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Title: BENCHMARKING COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS' EFFICIENCY:MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS.
Creator: Marathe, Shriram, Wan, Thomas, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Community Health Centers (CHCs), designed to provide accessible and affordable health care services to low-income families, were first funded by the Federal Government as part of the War on Poverty in the mid-1960s. Improving healthcare organizational performance efficiency is paramount. It is an especially pressing need for CHCs' because they carry a disproportionate burden of caring for the uninsured within limited budgets. Prior studies suffer from conceptual and methodological...
Show moreCommunity Health Centers (CHCs), designed to provide accessible and affordable health care services to low-income families, were first funded by the Federal Government as part of the War on Poverty in the mid-1960s. Improving healthcare organizational performance efficiency is paramount. It is an especially pressing need for CHCs' because they carry a disproportionate burden of caring for the uninsured within limited budgets. Prior studies suffer from conceptual and methodological limitations. A longitudinal multivariate analysis of factors influencing the performance of CHCs is needed. The purpose of this study is to benchmark CHC performance in terms of technical and cost efficiency, and examine factors that affect its variation. A theoretically grounded non-experimental study design is used, with five waves of panel data from 493 CHCs for the years 2000 through 2004. This study found that data mining and predictor tree analysis of factors influencing the variation in CHCs' technical and cost efficiency yielded inconsistent results. A declining trend in technical efficiency scores over the five-year study period was observed. Based on growth curve modeling, the three factors that influenced technical efficiency at the initial period of the study are: the percentages of Medicare, Medicaid, and Hispanic population being served by the CHCs. The five factors that positively influenced the variation in cost efficiency at the initial period were: the initial score of technical efficiency, the percentage of Hispanic patient population, staffing mix (ratio of providers to total staff), pay mix (ratio of federal grant dollars to total revenue), and percentage of Medicare-eligible. The initial cost-efficiency score and the initial technical efficiency score are negatively associated with the growth trend of technical efficiency. The initial level of technical efficiency is not statistically significantly associated with the growth trend of cost efficiency. The two factors influencing the growth trend of cost efficiency are the growth trend of technical efficiency (with a positive influence) and the initial level of cost efficiency (with a negative influence). Analysis of the effects of contextual and organizational-structural variables on the technical efficiency and cost efficiency of community health centers found that the explanatory power of the predictors is much greater for cost efficiency than for technical efficiency. The study lends support to contingency theory and confirms the independent and additive influences of contextual and organizational predictors on efficiency. Irrespective of the efficiency measures, contextual factors have much more influence on CHCs' efficiency than design (organizational structural) factors do. The three study hypotheses supported by multivariate analysis are: technical efficiency is associated with contextual factors and organizational factors; cost efficiency is associated with contextual factors and organizational factors; and technical efficiency positively affects cost efficiency.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001408, ucf:47067
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001408

Title: AN ASSESSMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES PROVIDED BY FLORIDA PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
Creator: Benjamin, Tito, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess mental health counseling services provided by Florida public community colleges and universities. The researcher of this study designed the Counseling Center Questionnaire instrument. This instrument consisted of two different questionnaires, one for community colleges and the other for universities. The questionnaires were developed to ascertain information regarding mental health services provided by higher education institutions. The...
Show moreABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess mental health counseling services provided by Florida public community colleges and universities. The researcher of this study designed the Counseling Center Questionnaire instrument. This instrument consisted of two different questionnaires, one for community colleges and the other for universities. The questionnaires were developed to ascertain information regarding mental health services provided by higher education institutions. The questionnaires yielded information pertaining to (a) which Florida community colleges and public universities were offering mental health counseling services to students, (b) the types of mental health counseling services provided, (c) the types of problems/issues students were reporting to counseling centers, and (d) the scope of mental health counseling services provided by Florida community colleges and universities. The findings indicated that only 5 of 20 Florida community colleges provided mental health services to students and all 7 universities who responded to the questionnaire provided such services to students. Community colleges provided fewer mental health services than did 4-year institutions. According to higher education counseling officials, students in all institutions experienced many of the same types of issues or problems including Anxiety, Depression, Bi-polar Disorders, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders and Schizophrenia. Depression was the most frequently reported mental health issue among all students.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000633, ucf:46547
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000633

Title: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF SANDPLAY THERAPY ON MENTAL HEALTH STATUS AND RESILIENCY ATTITUDES IN MEXICAN FARMWORKER WOMEN.
Creator: Mejia, Ximena Elizabeth, Grant Hayes, B., University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigated the impact that sandplay therapy sessions had on Mexican farmworker women's mental health status and resilience attitudes. The participants of this study were 40 women who were born in various states in Mexico and presently reside in rural Central Florida. Twenty women participated in the control group and twenty women participated in the treatment group. The impact sandplay therapy has on participants' mental health status was measured by Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45)...
Show moreThis study investigated the impact that sandplay therapy sessions had on Mexican farmworker women's mental health status and resilience attitudes. The participants of this study were 40 women who were born in various states in Mexico and presently reside in rural Central Florida. Twenty women participated in the control group and twenty women participated in the treatment group. The impact sandplay therapy has on participants' mental health status was measured by Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45), which assesses progress in therapy; and Resiliency Attitudes Scale (R.A.S.), which determines resiliency attitudes. The study also includes twenty participants' transcriptions of their individual sessions to illustrate the experiences of Mexican farmworker women with sandplay therapy. Pre and post-tests revealed a significant impact on mental health status and resiliency attitudes on the treatment group. In addition, participants also reported their own conceptualization of resilience that points to the integration of social networks, community resilience, solidarity, and hope.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000037, ucf:46139
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000037

Title: PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES OF THE STIGMATIZER.
Creator: Butler, William, Mouloua, Mustapha, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis explores physical health outcomes of individuals that hold stigma against those with mental illness. The stigmatizer is mentioned in the literature as an individual that holds a stigma towards another group. In this thesis, stigma refers to those that hold prejudice and may express discrimination towards a targeted group. Two studies were conducted that looked at multiple demographic variables as well as symptomology and degree of stigma towards those with mental illness. The...
Show moreThis thesis explores physical health outcomes of individuals that hold stigma against those with mental illness. The stigmatizer is mentioned in the literature as an individual that holds a stigma towards another group. In this thesis, stigma refers to those that hold prejudice and may express discrimination towards a targeted group. Two studies were conducted that looked at multiple demographic variables as well as symptomology and degree of stigma towards those with mental illness. The first study looked at overall stigma without the stereotypical psychosomatic symptoms (chest pain and abdominal pain). The second study looked at a second dimension of stigma (social distance) and included the traditional psychosomatic symptoms. In the first study, results indicated that stigmatizers were more likely to be male (M = 1.53, SD = .51; r = .216, p < .01) and have higher socioeconomic status (M = 3.06, SD = .91; r = .22, p < .01). Health outcomes were not correlated in the first study. In the second study, results indicated that those with higher levels of stigma (M=45.13, SD=13.52) also had more symptoms (including chest pain and abdominal pain; M = 4.92, SD = 5.64; R2=.06, F(1,98)=6.58, p=.01). This trend was also true for stigma as determined by social distance (M=18.31, SD=7.02) and health (R2=.10, F(1,98)=10.74, p<.01). These results were consistent with the proposed hypothesis and the current literature of the stigmatizer as well as the biopsychosocial model of mental health.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004678, ucf:45305
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004678

Title: EXPLORING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION.
Creator: Gold, Amanda, Grauerholz, Elizabeth, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study explored whether depression is stigmatized, and whether these perceptions of depression vary by gender, a person's own experience with depression, or knowing other people with depression. These questions were examined through the use of an online survey, which included questions measuring demographics, personal history of depression, tolerance of depression, and stigma toward depression. Responses from 106 participants were analyzed using t-tests. The study found that depression is...
Show moreThis study explored whether depression is stigmatized, and whether these perceptions of depression vary by gender, a person's own experience with depression, or knowing other people with depression. These questions were examined through the use of an online survey, which included questions measuring demographics, personal history of depression, tolerance of depression, and stigma toward depression. Responses from 106 participants were analyzed using t-tests. The study found that depression is stigmatizing. There is also more stigma for a male with depression than a female with depression. In regards to personal history with depression and stigma, it was found that personally dealing with depression lessened the amount of stigma imposed on depressed persons. There was no significant difference between men's ratings of stigma and women's rating. The study also found no significant difference between knowing people with depression or coming into contact with depressed individuals and the likelihood of stigmatizing those with depression.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFH0004753, ucf:45355
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004753

Title: EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG ADULTS.
Creator: Strickland, Amelia, Holladay, Sherry, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The intent of this thesis is to explore the relationship between social media use and mental health in the young adult population. Current research indicates that there is a connection between increased social media use and deteriorated mental health. Unfortunately, young adults, the most active social media users, have a predominantly high risk for developing mental health issues, making this connection particularly concerning. At present, it is unclear how social media and mental health are...
Show moreThe intent of this thesis is to explore the relationship between social media use and mental health in the young adult population. Current research indicates that there is a connection between increased social media use and deteriorated mental health. Unfortunately, young adults, the most active social media users, have a predominantly high risk for developing mental health issues, making this connection particularly concerning. At present, it is unclear how social media and mental health are connected; therefore this thesis explores the individual and social theories that may give reason for this connection. Theories that are discussed include: the impact of sedentary behaviors on mental health, displaced behavior, sleep interruption due to blue light exposure, social media's effects on romantic relationships, and social media's effects on platonic relationships.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004704, ucf:45405
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004704

Title: SCIENTIFIC MOTHERHOOD: A POSITIVIST APPROACH TO PATRIARCHY IN FIN-DE-SIÈCLE ARGENTINA.
Creator: Kuperman, Aubrey, Pineda, Yovanna, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In late nineteenth and early twentieth century Argentina underwent large-scale immigration and fast-paced urban changes commonly associated with the coming of modernity. These changes led to elite fears of potential social instability. They turned to the French philosophy of Positivism, which advocated the view that all social problems could be systematically solved through scientific observation in order to "civilize" the Argentine nation. As a result, the government implemented numerous...
Show moreIn late nineteenth and early twentieth century Argentina underwent large-scale immigration and fast-paced urban changes commonly associated with the coming of modernity. These changes led to elite fears of potential social instability. They turned to the French philosophy of Positivism, which advocated the view that all social problems could be systematically solved through scientific observation in order to "civilize" the Argentine nation. As a result, the government implemented numerous policies that catered to upholding traditional family structures. The purpose of this thesis is to understand the ways in which these policies affected women of different social classes. In developing my arguments, I use secondary literature from prominent scholars in Argentine history, gender studies, and intellectual history, as well as primary sources, including essays written by prominent officials and elite women, government reports, laws and penal codes. This thesis examines the impact of scientific motherhood on Argentine society. Elite men and women viewed their role in society as that of fathers and mothers to the poor and the working classes. This study permits a broader understanding of the impact of Positivism and European influence on Argentine society and policymaking.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFH0004355, ucf:44979
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004355

Title: ADOLESCENTS' STRESS AND HEALTH: PARENTAL INFLUENCES AND COGNITIVE MEDIATORS.
Creator: Donnelly, Reesa, Renk, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Research to date indicates that parental and cognitive variables play a role in stress responses and health outcomes. Although researchers are beginning to focus on developmental processes in stress/health outcomes, there is little research examining which parental behaviors are most predictive of stress/health and whether cognitive variables mediate this relationship. As a result, the current study examines the self-reports of 160 late adolescents regarding parental behaviors, cognitive...
Show moreResearch to date indicates that parental and cognitive variables play a role in stress responses and health outcomes. Although researchers are beginning to focus on developmental processes in stress/health outcomes, there is little research examining which parental behaviors are most predictive of stress/health and whether cognitive variables mediate this relationship. As a result, the current study examines the self-reports of 160 late adolescents regarding parental behaviors, cognitive variables, and stress/health outcomes. In addition, blood pressure reactivity to a stressful situation was collected as a physiological measure of stress. The results suggest that, among the parental behaviors that are examined, parental overprotection and poor monitoring are the most predictive variables of adolescents' stress/health. The results indicate that adolescents' cognitions also are significant predictors of their self-reported stress/health. Further, adolescents' cognitions fully mediate the relationship between paternal behaviors and stress/health outcomes and partially mediate the relationship between maternal behaviors and stress/health outcomes. Finally, measures of blood pressure reactivity are not significantly related to study variables or were related in unpredicted directions. Possible explanations for these results are discussed. Overall, future research should examine parental overprotection and poor monitoring as important distal variables in adolescents' stress/health but should examine adolescents' cognitions as a more salient and immediate predictor of adolescents' stress/health.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002367, ucf:47778
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002367

Title: Academic Advisors' Attitudes Toward Students Experiencing Mental Health Issues.
Creator: Aming, Danielle, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Malaret, Stacey, Owens, J. Thomas, Hagedorn, W. Bryce, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As students continue to pursue higher education, the potential for them to experience mental health issues will exist (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2011; Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2012; Gruttadaro (&) Crudo, 2012; Salzer, 2012; Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2013). When entering a new environment, students will look to make connections with the institution; one of these connections can be with an academic advisor (Harper (&) Peterson, 2005; Harper (&) Wilson, 2010;...
Show moreAs students continue to pursue higher education, the potential for them to experience mental health issues will exist (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2011; Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2012; Gruttadaro (&) Crudo, 2012; Salzer, 2012; Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2013). When entering a new environment, students will look to make connections with the institution; one of these connections can be with an academic advisor (Harper (&) Peterson, 2005; Harper (&) Wilson, 2010; Kuh, 2011; Pearson, 2012). It is important for individuals experiencing mental health issues to make connections to the institution so that they are more likely to remain and feel a sense of connection (Kadison (&) DiGeronimo, 2004).This dissertation outlines a quantitative study to examine the attitudes of academic advisors towards mental health. Using the Relational-Cultural Theory (Miller 1986; Jordan, 2000) as a framework, this study sought to determine attitudes of academic advisors and how this may affect their relationship with students.Results from 133 participants revealed that attitudes toward mental health issues do not impact the building of a mutual relationship between student and academic advisors from the academic advisors' perspective. However, characteristics such as age and personal experience with mental health issues impacted this type of relationship between the academic advisor and student.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007306, ucf:52161
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007306

Title: Trouble in Paradise: Impacts of Theme Park Tourism on the Mental Health of Employees in Orlando, Florida.
Creator: Harvey, Lea, Reyes-Foster, Beatriz, Falu, Nessette, Harris, Shana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Tourism is a topic that has gained much attention within the realm of anthropology over the past few decades. Anthropological research of the tourism industry has been largely devoted to the study of the tourist gaze and its subsequent sociocultural impacts as well as the benefits that travelers reap from their colonialist excursions. However, the voices of those who form the foundation of this industry, the laborers, remain almost entirely absent from said discourse. Furthermore, there is a...
Show moreTourism is a topic that has gained much attention within the realm of anthropology over the past few decades. Anthropological research of the tourism industry has been largely devoted to the study of the tourist gaze and its subsequent sociocultural impacts as well as the benefits that travelers reap from their colonialist excursions. However, the voices of those who form the foundation of this industry, the laborers, remain almost entirely absent from said discourse. Furthermore, there is a lack of anthropological consideration for the relationship between tourism and mental health experiences of employees within the tourism industry. One specific region that is rife with information on tourism and its effects is Orlando, Florida. This research employs participant observation and semi-structured interviews to analyze the lived mental health experiences of current/former Disney cast members as a direct result of their employment within Disney and the Orlando theme park tourism industry. Not only does this thesis aim to backtrack the erasure of the perspectives of tourism employees and help create a space for them to make their voices heard, but it also attempts to bridge the gap of consideration for the impacts of tourism on the mental health of tourism employees within anthropology and touristic studies. Through the application of my own research as well as the minimal amount of relevant anthropological and touristic studies literature, I argue that Orlando theme park tourism exists as a type of structural violence that utilizes performativity and a neoliberal market to cast tourism employees in a slot of servitude that is nearly impossible to escape. As a result, this research possesses great potential to highlight the ways in which Orlando can become the happiest place on earth for its residents and employees, not just those who engage with it for their own leisurely gain.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007815, ucf:52336
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007815

Title: Investigating a Mental Health Literacy Intervention Among Economically Disadvantaged Youth.
Creator: Mumbauer, Jayna, Barden, Sejal, Kelchner, Viki, Van Horn, Stacy, Williams, Nicola, Bai, Haiyan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Mental health is a critical and pervasive issue for children and adolescents in the United States, with one in five youth living with a diagnosable mental health condition (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Despite the increasing rates of mental health disorders, barriers to treatment are abundant and most young people do not receive appropriate treatment (Merikangas, 2009). Mental health literacy is the knowledge and beliefs surrounding mental health that guide recognition,...
Show moreMental health is a critical and pervasive issue for children and adolescents in the United States, with one in five youth living with a diagnosable mental health condition (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Despite the increasing rates of mental health disorders, barriers to treatment are abundant and most young people do not receive appropriate treatment (Merikangas, 2009). Mental health literacy is the knowledge and beliefs surrounding mental health that guide recognition, management, and prevention (Jorm, 1997, p. 143). Mental health literacy is a particularly important framework for youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds as they face increased vulnerabilities to mental health distress and barriers to treatment (World Health Organization, 2017). The aim of the present study was to investigate if an after school mental health literacy intervention changed adolescents' self-reported measures of mental health knowledge, mental health stigma, help-seeking, and hope across three waves of data collection: wave one (immediately before the intervention), wave two (immediately after the intervention), and wave three (one month post-intervention) as measured by: (a) Mental Health Knowledge and Attitude Survey [MHKAS] (Kutcher, McLuckie, (&) Weaver, 2014), (b) General Help Seeking Questionnaire [GHSQ] (Wilson, Deane, Ciarrochi, (&) Rickwood, 2005) 2005), (c) Children's Hope Scale [CHS] (Snyder et al., 1997).; and Self-Stigma of Mental Illness-Short Form [SSMIS-SF] (Corrigan et al., 2012). Main findings of the investigation included a significant difference for multivariate analysis between wave one and wave two (Pillai's Trace = .546, F(4, 56) = 16.816, p (<) .001, partial ?2 = .546). There was a statistically significant positive change in mental health knowledge (p (<) .001; d = 1.992) and help-seeking attitudes (p = .025; d = .934) and a significant negative change in personal mental health stigma (p (<) .001; d =.582) across wave one and wave two. There was no statistically significant change in hope (p = .904; d = .000) across wave one and wave two. Moreover, there was a statistically significant change from wave one to wave three for multivariate within subjects analysis (Pillai's Trace = .604, F(4, 27) = 10.297, p (<) .001, partial ?2 = .604), indicating changes were maintained at one-month follow-up. Specifically, there was a statistically significant positive change in mental health knowledge (p (<) .001, d = 1.960) and help-seeking attitudes (p = .007; d = 1.210) and a significant decrease in mental health stigma (p = .002; d = 1.210). There was no significant change in measures of hope from wave one to wave three (p = .467; d = .271). Results of the study are reviewed and compared to similar studies. The researcher discusses implications of findings for counseling, counselor education, and public policy.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007506, ucf:52648
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007506

Title: Constructing and Validating an Integrative Economic Model of Health Care Systems and Health Care Markets: A Comparative Analysis of OECD Countries.
Creator: Helligso, Jesse, Wan, Thomas, Liu, Albert Xinliang, King, Christian, Hamann, Kerstin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation argues that there are three basic types of health care systems used in industrial nations: free market (private insurance and provision), universal (public insurance and private provision), and socialized (public insurance and provision). It examines the role of market forces (supply and demand) within the health care systems and their effects on health outcomes by constructing an integrative model of health care markets and policies that is lacking within the scientific and...
Show moreThis dissertation argues that there are three basic types of health care systems used in industrial nations: free market (private insurance and provision), universal (public insurance and private provision), and socialized (public insurance and provision). It examines the role of market forces (supply and demand) within the health care systems and their effects on health outcomes by constructing an integrative model of health care markets and policies that is lacking within the scientific and academic literature. The results show that, free market systems have decreased access to care, good quality of care, and are economically inefficient resulting in 2.7 years of life expectancy lost and wasted expenditures (expenditures that do not increase life expectancy) of $3474 per capita ($1.12 trillion per year in the U.S.). Socialized systems are the most economically efficient systems but have decreased access to care compared to universal systems, increased access to care compared to free market systems and have the lowest quality of care of all three systems resulting in 3 months of life expectancy lost per capita and a saving of $335 per capita. Universal systems perform better than either of the other 2 systems based on quality and access to care. The models show that health insurance is a Giffen Good; a good that defies the law of demand. This study is the first fully demonstrated case of a Giffen good. This investigation shows how the theoretically informed integrative model behaves as predicted and influences health outcomes contingent upon the system type. To test and substantiate this integrative model, regression analysis, Time-Series-Cross-Section analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed using longitudinal data provided and standardized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The results demonstrate that universal health care systems are superior to the other two systems.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007335, ucf:52114
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007335

Title: Searching for Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology: A Study of Cardiovascular Disease Care in Veterans General Hospitals.
Creator: Thaldorf, Carey, Wan, Thomas, Fottler, Myron, Liberman, Aaron, Campbell, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The cost of healthcare in the United States is on an upward trajectory towards an unsustainable level. In order to address this, Congress and the Obama Administration passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to begin the process of controlling these costs. Within the ARRA is the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) section which creates financial incentives to invest in Health Information Technology (HIT) and to develop a means to...
Show moreThe cost of healthcare in the United States is on an upward trajectory towards an unsustainable level. In order to address this, Congress and the Obama Administration passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to begin the process of controlling these costs. Within the ARRA is the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) section which creates financial incentives to invest in Health Information Technology (HIT) and to develop a means to measure the Meaningful Use of specific functions of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). This research examines the widely used Joint Commission datasets to determine their suitability as a basis of meeting the government mandated measuring of Meaningful Use. The datasets used for this study consists of hospital level performance measures with a sample size of 370 hospital samples of HIT Use Intensity and Cardiovascular Performance attained from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). An Organizational Network Theoretical approach was applied to the data in a non-experimental, sample-resample design to data collected in 2007. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) was built to test for the strength of the correlation between HIT Use Intensity and Cardiovascular Performance and a Latent Growth Curve Model (LGM) was built to examine the effect of the trajectory of HIT Use Intensity on the trajectory of Cardiovascular Performance. The SEM found a weak (.18) correlation between HIT Use Intensity and Cardiovascular Performance and the model only captured 12 percent of the variance. The LGM found no convergence between the trajectories of HIT Use Intensity and Cardiovascular Performance. This may have been the result of the data being non-normally distributed and heavily skewed to the high end of the scale. The policy implications of this study indicate that while Joint Commission data capture only a small amount of the variance attributed to HIT Use it does show a weak but positive correlation between increases in HIT Use Intensity and Increases in Cardiovascular Performance at the hospital level. Future research into adjustments to Joint Commission data measures (or others) may prove to be valuable in measuring the Meaningful Use of HIT systems in order to help hospitals make educated decisions on which HIT systems to purchase and the potential benefits associated with them.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0004488, ucf:49319
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004488

Title: YOGIC DIFFUSION: THE EFFECTS OF YOGIC PRACTICE AND PHILOSOPHY ON BELIEFS ABOUT COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE.
Creator: Siven, Jacqueline, Mishtal, Joanna, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research is a qualitative study that aimed to anthropologically explore the effects of consistent long-term yogic practice on the acceptance and practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among yoga practitioners at a South Florida yoga center. I wished to determine, through in-depth interviews, whether or not yogic practice affects acceptance of CAM. The main objective was to interview individuals from a single yoga center that have practiced yoga at least once per week...
Show moreThis research is a qualitative study that aimed to anthropologically explore the effects of consistent long-term yogic practice on the acceptance and practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among yoga practitioners at a South Florida yoga center. I wished to determine, through in-depth interviews, whether or not yogic practice affects acceptance of CAM. The main objective was to interview individuals from a single yoga center that have practiced yoga at least once per week for at least one year concerning their beliefs about CAM, yoga, and health. This project will begin to fill the gap in social science, in general, and specifically, the anthropological literature. Scholars of various backgrounds have discussed elements of yogic practice and philosophy that were integral to my understanding of the data. The health benefits of yoga as CAM, the associations between yoga and beliefs about health, and the association between yoga and Indian philosophy and medicine have each been explored. However, anthropological scholarship discussing the effects of consistent, long-term yogic practice on the acceptance of other CAM's or Western biomedicine has not been examined.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003692, ucf:48807
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003692

Title: From Tunnel Vision to Bird's-Eye View: The Development of a Broad Harassment Construct.
Creator: Dhanani, Lindsay, Joseph, Dana, Fritzsche, Barbara, Beus, Jeremy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Research on workplace harassment has increased in recent years, resulting in a large body of evidence suggesting that perceiving harassment at work leads to a host of negative outcomes (Jones, Peddie, Gilrane, King, (&) Gray, 2016; Pascoe (&) Richman, 2009; Triana, Jayasinghe, (&) Pieper, 2015; Willness, Steel, (&) Lee, 2007). However, despite calls to broaden the conceptualization of workplace harassment, the dominant approach in the literature has been to study a single, discrete form of...
Show moreResearch on workplace harassment has increased in recent years, resulting in a large body of evidence suggesting that perceiving harassment at work leads to a host of negative outcomes (Jones, Peddie, Gilrane, King, (&) Gray, 2016; Pascoe (&) Richman, 2009; Triana, Jayasinghe, (&) Pieper, 2015; Willness, Steel, (&) Lee, 2007). However, despite calls to broaden the conceptualization of workplace harassment, the dominant approach in the literature has been to study a single, discrete form of harassment in isolation. The current paper addresses this limitation by simultaneously assessing multiple forms of harassment (i.e., ethnic harassment, sexual harassment, age harassment, heterosexist harassment, and religious harassment) to determine if these constructs reflect a single latent harassment variable. Additionally, the current paper proposed and tested antecedents and outcomes thought to be shared across multiple forms of workplace harassment. Lastly, the current work considers whether harassment is more strongly related to outcomes when both are conceptualized broadly in comparison to when they are conceptualized narrowly. Data from three samples demonstrated support for conceptualizing and modeling workplace harassment more broadly. Results also suggest that multiple forms of workplace harassment share a common set of predictors and outcomes. Harassment was also found to have a stronger relationship with task performance and employee health consequences when a broader conceptualization of harassment was utilized. The findings of the current paper contribute to the development of an integrated theory of workplace harassment and highlight the need for organizational and legal interventions aimed at curtailing workplace harassment.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006584, ucf:51319
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006584

Title: A Complex Calculus: How Message Format and Processing Route Coordinate to Influence HPV Vaccination Message Persuasiveness Among Young Adults.
Creator: Boutemen, Laura, Neuberger, Lindsay, Sellnow, Timothy, Miller, Ann, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may lead to cancer and genital warts yet can be prevented by a safe and effective vaccine recommended for individuals up to 26 years old. HPV vaccination rates remain low among college aged adults that represent a catch-up population still eligible to receive the HPV vaccine. This present study is a theory-based investigation employing the Heuristic Systematic Model to explore the effect of message format and processing route on attitude and behavioral...
Show moreHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection may lead to cancer and genital warts yet can be prevented by a safe and effective vaccine recommended for individuals up to 26 years old. HPV vaccination rates remain low among college aged adults that represent a catch-up population still eligible to receive the HPV vaccine. This present study is a theory-based investigation employing the Heuristic Systematic Model to explore the effect of message format and processing route on attitude and behavioral intention in the context of HPV vaccination. Undergraduate students aged 17-26 years old (N = 261) from various majors (e.g., STEM, social sciences, humanities) participated in the study. An online message exposure experiment randomly assigned participants one of three messages in different message formats (i.e., accessible, scientific jargon, scientese) promoting HPV vaccination to examine the persuasive potential of clearly worded messages (i.e., accessible message), appropriately used scientific language (i.e., jargon message) and inappropriately used scientific terminology (i.e., scientese message) and the effect of processing route on attitude and behavioral intention pertaining to HPV vaccination. Additionally, the potential impact of scientific literacy was investigated. The three experimental conditions were compared to the control condition that corresponded to no message exposure. Quantitative data analyses revealed the scientese message was associated with higher intention to receive the HPV vaccine than the simply worded message among systematic processors only. Further, systematic processing was related to more favorable attitude toward the message and greater intention to obtain the vaccine. Findings of the current study can help inform future message development to design targeted persuasive messages aiming to encourage vaccination in an effort to augment HPV vaccination rates among the catch-up population.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0006979, ucf:51658
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006979

Title: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES ON MATERNAL HEALTH CARE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.
Creator: Tadele, Samerawit, Upvall, Michele, Anderson, Mindi, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Maternal morbidity and mortality are prevalent issues worldwide that profoundly affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa. Estimates vary, but by the end of 2015, at least 300,000 women died in LMICs due to preventable pregnancy and childbirth conditions. Pregnant women die from complications that could be detected and managed if they were able to receive early access to necessary health interventions. Mobile technology is increasingly common across the globe, including LMICs...
Show moreMaternal morbidity and mortality are prevalent issues worldwide that profoundly affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa. Estimates vary, but by the end of 2015, at least 300,000 women died in LMICs due to preventable pregnancy and childbirth conditions. Pregnant women die from complications that could be detected and managed if they were able to receive early access to necessary health interventions. Mobile technology is increasingly common across the globe, including LMICs, and incorporating digital health technologies, especially mobile phone (mHealth) programs, can offer a possible solution to morbidity and mortality related to pregnancy. A literature review analyzing the impact of mHealth programs on maternal health was conducted from various online databases. Nineteen articles that were published in the last ten years and contained technology-based interventions used for maternal health were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included countries listed as low-income and middle-income in the 2017 World Bank list of economies. The studies suggest mHealth programs have the potential to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality by increasing knowledge of safe health practices for pregnant women, community health workers, and traditional birth attendants. Mobile health technology also provides crucial information to providers when complications arise and can improve health facility utilization leading to increased deliveries with skilled birth attendants. This reinforces the need for more mHealth initiatives to be implemented in LMICs, addressing the barriers and community characteristics to positively impact and reduce maternal death in these settings.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000471, ucf:45721
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000471

Title: The extent and impact of the incorporation of employee health promotion programs in the central Florida business community.
Creator: Berlin, Thomas, Lytle, J. Stephen, Health and Professional Studies
Abstract / Description: University of Central Florida College of Health and Professional Studies Thesis; Employee health insurance premiums continue to rise exponentially despite stagnant inflation rates. The national trend in recent years has been to decrease benefit usage by attempting to establish a healthier workforce. The incorporation of employee health promotion programs either within, or outside of the worksite, is the favored means of providing a solution. The purpose of this study is to determine the...
Show moreUniversity of Central Florida College of Health and Professional Studies Thesis; Employee health insurance premiums continue to rise exponentially despite stagnant inflation rates. The national trend in recent years has been to decrease benefit usage by attempting to establish a healthier workforce. The incorporation of employee health promotion programs either within, or outside of the worksite, is the favored means of providing a solution. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of employee health promotion program usage in Central Florida, and the economic impact, if any, of these programs. The basic research questions for this study are: 1. What percentage of the corporations surveyed have instituted employee health promotion programs. 2. What is the most common program content among the companies using such? 3. What is the average cost of program implementation (per employee) and the average annual operations cost for companies using health promotion programs? 4. Has a real of perceived monetary gain been determined by the use of the health promotion programs? 5. Can any cost savings be originated? 6. Does a relative difference in savings exist between large and small companies by using such programs? 7. What percentage of Central Florida companies using health promotion programs depend upon extraneous services (e.g., PPOs, HMOs, consultants) to initiate and/or perpetuate their programs? The procedure of study will include the use of a survey questionnaire mailed to a representative sampling of 100 various size area business establishments, grouped according to employee number. Quantification and analysis of survey results will then be summarized and used to ascertain the effectiveness of such endeavors.
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Date Issued: 1990
Identifier: CFR0008147, ucf:52952
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFR0008147

Title: SPIRITUALITY AND EXPECTATIONS OF CARE PROVIDERS OF OLDER PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNES IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA.
Creator: Sherman, Myra, Wink, Diane, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A qualitative design was used to explore the use of spirituality and prayer by older adults who have chronic illness and reside in a rural community. Thirteen individuals responded to a flyer soliciting participation in a study of the use of spirituality as part of health care. Participants were at least 60 years of age, had at least one chronic illness and resided in North Central Florida. Twelve participants then responded to six open-ended questions based on an adaption of an instrument...
Show moreA qualitative design was used to explore the use of spirituality and prayer by older adults who have chronic illness and reside in a rural community. Thirteen individuals responded to a flyer soliciting participation in a study of the use of spirituality as part of health care. Participants were at least 60 years of age, had at least one chronic illness and resided in North Central Florida. Twelve participants then responded to six open-ended questions based on an adaption of an instrument used by Dr. Shevon Harvey in her doctoral dissertation. The data was analyzed to identify themes and answer four research questions. The four research questions were 1) how do older adults living with chronic illness describe spirituality? 2) how do older adults use spirituality while living with chronic illness? 3) how can health care providers assist older individuals with chronic illness to meet their spiritual needs?, and 4) do patients feel that their spiritual needs are being addressed during their outpatient health care? The interview responses demonstrated that several different practices, including prayer and scripture readings as well as adherence to medication, diet, and exercise recommendations were used as coping mechanisms by study participants. The majority of participants want their health care providers to address spirituality and/or refer them to spiritual advisors for counseling. The study showed that some participants stated that their spiritual needs were met, but there were some who did not want spirituality addressed in the outpatient setting. Four themes were identified, which suggest that 1) spiritual practices were frequently used coping measure for these individual with chronic illness, 2) health care providers are supportive of their patients' spirituality, 3) participants with chronic illness consider adherence to medication, diet, and exercise a coping measure, and 4) participants with chronic illness want their health care providers to recognize their spiritual needs. The findings indicated that individuals who self identify as individuals from whom spiritual life is important and who have chronic illnesses and have spiritual needs that can be addressed in the outpatient setting. The findings also demonstrated use of non spiritual coping measures and the importance of health care provider's acceptance of spirituality in this specific population. Recommendations for further research are made.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003740, ucf:48794
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003740

Title: EVALUATION OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE AND HIV AMBULATORY SERVICES PERFORMANCE IN THAILAND.
Creator: Meemon, Natthani, Wan, Thomas, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The accomplishment of pilot implementation of the HIVQUAL-T model, an innovative HIV care quality management tool, has led to an authoritative decision to scale up the use of the model nationwide in Thailand. However, the level of implementing this model varies across target hospitals. Some hospitals have fully adopted the model by conducting quality improvement (QI) activities following performance measurement (PM) results while others have partially adopted only PM or have not used this...
Show moreThe accomplishment of pilot implementation of the HIVQUAL-T model, an innovative HIV care quality management tool, has led to an authoritative decision to scale up the use of the model nationwide in Thailand. However, the level of implementing this model varies across target hospitals. Some hospitals have fully adopted the model by conducting quality improvement (QI) activities following performance measurement (PM) results while others have partially adopted only PM or have not used this model at all. The differential level of implementation could be a contributing factor accounting for discrepancies in the quality of care across different HIV ambulatory care facilities. A cross-sectional study was conducted by using two main datasets, including Thailand's national HIV care performance results and an online survey of all public hospitals nationwide. A total of 382 hospitals responded to the survey, accounting for a response rate of 50%. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) method was performed to examine the validity of latent constructs developed from the diffusion of innovation theory. Structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was employed to investigate the relationship between the determinants of organizational decision-making and their contribution to organizational outcomes, under the context-design-performance framework. Furthermore, using a panel model of hospitals that reported performance results across a 3-year period, the improvement in HIV ambulatory services performance among the adopters was examined. The results indicated that two innovation attributes -relative advantage and simplicity perceived by HIV care practitioners in hospitals- were found to be positively associated with the level of the HIVQUAL-T model implementation. Two structural characteristics -interconnectedness and organizational slack- appeared to be positively associated with the level of model implementation, while rate of adoption in the region also had significant positive contribution. Ultimately, the extensiveness of the HIVQUAL-T model implementation demonstrated a proportionate impact on the variation in hospitals' HIV ambulatory services performance. It was noted that the implementers considerably improved their performance within two years of implementing the model. The study findings imply that adoption is more likely when individual practitioners assess the innovation and find it to be easy to comprehend and operate and also worthwhile to implement. Furthermore, hospitals' decision making is likely influenced by their relations to external environment. The findings suggest more emphasis on individual and hospital-level capacity building for meaningful use of this quality management initiative, accompanied by an adjustment of performance measurement software with valid, reliable, and interpretable indicators.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003753, ucf:48785
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003753

health (22)	+ -
mental health (13)	+ -
Structural Health Monitoring (9)	+ -
Damage Detection (5)	+ -
gender (5)	+ -

mHealth (5)	+ -
stress (5)	+ -
Mental Health (4)	+ -
depression (4)	+ -
health care (4)	+ -
health outcomes (4)	+ -
mental illness (4)	+ -
Diabetes (3)	+ -
HPV (3)	+ -
Health (3)	+ -
Structural Identification (3)	+ -
alcohol (3)	+ -
counselor education (3)	+ -
education (3)	+ -
health disparities (3)	+ -
health literacy (3)	+ -
public health (3)	+ -
Abortion (2)	+ -
Adolescent (2)	+ -
Central Florida (2)	+ -
Health Disparities (2)	+ -
Health Insurance (2)	+ -
Public Health (2)	+ -
SF-36 (2)	+ -
SHM (2)	+ -

ETD Collection (124)	+ -
Honors Collection (43)	+ -

University of Central Florida (164)	+ -
Wan, Thomas (18)	+ -
Mishtal, Joanna (9)	+ -
Barden, Sejal (7)	+ -
Carter, Shannon (6)	+ -

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