A Survey of Sophomore Students\u27 Impressions of Academic Advising Services at East Tennessee State University

This study of sophomore students\u27 at East Tennessee State University was conducted to determine students\u27 impressions of the institutional academic advising program, to assess students\u27 level of satisfaction with the academic advisor\u27s assistance with those topics discussed in academic advising sessions, and to determine students\u27 impressions of their academic advisor. The data collected in this study revealed that the sophomore students at ETSU were slightly dissatisfied with their advisor\u27s assistance. Data derived from comparative analyses for differences in impressions of academic advising services found that specific demographic groups were basically neutral in their satisfaction with advising. Few statistically significant differences were found in these demographic groupings. A comparative analysis of ETSU students to a national norm study revealed significant differences in the impressions of academic advising services. The ETSU students were significantly less satisfied than students from the national norm study. The data in this study indicated there was a need for improving the academic services available at ETSU. Several recommendations were made. Institutional strategies and programmatic strategies were outlined to improve academic advising at ETSU

A Survey of Sophomore Students\u27 Impressions of Academic Advising Services at East Tennessee State University

This study of sophomore students\u27 at East Tennessee State University was conducted to determine students\u27 impressions of the institutional academic advising program, to assess students\u27 level of satisfaction with the academic advisor\u27s assistance with those topics discussed in academic advising sessions, and to determine students\u27 impressions of their academic advisor. The data collected in this study revealed that the sophomore students at ETSU were slightly dissatisfied with their advisor\u27s assistance. Data derived from comparative analyses for differences in impressions of academic advising services found that specific demographic groups were basically neutral in their satisfaction with advising. Few statistically significant differences were found in these demographic groupings. A comparative analysis of ETSU students to a national norm study revealed significant differences in the impressions of academic advising services. The ETSU students were significantly less satisfied than students from the national norm study. The data in this study indicated there was a need for improving the academic services available at ETSU. Several recommendations were made. Institutional strategies and programmatic strategies were outlined to improve academic advising at ETSU

Implementation of a quality improvement project on smoking cessation reduces smoking in a high risk trauma patient population.

BackgroundCigarette smoking causes about one of every five deaths in the U.S. each year. In 2013 the prevalence of smoking in our institution's trauma population was 26.7 %, well above the national adult average of 18.1 % according to the CDC website. As a quality improvement project we implemented a multimodality smoking cessation program in a high-risk trauma population.MethodsAll smokers with independent mental capacity admitted to our level I trauma center from 6/1/2014 until 3/31/2015 were counseled by a physician on the benefits of smoking cessation. Those who wished to quit smoking were given further counseling by a pulmonary rehabilitation nurse and offered nicotine replacement therapy (e.g. nicotine patch). A planned 30 day or later follow-up was performed to ascertain the primary endpoint of the total number of patients who quit smoking, with a secondary endpoint of reduction in the frequency of smoking, defined as at least a half pack per day reduction from their pre-intervention state.ResultsDuring the 9 month study period, 1066 trauma patients were admitted with 241 (22.6 %) identified as smokers. A total of 31 patients with a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 14.2 (range 1-38), mean age of 47.6 (21-71) and mean years of smoking of 27.1 (2-55), wished to stop smoking. Seven of the 31 patients, (22.5 %, 95 % confidence interval [CI] of 10-41 %) achieved self-reported smoking cessation at or beyond 30 days post discharge. An additional eight patients (25.8 %, 95 % CI 12-45 %) reported significant reduction in smoking.ConclusionsTrauma patients represent a high risk smoking population. The implementation of a smoking cessation program led to a smoking cessation rate of 22.5 % and smoking reduction in 25.8 % of all identified smokers who participated in the program. This is a relatively simple, inexpensive intervention with potentially far reaching and beneficial long-term health implications. A larger, multi-center prospective study appears warranted.Level of evidenceTherapeutic Study, Level V evidence

Blunt traumatic celiac artery avulsion managed with celiac artery ligation and open aorto-celiac bypass.

Traumatic celiac artery injuries are rare and highly lethal with reported mortality rates of 38-62%. The vast majority are caused by penetrating trauma with only 11 reported cases due to blunt trauma (Graham et al., 1978; Asensio et al., 2000, 2002). Only 3 of these cases were complete celiac artery avulsions. Management options described depend upon the type of injury and have included medical therapy with anti-platelet agents or anti-coagulants, endovascular stenting, and open ligation. We report a case of a survivor of complete celiac artery avulsion from blunt trauma managed by open bypass

Outcomes after pneumonectomy versus limited lung resection in adults with traumatic lung injury.

Pneumonectomy after traumatic lung injury (TLI) is associated with shock, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, and eventual right ventricular failure. Historically, trauma pneumonectomy (TP) mortality rates ranged between 53 and 100%. It is unclear if contemporary mortality rates have improved. Therefore, we evaluated outcomes associated with TP and limited lung resections (LLR) (i.e., lobectomy and segmentectomy) and aimed to identify predictors of mortality, hypothesizing that TP is associated with greater mortality versus LLR. We queried the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2010-2016) and performed a multivariable logistic regression to determine the independent predictors of mortality in TLI patients undergoing TP versus LLR. TLI occurred in 287,276 patients. Of these, 889 required lung resection with 758 (85.3%) undergoing LLR and 131 (14.7%) undergoing TP. Patients undergoing TP had a higher median injury severity score (26.0 vs. 24.5, p = 0.03) but no difference in initial median systolic blood pressure (109 vs. 107 mmHg, p = 0.92) compared to LLR. Mortality was significantly higher for TP compared to LLR (64.9% vs 27.2%, p < 0.001). The strongest independent predictor for mortality was undergoing TP versus LLR (OR 4.89, CI 3.18-7.54, p < 0.001). TP continues to be associated with a higher mortality compared to LLR. Furthermore, TP is independently associated with a fivefold increased risk of mortality compared to LLR. Future investigations should focus on identifying parameters or treatment modalities that improve survivability after TP. We recommend that surgeons reserve TP as a last-resort management given the continued high morbidity and mortality associated with this procedure

Vegetable gardening in Burkina Faso: Drip irrigation, agroecological farming and the diversity of smallholders

Small-scale irrigated vegetable production has expanded dramatically in Burkina Faso. Its development can be divided into four periods: the colonial period with the construction of small dams; the boom in reservoir development as a response to drought and famine; the period during which private irrigation was supported; and the current period of new irrigation technologies such as drip irrigation and, to a lesser extent, agroecological vegetable gardening. Since the 1990s, vegetable gardening projects have had a limited impact and irrigation development has been led and financed mainly by farmers. This situation still prevails with current projects, which throws into question their capacity to respond to the needs of family farms. This issue is addressed in the Réo area, where an in-depth survey of family farms revealed a large diversity of situations and livelihood strategies. It became evident from the study that drip irrigation or agroecological gardening can only be adopted by a very small number of family farms. In addressing the problems of smallholders in this regard, development organisations and public policies need to consider their diversity, and adapt accordingly to farming families’ needs and capacities

Child and Parent Report of Parenting as Predictors of Substance Use and Suspensions from School

This study examined how child and parent reports of parenting were related to early adolescent substance use and school suspensions. Data were from two time points six months apart on 321 families with an eighth grade student attending one of five schools in the Pacific Northwest. Child- and parent-report measures of family management practices were moderately correlated (r = .29). Child report, but not parent report, of more positive family management practices uniquely predicted a lower likelihood of adolescent substance use. Also, discrepancies between child and parent report of parenting predicted substance use, with child positive report of family management losing its protective association with adolescent substance use when parents had negative reports of their parenting. Parent report, but not child report, of better parenting predicted lower likelihood of suspensions, suggesting that the salience of child and parent report may depend on the type of behavioral outcome

Passive Pneumatic Stabilization Device for Assisting in Reduction of Femoral Shaft Fractures

During treatment of femoral shaft fractures, not only the actual fracture reduction but also the retention of the achieved reduction is essential. Substantial forces may apply to the bone fragments, due to multidirectional muscular contraction. Furthermore, forces from manipulation of one bone fragment may be transferred over the soft tissues onto the other fragments, thus hindering accurate fracture reduction. Once a sufficient reduction has been achieved, this position must be retained whilst definitive internal fixation is performed. Conventional methods comprise mounting patients on a traction table and applying manual distraction or employing special distraction devices, such as the AO distractor device. These approaches, however, only insufficiently stabilize both main fragments. For example, on the traction table the proximal femoral fragment can pivot around the hip joint thus complicating precise reduction. A novel pneumatic stabilization device to assist surgeons during operative procedures is described. This passive holding device "Passhold” connects to one main fragment through a minimally invasive bone interface and statically locks the fragment's position. Thereafter, only the other main fragment is manipulated to achieve reduction. Mutual interference of the reciprocal fragment positions, due to soft-tissue force transfer during manipulation, is avoided. The authors examined the stability of the novel retention device on a test rig and proved its functionality under sterile settings using cadaver tests. It is concluded that this device largely facilitates the operative procedure in femoral shaft fractures, is sufficiently stable and ergonomically suitable for intraoperative deploymen

Child and Parent Report of Parenting as Predictors of Substance Use and Suspensions from School

This study examined how child and parent reports of parenting were related to early adolescent substance use and school suspensions. Data were from two time points six months apart on 321 families with an eighth grade student attending one of five schools in the Pacific Northwest. Child- and parent-report measures of family management practices were moderately correlated (r = .29). Child report, but not parent report, of more positive family management practices uniquely predicted a lower likelihood of adolescent substance use. Also, discrepancies between child and parent report of parenting predicted substance use, with child positive report of family management losing its protective association with adolescent substance use when parents had negative reports of their parenting. Parent report, but not child report, of better parenting predicted lower likelihood of suspensions, suggesting that the salience of child and parent report may depend on the type of behavioral outcome