- The Advent of Facebook and Employee Impressions of Facebook Usage
- This study was conducted to investigate Facebook use and its relationship to employee impressions and support. The research survey asked participants of various professions and educational backgrounds about the multiple uses and benefits of Facebook within both their professional and personal lives. An online survey revealed that the majority of respondents prefer not to use Facebook within a professional setting and instead use it as a personal means of communication. In conclusion, it seems that while Facebook has many benefits for its users both personally and professionally, further research can be done to determine the appropriate steps needed to make Facebook a useful tool to propel the communication standards of an organization.
- Does Viewing an Educational Documentary About HPV Disease and Vaccination on a College Campus in Rural Northwest PA Improve the Knowledge Level of HPV Disease and Vaccine Among Attendees of the Program?
- The purpose of this study is to determine if an educational video intervention increases baseline knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine in the attendees on a college campus in Northwestern Pennsylvania. To test this, a study design consisting of an educational session that utilizes an HPV educational video followed by a brief question and answer session was developed.
- Eating Disorder Screening Via Electronic Medical Record
- This study examined whether use of an electronic medical record (EMR) to prompt screening of eating disorder risk among a college female population improved identification of risk for the disease. Data were obtained via a convenience sample of patients accessing a university health service gynecology clinic. The SCOFF tool is a well-validated 5-item questionnaire with sensitivity of up to 87.5% and specificity of 95% for bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Clinicians were prompted by EMR to administer the tool to all gynecology patients seeking care not related to eating disorder symptoms. A comparison of positive identification of eating disorder risk from the previous year, during the same time frame when EMR prompt was not embedded, was conducted via an EMR data search. Results show a relationship between eating disorder risk identification and EMR prompt (p = .0047). The study concludes that ease of use of the SCOFF tool combined with the EMR prompt improves screening for eating disorders in the college health setting.
- The Effect of Participation in a Dementia Simulation on Participants Empathy
- The purpose of this study was to establish if participants in the Dementia Live® simulation would experience changes in empathy. It is estimated that 5.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia (Alzheimer's Association facts and figures, 2018). The majority of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are over the age of 65 and the incidence increases moderately with age (Alzheimer's Association, n.d.). It is estimated that 50% of people over the age of 85 have some form of dementia (Touhy and Jett, 2016). It is also estimated that 50% of people living in assisted living or long term care facilities have some form of dementia. Research indicates that many dementia care workers lack the skills necessary to respond to dementia related behaviors due to a lack of dementia specific training (Gaugler, Hobday, Robbins, and Barclay 2016). Empathy is often thought of as an essential component of a nurse’s character and is relevant to the delivery of nursing care (Digby, 2016). It is important for the staff to understand what life is like for the person living with dementia. By developing a better understanding of what it is like to live with dementia, the staff can make changes to the care they provide and develop a better understanding of the thoughts and emotions a person living with dementia experiences. It is essential that healthcare professionals understand the uniqueness of dementia as a disease, and how to provide care to persons living with the disease. Enhancing empathy can help the staff understand the fact that the psychological care provided is just as important as the physical care (Pulsford, Duxbuy, and Carter, 2016). Higher levels of empathy have also been found to decrease staff burnout and can improve the staff patient relationship (Wagaman, Geiger,Shockley, and Segal, 2015). The Jefferson Scale of Empathy HP version was administered prior to completion of the simulation. Participants then took part in the simulated experience and complete the Jefferson Scale of Empathy HP immediately after completing the simulation. Pretest and posttest scores were evaluated.
- Increasing HCV Screening Utilizing Electronic Medical Records in a Family Practice Setting
- This study was a non-experimental, cross-sectional design with retrospective electronic medical data review to assess the effectiveness of an EMR intervention in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) screening for those born between 1945-1965 birth cohort. The study measures three months pre-EMR provider prompt and three months post-EMR provider prompt. Screening, statistically the patients who met HCV screening criteria increased from 27.9% to 72.1% post-EMR provider prompt screen. With the increase in screening, the study showed an increase overall HCV testing from 5.6% to 37.6% post-EMR provider prompt screen. This increase in both screening and testing for HCV, allows the possibility to capture those undiagnosed Hepatitis C patients and provide the patient with appropriate linkage to care to decrease overall morbidity and mortality within the given birth cohort. The success of utilizing an EMR prompting system, will allow the opportunity for further research in other aspects of health maintenance.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Vitamin D Insufficiency: The Effects of Vitamin D Level on Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- There are studies suggesting insuffient vitamin D levels may cause an inflammatory response in the gut leading to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. This study noted a possible correlation between insufficient vitamin D levels and irritable bowel syndrome in a small rural gastroenterology practice in Western Pennsylvania.
- The Use of Technology as a Tool to Increase Sun Protective Behaviors of Parents for their Children
- This analytic observational study was undertaken to determine if the use of technology, specifically a SPOT UV indicator™ would have any effect or assist parents of children aged 5-7 years old to increase the sun protective behaviors for their children, including sunscreen application, seeking shade, sun avoidance, and wearing skin covering clothing. Recruitment of adults was made by public announcement through local online news resources, email notification of students at regional universities and staff at two local hospitals and the partnership with one Northwest Pennsylvania School District who agreed to publicize the voluntary opportunity for participation through their district resources. After obtaining informed consent from the adult, each adult completed a baseline sun habit survey and received a diary to document the sun protective behaviors of their child aged 5-7 over a four-day period. All adult participants received structured sun protective education defining sun protective behaviors and risks of skin cancer via a voice over power point presentation. Participants were divided into three groups based on the day they agreed to participate in the study. Group One received the sun habit survey, a sun exposure diary and sun protective education after the diary was complete and submitted. Group Two received the sun habit survey, a sun exposure diary and sun protective education at the time of enrollment. Group Three received the sun habit survey, a sun exposure diary, sun protective education at the time of enrollment and a packet of SPOT UV indicator™ to be worn by the child participant each day during the study with instructions on how to use.Data was obtained from the sun habit survey and diary entries. Inclusion criteria involved one parent with a child aged 5-7 years old, resident of North Western Pennsylvania, willingness to provide a minimum SPF 30 sunscreen for self-use in the study and a commitment to keep a 4-day, daily entry self-reported diary of behaviors.Exclusion criteria included parent or family member being treated for skin cancer, non-English speaking, plans to be away from home during study timeframe and allergy to sunscreen.