Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

The number of opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States has quadrupled since 1999. For this reason, in October 2017 President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. Massachusetts is particularly affected by the opioid epidemic as evident in an opioid-related death rate that is double the national rate. Naloxone is a prescription medication that works antagonistically to bind opioid receptors and rapidly reverses and blocks the effects of opioids. This drug is widely used to revive patients who are experiencing an opioid overdose. Prior research on the topic of attitudes toward naloxone prescriptions and dispensing has focused primarily on three groups of people: patients, prescribers, and pharmacists. However, in recent years there has been an expansion of the role of the pharmacy technician in healthcare administration, such as in the administration of vaccines. Thus, there is a lack of research centered on the role of pharmacy technicians in the dispensing of naloxone. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of pharmacy technicians in the dispensing of naloxone across Massachusetts. This goal was accomplished by purposively sampling CVS pharmacies in 13 municipalities across the state, with 7 municipalities having an opioid-related death rate per 100,000 people greater than the state average and 6 municipalities having an opioid-related death rate per 100,000 people less than the state average. These municipalities were termed High-Risk Municipalities and Low-Risk Municipalities, respectively. Three CVS pharmacies were sampled within each municipality, yielding a total sample size of 39 CVS pharmacies with 21 from High-Risk Municipalities and 18 from Low-Risk Municipalities. Pharmacy technicians working in each pharmacy were administered a survey pertaining to their attitudes and perceptions on naloxone dispensing. The results of this study demonstrated that there was a significant difference between technicians working in High-Risk Municipalities and Low-Risk Municipalities regarding the percentage of patients who they believed could benefit from naloxone. Specifically, 67% of participants in Low-Risk Municipalities indicated that less than 25% of patients could benefit from having a naloxone kit available whereas 67% of participants in High-Risk Municipalities indicated that greater than 50% of patients could benefit (Mann-Whitney U significance level = 0.001). This result is critical, especially considering the fact that there was no significant difference between both groups of technicians on their perceptions of patients who used illicit opioids or prescription opioids. In addition, unsolicited feedback from participants revealed several common themes among technicians working in both groups, including the belief that patients could benefit from a reduced cost of naloxone and that both technicians and patients may be unaware that naloxone can benefit individuals taking prescription opioids rather than just people who inject drugs. Future studies could investigate whether participant characteristics, such as years of experience working in the pharmacy may have influenced the results. Also, future research could be directed toward determining if there might be a relationship between syringe sales and naloxone sales in High-Risk Municipalities.

Practical theology brings the resources of theology into collaborative relationship with other disciplines in an equitable manner. This study analyses the collaborative relationship between theology and psychology in the delivery of mental health care at the Pastoral Counseling Center at Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts. Specifically, this study investigates: (1) if and how theology collaborates with psychology; (2) if and how theology and psychology function as equitable partners; and (3) the effect, if any, of their collaboration on the clinicians and/or on the mental health care itself. Psychological literature sheds light on the collaboration between theology and psychology. Literature from the field of practical theology gmdes the assessment of theology’s role in that collaboration. Finally, a theological term, “sanctification,” receives in-depth analysis for its facilitative role in the collaboration between theology and psychology. A qualitative research design structures this project. Interviews with twenty one clinicians associated with the Pastoral Counseling Center at Trinity Church provide the primary source of data. On the basis of that data, the study concludes that the discipline of theology can collaborate with psychology and maintain its role as an equitable partner. In addition, the study demonstrates that this collaboration engenders positive effects in the lives of the clinicians, and on the quality of mental health care the Center provides. A process of “sanctification” facilitates collaboration between theology and psychology. This process is formative in the development of the Center’s community and transformative in the lives of the clinicians and for the mental health care delivered under the Center’s auspices. The study also suggests areas suitable for future research, including: (1) the importance of community in the formation and transformation of the clinicians engaged in delivering mental health care; (b) the development of training protocols for clinicians engaged in collaborative mental health care; and (c) investigation of the role and effect of sanctification on collaborative mental health and those who deliver it.

Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1913 / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 11). / by H. K. Chow, S. S. Keh. / Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1913

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 274-284). / by Arun Suresh Chandavarkar. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 1990.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-238). / by Emmanouil Antony Chaniotakis. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1990.

Thesis: B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, 1877 / by C. F. Lawton. / B.S. / B.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering

Thesis: M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, 1932 / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 78). / by Charles Kingsley, Jr. / M.S. / M.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering

Thesis: B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1918 / by John S. Salah. / B.S. / B.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mathematics, 1964 / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 195-200). / by Henry H. Crapo. / Ph. D. / Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mathematics