Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services: Recent submissions
Now showing items 1-20 of 183
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Reframing AgingInterprofessional Student Event on ageism titled Reframing Aging by Melissa Donegan, Assistant Director HLCE AgeSpan.
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Patients, Providers, And Perceptions: Achieving Quality Of Care When Goals Are Not AlignedDespite asthma remaining one of the most common chronic pediatric conditions, patients are still constantly hospitalized due to poor adherence to the treatment plan. Patient-centered care requires professionals to understand what barriers affect controlled asthma during healthy childhood/adolescent development. This literature review consists of seven key articles from the CINAHL and PubMed databases with common themes identified (a) providers and patients have different goals of effective care; (b) nurses can help identify family roles to manage asthma care while building patient resilience and (c) identifying factors that decrease treatment compliance. These themes highlight the need for nurses to expand their role as medical caregivers and educators into a mediator between pediatric patients, their family members, and their providers. At the same time, natural family roles need to be respected and patients can care for themselves with little distractions from having a healthy childhood. This helps to improve the quality of self-care and decrease hospital readmissions in pediatric patients with asthma.
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Fact Or Fiction: Investigating Whether The CSI Effect Is A Valid Concern Or Popular MythProsecutors have attributed an increase in juror expectations and demands for more scientific evidence (i.e., DNA, fingerprints) in criminal trials to the CSI effect. They believe that TV shows like CSI have influenced juror perception of how criminal investigations are carried out and their understanding of evidence, which has resulted in higher demands for scientific evidence in the courtroom. To investigate this claim of a rise in expectations and demands for scientific evidence, this research study conducted an anonymous, self-administered, online survey consisting of 17 questions that was administered Salem State University undergraduate and graduate students from all different disciplines (n = 90). The survey collected demographic data as well as more specific information about students’ crime-based TV show (both fiction-based and reality-based) viewing habits and their demands for scientific evidence in certain cases. Comparisons were then made between viewers of fiction-based crime TV shows and reality-based crime TV shows to see if there was any significant difference regarding their expectations and demands for scientific evidence. The results indicated that both viewers of fiction-based crime TV shows and viewers of reality-based crime TV shows had very similar expectations and demands for scientific evidence in criminal trials. Therefore, the present study found no correlation between watching fiction-based crime shows and higher demands for scientific evidence as most respondents understood the inaccuracies portrayed in fiction-based TV shows.
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The Impact Of Disparate Treatment On Pregnancy Outcomes In Minority WomenPregnancy is one of the most vulnerable and important events in a woman’s life, however this experience can differ for minority women from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 700 women die each year in the US because of pregnancy or delivery complications while also reporting that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women. More than half of these deaths and near-deaths are the result of preventable causes, and a disproportionate number of the women suffering are Black women. A review of the literature was done using the CINAHL database, and the articles that were collected will be used to find common themes across multiple author’s findings that link directly to causative factors and their outcomes. The themes are (a) minority women experiencing lower-quality care; (b) minority women experiencing biases in communities; (c) minority women experiencing implicit bias within the health care delivery system; (d) minority women experiencing the effects of systemic oppression. Each of these elements have contributed to the rising prevalence of pregnancy-related morbidities and deaths. Nurses must advocate for high-quality, safe treatment and care for every patient to dismantle racial health disparities and decrease maternal morbidity and mortality rates. The desire to learn and to be aware of the variables influencing racial inequalities in pregnant minority women is the first step to improve health care standards and work to dismantle this growing racial health disparity.
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The Effect Of Music Therapy Programs On Inmates' Anxiety, Depression, And Self-EsteemThe use of music therapy as a correctional rehabilitation technique remains a relatively unexplored field. In particular, the effect that music therapy may pose on inmates’ mental health – specifically anxiety, depression, and self-esteem – is a fairly new topic of research. This literature review compares ten studies on music therapy programs in correctional facilities from six authors across the globe. The studies were analyzed and compared to determine if there is a significant relation between participation in music therapy programs and improvements in participants’ anxiety, depression, and self-esteem based on state-approved evaluations or traits closely linked to the mental illnesses. Overall, the data on the subject matter is inconclusive, for there is not enough information to support a significant relation between participation in music therapy and inmates’ mental health, and further research on the topic is warranted.
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Patient-Physician Communication: The Importance Of Effective Communication For Surgical ProceduresA physician’s ability to effectively communicate information to their patient is critical for a successful patient-physician relationship. Patients who understand their physician are prone to acknowledge their health condition, understand their treatment plan, adjust their behavior, and follow recommendations. For the following research study, I reviewed current literature on how physicians communicate with young patients about surgical procedures. I recruited undergraduate students at Salem State University to participate in a brief anonymous survey about their experiences with open or laparoscopic appendectomies. Results yielded that 3 out of 30 participants had a laparoscopic appendectomy; 2 of those 3 participants reported having struggled with obtaining satisfactory information about the procedure.
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Treating Patients With Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP): The Challenges Of Implementing Nursing Bundles Of CareA ventilator is any device used to support, assist, or control respiration. Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) can result from long term mechanical ventilation and causes a major life-threatening infection that has a high prevalence in patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within our hospitals today. Despite having life-saving benefits, mechanical ventilation puts patients at a high risk of developing VAP; this increases the length of hospital stay, increases the cost of treatment, and decreases patient quality of life. Therefore, hospitals have implemented standardized preventative care interventions or “bundles” for mechanically ventilated patients in attempts to reduce the overall VAP prevalence, and infection rate. A systemic literature review was performed using the CINAHL Plus database to investigate the challenges posed to nurses when implementing VAP care bundle interventions in ICU patients. Major themes are (a) VAP bundles significantly reduce days on a ventilator and days in the ICU, (b) What is in the care bundle matters, (c) Nursing compliance is related to education and years of experience, (d) Barriers to nursing adherence is related to the use of bundles, (e) Institutional barriers that affect nursing adherence to the use of bundles. The registered nurse is in a key position to mitigate the risk of VAP. Hospitals must provide standardized nursing policies that emerge from interpersonal communication with bedside nurses to enforce Evidence Based Practices. In the future, to provide optimal care for mechanically ventilated patients, hospitals must take action to create changes to overcome institutional barriers which impact patient care.
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Examining Solitary Confinement On The Well-Being Of Black And Hispanic MenSolitary confinement practices are harmful to the health and well-being of individuals. Little is known about how these practices affect the overall well-being of Black and Hispanic men. This paper aims to examine the overall well-being among Black and Hispanic men experiencing solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and assess if their experiences preclude them from pursuing a quality of life upon release. The paper sought to answer two questions: (1) What is the relationship between solitary confinement and well-being among Black and Hispanic men? (2) Is solitary confinement harmful to societal reintegration efforts among formerly incarcerated Black and Hispanic men? Findings reveal that solitary confinement negatively affects the well-being of Black and Hispanic men and that these men are more likely to recidivate without effective rehabilitation.
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Period Poverty: How Access To Feminine Hygiene Products Affects The Psychosocial Development Of Young Women?The purpose of this study was to assess the menstrual hygiene needs of adolescent girls and explore factors influencing poor access to products and related school absences amongst adolescent girls. Many young women cannot afford menstrual health products to meet their monthly needs, and this may impact their well-being and school performance. Period poverty is a subset of the broader issue of hygiene insecurity. As a result of hygiene insecurity, women often lack health, self-esteem, and dignity due to limited access to hygiene products such as sanitary towels or pads, tampons, soap, and clean underwear. A systematic review of the literature was done in the CINAHL Plus database, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. The themes identified across the studies are (a) poor access to menstrual products, (b) school environment does not provide for the needs of young women and (c) inadequate education on menstrual health in schools. The results indicate there is an unmet need for affordable products and teaching that targets both the knowledge and management of menstruation. Inadequate menstruation hygiene has been shown to be linked to school absenteeism. In schools, there is a significant need for menstrual hygiene products, as well as regular use of school resources to get them. With additional research to help inform how period poverty impacts adolescent girls and young women, there is tremendous opportunity to help address this critical, yet under-addressed issue. Menstruation is an ongoing biological process that affects women and adolescent girls. Menstruating women, on average, use over 9,000 sanitary items throughout their lifetime, which adds up rapidly. Adolescent girls face struggles to manage their menstrual cycles and those in lower socioeconomic classes often lack access to the products they need. Despite how essential menstrual products are, there are vast number of adolescent girls who are unable to afford or acquire these necessities. This lack of access to period products is often referred to as, ‘period poverty’. This can result in delayed challenges in achieving psychosocial growth in adolescent girls, as evidenced by not attending school Lack of access to products amongst adolescent girls causes inhibitions in psychosocial settings and causes girls to not interact with others freely. Ultimately this can limit a girl’s potential and opportunities later in life. 1 in 5 girls in the United States reported having missed school because they did not have access to menstrual products. Without proper menstrual hygiene management (MHM), a girl’s attendance at school is reported to decline or cease altogether. Providing adequate resources to meet women's and girls' menstrual hygiene needs may have an impact on female school attendance rates and expanding women's education is critical in achieving one’s life goals.
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Living With Cardiovascular Disease: The Connection Between Mental Health And Quality Of LifeCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Depression and anxiety have been identified as common factors occurring with advanced heart disease. An unhealthy lifestyle, such as poor dietary habits or improper coping mechanisms is correlated with the onset of anxiety and depression. Patients with cardiovascular disease that are faced with various stressors as well as depression and anxiety are at risk for poor prognosis of their disease and an overall decreased quality of life. A systematic review was conducted using the CINAHL PLUS database to determine what mental health factors affect the outcome for individuals with cardiovascular disease. The results of this systematic review of seven academic articles outlined five themes that influence the quality of life for individuals with cardiovascular disease. The themes are (a) life satisfaction; (b) socioeconomic status and emotional state; (c) anxiety and fear; (d) stress and distress; and (e) depressive disorders. These results help to identify specific interventions that health care providers should implement when caring for patients with cardiovascular disease. Healthcare professionals should continuously monitor the mental status of their patients with cardiovascular disease, in order to treat their patients. By doing so this has the potential to reduce the progression of heart disease and improve their overall quality of life.
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Adolescents With Migraine Headaches: Managing Triggers To Support A High Quality Of LifeMigraine headaches are common amongst adolescents, beginning in early childhood and following them into adulthood. Migraines are typically described as intense pain located on one side of their head, accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to stimuli. Migraines have a negative impact on the daily lives of those who suffer from them. Successfully navigating life is hard enough for people of this age group and healthcare professionals should strive to increase the quality of life for both the patient and the family. A systemic review of literature was conducted. A CINHAL Plus search was used with the keywords: migraines, quality of life, and adolescents. The search was refined to only show peer reviewed sources and journal articles. The publication date was set between the years 2017 to 2022. Six articles met the criteria for inclusion in this systemic review of literature. The criteria being article on headaches that did not have a co-morbidity. Three themes were identified and included in the review: who is at highest risk for migraines, the effect migraines have on health and school performance, and the poor quality of life of both the adolescent and their families. Further awareness of migraines and their triggers is needed. This will allow patients and their families to take a proactive approach and understand acute treatments that will help the adolescents improve their quality of life. In addition to positive outcomes and proper growth & development. Controlling the triggers and symptoms of migraine headaches will allow the adolescents to live better lives and lessen the burden on families.
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Language Barriers In US Healthcare: Research In Limited English Proficiency Patient Experience And Health OutcomesThis review covers literature published to the National Library of Medicine from 2010-2021 on the use of Spanish and other non-English languages used in healthcare settings in the United States. Despite the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Service (CLAS) Standards created by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2010, it is well-documented that patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) still receive lower quality care. The studies reviewed indicate a lack of standardization in the use of interpretation services and other intervention strategies can increase patient satisfaction, as well as a tendency to underutilize these services when available. Further research must be done on how to promote the use of interpretation services among healthcare providers, how LEP patients navigate topics around mental health, and perspectives of how interpretation services should be used from LEP patients themselves.
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Resiliency In Child Welfare Workers Through The COVID-19 PandemicThe purpose of this study is to understand the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child welfare workers. First a deep investigation into resiliency in social work, strategies for resiliency, and worker resiliency through the pandemic in general was done. Next, a section on child welfare workers explains the challenges they face along with research on resiliency in the field. Lastly a section on COVID-19 investigates the possible impacts of the pandemic on child welfare workers and globally to give context. This research has found that child welfare workers have felt burnt out, isolated, and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Adolescents And E-Cigarette Use: The Hidden Danger Of Developing E-Cigarette And Vaping Associated Lung InjuryNewer generations have opted out of the traditional cigarettes but instead smoking electronic cigarettes. Electronic Cigarettes (EC), produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products—flavorings, and other chemicals. EC can come in various sizes, shapes and flavorings and typically is used as a recovery source for overcoming nicotine addiction and smoking cessation. Adolescents have become fascinated with EC causing a health crisis among the age group called EVALI (E-cigarettes or Vaping Lung Injury). This thesis will be addressing the EC substance abuse in adolescents and why it is important for healthcare workers, nurses, and providers to be updated on the health issues that can occur from chronic use of EC. The thesis will address the psychological and risk factors that may influence teenagers into smoking EC, THC involvement with EVALI, the health history of adolescents, and the initial signs and symptoms of EVALI. Various sources from accredited academic databases will be used to relay pertinent information when it comes to smoking EC and the health impact of EVALI. Healthcare providers, public health administrators and other personnel that work with adolescents should have some foundational information when it comes to adolescents smoking EC and how EVALI can have an everlasting impact on their health.
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Managing Pain In Children: Barriers To Effective CareThis thesis focuses upon pain management in a healthcare setting and at home, specifically within the population of children. The purpose of this research is to understand why assessment and pain management of children is difficult for healthcare providers and caregivers. This study covers the influencing factors that act as barriers in the direct care of healthcare providers to children. The aim is to understand why these barriers affect successful pain assessment and management. A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate the challenges that affect successful care for children. There were four themes that were identified in the eight articles that met the criteria for the barriers of pain assessment and management. The themes identified were the healthcare worker’s ability to collect subjective and objective data, communication within staff and family, forgotten priorities by healthcare providers and a child’s inability to rate their own pain. Recognizing these challenges and how they hinder optimal childcare will promote good patient outcomes and support child growth and development.
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Developing a Powerpoint that Educates Incoming Staff and Interns about the Cath Lab Department: Highlighting the Significance and Impacts of TAVR Procedures on PatientsThe Stamford Hospital Cath Lab department is an area where cardiac procedures such as TAVR and angiograms are performed. The laboratory consists of multiple healthcare specialists that all play a key role in these various procedures. For this poster the main tasks involve educating incoming staff and interns in the cath lab department about transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures, along with emphasizing the significance of it. To add on, the interns and staff must also be informed about the complexity of these procedures in order to improve their knowledge and skills in this department. Aside from that, the methods that will be implemented is collecting pieces of data on patients regarding this procedure while forming it into bar graphs. Overall, the main goal will be to have incoming staff and interns be aware of how TAVR procedures is such a critical aspect to this department and how it impacts the healthcare community.
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Impact of Controlled Exercise Programs on Balance and Coordination: A Case Study of Stroke SurvivorsThe purpose of this project was to monitor and record the progress of coordination and balance by using a controlled exercise program in stroke survivors. All participants had predetermined goals of improving coordination and balance, which helps improve ambulation and other functionality. The exercise routines of each participant were designed carefully by professionals in the field of exercise science using proven techniques focusing on the upper body, lower body, core strengthening, and transition to standing and walking. Implementing consistent exercise programs to improve balance and coordination over ten weeks also resulted in transferable functionality in the participants' daily lives, including increased independence for daily living activities and enjoyment.
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Individual Treatment Plan: Thirty Day Check in and Discharge of Cardiac Rehab PatientsThis undergraduate internship was to show the importance of participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program after heart surgery and the importance of living a heart healthy life. The cardiac rehabilitation program at Anna Jaques Hospital (MA) includes an initial, holistic assessment and patient goal setting followed by scheduled re-assessments and a physician’s approved discharge. The intern’s project demonstrated their ability to conduct scheduled re-assessments and discharges of select patients. Facilitated by the student intern, the patients demonstrated growth in the following areas upon their discharge: exercise workloads, frequency of exercise, healthy nutrition choices, reduced stress levels. Patient two was not able to reach their ITP discharge nutritional goal.
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Rock Painting: A Suitable Community Project For People With Developmental And Intellectual DisabilitiesRock painting is a suitable project for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. It is designed to develop fine motor skills, social skills, and to unlock artistic potential, which create opportunities to serve their community by engaging themselves in decorating public spaces. Rock painting projects involve teaching and leisure activities. Participants were taught how to hold and use multi-purpose acrylic paints and paint brushes, and were also taught the art of community as part of ensuring their integration. Activities involved going outside to pick rocks and outdoor exploration. Also included was the art of engaging in creativity like mixing paints and drawing. The people involved in the program took part in hiding and finding rocks, and decorating a place in their community with the painted rocks.
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Medical Document Renovation: Utilizing the eHana System to Improve Client Record ContentThe implementation of technology to aid in healthcare processes such as data storage aims to provide ease of medical documentation through improved data accessibility. Using the eHana system, health outcomes were improved. This project involved examining the efficacy of transitioning from paper medical records to the eHana system for a safer, faster way to access patient records and provide treatment. The results showed that during the transition, more than 40 clients’ medical records were transferred to a securer, more convenient electronic space weekly.
