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Moving Toward Wellness: Exercise Augmentation of Affective Disorder Treatment in Inpatient Psychiatry
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, increasing the risk for physical comorbidities and suicide. Around 25% of all psychiatric hospitalizations are for depression related complaints. Exercise is an effective adjunct therapy for depression but is rarely implemented in inpatient settings.
LOCAL PROBLEM: Inpatient depression treatment primarily relies on medication, which is associated with modest efficacy, side effects, delayed onset, and adherence issues. This project aimed to implement exercise as an augmentation strategy for depressed adults at an inpatient psychiatric facility in North Carolina, targeting 25% patient participation over 90 days.
METHODS: The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model (JHNEBP) guided project development and implementation. An exercise augmentation protocol was designed using the best practices taken from the evidence and tailored to the site. Measures included patient participation, session frequency, reasons for non-participation, and qualitative feedback via anonymous surveys.
INTERVENTIONS: Staff (behavioral health technicians, nurses, and providers) received a single educational session on the project and facilitated 30- to 45-minute strength and aerobic exercise groups three times per week. Qualitative data was collected through surveys and informal interviews. Monthly PDSA cycles informed implementation.
RESULTS: Over 90 days, staff conducted 43 exercise sessions, averaging three per week. The project saw 324 total participants and 193 of these were depressed. Out of the 445 potential depressed participants during the project period, the project achieved a 43.8% participation rate, surpassing its aims of 25%. Patients reported improved mood, increased motivation to continue exercising, and positive shifts in attitudes toward exercise.
CONCLUSIONS: Exercise augmentation was a feasible, safe, and sustainable practice change in an inpatient behavioral health hospital. The 43.8% participation rate exceeded project aims, and the program expanded to an additional unit during implementation. Plans for dissemination include internal meetings and mental health conferences
Decreasing the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Informal Caregivers through an At-Home Exercise Application
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Implementation of a Nutrition Education Module in an Elementary School System in Belize
No full textBACKGROUND: Diabetes rates are growing at a concerningly increased rate globally. There is a direct link between diet choices and the rates of diabetes. Pediatric rates specifically are increasing with access to more processed, sugary foods. Current evidence suggests educating students on nutrition increases their knowledge and leads to healthier diet choices.
LOCAL PROBLEM: The setting of this practice improvement project was a rural elementary school consisting of grades 2 through 8 situated right outside the city of San Ignacio, Belize. Most of the students attending are of mestizo ethnicity. There was no standard education curriculum regarding nutrition. Current studies recommended implementation of a curriculum with hands-on activities to improve students’ knowledge. The purpose of this project was to increase the student’s knowledge regarding nutrition in their respective ages with the aim to increase it by 30%.
METHODS: The Evidence-Based Practice Improvement (EBPI) model was the framework for modeling this project. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were utilized to develop and adapt chosen interventions. Pre- and post-test scores were recorded as data and measured for change in nutritional knowledge.
INTERVENTIONS: Three educational modules were provided consisting of a PowerPoint and hands-on activities to reinforce learning. All material was provided in English and Spanish and taught by the teachers of the school. A pre- and post-test was administered.
RESULTS: 70 Students partook in the pre-test with 41 of them returning for the post-test. Considering the loss of students in the post-test, nutritional knowledge was found to be improved by 48%.
CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a standard nutrition curriculum in school systems increases the knowledge base of students regarding nutrition. Both clinical and statistical significance were found. Sustainability of this project includes reaching out to the Ministry of Health country-wide implementation
SACSCOC Response - New Program Approval - Professional Advancement Through Hands-On Learning Undergraduate Certificate
No full textSACSCOC Response - New Program Approval - Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication PhD
No full textADSORPTION OF NATIVE WASTEWATER VIRUSES BY IRON OXIDE-COATED SAND
Get PDFWaterborne pathogenic viruses pose a significant risk to public health. Although modern wastewater treatment facilities employ potent methods to remove microorganisms, disinfection is not 100% effective, and some microbes persist. Further, resource-limited regions lack adequate infrastructure to support tertiary processes and conventional wastewater treatment altogether. Mounting interest in nanotechnology has spurred investigation into new antimicrobial agents, and current environmental studies recommend iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) for their sorbent and catalytic capabilities. Literature suggests that IONPs could play a substantial role in wastewater reclamation by electrostatic adsorption and degradation of recalcitrant contaminants of emerging concern. Because both viral protein capsids and IONPs have ionizable functional groups, their surface charges are variable depending on solution potential of hydrogen (pH) and ionic strength. Batch microcosm experiments were conducted to determine the optimal reaction conditions for viral adsorption and inactivation by iron oxide-coated sand. Virus-like particle (VLP) abundance and community composition were measured pre- and post-equilibration using epifluorescence microscopy (EFM) and genetic fingerprinting (RAPD-PCR) to learn the extent of adsorption and changes in viral composition following reaction with uncoated and iron oxide-coated sand (IOCS). The greatest reduction in virus count and alteration in community composition occurred in IOCS treatment groups. IOCS significantly decreased the number of VLPs post-equilibration, on average, by 92.63%
THE PERSISTENT PATIENT AND THE SKEPTICAL PHYSICIAN: ANALYZING THE EPISTEMIC OPPRESSION OF MINORITIES IN MEDICINE
No full textThis project explores the ethical implications of epistemic oppression in medicine, arguing that the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities, such as East Africans, is not an isolated oversight but part of a broader system of interconnected injustices. In my discussions, I show how patient mistrust and the dismissal of patient testimony reflect deeper failures to recognize the relational and structural nature of health, knowledge, and care