9667 research outputs found
Sort by
Playful Parenting: Nurturing Connection and Development Through Play
No full text"Playful Parenting: Nurturing Connection and Development Through Play" is a 12-month program designed for new parents or parents of children between the ages of 0-2, providing information about play and its importance to a child’s development during the first two years. The findings of a study conducted in recent years demonstrated that parents have a difficult time seeing value in free play or unstructured activities (Dhas et al. 2022). Building upon this research, our program allows parents to learn about what milestones their children are expected to reach and how play can be used as a developmental tool to assist them in reaching their milestones. The program offers interactive workshops, presentations, and speakers that will help build a foundation for understanding how to use play to reinforce development and as a medium for interacting with your child at various stages of development. (Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Juan Armijo
Analysis of Inpatient Rehabilitation Interventions and Impact on Recovery Trajectory for Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) Patients
No full textThis capstone project aims to develop research skills to describe inpatient rehabilitation interventions and impact of verticalization on the trajectory of recovery for disorders of consciousness (DoC) patients. Many DoC are the result of a traumatic brain injury, however causes include: cardiovascular failure, progressive degenerative diseases, or metabolic diseases (Pistarini & Maggioni, 2021). Occupational therapists aim to deliver effective rehabilitation by improving arousal and awareness (Ng & King, 2021). However, there is limited evidence describing effective treatments (Weaver, Watters, & Cogan, 2021). Verticalization is a promising treatment for DoC patients and mobilizes patients into upright position using equipment such as tilt tables (Krewer et al., 2015). A retroactive sample of 24 adult DoC patients at TIRR Memorial Hermann DoC Program in Houston in 2022 was used. Quantitative data was compiled from demographics, functional status, Coma Recovery Score-revised (CRS-R) scores, and weekly treatment interventions. There was a positive significant correlation between time and CRS-R score, but no significant statistical correction between number of verticalizations and CRS-R score. Limitations in variability in length of stay, number of CRS-R scores, inconsistent documentation of verticalization minutes, blood pressure instability, and lost therapy minutes could have impacted correlation results. There is an opportunity in the future to mitigate these variables and test for impact of verticalization on CRS-R scores. Further research regarding the type of equipment used for verticalization could provide accessibility for continued improvement in arousal and awareness after discharge.TWU Housto
Factors affecting mental health providers' competent care of transgender and gender nonbinary clients
No full textTransgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) people face discrimination because of their gender identity. Well-meaning mental health providers (MHPs) may pose threats to their TGNB clients’ well-being by providing inadequate or harmful treatment. Many MHPs are unprepared to work competently with TGNB clients on a range of topics including gender-affirming medical care and gender-specific identity-based exploration. Exploration remains to be done on specific factors affecting competent care with TGNB clients, such as graduate training, self-reported competent practices, and performance-based affirming practices. Through the proposed investigation, the researcher used clinical scenarios to determine the specific ways MHPs may be prepared or unprepared when working with TGNB clients. The investigator recruited 108 participants through MHP electronic listservs. Participants responded to one of four clinical vignettes and completed three performance-based and self-report measures evaluating competence with TGNB clients and a demographic form. The researcher utilized the software program Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) to quantify themes and tone within participants’ responses to clinical vignettes. The researcher conducted regression analyses, moderation analyses, and ANOVAs to explore relationships between independent variables related to MHP identity and training and outcome variables measuring competence. Results partially supported Hypothesis 1, suggesting that MHPs with marginalized sexual orientations may demonstrate more competent practice with TGNB clients. Hypothesis 2 predicting between-group effects among MHPs based on gender and sexual orientation of a hypothetical client were not supported. Hypothesis 3 revealed mixed findings, indicating that some training variables may be positively related to competent practice. Degree type moderated some of these effects, such that participants with a counseling psychology degree demonstrated a greater difference in effects when evaluating number of post-graduate trainings and competence. Hypotheses exploring psycholinguistic differences between clinical vignettes did not yield significant findings. Finally, post-hoc exploratory analyses yielded noteworthy findings. MHPs with letter-writing policies in place for gender-affirming medical care demonstrated higher levels of clout and prosocial behavior than those without such a policy. The study contributes to existing literature by elucidating identity variables, training variables, and attitudes that may impact competent practice with TGNB settings among licensed providers
Smart Start: A School Readiness Program for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
No full textSmart Start is an intensive therapeutic program created to address school readiness skills for children with cerebral palsy. Smart Start focuses on functional and cognitive domains as a therapeutic approach to provide interventions in areas of development that children with CP may be behind in secondary to their diagnosis. Goals of the capstone project include creating a manual for the program, conducting pre- and post- assessments for participants, provide caregivers with a descriptive analysis of the skills their child accomplished during the program, and to write/present scholarly work.Scottish Rit
Caregiver Burden in Caregivers of Children Diagnosed with Cancer: Comprehensive Educational Resources
No full textThis Capstone project focused on caregiver burden in caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer. The aims of the project were to improve education on caregiver burden and access to reliable, evidence-based resources for the target population. The student completed a literature review of current research and a needs assessment through surveys of caregivers and health care professionals at the Capstone site. The final deliverables the student created include a comprehensive educational website and infographic for caregivers of children with cancer.Baylor Scott & White McLane Children'
The Effects of Dry Needling on Muscle Blood Flow, Shoulder Motions, and Sensitivity to Pressure in Individuals With Shoulder Pain
No full textBackground: Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) contribute to impaired muscle blood flow (BF), shoulder motion, and pain. Although dry needling (DN) is an effective intervention for MTrPs, its effects on muscle BF and shoulder motions have not been investigated. This study examined DN's effects on infraspinatus muscle BF, shoulder rotation motions, and sensitivity to pressure stimuli in individuals with shoulder pain. Method: Forty individuals with shoulder pain and MTrPs in the infraspinatus were randomly assigned to receive real or sham DN. BF parameters, shoulder rotation motions, and pressure pain thresholds were measured before and after a single DN session. Results: The results showed that real DN improved BF and increased shoulder motions more than sham DN. Conclusion: Improved BF after DN suggests that DN has effects on enhancing BF via vasodilation, leading to relieving capillary compression. DN also may affect muscle relaxation, thus contributing to motion improvement. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sharon Wang-Price) Supported by Texas Physical Therapy Foundation
The quiet crisis: An interpretive phenomenological study on parental experiences of youth inpatient treatment
No full textFor the present qualitative study, the researcher utilized interpretive phenomenology (IP) to facilitate an immersive exploration of the lived experiences of parents having an adolescent child who has received inpatient hospitalization for a mental health, behavioral, or substance use crisis. A total of nine parents participated in semi-structured interviews, sharing their experiences regarding inpatient treatment, the impact of a parent’s own unique mental health history, and the lived experience of parents having a child requiring inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. The purpose of this research study was to gain increased understanding of the emotional, social, and economic difficulties parents faced as they attempted to navigate both a family crisis and a complex mental health care system. By utilizing both attachment theory and sociocultural theory, an integrative theoretical framework was crafted to extrapolate how early adversity, intergenerational patterns, and cultural influences can be catalysts to stigmatized beliefs surrounding mental health and influence treatment efficacy. The study resulted in five major themes: Intergenerational Transmission; A Cascade of Events; My Own Trauma Timeline; Reorganizing Family Life Around the Crisis; and Restorative Attachment Bonding. Relating to these major themes, 14 subthemes were also found. The clinical implications encourage treatment professionals to examine the intersections of multiple adversity points that impact a patient’s symptoms, recognize the emotional secrecy that can exist in families, and help parents navigate the trauma they experience in response to their child’s hospitalization
Lived experiences of low-wage, working women in Texas without paid postpartum leave
No full textThis qualitative, phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of low-wage, working women (LWWW) in Texas without paid postpartum leave (PPL). The USA remains one of the few countries in the world that does not provide the formal, functional social support of PPL. Postpartum is one of the most sensitive times for women and their infants, and paid postpartum leave (PPL) is a policy that some countries have invested in for the health of their most vulnerable citizens (Albanese, et al., 2020; Andres, et al., 2016; Avendano, et al., 2015; Bose, et al., 2020; Dagher, et al., 2014; Hennekam, 2019; Perry-Jenkins, et al., 2017). PPL leave is especially impactful for LWWW, whose families often experience poverty due to time away from work or return to work before recovering from childbirth because they cannot afford unpaid leave (Andres, et al., 2016; Berrigan, et al., 2021; Beuchert, et al., 2016; Winston, et al., 2019). Framed by the life course approach and socioecological model, this study explored eight women’s experiences during their postpartum year using semi-structured interviews. Coding followed Creswell’s (2013) data analysis spiral, which consists of organizing the data, reviewing transcripts and any other data several times, identifying general categories or themes, and finally summarizing the data for readers. Coding began with reading transcripts while “memoing” overarching categories that appear (Leedy & Ormond, 2016). Next, information was reviewed to organize the data into significant statements and common phrases related to each research question. The researcher used hand-coding to help in identifying overarching themes. Significant statements and common phrases were organized into themes or categories (Leedy & Ormond, 2016). Finally, the themes were integrated into a narrative describing the participants’ experiences with unpaid postpartum leave. Themes identified were: (a) lack of systemic, equitable postpartum policies, (b) personal and financial challenges, (c) support, and (d) resiliency. Findings support increased health education that normalizes and educates about the transition to motherhood (matrescence). In addition, future research to identify those constructs that empowered participants to overcome their challenges can inform interventions focused on building resiliency in this population
National and state policies and the prevalence of adult obesity: A 30 year trend analysis in the United States
No full textThe concern with increasing obesity stems from the recognition that the population’s well-being is vital to a nation’s well-being by decreasing mortality, morbidity, reducing incidence of chronic diseases, and financial burdens on healthcare systems. Most of the existing literature on the effect of nutritional and taxation policies on obesity uses specific short timeframes or cross-sectional data. To fill the gaps in the literature, this study examines the association of national policies on nutritional guidelines, state taxes on soda, and state expenditures on recreational and park facilities with obesity over 31 years. Two research questions guide this study. First, to what extent did the USDA Food Guides from 1984 to 2014 influence adult obesity? Second, how did state policies on soda, and park and recreational facilities affect state-level adult obesity?
Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States Department of Agricultural (USDA) Food Guides, the Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, the Bridging the Gap, U.S. Census data, and the Current Population Survey are sources of the data used for the study. Logistic regression was used for the national-level analysis and generalized least squares with random effects regression was employed for the state-level analysis. The results show a clear significant association of the USDA food guides eras (Food Wheel 1984-1991; Pyramid 1992-2003; My Pyramid 2005-2010; My Plate 2010-2014) with national and state level rate of obesity. At both levels, the later the food guide era, the higher the likelihood of obesity or obesity rate. At the state level, there was no significant impact of state retail soda tax and state excise tax, and state expenditures for park and recreation on the state obesity rate. The results have significant implications for the development of food guides, policies on state soda taxes, and decisions on state parks and recreation facilities as venue of physical activities
The effect of a mobile clinical decision support application on clinical decision-making skills and satisfaction in undergraduate nursing students
No full textClinical decision-making is an essential nursing skill that undergraduate nursing students struggle to develop. This dissertation comprises two manuscripts focusing on mobile clinical decision support (mCDS) resources in undergraduate student nurses: a systematic literature review and an empirical intervention study.
The literature review manuscript identified which mCDS resources student nurses utilized and assessed how they affected students’ knowledge, skills, and perceptions. Information related to medication administration and medical calculators was most commonly sought. There were mixed results on the effects of mCDS apps on students’ knowledge and skills. None of the studies evaluated the impact of an mCDS app on students’ clinical reasoning or decision-making.
The second manuscript presents a randomized controlled trial with pre-test and post-test design. The Technology Acceptance Model guided the study. The experimental group (EG) (n = 26) used an mCDS app (Medscape) while completing sepsis and cardiac tamponade scenarios, while the control group (CG) (n = 28) used traditional tools. Outcomes included the students’ perceptions of the usefulness, ease of use, attitude toward use, satisfaction with, and behavioral intent to use the app, as well as self-efficacy in clinical reasoning and decision-making skills.
Students in the EG positively perceived the usefulness, ease of use, attitude toward use, satisfaction with, and intent to use the mCDS app. Perceived usefulness and attitude toward use were significant predictors of intent to use the app. After completing the scenarios, the change in clinical reasoning scores over time differed for the two groups; scores increased in the EG but declined in the CG. Also, the EG had significantly higher clinical reasoning scores than the CG. In exploring the cardiac scenario, the EG had higher clinical decision-making scores than the CG. However, the groups did not differ significantly regarding sepsis or combined total scenario scores. This study showed that mCDS apps promote clinical reasoning and decision-making. However, future research should utilize diverse clinical scenarios with varying complexity and include a more diverse population from multiple universities and other settings, such as simulation exercises, to ensure the generalizability of the findings and support students’ use of mCDS apps during clinical practice