Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Enhancing Entry-Level Physiotherapy Student Learning In Interpreting Radiology – An Action Research Project, Courtney R. Clark, Andrea Bialocerkowski

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: In Australia, the ability to interpret orthopaedic x-rays is an entry-level skill for physiotherapists. Yet there is a paucity of evidence in the literature which details effective learning and teaching methods to optimise confidence and competence in x-ray interpretation. The aims of this study were to describe the content contained in an orthopaedic radiology module within an Australian 2-year graduate entry Master of Physiotherapy degree; approaches to learning and teaching used in this module; student satisfaction associated with this module over a 2-year period. Method: The University’s framework for quality assurance, which is based on the Plan-Implement-Review-Improve underpinned this …

Kenya: Helping Adolescent Mothers Remain In School Through Strengthened Implementation Of School Re-Entry Policies, Esther Lwanga Walgwe, Nancy Termini Lachance, Harriet Birungi, Chi-Chi Undie

Reproductive Health

By applying robust evidence, securing the support of decisionmakers, and engaging stakeholders, STEP UP enabled national and local decisionmakers to better understand the consequences of unintended pregnancy for adolescent girls’ schooling in Homa Bay County, Kenya. STEP UP is playing an important role in informing the implementation of policies within the Kenyan educational sector that will improve educational opportunities for school-age mothers. Through early stakeholder engagement, strong partnerships, the support of implementers and policymakers, effective communication and dissemination strategies, decisionmaker capacity, and the dedication of the adolescent mothers themselves, evidence generated by STEP UP was successfully utilized by key stakeholders. …

Clinical Educator And Student Perceptions Of Ipad™ Technology To Enhance Clinical Supervision: The Electronically-Facilitated Feedback Initiative (Effi), Suzanne J. Snodgrass, Darren Rivett, Scott Farrell, Kyle Ball, Samantha E. Ashby, Catherine L. Johnston, Kim Nguyen, Trevor Russell

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Growing demands placed upon healthcare systems require more health professionals to be trained. Clinical placement education is an integral component of health professional training, however accommodating increasing numbers of student placements is a challenge for health services. Personal digital assistants such as iPads™ may assist in delivery of clinical education, by facilitating transfer of knowledge and skills from clinical educators to health professional students, however such an initiative has not been formally investigated. The present study sought to explore perceptions of clinical educators and allied health students regarding the impact of an iPad™-based feedback delivery system on student …

Investigating Community Perspectives On Falls Prevention Information Seeking And Delivery: Older Person Perceptions Regarding Preferences For Falls Prevention Education Using A World Cafe Approach, C Bulsara, L Khong, A Hill, K Hill

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Falls among older people are a significant global socioeconomic problem, and older adults have low levels of self-perceived risk and a lack of willingness to take up existing falls prevention strategies. We believe that given the challenges of delivering falls prevention information, meaningful engagement of community members would create solutions based on an understanding of what would work best for that community. A World Cafe community forum sought the opinions of 70 community-dwelling older people about their preferences on how they would best receive and seek falls prevention information that could prevent falls within their age group. Participants evaluated the …

Breastfeeding Education And Support Needs For Women After A Cesarean Delivery Or Epidural Anesthesia, Joy Petzoldt-Hansell

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Cesarean delivery and epidural anesthesia may require specific education and interventions for breastfeeding success. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of breastfeeding initiation and duration and explore specific breastfeeding needs for women who have had a Cesarean delivery or epidural anesthesia. Sixteen postpartum women aged 27 to 41 were recruited through a Lamaze center in Michigan. The women were interviewed with a questionnaire exploring their breastfeeding experiences and support needs after delivery, and use of artificial infant milk. All women initiated breastfeeding; 81% (n=13) breastfed their infant for at least 12 months. Cesarean delivery was associated …

Socioeconomic Status As A Predictor Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Hilaire Saint-Pierre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While epidemiological research has generated new knowledge about the treatment and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through smoking secession, the socioeconomic status (SES) of people with the disease has been under investigated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the predictability of association between SES and COPD. This study was based on the ecological theory, which states that health and disease may have multiple underlying factors. This study was a secondary analysis of archived data from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). The dataset was collected for the National Survey of Midlife Development …

Impact Of Simulation Training On Novice Nurses, Sheila Marjean Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine released its report on building a safer health system. Since then, safety in patient care has become a paramount interest. Given the growing support for increasing patient safety, simulation training has become a common part of novice nurses' orientation program. This simulation training is designed to mimic situations in the acute care setting where novice nurses can practice in a patient safe environment. In this DNP project, a stroke simulation scenario and supporting patient chart was developed as an addition to a novice nurses' orientation program. The National League for Nursing simulation template was …

An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of Problem-Based Learning In Nursing Education, Yvette Marie Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Critical-thinking is an essential skill that graduate nurses need to make sound clinical decisions. While traditional lecturing is the method most commonly used in nursing education, incorporating problem-based learning (PBL) into nursing curricula has been suggested as a better option for students' learning of theory and practice. The purpose of this study was to explore the difference in critical-thinking and problem-solving skills between nursing students taught using PBL versus those taught with traditional classroom lectures. A quasi-experimental approach, with cognitive learning theory as the foundation, was used to compare the results of an Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Comprehensive Predictor posttest …

Evaluation Of Educational Intervention And Management Of Patients With Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Elissa Johnson

DNP Projects

Background: Diabetes is a costly disease with devastating consequences. Patients with poor glucose control whether due to inadequate medical care or limited self-care are most at risk for complications. Evidence supports the efficacy of multifaceted interventions in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patient education, assessing behavioral and psychosocial elements, and focusing on lifestyle change (e.g. diet and exercise) are interventions shown to enhance self-efficacy and promote patient empowerment (Knight, Dornan, & Bundy, 2005).

Study Design: A retrospective chart review of 104 patients with established T2DM was conducted along with a qualitative interview with providers focused on management …

Beers Medication: Empowering The Elderly Through Education, Amanda J. Parker

DNP Projects

The elderly population (those aged 65 years and older) has an increased risk of experiencing adverse effects from their prescribed medications. These adverse effects are due to many reasons, one being changes that naturally occur in the aging body, such as diminished kidney function or decreased gastrointestinal motility. This project explores the prescribing practices of one primary care practice setting. Specifically, this project sought to determine the number of patients in a primary care practice who were prescribed medications on the Beers list and whether or not the patients received education on adverse effects. The results concluded the most frequently …

Population Health Science: A Core Element Of Health Science Education In Sub-Saharan Africa, Robert A. Hiatt, Natalie J. Engmann, Mushtaq Ahmed, Yasmin Amarsi, William Macharia, Sarah B. Macfarlane, Anthony Ngugi, F. Rabbani, Gijs Walraven, Robert Armstrong

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa suffers an inordinate burden of disease and does not have the numbers of suitably trained health care workers to address this challenge. New concepts in health sciences education are needed to offer alternatives to current training approaches. A perspective of integrated training in population health for undergraduate medical and nursing education is advanced, rather than continuing to take separate approaches for clinical and public health education. Population health science educates students in the social and environmental origins of disease, thus complementing disease-specific training and providing opportunities for learners to take the perspective of the community as a critical …

An Educational Initiative To Prevent Unnecessary Hospitalization For Hospice Patients, Alkeisha Hill Mims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Avoidable hospitalizations of hospice patients cost Medicare $3 billion a year. When hospice nurses are able to identify early signs and symptoms of acute illness and provide appropriate interventions to prevent such admissions, 20-60% of the hospitalizations are preventable. The practice problem addressed in this quality improvement doctor of nursing project was the 30% hospital admission rate of hospice patients as evidenced by chart review, admission data, and revocation data. The first purpose of the project was to identify evidence-based nursing care paths in the literature for the top 5 medical diagnoses related to avoidable hospital admissions. The second purpose …

Effects Of Education On Pressure Ulcer Prevention In Developmentally Disabled Individuals, Jasneth M. James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pressure ulcers were a continuing concern among the nonverbal developmentally disabled population of a state institution. The lengthy use of wheelchairs, the inability to body shift, and physical and mental impairment were attributes of the target population that have been cited in the literature as contributing to pressure ulcer. The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest/posttest project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an education intervention for direct care staff on the prevention treatment, and eradication of pressure ulcers among patients with developmental disabilities. Orem's self-care deficit theory, particularly the emphasis on the need for nursing staff to perform self-care activities …

Advanced Practitioner Provided Pre-Hospital Discharge Asthma Education, Lyndsay E. Gardner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Asthma is a leading cause of pediatric hospital admissions. Parents of children under the age of 18 with asthma require education to recognize and manage the signs and symptoms of the disease. Parent education has shown to decrease their children's hospital admission and readmission rates. The purpose of this pilot project was to develop an asthma educational module for the parents of children with asthma and obtain parent feedback on the content. Families with children under the age of 18 who had been admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of asthma, an asthma exacerbation, or status asthmaticus were invited …

Chiropractic Student Infection Control Practices And Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Skin Infections, Jonathon Todd Egan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chiropractic training involves many hours of skin contact, and chiropractors have manual contact with millions of patients annually, but chiropractic has only had professional clinical hygiene guidance since 2010. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common cause of cultured skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) in the United States. Using the epidemiologic triad of person, place, and time as a framework, this quantitative, cross-sectional study obtained the first assessment of MRSA SSTI incidence among chiropractic students and its association with infection control behaviors (hand and table hygiene, sharing gowns, and sharing lotion) and initiation of patient care. The study …

Bedside Nurse Recognition Of Delirium In The Medical-Surgical Setting, Bridget Ann Denzik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Delirium in adults aged 65 and older is a common occurrence in the acute care setting and is often unrecognized by bedside nurses. Delirium can trigger a negative cascade of events resulting in an increase in morbidity and mortality, functional decline, longer length of stay, and high rates of post hospital institutionalization and has a significant socioeconomic impact. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to establish a solid foundation using scholarly literature to support the development of a delirium prevention, recognition, and treatment program in the medical-surgical acute care setting applying the program logic framework. The goal was …

Improving The Charge Nurse's Leadership Role: A Collaborative Learning Forum, Felicia Katherine Pryby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff nurses are frequently placed in charge nurse positions without the necessary formal training. The long-term goal of this project was to develop a curriculum for a formal institutional leadership workshop for the charge nurses at the practicum site. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model and Lewin's change theory were used to guide the development and implementation of the workshop. Data were collected using a focus group approach with 4 novice and 5 expert medical-surgical charge nurses. The short-term goal of the project was to understand the charge nurses' perceptions of leadership and the challenges as a front-line leader. …

Improving Pain Management For Hospitalized Patients, Ronda Sweet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Uncontrolled pain has proven effects on both physiological and psychological responses of hospitalized patients. These incapacitating sequelae most often negatively impact patient outcomes resulting in unnecessary suffering and prolong hospitalizations. First line nurses often have preconceived notions about a patient's pain without developing an individualized patient context that considers appropriate pain management knowledge translated from best practice standards. Guided by Bandura's social learning theory and Lippitt's change theory, the purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if use of the Curriculum Outline on Pain for Nursing from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) improved nursing …

Simulation Learning And Transfer To The Clinical Environment In Undergraduate Nursing Students, David A. Miles

Dissertations

Simulation learning is an integral component of many undergraduate nursing programs throughout the country. Experiential learning through simulation allows students to improve their cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills. Some clinical experiences lack significant practice of clinical skills for students; including the inability to assume the role of the nurse. A recent literature review revealed a need to advance the understanding of simulation learning and transfer; with many questions still remaining unanswered. The aim of this study was to conceptualize the process by which simulation learning transfers to the clinical environment in undergraduate nursing students. Twenty-five, fourth-year traditional nursing students, who …

Employment May Protect Fathers In The Setting Of Maternal Teenage Pregnancy From Anxiety And Depression: Findings From The Australian Father's Study, A Atkinson, R Petersen, J Quinlivan

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: There is limited research on fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy. Most studies report data from regions of social disadvantage and low education. We report on the levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life of fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy in an area where the unemployment rate is low.

Methods: Observational study of 50 fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy and 100 fathers whose partners were not teenagers (control), living within the same metropolitan healthcare region with high employment rates. Fathers were enrolled within the larger Australian Father’s Study and were …

Reduced A1c Levels Through Diabetes Self-Management Strategies In The Teen Population: A Systematic Review, Nicole O'Neil

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project utilized current evidence-based practices to improve the diabetes education in the endocrine clinic for the adolescent population ages 15-18. Based on a clinic audit, an average hA1C level of 8.1% was revealed. The goal was to decrease these levels from 8.1% to 7.9% within 90 days through the implementation of the revised diabetes brochure. Evidence suggests the following: DSME improves clinical outcomes and quality of life; an A1C level >7% is associated with increased risks of complications ; teaching aimed at lowering glycemic levels have decreased numerous complications; there is a need to ensure age appropriate, family-centered care, …

Preserving Personhood In Individuals With Cognitive Impairment: A Caregiver's Role, Maren Legg

Honors Projects

This project consists of an educational program for informal caregivers in the Bowling Green community on preserving personhood in individuals with cognitive impairments through caregiving experiences. The program was based on a copious amount of research regarding personhood, how personhood relates to individuals experiencing cognitive impairment, and how care provided by caregivers can be provided in a way that promotes and preserves an individual’s personality, personhood, and selfhood.

The program was developed over the span of four months and incorporates models of personhood, behaviors that threaten and preserve or promote personhood, as well as practical suggestions for strategies in how …

Effectiveness Of Food-Demos To Increase Nutrition Knowledge, Megan Hemmelgarn

Honors Projects

This research investigated the effectiveness of a one-time food-demo at increasing the knowledge and improving the behavior of vegetable and diary consumption in the diets of college-aged females. Participation included a convenience sample of 26 college-aged females living in residence halls at a Bowling Green State University in Northwest Ohio. Testing was delivered before intervention as a baseline of knowledge and diet behavior. Post-testing was delivered immediately after intervention and evaluated any gain in knowledge from the baseline. One-month after intervention, post 2-testing was distributed evaluating retention of knowledge and behavioral change. Overall, participants experienced knowledge gain immediately after intervention …

Effectiveness Of Iterative Interventions To Increase Research Productivity In One Residency Program., Richard Alweis, Suzanne Wenderoth, Anthony A. Donato

Reading Hospital Internal Medicine Residency

BACKGROUND: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires residency programs to expose residents to research opportunities.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a series of iterative interventions to increase scholarly activity in one internal medicine residency.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the effectiveness of a series of interventions to increase resident and faculty scholarly productivity over a 14-year period was performed using quality improvement methodology. Outcomes measured were accepted regional and national abstracts and PubMed indexed manuscripts of residents and faculty.

RESULTS: Initially, regional meeting abstracts increased and then were supplanted by national meeting …

Duty Hour Limitations And Educational Outcomes: Perspectives From A Community Hospital-Based Family Medicine Residency Program, Maria Eliza Marquise

Theses & Dissertations

In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Osteopathic Association introduced new models that established limits on residents’ duty hours in training programs across the United States (Miulli & Valcore, 2010; Philibert & Taradejna, 2011); more stringent limitations were implemented in 2011. If these physician training programs decreased the time residents’ spent in a formal learning environment and utilized experiential learning as one teaching method, did the duty hour limitations affect the residents’ learning outcomes? The purpose of this ex post facto, quantitative study was to determine if there were differences in ITE (In-Training Examination) scores …

An Evidence Based Approach To Sepsis: Educational Program, Dolores Perez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Evidence-based guidelines for recognizing and treating sepsis have been available for decades, yet healthcare providers do not adhere to the recommendations. Sepsis can progress rapidly if not recognized early. Literature reports reveal that sepsis is the leading cause of death in non-cardiac intensive care units (ICUs), and it is one of the most expensive conditions to treat. A hospital in the Las Vegas, Nevada area had previously introduced sepsis management prescriptions in 2011 with no formal education of sepsis guidelines to nurses. The original hospital’s sepsis management prescription sets followed guidelines dated 2008. The purpose of this project was to …

An Exploratory Investigation Of Tele-Counseling: Looking At The Power Of Therapeutic Alliance In Improving Wellness, Jorge Rostro

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explored the power of one tele-counseling session to elicit change within post wellness ratings scores and the relationship between clients’ perceptions of relationship, goals and topics, approach and method, and overall session with clients’ wellness ratings. Results indicated that the mean for post-session wellness was significantly greater than pre-test wellness ratings. The standardized effect size, d, was .43, indicative of a moderate effect size. No difference was found between client’s perceptions of predictor variables with post-wellness rating scores. This study adds support for the use of tele-counseling services as one session might have the power to elicit …

Community-Based Rehabilitation Supports For Social Inclusion And Work Participation Of Young Adults With Visual Impairment In Kenya: A Case Study, Philomena Jepkemboi Tanui

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Young adults with a visual impairment (VI) experience less interaction with the community that impacts the way they relate to the world as they transition to the larger society where they face significant barriers of adjustment, exclusion, and work participation. Young adults with VI contend with cultural stigma, inequality, poor self-esteem caused by marginalization, a low quality of life (QOL), and lack of Social support systems that exist beyond the home. The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions of young adults with VI in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Kisumu Counties of Kenya concerning the barriers to community inclusion and …

The Efficacy Of An Eight-Week Undergraduate Course In Resilience, Asher J. Morgan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to measure the efficacy of an 8-week undergraduate

course in resilience. Finding useful strategies to understand how college students manage stress

and adversity is important to college administrators. The main topics that were assessed were

resilience, well-being, and assertiveness. Participants for this study included undergraduate

students enrolled either in a 8-week course on Resilience or a Public Health course. The

Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being, and the Simple

Rathus Assertiveness Scale were used to determine the efficacy of the 8-week course. Overall,

there was not a significant difference in resilience and well-being, …

Practc: Practice Readiness Academic Clinical Training Collaborative –– Gap Analysis To Advance Clinical Training For Nurse Practitioner Students, Jennifer Hartlaub, Mary Ann Muzi, M. Jamie Cairo, John R. Brill, James Weese, Kristin Rivera, Susan Hafemann, Ann M. Rohrer, Julia Schumacher, Terri L. Vandenhouten

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Multiple factors have created a perfect storm of health care provider shortages in the United States. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), long established as high-quality, cost-effective health care providers, are meeting health care needs across the nation in a variety of settings, and in Wisconsin will be needed to augment the primary care workforce. With 5.7% of its registered nurses credentialed as APRNs, Wisconsin lags behind the national average of 8.7%. However, current capacity to educate this workforce is strained, requiring innovative data-driven clinical education models.

Purpose: To identify gaps in the current clinical educational framework for nurse practitioner …