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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Tinnitus And Trauma, Marc A. Fagelson Nov 2015

Tinnitus And Trauma, Marc A. Fagelson

ETSU Faculty Works

Trauma-provoked tinnitus challenges patients and clinicians. Effects of trauma may exacerbate tinnitus, and patients with both tinnitus and posttraumatic stress disorder rate distress levels as higher than patients who experience only one or the other. This presentation will highlight links between tinnitus and trauma histories relevant to clinical audiologists.


Impact Of Standardized Oral Health Assessment On Preventing Ventilator-Associated Events, Juana Ambriz De Williams Aug 2015

Impact Of Standardized Oral Health Assessment On Preventing Ventilator-Associated Events, Juana Ambriz De Williams

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common but preventable health-care associated infection that affects up to 20% of mechanically ventilated adult patients, resulting in estimated mortality rates ranging from 13% to 55% (Chahoud, Semaan, Almoosa, 2015; Melsen et al., 2013). In an effort to reduce morbidity, mortality and related costs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), proposed ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention as a national patient safety goal. In 2014, amid growing concerns that the subjectivity of existing definitions had led to inconsistent reporting, thereby impeding efforts to reduce VAP, the CDC refocused surveillance …


Can A Barcode Scanner For Blood Collection Improve Patient Identification Integrity In The Emergency Department? A Prospective Before-And-After Study, David Spain, Julia Crilly, John Pierce, Michael Steele, Paul Scuffham, Gerben Keijzers Jun 2015

Can A Barcode Scanner For Blood Collection Improve Patient Identification Integrity In The Emergency Department? A Prospective Before-And-After Study, David Spain, Julia Crilly, John Pierce, Michael Steele, Paul Scuffham, Gerben Keijzers

Gerben Keijzers

Objective: To describe the effect of interventions designed to improve patient identification (PI) during pathology collection in the ED. Methods: A prospective before-and-after intervention study was conducted between June 2009 and June 2010 in a regional ED in Queensland, Australia. Interventions aimed to improve PI and specimen labelling, and consisted of: (i) education alone; and (ii) education plus an armband scanner that voice-prompted collector behaviour. Main outcomes measured included: frequency of correct key behaviours (KBs) during specimen collection, pathology integrity errors and cost of interventions. Results: Data from 282 ED pathology collections were analysed (before: n = 115, after with …


Patient Perception Of Privacy And The Role Of Electronic Medical Records, Max Louis Willinger Jun 2015

Patient Perception Of Privacy And The Role Of Electronic Medical Records, Max Louis Willinger

Honors Theses

In order to better manage patient records, hospitals and health care settings across the nation have begun to implement electronic medical record systems (EMR). The purpose of this transition is to reduce excessive amounts of paper, to decrease administrative costs, and to increase the overall quality of care. With the implementation of the EMR, relationships between physicians and their patients have the potential to change. Research has shown that patient perceptions are changing regarding confidentiality, trust, and privacy in the doctor-patient relationship because of patient medical records being stored electronically as opposed to being locked away in a file cabinet. …


The Impact Of An Inpatient Hospital Admission On Patients’ Physical Functioning And Quality Of Life In The Oncology Setting, Andrew Murnane, Justin Keogh, Fiona Magat, Sonya Imbesi, Marie Coulombe, Sharni Patchell, Allan Abbott May 2015

The Impact Of An Inpatient Hospital Admission On Patients’ Physical Functioning And Quality Of Life In The Oncology Setting, Andrew Murnane, Justin Keogh, Fiona Magat, Sonya Imbesi, Marie Coulombe, Sharni Patchell, Allan Abbott

Allan D. Abbott

Objective: Cancer can affect an individual’s level of physical function and health related quality of life (HRQoL). Those requiring hospital admission may be at risk of further decline during hospitalisation. The aim of this study was to investigate physical functioning and HRQoL of cancer patients on admission and over the course of their hospital admission. Methods: A prospective observational study was undertaken on the inpatient wards of a specialist oncology hospital. Assessment measures were taken bi-weekly until discharge from hospital or if they became too unwell to continue. Functional outcome measures included timed-up and go test (TUG), 30 second sit …


The Impact Of An Inpatient Hospital Admission On Patients’ Physical Functioning And Quality Of Life In The Oncology Setting, Andrew Murnane, Justin Keogh, Fiona Magat, Sonya Imbesi, Marie Coulombe, Sharni Patchell, Allan Abbott May 2015

The Impact Of An Inpatient Hospital Admission On Patients’ Physical Functioning And Quality Of Life In The Oncology Setting, Andrew Murnane, Justin Keogh, Fiona Magat, Sonya Imbesi, Marie Coulombe, Sharni Patchell, Allan Abbott

Justin Keogh

Objective: Cancer can affect an individual’s level of physical function and health related quality of life (HRQoL). Those requiring hospital admission may be at risk of further decline during hospitalisation. The aim of this study was to investigate physical functioning and HRQoL of cancer patients on admission and over the course of their hospital admission. Methods: A prospective observational study was undertaken on the inpatient wards of a specialist oncology hospital. Assessment measures were taken bi-weekly until discharge from hospital or if they became too unwell to continue. Functional outcome measures included timed-up and go test (TUG), 30 second sit …


Using Education And A Prevention Protocol Tool To Decrease The Incidence Of Pressure Ulcers In A Nursing Home, Kristina L. Scalzitti May 2015

Using Education And A Prevention Protocol Tool To Decrease The Incidence Of Pressure Ulcers In A Nursing Home, Kristina L. Scalzitti

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Over 1.3 million persons are residents in nursing homes (NHs); one in ten have pressure ulcers. The purpose of this evidence based practice project was to determine if implementation of a pressure ulcer prevention tool, along with staff education, decreases the incidence of pressure ulcers within the NH. Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Model and the Stetler Model were used to guide this project. The setting was a NH in northwest Indiana. Eleven nurses attended a 15 minute educational session on pressure ulcer prevention and implementation of the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Protocol Intervention (PUPPI) tool. PowerPoint slides were distributed and flyers about …


Implementation Of An Advance Directive Protocol In A Primary Care Setting, Gloria Dillman Apr 2015

Implementation Of An Advance Directive Protocol In A Primary Care Setting, Gloria Dillman

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Despite the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act in 1992, only 15% of the United States population has completed an advance directive (AD). This statistic will be exaggerated with the future growth of older adults in the year 2030, at which time this portion of the population is expected to double to 72.1 million people. Without an AD, patients lose their autonomy and may be subjected to costly, life prolonging treatments that they would never choose for themselves. The unnecessary costs and unwanted treatment are preventable with an AD, and primary care providers are in a prime position to initiate …


Respect And Dignity: A Conceptual Model For Patients In The Intensive Care Unit, Leslie Meltzer Henry, Cynda Rushton, Mary Catherine Beach, Ruth Faden Jan 2015

Respect And Dignity: A Conceptual Model For Patients In The Intensive Care Unit, Leslie Meltzer Henry, Cynda Rushton, Mary Catherine Beach, Ruth Faden

Faculty Scholarship

Although the concept of dignity is commonly invoked in clinical care, there is not widespread agreement—in either the academic literature or in everyday clinical conversations—about what dignity means. Without a framework for understanding dignity, it is difficult to determine what threatens patients’ dignity and, conversely, how to honor commitments to protect and promote it. This article aims to change that by offering the first conceptual model of dignity for patients in the intensive care unit. The conceptual model we present is based on the notion that there are three sources of patients’ dignity—their shared humanity, personal narratives, and autonomy—each of …


Patient And Provider Characteristics And Practice Patterns Of Primary Care Physicians Of Weight-Related Counseling, Kolby T. Redd Jan 2015

Patient And Provider Characteristics And Practice Patterns Of Primary Care Physicians Of Weight-Related Counseling, Kolby T. Redd

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends three types of health education counseling for use in primary care practices for adult, obese patients. While these recommendations are well known, a low percentage of physicians provide this counseling to their patients on a consistent basis. There are inconsistencies in past studies in regards to what aspects of the health encounter influence the likelihood of receiving health education counseling during a primary care visit. The objective of this study was to (1) investigate the patterns of these three types of counseling occurring within primary care practices and to …


The Impact Of Cultural Competency On Patient Experience Of Care, Emily Lane Koudelka Jan 2015

The Impact Of Cultural Competency On Patient Experience Of Care, Emily Lane Koudelka

All ETDs from UAB

The impact of hospitals’ cultural competency on inpatient experience of care will be examined. Enhanced patient experience of care may alter an individual’s willingness to use health services, thereby increasing access and decreasing health disparities. As a result, to the extent that cultural competency influences patient experience of care, the integration of cultural competency into healthcare organizations has emerged as a critical issue for researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers. Findings from this study will inform policies, practices, and processes across the broad spectrum of healthcare industry stakeholders.


Elderly Patient Adherence To Ocular Pharmaceuticals; Impact Of Educational And Physical Barriers, Lucky Wagner Jan 2015

Elderly Patient Adherence To Ocular Pharmaceuticals; Impact Of Educational And Physical Barriers, Lucky Wagner

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to assess and evaluate elderly patient's attitudes and behavior regarding educational and physical barriers and the impact on adherence to ocular pharmaceuticals. A 19 question survey was developed and in order to collect data. The survey was administered in person at the Edina Senior Center and the Burnsville Senior Center and online via Zoomerang survey software regarding elderly patient attitudes on educational and physical barriers and their impact on ocular pharmaceutical adherence. Findings from this study indicate elderly patients treating an ocular condition with ocular pharmaceuticals expressed strong agreement with improving upon both educational …