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Enhancing Staff Impact on Medication Adherence in a Mental Health Outpatient Clinic
Get PDFThis Doctor of Nursing Practice project addressed the critical issue of medication nonadherence among mental health patients by implementing a staff education program at an outpatient clinic in the Mid-Atlantic region USA. The program focused on enhancing staff knowledge and confidence through training in psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Nonadherence often leads to relapse, hospitalization, and poor outcomes, compounded by a lack of structured interventions at the project site. Sixteen clinic staff members participated in biweekly training sessions over a one-month period. Pre- and post-training assessments revealed a 44.79% increase in staff knowledge and a 50% improvement in confidence levels, with 100% of participants expressing confidence post-intervention. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted education in equipping staff to address adherence barriers, fostering patient-centered care, and aligning with organizational goals. Recommendations include regular training updates, integration into onboarding programs, and expansion to other departments to sustain improvements and broaden the impact. This project contributes to improved mental health outcomes, promotes equity in care, and underscores the value of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing systemic and patient-specific barriers to medication adherence
How Health Literacy Influences Rural West Virginians Knowledge of Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Get PDFHealth literacy can be described as the understanding of own’s own health and understanding of health-related information (Shadid, 2022). In rural communities, health literacy is typically at a lower level than in urban communities. West Virginia is a mostly rural state and in addition to lower health literacy, chronic diseases are high in West Virginia. The target area for this study was rural Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The purpose of the study was to examine perceived barriers to health literacy in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and how this affects understanding of chronic disease. Research questions focused on participants’ knowledge of health literacy, their experiences with health literacy and chronic disease, and the barriers they face in accessing health literacy. Eleven participants were interviewed during in-person interviews. The inclusion criteria included over the age of 18 years ol, diagnosis of at least one chronic disease, native to West Virginia, and currently residing in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The interviews were transcribed for commonalities and themes within the participant interviews. Results of this study found that participants did not have a concise or clear health literacy definition. Additionally, most participants did not have any additional health information except health education courses in school. As above, participants were asked about their nutrition and exercise habits, and almost all reported they need to improve. However, participants did not report having a clear understanding of how their current health affects their long-term health. Participants reported barriers to accessing health literacy such as being rushed at the doctor, not receiving health education from providers, conflicting information on the internet, or not knowing where to look. The results from this study can be utilized to promote further research on how to improve health literacy in Greenbrier County, West Virginia
The Relationship Between Anthropometric Sizing, Fit Issues, and Return Rates in Plus-Size Women\u27s Apparel
Get PDFRetail business owners remain concerned with apparel sizing and return sales, as sizing is a frequent predictor of apparel returns and decreased revenue. Grounded in new product development theory (NPD), the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between anthropometric apparel sizing standards, sizing and fit issues, and return sales. The participants were 89 women’s bridal apparel owners and leaders within the retail business sector who completed a 5-point Likert-type survey. The results of the multiple linear regression were significant, 3, 85) = 32.301, p \u3c .001, R2 = .533. In the final model, there were two predictors which were significant, sizing and fit (t = 9.718, p = \u3c.001, ß = .735) and sizing standards (t = 2.478, p = .01, ß = .205). A key recommendation is for retail business leaders to acknowledge the growth in the U.S. female apparel consumer. Further, the alignment of sizing standards and product offerings provides functional apparel and mitigates return sales due to sizing. The implications for positive social change include the potential for the apparel industry to acknowledge the growing complexity of women’s sizing, which is influenced by diverse cultural backgrounds and body types. This shift could promote greater inclusivity, enhance consumer confidence, reduce return rates, and foster broader acceptance of diverse female body types within the industry
K-3 Teachers Implementing Blended Learning for Personalized Student Learning
Get PDFBlended learning combines traditional classroom instruction with online learning experiences, creating a flexible and personalized approach to education. This approach allows teachers to address individual student needs and pacing while fostering greater student engagement. In a large public school district in Colorado, blended learning is being inconsistently implemented. Guided by the complex adaptive blended learning system framework, the purpose of this qualitative project study was to learn how the district policy involving one-to-one devices for all students influenced curriculum, instruction, and assessment experiences of K-3 teachers for meeting needs of individuals in their classes. Eleven classroom teachers participated in semistructured interviews about their experiences implementing a blended approach for personalized student learning. Thematic analysis using a priori coding derived from the complex adaptive blended learning system framework was conducted. Findings revealed three themes relevant to the current state of technology integration in K-3 classrooms within the district: advantages of technology for personalized student learning, challenges of one-to-one technology in K-3 classrooms, and key considerations for educators implementing blended learning. These findings indicate that adjustments to blended learning implementation could improve the quality of personalized learning for students in the district. A position paper was developed recommending policy changes for district leaders to address challenges and maximize benefits of one-to-one technology use in the classroom. By optimizing personalized student learning and student use of technology in K-3 classrooms, positive social change including more equitable and innovative educational experiences for students is possible
Stratgies Used by Small Fashion Retail Business Leaders to Survive Beyond 5 Years
Get PDFSmall fashion retail business leaders face survival challenges due to rapidly shifting consumer spending patterns and growing demands for social responsibility. The leaders care deeply about addressing these challenges to maintain profitability, protect jobs, and ensure sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive market. Grounded in strategic contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies small fashion retail business leaders use to survive beyond 5 years in South Central United States. The participants were six small fashion business leaders from a retail sector entity who successfully implemented survival strategies for at least 5 years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of participants\u27 social media content. Through thematic analysis, three themes were identified: (a) digital transformation, (b) customer relationship management, and (c) sustaining high-quality customer service. A key recommendation is for small fashion retail business leaders to adapt their strategies based on customer feedback while pursuing long-term sustainability that enhances business longevity and growth potential. The implications for positive social change include the potential for small fashion retail business leaders to foster economic stability, provide employment opportunities, and strengthen community engagement through sustained small business and socially responsible practices
A Standardized Approach to Patient Teaching Regarding Medication Adherence for Schizophrenic Patients
Get PDFMedication nonadherence in schizophrenic patients is one of the most challenging facets of mental healthcare management. This chronic problem affects leads to worsening symptoms and a higher hospitalization frequency. This project was a staff education project designed to address the practice problem of knowledge deficit of staff regarding medication adherence for schizophrenic patients. The practice-focused question was “Does staff education on a standardized approach to medication adherence provide increased knowledge and ability of the staff in the support of schizophrenic patients?” The practice question addresses identified gaps in nursing knowledge and lack of defined teaching standards for the improvement of clinical outcomes for schizophrenic patients, offering a way to quantify the impact of education intercessions. The purpose of this doctoral project was to give nurses standardized tools and evidence-based education to improve outcomes for schizophrenic patients. A PowerPoint presentation was created, and educational sessions were conducted. Pre- and posttests were used to compare the differences before the education and after the education. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze results. In all 17 questions there was a notable increase from the pretest scores to the post test scores. This project highlighted the implication of nursing education in promoting better patient outcomes and social change with focus on inclusion, equity, diversity in the care of schizophrenic patients
A Document Analysis of School Shooting on College Campuses
Get PDFDespite media outcry and societal outcry, gun violence on college campuses in the United States continues to be an unresolved problem. Prior to on-campus shootings, college campuses were safe locations that were conducive to learning. Sadly, this is no longer the case. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the key characteristics of mass shootings on college campuses so that officials would be provided with information that would enable them to create safer campuses. Using a rational choice theory as the conceptual framework, which focused on the perpetrator’s behavior, a document analysis was conducted to identify and understand the different characteristics of mass shootings on college campuses. Documents related to college campus shootings from two institutions were analyzed. The institutions selected are in the Northwest region and in the Southeast region of the United States. The documents consisted of public reports, police reports, internal public safety reports, scholarly journal articles, and a published dissertation. The central research question sought to answer: What are the characteristics of a mass shooting on a college campus? Key findings from the thematic analysis were the motivations of the shooter, admiration of a serial killer, and safety responses by public safety officials. Findings from the safety response included running, hiding, and active responses aimed at survival. The findings point to implications for positive social change. The findings conclude that it is nearly impossible to predict when or where a mass shooting on a college campus will occur or who the perpetrator may be. However, it is reasonable to build proper safety response protocols that can limit the success of a perpetrator and enhance the safety of the campus population
Improving the Consistency and Accuracy of Depression Screening Using the PHQ-9 in a Behavioral Health Facility
Get PDFDepression is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses and one of the main causes of disability globally. Currently, at behavioral care facility patients are not consistently screened during the initial and follow-up visits due to limited staff knowledge in using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) screening tool. Evidence-based literature recommends depression screening be done at every initial and follow-up visit. The PHQ-9 tool is valid and reliable for identifying, diagnosing, and monitoring depression treatment outcomes. Inadequate use of the PHQ-9 tool can lead to several negative patient outcomes. The project practice-focused question was: Does comprehensive education increase the knowledge of staff in using the PHQ-9 screening tool in the management of depression among adults and older adults at a behavioral health facility? Before this project, the site did not have any formal education training module on the use of the PHQ-9 tool. The purpose of this project is to address this gap by creating, delivering, and evaluating an evidence-based educational program for providers in the proper use of the PHQ-9 screening tool in the identification and management of depression. The ADDIE model for nursing education guided the education module involving 10 participants who completed 10-question, 5-point Likert scale pretest and posttest surveys. The collected data were analyzed using a paired t-test to evaluate participants’ self-perceived knowledge improvement. The results showed a significant change from the pretest M = 2.20, SD = 1.14) to the posttest scores (M = 4.80, SD = .43); (t(9) = -7.00, p \u3c0.001). Improving providers’ knowledge can positively impact social change through proper diagnosis, a decrease in undiagnosed and untreated depression, enhanced patients\u27 health, and elimination of health-related complications of depression. Health equity may be promoted through consistency in depression screening, diagnosis, and treatment across patient population groups
Lived Experiences of Geriatric African American Males in Recovery and Participation in Spiritual Social-Oriented Communities
Get PDFSubstance use among older persons has increased among the aging baby boomer generation. At the same time, individuals aged 65 and beyond see increased longevity. The utilization of alcohol and drugs as a means of managing associated challenges has been shown to contribute to health problems that lead to a diminished quality of life and early death rates. Empirical investigations have demonstrated that social-oriented interventions such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have a beneficial role in sustaining an individual’s recovery process. However, joining such programs may pose challenges for African American males 65 and older due to African Americans’ distrust of social institutions based on the historical context. The purpose of this qualitative study using a transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the experience of African American males in recovery regarding the role of personal disclosure within a spiritual, social-oriented community in supporting the maintenance of sobriety. Participants in this study included four African American males 65 and older. The theoretical foundation was Bandura’s social cognitive theory. A thematic analysis of participants’ interviews was conducted to reveal patterns and identify relevant themes. Findings included the themes of shared experiences, relatability leading to trust, self-disclosure and finding support in AA. Understanding the factors that make spiritual-oriented groups beneficial for treatment providers’ efforts to engage African Americans 65 and older in treatment may improve drug misuse programs and contribute to positive social change
Staff Education on Medication Adherence Teaching for Psychiatric Patients in the Outpatient Setting
Get PDFSummary The type of doctoral project was staff education. The aim was to address the practice gap of lack of standardized staff education on medication adherence in the outpatient psychiatric care setting. The practice-focused question was Will staff education on medication adherence for psychiatric patients in the outpatient setting result in an increase in staff knowledge? To provide staff with the information and abilities they needed to consistently deliver patient education that supported evidence, the project created, carried out, and assessed a structured staff education program. Knowledge changes among the 10 participants were evaluated and measured using the mean difference in post- and pre-tests. Interventions with changes included the teach-back method (25), side effects of medications (20), reminders (35), effective communication (23), medication lists (25), and instructions to patients\u27 cultural and educational levels (25). The changes in the interventions showed an increased and improved score significantly in all areas. Staff members expressed increased confidence in their ability to educate patients, demonstrating improved competency. Knowledge gaps were successfully filled by a structured education program using evidence-based interventions, emphasizing the value of equity and inclusion for patients, and frequent training to ensure that all patients receive consistent, high-quality medication adherence education. The project is pertinent to nursing practice because standardized instruction guarantees consistent, evidence-based care, and nurses\u27 capacity to address medication adherence fosters professional growth and improved clinical outcomes. The project encouraged positive social change and better health outcomes by addressing obstacles such as cultural differences, linguistics, and health literacy