Hypertension in Incarcerated Adults

Jennifer Dreyer, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

The issue of high blood pressure in jails calls for innovative techniques to screen, intervene, and educate about cardiovascular health. There are many patients that arrive under duress, intoxicated, or have pre-existing hypertension. Most do not seek treatment for hypertension due to a lack of obvious symptoms. If a patient is found to be hypertensive, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions must be implemented. It is important to distinguish individual risk factors and social needs to develop patient-centered care plans. High blood pressure management is a definitively complex issue in correctional healthcare, especially for those who experience health inequity.

Identifying Resources to Strengthen Pathways to Higher Education for Native Foster Youth in Humboldt County

College of Professional Studies

This project partnered with the Indian Tribal and Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) to gather qualitative data regarding the strengths and challenges in the existing resources and services offered to Native foster youth (NFY) in Humboldt County. The intended goals were to use Indigenous research methods to 1. Build connections between community agencies serving NFY in order to create a stronger network of support; 2. Strengthen support for NFY that can carry on throughout their collegiate experience and facilitate their eventual degree completion; 3. Provide a model of practice for other campuses seeking to strengthen resources and pathways to higher education success for NFY.

Improving Cardiac Arrest Outcomes in Critical Access Emergency Departments Using the LUCAS Mechanical Compression Device

Casey Vitali, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This quality improvement project, guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, examines the potential impact of implementing the LUCAS mechanical chest compression device in rural hospitals. High mortality rates from cardiac arrest, partly due to inconsistent manual CPR and staffing limitations, have led to a review of the evidence supporting mechanical CPR. Proposed interventions include individual training, department-wide integration, and the development of institutional policies. The anticipated outcomes are increased rates of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), improved discharge survival rates, and enhanced staff competency in providing high-quality resuscitation.

Improving Health Outcomes for Rural Parent Caregivers of Neurodiverse Children

College of Professional Studies

The prevalence of developmental disabilities (DD) is about 17% in the United States, with rates higher in rural communities (Robinson et al., 2017). Children with DD (also known as "neurodiverse") have individual strengths and face unique challenges. Due to adversity in accessing specific and much-needed support, parent caregivers often experience clinical levels of parenting stress (Davis & Carter, 2008, as cited in Roberts et al., 2019). Parents in rural communities are particularly affected. Chronic, unaddressed stress can lead to worsened mental and physical health including depression, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (Robinson et al., 2017). The goal is clear: to incr

Improving Quality of Care for Advance Cancer Patients in Rural Communities

Robyn Jensen, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Numerous obstacles prevent rural residents from accessing high-quality cancer treatment, such as long distances to treatment centers, a shortage of specialized medical professionals, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. To address the challenge of advanced cancer care in rural areas, a comprehensive approach is required that includes improving access to specialized medical professionals, investing in healthcare technology, and prioritizing palliative care services. Palliative care is a critical element of cancer care that focuses on symptom management, enhancing quality of life, and providing support for patients and their loved ones.

Incorporating Cultural Activities Within A Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facility in Humboldt County, California

College of Professional Studies

Humboldt County, California is comprised of Indigenous tribal lands. The county has no residential substance use treatment program to meet the needs of the Indigenous Community. The purpose of this project is to implement Indigenous practices within the residential substance use treatment program. The following healing activities will be incorporated into the treatment program, both on and off-site. Red Roads will be offered to individuals once a week on site. Gender appropriate talking circles while beading will be offered on-site weekly. Individuals will have the opportunity to sweat twice a month, off-site.

Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Participation in a Rural FQHC

College of Professional Studies

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer and typically caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV). The American Cancer Society’s preferred screening method is HPV testing, which is detectable in the vagina. The FDA has not approved this test, but some private labs offer this screening with patients collecting their own vaginal swab. The goal is to increase participation in CC screening in patients who decline traditional testing. Most CC cases are in patients who are not up to date on screening frequency or never received screening before. If positive on self-swab, patients are more likely to follow up, receiving the care they would never have received if not given this option.

Increasing Chiropractic Prevalence in Black Communities

McKenna Bartlett, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This paper aims to analyze the significant disparities in chiropractic care for Black communities in the United States. Considering there is a substantial difference in the quality of care for Black Americans, it is imperative to be aware of the implications this can have on a community and their trust in healthcare systems. Some of these disparities discussed in this analysis consist of historical segregation, overprescribing opioids for chronic lower back pain, and overall lack of access to care. Efforts to improve care are discussed, such as improving doctor-patient race concordance by increasing the number of Black chiropractic students.

Indian Child Welfare Act Training

College of Professional Studies

Training curriculum and presentation on the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Individual differences in the coordinated behavioral and physiological immune response to pathogenic threat

Povheng Yam, Psychology Graduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Infectious diseases pose a significant threat to an organism’s fitness and have been a strong selective pressure throughout human evolution. Although we have evolved a sophisticated biological response to pathogenic threat, it can be quite costly to engage the physiological immune system. The Behavioral Immune System encompasses a suite of psychological mechanisms that bias our cognitions and behaviors to facilitate pathogen avoidance. The potential link between the behavioral and physiological immune systems in relatively understudied. The current study aimed to replicate and extend previous work on this link by introducing an additional live pathogenic cue (a "sick" confederate).