2017
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Item Reminiscing Groups: Promoting Mental Health Among Older Adults(2017) Furey, Diane;Depression is a major health problem among older adults. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a reminiscing group (RG) for the improvement of depression and loneliness symptoms of long term care (LTC) residents 65 years old or older. A randomized controlled interventional study was implemented. Twenty LTC residents were randomly assigned to either a reminiscing group or a waitlist control group (WCG). Measurement tools included pre/post Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. SPSS 24 statistical package was used to analyze the data. The results of this study suggest a positive short- term effect of depression and loneliness in this sample. Implementing reminiscing groups as an intervention in LTC facilities could improve depression and loneliness symptoms in older adults.Item Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga For PTSD in a Veteran Population(2017) Doyle, Kelly F MS, PMHNP-BC; Knight, Margaret PhD, PMHCNSObjective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious medical and mental health issue currently faced by many veterans. The number of veterans diagnosed with PTSD is rising quickly. Existing treatments have not proven to be fully effective. The purpose of this study was to test Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (AVY), a breath-based yoga intervention, designed to improve the symptoms of PTSD and sleep quality in a veteran population. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental pilot study. Sixteen veterans who screened positive for PTSD were assigned to a ‘yoga group (treatment)’ or a ‘waitlist yoga group (control).’ Assessments were conducted for both groups at pre-treatment and post-treatment. Differences in pre and post-treatment self-report symptom survey data were compared. Treatment group and non-treatment group pre and post-treatment scores were also compared. Outcome measures were the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Intervention: The ‘yoga group’ was provided a one-month, eight-session, twice-a-week, 60-minute AVY intervention class adapted for all mobility levels. Results: At the conclusion of the study, 88% of the treatment group no longer met criteria for a provisional diagnosis of PTSD using the self-report PCL-5 and 88% no longer displayed moderate or severe clinical insomnia scores on the ISI. There was no change in the control group. Clinically significant reductions in the PCL-5 and ISI scores were shown in the treatment group. The control group showed no meaningful reduction in PCL-5 and ISI scores. Conclusions: Results of this study support existing evidence and demonstrate AVYItem STOP-Bang Questionnaire Screening for Sleep Apnea Treatment In An Outpatient Surgical Center(2017) Burns-Mullet, Cheryl Ann; Zhang, YuanBackground: Sleep apnea is often undiagnosed, increasing in prevalence and contributes to anesthetic risk. Sleep apnea is associated with hypertension resistant to treatment, cardiac arrhythmias and stroke. It is critical for anesthesia providers to use the STOP-Bang Questionnaire to screen patients for sleep apnea risk factors and severity and to develop a care plan which will lead to a safe anesthetic outcome. Purpose: This study used the STOP-Bang Questionnaire pre-operatively to screen, identify and educate patients about their sleep apnea risk factors. The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of sleep apnea screening on patients’ decisions regarding further evaluation of sleep apnea with PCPs and Sleep Medicine Practitioners, as well as identify facilitators and barriers to further evaluation. Methods: Patients at an outpatient surgical center were screened by an anesthesia provider with the STOP-Bang Questionnaire. Patients with STOP-Bang scores equal to or greater than 3 were educated and instructed to follow-up with their Primary Care Provider. Each patient received a copy of their completed questionnaire and information from www.stopbang.ca describing the long-term health effects of untreated sleep apnea. Patients consented to have the anesthesia provider notify their PCPs regarding their sleep apnea risk factors. The researcher followed up with patients in three months to determine whether patients sought further evaluation and treatment for sleep apnea. Results: Thirty two patients with scores > 3 agreed to participate. Fifteen patients discussed sleep apnea risk with their PCPs within 3 months, among whom, 9 patients consulted Sleep Medicine Practitioners and completed sleep studies. Of these 15, four patients PCPs did not think their patient needed to have a sleep study. The remaining 2 patients who visited the PCP did not want to follow thru with the sleep study even though the PCP recommended that they do. Eight patients from the original sample of 32 intended to discuss sleep apnea during their next scheduled visit with their PCPs. The remaining 9 patients gave various reasons for lack of follow- up with their PCPs. Conclusion: Sleep apnea is widely undiagnosed and few providers screen patients for sleep apnea. STOP-Bang screening and education at the outpatient surgical center can help identify sleep apnea risk factors and encourage patients’ further evaluation and treatment of sleep apnea.Item Enhancing Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Knowledge and Intent for Use: A Provider Educational Approach(2017) Bookman, JeremyThe purpose of this pilot study was to assess and measure the impact of education to prescriber's regarding the use of a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP); and further to assess for change in prescription provider’s perceptions and intent to utilize PDMP. Implementation of prescriber education, to increase knowledge and intent to use PDMP’s can assist in identifying and treating prescription misuse or abuse. A cross-sectional, pre and post, survey design was utilized to measure study objectives. Medication providers in a community psychiatric clinic that completed the effective approaches to reduce misuse or abuse of prescribed drugs program had a significant improvement in post-test perception and intent to use PDMP as compared to pre-test scores. Specifically, these results suggest post educational intervention prescriber's expected it was more likely than unlikely that they will use the PDMP in the next three months compared to pre intervention.