Specific Medication Literacy in Older Adults with Asthma.

Purpose: To explore specific medication literacy (SML) of older adults and associations of SML strength. Methods: This was an observational study. Participants were at least 60 years old, with an asthma diagnosis and in good health. Data were collected by a registered nurse researcher. The SML data collection instrument gathered information about each medication a participant used: name, purpose, how taken, special instructions, adverse effects, and drug-drug or drug-disease interactions. An SML scoring rubric was developed. Results: All could provide name, and most provided purpose, how taken. The lowest SML domains were side effects and interactions. Age at time of asthma diagnosis correlated with stronger SML scores and living in a disadvantaged neighborhood correlated with lower SML scores. Discussion: Gaps in medication literacy may create less ability to self-monitor. Patients want medication literacy but struggle with appropriate, individualized, information. Conclusion: The study provides insights on gaps and opportunities for SML.

The Association of Food Insecurity With Asthma Control in Adults During COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity has been associated with poorer asthma control in children, but research lacks in adults. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of food insecurity and its association with asthma control in adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey study was conducted in US adults with asthma. Survey questions included how worried or concerned participants were about food security since the pandemic. Asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Test, with uncontrolled asthma defined as Asthma Control Test score less than or equal to 19. Self-report of food insecurity since the pandemic was assessed. Food insecurity variables were dichotomized into high insecurity (≥3) or low insecurity (<3). Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the total participants (N = 866), 82.79% were female; mean age of participants was 44 ± 15.05 years, their mean Asthma Control Test score was 19.25 ± 4.54, and 18.48% had high food insecurity. Participants with high food insecurity were more likely to have uncontrolled asthma (74.38%) compared with those with lower food insecurity (34.99%; P < .01). The relationship between asthma control and food insecurity remained significant after adjusting for age, education, sex, race, anxiety, and living stability concerns due to the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity exists in adults with asthma and is associated with uncontrolled asthma. Providers should consider screening their patients for food insecurity when treating individuals with uncontrolled asthma.

Impacts, Learner Diversity, and Curricular Framework of a Virtual Global Health Elective Catalyzed by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Place-based international electives that build global health competencies have existed for decades. However, these electives require travel and are infeasible for many trainees around the world, particularly those with insufficient financial resources, logistical complexities, or visa limitations. The emergence of virtual approaches to global health electives, catalyzed by the travel pause related to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates the exploration of learner impacts, participant diversity, and curricular frameworks. Child Family Health International (CFHI), a non-profit global health education organization that partners with universities to expand immersive educational offerings, launched a virtual global health elective in 2021. The elective drew on faculty from Bolivia, Ecuador, Ghana, Mexico, the Philippines, Uganda, and the United States. Objective: This study aimed to describe a newly developed virtual global health elective curriculum and evaluate the demographics of and impacts on trainee participants. Methods: Eighty-two trainees who were enrolled in the virtual global health elective from January to May 2021 completed both 1) pre- and post-elective self-assessments of domains of competency mapped to the elective curriculum and 2) free text responses to standardized questions. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistical analysis, paired t-testing, and qualitative thematic analysis. Findings: The virtual global health elective had 40% of its participants hail from countries other than the United States. Self-reported competency in global health broadly, planetary health, low resource clinical reasoning, and overall composite competency significantly increased. Qualitative analysis revealed learner development in health systems, social determinants of health, critical thinking, planetary health, cultural humility, and professional practice. Conclusion: Virtual global health electives effectively develop key competencies in global health. This virtual elective had a 40-fold increase in the proportion of trainees from outside the United States, compared to pre-pandemic place-based electives. The virtual platform facilitates accessibility for learners from a variety of health professions and a wide range of geographic and socioeconomic environments. Further research is needed to confirm and expand on self-reported data, and to pursue approaches to greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in virtual frameworks.

Rationale and design of integrating a parents first obesity intervention with a pediatric weight management intervention for rural families - Evaluating the ripple effect.

Rural families are disproportionately affected by obesity. Obesity often runs in families and is impacted by hereditary components, the shared home environment, and parent modeling/child observational learning. Moreover, parent changes in weight predict child changes in weight. Thus, targeting the family unit has the potential to enhance outcomes for adults and children simultaneously. Additionally, engaging rural nurses in medical clinics and schools may be important in determining whether rural telehealth programs are successfully implemented and sustained. This paper describes the rationale and design of a randomized control trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of an integrated adult- and child-focused obesity treatment tailored for rural participants. Outcomes of this study include participant weight loss from baseline to 9-months, device-measured physical activity, and dietary intake. This project will additionally compare reach between clinic and school settings and evaluate the impact of nurse engagement. This study will include 240 participants from eight rural communities who will be randomized to either a Parent +Family-based group or a Newsletter +Family-based group. Parents in the Parent +Family-based group will receive a 3-month adult obesity treatment designed for adult behavior change as a first step. Then, parents and children together will enter the family-based program (iAmHealthy), allowing for potential enhancement of a theorized ripple effect. Parents in the Newsletter +Family-based group will receive 3 monthly newsletters and then participate in the 6-month family-based intervention designed for child behavior change. This study is the first RCT to examine the effectiveness of an integrated adult- and child-focused obesity treatment program. Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT ID NCT05612971.

Polypharmacy Interactions Impacting Methacholine Challenge Testing for Asthma Assessment in Older People.

Objective To investigate potential reasons for unusually high incidence of negative Methacholine Challenge Tests (MCT), following standardized MCT medication-hold protocol, in older people with physician-diagnosed asthma. Design An analysis of a longitudinal observational parent study of asthma. Setting Community-dwelling participants were evaluated in an outpatient clinic and at home. Participants Screening inclusion criteria for the parent study included 60 years of age or older, physician diagnosis of asthma, and a positive response to at least one of six asthma screening questions. Participants were enrolled in the study if they also demonstrate either: (1) a postbronchodilator administration response showing an increase of at least 12% and 200 mL in forced expiratory volume or an increase of at least 12% and 200 mL in forced vital capacity, or (2) an MCT result of PC20 ≤ 16 mg/mL (indicating bronchial hyper-responsiveness, MCT positive). Exclusion criteria included diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia, residing in a long-term care facility, more than 20 pack/ year smoking history or a history of smoking within the previous five years, inability to perform pulmonary function testing maneuvers, and a Prognostic Index score of greater than 10. Interventions Analysis of participant data for non-medication- and medication-exposure factors for association with negative MCT results. Results Anticholinergic burden and statin use were positively associated with negative MCT. Conclusion Medications not accounted for in medication-hold protocols, and concurrently in use, may impact clinical tests and outcomes.

Visibility and Accessibility of Hand Hygiene Stations and Fatigue Among Nurses Working in Long-Term Care (LTC) During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the relationship between nurses' perception of the long-term care (LTC) environment, specifically having visible and accessible hand hygiene stations (HHS), and nurses' fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: LTC nurses experience not only heavy workloads and fatigue but also a high risk of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between safety measures such as having visible and accessible HHS and nurses' fatigue. METHODS: The cross-sectional COVID-19 Impact on Nurses Study (COINS) was an online survey distributed to members of the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing through the REDCap survey platform, between June 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. Logistic regression modeling was conducted to identify the relationship between nurses' perception of having visible and accessible HHS and fatigue among LTC nurses. RESULTS: The majority of LTC nurse respondents (78.35%) reported having moderate to very severe fatigue. Nurses who reported not having enough visible and accessible HHS in their work environment have statistically significantly higher odds (odds ratio [OR] = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.20, 0.70], p = .002) of reporting experiencing moderate to very severe fatigue compared to nurses who perceived there was adequate HHS. The logistic regression is significant while controlling for sociodemographic differences, guilt for family and patients, support from work, and confidence in the future of LTC. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the LTC environment that incorporates better considerations of more visible and accessible HHS might mitigate nurses' fatigue during the pandemic. A conceptual framework has been proposed for future studies.

Trauma-informed care for perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of nurses and midwives in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: There is a paucity of evidence on the provision of trauma-informed care among nurses and midwives during the pandemic.Therefore, this online survey of Turkish nurses and midwives aimed to: describe reported maternal concerns and anxieties during the COVID-19 pandemic; and explore aspects of trauma-informed care for perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., nurses' and midwives' knowledge, opinions, perceived competence, current practices, and implementation barriers). DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A web-based survey conducted between June 2021 to December 2021. A total of 102 nurses and midwives comprised the final sample of this study. FINDINGS: The safety of COVID-19 vaccine was both the most common maternal concern (73%) and the most frequently noted maternal source of anxiety (79%) reported to nurses and midwives by perinatal women. Most nurses and midwives were knowledgeable of, held favorable opinion about, and perceived moderate competence in trauma-informed care. The most frequently provided practice was encouraging mothers to make use of their own social support system (82%). Time constrains and lack of resources were perceived as somewhat to significant barriers to providing trauma-informed care during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Access to correct information related to COVID-19 vaccination is necessary to reduce maternal anxiety. Since perinatal nurses and midwives had favorable opinions concerning implementing trauma-informed care, successful strategies for mitigating the implementation barriers are essential to facilitate the provision of trauma-informed care during the pandemic.

Rural and Urban Ecologies of Early Childhood Toxic Lead Exposure: The State of Kansas, 2005 to 2012.

Introduction: No safe detectable level of lead (Pb) exists in the blood of children. Until recently, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines designated a blood lead level (BLL) ≥ 5 µg/dL as an elevated BLL (EBLL). For the State of Kansas, early childhood blood lead burdens lack reporting in the literature. Methods: Secondary analysis was conducted of passively reported EBLL rates ≥ 5 µg/dL among children ages 0 - 5 years at the zip code-level in Kansas during 2005 to 2012. Data weights using corresponding population estimates were applied to produce statewide outcomes. Results: Statewide estimates of annual testing coverage in Kansas among children ages 0 - 5 years were low (9.7%). Approximately 17,000 children ages 0 - 5 years developed an EBLL ≥ 5 µg/dL each year in Kansas with a 6.9% statewide EBLL rate compared to the national rate of 3.2% for the corresponding years. Significant variations in EBLL rates were found between suburban zip codes compared to urban, urban cluster, or rural at 3.1%, 7.2%, 8.8%, and 10.0%, respectively. Among the worst outcomes in EBLL rates was observed for zip codes in southeast Kansas (13.5%) and rural areas with < 500 persons (15.1%). Conclusions: Young children in Kansas had twice the risk of developing an EBLL ≥ 5 µg/dL compared to the national rate, while higher rates consistently were seen outside of the suburbs and particularly in more rural and less populated areas. At-risk children and troubled areas of toxic lead exposure in the State of Kansas require increased recognition with improved targeting and interventions.

Utilizing Real-time Technology to Assess the Impact of Home Environmental Exposures on Asthma Symptoms: Protocol for an Observational Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that over 60% of adults with asthma have uncontrolled symptoms, representing a substantial health and economic impact. The effects of the home environment and exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on adults with asthma remain unknown. In addition, methods currently used to assess the home environment do not capture real-time data on potentially modifiable environmental exposures or their effect on asthma symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to (1) determine the feasibility and usability of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to assess self-report residential environmental exposures and asthma symptoms, home monitoring of objective environmental exposures (total VOCs and PM2.5), and lung function in terms of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%); (2) assess the frequency and level of residential environmental exposures (eg, disinfectants/cleaners, secondhand smoke) via self-reported data and home monitoring objective measures; (3) assess the level of asthma control as indicated by self-reported asthma symptoms and lung function; and (4) explore associations of self-reported and objective measures of residential environmental exposures with self-reported and objective measures of asthma control. METHODS: We will recruit 50 adults with asthma who have completed our online Global COVID-19 Asthma Study, indicated willingness to be contacted for future studies, reported high use of disinfectant/cleaning products, and have asthma that is not well controlled. Participants will receive an indoor air quality monitor and a home spirometer to measure VOCs, PM2.5, and FEV1%, respectively. EMA data will be collected using a personal smartphone and EMA software platform. Participants will be sent scheduled and random EMA notifications to assess asthma symptoms, environmental exposures, lung function, and mitigation strategies. After the 14-day data collection period, participants will respond to survey items related to acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. RESULTS: This study was funded in March 2021. We pilot tested our procedures and began recruitment in April 2022. The anticipated completion of the study is 2023. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this feasibility study will support a powered study to address the impact of home environmental exposures on asthma symptoms and develop tailored, home-based asthma interventions that are responsive to the changing home environment and home routines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05224076; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05224076. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/39887.

Support from Work and Intent to Stay Among Nurses During COVID-19: An Academic-Practice Collaboration.

The COVID-19 pandemic created stressful working conditions for nurses and challenges for leaders. A survey was conducted among 399 acute and ambulatory care nurses measuring availability of calming and safety resources, perceptions of support from work, and intent to stay. Most nurses reported intent to stay with their employer, despite inadequate safety and calming resources. High levels of support from work were significantly influenced nurses' intent to stay. Leadership actions at the study site to provide support are described, providing context for results. Nurse leaders can positively influence intent to stay through consistent implementation of supportive measures.

CE: Environments & Health: Chemicals in the Home That Can Exacerbate Asthma.

ABSTRACT: Although chemical exposures from cleaning and disinfectant products often go unnoticed or unrecognized, such exposures have been associated with asthma-related symptoms and exacerbations. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) website provides consumer information on a wide range of issues and products related to human health and the environment, including the use of cleaning and disinfectant products, 2,500 of which it has rated in terms of their effects on respiratory function and asthma. In discussing how the use of cleaning and disinfectant products and the frequency of their use may affect asthma control, the authors use the EWG ratings as well as data collected for a study they conducted on older adults with asthma.

Resilience, Moral Distress, and Job Satisfaction Driving Engagement in Emergency Department Nurses: A Qualitative Analysis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore how resilience, job satisfaction, and moral distress affect emergency department (ED) nurses' workplace engagement. BACKGROUND: Stressful nursing workplace conditions increase moral distress. Lowering moral distress and improving resilience can increase workplace engagement. METHOD: Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 ED nurses. RESULTS: Participants indicated that greater nursing experience, increased confidence in skills, ability to overcome emotional stressors, and more satisfaction with patient care all improved resilience and workplace engagement. Morally distressed, disengaged nurses reportedly lacked workplace autonomy and/or ability to make workplace changes or worked in hostile and/or unsafe workplaces. Engaged nurses invested more time in their job and were more willing to remain in their workplace. CONCLUSION: Retaining older, more experienced nurses, valuing staff work, and creating a meaningful workplace foster workplace engagement. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers can support nurses' workplace engagement through interventions that build resilience, lower moral distress, and increase job satisfaction.

Exploring Normalization of Deviance among Perioperative Registered Nurses in the Operating Room.

Normalization of deviance is a phenomenon in which individuals and teams deviate from what is known to be an acceptable performance standard until the adopted way of practice becomes normalized. In health care, this phenomenon erodes the safety culture, and it can be particularly concerning in high-risk work environments, such as the operating room (OR). The purposes of this study were to: (a) Explore the concept of normalization of deviance in the OR; (b) Identify reasons for normalization of deviance; and (c) Identify factors that protect against normalization of deviance.This focused ethnographic study included a sample of 10 perioperative nurses who were interviewed. Our findings demonstrated that normalization exists in the OR. Reasons for normalization of deviance included productivity pressures, generalized complacency, complacency related to length of experience, social pressures, and negative acculturation. Factors that protect against normalization of deviance included nurse engagement and having supportive managerial relationships.

Mask Use Experiences, COVID-19, and Adults with Asthma: A Mixed-Methods Approach.

BACKGROUND: Although masks are recommended for those with asthma in the era of COVID-19, there is limited research exploring the extent of and problems related to mask use in adults with asthma. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe in adults with asthma: (1) the extent masks are worn and attitudes and beliefs about wearing masks; (2) participant characteristics associated with problems experienced while wearing a mask, and (3) participant experiences and recommendations regarding masks. METHODS: The Mask Use in Adults with Asthma online survey was conducted with 501 adults with asthma (96.6%) primarily from the United States. A Mask Effects Scale (MES) was compiled from items addressing problems experienced wearing a mask with higher total scores indicating more problems. Open-ended questions explored factors considered when choosing a mask, problems experienced while wearing a mask, and recommendations to others with asthma. Survey data were analyzed descriptively and via multiple regression. Themes were generated from open-ended items. RESULTS: Almost all participants (98.4%) indicated wearing a mask in public, and most (67.4%) wore a mask ≤3 hours per day. Poorer asthma control and wearing a mask longer were significantly associated with higher MES scores (P ≤ .001 and .005, respectively). Participant recommendations included "Just wear it," use a comfortable, well-fitting mask, take mask breaks, and carry your inhaler. CONCLUSIONS: Wearing a mask in public was almost uniformly adhered to by participants, despite reporting problematic effects. Implementing recommendations, such as planned mask breaks, can support and enhance the experience of wearing a mask for adults with asthma.

Personal Interventions for Reducing Exposure and Risk for Outdoor Air Pollution: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

Poor air quality affects the health and wellbeing of large populations around the globe. Although source controls are the most effective approaches for improving air quality and reducing health risks, individuals can also take actions to reduce their personal exposure by staying indoors, reducing physical activity, altering modes of transportation, filtering indoor air, and using respirators and other types of face masks. A synthesis of available evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness, and potential adverse effects or unintended consequences of personal interventions for air pollution is needed by clinicians to assist patients and the public in making informed decisions about use of these interventions. To address this need, the American Thoracic Society convened a workshop in May of 2018 to bring together a multidisciplinary group of international experts to review the current state of knowledge about personal interventions for air pollution and important considerations when helping patients and the general public to make decisions about how best to protect themselves. From these discussions, recommendations were made regarding when, where, how, and for whom to consider personal interventions. In addition to the efficacy and safety of the various interventions, the committee considered evidence regarding the identification of patients at greatest risk, the reliability of air quality indices, the communication challenges, and the ethical and equity considerations that arise when discussing personal interventions to reduce exposure and risk from outdoor air pollution.

Experiences of Muslim Cancer Survivors Living in the United States.

PURPOSE: To gain an understanding of the cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship experiences of adult Muslim cancer survivors residing in the United States. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: A purposive sample of 17 male and 15 female Muslim cancer survivors was recruited from across the United States. Data on Muslim cancer survivors' experience were collected through individual, in-depth, semistructured interviews. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: An interpretive, descriptive, qualitative approach was used to gain an understanding of the experience of Muslim cancer survivors. FINDINGS: Six broad themes were identified to gain an understanding of the cancer experiences of adult Muslim cancer survivors residing in the United States. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: This study provided key information concerning the unique experience of Muslim cancer survivors residing in the United States. Identifying, understanding, and meeting survivors' religious needs, as well as understanding their cancer experience, may reduce cancer health disparities and enhance health outcomes.

An Examination of Factors That Predict the Perioperative Culture of Safety.

The perioperative setting is an intricate, complicated work environment in which patients are vulnerable to adverse events. Using a convenience sample, we examined relationships between the length of perioperative nurse experience, perioperative nurse engagement, and an OR culture of safety. We explored differences in safety culture scores based on CNOR certification status. There was no significant relationship between the length of perioperative nurse experience and the level of OR culture of safety. However, perioperative nurse engagement had a significant relationship with an OR culture of safety (P < .001), and this factor was a significant predictor of an OR culture of safety (P < .001). Perioperative nurses who held CNOR certification had significantly higher culture of safety scores compared with those who did not (P = .004). Additional research on perioperative nurse engagement and factors relating to patient safety may help perioperative leaders develop and implement engagement strategies.