A Pilot Study of the Effects of Chair Yoga and Chair-Based Exercise on Biopsychosocial Outcomes in Older Adults With Lower Extremity Osteoarthritis.

This pilot study examined whether chair yoga and chair-based exercise are effective in managing biopsychosocial outcomes for older adults with lower extremity osteoarthritis. Both interventions improved physical function and mobility over time, although no significant differences between the 2 interventions were identified.

An interprofessional education approach to fall prevention: preparing members of the interprofessional healthcare team to implement STEADI into practice.

An aging population benefits from healthcare providers trained in the care of older adults. Interprofessional education (IPE) and service-learning activities focused on geriatric conditions like falls may address this need. A fall prevention IPE activity using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) initiative was implemented to prepare health sciences students to manage older adult falls. Students (N = 31) and faculty (N = 10) from five health sciences programs and local older adults (N = 27) participated. Students were trained in STEADI and conducted a fall risk screening, assessment, and intervention activity with older adults using STEADI tools. We observed a statistically significant improvement in student knowledge of fall prevention and STEADI as assessed by pre and postactivity measures. Student surveys indicated improved understanding of the roles and responsibilities of participating disciplines, related to management of falls in older adults. The CDC's STEADI initiative may provide an effective framework and resources for fall prevention IPE activities and geriatric health sciences education.

Mitigating fall risk: A community fall reduction program.

One fourth of all American's over 65 years of age fall each year. Falls are a common and often devastating event that can pose a serious health risk for older adults. Healthcare providers are often unable to spend the time required to assist older adults with fall risk issues. Without a team approach to fall prevention the system remains focused on fragmented levels of health promotion and risk prevention. The specific aim of this project was to engage older adults from the community in a fall risk assessment program, using the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) program, and provide feedback on individual participants' risks that participants could share with their primary care physician. Older adults who attended the risk screening were taking medications that are known to increase falls. They mentioned that their health care providers do not screen for falls and appreciated a community based screening.

Chair Yoga: Feasibility and Sustainability Study With Older Community-Dwelling Adults With Osteoarthritis.

This study measured the feasibility of completing a randomized control trial on an 8-week seated yoga program for older adults with osteoarthritis. Part of the feasibility of this program was to determine whether participants would continue the yoga practice at home using a guide book after the 8-week program. Findings demonstrated that once participants were not in a group setting for the yoga, they did not continue with yoga practice. This outcome demonstrates the need for group programs for older adults to promote adherence to movement-based programs. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov: NCT02113410).

Providing Hands-on Experiences in Health Care Research to Mentor New Research Scholars.

AIM: This article describes the benefits of integrating students into a National Institutes of Health-funded research project. BACKGROUND: Research is important in all academic disciplines for increasing knowledge and determining the effectiveness of currently used interventions. Educating nursing students to read, evaluate, and use research in practice is essential for solving complex health care challenges and achieving better patient outcomes METHOD: The students were involved at all levels of the research process: project development, site acquisition, recruitment of participants, data collection and analysis, and manuscript development. Interviews of the student researchers were conducted to understand the students' experience of participation in the research study. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: creating new knowledge is worthwhile, research is interesting and meaningful, and research can shape practice. CONCLUSION: Promoting knowledge and experience by involving students in research projects can create a bridge to the development of evidence-based practice.

The Effect of Chair Yoga on Biopsychosocial Changes in English- and Spanish-Speaking Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Lower-Extremity Osteoarthritis.

Chair yoga (CY), a mind-body therapy, is a safe nonpharmacological approach for managing osteoarthritis (OA) in older adults who cannot participate in standing exercise. However, there is no linguistically tailored CY program for those with limited English proficiency (LEP). This 2-arm randomized controlled trial compared the effects of a linguistically tailored yoga program (English and Spanish versions) on the outcomes of pain, physical function, and psychosocial factors compared to the effects of a linguistically tailored Health Education Program (HEP; English and Spanish versions). Participants with lower-extremity OA, recruited from 2 community sites, completed the Spanish (n = 40) or English (n = 60) version of twice-weekly 45-min CY or HEP sessions for 8 weeks. Data were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 1- and 3-month follow-ups. English and Spanish CY groups (but neither HEP language group) showed significant decreases in pain interference. Measures of OA symptoms, balance, depression, and social activities were not significantly different between English and Spanish versions of CY and English and Spanish versions of HEP. It was concluded that the Spanish and English versions of CY and HEP were equivalent. Linguistically tailored CY could be implemented in aging-serving communities for persons with LEP.

The effect of Sit 'n' Fit Chair Yoga among community-dwelling older adults with osteoarthritis.

The study measured effects of Sit 'N' Fit Chair Yoga on pain and physical and psychological functioning. A quasi-experimental research design included a yoga intervention group and an attention control group. There was greater improvement in depression and life satisfaction in the yoga group than in the control group.

Interprofessional education in community-based Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment.

As the population ages and understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) improves, the number of older adults diagnosed and treated for AD and related dementias is projected to increase. Dementia diagnosis, treatment and patient and family education are complex processes best done through collaboration among healthcare professions. The educational program described in this article aimed to create an interprofessional team approach to the diagnosis and treatment of dementia involving medical and family nurse practitioner students. A two-group treatment/control pretest posttest design was used to measure changes in knowledge, attitudes and appreciation for an interprofessional team approach to patient care. Findings from this interprofessional program demonstrated that nurse practitioner students gained higher levels of knowledge regarding AD, and medical students gained more positive attitudes toward these patients and their caregivers. Comments from students indicated that both medical and nursing students found the experience valuable. Understanding the roles that various providers play will help healthcare professional meet the challenge of caring for the increasing number of patients with memory loss and for their families.

The effect of an educational programme on attitudes of nurses and medical residents towards the benefits of positive communication and collaboration.

AIMS: This article is a report of a study to determine the effect of an educational programme and to follow up weekly meetings on nurses and medical resident's attitudes towards positive communication and collaboration. BACKGROUND: Clear and appropriate communication and interdisciplinary collaboration is critical to the delivery of quality care. Collaborative practice among all healthcare professionals creates a positive work environment, decreases costs, improves job satisfaction among nurses and improves patient care, as well as decreasing patient morbidity and mortality. Poor communication and lack of teamwork or collaboration have been cited as persistent problems in healthcare. METHOD: The study was conducted in 2008 - 2009 at a hospital where a new medical residency programme was beginning and nurses had no prior experience working with medical residents. A quasi-experimental pre test, post-test design was used. The Jefferson Scale of Attitudes towards Physician-Nurse Collaboration and the Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking for Quality Patient Outcomes Survey tool measured the attitudes of 68 nurses and 47 medical residents in the areas of positive communication and collaboration. RESULTS/FINDINGS: The study demonstrates that a formal educational programme and follow-up discussions improved the attitudes of both nurses and medical residents on the Jefferson scale (medical residents t = 4·68, P = 0·001, nurses t = 4·37, P = 0·001) and on the communication scale (medical residents t = 4·23, P = 0·001, nurses t = 4·13, P = 0·001). CONCLUSION: Continuing education for nurses, medical residents and other healthcare providers may assist in developing positive communication styles and promote collegiality and team work.

Chair yoga: benefits for community-dwelling older adults with osteoarthritis.

The aim of this pilot study was to examine whether chair yoga was effective in reducing pain level and improving physical function and emotional well-being in a sample of community-dwelling older adults with osteoarthritis. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to examine the effectiveness of chair yoga at baseline, midpoint (4 weeks), and end of the intervention (8 weeks). Although chair yoga was effective in improving physical function and reducing stiffness in older adults with osteoarthritis, it was not effective in reducing pain level or improving depressive symptoms. Future research planned by this team will use rigorous study methods, including larger samples, randomized controlled trials, and follow up for monitoring home practice after the interventions.

Educating nurses about veno-thrombolytic events (VTE).

This study determined the effect of a computer-based educational program in preparing nurses to complete an assessment for veno-thrombotic risk on all patients admitted to a community hospital. The educational program included information on appropriate prophylaxis for patients at risk for veno-thrombolytic events (VTEs). Nurses were encouraged to work with physicians and pharmacists to obtain the appropriate VTE prophylaxis for all patients based on risk. Findings showed that one class may not be sufficient for long-term understanding of VTE risk and prophylaxis.

Managing osteoarthritis: comparisons of chair yoga, Reiki, and education (pilot study).

The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether chair yoga and Reiki affect pain, depressive mood, and physical function compared with an educational program for older adults with osteoarthritis. Findings showed significant relationships only between physical function and chair yoga. In focus group interviews, participants expressed feelings of improved health and well-being after the yoga intervention. The major limitation of this study was the small sample size.

Development of a community participation program for diabetes mellitus prevention in a primary care unit, Thailand.

The purpose of this study was to create and test a prevention model for diabetes mellitus in a primary care unit in Thailand. This study used a three-stage approach: a situational analysis was conducted by a focus group discussion, a model was developed in a brainstorming session with stakeholders, and the model was tested by community participation. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect and analyze the data. The focus group discussion found that co-operation between health volunteers and primary care unit personnel in relation to diabetes screening, as well as defining the role of nurse practitioners who provide diabetic treatment, was important. The proactive model that was used for preventing diabetes mellitus was a health promotion program. It was trialed with 160 persons with prediabetes for 3 months. After the intervention, the mean score for exercise activity among the persons with prediabetes was significantly higher, while the mean score of the Body Mass Index, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure were significantly lower than before the intervention. This meant that community participation provided proactive services to Thai persons with prediabetes.

An educational program to promote positive communication and collaboration between nurses and medical staff.

An educational program was implemented for nurses and medical residents to improve communication and collaboration. It has been noted that communication and collaboration between members of the healthcare team improve patient outcomes and job satisfaction among nurses. In this article, the program is outlined and outcomes are presented.

Garden walking for depression: a research report.

This study was designed to determine the effect of garden walking and reflective journaling on adults who are 65 years old and older with depression. The Geriatric Depression Scale measured depression. Four themes emerged from the interview data collected from each participant.

A program to improve communication and collaboration between nurses and medical residents.

A program was implemented for nurses and medical residents to improve communication and collaboration. It has been noted that communication and collaboration between members of the health care team improve patient outcomes and job satisfaction among nurses. Nurses on the unit where medical residents trained attended a 2-hour educational program that reviewed effective communication styles and positive aspects of collaboration, including role-playing examples. Medical residents received a self-learning packet with a posttest that was returned to researchers when completed. Focus groups, including both nurses and medical residents, were held twice a month for 6 months after the educational program. Overall improvements in communication, collaboration, patient outcomes, and job satisfaction were noted from the focus group data. The educational program proved to be successful in improving collaboration and communication between nurses and medical residents, which in turn improved patient care.

The effect of music on acute confusion in older adults after hip or knee surgery.

The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to determine the effects of music listening on acute confusion that is common in older adults after hip or knee surgery. A control group demonstrated greater decreases in cognition on the first postoperative day compared to a music-listening group (F = 8.448, p = .009). In the 3-day postoperative period, the cognitive status of the control group improved; on the third postoperative day, there was no significant difference between the two groups (F = 3.52, p = .075). The music-listening group had higher scores on the NEECHAM Acute Confusion Scale across the 3-day postoperative period (F = 7.28, p = .014).

The effects of lavender and rosemary essential oils on test-taking anxiety among graduate nursing students.

Test taking in nursing school can produce stress that affects the ability of students to realize their goals of graduation. In this study, the use of lavender and rosemary essential oil sachets reduced test-taking stress in graduate nursing students as evidenced by lower scores on test anxiety measure, personal statements, and pulse rates.

The lived experience of Haitian older adults' integration into a senior center in southeast Florida.

A phenomenological design using interviews of 16 Haitian older adults was undertaken to better understand the lived experience of older Haitians as they integrated into an established senior center. Responses to the questions were recorded and transcribed. Two themes emerged: (a) a feeling of being accepted into a new community and (b) hope for a good life in their new homeland. Although older adults who are recent immigrants have a harder time assimilating into a new culture than younger persons, programs can be developed to make this transition easier.