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Description
Loneliness and depression in older adults are under-recognized public health concerns that increase risks for all-cause mortality, medical morbidity, and rising healthcare costs. This quality improvement project assessed whether smartphone Mindfulness software mitigated self-reported feelings of loneliness and depression among community-dwelling older adults. Nine participants aged 65 and older, living

Loneliness and depression in older adults are under-recognized public health concerns that increase risks for all-cause mortality, medical morbidity, and rising healthcare costs. This quality improvement project assessed whether smartphone Mindfulness software mitigated self-reported feelings of loneliness and depression among community-dwelling older adults. Nine participants aged 65 and older, living at home, experiencing loneliness or depression, and owning a smartphone were recruited using newsletters and fliers. A short demographics questionnaire and two valid and reliable instruments, namely the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA V3) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), were used in pre-intervention and four weeks post-intervention. Participants downloaded the UCLA Mindful app on their smartphones after attending a 20-minute Mindfulness education at a local church banquet room. Participants used the UCLA Mindful software twice weekly for ten minutes for four weeks. Of the nine participants, three completed the study. A two-tailed paired sample t-test and descriptive analysis were used to evaluate the efficacy of the UCLA Mindful smartphone software. The results of the two-tailed paired sample t-test were not statistically significant for the UCLA V3 Loneliness scale (p=.220) and GDS (p=.208) due to the small sample size. Although the results were negligible, participants nevertheless reported favorable impacts. Future research with a larger sample size is encouraged.
ContributorsMurdock, J. Kristine (Author) / Guthery, Ann (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-04-26
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Description
Introduction: Depression screening in the pediatric setting is a crucial part of the adolescent's examination. A standardized screening tool and protocol streamlines the process of assessing adolescents and minimizes the chances of serious mental health disorders going undetected and untreated. Evaluation of current evidence demonstrates the use of a standardized

Introduction: Depression screening in the pediatric setting is a crucial part of the adolescent's examination. A standardized screening tool and protocol streamlines the process of assessing adolescents and minimizes the chances of serious mental health disorders going undetected and untreated. Evaluation of current evidence demonstrates the use of a standardized tool improves detection, diagnosis, and management of depression and other mental health illnesses. Method: The Patient Health Questionnaire—modified for adolescents (PHQ9-A) was administered to all eligible adolescents, ages 12-18, during an annual well visit for a period of 6 weeks. Lewin's Change Theory guided a system change in the electronic health record, and the questionnaire results were documented and provided to the pediatric provider at the time of the appointment. A chart review was conducted to determine whether all eligible patients were administered the questionnaire and if a depression diagnosis or mental health referral had been made. Results: Out of 76 eligible well visits, 65 (86%) patients completed the PHQ9-A. The average score was 5.29 (SD = 6.49) with a maximum score of 25. Out of those that completed screening, 11 (17%) had a positive PHQ9-A score resulting in 8 referrals to mental health services and 2 mental health diagnoses in the clinic.
ContributorsCoomer, Meagan (Author) / Rauton, Monica (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-04-27
Description
Breast or formula feeding is a personal and challenging decision for any new parent. Breastfeeding goes beyond the mother-baby dyad, having profound implications across different societal contexts, including financially and medically. Although a natural form of feeding, breastfeeding can be difficult and isolating if it does not come easily. A

Breast or formula feeding is a personal and challenging decision for any new parent. Breastfeeding goes beyond the mother-baby dyad, having profound implications across different societal contexts, including financially and medically. Although a natural form of feeding, breastfeeding can be difficult and isolating if it does not come easily. A mother's first contact for help is usually at her newborn's first primary care appointment. However, these appointments are insufficient in allowing the healthcare provider to answer breastfeeding concerns or questions. A quality improvement project was conducted at a pediatric primary care clinic in the southeast valley of Arizona after approval was granted by an Institutional Review Board. Eight participants were recruited, and four completed the project. This project focused on extending the newborn appointment by 15 minutes to provide an educational resource binder and address breastfeeding questions. The Bristol Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (BBAT) was utilized to determine the mother's self-efficacy towards breastfeeding since the Theory of Self-Efficacy was the foundation for this project. Weekly follow-up telephone calls were conducted to address the mother's questions. The project concluded at the one-month appointment, where BBAT was performed again. The BBAT scores demonstrated an increase in breastfeeding self-efficacy. The participants were also evaluated if the project aided their breastfeeding journey. Every participant was breastfeeding by the one-month appointment except one who was not exclusively breastfeeding. In addition, all preferred the extended-length newborn appointments, educational binder, and weekly phone calls. Qualitative theming supported the use and continuation of the project for future mothers.
ContributorsScott, Taryne (Author) / Bay, Sarah (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-04-28
Description
The purpose of this project was to discuss the physiological effects of isolation on the human body and how the body adapts. Through reviewing stories and studies of social and perceptual isolation, the adaptations of the human mind are detailed. This project explores the experiences of prisoners, sensory deprivation tanks,

The purpose of this project was to discuss the physiological effects of isolation on the human body and how the body adapts. Through reviewing stories and studies of social and perceptual isolation, the adaptations of the human mind are detailed. This project explores the experiences of prisoners, sensory deprivation tanks, cave explorations, as well as studies involving monkeys and carpenter ants. The adaptations witnessed include hallucinations, increased mortality, anxiety, agitation, altered sense of time, delayed response, and lowered blood pressure. Knowing the factors surrounding the isolation experience is crucial to understand the presenting adaptation methods. These factors include duration, voluntary or involuntary participation, mental strength, and the restriction level of the isolation.

DISCLAIMER: Due to the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic, the attached podcast is a draft recording in lieu of the final recording
ContributorsSidhu, Nimrit (Co-author) / Deacon, Hannah (Co-author) / Hyatt, JP (Thesis director) / Kingsbury, Jeffrey (Committee member) / School of Social Work (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Throughout history humans have had to adapt to changing conditions in order to survive. Food shortages are one of the major pressures that have shaped past populations. Because of this, the human body has many physiological adaptations that allow it to go extended periods of time consuming little to

Throughout history humans have had to adapt to changing conditions in order to survive. Food shortages are one of the major pressures that have shaped past populations. Because of this, the human body has many physiological adaptations that allow it to go extended periods of time consuming little to no food. These adaptations also allow the body to recover quickly once food becomes available. They include changes in metabolism that allow different fuel sources to be used for energy, the storing of excess energy absorbed from food in the forms of glycogen and fat to be used in between meals, and a reduction in the basal metabolic rate in response to starvation, as well as physiological changes in the small intestines. Even in places where starvation is not a concern today, these adaptations are still important as they also have an effect on weight gain and dieting in addition to promoting survival when the body is in a starved state.

Disclaimer: The initial goal of this project was to present this information as a podcast episode as a part of a series aimed at teaching the general public about human physiological adaptations. Due to the circumstances with COVID-19 we were unable to meet to make a final recording of the podcast episode. A recording of a practice session recorded earlier in the year has been uploaded instead and is therefore only a rough draft.
ContributorsPhlipot, Stephanie Anne (Author) / Hyatt, JP (Thesis director) / Kingsbury, Jeffrey (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The goal of this paper is to describe the current understanding of how a human’s remaining senses are affected by the onset of blindness through physiological adaptations. The main focuses of this paper stem around the brain and how it adapts to blindness through mechanisms such as neuroplasticity. This paper

The goal of this paper is to describe the current understanding of how a human’s remaining senses are affected by the onset of blindness through physiological adaptations. The main focuses of this paper stem around the brain and how it adapts to blindness through mechanisms such as neuroplasticity. This paper will explore the increased acuity of both tactile and auditory processing as well as spatial navigation resulting from the onset of blindness. This paper will also explore the enhanced ability of the blind to echolocate as well as the mechanisms of homeostasis that underlie this ability. Finally, this paper will report on the lack of enhancement for the senses of taste and smell in humans after the onset of blindness and possible reasons why there are no observed increases in potential. It is the hope of the writers that this paper will cover the current state of knowledge on the phenomenon of adaptations resulting from the onset of blindness to such an extent that this information can be presented in a podcast format later on.

Disclaimer: Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the final outcomes of this project were impacted and limited. Therefore, the rough draft practice podcast session has been uploaded to accompany the written thesis portion as final recordings could not be recorded at this time.
ContributorsMoyzes, Hannah (Co-author) / Fox, Dylan (Co-author) / Hyatt, JP (Thesis director) / Kingsbury, Jeffrey (Committee member) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05