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THE ROLE OF REAL-WORLD VARIABLES ON THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT GROCERY STORE’S ABILITY TO PREDICT NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
No full textThe use of virtual reality (VR) technology has undergone a rapid expansion in numerous spheres of research. The field of neuropsychology is continually growing more interested in using VR programs in a manner similar to traditional construct-driven pencil-and-paper testing, with the intention to incorporate a function-led approach to testing in an effort to mimic a client’s everyday environment. One such VR program being used to examine neurocognitive functioning is the Virtual Environment Grocery Store (VEGS), which is aimed at monitoring a client’s ability to accomplish a set of virtual tasks that are often encountered in the real world. Currently, the literature is sparse regarding how much variance is explained by demographic variables (e.g., age, sex, education, and premorbid intellectual functioning) in relation to the VEGS. Understanding the role between demographic variables and the VEGS might help improve the program’s ability to predict a neurocognitive disorder, especially if the sample size is fairly representative of the total population as this would increase the ecological validity of the program. Therefore, it would be particularly useful to assess how these real-world variables impact the psychometric utility of the VEGS overall. In the context of practical applicability within neuropsychological assessments, this study would seek to examine how common demographic variables (i.e., sex, age, premorbid intellectual functioning, and education) function with the VEGS in an effort to assess the predictive ability of this VR program in diagnosing a neurocognitive disorder
EXAMINING THE DIGITAL LITERACY COMPETENCIES AND PRACTICES OF GENERATION Z EMPLOYEES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to examine the digital literacy of Gen Z employees in higher education and provide implications for HRD research and practice and contribute to the HRD literature on Gen Z employees in the 21st century workforce. Three research questions guided my study: How do Gen Z employees in higher education experience digital literacy? What digital literacy skills gaps exist in Gen Z employees in higher education? And what can higher education institutions do to close the digital literacy gap for Gen Z employees entering the workforce? To examine the lived experiences of Gen Z employees’ digital literacy in higher education, I chose a basic qualitative study design. This inductive approach was applied to all three research questions and helped me develop a deeper understanding of the meaning of participants’ lived experiences. To answer these three questions, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 participants (12 Gen Z employees and 7 supervisors of Gen Z employees) virtually via Zoom over the course of four weeks for the convenience of participants. I transcribed and coded the data with the help of a qualitative Ph.D. researcher and a quantitative Ph.D. researcher to ensure validity and reliability. I conducted member-checks with interview participants to check the validity of the data collected. There were five major themes identified from an analysis of the interview data using a thematic analysis of Lester et al. (2020): (1) experiencing digital literacy daily, (2) preferred technology, (3) workplace communication, (4) Gen Z skills gap, and (5) topics for future virtual training. This study was underpinned by: 1) the Virtual HRD theoretical framework (Bennett, 2014; McWhorter, 2014), 2) Generation Z cohort theory (Barhate and Dirani, 2022; Dimock, 2019), 3) the digital literacy conceptual framework (Pool, 1997; Martin, 2005; 2006), and 4) the digital literacy skills framework (Eshet-Alklai, 2004; 2012; Ng, 2012). v Eshet-Alklai (2012) and Ng (2012) were used to inform the interview protocol that I formulated based on the literature review of the framework for Gen Z’s digital literacy skills. The study’s findings emphasize the digital literacy skills required to reskill Gen Z employees utilizing Virtual HRD tools such as virtual training and development to offer practical solutions for HRD scholars and HRD practitioners. This study contributes to the research gap for HRD scholars and researchers, extending the literature on Gen Z in the workforce because of the lack of empirical studies on Gen Z employees in the workplace setting. Contributing to the qualitative empirical literature on Gen Z in the workforce, this study also adds to Gen Z literature by examining the different attributes of pre-Covid Gen Z and post-Covid Gen Z
A neural network approach to predict opioid misuse among previously hospitalized patients using electronic health records
Get PDFCan Electronic Health Records (EHR) predict opioid misuse in general patient populations? This research trained three back propagation neural networks to explore EHR predictors using existing patient data. Model 1 used patient diagnosis codes and was 75.5% accurate. Model 2 used patient prescriptions and was 64.9% accurate. Model 3 used both patient diagnosis codes and patient prescriptions and was 74.5% accurate. This suggests patient diagnosis codes are best able to predict opioid misuse. Opioid misusers have higher rates of drug abuse/mental health disorders than the general population, which could explain the performance of diagnosis predictors. In additional testing, Model 1 misclassified only 1.9% of negative cases (non-abusers), demonstrating a low type II error rate. This suggests further clinical implementation is viable. We hope to motivate future research to explore additional methods for universal opioid misuse screening
The Reduction of Pain Perception Through Music Therapy in Surgical Patients
Get PDFThe control of pain perceptions of surgical patients is an ongoing problem in trying to control the pain with enough narcotics while not giving too much to depress their respiratory status. Using narcotics increases the risks of several side effects which can negatively impact the patient’s recovery (Fu et. al., 2019). Perioperative music is a nonpharmacological method used to decrease the need for pain medication (Fu et. al, 2019; Kahloul et. al., 2016). The patient is in an anxiety state that causes a heightened state of arousal of the sympathetic system, which in turn releases catecholamines to act on the pain receptors and heighten the response. Music acts to modulate the response to increase the parasympathetic system causing relaxation and a decreased response to pain stimuli (Kahloul et. al., 2016).
The project aims to show that music is a viable non-pharmacological adjunct therapy while patients proceed through the surgical process. A thorough review of the extant literature found evidence that there is an improvement in the patient pain scores in patients who either listen to or participate in music therapy. There is a more than one-point drop in patient Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores across the articles. Some of the articles found a decrease in narcotic use while others showed no change (Bagle et al., 2023; Fu et al., 2019; Kakar et al., 2021; Kühlmann et al., 2018; Mondanaro et al., 2017; Patiyal et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2021).
The project is easy to implement and only requires acces
Nursing Care of Individuals Engaging in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: Impact of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Reinforcement
Get PDFAs explained by Linehan et al. (2006b), the seriousness of borderline personality disorder can be highlighted by the manifestations of emotional dysregulation, such as impulsive and suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behaviors. As the mental health field grows, so too does the knowledge base from which practitioners derive therapeutic interventions with hopes of effectively and safely treating patients while maintaining a culture of dignity and respect. One such treatment modality that has proven to reduce NSSI and improve interpersonal functioning, specifically in patients with borderline personality disorder, is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy developed by Marsha Linehan (Swenson et al., 2001). The focus of this paper is to critically investigate the case made for the treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder through the application of DBT, and more specifically, the overall impact on NSSI.
Many nurses do not feel adequately prepared to treat patients with borderline personality disorder which is often related to a gap in clinical supervision and disease-specific training (Bland et al., 2007). Such discrepancies lead to complications when caring for patients with borderline personality disorder, including negative judgements by staff, anxiety in patients, and feelings of anger in both patients and nurses alike (Bland et al., 2007). By establishing a NSSI workgroup led by change champions trained by DBT experts, the hope is to provide a framework for the acquisition of DBT skills proficiency in all direct-care nurses and provide consistent education on skills usage during patient interactions
DNP Final Report: DOUBLE GLOVING AS PART OF THE SURGICAL SITE INFECTION PREVENTION BUNDLE FOR COLORECTAL SURGERIES
No full textSurgical site infection (SSI) is the costliest healthcare-acquired infection that encompasses around three to ten billion dollars annually. The costs do not include the societal challenges and personal losses that patients endure when they have SSI. The evidence-based project revolves around decreasing SSI among colorectal surgical patients with a PICOT question: In patients having colorectal surgery, how does an educational project regarding double gloving for reducing SSIs, compared to no educational project, improve compliance rates for double gloving? The evidence recommends that double-gloving techniques among surgical members (surgeon, surgical assistant, and scrub techs/nurses) during surgery prevent SSI. The project utilized the models of JHEBP and PDSA to conceptualize and implement the project, respectively. After three months of implementation, the adherence rate for double gloving during surgery among surgical members increased by 19.93% among surgeons, 26.25% among scrub techs/nurses, and 19.48% among surgical assistants. The SSI rate during this time was decreased 40%. The double gloving was included in a bigger project, which is the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) to sustain the project and increase the positive outcomes and experience of patients undergoing colorectal surgeries
DNP Final Report: REDUCING READMISSION IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS: AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROJECT
Get PDFMore than 64 million people worldwide are affected by heart failure (HF), and overall costs related to HF have been projected to increase to $53.1 billion in 2030 (Savarese et al.,2022). Internal evidence from the acute care suburban hospital in which the project was planned supported the need to reduce the incidence of HF readmissions. The search for evidence to support the project was guided using the following PICOT question: In admitted adult patients experiencing HF(P), how does nurse-led standard discharge education (I), compared to current education practices (C), affect the incidence of 30-day readmissions (O) during a 90-day period? (T). A systematic search of the literature was conducted using specific inclusion criteria and the keywords heart failure, discharge readiness, nurse-led education, patient teaching, readmission, and rehospitalizations. Following critical appraisal of the evidence, 10 articles remained to form the body of evidence supporting the project. Based on the body of evidence, a nurse-led pre-discharge education project for HF patients was planned and implemented.
The practice project included two goals: 1) reduce 30-day HF readmissions by 3% and 2) improve patient perception of discharge readiness. After implementing a nurse-led discharge education program, outcomes for this nurse-led HF discharge education project included a 11% reduction in readmissions and a 16.6% increase in patient satisfaction for discharge. The outcomes support that nurse-led education can have a positive impact on discharge readinessand satisfaction with care
MALARIA, A BURDEN FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Get PDFMalaria has been a worldwide health problem for centuries causing between 1.5 to 2.7 million deaths annually, and mostly affecting children aged 5 and under and pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Phillips, 2001). The discovery of malaria parasites by Laveran in 1880 as well as the finding of mosquitoes as vectors for avian malaria by Ross in 1897, made scientific studies about malaria possible. Between 1898 and 1900, the Italian scientists Grassi, Bignami, Bastianelli, Celli, Golgi and Marchiafava discovered human malaria (Cox, 2010). Malaria has been eradicated from developed countries such as the United Staes and most European countries for decades (Greenwood et al., 2022). However, malaria is returning to developed countries most likely due to climate change. For example, 8 non-traveling cases were found in Florida in 2003 and 5 new cases (4 in Florida and 1 in Texas) in 2023.
Objectives
This study aimed firstly, to determine the rates illness and death from malaria in Sub-Saharan African countries. Secondly, to identify various factors in this region which maintain endemic malaria illness and death. And thirdly, to make recommendations to malaria problems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods
This study used an Ecological quantitative study and compares exposure to malaria and malaria occurrence at population level rather individual. Data from World Health Organization (WHO) malaria case counts and malaria deaths in 2010 and 2020 for 193 countries around the world including the 48 Sub-Saharan African countries, were used to build one spreadsheet, in order to use multiple regression models. The researcher located the most consistent and significant factors for the world and Sub-Saharan Africa, from World Bank, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), Our World In Data, Database Earth, International Transparency, Global Economy, World FactBook, Statista, and United Nation (UN), controlling for other significant factors, which contribute to malaria illness and deaths.
Results
The results show that, globally, malaria cases increased but deaths decreased. Across the globe, electricity access was important for both malaria cases and malaria deaths. On the other hand, median age and urbanization were the most consistent and significant factors in the Sub-Saharan African region, for both malaria cases and malaria deaths.
Conclusion
This study recommends that urban planning (water drainage, screening doors and windows), and strong family planning (spacing the birth and reducing the number of children per women) may help in controlling and eradicating malaria burden in the Sub-Saharan Africa
ENABLING ON-DEVICE LEARNING THROUGH HYBRID EDGE COMPUTING FRAMEWORKS
No full textIn recent advancement of technology implementing Machine Learning (ML) algorithms with edge devices has gained remarkable popularity. Enabling Machine Learning (ML) in the edge opened new hybrid branch where edge hardware meets with Machine Learning (ML). Day by day devices are becoming more powerful and capable of doing a lot of computation. These powerful computational capabilities created the way of implementing Machine Learning (ML) on small edge devices. There are diverse ways we can implement machine learning models to the edge. For any embedded prototype, implementation of Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) is making the IoT (Internet of Things) devices intelligent and reducing unnecessary communications. the This thesis paper explores the practical implementation of various embedded prototypes and on-device learning, focusing on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), microcontrollers and single board computers (Raspberry Pi, Jetson Nano etc.)
Nurses\u27 Perceptions Regarding Supportive Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
No full textNICU nurses are the primary supporters of NICU families and their infants, making it vital that nurses understand the impact of a NICU visit on families and how to improve the parental experience. The complex challenges begin at the NICU admission, where families are left bewildered and unprepared for the uncertainty that lies ahead. During the NICU stay, nurses support families by providing encouragement and empowerment as they navigate their new role as NICU parents. In addition, NICU nurses are advocates for supportive initiatives to help NICU families cope with challenges such as being away from their infant and better understanding their infant’s condition. Technology initiatives such as bedside-cameras or virtual family rounds provides families with the opportunity to engage with their infant and the NICU medical team no matter the distance. This dissertation presents three manuscripts on diverse, yet invaluable, aspects of supportive nursing care in the NICU.
In chapter 2, “The emotional impact of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit,” provides an overview of the emotional impact NICU parents experience when their infant is admitted to the NICU. Chapter 3, “Lessons learned during the pandemic: First-hand experiences of a NICU nurse providing supportive care through technology,” gives first-hand insight into communicative technology initiatives during Covid. Lastly, chapter 4, presents an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study with a convenience sample of 169 participants. The quantitative strand was conducted and analyzed, prior to the qualitative arm. The qualitative interview questions were designed to further understand the quantitative results