Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Creation Of A Parent-Directed Toolkit To Prevent Youth Vaping, Corinne Webb

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Purpose: Vaping rates among adolescents are at an all-time high. Misperceptions about the harms of vaping may limit parents’ ability to impact youth vape use. This project developed and tested an evidence-based toolkit to educate parents of adolescents about the risks of vaping.

Methods: The toolkit’s creation was informed by published evidence and multimedia content delineating the scope of the vaping crisis. The toolkit was reviewed and revised by content experts. Pre- and post-implementation assessments were created and tested with faculty members, public health professionals, teachers, and parents. Assessments were utilized to evaluate parental vaping knowledge before and after implementation …

Improving Mental Health Documentation Through Education: An Intervention For Level Of Care Utilization System (Locus) Use In Psychiatric Crisis Placement, Lauren Ozimek

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Purpose: The Community Mental Health Act (1963) created crisis stabilization units to lessen burdens of emergency departments addressing psychiatric crises. Crisis stabilization units – including the project site – evaluate treatment efficacy via assessments including the Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS). The LOCUS is totaled into a composite score, expected to decrease at treatment completion. The project site has not consistently seen LOCUS scores decrease at completion. The project’s purpose was to improve use of a clinical assessment tool to reflect treatment and progress for patients utilizing crisis stabilization programs. A secondary aim was to increase incidence (75%) of …

Adolescent Suicide Prevention Via Parental Education, Junelle Shepard, Mary Val Palumbo

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Purpose. Up to 24% of children from the ages of 12 to 17 have reported suicidal ideation, with 7-11% reporting at least one suicide attempt in the past 12 months (Hetrick, 2017). In a study by Jones et al (2019) over 50% of parents were unaware their child was exhibiting suicidal ideation. This project aims to increase community awareness of suicidal ideation and teach community members how to talk with adolescents about this sensitive topic.

Methods. Five online training sessions were offered in Fall 2021, with each session lasting 90 minutes. Using Smith et al.’s Suicide Knowledge and Skills Questionnaire, …

Health Screening For Individuals Diagnosed With Mental Illness Within A Housing-First Organization, Jennifer J. Chamberlin

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Background: Individuals with serious mental illness are a high-risk population that need improved access to physical health care. Many have negative experiences with the healthcare system and need support in accessing it. A housing-first organization in Vermont offers wrap-around services to these individuals but does not have a standardized way to assess for client healthcare needs or to communicate with primary care provider offices.

Purpose: The project aimed to: 1. Identify the current processes used to assess client health needs; 2. Change organizational workflow to include comprehensive and standardized health protocols. 3. Instruct staff to increase knowledge to identify and …

Evaluating Patient And Provider Knowledge Of Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Procedures In Vermont Through A Public Health And Environmental Lens, Emily R. Straley

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Patient and provider knowledge of safe pharmaceutical disposal procedures is crucial from both a public health and environmental standpoint. Unfortunately, studies have shown that Vermont residents are largely unaware of safe drug disposal programs in their communities. This project evaluated patient knowledge of drug disposal practices and awareness of safe pharmaceutical disposal procedures at Hinesburg Family Medicine. A short phrase was created to better disseminate information about safe drug disposal in Hinesburg, which can be added to a patient’s after visit summary. Many patients report never discussing medication disposal with their physician. Therefore, increased provider communication regarding leftover and unused …

Evidence Based Treatment For Excessive Alcohol Consumption And Concurrent Hypertension, Kimberly Ann Ward

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Purpose. Excessive alcohol consumption is a preventable risk factor for hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Though alcohol-related deaths number 88,000 annually in the U.S., alcohol use has the lowest treatment rate of behavioral health disorders at 10%. Excessive alcohol consumption may compromise treatment of hypertension by primary care providers (PCP). This project aims to increase awareness of the hypertension and excessive alcohol use connection and promote screening of alcohol consumption.

Methods A protocol for improving alcohol screening and concurrent hypertension management was developed including: in-person educational presentations; patient education materials; and the use of motivational interviewing. Practice change was assessed …

Improving Contraception Among Female Syringe Exchange Clients: A Reproductive Needs Assessment, Gena Zollman

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Purpose: Women with opioid and other substance use disorders have a high rate of unintended pregnancy and a low rate of effective contraceptive use. Integrating family planning (FP) services into medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics has increased rates of initiation and adherence to contraception among this population. This study assesses the reproductive health needs of female clients in a syringe exchange program (SEP)to assess if integrating FP services would improve access to contraception.

Methods: Female clients of a SEP voluntarily completed an anonymous survey to determine demographics, FP needs, and barriers to accessing care, and were compensated with $20 gift cards. …

Physical Activity And Fall Prevention In Older Adults, An Educational Intervention, Caleb Daniel Knight

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Falls in adults over 65 years of age constitute a significant health burden in our country, and this age group is growing rapidly. Falls are addressed with a multifactorial approach, addressing comorbidities, medications, and the physical environment, however, an effective point of intervention accessible by most older adults is physical activity. A brief educational presentation about the morbidity and mortality associated with falls, and the protective effects of physical activity, was provided to Meadowbrook Healthcare subacute nursing home residents in Plattsburgh, NY. Questions were encouraged and answered afterwards, and copies of the presentation were left for the residents to review …

Care Team Education On The Use Of Sensory Resources In Inpatient Psychiatry, Salsabil Hoque

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Nursing Master Project Publications

Sensory processing is the way the nervous system receives, organizes, and understands sensory information gained through our body’s senses and physical environment. The deprivation of sensory processing, or the inability of one’s nervous system to use meaningful sensations, can lead to negative outcomes such as anxiety, stress, depression, withdrawal and reduced motivation, or agitation and disturbed behavior. Dr. Ayres' Sensory Integration Theory was used as the guiding framework for this project. Research literature indicates that sensory modulated approaches are an effective treatment approach for patients who are distressed, anxious, agitated, or potentially aggressive, and can be used as an alternative …

Multi-Sensory Stimulation Environments For Use With Dementia Patients: Staff Perspectives On Reduction Of Agitation And Negative Behaviors, Megan Houston

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Background: Dementia is a degenerative neurological disorder that afflicts a growing proportion of the global population. Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) modalities are under investigation for their therapeutic value in the management of dementia.

Purpose: Nursing care of dementia sufferers can include managing agitation and negative behaviors; this study investigates staff appraisal of the Multi-Sensory Stimulation Environment (MSSE) as an intervention for these nursing challenges.

Methods: A purposive sample of nursing staff employed in residential care for dementia patients were recruited 10 weeks after the initiation of an open-access MSSE at the facility to complete a confidential self-administered questionnaire.

Results: 79% …

A Prelimary Study Of Differences Between Voluntary And Involuntary Retirement From Driving: Quality Of Life And Depression In A Rural Population, Elizabeth Ann Pruitt Saxton

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Research has revealed a variety of negative health consequences for older adults who stop driving, and with the "graying of America," this will be a frequently encountered issue for healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are differences in quality of life and depressive symptoms between former drivers who made the decision to stop driving voluntarily and former drivers who made the decision involuntarily (either in a resistant or in a reluctant manner). In this cross-sectional cohort comparison study, community dwelling older adults were asked to complete questionnaires of depression (using the Geriatric Depression Scale), …

Screaming Behind A Door: The Experiences Of Individuals Incarcerated Without Opioid Maintenance Treatment, Shoshana Aronowitz

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Background & Purpose: Opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) is an effective method of treating opioid addiction. Of incarcerated individuals in the U.S., 50-85% have a history of substance abuse, and >80% of inmates with opioid addiction history do not receive treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore individuals' experiences after being tapered from OMT upon incarceration. Methods: Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed using in-depth interviewing of 10 participants. Results: Analysis identified six themes that captured the essence of the participants' experiences. Implications & Conclusion: Losing OMT upon incarceration was described as an extremely stressful experience for many individuals, …