Research is a cornerstone of education at Dominican University of California. Posters in this collection showcase student research presented at conferences.
Browse our research posters by department
Barowsky School of Business | Education | Global Public Health | Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Nursing | Occupational Therapy | Physician Assistant Studies | Psychology
-
Sexual Education In Adolescence: Contraception Education For Adolescents Leads To Improved Sexual Practices
Marie Poellinger and Erica Jade Fong
Adolescents of low socioeconomic status from 13-18 years of age face many challenges when it comes to maintaining safe sexual health practices, leading to unwanted pregnancies and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STI’s). Challenges include:
-
economic barriers → limited access to health care or lack of health insurance
-
lack of proper sex education and therefore limited knowledge around contraceptive
Addressing these challenges is crucial for better sexual health outcomes. The nurse’s role is essential in providing education about contraceptive options, access to local resources, and guidance pertaining to safe sexual health practices (Dixon, 2014)
-
-
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.
-
Benefits of Rooming-in on Infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
Emma Ricioli
Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) is a significant public health concern, affecting infants born to mothers who use opioids during pregnancy. Those exposed in-utero exhibit numerous signs of withdrawal after delivery including tremors, gastrointestinal distress, inconsolability, and poor feeding. Typical treatment for infants suffering from NOWS included direct admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for close observation and pharmacological interventions. However, NICU stays can interfere with bonding and breastfeeding. They can also lead to increased lengths of stay, higher costs, and more invasive pharmacological treatments. These infants typically do not have any other concerning health issues besides NOWS and therefore should not be immediately transferred to the NICU. Rather, they should be able to room-in with their parents. Rooming-in is associated with improved neonatal outcomes, shorter length of stay, and a decrease in cost. The literature review identified limited data regarding the effectiveness of non-separation techniques when implemented in small hospitals with fewer resources. A research proposal will be discussed as well that focuses on implementing rooming-in techniques in rural hospitals located in Northern California. Infants with NOWS born at these hospitals between August 2023-December 2024 will be admitted directly to the NICU. Infants born between January 2025-May 2026 will room-in with their parents. The will be a quantitative study that utilizes a retrospective cohort design. Descriptive statistics will be used to determine if implementing non-separation techniques improves outcomes for infants suffering from neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
-
Fatherhood and the Influence of Spouses Postpartum Depression on Relationship Satisfaction
Emma Salinas
Postpartum depression and the effects it has on women have long been well studied and documented, however, little research has been done on how this illness affects these women’s partners. Considering the significant amount of research conducted on postpartum depression (PPD) from the perspective of women and the increasing trend towards family-oriented approaches, it is vital to further undertake studies concentrating on the male perspective of coping with a partner who has PPD. This in turn opens a new and important area of research for the clinical psychology community. This research proposal aims to focus on fathers’ coping styles when living with a partner suffering from postpartum depression as well as how it may influence/alter relationship satisfaction. This research proposal would include a mixed-method research design using both semi-structured, face-to-face interviews conducted individually and surveys. The sample size would include 20 couples, 10 fathers, and 10 mothers currently experiencing postpartum depression. Couples would be voluntarily recruited through a flier at their pediatricians’ offices. Inclusion criteria would include all participants being over the age of 18, having a partner with clinically diagnosed postpartum depression, living together with said partner, and being at least 2 months postpartum. The results from this study have not yet been collected but are presumed to reveal multiple themes describing the fathers’ journey through their partners’ postpartum depression. These findings would not only highlight a need for pre-emptive education on maternal PPD and more accessible resources but also assessing fathers’ emotional responses to parenthood and their partners’ depression.
-
Addiction Behind the American Dream: A Case for Harm Reduction among Upper and Middle Class
Sean Marc Sanga
The purpose of this study is to help bring awareness to the significant lack of information revolving around the idea of harm reduction interventions. This study will mainly focus on the upper and middle class, therefore, the end goal is to gain insight on what exactly deters or dissuades this specific population from gaining care. In addition, I hope it will provide some solutions to the growing drug problem among Middle America.
-
Enhancing Athletic Participation: Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Athletes
Danielle Santiago
Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a lifelong autoimmune condition requiring exogenous insulin, daily insulin management, and blood glucose monitoring (Kahanovitz et al., 2018). Diagnosis, often in childhood, brings overwhelming challenges for children and parents. While no cure exists, advances in monitoring and insulin delivery enhance blood sugar control and quality of life (Mayo Clinic, 2023)
Problem Statement: It is suspected that children with T1DM develop a fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) that deters exercise. Cockroft et al. (2023) found that 70% of youth with T1DM do not meet the recommended amount of exercise (Cockcroft et al., 2023). Physical education teachers (PE teachers) and coaches are trained in RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) for sprains, CPR and other basic life support, and preventing and treating heat exhaustion, so they may accept being trained to interpret CGM data as well.
-
Sex Education in Chinese American Adolescents
Onsheng Seto
Comprehensive sex education has shown improvements in lowering STIs and unplanned pregnancies among adolescents. Implementing a sex education course provides youths the tools to develop a safe and positive view of sexuality which encourages them to approach sex and sexual health wisely and confidently. The findings of this study aims to promote comprehensive sex education as well as bring awareness to the disparity in teen pregnancy and STIs among ethnic groups. This research proposal seeks to evaluate the efficacy of comprehensive sex education in Chinese American adolescents while taking cultural considerations to better understand their practices, beliefs, and attitudes on sex.
-
Measuring Outcomes of Occupational Therapy Facilitated in Natural Settings with Young Children
Amie Smith, Zoe Peters, Brinda Saini, Deepak Dale, and Amanda Laccone
To date, there is limited evidence to support the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy (OT) services delivered outside in nature. This study explored the benefits of OT intervention in Natural Settings (NS) for children by examining development in the areas of self-regulation, social skills, sensory processing, confidence, and motor skills. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was used in this study. Researchers partnered with a local outpatient OT clinic that offers an 8-week outdoor program. Seven children and their parents were recruited and participated in the study. A modified version of the COPM and two BOT-2 subtests, along with a novel log climb measure were used to track changes among participants. Results showed that performance and satisfaction ratings as well as scores from the balance and catching subtests from the BOT-2 generally improved from pre-test to post-test after the eight weeks. Additionally, the speed, efficiency and quality of movement data gathered from the novel log climb generally improved by the end of the 8-week period. Overall, though there are several limitations to the study, the data showed improvement in key areas across parent reports and motor skill measures.
-
Emergency Department Safety with Psychiatric Unit
Mallorie Stiner and Sofia Splendore
Background: Safety in the emergency department is of the highest priority with patient care for ED staff and psychiatric patients. Psychiatric patients are unpredictable and can have violent outbursts, especially in a mental health episode or under the influence of drugs and or alcohol. Research on psychiatric units in the emergency department has primarily focused on minimizing patient wait times, however, there is a lack of research on patient and staff safety. Objective: This thesis investigates the impact of incorporating a psychiatric unit staffed by mental health professionals and patient safety within the emergency department. Methods: This thesis will include a literature review with peer-reviewed journals and primary evidence associated with the violence ED staff endure with psychiatric patients, how mental health patients get easily overstimulated in the ED, and the education level of ED staff about psychiatric conditions. The results of this study will be reviewed before and after a psychiatric unit is placed within the ED and analyzed with inferential and descriptive statistics. This study will measure the number of violent events before and after a psychiatric unit is placed to determine the effectiveness of safety for ED staff and patients.
-
Education in the Emergency Department for Cardiac Conditions
Shelby Thomason
In the United States 610,000 people die every year from coronary artery disease which equates to 1 in 4 deaths. Inequity in access to healthcare is a persistent issue that impact patient outcomes. Tracking adherence and patient outcomes can be challenging, especially for patients who may not have access to necessary resources or support. Nurses are often overworked and have limited time to provide in-depth education. Patients and their families often struggle to afford caregivers or other resources that can help manage these chronic cardiac conditions.
-
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.
-
Prevalence of Hypoglycemia Induced by Overtreatment in Elderly Type Two Diabetics Using Continuous Blood Glucose Monitors
Alyssa Mae T. Tubera
Background: The most common way of reading blood glucose (BG) levels in type II diabetics is by manually pricking one’s finger with a needle and measuring the glucose through a monitoring device. There has been an increased use in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) that permits clients to wear a sensor on their arm that simultaneously records glucose levels throughout the day and reports the results to a smartphone or monitoring device. Depending on the result and whether the patient is using insulin, it will determine how much medication will be administered. There is little research on the impacts of using CGM devices in conjunction with antihyperglycemic drugs in type II diabetics who live independently and are over age 65.
Objective: To examine devices that monitor BG continuously compared to devices that monitor BG with periodic finger sticks. The question arises: Are elderly patients with type II Diabetes who live independently and use these devices, disproportionately affected by hypoglycemic episodes induced by over-treatment with anti-diabetic drugs?
Literature Review: Research highlighted benefits of using CGM devices versus self-monitoring BG such as recording glucose levels at night, increased self-care behavior, and decreased hemoglobin A1C. Other factors may contribute to hypoglycemia such as physical exercise, prolonged fasting, and use of ACE inhibitors. There remains a knowledge gap in the impact that CGM devices have on independent type II diabetics who live independently.
Proposal:
Purpose: To gather data on prevalence of hypoglycemia in independent, type II diabetics ≥65 years old while using CGM devices and antidiabetic medications
Population: type II diabetics ≥65 years who live independently, use CGM devices, and antihyperglycemic medications
Study Design: Prospective Longitudinal observational study
Study Method: Survey
Clinical Significance:
Study intends to bring awareness of possible complications of using CGM devices in type II diabetics ≥65 who live independently.
-
The Effect of Nursing Education on the Utilization of Kangaroo Mother Care and Weight Gain of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants
Jhenalynn Valete
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), often referred to as skin-to-skin contact, is an intervention for preterm and low birth weight infants, involving the practice of the mother or caregiver holding the newborn against their bare chest (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). This is a cost-effective and natural way to enhance health outcomes such as temperature regulation, weight gain, respiratory function, pain mitigation, and facilitation of breastfeeding for the neonate (Jefferies et al., 2012).
Nursing staff may have limited knowledge regarding KMC which creates challenges in effectively educating parents. This information prompts the following question: “Can Nurse Education about the Importance of Kangaroo Mother Care Increase its Utilization and Promote Weight gain in Low Birthweight and Preterm Infants?”
-
Relationship of Resilience Levels: A Survey of Occupational Therapists
Emily Xiong, Alana Martinez, Makenna Rubinstein, Breeana Montoya, and Alexis Perez
Resilience enables practitioners to handle adversity, endure challenging times, and return to an internal equilibrium.2 Little is known about the relationship between practicing occupational therapists’ (OTs) resilience levels and 1) professional identity, 2) burnout, 3) job turnover intention, 4) practice settings, 5) years of practice, 6) age. Understanding these relationships may ultimately inform solutions for addressing resilience, professional identity, and burnout within the OT profession.
-
Caffeine Usage and Effects on Quality of Life, Clinical Performance, and Safety Among Nurses
Alexander Carl Yanga
Background: The purpose of this investigation is to examine the effects of caffeine consumption on the nurse’s quality of life. It also will explore the relationship between caffeine consumption, nurses' clinical performance, and patient safety. Nurses often endure long hours with demanding tasks to ensure client health and safety. Long work shifts and low margins for error can be taxing, which could result in fatigue, poorer sleep, and increased risk for mistakes. Caffeine is an accepted and effective option for combating fatigue and boosting alertness short term. Questions arise about whether caffeine is beneficial or if consumption causes a decrease in the nurse’s clinical performance and safety over time.
Literature Review: A literature review was conducted to explore relationships between caffeine consumption, sleep, alertness, and education about caffeine usage. Primary articles, related to caffeine, nursing, sleep, fatigue, and alertness, were found using university databases. Overall patterns were found, including: a need for further education on high-energy drink usage; higher perceived stress and sleep disturbances with caffeine usage; and lower alertness levels with changes in sleep quality.
Proposed Study: The proposed study is a quantitative, comparative approach that will use an online self-reported survey to collect data. The targeted population includes working registered nurses. The sample involves 100 critical care nurses within Northern California’s Bay Area hospitals. There will be questions, using a numeric scale, about their background, demographics, caffeine consumption habits, sleep habits, perception of clinical performance, perception of work fatigue and stress, and perception of clinical safety. Descriptive and comparative statistics will be used to examine connections between caffeine consumption and perceptions of sleep, stress, fatigue, clinical performance, and patient safety.
Clinical Significance: Results of this investigation may have potential for increasing knowledge about relationships between nurses' quality of life, caffeine use, clinical performance and patient safety.
-
How Implicit Bias Leads to Racial Disparities in Maternal Care and Experiences
Mia Yee
Background: Maternal mortality rates have decreased all over the world. However, in the United States, the maternal mortality rate has been steadily increasing. Women of color reportedly are forced to accept the burden of an unequal association between race and morbidity & mortality due to implicit discriminatory attitudes of healthcare professionals. Objective: To better understand the relationship between implicit bias and maternal care in the San Francisco Bay Area between non-Hispanic White & Black women and to explore racial disparities in their maternal narratives. A literature review was performed and a study is proposed. Future Directions: To Identify the differences in maternal care among women of color so that possible interventions can be researched and implemented to improve patient-centered maternal care to all women and to reduce discriminatory practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.
-
Cultural Wounds Find Release: Art Therapy and First Generation Immigrants’ Mental Health
Crystal Soojung Yi and Dennis Chavez Calderon
-
Improving the Psychosocial Effects of a Burn Injury
Leila Young
Burn injuries are an existing risk factor of social impairment. The main priority of care for a burn patient includes the focus on pain management and wound care. However, scarce research has been studied on how to improve the psychological adjustment of burn victims. There is limited availability of evidenced based practice that is related to promoting a healthy social life after a burn. Without interventions to help re-engage burn victims with society, they will turn to negative coping mechanisms such as avoidance, isolation and distancing. The goal of this study is to enhance the social interaction of burn survivors during their recovery. This mixed method study aims to improve social impairment of burn victims in the Bay Area with the use of journaling. A pre and post test will be given, using the tool PROMIS-29, to acknowledge the psychological state of the burn victims before and after the journaling intervention. The sample size will include 100 participants that have been recruited through burn centers, burn units, in-patient hospitals and support groups. Participants will write journal entries each day for six weeks. The journal entries will be examined for similar themes and the results of this study will demonstrate the psychological wellbeing of the participants. In evaluation, the post test and journal entries will show the impact of the intervention of psychosocial ramifications. The literature suggests that there is no reason to focus on the psychological dynamic of burn victims. This study will identify interventions that progress the development of psychological dynamics and ability to interact in society of burn victims in the Bay Area. This study will provide evidenced based practice that can be used to further the research of burn survivors.
-
In-Person Vaccine Education and Parental Vaccine Acceptance
Sophia Zhao
Understanding the reasons behind parental vaccination hesitancy plays a critical role in community health, preventing vaccine preventable diseases, and increasing vaccination rates. It is crucial to determine how different vaccination promotion and education methods can be used to increase vaccine acceptance in parents as they play an integral role in their child's health and well-being. This research poster aims to determine the effects in-person vaccine education has in vaccine hesitant parents.
