Digital Commons Network^™

Psychological Care For Persons Of Diverse Religions: A Collaborative Continuum, Glen Milstein, Anne Marie Yali

Publications and Research

The purpose of this paper is to describe to psychologists and other clinicians a continuum of mental health care for persons of diverse religions. The continuum delineates boundaries between clinical care provided by mental health professionals and religious care provided by clergy, as well as describes pathways of collaboration across these boundaries. A prevention science based model of Clergy Outreach and Professional Engagement (COPE) is offered to guide this collaboration. The model describes a continuum that moves from the care already present in religious communities, through professional clinical care provided in response to dysfunction and returns persons to their own …

The Mds Mortality Risk Index: The Evolution Of A Method For Predicting 6-Month Mortality In Nursing Home Residents, Davina Porock, Debra Parker-Oliver, Gregory F. Petroski, Marilyn Rantz

Research outputs pre 2011

Accurate prognosis is vital to the initiation of advance care planning particularly in a vulnerable, at risk population such as care home residents. The aim of this paper is to report on the revision and simplification of the MDS Mortality Rating Index (MMRI) for use in clinical practice to predict the probability of death in six months for care home residents.

Traumatic Events, Perceived Stress, And Health In Women With Fibromyalgia And Healthy Controls, Bruce W. Smith, Erin M. Tooley

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

This study examined the relationship between trauma, stress and health in 41 women with fibromyalgia (FM) and 44 women who were healthy controls (HC). The participants were assessed for traumatic events, perceived stress and mental and physical health. Perceived stress was related to worse mental and physical health in both groups. Traumatic events were related to worse mental and physical health in the FM group but were unrelated to health in the HC group. Perceived stress partially mediated the effect of traumatic events on mental and physical health in the FM group. Finally, adult abuse partially mediated the effects of …

Platelet Alpha- And Beta- Secretase Activities Are Not Significantly Affected By Dementia Or Mild Cognitive Impairment In Swedish Patients., Paul Gorham, Natalie Bark, Steve Meaney, Ingemar Bjorkhem, Milita Crisby

Articles

The processing of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) is a critical event in the formation of amyloid plaques which are composed of the 4kDa amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta). Processing of APP occurs through a non-amyloidogenic pathway, mediated by initial alpha-secretase cleavage or through an amyloidogenic pathway via sequential cleavage by beta- and gamma-secretase enzymes, which produces Abeta peptides. Currently, the diagnosis of probable or possible Alzheimer's disease (AD) is primarily based on neuropsychological and neuroradiological assessment. Recent reports indicate that platelet beta-secretase activity is moderately increased in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To our knowledge platelet alpha-secretase activity …

Pk/Pd Modelling Of Comb-Shaped Pegylated Salmon Calcitonin Conjugates Of Differing Molecular Weights, Sinead Ryan, Jesus Maria Frias, David H. Haddleton, David J. Brayden

Articles

Salmon calcitonin (sCT) was conjugated via cysteine-1 to novel combed-shaped end-functionalised poly(PEG) methyl ether methacrylate) (sCT-P) comb-shaped polymers, to yield conjugates of total molecular weights (MW) inclusive of sCT: 6.5, 9.5, 23 and 40 kDa. The conjugates were characterised by HPLC and their in vitro and in vivo bioactivity was measured by cAMP assay on human T47D cells and following intravenous (i.v.) injection to rats, respectively. Stability against endopeptidases, rat serum and liver homogenates was assessed. There were linear and exponential relationships between conjugate MW with potency and efficacy respectively, however the largest MW conjugate still retained 70% of E …

Portable, Non-Invasive Fall Risk Assessment In End Stage Renal Disease Patients On Hemodialysis, Thurmon Lockhart, Adam T. Barth, Xiaoyue Zhang, Rahul Soangra, Emaad Abdel-Rahman, John Lach

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Patients with end stage renal diseases (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) have high morbidity and mortality due to multiple causes, one of which is dramatically higher fall rates than the general population. The mobility mechanisms that contribute to falls in this population must be understood if adequate interventions for fall prevention are to be achieved. This study utilizes emerging noninvasive, portable gait, posture, strength, and stability assessment technologies to extract various mobility parameters that research has shown to be predictive of fall risk in the general population. As part of an ongoing human subjects study, mobility measures such as postural and …

Establishing An Academic Division Of Geriatrics And Gerontology, William Wadland

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Hereditary 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D-Resistant Rickets With Alopecia Resulting From A Novel Missense Mutation In The Dna-Binding Domain Of The Vitamin D Receptor., Peter J. Malloy, Jining Wang, Tarak Srivastava, David Feldman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The rare genetic recessive disease, hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets (HVDRR), is caused by mutations in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) that result in resistance to the active hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3) or calcitriol). In this study, we examined the VDR from a young boy with clinical features of HVDRR including severe rickets, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and partial alopecia. The pattern of alopecia was very unusual with areas of total baldness, adjacent to normal hair and regions of scant hair. The child failed to improve on oral calcium and vitamin D therapy but his abnormal chemistries and his bone X-rays normalized …

Neighborhood Factors Relevant For Walking In Older, Urban, African American Adults, N. A. Gallagher, Kimberlee A. Gretebeck, Jennifer C. Robinson, Elisa R. Torres, Susan L. Murphy, Kristy K. Martyn

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Focus-group and photo-voice methodology were used to identify the salient factors of the neighborhood environment that encourage or discourage walking in older, urban African Americans. Twenty-one male (n = 2) and female (n = 19) African Americans age 60 years and older (M = 70 ± 8.7, range = 61–85) were recruited from a large urban senior center. Photographs taken by the participants were used to facilitate focus-group discussions. The most salient factors that emerged included the presence of other people, neighborhood surroundings, and safety from crime, followed by sidewalk and traffic conditions, animals, public walking tracks …

Physical Activity Effects On Depressive Symptoms In Black Adults, Jessica D. Richardson, Sarah Grace Dalton, Elisa R. Torres, Carolyn M. Sampselle, Kimberlee A. Gretebeck, David L. Ronis, Harold W. Neighbors

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives

Randomized trials found physical activity (PA) effective in decreasing depressive symptoms. Few studies included Black participants. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to determine the effects of PA on depressive symptoms in Black adults.

Methods

Articles were abstracted by conducting a computer and hand search of eligible studies.

Results

Eight of 13 studies found a significant inverse relationship between PA and depressive symptoms in Black adults. Sources for the heterogeneity were explored.

Conclusion

Future studies should include representative samples of Black adults, incorporate a theory which considers multiple levels of influence, account for genetic factors in the …

The Mds Mortality Risk Index: The Evolution Of A Method For Predicting 6-Month Mortality In Nursing Home Residents, Davina Porock, Debra Parker-Oliver, Gregory F. Petroski, Marilyn Rantz

Publications and Research

Background: Accurate prognosis is vital to the initiation of advance care planning particularly in a vulnerable, at risk population such as care home residents. The aim of this paper is to report on the revision and simplification of the MDS Mortality Rating Index (MMRI) for use in clinical practice to predict the probability of death in six months for care home residents.

Methods: The design was a secondary analysis of a US Minimum Data Set (MDS) for long term care residents using regression analysis to identify predictors of mortality within six months.

Results: Using twelve easy to collect …

The Role Of Ombudsmen In Assuring Quality For Residents Of Long-Term Care Facilities: Straining To Make Ends Meet, Carol O'Shaughnessy

National Health Policy Forum

Assuring quality of care for residents in long-term care facilities has been a serious and continuing concern of policymakers for decades. The Older Americans Act’s long-term care ombudsman program is a consumer advocacy model intended to improve quality of care by helping the 2.5 million residents of almost 67,000 nursing and other residential care facilities resolve complaints about their care and protect their rights. Despite broad recognition of its value in assisting residents and its efforts to complement federal and state oversight of long-term care facilities, some observers are concerned about the program’s ability to meet its legislative mandates. Limited …

Effects Of Caregiver Burden And Satisfaction On Affect Of Older End-Stage Renal Disease Patients And Their Spouses, Maureen Wilson-Genderson, Rachel A Pruchno, Francine P Cartwright

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

We examined the extent to which a 2-factor model of affect explains how the burdens and satisfactions experienced by caregivers influence their own well-being and that of the spouses for whom they provide care. Using data from 315 older patients with end-stage renal disease and their spouses, we extended tests of Lawton et al.'s (1991) 2-factor model both longitudinally and dyadically. Multilevel modeling analyses partially support the 2-factor model. Consistent with the model, mean caregiver burden has a stronger effect on both caregiver and patient negative affect than does mean caregiver satisfaction. Contrary to the model, mean caregiver satisfaction has …

香港視障長者生活質素調査 : 應用手冊, The Hong Kong Society For The Blind 香港盲人輔導會, Asia-Pacific Institute Of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University 嶺南大學亞太老年學研究中心

Manual & Guide 手冊及指引

隨著社會的發展，社會大眾對生活的要求亦日益提高。人們並不滿足於基本的生活程度，而是追求舒適的生活環境，高質素的服務，對身體狀況亦更加關注。

在90年代中期開始，香港的學者開始研究「生活質素」這個課題，並發展出一些適合香港使用的「生活質素」量度工具。社會上不同群體對生活質素的界定及期望，可能和一般市民有所不同，要量度以致改善他們的生活質素，便需要特定的量度工具。

香港盲人輔導會於2008年委託嶺南大學亞太老年學研究中心設計了一份有關視障長者生活質素的問卷，並成功訪問了580位55歲以上分別居住在社區及院舍的長者，以便了解他們的生活質素。

是次研究的目標為：

1. 從香港視障長者的角度出發，發展一套量化及可量度視障長者生活質素的工具；

2. 為香港視障長者的生活質素提供一個研究上的參考基數；

3. 以視障長者生活質素量度工具作日後服務管理，為服務提供方向性的指引，並成為本地視障長者服務發展的參考。

本應用手冊將會以深入淺出的方法，向大家闡述如何利用這份「視障長者生活質素調查問卷」評估服務成效及作服務管理。

A Pilot Study Of An Automated Voice Response System And Nursing Intervention To Monitor Adherence To Oral Chemotherapy Agents, Veronica Decker, Sandra L. Spoelstra, Emily Miezo, Renee Bremer, Mei You, Charles W. Given, Barbara A. Given

Peer Reviewed Articles

This study was designed to develop and test a system to monitor adherence with non-hormonal oral chemotherapeutic agents using an automated voice response (AVR) system plus nursing intervention. Participants received the Symptom Management Toolkit then participated in an interview for symptom severity, satisfaction, and beliefs about oral agents. Patients received weekly AVR calls, which assessed adherence to oral agents and severity of 15 symptoms. Patients who reported adherence of < 100% of prescribed oral agents or symptoms of 4 or greater (0-10 scale) for three consecutive weeks, were called by a nurse for assistance with symptom management and adherence to oral chemotherapy medications. Following the 8 weekly AVR calls, patients participated in a follow up interview and medical record review. Subjects were 30 oncology patients who were ambulatory and treated at two cancer centers in Midwest USA. The results indicate 23.3% non adherence rate to oral chemotherapy medications due to symptoms and forgetting to take the medication. An association between symptom management and adherence was found. Symptom severity and beliefs about medications were not significantly different between adherent and non adherent patients. This pilot study demonstrated the ability to accrue patients for a longitudinal trial and informed intervention design, while providing guidance for future interventions and research studies.

This study was designed to develop and test a system to monitor adherence with nonhormonal oral chemotherapeutic agents using an automated voice response (AVR) system plus nursing intervention. Participants were patients …

Effects On Resilience Of Women Family Caregivers Of Adults With Serious Mental Illness: The Role Of Positive Cognitions, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, M. Jane Suresky

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This study examined the effects of risk and protective factors on resilience in 60 women family members of adults with serious mental illness. Both the risk factors constituting caregiver burden (strain, stigma, client dependence, and family disruption) and protective factors, including eight positive cognitions were found to predict two indicators of resilience: resourcefulness and sense of coherence. The effects of caregiver burden on resourcefulness and sense of coherence were mediated by positive cognitions, lending support to resilience theory and suggesting the need to develop interventions to encourage positive thinking among women caregivers of adults with mental illness.

A Cost Analysis Of A Physical Activity Intervention For Older Adults, Erik J. Groessl, Robert M. Kaplan, Steven N. Blair, W. Jack Rejeski, Jeffrey A. Katula, Abby C. King, Roger A. Fielding, Nancy W. Glynn, Marco Pahor

Faculty Publications

We examined the costs of a physical activity (PA) and an educational comparison intervention. 424 older adults at risk for mobility disability were randomly assigned to either condition. The PA program consisted of center-based exercise sessions 3x weekly for 8 weeks, 2x weekly for weeks 9 to 24 and weekly behavioral counseling for 10 weeks. Optional sessions were offered during maintenance weeks (25-52). The comparison intervention consisted of weekly education meetings for 24 weeks, and then monthly for 6 months. Cost analyses were conducted from the "payer's" perspective, with a 1-year time horizon. Intervention costs were estimated by tracking personnel …

Animal-Assisted Therapy As A Pain Relief Intervention For Children, Carie Braun, T. Stangler, J. Narveson, S. Pettingel

Nursing Faculty Publications

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a healing modality involving a patient, an animal therapist, and handler with a goal of achieving a specified therapeutic outcome. Despite the myriad of studies documenting the benefits of AAT, no studies have yet determined the impact of animals on alleviation of pain in children. Therefore, a quasi-experimental intervention design was used to capture the change in pain and vital signs with (n = 18) or without (n = 39) AAT in children ages 3–17 in one acute care pediatric setting. The AAT intervention group experienced a significant reduction in pain level compared to …

Synapse, Alabama Health Libraries Association

Synapse - Newsletter of ALHeLa

This is the Fall, 2009 edition of the ALHeLa newsletter - Synapse.

Contents include:

• President's Column
• Alabama Health Libraries Association - 2009 Executive Committee
• 2009 Annual meeting announcement and news
• News from around the state
• Executive committee meeting minutes

Women Bound To Be Active: One Year Follow-Up To An Innovative Pilot Intervention To Increase Physical Activity And Self-Worth In Women, Jennifer L. Huberty, Jamie Vener, Laura Schulte, Sara M. Roberts, Beth Stevens, Lynda Ransdell

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention (a women’s book club; Women Bound to be Active) in promoting long-term physical activity (PA). Thirty-five women (26-70 years; mean age 50.6 years) completed the 8-month intervention and participated in the one-year follow-up. At follow-up, PA returned to baseline levels; however, self-worth and body mass index significantly improved. Women were more knowledgeable about PA at follow-up; however, they failed to maintain PA after the intervention. Components of the intervention were effective in improving self-worth and lowering BMI at one-year follow-up. To enhance long-term PA adherence continued …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Job Satisfaction In Long-Term Care: A Comparison Between Licensed Nurses And Nursing Assistants, Lynne Almand

Graduate Theses

Knowledge, attitudes, and job satisfaction of long-term care workers were examined to determine if a relationship existed between these factors and if differences existed between licensed nurses and nursing assistants. Participants included 36 nurses and 60 assistants from five nursing homes in the Midland/Odessa area. Results indicated that nurses had significantly more positive attitudes toward (t(94) = -5.72, p<.05) and increased knowledge of older adults (t(94) = 2.71, p<.05) than assistants. In addition, more positive attitudes were significantly associated with more knowledge of the elderly (r(96) = -0.36, p<.05) as well as increased levels of job satisfaction (r(96) = -0.53, p<.05).

Depressive Symptoms And Marital Satisfaction In The Context Of Chronic Disease: A Longitudinal Dyadic Analysis, Rachel Pruchno, Maureen Wilson-Genderson, Francine P Cartwright

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

These analyses examined the longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction over a 2-year period as experienced by 315 patients with end-stage renal disease and their spouses. Using multilevel modeling, the authors examined both individual and cross-partner effects of depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction on patients and spouses, testing bidirectional causality. Results indicate that mean and time-varying depressive symptoms of both patients and spouses were associated with their own marital satisfaction. Although mean marital satisfaction was associated with own depressive symptoms for both patients and spouses, time-varying marital satisfaction did not affect depressive symptoms for either patients or spouses. …

Assessing Stakeholder Opinions Of Medical Review Of Impaired Drivers And Fitness To Drive: Recommendations For Massachusetts, Nina M. Silverstein, Kelli Barton

Gerontology Institute Publications

Driving is the main mode of travel for Americans age 65 and older, and although older adults are generally found to be safe drivers, aging often brings about functional limitations and an increase in medications that can impede safe driving and fitness to drive (Rosenbloom, 2003; Kissinger, 2008; Adler & Silverstein, 2008). Effective licensing policies and Medical Advisory Board practices are critical components in identifying medically at-risk drivers and may even have a role in the transition to alternative transportation options; yet, states vary greatly in their approach to licensing and renewal practices and in the utilization, composition, and function …

To Evaluate The Level Of Agreement Between Two Self-Reported Medication Adherence Scales And Prescription Refill Records In Older Adults, Priyanka Kakad

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To evaluate the level of agreement between two self-reported medication adherence scales and prescription refill records in older adults. Design: Cross-sectional study Setting: Imperial Plaza; a retirement community located in Richmond, Virginia. Participants: 32 independent-living older adults, taking anti-hypertensive medications and filling their prescriptions at on-site Plaza Professional Pharmacy were recruited in the study. Methods: Participants’ 6 months refill records were obtained and Medication Possession Ration (MPR) was calculated. Participants were interviewed using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) & Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ). Kappa statistics was used to evaluate the level of agreement. Results: Poor level of agreement was …

Content Validation Of Nutrition Diagnostic Term Involuntary Weight Loss By Board Certified Specialists In Gerontological Nutrition, Paula K. Ritter-Gooder

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this study was to validate content of the Nutrition Diagnostic Term NC- 3.2 Involuntary Weight Loss using expert raters. This descriptive survey invited all Board Certified Specialists in Gerontological Nutrition (CSG) to participate by mail. An instrument was developed that included the definition, etiologies, and signs and symptoms of the diagnosis with items added from literature review. CSG rated how common or characteristic each item is to the diagnosis using a 5 point Likert scale. A weighted response for each item was used to calculate a Diagnostic Content Validity (DCV) score. DCV scores of 0.80 and above …

State Experiences With Affordable Housing Plus Services: Report To Seniors And Persons With Disabilities, On The Move, Paula C. Carder, Erika Zoller

Institute on Aging Publications

Housing developers, providers, policy makers, and advocates, increasingly recognize that for some groups of individuals, access to affordable housing alone is "not enough." That is, some individuals require more than shelter. Examples include individuals who have chronic health conditions (e.g., HIV/AIDS), those with physical or cognitive limitations (e.g., persons with developmental disabilities, adults with physical disabilities), and those who have a combination of health conditions or who cannot thrive in traditional housing (e.g., persons who have been homeless, individuals with chronic mental illness). Increasingly, housing providers, social service agencies, advocates, states, and federal agencies have recognized the need to combine …

Syntactic Complexity In Persons With Multiple Sclerosis, Katherine A. King

Theses and Dissertations

Several studies using standardized tests have provided evidence for the presence of language disorders in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and have suggested that persons with MS may have language that is less complex. One aspect not thoroughly studied is that of syntactic complexity in naturalistic, conversational settings. The present study collected language samples from 10 adults with MS and 10 age-matched controls and compared scores on five quantitative measures derived from those samples. No significant differences were found between groups on any measure. This finding suggests that in mild cases of MS or during periods of remission, individuals may …

Relationships Among Perceived Burden, Depressive Cognitions, Resourcefulness, And Quality Of Life In Female Relatives Of Seriously Mentally Ill Adults, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, M. Jane Suresky

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Providing care and support to a seriously mentally ill (SMI) family member can have deleterious effects on one's health and quality of life. This study explored relationships among perceived burden, depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and quality of life in 60 African-American and Caucasian women family members of SMI adults. Caucasians reported greater burden than African-Americans; the groups were similar in depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and quality of life. In Caucasians and African-Americans, burden correlated with depressive cognitions and both correlated with poorer mental health. In African-Americans, burden also correlated with lower personal resourcefulness and both correlated with poorer mental health. The findings …

Modulation Of Lps-Induced Activation Of Hepatic Map Kinases, Oliver Surriga

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent inflammagen that has been found to be primarily responsible for many symptoms caused by gram-negative bacterial infections. The LPS-initiated signal transduction pathways involve several terminal kinases, mainly p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), ultimately leading to increased expression of genes encoding such inflammatory cytokines as interleukin (IL )-1 �. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-u. In this study, the effects of age on LPS-induced activation of MAPKs in the liver of rats were examined. Results show that the basal level of phosphorylated p42/44 MAPK was increased in postnatal day …

Predictors And Outcomes Of Postpartum Mothers' Perceptions Of Readiness For Discharge After Birth, Marianne E. Weiss, Lisa Lokken

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To identify predictors and outcomes of postpartum mothers' perceptions of their readiness for hospital discharge. Design: A correlational design with path analyses was used to explore predictive relationships among transition theory-related variables. Setting: Midwestern tertiary perinatal center. Participants: One hundred and forty-one mixed-parity postpartum mothers who had experienced vaginal birth or Cesarean delivery of normal healthy infants. Methods: Before hospital discharge, patients completed questionnaires about sociodemographic characteristics, hospitalization factors, quality of discharge teaching, and readiness for discharge. Three weeks postdischarge, mothers were contacted by telephone to collect coping difficulty and health care utilization data. Main Outcome Measures: Readiness for …