Improper hand hygiene can lead to the transmission of various diseases including gastrointestinal infections, such as salmonellosis, and respiratory infections, such as influenza, colds and coronavirus. The area under the fingernails (subungual area) is a source of bacteria accumulation that is often overlooked during hand washing. This research evaluates the effect of fingernail length on the effectiveness of a 20 second hand wash on reducing subungual bacteria counts. We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine total bacteria counts of the subungual area right before and after a 20 second hand wash with antibacterial soap. Bacteria counts were determined on standard media after a 72 hour incubation. Subjects were grouped by fingernail lengths of 0mm, 0-1mm, 1-2mm, >2mm, with a control group of 0mm. The results suggest that regularly trimming fingernails and paying attention to the subungual area during hand washing may be an important tool in preventing infections and diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This is especially important for people with impaired immune systems or young children who are more susceptible to infections, as well as for people who can transmit diseases to others, like healthcare personnel and childcare providers.

This research aims to understand why such a reliance exists within the disability parent community in Washington State in terms of navigating healthcare, and how the healthcare system can do a better job of supporting families who have children with developmental disabilities. There is an incredible disconnect and lack of support at the time of diagnosis for these families, and often it is not the healthcare providers that support these families and assist in their navigation of the health system. Rather, the experience of other parents that have gone through the process of navigating the health system for their child with a developmental disability are the best resources for these newly diagnosed families. My major research question is: How can the disability community and the healthcare system work more in unison to ensure that families are able to maneuver through the health system successfully from the start of their journey with a child with a disability? I have conducted ethnographic research through interviews with disability parents, healthcare providers in developmental medicine, patient navigators, and various in-person and Facebook disability parent support groups. The results of this work are presented as a written thesis, highlighting the challenges these families face, the nature of the reliance on community to navigate care, and proposed suggestions for the healthcare community to assist families in accessing parent support networks. This research highlights the strength, reliance, and efficacy of the disability parent community in helping one another navigate a health system that is lacking adequate support for newly diagnosed families. This research is being utilized to bridge a gap between the healthcare system and the disability parent community, so that they can work more in unison to serve families with children with developmental disabilities, and most importantly, improve the lives of these children.

The deinstitutionalization of massive psychiatric hospitals in the 1970s and 1980s improved the physical and social environment of psychiatric hospitals and aided in the transition away from prison-like hospitals. Still, there remains opportunities for growth if the psychiatry field aims to engage and provide patients with a fully therapeutic setting in psychiatric hospitals. This research explores the relationship between a patient’s social and physical experience in a psychiatric hospital and their engagement with mental health treatment after discharge. I analyze the physical environment of a psychiatric unit and explore mental health professionals’ views on guidelines for maintaining a therapeutic environment in these spaces. Using qualitative methodology, including ethnographic observations of psychiatric hospitals in the Seattle area, photographs, and interviews, I discuss the environmental factors of psychiatric rooms through the evaluation of room design and its effectiveness in creating a therapeutic environment. Preliminary findings point to a possible relationship between consent and a patient's receptivity to post-hospitalization treatment after being exposed to the psychiatric hospitalization environment. Additional results could indicate a negative relationship between a patient’s socio-physical experience in an inpatient psychiatric facility and their engagement in future treatment after discharge. These research findings will enable mental health providers to better understand the relationship of socio-physical aspects in psychiatric hospitals to the continuation of a patient’s treatment after discharge. This information will help providers improve upon these experiences and increase a patient’s receptivity to post-hospitalization treatment.

Microplastics, plastic pieces less than 5 mm, are widespread in the environment and a concern for human and environmental health. In aquatic environments, microplastic particles are often mistaken for food by fish and other wildlife which remain in their digestive system and can cause starvation. Microplastics also absorb and concentrate endocrine disruptors such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and POPs (persistent organic pollutants). These molecules can cause reproductive and developmental issues in both wildlife and humans. Many studies characterize the microplastic load and composition in various environments; fewer studies have documented the changing microplastic concentrations over time. Our study fills in this gap by collecting and characterizing the current microplastic load at various points in Lake Washington and comparing these findings to data from ten years prior. Samples were collected from multiple sites in and around Lake Washington using a manta net for surface tows. Microplastics were extracted using an acid digestion and inspected under a microscope to characterize and quantify the microplastic load. The results of our study help expand upon previously collected data about Lake Washington and the change in microplastic concentrations. This study will hopefully inform local policies to address and mitigate microplastic pollution and its consequences.

While millions of Americans have been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), many undiagnosed individuals suffer from at least one of ADHD’s symptoms. Symptoms such as poor attention spans, lack of attention to detail, loss of focus, and many more can affect anyone’s life—in the workplace, at school, and during social engagements. This project seeks to explore how technology usage affects the development and existence of attention-deficit behaviors. We want to focus on specific technological platforms and explore any possible influence on attention-deficit behaviors. To do this, we are utilizing a mixed methods approach of case studies and surveys to evaluate the presence of attention-deficit behaviors, frequency and methods of technology usage, and relationships between the two. Using surveys and psychological scales of measurement for ADHD, we can gather a holistic understanding of how the general population uses technology and how attention-deficit behaviors present themselves. Our case studies reinforce information gathered from these surveys and provide more detailed data to enable a comprehensive analysis. We predict that high volumes of technology usage, especially within certain platforms, can encourage the development of attention-deficit behaviors and exacerbate existing issues with attention. If we find this to be true, our results can guide the design and delivery of future informational content within education institutions and workplaces. These results can also encourage a re-evaluation of technology usage to reduce attention deficient behaviors.