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Education Plan on Colonoscopy Preparation and Communication to Improve Colonoscopy Prep and Ensure Better Outcomes
Get PDFThis Doctor of Nursing practice (DNP) staff education project introduced a formalized staff education program to refine colonoscopy preparation quality at a community gastroenterology clinic. Suboptimal bowel preparation in 20%–30% of colonoscopies resulted in missed lesions, higher costs, and decreased satisfaction of the provided quality of care, which highlighted the need for enhanced staff education in nursing practice. The project question was: Does the education of staff on colonoscopy preparation procedures bridge the existing knowledge gap regarding modern colonoscopy techniques? My goal was to increase staff knowledge regarding standardize prep instructions. The project was designed using best practice evidence and current practice guidelines and was delivered through an interactive presentation and role-play. A pre and post-test were used to measure learning gain. The findings showed the knowledge of the staff improved from a pretest mean of 68% to a posttest mean of 92%, with a normalized learning gain of 75%. This demonstrates that the participants improved their understanding of colonoscopy preparation procedures as a result of this education project. One of the implications of this DNP project on practice and social change is enhanced knowledge of the staff, thereby ensuring that there is consistency in care. This education may also improve the patients understanding of colonoscopy preparation leading to better patient outcomes. The project may empower nurses, promote their role as advocates of quality care, improve the quality of health care, and promote positive social change and diversity by ensuring that there is equitable treatment and care for all patients
Demographic and Clinical Predictors of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Advanced Fibrosis in the United States
Get PDFMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD; formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related liver fibrosis) is a growing public health problem in the United States. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of MASLD-related advanced fibrosis in the United States and assess whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were independent risk factors for MASLD-related advanced fibrosis. This study was a quantitative cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011 to 2020, grounded in the social ecological theory. Participants (N = 21,829) were included if they were ≥18 years, excluded if they had positive hepatitis serology, were HIV+, had extensive alcohol use, or if missing the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) score. Prevalence estimates were reported as percentages and frequencies, and stratified by age, race/ethnicity, sex, T2DM status, CVD status, and body mass index (BMI). Predictors of advanced fibrosis among patients were assessed using multiple binary logistic regression models. Study findings showed that MASLD-related advanced fibrosis had a 3.9% prevalence in the United States and that age, sex, race/ethnicity, BMI, T2DM status, and CVD status were correlated with MASLD-related advanced fibrosis. Furthermore, CVD status was independently related to MASLD-related advanced fibrosis after controlling for other factors. However, T2DM status was not shown to be independently related to MASLD-related advanced fibrosis. This study is significant as it provides insights to clinicians, payers, and policymakers on key factors that are associated with MASLD-related advanced fibrosis. Thus, potentially supports effective screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies
MSW Degree Completion: Foster Care Alumni’s Perceptions of Barriers, Resilience, and Success
Get PDFThis capstone research project involved examining foster care alumni who successfully graduated from Master of Social Work (MSW) programs as full-time students. The purpose of this study was to address resilience factors and this population’s perceptions of barriers, resilience, and success in terms of completing full-time MSW programs and career outcomes. The resiliency theory and a strength-based-perspective were frameworks for this research. This basic qualitative research study involved using purposive sampling, and 11 foster care alumni were interviewed who graduated from full-time MSW graduate programs in the United States. Through thematic analysis, themes emerged were lack of economic resources impacting education, minimal familial and professional support, mental health challenges impacting education, perseverance to thrive, emotional support and advocacy, and life calling. Implications for positive social change include understanding how foster care alumni have been able to overcome their past and find success. This study also revealed the need for more financial and campus-based programming to help this population succeed in postsecondary education. This knowledge may help social workers, administrators, and children in the foster care system be prepared for better life outcomes in order to identify sources of support that serve this population best to complete graduate education
Set Up for Success: The Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Nonviolent Offenders and Their Challenges of Successfully Reentering Society
Get PDFThis dissertation firmly highlighted the critical necessity for effective diversion plans tailored to nonviolent offenders, presenting a compelling qualitative analysis of the lived experiences of 12 former nonviolent offenders and their views on diversion centers. The research employed in-depth interviews as the primary data collection method, engaging participants aged 18 and older who had committed nonviolent offenses, had no pending legal cases, and had been released from incarceration or probation within the past six months. To analyze the data, NVivo 15 and MAXQDA software were utilized, ensuring a rigorous and systematic approach to organizing and interpreting unstructured data, developing robust codes, and identifying pivotal themes. The thorough coding of transcripts revealed eight impactful themes: stigma, labeling, redemption, support, mental health challenges, employment barriers, resource awareness, and environmental factors. Notably, the findings enlightened the profound effects of environmental influences and the psychological toll of incarceration on participants\u27 reintegration experiences. The research further emphasized the crucial role of reentry support and the necessity for comprehensive interventions that address individual challenges and relational dynamics. This study not only provided valuable insights crucial for informing the development of targeted intervention programs but also aimed to empower individuals striving to break free from cycles of crime and addiction. Ultimately, this research called for the establishment of standardized support systems within the criminal justice framework, aimed at enhancing successful reintegration and significantly reducing recidivism rates among nonviolent offenders
Enhancing Care Coordination Through Staff Education in Interdisciplinary Communication Best Practices
Get PDFEffective communication is essential in psychiatric treatment, where patient status continuously evolves and needs to be addressed with quick decision-making to ensure optimal care results. Delayed communication, especially in the virtual setting, can affect patient care significantly. In this staff education project, I examined whether daily hybrid meetings with situation background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) protocol affect care coordination on a knowledge and attitudes survey. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project was to address communication breakdowns and coordination issues among an interdisciplinary psychiatric health care team. The intervention involved administering a presurvey; an in-person session on SBAR and hybrid meetings; and concluding with a postsurvey to assess participants’ knowledge, confidence, and attitude changes regarding SBAR and hybrid meetings. Five participants completed the surveys, and their knowledge and attitude levels increased by a mean 15 percentage point increase. The project encountered time constraints that limited the duration of the educational session. Recommendations include extending time for future education sessions, ongoing education programs, regular refresher training, and hybrid meetings with other health care teams to improve communication and care coordination. This project supported interdisciplinary collaboration, patient outcomes, and equitable staff engagement. By enabling all team members, regardless of location, to contribute to clinical decisions, the project advances positive social change, fosters inclusion, and promotes excellence in psychiatric nursing practice
Mental Health Disparities in Hospital Admissions for Youth with and without Autism
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to compare mental health diagnoses in a sample of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and youth without ASD (non-ASD) admitted to inpatient hospitals across the United States. We hypothesized that autistic youth would have a greater proportion of co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses compared to their typically developing peers. To do this, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) 2019 Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID). We compared the proportions of co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses between autistic and typically developing youth. Compared to 21% of non-ASD admissions, 36% of the ASD admissions were for a primary mental health condition. Overall, youth with ASD were significantly more likely to have a co-occurring mental health diagnosis (p \u3c .01, V = 0.08), a diagnosis of unspecified mood disorder (p \u3c .01, V = 0.08), a disruptive and conduct disorder (p \u3c .01, V = 0.10), bipolar disorder (p \u3c .01, V = 0.04), an anxiety disorder (p \u3c .01, V = 0.04), and a psychotic disorder (p \u3c .01, V = 0.04). We observed no significant differences for major depressive disorder (p \u3e .05). These results add to the growing evidence suggesting increased risk for psychopathology and psychiatric hospitalization in autistic youth. This finding may reflect unmet mental healthcare needs for autistic youth at lower levels of care. Research addressing autistic healthcare needs, such as the relationship between care outcomes and provider knowledge, is necessary to improve mental health outcomes in autistic children
Improving multilingual competence in higher education: An integrated framework for parallel learning of two foreign languages
Get PDFObjectives: The study aims to create a comprehensive framework for the effective organization of parallel teaching of two foreign languages in higher education in Kazakhstan, accounting for linguistic, psychological, didactic, and technological aspects.
Methods: We used theoretical (modeling, analysis, and generalization) and empirical methods (pedagogical experiment, testing, questionnaires, and methods of mathematical statistics) in the research. An original structural and content model of parallel learning was developed, including interrelated blocks for the integrated formation of speech activity skills and a lexico–grammatical base in each of the languages. The effectiveness of the proposed model was confirmed during the pedagogical experiment, which was based on the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and with the participation of 30 students in the specialty “Foreign Languages: Two Foreign Languages.”
Results: According to the results of the experiment, the group that was trained according to the developed model achieved statistically significantly higher indicators in comparison with the control group for such criteria as the volume of lexico–grammatical material learned and the level of development of receptive (reading, listening) and productive (speaking, writing) types of speech activity as well as motivation to language learning.
Conclusions: The obtained data indicate that the use of the developed model of parallel learning contributes to the improvement of the level of formation of students’ polylingual communicative competence.
Implications: The study contributes to the theory and practice of multilingual education and offers a scientifically substantiated and experimentally tested tool for the implementation of parallel language teaching in higher education for the training of multilingual specialists capable of effective communication and activity in the global professional space
Artificial Intelligence and Collaborative Learning: Impacts on Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Problem-Solving
Get PDFThe rapid development of large anguage models (LLMs) has sparked growing interest in their potential to transform education. This study explores how LLMs influence collaborative learning, focusing on student creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collective intelligence. Specifically, it investigates whether artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted group work enhances or hinders these aspects of the learning process. We used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data from surveys, structured interviews, and analysis of student project outputs. We collected data from 102 undergraduate students via questionnaires and 15 follow-up interviews, which offered deeper insight into their experiences using LLMs in team-based projects. The study examined how LLMs affected group dynamics, idea generation, consensus building, and overall productivity. Findings revealed no significant differences in student perceptions based on digital familiarity, AI comfort, or prior AI use, suggesting that digital competency does not strongly shape how students perceive the influence of LLMs on collaboration and creativity. As AI continues to evolve, the findings highlight the importance of designing LLMs that support rather than disrupt human collaboration, emphasizing the need for alignment between AI tools and educational values
Predictors of Parental Behavior and Child Weight Status
Get PDFChildhood obesity is a major health issue globally. The prevalence rate remains high in Ohio, with associated complications among affected children and adolescents. The current study examined the association among obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, feeding behavior, and child weight outcome while controlling for race, gender, income, and education. We collected quantitative data through an online survey of parents in Northwest Ohio (n = 71) using the obesity risk knowledge scale and factors from the Child Feeding Questionnaire. We analyzed data using multiple linear regression. The primary outcome measures were feeding behavior and child weight status. Parental obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, or concern about child weight was significantly associated with feeding behavior [F (6, 64) = 4.459, p \u3c .001] and child weight outcome [F (6, 64) = 3.351, p = .006]. Risk perception significantly predicted parental feeding behavior of pressure to eat and food restriction, while the association among parental obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, and child weight status was modified by parental gender. The findings of the study suggest that parents’ perceptions or concerns about their child’s weight and their gender have a greater influence on their feeding intentions, behavior, and child weight than knowledge of obesity risk. Thus, interventions for childhood obesity could focus on addressing the parents’ risk perception and gender-tailored education to improve their feeding intentions, feeding behavior, and weight outcomes in children
Evidence-Based Intervention Proposal for Reducing Intimate Partner Violence Against Jamaican Women
Get PDFDomestic violence (DV) is a significant public health concern that negatively impacts women’s health, yet gaps in trauma-informed screening and referral processes persist within nursing practice. In Jamaica, DV remains underreported, highlighting the need for enhanced provider competency in identifying and supporting survivors. The doctoral project was used to examine how implementing the trauma-informed care (TIC) model and the Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) program could improve healthcare staff’s ability to recognize, assess, and support DV survivors. Guided by the TIC framework and the IRIS program, a mixed-methods approach was used, incorporating pre- and posttraining assessments, staff surveys, and qualitative feedback to measure changes in knowledge, confidence, screening practices, and referral efficiency. Data analysis revealed a 45% increase in staff competency scores, a 60% rise in DV screening rates, and a 50% improvement in referral efficiency post-training. Findings support the integration of structured education and trauma-sensitive approaches to improve DV intervention in nursing practice. Key recommendations include ongoing training, interprofessional collaboration, and policy development to institutionalize standardized screening protocols. The project contributes to positive social change by strengthening healthcare providers’ capacity to address DV, potentially improving survivor-centered care and health outcomes for women in Jamaica