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Predicting Diabetes Diagnoses
Sarah Netchert
This study explored the traits and health state of African Americans in central Virginia in order to determine what traits put people at a higher probability of being diagnosed with diabetes. We also want to know which traits will generate the highest probability a person will be diagnosed with diabetes. Traits that were included and used in this study were cholesterol, stabilized glucose, high density lipoprotein levels, age(years), gender, height(inches), weight(pounds), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist size(inches), and hip size(inches). There were 403 individuals included in study since they were only ones screened for diabetes out of 1,046 African Americans being checked for obesity, diabetes, and other cardiovascular risk factors. Results indicated that a) the traits age and high density lipoprotein level have the greatest effect of the probability of being diagnosed and b) older women who are short with a larger waist, high cholesterol, low levels of high density lipoprotein, high glucose levels, and high systolic and diastolic blood pressure have a higher probability of being diagnosed with diabetes. The goal of the results it to bring attention to the traits that adults need to be aware of to keep themselves healthy. If someone finds themselves with many of these traits, they should seek life changes in order to lower cholesterol, glucose levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and raise their high density lipoprotein levels.
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Can Nurses Have an Impact on Global Health Concerns
Lauren Novy
Nurses can have a positive impact on global health concerns by effecting the spread of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, vaccination rates, and premature death, around the world.
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Is Technology Really Improving Quality and Safety of Care?
Shaelyn O'Leary
Technology has come to impact healthcare tremendously in the past decade alone and as time goes by, there are more and more improvements. In the case of healthcare technology being used in the clinical setting, any benefits that have come from using it have come to completely outweigh any cons. There have been improvements in the ability of healthcare professionals to provide quality and safety of care to their patients through reducing medication errors through bar code medication administration, making communication easier, and allowing information about patients and disease processes to be readily available. The most important guideline to healthcare technology is that medical professionals must learn how to use it correctly. Technology being used in the clinical setting makes quality and safety of care easier and more attainable for professionals.
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Mindful Meditation as an Intervention to Improve the Quality of Life in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review
Sarah Peiser, Tyler Hunyara, Kyle Reese, Joseph Grzech, and Laurie Brogan
Abstract:
Background: One of the main aspects of Parkinson's disease is its neuropathic degeneration and its destruction on the person's mind and body connection. Mindful meditation is the practice of self -awareness and has been shown to cause a reduction in non-motor symptoms such as decreasing blood pressure, treating heart disease, relieving stress, and reducing chronic pain. These changes can lead to perceived improvement in the patient’s quality of life. If there is the possibility for psychological changes in the body, then there may be potential in using it to treat neuropathic degenerative diseases without the harmful side effects of pharmacologic interventions and invasive procedures. The purpose of this review is to look at the connection between mindfulness based interventions and its effect on the quality of life of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
Methods: A systematic review was performed using 5 electronic databases which were Pedro, Google Scholar, CINAHL complete, Chronin library, and PubMed between August 28, 2019 to September 12, 2019 and from January 14 to February 9, 2020. The search terms used were Mindful meditation, Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s disease, Mindful Based Intervention, Quality of Life. Inclusion criteria for the search were specific focus on QoL changes in patients with PD, included a mindful based intervention, and utilized a quality of life standardized outcome measure/qualitative measures.
Results: After all inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, seven articles remained and were reviewed. Of the 7 articles chosen for review, there was one pilot study (Cash 2015, ), two randomized control trial studies (Picket 2015, Advocat 2016), a mixed methods evaluation (Birtwell 2017), a qualitative analysis (Fitzpatrick 2010), an exploratory study (Dissanayaka 2016), and a Quasi experiment (Son, 2018).
Conclusion: Mindfulness based interventions can benefit people who have Parkinson’s Disease with the reduction of the progression of non-motor symptoms. Short, daily interventions can be a more realistic and effective way to perform mindfulness as compared to long duration sessions due to fatigue and multiple other factors.
Implications: Mindfulness based interventions can be used along with other treatments to help to reduce the progression of non-motor symptoms with patients who have Parkinson’s Disease. In some cases mindfulness based interventions can help to prolong the need for invasive procedures, while possibly improving the quality of life of patients who have Parkinson's Disease.
Key terms: Mindful meditation, Parkinson’s disease, Quality of life, mindfulness based interventions, PD
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The Effects of Eyes Open and Eyes Closed Balance Training on Balance Outcome Scores in Individuals Identified as Having Chronic Ankle Instability: A Protocol Paper
Chris Perry SPT, Mitch Haney SPT, Chris Rehrig SPT, Greg Shultz SPT, and Josh Wilkes MSPT
Background: Ankle injuries, including ankle sprains, are one of the most common injuries in the United States. Research has found that over $1000 is spent on average when treating sprains, along with recreational activities in addition to the cost of time off of work or school.1-2 Balance training has previously been shown to be an effective form of treatment for chronic ankle instability.6 The removal of visual input is often a progression used in clinical settings when performing balance training, however there is a gap in the literature regarding the efficacy of eyes closed balance training when compared to eyes open balance training.
Objective: The goal of this study is to determine whether balance training performed with eyes open or closed leads to a greater improvement functional outcome scores in those with chronic ankle instability.
Design: This randomized controlled trial will utilize 2x2 independent-measures experimental design. The independent variables are group (eyes open/eyes closed) and time (pre/post intervention).
Setting: This study will take place at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
Participants: Participants will be students at Misericordia University between the ages of 18-29 with Chronic Ankle Instability that qualify with the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions: This randomized controlled trial will utilize 2x2 independent-measures experimental design. The independent variables are group (eyes open/eyes closed) and time (pre/post intervention).
Measures: Objective measures include SEBT and BESS Test and are conducted by blinded physical therapists. Subjective measures include the FAAM and FAAM-Sport. Outcome measures are performed before and after the 6 week balance protocol. Outcome measures will be analyzed to determine if a significant difference exists.
Limitations: Limitations to this study include the lack of a control group, potential difficulties in recruitment of an ample number of subjects, and the logistics of having other licensed physical therapists perform the same outcome measures pre and post balance training interventions.
Conclusions: The results of this study will help physical therapists make informed decisions when progressing balance interventions.
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Peritoneovenous Denver Shunt
Kassidy Potter
The Denver shunt is a device used to treat patients with ascites, taking the build up of fluid in the peritoneal cavity and dispensing it into the bloodstream. Interventional Radiology uses this shunt on patients who have a large buildup of fluid with little or no success in other treatment methods.
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Has Malpractice Changed Nursing Practice?
Rose Randazza
Has Malpractice Changed Nursing Practice? The answer is yes. There have been many changes to the ways nurses provide care due to high error rates and malpractice. This poster explores some of the larger changes made to Nursing Practice due to malpractice.
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The Effects of Various Tree Species on Moss Growth
Sara Romanowski
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between various tree and epiphytic bryophyte species in two different terrestrial environments. The goal was to determine whether or not the present tree species in an area has a direct effect on the abundance and diversity of the epiphytic bryophyte species. This was completed by photo documenting, determining the frequency, and identification of tree and epiphytic bryophyte species in a selected area. These methods were used to accept or reject the following hypothesis: There will be no significant difference between the tree species diversity and epiphytic bryophyte species diversity in two different study sites.
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Syringe Service Programs: A Solution to Promoting Good Health & Well Being
Amy Roth
Syringe service programs offer crucial benefits for members and promote an overall better health and well being for society. SDG-3 is designed to promote good health and well being and syringe exchange programs (SEP) is one solution to helping achieve this goal by the year 2030.
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Characterization and Analysis of Curcumin Extracted from Turmeric Using Mass Spectrometry and UV-Vis Spectroscopy
Cecilia Russo and Anna Fedor
Turmeric is a spice most commonly found in Indian cuisine that is known for its medicinal properties. The most active compound that can be found in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin is a polyphenol that is best known for its antioxidant and anticancer properties. Curcumin is mostly insoluble in water so the extraction of curcumin from turmeric was achieved by using ethanol or dichloromethane/hexane as the solvent. Since turmeric is not soluble in these solvents, a small amount of turmeric was soaked in larger amount of ethanol or dichloromethane/hexane to allow the curcumin to be dissolved out. The resulting solution can be filtered to separate the dissolved curcumin from the solid turmeric. Computational analysis can be done using instruments such as a UV-Vis and Mass Spectrometry to confirm whether or not the extraction process was a success. One of the reasons that curcumin is not widely used to treat carcinomas is due to it poor absorbance and digestion by the human body. The effects of the stomach enzymes pepsin and ɑ-amylase on the digestion of curcumin is one of the main focuses of this research.
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Is There an Innovative Solution to the Opioid Epidemic?
Maggie Schray
There are innovative ways and solutions to the current opioid epidemic. This affects people of every walk of life and is a huge problem in our country.
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Do Nurse Residency Programs Better Prepare Nurses To Enter The Nursing Profession?
Faith Sinclair
Nurse residency programs better prepare new graduate nurses to enter the nursing profession by bridging the gap from nursing school to professional nursing.
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Antibiotics Gone Viral: Reduce Their Use for Acute Bronchitis
Esther Steinhaus
Antibiotic resistance has become a global health crisis. Providers contribute to this crisis by inappropriately prescribing antibiotics causing an increase in the number of drug resistant organisms. The leading cause of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions in the primary care setting are upper respiratory tract infections, primarily acute bronchitis. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to determine if an educational program for primary care providers regarding appropriate use of antibiotics will reduce the number of antibiotic prescriptions issued for acute bronchitis. The following PICOT question was developed to guide this evidence-based practice project: “Among primary care providers treating adults in a primary care setting, does a web-based educational program aimed at appropriate antibiotic prescribing decrease the number of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions issued during the initial visit to low risk adults diagnosed with uncomplicated acute bronchitis, over a 3-month period?” A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed and Medline to find relevant articles to support the PICOT question. Three articles, a randomized controlled trial, a systematic review and a clinical practice guideline, were identify and critically appraised. The theoretical framework used to guide this project was Kurt Lewin’s change theory. This evidence-based practice project reflects current practice guidelines, is considered highly relevant and is recommended for all advanced practice nurses working in the primary care setting.
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Bread Dough Experiment
Collin Stivala
This is my Final Poster for Design of Experiments. My poster explains the process and results of my experiment, in which I made bread dough, and tested the effects that Flour and Temperature have on bread dough.
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Does IPE Improve Patient Safety?
Gavin Sudano
For my capstone project I discussed how IPE can help increase patient outcomes and safety. I pulled information from many well researched studies and organized the information in well presented poster.
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Are Quality Improvement Projects Improving Health Outcomes?
Erin Taborelli
Quality improvement projects such as pressure injury prevention does improve health outcomes for patients.
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Universal Healthcare: Good or Bad?
Danielle Tait
The topic of universal healthcare seems to come up quite a bit in political platforms, but what does it really mean for Americans? By allowing universal healthcare, instead of private insurance companies, we as a nation will see an increase in healthy citizens, the economy will save money, and patients will be more satisfied with their healthcare. Although we do not have concrete evidence, studies project that universal healthcare will bring immense benefits to America’s healthcare.
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The Systemic Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training: A Systematic Review
Alexander Tirko, Bradley Miller, Justin Shipe, and Olivia Sumeriski
Background: Blood flow restriction (BFR) training has been reported to have significant benefits on local skeletal muscle growth including increasing local muscle mass, strength, and endurance while exercising with lower resistance. As a result, patients unable to perform traditional resistance training may benefit from this technique. However, it is unclear what effects BFR may have on other body systems, such as cardiovascular/pulmonary. It is important to explore the systemic effects of BFR training to ensure it is safe for use in physical therapy.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the systemic effects of blood flow restriction training when combined with exercise intervention.
Design: A systematic review.
Key methods: Three literature searches were performed: June 2019, September 2019, and January 2020; using MedLine, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Cochrane Reviews and CINAHL Complete. Articles included in this review were analyzed with the CEBM levels of evidence hierarchy and PEDro scale.
Results:35 articles were included in the review. PEDro scores ranged between 4 and 8, and had a level of evidence between 1 and 2. Common systems studied included cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, endocrine and psychosomatic.
Conclusions: Although results vary, the majority have reported evidence that BFR training produces some systemic effects on the human body. BFR training may be an effective intervention for patient populations that are unable to perform traditional resistance exercise training.
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The Sonographic Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease into Non-Alcoholic Cirrhosis of the Liver
Giana Tondora
Cirrhosis is quickly becoming a prevalent disease in the United States alone and affects 1 in every 400 Americans. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver's fibrous bands are no longer fibrous in response to the liver being scarred and no longer being able to filter toxins from the blood. Ultrasound is a key tool along with blood tests that allows cirrhosis to definitively be detected and diagnosed in patients. Cirrhosis can be either non-alcoholic or alcoholic depending on the patient’s history and there are distinct differences in appearance of the liver sonographically as well as symptoms and treatment of this disease as it progresses. It is essential to determine sonographic findings of the progression of the normal liver to cirrhosis of the liver and to comprehend the difference between treating alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. It is also crucial to understand the diagnosis, disease process, complications, symptoms, prognosis, and reversal of cirrhosis of the liver in order to both recognize this disease and be able to care for anyone with this disease.
Keywords: liver, cirrhosis, fatty infiltration, sonography, non-alcoholic, elastography
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Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Devices for Preventing Recurrent Cryptogenic Strokes
Megan Troutman
This research looks at treatment options for patent foramen ovale (PFO) patient's with recurrent cryptogenic strokes. Surgical, drug therapy, and percutaneous closure options were explored to determine the safest, most effective forms of treatment for the patients. Several clinical trials were evaluated to show the success of the PFO closure device. A patients case was studied to understand why they were considered for the percutaneous treatment option. Several images and descriptions are provided to demonstrate the process of placing the device. A description of post procedure care and imaging was also provided to show how a physician deems the procedure successful.
Student Research Poster Presentations showcase innovative research by Misericordia students across all disciplines.
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