Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

Training Traditional Birth Attendants In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lindsey J. Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Even after many adjustments, recommended practice regarding traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and their contribution to lowering the maternal mortality rate (MMR) continues to be disputed among various stakeholders. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to see high maternal mortality rates, despite various attempts by the World Health Organization (WHO) and others at utilizing the formal health care system (Prata, et al., 2011). Considering all factors and variables behind the reason for this problem in Sub-Saharan African, it is reasonable to conclude that training traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in evidence-based practice, in conjunction with developing longer-term strategies, is an appropriate approach for the short …

Faith Community Nursing: Bridging The Gap Between Effective Healthcare And Biblical Ministry, Moriah Kenna

Senior Honors Theses

The United States’ traditional health care system is unprepared to combat the growing rates of chronic illness in its population. With over 90% of those aged 66 years and older living with a chronic illness, an emphasis on preventative care must be enacted. Faith community nursing is a viable and effective option for long-term preventative management of chronic illnesses in the community. Faith community nursing fits both the mission of the Christian church and the needs of the healthcare community and greater awareness of this must be achieved in both the faith and healthcare sectors to bring about maximum results.

Is Dietary Intervention A Viable Method For Improving Outcomes In Adult Patients With Asthma?, Jennifer Grolimund

Senior Honors Theses

Asthma is a disease process characterized by episodic inflammation of the lower airway in response to various triggers. Those with asthma have trouble breathing effectively during an acute episode, making asthma a potentially life threatening condition. Standard medical treatment of asthma, including medications and environmental changes, can be effective at reducing or eliminating negative outcomes in patients with asthma. However, a holistic approach to patient care, including an examination of dietary influence, may also be useful for patients trying to manage the course of their illness. Variations in intake of individual nutrients or in total dietary patterns may play a …

Practice Matters: Prevention And Care Of Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes, Lizbeth P. Sturgeon Phd, Tonya M. Bragg-Underwood Dnp, Maire Blankenship Dnp

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

A Faith Community Nurse (FCN) is tasked with promoting health within a faith-based community. As with any nursing role, the FCN must keep abreast of current issues and be aware of informational resources to keep his/her practice relevant. The area of focus in this issue is type 2 diabetes. During 2014, the global prevalence of diabetes among adults was estimated at 9%. There are numerous risk factors for type 2 diabetes including both modifiable and non-modifiable. The diagnosis of diabetes can be made based on plasma glucose or Hemoglobin A1C (A1C) criteria.Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes affect many people globally. …

Health Coaching In Faith-Based Community Diabetes Education, Janet L. Meyer, Beverley E. Holland

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Abstract

A significant health burden exists related to type 2 diabetes. Evidence-based solutions through research are needed to improve diabetes outcomes. Faith community diabetes education can be utilized to provide the knowledge needed to manage the disease. The purpose of the current study was to determine if a faith-based community diabetes education program including health coaching can increase self-efficacy in people with type 2 diabetes.

This pilot study used a pre-test/post-test format for data collection. Following diabetes education for all participants, half of the group received health coaching and the other half no further intervention. A survey consisting of two …

Maternal Anxiety Associated With Newborn Hearing Screening, Stephen J. Tueller, Karl R. White

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to determine if newborn hearing screening increases maternal anxiety. Mothers whose infants were screened for hearing were asked how worried they were prior to hospital discharge and again six weeks later. They were also asked if they were more concerned about their baby’s hearing than they were about other aspects of the infant’s health and behavior.

Results showed that mothers worried as much or more about many other aspects of their infants’ health and behavior as about hearing. Mothers whose infants had a false positive screening result were initially more worried about hearing than …

Caregiver Training In Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Supports (Mbpbs): Effects On Caregivers And Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Nirbhay N. Singh, Giulio E. Lancioni, Bryan T. Karazsia, Rachel E. Myers

Faculty Articles

Caregivers often manage the aggressive behavior of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that reside in community group homes. Sometimes this results in adverse outcomes for both the caregivers and the care recipients. We provided a 7-day intensive Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) training to caregivers from community group homes and assessed the outcomes in terms of caregiver variables, individuals’ behaviors, and an administrative outcome. When compared to pre-MBPBS training, the MBPBS training resulted in the caregivers using significantly less physical restraints, and staff stress and staff turnover were considerably reduced. The frequency of injury to caregivers and peers caused …

Rural India Women's Perception Of Health, Kaye Wilson-Anderson

Faculty Publications - College of Nursing

This qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological study explored how southern, rural women in India ( N = 14) view health, how they learned about health, and what health education they desired. Health education classes were offered, based on participants’ responses. Recommendations are offered for a best practice model that could potentially enhance the efforts of non-Indian nurses desiring to assist impoverished women and families in India.

Stress Of Conscience: Concept Clarification, Muder Alkrisat, Manal Alatrash

Journal of Health Ethics

Workers in healthcare systems are predisposed to work-related stress based on moral factors. Stress results when nurses are exposed to ambiguous moral situations, or when they are prevented by hospitals or their employees from doing what they ought to do. Such experiences have been described as stress of conscience because they give rise to a troubled conscience. Empirical studies indicate that health care employees, including nurses, sometimes refer to stress of conscience when faced with ethically difficult situations related to patient care.

Ethics In Community Nursing, Bonnie Pope, M. C. Hough, Susan Chase

Journal of Health Ethics

The purpose of this theoretical paper is to explore the ethics in a community nursing. Nursing, a practice discipline recognizes caring, morals, and values as integral to the practice of all nurses. The ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, advocacy, and social justice will be discussed from the lens of caring. Caring nursing theorists, such as Jean Watson, Ann Boykin, and Savina Schoenhofer, articulate the importance of understanding communities and individuals as whole and autonomous. These theorists and others challenge nursing to engage in a responsive, ethical and philosophical discourse when the community is viewed as autonomous.

Does Theory Translate In The Trenches Of Short Term Mission Work?, Rhonda D. Hensley

Journal of Health Ethics

Despite numerous criticisms in the literature on the ethics and sustainable outcomes of short term international mission trips, there can be positive outcomes for volunteers and for recipients of short term mission care efforts. Utilizing a theoretical framework that addresses efforts to promote sustainability can lead to a structured, productive, and satisfying experience. With effective host country partnerships and an organized model of care delivery, international mission volunteers can provide highly effective health care services that are specific to the health and cultural needs of the host community.

Anabaptist Community Members’ Perceptions And Preferences Related To Healthcare, Dawn M. Garrett Wright, Maria Eve Martin, M. Susan Jones

Nursing Faculty Publications

The plain Anabaptists are thought to differ from mainstream U.S. health care beliefs and practices. Many non-Anabaptist health care providers have limited knowledge of the specific health beliefs and preferences of Anabaptists, which can lead to misunderstandings. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to collect information from Anabaptist community members related to health care beliefs and preferences in their communities. Participants, who were members of various plain Anabaptist communities, completed a questionnaire containing open-ended questions about health issues. Seven themes emerged in results: (1) health viewed as a gift from God that provides the ability to work; (2) …

The Secret Ingredient For Improving Infant/Child Mental Health: Teaching Parents To Play, Geraldine Healy Marini

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Disorders in mental health are the highest of all disorders and results in the most common form of disability. Since 2011, mental health disorders have increased at alarming rates. It is estimated that 9.5 to 14.2% of children between the ages of 0 to 5 years have and emotional or behavioral problem. The mental health of parents or caregivers can affect and impact the development of young children (Nelson & Mann, 2011, Zero to Three, 2004).

The over arching goal of this research is to explore issues of mental health within parent-child interactions. Coaching parents during the co-occupation of play …

Nursing Management And Mirror Therapy For Phantom Limb Pain, Bridget Henry

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Phantom limb pain may occur after the accidental removal or surgical amputation of a limb. Phantom limb pain is the experience of pain in the limb that is no longer present. The clinical management of phantom limb pain is essential in the overall reduction of patient rehabilitation and poor patient outcomes. A patient’s degree of phantom limb pain is influenced by their personal response to loss and pain and can have devastating effects to a person’s social performance, occupational role, family role, relationships, and involvement in activities or hobbies. Like most chronic pain, phantom limb pain decreases the quality of …

Technologies To Enhance Optimal Glycemic Control In Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes, Shannon L. Hassett

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background

People with type 1 diabetes make up approximately two million of the American population. Every day, these two million people struggle to fight this lifelong, sometimes life threatening disease. While type 1 diabetes currently has no cure, there are technologies that can make diabetes management more effective. This study surveyed the type 1 diabetes (T1D) young adult population aged 18-30, to evaluate what technologies and tools are most often associated with achieving optimal glycemic control (OGC).

Methodology

The instrument is a 35 question, investigator developed survey that is designed to measure how often a participant utilizes the technology identified …

Retention Of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Knowledge And Psychomotor Skill Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: An Integrative Review Of Literature, Fernanda Tirado

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this integrative literature review is to explore the effectiveness of different training modalities on the acquisition and retention of CPR knowledge and psychomotor skill among undergraduate nursing students. Background: It is well known that standard CPR-training is ineffective at preparing nurses for the rigors of a cardiac arrest event. Survival rates for in-hospital cardiac arrests remain low and the proportion of neurobehavioral sequelae among survivors is very high. Methods: A review of relevant literature published between 2006 and 2016 was conducted using the CINAHL and MEDLINE databases. The following key terms were used in the search: …

Competitive Food Policy Implementation In Kentucky Schools, Paula Gisler

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

This study was designed to explore the literature on competitive food policy implementation (CFPI); examines demographic and school factors associated with CFPI; and explores the experiences of school leaders and staff in CFPI using a proposed theoretical framework to guide the research. Competitive foods are those sold in vending machines, a la carte settings, fundraisers, class parties and other venues which compete with foods offered through the national school lunch and breakfast programs. Competitive foods have traditionally been of low nutritional value and high energy density. CFPI may be effective in reducing student calorie intake and BMI. However, evaluation of …

Evaluating Provider Knowledge Of The Hpv Vaccine In Kentucky, Madeline A. Wilson

DNP Projects

According to the CDC, about 79 million Americans are currently infected with Human papillomavirus (HPV) with an additional 14 million infected annually, most of which are teenagers and young adults. Of these 14 million newly diagnosed cases, approximately 27,000 are diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV. Kentucky’s HPV vaccination initiation and completion rates are below national estimates.

In 2013, Kentucky’s vaccine completion rate for girls age 13 to 17 was 26.8 percent compared to United States completion rate of 37.6 percent. Kentucky vaccine completion rate for boys age 13 to 17 was 19 percent compared to a United States …

Relationship Among Motivation, Emotion Regulation, And Psychological Well-Being Of Sophomore And Senior Level Nursing Students, Aryene Delgado, Douglas Garner, Nicole Langhals

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Nursing education and professional work involve stressful circumstances that may lead to attrition, which can further contribute to the projected nursing shortage. This study examines the relationships between motivation, emotional regulation, psychological well-being and academic performance in baccalaureate sophomore and senior level nursing students at a Midwest urban university in the United States. The non-experimental, correlational study is guided by Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory and uses an online survey data collection and convenience sampling. Measures include: motivation, emotional regulation, psychological well-being (burnout; inauthenticity), and academic performance (GPA), and will be measured using Deci and Ryan’s scale, the Emotion Regulation …

The Relationship Between Stress And Social Support In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Hannah M. Greczanik, Vincent A. Lupico

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Nursing students experience high levels of stress throughout their college career. When it comes to managing this stress, the use of social support as a coping mechanism may be a factor. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support and stress in undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students and to compare social support and stress across levels of education. The study was guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. This study used a non-experimental descriptive design and a cross-sectional data collection with an online survey. The sample was a convenience sample of second, third, and …

Understanding Cultural Health Beliefs And Practices In Ghana, Africa, Jamie Wossilek, Rachel Patterson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences and perceptions of university students and faculty after going on a medical mission trip to Ghana, Africa related to the health and illness beliefs of the Ghanaian people.

Background. Many organizations plan and conduct health mission trips. Although, many organizations are focused on improving health in developing countries, some may not understand cultural values and the health problems in those countries. “Improving health” is a complicated problem in developing countries and is hard to understand how those in the countries recognize health and illness.

Methodology. A purposeful, convenience …

Evaluation Of Serum Vitamin D Levels In Older Adults Who Fall And Sustain A Fracture: A Retrospective Chart Review, Suzanne L. Pilon

DNP Projects

Purpose: This practice inquiry project was designed to (i) evaluate serum vitamin D levels in individuals aged 65 years and older who had fallen and sustained a fracture and (ii) identify if the serum vitamin D levels were within therapeutic range.

Background: Older adults are at increased risk of falling and sustaining a fracture as a result of falls. Vitamin D has been shown to be effective in fall prevention yet vitamin D is deficient in the older population worldwide. Evaluating current serum vitamin D levels in older adults who fall and sustain a fracture may provide additional insight in …

Community Level Assessment For Breastfeeding In The Gateway District, Vanessa Flannery

DNP Projects

Purpose: To assess community level support for breastfeeding in the Gateway District of eastern Kentucky.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted to identify institutional support of breastfeeding women. Data collected during interviews included community level support based on the framework of the Ten Step program from the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) (WHO & UNICEF, 2009) and the Mother-Friendly Worksite Initiative (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2012). Respondents answered questions to determine breastfeeding support from the healthcare, education and business communities.

Results: Of the ten organizations whose representatives were interviewed, 100% perceived health benefits for mothers and infants from breastfeeding. …

Evaluation Of Provider Recommendation Of Colorectal Cancer Screening In A Primary Care Setting, Emmanuel E. Nwaogu

DNP Projects

Objectives: The overall objective of this practice inquiry project was to evaluate whether providers in a primary care clinic in Louisville, KY were following the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening guidelines regarding colorectal cancer for patients aged 50 -75. The study examined the types of screening recommended, and whether completion of screening was documented in the medical record. Finally in this study, provider recommendation for Colorectal Cancer Screening (CRC) was evaluated to determine if types of screening recommended, and documentation varied based on the ethnicity of the patients.

Methods: This was a descriptive study using a retrospective …

Exploratory Psychomteric Properties Of The Farsi And English Version Of Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (Spnq), Nejat Nazi, Lisa Whitehead, Marie Crowe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The aim of this study was to translate and test the psychometric properties of a Farsi and an English version of the spiritual needs questionnaire (SpNQ) a measure originally developed in German. The World Health Organization guideline for translating and validating questionnaires was used. Participants were recruited from hospitals in Iran and New Zealand during an outpatient follow-up appointment after cancer treatment. People diagnosed with cancer in Iran (68) and New Zealand (54) completed and returned the SpNQ (at time 1) and within the two week time period (time 2). Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.79 to 0.92, except for the …

A "Clarion" Call For Embracing Ipe As The Status Quo For Preparing Health Professionals To Engage In Interprofessional Health Research, Kimberly Adams Tufts

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Complex health conditions and the social-economic determinants that contribute to disease and injury incidence, prevalence, and health inequalities require multifaceted evidence-based interventions that only interprofessional research teams who collaborate across traditional disciplinary lines can generate. Interprofessionally driven and derived research evidence is the method of du jour. Nonetheless as a whole, health professionals who are often members of interprofessional health research teams are products of educational systems wherein they were educated in disciplinary silos. Health professionals that learn about, with, from, each other during their foundational education will be better prepared to function as interprofessional research team members. With the …

Implementation Of A Wellness Program To Address Health Disparities In A Vulnerable Population, Patricia Clark Pappas

Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement a Wellness program to address the health disparities in a vulnerable population. The population targeted was a local population that was served at a mental health facility for socioeconomically disadvantaged. The program focused on improving knowledge of cardiovascular health, empowerment and communication skills. Significance: The significance of the project is the improvement in ones wellness by provision of education, empowerment and communication skills. The attaining of these skills can translate into other areas of wellness and improved health outcomes. Populations at risk due to socioeconomic and racial differences can …

Improving Patient Care Outcomes To Reduce Recurrent Admissions Of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Lisa Maria Friedrich

Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects

Purpose:Transitional care is time-limited, with the goal of ensuring safety and health continuity for at-risk patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as they move from one setting to the next. An acute care episode of COPD ranges from relatively healthy adults to adults with multiple chronic conditions or those in the end-of-life phase. The primary quality concern of an urgent need to improve health care is in response to the gaps of sufficient experience to manage patients with COPD, leading to hospital readmissions. Implementation of standards of care for the improvement of health-related quality of life (HRQL) of COPD …

Fnp Led Mobile Health Services For The Homeless Population, Tenzin D. Lama

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

A small percentage of the U.S. population uses the greatest portion of the healthcare services. Homeless people are often such a group of “super-utilizers” of the healthcare system. Due to multiple medical and psychosocial conditions, people experiencing homelessness face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare, thus leading increased utilization of hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) services. Many of these events are preventable through improved primary care interventions. The literature on Respite/Recuperative Care, Transitional Care, and Mobile Health interventions have shown effectiveness in providing safe and quality care to homeless individuals during the critical transitional period post hospital discharge while also reducing …

Staff Education: Nutrition Education In The Intellectually /Developmentally Disabled Community, Claire C. Bradley-Davalos Msn Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

The objective of my project is to develop staff education regarding a nutrition initiative developed to address the 44% obesity rate among clients in our care. My target population is direct care staff working in the Intellectually/Developmentally Disabled (IDD) community, and high functioning clients who live independently in the community. The staff knowledge was tested pre- and post-education to demonstrate knowledge retained. Staff are required to get a score of 80 or better to pass. Test results are interpreted to see which content areas need further teaching or clarification. Initial results indicate that four areas of education need to be …