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Exploring the Nutritional Status of African American Children Whose Guardians Work Remotely at Home versus Away from Home
No full textObjective: The African American (AA) population is at risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases related to socioeconomic status, education, literacy skills, discrimination in employment opportunities, access to healthcare, and access to nutritious foods. The family dynamic easily influences children. The study aimed to determine if there is a correlation between the nourishment of AA children aged 5 to 11 years and their parents/caregivers' employment status and whether AA children's dietary habits are better with parents/caregivers' home observing or when they are away. Research has been limited to the AA population regarding their nutritional habits and the likeliness of participating in future research. Methods: The target population was parents/caregivers of AA children aged 5 to 11 to determine if there is a difference in their dietary intake with parents/caregivers at home compared to being away from home. BMI, dietary intake, cultural preferences, physical activity, parents'/caregivers' employment status, and income were then examined. Descriptive analysis was utilized to interpret the data collected from Qualtrics. Results: The results showed a correlation between children whose parents work remotely from home and those who work full-time away from home. The findings also showed that parents/caregivers are more likely to participate in research. Conclusion: Healthy eating habits begin at home and with the increase in work-from-home opportunities. AA children are now at the advantage of learning healthier habits. The feedback from the AA population revealed an opportunity for future research that includes increased participation rates and recruitment endeavors that are AA-centric and community-based with population representation within the recruitment and research team
Determining the Relationship Between Maternal Anemia and Low Infant Birth Weight Among Racial Groups in MN WIC Program
No full textA secondary data analysis was conducted in order to determine if there was a possible correlation between maternal anemia and low infant birthweight in Minnesota WIC participants. Data was granted from the Minnesota Department of Health Local Agency Reports for the year 2019, and encompassed 82 Minnesota cities served by the WIC program. American Indian, Asian, Black/African American, White, Hispanic, and multiracial mothers were assessed for their anemia status, as well as their prevalence of low-birth-weight infants. A chi-square test was done to statistically determine the relationship between maternal anemia and low birth weight infants. Out of 17,711 pregnant participants in the Minnesota WIC program, 2871 mothers were diagnosed with maternal anemia. Subsequently, 200 of these mothers would go on to give birth to low-birth weight infants. Rates of maternal anemia and low birth weights neonates were most prevalent in minority communities, with the Black/African community having the highest rate. But despite this demographic having the highest rate, it was determined that there was a non-significant relationship between the two variables. (p value= 0.086). Ultimately, the study yielded a non-significant correlation between these two variables across all MN WIC demographics across all cities. (p value = 0.615) Even with these findings, the analysis of maternal anemia and low birth weight infants in regards of race may aid future health initiatives when it comes to bridging gaps in social disparities, access to prenatal care and diet direction
The Effects of Music Performance Anxiety in Undergraduate Student Musicians
No full textMusic performance anxiety (MPA) is becoming an internationally prevalent diagnosis among undergraduate students. It is more debilitating than the common or expected amounts of anxiety that come with performance of music and has the potential to debilitate the performances of undergraduate musicians if left untreated. This study aimed to determine if undergraduate music major students experienced similar symptoms of MPA as non-music majors during their performances. The results of this study indicated a higher level of performance anxiety among music major students as opposed to non-music major students. Implications for counselors and counselor educators are discussed
Experiences of Rural School Counselors During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Inquiry
No full textThe role of the school counselor has historically evolved to meet the changing needs of students and society. This history contributes to ongoing role conflict which includes role stress, and role confusion as counselors fulfill multiple roles. Despite the recommendations of the ASCA National Model, school counselors continue to be assigned noncounseling duties. School counselors in rural schools face unique challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic caused school closures and disrupted the provision of school counseling services to students compounding the challenges school counselors face in fulfilling their roles. This combined with the already increasing concerns about student's mental health needs, further complicated role fulfillment for school counselors. This qualitative narrative inquiry study sought to understand the experiences of rural school counselors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study included six licensed rural school counselors. Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, the themes identified in the findings include the challenges and positive outcomes of counselor experiences, resiliency, use of technology, impact on students, sources of support, and creative adaptations. Findings can inform the practices of school counselors, school administrators, and counselor educators to reduce role conflict so school counselors can focus on meeting increased student needs. Recommendations include additional research focused on rural school counseling, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' mental health, social-emotional functioning, and behavioral development and increased funding to address these concerns
Re-Establishing a Nurse Practitioner-Led Foot Care Clinic in a Rural Area
No full textPeople living in rural areas are at risk and face healthcare challenges (Gizaw et al., 2022). Rural community health programs can help improve access to healthcare in rural communities (Gizaw et al., 2022). A free foot care clinic offered in a rural Midwestern community helps to serve a vulnerable population by providing routine foot care. The foot care clinic resumed following the cessation of this service due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2019. A Doctor of Nursing Practice student sought to better serve this underserved population in a rural Midwestern community by applying recommendations from a previous program evaluation to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the foot care clinic. This quality improvement project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle to help guide this project. Data were gathered through various quantitative and qualitative means including, observation, review of documents, surveys, and interviews. Two clinics were observed during this project with a combined total of 69 participants attending the foot care clinics. Positive participant satisfaction was identified through observation and participant survey results. The project outcomes created a name, values, and mission statement for the foot care clinic. A liability form and a foot screen assessment tool were updated for the clinic. Supplies for the clinic were organized and the time a participant spends at the foot care clinic was evaluated. Participants were given an educational handout to refer to at home. The results from this program evaluation helped improve effectiveness and efficiency and included recommendations for future foot care clinics
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Reading Program Review
No full textNeonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) parents struggle with bonding with their infant. Reading increases the amount of parent interaction with the infant and encourages their participation in infant care in collaboration with nursing staff. The aim of this project was to determine how effective and efficient Elliot's Little Library, a local midwestern program that provides a book to the parents, promotes parent infant bonding and reduces parental stress in the NICU. A quality improvement project utilizing a convenience sample of parents with a sample size of 11 was conducted. A convenience sample of nurses and the board of directors resulted in 19 nurse and 4 director participants. Pre and posttests were completed after the NICU nursing staff's education session. A board of directors' survey revealed a strong fundraising effort by all board members and the availability of a strategic plan for the reading program. However, the board of directors did not use the strategic plan to measure the program's success and had poorly defined measurements of success other than expansion. The parent survey results showed high satisfaction levels and utilization. Based on parental response, there may be increased parental interaction with their infant and reduced stress surrounding their infant and its care, but more research is needed
The Impact of Daily Electrolytes on Cognition, Sleep, and Overall Mood
No full textElectrolyte supplementation is well-researched in the world of athletes and performance. The current research is lacking on the benefits of daily electrolyte supplementation on the average, non-athlete human. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the potential benefits of electrolyte supplementation on non-athletes. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to highlight where future research is needed to better understand the role of electrolyte supplementation on the average, non-athlete human as well as understand the current research on the benefits that electrolytes have on sleep, cognition, and mood. PubMed and Google Scholar were screened for randomized control trials using blinding on electrolyte supplementation impacts on normal adults. A total of seven studies were included in this study for statistical analysis. The measured outcomes of this study were sleep quality using PSQI, number of leg cramps, cognition, and mood. The Quality Criteria Checklist from the Evidence Analysis Worksheet was used to assess each of the selected studies for quality, and management of bias. Forest plots of randomized effects models were used in the statistical analysis. All but one study in the forest plots showed results that favored the treatment outcomes. There was no statistical difference in sleep quality using PSQI to measure between electrolyte supplements compared to placebo interventions. The total heterogeneity was 74.63%, and the total variability was 3.94. The final p-value was 0.2784 which is not statistically significant. There was also no significant statistical difference in the number of nocturnal leg cramps for individuals taking an electrolyte versus those who were taking the placebo. The total heterogeneity was 87.63%, and the total variability was 8.08. The final p-value was 0.2277 which is not statistically significant. The results showed the majority of the studies included in the meta-analysis found evidence supporting the benefit of daily electrolyte supplementation however the p-values were statistically insignificant. Of the eleven articles included in the meta-analysis, nine of the articles displayed results in line with the hypothesis. The overall conclusion is that the studies in this meta-analysis were unable to support the hypothesis that daily electrolyte supplementation can be beneficial for sleep, cognition, and mood. Further research is needed including larger sample sizes, more testing on specific electrolytes, and a set standard for data for statistically significant results
Shining Light on Mental Wellness: Investigating the Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Mental Health Outcomes - A Pilot Study
No full textVitamin D deficiency has emerged as a significant public health concern globally, impacting a considerable portion of the population. While the well-established roles of vitamin D in bone health and mineral homeostasis are widely recognized, recent research has explored its potential implications for mental health outcomes, particularly depression and anxiety. However, the current literature presents conflicting findings regarding the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in alleviating symptoms of these conditions. This pilot study aimed to investigate the effect of daily vitamin D supplementation (25 mcg) on mental health outcomes, specifically anxiety and depression, through a double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Participants (n=10) aged 18-30 years were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin D supplements or a placebo for a 4-week treatment period. Anxiety and depression levels were assessed using the validated Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) surveys at baseline and after the intervention. Independent t-tests were conducted to compare the treatment and placebo groups. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in anxiety and depression levels between the two groups, suggesting that vitamin D supplementation did not have a significant effect on reducing these symptoms compared to the placebo. While this study did not find a significant impact, the literature remains inconclusive, and further research is warranted to investigate the potential role of vitamin D in mental health outcomes, considering factors such as sample size, treatment duration, baseline vitamin D levels, and supplementation dosages
How Art Exposure Shapes Creative Thinking
No full textThis study explored if exposure to art fosters creativity in organizations and lives, and built an understanding of how creative processes function, the impacts the visual art and music have on creative thinking and mood-arousal, and how the forms of art can be used to disrupt default habitual thinking. A literature review was conducted to bring together data from each of these interconnected topics with the goal of guiding the practice of servant leadership. This research demonstrated that the creative process, like a muscle, needs to be built through regular use. The processes of intentionally viewing art follows a mirrored process to the process of creating a piece of art. Music that resonates with the audience is able to trigger a change in mood, encouraging either more openness to new ideas or persistence in solving a problem. Both visual art and music are able to disrupt default thinking, which is often habitual, instead enabling deep creative thinking to occur
