Still Scholarworks (A.T. Still University)
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Impact of a 7-day retreat for people with Parkinson\u27s disease: a phenomenological study
No full textAim: Early and ongoing access to rehabilitation and exercise may preserve functional mobility and quality of life for persons with Parkinson disease (PwP). The aim of the current study was to describe the experience of PwP who participated in a 7-day retreat. Materials & methods: A phenomenological approach was used to describe the lived experience of PwP. Results: Three themes emerged from interviews: a community of shared information where participants discussed exercising and learning with other PwP; improved control of Parkinson\u27s disease symptoms, including performing physical tasks more easily and renewed motivation for their long-term plans for exercise because of the retreat. Conclusion: A 7-day retreat for PwP positively impacted perceived control of disease-related symptoms and intentions to continue exercise
A unique investigation of thallium, tellurium, osmium, and other heavy metals in recurrent pregnancy loss: A novel approach
No full textObjective: To study the impact of heavy metals especially tellurium, thallium, and osmium, in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and to study their association with antioxidant status and DNA damage. Methods: This case–control study included women with RPL (n = 30) and healthy pregnant women as control (n = 30). Following blood collection, serum levels of thallium, tellurium, osmium, lead, mercury, and cadmium were estimated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer. Results: Women with RPL exhibited significantly higher levels of heavy metals (P \u3c 0.001) when compared with control women. Intriguingly, increased levels of serum thallium, tellurium, osmium, and lead were negatively correlated with total antioxidant status (P \u3c 0.05). Further, the RPL group demonstrated strong positive correlation between heavy metals (thallium, tellurium, osmium, lead) and DNA damage (P \u3c 0.05). No significant correlation between other heavy metals and markers of cellular damage was noted. Conclusion: Enhanced levels of heavy metals in women with RPL and correlation of thallium, tellurium, osmium, and lead with markers of cellular damage reflect the role of heavy metal poisoning, especially thallium, tellurium, and osmium, as potential risk factor in the etiology underlying recurrent miscarriage
Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls in the Arab League: A Systematic Review of Preventive Interventions
No full textThe UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #5 (Gender Equity) includes violence against women and girls (VAWG), considering it as a violation of the rights of women and girls. The variety of risk factors for VAWG in Arab countries suggests the need to identify effective interventions to guide practitioners and policy makers. A systematic review of preventive interventions across the Arab League examined the outcomes of VAWG. Authors registered the study on the prospective register of systematic reviews database. Authors conducted the search for evidence up to 2023. Database searching identified 1,502 studies and after application of the eligibility criteria, 17 studies remained for inclusion. Quality appraisal used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Evidence emerged from eight Arab countries. Interventions occurred at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention. However, only two studies employed interventions using more than one level of prevention, which considered systems strengthening and the development of community solidarity networks. The evidence revealed a lack of clear evaluation and evidence for the effectiveness of interventions and prevention alongside reactive approaches, with no evidence as to how systems may reduce or prevent VAWG. One main issue is patriarchal dominance in Arab countries creating the lack of a collective female voice in any of the evidence. However, Arab countries can change with support. Achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #5 by 2030 means interventions and programs need to include more than one prevention level, consider systems and include the collective female voice
Concussion Management Among National Collegiate Athletic Association Swim Programs
No full textThe nuances of swimming make the application of traditional return-to-play progressions following concussion challenging. Our purpose was to describe athletic training services and concussion management protocols among National Collegiate Athletic Association swim programs and compare them between the National Collegiate Athletic Association divisions. We surveyed 228 athletic trainers assigned to or with knowledge of their institution’s swim programs from a convenience sample of 539 (response rate = 42.3%) athletic trainers. Athletic training services were provided to 98.6% (214/217) of the programs. Nearly 80% (164/207) of the programs administered baseline concussion testing to swimmers, with differences observed between divisions (p \u3c.001). No differences (p =.108) in the number of concussions sustained by swimmers in the past academic year were noted between divisions. Specific return-to-swim protocols were reported by 51.8% (115/222) of respondents with no differences in the presence of a specific return-to-swim protocol between divisions (p =.790). While concussions are reported less frequently in swimming than other sports, appropriate medical care, including a specific return-to-swim protocol, is warranted and provided for future use
Training dental hygiene students to care for patients with disabilities
No full textObjective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a novel training programme on dental hygiene students\u27 knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about caring for individuals with disabilities. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used. Students from five dental hygiene programmes based at community colleges completed a two-hour didactic training session to supplement their existing special care dentistry coursework. Students completed an original 14-item pretest and posttest before and after the training that assessed attitudes and beliefs, and two validated posttests that assessed knowledge. Afterwards, students completed a clinical rotation in an advanced care dental clinic at a local academic institution, gaining hands-on experience with equipment and patient treatment. Descriptive statistics were used to report training scores, types of services rendered, and modifications to treatment. Student comments about their experiences were assessed using thematic analysis. Results: Two hundred and ninety-four students completed didactic training, and 261 completed clinical rotations. Posttest scores indicated positive improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. All students provided direct patient care. Sixty-nine percent treated patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities; 75% placed silver diamine fluoride or fluoride varnish. Altered patient positioning was used by 70.5%. Most students (95.4%) reported that their experience positively changed their attitudes towards caring for patients with disabilities in the future. Eight themes emerged, notably increased comfort and confidence, a willingness and desire to treat patients, the acquisition of new skills, and clinician behaviours of empathy and compassion towards others. Conclusion: Training can help prepare dental hygiene students with the confidence and skills to address the oral health needs of individuals with disabilities
The effect of wearing face mask on speech intelligibility in listeners with sensorineural hearing loss and normal hearing sensitivity
No full textObjective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of wearing a face mask on word recognition in hearing-impaired listeners. Design: Word recognition scores were obtained in quiet and in different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs 0, +5, and +10 dB) using two listening conditions (with N95 mask and with no-mask). Study sample: Participants were forty-six listeners with normal hearing sensitivity and thirty-nine listeners with mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss. Results: Results showed that wearing a face mask affected word recognition and that this effect was greater for listeners with hearing impairment than that observed for listeners with normal hearing sensitivity. The extent of this effect was also dependent on the SNR conditions such that the effect of wearing a face mask was worse in adverse listening conditions. Conclusions: Overall, this study demonstrated that face mask can disrupt speech intelligibility possibly by degrading some acoustical features which may pose substantial difficulties for those with hearing impairment
Compressed 4-day workweek for dental faculty retention and recruitment
No full textFaculty recruitment and retention are major concerns faced by dental schools across the country. This increase in faculty shortage impacts training the next generation of clinicians and oral health care delivery in dental institutions, which together will exacerbate challenges related to access to dental care. The objective of this paper is to propose a compressed workweek as an incentive to improve recruitment, retention, and faculty well-being. There are several well-documented benefits of the 4-day workweek which include employee wellness, increased job satisfaction, happiness, and improved perception of personal worth. Cost savings may be also realized with this schedule, as expenses related to transportation and dependent care costs could potentially decrease. Altogether, these benefits have been shown to lead to reduced absenteeism, anxiety, stress, and burnout. This perspective piece will discuss how the 4-day workweek could be implemented in dental institutions, along with the benefits and challenges. Given the shortage of clinical faculty throughout the United States, we recommend this approach not only as a means to attract recent graduates to academia but also to ensure the retention of those who provide clinical instruction
Long-term effects of lateral nasal wall anchored facemasks compared with tooth-borne facemasks
No full textIntroduction: This study investigated the long-term effect and stability of skeletally anchored facemasks (SAFMs) with lateral nasal wall anchorage compared with conventional tooth-borne facemasks (TBFMs) in growing patients with a Class III relationship. Methods: A total of 180 subjects treated with SAFMs (n = 66) and TBFMs (n = 114) were screened. Thirty-four subjects were qualified and grouped into the SAFM group (n = 17) and TBFM group (n = 17). Lateral cephalograms were taken at the initial observation, after the protraction, and at the final observation. Results: Greater advancement of the maxilla was attained with SAFM than with TBFM after protraction (initial observation − after the protraction) (P \u3c0.05). In particular, advancement of the midfacial area (SN-Or) was prominent and maintained after the postpubertal stage (P \u3c0.05). The intermaxillary relationship was also improved (ANB, AB-MP) (P \u3c0.05), and greater counterclockwise rotation of the palatal plane (FH-PP) was observed in the SAFM group compared with the TBFM group (P \u3c0.05). Conclusions: Compared with TBFM, the orthopedic effects of SAFM were greater in the midfacial area. The palatal plane had a greater counterclockwise rotation in the SAFM group than in the TBFM group. Maxilla (SN-Or), intermaxillary relationship (APDI), and palatal plane angle (FH-PP) demonstrated a significant difference between the 2 groups after the postpubertal stage