Wearable and app-based resilience modelling in employees:exploring the possibilities to model psychological resilience using wearable-measured heart rate variability and sleep

Stress has a major impact on both an individual and a societal level. Early recognition of the negative impact of stress or reduced resilience can be used in personalized interventions that enable the user to break the identified pattern through timely feedback, and thus limit the emergence of stress-related problems. The emergence of wearable sensor technology makes it possible to continuously monitor relevant behavioral and physical parameters such as sleep and heart rate variability (HRV). Sleep and HRV have been linked to stress and resilience in population studies, but knowledge on whether these relationships also apply within individuals, which is necessary for the aforementioned personalization, is lacking. This thesis introduces a cyclical conceptual model for resilience and four observational studies that test relationships between sleep, HRV and subjective resilience-related outcomes within participants using different types of data analysis at different timeframes. The relationships from the conceptual model and the related hypotheses are broadly confirmed in these studies. Participants tended to have more favorable subjective stress- and resilience-related outcomes on days with a relatively high resting HRV or long total sleep duration. Also, having a resting HRV that fluctuates relatively little from day to day was related to less stress and somatization. However, the strength of the relationships found was modest. The current findings can therefore not yet be directly implemented to initiate meaningful feedback, but they do provide starting points for future research and take a relevant step towards the possible future development of automated resilience interventions

The Efficacy of a Service-Learning Experience in the New Orleans Area in Improving Intercultural Competence of Nutrition and Dietetics Students

There is a large gap between minority representation in the field of dietetics and the United States population, and nutrition students need advanced cultural competence training in preparation for future work with diverse populations. Universal recommendations for delivering and evaluating cultural competence training in nutrition programs are non-existent, and students tend to lack understanding of how to develop this skill. Service-learning in underserved communities with reflective assignments have been used to develop cultural competence skills, but most reported results are anecdotal. This non-randomized mixed methods study sought to find out if a service-learning experience improves intercultural competence of nutrition students more than a self-guided approach. The intervention involved completing a pre-and-post IDI survey, a two-week service-learning experience in the city of New Orleans or self-guided approach with reflective assignments, and post-experience focus groups. Students were recruited through brief informational announcements during classes and via email. Wilcoxin Ranked Signs results indicated improved IDI scores for both the control and experimental groups and there was evidence of skill attainment when reflective assignments were compared to the Campinha-Bacote Model of Cultural Competence

Training interventions for improving telephone consultation skills in clinicians (Review)

Since 1879, the year of the first documented medical telephone consultation, the ability to consult by telephone has become an integral part of modern patient-centred healthcare systems. Nowadays, up to a quarter of all care consultations are conducted by telephone. Studies have quantified the impact of medical telephone consultation on clinicians’ workload and detected the need for quality improvement. While doctors routinely receive training in communication and consultation skills, this does not necessarily include the specificities of telephone communication and consultation. Several studies assessed the short-term effect of interventions aimed at improving clinicians’ telephone consultation skills, but there is no systematic review reporting patient-oriented outcomes or outcomes of interest to clinicians

Inclusive Inquiry. 14th Annual Research Week: Event Proceedings

Presentations of completed and ongoing research activity conducted by graduate and undergraduate students and faculty at University of the Incarnate Word. Coordinated and presented by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Infant Positioning and Its Effect on Development and Head Symmetry

Parents that do not provide their babies with a variety of proper body positions throughout everyday activities may increase their infant\u27s risk for motor development problems and abnormal head shaping. The purpose of this scholarly project was to create parental educational materials in order to increase parent awareness and prevention of common problems due to lack of proper infant positioning in everyday activities. The methodology used was an extensive research literature review, review of current professional resources on this topic, and this therapist\u27s clinical expertise. The clinical products developed from this evidence included: A parental Developmental Care Guide which is a complete informational booklet; an abridged Back to the Basics brochure emphasizing Tummy Time in the daily care routine; and a parental educational session on positioning and infant development presented in Microsoft® Powerpoint® format with an accompanying outcome evaluation survey of the educational benefits. Proper body positioning during an infant\u27s everyday activities can support development, including head symmetry. With the Back to Sleep Campaign endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), it is important to provide a variety of other body positions throughout the day when the baby is awake and engaged in infant occupations such as feeding and playing. The desired result of this scholarly project is to increase parental awareness of the importance of positioning and its effect on supporting normal infant development and head shaping. The parent educational materials (quick reference/detailed guide, power point presentation, and evaluation) developed through this scholarly project will be provided within the hospital and day care settings to promote the infant motor development and head shaping as related to the infant daily care routine

Master\u27s Project: Watershed Education Practicum: A Pathway to Catalyzing Change in Watershed Science Education

This project explored and piloted a watershed education practicum for pre-service educators and scientists that combined high impact educational practices with topics and skill development aimed at creating inclusive watershed education. Issues of water quality and quantity are complex and require a deep understanding of not only ecology but also of the people and systems with which water interacts. This project explored how watershed education can address power and privilege dynamics that are interlaced in issues of water quality and quantity by illuminating systems and structures of oppression and challenging current untenable water resource practices. The findings from this project suggest that in order to prepare our students for the water quality challenges of tomorrow, we need to expose them to sustainable and innovative alternatives while also fostering critical thinking and a fundamental understanding of the importance of ecology of place

Value Perceptions Of Basic Clinical Laboratory Assistant Training With Certification

This study examined the perception of the value of medical laboratory science (MLS) program training and validation of that training with respect to entry-level clinical laboratory professionals. The demand for clinical laboratory professionals is increasing due to the number of retirees expected to peak by 2024 and is expected to yield a two to one job vacancy gap, mainly in entry-level positions. The study examined the perceived value of such traditional educational clinical laboratory programs from the viewpoints of the MLS educators and employers to effect change efforts to better match these programs with what is required within the career path and respective employment field. Research questions asked were: how do MLS program educators describe their understanding of how traditional MLS programs of study prepare students for work in the clinical laboratory and how do clinical laboratory employers describe their understanding of how traditional MLS programs of study prepare employees for work in their clinical laboratory? A balanced mix of ten MLS program educators and clinical laboratory employers were purposively selected for 30 minute audio interviews in which Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to code themes from their verbatim interview transcripts. Study participants noted an awareness of laboratory staff shortages, limited student internships and MLS training programs in existence, the negatives of increased instrumentation within the laboratory and developmental soft skills needed to promote success of the clinical laboratorian graduate from either traditional or alternative education programs. A need for better marketing and recruitment of new students to backfill mainly the retiring staff was a paramount concern, plus additions of more mentors and trainers within internships. The prerequisite employment soft skills of communication, troubleshooting, problem solving and teamwork can be developed within intra-educational events with other clinicians within both the academic and workplace environments