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Counselor Educators' Views of Incorporating Spirituality/Religion in Counseling Curriculum
No full textThe purpose of this study was to conduct a needs assessment regarding how addressing client religion and spirituality (R/S) is incorporated into counselor educational curriculum from the perspective of the counselor educators. A survey was created asking counselor educators about their familiarity with ASERVIC competencies, to what extent was addressing client R/S built into their curriculum for counselors-in-training, and where they felt it best for counselors-in-training to learn about addressing client R/S. It was hypothesized that counselor educators consider R/S as part of the multicultural component of curriculum, had a low familiarity with the ASERVIC competencies and how to ethically address client R/S was not intentionally part of their curriculum for counselors-in-training. The survey was sent to current counselor educators (N = 8). Familiarity with ASERVIC competencies received a mean score of 2.875 out of 5. The participants indicated that a time of ‘minimal’ to a ‘fair amount’ was devoted on how to address client R/S. The majority of participants (n = 7) indicated that a multicultural or an ethics class was the most useful place to incorporate instruction on addressing client religion or spirituality. This study indicated a need for counselor educators increased familiarity with ASERVIC competencies to ensure addressing client religion and spirituality is incorporated into counselors-in-training curriculum
Social Media Usage and Its Impact on Self-Esteem and Mental Health in College Students
No full textThe purpose of this study was to determine if a summative program evaluation on social media usage and its impact on self-esteem and mental health in college students would be helpful for counselors-in-training. Therefore, a presentation was created with the following content: social media, application to college students, and techniques to promote healthy social media use. The program was presented to a convenience sample that consisted of Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling students enrolled in practicum (n = 13). It was hypothesized that a summative program evaluation on social media usage and its impact on self-esteem and mental health in college students would be helpful for counselors-in-training. The findings indicated that a program discussing social media use and the impact it has on college students’ self-esteem and mental health was helpful for counselors-in-training (n = 13, mean = 4.23)
Addiction Counseling Self-Efficacy Among Counseling Professionals
No full textThis study explored the relationship between addiction counseling self-efficacy beliefs, training requirements, and the influence of clinical addiction experience for mental health counselors. This mixed-methods study utilized the 31-item Addiction Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale (ACSES) in addition to a demographic survey and two open-ended qualitative questions. Multiple linear regressions were utilized to analyze the data and a phenomenological approach was utilized to examine the qualitative data. Results indicated a significant relationship between ACSES and clinical years of experience as well as ACSES and hours of addiction-related internship or practicum experience. No significant relationships were found between ACSES and number of credit hours, ACSES and number of supervised clinical hours, or ACSES and continuing education hours related to addiction counseling. Qualitative themes, however, highlighted the need for increased training and the integrated nature of trauma and addiction. Counselors reported high levels of self-efficacy; however, they reported lowest levels of self-efficacy for the co-occurring disorder subscale. These findings support the need to critically explore how we are training counselors to treat mental health and addiction. Additionally, addressing this need in CACREP core standards may positively impact those who are being treated for addiction, trauma, and COD
Viterbo Foot Care Clinic Outreach Collaboration
No full textFoot-related problems affect many older adults, and disproportionately impact underserved individuals in the community. Persons with common chronic illnesses such as diabetes are also at risk for debilitating foot pathologies. An upper midwest academic institution has created an outreach clinic to serve this population. However, the mechanism developed to address these needs is limited in part by financial concerns. The exploration of opportunities to collaborate with local healthcare institutions to develop a more robustly equipped foot care outreach clinic was initiated. A literature review suggested that healthcare institutions can benefit from fulfilling their obligation to provide for community health, generating community goodwill, and from the possible revenue generated from referrals. A collaboration appears to be congruent with the organizational alignment of all concerned institutions. A proposal was created to educate and inform representatives of the predominant healthcare centers regarding the mission of the existing outreach clinics, and the benefits of entering a collaborative partnership. Though the timeline for an agreement between the academic agency and the healthcare institutions has yet to conclude, there has been preliminary support for the concept, with one institution supplying a 3500 grant. The conversations regarding the exploration of a long-term partnership remain pending at this juncture, though both institutions have expressed interest
Stroke Group Education
No full textStroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of
long term disability; 80 % of strokes are preventable (American Stroke Association, 2020). The purpose of this project was to improve stroke knowledge of patients suffering stroke and their families regarding stroke symptoms, risk factors, and prevention. Based on an extensive literature review, the intervention implemented to improve stroke knowledge was group educational sessions. The project targeted patients who suffered stroke, 18 years of age and older on an inpatient rehabilitation unit in a Midwestern tertiary care center and their families. Fifty participants attended a group educational session focused on stroke statistics, types, symptoms, risk factors, and prevention. Knowledge regarding stroke was evaluated before and after the group educational session using the validated Stroke Knowledge Test developed by Sullivan and Dunton (2001). A one-tailed paired samples t test revealed that scores on the stroke knowledge test before (m = 11, s = 4.886) were lower than scores after the group educational sessions (m = 14.66, s = 4.906) and that the improvement in score was significant; t(49) = -8.547, p ? .0001. The results indicated that stroke group educational sessions offer significant improvement in stroke knowledge of patients suffering stroke and their families; therefore, group educational sessions are recommended as an intervention to increase patient and family stroke knowledge
Assessing Diabetes Lifestyle Knowledge in the Hmong Community
No full textThe prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing, impacting many minorities in the United States. Hmong, an understudied minority group, are at a higher risk of developing diabetes. Proper education and simple lifestyle modifications are needed to reduce or prevent the risk of diabetes related complications. This quality improvement project sought to assess knowledge gained by Hmong adults residing in a Midwestern city after the implementation of a diabetes lifestyle modification educational program, and further encourage lifestyle modifications. Twenty-one Hmong Americans were enrolled in five educational sessions led by a Hmong Nurse Practitioner student accompanied by a certified Hmong medical translator. Educational sessions were held at a community Hmong organization between June 2019 and July 2019. A total of five participants completed the project. Outcome measures included knowledge gained and physiological body measurements: blood pressure, weight, and BMI. Success was seen in overall physiological body measurements at the completion of the project. Limited knowledge, -7.5%, p = .15, was gained among Hmong participants with type 2 diabetes and no knowledge was gained among nondiabetic Hmong participants, -3%, p = .5. Participants reflected on their motivation and willingness to make lifestyle modifications was to reduce the risk of diabetes. This project suggests that a culturally tailored lifestyle educational program for people with diabetes is successful in promoting a better understanding and acceptance of lifestyle modification in the Hmong population. Moreover, a diabetes education program can empower the Hmong population to make healthy lifestyle changes. One major limitation was health illiteracy. To maximize learning, healthcare providers should adjust their education on diabetes to fit the level of the Hmong person's understanding
Dry Needling in the Emergency Department
No full textBackground and Purpose: Pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek medical care in emergency departments (ED). The need for an adjunct non-pharmacological therapy such as dry needling (DN) for pain control continues to gain popularity for researchers. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness of DN in the ED as an adjunct therapy for pain control. Methods: The proposed design for this pilot study was a quality improvement project with retrospective chart reviews to assess the effectiveness of DN on patients' pain levels before and immediately after DN. Eligible participants received DN, trigger point stimulation using an electro stimulation unit, stretching exercises, and/or massage from a physical therapist. Results: Thirty-one participants completed the study. There was a statistically significant pain reduction after DN (p < .0001) at 95% CI [1.7162, 2.8969]. No statistical significance was found between the sex of the individual and type of pain (acute versus chronic), although there was a statistical difference noted in the age, pre and post pain assessments, number of needles used, as well as physical therapy follow up recommendations after DN. Conclusions: The findings from this study supported the use of DN as an adjunct therapy for pain control. Although further studies are needed to investigate the long term effects of DN on pain control, practitioners and other providers have further statistical evidence to encourage their patients who are diagnosed with pain or uncontrolled pain management to add DN as an adjunct therapy to their treatment
Benefits of Case Management for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Depression
No full textDiabetes is a costly disease to manage. Often, depression can hinder the management of a chronic disease. The main objective of the study was to see if adding a case manager to a patient care team would increase patient engagement and increase self-care. A convenience sample, in an insurance company in South-Central Wisconsin was performed over six months. The eligibility requirements were participants with active insurance coverage through the insurance company, between the ages of 45 to 64, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, have an A1C 8% or greater, and a diagnosis of depression. Participants had to voluntarily enroll in the case management program and participate for at least 60 days. A total of 40 people were contacted with 30 opting out and 10 participants enrolling. Eight completed the full six months and provided all follow-up results. The patient activation measure (PAM-13) tool was used to measure changes in patient engagement. A paired t-test was conducted to look at pre and post PAM results for the intervention group, pre PAM (M = 63.31, SD = 10.14) and post PAM (M = 70.32, SD = 14.13) conditions; t(7) = 4.32, p = .003. This study suggests adding a case manager to the treatment team improves patient engagement leading to improved self-care
A Backpack Program for School Children with Food Insecurity
No full textThe purpose of this research project was to determine if a backpack program that provides non-perishable food items at the end of the school week for children to eat over the weekend, when they do not have access to free or reduced cost school lunch and breakfast, reduces their food insecurity. Participants included 11 children from 9 families at a Boys and Girls Club in a rural Midwestern town. Food insecurity was measured using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey and baseline results were compared to the results after 60 days of intervention (USDA, 2020c). The mean pre-intervention food insecurity score was 0.71 on a scale from 0 (food secure) to 3 (food insecure with severe hunger) and the mean post-intervention score was 0.57. A two-tailed paired sample t-test was not significant based on an alpha value of .05, t6 = 0.42, p = .689. Two of the nine families did not complete the post-intervention survey. While the results of the survey data are not statistically significant, there were improvements in food insecurity in three families. Additional questions on the surveys resulted in positive responses and demonstrated that the program had a positive effect on the children's energy, physical heath, and emotional well-being. The results of this project are similar to those in the literature reviewed and future projects with larger sample sizes may provide more statistically significant data
Perceptions of Health and Well-being Following Care at a DNP Student-Led Clinic
No full textStudent-led clinics aim to serve underserved or vulnerable populations in an attempt to bridge gaps in access to care. However, little is known regarding the patient perceptions of health and well-being nor the impact of care delivered in these clinics. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurse practitioner program at one Midwestern university designed and implemented a foot care clinic led by DNP nurse practitioner students that provides free foot and nail care services for adults throughout the surrounding area. This qualitative research study utilizes semi-structured interviews conducted over the phone with 8 community-dwelling adults who have attended the foot care clinic and received foot care from the DNP nurse practitioner students in the past to specifically explore their self-perceptions of health and well-being after receiving care. Nola Pender�s health promotion model is used as a lens and the main theoretical framework in which the results from this study are organized and interpreted. The participants of this study identify various perceptions of their health and well-being and several barriers in performing and accessing foot care that lead to patterns within Pender�s model. Overall, the clinic helps to not only bridge the gap that exists in access to foot care by providing free foot and nail care services, but also to provide care that leaves the community-dwelling adults satisfied, empowered to engage in foot health, and with a positive attitude, leading to the overarching theme of the participants reporting �feeling good, like I should.