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Predicting and Improving Body Satisfaction of Asian Women Through Body Type Exposure
Full text linkBody dissatisfaction is increasing for women around the world especially in the Asian culture as more women are internalizing the thin ideal (Holmqvist & Frisén, 2010). The influences from peers, family, and media highlighted in the Tripartite Influence Model (Thompson et al., 1999) and misperception of men’s preferences of women’s bodies (Stojcic et al., 2020) contribute to Asian women’s body dissatisfaction, but which of these factors has the strongest association with body dissatisfaction remains unclear. Limited research also exists on interventions to address body dissatisfaction for Asian women. The current study replicated and extended Aniulis et al.’s (2021) research intervention to improve women’s body satisfaction by examining the effect of exposing Asian women to body arrays increasing in BMI on their preferred body and body dissatisfaction. The current study also analyzed which previously studied factor of body image (i.e., peers, family, media, and misperception of men’s preferences) most strongly predicts body dissatisfaction. One hundred and twenty Asian women from the United Kingdom were recruited through Prolific to complete body dissatisfaction measures before and after exposure to ninety body arrays. The average BMI preference and body satisfaction of participants increased as the level of body arrays they were exposed to increased. Media had the strongest influence on body dissatisfaction of Asian women in comparison to peers, family, and misperception of men’s preferences. Based on the significant results of the
study, exposure to diverse body types can be used as a brief clinical intervention for Asian women to help improve their body image.Psychology Departmen
Treatment of Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A Case Study of an Eight-Year-Old
Full text linkAn Empirically Supported Treatment Case StudyThe following is a de-identified case study on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment process for an eight-year-old male presenting with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Names and other identifying information have been changed to protect the identity of the client. At the time of treatment, Johnny was struggling most with difficulty following rules and directions at home and defiance towards authority figures, especially his grandpa. Johnny attended a total of eleven sessions and was typically accompanied by his grandma. The therapist utilized The Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADTC), an empirically supported protocol which implements Parent Management Training and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques. This case study reviews relevant psychological literature related to Johnny’s case, diagnostic rationale, treatment interventions and outcomes, and a transcript of session six with therapist self-reflection. Johnny demonstrated minimal improvement over the course of treatment, however treatment is expected to continue following the conclusion of this case study.Psychology Departmen
Improving Oral Health Assessment Rates in Primary Care
Full text linkPractice Inquiry DNP Project IIIA shortage of dental care providers, especially in rural communities, continues to contribute to inadequate maintenance of oral health for many Americans (National Institutes of Health, 2021). Without routine oral healthcare and oral health screenings, patients are placed at an increased risk for associated complications including acute oral infections, respiratory illnesses, and cardiovascular disease (Stephens et al., 2018). This project aimed to reduce the incidence of these complications by creating an opportunity for primary care providers to implement oral health screenings as part of routine wellness exams. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care was utilized to guide the implementation of oral screenings into practice. The project was conducted in a rural health facility in northwestern Kansas, a community in which residents must travel to be evaluated by a dental provider. Interventions included a) providing education on the importance of oral health screenings and b) recruiting primary care providers to implement screenings on patients attending a Well-Child, Annual Wellness, or Medicare Wellness visit. Chart audits of these visit types were performed to determine if oral health screenings were completed, documented, and a treatment plan was initiated. The final analysis of data revealed that screening rates peaked at 92% of wellness visits for that given week. However, these results were not maintained throughout the remainder of the project, and the participating provider voiced concerns related to a lack of time to complete the screenings during the limited time allowed for a wellness appointment. Project members continue to advocate for the importance of oral health screenings in primary care to address disparities in oral care for those living in rural communities.School of Nursin
Improving the Utilization of Cultural Competency Tools by Healthcare Providers in a University Health Center
Full text linkBackground: Providers’ cultural awareness and competence influence the utilization of healthcare services, compliance with health promotion behaviors, and barriers that interfere with desired health outcomes. According to the American College Health Association, healthcare disparities and barriers to equitable quality care exist despite college/university students having access to student counseling and health centers (2022).
Methods: Participants in this quality improvement pilot project were APRNs staffed at a university health center. The project used a pre- and post-assessment strategy as an outcome measure and a survey of participant experience as a process measure. A mixed media toolkit was provided to help healthcare providers develop and implement site-specific, sustainable strategies to enhance the level of cultural competency to address the needs of culturally diverse students seeking mental health services.
Results: The quality improvement pilot project started with a sample size N=4 and ended with N=3. Pre-training IAPCC-HCP© composite scores for each participant (N=4) ranged from 74- 91, indicating each participant was Culturally Competent at baseline. The post-training IAPCCHCP© composite scores for each participant (N=3) ranged from 74-91, indicating each participant maintained the level of Culturally Competent upon completion of the training session. Two participants showed an increase in composite score upon completion of training when compared to baseline. Participants assessed the quality improvement intervention process as being effective and sustainable.
Conclusion: Due to the small sample size and attrition rate of 25%, results from this quality improvement pilot project provide limited information about the improvement conducted in this setting, but highlighted provider willingness to improve knowledge and skills. Needed is further opportunity to replicate the process in other settings and on a larger scale.School of Nursin
Effects of COVID-19 on the Mental Health Experiences of Inmates
Full text linkThe purpose of the current study was to investigate how changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of inmates. Data utilized for the current study was archival. It was drawn from databases at a jail in the Midwest. Data was drawn from the records of 360 male and female inmates. Multiple Chi-Square Tests of Independence were used to investigate hypotheses of changes of mental illness over time. The study found no increase in diagnoses of mental illness. The number of mental health visits did increase from 2019 to 2020, then slightly decreased from 2020 to 2021. Some racial and gender differences were also found across the years. In addition, some support was found for the number of charges and potential mental illness. The current study adds to the literature, because it gives clinicians a better understanding about the mental health of the people during a rare worldwide pandemic. The study also adds to the literature because it utilizes inmates as participants, which are usually a difficult population to work with during research studies since they are a protected population.Psychology Departmen
Attitudes Toward Parents of Children with Cancer
Full text linkAlthough there is evidence involving how parents perceive their own parenting styles (e.g., Van Leeuwen & Vermulst, 2004), there is relatively little research on how others may evaluate various parenting behaviors. One of the goals of the current study was to assess if there are any differences in how various parenting behaviors (i.e., authoritarian vs. permissive) are perceived by others, and if these perceptions are influenced by the child’s health status (i.e., child has cancer vs. healthy). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four possible conditions in which they were asked to read vignettes about either an authoritarian or permissive parent of a child who either has cancer or is healthy. Participants then rated their perceptions of the parent featured in the vignette using a 12-item person perception scale that assessed how warm (e.g., “This parent is kind.”) or competent (e.g., “This parent is effective.”) they perceived the parent to be. Results showed parents of children with cancer tend to be perceived favorably more favorably than parents of healthy children, which could alleviate some sources of potential stress for parents who are focused on the health and well-being of their children.Psychology Departmen
Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: A Case Study of a 17-Year-Old Female
Full text linkAn Empirically Supported Treatment Case StudyThe following is a de-identified case study that presents the treatment process and outcome for Allie, a 17-year-old female with social anxiety disorder. Names and other identifying details have been changed to maintain confidentiality. Allie graduated high school during the course of treatment. Allie began services at a certified community behavioral health center after referral by her primary care physician. Allie presented with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms that impacted her ability to engage socially with peers and adults. Allie’s anxiety manifested through negative cognitions, physiological symptoms, emotional and behavioral avoidance which created interference and impaired functioning. Congruent with literature on empirically supported treatments for adolescents with social anxiety disorder, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was utilized. The use of CBT supported Allie in learning and applying therapeutic interventions (i.e., psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, fear hierarchy, graduated exposures) to effectively reduce and manage anxiety symptoms. Information provided includes a literature review, client interview, diagnostic assessments, treatment plan, treatment interventions, and therapist self-reflection. A transcript of one individual session is included to provide insight into Allie’s presentation in-session, as well as application of treatment interventions by this therapist. In the treatment plan review, Allie reported inconsistent and insignificant progress on her goal of managing anxiety. Allie actively engaged in sessions but displayed low homework compliance and admitted to providing inaccurate self-report scores due to fear of upsetting the therapist. After nine sessions, her self-reported social anxiety score on a validated measure showed no significant reduction. Consistent with this score, Allie reported no significant reduction for interference and impairment.Psychology Departmen
Buprenorphine/Naloxone for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: Analysis and Mitigation of Perceived Prescribing Barriers in Primary Care
Full text linkPractice Inquiry DNP Project IIIBackground/Objectives:
The opioid epidemic is an ongoing health crisis in the United States (US). Opioid-related death rates increased by 15% from 2020 to 2021 with more than 75% of drug overdose deaths contributing to the use of an opioid. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid-use disorder (OUD) that is able to be prescribed by any primary care provider with a DEA license. Despite its availability, buprenorphine/naloxone is underutilized in the primary care setting and the cause for this is multifactorial. The purpose of this project was to identify perceived barriers to prescribing buprenorphine for MAT of OUD and to attempt to reduce these barriers by increasing the knowledge, confidence, and comfort level of primary care providers (PCPs) in treating patients with OUD. The primary goal was to increase provider willingness to prescribe buprenorphine for patients with OUD.
Methods:
The project was conducted at a rural family practice clinic in southwest Kansas. A pre- and post-test study design was used to evaluate knowledge, comfort, preferences, and perceived barriers of two physicians and three nurse practitioners regarding the prescription of buprenorphine for MAT in the primary care setting. These PCPs were surveyed before and after the development and implementation of interventions tailored to identified prescribing barriers. A focus group interview was also conducted among PCPs for qualitative analysis of prescribing barriers. Interventions included an evidence-based buprenorphine home induction prescribing protocol, a patient education handout, and a first-week patient dose log. Provider willingness to prescribe buprenorphine was measured in the number of PCPs who planned to initiate MAT in the next six months or 30 days.
Results:
The barriers to buprenorphine prescription most prevalent on the pre-survey (n=5) included provider comfort level, lack of time, lack of existing policies/procedures, lack of desire to treat OUD, and lack of on-site lab. Focus group discussion further revealed that the PCPs feel participating in MAT with buprenorphine is a positive endeavor, but that rural primary care practice was so time intensive as to allow little room to add treatment of OUD into their schedule, making referral for MAT a more common practice. The providers also stated they would feel more comfortable if a formal prescribing protocol were in place to help guide treatment. Other concerns include a lack of peer support/provider coverage and the overall difficulty/complexity of patients with OUD. Post-intervention surveys (n=4) showed improved provider confidence, attitude, and interest in initiating MAT; however, despite the implementation of developed deliverables, the number of providers who intended to prescribe buprenorphine in the next six months remained unchanged (1), and no providers indicated that they planned on prescribing buprenorphine in the next 30 days.
Implications:
Implementation of the interventions increased provider knowledge and confidence, but no significant changes in prescribing practices occurred within the scope of this project. While time and provider availability to discuss interventions in depth was certainly a limitation of the project, increasing utilization of buprenorphine in primary care may require more dissemination and more systemic change beyond the mitigation of individual prescribing barriers.School of Nursin
Anti-Transgender Voting Behavior: A Justification/Suppression Model Approach
Full text linkAnti-transgender legislation grows prevalent across numerous regions of the United States. Thus, investigating predictors of anti-transgender sentiment as well as the impact of pro- and anti-transgender rhetoric on voting behavior offers a timely research opportunity. Previous research has suggested that the expression of prejudice might be conditional on justification factors that excuse prejudice or suppression factors which make it feel socially undesirable. In this experiment, 186 participants were exposed to either pro- or anti-transgender priming vignettes or a neutral control condition before being asked to vote on a hypothetical anti-transgender “bathroom bill” to determine whether the justification/suppression theory could be used to influence voting behavior. Participants also self-reported on several personal belief scales, including religious fundamentalism, social dominance orientation, transphobia, and critical consciousness to confirm the results of previous research which suggests that critical consciousness might moderate the predictive relationship between transphobia and antitransgender voting behavior. Results did not indicate an effect of the experimental conditions on voting behavior. Surprisingly, critical consciousness correlated with transphobia, such that higher levels of voiced support for transgender rights corresponded with stronger endorsement of transphobic beliefs. This research suggests that the relationship between voiced and actionable support for transgender people may be complex, and that voting behavior on the subject of transgender rights may not be easily swayed with simple exposure to shallow rhetoric in either direction of support.Psychology Departmen
Exploring Opportunities to Improve Health Services Post-COVID 19 Pandemic for Students Attending a Northeast Kansas University
Full text linkPractice Inquiry DNP Project IIINearly 40% of college students report at least one mental and/or social health concern. Emerging research demonstrates the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of college students with mental and/or social health concerns. College health centers (CHC) and other campus-based resources (such as counseling services) may not be adequately equipped to screen and treat students following the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this quality improvement project was two-part. The first objective was to assess the mental and social health impact of COVID-19 within college students seeking care at a CHC. The second objective was to collaborate with key campus-based stakeholders to increase awareness of current student mental/social climate, evaluate current services offered verses current student needs, and to increase student awareness of services available on-campus.School of Nursin