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Intellectual

Intellectual well-being is the ability to constantly expand upon one’s own knowledge through creative and stimulating activities and experiences and to share what is already known with others. It is the exercising of the mind.

Intellectual
	Assessing the psychometric properties of a Comic Book rating Scale to evaluate health information Submitted by mcgu224 on Fri, 10/24/2025 - 11:07 Although graphical modalities have emerged as a potential medium to communicate health information, few studies have examined measurement instruments used to evaluate such modalities. This study examined the use of a Comic Book Rating Scale (CoBoRs) adapted from an existing Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) for assessing the quality of a comic book that delivers health information. External Link https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/28355245.2025.2577989#abstract Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Intellectual Publication Authors Chizimuzo T. C. Okoli, Bassema Abufarsakh , Alexander T. Vazsonyi , Sarret Seng & Melinda Ickes
	Examining Factors Associated with the Intentions Toward and Use of Tele-Mental Health Services Among Medicaid Providers and Beneficiaries Submitted by mcgu224 on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 09:25 Treatment adherence among individuals with mental illness remains a pressing public health issue. Tele-mental health care (TMH) can improve care access and continuity. This study applied the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to examine how intrinsic motivations influence intentions and use of TMH among Medicaid beneficiaries and providers. External Link https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15305627251381079 Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Intellectual Publication Authors Sarret Seng, Zainab Almogheer, Emily Koyagi, Tianyi Wang, Andrew Makowski, Holly Stith, and Chizimuzo Okoli Published Date Fri, 09/26/2025 - 12:00
	The association of self-care practices with test anxiety in nursing students Submitted by mcgu224 on Mon, 09/22/2025 - 11:38 BACKGROUND: Test anxiety can be a significant challenge for nursing students, potentially impacting academic performance and mental well-being. Timely intervention is crucial to address the underlying factors contributing to test anxiety and prevent adverse outcomes. External Link https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7297053/v1 Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Intellectual Emotional Publication Authors Hua Kang Chizimuzo Okoli Shuyao Wang Xiaoli Wang Aijuan Cheng Dongmei Wu Qingyuan Wang Dan Wang Zijiang Yang Lizi Hu
	Adverse childhood experiences and test anxiety in Chinese nursing students: The mediating effect of psychological distress Submitted by mcgu224 on Mon, 09/15/2025 - 16:43 Background Test anxiety is a common issue among students, potentially leading to adverse academic consequences. Students with psychological distress are more susceptible to test anxiety. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to psychological distress. However, there is a lack of studies on the associations between ACEs, psychological distress, and test anxiety in college students. External Link https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1557308725002495 Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Intellectual Emotional Environmental Publication Authors Hua Kang MSN, RN ^a, Chizimuzo Okoli PhD, MPH, MSN, FAAN ^b, Shuyao Wang BSN, RN ^a, Xiaoli Wang MSN, RN ^c, Aijuan Cheng MSN, RN ^d, Dongmei Wu PhD, RN ^e, Qingyuan Wang BSN, RN ^a, Dan Wang BSN, RN ^a, Zijiang Yang BSN, RN ^a, Lizi Hu MSN, RN ^a Published Date Mon, 09/15/2025 - 12:00
	Factors Associated With Telehealth Usability Among Medicaid Beneficiaries With Mental Illness: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Consumers and Providers Submitted by mcgu224 on Mon, 08/18/2025 - 09:53 Background: Telehealth offers a flexible and effective alternative to in-person behavioral health services, with users generally reporting high satisfaction. However, several barriers can limit equitable access among Medicaid beneficiaries. External Link https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10783903251362488 Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Intellectual Emotional Environmental Publication Authors Chizimuzo T. C. Okoli, Zainab Almogheer, Sarret Seng, Tianyi Wang, Bassema Abufarsakh , Emily Koyagi, Holly Stith, and Andrew Makowski Published Date Thu, 08/14/2025 - 12:00
	Creativity in the Workplace Creativity in the Workplace Kylie Pemberton Categories Blogs You may think about creativity and ascribe it to artists, photographers, and architects. But creativity is for all people, even those who are not in “artistic” professions. Do you ever find yourself combining unusual elements in a dish for dinner, perhaps simply to use up expiring ingredients? That requires creativity. Having an eye to find the perfect item at a thrift store takes creativity. Dancing at a wedding takes creativity to move your body in unique ways. How you organize your closet takes creativity! These everyday examples highlight the regularity that creativity can have in our lives. There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns. —Edward de Bono Creativity was required to quickly pivot and create the COVID-19 vaccines. It was required to design aircrafts which have globalized our world. It is required to make systems more efficient, to maximize resources, and to progress in novel ways! According to Helzer and Kim (2019), having a creative state of mind in the workplace can allow people to respond to stress more flexibly by providing alternative solutions. These alternatives might not come to mind in a less creative state. Adaptability involves creativity; Therefore, creative mindsets in the workplace can decrease stress by quickly pivoting to innovative solutions to rising problems. I think a good question might be not why do people create? But why do people not create or innovate? We have got to abandon that sense of amazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything. —Abraham Maslow Creative ventures lead to decreased stress and a slew of other skills that promote personal empowerment. Creativity leads to novel, efficient solutions. There are also numerous mental health benefits that derive from creative expression. Research has shown that creativity serves as a coping mechanism for emotion regulation (Jean-Berluche, 2024). It also improves cognitive flexibility which allows individuals to adapt and be flexible by being quick to pivot with innovative solutions. Lastly, creative expression has been shown to improve social connectedness and feelings of belonging. With these benefits in mind, we invite you to practice creativity today: Choose a common household item and make a list of 15 uses for it. Brainstorm new projects that fit the heart of your mission at work. Refresh your home by rearranging your furniture or items on a shelf. Choose a new spice to add to your dinner. Plan a themed party. Browse Pinterest for inspiration on a project you are interested in. Try your hand at photographing nature. Journal to process your day or dream about an interest you have. BH WELL exists to promote behavioral health and wellness among individuals facing behavioral health challenges. Learn more about BH WELL at https://bhwell.uky.edu. Follow us on social media. References Helzer, E. G., & Kim, S. H. (2019). Creativity for workplace well-being. Academy of Management Perspectives, 33(2), 134-147. Jean-Berluche, D. (2024). Creative expression and mental health. Journal of Creativity, 100083. Serrat, O. (2017). Harnessing creativity and innovation in the workplace. Knowledge solutions: Tools, Methods, and approaches to drive organizational performance, 903-910. Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional Intellectual Occupational
	First Generation Student First Generation Student Kayla Vargas Categories Blogs The life of a first-generation student is a triumphant one! Hold on, before you continue. I must introduce myself. My name is Kayla Vargas. In this blog, I’ll tell you my story as a first-generation student. The life of a first-generation student is a triumphant one but sometimes it can feel isolating. “How is it?” A question I’ve been asked a hundred times for various reasons. The frequency of this question increased when I started college, especially from my family members who never went to college. Typically, this question refers to my experience in the nursing program. My response is usually something like, “Oh, you know. It’s just regular college, just significantly harder.” It’s kind of ironic to say “you know” to the people who “don’t know” what it’s like. However, all I can do is shrug my shoulders and respond vaguely. Truth is, I don’t know how to explain my experience to them. The life of a first-generation student is a triumphant one but sometimes it can be filled with failure. In my second semester of freshman year, I finally decided on my major, Nursing. As many of you may know, the nursing program has a lot of prerequisites that have to be fulfilled before applying. So, to fulfill those prerequisites, I decided to do them ALL in one semester. You guessed correctly. It did not go well! I did not meet the standard set by the UK College of Nursing and, therefore, was not accepted the first time I applied. But guess what? I tried again the following year and was accepted. I felt unstoppable! Until… I had to meet some medical prerequisites and tested positive for tuberculosis. Though testing positive for tuberculosis wasn’t necessarily under my control, to me, it was equivalent to a failure. Now, I'm in nursing school. I fail multiple times a day. (Sigh… I’ll leave how up to your imagination.) Yes, I’m being hyperbolic. But, what’s nursing school without failure? While I’m failing, I’m succeeding. The life of a first-generation student is a triumphant one but sometimes I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this. AKA self-doubt. After being rejected the first time I applied to nursing school, I wondered if I was smart enough, hard-working enough, compassionate enough, resilient enough to actually “do” college. When applying my second time, I believed that I would get in… but a nagging thought wouldn’t leave me. After failing so many times, did I deserve to be given a seat? Even if I did get into nursing school, would I be cut out to graduate? And even if I did deserve it, or if I did graduate, I still had the lingering doubt that I could never be, what I believe to be, a “good” nurse. The life of a first-generation student is a triumphant one, but sometimes it’s burdensome. I grew up in California. It’s competitive there and for some reason, I felt the need to compete. To have a competitive college application, I took Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school. My AP Chemistry teacher said something to my class that I can’t seem to forget. She said, “Be proud of yourselves. You are the cream of the crop.” At that moment, I was proud. I had a great GPA, was involved in a lot of extracurriculars, had volunteer hours, and was doing all the things I was supposed to do for success. Well, that pride did not last long. AP Chemistry was hard. I understood nothing. I barely passed but I survived to tell the story. I tell you this because first-generation students have this particular burden to be the “cream of the crop”. My grandparents came from Mexico and my parents were unable to go to college due to their circumstances. Now, my generation is supposed to go to college. I live in a “creamy” country with “creamy” circumstances. I also have this “creamy” opportunity to go to university. I am very blessed but there is this undeniable, hidden pressure. My older family looks down on me as if my success is a reflection of what they’ve achieved. My younger family members look up to me as if my success is a symbol of what they could achieve. But what if I fail? What if I am not the “cream of the crop?” What if I never was? The life of a first-generation student is a triumphant one, indeed, it truly is triumphant. Sure, being a first-generation college student comes with many hardships; but regardless of educational status, life comes with hardships. It’s like a rite of passage to triumph. Without hardships, there is no triumph. How can there be a triumph without the risk of defeat? How can someone truly experience triumph without first being defeated? The past few passages may have felt a little bit…despondent and, for some time, they felt that way too. Now, as a third-year student, these pressure points have turned from a hindrance to an opportunity for edification. Is my life filled with various failures? Of course. And sometimes failure can be embarrassing and discouraging. But, resilience is developed through endurance. Self-doubt and pride fluctuate. Neither is beneficial. But every day, in one way or another, I’m either encouraged or humbled healthily. Outwardly, it seems that success follows failure; but in a way, they are simultaneous. So as a first-generation student, I can safely say that college is a great place to fail many times, succeed many times, learn many things and focus on today. Dimensions of Wellbeing Environmental Intellectual
	Factors Associated With Staff Engagement in Patients’ Tobacco Treatment in a State Psychiatric Facility Submitted by mcgu224 on Fri, 08/23/2024 - 09:04 BACKGROUND: Persons with mental illnesses (MI) who use tobacco are likely to experience poorer physical health and worsened psychiatric symptomology as compared to their non–tobacco-using counterparts. Therefore, engaging them in treatment is an important aspect of evidence-based care. File okoli-et-al-2017-factors-associated-with-staff-engagement-in-patients-tobacco-treatment-in-a-state-psychiatric-facility.pdf (133.57 KB) Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Intellectual Physical Publication Authors Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Janet Otachi, Sooksai Kaewbua, Marc Woods, and Heather Robertson Published Date Wed, 03/01/2017 - 12:00
	Graduate Spotlight: Kevin Bryant, DNP Graduate Spotlight: Kevin Bryant, DNP Congratulations to Kevin Bryant, DNP, BSN, on his graduation from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Nursing (CON) with his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Dr. Bryant’s project, “The Impact of an Educational Training to Front-line Nurses and Providers to Reduce Seclusion and Restraint: Assessing Knowledge, Practices, and Attitudes” explores effect of web-based educational intervention on front-line nurses knowledge, practices, and attitudes concerning use of seclusion and restraint of patients within psychiatric in-patient facilities. Dr. Bryant is Director of Inpatient Services at Eastern State Hospital (ESH). Dr. Bryant traces his passion for nursing back to his experience working with residents at a nursing home in his senior year of high school. This early clinical exposure ignited his confidence to pursue UK’s College of Nursing program where he completed his BSN in 2011. Bryant began his career with ESH in 2012 as a clinical nurse and served as interim nurse manager beginning in 2014. Bryant had the desire to continue his education and enrolled into UK’s DNP program in 2020. Flourishing under the mentorship of Dr. Woods, Bryant notes, “Dr. Woods was always very supportive and proud of us and always provided opportunities.” Dr. Marc Woods, Chief Nursing Officer for UK Healthcare, shares, "Dr. Kevin Bryant's leadership journey reflects a strong commitment to bolstering the future of academic and clinical behavioral health nurses. His efforts in patient and staff safety are paving the way for robust and resilient care practices within the inpatient setting." In addition to Dr. Woods’ support, Bryant credits the Work Learning Program (WLP) and his cohort for nurturing his success by providing resources and a supportive environment. Bryant states, “The Work Learning Program provided us great support, from helping with presentations and offering a relaxing study space with snacks to Dr. Okoli’s mentorship on writing literature reviews. In general, the WLP leadership’s support at ESH made it a whole lot easier for my cohort and I to successfully complete this program.” As Dr. Bryant reflects on his DNP graduation, he emphasizes the importance of a strong support system outside of work and the WLP as well. “Outside of my cohort's support, I have a really great support system from my family- with my parents, my brothers, and my nieces that I love to hang out with. So, I am very grateful and appreciative of that” Dr. Bryant proudly states. Congratulations, Dr. Bryant! Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional Environmental Intellectual Occupational Physical
	Graduate Spotlight: Johna Arnett, DNP Graduate Spotlight: Johna Arnett, DNP Congratulations to Johna Arnett, DNP, RN, on her graduation from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Nursing (CON) with her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Dr. Arnett’s project, “The Impact a Nurse Recruiter has on Nursing Staff Shortages and Nurse Manager Satisfaction in an Acute Psychiatric Facility” explores the impact of a nurse recruiter role in addressing nursing staff shortages and nurse manager satisfaction within an acute psychiatric facility. Dr. Arnett is a Nurse Manager at Eastern State Hospital (ESH). Having begun her career as a clinical nurse at Eastern State Hospital in 2015, Dr. Arnett has remained dedicated in her pursuit of professional growth and development within the same institution. Along Dr. Arnett’s journey, she transitioned from a clinical role to into a patient care manager role. Dr. Arnett’s decision to pursue a DNP was driven by her passion for executive leadership and a desire to ignite positive change within the healthcare landscape. Throughout her academic pursuit, Dr. Arnett has participated in and benefited from the Work Learning Program (WLP) at Eastern State Hospital (ESH), finding support in a community that showed dedication to fostering growth and collaboration. Dr. Arnett notes that this program has been extremely beneficial in shaping her academic journey, providing invaluable resources and a nurturing environment conducive to learning and professional development. In fact, Dr. Arnett completed her BSN through the WLP program prior to entering the DNP WLP. In reflecting on her journey, Dr. Arnett emphasizes the importance of a strong support system and the invaluable role played by EHS and the WLP in her success. Marc Woods, Chief Nursing Officer for UK Healthcare, comments, “Dr. Johna Arnett's journey from clinical nurse to a transformative leader shows the impact of dedication on shaping the future of nursing. Her focus on education and empowerment sets a strong example for the next generation of nurse leaders." Dr. Arnett's accomplishments have extended beyond academia to her contributions to patient care and staff development. She has mastered compassionate care practices, emphasizing how important it is to be understanding while addressing patients’ needs. Dr. Arnett emphasizes her leadership style of prioritizing staff education and empowerment. She also hopes to inspire her team toward excellence and to approach challenges with humility and compassion. Now that Dr. Arnett has successfully completed the DNP program, she is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. She will begin the Leadership Grow Program at UK in Fall 2024 to further enhance her leadership skills. Congratulations, Dr. Arnett! Dimensions of Wellbeing Environmental Intellectual Occupational Social