Built environment assessment: Multidisciplinary perspectives.

Context:As obesity has become increasingly widespread, scientists seek better ways to assess and modify built and social environments to positively impact health. The applicable methods and concepts draw on multiple disciplines and require collaboration and cross-learning. This paper describes the results of an expert team׳s analysis of how key disciplinary perspectives contribute to environmental context-based assessment related to obesity, identifies gaps, and suggests opportunities to encourage effective advances in this arena. Evidence acquisition:A team of experts representing diverse disciplines convened in 2013 to discuss the contributions of their respective disciplines to assessing built environments relevant to obesity prevention. The disciplines include urban planning, public health nutrition, exercise science, physical activity research, public health and epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences, and economics. Each expert identified key concepts and measures from their discipline, and applications to built environment assessment and action. A selective review of published literature and internet-based information was conducted in 2013 and 2014. Evidence synthesis:The key points that are highlighted in this article were identified in 2014-2015 through discussion, debate and consensus-building among the team of experts. Results focus on the various disciplines׳ perspectives and tools, recommendations, progress and gaps. Conclusions:There has been significant progress in collaboration across key disciplines that contribute to studies of built environments and obesity, but important gaps remain. Using lessons from interprofessional education and team science, along with appreciation of and attention to other disciplines׳ contributions, can promote more effective cross-disciplinary collaboration in obesity prevention

Lung Cancer Screening Participation: Developing a Conceptual Model to Guide Research

Purpose: To describe the development of a conceptual model to guide research focused on lung cancer screening participation from the perspective of the individual in the decision-making process. Methods: Based on a comprehensive review of empirical and theoretical literature, a conceptual model was developed linking key psychological variables (stigma, medical mistrust, fatalism, worry, and fear) to the health belief model and precaution adoption process model. Results: Proposed model concepts have been examined in prior research of either lung or other cancer screening behavior. To date, a few studies have explored a limited number of variables that influence screening behavior in lung cancer specifically. Therefore, relationships among concepts in the model have been proposed and future research directions presented. Conclusion: This proposed model is an initial step to support theoretically based research. As lung cancer screening becomes more widely implemented, it is critical to theoretically guide research to understand variables that may be associated with lung cancer screening participation. Findings from future research guided by the proposed conceptual model can be used to refine the model and inform tailored intervention development

ALTOP (Alternatives to Opioids), Fall 2022

In this issue: New Principal Investigator (PI) ALTOP Grant 2021-2022 Graduating Class ANEW HRSA 2022-2023 Awardees Students Quality Improvement Projects April 9th, 2022, Preceptor Workshop Photos New Clinical Partner: The Bridgeport Rescue Mission/ Sage Health Care Save the Date: Annual DNP Colloquiu

SHU ALTOP News Issue #3, Summer

Updates from the Davis & Henley College of Nursing Sacred Heart University Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Grant. Alternatives to Opioids for Pain (ALTOP) is a HRSA funded project to help combat the opioid epidemic in Connecticut

Influence of Body Weight Category on Outcomes in Candidemia Patients Treated With Anidulafungin

BACKGROUND: Case reports and pharmacokinetic data suggest off-label echinocandin dosing may be needed to reach adequate serum concentrations in obese patients. Few outcome studies exist evaluating this population. OBJECTIVES: Of this study were to (1) determine the association of body mass index (BMI) with clinical outcomes of candidemia patients on standard doses of anidulafungin and (2) characterize fungal infections by body weight. METHODS: A retrospective cohort was conducted to evaluate hospitalized patients treated for candidemia with anidulafungin at Food and Drug Administration-labeled dosing for at least 72 hours from January 1, 2014, through January 31, 2018. Candidemia was diagnosed by blood culture or T2 magnetic resonance (T2MR). Patients were compared according to BMI category. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-three patients were included. CONCLUSION: There was no difference detected in mortality among patients with candidemia across BMI category. Larger studies are needed to confirm whether standard doses of anidulafungin are sufficient for candidemia in obese patients

SHU ALTOP News Issue #2, Spring

Updates from the Davis & Henley College of Nursing Sacred Heart University Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Grant. Alternatives to Opioids for Pain (ALTOP) is a HRSA funded project to help combat the opioid epidemic in Connecticut

Patient Knowledge Compared With National Guidelines for Diabetes Care

Data collected on a randomly selected group of 428 patients with insulin-dependent and noninsulin-dependent diabetes from 61 physician practices in eight Michigan communities were compared with national standards for diabetes patient knowledge. Comparisons were performed using a standardized Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT) and selected items from the Diabetes Education Profile (DEP). Patient performance on these instruments was compared with corresponding items in the Ambulatory Care Facilities section of the Guide lines for Diabetes Care published by the American Diabetes Associ ation and the American Associ ation of Diabetes Educators. In general, insulin-dependent persons scored higher than noninsulin-dependent persons. Those taking insulin (whether insulin-dependent or not) scored higher than noninsulin-dependent persons whose regimen did not include insulin. The findings emphasize the need to subdivide any analysis of clinical diabetes or diabetes education into groups based on insulin use or nonuse.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69139/2/10.1177_014572178801400312.pd

ALTOP (Alternatives to Opiods) Newsletter, Spring 2022

In this issue: Southwest Community Health Center Quality Improvement Staff (QIS) FNP-DNP Student\u27s Quality Improvement Project Paul L. Jones Scholarship Recipients SHU Alumni Kimberly Testo\u27s AANP National Year Award Preceptors\u27 Workshop CEU Credit