Washburn University Institutional Repository

The Washburn University Institutional Repository (WU IR), managed by the University Libraries, is a digital repository offering a central location for the deposit, maintenance and long-term preservation of the research and other scholarly production of the Washburn University Community. WU IR also holds digitized items of value from the University Libraries Department of Special Collections and Archives that highlight the history, nature and culture of the University. One of our key missions is to ensure that these scholarly and creative endeavors are accessible to the widest possible audience. Candidates for deposit in WU IR include journal articles, conference papers, instructional resources, student projects, theses, dissertations, university archival materials, and more. For more information about submitting your work to WU IR, please contact us at wuir@washburn.edu.

Recent Submissions

  • Item
    Smoking Cessation Initiatives for Underserved Elderly Adults in Public Housing and Future Healthcare Providers
    (Washburn University, 2023-12-01) Camacho, Luis; Doleman, Marie; Rumans, Leah Lorena
    Background/Problem: This initiative addresses the pressing health challenges faced by elderly individuals residing in public housing (Ribeiro & Barros, 2020), emphasizing the detrimental impact of heightened smoking rates on their well-being. Building upon the foundation laid by previous Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) groups and capitalizing on established relationships with participating residents, this project departs from the use of telehealth services. Previously acknowledged as a viable solution for addressing healthcare inaccessibility, the initiative now shifts towards on-site interventions specifically designed to enhance accessibility for elderly residents. Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project used a two-pronged approach to provide on-site smoking cessation support to elderly individuals, and targeted education regarding smoking cessation to DNP students. Utilizing a comprehensive approach, healthcare access was addressed through collaboration with community-based resources, public housing authorities, local healthcare providers and future advanced practice nursing professionals to mitigate smoking-related health risks. Results: Survey results from Tyler Tower residents highlight physiological and safety needs as primary influences on motivation for change, emphasizing the urgency of tailored smoking cessation programs for this population. DNP student surveys reveal an overall enhancement of knowledge in smoking cessation tools, with varying confidence levels in delivering information to patients. Implications: The study underscores the need for tailored smoking cessation programs in public housing communities with a high prevalence of active smokers. It emphasizes addressing secondhand smoke exposure to promote healthier living conditions. Increasing education on smoking cessation tools is crucial for solidifying DNP students' confidence and impacting future patient outcomes. The findings advocate for a holistic approach to healthcare delivery in public housing, addressing socioeconomic conditions to influence motivation for change. Smoking
  • Item
    Teleconferencing Toolkit Implementation for Psychotherapy in New Mexico
    (Washburn University, 2023-11-14) Lester, Mariah; Manning , Mindy; Nyquist, Tara; Shields, Marina
    Access to care is a principal factor in the goal of improving mental health. By focusing on viable elements found in the literature as well as gathering data from MHA stakeholders, an effective and sustainable TC toolkit was constructed to not only meet the needs of the clients receiving mental health services in New Mexico, but to also adopt evidence-based practices that promote efficient delivery of psychotherapy services via TC.
  • Item
    Increasing Utitlization of Preventative Care Services for Children in Public Housing
    (Washburn University, 2023-11-17) Beck, Mariah; Handley, Jordan; Niernberger, Sydni; Paker, Nicole
    Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to work with Pine Ridge Prep preschool to improve access to primary care services for students and families residing in a public housing neighborhood in Topeka, Kansas. Methods: A quality improvement approach was utilized to assess if obtaining parent surveys and offering education regarding Pine Ridge Family Health Center (PRFHC) will help increase utilization of the clinic and increase completion rates for Pine Ridge Prep (PRP) students’ well child checks and vaccinations. Inclusion criteria encompassed all parents of students who are attending PRP between January 1, 2023, to December 1, 2023. Exclusion criteria included minors and individuals who do not have children attending PRP during the 2023 school year. Data analysis using descriptive statistics will assess the completion rates of surveys and if there was a change in perception of and likelihood to use the PRFHC from parents. Results: Our findings indicated low participation rates of survey completion and low utilization of PRFHC for healthcare services. Of the 117 surveys that were distributed, 17.1% were completed. 100% of parents who completed surveys reported that their child sees a pediatrician. 70% of survey responses reported never using PRFHC. 35% of survey responders reported they were “likely” or “very likely” to utilize the clinic for their family’s healthcare needs. Chart audits indicated that there was no increase in utilization of healthcare services for patients aged 3-5 years old after survey and toolkit distribution. Implications: From a quality perspective, this study emphasizes the impact of motivation as a barrier to obtaining survey data. Future studies would benefit from utilizing various qualitative data collection methods, such as focus-group discussions, interviews, and observation.
  • Item
    Self-compassion as an Emotional Regulation Strategy in Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder
    (Washburn University, 2023-10-23) DeHerrera, Jordan M.
    Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended as the first-line treatment for the disorder; however, further investigation into the key mechanisms maintaining core aspects of GAD is needed to increase the efficacy of treatment for this disorder. The current study examines the effectiveness of self-compassion as an emotional regulation strategy in individuals with GAD symptoms. College students who met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) according to a questionnaire (n = 44) and college students who denied problematic worry (n = 24) were compared on measures of self-compassion and emotion dysregulation following an anxious mood induction in the lab. The GAD group was found to report less self-compassion and more emotion dysregulation than the control group, consistent with the hypotheses. All participants were then randomized to a self-compassion (n = 34) or control condition (n = 34). Participants in the control group had stable state self-compassion from pre-intervention to post-intervention while participants in the self-compassion group experienced a significant increase in state self-compassion. Participants in the control group did not change in state emotion dysregulation from pre-intervention to post-intervention. In contrast, participants in the self-compassion group endorsed significantly less state emotion dysregulation from pre-intervention to postintervention.
  • Item
    Sexual and gender minority groups: Application of a novel resilience-based integrated treatment approach
    (Washburn University, 2023-09-27) Shontz, Lydia R.
    Meyer’s (2003) extension of the Minority Stress Model highlights the impact of social experiences, primarily stigma, on identity formation and self-esteem in sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups. With the appropriate tools and coping strategies that target the development of resilience, SGM clients can respond to future stress in adaptive ways that encourage self-affirmation and acceptance rather than suppression or concealment. To facilitate growth, this case study developed a novel integrated treatment combining two affirmative care approaches. The objective was to decrease perceptions of stress and interpretations of social rejection, while working to increase resilience skills dedicated to differing realms of experience (e.g., intrapersonal, cognitive, interpersonal, and behavioral) while identifying opportunities for social support. Primary treatment goals include increasing gender identification stability via cognitive restructuring, while increasing resilience-based coping within a demi-bisexual young adult client within the first year of questioning their gender identity. With progress measures supporting positive therapy outcomes, preliminary evidence supports the continued development and empirical investigation of this resilience-based integrated treatment.