Health Science Theses
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Item A Qualitative Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Dental Hygiene Clinical Instructors on Emotional Intelligence: A Single Case Study(2021-05-14) Azzam, Marlene H.Teaching in the clinical dental hygiene setting entails not only clinical teaching skills and content expertise but also the consideration of the role that emotions contribute to in the clinical teaching environment. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the perceptions of dental hygiene clinical faculty towards the use of emotional intelligence in the dental hygiene clinical setting. Furthermore, the researcher sought to identify factors related to the use of emotional intelligence in the clinical educational setting, such as the instructors’ emotional intelligence and students, professionalism, and faculty development programs on emotional intelligence. Fifteen surveys were completed, and eight participants were selected via purposeful sampling. Eight clinical dental hygiene instructors who participated in this study were interviewed using audio-only. Semi-structured interviews were digitally audio-taped and transcribed. The conceptual framework of phenomenology was utilized in this study. Data analysis resulted in five major themes. These themes were understanding, character traits, clinical environment, interaction dynamics, and professional development on emotional intelligence. Recommendations based on the study findings suggest that a professional development program focusing on emotional intelligence may benefit clinical instructors. Being mindful of the various attributes and character traits of emotional intelligence such as self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship management may be deemed valuable during student interactions while teaching in the clinical setting.Item Effects of Caregiver Oral Health Interventions on Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Long-Term Care Facilities(2021-06) Elliott, Rae L.Background: An increasing older adult population presents challenges to the health care system at large. Older adults often face comorbidities that accelerate the need for long-term care dependence when the older adult’s physical or cognitive limitations become unmanageable. Long-term care facility residents commonly suffer from poor oral health, which often worsens or is exacerbated by comorbidities. Thus, long-term care facility residents are often victims of oral health disparities whereby poor oral health leads to poor overall health and quality-of-life outcomes. Long-term care facility caregivers play a critical role in sustaining and even improving long-term care residents’ oral health by providing assistance with daily oral health interventions. The purpose of this literature review was to research the effects of caregiver-assisted oral health interventions on long-term care facility residents’ quality of life. Methods: The review of the literature addressed the following topics: (a) geriatric oral health, (b) oral health interventions, (c) quality-of-life outcomes, and (d) caregiver oral health training. Results: A review of the literature demonstrates oral health interventions provided by long-term care facility caregivers as necessary activities of daily living to maintain long-term care facility residents’ oral health. Most importantly, the oral health interventions provided by long-term care facility caregivers have been shown to improve long-term care facility residents’ quality-of-life outcomes. Long-term care facility caregivers are active participants in ensuring the successful aging of long-term care facility residents. Conclusion: Long-term care facility caregivers play a valuable role in decreasing the number of oral health disparities incurred by long-term care facility residents. Long-term caregiver-assisted oral health interventions provided to long-term care facility residents promote the improvement of residents’ quality-of-life outcomes. Daily mouth care is deemed to be an essential activity of daily living that care-dependent long-term care facility residents must receive based upon their individualized care plans.Item The Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles as a Treatment for Bacterial Biofilms(2021-07) Atwater, CammieBiofilms provide a protected environment in which bacteria can grow and thrive. These biofilms are especially resistant to antibiotic treatments. This poses a huge problem as 80% of infections that are of clinical significance grow within biofilms. Silver has been known to have antimicrobial properties. Only within the past 15 years, however, has the nanoparticle form of silver been seriously researched for the purpose of treating bacterial biofilms. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the efficacy of silver nanoparticles in combating bacterial biofilms. A literature review was performed by collecting peer-reviewed research articles that addressed each of the following sub-questions: i) are silver nanoparticles effective against antibiotic-resistant biofilms, ii) by what mechanisms do silver nanoparticles act, iii) is the efficacy of silver nanoparticles dependent on dose or morphology, iv) can resistance develop to silver nanoparticles, v) are there risks or side effects associated with silver nanoparticles or unknown safety concerns, and vi) what avenues of silver nanoparticles administration are the most promising. The findings were combined in table form. Silver nanoparticles stand out as a promising treatment, as they have been found to be effective against MDR bacterial biofilms. The size, shape, surface properties, and environment of the nanoparticle will greatly determine its efficacy. It is possible and necessary to engineer the properties of the nanoparticle to the desired function. While safety concerns about silver nanoparticles still remain, they appear to be a promising treatment for improved drug delivery, wound dressings, and coatings on medical implants, dental implants, catheters and other medicals devices.Item Effects of Berberine, Cinnamon, and Fenugreek Seeds on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Prediabetes and Diabetes: An Assessment of the Quality of the Clinical Trials(2021-12-15) Abdi, IbsaThe prevalence of diabetes is increasing globally. Although several anti-diabetic drugs are available to treat the disease, some patients with type 2 diabetes fail to achieve adequate glycemic control. Nutraceuticals may provide therapeutic potential and are widely used in integrative medicine. However, several clinical trials that evaluated the effectiveness of the anti-diabetic nutraceuticals have been inconclusive in their findings. This dissertation appraised the quality of the clinical trials that investigated the effects of berberine, cinnamon, and fenugreek seeds on glucose and lipid metabolism in prediabetes and diabetes. In addition, the effectiveness of the included nutraceuticals was assessed. Besides, ways to enhance the quality of clinical trials on nutraceuticals were suggested. Five databases (UB Wahlstrom, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Science Direct) were systematically searched for randomized controlled studies that investigated the effects of berberine, cinnamon, or fenugreek seeds on glucose and lipid metabolism. Thirty-three studies (7, 16, 10 on berberine, cinnamon, and fenugreek, respectively), involving 2,518 study participants, were retrieved. The studies were appraised for trial and reporting quality using the Jadad scale and the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Randomized Controlled Trials checklist. The effectiveness of the nutraceuticals was analyzed using the patient-intervention-comparator-outcome chart. The results demonstrated that the quality of the clinical trials varied by the nutraceutical investigated. They included berberine, cinnamon, and fenugreek studies that had scores of 3.4, 3.2, and 2.3, respectively, on the Jadad scale. The berberine and cinnamon had acceptable scores, while the fenugreek studies had a low score, which is below the generally accepted score of 3 for a study of acceptable quality. The quality of the fenugreek trials is of such a low quality that they cannot be used in clinical decision-making. The effectiveness varied by the nutraceuticals and the endpoints analyzed. The analysis revealed that berberine improved HbA1C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides levels. Berberine-related adverse reactions were reported mild and transient. The berberine trials may support clinical decision-making. The effects of cinnamon on glucose and lipid profiles were inconclusive. Randomized controlled clinical trials with emphasis on methodological and reporting quality need to be conducted to determine the effectiveness of these nutraceuticals.Item Evaluating the Link Between Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Their Relevance to the Dental Hygiene Clinical Evaluation(2021-03-23) Schmitz, Janice I.Background: Dental professionals are in a prime position to recognize the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and make the appropriate referrals for a medical consultation. Due to the frequency of prophylaxis appointments, the dental office is an appropriate setting to conduct OSA screenings, however, dental hygienists are often lacking the knowledge, impacting their attitudes and screening practices during the dental hygiene examination. The aim of this dissertation was to determine if there is a link between orofacial myofunctional disorders and OSA, if the dental hygienist is provided with the education necessary to identify OSA risks and make referrals, and if there is a benefit to including the identification of orofacial myofunctional disorders as risk factors for OSA in the dental hygiene curriculum. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature related to OMD and OSA was conducted, using the University of Bridgeport Wahlstrom Library databases. Results: The findings of this dissertation demonstrate a clear link between orofacial myofunctional disorders and OSA. Craniofacial features impact upper airway size and contributing factors to its narrowing can lead to an increased risk of collapse and consequently, disrupted nighttime sleep. Dental hygienists are lacking education on sleep-disordered breathing, OSA, and orofacial myofunctional disorders as risk factors for OSA, preventing them from screening for OSA and feeling confident in making referrals. Including orofacial myofunctional disorders as risk factors for OSA into the dental hygiene curriculum would be beneficial. Conclusions: The link between orofacial myofunctional disorders and obstructive sleep apnea is clear. Dental hygienists are not provided adequate education on OSA, or orofacial myofunctional disorders as risk factors for OSA. Including OSA identification and screening into the dental hygiene examination will increase diagnosis and treatment. Including preventative medical screening into the dental appointment reduces the risk of medical comorbidities and increases medical evaluation and treatment, therefore, it has the potential for reducing costs to the healthcare system over time.