Differences in Persistence Between Adult Learners Enrolled in Two Online RN-BSN Progression Tracks.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to examine if and to what extent differences exist for total Persistence Scale for Online Education-Nursing (PSOE-N) scores and mean persistence factor scores for adult learners enrolled in accelerated academic progression tracks ( n = 18) compared with adult learners enrolled in traditional academic progression tracks ( n = 26) in online RN-BSN completion programs. Total PSOE-N scores, mean perceived stress and support scores, and goal attachment scores were found to be statistically significantly different ( p < .05) between participants enrolled in a traditional track compared with those enrolled in an accelerated track.

Development of a persistence scale for online education in nursing.

AIM: The objective of this research was to develop a psychometric instrument to measure the ability of nursing students to persist in online courses. BACKGROUND: Despite the popularity of online education, lack of persistence and attrition are problems faced by many colleges. There is no current means for identifying students at risk of attrition from an online course. METHOD: Factor analysis techniques were used to assess the potential for measuring persistence of the nursing student in an online program. RESULTS: Results indicated that the persistent student can be characterized as enjoying discussion, confident of passing, and rarely upset by unexpected events. Nonpersistent students do not enjoy discussion and do not believe completing a challenging course will help them achieve goals. CONCLUSION: The Persistence Scale for Online Education (PSOE-N) has the potential to discriminate between nursing students who are persistent and those at risk for dropping an online course.

Technology and nursing education: building an online toolkit.

In last month's Teaching Tips, the use of online technologies by staff educators was discussed. The terms freeware and open source were explained, along with the ground rules for implementing technology in teaching practice. One of the difficulties in adopting new technologies can be the confusion that often exists over understanding how to use them appropriately. This article identifies several technologies that are available and may offer ideas as to how to develop fresh, interactive content.

Technology and nursing education: an online toolkit for educators.

New tools that are free are available via the Internet and can successfully be used to create interactive and engaging courses designed to reach today's technologically savvy learners.

Mirror-Sensory Synaesthesia and the Practice of Manual Therapy.

Mirror-touch synaesthesia can provide a distinct advantage for the healthcare worker who experiences this form of cross-modal perception. While several studies and presentations have focused on synaesthesia as a tool for augmenting artistic endeavours and cultivating creative opportunity, a massage therapist with mirror touch may have an edge over her non-synaesthete peers.

Optimizing the diagnosis and treatment of migraine.

PURPOSE: To describe and discuss short headache questionnaires, which can simplify and improve the diagnosis of migraine. DATA SOURCES: Review of the worldwide scientific literature on short diagnostic questionnaires for migraine. CONCLUSIONS: A new three-question Headache Screen addressing disability due to recurring headaches, headache duration, and changes in headache characteristics and/or pattern over the previous 6 months displayed high sensitivity when used to survey >3000 migraineurs, correctly identifying 77% of migraineurs diagnosed by International Headache Society (IHS) criteria, clinical impression, or the presence of recurring, disabling headaches. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The underdiagnosis and undertreatment of migraine are problems that may be attributed to many causes involving both patients and medical providers. These include stringent diagnostic criteria established by the IHS, which fail to easily classify many common migraine presentations, the lack of clear outcome measures of successful management of migraine, and failure to recognize the iatrogenic role of prescription and nonprescription medications as an etiologic factor in chronic daily headache. The recent development of reliable, clinically useful, short headache questionnaires that are focused on headache impact facilitates the understanding and diagnosis of migraine for both patients and healthcare professionals. As a diagnostic tool, the Headache Screen has the potential to expand appropriate medication use, leading to improved functional status and quality of life for migraineurs.

An open-label study to assess changes in efficacy and satisfaction with migraine care when patients have access to multiple sumatriptan succinate formulations.

BACKGROUND: Because a patient's migraines often differ in duration, intensity, and accompanying symptoms, as well as the conditions and circumstances at the time of the headache, the mode for treatment also may change. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine whether migraine management is improved by providing 3 formulations of sumatriptan succinate to patients, together with education to assist them in selecting the most appropriate formulation for specific attacks. METHODS: This was an open-label study conducted in 3 family practice settings. Patients were recruited who had at least a 1-year history of migraine meeting International Headache Society criteria and experienced 2 to 6 attacks per month within the previous 3 months. Patients received instructions on oral, intranasal, and subcutaneous (SC) sumatriptan and were provided with all 3 formulations to treat 6 headaches. Migraine features, formulation used, reason for selecting specific formulation, migraine symptom relief, and use of follow-up doses were recorded in diaries. At follow-up, patients completed a questionnaire assessing satisfaction with access to multiple formulations. RESULTS: Of the 33 enrolled patients (26 women, 7 men; mean age, 38.5 years [range, 23-54 years]), 25 (75.8%) completed all visits. Of 149 headaches treated, 39 (26.2%) were mild at onset, 70 (47.0%) were moderate, and 40 (26.8%) were severe. Eighty (53.7%) headaches were treated with tablets, 35 (23.5%) with nasal spray, and 34 (22.8%) with SC injection. Primary reasons for selecting specific formulations included "fewer side effects" for tablets, "convenience" for nasal spray, and "quick onset of action" for SC injection. Twenty-one (84.0%) patients reported being either very satisfied or satisfied with their ability to manage their headaches. Physicians reported that 18 of 24 (75.0%) patients had an improved attitude toward managing their headaches. All formulations were well tolerated. Eight (32.0%) patients reported adverse events, the 2 most common being chest pressure and fatigue. CONCLUSION: The patients in this study reported greater satisfaction with migraine management when given access to multiple sumatriptan formulations and education regarding their appropriate use.

Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of silica polyamine composites: applications to metal ion capture.

A sol-gel method has been developed for the synthesis of composite materials analogous to the previously reported and commercialized silica polyamine composite (SPC) materials made from amorphous silica. Monolithic xerogels were formed using a two-step procedure with no templating agent using acid catalyzed followed by base catalyzed hydrolysis. This reaction was followed by (1)H NMR. Initial sol-gels were formed using a methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMOS) and 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (CPTMOS) mixture. Elemental analyses and (13)C CPMAS NMR confirmed incorporation of both monomeric units into the surface structure. Some control over surface morphology was achieved by adjusting synthetic conditions. The resulting xerogels were reacted with poly(allylamine) (PAA) to give composite materials which showed much lower metal ion capacities than the commercially available amorphous silica analogs. The low degree of reaction of the chloropropyl groups indicated they were not surface-available to the polyamine. Addition of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) produced a structural matrix and resulted in higher chloride utilization (reaction of surface chloropropyl groups with the polyamine). The ratio of the three siloxane monomeric components was varied until the resulting polyamine composite xerogels had metal capacities comparable with the commercialized SPC materials. These composites had narrower average pore size distributions and fewer small pores. Further modification of these composites with metal selective ligands showed material characteristics similar to those of commercially available SPC materials. Subjecting a composite made by the sol-gel route to one thousand load-strip cycles with Cu(2+) shows essentially no loss in metal capacity, and this robustness compares favorably with that observed for the SPC made from amorphous silica gels.

Gelstat Migraine (sublingually administered feverfew and ginger compound) for acute treatment of migraine when administered during the mild pain phase.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of migraine headaches is often delayed due to assessing the potential severity of an evolving headache or anticipating unwanted consequences from prescription medication. Studies have demonstrated improved pain-free response when prescription treatments are taken during the mild headache phase of a migraine. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of an OTC product, GelStat Migraine, when taken in the early, mild pain phase of migraine. MATERIAL/METHODS: An open-label study enrolling 30 subjects, male and female, with a one-year history of migraine meeting IHS diagnostic criteria with or without aura, 2-8 migraines per month and < or = 15 headache days per month. Inclusion required having migraines that consistently started at mild and worsened to moderate or severe, if untreated, in at least 75% of attacks. Subjects also had to be able to distinguish migraine from non-migraine headaches and reliably identify migraine early in the course of an attack. One headache was treated in the mild pain phase with GelStat Migraine, a combination of feverfew and ginger. RESULTS: 29 evaluable subjects completed the study, all treating at mild pain. Two hours after treatment, 48% were pain-free with 34% reporting a headache of only mild severity. 29% reported a recurrence within 24 hours. Side effects were minimal and not serious. 59% of subjects were satisfied with Gelstat Migraine therapy and 41% preferred GelStat Migraine or felt it was equal to their pre-study medication. CONCLUSIONS: GelStat Migraine is effective as a first line abortive treatment for migraine when initiated early during the mild headache phase.

Simple and efficient recognition of migraine with 3-question headache screen.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the results of a new 3-question headache screen to 3 established methods of diagnosing migraine: the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria, physician's clinical impression, and presence of recurring disabling headaches. BACKGROUND: A simple tool to recognize patients who experience migraine may facilitate diagnosis of this debilitating and frequently undiagnosed condition. METHODS: Primary care physicians and neurologists in the United States enrolled 3014 adults with a diagnosis of migraine based on one of the following: International Headache Society criteria, an investigator's clinical impression, or presence of recurring disabling headaches. Each patient completed a 3-question headache screen: (1) Do you have recurrent headaches that interfere with work, family, or social functions? (2) Do your headaches last at least 4 hours? (3) Have you had new or different headaches in the past 6 months? A diagnosis of migraine was suggested by a yes answer to questions 1 and 2 and a no answer to question 3. RESULTS: The 3-question headache screen identified migraine in 77% of the study population; including 78% of the patients enrolled based on International Headache Society criteria, 74% based on clinical impression, and 68% because of recurring disabling headaches. CONCLUSIONS: Positive 3-question headache screen results agreed well with migraine diagnoses based on International Headache Society criteria, clinical impressions, and presence of recurring disabling headaches. These findings support use of the 3-question headache screen to recognize migraine.