Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Association Between Dietary Macronutrient Intake And High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels Among Obese Women In Kuantan, Malaysia, Siti Zuhaidah Shahadan, Azlina Daud, Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Lokman Md. Isa, Samsul Draman

Makara Journal of Science

Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In general, an individual’s dietary intake may influence the hs-CRP level. However, evidence on the influence of dietary macronutrient intake on hs-CRP levels among obese Malaysian women remains fragmented. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between the hs-CRP level and dietary macronutrient intake of obese adults living in Kuantan. The assessment of 24-hour dietary recall and venous hs-CRP levels were investigated in 67 women with a body mass index of 27.5 to 39.9 kg/m². The findings revealed that obese women living …

What Methods Can The Health Care Industry Implement To Reduce Energy Consumption And Waste Production From Patient Care To Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions?, Danielle H. S. Good

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Purpose: Climate change is a growing issue all around the world and has negative impacts on the environment and human health. The health care industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions amplifying climate change. Health care establishments are in place to improve health but are inadvertently harming it at the same time. Methods:A review of the literature was conducted to determine the impact the health care industry has on climate change and what can be done to limit the impacts on the environment. Resources were collected from trusted organizations databases such as Healthcare Without Harm, …

Healthcare Policy Analysis: Next Of Kin Contact Information On Driver's Licensse And Its Use In Emergency Notification, Suzanne Sheaffer

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Abstract

In Pennsylvania, there has been a rise in unclaimed decedents within Third-Class and Fifth-Class county coroner offices. Decreasing the number of unclaimed decedents in Third-Class and Fifth-Class Pennsylvania coroners offices is the goal for this healthcare policy analysis project. Using the Bardach’s eight step policy analysis problem solving technique, the data and the project outcomes will be presented to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Data collection began with a questionnaire sent to all 67 counties to determine who had access to the Pennsylvania driver’s license database entitled Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET). Fourteen of 67 counties have partial access and …

Creation Of A Covid-19 Community Testing Team For Home Health And Hospice, Lilah Raja

Master's Projects and Capstones

The novel SARS-CoV-2 strain (COVID-19) was identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 (Eddy et. al, 2020). The resulting US outbreak has affected the Kaiser Permanente (KP) Oakland health care system. With the threat of COVID-19 highest among immunosuppressed and elderly clients, KP Oakland home health and hospice (HH/HO) department is rapidly mobilizing to provide community and in-home testing for eligible clients. A project was created to build a COVID-19 testing team workflow to provide diagnostic and preventative testing. This project focuses on team-based interventions that will change the pre-existing practice of requiring HH/HO clients to travel to remote testing …

Policy Analysis: Appropriate Opioid Prescribing Practices For Post-Surgical Patients, Joan S. Daversa

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

The pervasiveness of legally prescribed opioids in the United States has led to increased post-surgical patients succumbing to opioid dependence. There is a vast disparity in pain management practices across clinical settings. The lack of well-defined policies specifying opioid prescribing practices for post-surgical patients has created inconsistency among providers. This situation creates a risk for misuse and long-term opioid dependence for patients. This policy analysis aims to implement an evidence-based opioid prescribing policy for post-surgical patients to improve current opioid prescribing practices and implement a best practice culture to reduce excessive opioid practices. Collins (2005) health policy analysis adapted from …

Valley Fever: Education For Primary Care Providers And Allied Health Care Professionals, Michelle Elizabeth Bergen

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Valley Fever: Educating Primary Care Providers and Allied Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Problem: Coccidioidomycosis (cocci), informally Valley Fever (VF), infects the lungs with the fungal spore coccidioides. It is prevalent in areas where soil disturbance occurs. Currently, there are no related educational or standardized guidelines exist for primary care providers (PCPs) in California’s Central Valley, where VF is highly endemic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).

Context: A Doctor of Nursing Practice project educational program for PCPs and allied healthcare workers (AHWs) at the Adventist Health Central Valley Network (AHCVN) clinics. The project aimed to educate PCPs to …

Prospectus For Mitigating Loneliness During Quarantine For Older Adults In Long Term Care Facilities, Emily Gines

Master's Projects and Capstones

In 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in quarantine safety measures and facility closures, facilities that cared for older adults in particular were hit the hardest. Long term care facilities (LTCFs), specifically those that care for older adults with memory care problems, must find ways to provide high-quality, standard care, despite many regulations and changes. Although infection control is an important aspect of care among this population, we must also consider how we can maintain quality of life and social connection. Loneliness is defined as the subjective feeling of being alone or perceived isolation. It can also relate to the …

Improving Frequency Of Hand Hygiene Education From Providers To Patients, Christopher Sutton, Nancy Moran, Vanessa Hernandez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Hand hygiene compliance is one of the most simplest forms of preventing infection. This paper focuses on improving the frequency and standardizing hand hygiene education to patients delivered by health care professionals from a primary care clinic. The ambulatory suburban community clinic in Oakland primarily serves the underserved population. The target population are the following providers: Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Medical Assistants. A survey was adapted from evidence-based studies, WHO, and CDC to collect data on current hand hygiene education provided to patients from healthcare professionals. An additional survey was given to patients …

Creating A Thriving Informatics Culture, Nicholas Webb

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Nurses thrive best when they are empowered to make decisions that can positively impact healthcare delivery. Knowledge and application of nursing informatics principles can influence clinical, quality, operational, and financial outcomes in ways that were not available in previous professional nursing generations.

If nursing informatics is the solution, what is the problem? A survey regarding use and attitudes about nursing informatics was taken of chief nurse executives (CNEs) at an integrated, not for profit healthcare system in the Northern California region, where the author oversees the electronic health record (EHR). The results were surprising. Half said they did not know …

Increased Discharge Compliance Through Mental Health Follow-Up, Robert H. Kirby

MSN Capstone Projects

Emergency departments are being strained to their breaking points as a result of the recent COVID pandemic. These departments are in need of programs that can help to reduce stress on not only limited budgets but also reduce the strain on their overwhelmed staff. One such strain on emergency departments and their limited resources is the readmittance of mental health patients as a result of non-compliance of the discharge instructions. The change project looks to address whether following up 10 days post discharge can increase discharge instruction compliance and ultimately reduce readmissions. The aim of the project is through the …

The Relationship Between Early Discharge Planning And Length Of Stay, Kandiss Hearn

MSN Capstone Projects

Discharge planning (DCP) and early discharge intervention has proven to have a direct effect on reducing hospital length of stay (LOS), reducing readmissions, reducing patient morbidity, improving patient satisfaction and possibly reducing patient healthcare cost. This proposal specifically addresses hospital length of stay but with research it was found that early DCP also has the potential to improve outcomes in several areas adjacent to both the patient aspect and business aspect of health care. The proposed question is as follows: In adult hospitalized patients (P), how does discharge planning within the first 24 hours of admission (I) compared to late …

Trends And Factors Associated With Suicide Deaths In Older Adults, Eada Novilla-Surette

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Suicide in older adults is a significant overlooked problem worldwide; particularly in Canada where a national suicide prevention strategy has not yet been established. This population-level study utilized and analyzed linked administrative health care databases (from 2011-2015) that were available at ICES (provincial health care administrative data steward), to build a better understanding of suicide (rate; trends; risks/preventive factors) in older adults living in Ontario, Canada. The findings suggest that suicide remains a persistent cause of death in older adults (with an average annual suicide rate of 0.1 per 1000 people over 5 years; the risks include being male, living …

The Impact Of A Digital Intervention On Perceived Stress, Resiliency, Social Support, And Intention To Leave Among Newly Licensed Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Lisa Concilio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The nursing shortage has been deemed a public health crisis with the turnover rate of newly licensed nurses (NLNs) growing (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2014). One out of five NLNs are leaving the profession due to work dissatisfaction and feelings of inadequacy (National Academy of Medicine, 2017). NLN attrition during the first year of hire has been associated with feelings of overwhelming stress and decreased sense of support which negatively impact patient safety (Spence Laschinger et al., 2016). As seasoned nurses are attempting to retire amidst a nursing shortage (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2018), NLNs require more support …

Improving Clinicians’ Access To Patient Education And Va Resource Information, Ella Bermudez

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Problem: In a western US Veterans Administration (VA) hospital system, patient education materials are provider-specific, not standardized, and not located in a central, readily available location.

Context: How does a patient education tool affect the clinicians' delivery of health education in increasing health literacy compared to written information alone in the US veteran population? An integrated literature review was performed using Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Scopus, CINAHL, and PubMed databases to address the PICOT question above and determine the impact of patient education tools on health literacy and patient engagement. The literature recommended improving patient education for better …

The Lived Resettlement Experience For Single Refugee Mothers From The Democratic Republic Of Congo, Lauren Michelle Mefford

Doctoral Dissertations

At least 72% of the 50,000 Congolese refugees resettled in the USA in the last 5 years are women and children. Many are single refugee mothers (SRM) disadvantaged by obstacles (i.e., childcare) that hinder them from becoming self-sufficient within the required timeframe post-resettlement. Published research on resettlement has focused general challenges, but an understanding of the unique needs and perspectives of SRMs is lacking. This phenomenological, qualitative study provides insight into the lived resettlement experience for SRMs from the Democratic of Congo (DRC). Participants (n=7) were recruited from a refugee resettlement agency in East Tennessee and partook in open-ended, unstructured …

The Youthful Pandemic, Brook Sahlemariam

Nursing | Senior Theses

This paper attempts to examine the neurological, physical, and societal effects of e-cigarette use among youth and young-adults in North America. Furthermore, the paper investigates the parallels between e-cigarette users, tobacco users, and dual users in regard to behavioral patterns, reasons for use, and age of initiation.

Prevention Of Pediatric Mortality Associated With Malaria: An Exhaustive Literature Review, Taylor Mosley

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Malaria, a disease that is preventable yet frequently fatal, disproportionately affects pediatric African populations at a rate that results in a child under the age of 5 dying every two minutes. Since 1955, the World Health Organization has contributed to a significant reduction in the morbidity and mortality of malaria; however, progress has stalled in recent years. In some countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, cases have increased since 2015. This literature review seeks to identify factors associated with this incline, as well as what interventions can have the greatest impact to prevent pediatric mortality in areas with the largest …

5th & 6th Grade School-Based Asthma Self-Management Program: Toolkit For Facilitators, Sarah Laroe, Jasmine Terrell, Tracy L. Brewer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

This toolkit will aid school nurses in facilitating an asthma self-management program in their school. School-based asthma self-management programs have been shown to significantly improve school absences and improve health care outcomes in children living with asthma. Although there are many programs out there, this toolkit will utilize the Iggy and the Inhalers© program by Booster Shot Media. The program has several resources available online for free at their website, as well as resources that may be purchased. The program will be enlightening for the students and a fun way to learn about managing their asthma before they attend middle …

Development And Implementation Of A Healthcare Volunteer Retention Program, Sandra Gomez

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Healthcare volunteer responders are an asset during disasters, and their retention is necessary to meet rising demands. This project aimed to develop and implement an evidence-based practice change using a healthcare volunteer retention program and evaluate its influence on retention.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this evidence-based practice project was: In healthcare volunteers, how does the participation in a formal healthcare volunteer retention program influence healthcare volunteer retention rate, intent to stay, and volunteer satisfaction 12 weeks after Healthcare Volunteer Retention Program introduction?

Evidence: The evidence from the literature supported mentoring, education and training, …

Assessing Nurse Practitioners' Knowledge And Clinical Practice With Regard To The Oral-Systemic Link, Angela Haynes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) comprise a significant portion of the U.S. primary care workforce and play an essential role in patients' health awareness, prevention strategies, disease management, and in providing appropriate provider referrals. Nurse Practitioners receive education on the oral-systemic connection, yet there have been limited studies on the clinical practice of NPs assessing the oral cavity to evaluate the condition of the teeth and the oral tissues. The purpose of this study was to explore the nurse practitioners’ knowledge and practice habits of assessing the oral cavity for diseases or abnormalities in the mouth that can, in turn, affect overall …

A Pain Control Optimization Pathway To Reduce Acute Postoperative Pain And Opioid Consumption Postoperatively: An Approach To Battling The Opioid Epidemic, Holly Franson

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Healthcare providers worldwide are working to battle the opioid epidemic and reduce opioid-related harm to patients. Utilizing evidence-based acute pain management methods to reduce opioid consumption is critical to combat the problem.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In opioid-naïve adult patients undergoing general anesthesia for out-patient, minimally invasive abdominal wall hernia surgery, how does the implementation of an evidence-based, preventative Pain Control Optimization Pathway (POP) using a multimodal, opioid-sparing acute pain management technique and standardized procedure-specific opioid prescribing, compared to standard treatment, affect postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption, upon discharge from the …

Utilization Of Asthma Guidelines In Primary Care, Kate R. Miller

Dissertations

Background: Chronic lower respiratory disease, including asthma, is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Financially, asthma accounts for approximately 54 billion dollars in healthcare spending annually. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute [NHLBI] established guidelines to reduce impairment and to reduce future asthma attacks.

Purpose: This Quality Improvement (QI) pilot implemented the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and the Asthma Action Plan (AAP) per NHLBI guidelines. This project aimed to increase provider use of the ACT and AAP to 50% in patients with a diagnosis of asthma over one month.

Methods: A convenience sample of six adult …

Community Health Nurse Educators And Disaster Nursing Education, Jody Spiess

Dissertations

Abstract

The world is struggling with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and the need for disaster nursing education has never been more clear. Recently, the American Nurses Association reported that of the over 32,000 nurses surveyed; only 11% felt well prepared to care for a COVID-19 patient (ANA, 2020). Community health nurse educators are tasked with educating future nurses on disasters, yet, little is known about this population’s perceived competence in disaster preparedness. The purpose of this study is to describe community health nurse educators' perceived competence in disaster preparedness.

The study is a descriptive, correlational …

Covid-19: Best Practices And The Way Forward, Juliana Nwauwa

Student Scholarly Projects

COVID-19 is a global health emergency that originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and since then has affected more than 53,507,282 individuals and claimed the lives of more than 1,305,164 around the globe. It is a respiratory virus transmitted from person to person through airborne aerosols and droplets from infected individuals and direct contact with infected surfaces.

Numerous factors, such as socioeconomic status, population density, pre-existing health conditions, and lack of health insurance, have contributed to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 among certain demographic groups. The COVID-19 impact ranges from …

Comorbidity And Quality Of Life Of Hiv-Positive Adults Living In Supportive Housing, Rose Sharp

Dissertations

Problem: Life expectancy for people living with HIV significantly increased with widespread use of antiretroviral therapy, resulting in population increases in comorbidity prevalence. The increased burden of living with both HIV and comorbidities lowers health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: Using a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of HIV-positive adults was selected from seven supportive housing communities. Comorbidities were assessed using a modified Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire, and HRQoL using the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Scale v1.2 – Global Health.

Results: A sample of 17 (N = 17) adults reported a mean of 4.2 (SD = …

Gender, Technology And Innovation In Health Care Panel, Melanie Katsivo

Africa-Western Collaborations Day 2020

8 graduate student/recent graduate presentations on gender, technology, and innovation in health care. Moderated by Dr. Melanie Katsivo. Reporting of panel done by current GHS students of the 2021 class. Abstracts can be found under "Africa-Western Collaborations Day 2020 Abstracts". Presenters as follows:

Florence Wullo Anfaara, "To Include or Not to Include: Men and the Liberian Women's Peace Hut Initiatives Towards Transformational Justice"

Uche Ikenyei, "Diversification of Research Methodological Approach During Model Enhancements in Health Information System Research"

Denise Kamyuka, "Female Social Entrepreneurship in Sport, in the African Context: Systemic Review"

Ebenezer Martin-Yeboah, "Through the Lens of Egocentric Design: Do …

Diet Behaviors, Physical Activity, And Sociodemographic Factors In A Sample Of Racially Diverse Adults: A Secondary Analysis Of Nhanes (2017-2018) Data, Fatemeh Choupani

Dissertations

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing among adults in the United States and is related to a high risk to health. Obesity has been linked to lifestyle behaviors such as diet behaviors and physical activity.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine if an association exits between foods prepared outside of the home, walking or biking, vigorous/moderate recreational activities, sociodemographic factors and the outcomes, body mass index, percentage of body fat, and waist circumference.

Method: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from 3942 adults from the U.S. aged 20 years, as recorded in the National Health …

Determining The Effectiveness Of A Peer Support Person In Individuals With Depression Symptoms, Donna K. Reeves

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study’s aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of an existing peer support program as an adjunct treatment for patients with depression. This retrospective evaluation analyzed the total scores of 110 patients with depression on the PHQ-9 questionnaire at the initial assessment (Time 1), at 6-weeks (Time 2), and then at 12-weeks (Time 3). The participants were divided into two groups, those who enrolled in a peer support program (n = 55) and those without peer support (n = 55). PHQ-9 total scores for each time interval were compared for the two groups utilizing independent sample t-tests …

Decreasing Readmissions In Medically Complex Children, Colleen Bartlett

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: There was a report of an existing practice problem of increased 30-day readmission rates in medically complex children at an outpatient clinic within an extensive hospital system. Hospital readmissions can cause clinical, social, and financial burdens to the patients and their families and thus reflected a need for interventions to reduce readmissions.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this change project: In medically complex pediatric patients ages 0-17, what is the effect of a discharge intervention bundle in reducing all-cause 30-day hospital readmissions compared to current practice within an 8-week timeframe?

Evidence: The literature revealed 18 …

Healthcare-Seeking Behaviours In College Students And Young Adults: A Review, Dieu-My T. Tran, Angela Silvestri-Elmore

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background/aims: To review the literature on college students’ healthcare-seeking behaviours to uncover the current evidence and promote better healthcare-seeking behaviours and essentially better health outcomes in young adults. Methods: The researchers conducted an extensive literature review using CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, EBSCOhost and Google Scholar in the years 2018 and 2019. The search was limited to the past 18 years (2000–2018) and to studies reported in the English language focused on the general healthcare-seeking behaviour of college students. The search was also extended to young adults (aged 18–39 years). Results: A total of 56 articles were identified for abstract review and …