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Change in culture: Addition of a clinical pharmacist to the emergency department antimicrobial culture review process
(2016-12-13)
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a unit based pharmacist in assisting with antimicrobial selection of female patients discharged from the emergency department with a diagnosis of an uncomplicated urinary tract infection.
Setting: Academic-affiliated emergency department in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted among 870 female patients who were discharged from the emergency department with a positive urine culture requiring antimicrobial therapy revision. The primary investigator abstracted specific medical record information to determine if a pharmacist-driven culture review resulted in a higher percentage of appropriate antimicrobial selection when compared to the standard nurse/physician driven-culture review. The revised antimicrobial therapy treatment plan was deemed appropriate or not based on the “International Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis and Pyelonephritis in Women: A 2010 Update by the Infectious Disease Society of American and the European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Disease”.
Results: A Chi-Square Test of Independence was conducted to evaluate the relationship between two categorical variables: (1) type of provider (physician/pharmacists) and (2) adherence to clinical practice guidelines (yes/no). The test emerged significant, C2 = 17.4, df= 2, p < 0.01. Thus, a significant relationship between type of provider and appropriate treatment was found. Specifically, 52.2% of physicians used the appropriate treatment whereas 84.4% of pharmacists used the appropriate treatment....
Undergraduate sorority students' perceptions of current body size, ideal body size, eating habits, and the relation to body image dissatisfaction
(2016-12-21)
Disordered eating patterns and body discontent are widespread in Western society, especially among young women. Many adopt the “thin ideal,” a belief that women should have very slender bodies with small ...
Stress reduction in post cardiac surgery family members: Implementation of a post cardiac surgery family tool kit
(2017-04-13)
The intensive care unit (ICU) can be a place of stress, anxiety, and emotional instability for both patients and families. Medical and nursing care during this acute time is patient focused, and family members are often left in the dark. Unintentional exclusion from information results in high levels of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty for families. Due to the acuity of illness, family members of cardiac surgery patients experience the highest levels of stress. Spouses may experience intense psychosomatic symptoms: depression, anxiety, and fear, for several months after the surgery (Mahler & Kulik, 2002). The purpose of this study was aimed at decreasing those feelings of anxiety in post cardiac surgery family member through the use of a cardiac surgery toolkit. The study was a quality improvement project utilizing a convenience sample of 83 participants aged 18 and older. Participants were asked to use the State Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y-1 (state anxiety) to rate their anxiety level pre intervention and then again post intervention. Data was collected over a 6month period. Descriptive data including age, education level, ethnicity, relationship, previous experience in the ICU, and active diagnoses of mental disorders did not affect the changes in the pre and post test data. A paired t-test was conducted on the sample to assess changes in state anxiety, using the STAI Form Y-1. The results were statistically significant, t = 11.97, df = 81, p < 0.001. Respondents’ scores decreased significantly from pre- (M = 53.01, SD = 12.19) to post-intervention (M = 37.38, SD = 10.94). The data suggests that the use of a post cardiac surgery tool kit is a low risk measure that can decrease the anxiety in family members of post cardiac surgery patients....
Factors Influencing Breastfeeding Duration and Cessation Among U.S. Military Personnel: A Descriptive/Exploratory Electronic Survey
(2016-11-07)
Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to address the national public health issue of breastfeeding initiation and sustainment in relation to evidence-based practice recommendations by identifying factors associated ...