CHP faculty members (from left) Erika Combs, Lori Glenn, Tricia Thomas and Kristin Oneail at UDM's Fifth Annual Celebration of Scholarly Achievement, April 20.

Lifestyle change program shows results

A life-style change program for obese underserved African-American women, integrating exercise, nutrition and spirituality, is showing positive results. Preliminary findings of a study by UDM researchers Professor Carla Groh and Professor Emeritus Joan Urbancic, funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan (BCBSFM), show improved functioning in both physical and mental health among study participants. This interim data is potentially groundbreaking, as obesity is a critical social and health issue in the United States, which adversely impacts quality of life and life expectancy, and is a risk factor for several chronic diseases and cancers. Minorities are disproportionately impacted by obesity with African Americans experiencing the highest prevalence of obesity among minority groups.

The program, designed particularly for African-American women, includes vigorous chair exercise, nutrition and stress management education, and scriptural readings and group discussions that relate to health lifestyle change. A total of 110 women are enrolled in the study, with four cohorts having completed the 24-week study period and the fifth cohort in progress. Preliminary results show statistically significant differences from baseline to 24 weeks for cholesterol level, Body Mass Index, and waist measurement. [At this time, no statistically significant differences were detected on systolic or diastolic blood pressure readings, blood sugar levels, or triglyceride (fatty acids), although the changes are in the desired direction (e.g. decrease in triglyceride level).] Investigators also evaluated changes in mental and physical health using the SF-36 Health Survey, as well as the effectiveness of scripture readings as an intervention using the Spirituality and Health Lifestyle Change instrument. Changes are statistically significant for mental health and trending toward significance for physical health.

Recent academic achievements

Books & Book Chapters

O'Shaugnessey, Mary. "Individual behavior and motivation." Health Organizations Theory, Behavior and Development, Johnson, J. Jones and Bartlett, 2009.

Pacini, C.M. "Engaging staff in learning." Foundations of Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice. Fulton, J. Springer, 2009.

Thomas, Patricia. "Evaluating project outcomes." Project and Program Management for Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) and Doctorates in Nursing Practice (DNPs). Harris, Walters, Roussel, and Dearman. Jones and Bartlett, 2010.

Thomas, Patricia. "Creative and meaningful clinical immersions" and "Quality care and risk management." Initiating and Sustaining the Clinical Nurse Leader Role: A Practical Guide. Harris, J; Roussel, L. Jones and Bartlett, 2010.

Scholarly articles

Anthony, Maureen. "Caring for migrant farmworkers on medsurg units." Medsurg Nursing, 2010, in press.

Anthony, Maureen; Martin, E.; Avery, A. & Williams, J. "Self-care and health seeking activities of migrant and seasonal farmworkers." Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2009, in press.

Anthony, Maureen; Yastik, Joanne. "Student nurses' experiences with incivility in clinical education." Journal of Nursing Education.

Bellar, Ann; Kunkler, K.; Burkett, M. "Understanding, recognizing, and managing chronic critical illness syndrome." Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, vol. 21 no. 11, 2009, pp. 571-578.

Dosch, Michael. "Time to a 90% Change in Inhaled Gas Concentration: A Comparison of Three Semi-Closed Anesthesia Breathing Circuits." Anesthesia and Analgesia, vol. 108, no. 4, 2009, pp. 1193-1197.

Knight, Debra; Moser, Sharon; Groh, Carla. "A Pilot Study Assessing Physician Assistant Students' Self-Assessment of Professionalism." Journal of Physician Assistant Education, vol. 20, no. 1, 2009, pp. 24-29.

MacDonald, Lorri and Walters, Kate. "Collaborative Teaching in a Virtual Environment to Promote Conceptual Change for Nurse Educator Master's Students." Nursing Education Perspectives, 2010, in press.

Pacini, Christine. "Synergy: A Framework for Leadership Development and Transformation." Perioperative Nursing Clinics, vol. 4, no. 1, 2009, pp. 69-74.

Platt, Maia. "Review of Health Insurance, by Michael Morrisey." Journal of Health Administration Education, vol. 26, no. 3, 2009, pp. 252-253.

Saunders, M. M. "Working and Caregiving: A Comparison of Employed and Unemployed Caregivers of Older Heart Failure Patients." Holistic Nursing Practice, January/February 2010.

Saunders, M. M. "Indicators of Health-Related Quality of Life in Heart Failure Family Caregivers." Journal of Community Health Nursing, October/December 2009.

Stocker-Schneider, Julia; Slowik, Linda. "The Use of the Nursing Interventions Classification with Cardiac Patients Receiving Home Health Care." International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications, vol. 20, no. 3, 2009, pp. 132-140.

Welk, D.; Thomas, Patricia. "Considering a Career Change to a Nursing Faculty Position? Key Interview Questions to Ask and Why." Journal of Continuing Nursing Education, vol. 40, no. 4, April 2009, pp. 165-170.

Presentations

Kwasky, Andrea. "Testing the Effect of a Self-memory Intervention on Quality of Life Among Persons with Alzheimer's Disease." International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Conference., St. Louis, Mo., April 2010.

McClelland, Molly and Kleinke, Darrell. "Interdisciplinary Collaboration to Overcome Physical Disabilities." Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich., March 2010.

O'Connor, Nancy, Rouen, Patricia, Baiardi, Janet, Hasenau, Susan and Burgermeister, Diane. "Impacting Healthcare Reform through Academic and Health Systems Collaboration within a DNP consortium." American Association of Colleges of Nursing Doctoral Education Conference, Captiva Island, Fla., January 2010.

Pacini, C.M. "The ICU/PCU Revolving Door Phenomenon: Strategies for Managing Staff Progression to Graduate Education and Clinical Advancement." National Teaching Institute, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Washington, DC, May 2010.

Pacini, C.M. "Clinical Learning in Real Time: Transforming Nursing Development and Orientation in the New Age." Drexel University Nursing Education Institute, Myrtle Beach, S.C., June 2010.

Awards

Julia Stocker Schneider was awarded the Best of Journal of Nursing Scholarship: Health Policy and Systems Award, for the research article entitled: "Evaluating Home Health Care Nursing Outcomes with OASIS and NOC" at the Sigma Theta Tau Biennial Convention in November 2009.

Posters

The following research posters were presented at UDM's Fifth Annual Celebration of Scholarly Achievement on April 20. Faculty members' names are in bold.

Aniejurengho, Toritsetse; Floyd, Melaundra; Robinson, Frederika; Conley, Joyce. Literature Review: The Use of Recruitment Maneuvers With Positive-End Expiratory Pressure (Peep) or Peep Alone in Reducing Morbidity in Ventilated Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) AND Acute Lung Injury (ALI).

Cardiff, Nicol; Anderson, Tara; Conley, Joyce. Duration of Breastfeeding and Future of Development of Asthma and Atopy: A Literature Review.

Conley, Joyce; Bozimowski, Gregory; Dereczyk, Amy; Oneail, Kristin; O'Shaughnessey, Mary; Thiel, Linda. Best Practices in Academic Integrity in the UDM College of Health Professions, Detroit and Grand Rapids.

Conley, Joyce; Zeer, Sally; Shamoun, Anita. Evidence-Based Practice on Whether the Use of Oral Contraceptives Influences the Occurrence of Pre-Menopausal Breast Cancer in Women Who Are Either Known to Have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation or Not Known to Have the Mutation.

Conley, Joyce; Coleman, Shawn; Khemmoro, Sally. Literature Review of Statins and Ischemic Stroke: Are They Effective at Reducing the Risk?

Conley, Joyce. Nursing and Interdisciplinary Student Contributions to the Underserved Through the McAuley Nurse-Managed Health Center.

DeCoste, Robert; Lewandowski, Karin; Whaley, Jennifer; Conley, Joyce. A Literature Review of the Effectiveness of Varenicline vs. Nicotine Patches in Adult Smoking Cessation.

Johnson, Daniela; Conley, Joyce. In Chronically Ill Patients, What is the Effect of Telehealth on Hospital Readmission Rates Compared With No Telehealth Intervention?

Rouen, Patricia; Krein, Sara;, Roberts, Joyce; Reame, Nancy. Menopause Symptoms in Women with Diabetes: Glucose Control is an Important Correlate of Severity.

Sanders, Annie D; Brown, Arthurine D. (students). Evaluation of Emergency Department Utilization at a Primary Care Center for the Uninsured.

Saunders, Mitzi. Caring for a Family Member with Heart Failure: The Caregiver's Perspective.

Saunders, Mitzi. Needs of Caregivers Caring for Heart Failure Patients.

Thomas, Patricia. Charge Nurse Education: Intersecting Reflective Practice with Role Expectations.

White, Mary; Crawley, Jamie; Lewandowski, Linda; Rennie, Elizabeth. Examining the Effectiveness of Two Solutions Used to Flush Capped Pediatric Peripheral IV Lines.

White, Mary; Schim Myers, Stephanie. Development of an Instrument to Measure Spiritual Self-Care Practices.

White, Mary. Spirituality and Spiritual Self-Care: Expanding Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory.