate birthdays, and see family. His journal also includes a number of links to regional and national news stories from the months of March and April of 2020, as well as images documenting pandemic restrictions around the EIU campus.

Mchale, Marguerite - Covid-19 Journal, Marguerite Mchale

Personal Journals

Marguerite McHale, and EIU student in Professor Mark Dries' HIS 1595 class maintains an upbeat journal documenting the challenges of the pandemic. Of particular note, she describes the growing divide between those supportive of the social distancing and masking initiatives, as well as the impact on high school students who she maintains friendships with as one who graduated a year early from high school. She includes a number of pieces of high school student commentary as well as memes related to the pandemic, and links to news stories. She also describes her home life, and finding ways to keep busy …

Drake, Benjamin - Covid-19 Journal, Benjamin Drake

Personal Journals

EIU student Benjamin Drake (freshman at the time of his journal writing in Spring, 2020), and History of Illinois (HIS 3810) student, reflects on the early months of the pandemic. He discusses the frustrations of the disruption of social life, not being on campus with friends, and also experiences with activities like playing virtual Dungeons and Dragons.

Spencer, Julia - Covid-19 Journal, Julia Spencer

Personal Journals

EIU student Julia Spencer describes the challenges adjusting to the new normal of the pandemic as it sets in. In particular she writes about struggles staying motivated to keep up with her studies, and the oddity of having classes on zoom. Her experience is compounded by health scares involving her mother and a friend.

The Effectiveness Of Implementing A Collaborative Mental Health Approach On Quality Of Life For Individuals Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Tyler Z. Tooley

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The ultimate purpose of this study is to provide insight and education to mental health clinicians, politicians and the general public of the numerous effects poverty has on mental health, in addition to the most beneficial ways to combat those insidious effects. The specific barriers met by individuals of low socioeconomic status severely affect psychological and physical health, as well as social and environmental relationships, which therefore diminish overall quality of life. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of implementing a collaborative mental health approach for low income individuals on length of engagement in services and …

A Review Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sophie Silver

Senior Honors Theses

Human immunodeficiency virus, also referred to as HIV, is a devastating virus which has infected millions. Characterized as a retrovirus, HIV has an RNA genome, which is reverse transcribed into DNA upon entry into the host cell. HIV primarily affects CD4⁺ T cells and is diagnosed by the significant reduction of CD4⁺ T cells. While no cure has been discovered yet, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been demonstrated as an effective treatment option. In the progression of HIV, additional HIV-associated diseases may arise, including HIV-associated psoriasis and sensory neuropathy. In addition to the use of ART, clinicians often prescribe …

Supporting Positive Lifestyle Changes Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Alison Tynan

Nursing | Senior Theses

The following thesis is a compilation of literature reviewed to formulate background research for a pilot study. The literature reviewed pertains to the potential benefit of added case management for patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. A proposed pilot study, based off of this research, aims to identify topics, tools, facts, and changes that can be made to case management to improve not just the biological aspects, like HbA1c levels, but the mental and emotional as well to allow for whole person care.

The primary question being asked is “what types of support do people with diabetes mellitus type 2 …

The Role Of Culture In Engaging The Senior Population In Omaha, Ne, Jamie Bish

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

In recent years, the senior care industry has become the focus of many public health initiatives as we have come to better understand the significance of our aging population (Olivari et al., 2020). Between the years 2010 and 2050, the population of the United States over 65 years is expected to more than double, from 40.5 to 89 million (Dall et al., 2013). While this data provides a national outlook, further research is needed to determine local impacts. This project centers on developing a better understanding of the demographics of seniors in the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area and how …

“Disbelieving Black Women To Death”; The “Double Jeopardy”: Racism And Sexism Affects Black Women’S Access To And Quality Of Care During Pregnancy, Birth, And Postpartum, Madeline St. Clair

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This paper explores possible reasons why Black women in the United States experience a higher maternal mortality rate than their white counterparts. Using books, articles, journals, documentaries, personal experiences and stories of Black women and mothers, I argue that barriers from the societal to the individual level create health and medical disparities for Black mothers in pregnancy, during delivery, and the postpartum period. The paper concludes with a multifaceted solution and call to action.

Myocardial Infarction And Treatment Adherence Rates Across Sociodemographic & Health Indicators, Deborah Shim, Ashley Wendell Kranjac

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Trends on first myocardial infarction and rates of adherence to treatment across age were estimated. Data sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2016, were used to determine the patterned age trends of patients’ first myocardial infarction as well as their subsequent willingness to comply with treatments, such as weight loss. Demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status were taken into account and integrated as they play a key role in contextualizing and understanding these health trends. Preliminary historical trend analyses across 9 waves of data spanning 17 years indicate that patients are increasingly presenting with myocardial infarction earlier …

280— Exploring The Geographic Distribution Of Childbed Fever Deaths In Mid-19th Century Rochester, Ny, Meaghan Parks

GREAT Day Posters

Childbed fever, formally called puerperal fever or puerperal septicemia, is an infection typically contracted by women after childbirth. Historically, childbed fever was a serious threat to maternal health. Childbed fever is caused by exposure of open wounds or abrasions, which are common after giving birth, to group A and B Streptococcal bacteria. Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that hand washing using a chlorinated solution reduced cases of childbed fever in 1847. This project reviews the instances of death from childbed fever in Rochester, New York from 1837-1860 and later from 1907-1919 and attempts to determine which areas of the city had the …

The Effect Of Volunteering On Stress Hormone Levels Of Graduate Student Volunteers, Kyra Valovick, Kelsey Swegle

Virtual 2020 Spring Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The purpose of this presentation is to set up methods for a long-term study using graduate students in the Speech Pathology graduate program at Longwood University. Previous studies have shown that levels of stress hormones, cortisol and alpha-amylase, decrease after a volunteering activity. In this study, we aim to replicate those results by taking saliva samples from graduate students who are volunteering with disabled children at a local therapeutic barn, Heartland Horse Heroes. From those samples, we will measure levels of cortisol, alpha-amylase, and DHEA, a hormone measuring resistance. We expect to see a decrease in cortisol and alpha-amylase and …

The Influence Of Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema On Women’S Return-To-Work, Yuanlu (April) Sun, Cheryl Shigaki, Jane Armer

Nursing Faculty Works

Background: Lymphedema is one of the major treatment complications following breast cancer surgery and radiation. As the majority of women who develop breast cancer are at the age of employment, occupational functioning and employment are issues of concern. This study is novel in exploring the ways that lymphedema affects their work experience. Methods: A multiple-case study methodology drawn from Yin’s definition was employed. A total of 13 female survivors who developed breast cancer–related lymphedema participated by completing a survey and a 60-min semi-structured interview. Results: Four main themes emerged: (1) breast cancer–related lymphedema affects physical and emotional functioning associated with …

Society Of Behavior Medicine (Sbm) Urges Congress To Ensure Affordable Care Act Coverage Of Prostate Cancer Screening Support Services For High-Risk Men, Karriem Watson, Josef Ben Levi, Other Co-Authors

Sociology Faculty Publications

Prostate cancer (PCa) disproportionately affects African American men. Early detection reduces risk of mortality. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued an updated recommendation statement on serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)-based screening for PCa. Specifically, in 2012, the USPSTF recommended against PSA-based screening due to risk for overdiagnosis and overtreatment. However, the updated 2018 guidelines recommend consideration of screening for certain at risk men and revised the recommendation rating from “D” to “C.” This new guideline recommends providers to educate high-risk men on the benefits and harms of PSA-based PCa screening so that they can make an informed …