Scholarworks
ScholarWorks is an open access repository for the capture of the intellectual work of Montana State University (MSU) in support of its teaching, research and service missions. MSU ScholarWorks is a central point of discovery for accessing, collecting, sharing, preserving, and distributing knowledge to the Montana State University community and the world.
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Recent Submissions
Efficiency realization and capacity increase: implementing lean six sigma in a growing startup
(Taylor & Francis Group, 2023-04) Bakke, Morten; Claudio, David
Lean is an ideology that businesses turn to create value for customers. Research literature shows a lack of successful implementation, specifically in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This applied research analyses a local Montana startup and uses concepts from lean six sigma and industry 4.0 (I4) to reduce waste and prepare the company for future growth. The applied research uses a lean six sigma methodology to make suggestions for future improvements to scale and implementing changes. As the fourth revolution is upon us, inter-connectivity and digitization provide new tools that are expected to change the course of manufacturing radically in the near future. With it, I4 brings some tools that can potentially help SMEs overcome some of the current barriers to successfully implement lean. This research investigates what tools the fourth industrial revolution has brought us that can potentially provide lean the flexibility needed to be implemented in our study.
Integrating Civic Engagement Into a Lifestyle Intervention for Rural Women – A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation
(SAGE Publications, 2023-04) Sriram, Urshila; Graham, Meredith L.; Folta, Sara; Paul, Lynn; Sequin-Fowler, Rebecca A.
Purpose. The present study aimed to evaluate the implementation of a civic engagement curriculum (HEART Club) designed to catalyze positive environmental change in rural communities. Design. The HEART Club curriculum was integrated into a six-month community-based health behavior intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Setting. Participants were recruited from eight rural towns in Montana and New York. Subjects. 101 midlife and older women. Intervention. Participants worked to address an issue related to their local food or physical activity environment and establish progress monitoring benchmarks. Method. Evaluation components included after-class surveys, program leader interviews (n = 15), participant focus groups (n = 8), and post-intervention surveys. Results. Intervention sites reported high fidelity (78%) to the curriculum. Average attendance was 69% and program classes were rated as highly effective (4.1 out of 5). Despite positive participant feedback, low readiness for civic engagement and insufficient time were implementation challenges. The majority of HEART Club groups had accomplished two or more benchmarks post-intervention. Facilitators of progress included community support, effective leadership, and collective effort. Participants also indicated that trying to affect community change while simultaneously making personal health improvements likely stalled initial progress. Conclusion. These findings highlight the potential and challenges associated with civic engagement within the context of rural lifestyle interventions. Future implementation efforts should focus on reframing civic engagement as an approach to support and maintain behavior change.
Mental health service-seeking behavior in post-Soviet Ukraine
(Taylor & Francis Group, 2023-03) Jiang, Amanda; Ulrich, Rachel; Van De Griend, Kristin; Tintle, Nathan; McCarthy, Mark; Beckelhymer, Daniela A.
As the Ukrainian health care system undergoes reform, severe treatment gaps persist for those in need of mental health treatment. This study expands the limited knowledge of factors underlying treatment-seeking behavior. We sought to understand: What encourages or deters Ukrainians from seeking mental health treatment? In addition, among those who chose to seek treatment, what influences the type of treatment sought (conventional or alternative)? Alternative treatment is defined as treatment or counseling provided by spiritual advisers or healers, and conventional treatment is defined as formal treatment or counseling provided by mental health professionals or other health professionals. Using the 2002 Ukrainian version of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview—the only dataset of its kind available for a country that emerged from the former Soviet Union—this study explores the predictors of treatment-seeking behavior for mental health services. Results indicate that Ukrainians diagnosed with depressive, anxiety, or substance use related disorders are more likely to seek treatment, while those diagnosed with Intermittent Explosive Disorder are not. Current physical health issues are also associated with an increased likelihood of seeking treatment. Among treatment-seekers, individuals with stronger religious beliefs are more likely to seek alternatives than conventional forms of treatment. These findings contribute to the small body of research addressing treatment-seeking behavior and can further inform underlying patterns in treatment gaps in Ukraine.
Identity-based bullying and mental health among Black and Latino youth: The moderating role of emotional suppression
(Wiley, 2023-03) Alvis, Lauren; Douglas, Robyn D.; Oosterhoff, Benjamin; Gaylord-Harden, Noni K.; Kaplow, Julie B.
The current study examined the prevalence of identity-based bullying, the unique links between identity-based bullying and mental health (i.e., depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS]), and emotional suppression as a potential moderator of these links. Participants were 899 clinic-referred Black and Latino youth aged 7–18 years (M = 13.37 years, SD = 2.75, 60.8% female). Regression analyses indicated youth who experienced identity-based bullying victimization reported worse depressive symptoms and PTSS, controlling for co-occurring trauma exposure and demographic characteristics. We did not find evidence that emotional suppression moderated these associations. The findings highlight the potentially traumatic nature of identity-based bullying victimization in treatment-seeking Black and Latino youth and speak to the need for identity-based bullying risk screening.
Osteoarthritis Biomarkers: Year In Review
(Montana State Univeristy, 2024-04) June, Ronald
Osteoarthritis Biomarkers: Year In Review