Reducing Benzodiazepine Use for the Treatment of Insomnia and Supporting Nonpharmacological Therapies

Most medical organizations recommend against the use of benzodiazepine use for the treatment of insomnia, especially in the elderly. However, the percentage of the adult population on benzos increase with age: 7.5% in adults ages 51-64; 9% in adults over 65. Alternative therapies for insomnia, including online CBT, require more commitment than taking a medication so many patients opt for medication. This project aims to increase awareness of benzodiazepine use for insomnia and provide support for nonpharmacological therapies.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1380/thumbnail.jp

Effects of Art from the Heart on Nurse Satisfaction and Patient Well-Being

Introduction. Art programs have been shown to positively affect unit culture, quality of care, and nursing practices. Art interventions improve well-being, reduce stress, and enhance nurse-patient communication. Art from the Heart (AFTH) is an art program that provides art supplies, visual art, and patient About Me pages to patients, families and employees at University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC).Objective. Assess the efficacy of AFTH through nursing staff perceptions, understanding, and attitudes toward the program.Methods. Structured interviews were conducted on Baird 4, an adult inpatient ward, at UVMMC. A 19-question survey using Likert scales and short answer formats was administered to nursing staff. Questions assessed perceptions of effects of art on patient anxiety and pain, communication, and job satisfaction. Surveys were analyzed to extract major and minor themes.Results. Twenty-eight interviews were obtained and two major themes emerged: nurse satisfaction and patient well-being. Nursing staff satisfaction minor themes included improved productivity, promoting conversation, and creating a positive influence on the unit. Respondents reported that AFTH helped initiate conversations with patients (100% of respondents) and reduced workday stress (68%). The second major theme, patient well-being, included benefits to patients with dementia, providing comfort, and serving as an outlet or distraction. Utilizing AFTH improved perceived patient mood (100%), health (78.5%), and reduced patient anxiety (89.3%).Conclusions. AFTH provides positive benefits by reducing nursing staff stress and perceived patient anxiety; improving communication, perceived patient mood and health; and creating a sense of community. AFTH should be expanded to the entire 6 Community Agency: Burlington City Arts, Art from the Hearthttps://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1240/thumbnail.jp

Differences in Mental Health Perspectives between Asian-Americans and Caucasians

Culture and ethnic backgrounds play an important role in the attitudes and perspectives on mental health. Stigma is a major barrier towards seeking treatment for mental health, thus improving awareness is crucial to improve public prevention and intervention of various mental illnesses. This study aimed to characterize the various perspectives on mental health and measure the differences between them among Caucasians and Asian-Americans. Mental health perspectives were divided into five categories – authoritarianism, benevolence, mental hygiene etiology, social restrictiveness, and interpersonal etiology. 204 participants were recruited to take a questionnaire that quantified these categories using five clinical scenarios representing psychiatric illnesses such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. Results showed that Asian-Americans were scored higher in authoritarian, social restriction, and interpersonal etiology categories with high statistical significance (p-values \u3c\u3c 0.05). The Caucasian group scored higher in benevolence and mental hygiene etiology categories with high statistical significance (p-values \u3c\u3c 0.05). However, both groups were likely to seek treatment for mental illness with statistically analysis showing no meaningful difference between the two groups