Cuba’s Maternal-Child Health

The purpose is to elucidate the differences between the Cuban and United States (U.S.) maternal-child health delivery systems by providing a descriptive, retrospective evaluation based on a convenience sample of data gathered through observations with Cuban public health officials, including physicians, nurses, and citizens. U.S.and Cuban data were analyzed using available United Nations data. In Cuba, there are several programs that contribute to excellent maternal-child health outcomes. Two health interventions for the mother and child are regarded as “hygiene” and include the maternity home and vaccination program. Maternity homes provide comprehensive, residential care for at-risk mothers until the onset of labor. An inclusive vaccination program provides continued support to the mother and child post-delivery. In contrast, the U.S.system lacks the two preventive comprehensive healthcare programs noted in the Cuban system that focus on hygiene, in the form of the maternity home for at-risk mothers and vaccination preventive care

Concept Analysis of Value

Value is a word that is used in many aspects of the world. Understanding the concept of value helps guide the professional in their daily practice as they perform their daily functions. The review of value as a concept is based on an understanding of what value is through how it is used and its defining attributes. To strengthen this understanding, a model case and a contrary case are provided to guide an application of the concept of value in different settings. To support this, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents are discussed. Through a discussion of the concept of value, the professional can have a better understanding of how value can be applied

A Review of the Theoretical Framework of Culture and Value Applied to Nursing

Culture is a unique component of each patient, and nurses are charged with caring for the whole patient while in their care.  Cultural competence is an important tool that guides the practice of the nurse while providing care to the patient. Understanding the theory behind culture and the nurses’ cultural competence. The Purnell Model of Cultural Competence (PMCC) is a valid framework to apply to the application of culture and values.  As health care in the US is changing, it is important to note the impact that culture plays in health outcomes.  This article explores the use of the PMCC to culture and values as it applies to health care. The intent is to provide an overview of the theory, relate the theory to the concepts, discuss the existing research, recommendations from the existing research, and application to future research recommendations

Cultural Competence Among Nursing Faculty

Research of culture and cultural competence in nursing faculty is vitally important when considering the state of the United States health care system and health disparities that can be reduced through culturally competent care. Recent studies address cultural competence among nurses, but there is limited information exploring cultural competence in nursing faculty. A concept analysis of cultural competence using Rodger\u27s method further established the need to examine cultural competence from the perspective of nursing faculty, who are responsible for educating future nurses in culturally competent care. The purposes of this study were to determine the level of cultural competence in Texas pre-licensure nursing faculty, identify any demographic data that might predict cultural competence in nursing faculty, and understand faculty members\u27 perceptions of cultural competence. Guided by the Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services model and using a mixed-methods, convergent, parallel design, 89 faculty were surveyed. A subset of seven faculty members were interviewed to explore perceptions of faculty regarding cultural competence. Nursing faculty members have a moderate level of cultural competence scores as measured with the Nurses Cultural Competence Scale, scoring higher on the subscales of sensitivity and awareness. These findings, strengthened through the qualitative strand of the mixed-method approach, informs educational recommendations, policy development, and further research on improving nursing faculty members\u27 level of cultural competence and ability to model culturally competent care to nursing students

Comparison of Alcohol-Based Sanitizers Versus Personal Protective Equipment on the Incidence of Hospital-associated Infections

This poster was presented at the 1st Annual Interprofessional Evidence-Based Practice Conference, 2014.https://scholarworks.uttyler.edu/fac_posters/1012/thumbnail.jp

Cultural Competence of Pre-Licensure Nursing Faculty

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of cultural competence (CC) in Texas pre-licensure nursing faculty and examine the relationships between demographics and CC scores. The researchers conducted a study to determine if demographics predicted the level of CC and explored the perceptions of CC. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design used data from a 2014 online survey with a qualitative interview component. Demographics were evaluated with descriptive statistics and CC was measured with The Nurses’ Cultural Competence Scale (NCCS). Qualitative data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. The level of CC was low to moderate. Three themes emerged from the interviews: knowledge is experiential, skills require emotional intelligence, and desire requires a catalyst. Nursing faculty could benefit from experiences with culturally diverse patients and students. Continuing education offerings and courses should follow best practices models of CC education and focus on providing meaningful experiences may also increase the knowledge and skills to help faculty members

Exploring Digital Health Promotion and Education in East Texas: Pathways to Improving Access

Purpose: Technology is an important part of healthcare in the United States. There are opportunities for a better understanding of how technology and digital health can improve health and healthcare. The purpose of this study was to answer two research questions. The first research question was, what is the understanding of digital health in the community? The second research question was, what is the knowledge of digital health in the community. These research questions may inform how health professionals address the issue of electronic health records, digital health, and the implications for technology. Methods: Using a convenience sample, participants were recruited to answer an online survey to identify knowledge and understanding of technology, digital health, and a better understanding of health. Participants were able to opt into or out of the survey. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and evaluated with descriptive statistics. Results: The sample size of 14 is small. Results identified that participants were not fully embracing of health technologies. The data indicated that participants were not fully accepting of technology and digital health. Conclusions: Further research should be conducted to obtain a larger sample size. Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to plan interventions to educate the community about health and health technologies. Qualitative and mixed-method studies can add to what is known about health and healthcare technology and digital health resources. Recommendations: It is recommended that interventions be targeted to educate the East Texas population about electronic health resources, telehealth/telemedicine, and technologies that can support health. This article was published in Journal of Health Education Teaching, 2020; 11(1), 32-42. ISSN: 2333-4851. The article is Creative Commons licensed (CC-BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.https://openriver.winona.edu/educationeddfacultyworks/1019/thumbnail.jp

Faculty Attitudes Towards Integrating Technology and Innovation

Technological innovation is an important aspect of teaching and learning in the 21st century. This article examines faculty attitudes toward technology use in the classroom at one regional public university in the United States. Building on a faculty-led initiative to develop a Community of Practice for improving education, this study used a mixed-method approach of a faculty-developed, electronic survey to assess this topic. Findings from 72 faculty members revealed an overall positive stance toward technology in the classroom and the average faculty member utilized about six technology tools in their courses. The opportunities, barriers and future uses for technologies in the higher education classroom emerged from the open-ended questions on the survey. One finding of particular concern is that faculty are fearful that technology causes a loss of the humanistic perspective in education. The university is redesigning ten of its most popular courses to increase flexibility, accessibility and student success

Effects of the Valsalva Maneuver on the Core Muscle Groups and Injury Reduction: EMS Lifting Simulations

About 60% of EMS personnel have claimed a Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder caused by scenarios in which a patient or heavy equipment needed to be lifted from the ground, off of a bed, and from a vehicle. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the potential of a breathing pattern called the Valsalva maneuver in improving abdominopelvic stability when lifting from two different positions. We hypothesized that the Valsalva maneuver, if performed correctly, would increase the recruitment of specific core muscle groups, thus, providing a more stable abdominopelvic environment for the purposes of lifting. In this preliminary study, two subjects were selected by the criteria of being inexperienced with the Valsalva maneuver and an additional subject was used as a makeshift control unit due to prior knowledge on the breathing pattern and its function. Muscle activation of abdominis rectus and erector spinae of all three subjects was measured using surface electromyography (EMG) while performing an EMS (emergency medical services) simulation exercise resembling the action of lifting a patient from the floor and an equipment bag from a waist height surface. The root-mean-square EMG values of muscle activation was normalized as a percentage of the Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC). Normalized EMG values indicated an increase in core muscle recruitment with the employment of the Valsalva maneuver. Moving forward, qualitatively, each subject experienced “core tightness” upon execution of the Valsalva maneuver with a decreased Rate of Perceived Exertion specific to lifting the designated loads. However, findings also indicated that the learning effect might contribute to a further increased EMG values of measured muscle groups after consecutive trials are performed