Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Enhancing Athletic Participation: Continuous Glucose Monitoring For Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Athletes, Danielle Santiago

Nursing | Senior Theses

The difficulties that children and teenagers with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) encounter are discussed in this thesis, with a focus on how fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) and actual hypoglycemia associated with this chronic illness affects their ability to engage in physical activities, especially organized sports. A common challenge for children diagnosed with T1DM is meeting the daily recommendation of 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity. The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate if participation in structured exercise (physical education classes and after-school sports) increases among school-aged children who wear continuous glucose monitors (CGM) when …

Addressing Disparity: A Waiting Room Intervention For Preeclampsia Prevention In African Americans, Morgan Semana

Nursing | Senior Theses

Maternal mortality is a pressing, global concern that particularly affects African American women in the United States. African American women face disproportionately a high maternal mortality rate (MMR), with rates more than double that of white women. Preeclampsia emerges as the leading cause of maternal mortality in African American women, driving the need for targeted interventions. To address this issue, a proposed research study aims to investigate the impact of a nurse-led, waiting room, preeclampsia and aspirin effectiveness educational intervention on the knowledge and preeclampsia rates among African American women. The study draws upon existing evidence that supports the use …

Hannaford Center For Safety, Innovation & Simulation 2023 Annual Report, Mainehealth

Annual Reports

In this 2023 Annual Report, you will see that combination of cutting-edge technology, a talented team, and the shared drive to improve health care for patients makes the Sim Center a fantastic resource for our system.

Impact Of Opioid-Free Analgesia On Pain Severity And Patient Satisfaction After Discharge From Surgery: Multispecialty, Prospective Cohort Study In 25 Countries, Tabish Chawla, Aliya Aziz, Anoosha Marium, Ayesha Akbar Waheed, Faiqa Binte Aamir, Faiza Qureshi, Hammad Ather, Iqra Fatima Munawar Ali, Izza Tahir, Maha Ghulam Akbar, Ronika Devi Ukrani, Sajjan Raja, Sehar Salim Virani, Shahryar Noordin, Saif Ur Rehman, Shalni Golani, Syed Roohan Aamir, Syed Musa Mufarrih, Usama Waqar, Maliha Taufiq

Section of General Surgery

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.
Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview …

Improving Dental Students' Knowledge And Confidence In Treating Tobacco Use, Victoria Pierce

DNP Projects

Background: Tobacco use can lead to numerous chronic health conditions. Healthcare professionals in the dental field are in a unique position to broach this issue with patients. Research shows that dental students do not feel equipped to provide tobacco cessation care, citing lack of education on the subject among their top reasons for this.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate changes in dental students’ knowledge and confidence related to treating tobacco use after participation in an educational intervention about the 5A’s, behavioral counseling, and first-line prescription medications.

Methods: This quality improvement initiative utilized a quasi-experimental survey design …

Influences Of Athletic Trainers' Return-To-Activity Assessments For Patients With An Ankle Sprain, Ryan S. Mccann, Cailee E. Welch Bacon, Ashley M. B. Suttmiller, Phillip A. Gribble, Julie M. Cavallario

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Athletic trainers (ATs) inconsistently apply rehabilitation-oriented assessments (ROASTs) when deciding return-to-activity readiness for patients with an ankle sprain. Facilitators and barriers that are most influential to ATs' assessment selection remain unknown.

Objective: To examine facilitators of and barriers to ATs' selection of outcome assessments when determining return-to-activity readiness for patients with an ankle sprain.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Online survey.

Patients or other participants: We sent an online survey to 10 000 clinically practicing ATs. The survey was accessed by 676 individuals, of whom 574 submitted responses (85% completion rate), and 541 respondents met the inclusion criteria.

Main outcome …

Survey Of Pain Curriculum Among Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Programs In The United States, John V. Rider, Vicki Khau, Kristin A. Valdes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy practitioners address pain management across settings, populations, and the lifespan. Occupational therapy practitioners offer unique contributions to pain management through biopsychosocial approaches, targeting supported self-management and occupational engagement. Comprehensive pain education is necessary to prepare entry-level occupational therapy practitioners to address pain in practice, yet no standards exist in entry-level occupational therapy education. This survey describes the status of pain-related education in entry-level occupational therapy programs across the United States. A total of 41 entry-level occupational therapy programs completed the survey. Total instructional time for pain content was reported to be an average of 9.68 hours, ranging from …

Enhancing Simulation Fidelity In Occupational Therapy Education: Considerations For Standardized Patient Training And Implementation, John V. Rider, Linda Frasier, Jessica Parkin

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The use of high-fidelity simulation and standardized patients (SPs) in occupational therapy (OT) education is expanding. However, the implementation of simulation varies across programs, leading to inconsistent outcomes and research limitations. Furthermore, details on SP use and training are lacking in OT literature. This article aims to provide OT educators with considerations for improving simulation fidelity by effectively using highly trained SPs. For example, recruiting SPs from diverse backgrounds is necessary to improve sociological fidelity, and proper training of SPs is required to ensure psychological fidelity. This article also emphasizes the need for standardized training for SPs and recommends following …

A Pilot Sexual Device Adaptation Project For Occupational Therapy Students: A Skills-Based Approach To Teaching Sexual Activity As An Adl Through Assistive Technology, Benjamin E. Canter, Zoe M. Loitz, Victoria E. Richardson, Tatiana B. Pontes, Leanna Katz, Kevin Berner, Pedro Htq Almeida

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite being categorized as an activity of daily living since the first edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, no Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards exist to provide guidance on teaching occupational therapy students about sexual activity as an activity of daily living (ADL). When discussed, sexual activity is usually taught via didactic lecture, but is a subject that would benefit from a skills-based approach to teaching. This pilot pedagogical exercise in a two-credit assistive technology class taught occupational therapy students to address the ADL of sexual activity with clients by having students adapt a sexual toy …

Improving Nutrition Screening Practice In The Hospitalized Heart Failure Patient Population, Amanda J. Bourgeois

DNP Projects

Background: Heart Failure is a disease known to affect nearly 6.5 million adults in the United States. Characterized by recurrent hospitalizations, heart failure significantly contributes to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in the United States and worldwide. Because malnutrition is prevalent in the heart failure population, healthcare providers must perform nutritional assessments on admission to intervene in the case of malnutrition, prevent deterioration, and improve patient prognosis. Without intervention and early identification of malnutrition, heart failure hospitalizations will remain a significant problem.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of an evidence-based educational program for cardiac …

Planetary Health: Helping Providers And Patients Prepare For Climate Change, Chellam Nayar

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Climate change has been called the greatest global health threat of the 21st century. The effects of changing temperatures and increasing pollution have been shown to increase the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases, affect respiratory health, increase the risk of new infectious disease outbreaks, affect mental health, and exacerbate inequities between those with means and those without. In Vermont, climate change is leading to an increase in average temperatures, more extreme heat events, shorter winters, more storms, poor air quality due to wildfire smoke, an increase in cyanobacteria blooms, and a longer tick season, among others. This project will …

Survei Kebutuhan Edukasi Pasien Lupus Eritematosus Sistemik, Jennifer Josephine, Alvina Widhani, Rahmat Cahyanur, Teguh Harjono Karjadi

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

Introduction. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who suffer from chronic illness, need tailored education to better manage their condition. As nowadays education through internet and social media contributes significantly. This study aimed to assess internet usage related to lupus, educational needs, and education sources preferences among patients.

Methods. This study was a cross-sectional study conducted on adult SLE patients at Allergy and Clinical Immunology Clinic, Internal Medicine Department, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, between July-August 2023. Respondents completed a set of questionnaires regarding their internet usage related to lupus, education platform preferences, and educational needs assessment tool (ENAT). …

Education For Primary Care Providers On Advance Care Planning: A Systematic Literature Review, Lindsey Ward

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Background: Healthcare providers in primary care treat patients at various stages of life. As patients age, it becomes necessary for providers to support their older patients throughout the aging process and address patient care even into life’s end stages. Primary care providers (PCPs) are well-positioned to provide this support and can do so through incorporating end-of-life (EOL) conversations in practice. Such discussions are called advance care planning (ACP). Though PCPs can play a crucial role in their patients’ EOL care decisions, providers report their limited knowledge of ACP as a barrier to its application.Consequently, further education for providers on utilizing …

Harm Reduction In Undergraduate And Graduate Medical Education: A Systematic Scoping Review, Kelsey R. Smith, Nina K. Shah, Abby L. Adamczyk, Lara C. Weinstein, Erin L. Kelly

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Substance use increasingly contributes to early morbidity and mortality, which necessitates greater preparation of the healthcare workforce to mitigate its harm. The purpose of this systematic scoping review is to: 1) review published curricula on harm reduction for substance use implemented by undergraduate (UME) and graduate medical education (GME) in the United States and Canada, 2) develop a framework to describe a comprehensive approach to harm reduction medical education, and 3) propose additional content topics for future consideration.

METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, ERIC: Education Resources Information Center (Ovid), and MedEdPORTAL were searched. Studies included any English language curricula about harm …

A Work Readiness Scale For Allied Health Graduates, Vidya Lawton, Emre Ilhan, Verity Pacey, Taryn M. Jones, Arlene Walker, Catherine M. Dean

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The transition for allied health graduates from university to the workforce has been perceived to be difficult and overwhelming, leading to early attrition within healthcare professions. Work readiness is a crucial aspect of successful transition to the workforce, however, the elements of work readiness are not clearly defined. The purpose of this project was to refine the measurement of work-readiness in allied health graduates. Method: A 62-item Work Readiness Scale for Allied Health Professionals (WRS-AH), based on a work readiness scale for a generic population of graduates, was validated and refined using an exploratory factor analysis. Results …

Give Love With Lovenox: Improving Nurse Education On Lovenox Prophylaxis To Reduce Pulmonary Embolism Risk On The Postpartum Unit, Jennifer G. Domingo Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project aims to improve nurse education about Lovenox prophylaxis to reduce the risk of pulmonary emboli – post-discharge – amongst high-risk postpartum women who underwent vaginal and cesarean deliveries on the family baby unit. This project took place in a Family Baby/Postpartum Unit at Hospital SC. This unit has a total of 25 beds with an increased prevalence of pulmonary embolism following cesarean delivery. Nurses were given anonymous pre- and post-survey questionnaires and provided educational sessions with distributed handouts. A unit needs assessment was conducted using the 5 P’s. Out of the 72 nurses on the staff …

Enhancing Diabetic Patient Continuous Glucose Monitoring Access, Colleen Ildefonso

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Diabetic patients utilize treatments that require frequent monitoring and medication changes based on their blood sugar results. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is more commonly used for diabetes management as time in range is becoming more prevalent to measure diabetes outcomes. Many diabetic patients find CGM use more accessible than finger sticks and glucometers. In contrast, others utilize the technology to closely monitor their blood sugars for interventions throughout the day. However, older adults have difficulty facilitating new CGM technology and may require further reinforcement using additional education methods such as teach-back.

Context: The endocrinology clinic serves a patient population, …

Improving Education On Preeclampsia With Non-Severe Features And Frequency Of Assessment Among Nurses In The Maternal-Child Postpartum Unit, Alyssa J. Willsher

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: This Quality Improvement (QI) project aims to improve preeclampsia education among nurses and reduce the frequency of preeclampsia assessments among patients(without severe features) (SF) in the Mother-Baby postpartum unit at Hospital A. Nurses often stated that patients are unable to have uninterrupted rest periods with frequent assessments, which research shows is necessary for reducing patient blood pressure.

Context: The QI project is implemented in a 25-bed postpartum unit that cares for women and their newborns in the postpartum period. The unit’s nurse educator and nurse manager requested that the visiting University of San Francisco research group focus on simplifying …

Improving Triage Accuracy In The Emergency Department, Catriona E. Clohessy

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Hospital Z’s emergency department was experiencing a triage inaccuracy rate that exceeded the accepted national benchmark of 10%. This quality improvement project aimed to reduce triage inaccuracy to less than 10% in the emergency department at Hospital Z, through improved education and availability of supplemental reference materials.

Context: This quality improvement project was conducted in a 40 bed emergency department at Hospital Z. This microsystem serves a diverse patient population from the surrounding community that experience a variety of conditions requiring emergency medical intervention.

Interventions: Clinical Nurse Leader nursing students partnered with unit leadership to create a new ESI …

Implementing An African American Cultural Awareness Program For Skilled Nursing Facility Staff, Adekemi T. Adedipe

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Patient care is most effective when patients and providers establish a therapeutic connection in a cultural context. Nurses’ lack of awareness of a cultural context for patient care impairs establishing a therapeutic provider/patient relationship, with care of lesser quality and poorer health outcomes as consequences.

Local Problem: Staff at a Northern Californian skilled nursing facility (SNF) caring for African American patients with mental illness lacked self-awareness of the cultural context of care. Staff did not consider cultural constructs of care in treating patients and developing care plans.

Methods: Educational intervention to increase the cultural competence of a skilled …

Improving Preeclampsia Education And Assessment Frequency Among Nurses And Patients With Non-Severe Features In A Postpartum Unit, Monica Heredia

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: This Quality Improvement project aimed to improve preeclampsia education among Registered Nurses (RNs) and simplify the preeclampsia assessment frequency for patients with non-severe features in the Mother-Baby Postpartum Unit at Hospital Y.

Context: The Quality Improvement project occurred in a 25-bed Mother-Baby Postpartum unit at Hospital Y. The nurse educators at Hospital Y requested that University of San Francisco (USF) nursing students focus on increasing preeclampsia education among nurses and reducing the nursing assessment frequency.

Interventions: Collect quantitative data through observation and hand anonymous questionnaires to the registered nurses and clinical nurse leaders (CNLs) to determine …

Implementation Of A Continuing Education Module On Triage Practices For Pediatric Emergency Room Nurses, Catherine Nicholson, Lindsey Lakas, Marian Malone

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

BACKGROUND: More than 35 million U.S. children visit the emergency department (ED) each year. Triage is the family’s first interaction with the healthcare team and a crucial component of care that directs the course of the ED visit. The use of standardized triage protocols, like the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) algorithm, is shown to improve overall patient health outcomes in the pediatric ED. For triage algorithms to be safe and effective, continuing education for pediatric ED nurses is important.

LOCAL PROBLEM: Patients at a local pediatric emergency department are being inaccurately triaged - assigned a higher or lower acuity level …

Implementation Of Standardized Contraceptive Education To Improve Larc Initiation In Postpartum Individuals, Gracie E Clayton, Melissa M. Hessock, Amanda Flood

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

BACKGROUND: Approximately 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, leading to negative health, psychosocial, and financial outcomes. Supported methods for preventing unintended pregnancies are promoting education and access to highly effective contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). Studies demonstrate counselor knowledge and bias contribute to underutilization of LARCs, highlighting the need for standardized education.

LOCAL PROBLEM: The setting for this practice improvement project was a rural obstetrical unit in Tennessee where there was no standardized postpartum contraceptive education. Rates of contraceptive use at postpartum discharge were low. The purpose of this project was to implement …

The Effects Of Education On Influenza Vaccination Uptake, Jazzlyn Lawson

MSN Capstone Projects

Influenza is a viral illness that occurs internationally and peaks in prevalence during the months of October to May. There are several types of influenza viruses: Influenza A, B, C, and D (CDC, 2023). Vaccines are available in the United States as early as the start of the flu season to those who wish to receive it. The influenza virus types covered by the annual flu vaccine include Influenzas A and B types (CDC, 2023). The influenza vaccine is recommended by the CDC with the intent to limit the occurrence and spread of influenza each year. Symptoms of influenza consist …

Reducing Hopelessness In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease: Educational Intervention, Kara R. Callear, Pamela Hardesty

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Reducing Hopelessness in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: Educational Intervention

BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease (PD), features several non-motor manifestations, including cognitive dysfunction, which impacts patients and their families. Depression, hopelessness, and anxiety are all prevalent in the psychiatric conditions of PD. In fact, at least 50% of those diagnosed with PD will experience some sort of depression, hopelessness, or anxiety disorder after diagnosis (Ray & Agarwal, 2020). The specific purpose of this project was to help patients with PD diagnosis feel less hopeless and more resilient when coping with their symptoms of PD.

LOCAL PROBLEM: The project setting was a …

Enhancing Athletic Participation: Continuous Glucose Monitoring For Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Athletes, Danielle Santiago

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a lifelong autoimmune condition requiring exogenous insulin, daily insulin management, and blood glucose monitoring (Kahanovitz et al., 2018). Diagnosis, often in childhood, brings overwhelming challenges for children and parents. While no cure exists, advances in monitoring and insulin delivery enhance blood sugar control and quality of life (Mayo Clinic, 2023)

Problem Statement: It is suspected that children with T1DM develop a fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) that deters exercise. Cockroft et al. (2023) found that 70% of youth with T1DM do not meet the recommended amount of exercise (Cockcroft et al., 2023). Physical education …

The Interventions To Improve Medication Adherence In Coronary Heart Disease Patient: A Systematic Review, Amanda Marselin, Lia Amalia, Lucia Kris Dinarti

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objective: The clinical outcome and quality of life of CHD patients are greatly influenced by medication adherence. Non-adherence of CHD patients to treatment results in sub-optimal clinical outcomes and increasing costs. This study aims to describe effectiveness of the intervention to improve the medication adherence in CHD patients. Methods: Systematic review methodology was used in this study. Scopus and PubMed were used to search the relevant article systematically. The outcome measured was medication adherence in coronary heart disease patients. Results: Final screening was 31 articles that met the inclusion criteria in this study of 788 articles. Selection processes the article …

Youth Shelter Bed Bugs & Lice Education, Madeline Mary Rettenmier, Elvina S. Kuzubov, Quoc H. Phan, Megan Myra Joseph, Allie Mechtel

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Youth Shelter Bed Bugs & Lice Education
Allie Mechtel, Maddy Rettenmier, Elvina Kuzubov, Megan Joseph, Kevin Phan
School of Health Sciences, Seattle Pacific University
NUR 4153: Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement
Leah Ngoche DNP, MPH, ARNP-BC
8 November 2023

Youth Shelter Bed Bugs & Lice Education

Introduction

Seattle Pacific University Nursing students were assigned a fifth quarter leadership project in the greater Seattle area. Our group was assigned to a youth shelter located in Belltown, Seattle Washington. It is a thirty-bed, animal friendly shelter for young individuals looking for a safe place to stay. They offer long-term housing for those …

Implementation Of Standardized Patient Education To Improve Adherence With Colonoscopy For Colorectal Cancer Screening, Melissa Leal Hearn, Melissa M. Hessock, Tara L. Hahn

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the U.S. CRC is preventable and manageable when detected early. Approximately 30% of average-risk Americans are overdue for colonoscopy screening. Colonoscopy screenings can reduce death by 67%. Current evidence suggests CRC screening education improves screening uptake among men and women at average-risk age.

LOCAL PROBLEM: The setting of this practice improvement project was a private colorectal surgery practice in South Texas, serving primarily Hispanic/Latino and Caucasian patients. Cancellation rates before colonoscopy were 16.8%, and there was no standardized education for CRC …

Skin Safety Bootcamp: Empowering Nurses To Own Hapi Prevention: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Brooke Randol Msn, Rn, Agcns-Bc, Cmsrn, Cws, Michelle Wood Msn, Rn-Bc

Posters & Presentations

Poster presented at Parkview Nursing Research Symposium, 2023

Question: For inpatient cardiovascular nurses, does implementing a skin safety bootcamp improve the use of pressure injury prevention interventions compared to preintervention, resulting in a decrease in hospital-acquired pressure injuries?