Collaboration in a University Wellness Initiative

Marquette University has undertaken a vital and varied wellness initiative that may provide useful examples for other institutions. In May 2009 the Wellness Implementation Committee, consisting of twenty-six faculty, staff and administrators, was created to plan and implement wellness programming for Marquette employees. Guided by the Creating Well Workplaces program of the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA), we set the goal of being designated a Well Workplace and contributing to Milwaukee’s efforts to be designated a Well City. As committee representative for Raynor Memorial Libraries, I have had the opportunity to build new relationships on campus, promote library resources and services, and support health literacy. I have researched best practices, worked with other committee members and units on campus to plan campus-wide programs and activities, and developed LibGuides for the University Wellness Web site that bring together library resources with consumer-level information. The guides are posted in coordination with committee programming, and are also available on the Libraries’ Web site for use by health sciences students as they provide patient care. In January 2010, Marquette received a Gold Well Workplace Award from WELCOA. On March 18, 2010, Milwaukee was designated a Well City USA. In this session I will discuss the development of Marquette’s wellness program, how other institutions can work towards a Well Workplace designation, how librarians can contribute to the process, and our continuing health promotion efforts

Educating Family Caregivers for Older Adults About Delirium: A Systematic Review

Background Delirium in older adults is considered a medical emergency; it contributes to a cascade of functional decline and to increased mortality. Early recognition of delirium symptoms is critical to prevent these negative consequences. Family caregivers who are educated about delirium could partner with nurses and other healthcare professionals in early recognition of delirium symptoms. Before implementing such partnership models, it is important to examine the effectiveness of educating family caregivers about delirium. Aims To examine whether providing education on delirium to family caregivers improved their knowledge, emotional state, or response in reducing the incidence of delirium in older adults. Methods For this systematic review, we conducted literature searches in CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Social Sciences in ProQuest, Dissertations and Theses, and the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing eRepository for studies published in the English language between January 2000 and June 2015. Criteria for inclusion were: (a) primary focus on educating family caregivers for older adults about delirium; (b) use of experimental, quasi-experimental, or comparative design; (c) measured family caregiver outcomes of delirium knowledge, emotional state, or response in reducing delirium incidence in older adults; and (d) published in the English language. Articles were appraised using Melnyk\u27s rapid critical appraisal guides. Results Seven studies met the review criteria. Four studies found that family caregivers’ delirium knowledge increased; two noted that delirium incidence in older adults declined; and one study reported less distress following receipt of education. Linking Evidence to Action Providing family caregivers with information about delirium can be beneficial for both family caregivers and older adults. However, rigorous evaluation of education programs for family caregivers about delirium is needed

Probiotics for Treatment and Prevention of Urogenital Infections in Women: A Systematic Review

Introduction Probiotics are a complementary and integrative therapy useful in the treatment and prevention of urogenital infections in women. This study extends the work of researchers who systematically investigated the scientific literature on probiotics to prevent or treat urogenital infections. Methods A systematic review was conducted to determine the efficacy of probiotics for prevention and/or treatment of urogenital infections in adult women from January 1, 2008, through June 30, 2015. We searched in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Dissertations and Theses, and Alt-HealthWatch. After removing duplicates and studies that did not meet inclusion criteria, 20 studies were reviewed. All included at least one species of Lactobacillus probiotic as an intervention for treatment or prevention of urogenital infections. Data extracted included samples, settings, study designs, intervention types, reported outcomes, follow-up periods, and results. We evaluated all randomized controlled trials for risk of bias and made quality appraisals on all studies. Results Fourteen of the studies focused on bacterial vaginosis (BV), 3 on urinary tract infections (UTIs), 2 on vulvovaginal candidiasis, and one on human papillomavirus (HPV) as identified on Papanicolaou test. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of design, intervention, and outcomes. Four studies were of good quality, 9 of fair, and 7 poor. Probiotic interventions were effective for treatment and prevention of BV, prevention of recurrences of candidiasis and UTIs, and clearing HPV lesions. No study reported significant adverse events related to the probiotic intervention. Discussion The quality of the studies in this systematic review varied. Although clinical practice recommendations were limited by the strength of evidence, probiotic interventions were effective in treatment and prevention of urogenital infections as alternatives or co-treatments. More good quality research is needed to strengthen the body of evidence needed for application by clinicians

Demystifying Open Access Workshop

Among the avenues for sharing research and scholarship, open access journals offer an increasingly viable and important option. However, it can be challenging not only to identify these journals but also to evaluate their quality and reach, as well as to weigh the benefits of publishing in them. To help demystify this process, Raynor Memorial Libraries offered a workshop on evaluating open access journals. Aimed at faculty, graduate students, and others interested in publishing their academic work, the workshop offered an overview of current open access options for sharing research, criteria to help assess the rigor and reliability of open access journals, and tips for navigating related copyright issues