An educational intervention to improve nursing care of geriatric care in the emergency department

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of an educational intervention on attitudes and knowledge of emergency department (ED) nurses toward the older adult patient and their intentions to change their care behaviors toward this population in the emergency department. This study focused on: a) the effect of an educational intervention on attitudes and knowledge of ED nurses toward older adults, b) if improving ED nurses’ knowledge of older adults influences their attitudes toward older adults, c) if an educational intervention will aid in identifying ED nurses’ behavioral intentions to change how they care for older adults. Two instruments were used for this study: Kogan Attitude toward Old People tool and Palmore’s Facts of Aging Quiz 1.Sixty-seven ED nurses from five emergency departments in one hospital system participated in this study. A total of 44 ED nurses were in the experimental group and 23 ED nurses participated in the control group. Data analysis revealed that the educational intervention (geriatric workshop) did improve knowledge and positive attitude scores among the experimental group but overall the change was not statistically significant. Healthcare organizations must assure that ED nurses are provided with continuing education regarding older patient assessment and care to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to enhance quality patient outcomes in the ED setting

Development of StressCheck: A telehealth motivational enhancement therapy to improve voluntary engagement for PTSD treatment among active-duty service members

Background: Rates of PTSD in active-duty military are high relative to the general population. Although efficacious treatments exist, they are underutilized. Many service members with PTSD do not present for treatment and, of those who do, many do not receive sufficient doses of the interventions to receive full benefits. Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) “check-ups”, are brief interventions designed to elicit treatment engagement for those who are not treatment-seeking. Methods: StressCheck is an MET for nontreatment seeking Army and Air Force personnel. StressCheck aims to improve PTSD and increase treatment engagement, especially around evidence-based interventions, as well as to decrease stigma about seeking mental health services and improve knowledge about treatment options. This paper describes the intervention components and process of treatment development. The paper also describes next steps in testing the effectiveness of the intervention. Conclusion: PTSD is associated with deleterious health, occupational, and psychological effects. If effective, this innovative intervention will bridge the gap between those who are not treatment seeking and existing services, thereby enhancing reach and impact of existing services

Assuring Quality Health Care in the Emergency Department

The provision of quality healthcare is an international mandate. The provision of quality healthcare for mental health patients poses unique challenges. Nowhere is this challenge greater than in the emergency department. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe evidence-based initiatives for improving the quality of care of mental health patients in the emergency department. Specifically, the use of telepsychiatry and reducing provider biases will be presented

The Experiences of African American Male Caregivers

Aging of the population has led to an increasing number of caregivers. While research has been conducted on caregiver experiences, less is known about the experiences of African American males in the U.S. This qualitative descriptive study describes the experiences of 13 African American men who acted as caregivers to adult chronically ill or debilitated loved ones, the majority of whom provided care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The revised Sociocultural Stress and Coping Model (R-SSCM) guided this study. Individual interviews were conducted via the Zoom application. Content analysis revealed four themes: (1) “My time to take the reins”, (2) “It’s a male thang”, (3) “Caring amid a pandemic”, and (4) “Effects of the caregiver’s journey”. This study’s findings in relation to the literature provide overdue attention to the African American male caregiving experience, especially in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications of our findings include the need for more culturally congruent support services for African American male caregivers, as well as increased efforts to encourage trust in the healthcare system—especially in relation to vaccination for the SARS-CoV-2 virus

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Fig 2 -

Model predicted means and 95% confidence intervals for PTSD symptom severity (Panel A), drinking days in the past 30 (Panel B), and heavy drinking days in the past 30 (Panel C) by treatment condition from pre-treatment to 12-month follow-up.</p

Model estimates for final treatment assignment.

Model estimates for final treatment assignment.</p

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CONSORT diagram.

CONSORT diagram.</p

Descriptive statistics for main outcomes stratified by condition.

Descriptive statistics for main outcomes stratified by condition.</p