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Pathway to Freedom: A Community Health Center Protocol for Guiding Human Trafficking Survivors to Safety
No full textHuman trafficking is a significant public health issue that intersects with social drivers of health, making community health centers (CHCs) uniquely positioned to address this problem. This project developed a comprehensive protocol for a Midwestern CHC to identify and support human trafficking survivors while contributing to prevention efforts. The protocol focuses on four key components: establishing partnerships with local agencies, training the health care team, implementing a universal education approach, and creating trauma-informed referral processes. Grounded in Madeleine Leininger\u27s Culture Care Theory, the protocol emphasizes culturally safe, survivor-centered, trauma-informed care. Evaluation methods include pre and post training assessments and ongoing quality improvement measures. The project highlights the critical role of CHCs in combating human trafficking and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and community partnerships. Future directions include expanding the protocol to address related forms of exploitation and strengthening community partnerships. This work represents a significant step towards creating healthier, more equitable communities by enhancing health care accessibility for vulnerable populations and fostering a collaborative, trauma-informed approach to care
High Beta Brainwaves and Emotion Dysregulation in a Sample of Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Get PDFAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The current study investigated the relationship between high beta brain wave activity, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and comorbid mental health diagnoses in children with ADHD. Utilizing archival data from the Clinic for Attention, Learning, and Memory (CALM) in Minneapolis, MN, the study included 184 participants aged 6-14 years who underwent quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) assessments. The study utilized linear and logistic regressions to test three hypotheses: whether high beta activity predicted (1) increased anxiety symptoms, (2) emotion dysregulation, and (3) the likelihood of comorbid mental health diagnoses.
Results indicated that high beta activity significantly predicted increased anxiety symptoms when controlling for age, aligning with existing literature that associates high beta with anxiety and stress. However, high beta activity did not predict emotion dysregulation or the presence of comorbid mental health diagnoses. The findings suggest that high beta activity does not directly correlate with broader emotional dysregulation or comorbid conditions.
The study\u27s limitations include a predominantly Caucasian sample from a single private practice, reliance on parent-reported measures, and the retrospective nature of the chart review. Future research should aim to include more diverse samples and consider longitudinal designs to better understand the causal relationships between high beta activity, anxiety, and emotion dysregulation. Clinically, the findings highlight the importance of comprehensive assessments for anxiety and emotion dysregulation in children with ADHD, particularly when considering treatment options such as stimulant medications, which may not be effective for those with high beta activity
The Efficacy of Common Prosthetic Joint Infection Prevention Strategies: A Systematic Review
Get PDFThousands of total hip and knee arthroplasty patients suffer from prosthetic joint infections every year, making them a leading cause of arthroplasty failure. As the number of these procedures continues to grow, so will the healthcare and socio-economic burden of prosthetic joint infections. A comprehensive search for up-to-date literature was completed via the PubMed database, identifying eighteen retrospective and prospective cohort studies that focused on the four prosthetic joint infection prevention methods of interest. Tobacco use cessation of all forms is an efficacious prosthetic joint infection prevention strategy. The common practices of withholding intra-articular injections prior to surgery, using prophylactic single dose cephalosporins, and using the glycemic marker of HbA1c were found to be partially efficacious but require further considerations. Surgeons should be aware of the various considerations involved in validating or discrediting their preferred prevention strategies in order to prevent prosthetic joint infection
The Sudden Escalation in Average Fastball Velocity: A Biomechanical and Cost-Benefit Analysis
Get PDFAverage fastball velocity throughout Major League Baseball has increased dramatically over the previous 15 years. This research examines the factors leading to this increase and provides a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether throwing consistently at high velocities is worth the injury risks, compared to financial benefits, from the player perspective. Additionally, this analysis examines if paying hard-throwing pitchers is worth the monetary risk from a team executive’s perspective, due to increases in leaguewide throwing injury rates. The production of advanced motion capture technology to obtain real-time biomechanical data has given way to the optimization of pitchers’ biomechanics, with the goals of increasing throwing velocity and injury prevention. This innovation may be the driving force behind the significant increase in average fastball velocity throughout Major League Baseball in its recent history. An empirical model was developed using multiple regression in R to analyze the average impact in which a range of “point of interest” (POI) biomechanical measurements have on a pitcher’s resulting fastball velocity (via Driveline Baseball). Preliminary results show that many POI biomechanical factors significantly influence fastball velocity in pitchers at all levels, most notably, the energy transfer across the throwing elbow between foot plant and ball release, peak shoulder internal rotation, and peak trunk/torso axial rotation velocity. With the use of 2023 MLB pitcher salaries, this study also found that pitchers in the top 10% of the league, in terms of average fastball velocity, tend to make less money than the rest of the pitchers throughout Major League Baseball, on average. Many factors other than throwing velocity also play into this observation and are examined in the analysis. The financial benefit of consistently throwing at elite fastball velocities may not be worth the risk, due to the increasing injuries resulting from prolonged stress on the throwing arm at high throwing velocities
Reducing Severity of Primary Dysmenorrhea with the Utilization of Acupressure
Get PDFPrimary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological condition associated with painful
cramps during menstruation in the absence of other diseases. It impacts large populations of women worldwide yet is often disregarded and inadequately treated. The ways in which women are treated for this condition often bring forth issues including overuse of medications, drug dependence, adverse reactions from medication use, and increased medical expenses. The utilization of non-pharmacological options has been shown to be effective in managing pain related to primary dysmenorrhea, including the complementary and integrative treatment of acupressure. Guided by Jean Watson’s Human Caring Science Theory, this scholarly DNP-FNP project explored the use of acupressure to reduce the severity of primary dysmenorrhea in women. Women (N= 14) were asked to participate in an acupressure education class and preform acupressure at acupoints LI 4, SP 6, and SP 8 during one menstrual period. Pre- and post- intervention questionnaires were completed by the participants to measure the effectiveness of the acupressure intervention. The post intervention questionnaires indicated reduced levels of pain in relation to primary dysmenorrhea. These findings are pertinent to the role of the nurse practitioner as they suggest the importance of utilizing integrative modalities including acupressure as a means of treatment. The implications of this scholarly project can be utilized by all women experiencing pain related in primary dysmenorrhea and indicate the potential benefits of utilizing complementary and alternative modalities of health
Positive Self Talk in Young Adults with Body Dysmorphic Disorder
No full textBody dysmorphic disorder is a preoccupation with a perceived defect or flaw in one’s appearance that is either not noticeable or only slightly observable by others, and it is severe enough that there is impairment in other areas of functioning due to the distress, rituals and thoughts regarding their bodies (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Body dysmorphia is common, especially amongst young women ages 18-24, with little options for treatment. Affirmations or positive self-talk might reduce the significance and impact of this diagnosis. Through literature review and research, it is evident that there is a gap in the literature when it comes to the utilization of positive self-talk and body dysmorphia. This gap has led to a limited amount of treatment options for those suffering from body dysmorphia. This scholarly project supported the idea that implementing positive affirmations could be helpful for those with body dysmorphia. Self-affirmation may be a strategy for creating awareness about how one speaks to themselves, as well as awareness to work on changing those thoughts in an attempt to create a better relationship with one’s body and self
A Systematic Review: Longevity and Quality of Life in Blue Zones
Get PDFIkaria, Loma Linda, Sardinia, Okinawa, and Nikoya. These 5 cities around the world are famed for their increased longevity and quality of life and are termed “Blue Zones”. Blue zones are areas around the world noted for their population of centenarians, overall long life expectancy and high quality of life compared to the average population. Studying these communities offer insights into the commonalities they share to better understand the unique aspects of living a healthy, fulfilling and long life. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, with the search terms “Ikaria, Greece longevity; Loma Linda, California longevity; Sardinia, Italy longevity; Okinawa, Japan longevity; Nicoya, Costa Rica longevity”. The analysis of the blue zones reveals shared fundamental lifestyle practices, including an active lifestyle, strong social support, a healthy diet, and positive laboratory biomarkers. However, each zone also possesses unique characteristics, such as mental resilience, distinct dietary habits, and genetic variability. Further research is needed to scientifically back each blue zones’ characteristics and their relationship with increased longevity, as well as venture into new geographic areas
This is a Call To Action for All Primary Care Providers: Do Better for Your Transgender Patients
Get PDFBackground: Patients of all ages benefit from primary care. However, not everyone has equal access to primary care. Transgender patients often face a multitude of barriers to receiving basic healthcare.
Purpose: Improve health outcomes for transgender patients, enlighten providers on significant disparities, and offer solutions to these disparities faced by transgender community in the healthcare setting and when receiving cancer screening.
Methods: Literature review comprising results from Augsburg University Lindell Library databases, American Journal of Medicine, and Google Scholar.
Conclusions: Everyone can do better for their transgender patients, but primary care providers should take extra care cultivating relationships with these patients. More research needs to be conducted collecting patient data, specifically sexual orientation and gender identity. Guidelines are not specific or not clear for cancer screening recommendations for transgender patients
Navigating the Ethical and Practical Implications of CRISPR Technology in Medicine
No full textBackground: This literature review will explore CRISPR technology\u27s ethical and practical considerations in medicine, focusing on its historical development, current applications, and governance. It will examine key factors such as safety, regulation, consent, and societal values, as well as practical challenges like off-target effects and delivery methods. Real-world examples and case studies will highlight obstacles in medical use, and the review will emphasize the importance of regulation for the responsible and ethical application of CRISPR.
Purpose: As genetic editing technology progresses, what measures can researchers take to ensure that ethical concerns are thoroughly evaluated, acknowledged, and regulated to guarantee patient safety during the implementation of CRISPR, thereby minimizing obstacles in healthcare delivery? How do the ethical and practical considerations surrounding CRISPR technology influence its appropriate and inappropriate applications in medicine, and what are the key factors determining its utilization?
Methods: A thorough literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, and PubMed with search terms including germline editing, CRISPR informed consent, CRISPR regulatory oversight, germline editing medical applications, gene therapy, gene therapy ethics, biomedical research, and bioethics. The review included studies published in 2018 or later.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the literature review highlights the multiple implications of CRISPR technology in medicine and emphasizes the need for ethical, practical, and regulatory monitoring to guide its appropriate implementation. CRISPR\u27s potential in addressing genetic disorders, infectious diseases, and cancer is evident, yet ethical considerations surrounding safety, consent, equity, and regulatory oversight remain predominant. The historical context of CRISPR\u27s development, along with real-world challenges in delivery methods, off-target effects, and regulatory hurdles, highlights the complexity of translating CRISPR research into clinical practice. Moving forward, future research should prioritize addressing these challenges through provider/researcher collaboration and ongoing ethical evaluation to ensure that the benefits of CRISPR technology are utilized responsibly and equitably for the advancement of healthcare
Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol use Disorder
No full textThe practice of mindfulness meditation may be beneficial for alcohol use disorder relapse prevention. Individuals with alcohol use disorder often experience chaos in their lives. Integrating mindfulness meditation into Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and into the daily lives of individuals with alcohol use disorder may help people who suffer from alcohol use disorder regain control of their lives. While there is data to support mindfulness meditation for stress and anxiety conditions often comorbid to alcohol use disorder, there is a lack of research supporting mindfulness meditation for alcohol use disorder. This scholarly project explores the implementation of a body scan meditation and a mindfulness meditation brochure to an alcoholics anonymous group of ten adult men and women in a small suburban midwestern town to determine if mindfulness meditation is beneficial for the prevention of alcohol use disorder relapse. The project was guided by nursing theorist Margaret Newman and mindfulness meditation theorist Jon Kabat-Zinn. The data found that on average participants experienced decreases in stress and anxiety and each participant experienced decreases in their level of craving for alcohol. This scholarly project incorporated some of the Essentials of Doctorate Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Competencies. This scholarly project and resources may be implemented in additional healthcare settings to improve the healthcare of individuals with alcohol use disorder