Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Can Non-Pharmacological Interventions Effectively Reduce Anxiety And Pain In Chronic Pediatric Patients?, Kiara Harvey

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Pediatric anxiety and pain have been historically poorly managed. The failure of providers to adequately address medically-induced anxiety and pain in pediatric patients has been shown to prevent them from proactively seeking medical care in the future and has been linked with both altered brain development and increased risk of opioid abuse. Furthermore, poorly managed pain leads to sustained levels of cortisol and exposes patients to several long-term health risks like hypertension. Because non-pharmacological interventions are often preferred by providers, patients, and their caregivers, this research question poses an exploration of the efficacy of non-traditional methods in alleviating procedure-related …

Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Interventions, Zola Lopeman

Symposium of Student Scholars

Muscle spasticity is a common spinal cord injury sequela that causes muscle stiffness, spasms, and painful involuntary contractions. Spasticity can result in difficulty walking, deformed joints, lack of head control, and impairment performing activities of daily living. Spasticity is dynamic and often requires a multifaceted approach to manage symptoms and achieve patient goals. The leading treatment for spasticity is oral Baclofen. Additional treatment methods include electrical stimulation and phenol injections. Oral baclofen is frequently prescribed in combination with these.

Research suggests SCI induced spasticity can cause changes in the muscle. Thus, it is important to assess neural and muscle impacts …

High Anxiety In Pediatric Oncology Patients? What About Art Therapy?, Rebekah Love

Symposium of Student Scholars

Anxiety and depression are becoming more prevalent in the pediatric population today. In addition to the general pediatric population experiencing an increased risk of mental illness, children with an oncology related diagnosis have an even heightened risk. Most pediatric oncology patients reported fear or worry daily, which is cited to be most severe when they had an appointment or went to the hospital for a fever. It is imperative we discover interventions to lessen the anxiety and depression pediatric oncology patients experience daily. A literature review revealed conclusive interventions have not been determined. The purpose of this research is to …

Reducing Skin Injury And Breakdown In Neonatal Patients, Emily Herring

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

The integumentary system is known for being the body’s largest organ, comprised of water, fats, protein, and minerals, for which composition plays a significant role in protecting the body against thermal, chemical, and microbial agents. However, the skin’s functionality is reduced in neonates as the stratum corneum is thin at birth due to diminished water-holding capacity (Oranges et al., 2015). The skin’s fragility is further stressed among preterm neonates and newborns in neonatal intensive-care units (NICU) due to medical status, procedures, and exposure to skin irritants (Visscher et al., 2009). Reduction in skin injury and breakdown in NICU patients …

Effectiveness Of Distraction Techniques In Reducing Pain And Anxiety During Pediatric Venipuncture, Gina Hernandez

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Venipuncture is consistently identified as one of the most painful and feared experiences of hospitalized children, often resulting in traumatic memories and resistance to future procedures. Currently, standard practice for pediatric venipuncture involves physical restraint, either by another person or by utilizing a restrictive tool. This proposal will explore the efficacy of various distraction techniques in mitigating pain and anxiety experienced by pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture. Current research shows that procedural pain and anxiety can be significantly reduced by implementing distraction techniques such as bubble-blowing, deep breathing, audiovisual distraction, and immersive virtual reality. Effectiveness of each technique varies based …

Educating Parents On Infant Safe Sleep To Reduce Sleep-Related Deaths, Marleni Cervantes

Symposium of Student Scholars

During my pediatric clinical rotation, I saw parents practicing unsafe sleeping practices with their infants. Infants would sleep with their pillows, blankets and in non-supine positions. There are around 3000 sleep related infant deaths annually in the United States (Patrick et al., 2021). To combat this issue a safe sleep education program should be implemented in labor and delivery and NICU units to ensure parents are getting the proper training before discharge. Parents will attend an education program before discharging from the hospital. The program will be completed in 2 days to ensure the parents are able to ask questions …

Best Practice For Confirmation Of Nasogastric Tube Placement In Pediatric Patients, Joey Gondhalekar, Hannah Baines, Jacob Barcenas, Kaci Giles, Katie Crocker

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Nasogastric (NG) tubes are used to provide nutrition or charcoal to patients who cannot swallow or are intubated. For pediatric patients, auscultation confirmation is often used to confirm placement despite the evidence that x-ray confirmation is a more accurate way to confirm placement. Incorrect placement leads to incidents of higher rates of healthcare acquired infections, financial strain on the hospital, and longer lengths of stay for patients.

Objectives: The objective of this evidence-based review is to review relevant published studies in determining the best practice for confirmation of NG tubes in pediatric patients.

Methods: A database search was …

Psychiatric Medications: Does Education Affect Medication Prescriptions?, Surina M. Narine, Mary D. Ramos, Sarah Chu

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: There is a lack of research on racial challenges among underrepresented adolescents regarding prescription drug use for mental illnesses. Purpose: This study addressed the following question: In adolescent minorities, how does education about racial disparity and culture affect the stigma and number of prescriptions written for psychiatric medications? This evidence-based practice project aimed to identify if racial awareness directly impacts the amount of psychiatric medication prescribed for adolescent minorities. Methods: Literature reviews analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to provide correlating information on racial disparities and psychotropic medications. This study examined the following possible factors for decreased prescribed drugs within …

Understanding The Relationship Between Kangaroo Care And Neurodevelopment In Infants With Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review, Natalie Geralde, Alexis Antoci, Anne Aca, Kamrin Burdell

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) are predisposed to significant neurodevelopmental delays related to disrupted parent-infant bonding, stress caused by invasive cardiac interventions, and overstimulating environments, such as the cardiac intensive care unit. Early promotion of neurodevelopment in infants with CHD is essential to support their overall health and quality of life, and to diminish the extent of neurocognitive delays. However, there is limited research examining the relationship between neurodevelopment in infants with CHD and the benefits of kangaroo care.

Objective: The purpose of the systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of kangaroo care and touch on optimal …

Prolonged Hospitalization Effects On Psychosocial Development In Chronic Illness Pediatric Patients, Zoe Quarles, Courtney Cumberland, Megan Pringle, Sophie Kinrade

Symposium of Student Scholars

Prolonged hospitalization effects on psychosocial development in chronic illness pediatric populations

Abstract

Courtney Cumberland, Sophie Kinrade, Megan Pringle, and Zoe Quarles

Background/Objective: Frequent and extensive hospitalizations have a negative impact on the psychosocial development of children in the most formative years of their lives. This problem is most evident in children who have chronic disease or health conditions that require multiple hospital stays and interventions. This topic can be considered broad because of the extensive variety of chronic conditions and how that determines a child's length of stay. This study aims to identify whether patient-to-patient interaction impacts the psychosocial development …

A Systematic Review: The Impact Of Social Support Programs On Caregiver Burnout For Caregivers Of Children With Cancer, Vanessa Otamendi, Jalaya Graves, Autumn Whitley, Joanna Juarez, Helena Walker

Symposium of Student Scholars

Title: A Systematic Review: The Impact of Social Support Programs on Caregiver Burnout for Caregivers of Children with Cancer

Background: In addition to children diagnosed with cancer, their caregivers may also experience hardship. While caregivers handle their own personal responsibilities, they also provide emotional, physical, and financial support to their children. In addition to the likely stress that occurs from caring for a child with a long-term illness, lack of social support, educational resources, or support programs may lead to caregiver burnout.

Objective: The purpose of the systematic review was to review published research focused on caregiver burnout for caregivers …

Effects Of Insulin Delivery Pumps On Diabetic Adherence To Treatment In Children And Adolescents, Bailey Brott, Aubrey Crawford, Kynley Swain, Ally Williams, Virattana Phravorachit

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Effects of Insulin Delivery Pumps on Diabetic Adherence to Treatment in Children and Adolescents

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by the inability of the body to create and release its own insulin to lower blood sugar. Automatic insulin delivery pumps are a substitute for glucose finger sticks and multiple daily injections to treat DM. These pumps measure patients' glucose levels and administer insulin as needed which may lead to better overall treatment adherence for children and adolescents diagnosed with DM.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to compare the effectiveness of insulin pumps on increased …