Basic HTML Version
UNDERGRADUATES
First Place: Shelby Jones
(Kinesiology) “
Cognition, Motor
Skills and Adaptive Skills in
Children with Down Syndrome”
Mentor:
Dr. Phil Esposito
This study evaluated the adaptive skills of children with Down
syndrome between the ages of 36 and 64 months, as measured by
cognition and motor skills. Results indicated that Down syndrome
children significantly lag behind in fine motor skills, which are more
indicative of academic and written language adaptations than
gross motor skills. However, the fundamental-visual domain of
cognition correlated to adaptations in gross motor skills, expressive
language, written language and personal care. Therefore, health
professionals should focus on both areas to improve adaptive skills
in Down syndrome children.
Second Place: Hannah Mundy
(Kinesiology)
“Therapeutic Ultrasound vs.
Therapeutic Massage Following
Muscle Contusion”
Mentor:
Dr. Sarah Manspeaker
Barron and Baumgardner
This study was designed to determine whether ultrasound or
massage is more effective in treating muscle contusions and
preventing complications. Muscle contusions are seen often in the
athletic setting in contact sports. Mundy conducted an evidence-
based literature review through a database search of several
sports medicine-related venues. Ultrasound was indeed found
to be a beneficial treatment for muscle contusions, as ultrasound
promotes and accelerates the healing process, although some of
the findings contested the effectiveness of massage.
Third Place: Megan Turner
(Social Work)
“Dogs, More Than Man’s
Best Friend?”
Mentor:
Dr. Lynn Jackson
Turner conducted a study to examine if animal-assisted group
therapy services for female sexual abuse victims have better
responses based on the victim’s age. The study placed 36 girl
victims into two groups: one consisting of 18 adolescents and the
other of 18 prepubescents. Each girl took the Trauma Symptom
Checklist for Children (which measures depression, anxiety, stress
and attachment disorders) both before and after the 16-week
group therapy program. Both groups had a decrease in symptoms,
but findings showed that adolescent girls have a better response
rate than prepubescent girls.
Honorable Mention: Daniela
Saenz (Communication Sciences
and Disorders)
“Acoustic Indices
of Vocal Fold Aging in Young and
Middle-Age Adult Males”
Mentor:
Dr. Chris Watts
Saenz measured the acoustic features of vowels and connected
speech in males between the ages of 20 and 49 using new cepstral/
spectral measures. No significant differences were found for the
measurements by age group, nor in the interaction between age
group and the speaking conditions. Results may be due to the
use of cepstral/spectral measures, sample representation within
each age group, or sample size. Or, there may not be a difference
and study results may accurately reflect reality. Future research is
needed to further clarify.
GRADUATES
First Place: Brooke Williamson
(Social Work)
“Treating Posttraumatic Stress in
Child Victims: Are We Helping?”
Mentor:
Dr. Lynn Jackson
Sexually abused children who do not receive adequate treatment
are at greater risk for pathological diagnoses, dangerous externalizing
behaviors and perpetrating abuse as a result of unresolved trauma.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy in reducing the level of posttraumatic stress in
sexual abuse survivors by comparing the scores for posttraumatic
stress symptoms before and after treatment. A significant decrease
in symptoms was found, suggesting that social workers and
clinicians need to implement individualized interventions to
be successful.
Second Place: Lisa Adams
(Clinical Nurse Leader)
“Saving Time and Money in
the ‘Safe Zone’”
Mentor:
Dr. Penny Moore
The purpose of this project was to use designated “safe zones”
instead of isolation gowns to reduce expenditures and improve
response times to call lights for isolation patients. “Safe zones” at
the entryways of isolated patients’ rooms allow health care staff
to enter without personal protection equipment, as long as they
remaining in the designated area and avoid physical contact with
the patient. An employee survey was completed prior to and
after implementation to measure job satisfaction, and a Hospital
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey
scores recorded based on responsiveness of staff. Results indicate
that the “safe zone” impacts satisfaction scores, provides a cost
savings and reduces staff response time.
STUDENT RESEARCH
SYMPOSIUM
The Harris College Research Symposium provides students with the opportunity to develop presentation skills,
knowledge and research in a professional venue, which increases their preparedness for graduate school and
professional employment.
Continued on next page
RESEARCH
Harris College Magazine
- 2014 ·
25