Nurse Educators’ Experiences With Integrated Learning Intervention Practice Systems And Learning Outcomes

Traditional learning interventions or remediation processes provided to underperforming students are often reactionary and offered too late in a course or program to be effective. These students’ knowledge gaps or learning deficiencies are not adequately addressed to effectively change his or her academic performance or learning outcomes in a timely manner. This descriptive qualitative phenomenological research study explored the lived experiences of a nursing school administrator and nurse educators who used a fully-integrated learning intervention practice system that includes proactive strategic remediation approaches at all levels in a pre-licensure vocational educational nursing program. Purposeful sampling was used to select six participants from a small, private, single-campus, vocational nursing education program in Texas. Interviews were conducted in-person, audio-recorded, using in-depth semi-structured, open-ended interview question format. Interview transcripts were transcribed verbatim manually. Data validation involved bracketing and intuiting, external auditing, member checking, and triangulation. The modified van Kaam data analysis model was used to analyze, identify recurring themes, and provide complex meaning to the data. The study’s findings revealed three main categories and the eleven central themes. Participants reported increased interactions between nursing school administrators, nurse educators, and nursing students that facilitates and supports collaborative working partnerships, and proactive actions to stay at the forefront of academic, communication, educational, instructional, and learning processes. Participants indicated that educators were provided with the necessary academic, educational, and technological resources and tools to maximize educational efficacy, educators’ teaching experiences, students’ learning experiences, academic performances, and learning outcomes to achieve success. Participants recommended adequate faculty development support and training to enhance and maintain fluency and competencies with newly integrated policies, practices, systems, and approaches within the nursing program and curriculum that affect teaching and learning. Participants recommended administrators provide adequate academic resources and services to students that include counseling and stress management skills, support study habits, test-taking strategies, time management skills, and tutoring. Efforts should be made to help students manage school and other life stresses more effectively. Further research is required to deepen understanding of the effects of incorporating a fully-integrated learning intervention practice system with more proactive strategic remediation approaches at all levels of a nursing program. Studies must include the perspectives and lived experiences of nursing school administrators, nurse educators, and nursing students from associate degree, baccalaureate, diploma, and practical and vocational nursing programs

Parental Beliefs and Perceptions of the Role of Middle Schools in Student Tobacco Use Prevention Activities in Juárez, Mexico

The purpose of this study was to examine parental beliefs and perceptions of the role that schools should play in implementing smoking prevention activities for their children in Juárez, Mexico. The parents were of sixth grade students from six randomly selected middle schools. Schools were classified by school setting and socioeconomic status. A total of 506 surveys were sent to the homes of the parents and 77% (N=390) responded. The majority of the parents (88%) were supportive of smoking prevention activities. Furthermore, mothers were significantly more likely than fathers to agree that the school had an important role to play in smoking prevention activities (p<0.01). Parents of students in the low SES category regardless of school setting were significantly more likely to support the implementation of smoking prevention activities than parents of students who attended either a middle or high SES school setting (p<0.01). However, even though 79% of parent respondents believed their child’s school should get parental input about what should be taught in tobacco prevention programs, only 62% felt that such activities should include homework and projects involving families. These results provide further evidence that if school-based adolescent tobacco prevention programs are to be successful, public health initiatives need to do a much better job not only soliciting and receiving parental input with regard to proposed anti-tobacco curricula but also in convincing parents of the importance of becoming active participants in the process

Pilot Study: HPV Infection Knowledge & HPV Vaccine Acceptance among Women Residing in Ciudad Juárez, México

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the world and it is associated with cervical cancer. The development of a prophylactic HPV vaccine has proven effective in clinical trials and it is now available to the public. The HPV vaccine represents a viable prevention strategy against cervical cancer. However, parental preferences, perceptions, and willingness to use the HPV vaccine are crucial, and if not assessed accurately, may threaten the successful implementation of a broad HPV vaccination program. This pilot study explored the views of 60 adult, Mexican women, all of who were mothers of female children between the ages of ten to 14 years old on the following four areas of interest: HPV knowledge; HPV vaccine knowledge and attitudes; barriers to HPV vaccine use; and potential uses and side effects of the HPV vaccine. Only 7% of respondents knew that HPV was a virus or STI. Eighty-six percent had not heard of the HPV vaccine, but 62% felt that the HPV vaccine would prevent HPV infection. However, 38% said the church would not approve of the HPV vaccine use for 10-14-year-old girls. Twenty-seven percent thought that promiscuous behavior would increase following HPV vaccination. Overall, respondents had very little knowledge of the HPV vaccine, were willing to be vaccinated themselves (83%), but were lesser willing to vaccinate their daughters (63%). Ultimately, understanding the beliefs about and identifying the barriers of HPV vaccine use will influence the effectiveness of the vaccine and its potential impact in reducing cervical cancer incidence rates worldwide

Parental Beliefs and Perceptions of the Role of Middle Schools in Student Tobacco Use Prevention Activities in Juárez, Mexico

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine parental beliefs and perceptions of the role that schools should play in implementing smoking prevention activities for their children in Juárez, Mexico. The parents were of sixth grade students from six randomly selected middle schools. Schools were classified by school setting and socioeconomic status. A total of 506 surveys were sent to the homes of the parents and 77% (N=390) responded. The majority of the parents (88%) were supportive of smoking prevention activities. Furthermore, mothers were significantly more likely than fathers to agree that the school had an important role to play in smoking prevention activities (p<0.01). Parents of students in the low SES category regardless of school setting were significantly more likely to support the implementation of smoking prevention activities than parents of students who attended either a middle or high SES school setting (p<0.01). However, even though 79% of parent respondents believed their child's school should get parental input about what should be taught in tobacco prevention programs, only 62% felt that such activities should include homework and projects involving families. These results provide further evidence that if school-based adolescent tobacco prevention programs are to be successful, public health initiatives need to do a much better job not only soliciting and receiving parental input with regard to proposed anti-tobacco curricula but also in convincing parents of the importance of becoming active participants in the process

Changes in multi-segment foot biomechanics with a heat-mouldable semi-custom foot orthotic device

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Semi-custom foot orthoses (SCO) are thought to be a cost-effective alternative to custom-made devices. However, previous biomechanical research involving either custom or SCO has only focused on rearfoot biomechanics. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine changes in multi-segment foot biomechanics during shod walking with and without an SCO. We chose to investigate an SCO device that incorporates a heat-moulding process, to further understand if the moulding process would significantly alter rearfoot, midfoot, or shank kinematics as compared to a no-orthotic condition. We hypothesized the SCO, whether moulded or non-moulded, would reduce peak rearfoot eversion, tibial internal rotation, arch deformation, and plantar fascia strain as compared to the no-orthoses condition.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty participants had retroreflective markers placed on the right limb to represent forefoot, midfoot, rearfoot and shank segments. 3D kinematics were recorded using an 8-camera motion capture system while participants walked on a treadmill.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Plantar fascia strain was reduced by 34% when participants walked in either the moulded or non-moulded SCO condition compared to no-orthoses. However, there were no significant differences in peak rearfoot eversion, tibial internal rotation, or medial longitudinal arch angles between any conditions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A semi-custom moulded orthotic does not control rearfoot, shank, or arch deformation but does, however, reduce plantar fascia strain compared to walking without an orthoses. Heat-moulding the orthotic device does not have a measurable effect on any biomechanical variables compared to the non-moulded condition. These data may, in part, help explain the clinical efficacy of orthotic devices.</p

Comparison of foot orthoses made by podiatrists, pedorthists and orthotists regarding plantar pressure reduction in The Netherlands

BACKGROUND: There is a need for evidence of clinical effectiveness of foot orthosis therapy. This study evaluated the effect of foot orthoses made by ten podiatrists, ten pedorthists and eleven orthotists on plantar pressure and walking convenience for three patients with metatarsalgia. Aims were to assess differences and variability between and within the disciplines. The relationship between the importance of pressure reduction and the effect on peak pressure was also evaluated. METHODS: Each therapist examined all three patients and was asked to rate the 'importance of pressure reduction' through a visual analogue scale. The orthoses were evaluated twice in two sessions while the patient walked on a treadmill. Plantar pressures were recorded with an in-sole measuring system. Patients scored walking convenience per orthosis. The effects of the orthoses on peak pressure reduction were calculated for the whole plantar surface of the forefoot and six regions: big toe and metatarsal one to five. RESULTS: Within each discipline there was an extensive variation in construction of the orthoses and achieved peak pressure reductions. Pedorthists and orthotists achieved greater maximal peak pressure reductions calculated over the whole forefoot than podiatrists: 960, 1020 and 750 kPa, respectively (p < .001). This was also true for the effect in the regions with the highest baseline peak pressures and walking convenience rated by patients A and B. There was a weak relationship between the 'importance of pressure reduction' and the achieved pressure reduction for orthotists, but no relationship for podiatrists and pedorthotists. CONCLUSION: The large variation for various aspects of foot orthoses therapy raises questions about a consistent use of concepts for pressures management within the professional groups

Serotonin, β‐amyloid, and cognition in Parkinson disease

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144631/1/ana25236_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144631/2/ana25236.pd