Potential influence of nurses' implicit racial bias on maternal mortality.

Stark disparities persist in maternal mortality and perinatal outcomes for Black and other birthing people of color, such as Native Americans, and their newborns compared to White people in the United States. An increasing body of research describes the phenomenon of implicit racial bias among providers and how it may affect communication, treatment decisions, the patient care experience, and health outcomes. This synthesis of literature reviews and distills current research on the presence and influence of implicit racial bias among nurses as it may relate to maternal and pregnancy-related care and outcomes. In this paper, we also summarize what is known about implicit racial bias among other types of healthcare providers and interventions that can mitigate its effects, identify a gap in research, and recommend next steps for nurses and nurse researchers.

Gut-Brain Axis Perspective on Negative Symptoms and Their Neighbors in Early Adolescence: Can We Move Care Upstream?

The current study investigated symptom network patterns in adolescents from a gut-brain-axis (GBA) biopsychosocial perspective. Our secondary analysis of data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study assessed symptom relationships using network analysis to provide information about multivariate structural dependencies among 41 signs and symptoms. Cross-sectional EBICglasso symptom networks were evaluated to assess patterns associated with anhedonia and depressed mood. Significant differences were identified between symptom neighbors of anhedonia compared with depressed mood based on stratification by age. The GBA perspective revealed several symptom neighbors that could expand clinical assessment, diagnosing criteria, education, and interventions for adolescents at risk for, or with, anhedonia or depressed mood. Results speak to the unique impact of symptoms on health that are not interchangeable with other symptoms and do not have equal effects. Mental health nurses should consider a holistic and proactive precision health approach to improving health and well-being through evidence-based assessment of symptom associations. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(7), 29-38.].

Drug Testing Practices and Policies of Labor and Delivery Units Across the Southeastern United States.

OBJECTIVE: To describe drug testing practices used in labor and delivery units in seven southeastern U.S. states (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee), determine what risk factors prompt drug testing, and determine whether selective policies or factors that prompt testing differ based on hospital characteristics (type, size, or predominant payer source). DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive design. SETTING: Labor and delivery units in seven southeastern U.S. states. PARTICIPANTS: Nurse administrators of labor and delivery units (N = 49) who responded for their units. METHODS: We used a purposive sampling technique to construct a database of hospitals with obstetric services and e-mail addresses for nurse administrators. We created a 35-item survey to collect hospital characteristics and drug testing policy information. We distributed the survey to 291 nurse administrators. RESULTS: We received 49 responses (response rate = 16.8%). Respondents reported that 63% (31/49) of hospitals were not-for-profit, 87% (40/46) had Medicaid as the predominant payer source, 80% (37/46) had a formal perinatal drug testing policy, and 61% (30/49) used selective drug testing protocols. Current or past history of substance use was reported as the risk factor that most often prompted drug testing. We did not find any differences in hospital characteristics (type, size, or predominant payer source) that prompted testing. CONCLUSION: Most respondents reported that their labor and delivery units had a written drug testing policy and often used selective drug testing protocols. Drug testing protocols did not differ based on hospital type, size, or predominant payer source. Nurses have a role in implementing a best practice with unit-based drug testing.

Associations of Symptom Clusters and Health Outcomes in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report From the St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To identify symptom clusters among adult survivors of childhood cancers and test associations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical and neurocognitive performance. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 3,085 survivors (mean age at evaluation 31.9 ± 8.3 years; mean years from diagnosis 28.1 ± 9.1) participating in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Survivors self-reported the presence of 37 symptoms capturing 10 domains (cardiac, pulmonary, sensory, motor/movement, nausea, pain, fatigue, memory, anxiety, and depression). The Short Form-36's Physical/Mental Component Summaries assessed HRQOL; the Physical Performance Test evaluated physical performance; and neurocognitive batteries tested attention, processing/psychomotor speed, memory, and executive function. Latent class analysis identified subgroups of survivors experiencing different patterns of symptom burden (ie, symptom clusters). Multivariable regression models identified risk of cluster membership and tested associations with health outcomes. RESULTS: Four symptom clusters were identified including cluster 1 (prevalence 52.4%; low physical, somatization, and psychologic domains), cluster 2 (16.1%; low physical, moderate somatic, and high psychologic domains), cluster 3 (17.6%; high physical, moderate somatic, and low psychologic domains), and cluster 4 (13.9%; high in all three domains). Compared with cluster 1, survivors in cluster 4 were more likely to have less than high school education (odds ratio [OR], 7.71; 95% CI, 4.46 to 13.31), no insurance (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.13), and exposure to corticosteroids (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.02 to 3.03); survivors in cluster 3 were more likely to have received platinum agents (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.34 to 3.68) and brain radiation ≥ 30 Gy (OR, 3.99; 95% CI, 2.33 to 6.86). Survivors in cluster 4 reported the poorest Physical Component Summary/Mental Component Summary scores (31.0/26.7) and physical and neurocognitive performance versus survivors in the other clusters (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Nearly 50% of survivors had moderate to high multisymptom burden, which was associated with sociodemographic, treatment factors, HRQOL, and functional outcomes.

Model Integration: Can Understanding Biopsychosocial Gut-Brain Axis Mechanistic Pathways Improve our Clinical Reasoning in Primary Care?

INTRODUCTION: Most NPs practice in primary care settings. Cognitive tools to inform and advance NP understanding of biopsychosocial mechanisms can support early recognition, interdisciplinary collaboration, interventions, and prevention of negative outcomes. THEORY AND METHODS: We describe the development of a model to support NP consideration of gut-brain axis (GBA) evidence-based pathways, contributing variables, and related health outcomes. RESULTS: The model's outcomes are factors associated with homeostasis or disruption of biological, psychological, and social systems. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: This cognitive tool aims to support NP awareness of multi-domain GBA relationships to consider with differential diagnoses and clinical treatment of the "whole body system".

Sleep, Nutrition, Disordered Eating, Problematic Tobacco and Alcohol Use, and Exercise in College Students With and Without Diabetes.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the health behaviors of college students with diabetes and compare behaviors to college students without diabetes. This descriptive study used the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II and included 1,216 students between ages 18 and 24. Health behaviors related to sleep, nutrition, disordered eating, problematic tobacco and alcohol use, and exercise were examined. Students with diabetes (n = 528) reported a higher frequency of meeting exercise recommendations and less healthy behaviors related to nutrition and problematic tobacco and alcohol use. Both groups of students reported inadequate sleep. Students with diabetes reported more academic problems due to sleep difficulties, disordered eating, and problematic alcohol use. Health behaviors in both groups showed similar needs for improvement. Nurses are in a position to guide new, prospective, and continuing college students with diabetes in practicing behaviors associated with positive health outcomes. Opportunities for interventions are numerous. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(12), 23-32.].

Posttraumatic stress symptoms in mothers of premature infants.

OBJECTIVE: To examine mothers' responses to having a premature infant in the neonatal intensive-care unit and to determine the degree to which they appear similar to a posttraumatic stress response. DESIGN: Mothers were enrolled in this descriptive, correlational study shortly before the infant was discharged from the hospital. Data were collected at enrollment and when the infant was 6 months old, corrected for prematurity. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 30 mothers of high-risk premature infants. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A semistructured interview of the mothers was conducted at 6 months corrected age. Interview responses were analyzed to identify three symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder: re-experiencing, avoidance, and increased arousal. Other measures focused on maternal psychological well-being--neonatal intensive-care unit stress, depressive symptoms, and worry about the infant--and demographic characteristics. Infant illness severity included birth weight, length of mechanical ventilation, multiple birth, and the severity of neurological insults. RESULTS: All mothers interviewed had at least one posttraumatic symptom, 12 had two, and 16 had three symptoms. Twenty-six mothers reported increased arousal; re-experiencing and avoidance were reported by 24 mothers each. The number, but not the type, of posttraumatic stress symptoms was related to maternal psychological well-being. Maternal demographic characteristics, except marital status, and infant illness severity, were unrelated to posttraumatic stress symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These mothers appeared to be experiencing emotional responses similar to posttraumatic stress reactions at 6 months after their child's expected birth date. Since maternal emotional responses may affect the parenting of premature infants, additional nursing research is needed provide a basis for interventions with these highly vulnerable mothers and infants.