Matching Items (5)
Filtering by
- All Subjects: Mindfulness
- All Subjects: Quality Improvement
- Creators: College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Description
Loneliness and depression in older adults are under-recognized public health concerns that increase risks for all-cause mortality, medical morbidity, and rising healthcare costs. This quality improvement project assessed whether smartphone Mindfulness software mitigated self-reported feelings of loneliness and depression among community-dwelling older adults. Nine participants aged 65 and older, living at home, experiencing loneliness or depression, and owning a smartphone were recruited using newsletters and fliers. A short demographics questionnaire and two valid and reliable instruments, namely the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA V3) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), were used in pre-intervention and four weeks post-intervention. Participants downloaded the UCLA Mindful app on their smartphones after attending a 20-minute Mindfulness education at a local church banquet room. Participants used the UCLA Mindful software twice weekly for ten minutes for four weeks. Of the nine participants, three completed the study. A two-tailed paired sample t-test and descriptive analysis were used to evaluate the efficacy of the UCLA Mindful smartphone software. The results of the two-tailed paired sample t-test were not statistically significant for the UCLA V3 Loneliness scale (p=.220) and GDS (p=.208) due to the small sample size. Although the results were negligible, participants nevertheless reported favorable impacts. Future research with a larger sample size is encouraged.
ContributorsMurdock, J. Kristine (Author) / Guthery, Ann (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-04-26
Description
An alarming number of youth have mental health concerns, but of those who are diagnosed, only half receive treatment. Using Bandera's social cognitive theory, one can achieve behavioral changes through self-efficacy and control their actions by self-regulation. Mindfulness activities, when implemented early, can decrease stress, and improve well-being in youth.
Methods:
This project was implemented among students attending an alternative high school in Arizona. Nine students participated in four different mindfulness, hands-on activities during two classes- 1 hour each. Participants completed a pre and a post-test with the 10-item questionnaire Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and a 3-question survey to evaluate the program at the end of the second week.
Results: Among the 9 participants (mean age = 16 SD=2.06), the stress levels were considered low to moderate in the pretest (mean=16.56) and the post-test (mean=15.89). Stress level scores were reduced after the education although the difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, all participants agreed that the content and activities were appropriate, 88.9% agreed they had a "better understanding of how to reduce stress," and 77.8% stated their "knowledge of stress has improved."
Discussion/Conclusion:
This project aimed to help reduce vulnerable adolescents' stress level through mindfulness activities. Mental health education like this may help adolescents better manage stress and consequently promote their overall well-being. Future projects should recruit a larger sample and implement a longer time for larger and longer effects.
ContributorsQualman, Stephanie (Author) / Chen, Angela (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-05-10
Description
Substance use disorder has been increasing in the United States year after year. Modern treatments fail as often as they succeed. The current standards of practice fail to provide patients with the ability to harness thoughts and control anxiety. Mindfulness practices are currently being adapted as a therapeutic technique to address some of these concerns. An exhaustive literature review was conducted to investigate how various mindfulness techniques impact substance use disorder. Ten high-quality studies were retained and synthesized to show current understandings of the effectiveness of a mindfulness therapeutic technique. An evidence-based intervention is suggested for implementing mindfulness-based relapse prevention into a residential treatment facility. The intervention created incorporates the self-efficacy theory and an adapted health-belief model. Adults in a residential treatment facility for substance use disorder were given eight mindfulness sessions over the course of four weeks. Participants were given pre- and post-intervention screenings for mindful attention and anxiety. The data analysis after two-tailed paired T-tests showed that anxiety significantly decreased (α=.05, p<.001) and mindful attention increased significantly (α=.05, p=.015). Overall, mindfulness shows promise in its potential to reduce substance abuse.
ContributorsWandler, Ryan (Author) / Nunez, Diane (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-04-27
Description
Background: There is growing evidence that persistent exposure to the adverse effects of stressful work conditions, abuse, and re-traumatization without proper intervention leads to compassion fatigue (CF) and reduced compassion satisfaction (CS). Without appropriate intervention, the outcome of CF affects the patient, staff, and the organization. Despite proposed self-care measures, mental health (MH) workers continue to struggle with CF and lack the resources to combat the issue.
Objectives: Ongoing awareness on the implications of trauma and its impact on one's behavior, supports the use of Trauma-informed care (TIC) skills in creating a conducive work environment. This quality improvement project examines the efficacy of TIC education as an intervention for CF pre/post-one-hour education session among MH workers.
Methods: MH nurses (n=8) from diverse backgrounds in a Phoenix inpatient psychiatric hospital gave consent for the study. Participation was sought via flyers and entailed attending the one-hour education session, filling out a demographic, and pre/post-professional quality of life (ProQol) surveys. The ProQol standardized tool measures CF, CS, and burnout with reliability >0.70. Expected outcomes include a reduction in CF and an improvement in CS. Data analysis using intellectus software involved descriptive analysis and paired t-tests to compare outcomes.
Results: Pre/post data analysis was statistically significant, P = 0.003, which shows a reduction in CF and an improvement in CS.
Conclusion: TIC as an intervention for CF looks promising. MH nurses can manage their stress symptoms and that of their patients using TIC skills.
ContributorsOnyia, Nneka (Author) / Guthery, Ann (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-04-29
Description
Objective
A needs assessment identified a nursing knowledge gap of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity (CIN) symptoms as a significant factor in delayed recognition of patients' neurologic decline. The quality improvement (QI) project aimed to increase nursing comfort levels and knowledge related to screening for CIN in hospitalized pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant (Heme/Onc/BMT) patients.
Methods
Nursing CIN education and pre- and post-education assessment questions were created using best practice parameters to screen and monitor CIN in Heme/Onc/BMT pediatric patients. Pre- and post-surveys included a valid Likert-type scale to assess comfort levels using neurotoxicity screening tools (NST) followed by knowledge-based formative assessments. ASU IRB and hospital QI board standards were maintained.
Results
Heme/Onc/BMT nurses (n=37) participated. The most frequent pre-education comfort level was three or somewhat comfortable (n=13). Most frequent post-education comfort level is four or very comfortable (n=21). The two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test for pre- and post-education comfort levels was significant based on an alpha value of .05 and p < .001.
Conclusion
Nursing comfort and knowledge of screening for CIN increased. Early recognition of CIN will improve outcomes for high-risk hospitalized Heme/Onc/BMT pediatric patients.
ContributorsBest, Brianne (Author) / Bucci, Aimee (Thesis advisor) / College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor)
Created2023-04-27