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  EVOLUTION OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF CHANGING DYNAMICS OF CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES AND VOTER DATA

  Sanchez, Lisa; Huerta McWhirter, Ryan (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  In today's rapidly changing political climate, political campaigns must stay ahead of the curve and adapt to engage a diverse and technologically savvy electorate effectively. This paper explores the significant shifts and the evolution of political contact, focusing on the impact of changes in outreach strategies and technological advancements. By exploring how campaigns have adapted their contact and communication strategies, this paper aims to provide a blueprint for modern campaign engagement. Additionally, the paper delves into the evolution of voter data analysis, political polling techniques, and the potential for future adaptation in campaign strategies. By examining these key factors, this paper provides insights into how campaigns can tailor their messages and outreach efforts to specific groups of voters, ultimately enhancing their ability to connect with and mobilize supporters.
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  UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE NUCLEOSOME REMODELING AND DEACETYLASE COMPLEX IN GLUCOCORTICOID GENE EXPRESSION

  Smith, Catharine; Johnson, Isabella Devaux (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Creating therapies that minimize off target effects is essential for disease treatment but a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms are crucial. Lysine deacetylase inhibitors are approved for clinical use in treatment of several diseases but the full effects are not understood. Specific lysine deacetylase inhibitors have been found to have a significant effect on metabolism leading to the discovery of the interplay between glucocorticoid receptor activated genes and lysine deacetylase enzymes. These enzymes are present in multi-protein complexes of which the functions are poorly understood. Furthermore functions of the individual subunits of each of these complexes need to be explored. The Smith lab aims to determine the mechanisms through which lysine deacetylases activate glucocorticoid gene transcription. This project is specifically seeking to identify the role of the lysine deacetylase 1/2 containing nucleosome remodeling complex.
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  EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE

  Mayer, Brian; Sorrentino, Bianca (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  The development of the clean energy industry is commensurate with employment opportunities for the national workforce, and as the industry progresses it is vital that equity is ensured. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the current position of the clean energy workforce, and subsequently provide suggestions for increasing equity and expanding the industry in a way representative of the communities it serves. After consulting peer-reviewed articles and journals on the clean energy workforce, a series of partially- structured online interviews were conducted to focus on authentic interactions that individuals have observed in their experience with the clean energy industry and/or the local workforce. Along with prior research, conversations with several stakeholders were analyzed and multiple areas of the workforce that require specific focus were identified. The clean energy workforce operates on an individual basis, essentially in absence of communication between the government and local organizations working to implement clean energy. One key piece in increasing equity for the clean energy workforce involves outreach to underserved and marginalized communities. Increasing equity in the clean energy industry, the root of this research, demands the promotion of diversity as a core attribute of all organizations involved. The clean energy industry, at its origin with the Justice40 Initiative, aims to provide equitable opportunities and benefits. During the development of the clean energy workforce, orienting employers and stakeholders around the importance of recruiting diverse individuals in every position and ensuring that marginalized individuals are included is fundamental. The intense need for assistance in subsidizing the clean energy workforce requires increased awareness surrounding the benefits of implementation. The possibility of transitioning society into a more sustainable one is met directly with a hopeful workforce in search of a living wage.
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  VIOLENCE AS THE SACRED: GANG STRUCTURES AND VIOLENCE AS A FORM OF SOCIAL (DIS)ORGANIZATION AND MEANING-MAKING

  Nava, Alejandro; Maltbie, Mason Allen Alexander (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  The present research considers the influence of structural conditions of poverty, inequality, and historical discrimination on the formation of gang units and the use of violence as a normative means of survival, social organization and meaning-making within gang units. The theoretical contributions and research of Wilson et al and Hawkins et al serve as the foundation for a model describing a cyclical process of gang influence, in which the structural conditions of resource scarce and spatially compressed neighborhoods incentivize dynamics of conflictive ethnocentrism and violence, which are given meaning through social dynamics defined by in-group and out-group relations to violence as a form of social capital, which exacerbates inter-group conflict as affinity groups vie to assert their exclusive claim to violence and worsen structural conditions as a result. This study argues that the described process possesses religious characteristics, particularly in the consecration of violence among gangs as a value which sets the in-group and individuals associated with the in-group apart from others. The religious theories and approaches of Rene Girard, Emile Durkheim, Jonathan Haidt, and Mircea Eliade clarify the religious character of violence in gang structures and provide an understanding of the role of violence as an example of the totemic principle. The outcome of research determines that violence as the totemic principle creates a social order of gang affiliated “elect” and non-affiliated “laity”, which eventually breaks down as different groups compete and split in the process of expansion and assertion of unique claims to violence.
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  ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE ACCESS IN ARIZONA

  Moore-Monroy, Martha; Jensen, Saige Samantha (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Transportation barriers are major in rural Arizona to adequate healthcare access, affecting very substantial proportions of underserved populations like low SES, historically marginalized, and geographically isolated. This essay explores how transportation and environmental factors relate to healthcare access across the state of Arizona, highlighting rural communities' unique challenges in general and those specifically relating to the Sonoran Desert area. The characteristic topography and harsh conditions of the Sonoran Desert alone foster special problems in terms of the development of transportation facilities, fostering isolated healthcare access. It is proposed in this paper that an amelioration of the harmful effects of these transportation constraints be undertaken by working on the causes and careful investigation of multiple interactions among various factors affecting healthcare access in rural Arizona communities. The paper's discussions focused on differences related to urban-rural disparities in transportation policies and funding, lack of transportation infrastructure, and a digital divide affecting the implementation of telehealth. The successful rural transportation methods offer lessons for conquering these barriers. Expanding internet connectivity, enhancing digital literacy, and shifting deeply held attitudes are important in fully meeting what is a very great potential for telehealth. These are multifaceted solutions through fair healthcare reforms, increasing broadband access, and providing better healthcare for all to improve well-being while enhancing the quality of life for thousands of rural citizens living in the state of Arizona: accessibility of quality healthcare. In Arizona, how transportation, environmental factors, and access to healthcare are interrelated has been an issue of growing concern over the recent past for several segments of society, such as rural communities, generally underserved populations, those with lower SES, and groups with historical marginalization and Native American tribal nations (Arizona Health Improvement Plan, 2021; Arpey et al., 2017). Such communities vary in aspects of geographical isolation, lack of resources, and shortage or reduced access to important services, such as health facilities. Thus, these communities generally have poorer health status compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Unique challenges of the physical terrain and environment, which also include the Sonoran Desert, pose distinct issues for transportation infrastructure that contribute to gaps in access to healthcare (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2019). This paper contends that addressing transportation challenges in the rural parts of Arizona is one way to minimize the extent of their negative environmental impacts on barriers to healthcare access among those most marginally located, who carry the greatest load of these challenges. We will do so by investigating how these different factors interact in complex ways to tease out feasible solutions toward better healthcare access and promoting health outcomes for all communities in Arizona.
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  ATTACK OF THE KILLER POLLEN: CAN CHRONIC INFLAMMATION FROM ALLERGIES LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEPRESSION?

  Cohen, Zoe; Bogan, Gabrielle Hanul (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Allergies are very common world-wide, affecting between 10-30% of the population. (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology [AAAAI], 2024b). In the United States, more than 1 in every 4 individuals has some form of allergy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023a). A Type I hypersensitivity reaction is the mechanism underlying many allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis and asthma (Cohen, 2023). During this reaction, the body releases inflammatory mediators, such as histamine, and other signaling molecules called cytokines. This is an incorrect immune response by the body to harmless allergens (substances that cause allergies). Chronic exposure to allergens may also lead to a persistent release of these substances, causing chronic inflammation (Galli et al., 2008). Interestingly, histamine and cytokines have also been implicated in the development of depression (Hersey et al., 2022; Osimo et al., 2020). Histamine release increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), potentially allowing for substances like histamine itself to cross into the brain (Abbott, 2000). In the brain, histamine can lower available levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are both associated with depression (Cowen & Browning, 2015; Dunlop & Nemeroff, 2007; Threlfell et al., 2004; Varaschin et al., 2018). Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines can also cross the BBB and have been associated with dysregulation of systems in the brain, ultimately resulting in symptoms of depression (Yang et al., 2022). Current rates of depression and other mental illnesses are very high, while access to mental health services in the U.S. remains low (Rapfogel, 2022; Word Health Organization, 2023a). Treating allergies may be one beneficial target in the prevention of depressive symptoms or as an intervention for the treatment of depression.
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  TESTING EFFECT ACROSS TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT

  Edgin, Jamie; Barness, Brenden (The University of Arizona., 2020)

  The study of episodic memory has been an emerging body of research since the 1970's. Various learning strategies for episodic recall have been developed and tested, such as repetition and testing-based learning. Previous research has been completed observing testing-based learning over periods of delay in children and adolescents. Until now, no studies have observed recall performance using a 6 month delay in typically developing children. Participants in our study completed the deferred imitation (DI) paradigm, a method of measuring the retention of memory patterns over periods of delay. In this paradigm, (N = 72) 3 to 17-year-old participants were presented with sequences that fell into one of three modeling conditions: model model model (MMM), model model delay (MMD), and model model test (MMT). The purpose of this study was to observe if learning through different modeling conditions affected retrieval and recall performance across development. Actions and pairs completed were used as measurement of retrieval abilities. The preliminary results of this study indicate that the testing condition allows for greater recall performance during delays of 1 month and 6 months, while the model condition resulted in less recall at delays of 1 month and 6 months. While the results were consistent across children, they did not differ with age. This study further supports the testing effect and the benefits of testing-based learning across development.
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  MAN'S BEST FRIEND, COLLEGE STUDENT'S SECRET WEAPON

  Rankin, Lucinda; Kremer, Samantha (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Students in college are stressed for many reasons, such as struggles in finances, time management, academic pressure, and preparing for life after college. In order to succeed, there are multiple methods that students use to reduce this stress and minimize the potential effects of their stress on their learning and academic work. Physiologically, stress causes increased cortisol which has the possibility to inhibit learning and success in academics. A survey of STEM and Non-STEM undergraduate University of Arizona students shows that there are multiple preferred ways to reduce stress including practicing mindfulness, working out, or connecting with friends and family. A majority of student respondents also indicated that interaction with dogs would be a plausible method to mitigate stress. Recommendations from the trends in data suggest that access and frequency of therapy dog interactions for students can improve their lives, reducing stress and possibly cortisol levels, leading to improved learning and academic success.
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  CINEMATIC CENSORSHIP: AN ANALYSIS OF POWER DYNAMICS OF FILM REGULATION AND ITS EFFECT ON ON-SCREEN SEXUALITY WITHIN HOLLYWOOD

  Willerton, John; Shaughnessy, Charlie Patrick (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  The history of film regulation has undergone many changes, with the original form of regulation being that of the Hays Code, which directly prohibited specific topics, and our modern-day ratings system, which provides alphabet ratings to guide individuals on content warnings. Sexual content has often been at the forefront of these two forms of regulation, with suppression and censorship occurring in each regulatory form. The thesis explores the power dynamics at play with these two forms of regulation, examining these different forms of regulation through the lens of the three faces of power, introduced by theorists such as Dahl and Lukes, along with Foucault's understanding of power. This analysis highlights the ways in which power has, directly and indirectly, manifested in the suppression of sexuality through film regulation and explores why understanding these power dynamics is essential to establishing ways in which sexuality and representation are no longer suppressed in the modern age.
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  AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF TELEMEDICINE USE FOR APHASIA TREATMENT IN STROKE SURVIVORS

  Pantano, Juan; Whyte, Serina (The University of Arizona., 2023)

  One of the significant societal changes we have seen after the COVID-19 pandemic is a shift toward telemedicine in the American healthcare system. This transition has various benefits for patients, especially for those residing in rural communities. The following paper explores the economic benefits of telemedicine use in aphasia treatment for stroke survivors. In this paper, I compare aphasia treatment via telemedicine to the standard in-person treatment. This review analyzes how treatment via telehealth may be more economically beneficial in three main areas: patient savings, speech-language pathologist savings, and overall efficiency. Through utilizing the findings of various published studies, this paper provides commentary on the marginal costs and benefits of telemedicine. Some of these studies quantify their findings through metrics like the Western Aphasia Battery Test (WAB-Q). In this paper, it is found that telemedicine care for aphasia patients is highly effective, more effective than in-person visits. This paper explores the various economic benefits of telehealth in aphasia treatment as well as its applications. It is important to note that further studies must be done to confirm the analysis and recommendations of this thesis.
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  INCIDENCE, RISK FACTORS, AND RELIEF INTERVENTIONS OF DISTANT NEUROPATHIC PAIN FOLLOWING FOOT AND ANKLE SURGERY: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

  Latt, Daniel; Michael, Bryce Robert (The University of Arizona., 2023)

  Background: Neuropathic pain is a phenomenon that is oftentimes experienced post-operatively. Unlike nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain is not derived from direct physical damage to the tissue but rather is consistent with a malfunctioning nervous system or nerve damage. It is often characterized as a chronic shooting or burning pain with the possibility of never going away. Moreover, the causes of this seemingly random nervous system malfunction have not yet clearly been identified, and the potential risk factors for the possibility of experiencing this pain are largely unexplored. Methods: A systematic review was conducted through PubMed. The initial search yielded 628 articles, from which 601 were excluded and 27 were included after the initial screening of the titles and abstracts. Eight articles were then eliminated, yielding 19 articles. The 19 articles that were chosen involved patients who experienced symptoms consistent with chronic neuropathic pain that underwent surgical intervention of the foot or ankle. Results: The incidence rates of patients experiencing neuropathic pain symptoms post-operatively varied from study to study, including 3%, 12.4%, 13.3%, 23%, and 24%. Risk factors included smoking, age (40-60 years old), psychological distress/negative mood, obesity, tourniquet pressure, prior surgery, and acute postoperative pain. One study found a higher correlation between ankle surgeries and neuropathic pain versus forefoot surgeries and neuropathic pain. There appeared to be no correlation between neuropathic pain and tourniquet placement, time the tourniquet was on prophylactic antibiotics, type of anesthesia, level of anesthesiology training, diabetes, hypertension, or dislocation. Types of treatment that provided promising results included ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation, sural nerve neurectomy, popliteal nerve blocks, peroneal nerve blocks, neurolysis, peripheral nerve stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, and VR (virtual reality). Conclusion: There is no definite answer as to whether a patient will or will not develop neuropathic symptoms. Patients should always be made aware of the possibility as well as their chances of developing neuralgia subsequent to foot or ankle surgery by their surgeon.
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  THE POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MITIGATING FATIGUE WITHIN A RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAM: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

  Keen, Douglas; Zyadeh, Joe Henry (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Resistance training research places a great deal of emphasis on the factors in a program that affect the stimulus imposed on an individual's muscles. Although this has done a lot in improving knowledge surrounding optimizing training programs for many, fatigue physiology can often be neglected from the discussion. This review aims to discuss several mechanisms of fatigue, both at the musculoskeletal and nervous system levels, in an attempt to theorize the best course of action an athlete can take to optimize his program depending on the level of advancement. Upon analyzing the effects of cytoplasmic calcium ion accumulation, metabolite increases, and tolerable perception of effort, this paper concludes that as individuals reach greater degrees of advancement, their set-volume tolerance for growth likely decreases, and factors such as increasing rest times and reducing rep ranges may prove beneficial in mitigating fatigue. Furthermore, fatigue may not present as a drop in performance, but rather an inability to reach maximal performance on a set-per-set basis, with experimentation being the best approach to determine the optimal threshold for the athlete.
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  EVOLUTION OF & THE IMPACTS OF SOCIOLOGY ON THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE

  Pimentel, Angel; Yamamoto, Briana (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Throughout the years, the patient experience has constantly evolved with a more recent emphasis on patient-centered care. Now, as patients have become more proactive in their health, healthcare providers are expected to be more transparent, providing care that is respectful to individuals preferences, needs, and values. Consequently, patient satisfaction surveys like HCAHPS have grown to great value for measuring success and satisfaction with care and for encouraging the implementation of patient-centered care; such implementations creates higher quality care, greater healthcare outcomes, and improved patient experience and satisfaction, ultimately strengthening the healthcare system. However, despite these advancements, racial and ethnic disparities in health continue to exist; based on one's social identity, "fundamental" factors like socioeconomic status, racial inequalities, and discrimination can dramatically impact the level of care received. Critical race theory offers a framework to address this structural racism in healthcare, while strategies like contextualizing risk factors, diversifying the healthcare workforce, and cultural competence training aim to mitigate disparities by fostering trust and awareness and by providing the tools necessary to respond to such sociocultural issues.
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  OPPRESSION AND STRESS: EXPLORING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MINORITY STRESS THEORY AND THE ACTIVATION OF THE HPA AXIS

  Bhattacharya, Martha; Wight, Jordan (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Minority stress theory is a psychological theory that posits that minority individuals experience increased levels of chronic stress simply due to their status as minorities. This level of stress increases the more minority identities an individual has. The HPA axis is the key stress axis in the human body; importantly, it is adaptive, meaning that it can cause changes to itself if it is being over- or under-activated. It follows, then, that minority stress should activate the HPA axis and cause alterations. Though some studies have looked at the connection between the two, the majority of the study of this aspect of the field has been through literature reviews of health outcomes of minority populations, which is only one aspect of HPA axis reactivity. The aim of this review is to a) provide background information around the HPA axis and minority stress theory; b) explore the connection between the two by summarizing prior literature reviews and studies done; and c) provide future directions to make this research effective and usable for the communities it most impacts.
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  VIBROSHEARTM: A SYSTEM FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT DRUG DISCOVERY OF AGENTS LIMITING SHEAR-MEDIATED CELL (PLATELET) ACTIVATION

  Head, Larry; Wheeler, Ashley (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  The goal of the VibroshearTM project is to design and build a system for high throughput drug screening of agents that limit shear mediated platelet activation. For context, thrombosis and clotting complications are a major risk associated with implantation of cardiovascular therapeutic devices (CTDs). The force behind this phenomenon are platelets which are responsible for blood coagulation and activate in response to shear force imparted upon blood flowing through the physical path of these artificial cardiovascular devices. To limit blood clot formation, patients are often prescribed drugs that biochemically target pathways associated with platelet activation. Thus far in the Slepian lab, studies have found that no particular drugs in clinical use are able to block shear-mediated platelet activation since they were not developed to target mechanical mechanisms such as shear. That said, this system provides activation of platelets (within Gel-Filtered-Platelets) to allow for screening of new drugs that will be tested within a lab space to inhibit this activation. To achieve this, the system consists of a magnetically driven stir-plate fit to a 96-well plate with a specialized lid, enabling efficient agitation of the samples. To complement the experimental setup, a custom app streamlines data acquisition and analysis.
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  HOW SWIMMING AFFECTS CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION AMONGST INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME VS TYPICALLY DEVELOPING INDIVIDUALS

  Grilli, Matt; Weaver, Noah T. (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Cardiovascular differences in Down syndrome (DS), the most common chromosomal disorder, mark a key difference between this population and typically developing (TD) individuals. This study, conducted by the Memory Development & Disorders Lab at the University of Arizona, investigated how swimming affects cardiovascular function amongst participants with DS compared to their TD peers. Previous studies have used treadmill tests, in which children and young adults with and without DS would have their heart rates recorded continuously while on a treadmill for a set number of minutes (Bahiraei et al., 2023). However, very few studies have been conducted using more accessible forms of exercise, such as swimming. Through a generous donation from a family in Tucson, support from the Lejeune Foundation, and a partnership with the UA Campus Recreation Center, participants with DS and TD participants engaged in 8 free 30-minute swimming lessons over 2 weeks. Prior to these 2-week swim lessons, individuals attended a session in the lab and collected baseline heart rate data over a 60-minute sedentary time period. This study also evaluated memory and executive functioning prior to and during swimming, but this thesis will focus on the cardiovascular results. 23 participants with DS, ages 5-26, and 25 TD mentally-age-matched peers, ages 5-12, participated in the study. The mode of collection for heart rate was continuous using MotionWatch goggle clips. At the beginning, middle, and end of the lesson, Finger-tip Pulse Oximeter measures were collected for all participants as well. Results indicated that maximum, average, and percentage maximum heart rate significantly increased as a result of swimming in both groups, suggesting that swimming is an effective form of cardiovascular exercise in this sample. Secondly, TD participants had significantly higher maximum, average, and percentage maximum heart rates than DS participants while swimming but not at baseline, suggesting differences in heart rate between the two groups in response to swimming.
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  THE ETHICS BEHIND UTILIZATION OF GERMLINE GENE EDITING IN MEDICINE

  Cowen, Stephen; Vigil, Erin Christine (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  Genetic editing has arguably been one of the most significant breakthroughs in the scientific world in recent years. Its utilizations are practically infinite, ranging from preventing genetic disorders, engineering drought-resistant crops, and finding cures for diseases like cancer. The discovery of CRISPR, or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, was a breakthrough in itself. CRISPR-Cas9, a variant of CRISPR, has been used successfully for several gene therapy clinical trials. These trials used somatic genetic editing, which are mutations of the genome that cannot be passed on to future generations. The success of these clinical trials opened the door to the possibility of creating more targeted, permanent genetic changes. However, introducing mutations into the genome that can be passed down to future generations, known as germline genetic editing, has brought forth an ethical debate. The majority of the scientific community believes the ethical implications of germline gene editing must be resolved before it can be legalized for widespread use. Regarding the ethics of utilizing germline gene editing in the medical field, more research, including successful clinical trials, must be performed before the practice becomes legal for widespread patient use.
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  AVOIDING DISCLOSURE? A STUDY OF ATTACHMENT ORIENTATIONS AND DAILY SOCIAL BEHAVIORS FOLLOWING MARITAL SEPARATION

  Sbarra, David; Vaughan-Signorini, Jamie L. (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  In this honors thesis study, I examined the relationship between attachment avoidance, emotional disclosure, and separation-related psychological distress among recently divorced persons. Emotional disclosure is an important mechanism of support for securely attached individuals when coping with divorce, however its role as a coping mechanism for avoidantly attached adults is not well understood. Using the Electronic Activated Recorder (EAR), the study was able to naturalistically observe daily interactions to capture emotional disclosure in conversations. I hypothesized that participants who evidenced greater use of self-disclosure will show improved levels of separation-related psychological distress (SRPD). I also hypothesized people who report high avoidance and show greater within-person levels of emotional disclosure will also report higher SRPD. The hypotheses of this study were analyzed using multilevel growth modeling. Although the present study did not find significant support for the hypotheses, an exploratory study revealed that there is correlation between the separation- related psychological distress and gender, and between the separation- related psychological distress and the length of the relationship that may guide future research.
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  THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HEALTH NARRATIVES IN PATIENT-CENTERED CARE

  Goldsmith, Melissa; Gasser, Stephanie; Valencia, Leticia P. (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  The purpose of this thesis is to explore the impact of patients' health narratives on patient outcomes, provide evidence-based recommendations for their integration into practice, and encourage patients to explore and express their health narrative. A health narrative is defined as an individual's personal story describing their experience with health, illness, and medical treatment. Health narratives are powerful tools that patients may use to communicate their preferences and needs to healthcare professionals. This thesis seeks to assist healthcare providers to understand the significance of patients' health narratives. The best practice recommendations for integrating patients' health narratives into practice include providing supportive and encouraging environments, documenting them into patient records and care plans, and remaining critical awareness of sociocultural contexts in which the narratives are created and shared. Intervention specific recommendations include establishing trusting patient-provider relationships through narrative-based interviews involving open ended questions, informing clinical decision-making through narrative-based patient rounding, and empowering patients to engage in reflective writing exercises or explore multimedia storytelling for those who may struggle with traditional forms of communication. Suggestions for the implementation and evaluation of the best practice recommendations is proposed in the concluding chapter. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PSDA) cycle will be used to guide the implementation and evaluation of the proposed plan to improve patient outcomes and promote patient-centered care through including patient narratives in health care, monitoring results, and continuously adjusting the approach.
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  ENHANCING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA'S STUDY ABROAD PEER ADVISING PROGRAM: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF MARKETING STRATEGIES

  Venkataramani, Sangeetha; Ubogy, Nicolas (The University of Arizona., 2024)

  The study abroad program at the University of Arizona offers eye-opening international educational experiences for undergraduate students. Unfortunately, many students experience difficulties during the information-gathering and applications phases, which cause them to withdraw from the program before committing to a session. This research focuses on the Study Abroad experience and takes a qualitative perspective by interviewing several students that applied and successfully studied abroad. Based on the transcripts of interviews with study abroad returnees, the study identifies pain points within Study Abroad marketing and Peer Advising and provides concrete recommendations for how to improve the process. These include providing dynamic cost information, student testimonials, and automatic application submission responses to increase engagement and reduce the number of dropped leads.

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