Latest from the Program

Is Loneliness a Risk Factor for Early Death?

kdeming — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:48:13 +0000

Check out Laurie Theeke's LISTEN intervention which has been featured in the JAMA network news article discussing lonliness as a risk factor for early death and ways to prevent it.

Angela Amar Named Dean of UNLV School of Nursing

kdeming — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:41:40 +0000

Angela Amar, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. has been named Dean of the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Nursing!

Nancy Fugate Woods, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, researcher, professor, mentor, and RWJF NFS founding NAC member, retires

kdeming — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 20:20:10 +0000

One of our founding members, Nancy Woods retires. The University of Washington commemorates her impressive career and inspiring legacy.

Timothy Landers, PhD, RN, CNP, CIC, FAAN, Featured Nurse Leader

kdeming — Tue, 30 May 2017 16:55:11 +0000

Tim Lander, PhD, RN, CNP, CIC, FAAN, makes the AAN homepage for his achievements as a Fullbright Scholar!

An Overview of Research and Evaluation Designs for Dissemination and Implementation

kdeming — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 14:41:01 +0000

Published Date:

Mon, 2017-03-20 (All day)

Background: The wide variety of dissemination and implementation designs now being used to evaluate and improve health systems and outcomes warrants review of the scope, features, and limitations of these designs. Methods: This paper is one product of a design workgroup formed in 2013 by the National Institutes of Health to address dissemination and implementation research, and whose members represented diverse methodologic backgrounds, content focus areas, and health sectors. These experts integrated their collective knowledge on dissemination and implementation designs with searches of published evaluations strategies. Results: This paper emphasizes randomized and non-randomized designs for the traditional translational research continuum or pipeline, which builds on existing efficacy and effectiveness trials to examine how one or more evidence-based clinical/prevention interventions are adopted, scaled up, and sustained in community or service delivery systems. We also mention other designs, including hybrid designs that combine effectiveness and implementation research, quality improvement designs for local knowledge, and designs that use simulation modeling.

Effectiveness of LISTEN on Loneliness, Neuroimmunological Stress Response, Psychosocial Functioning, Quality of Life, and Physical Health Measures

kdeming — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 14:33:32 +0000

Published Date:

Mon, 2017-02-20 (All day)

Objectives: Loneliness is a biopsychosocial determinant of health and contributes to physical and psychological chronic illnesses, functional decline, and mortality in older adults. This paper presents the results of the first randomized trial of LISTEN, which is a new cognitive behavioral intervention for loneliness, on loneliness, neuroimmunological stress response, psychosocial functioning, quality of life, and measures of physical health.

Methods: The effectiveness of LISTEN was evaluated in a sample population comprising 27 lonely, chronically ill, older adults living in Appalachia. Participants were randomized into LISTEN or educational attention control groups. Outcome measures included salivary cortisol and DHEA, interleukin-6, interleukin-2, depressive symptoms, loneliness, perceived social support, functional ability, quality of life, fasting glucose, blood pressure, and body mass index.

Results: At 12 weeks after the last intervention session, participants of the LISTEN group reported reduced loneliness (p = 0.03), enhanced overall social support (p = 0.05), and decreased systolic blood pressure (p = 0.02). The attention control group reported decreased functional ability (p = 0.10) and reduced quality of life (p = 0.13).

Conclusions: LISTEN can effectively diminish loneliness and decrease the systolic blood pressure in community-dwelling, chronically ill, older adults. Results indicate that this population, if left with untreated loneliness, may experience functional impairment over a period as short as 4 months. Further studies on LISTEN are needed with larger samples, in varied populations, and over longer periods of time to assess the long-term effects of diminishing loneliness in multiple chronic conditions.

Diversity Dynamics: The Experience of Male Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars: Issues and Strategies to Create Positive Organizations

kdeming — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 14:10:09 +0000

Published Date:

Mon, 2017-02-13 (All day)

Background: Managing diversity dynamics in academic or clinical settings for men in nursing has unique challenges resulting from their minority status within the profession.

Purpose: Share challenges and lessons learned identified by male scholars in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Nurse Faculty Scholars program and suggest strategies for creating positive organizations promoting inclusive excellence.

Methods: Multiple strategies including informal mentored discussions and peer-to-peer dialogue throughout the program as well as formal online surveys of scholars and National Advisory Committee members, and review of scholar progress reports were analyzed as part of the comprehensive evaluation plan of the program

Discussion: Diversity dynamic issues include concerns with negative stereotyping, microaggression, gender intelligence, and differences in communication and leadership styles.

Conclusions: Male Nurse Faculty Scholars report experiencing both opportunities and challenges residing in a predominately female-peopled profession. This article attempts to raise awareness and suggest strategies to manage diversity dynamics in service of promoting the development of a culture of health that values diversity and inclusive excellence for both men and women in academic, research and practice contexts.

Background: Managing diversity dynamics in academic or clinical settings for men in nursing has unique challenges resulting from their minority status within the profession.

Experimental Comparison of Efficacy for Three Handfeeding Techniques in Dementia

kdeming — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 15:17:25 +0000

Published Date:

Mon, 2017-02-06 (All day)

Background: Nursing home (NH) residents who require assistance during mealtimes are at risk for malnutrition. Supportive handfeeding is recommended, yet there is limited evidence supporting use of a specific handfeeding technique to increase meal intake.

Objectives: To compare efficacy of three handfeeding techniques for assisting NH residents with dementia with meals: Direct Hand (DH), Over Hand (OH), and Under Hand (UH).

Design: A prospective pilot study using a within-subjects experimental Latin square design with randomization to one of three handfeeding technique sequences.

Setting and Participants: 30 residents living with advanced dementia in 11 U.S. NHs.

Measurements: Time required for assistance; meal intake (% eaten); and feeding behaviors, measured by the Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia (EdFED) scale.

Intervention: Research Assistants provided feeding assistance for 18 video-recorded meals per resident (N = 540 meals). Residents were assisted with one designated technique for 6 consecutive meals, changing technique every 2 days.

Results: Mean time spent providing meal assistance did not differ significantly between techniques. Mean meal intake was greater for DH (67 ± 15.2%) and UH (65 ± 15.0%) with both significantly greater than OH (60 ± 15.1%). Feeding behaviors were more frequent with OH (8.3 ± 1.8%), relative to DH (8.0 ± 1.8) and UH (7.7 ± 1.8).

Conclusion: All three techniques are time neutral. UH and DH are viable options to increase meal intake among NH residents with advanced dementia and reduce feeding behaviors relative to OH feeding.

Objectives: To compare efficacy of three handfeeding techniques for assisting NH residents with dementia with meals: Direct Hand (DH), Over Hand (OH), and Under Hand (UH).

Ashley Darcy-Mahoney, Ph.D., R.N., N.N.P.-B.C.. F.A.A.N. writes an Op-Ed on vaccines and nurses/scientists being at the (new vaccine commission) table

kdeming — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 21:18:33 +0000

Jacquelyn Y. Taylor, PhD, PNP-BC, RN, FAHA, FAAN is selected by President Obama to receive the PECASE award

kdeming — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 00:56:49 +0000