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Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among youth has increased drastically in recent years. E-cigarettes are being used with nicotine which can lead to dependency. Healthcare providers (HPs) are in a unique position to advise against the use of e-cigarettes. Recent studies report a lack of formal education among HPs

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among youth has increased drastically in recent years. E-cigarettes are being used with nicotine which can lead to dependency. Healthcare providers (HPs) are in a unique position to advise against the use of e-cigarettes. Recent studies report a lack of formal education among HPs about e-cigarettes. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to examine how increasing e-cigarette awareness among HPs can change their behavior on patient counseling against e-cigarette use. Methods: A modified E-cigarette Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitude Questionnaire was proctored before and after a virtual educational training about e-cigarettes. All advanced HPs employed, in a Southwestern state, at the organization were invited to participate by email. Results: 29 participants completed the pre-survey, and 4 participants completed the post-survey. While 90% of the participants reported that they first learned about e-cigarettes through informal sources, 72% of the participants reported interest in learning more about e-cigarettes to enhance their practice. Further, a two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test was significant on the “e-cigarettes are helpful aid for smoking cessation” statement based on an alpha value of 0.05, U = 12, z = -2.69, p = .007. Conclusions: Increasing the knowledge about e-cigarettes among HPs is critical in decreasing nicotine use among the public. This project will help in the fight against the use of tobacco products, and adds to the literature on how formal education about e-cigarettes among HPs can increase their intention to screen and counsel patients.
Created2021-05-01
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Objective: Substance use disorder (SUD) is an epidemic in the United States. Current standard of care for SUD continues to produce a 40-60% relapse rate. Treatment for SUD is costly and is not obtainable for many individuals. The purpose of this project is to implement mindfulness as an adjunct treatment

Objective: Substance use disorder (SUD) is an epidemic in the United States. Current standard of care for SUD continues to produce a 40-60% relapse rate. Treatment for SUD is costly and is not obtainable for many individuals. The purpose of this project is to implement mindfulness as an adjunct treatment for SUD to reduce relapse. Methods: Voluntary program offered at a residential treatment center designed as a team-based project. The combined project includes exercise, wellness, and mindfulness. Adults over the age of 18, male or female with a diagnosis of SUD were eligible. Program consisted of three hourly sessions a week, for a total of three weeks. Sessions included one session of exercise and wellness, one session of mindfulness training, and a combined session. Mindfulness sessions included learning the seven pillars of mindfulness followed by guided meditation. Participants were given a mindfulness journal for daily exercises. Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) was completed before program and on completion. Results: 11 of 22 participants completed the program. FFMQ total scores were analyzed with paired t-test with Wilcoxon signed rank to account for small sample size. Statistical significance was based on an alpha of 0.05, V=10.50, z=2.00 and p=0.45. Conclusion: This project has the potential to decrease relapse rates by increasing mindfulness in individuals with SUD. Mindfulness training reduces cravings and negative thought processes. Implementing mindfulness training with current standard of care can be cost effective and recommended for all individuals with SUD.
Created2021-05-01
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Background: Current standard of care practices for substance use disorder is inadequate in reducing relapse, with rates persistently 40-60% within one year of treatment. Unconventional approaches must be explored to reduce the risk of relapse, climbing rate of overdoses, and healthcare expenditures exceeding $740 billion annually. The purpose of this

Background: Current standard of care practices for substance use disorder is inadequate in reducing relapse, with rates persistently 40-60% within one year of treatment. Unconventional approaches must be explored to reduce the risk of relapse, climbing rate of overdoses, and healthcare expenditures exceeding $740 billion annually. The purpose of this quality improvement project demonstrates how an evidence-based group exercise intervention, used as adjunctive support to standard addiction treatment, can reduce relapse and promote long-term recovery during a global pandemic. Methods: Aims of this project sought to enhance quality of life scores. Participants were recruited upon admission to a residential treatment center. Pre-posttest design utilized the World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated scale to assess program impact on quality of life. Pre-program descriptive questions and a survey assessing prior addiction treatment were collected. Group exercise and wellness education sessions were delivered twice weekly in a live, interactive, virtual format with on-site participants. Upon completion, a post-program survey was utilized to capture the qualitative experiences of participants and impact of project to instill confidence to execute long-term sobriety. Results: Pre and post scores, as well as domain scores were clinically and statistically significant. Additionally, 80% of participants reported feeling more prepared to achieve long-term sobriety secondary to their participation in this project. Discussion and Conclusion: Results from this project demonstrate the positive impact that group-based exercise and lifestyle interventions can have on quality of life and long-term recovery. Peer support exercise programs may offer means to enhance addiction treatment and reduce overall healthcare expenditures globally by defying the odds of relapse.
Created2021-05-01
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Objective: Obesity is the fifth leading cause of global death and is preventable. It affects all body systems and causes major chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and some cancers. The goal of this transtheoretical stages of changes (TSOC) theory-based project are as follows: To educate the

Objective: Obesity is the fifth leading cause of global death and is preventable. It affects all body systems and causes major chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and some cancers. The goal of this transtheoretical stages of changes (TSOC) theory-based project are as follows: To educate the participants of the project to be aware of obesity and its complications; motivate them to use community resources, and improve their body mass indexes (BMI), waist circumference (WC), motivation, quality of life (QOL) and lifestyle. Methods: Twenty-three participants were recruited in a primary care clinic. Six participants dropped out during the project. All the randomly selected participants who met the criteria of obesity signed written informed consent and were provided a 4-digit code to maintain anonymity. Participants were motivated and educated using a handout, two pre-and post-project in-person nursing visits, and five telemedicine weekly nursing follow-ups visits. Pre- and post-surveys collected during in-person visits include data such as weight, BMI, WC, demographic data, comorbidities, lifestyle, motivation, QOL, TSOC, and utilization of community resources. Results: Descriptive analysis and paired t-test is done utilizing Intellectus statistics software to measure the outcome. The results show improvement in dietary choices, physical activity, motivation, QOL, use of community resources, decrease in BMI, and WC. In paired t tests, results show clinical and statistical significance in BMI, WC, MOT and clinical significance in QOL. There was increase in the revenue at the project site due to reimbursement of the services provided for the patients. Conclusion: The results are expected to develop practice change in preventing and treating obesity. More evidence-based projects and studies with large sample size are needed to develop improvement in the knowledge base of providers and current practice.
Created2022-04-28
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Although estimated to be 50-60% more than in heteronormative populations, intimate partner violence (IPV) in LGBTQ+ populations is often unrecognized. This project aims to increase nurse practitioner (NP) IPV screening to facilitate early intervention and decrease LGBTQ+ IPV rates. The researcher gathered information from 1:1 interview with LGBTQ+ IPV

Although estimated to be 50-60% more than in heteronormative populations, intimate partner violence (IPV) in LGBTQ+ populations is often unrecognized. This project aims to increase nurse practitioner (NP) IPV screening to facilitate early intervention and decrease LGBTQ+ IPV rates. The researcher gathered information from 1:1 interview with LGBTQ+ IPV survivors (n=3) and produced a dramatization narrating experiences. Subjects were required to preregister and consent. Nurse practitioners (n=6) participated in a 1.5hr online educational intervention, viewing the video and a 45-min webinar. The Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence Scale (PREMIS) and the LGBT Development of Clinical Skills Scale (LGBT-DOCCS) were administered as test-retest. The PREMIS measures (? =.963) readiness to screen for IPV, the LGBT-DOCCS measures attitude (?=.80), clinical preparedness (?=.88) and knowledge (?=.83). All participants in both groups were voluntary and recruited from e-lists and special interest groups. Cox’s Theory of Interaction and the Minority Stress Theory were the dual framework along with the ACE model of transformational knowledge to support methodology and outcomes. Results Statistically significant (p<0.05) improvements in readiness to screen for IPV, knowledge, and attitudes as measured by PREMIS domains (p= .006; p=.012) and LGBT-DOCSS (p = .028). Clinically significant improvement in mean scores for likelihood to screen for SOGI. Supported by the theoretical framework and implementation model, increased readiness to screen, improved knowledge and improved attitude, will lead to better NP-patient interactions, decreased minority stress, increased NP screening and intervention, and decreased rates of IPV in LGBTQ+ populations.
Created2022-04-29
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Sleep deprivation is linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes for professional firefighters. The importance of sleep hygiene practices and health promotional activities may increase the amount of quality sleep firefighters get on their days off. As the adverse outcomes of circadian misalignment due to sleep deprivation becomes more

Sleep deprivation is linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes for professional firefighters. The importance of sleep hygiene practices and health promotional activities may increase the amount of quality sleep firefighters get on their days off. As the adverse outcomes of circadian misalignment due to sleep deprivation becomes more apparent in firefighter wellbeing, the need for a sleep health program becomes more evident. The purpose of this paper is to examine and assess the effects of a sleep health program for firefighter wellness. Research emphasizing the relevance of poor health outcomes related to sleep disturbances is prevalent in the literature. The findings have prompted the development of an evidence-based sleep coaching program for firefighters in a local fire department guided by The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Model (Brewin, C.R., 1996). and a knowledge-to-Action process framework for evidence-based-practice (Graham et al., 2006).
Created2022-04-28
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Background: Existing substance use disorder guidelines are deficient in reducing relapse rates, evidenced by the substantial number of persons experiencing relapse within months of recovery, with most relapsing within one year. Current interventions lack community reinforcement approaches to reduce relapse and risk factors required to combat the extensive damages related

Background: Existing substance use disorder guidelines are deficient in reducing relapse rates, evidenced by the substantial number of persons experiencing relapse within months of recovery, with most relapsing within one year. Current interventions lack community reinforcement approaches to reduce relapse and risk factors required to combat the extensive damages related to substance use as costs exceed $1 trillion annually. Guided by the Social Cognitive Model, this quality improvement project aims to explore how group exercise combined with community reinforcement reduces relapse. It aims to boost recovery capital by improving quality of life scores. Methods: A CrossFit instructor delivered personalized group exercise and wellness education in-person biweekly for six weeks. Adult residential treatment clients were eligible to participate recruited via a flyer upon treatment entry. A pre-intervention demographic questionnaire, a pre-/post World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated scale (reliability ? = > 0.70) assessing intervention influence on the quality of life, and a post-intervention survey was administered. The lead investigator performed all data distribution and collection. Institutional Review Board approval safeguarded participants' rights and risks. Results: Pre/post improvements observed in all domains; psychological and environmental were statistically significant, while 100% of participants reported enhanced QoL, social support, & confidence related to long-term sobriety post-intervention. Discussion/Conclusion: Desired outcomes are increased quality of life scores to boost recovery capital. A sober community reinforcement approach combined with exercise may link to reducing relapse and total costs related to this growing public health crisis.
Created2022-04-30
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Primary care providers (PCPs) are frequently the first line of treatment for suicidal ideation (SI) patients. Many PCPs report low self-efficacy in treating suicidal patients, leading to inappropriate treatment plans or avoidance of discussing SI. This quality improvement project based on the Uncertainty Reduction theory aimed to evaluate PCP's perceptions

Primary care providers (PCPs) are frequently the first line of treatment for suicidal ideation (SI) patients. Many PCPs report low self-efficacy in treating suicidal patients, leading to inappropriate treatment plans or avoidance of discussing SI. This quality improvement project based on the Uncertainty Reduction theory aimed to evaluate PCP's perceptions of an SI treatment algorithm and its impact on self-efficacy. Secondary aims included assessing PCP's confidence in treating suicidal patients and current treatment practices. A pre- then post-intervention survey design was utilized. All PCPs treating patients in a military medicine clinic were invited to participate in the project. Participants were sent a recruitment email containing the suicidal ideation treatment algorithm and a link to a survey developed with Qualtrics software. Participants were asked to review the SI algorithm, answer the baseline survey questions, and complete a second eight-week survey. For human subjects' protection, the survey responses were anonymous. Demographic data collected included years of clinical experience and licensure type. The data were evaluated with Intellectus software. Due to limited participation, N=4, there was insufficient data to determine the significance of implementing the SI algorithm in a primary care clinic. Central tendencies showed that most providers (n=3, 75.00%) felt less than confident treating suicidal patients. Half of the providers asked non-mental health patients about suicide less than 40% of the time (n=2, 50.00%). The data suggest that PCPs feel uncomfortable treating suicidal patients and may benefit from additional resources and training in this area.
Created2022-04-26
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Major depressive disorder contributes to a growing disease burden globally, with limiting or inadequate treatment options available to patients and healthcare providers. Traditional medications to treat the disorder demonstrate modest efficacy while best outcomes are seen when psychotherapy is implemented adjunctively. Barriers to delivering optimal treatment can lead to relapse, diminished psychosocial functioning, and

Major depressive disorder contributes to a growing disease burden globally, with limiting or inadequate treatment options available to patients and healthcare providers. Traditional medications to treat the disorder demonstrate modest efficacy while best outcomes are seen when psychotherapy is implemented adjunctively. Barriers to delivering optimal treatment can lead to relapse, diminished psychosocial functioning, and suicide, a leading cause of death in the United States. The purpose of this paper is to examine the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine combined with nurse-delivered mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to help reduce depression severity and support remission. Research differentiating ketamine’s mechanism of action from traditional anti-depressants and the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions to reduce depression, have led this evidence-based project integrating these modalities.
Created2021-04-20
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Background and Aims: Due to the significant rise in opioid use and fatal opioid overdoses, an opioid reversal agent naloxone has been made available to the public through standing orders at Arizona pharmacies. The aim of this project is to implement a virtual naloxone education program to increase community knowledge

Background and Aims: Due to the significant rise in opioid use and fatal opioid overdoses, an opioid reversal agent naloxone has been made available to the public through standing orders at Arizona pharmacies. The aim of this project is to implement a virtual naloxone education program to increase community knowledge of opioid addiction, opioid overdose, and opioid overdose response. Design: Utilized a one group, pretest-posttest design utilizing Brief Opioid Overdose Knowledge (BOOK) screening tool. Participants recruited through Mesa Community College website as an online event open to students, staff, and public. Setting: Online WebEx event through Mesa Community College. Intervention: Presented a 45-minute educational PowerPoint on opioids, opioid overdose, and opioid overdose response with a 15-minute question answer session. Participants: A total of 67 people attended the online event, 38 participated in pre-test and 19 participated in post-test survey. Demographics included 73.7% female, 55.3% between ages 18-30, 86.7% identify as white/Caucasian, and 92% signed up with a community college email address. Findings: Statistically significant results, with alpha value of 0.05, t(13) = -3.99, p = .002, d=1.07. Conclusions: Implementing an online education session is associated with increased knowledge on opioid use, opioid overdose, and opioid overdose response. Implementing community-based education programs may increase knowledge on opioid overdose prevention and community intervention.
Created2021-04-27