Exploring an 8-Week Online Adaptive Yoga Program for Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.

This pretest-posttest, descriptive pilot study examined the feasibility and perceived impact of an 8-week online adaptive yoga program on patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The program incorporated yoga poses, breathing practices, and relaxation techniques. Participants rated their perceived and actual symptom severity, overall quality of life, and perception of program impact, and contributed open-ended narrative comments about the program. All participants reported an overall perceived benefit from study participation and expressed enjoyment in interacting with other patients with multiple sclerosis. The program was found to be safe and rewarding for all participants.

Roles and Perceptions of Nurses During Implementation of a Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder National Initiative.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, a national priority exists to improve access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Nurses can be an essential component of that care. We examined the perceptions and evolving roles of nurses in a national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) initiative designed to improve MOUD access within general medical settings. METHODS: From April 15, 2021, to June 16, 2021, we recruited nurses participating in VHA's Stepped Care for Opioid Use Disorder Train the Trainer Initiative-a national program intending to implement MOUD in general medical settings-to participate in an interview about their roles, perceptions, and experiences. The respondents answered our inquiries through an interview or responded to an email solicitation with written responses, which were then recorded, transcribed, and independently coded to identify themes. RESULTS: Nurses from 10 VHA facilities participated in an interview (n = 7) or completed the questionnaire (n = 4). Inadequate staffing, high patient-to-provider ratios, and time constraints were identified as barriers to MOUD care. Mentorship activities, existing VHA informational resources, and patients' willingness to accept treatment were identified as facilitators of MOUD care. The Stepped Care for Opioid Use Disorder Train the Trainer Initiative processes were acknowledged to promote role confidence, which in turn increased job satisfaction and empowered nurses to become content experts. Respondents often identified nurses as local lead facilitators in MOUD care. CONCLUSIONS: In a national initiative to implement MOUD within general medical settings, nurses identified several barriers and facilitators to MOUD implementation. Nurses play vital collaborative care roles in enhancing access to MOUD.

Postoperative pain management discharge teaching in a rural population.

With health care increasingly administered on an outpatient and in-home basis, the knowledge and education of any patient population including discharged postoperative patients are essential ingredients to optimal pain management. The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate in a rural setting a predischarge patient education intervention focused on self pain management of uncomplicated postsurgical patients after being discharged home. A total of 146 patients completed a pretest knowledge and experience questionnaire and then were randomly assigned to the education intervention group (n = 87) or the control group (n = 59). The control group received the usual standards of care. One week after discharge, 68 patients (47%) returned a completed a post-test knowledge and experience questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory, and a patient pain log used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Results indicated that although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding knowledge and experience about pain, postoperative pain, and interference of pain with activities of daily living 1 week after discharge, those that received the intervention had lower pain scores and less interference of pain with activities.

Hope in adults, ages 20-59, with advanced stage cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of terminal cancer begins one of the most complex and challenging individual experiences of human life that requires multiple coping responses, one of those being hope. There are few studies that provide descriptions of hope over time for adults, ages 20-59, with advanced stage cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe hope as defined and experienced by young and middle age adults with advanced stage cancer. METHODS: This descriptive, longitudinal qualitative research study interviewed 12 hopeful adults with advanced stage cancer once a month for 3 months. RESULTS: By definition, this population exhibited high levels of hope at study entry. Hope scores did not change overtime. Four qualities associated with high levels of hope included: reliance on strong spiritual beliefs, maintenance of positive attitudes, accommodation of cancer symptoms, and the presence of supportive resource people. The emphasis or importance of each quality and specific hope related goals were determined and defined individually. Hope goals varied in degree of expectancy and concreteness and require reassessment as conditions change. SIGNIFICANCES OF RESULTS: By identifying an individual's hope goals, palliative care clinicians can then plan and implement interventions to move toward that hope goal.