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An Honest Discussion about Current DEI Legislation in Kentucky
No full textDEI refers to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are three closely linked values. These three values work together to support different individuals and groups including different races, religions, abilities, genders, and sexual orientation. Diversity can be separated into gender diversity, age diversity, ethnic diversity, physical ability and neurodiversity. Equity refers to fair treatment for all people so that the norms, practices, and policies in place ensure identity is not predictive of opportunities or environmental outcomes. While equality assumes that all people should be treated the same, equity takes into consideration a person’s unique circumstances, adjusting treatment accordingly so that the end result is equal. Inclusion refers to how employees experience the workplace and help explain the degree to which organizations embrace all individuals. As a result, many people feel insignificant at work and are more likely to experience microaggressions. Examples of this may include that individuals might feel as if they are unable to talk freely and feel comfortable about themselves, for example, or need to constantly correct assumptions about their personal lives.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1370/thumbnail.jp
Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: The Prevalence of Trauma Among Students in a Master of Science Program in Occupational Therapy
Get PDFTrauma impacts learning at all stages of education and can be particularly problematic at post-secondary levels and for people from equity-deserving groups. Understanding trauma can support effective teaching and learning. Research suggests that students who have experienced trauma may be more likely to enter healthcare professional programs. Research specific to occupational therapy (OT) students who have experienced trauma is limited. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of trauma among Master of Science (MSc) OT students at a Canadian university. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was selected for data collection. CTQ is a validated retrospective, self-report tool evaluating five sub-scales of trauma. Respondents (N = 85) were year #1 or year #2 students in an MSc OT program. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. CTQ assigns minimization/denial scores which identify possible under-reporting of trauma. Varying severity of trauma was identified, with the highest level of trauma reported on the emotional abuse sub-scale (low to moderate classification). Mean trauma score for the remaining four sub-scales fell within the none to minimal trauma classification. Results suggest a low level of trauma among MSc OT students. However, minimization/denial scores suggest possible under-reporting for 28% of respondents. Trauma can interfere with learning and can manifest in a variety of ways. Considering the potential under-reporting of childhood trauma experiences in retrospective measures, implementing trauma-informed pedagogical practices universally could address the needs of identified trauma survivors while supporting all students including those who do not disclose or underreport
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Facilitation and Compliance with Clean Intermittent Self-Catheterization (CISC)
Get PDFBackground: The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) (4th ed.) states that toileting and toilet hygiene includes management of continence needs, including catheters and the necessary equipment to maintain bladder control (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020b). However, the overall perspectives of occupational therapy’s role are poorly understood.
Purpose: The study\u27s purpose was to collect data about occupational therapy (OT) practitioners\u27 practice trends in client management of clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC), including perceived competency, education and training, and frequency and extent of involvement in supporting clients with CISC needs.
Theoretical Framework: The study is also supported by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Mission 2025 (AOTA, 2020), the Critical Modernism Approach (Taylor, 2017), and the Canadian Model of Occupational Participation (CanMOP) (Egan & Restall, 2022).
Methods: The study utilized an original mixed methods survey to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data was examined using descriptive statistical analysis, and the qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Participants were recruited through convenience and network sampling. Inclusion criteria included being an occupational therapy practitioner with current experience living in the United States.
Results: The survey results indicate that OT practitioners take a collaborative, goal-directed role in improving occupational participation in CISC. Practitioners collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, which includes nurses, urology professionals, case management, catheter representatives, and product vendors. Practitioners seek to enhance occupational participation in CISC, including independence and self-advocacy. Practitioners indicate that on-the-job training was key to successfully learning treatment strategies and improving occupational participation in CISC. Practitioners report inadequate preparation in entry-level education to address the needs of clients who utilize CISC. In conclusion, OT practitioners provide vital services to enhance the occupational participation of clients who utilize CISC as a treatment strategy.
Conclusions: To ensure the ongoing competency of OT practitioners, entry-level education and knowledgeable colleagues should continue to disseminate knowledge about OT’s role in CISC. The results of this survey will drive knowledge and progress in occupational therapy practitioners\u27 vital role in enhancing occupational participation in CISC
OT CHT Treatment and Intervention for Adult Clients After a Nerve Transfer Surgery: A Pilot Survey
Get PDFBackground: This study used a pilot survey to collect data regarding how current occupational therapists who are also certified hand therapists are working with adult clients after a nerve trans- fer surgery. The pilot survey was conducted virtually via email and created using Qualtrics software.
Purpose: The purpose of this research was to create a survey tool and obtain data to describe current occupational therapy practice trends, outcomes, and education for clients after a nerve transfer surgery. The research sought to determine what interventions are commonly incorporated, what are common outcomes, what education is being provided, what is included in a typical home exercise program, and what are typical nerve transfer surgeries encountered.
Theoretical Framework: Theoretical frameworks incorporated within this study are the biomechanical, sensorimotor relearning theory, and occupation-based practice.
Methods: A virtual pilot survey tool was created with 20 questions; initial questions were forced-answer to ensure that the participants met the inclusion criteria for the study. Other survey questions gathered data about common assessments, interventions, and types of nerve transfer surgeries commonly treated in practice by OT CHTs. A recruitment email was sent using professional networks and a snowball recruitment method was incorporated as well for further recruitment. Descriptive statics were utilized for data analysis.
Results: There were 17 respondents who completed one or more survey items. Five participants met inclusion criteria to complete the survey in full. The most common nerve transfer surgery encountered was the anterior interosseous nerve to ulnar motor nerve transfer. Of these participants 67% had worked with a client within this population less than 1 year from completion of this survey. The most common interventions incorporated were TENS, mirror visual feedback, task-oriented activities, gradual exposure to textures, and AROM as appropriate based on healing after an immobilized period which varied among most respondents.
Conclusion: The pilot survey successfully collected data related to the objectives of this research and the research provided feedback in which the survey tool will be modified and improved for future research on this topic. Participants of this survey demonstrated a combined approach within interventions of using task-oriented activities, modalities, sensor-motor relearning, and biomechanical means
Behind Every Strong Man is an Even Stronger Woman: Women in the WWE
Get PDFWomen in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have come to the forefront of WWE programming form out of nowhere. This honors thesis sets out to show that this narrative is false and that the progression of women in the WWE began long before the company had its current name. This thesis uses the theory of the four waves of feminism to show the correlation of the evolution of women in society to the evolution of women in the WWE. In doing so, this project shows both the similarities and differences between the women in the WWE and women in the United States. Analysis of secondary sources that outline the history of the WWE and compiling of primary sources. It also relies on the analysis of photos of the wrestlers to compare them to the views of the era. Ultimately, this thesis concludes that women in the WWE mirror the progression of women’s place in society in the United States. It shows the correlation between the four waves of feminism and the different eras of women’s wrestling in the WWE. It shows the effects of storylines, character work, and attire and how it captures the attitudes and feelings of the era
Aroma Comparison of Different Pawpaw Cultivars from the Kentucky State University Pawpaw Research Program
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to perform an analysis on the volatile profile differences in six pawpaw cultivars. There are over 30 pawpaw cultivars known to exist, and the flavor differences can be quite different for each; however, limited flavor analytical work has been done to understand which flavor compounds could be causing those differences. Recent work in Dr. Zyzak’s lab using gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) has identified key aroma compounds in the KSU-AtwoodTM cultivar. However, little is known about the other cultivars. This approach involved two steps: using a combination of GC-O and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the important aroma compounds and developing a solvent extraction method to quantitate those compounds. I focused on the quantitation of 5 key aroma compounds that contribute to fruity and creamy/buttery flavors that are consistently perceived in the different varieties, albeit at different levels. Those five compounds are acetoin, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, and ethyl octanoate. These high-intensity, odor-active compounds contribute to the sweet, creamy, mango, pineapple, and banana-like characteristics used to describe the flavor of pawpaw fruit. The results of this study showed that higher ethyl-esters levels are associated with more tropical fruit and mango/pineapple character found in the KSU-Atwood™, Mango, and Sunflower cultivars. The high acetoin and lower ester levels lead to a creamy, buttery/banana character associated with the KSU-ChappellTM, KSU-Benson™, and SusquehannaTM cultivars. The learnings from this study can be used to further evaluate additional pawpaw cultivars
9/11: Fueling the Misleading Fire of War and its Reflection in Country Music
Get PDFThe interplay between American patriotism and country music underwent a profound transformation in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, as significant historical events reshaped national identity. This project examines the evolution of conservative patriotism in country music through key events such as the Iranian Revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, and the First Gulf War, culminating in the post-9/11 era and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It explores how these geopolitical shifts influenced public sentiment and how country musicians became both commentators and amplifiers of national rhetoric. The pre-9/11 era saw artists like Merle Haggard and Hank Williams Jr. use their music to champion conservative values, establish a framework for modern patriotism, and address national anxieties. Post-9/11, this sentiment intensified as musicians such as Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Darryl Worley responded to the attacks with songs that echoed the U.S. government\u27s calls for unity and retribution. Tracks like Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue, Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)?, and Have You Forgotten? became cultural touchstones, reflecting the anger, grief, and resilience of a nation in turmoil. Through a close analysis of these songs and the historical context surrounding their creation, this project reveals how country music both shaped and was shaped by the political and emotional climate of its time, reinforcing narratives that ultimately supported U.S. military actions abroad
Friend or Faux: A Scientific Comparison of Reciprocal Relationships and Parasocial Relationships and Their Psychological Effects
Get PDFThe prominence of social media in our society has led to an increase in the presence of parasocial relationships—a relationship in which someone perceives another person as having an interpersonal relationship with them, despite not interacting with the media user directly. Our current body of literature has produced little understanding of how these relationships compare to reciprocal relationships, in terms of their psychological ramifications. Specifically, there is little consensus in the literature about what factors of well-being are most impacted by sustaining parasocial relationships. This study aimed to investigate these gaps in knowledge and compare how these different types of relationships affect psychological factors of well-being. The specific psychological factors investigated in this research included perceived social support, sense of belonging, subjective well-being, mood, quality of relationship, perceived closeness of relationship, relationship intensity, and wishful identification. The present study utilized a between-subjects experimental design in which participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, including a control condition. In the two experimental conditions, participants were asked to write about either their favorite media persona or a real friend they have. The primary hypothesis was that parasocial relationships would be less impactful on the psychological well-being of individuals than reciprocal relationships, which could help to inform our understanding of the consequences of developing parasocial relationships. It was found that while overall, parasocial relationships can affect individuals’ mental well-being, they are not directly equal to that of a reciprocal relationship
Disasters And Disorganization: The Flood Of 2022 In Eastern Kentucky And The Struggles That Linger
Get PDFIn July of 2022, a generational flood washed out many small communities across 13 Kentucky counties in Central Appalachia. This disaster, like previous disasters, uncovered structural and socioeconomic issues perpetuated by those in power that were hidden from the outside world. Minimal news coverage of the flood damage created the impression that aid has been substantial, and towns have been rebuilt. This ethnographic research, carried out in 2023 in Letcher County, reveals extensive damage and long-term consequences for the region. Through a series of interviews with residents of the county, this paper examines the disaster, the structural context in which it occurred, and it’s socio-economic and psychic effects on communities. This paper also situates these inquiries in relevant criminological and sociological theories. Results offered complex and at times contradictory statements and beliefs. Residents highlighted structural mistakes made by government entities, which they attributed in part to the broader history of exploitation and misrepresentation of the region. While some of these responses revealed a sense of despair, respondents also expressed a sense of hope, and unbreakable pride in being from Appalachia