Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating Mindfulness On Loneliness In An Older Adult Population, Jessica Tieskoetter

Dissertations

Problem: Loneliness is a widespread public health concern and has negatively impacted mortality and health outcomes among older adults. This quality improvement project’s purpose was to evaluate mindfulness on loneliness and quality of life among adults aged 65 years and older, participating in a weekly befriending socialization program.

Methods: A descriptive cohort design was utilized to assess loneliness pre-and post-implementation of a mindfulness telephone line over three months. A convenience sample of 22 older adults enrolled in a befriending socialization program was used. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice framework was applied to guide the implementation of a practice change …

Palliative Care Screening For Persons Living With Dementia In A Nursing Home, Shanika S. Pruitt

Dissertations

Problem: Dementia is rapidly increasing as the people of the world mature and life expectancy increases. As the world ages and the prevalence of dementia increases, nursing home placement will and is the most sought place for care of this population. Dementia is under recognized as a terminal illness and palliative care is underutilized for nursing home residents with advanced symptoms of dementia.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) initiative utilized a prospective, descriptive design. The Palliative Care Screening for the Elderly tool was administered to a purposive sample of persons living with dementia residing in the nursing home. Qualitative data …

Maternal-Fetal Attachment And Its Relationship To Quality Of Life In Pregnant Women With Diabetes, Cheryl Ann Angel

Dissertations

Background: Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) is the bond between a mother and her unborn child during pregnancy. Pregnant women with diabetes are considered high-risk and their numbers are expected to increase as levels of obesity rise and women wait longer to have children. This researcher has observed health care providers instructing pregnant women with diabetes about diabetes self-management (DSM) activities such as “dietary management” and encouraging the women to make those changes for their baby. However, some women remained unable to successfully engage in DSM behaviors despite having exhibited signs of MFA, e.g., expressing “thoughts of the fetus” to health care …