Social network analysis (SNA) is increasingly viewed as a contributing methodology to program evaluation to examine the complexities of social programs and interrelationships within the program networks. Despite the growing literature on the topic, more knowledge is needed to understand how, when, and under what conditions social network analysis…

The reported number of prescription opioid overdoses justifies the need for providing patients with opioid discharge information and follow-up care as recommended. To prevent any misuse of prescription opioid drugs, it was critical for patients to receive a thorough review of their medications prior to being discharged. The purpose of the project…

The experiences of school counselors and the development of professional practice in response to student opioid use have minimal supporting literature. This study utilized a generic qualitative research design to gather vital information on the learning experiences school counselors attribute to their professional development when working with…

Background: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is on the rise in the United States. Opioid-use disorder has increased among the population of women of childbearing age. Over the past two decades, the increased rate of opioid-use disorder has caused a five-fold increase in NAS. NAS affects three out of four babies who are exposed to chronic use of…

This exploratory study examined the knowledge, experience, attitude, and perceptions of drugs reported by international students from mainland China (N = 97) studying on the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada. Chinese students currently constitute the largest group of international students at universities on the West Coast, which is also the…

Drug overdose, especially from opioids, is a global problem which has stretched across all racial, generational, and socio-economical groups. Millions of people have been affected on a personal or professional basis by the emotional, physical, and financial impacts of this crisis. There is a critical need to provide support for public health…

More than 47,000 people died in 2017 due to opioid-involved overdoses. In addition, fatal overdoses from non-methadone synthetic opioids like fentanyl have risen dramatically over the past 7 years. The heavy flow of opioid-related overdoses in hospitals have pressured healthcare professionals to adapt to new treatment modalities while following…

This dissertation addresses several contemporary health challenges affecting the US population, drawing on methods and perspectives from health services research, social demography, and medical sociology. Paper 1 examines the pathways from educational attainment to difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of…

There is an identified problem with patients receiving suboptimal pain management at a hospice agency in the northwestern United States. At this agency, undertreatment of pain is prevalent. Evidence indicates that this may be a result of a lack of guidelines, education, and knowledge of appropriate prescribing. Known barriers to the correct…