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Should Private Prisons in the U.S. be Abolished
Get PDFPrivate prisons were established as a possible solution to alleviate the serious overcrowding issue affecting prisons during the 1980’s. This thesis supports the reasoning behind why private prisons should be abolished as they did not deliver on the claims made in support of their existence but rather, reveals the multitude of negative repercussions when the financial interests of a few large and powerful private corporations override the basic safety and security of our prison system. The studies contained in this thesis attempt to reveal that the data meant to support private prisons is not only inadequate, but often, inaccurately depicted by the same corporations who benefit from their existence. The evidence contained in this thesis offers reasoning that suggest private prisons were not the appropriate solution to the problem and only created a host of other ethical issues, mainly the incentive to incarcerate when a profit is to be made. Suggestions have been made as possible alternatives to private prisons, as well as the need to examine the factors contributing to mass incarceration and how private prisons create obstacles to reform
The Influences of Language Barriers in Music Therapy
Get PDFThe purpose of this research was to illuminate non-native English-speaking music therapists’ trends and attitudes toward a language barrier. For the purpose of this research, the phrase “language barrier” is used as a reference for music therapists who conduct music therapy sessions in a language that is not their native language. Thirteen non-native English-speaking music therapists completed a 30-question web-based survey. The survey addressed the following topics: demographics, the experience of providing music therapy in a second language, the experience of receiving music therapy training in a second language, and therapeutic interventions with the clients. Descriptive statistics were collected. Three major findings emerged: English is not necessarily a language barrier; the respondents use music interventions depending on the clients’ goals; and the respondents are sensitive to the clients’ cues so they can facilitate the therapeutic process in a second language. The findings may be a resource for educators, clinical supervisors, and non-native English-speaking music therapists. Moreover, the findings may be useful to guide music therapy educational and supervisory practices
A Novel Hybrid K-Means and GMM Machine Learning Model for Breast Cancer Detection
Get PDFBreast cancer is the second leading cause of death among a large number of women worldwide. It may be challenging for radiologists to diagnose and treat breast cancer. Consequently, primary care improves disease prevention and death. Early detection increases treatment options and saves life, which is the major target of this research. This research indicates the versatility of the methodology by integrating contemporary segmentation approaches with machine learning methods, which are developing areas of research. In the pre-processing process, an adaptive median filter is utilized for noise removal, enhancement of image quality, conservation of edges, and smoothing. This research makes a significant contribution by proposing a new parameter for evaluating K-means and a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) performance. A hybrid combination of segmentation and detection was applied to breast cancer. The proposed technique is significant for classifying benign and malignant tumors. The simulated results are discussed and evaluated to determine the competence of this method for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. This method allows medical experts to recognize breast cancer at a faster rate and provide higher accuracy. An ANOVA test was used to determine the multi-variant analysis and prediction rate for the proposed method
Community Outreach & Education
Get PDFFull issue can be found at https://libn.com/2021/03/18/achievements-in-healthcare-2021
The Role of Telehealth in Music Therapy Practice During the COVID-19 Global Pandemic Through the Lens of the Music Therapist: A Survey
Get PDFThis research study sought to examine the impact of the transition to telehealth music therapy services as the primary delivery mode of treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Board-certified music therapists were invited to participate in an online questionnaire-based survey where they were asked to provide responses to questions relating to their and their clients’ demographics, their theoretical orientation, their clinical experience prior to and during COVID- 19, and their views on the overall impact of telehealth. Analysis of the raw data from participants’ responses are summarized and integrated into the discussion section to highlight participants’ perspectives in a music therapy context in order to identify trends and implications for the future. Results of the study demonstrate that the majority of respondents experienced a somewhat negative impact to the therapeutic process with respect to the technology, clinical practice, and personal well-being. Participants also reported the need to alter many aspects of their services including approach to treatment and the therapeutic goals. The results indicate that despite these challenges, most respondents anticipate the continuation of telehealth delivery of services both during and post-pandemic
The Development of Therapeutic Alliance in Long-Term and Short-Term Music Therapy Treatment
Get PDFTherapeutic alliance is an important aspect of helping professions however, despite research into this phenomenon in closely related fields, it has yet to be explored in music therapy. While research in related fields has explored alliance development in therapy, it has yet to question whether or not treatment length has an impact on the development or strength of therapeutic alliance. This led to the following question: Does time matter in therapeutic alliance development in music therapy? Time is an important and undeniable aspect of music. Being that time exists in music, and music is a factor unique to music therapy, it is possible that time impacts therapeutic alliance development. As therapeutic alliance has proven to have great impact on a client’s ability to meet therapeutic goals in closely related fields, it is a concept that music therapy could further explore. In an effort to further understand the importance of time in the development of therapeutic alliance within music therapy, a semi-structured interview was facilitated with three Master’s level board-certified music therapists asking the following research question: How do music therapists develop therapeutic alliances? Three music therapists working in different treatment lengths were interviewed. Three major themes were identified following a thematic analysis: 1) The Role of the Client, 2) The Role of the Therapist, and 3) The Role of Music in Fostering the Therapeutic Alliance
Building Recreational Programs ‘Focusing on What Matters’
Get PDFMolloy’s fourteen-week capstone program involves Molloy College students who learn professional skills and much more during the capstone experience. The students work with ‘live’ non-profits located on Long Island and their efforts serve these organizations to jointly move their missions forward toward social good. This semester’s senior project was focused on the developmentally and physically disabled community as well as promoted admirable social responsibility via the collaboration of the assigned organization and the student consulting teams. This project not only was a success from an academic standpoint, but also personally for the students who transformed into well-rounded citizens. Their acquired skills in addition to their dispositions will make them the sought-out leaders of tomorrow when entering into today’s workforce. This program not only supports our commitment to our local community but to humanity as a whole with this all-inclusive real-world project. The students did a commendable job with putting together turnkey recommendations that would assist the assigned non-profit in reaching its aspirational goals, serving generations of this deserving population for years to come. This project has not only made its mark within the School of Business at Molloy, but also in the hearts and minds of its students which they will take with them upon entering into their chosen careers
Toward an Understanding of Student Agency Within Institutional Dis/ableism: A Critical Phenomenological Study
Get PDFStudents classified with dis/abilities and situated in segregated special classes learn in a system of compulsory able-bodiedness. Peripheralized school high students in special classes experience marginalization and oppression leading to poor academic and postschool outcomes. This critical phenomenological study sought to investigate the lived agentic experiences of high school students classified with dis/abilities and placed in a special class for educational instruction during distance learning and in-person school. To gain deeper insight into students as actors in their learning environment, it was necessary to examine the forms of capital that students harnessed toward their agency. Five high school students in the suburban northeastern United States participated in a series of three virtual interviews. This study’s findings revealed students’ agentic relationships and academics and how they harnessed their capital toward directing their lives and gaining additional capital. The participants also displayed agentic characteristics such as self-determination, self-regulation, self-advocacy, control, compliance, and confidence. One finding revealed that students were not agentic in orientation to their learning spaces. In this instance, the structure of the environment impeded students’ agency. Implications of this study’s findings suggest the need to promote and foster student agency by implementing changes at the societal, school, and individual levels. Additionally, the perspectives of students as stakeholders are required when designing and organizing spaces in the learning environment for optimal comfort, agency, and learning
A Study on the Perception and Influence of Whiteness in White Music Therapists
Get PDFWhiteness pervades all aspects of western culture. As a western therapeutic modality, music therapy practice as well as its research and pedagogy are entrenched in Whiteness. While music therapy researchers have explored Whiteness, few studies center and explicitly study Whiteness in music therapy. This inquiry captures Whiteness as it is perceived and experienced by White music therapists. Two board-certified music therapists were interviewed, and interpretative phenomenological analysis was utilized to analyze the transcribed interviews and written responses of the participants. A total of eight themes and 12 subthemes were identified in the data. The results demonstrated that Whiteness suffused the personal and collective experiences of the participants. Gaining a more nuanced understanding of how Whiteness operates in the lives of music therapists and the field of music therapy is critical for the protection of clients and colleagues alike, the maintenance of best practices and delivery of the highest quality care, and the evolution of the field
A Quantitative Analysis of Newly Practicing Nurses\u27 Perceived Self-Efficacy, Assertiveness, and Interprofessional Collaboration
Get PDFBackground: According to the Institute of Medicine, interprofessional teams offer the most effective way to assure the safe delivery of patient-centered care. Nurses need to possess the ability to speak up as members of interprofessional teams. Nurses who believe in their abilities to perform and who possess assertive communication skills are more successful, resulting in better patient outcomes.
Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine newly practicing registered nurses’ perceived level of self-efficacy, perceived level of assertiveness, and perceived interprofessional collaboration.
Participants: Former members of the National Student Nurses Association who graduated in 2017 and 2018 and are now working as registered professional nurses.
Methods: The quantitative survey was comprised of three tools, demographic questions, and one additional qualitative open-ended question. The three tools used were: General Self-Efficacy Scale, Simplified Rathus Assertiveness Scale - Short Form, and Interprofessional Collaboration Scale. An electronic survey was sent to 3,793 graduates with a follow-up reminder two weeks later. Of the responses, 410 met inclusion criteria for analysis. Statistical methods employed for analysis with the use of SPSS included descriptive analysis, point-biserial and Pearson’s product-moment correlations, ANOVA, and t-tests. An additional open-ended qualitative question was included to inquire about perceived current interprofessional collaborative practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: Key findings demonstrated statistically significant correlations between the variables of perceived self-efficacy, perceived assertiveness, and interprofessional collaboration. Additional findings related to demographic characteristics showed that there were positive significant correlations between both age and assertiveness as well as age and self-efficacy. In addition, the sample was then divided into two groups: RNs with less than two years of working experience and RNs with more than two years of working experience. The years of RN working experience did yield significant differences. No differences between groups were noted for nursing degree type or prior healthcare employment. Responses to an open-ended question inquiring about the RNs’ current practice, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, were reviewed for common themes and showed that almost 43% of the participants expressed that the pandemic had a negative impact on interprofessional collaborative practice.
Conclusion and Implications: The information obtained from this study will add to the body of knowledge about newly practicing nurses’ perceived self-efficacy, perceived assertiveness, and perceived interprofessional collaborative practice. The results obtained may guide future curriculum development; healthcare systems policies, workplace education, and training programs for all professional staff; and research in interprofessional education