Digital Commons Network^™

Women's Experience Of Cancer Treatment During Covid-19 On The Texas-Mexico Border, Kayla E. Castañeda

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed existing racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, and gender disparities in cancer care and highlighted the need for more research in understudied populations. No studies have elucidated the experience of women living on the Texas-Mexico border receiving cancer treatment during the pandemic. This study explored the lived experience of receiving cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 for women living on the Texas-Mexico border and identified participants' self-identified unmet needs while receiving cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic on the Texas-Mexico border. Following IRB approval and informed consent, ten women living on the Texas-Mexico border who received …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Research Trends And Novelties For Pneumonia In Children, Ariyani Lutfitasari, Fitriani Nur Damayanti, Budi Santosa, Lia Mulyanti, Umi Khasanah

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children globally, with most cases occurring in low- and middle-income nations. Pneumonia in children has been thoroughly researched in numerous countries throughout the world. However, no research performed bibliometric analyses of pneumonia in children. This study aims to use a biometric analysis to determine trends in the number of publications, the number of citations, network visualization, overlay visualization, and density visualization concerning the issue of pneumonia in children. This research method employs a systematic review with stages adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart. The highest …

Why Did They Fail? Investigating The Eight Invalid Dimensions Of Patient Safety Culture: Mixed Method Research, Felicia Setiawan, Ferdi Antonio

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Resistance to adopting patient safety culture practices or technologies can hinder improvements in patient safety. This study contributes to enhancing the understanding of patient safety culture (PSC) assessment by identifying the specific factors that render some PSC dimensions invalid and offering actionable recommendations for improvement in healthcare settings. Primary data were gathered using a mixed method of explanatory sequential design, with quantitative data collection and analysis followed by qualitative data collection and analysis. The study was conducted in the leading Private Hospital XYZ, one of the private hospital groups internationally accredited with Joint Commission International with a 110-patient bed capacity. …

A Quality Improvement Project: Implementing A Mental Health Screening Program For International Business Travelers., Joyce Ighedosa

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

A Quality Improvement Project: Implementing a Mental Health Screening Program for International Business Travelers.

PURPOSE The purpose of the Quality Improvement project was to implement a mental health screening program for international business travelers in an oil and gas organization. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) was implemented

BACKGROUND The project was implemented in a global oil and gas organization. The original medical screening for pre-travel preparation was on identification of physiological disorders, proper management of identified disease processes; infectious disease prevention; vaccine review and update; malaria chemoprophylaxis and vector control. Mental Health was not reviewed.

METHODOLOGY The PHQ-2 was …

Empowering Patient Care Technicians To Reduce Non-Ventilated Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia In An Acute Care Hospital In Northern California, Barbra Pacatang

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (nv-HAP) is increasingly becoming a significant concern in healthcare settings. Studies have indicated that nv-HAP accounts for a substantial portion of hospital-acquired pneumonia cases, with a high associated mortality rate. The prevalence of nv-HAP underscores the importance of implementing robust HAP prevention bundles. Prevention, early recognition, and appropriate management of nv-HAP are essential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare facilities.

Context: A 28-bed capacity Stroke Telemetry Unit incurred six nv-HAP incidents in 2023. Patients needed to be more compliant with the nv-HAP prevention bundles. Patient care technicians (PCTs) are instrumental nurses’ …

Reducing Rates Of Blood Culture Contamination In The Emergency Room, Erika Goldberg

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: In one emergency room (ER) blood cultures (BC) drawn by nurses had a high contamination rate due to lack of collection standards, which lead to poor patient outcomes.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was; In adult emergency room patients where blood cultures are drawn (P), how does implementation of an evidence-based practice method (I), compared to the standard method of obtaining blood cultures (C), affect blood culture contamination rates (O), within ten weeks. (T)?

Evidence: Based on multiple sources within the literature; best evidence for lowering blood culture contamination rates (BCC) is done using EBP …

Experiences Of Black Males With Generalized Anxiety Disorder During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cynthia Lynn Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative research dissertation involved exploring the intersection of race, gender, and mental health via lived experiences of Black males who were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the unique sociocultural context of the pandemic influenced their experiences with anxiety. Using a qualitative Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis research design and semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of seven Black males living in various regions of the United States the interviews involved their personal experiences, coping mechanisms, and perceptions of societal and systemic factors that affected their mental health during the pandemic. …

The Experiences Of Icu Nurses Caring For Covid-19 Patients In Zambia, Mable Kasonde Mwila

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of ICU nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in Zambia. The problem was lack of knowledge on what intensive care unit nurses experienced while caring for COVID patients then to investigate the experiences of ICU nurses taking care of COVID patients in Lusaka, Zambia. Using Sister Callista Roy’s nursing adaptation model as a conceptual framework, the qualitative interpretative phenomenology approach was used to interview 14 participants in two hospitals in Zambia. MAXQDA software was used to organize data to develop codes and derive six themes, which were education, emotional and psychological …

Implementation Of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Dressings And The Effect On Bloodstream Infections In Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients At A Pediatric Hospital, Kaitlin Vernier

Dissertations

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced lifesaving therapy used for patients with significant cardiorespiratory failure not responding to conventional therapies. The most common and life-threatening complications associated with ECMO are blood stream infections (BSIs). In addition to increased mortality, BSI's increase patient length of stay and cost. Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) is known to be a significant factor in BSI reduction. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to assess the utilization of CHG-impregnated dressings on the incidence of BSI rates in pediatric ECMO patients. The setting was a 40-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and a 30-bed cardiac …

Wiping Out Central Line Associated-Bloodstream Infections: Cleaning High Touch Surfaces In The Picu, Emily Heth

Dissertations

Problem: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a significant, preventable healthcare-related complication of hospital admission and medical management of critically ill and medically complex patients. CLABSIs result in significant adverse outcomes such as increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in the hospital, increased cost of treatment, and increased rates of readmission. Direct and indirect contact within the patient’s hospital environment are potential means of transmission for microorganisms, increasing the inherent risk of acquiring a CLABSI.

Method: For this quality improvement (QI) project, a pre-post design was utilized to evaluate the …

Improving Transitions In Care Through Early Discharge Planning: A Quality Improvement Initiative., Sarah Markgraf

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: A substantial body of evidence has shown transitions in care are one of the weakest links in healthcare networks, especially for older adults with complex comorbidities. Residents receiving short-term rehabilitation (i.e., rehab) transitioning to home from a skilled nursing facility (SNF) are the most vulnerable in the first 30 days post-discharge for adverse resident events, including avoidable rehospitalization. Avoidable rehospitalizations cost Medicare billions of dollars annually and lead to poor resident outcomes. Early discharge planning in SNFs for short-term stay rehabilitation has decreased rates of avoidable rehospitalizations, improved quality of life in geriatric residents, and improved care partners' perceived …

Reducing Stress And Improving Mindfulness Practices Among Mental Health Professionals Through Guided Meditation., Liara G. Patton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Abstract

Background: Chronic exposure to psychological stress places mental health providers in a vulnerable position when coping skills are not learned or available. Mental health providers are at risk for both mental and physical illness due to the empathetic demands of their client’s stressors. The deficit in adequate coping skills can cause provider-client relationships to suffer and create an undesirable work environment.

Setting: This project took place in Somerset, KY, at a mental health company called A New Beginnings Achievement Center (ANBAC). Twenty-six employees work at ANBAC, all of whom are involved in providing mental health services to developmentally delayed …

Role Of Hospital Leadership In Pandemic Preparedness: Experience At A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lucy Wangari, William Macharia, Benjamin Wachira, Jemimah Kimeu, Boniface Mativa, Lukoye Atwoli

Emergency Medicine, East Africa

Introduction Pandemic preparedness refers to being ready for, responding to and recovering from public health crises, and is integral for health security. Hospital leadership is a critical building block of an effective healthcare system, providing policy, accountability and stewardship in a health crisis.

Objectives and methods We aimed to describe the leadership and governance structures put in place at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, a private not-for-profit tertiary healthcare facility, following the COVID-19 pandemic. We reviewed over 200 hospital documents archived in the COVID-19 repository including those received from the Kenya Ministry of Health, emails, memos, bulletins, meeting minutes, …

Impact Of Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes Disinfecting Clostridioides Difficle On High-Touch Surfaces, Tyler Wolf Ramirez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrheas worldwide (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC], 2022). 15% of all hospitalized patients in the United States develop antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), with 15-25% of cases caused by C. difficile (CDC, 2022). C. difficile costs the United States Healthcare system $5.4-6.3 billion annually (Balsells et al., 2019). The project’s purpose was to see if implementing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) wipes using an interprofessional team leads to the following expected outcome(s): reduction in hospital-acquired C. difficile infections and comparable disinfection rates to sodium hypochlorite. An interprofessional team consisting of the primary lead, Clinical …

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates Among Adolescents In South Carolina, Rebecca Jane Morrison

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Among adolescents 11-17 years of age in South Carolina, low rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can negatively impact health outcomes through increased risk of acquiring HPV-associated cancers.

Purpose: To determine if the 4 Pillars™ Immunization Toolkit increased HPV vaccination rates among adolescent patients.

Methods: The 4 Pillars™ Immunization Toolkit was the framework for this bundled intervention. Pillar 1, convenience and easy access, included after-school HPV express clinics. Pillar 2, communication, utilized staff motivational interviewing skills, campaign promotion materials, documentation of declination, and second-dose callback appointments. Pillar 3, enhanced vaccination systems, was designed to use …

Improving Early Detection And Treatment Of Chlamydia By Implementing A Routine Chlamydia Screening And Testing In Females Between The Ages Of 18–24, Isabelle Vikumitsi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Chlamydia Trachomatis is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States. One in 20 sexually active females between the ages of 15 and 24 have chlamydia. Most people with the infection are asymptomatic and do not seek treatment. Chlamydial infections in women, especially if untreated, increase the risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy, leading to higher medical costs.

Purpose: The project aimed to implement early screening for chlamydial infections in the young adult population to increase early detection of the disease.

Methods: A pre-post design was used for this project to compare chlamydia diagnosis rates …

Standardization Of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing: A Quality Improvement Project In Central Line Bloodstream Infection Prevention, Faustina Muruako

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) are severe healthcare-related infections that can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and even death. Several healthcare agencies provide guidelines to prevent CLABSIs, with Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing (CHGB) as one of the preventive measures for individuals with central venous lines (CVL).

Purpose: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to standardize CHGB procedures for maintaining CVLs on a specific unit for CLABSI prevention through evidence-based practice.

Methods: A quality improvement project was implemented at a Central Alabama hospital to standardize CHGB procedures for CVL patients utilizing a CLABSI unit champion monitoring system to establish …

Implementing A Comprehensive Tobacco-Cessation Program For Patients With Tobacco Use Disorder, Jalen Eaton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Individuals who use tobacco are at an increased risk for the development of heart disease, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Tobacco use is one of the most preventable causes of death in the world.

Purpose: The focus of the quality improvement project was to improve access to tobacco cessation resources in patients with tobacco use disorder at a primary care clinic.

Methods: Weekly stakeholder meetings were held to ensure the validity of the project. The plan, do, study, act (PDSA) model of continuous quality improvement guided the project. A comprehensive tobacco-cessation program including informational materials and …

عدوى المستشفيات, Afaf Taha

Al Jinan الجنان

Despite the progress in the medical fields and technologies used, and the use of a number of antibiotics to eliminate microorganisms that attack the human body, bacterial infections still a major cause of patient deaths. The irony is that hospitals patients turn to for hospitalization are the source of infection caused by microorganisms resistant to a number of antibiotics. The researcher discusses this problem and tells us that the hospital is an ideal place for transmitting pathogens because patients with similar diseases placed in closed groups and are in contact with health workers so that both become a hotbed for …

Predictors Of Hiv Knowledge, Perceived Stigma And Risk Among Transport Workers In Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda, Benjamin Betunga, Lilian Nuwabaine, Eve Katushabe, Grace Among, Grace Nakate, Ahmed Sarki, Diana Mbattude, Mary Namuguzi, John Baptist Asiimwe

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence among transport workers in sub-Saharan Africa remains high, estimated at as high as 9.9% in western Uganda compared with the national prevalence of 5.4%. The prevalence of HIV among transport workers has been partly attributed to the level of knowledge regarding HIV prevention, perceived HIV risk, and stigma. Accordingly, these have been linked to high-risk HIV transmission behaviours that increase the chances of acquiring HIV among adults. Therefore, this study investigated the predictors of HIV knowledge, perceived HIV risk, and stigma among transport workers in Mbarara city in southwestern Uganda.

Methods: The …

A Staff Education Program On The Education Of Nurses On Transgender Health Care, Diana Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In nursing education, both preregistration and continuing professional development, there is an absence of information about the specific needs of transgender people. The practicum site observed that education on the needs of the transgender community was lacking, discussing a discrepancy in the information offered and the scant attention paid to the unique requirements of transgender individuals. The goal of this project was to create a program that would raise staff members’ understanding of the exceptional health care requirements of the transgender population by providing them with an evidence-based assessment screening tool and training on transgender health care for nurses. The …

A Staff Education Program On The Education Of Nurses On Transgender Health Care, Diana Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In nursing education, both preregistration and continuing professional development, there is an absence of information about the specific needs of transgender people. The practicum site observed that education on the needs of the transgender community was lacking, discussing a discrepancy in the information offered and the scant attention paid to the unique requirements of transgender individuals. The goal of this project was to create a program that would raise staff members’ understanding of the exceptional health care requirements of the transgender population by providing them with an evidence-based assessment screening tool and training on transgender health care for nurses. The …

Lived Experiences, Perceptions, And Caregiving Trajectories Of Family Caregivers Of Youth With Substance Use Disorders (Suds) In Zambia, Ireen Manase Kabembo

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

There is unequivocal evidence that family caregivers contribute to healthcare systems worldwide by providing care for persons with chronic illnesses in the home setting. his study explores the lived experiences, perceptions, and caregiving trajectories of 30 family caregivers of youth aged 16-24 diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) in Zambia. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, a caregiving timeline, and participant observation and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Guided by the integrated theoretical framework of positioning theory and the theory of caregiving dynamics, this study offers a new lens for understanding caregiver’s experiences regarding caregiver identity, self-perceptions, interpersonal relationships, …

The Effect Of Educating Mas On Hpv Vaccination: A Pilot Project, Alexis Petersen, Karlen E. Luthy, Michael S. Robinson, Janelle L. B. Macintosh

Student Works

Background: The HPV vaccine protects patients against infection and cancers, yet it is underutilized. Medical Assistants (MAs) can play a pivotal role in vaccination and are the focus of this project.

Aim Statement: This project aims to examine whether one educational session can improve the perceptions, knowledge, and comfort level of MAs regarding HPV vaccination.

Methods: The project took place at three separate clinics of one pediatric organization in Utah.

Interventions: A 10–15-minute educational session about the HPV vaccine was presented to the MAs at each clinic, and a pre- and post-survey method was used to analyze the effect of …

Keep Our Children Smiling: Fluoride Varnish Education In The Pediatric Primary Care Setting, Isabella Mortola

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. In early childhood, it is associated with many negative factors such as pain, loss of teeth, and impaired growth. Fluoride varnish (FV) is a protective resin coating treatment that is reimbursable by most insurances and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), and the American Dental Association (ADA) due to its high efficacy in preventing dental caries. FV is a low-cost treatment that can be easily applied in 1-2 minutes during a well-child visit in the primary care setting, where children …

Short- And Long-Term Predicted And Witnessed Consequences Of Digital Surveillance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review, Leigha Comer, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Bradley Hiebert, Maxwell J. Smith, Anita Kothari, Saverio Stranges, Jason Gilliland, Jed Long, Jacquelyn Burkell, Jacob J. Shelley, Jodi Hall, James Shelley, Tommy Cooke, Marionette Ngole Dione, Danica Facca

Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the deployment of digital technologies for public health surveillance globally. The rapid development and use of these technologies have curtailed opportunities to fully consider their potential impacts (eg, for human rights, civil liberties, privacy, and marginalization of vulnerable groups). OBJECTIVE: We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed and gray literature to identify the types and applications of digital technologies used for surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the predicted and witnessed consequences of digital surveillance. METHODS: Our methodology was informed by the 5-stage methodological framework to guide scoping reviews: identifying the research question; identifying …

Digital Health Literacy, Vaccine Information Sources, And Vaccine Acceptance Among Parents In Ontario: Quantitative Findings From A Mixed Methods Study, Sarah Ashfield, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Panagiota Tryphonopoulos, Ève Dubé, Maxwell Smith

Faculty Publications

Parents make important vaccination decisions for their children and many variables affect parents’ decisions to accept or decline vaccines. Parents are tasked with locating, understanding, and applying information to inform health decisions often using online resources; however, the digital health literacy levels of parents are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate parents’ digital health literacy levels, their sources for vaccine information, and analyze how demographics, digital health literacy, health literacy, parental attitudes and vaccine beliefs, trust, and vaccine information sources predict vaccine acceptance. Quantitative findings of a mixed methods study that examined parental vaccine decision making across …

Let's Talk About Sex & Prep: District 2 Does!, Chrissa M. Shaffer

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Defining what a PrEP Service Program entails and how it could benefit your district or county health center. Discussing methods that have been used to set up PrEP Services within a district – including training, resources, and promotion. Identifying the challenges and working through them. Reviewing the results of the PrEP Services over the past year, and the ongoing goals to encourage and increase our PrEP Services.

Improving Treatment Adherence Of Chronic Disease Management In Patients Presenting To The Interventional Pulmonary Perioperative Services With Telephone Follow-Ups, Victoria Dao, Desiree Camille Nanat

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Purpose of Project: The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to review research-based evidence systematically and to implement evidence-based change in practice in the clinical setting. The goal is to improve treatment adherence in patients with obesity, hypertension (HTN), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by providing telephone follow-ups within 30 days post-perioperative discharge.

Background: Obesity, HTN, T2DM, and OSA continue to pose significant challenges to the United States healthcare system. Nonadherence to prescribed management of these chronic diseases is prevalent among patients presenting to the perioperative department of a regional academic hospital …

Improving Healthcare Workers’ Biohazardous Spill Safe Handling Skills, Zeina Mhanna, Ahmad Tassi

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

All healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to biohazardous material. Biohazardous material may come in the form of spills, posing a risk of infection to (HCWs) who are not trained on how to safely handle them. While international guidelines recommend training HCWs on how to safely handle biohazardous spills in order to improve their skills, there are no studies that tackled this recommendation. The aim of this study is to improve HCWs’ biohazardous spill safe handling skills through training, and to evaluate the association between the HCWs’ improvement level and demographical characteristics. The study was conducted in a Southern Lebanese hospital …