Nursing Commons^™

Shedding Light On Endometriosis: Patient And Provider Perspectives On A Challenging Disease, Madalene Zale, Emily Lambert, Marianna Lanoue, Amy E. Leader

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Background: Endometriosis is a serious yet understudied medical condition impacting millions of women worldwide.

Methods: This mixed methods study aimed to understand health care provider perceptions and patient experiences with endometriosis in the United States. Providers were surveyed to assess their understanding of disease prevalence. A subset of providers also participated in short, open-ended interviews about treating patients who have or are suspected to have endometriosis. Interviews were also conducted with women diagnosed with endometriosis to understand their experiences with the disease. Means and frequencies were calculated for survey data; interviews were transcribed and separately analyzed by two coders using …

Clinical Framework For Quality Improvement Of Cancer Cachexia., Clara Granda-Cameron, Mary Pat Lynch

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

The objective of this article is to introduce the Clinical Framework for Quality Improvement of Cancer Cachexia (Cachexia Care Framework) as a tool to demonstrate the relevance of integrating the clinical components of cancer cachexia and the organizational strategies of a cancer institution on the quality of patient care and delivery of services throughout the cancer cachexia continuum. The data sources included peer-reviewed literature relevant to cancer cachexia and quality cancer care, and the authors' expertise. The Cachexia Care Framework results from a combination of the international consensus definition of cancer cachexia, the Institute of Medicine report Ensuring Quality Cancer …

Treatment-Related Decisional Conflict, Quality Of Life, And Comorbidity In Older Adults With Cancer., Jeannette M. Kates

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Objective: The present study aims to examine the relationships between and among cancer treatment-related decisional conflict, quality of life, and comorbidity in older adults with cancer.

Methods: A convenience sample of 200 older adults was recruited from outpatient medical oncology and radiation oncology practices in the northeastern United States. A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study design was used employing a survey method. Survey instruments included the Decisional Conflict scale (DCS) (with five subscales, including informed, values clarity, support, uncertainty, and effective decision); Self-administered comorbidity questionnaire (SCQ); European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (including five function …

Text Messaging In The Patient-Centered Medical Home To Improve Glucose Control And Retinopathy Screening., Janice M Miller, Ann G. Phalen, Albert Crawford, Anthony Frisby, Barry S. Ziring

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a text messaging program (TMP) to improve glucose control, retinopathy screening (RS) rates, and self-care behaviors in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A single-group design with a quasi-systematic random sample (n=20) received educational/exhortational text messages on their cellular phones for 3 months. Subjects, 12 of whom identified as a minority ethnicity, were mostly male, aged 27-73 years.

Results: Glucose control and RS rates improved significantly. Subjects (>70%) reported changes in self-care behaviors.

Conclusion: Leveraging ubiquitous technology, a TMP for patients with limited access to healthcare education, holds promise

Return To Work After Stroke: A Nursing State Of The Science., Catherine Harris, Phd, Mba, Crnp

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

There is a lack of research related to return to work (RTW) after acute ischemic stroke. Historically considered a disease of the elderly, acute ischemic stroke studies have not routinely used return to work as an outcome. Major stroke trials have not routinely collected this data as an endpoint. However, the mean age for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has declined to 69 years of age, while the incidence in patients under the age of 55 has increased to 19%^1-3. Changes in retirement age have also affected RTW as a consideration in stroke patients. Failure to RTW after recovery …

A Progressive Postresection Walking Program Significantly Improves Fatigue And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Pancreas And Periampullary Cancer Patients., Theresa Yeo, Sherry A Burrell, Patricia K Sauter, Eugene P Kennedy, Harish Lavu, Benjamin E Leiby, Charles Yeo

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: As patients with pancreas and periampullary cancer (PPC) experience improved survival rates and longevity, the focus shifts toward living life while surviving cancer. Fatigue is the most commonly reported symptom in all cancer patients. Exercise has been found to effectively decrease fatigue levels and improve physical functioning in cancer patients.

STUDY DESIGN: One hundred two patients with resected PPC consented to participate in this study and were randomized to either an intervention group (IG) or a usual care group (UCG). Subjects completed visual analog scales, the FACIT-Fatigue Scale and the Short Form-36v2 after surgery and again 3 to 6 …

Assessment Of “Gene-Environment” Interaction In Cases Of Familial & Sporadic Pancreatic Cancer, Theresa Yeo, Ralph Hruban, Kieran Brune, Alison Klein, Shiela Fitzgerald, Charles Yeo

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Reported risk factors for PC include: advancing age, a family history of PC, high-risk inherited syndromes, cigarette smoking, exposure to occupational and environmental carcinogens, African-American race, high fat/high cholesterol diet, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize one of the largest national registries of familial PC (FPC) and sporadic PC (SPC), focusing on demographics, clinical factors, self-reported environmental and occupational lifetime exposures and survival status.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional, case-only analysis of FPC cases (n …

Incivility In Healthcare Settings: Manifestations, Root Causes, And Downstream Effects On Patient Care And Productivity, Theresa P. Yeo, Anne Belcher, Charles J. Yeo

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence and effects of incivility in healthcare and educational settings

METHODS: Review of the literature

SEARCH STRATEGY: CINAHL, PubMed, Joint Commission sites searched using terms: incivility, workplace violence, disruptive behavior, bullying