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Cultivating Facets of Positive Body Image: A Phenomenological Study of Young Women in California
No full textBody image concerns among young women have emerged as a significant societal concern in recent years. A large body of research exists on negative body image, but there is a gap in research regarding the constructs of positive body image and the factors that influence them. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological research design and included two semi-structured interviews lasting up to 60 minutes with each of the seven participants with a self-reported positive body image in California. The study’s conceptual model combined the Tripartite Influence Model of “body image” (Thompson et al., 1999) with facets of positive body image (Webb et al., 2015). Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the participant interviews. The primary aim of this study was to explore participants\u27 personal experiences and understanding of positive body image, as well as the factors they perceive as influencing it. The findings revealed key influences on positive body image were people, clothing and style, affirmations, social media, culture, music, health, and religion. Six of the facets of positive body image emerged as well-developed, with the most prominent connections being: between people and Self-Perceived Acceptance by Others; health and Attunement, Body Appreciation, and Body Functionality; people and health with Positive Rational Acceptance; and clothing to a Broad Conceptualization of Beauty. The implications of this study offer strategies for more effectively promoting positive body image, beginning at a young age and extending through relationships with others, curating an inclusive social media feed, and food-related factors
Trident - Spring 2025
No full textThe alumni newsletter of the Orthodontics program at University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistryhttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/trident/1025/thumbnail.jp
A Cross National Analysis of Orofacial Cleft Care: Comparison of Parental Experience and Course of Orthodontic Treatment between Six Craniofacial Centers in the United States, and One in Jordan
No full textObjectives: To evaluate and compare orthodontic treatment protocols for non-syndromic orofacial clefts (OFCs) across six craniofacial centers in North America and one in Jordan, with emphasis on timing, sequencing, and clinical techniques surrounding alveolar bone grafting (ABG), expansion, and retention. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed by lead orthodontic providers at six North American centers and the Farah Rehabilitation Institute at King Hussein Medical City, Amman. The survey assessed pre-ABG evaluations, appliance selection, expansion intervals, treatment records, retention methods, ABG success evaluation, and postsurgical recall. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize and compare trends. Results: All centers performed orthodontic evaluations before ABG. Provider continuity was reported at four North American centers (66.7%) but was inconsistent in Jordan. North American centers used broader records, including digital models and CBCT, whereas Jordan relied on photographs, study models, and panoramic radiographs. Presurgical orthopedics such as nasoalveolar molding (NAM) were reported at one North American center (16.7%) and at the Jordanian center. Expansion was universal: Hyrax appliances were most common (83.3% in North America; also used in Jordan), with additional fan-type (50%) and quad helix (16.7%) expanders in North America. Jordan used Hyrax and quad helix only, with standardized activation intervals (4–5 weeks) compared with variable schedules (1–6 weeks) in North America. Post-expansion radiographs were obtained in half of North American centers but routinely in Jordan. Retention appliances included Hawley and TPAs in North America, and Essix, Hawley, and fixed lingual retainers in Jordan. ABG success was evaluated variably in North America but uniformly in Jordan. Five of six North American centers (83.3%) reported failure rates of 0–25%, one reported 25–50%, while Jordan reported 25–50%. Post-ABG recall intervals varied (3–12 months in North America; standardized 6 months in Jordan). Conclusions: Despite universal expansion and pre-ABG evaluations, variation exists in records, appliances, imaging, and ABG 3 assessment. Jordan’s centralized model promoted standardization but reported higher failure rates. These findings underscore the need for consistent, evidence-based protocols in cleft orthodontic care
The Effect of Intraoral Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain Perception During Initial Orthodontic Alignment: A Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
No full textBackground: Orthodontic pain affects 72-100% of patients during treatment, with individual pain tolerance varying by 25-60% due to genetic factors alone. Previous studies of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for orthodontic pain have relied on between-group comparisons, failing to control for massive individual variability.Objective: To determine if an intraoral TENS device (The Dental Pain Eraser® DPE – Synapse Dental, LLC, Cranston, RI), reduces perceived pain during initial orthodontic alignment compared to split-mouth matched controls (sham device), and to identify baseline patient factors correlating with pain response severity and temporal patterns.Methods: This study was conducted with a triple-blind split-mouth randomized controlled trial. 31 patients were enrolled and underwent initial orthodontic treatment with full-fixed appliances. One randomly selected quadrant received active TENS treatment while the contralateral quadrant received sham treatment. Pain scores were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (0-10) at seven time points over 72 hours (T0, T2, T6, T12, T24, T48, T72). The statistical methods involved linear mixed models to analyze the device effects, while Pearson correlation analysis examined relationships between pain scores and patient characteristics including age, skeletal pattern (FMA), crowding, overbite, and incisor inclination.Results: For the perceived pain, no significant difference was found between active and sham TENS devices (p=0.964). However, correlation analysis revealed distinct temporal patterns of pain predictors. Age correlation doubled from baseline (r=0.26, p=0.007) to 72 hours (r=0.55, p\u3c 0.001). Upper arch crowding peaked at 24 hours (r=-0.40, p\u3c 0.001), while lower arch crowding intensified at 48 hours (r=-0.50, p\u3c 0.001). FMA showed consistent correlation throughout (r=0.30-0.38), and overbite demonstrated protective effects peaking at 72 hours (r=-0.45, p\u3c 0.001).Conclusions: No statistically significant differences between the TENS device and sham control were found for the perceived orthodontic initial alignment pain. The temporal evolution of pain predictors indicates multiple underlying mechanisms requiring targeted strategies based on individual risk profiles. A larger sample size is required to confirm these findings
The Kangaroo Care Project: Implementation of Skin-to-Skin (STS) in Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
No full textBackground: Skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care or kangaroo mother care, is an intervention typically done after birth to promote physiologic stability, bonding, and breastfeeding.
Aim: The Kangaroo Care project aimed to increase the incidence of skin-to-skin contact in the neonatal intensive care unit at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento.
Methods: A pre-survey was conducted to assess staff comfort with skin to skin. Interventions to increase skin-to-skin rates included staff e-learning, unplanned extubation mock codes, nurse champions, and a policy change to Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento’s handbook.
Results: TBD. Preliminary results indicated use of STS in the NICU and post-results from the nurses’ survey are pending.
Conclusion: Increasing skin-to-skin care rates in the Sutter Medical Center Sacramento neonatal intensive care unit addressed critical barriers such as staffing shortages, limited space, and equipment availability. By enhancing staff support, education, and training, the NICU fostered greater parental involvement, which is essential for improving outcomes in preterm and low-birth-weight infants. This initiative promoted safer, more effective neonatal care, supported infant growth and development, and strengthened family-centered practices within Sacramento’s diverse community, ultimately contributing to better short- and long-term health outcomes.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/nursing-portfolios/1037/thumbnail.jp