Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Medical Interpreters' Work Impact On Their Lives: Understanding Medical Interpreters' Work Experience, Nicholas M. Herrarte Smith

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Medical interpreters in the US are crucial health workers that specialize in facilitating communication between non-English-speaking patients and English medical professionals. Although much research has been done regarding the positive impact of professional medical interpreters on LEP (limited English proficient) patients' health, it is less known how medical interpreters’ lives are impacted in this line of work. Thus, this study was aimed at gaining a better understanding on the impact that this line of work has on the lives of medical interpreters. For this study, a survey was created with questions regarding demographics, interpretation’s certification process, interpreter’s satisfaction/experience, and mental …

Improving Glycemic Control During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Quality Improvement Project, Megan Henderson

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Diabetes is a costly, chronic health condition. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the delivery of health care and exacerbated chronic health conditions, such as diabetes. Diabetes is one of the most significant comorbid conditions associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes (Cariou et al., 2020). Control of blood glucose levels during the COVID-19 pandemic has proved challenging to maintain. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to identify gaps in diabetic self-care and then implement a diabetic toolkit to improve self-efficacy of diabetes self-management. According to the American Diabetes Association (2022), self-management of diabetes, education, and support from providers is …

Improving Access For Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Patients: A Health Policy Analysis, Malinda B. Whitfield

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

The Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Services (IPS) policy, originally developed in the 1960s and without any significant or meaningful updates since the 1980’s, is physician specific, does not reflect the current model of care for psychiatric inpatients, and is restrictive for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) practice. The policy is complex, consists of outdated regulations, and results in millions of dollars in compliance costs for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs) annually (NABH, 2019). Although clearly an important part of the inpatient psychiatric services team, PMHNPs are not identified or defined in the policy (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS], 2019). …

Alzheimer's And Patient Caregiver Burnout: A Review Of The Literature, Madeline Hekeler

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

The term “silent epidemic” is fitting for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as its negative impact is widely felt but rarely discussed. Burnout among AD caregivers has become an epidemic of its own as caregivers experience an increase in health risks, stress, and financial burden. This literature review focuses on caregiver burnout and how imperative it is that caregivers are better supported in their role. Researchers have developed instruments to assess and intervene in caregiver burnout that have shown effectiveness among caregivers and their families.Nevertheless, further longitudinal research is warranted regarding more effective interventions, including stress management and social support mechanisms.

The Use Of Life-Like Robotic Animals In The Acute Care Setting To Assist In The Care Of Patients With Dementia, Abby Denby

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

The purpose of this pilot project was to describe the effect of life-like robotic animals on the nurses’ ability to provide care, patients’ level of agitation, use of antipsychotic medications, restraint and sitter use for patients with dementia in an acute care setting. Nurses report challenges and feelings of helplessness while caring for patients with dementia. Dementia may cause depression, agitation, aggression (physical or verbal) and a decrease quality of life. Animal Assisted Therapy (ATT) is a growing therapy in many healthcare settings but there is a lack of literature specifically related to the use of AAT in the acute …

The Watson Room: Mitigating Compassion Fatigue In Oncology Nurses, Patricia A. Viscardi

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Aim: The aim of this project was to plan, develop, and implement “The Watson Room” or “Quiet Room” in an inpatient oncology nursing population and evaluate changes in Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL).

Background: Oncology Nurses are at high risk for compassion fatigue (CF), burn-out (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) related to the effects of living the traumas of oncology patients and their families through their cancer journey and the innate stress in a complex and intense workplace. High levels of compassion fatigue, burn-out, and secondary traumatic stress that are poorly managed reduces the nurse’s ability to self-regulate their …

How Does Access To Healthcare Affect Life Expectancy?, Yara Mahmoud

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Access to health care is a pressing issue in the United States, whether it be the cost of care or not having enough of it. To emphasize the importance of this topic, this paper assesses the impact of access to health services on life expectancy. A comparison is made between the universal health systems in France and Spain and the mixed system in the United States. Even though the United States spends the most on health care in the world, its statistics fall below those of other developed countries. After addressing other risk factors, it was found that individuals under …

Improving Breastfeeding In Rural Tanzania Using Bardach’S Policy Analysis Methodology, Katherine Skiff

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Appropriate breastfeeding has the potential to have the broadest impact on childhood survival in children under five years (U5Y) compared to all other preventive interventions. The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recommend that all facilities providing maternal services and newborn care have a written policy addressing breastfeeding that is routinely disseminated to staff. Shirati hospital, in rural Tanzania, does not have a breastfeeding policy. Bardach’s 8-Fold Pathway for policy analysis methodology (adapted by Collins for health policy) was used to evaluate three promising breastfeeding policies to improve compliance with this recommendation. They include …

Improving Adherence To Mental Health Treatment In A Low-Income Clinic, Janice G. Gandy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

The increasing prevalence of mental illness in the United States presents significant challenges for primary care providers in low-income settings. Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) programs have resulted in improved general health for low-income participants; however, managing appointment adherence, in which the patient attends appointment as scheduled, is particularly challenging. The purpose of this pilot project was to implement bundled interventions at a low-income primary care clinic to improve patient adherence to behavioral health treatment. The bundle of interventions included: 1) educational interventions emphasizing the benefits of IBH care 2) warm patient handoffs between the primary care provider to a behavioral …

A Meta-Analysis Of The Aftermath Of South Africa’S Apartheid On Its Health Care System, Caitlin Jaeckel

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The objective of the study was to access the possible problems of the quality of health care that whites and non-whites receive in South Africa. The research question was specific to how the residual effects of apartheid are affecting South Africa’s health care today and if citizens still feel the presence of apartheid in health care. Prior to the start of the study the researcher hypothesized that access, quality, and funding of South Africa’s health care system has not been able to recover from the effect of apartheid and South Africans still observe the effects of apartheid on an individual …

Organizational Factors Associated With Quality Perinatal Care, Lisa H. Akers

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Provisions for perinatal care are an integral part of quality healthcare and are increasingly moving to the forefront of quality care measures in the healthcare setting (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2012; National Quality Forum, 2012; & The Joint Commission, 2010). Previous literature specifically focused attention to general quality of care, but recently there has been a call for a more comprehensive approach to measuring quality in the perinatal care setting, which necessitates the need for a better understanding of what is currently being offered (Collins & Draycott, 2015). Until now the literature has remained limited on the association …

Prescription Strength Ibuprofen Interferes With Prophylactic Adaptations To Heavy Exercise, Jessica Ehrbar

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Purpose: This proof of concept study was designed to assess the influence of prescription-strength Ibuprofen (IBU) on the repeated bout effect (RBE) of heavy exercise. METHODS: Eight males (23 ± 4 yrs) with no recent history of lower-body resistance training completed two separate testing phases separated by a seven-day washout period. Each phase consisted of two sessions of single-legged resistance exercise (RE), performed on the same leg, separated by ten days. One RE trial included 10 sets of 10 repetitions of maximal unilateral eccentric leg extensions at 120% 1RM. Each phase was characterized by a distinct treatment of either 800mg …

Patient Satisfaction As A Reflection Of Quality Health Care And Outcomes, Ian C. Brown, Taylor M. Piatkowski

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Background: In 2006 the Centers of Medicaid and Medicare Services mandated that acute care centers begin submitting HCAHPS survey data for financial reimbursement for Medicare patients. The national shift to a patient centered focus and the financial incentive to improve patient satisfaction scores has stimulated debate regarding the relationship between patient satisfaction and quality healthcare.

Clinical Question: Does improvement in patient satisfaction with their healthcare and its providers, as measured by the HCAHPS survey, improve healthcare quality and outcomes?

Design: Systematic literature review.

Methods: Searches were performed using PubMed and Scopus databases.The terms used for the PubMed search were “patient …