Recent Research Publications and Funding

Study Objective: This study evaluated peripheral vasoconstriction in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants when body temperature decreased during the first 12 h of life. Study Design: An exploratory, within-subjects design with 10 ELBW infants. Abdominal and foot temperatures were measured every minute. Peripheral vasoconstriction (abdominal>peripheral temperature by 2 °C) and abdominal–peripheral temperature difference were also evaluated. Results:Abdominal and peripheral temperatures were significantly correlated within each infant. One 880 g infant exhibited isolated peripheral vasoconstriction; a 960-g infant had abdominal temperatures >1 °C higher than peripheral temperatures. Eight smaller infants exhibited no peripheral vasoconstriction and spent most of their observations with peripheral greater than abdominal temperatures. In eight infants, mean temperature difference was significantly higher when abdominal temperature was <36.5 °C. Conclusion: Most ELBW infants did not exhibit peripheral vasoconstriction during their first 12 h of life, despite low temperatures. ELBW infants’ vasomotor control may be immature during this period.

 OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of a diabetes self-management guide and a brief counseling intervention in helping patients set and achieve their behavioral goals.

METHODS: We conducted a quasi-experimental study using a one group pretest posttest design to assess the effectiveness of a goal setting intervention along with a self-management guide. English- and Spanish-speaking patients with diabetes had one in-person session and two telephone follow-up calls with a non-clinical provider over a 12-16-week period. At each call and at the end of the study, we assessed success in achieving behavioral goals and problem solving toward those goals. Satisfaction with the self-management guide was assessed at the end of the study.

RESULTS: We enrolled 250 patients across three sites and 229 patients completed the study. Most patients chose to set goals in diet and exercise domains. 93% of patients achieved at least one behavioral goal during the study and 73% achieved at least two behavioral goals. Many patients exhibited problem solving behavior to achieve their goals. We found no significant differences in reported achievement of behavior goals by literacy or language. Patients were very satisfied with the guide.

CONCLUSIONS: A brief goal setting intervention along with a diabetes self-management guide helped patients set and achieve healthy behavioral goals.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Non-clinical providers can successfully help a diverse range of patients with diabetes set and achieve behavioral goals.

BACKGROUND: Cancer treatment is associated with decline in measured and self-reported physical function and increased pain. In the current study, the authors evaluated the impact of a walking intervention on these outcomes during chemotherapy/radiation.

METHODS: Patients with breast, prostate, and other cancers (N¼126) were randomized to a home-based walking intervention (exercise) or usual care (control). Exercise dose during the intervention was assessed using a 5-item Physical Activity Questionnaire. Outcome measures were cardiorespiratory fitness, expressed as peak oxygen uptake (VO2) measured during treadmill testing (n ¼ 85) or estimated by 12-minute walk (n ¼ 27), and self-reported physical function, role limitations, and pain derived from Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36. Linear regression was used to evaluate pre-to-post intervention change outcomes between groups.

RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 60.2 (10.6) years. Diagnoses included prostate (55.6%) and breast (32.5%) cancer. Treatment included external beam radiotherapy (52.3%) and chemotherapy (34.9%). Exercise patients reported worsening Medical Outcomes Study physical function role limitations by the end of cancer treatment (P ¼ .037). Younger age was associated with improved Medical Outcomes Study physical function (P ¼ .048). In all patients, increased exercise dose was associated with decreased Medical Outcomes Study pain (P ¼ .046), regardless of diagnosis. The percent change of VO2 between prostate and nonprostate cancer patients when adjusted for baseline VO2 and Physical Activity Questionnaire values was 17.45% (P ¼ .008), with better VO2 maintenance in the prostate group.

CONCLUSIONS: Exercise during cancer treatment improves cardiorespiratory fitness and self-reported physical function in prostate cancer patients and in younger patients, regardless of diagnosis, and may attenuate loss of those capacities in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Exercise also reduces the pain experience.

The purpose of this study was to explore homeless youths' perspectives on the power of drugs in their lives, the preferred type of drugs used, barriers to treatment, and strategies to prevent drug initiation and abuse. This was a descriptive, qualitative study using focus groups with a purposeful sample of 24 drug-using homeless youth. The results provided insight into the lives of drug-using homeless youth. The most commonly used drugs were marijuana and alcohol. Reported reasons for drug use were parental drug use, low self-esteem, and harsh living conditions on the streets. Barriers to treatment were pleasurable enjoyment of the drug, physical dependence, and non-empathetic mental health providers. Strategies to prevent initiation and abuse of drugs were creative activities, such as art, sports, and music, and disdain for parental/family drug use and abuse. Comparative research is needed on specific personal factors that cause initiation and deterrence of drugs use/abuse among homeless youth.