Health and Medicine

Dylan Wootton, University of Utah

Kaden Parks, Utah Valley University

Julie Xu; Maren Voss; Rohan D'souza; Jerry Bounsanga; Alec Hansen; Dominique Nielson, University of Utah

Tess Armbrust; Canyon Neal; Ashli Hunter; Forest Eddy; Sumira Phatak; Korry Hintze, Utah State University

Ryker Hacking, Utah State University

Kelsey Bennion, Brigham Young University

Megan Shaw, University of Utah

Annalyse Kofoed, Utah Valley University

Daisha L. Cummins, Kodey Meyers, and Breanna E. Studenka, Utah State University Health Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit rigidity of motor plans and difficulties planning and executing movements (Eigsti et al., 2013). Those with ASD may also have difficulty formulating new or switching between different motor plans. In typically developing individuals, sequential actions exhibit hysteresis, a phenomenon where a specific motor plan is influenced by recent, similar motor actions. We sought to determine if hysteresis was stronger in children with ASD. A rotation motor task measured the rigidity of motor planning (hysteresis) of five ASD children, and 5 control participants. A stick was placed in one of 24 different orientations around a circle. The researcher moved the stick counterclockwise or clockwise in subsequent trials. A participant grasped the stick and returned it to the home position. Researchers measured the position at which the child switched from a thumb up to a thumb down grasp in each direction. The peak counterclockwise switch occurred later for children with ASD. The grasp also changed less frequently for the ASD than for the control group. Our results suggest that changing a grasp was more costly than being comfortable, and that hysteresis was more prevalent in children with ASD than in the control group.

Diana Carter, Brigham Young University Health Purpose:

Ashley Havlicak and Joanna Beachy, University of Utah Health Background:

Rebekah Goodrich, Leenalitha Panneerseelan Bharath, Ting Ruan, Tetyana Forostyan, Ashot Sargsyan,

Trey Esplin, Alathia Burnside, Sean Madill, Marquelle Funk, Sean Kiesel, Kaisey Margetts,

Jamie Slade, Utah Valley University Health Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are gaining in popularity. Unfortunately, this increase is occurring at a time when we lack a definitive understanding of the health hazards. It is important for professionals to understand e-cigarette users’ experiences and satisfaction with the devices in order to determine what may entice users to begin and continue using these devices.

Tianne Pierce, Utah Valley University Health Since Mario and Zelda (Nintendo video games), video interactive games have been a favorite babysitter for the past two generations of children, simulation is no stranger to this population. Portions of this population became nursing students. Simulation in health care is second to none in the ‘hands on’ teaching of skills; thus, it would be the natural order of things to include interactive figures and scenario during teaching and learning in nursing. Utah Valley University’s nursing department employs the use of human simulators in the delivery of content to the students. It is no surprise that these students relate well to simulation in the classrooms. The purpose of the research study will be to compare students’ responses to learning in a teaching environment void of simulation vs. a teaching environment which uses simulation. Although simulation has long been used in aviation and the military, it has become more integrated in the health care profession over the last 20 years. These study results were congruent with national and international landmark studies where the use of simulation in nursing has been supported by the world of healthcare.

Erika Brown and Stacie Hunsaker, Brigham Young University Health Health care professionals are often challenged with starting an intravenous (IV) line in patients who are dehydrated, have suffered trauma, or are in shock. Nurses and physicians can become frustrated by the multiple attempts and patients can lose valuable time. An alternative route to deliver the needed fluids and medications to these critical patients can be achieved by accessing the blood supply inside the bone. Intraosseous (IO) access is a safe, rapid, and an effective alternative method to deliver medications and fluids to these critical patients (Hunsaker and Hillis, 2013). I was mentored in the practice of qualitative research and interview process in a study related to difficult IV access. A qualitative research study was performed at Hospital Luis Vernaza in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to determine the complications faced in providing timely care to critical patients, and to assess their knowledge and use of IO therapy. Interviews were performed, and, because of my fluency in the Spanish language, I was the primary interviewer. These interviews were analyzed to assess the need of interventional IO therapy. Through the interviews, preliminary results demonstrated a need for an organized IV algorithm in this large hospital. The difficult IV algorithm has been developed and will be presented to the health care professionals at Hospital Luis Vernaza in the spring of 2015 on a Brigham Young University College of Nursing Global Health stay in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Delena Hanson, Dixie State University Health Debate in diagnostic imaging over the effectiveness of shielding the patient from the incident (primary) beam compared to shielding from the scattering beam once it has hit the image receptor is ongoing. Because radiation in any amount can cause long term effects, it is the ethical obligation of those in the profession to keep the dose of radiation to the patient as low as reasonably achievable. Backscatter is radiation that goes through the patient, contributes to the diagnostic image, then still has enough energy to hit the image receptor and scatter back toward the patient. While previous studies indicate that dose to the gonads from the primary beam during chest x-ray exams are low, this additional research assesses the amount of backscatter that happens during a chest x-ray to determine at what point patient size is a factor that increases patient dose. As more technique must be used for larger patients, increased interactions will occur and therefore present a higher probability of backscatter that can add to the patient’s gonadal dose. This research quantifies whether and at what point placing a lead shield between the patient and the image receptor will reduce dose to the patient by measuring the thickness of a patient receiving chest x-ray and using a pocket dosimeter to measure the amount of radiation scattering back from the patient to compare with data from the incident beam.

Kalene Mears, Brigham Young University Health The purpose of this project is to compile a learning history for a hospital unit, documenting patterns of past adaptation within a clinical microsystem that can be magnified to help the system continue to improve. The goal in healthcare is to create an adaptable system, where changes are continuously made as problems are identified to prevent harm from care. Through a learning history, a hospital unit can identify how they have already solved problems in the past and identify patterns of adaptation that can be replicated to increase reliability within the organization. This project has the potential to help a hospital unit improve its reliability in providing quality patient care and reduce preventable patient harm. To obtain the information about the unit’s history, key team members will be interviewed using an appreciative approach to identify strengths and patterns of successful adaptation. Interviews will highlight positive features of this team to foster feelings of success and achievement, promoting desire to continue improvement. Clinical data will supplement the interviews to show a full picture of how the unit adapted to its situation. The transcribed interviews will then be distilled to highlight the critical, meaningful points in the plot line where learning and adaptation took place. This resulting manuscript is the tangible learning history. Internal dissemination will involve sharing the learning history with the organization and facilitating group discussions about the findings with members of the organization. Through this process, we anticipate the unit will be able to promote more effective interventions to improve patient care.

John Rossi, Julie Valentine, Leslie Miles, Linda Maybe, and Julie Melini, Brigham Young University Health The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of sexual assault on memory and consciousness in 314 victims in a Mountain West community using retrospective chart review. Altered mental awareness and/or loss of consciousness during a sexual assault are widely unexplored phenomena. A majority of assaulted individuals experience a varying degree of loss of consciousness during an assault – resulting in memory loss and conflicting evidentiary reports creating challenges during an investigation and prosecution. Statements written by a forensic nurse based on patients’ telling of the sexual assault (analyzed in Nvivo10) were placed within the following categories: memory loss; decreased feelings of mental alertness or awareness; symptoms of tonic immobility; detachment from self, environments and/or situation; reports full loss of consciousness; and/or awoke to assault. Quantitative data from patients’ answers to questions related to their memory of the nature of the assault was analyzed through descriptive statistics in SPSS, resulting in the following statistics: 58.3% reported having a loss of consciousness or awareness, 54.2% reported “unknown” to 1 or more questions about the nature of the assault, 37.8% reported “unknown” to 4 or more questions, 17.3% reported “unknown” to all questions. Additionally, a Chi square test for independence found patients with memory loss/altered consciousness were associated with the following variables: patients with mental illness and/ or use of psychotropic medications (p=0.025) and use of alcohol prior to assault (p=0.000). Medical teams, law enforcement, and judicial representatives must understand the impediments associated with a victim suffering from altered mental status caused by neurobiological and psychophysical effects of sexual trauma; thus, creating an atmosphere that avoids re- traumatizing a patient and providing for optimal care. This research will supplement other studies focusing on neurobiology/sexual assault trauma and foster greater understanding of the effects of sexual assault on memory and consciousness.

Cody Craig and Charles Yeager, Snow College Health Logically, a rise in income should lead to a healthier population. Diseases like malaria, cholera, and HIV/AIDS are associated with poverty, low rates of education, and poor infrastructure in many parts of the world. In populations with higher per capita income (or “wealth”), these diseases are not as common. However, while our higher socioeconomic classes have fewer poverty linked diseases, is the overall health of people across Utah as high as we might expect it to be? Diseases like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes (known as diseases of affluence) are becoming more and more common, even though advanced health technology and healthcare availability increase. This project will examine the relationship between income level, diseases of poverty, and diseases of affluence. Data will be aggregated from a number of sources and mapped using a geographic information system. A regression analysis will be conducted to determine if variables are positively or negatively correlated with diseases of poverty and affluence in Utah.

Abigail Harris, Brigham Young University Health Purpose:

Paydon Newman and Joseph Rebman, Dixie State University Health Several studies (Shepley, 2012; Sherman-Bien, 2011; Walch, 2010) have found that sunlight has a stress-reducing effect on those who are exposed to it. An innovative new design of artificial lighting known as RaLight is proposed to reflect light with a color rendering index nearly identical to natural sunlight. This study will examine the relationship between exposure to RaLight (as a substitute for sunlight) and levels of stress. RaLight is predicted to decrease levels of stress in test subjects. In a commercial call center setting, test subjects will consist of an estimated 50 employees both male and female with ages ranging from 18 to 30 years. This research is designed as a single subject experiment (ABA). The initial control condition will be the common indoor environment which exposes patients to standard fluorescent lighting. Replacing light fixtures with RaLight will then establish both the second phase of the experiment and the independent variable. A follow up re-installment of the initial fluorescent lighting will be conducted post-RaLight phase. Throughout each phase, questionnaires regarding the overall well-being of employees will be completed.

Whittni O’Brien, Dixie State University Health St. George residents are currently at risk from poor indoor air quality. The objective of this study was to provide citizens with simple solutions to purify their indoor air and avoid the side effects of pollution. The rising threats include benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. These carcinogens are directly linked to heart disease, birth defects, asthma and premature deaths in individuals. The study was conducted to see just what could be done to combat these hazards and provide the necessary information to resolve the levels of indoor air pollution to residents. A standardized questionnaire was issued to find out how educated locals were about the pollution levels and air quality within the community. Questions covered a variety of aspects including exactly what the threats were to specific methods of indoor air purification. To reduce the number of carcinogenic related health issues, participants were provided with a pamphlet including easy to follow steps to cleaner indoor air and outdoor air pollution. The objective result yielded plants to be the best solution. Aloe vera plants are not only grown locally, but are easy to propagate. These plants are known for their ability to remove formaldehyde from the air and therefore an inexpensive and readily available resource that will assist residents. Other solutions found included greenery such as moth orchids, snake plants and the ficus tree. All of these plants are easy to maintain with local climate conditions. By providing residents with the proper education and resources, the overall health of the population will rise. The conclusion of the study offers vital knowledge to the community and a progressive approach to cleaner indoor air for a healthier living space.

Bradley Weaver, University of Utah Health High-grade gliomas, especially glioblastoma (GBMs, WHO Grade IV), are the most common primary brain tumors in humans. Despite recent advances in molecular targeted therapies for cancer, there has been little progress in treatment of GBMs. Median patient survival after diagnosis is dismal: approximately 12 months. Hypoxia is a key clinical marker of GBMs, which contain pockets of necrotic and hypoxic regions within the solid tumor mass. The transcription factors in the Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) family are the master regulators of the cellular response to hypoxia. Their downstream targets include compounds that promote angiogenesis, increase glycolysis, and inhibit apoptosis. Recent research has identified glioma stem cells (GSCs) surviving within the hypoxic microenvironment, and has implicated HIF1α as a potential regulator of the GSC phenotype. GSCs are thought to promote therapeutic resistance and recurrence of GBMs after surgical resection. Clarifying the role of HIF1α in glioma stem cell dynamics is important for targeting both the tumor cells and their environment in new treatment. It is expected that GSC populations with more aggressive phenotypes will express higher levels of HIF1α and have higher proliferation rates under acute hypoxia. In this study, the HIF1α levels and proliferation dynamics of multiple, unique GSC cell lines are investigated. Cell lines used include two GSC lines isolated from primary patient tumors (NSC20/23) and a stem cell enriched high-grade glioma line. Preliminary results suggest that not all populations of GSCs respond the same way to hypoxic stress, and HIF1α may play a central role in stem cell dynamics, but not in the growth of non-stem tumor cells. Probing further into this relationship will increase our understanding of how brain tumors behave, and how to more effectively target them in patients. Further data and conclusions from this project will be available at the time of presentation.

Wesley Tietjen, Dixie State University Health High risk sexual behaviors, such as having unprotected sex, are a community health concern because of the heightened susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases. An estimated 19.7 million people are newly infected with a sexually transmitted disease annually. Young people (ages 15-24) account for nearly half of all new incidences (CDC, 2008). Considering these statistics, the author, a Dixie State University Integrated Studies undergraduate student, conducted an interdisciplinary study to determine the correlation between the degree of self-reported religious devotion of Latter Day Saint (LDS) singles and their likelihood of purchasing or using protection during premarital intercourse. Seventy five students attending Dixie State University in Saint George, Utah participated in this study. Participants completed a 15-item survey consisting of questions inquiring how religious they consider themselves and their feelings towards premarital sex. Of the non-married participants who engage in sex, only 28% (n=4) of LDS respondents reported consistent use of birth control, compared to 84% (n=16) of non-LDS individuals. These results are suggestively significant and are consistent with findings from studies conducted by Douglas Kirby (2007) and others who have demonstrated that teaching abstinence, without providing education about birth control methods other than abstinence, leaves individuals unprepared to practice safe sex if the occasion arises. The relevance of the Dixie State University study to previous more broadly conceived research will be presented along with recommendations for future research.

Paydon Newman, Dixie State University Health Several studies (Shepley, 2012; Sherman-Bien, 2011; Walch, 2010) have found that sunlight has a stress-reducing effect on those who are exposed to it. An innovative new design of artificial lighting known as RaLight is proposed to reflect light with a color rendering index nearly identical to natural sunlight. This study will examine the relationship between exposure to RaLight (as a substitute for sunlight) and levels of stress. RaLight is predicted to decrease levels of stress in test subjects. In several hospice facilities, test subjects will consist of an estimated 100 patients both male and female with ages ranging from 65 to 85 years. This research is designed as a single subject experiment (ABA). The initial control condition will be the common indoor environment which exposes patients to standard fluorescent lighting. Replacing light fixtures with RaLight will then establish both the second phase of the experiment and the independent variable. A follow up re-installment of the initial fluorescent lighting will be conducted post-RaLight phase. Throughout each phase, questionnaires regarding the overall well-being of patients will be completed by hospice staff.

Amy A Fairbrother, Utah Valley University Health Research has shown that high-frequency (HF) ultrasound is capable of detecting structural and biomechanical property changes in tissues and cells at the microscopic level. This capability is currently being tested for the real-time identification of breast tissue pathology in surgical margins during lumpectomies. The objective of this study was to determine if structural and property changes arising in tissue from variations in temperature can be detected by using HF ultrasound. Once a tissue sample is excised from the body, the temperature of the sample decreases rapidly from body temperature to that of the surrounding room temperature. Because of the decrease in heat, the tissue can become more rigid and thus less fluid. These alterations in biomechanical properties can affect HF ultrasonic measurements such as wavespeed and attenuation. These biomechanical changes may also affect the ultrasonic signals sensitive to tissue structure such as the number of peaks in the ultrasonic spectra. The methodology of the research was as follows. Fresh samples of bovine tissue were ultrasonically tested at 3 different temperatures: 37º, 24.5º, and 15º C. Each sample was approximately 7.6 mm thick and 3.8 x 2.5 cm in size. To observe the overall effects of temperature on a sample, the tissue was slowly heated from room temperature to body temperature (37º C) and then tested with HF ultrasound. The sample was then cooled back down to room temperature (24.5º C) and tested again using HF ultrasound. Lastly, the sample was cooled further to 15º C and again tested using HF ultrasound. Ultrasonic waveforms were collected using 50-MHz pitch-catch and pulse-echo measurements. The data was then analyzed to determine changes in wavespeed, attenuation, and spectral peak density with temperature. Results from the study will be presented and discussed with respect to the improvement of HF ultrasound procedures for testing tissue samples.

Erin Horton, Dixie State University Health OPUNTIA FICUS INDICA: RED BLOOD CELL VIABILITY AND AGGLUTINATION PROPERTIES

Micelle Reed, University of Utah Health For patients with medically intractable epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by seizures that are unable to be controlled with medication, surgical resection of the seizure generating zone is necessary to obtain seizure freedom. Intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) is used for determining areas for resection when noninvasive techniques fail to pinpoint a specific area. High frequency oscillations (HFOs), observed through iEEG, are successful biomarkers for the seizure generating zones and are more localized to the source of seizures than areas of propagation. The most common method for determining HFO occurrence lies in expert epileptologist interpretation of the iEEG data, although this method is limited to small data sets and the expertise of the doctor. This study uses the signal processing techniques of spectrogram analysis and continuous waveform transforms to find high frequency content in sampled patient data. Through the use of Friedman’s Tests, statistical difference between channels is determined and subsequent Wilcoxon signed-rank tests are performed to find the channels with statistically greater high frequency content. This allows for an unbiased, automated determination of seizure generating channels. Localization of the seizure generating area can be decided because of the 1-1 correspondence between the channel signal and macroelectrode placement on the brain. If functional mapping reveals the cost of resection of that area of the brain to be less than the benefit of reduction in seizure activity, surgery will be performed. Through the determination of the true seizure generating zone, surgical resection will lead to the best patient outcome of potential seizure freedom and improved quality of life.

Sheri Casey, Utah Valley University Health Justification: According to many studies, low socioeconomics is positively correlated to sports participation. Little research explores the economic relationship correlated with youth sports.

Kevin Crockett, Utah Valley University Health Purpose

Brooke Wahlquist, Brigham Young University Health Exposure to the house dust mite (HDM) allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1 has been implicated in the development and exacerbation of asthma, the leading chronic disease among children in the U. S. Indoor relative humidity (RH) is the most important determinant of HDM growth in homes. HDM populations reach a maximum size at 85% RH but can survive at RH levels as low as 54 %. The RH in the commonly arid climate of the western U.S. is often below 55%, and as such, HDM exposure in these areas has not been viewed as a significant health concern. However, studies have shown that evaporative coolers, or “swamp coolers”, can increase indoor RH levels enough in arid climates to support HDM growth. In this study, we propose to evaluate the relationship between HDM allergen levels in the home and evaporative cooler use in 46 single family homes in Utah County. Homes will be recruited from among BYU employees based on the age of home as well as type of cooling system used (evaporative cooler (n = 23) vs. central air conditioning (n = 23)). Der p 1 and Der f 1 will be measured in homes by reservoir dust and area air sampling. Additionally, continuous RH measurements will be taken in the home over a 72-hour period in order to more fully characterize fluctuations in indoor humidity, and their relationship to HDM concentrations. Samples and RH measurements will be collected up to 3 times in each home over the course of 1 year. Samples will be analyzed in the laboratory using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect Der p 1 and Der f 1, and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HDM DNA on air sample filters.

Andrea Quiroz, Utah Valley University Health The stimulation and inhibition of tissue vascularization has important applications to tissue engineering and oncology. Approaches to quantitatively evaluate neovascularization in vivo in adult animals with differentiated tissue include both invasive methods that use an implanted or injury-induced matrix in the study organism, or noninvasive small animal imaging methods such as MRI, CT, and PET. The objective of this study was to determine if ultrasonic spectra in the 10-100 MHz range could be used as an in vivo neovascularization assay. Numerical simulations and phantoms were used as model systems to test the feasibility of the approach. The simulations modeled ultrasonic scattering from microscopic vascular networks using randomly oriented cylinders to represent blood vessels and cylindrical wave functions to represent ultrasonic waves. Phantoms were fabricated from a gelatin-soluble fiber mixture and agarose gel. The agarose gel was embedded in the gelatin-fiber in order to simulate vascular tissue. Ultrasonic tests were performed using two broadband ultrasonic transducers centered at 50 MHz. Pitch-catch data were collected and analyzed by calculating the peak density of the ultrasonic frequency spectrum, which is the number of peaks and valleys in the spectrum (a measure of the spectrum’s complexity). Control specimens were tested to determine the differences in the sound wave properties between the gelatin-fiber and the agarose gel. The controls demonstrated the instrument’s ability to differentiate between the two types of material. Measurements of agarose inclusions in the gelatin-fiber showed a significantly higher peak density than those for the control gelatin-fiber. These results indicate that the agarose gel structures are scattering sound to a greater extent than the gelatin-fiber alone. The results thus far have provided a strategy for proceeding with the project in the future. The phantoms will be refined and made more realistic to produce an adequate mimic for vascular tissue.

Josh Lee, Dixie State University Health According to the World Health Organization (2012), health care systems in Central America rank in the top 50% of the 190 ranked countries in the world, yet thousands of people are in need of simple medical attention and supplies every day in these areas. Countries such as Honduras lack virtually all access to health services, with 83% of the country’s population without health insurance, and 30% with no health care access at all (Pearson et al., 2012). To address this issue, a 2013 Dixie State University study conducted by the author, an Integrated Studies major with disciplinary emphases in Spanish and Biology, interviewed fifty adult Central American immigrants at a Southern Utah health care facility with the aim to providing student groups embarking on health service projects a researched list of vitally needed medical supplies. Participants in the study were asked to provide information regarding their health care experiences in their countries of origin and draw upon their comparative experiences with health care in the United States in order to determine areas of need. The forty individuals in this study represented a total of seven Central American countries and the interviews were conducted in Spanish and translated into English. The interviews were conducted over an 8-week period of time and results suggested that diabetes, cold, flu, antibiotics, and anti diarrhea medicines and supplies are a few of the needed health care items in these neighboring countries. Although statistical significance was not a feature of this study due to the number of participants, significant consistencies in responses by former residents of a variety of Central American countries suggested that some medical needs are regionally shared and that larger scale follow-up studies may reliably identify these as key resources for student medical delegations traveling to Central America.

Ashley Ostler, Southern Utah University Health Research indicates that collegiate athletes may be at risk of developing disordered eating and other distorted behavioral patterns. This may be due, in part, to the aesthetic and performance demands of their sports. The purpose of this study is to discover if female athletes acquire increased negative views towards their body image and food due to the pressures of being a collegiate athlete at Southern Utah University (SUU). An anonymous survey was given to approximately 150 female athletes participating in a variety of sports inquiring about body perception and eating behaviors relative to their sport. The survey evaluates the athlete’s attitude toward food, their relationship with food, if there are outside influences that affect how they eat, and if they are satisfied with their weight. Athletic teams were chosen based on meeting two of the three following requirements: tryouts are held, scholarships are offered, and there are regular competitions or performances. Athletic teams involved in the survey include tennis, volleyball, track & field, cross country, softball, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, drill team, ballroom dance and cheer. The data will provide information regarding Southern Utah University female athlete’s body perceptions and eating behaviors. Results will be compared to a similar study conducted five years ago at SUU.

Siena Davis, Brigham Young University Health In the U.S., exposure to radon gas (222Rn) is the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke. 222Rn is a naturally occurring environmental carcinogen produced during the radioactive decay of uranium-238, which is found in many soils throughout the U.S. Because 222Rn is a gas, it has the ability to travel through the soil and into homes through cracks in foundation walls. Inhaled 222Rn has the potential to emit alpha radiation in the lungs, and long-term exposure is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the U.S. 222Rn is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, so the only way to know it is in a home is to test for it. Studies show that even in areas with high radon levels, homeowners frequently do not test or mitigate their homes as recommended. This study aims to understand the psychosocial factors that influence whether Utah residents perform radon testing and mitigation. Radon-related lung cancer deaths would be significantly reduced if the psychosocial factors that influence radon testing and mitigation were better understood and used to design and implement effective interventions. To understand the psychosocial factors that influence radon testing, we will survey residents (n = 50) of the county who come to UCHD specifically to purchase a radon test kit. The survey will be based on social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs. We will administer the same survey to a comparison group (n = 50). The comparison group for the study will be individuals who visit UCHD’s office of vital records. Individuals from the study group with indoor radon levels above 4 pCi/L will be contacted by telephone 30 – 60 days after testing to complete a second survey. This survey will measure SCT factors that influence participants’ actions to reduce radon levels in their home.

Brittni Carr, Brigham Young University Health Purpose/Aims: To examine religiosity and family hardiness in parents raising children with disabilities (CWD) to determine if there are differences according to parent gender and type of disability and if there is a relationship between the variables.

Andrew Mackay Breivik, Utah Valley University Health The central research question of this project is to determine the reproducibility of high frequency (HF) ultrasonic signals in breast cancer detection. Previous studies on surgical specimens of breast tissue have shown that HF ultrasound (20-80 MHz) appears sensitive to a range of breast pathologies including fibroadenomas, atypical ductal hyperplasia, fibrocystic changes, and carcinomas. A measurement in the ultrasonic signal called the peak density appears most sensitive to the pathology of the breast. The reproducibility of this parameter has not been quantitatively measured in a comprehensive manner. In parallel to a clinical study being conducted at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, we are conducting a laboratory study of the reproducibility of these measurements using chicken and bovine tissue. The ability to reliably determine the pathology of breast tissue with a real-time intra-operative tool would greatly aid in the surgical removal of all malignant tissue, as well as greatly reduce the occurrences of repeat surgeries to remove margins of cancerous tissue that remained. The results of this study will reveal the degree of variability in the signals, thus supplementing previous studies as well as determining the reliability of the results from the current clinical study. The research methodology included the following. Fresh chicken breast and bovine tissue were cut into 4x3x0.5 cm and 4x3x1.5 cm cubes. The tissue was tested at room temperature (23.4oC) using HF ultrasound. Pitch-catch and pulse-echo waveforms were obtained in triplicate measurements of two types: Three measurements with the transducer not leaving the tissue, and three measurements with the transducer lifted off the tissue between measurements. A total of 640 measurements were acquired and analyzed to obtain the spectral peak densities. Preliminary results indicate that the measurements are reproducible to a statistically significant level, thus removing one possible source of uncertainty in the data.

Stephen Clarkson, Brigham Young University Health While there is an abundance of mobile health apps for weight management on the market today, almost all focus entirely on net caloric intake (exercise minus calories consumed). Recording daily caloric intake can be cumbersome, inefficient and inaccurate. One rising suggestion in the health field for reaching weight goals is objectively recording hand-to-mouth movements (HTMMs) during meals throughout the day. This method focuses entirely on portion control and if any improvements are to be made in this area, an effective method of activity recognition must be developed. In this paper, we report our efforts to classify HTMMs and non-HTMMs in an effort to automate counting the number of HTMMs during meals throughout the day. We also report on the performance of several base-level classifiers such as k-NN, Naive Bayes and Decision Trees as well as meta-level classifiers (Voting, Bagging and Boosting).

Teresa Wilson, Utah Valley University Health A critical issue in breast conservation surgery (lumpectomy) for breast cancer treatment is ensuring the tissue surrounding the excised tumor, the margins, are cancer-free. In collaboration with the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, students from Utah Valley University are using high-frequency (HF) ultrasound to test the pathology of lumpectomy surgical margins. This pre-clinical study is a blind study which will involve 80 patients, approximately 320 specimens, and use traditional pathology as the “gold standard” for measuring the HF ultrasound method’s accuracy. Ultrasonic waveforms of margins were acquired at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in pitch-catch and pulse-echo modes using 50-MHz, 6.35-mm diameter transducers. The data were analyzed to obtain ultrasonic parameters such as wavespeed, attenuation, specimen thickness and spectral peak density (the number of peaks and valleys in a HF ultrasonic spectral band). The objective of this paper is to search for trends in the data acquired to date to provide an assessment of reliability, stability, and robustness of the study.

Tim Smith, Brigham Young University Health Previous research studies have confirmed that life-threatening illness adversely impacts psychosocial well-being, from feelings of isolation and embarrassment to the onset of psychotic episodes and suicidality. To help patients cope with chronic and/or terminal symptoms, many healthcare providers advocate the benefits of social support groups as a palliative measure, such as weekly meetings of cancer patients. The rapid proliferation of such programs, as well as associated “survivor groups,” has attracted research attention, and the number of research studies on the topic is now substantial. The field would currently benefit from a quantitative synthesis of the extant findings. To systematically quantify the effect of such intervention groups on mortality (i.e., death rates), we undertook a meta-analysis of the research literature, comparing patient survival rates as a function of social interventions. Across 27 studies examined thus far, we encountered a surprising variability of intervention success in prolonging life. Although most intervention provided demonstrated evidence of increased survival rates among participants, several studies did not. Our presentation will discuss the implications of our findings for healthcare providers and pose questions that will need to be addressed in future research.

Charity Anne Rowley, Brigham Young University Health Background: Since 2009 groups of professors and students from the College of Nursing have been traveling to Guayaquil, Ecuador and assessing anemia rates and nutrition among the school children there. The adverse effects of anemia can include: weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and poor concentration. Initial anemia rates were discovered ranging 30-50%.

Charity Anne Rowley, Brigham Young University Health In 2010, The Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that adverse events during hospitalization contribute to the deaths of 180,000 patients each year! The purpose of this study is to improve patient safety in the hospital by understanding the role of the charge nurse(the 24/7 nursing supervisor in hospital units).

Jennifer Orton, Brigham Young University Health In contrast to the success of America’s vaccination rates among children, adult vaccination rates remain suboptimal. Some adults, such as school employees, are in a position where they can easily contract and spread vaccine-preventable communicable diseases, yet mandatory vaccinations are usually lacking in this population. Schools may easily become communicable disease outbreak centers, especially for highly contagious diseases such as measles and influenza. The purpose of this study was to evaluate why rural Utah school employees remain vaccinated for measles and influenza, as well as to discover the perceptions of these school employees regarding mandatory vaccination policies. Of the 835 respondents, 71.7% reported they received the measles vaccination as a child, although only 26.9% reported having a measles booster vaccine as an adult. When asked why they had not received the measles booster, 46% of participants stated they were unsure if they needed one. Other participants also reported lack of an adult measles booster vaccine because it was not required by the school district (5%) and that they did not perceive the need because they were healthy (5%). Even more concerning, over half of the school employees (51%) had not received their influenza vaccine for the current year. When questioned about their lack of influenza vaccination, 26.4% believed the vaccine was ineffective and 25.4% were noncompliant because they did not have the time to get the vaccination. When questioned about their perceptions regarding mandatory vaccine policies for school employees, four major themes emerged: 1) adults should retain agency; 2) vaccine effectiveness was not guaranteed; 3) adults do not need vaccinations; and 4) cost of vaccines. Further education is needed regarding the need for adult vaccinations, especially among school employees in rural Utah. To control the spread of communicable diseases, school districts may consider mandatory vaccination of school employees.

Kristen Hamblin, Brigham Young University Health Empathy is an essential characteristic in nursing. In fact, the skill of empathy, the ability to understand the feelings or situation of another, is of paramount importance to the nurse-patient relationship. Additionally, empathetic interactions often lead to increased patient satisfaction, compliance, and overall quality of life.

Percy Segura, Utah Valley University Health High frequency (HF) ultrasound has been investigated for the detection of breast cancer in surgical samples, and has shown correlations to histology including precursors to cancer development. It is hypothesized that the sensitivity of HF ultrasound to breast cancer is due to changes in the microscopic structure of the tissue. With this approach, better diagnosis of breast cancer can be achieved for purposes such as the assessment of surgical margins in lumpectomy procedures. The microscopic structure of the tissue affects HF waves as they pass through the tissue. These structures can therefore be recorded and distinguished by the HF ultrasound. HF ultrasound will show differentiation between healthy tissue, benign pathologies such as hyperplasia, and advanced cancerous formation. With continuing development, variables are being studied which may skew or produce artifacts in the HF ultrasound results.

Tyler Navarro, Utah Valley University Health PURPOSE: An Exercise Science class homework assignment revealed that a significant majority of the Exercise Science majors were Kinesthetic vs. Visual or Auditory learners. The researchers were curious what learning styles other fields of study had and if, like Exercise Science, other fields of study were dominated by one learning style or another. The purpose of this study was to identify the percentage of different learning styles of majors in various fields of study at UVU. Our hypothesis is that each field of study, by its very nature, would be lead by > 50% of the percentage points by one learning style over the others.

Tyler Harris, Brigham Young University Health Background

Tyler Harris, Brigham Young University Health Background

Alyssa Lark, Brigham Young University Health The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a community-based sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program on sexual assault criminal case outcomes in Salt Lake County, Utah.