-
The Effects of Prolonged Exposure Therapy on the Symptoms of Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Hannah Belle Pontillas
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-5 defines post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD as persistent psychophysiological reactions including intrusive memories of trauma, negative feelings towards such memories, and avoidance of related stimuli—all of which are a direct result of experiencing a traumatic event. The first line of treatment for this particular mental disorder is considered to be prolonged exposure therapy or PE therapy due to its high success rate in treating the symptoms of moderate to severe PTSD as it encourages patients to directly confront and overcome their trauma. However, PE therapy has garnered concern as it has caused patients to drop out before the completion of treatment as a result of symptom exacerbation after repeatedly being reminded of their trauma. Considering this contraindication, this thesis will compare the effectiveness of prolonged exposure therapy to that of psychopharmacotherapy and psychotherapy or combination therapy as alternative treatments for PTSD. A literature review was performed. Six studies that are divided into two categories: prolonged exposure therapy exclusively and combination therapy, were found. The studies of both categories demonstrate how prolonged exposure therapy and combination therapy affect the severity of PTSD symptoms, which ranges from a stagnant change to a moderate decrease in severity. Considering the need for further research on the effectiveness of alternative treatments for PTSD to prevent cases of symptom exacerbation, a research proposal that follows a longitudinal mixed method—qualitative and quantitative—is proposed.
-
The Effects of School-Based Art Therapy on Depressed Adolescents
Jasmine Nicolas
Depression in adolescents is associated with deficient behavioral and health outcomes (Fletcher, 2019). Art therapy has been shown to be effective in treating mental health condition such as depression. A student’s academic success heavily depends on treating their depression. Community health nurses can play a vital role in advocating for adequate mental health support to improve a student’s overall well-being and academic success. The literature review contains six articles on the prevalence and impact of depression among adolescents, art therapy as an intervention for improving psychological outcomes and resilience among adolescents, and experiences of adolescent clients in art therapy within school settings. In school settings, depressive symptoms are often linked to lower test scores and poor relationships among peers. Art therapy in schools offers a wide range of support for the youth. The environment of a school has a direct impact on a student’s personal, emotional, and behavioral aspect of themselves (Fisher & Brown, 2018). Schools are important environments for identifying risk in certain students. Therefore, schools can be an appropriate setting for providing treatment (Dunne et al., 2017).
-
The Feminine vs Masculine Nurse: The Effects of Gender Stereotypes in Nursing
Makrisel Lapitan
Nursing has been a predominantly female profession since the introduction of modern nursing by Florence Nightingale in 1860. While men are slowly beginning to enter the field, many stereotypes still surround the role of a nurse. For women, this may include qualities such as caring, and being empathetic and motherly. Conversely, there are assumptions that men are unable to bestow those same qualities and are therefore unworthy of working within the occupation.
-
The Impact Of Social Media On Adolescents
Victoria Phung
Social media is constantly developing and changing with unique features and apps being introduced on a day-to-day basis. Numerous individuals utilize social media to post about their life online, create connections with others, and create content. Adolescents, ages 11 to 18, are going through a substantial period of development and growth and are easily influenced by the things and people surrounding them. Because of this, adolescents can have both negative and positive experiences and feelings toward social media. It can cause adolescents to frequently compare themselves to the individuals they follow online; however, it can also be used for self-expression. The purpose of this paper is to discover how social media can influence adolescents both negatively and positively. After reviewing six primary articles, the negative effects heavily outweigh the positive; moreover, a future study using a prospective, mixed-method design is proposed to find interventions that can be implemented to make using social media a more positive experience for everybody.
-
The Rising Rates of Pediatric Health Conditions due to Lack of Nutrition Education
Amanda Healy
Statistics show that there is an increase in childhood health conditions related to nutrition. Throughout the United States, the rates of childhood obesity have drastically increased along with the rates of type two diabetes. There is correlation between these two chronic problems in pediatric patients, but not all pediatrics diagnosed with DM2 are obese. Furthermore, there is a correlation between this increase of obesity/DM2 and the lack of nutrition education in schools. The public school system in the United States does not have the funding to provide adequate nutrition education to the children which is leading to substantial health consequences. The goal of this paper is to show the correlation between the lack of nutrition education and the increase of obesity/DM2. The study focuses on the pediatric population in the public school system. The administration of surveys before and after proper nutrition education is typically used. The study used a control group of students who have not been given nutrition education, and the survey compared to those who have received education.
-
The Role That Diet and Lifestyle Factor Plays in an Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in Asians and Pacific Islanders
Ethan Caragan
Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of mortality, often resulting in heart attacks and strokes due to obstructed blood flow to vital organs. The risk of these events is influenced by dietary choices, smoking, and physical activity. Despite preventative measures, the impact of diet and lifestyle on cardiovascular health varies across ethnic groups. This thesis aims to evaluate how variations in dietary traditions and lifestyle among Asians and Pacific Islanders contribute to increased or decreased cardiovascular disease risks compared to other racial groups. The study focuses on the dietary and lifestyle factors of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California, involving 5,000 individuals aged 28-50. Participants undergo a baseline assessment, complete initial food frequency and lifestyle surveys, and are observed over five years with follow-up questionnaires. Statistical and subgroup analyses will be employed to explore the relationship between diet, lifestyle, and cardiovascular disease risk. By examining habits, cultural influences, and genetic predispositions, the research seeks to identify factors contributing to cardiovascular disease incidence rates among these populations. The findings of the thesis aims to create interventions, promoting alternative dietary habits and lifestyle modifications to decrease cardiovascular disease rates among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
-
Unlocking VR Magic: Duration of Anxiety Relief for Pediatric Needle Procedures
Anna Angelica Mendoza
-
Unveiling New Realities: An In-Depth Analysis of Virtual Reality's Impact on Postoperative Adolescents
Julia Tolentino
The traditional approach to postoperative pain management heavily relies on opioids, but there’s been a surge in their misuse and adverse effects, leading to a significant public health concern. This has led healthcare providers to incorporate a multimodal approach aimed at reducing opioid dependence. This proposal introduces an immersive component, virtual reality (VR), not as a replacement for opioids but as a complementary tool offering distinct advantages for enhancing postoperative pain management. By immersing patients in a virtual environment, VR effectively distracts them from pain and discomfort, allowing for reduced opioid dosages and mitigating the risk of opioid misuse. Additionally, virtual reality provides a non-invasive and drug-free alternative, making it a safer and more patient-centered option for improving the overall postoperative experience. Through a comprehensive literature review, research findings were analyzed to highlight the necessity and effectiveness of VR in the postoperative period and among pediatric patients. Given that adolescents constitute a unique and potentially more responsive demographic, particularly in the postoperative setting where limited studies exist, this proposal advocates for a quasi-experimental study design to investigate the significant reductions in pain intensity and opioid usage achievable through immersive virtual reality among postoperative adolescents.
-
Video Game Therapy for ADHD Managment
Wilhelm Alec Sison Beroncal
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stands out as the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, leading to functional challenges in various aspects of the daily lives of affected young individuals (Bul et al., 2016).
There is no current cure for ADHD, however effective treatments are available through medications. The FDA has authorized two types of medications for managing ADHD in children as young as 6 years old: stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine (e.g. Adderall), and non-stimulant options including Strattera, Intuniv, Kapvay, and Qelbree (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023).
The choice of treatment is highly individualized to meet the specific needs of each patient and their family (CDC, 2023). It is noteworthy that 69.3% of children with ADHD receive medication as part of their treatment, while 30.7% do not (NSCH, 2011).
While extensive research has established the efficacy of medication-based approaches for ADHD management, there is insufficient research on non-pharmacological alternatives.
-
Impact of Intergenerational Trauma Among Immigrant and Refugee Families: Effects on the Mental Health and Acquisition of Care
Loralee Chea
Intergenerational trauma is described as a discrete form of trauma that occurs when traumatic effects are passed across generations without the descendants of trauma survivors having exposure to the original event (Isobel et al., 2021). It is a silent suffering experienced among immigrant families from all across the world who have survived war, genocide, displacements, loss, and other psychological trauma. An exploration of literature has also shown that the healthcare crisis from this form of trauma can be identified and intervened with preventative or treatment measures in clinical practice. The purpose of this research paper is to explore the mental health impacts of intergenerational trauma and its effects on the acquisition of healthcare to better understand what clinical interventions can be implemented to help break the cycle of trauma for future generations.
-
Nursing Student’s Expectancy-Value Regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Knowledge Retention
Raquel Suba
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a sudden and unexpected death within the first year of life, which is attributable to unexplained causes after autopsies and full case investigations are unable to resolve the reason for death. Annually in the United States, approximately 3,600 infants die unexpectedly and suddenly of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and in 2018, there were 1,300 infant deaths due to SIDS (CDC, 2018). Despite American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations promoting the endorsement and modelling of SIDS risk-recommendations from birth, studies reveal that both nursing students and registered nurses have deficient knowledge in adequate SIDS prevention knowledge and training (Burgess et al., 2017; Bartlow, Cartwright, Shefferly, 2016; Graham & Peoples 2019).
The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational study is to explore baccalaureate nursing students’ recall of SIDS risk factors and AAP guidelines for safe infant sleep, and their perceived value of retaining this information after completion of pediatrics and maternity coursework. 51 participants completed an online questionnaire to evaluate their expectancy-value of retaining SIDS knowledge via Likert scale and their actual knowledge of SIDS risk factors and AAP guidelines. Data collection and analysis took place throughout February and March of 2021. There is significant correlation between expectancy-value score and desired specialty area after graduation, but no significant correlation between retention of SIDS information related to the students’ prior experience with infant caregiving and their future area of nursing specialization.
-
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Work Performance Amongst Night Shift Nurses
Hannah Pham
The aim of this study is to identify sleep hygiene and coping mechanisms utilized by night shift nurses and to determine its association in relieving sleep deprivation.
-
Flowers or Flora?: Understanding the Effects of Probiotics on Depression
Nicole Collopy
Chances are, we all know someone who has had their life affected by depression and anxiety; and we have all experienced these feelings on some level. What if the key to unlocking these problems lied within every one of us -- inside of our gut? The research topic being explored is the relationship between gut health and mood disorders. The question of interest is: Does the use of probiotic supplementation have an effect on feelings of depression?
Connection between gut health and mental health is significant as approximately 6.7% of adults in the U.S. suffer from major depressive disorder. There has been an observed association between gut health disorders and mood disorders, mainly anxiety and depression. Those who demonstrate anxiety and depression have an increased likelihood of developing abnormal gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This raises the possibility of bi-directionality between the brain and the gut, meaning that GI health may have an effect on mental health and vice versa.
This relationship is important to explore. Probiotics, bacteria that are beneficial to the body, have grown in popularity as a gut health supplement which may have an affect on the brain. There is much reason to suspect and explore the relationship between probiotic supplements and depression.
-
Common Factors Related to Illicit Substance Use Among Nurses in North America
Madison Marshall, Reinelle Regala, Lucy Gray, Emma Pedlar, and Samantha Naguit
The prevalence of illicit substance use among registered nurses, though not widely studied or addressed, is understood to be an essential issue facing healthcare professionals. An impaired nurse is defined as someone who has impaired functioning as a result of substance abuse and it interferes with their professional judgment and ability to deliver safe, high quality care. Registered nurses have access to many high-controlled prescription medications, with little oversight, and the opportunity for substance abuse is significant. In our research, we studied the risk factors, the prevalence, and the preventative measures involved in addressing illicit substance use among nurses.
-
Factors & Risks Associated with Adolescents Late Entry into Prenatal Care
Shannon Almonia, Kimberly Damian, Giuliana Enea, Solveig Karlsen, and Jessica Markham
Prenatal care is a type of preventative health care for pregnant women that is typically initiated in the first trimester. However, when prenatal care is inadequate, initiated past the first trimester or missed, the mother and fetus experience an increased risk for preterm delivery. Adolescents are apart of a specific subgroup of pregnant women that are at a higher risk for adverse outcomes during pregnancy due to knowledge deficits. Therefore, adolescents are especially likely to receive inadequate prenatal services. Numerous studies have been conducted to discover the result of inadequate prenatal care; however, not as many studies explore the factors associated with late entry or lack of entry into prenatal care for adolescents. These factors need to be identified so care providers can accurately identify pregnant adolescents who are at the greatest risk for receiving inadequate care so that they can attempt to prevent preterm births.
-
Influenza Vaccination in School-aged Children
Isabella Jao, Chloe McFadin, Nica Nuguid, Dan Recinto, and Kaitlin Van Ryn
Should schools in the United States require children between the ages of six months to 17 years to have flu vaccination shots? Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), every flu season varies, and an influenza infection can affect people differently. Millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized, and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. Everyone is at risk for influenza, but the highest risk lies within children who are still developing their immune systems. However, with vaccines, this risk is easily preventable and can decrease a person’s chances of acquiring the infection. As such, the CDC recommends that every person six months and older should be vaccinated annually. This is even more important for children because they attend schools where they have maximum exposure to various strains of influenza six to ten hours daily. They can easily spread and contract the disease in their school environment, specifically from children that are not vaccinated. This leads to the hypothesis that children six months to 17 years should be required to receive influenza vaccinations.
-
What is the relationship between food insecurity and college students aged 18-22 and its effects on academic performance and how can proper nutrition be promoted?
Karla Ramos, John Magbanua, Daniella Flores, Janelle de Dios, Karla Bugtong, and Shannon Almonia
Food insecurity is defined as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods. It can also be defined as the limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. Previous research has observed that food insecurity can disrupt optimal development throughout the life cycle. A growing body of literature has documented the effects of food insecurity on cognitive, academic, and psychosocial development among college students. These studies consistently observed that food insecurity is associated with lower academic performance, poor health, and decreased psychosocial function. Among college students, financial hardship can translate into budget demands, such as tuition, textbooks, housing, utilities, and healthcare. These budget demands compete with money that can be used to purchase food. Over the past 30 years, the price of higher education has steadily outpaced inflation, the cost of living, and medical expenses. Food insecurity, as a potential consequence of the increasing cost of higher education, can be considered a major student health priority. College students face life-changing milestones during their transition to adulthood that may have long-lasting effects. Food insecurity during these years can potentially affect college students' cognitive, academic, and psychosocial development. Studies addressing food insecurity among college students suggest a higher prevalence of food insecurity compared with the general population. A previous study conducted in Hawai'i found that 45% of students were food insecure or at risk of food insecurity. The purpose of the current study was to further analyze the prevalence of food insecurity and identifying its correlates among students
-
Effective Interventions to Reduce the Increase In Elective Cesarean Sections In Low Risk Women
Kimberly Kelsey, Crystal Hunter, Brianna-Kirsten Tan, Sara Shea, Heather Holland, Sasha Riley, Mary Uy, Tenzin Tsomo, Fasha Ruys-solorzano, and Dolma Tso
According to the Annals of Family Medicine, the amount of babies born via cesarean section has increased from 4.5% in 1965 to 26.1% in 2002 and nearly 40% of all cesarean sections are repeats. After an extensive literature review, results showed that patients need to be educated about the risks and benefits of vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery. It was also found that there needs to be policy changes to decrease the amount of cesarean sections done and increase the labor and delivery support without using interventions. Further study should be focused on morbidity and mortality very low birth weight neonates for women with previous cesarean sections that accounts for unplanned VBAC deliveries.
-
A Literature Review of Vertical Violence Between Staff Medical Surgical Nurses and Nursing Students During Clinical Rotations
Lisa N. Cunningham
Vertical violence is defined as any act of violence including yelling, snide comments, withholding information, ignoring, and humiliating behaviors occurring between two or more persons on different levels of a hierarchical system that prohibits professional performance and satisfaction within the workplace (Cantey, 2013). Vertical violence can occur in any unit of the hospital but is mainly felt and witnessed by student nurses and their clinical instructors in the medical surgical units. According to research done by Fenush and Hupcey (2008), the nursing shortage is most severe in the medical surgical units. Their research found that the two greatest factors in whether a new graduate will choose a specific unit is the experience they had and how the unit staff treat and respond to nursing students. Vertical violence has been an ongoing problem in the nursing profession and is now affecting hospital units where newly graduated nurses are needed the most. There is a gap of knowledge of why staff nurses are holding biases against the students’, and how communication and teamwork between the two can be improved. This literature review will attempt to bridge the gap by examining the current and past literature on vertical violence in hope of uncovering information that can be used for future research and hospital protocols. The purpose of this literature review is to explore the attitudes and biases of staff nurses when working with students’, to see how staff and student relationships have improved, and if students’ clinical experience on a particular unit will determine their career choice post graduation.
-
Literature Review of Nosocomial Infections Passed Through Nurses' Personal Items
Corina Hickman
As defined by the encyclopedia, nosocomial infections are infections whose development is favored by a hospital environment, such as one acquired by a patient during a hospital visit or one developing among hospital staff. There has been more of a prevalence of hospital-acquired infections that are linked directly to medical personnel – especially nurses. Nurses have the most contact with patients and are potentially putting patients at highest risk for nosocomial infections. Even though nurses are following isolation precautions and standard hand washing in between patients; there are still a few things on nurses that could be harmful to their patients including stethoscopes, uniforms, and cell phones. I will be looking at research studies that show how harmful these personal items on nurses can be for patients, and what protocols are implemented in hospitals to keep patients safe from acquiring any nosocomial infections.
A collection of research posters authored by students from the Department of Nursing at Dominican University of California.
Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.
