User Engagement Using an Etextbook: A Descriptive Study.

Engagement is an integral pedagogical component underpinning effective educational activities and is of importance for educators using online platforms. Carefully designed, technology-enabled learning resources can increase student engagement. We developed an open educational resource etextbook on vital sign measurement using an interactive and multimodal platform to facilitate student learning. The etextbook design was informed by experiential teaching-learning theory. Students progressed through the etextbook at their own pace, following pedagogy informed by the iterative process of read, observe, practice, and test, commonly used in nursing education. The etextbook was introduced as a required reading in a first-year health assessment course at one university and two colleges. In this project, we explored the level of engagement experienced by users of the etextbook. We conducted a descriptive study using the User Engagement Scale to measure students' degree of engagement using the etextbook. Results from participants (N = 455) who used the etextbook in the study indicated a high level of engagement. The responses to an open-ended item on the survey provided context to the results and shed light on effective design practices. Several recommendations for best practices in developing etextbooks are identified for educators to consider.

Facilitators and Barriers of Heart Surgery Discharge: Patients' and Nurses' Narrative Accounts.

BACKGROUND: Optimal patient recovery from open-heart surgery relies on effective discharge planning and education. However, the nature of the discharge experience has not been clearly described. OBJECTIVE: The study purpose is to explore patients' and nurses' narrative accounts of the facilitators and barriers of heart surgery discharge. METHODS: A qualitative study was employed using a narrative methodology that elicited and analyzed stories. This research was conducted in a large, urban hospital in Ontario, Canada. A total of 17 patients and nurses were recruited. Five female and 5 male patients were recruited from a preoperative clinic. Ages ranged from 37 to 80 years. Seven nurses were recruited from inpatient cardiovascular units. They had 2 to 19 years of cardiovascular nursing experience. Semistructured, narrative-based interviews were conducted. Two interviews were conducted with each patient at 1 week after discharge and at 4 to 6 weeks. One interview was conducted with each nurse. RESULTS: Findings indicate that although the preoperative period was identified as an effective time for discharge preparation, the patient's cognitive capacity was limited during the postoperative phase of surgery. Both nurses and patients also found that insufficient time impeded the discharge process and limited individualized discussions. The structured and standardized delivery of discharge information affected patients' capacity to apply it to the particularities in their own lives and homes. The fostering of therapeutic relationships created a space where patients felt comfortable sharing their concerns and nurses learned more about patients and thus could better tailor the discharge approach. CONCLUSIONS: Study recommendations include group and scenario-based education in which patients and nurses brainstorm about how to apply the discharge information to the particularities of patients' lives and homes. Provision of support needs to be bolstered during the home period, where patients have timely opportunities to discuss their concerns and questions with practitioners or possibly peers.

Dance for Individuals With Dementia.

The movement and music associated with dance plays an important role in many individuals' lives and can become imprinted upon the body and mind. Dance is thus closely associated with memory because of these deep connections. Without conscious thought, dance has the potential to be initiated as individuals age. In the current article, the authors share narrative reflections about their experiences with, and the potential of, dance as an intervention for aging populations diagnosed with dementia-related diseases. They draw upon their experiences in working with the aging population and a dance program currently being developed by Canada's National Ballet School and Baycrest Health Sciences for individuals with dementia-related diseases in long-term care. The current article is structured as dialogue between the authors because it mimics dance as a dialogical encounter between movement and music, and/or between individuals.

Curricular uptake of virtual gaming simulation in nursing education.

In nursing education, virtual simulations are used to augment in-person simulation and prepare and supplement students for clinical placements. More recently, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual simulations are being used to replace clinical hours. Many virtual simulations require the user to make decisions that affect the outcome of the simulated experience. In this article, we provide a historical account of the virtual gaming simulations that members of our team developed and the processes that led to successful uptake into curriculum. In addition, we share lessons learned from our experiences in terms of maximizing curricular uptake. We found engagement of the teaching team is essential when using VGS in a course. In addition, when using VGS, it is important to follow the process of prebrief, enactment, debrief and evaluation. Educators can build on and grow from our lessons learned so that the path to embedding virtual gaming simulation in curriculum becomes clear.

Focus group reactions to an arts-based educational exhibit on menopausal hot flashes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess public reactions to an arts-based educational exhibit designed to immerse and engage people in scientific facts to increase their conceptual understanding of hot flashes. Our ultimate goals were to stimulate learning and conversations about menopausal hot flashes to change interactions between menopausal women and providers, and menopausal women and other people (family, friends, etc). Focus groups reacted to the concept art (graphics, miniaturized model); and a questionnaire for quickly assessing reactions. METHODS: Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, six focus groups of diverse people (n = 50) aged 13 to 64 years described their reactions to the art and questionnaire. Recruitment methods were word of mouth, advertisements on university websites, and a university-based participant registry. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and inductively derived codes. RESULTS: Reactions to the concept art were generally favorable. Participants remarked on appealing and less appealing aspects and age appropriateness. Appealing aspects were resonance with women's experiences, clear information, use of symbolism, and overall design. Less appealing aspects lacked resonance, contained confusing information, or unappealing design elements. Participants felt the exhibit should be open to all ages. The final questionnaire reflected participants' descriptions of the art's ability to stimulate learning, dispel myths, spur dialog, and increase empathy. CONCLUSIONS: The concept art is an appropriate tool for improving knowledge and communication about hot flashes. Displaying the concept art and/or future full-scale exhibit in healthcare settings or public venues may facilitate learning and communication among three groups-menopausal women, healthcare providers, and others.

Public survey reactions to an arts-based educational menopausal hot flash exhibit.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to obtain public survey reactions to concept art for an exhibit about menopausal hot flashes designed to stimulate learning, dispel myths, spur dialogue, and increase empathy. METHODS: Immediately before viewing the art, participants provided demographic information and answered one open-ended question. Immediately after viewing the art, participants answered the same open-ended question, one additional open-ended question, and completed quantitative survey questions. RESULTS: Overall, public reactions to the concept art were positive. Qualitative and quantitative data indicated that the public thought the exhibit was appealing, stimulated learning, dispelled myths, spurred desire to have conversations about hot flashes, and increased empathy for women with menopausal hot flashes. CONCLUSIONS: The exhibit concept art was appealing and was reported to have a positive impact on the public. Study findings provide support for building the exhibit full-scale as a traveling educational resource that might change public discourse around menopausal hot flashes.

Historical investigation of medical treatment for adult congenital heart disease: A Canadian perspective.

OBJECTIVE: The number of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased substantially because of medical advances that are extending life expectancy beyond childhood. A historical investigation is timely not only because of this significant demographic shift, but also because stakeholder engagement is increasingly important in shaping research directions. The study questions were: From the perspective of stakeholders, what is known about the medical treatment for the adult CHD cohort in Canada and how has it changed over time? DESIGN/METHODS: We harnessed the use of historical research methods and conducted interviews with 21 key informants in order to articulate a contextualized understanding of the evolution of adult CHD treatment in Canada. The informants recruited were currently or previously located in and/or involved in treatment in seven provinces and two territories across Canada including patients, families, advocates, researchers, and practitioners located in disciplines that included cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, nursing, psychology, dietetics, and kinesiology. RESULTS: Alongside findings that highlighted the significant demographic shift, the findings highlight key themes related to temporal shifts in treatment, emergence of organizational structures and use of evidence, comprehensive approaches to care, and future directions. A critical finding that requires immediate attention is the significantly disproportionate resources to the number of adults living with CHD, and as a result, the real risk of premature death for this population. CONCLUSIONS: The insights provided behoove the community of stakeholders to think creatively on how to draw attention to the inadequacy of resources and the unique and diverse needs of this population.

Virtual Gaming Simulation in Nursing Education: A Focus Group Study.

BACKGROUND: The use of serious gaming in a virtual world is a novel pedagogical approach in nursing education. A virtual gaming simulation was implemented in a health assessment class that focused on mental health and interpersonal violence. The study's purpose was to explore students' experiences of the virtual gaming simulation. METHOD: Three focus groups were conducted with a convenience sample of 20 first-year nursing students after they completed the virtual gaming simulation. RESULTS: Analysis yielded five themes: (a) Experiential Learning, (b) The Learning Process, (c) Personal Versus Professional, (d) Self-Efficacy, and (e) Knowledge. CONCLUSION: Virtual gaming simulation can provide experiential learning opportunities that promote engagement and allow learners to acquire and apply new knowledge while practicing skills in a safe and realistic environment. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(5):274-280.].

Patency of arterial catheters with heparinized solutions versus non-heparinized solutions: a review of the literature.

For decades, the patency of arterial catheters has been maintained with heparin and recently health care providers have considered that the patency of arterial catheters may be maintained with a non-heparinized solution. This is an important consideration because patients could avoid exposure to heparin-associated risks. The purpose of this article is to determine evidence-based practice for the patency of arterial catheters in adult patients. The objectives of this article include: (a) critical appraisal of the current research, (b) summary of the state of empirical knowledge, and (c) recommendations for future research and practice. The literature search on this practice revealed five studies. One concluded that saline was as effective as heparin in maintaining patency, and the other four studies concluded that a heparinized solution had a higher probability in maintaining patency of arterial catheters than a non-heparinized solution. Critical appraisal of these studies found that the rigour of the research is questionable. Further research is necessary that examines the confounding variables that may affect patency in order to determine the effectiveness of non-heparinized solutions in maintaining patency of arterial catheters.