Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Focused Interdisciplinary Therapy: Making A Case For Group Based Intensive Therapy In Pediatric Neurorehabilitation, Teressa Reidy, Nicole Andrejow, Erin Naber, Joan Carney

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Intensive therapy models for children with chronic disabilities are gaining popularity in clinical practice. This paper outlines an intensive, interdisciplinary group intervention protocol targeting functional mobility and occupational performance of three teenage participants diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) (GMFCS levels 1-3). Participants demonstrated gains in function as measured by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM), Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Timed Up and Down Stairs (TUDS), and grip strength. These gains indicate that intensive group-based interdisciplinary therapy programs may improve the mobility and occupational performance of ambulatory teens with CP. A significant limitation of this …

Assessing Health Needs In A Dominican Republic Community During An Interprofessional Service-Learning Trip, Gabriela Andonie, Hanna Rotundo, Ashanti Jones, Logan Dugas, Shylon Francis

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: International medical missions may increase access to medicines and care, but international teams must understand local needs to implement appropriate services. In 2023, a multidisciplinary team from our institution partnered with a nonprofit organization in the barrio of Cienfuegos, Dominican Republic with the goal of strengthening local health services. The primary objective of this study was to identify health-related needs in Cienfuegos from the perspective of community members and local health care workers.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted as part of a service-learning initiative. After obtaining informed consent, the investigators conducted individual semi-structured interviews facilitated by multi-lingual interpreters. …

The Perceived Impact Of Direct Patient Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic On Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Mental Health Status, Emilee N. Sasser, Kathleen French, Alison Lecompte, Carrie C. Slade, Jasper Queen

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Aim: To identify the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) on the mental health status of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners providing direct patient care.

Methods: The researchers administered a survey to identify OT practitioners’ perceptions of mental health prior to and during the pandemic. The survey was posted online via a link on social media pages related to occupational therapy professional groups. Participants completed the self-administered survey consisting of 16 questions. Some participants provided narrative responses to select survey questions, which asked about their mental health prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: One hundred and …

Some Kind Of Unfolding: A Micro- To Macrosystemic Exploration Of The Emic Experiences Of Formerly Incarcerated Mothers, Mary Anne Gunter Phd Lpc Lmft

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Problem

The incarceration of women has increased exponentially in the past 40 years. Over 80% of incarcerated women are mothers separated from their children. A mother’s incarceration can impose a destabilizing influence upon an already fragile family system.

Significance

Incarcerated mothers have been inconsistently provided supportive rehabilitative programs, which have demonstrated a correlation to decreased recidivism.

This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews that explored the phenomenological experiences of eight disenfranchised incarcerated mothers who were separated from their children, as well as of their experiences of a carceral setting and involvement with prison programs.

Implications

Thematic analysis of the data revealed …

Why Spiritual Leadership Matters In A New Physical Therapist Education Program, Ondrell S. Moore

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Physical therapists (PTs) function with a set of core values established to guide these rehabilitation specialists in providing person-centered care to diverse populations. Spiritual leadership aligns with the core values for the physical therapist. As community leaders and advocates, PTs are positioned to address health disparities that disproportionately affect rural communities and racial and ethnic minority groups. Physical therapist education programs that train student physical therapists to provide equitable care across cultures should reflect the diversity espoused by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). This article examines the impact of leadership in building a culture of belongingness and discusses …

Concept Analysis: Undergraduate Nursing Student Clinical Performance Anxiety, Maria Gros

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Concept Analysis: Undergraduate Nursing Student Clinical Performance Anxiety

Maria Gros, MSN, RN, CEN

Department of Nursing, Nicholls State University

Correspondence to: Maria Gros, MSN, RN, CEN. Department of Nursing, Nicholls State University, 906 East 1^st Street, Thibodaux, Louisiana, 70301. Phone: 985-448-4730. Email: maria.gros@nicholls.edu

Article type: Original article written in a doctoral course in the Doctorate in Nursing Education at University of West Georgia

Word count: 3023 words

Abstract

Purpose: This paper defines and clarifies clinical performance anxiety (CPA) as it pertains to undergraduate nursing students in the clinical setting. This research also identifies how CPA can be detrimental to …

Interprofessional Health Fairs: An Effective Tool For Interprofessional Education?, Caleb Holloway, Ashley Barbo, Bryan Donald, Min Jee Kim

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether interprofessional health fairs have a significant impact on the interprofessional education of students in health care disciplines.

Methods: An optional survey was administered to students participating in the health fairs in 2021 and 2022. The survey utilized four retrospective pre and post ICCAS assessment questions to address IPEC core competencies and two open ended questions to provide feedback about the health fair and report anything new learned from or about another health care discipline. The self-assessment questions were reported on a 5-point Likert scale and recorded in aggregate for both …

Improving Effective Care In Obese Patients In A Primary Care Clinic, Amy Miller

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Background: Obesity is a preventable epidemic and costs the United States $200 billion annually. The leading causes of death are linked to obesity.

Local Problem: In a chart review, 53% of patients at a northeast Louisiana primary care clinic were obese. However, none were offered comprehensive lifestyle intervention. The aim was to increase the percentage of patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2 to 60% over 8 weeks.

Methods: A rapid-cycle quality improvement initiative was implemented using four Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles over 8 weeks. Each cycle produced tests of change related to screening, patient and team engagement, and assessing effective care. Run charts and aggregate tables were used to analyze …

An Slp Graduate Student’S Analysis Of Language In Children With Speech Sound Disorders, Madeline Janney, Donna Thomas

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose

Students in allied health professional (AHP) programs are instructed in evidenced-based evaluation practices and participate in interprofessional education and practice in order to identify disorders (e.g., speech, language, gross motor, fine motor) and provide effective treatment. The purpose of this paper is to present a small-scale research study of one graduate student in an AHP program that trains speech-language pathologists.

Method

A graduate student used retrospective methodology to examine the language skills of nine children with speech sound disorders (SSD) to determine if language impairment (LI) co-existed. The student learned and used a method of language sample analysis known …

Seven Years Of Csd Book Club: Nurturing Skills And Enhancing Worldviews, Lillian N. Stiegler, Rebecca Davis, Donna Thomas, Rebecca L. Parker, Martha Sherrill

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Purpose: CSD faculty at a mid-sized public university invited students and alumni to join a monthly book club focused on topics relevant to professional practice. The goals were (1) to create a pleasurable activity that would serve as a social and intellectual forum for open dialogue; (2) to attempt to address gaps in the less tangible “soft” skills that may not be directly or thoroughly taught in courses; and (3) to help participants see beyond personal interest silos and explore new topics.

Method: The work reviews and summarizes book club research from health care, education and CSD. It describes …

Remote Clinical Skills Simulation For Nursing Students During Covid-19, Cari Granier, Lauren Boudreaux

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Introduction: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing educators have had to adapt and develop new teaching methods that abide by social distancing protocols. This left educators wondering how to accommodate all students with limited physical space and faculty while preserving the quality of instruction and allowing adequate time for practice (Bezerra, 2020). Methods: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students enrolled in a sophomore level adult health course were instructed to gather supplies and create an at-home manikin box to practice clinical skills such as endotracheal suctioning, tracheostomy care, nasogastric tube insertion, nasogastric tube irrigation, nasogastric feeding administration, …

Faculty And Students’ Perceptions Of Online Nursing Courses During Emergency Remote Teaching, Katie Daigle, Tammy Dannehl, Susan Lacey

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program transitioned from a traditional format to emergency remote teaching (ERT).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain faculty and student perceptions about teaching and learning online.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with a set of four standard questions asked in focus groups about perceptions of online teaching and learning. The participants were BSN faculty and students from an upper level nursing course. These sessions were recorded and transcribed. Themes were developed from the data.

Results: There were three faculty focus groups (N=18) and …

Cgm Use With Interprofessional Therapy Management Improves Hba1c Levels In T2dm Patients, Stephen R. Hill, Courtney Robertson, Teri B. O'Neal, Sonia Garner

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Background

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease state with increased complications over time from uncontrolled glucose. Significant data has shown benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) patients, but a lack of robust evidence is seen in T2DM. This study assessed the impact of short-term CGM placement on HbA1c levels in T2DM.

Objectives

The primary outcome was the change in baseline HbA1c levels in patients with T2DM up to six months after CGM placement. Secondary outcomes assessed intensification of diabetes medications made by an interprofessional team …

The Effectiveness Of An Educational Video Intervention For People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Prior To Power Wheelchair Evaluations, Mark Blanchard, Kelly Connelley, Emily Copeland, Quinn Malbrough, Sara Pendleton, Ingrid Franc

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

PURPOSE: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that ultimately requires a power wheelchair (PWC) as the main source of mobility. The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of an educational video to prepare a client for a PWC assessment by addressing four themes: PWC features, home environment, transportation, and client self-efficacy.

METHODS: An educational video was created and used in an ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic to better prepare clients for the PWC evaluation process. The effectiveness of this video was measured using a seven-question Likert scale survey focusing on the themes of the video. Individuals living …

Chacahoula 2023, Tram Phan, Mallory Kaul, Alayna Pellegrin

Chacahoula

WE GROW, WE DEVELOP, WE THRIVE:

The 2023 issue of Chacahoula includes December 2022 and May 2023 graduating classes, as well as stunning photography of Week of Welcome, Homecoming, Mardi Gras, and Spring Fever. With features covering notable students, faculty, and staff, this year's time capsule beautifully preserves an academic year in the life of the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Chacahoula 2022, Tram Phan

Chacahoula

Chacahoula 2022 includes the people and events that made the 2021-2022 school year at University of Louisiana at Monroe unique. Staff included

Tram Phan, Editor-in-Chief

Feature Writers:

Amir Alnajjar

Hanna Flynn

Alayna Pellegrin

Tram Phan

Evan Ranjitkar

Koshish Shrestha

Zoe Sissac

Tia Smith

Sports Writers:

Jonah Bostick

Cameron Jett

Designers:

Hanna Flynn

Tram Phan

Photographers:

Lanaya Bolden

Skylar Henry

Jeanette Robinson

Saugat Shrestha

Calli Sinclair

Paul Ware

Time Management Skills As A Tool For Reducing Academic Procrastination Both In The Classroom And During Academic Internships, Stacy Starks, Jodi Bower

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Many individuals have set out to define the term “time management skills.” Time management is a skill necessary for any individual, but especially working individuals. As a program that offers an internship (Practicum) course, these skills are imperative for students to possess. Academic procrastination and lack of time management skills are becoming a norm. It is important to find out why student punctuality and timely submissions are going by the wayside. The project is designed to introduce three intervention activities throughout the Practicum course. Students were given pre- and post- assessments based on two different scales: Bandura’s Self-Efficacy for Self-Regulated …

Nurse Educator's Role In Equipping Students With Culturally Competent Skills, Olukemi Kuku

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Nurse educators are responsible for preparing nursing students for safe and effective practice. Culturally competent care ensures patient safety and promotes positive patient outcomes. Twenty-first century society has bowed to globalization, immigration, emerging cultures, and subcultures. This phenomenon necessitates a broadening of the nurse educator’s perception of culture and strategies to facilitate student learning and preparation for effective practice. This article will examine the existing definition of culture and subcultures and discuss some strategies that nurse educators can use to facilitate student learning.

Engaging Rural High School Youth In E-Cigarette Prevention And Advocacy, Melinda J. Ickes, Olivia Zidzik, Nathan L. Vanderford

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Introduction: Recent national data reinforce over 3.6 million young people across the United States are currently using e-cigarettes, but little research exists on prevention and/or youth engagement strategies.

Purpose: Pilot a peer led e-cigarette prevention and advocacy training and determine attitudes and self-efficacy among participating rural high school leaders post-training.

Methods: The study incorporated a one-group, post-test design. Participants were recruited from an existing student leadership program (N = 16) which provides advanced cancer education and training to high school students who are from Appalachian Kentucky who participated in an e-cigarette prevention and empowerment training in December 2019. Data …

Lessons Learned From Service In India: Teaching And Learning, Debra Craighead

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Health education collaboration promotes the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal’s (SDGs) five pillars of people, prosperity, planet, peace, and partnership to foster population health (Hassmiller & Kuehnert, 2020; Rosa et al., 2019). This article is the second in a trilogy that recounts an undergraduate nursing teaching experience in southern India in 2018. Cultural and teaching adaptations made that resulted in a successful international educational experience are presented.

The Impact Of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (Pots) On Function & Quality Of Life: A Descriptive Case Study, Emily Mike

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

This study aimed to identify and describe how an individual with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is impacted by the symptoms of the disorder. A descriptive case study was used to gain understanding of the lived experience of an individual with POTS. A semi-structured interview was conducted, and data analyzed to develop a theme. Following data analysis, one overarching theme emerged, the participant did not realize the impact that POTS has on her daily function and quality of life. The descriptions and summary provide evidence for the unique role that occupational therapists play in providing care for individuals with POTS.

Nursing Instructors’ Experiences During Covid-19, Vonda Hammons Boone

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

COVID-19 came with a vengeance to the southern U.S. and had a significant impact on higher education. Both students and faculty were greatly affected. There was a rush to transform on-campus classes to online formats. Many faculty and students who lived in rural areas or where internet speeds were slow or without internet, scrambled to obtain service. This made engaging in online classes difficult and in some cases impossible. Additionally, issues arose with the use of different programs and with trying to put classrooms into an electronic format such as moving classroom lectures to Kaltura™, learning how to load …

Joining Forces: A Response To Limited Clinical Sites During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Katherine Dixon, Leah Hawsey, Jan Shows, Candace Gandy

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Students who are unable to attend Pediatric clinical during the COVID-19 Pandemic needed an alternative method to meet the clinical objectives of the nursing curriculum. Utilizing semester-five management students to implement a simulation activity with the semester three pediatric students allowed the opportunity to simulate clinical experiences and develop interpersonal, clinical, and professional skills. Allowing the semester five students to pre-brief, implement, debrief, educate and mentor the semester-three pediatric students allowed the students to meet their course objectives and develop skills in patient-centered care, safety, informatics, documentation, delegation, education, and mentoring.

The Challenges And Successes Of Teaching In A Pandemic - A Nursing Faculty Commentary, Katie Daigle

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

The purpose of this paper is to discuss alternative teaching methods, specifically those used for nursing clinical instruction during the abrupt transition to the online environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belongingness In The Clinical Setting In Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Comparative, Descriptive Study, Denise T. Leblanc

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Belonging, or the need to feel wanted and connected, is vital to student learning (Levett-Jones, Lathlean, Higgins, & McMillan, 2009a). The presence or absence of a sense of belongingness within clinical placements of students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program was examined. Gender, age, and level of program were examined for relationships with belongingness. A comparative, descriptive study was performed utilizing the Belongingness Scale Clinical Placement Experience (BES-CPE), a 34-item Likert scale questionnaire. The BES-CPE was disseminated via Qualtrics survey software to Level I, Level II, and Level III BSN students. There was no statistically significant …

Virtually Escaping A Challenging Semester, Ashley Barbo

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

In 2019, a novel escape room activity was developed for students enrolled in a pharmacy practice laboratory course at the University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy. Due to COVID-19, students in the Spring of 2020 were unable to attend classes in person. All labs were transitioned to an online format. Faculty were able to successfully create a virtual version of the escape room lab activity utilizing multiple technology platforms. Development of this virtual lab activity allowed students to complete advanced pharmacy practice skills assessments in a fun and engaging learning environment.

Key words: escape room, virtual, pharmacy laboratory, active …

Adapting During A Pandemic: Using Ethics Of Care And Cosmopolitanism To Train Graduate Students During The Covid-19 Crisis, Jennifer Whited, Anne Marie Sisk

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

The COVID-19 crisis impacted university clinics in numerous devastating ways. Educators across the world have had to completely retool their approaches to training students in a clinical setting. The authors describe two overall approaches they adapted to guide new ways of training students, as well as three practical strategies they used to implement quality instruction.

A Comparison Of Live Vs. Asynchronous Ipe In Physical Therapy And Physician Assistant Students: A Randomized Cohort Study, Erin Mccallister, Emily Weidman-Evans, Amanda Bernard, Ashley Fort

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Interprofessional education (IPE) is a required part of the curricula for many healthcare professions. The literature cites many limitations to successful implementation of IPE including logistics, coordination of curricula, and adequate meeting space. In order to overcome some of these logistical limitations, the investigators sought to determine if an asynchronous IPE activity produces similar outcomes as the same activity delivered in a traditional “live” format. Students enrolled in the first year fall semester of two consecutive cohorts of the Physician Assistant and Physical Therapist educational programs were eligible to enroll. They were randomly assigned to either a live or asynchronous …

From Caregiver To Patient And Back Again ... My Covid Experience, Marie B. Thornton

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

As a Registered Nurse and a member of the nursing faculty at a public university, my primary role and instinct is to be a caregiver. Here is my story about becoming a patient with COVID-19 and finally returning to be a caregiver once again.

The Effects Of A Yoga Intervention, Karen R. Arrant, Mary W. Stewart

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Sleep disturbance and stress in postmenopausal women pose physical, mental, and emotional health hazards. Researchers examined the effect of a yoga intervention on sleep, stress, anxiety, and depression in postmenopausal women. The study employed a randomized, controlled trial with: (1) a treatment group (yoga intervention) and (2) an attention-control group (health education). All participants completed three PROMIS® – Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System – tools and collected saliva samples before and after the eight-week intervention. The PROMIS® tools measured sleep, anxiety, and depression. Salivary alpha-amylase quantified sleep; salivary cortisol measured stress; and participants self-reported hours of sleep.

Thirty-one women completed …