Doctor of Education, Miami University, 2021, Educational Leadership

Longitudinal data on the long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure (POE) is sparse, and studies on educational interventions for children with POE are virtually inexistent. Parents raising children with POE were recruited from social media platforms: 56 parents participated in interviews and 116 responded to surveys. Questions focused on the child's development (including early delays, medical diagnoses, behavioral and mental health struggles, and educational performance) as well as on parents' experiences coordinating with schools and with medical and therapeutic providers. Quantitative results were analyzed in SPSS, and qualitative results were analyzed in the coding software Dedoose. Overall, parents of children with POE reported high rates of mental health, behavior, and neurological problems in their children. The children were more likely to be enrolled in therapies and more likely to have additional medical needs. Parents described their difficulties finding information, troubles advocating for their child, and issues coordinating with schools and health-care providers.

Committee: Lucian Szlizewski (Advisor); Angela Curl (Advisor); Joel Malin (Advisor) Subjects: Education; Educational Psychology; Epidemiology; Families and Family Life; Public Health; Public Health Education; Special Education

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Nursing: Nursing - Doctoral Program

Background: Many children are directly and indirectly affected by the opioid epidemic and the consequences of opioid use during pregnancy through prenatal opioid exposure. Prenatal opioid exposure is associated with adverse neonatal and long-term outcomes and may develop into neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Although recent reviews largely suggest negative outcomes after prenatal opioid exposure, they are limited by the heterogeneity of identification methods used to ascertain exposure. The impact of varying identification methods on the prevalence and outcomes of exposure is not clearly understood. The use of big data and larger data linkages in nursing science may help illuminate the impact of varying identification methods used to ascertain prenatal opioid exposure. Aims: This three-manuscript dissertation aimed to (1) discuss the use and potential of big data for nurse scientists, (2) conduct a scoping review of the varying identification methods in current literature, and (3) perform a secondary data analysis of a large integrated data to explore the prevalence of prenatal opioid exposure across identification methods to inform research, practice, and support children and families impacted by prenatal opioid exposure. Methods: The first manuscript was a discursive paper that provided an introductory guide for leveraging big data in nursing research. The second manuscript was a scoping review that synthesized the various identification methods used to ascertain opioid exposure in the United States over the last decade. Insights from the scoping review generated three identification methods leveraged in the third dissertation manuscript: (1) Maternal data (e.g., toxicology and diagnoses), (2) Infant data (e.g., toxicology and diagnoses), and (3) Combined method using maternal and infant data. The third manuscript was a secondary data analysis of a large perinatal linkage database in the Midwest to explore the prevalence of prenatal opioid expo (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Joshua Lambert Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Sara Arter Ph.D. R.N. (Committee Member); Nichole Nidey Ph.D. (Committee Member); Samantha Boch Ph.D. R.N. (Committee Member) Subjects: Nursing