No longer hungry in hospital : improving the hospital mealtime experience for older people through Action Research

‘The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.’ Copyright Blackwell Publishing DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02063.xAims and objectives.  This study aimed to improve the mealtime experience of older people in a hospital setting through helping staff to make changes to their clinical practice and the ward environment. Background.  Poor nutritional care has been a persistent and seemingly intractable problem for many years. Methods.  We used an action research design for the study, drawing on techniques from practice development to support the action phase of the work, including action learning, role modelling good practice and reflection. The ward context was explored at the beginning and end of the study using focus groups, interviews, observation and benchmarking. Results.  Ward staff made a number of changes to their nursing practice. The most significant was that all staff became engaged with, prioritized and were involved in the mealtime, ensuring that there was sufficient time and expertise available to assist patients with eating. Conclusions.  This study demonstrates that it is possible to change nursing practice at mealtimes and that this change leads to improvements in patients’ experience through ensuring they receive the help they need. Relevance to clinical practice.  Although hospital mealtimes are frequently viewed as problematic, we have shown that nurses can be enabled to make changes to their practice that have a positive impact on both the mealtime experience and wider patient care.Peer reviewe

The Planet, 2002, Autumn

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Ecotones: The Heartbeat of Huxley, 2001, November 05

https://cedar.wwu.edu/huxleynewsletters/1009/thumbnail.jp

Ecotones: The Heartbeat of Huxley, 2001, Spring, Issue 04

https://cedar.wwu.edu/huxleynewsletters/1010/thumbnail.jp

Huxley Hotline, 2000, November 8

https://cedar.wwu.edu/huxleynewsletters/1020/thumbnail.jp

The Planet, 2003, Winter

https://cedar.wwu.edu/planet/1036/thumbnail.jp

Huxley Hotline, 2000, November 17

https://cedar.wwu.edu/huxleynewsletters/1021/thumbnail.jp

Ecotones: The Heartbeat of Huxley, 2001, April 16

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Cowboy Hats May Have Saved Huntsman Professors From Arrest in Russia

“Chris tells me you are coming to Russia with me,” Dwight Israelson said to me one day last March. Professors Chris Fawson and Dwight Israelsen have worked for several years with officials at North Ossetia State University to establish an inter-university agreement to exchange faculty and students. Chris was unable to go this year, so he drafted me to be his replacement. I did not think I had committed to go, but it appeared I had been drafted so I agreed to go.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/huntsman_news/1035/thumbnail.jp

Utilizing children as change agents to promote healthy family lifestyle behaviors

Objective: To assess the impact of a healthy choices and activities intervention program utilizing goal coaches to guide adolescents as positive change agents for Latino parental/caregiver family food decisions Study Design, Setting, and Participants: Research design included two phases: (1) a developmental phase with youth and goal-coach curriculum development and testing, and (2) an implementation phase with a 6-week healthy choices and physical activities intervention pilot program. Participants in the developmental and pilot phase of the study include both children (10-14 years) and their Spanish speaking primary caretakers who attend a church youth group program in central North Carolina. Goal coaches include youth mentors between the ages of 18 to 24, recruited from a local college in central North Carolina. Outcome, Measures and Analysis: 1) Content analysis of focus groups with youth and goal coaches were conducted to determine ease of use and compliance with study methodology, including photo journaling and family goal setting, as well as message appropriateness for youth and goal coaches. 2) During implementation and one month follow up the following were assessed: pre/post testing of parent/caregiver food behaviors, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity behaviors; youth nutrition, physical activity habits and BMI; and adherence to established family goals. Results: 21 youth and 5 goal coaches were recruited to participate. All materials were developed utilizing constructs from the Social Cognitive Theory, and translated. 1) During the focus groups, goal coaches reported that they learned from the youth that parents are a barrier to influencing healthy family behaviors. Youth also reported that they were non-compliant with the use of the photo journal. 2) Youth were able to successfully set family-based nutrition and physical activity goals with 82% family compliance overall. Parents reported increased physical activity and healthy food behaviors pre- and post-intervention, including increased nutrient-dense food purchasing one-month post-intervention. One-month follow-up surveys reported an increase in healthy nutrition and physical activities in homes. Conclusions and Implications: This innovative approach is a promising strategy for reducing the adverse health effects associated with dietary acculturation among Latino families. It builds upon the inherent value of familism as well as the strengths of adolescents as carriers of nutrition and health information. Future research is needed to expand upon these strategies to better tailor nutrition education messaging for Latino immigrant families