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Title: HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS' PERSPECTIVES ON MALE INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE NEEDS.
Creator: Milanes, Lilian, Mishtal, Joanna, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Young men are at the greatest risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) within the U.S. male populations, yet are the least likely to make a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care visit. Clinical approaches in these areas that include the outreach to and the involvement of male partners of female patients can prove particularly useful in expanding SRH care to men and can also improve health outcomes for women who have sex with men. In this study I examined UCF's healthcare...
Show moreYoung men are at the greatest risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) within the U.S. male populations, yet are the least likely to make a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care visit. Clinical approaches in these areas that include the outreach to and the involvement of male partners of female patients can prove particularly useful in expanding SRH care to men and can also improve health outcomes for women who have sex with men. In this study I examined UCF's healthcare provider's approaches to educate and involve men (between the ages of 18 and 30) and male partners of female patients in their SRH needs. I conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 18 health care providers at the Student Health Center; including physicians, physician assistants, and registered nurses. This study found that there were significant differences in perception of men's SRH risk behaviors among the providers. In addition, this study revealed issues that might deter male students from accessing care, specifically how patients are required to state to the operator (who is also an undergraduate student) their name, PID and exactly why they are scheduling a visit to the clinic, thus many men say they have cold symptoms instead of issues with SRH. This study is significant because it can contribute to improvements in the delivery of SRH care to male students on campus.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004225, ucf:44954
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004225

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: 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

Title: An Examination of the Florida Linking Individuals Needing Care Coordination Program for Racial and Ethnic Minority Females.
Creator: Vance, Michelle, Gryglewicz, Kimberley, Chapple, Reshawna, Lawrence, Shawn, Fisher, Kristina Childs, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Suicide accounts for close to 800,000 deaths each year, making it one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In the state of Florida, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. Currently, it is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 15-29, claiming more lives than homicide. Among Black and Hispanic youth (10 to 24), it is the 2nd and 3rd leading causes of death. This study aimed to examine the extent to which depression and suicidality outcomes change among...
Show moreSuicide accounts for close to 800,000 deaths each year, making it one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In the state of Florida, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. Currently, it is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 15-29, claiming more lives than homicide. Among Black and Hispanic youth (10 to 24), it is the 2nd and 3rd leading causes of death. This study aimed to examine the extent to which depression and suicidality outcomes change among racial and ethnic minority females (i.e., Black and African American, Hispanic) who participated in a care coordination intervention. These subpopulations were chosen due to limited suicide prevention research on at-risk racial and ethnic minority females and to address health disparities. To examine these outcomes, the study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design utilizing secondary data from 76 youth participants enrolled in the care coordination program from three crisis stabilization units (CSU) in Florida. Key findings included significant decreases in depression symptomology (54%) and suicidality (82%). Among participants enrolled in the program, 84% did not have a readmission to the CSU. Length of stay was a predictor or readmission in that a one unit (one day) increase lead to a 3% increase in odds of readmission to the CSU. Results of this study can help guide social work and mental health practitioners in designing and implementing community-based suicide prevention programs for racial and ethnic minority females.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007548, ucf:52594
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007548

Title: The Communicative Value of EMR Education: Medical Students' Perceptions of Introductions to EMRs.
Creator: Burry, Justiss, Scott, Blake, Wheeler, Stephanie, Brenckle, Martha, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Research in medical education includes a number of studies that describe the complexities (Tierney et al., 2013; Gagon et al., 2009; Pippitt, Stevenson, (&) Samuelson, 2013), benefits (Milano et al., 2014; Hammoud et al., 2012; Silverman et al., 2014), and limitations (Peled, Sagher, Morrow, (&) Dobbie, 2009; Wald, George, Reis, (&) Taylor, 2014; Pelletier, 2016) of helping medical students understand and achieve fluency with electronic medical records (EMRs). In addition, studies in the...
Show moreResearch in medical education includes a number of studies that describe the complexities (Tierney et al., 2013; Gagon et al., 2009; Pippitt, Stevenson, (&) Samuelson, 2013), benefits (Milano et al., 2014; Hammoud et al., 2012; Silverman et al., 2014), and limitations (Peled, Sagher, Morrow, (&) Dobbie, 2009; Wald, George, Reis, (&) Taylor, 2014; Pelletier, 2016) of helping medical students understand and achieve fluency with electronic medical records (EMRs). In addition, studies in the rhetoric of health and medicine (RHM) have been calling to attention the effectiveness of rhetorical studies within medical contexts (Scott, Segal, (&) Keranen, 2013; Segal, 2005; Rausch, 2016; Fountain, 2014; Melocon and Frost, 2015; Graham and Herndl, 2014). However, there is not a unified idea of the best way to teach EMR fluency, nor is there any research that studies and analyzes the perceptions of students in their undergraduate medical education, including their pre-clerkship years. This thesis investigates students' perceptions of their medical education at the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine (UCF COM), specifically how 76 students who participated in surveys and focus group interviews perceive and engage with their education and ideas of EMR application and fluency. It also compares their perceptions with the goals of the module directors who designed the curriculum. In its analysis, this thesis employs classical and contemporary scholarship about stasis theory (Crowley and Hawhee, 2012; Fahnestock and Secor, 1988) to identify points of congruence and dissonance between students and module directors, as well as across cohorts of students in their first, second, and third years. Through data analysis, I found key points of congruence and dissonance between the perceptions and experiences of students and goals of module directors. I also identified key factors affecting both groups, such as the time constraints of the curriculum and the fact that hospitals use different EMR systems. The results of this study demonstrate the complexities of medical education and EMR education for both students and module directors. By understanding how rhetoric can be more beneficial to other fields, such as medical education, this study can help those creating curricula better reach outcomes that both students and licensing boards will appreciate. That said, more research needs to be conducted to understand how regulated medical education creates these points of contention between future physician curriculum designers.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006723, ucf:51887
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006723

Title: COUPLE PLAY AS A PREDICTOR OF COUPLE BONDING, PHYSICAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.
Creator: Vanderbleek, Linda, Robinson, Edward, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Traditional couple counseling research focused on why people end relationships, with research only recently addressing what factors contribute to relationship satisfaction and stability. Yet, throughout this research, minimal attention has been paid to the role of play in couple counseling. The research available on play in couple counseling had varied definitions of couple play and was not based on current couple counseling theory. The research and anecdotal data on couple play proposed a...
Show moreTraditional couple counseling research focused on why people end relationships, with research only recently addressing what factors contribute to relationship satisfaction and stability. Yet, throughout this research, minimal attention has been paid to the role of play in couple counseling. The research available on play in couple counseling had varied definitions of couple play and was not based on current couple counseling theory. The research and anecdotal data on couple play proposed a strong relationship between couple play and the factors that predict successful, long-term couple relationships, individual physical health and emotional health. This study applied current couple counseling theory and research to define couple play and the relationship between couple play and couple bonding, physical health and emotional health. The hypotheses of the study were couple play would predict couple bonding; couple play would predict individual physical health; and couple play would predict individual emotional health. The results from a sample of 30 couples demonstrated couple play predicted measures of couple bonding, including relationship satisfaction, communication, conflict resolution, and the couple's view of the relationship. Couple play demonstrated no relationship to individual physical or emotional health. Since couple play was predictive of successful, long-term couple relationship measures, the implications were discussed for using couple play in assessment and intervention in couple counseling and future research.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000426, ucf:46403
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000426

Title: INVESTIGATING A POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIBLING GENDER COMPOSITION AND HEALTH BEHAVIOR INDICATORS IN YOUNG ADULT AND ADOLESCENT MALES.
Creator: Goss, Taylor N, Rovito, Michael J., Jasinski, Jana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The presence of siblings during childhood and adolescence has a significant impact on the behaviors and perceptions of adults later in life. Effects of mixed-gendered sibling dyads on delinquent behavior, gender typing, and romantic and sexual relationships are of interest. These behaviors can lead to notable health disparities, making it imperative to gain insight into factors associated with such behaviors in young adult and adolescent males. This project explored possible correlations...
Show moreThe presence of siblings during childhood and adolescence has a significant impact on the behaviors and perceptions of adults later in life. Effects of mixed-gendered sibling dyads on delinquent behavior, gender typing, and romantic and sexual relationships are of interest. These behaviors can lead to notable health disparities, making it imperative to gain insight into factors associated with such behaviors in young adult and adolescent males. This project explored possible correlations between gender composition of siblings and health behavior indicators for violence, competition and risk, and sexual and romantic relationships. Analysis of these variables was performed using data from the Young Adult and Adolescent Male Health Behavior Indicator Scale [YAAMHBIS]. Descriptive analyses showed YAAM understanding of abuse and successful marriage and relationship qualities, as well as a conditional acceptance of violence, competition, and risk. Means testing between those with and without sisters indicated that those with sisters acknowledged abuse, marriage qualities, and the consequences of infidelity. Additionally, those with sisters had, on average, an earlier age of sexual debut than those without supporting previous research regarding the effects of female communication in childhood on adult interactions. The correlations found between sibling gender and YAAM perceptions later in life could lay the groundwork for future studies further investigating sibling gender or split households and an association with health behaviors.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000317, ucf:45807
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000317

Title: SEX EDUCATION OR SELF EDUCATION? LGBT+ EXPERIENCES WITH EXCLUSIONARY CURRICULA.
Creator: Reeves, Karli, Mishtal, Joanna, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Though much research exists on LGBT+ exclusion from school-based sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education, the strategies used by LGBT+ individuals during their search for knowledge regarding the subject are not as widely documented. Using the ethnographic research method of semi-structured interviews, this research explores the experiences of young LGBT+ adults with formal sexual and reproductive health education and examines the self-education methods employed by this population in...
Show moreThough much research exists on LGBT+ exclusion from school-based sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education, the strategies used by LGBT+ individuals during their search for knowledge regarding the subject are not as widely documented. Using the ethnographic research method of semi-structured interviews, this research explores the experiences of young LGBT+ adults with formal sexual and reproductive health education and examines the self-education methods employed by this population in the context of exclusionary and cisheteronormative curricula. This project also functions to contribute to existing literature in the field of anthropology and other social sciences regarding the subject of SRH education, particularly LGBT+ SRH education. Furthermore, this study supports the need for additional research through the use of applied anthropology concerning interactions between institutions, policy and individual experiences of health.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000500, ucf:45692
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000500

Title: Alcohol Consumption, Frailty, and the Mediating Role of C-Reactive Protein in Older Adults.
Creator: Shah, Mona, Paulson, Daniel, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Sims, Valerie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Frailty is a well-established indicator of late-life decline and is accompanied by higher rates of comorbidity and disability. Meanwhile, an estimated 41% of adults over the age of 65 report consuming alcohol (-) an identified health risk and protective factor depending on dosage. Given that the demographic group of older Americans is projected to double by the year 2050, identification of frailty risk and protective factors is imperative. The goals of this thesis are to: (1) identify how...
Show moreFrailty is a well-established indicator of late-life decline and is accompanied by higher rates of comorbidity and disability. Meanwhile, an estimated 41% of adults over the age of 65 report consuming alcohol (-) an identified health risk and protective factor depending on dosage. Given that the demographic group of older Americans is projected to double by the year 2050, identification of frailty risk and protective factors is imperative. The goals of this thesis are to: (1) identify how varying levels of alcohol consumption relate to frailty, and (2) elucidate a possible mechanism that accounts for the relationship between alcohol consumption and frailty. A sample of stroke-free participants over the age of 65 was identified from the Health and Retirement Study. Study 1 utilized stepwise logistic regression models to identify predictors of prevalent frailty at baseline (2000), and of incident frailty 4, 8, and 12 years later. For both males and females, significant predictors of frailty at all years included age, depressive symptomatology, and medical burden score. In addition, BMI was a significant predictor of frailty for females at all years. With respect to alcohol use, results revealed that drinking 1-7 drinks per week had a protective effect for females at baseline (OR=0.50) and 12 years later (OR=0.75); however, no such protective effects were found for males. Given that extant research has identified CRP as a mediator between the relationship of moderate alcohol use and cardiovascular health benefits, Study 2 used a cross-sectional sample from the 2008 wave to examine the potential mediating role of CRP between moderate alcohol use and reduced frailty risk. Results from structural equation modeling support the hypothesized model that moderate alcohol is associated with less frailty, and that this relationship is partially mediated by CRP levels. Overall findings suggest that moderate alcohol use confers health benefits for females by reducing frailty risk and that CRP is one mechanism by which alcohol use may confer protective effects for frailty. These results provide a starting place in an effort to better understand the protective effects of moderate alcohol use and can assist in improving prevention and treatment efforts for older adults by preventing or prolonging the onset of age-related diseases. Future research should further examine the relationship between alcohol use and frailty and determine if CRP mediates the relationship between moderate alcohol use and other beneficial health outcomes.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0006000, ucf:51027
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006000

Title: PERCEPTIONS OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA REGARDING QUALITY OF CARE UNDER THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (PPACA).
Creator: Nieves , Rafael, Sumner, Jennifer, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. This reform, it is argued, is projected to increase insurance coverage of pre-existing conditions, to expand access to insurance for more than 30 million Americans, and to increase estimated National medical spending while lowering projected Medicare spending. This thesis sought to investigate and analyze the perceptions of senior citizens in Central Florida about PPACA and their...
Show moreOn March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. This reform, it is argued, is projected to increase insurance coverage of pre-existing conditions, to expand access to insurance for more than 30 million Americans, and to increase estimated National medical spending while lowering projected Medicare spending. This thesis sought to investigate and analyze the perceptions of senior citizens in Central Florida about PPACA and their perceived effects on the healthcare quality provided to them under this law. Four sections of PPACA bill, thought to specifically pertain to the elderly, were selected for this study; respondents were asked their opinions regarding PPACA's aspects of: (1) the reform on preventive healthcare services; (2) Medicare Part D [prescription drugs]; (3) Medicare; and (4) Medicaid. This thesis employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies; data were collected and analyzed with findings presented and discussed.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFH0004468, ucf:45112
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004468

Title: Health Literacy Intervention to Influence Choices Made by Students in a Title I School Who Receive Free Lunch.
Creator: Kent, Melissa, Levin, Judith, Quelly, Susan, Szente, Judit, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study seeks to influence choices made by Kindergarten students in a Title I school who receive free breakfast and lunch through a health literacy intervention with the intent of decreasing daily added sugar consumption. Fruit and milk choices, either with naturally occurring sugar (NOS) or added sugar (AS), were recorded for 70 Kindergarten students among six classes in a Title I school for ten days before a four-week health literacy intervention. Three of the classes were randomly...
Show moreThis study seeks to influence choices made by Kindergarten students in a Title I school who receive free breakfast and lunch through a health literacy intervention with the intent of decreasing daily added sugar consumption. Fruit and milk choices, either with naturally occurring sugar (NOS) or added sugar (AS), were recorded for 70 Kindergarten students among six classes in a Title I school for ten days before a four-week health literacy intervention. Three of the classes were randomly selected to learn about 'sometimes' and 'anytime' choices through the Healthy Habits for Life curriculum delivered by representatives from Nemours Children's Hospital. Following the intervention, milk and fruit choices were recorded for ten more school days to determine differences among the control and intervention groups. Pearson Chi Square test results concluded that the health literacy intervention lead to statistically significant improvements in milk choices for the intervention group, but fruit choices were inconclusive due to inconsistencies in significance. Hierarchical loglinear analyses were run to determine if there was a difference in response to intervention between male and female students, and the results indicated that the effectiveness of the intervention was not moderated by gender. The success of this intervention for milk choices will help students who receive free school breakfast and lunch to decrease their daily consumption of added sugars, and additional research needs to be done to help students make choices that will further decrease their daily added sugar consumption.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007662, ucf:52466
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007662

Title: A CONSTRUCTIONIST ANALYSIS OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
Creator: Nead, Sandra, Lynxwiler, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Same-sex marriage has been heavily debated in academics and in the public sphere. During the 2004 Presidential election same-sex marriage became an issue that polarized the candidates. It has become a lightning rod for public debate. Due to the increasing attention to the controversy of legalizing same-sex marriage, it is an important topic for research. This paper seeks to contribute to the research of same-sex marriage by providing insight into claims-making efforts to define same-sex...
Show moreSame-sex marriage has been heavily debated in academics and in the public sphere. During the 2004 Presidential election same-sex marriage became an issue that polarized the candidates. It has become a lightning rod for public debate. Due to the increasing attention to the controversy of legalizing same-sex marriage, it is an important topic for research. This paper seeks to contribute to the research of same-sex marriage by providing insight into claims-making efforts to define same-sex marriage as a social problem. My findings shed light on this topic from a social constructionist perspective by examining the use of rhetorical idioms of the claims made by opposing parties in the debate over same-sex marriage as it relates to the court ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000662, ucf:46552
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000662

Title: An Investigation of College Student-Athletes' Mental Health Stigma, Help-Seeking Attitudes, Depression, Anxiety, and Life Stress Scores Using Structural Equation Modeling.
Creator: Tabet, Saundra, Lambie, Glenn, Barden, Sejal, Taylor, Dalena, Wood, Eric, Jahani, Shiva, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the directional relationship between student-athletes' degree of mental health stigma, help-seeking attitudes, depression, anxiety, and life stress scores. This investigation tested the theoretical model that student-athletes' (N = 621) degree of mental health stigma (as measured by the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale (-) Adapted [PDD-A; Eisenberg et al., 2009]) contributed to their attitudes towards help-seeking (as measured by the...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to investigate the directional relationship between student-athletes' degree of mental health stigma, help-seeking attitudes, depression, anxiety, and life stress scores. This investigation tested the theoretical model that student-athletes' (N = 621) degree of mental health stigma (as measured by the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale (-) Adapted [PDD-A; Eisenberg et al., 2009]) contributed to their attitudes towards help-seeking (as measured by the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help (-) Short Form [ATSPPH-SF; Fisher (&) Farina, 1995]) and levels of depression (as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (-) 9 [PHQ-9; Kroenke et al., 2001]), anxiety (as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 [GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006]), and life stress (as measured by the College Student-Athlete Life Stress Scale [CSALSS; Lu et al., 2012]). Specifically, the researcher tested the hypothesized directional relationship that student-athletes with a greater amount of mental health stigma would have (a) decreased positive help-seeking attitudes and (b) increased levels of depression, anxiety, and life stress. The results of the structural equation model (SEM) analyses identified that student-athletes' amount of mental health stigma contributed to help-seeking attitudes (25.6% of the variance), but not levels of depression (.16% of the variance), anxiety (.09% of the variance), or life stress (.81% of the variance). Specifically, student-athletes' degree of mental health stigma shared a strong negative relationship (-.506) with attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help. Further, the results identified that personal stigma mediates the relationship between public stigma and help-seeking attitudes. Implications of the findings include (a) greater knowledge of the importance student-athletes' mental health stigma and attitudes toward receiving help; (b) increased understanding for counselors of student-athletes mental health needs; and (c) insight into practices for institutions of higher education as they implement mental health initiatives within intercollegiate athletics.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007538, ucf:52597
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007538

Title: The relationship between first generation college students' levels of public and personal stigma, social support, perceived discrimination, and help-seeking attitudes.
Creator: Kim, Nayoung, Taylor, Dalena, Lambie, Glenn, Barden, Sejal, Bai, Haiyan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between first-generation college students' (FGCSs) help-seeking attitudes, as measured by the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help (-) Short Form (Fischer (&) Farina, 1995); public stigma, as measured by the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Psychological Help (Vogel, Wade, (&) Ascheman, 2009); personal stigma, as measured by the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale Working (Vogel, Wade, (...
Show moreThe purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between first-generation college students' (FGCSs) help-seeking attitudes, as measured by the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help (-) Short Form (Fischer (&) Farina, 1995); public stigma, as measured by the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Psychological Help (Vogel, Wade, (&) Ascheman, 2009); personal stigma, as measured by the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale Working (Vogel, Wade, (&) Haake, 2006); social support, as measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Dahlem, Zimet, (&) Walker, 1991); and perceived discrimination, as measured by the revised Everyday Discrimination Scale (Stucky et al., 2011). The researcher further investigated mediating effects of public and personal stigma in the relationships among the constructs. The researcher found statistically significant relationships among the variables for FGCSs and mediating effects of personal and public stigma. Specifically, public stigma mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and personal stigma and the indirect effect of perceived discrimination on personal stigma via public stigma was statistically significant ((&)#223; = .070, p = .030). Personal stigma also fully mediated the relationship between public stigma and help-seeking attitudes and the indirect effect of public stigma on help-seeking attitudes via personal stigma was statistically significant ((&)#223; = -.231, p (<) .001). Public stigma partially mediated the relationship between social support and personal stigma and the indirect effect of social support on personal stigma via public stigma ((&)#223; = -.089, p = .010) was statistically significant. In addition, both public and personal stigma partially mediated the relationship between social support and help-seeking attitudes. The indirect effect of social support on help-seeking attitudes via both public and personal stigma was statistically significant ((&)#223; = .062, p = .015). The researcher presented discussion of results, limitations of the study, and implications of the findings.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007663, ucf:52471
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007663

Title: Determinants of Health-related Quality of Life of Patients with End-stage Renal Disease.
Creator: Varghese, Shabu, Dziegielewski, Sophia, Burg, Mary Ann, Zhang, Ning, Jacinto, George, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a serious public health problem in the United States. According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), in 2013, Medicare spending alone accounts for $30.9 billion for the treatment-related expenses for ESRD. The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationship of two important determinants, perceived social support and treatment adherence with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of ESRD patients...
Show moreEnd-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a serious public health problem in the United States. According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), in 2013, Medicare spending alone accounts for $30.9 billion for the treatment-related expenses for ESRD. The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationship of two important determinants, perceived social support and treatment adherence with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of ESRD patients. Using the health belief model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the study explained the theoretical underpinnings of the causal relationships of the patient's perspectives of perceived social support and treatment adherence in predicting the HRQOL of ESRD patients. The study utilized a non-experimental research design and the statistical tool Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), in evaluating the causal relationships between the variables. With a convenience sample size of 413 ESRD patients from the Central West region of Florida, the findings of the study validated a statistically significant relationship between perceived social support and HRQOL as well as between perceived social support and treatment adherence in ESRD patients. However, the study didn't find any significant relationships between treatment adherence and HRQOL. The results of the study enhanced the body of knowledge relating to HRQOL of ESRD patients, provided foundation for interventions and policy formation in improving the HRQOL of patients with ESRD.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006512, ucf:51366
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006512

Title: Spatial and Temporal Compressive Sensing for Vibration-based Monitoring: Fundamental Studies with Beam Vibrations.
Creator: Ganesan, Vaahini, Das, Tuhin, Kauffman, Jeffrey L., Raghavan, Seetha, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Vibration data from mechanical systems carry important information that is useful for characterization and diagnosis. Standard approaches rely on continually streaming data at a fixed sampling frequency. For applications involving continuous monitoring, such as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), such approaches result in high data volume and require powering sensors for prolonged duration. Furthermore, adequate spatial resolution, typically involves instrumenting structures with a large...
Show moreVibration data from mechanical systems carry important information that is useful for characterization and diagnosis. Standard approaches rely on continually streaming data at a fixed sampling frequency. For applications involving continuous monitoring, such as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), such approaches result in high data volume and require powering sensors for prolonged duration. Furthermore, adequate spatial resolution, typically involves instrumenting structures with a large array of sensors. This research shows that applying Compressive Sensing (CS) can significantly reduce both the volume of data and number of sensors in vibration monitoring applications. Random sampling and the inherent sparsity of vibration signals in the frequency domain enables this reduction. Additionally, by exploiting the sparsity of mode shapes, CS can also enable efficient spatial reconstruction using fewer spatially distributed sensors than a traditional approach. CS can thereby reduce the cost and power requirement of sensing as well as streamline data storage and processing in monitoring applications. In well-instrumented structures, CS can enable continuous monitoring in case of sensor or computational failures. The scope of this research was to establish CS as a viable method for SHM with application to beam vibrations. Finite element based simulations demonstrated CS-based frequency recovery from free vibration response of simply supported, fixed-fixed and cantilever beams. Specifically, CS was used to detect shift in natural frequencies of vibration due to structural change using considerably less data than required by traditional sampling. Experimental results using a cantilever beam provided further insight into this approach. In the experimental study, impulse response of the beam was used to recover natural frequencies of vibration with CS. It was shown that CS could discern changes in natural frequencies under modified beam parameters. When the basis functions were modified to accommodate the effect of damping, the performance of CS-based recovery further improved. Effect of noise in CS-based frequency recovery was also studied. In addition to incorporating damping, formulating noise-handling as a part of the CS algorithm for beam vibrations facilitated detecting shift in frequencies from even fewer samples. In the spatial domain, CS was primarily developed to focus on image processing applications, where the signals and basis functions are very different from those required for mechanical beam vibrations. Therefore, it mandated reformulation of the CS problem that would handle related challenges and enable the reconstruction of spatial beam response using very few sensor data. Specifically, this research addresses CS-based reconstruction of deflection shape of beams with fixed boundary conditions. Presence of a fixed end makes hyperbolic terms indispensable in the basis, which in turn causes numerical inconsistencies. Two approaches are discussed to mitigate this problem. The first approach is to restrict the hyperbolic terms in the basis to lower frequencies to ensure well conditioning. The second, a more systematic approach, is to generate an augmented basis function that will combine harmonic and hyperbolic terms. At higher frequencies, the combined hyperbolic terms will limit each other's magnitude, thus ensuring boundedness. This research thus lays the foundation for formulating the CS problem for the field of mechanical vibrations. It presents fundamental studies and discusses open-ended challenges while implementing CS to this field that will pave way for further research.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0007120, ucf:51954
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007120

Title: Jail Mental Health Innovations: Factors Influencing Mental Health Services Innovations for Jails.
Creator: Clayton, Orville, Wan, Thomas, Anderson, Kim, Winton, Mark, Zhang, Ning, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: ABSTRACTThe U.S. is recognized for uniquely high incarceration rates. Over recent decades, there has been a concurrent dramatic increase of jail detainees with mental disorders. Provision of adequate mental health services for jail inmates is constitutionally mandated, and has legal, ethical, quality of care, and fiscal implications for jails, families, communities, and detainees. Significant variation exists in the provision of mental health services across jails, and increased understanding...
Show moreABSTRACTThe U.S. is recognized for uniquely high incarceration rates. Over recent decades, there has been a concurrent dramatic increase of jail detainees with mental disorders. Provision of adequate mental health services for jail inmates is constitutionally mandated, and has legal, ethical, quality of care, and fiscal implications for jails, families, communities, and detainees. Significant variation exists in the provision of mental health services across jails, and increased understanding of the factors that influence the adoption of such services may help guide jails to implement beneficial services, and ensure that such services reflect, reflect quality standards. This study used a mixed methods strategy to examine the influence of theoretically determined variables on the adoption of jail mental health services, and the quality assessment of such services. Data was gathered by survey instrumentation, secondary data review, and in-depth interviews with jail leaders. The study found that isomorphism has a significant effect on the structural adequacy of jail mental health services, innovation characteristics have a negligible relationship to structural adequacy and process integrity, structural adequacy mediates the effects of isomorphism on process integrity, and jail size has a significant effect on structural adequacy. This study advances the knowledge base in its specification of the roles of internal, external, and demographic factors in the adoption of jail mental health services, and in the testing and application of Donabedian's healthcare model to assess the quality of such services.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006866, ucf:51755
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006866

Title: HEALTHY AGING AND SELF-OBJECTIFICATION: THE IMPACT OF EMPOWERMENT AND FEMINIST ATTITUDES ON BODY IMAGE, EATING BEHAVIOR, AND AGING SATISFACTION.
Creator: Grippo, Karen, Tantleff Dunn, Stacey, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this study was to contribute to women's healthy aging across the adult lifespan by empirically examining potential protective factors (e.g., empowerment and feminist attitudes) in maintaining positive body image, healthy eating behavior, and aging satisfaction. Objectification Theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) provided a theoretical framework for understanding the connections between sexual-objectification experiences, media influences, and self-objectification, and the...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to contribute to women's healthy aging across the adult lifespan by empirically examining potential protective factors (e.g., empowerment and feminist attitudes) in maintaining positive body image, healthy eating behavior, and aging satisfaction. Objectification Theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) provided a theoretical framework for understanding the connections between sexual-objectification experiences, media influences, and self-objectification, and the resulting negative psychological consequences for women in Western society. This study was the first to examine empowerment in relation to Objectification Theory. Additionally, a developmental perspective was gained by using a diverse sample of young, middle-aged, and older women in the investigation of the impact of self-objectification on aging satisfaction. Results indicated that women of all ages were just as likely to report either body image satisfaction or body image dissatisfaction after accounting for BMI. However, younger women were more likely than older women to view their bodies as objects. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed utilizing Objectification Theory as a framework for predicting body image, eating behaviors, and aging satisfaction. Empowerment and feminist attitudes were not protective factors in promoting healthy eating behavior and positive thoughts related to body image and aging. The final structural model did, however, provide support for Objectification Theory and its proposed relationships between sexual-objectification experiences and the development of self-objectification and the negative consequences of self-objectification on a variety of health-related constructs. Long-term implications include incorporating this knowledge into empirically supported prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing body image and eating disturbance and promoting healthy aging across the adult lifespan.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003966, ucf:48692
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003966

females (2)	+ -
health care providers (2)	+ -
help-seeking attitudes (2)	+ -
mental health stigma (2)	+ -
sexual and reproductive health (2)	+ -

ACA (1)	+ -
Academic (1)	+ -
Academic -- Health and Professional Studies (1)	+ -
Aging (1)	+ -
Aging Satisfaction (1)	+ -
Biomedicine (1)	+ -
Body Dissatisfaction (1)	+ -
Body Image (1)	+ -
Body Image Prevention and Intervention Programs (1)	+ -
C-reactive protein (1)	+ -
Central Florida (1)	+ -
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (1)	+ -
Couple Bonding (1)	+ -
Couple Counseling (1)	+ -
Couple Counseling Intervention (1)	+ -
Couple Play (1)	+ -
Criminalization and mental illness (1)	+ -
Dissertations (1)	+ -
Donabedian’s healthcare model (1)	+ -
Eating Behavior (1)	+ -
Eating Disorders (1)	+ -
Empowerment (1)	+ -
Empowerment Theory (1)	+ -
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) (1)	+ -
Feminism (1)	+ -

ETD Collection (17)	+ -
Honors Collection (4)	+ -

University of Central Florida (20)	+ -
Mishtal, Joanna (3)	+ -
Barden, Sejal (2)	+ -
Lambie, Glenn (2)	+ -
Taylor, Dalena (2)	+ -

Wan, Thomas (2)	+ -
Zhang, Ning (2)	+ -
Anderson, Kim (1)	+ -
Bai, Haiyan (1)	+ -
Berlin, Thomas (1)	+ -
Brenckle, Martha (1)	+ -
Burg, Mary Ann (1)	+ -
Burry, Justiss (1)	+ -
Cassisi, Jeffrey (1)	+ -
Chapple, Reshawna (1)	+ -
Clayton, Orville (1)	+ -
Cooney, Lucretia (1)	+ -
Das, Tuhin (1)	+ -
Dziegielewski, Sophia (1)	+ -
Fisher, Kristina Childs (1)	+ -
Ganesan, Vaahini (1)	+ -
Goss, Taylor N (1)	+ -
Grippo, Karen (1)	+ -
Gryglewicz, Kimberley (1)	+ -
Health and Professional Studies (1)	+ -
Huff-Corzine, Lin (1)	+ -
Jacinto, George (1)	+ -
Jahani, Shiva (1)	+ -
Jasinski, Jana (1)	+ -
Kauffman, Jeffrey L. (1)	+ -

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