Publications by authors named "Arlene Michaels Miller"
High pain intensity is commonly experienced by patients with serious advanced illness. Impediments to improving pain intensity in home hospice include poor adherence to a pain management regimen due to caregivers' lack of knowledge and self-efficacy (confidence) in administering analgesics. e-PainSupport is a self-administered, digital application directly linked to patients' medical records.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlack female adolescents and women have disproportionately higher rates of obesity than their racial/ethnic counterparts. There is an urgent need to address obesity prevention in Black adolescent females through interventions that enhance lifestyle physical activity and improve dietary behaviors. Middle adolescence presents an important opportunity to strengthen the daughter-mother bond and improve healthy behaviors such as physical activity and dietary intake.
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- Informal hospice caregivers struggle with managing patient pain at home, prompting the development of the e-Pain Reporter app to help them log and monitor this pain effectively.
- The study aimed to evaluate how feasible it is for caregivers to use the app over nine days, focusing on caregiver satisfaction, usage frequency, and barriers to effective pain management.
- Results showed high satisfaction and regular use of the app among caregivers, but also revealed misconceptions about pain management, indicating the need for educational tools to improve understanding and efficacy in pain management.
Components of the Advance Care Planning Process in the Nursing Home Setting.
J Hosp Palliat Nurs
February 2018
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the advance care planning process for nursing home residents and identified common concerns through content analysis of video-conferenced meetings involving residents and family members.
- The Advance Care Planning Process Framework developed from the analysis consists of three phases: assessing the resident’s end-of-life care status, negotiating a realistic plan of care, and creating an action plan with complete advance directives.
- The findings highlight that consultations led to effective action plans aligning residents' wishes with medical records, emphasizing the value of discussions facilitated by palliative care specialists.
Background: For interventions to be implemented effectively, fidelity must be documented. We evaluated fidelity delivery, receipt, and enactment of the 48-week Women's Lifestyle Physical Activity Program conducted to increase physical activity and maintain weight in African American women.
Methods: Three study conditions all received 6 group meetings; 1 also received 11 motivational interviewing personal calls (PCs), 1 received11 automated motivational message calls (ACs), and 1 received no calls.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to understand the experiences of military spouses living with veterans suffering from combat-related PTSD.
- The research involved interviews with 14 spouses, revealing that they feel the veterans have changed significantly and must adapt to the unpredictability of the condition, often bearing the responsibility of maintaining family normalcy.
- The findings highlight the psychological stress faced by these spouses, emphasizing the need for supportive programs to enhance their resilience in dealing with the challenges of living with veterans with PTSD.
Purpose: To compare the effects of a physical activity (PA) intervention of group meetings versus group meetings supplemented by personal calls or automated calls on the adoption and maintenance of PA and on weight stability among African-American women.
Design: Randomized clinical trial with three conditions randomly assigned across six sites.
Setting: Health settings in predominately African-American communities.
Correlates of lifestyle: physical activity among South Asian Indian immigrants.
J Community Health Nurs
April 2015
South Asian immigrants are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but little is known about their physical activity patterns. In this cross-sectional study, 110 participants were recruited to describe lifestyle physical activity behavior of this at-risk population. Education (p = .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPost-immigration adaptation is characterized by chronic and acute acculturative stressors. Salivary cortisol is a commonly used hormonal marker of stress, but few studies have investigated its use as an indicator of acculturative stress and adjustment in immigrants. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among predictors of adjustment (environmental and language mastery), self-reported stress outcomes (depressive symptoms, perceived stress, alienation), and salivary cortisol response in immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Women who receive services from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) often stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended. Little is known about maternal background and intrapersonal variables that predict the timing of breastfeeding cessation over the 12-month postpartum period.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the maternal background and intrapersonal predictors associated with the timing of breastfeeding cessation in WIC participants over the course of the 12-month postpartum period.
Article Synopsis
- Most research on immigrant acculturation has largely relied on cross-sectional data, which may overlook the different paths individuals take in this complex process.
- The study focused on 226 women from the former Soviet Union who had been in the US for less than eight years, using self-reported data collected over four years to track their acculturation changes.
- Findings revealed that the various components of acculturation—like American behavior, Russian behavior, English proficiency, and cultural generativity—changed at different rates, suggesting that each aspect should be evaluated individually for a comprehensive understanding of acculturation over time.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions about barriers to Korean American immigrant women's seeking mental health services. Four focus groups were conducted with 27 Korean American participants, including two groups of providers and two groups of community women. Discussions were recorded and transcribed to identify and code themes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral acculturation theories note the importance of surrounding context, but few studies describe neighborhood influences on immigrant adaptation. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among neighborhood immigrant concentration, acculturation, and alienation for 151 women aged 44-80 from the former Soviet Union who lived in the US fewer than 13 years. Participants resided in 65 census tracts in the Chicago area with varying concentrations of Russian-speaking and diverse immigrants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study identified factors that predicted improved levels of physical activity in working women. Data were from a prospective, controlled trial. Sedentary women (N = 287) were recruited during an employer-sponsored health screening.
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- Higher levels of acculturation in midlife immigrant women from the former Soviet Union are linked to lower depression levels, as they improve mental health by reducing social alienation.
- The study used structural equation modeling to show that as women became more assimilated into American culture, they experienced less personal and family stress, contributing to a decrease in depressive symptoms.
- The findings emphasize the need to consider contextual factors in creating mental health interventions for new immigrants, aligning with an ecological framework.
Post-immigration adjustment is affected by demographic and health characteristics, as well as national resources. Since 1989, more than a million people emigrated from the former Soviet Union (FSU) to the United States and Israel. These countries differ substantially in health systems and immigrant benefits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this randomized clinical trial study was to determine the effectiveness of a 24-week, home-based, moderate-intensity, walking intervention in improving symptoms (vasomotor, uro-genital/sexual, sleep, psychological, cognitive, physical) experienced by midlife women. One hundred and seventy-three Caucasian and African American women aged 45 to 65 who were not on hormone therapy, had no major signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease, and were sedentary in their leisure activity were randomly assigned to the moderate-intensity walking group or the nonexercise control group. The exercise prescription was walking at a frequency of 4 times a week for a duration of 20 to 30 minutes.
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- A significant portion of women (27%) do not engage in leisure-time physical activity, and about 50% of those who start exercise programs drop out within the first 3-6 months, making it crucial to understand factors influencing engagement and retention.
- This study focused on midlife women (ages 40-65), examining their ability to maintain walking after participating in a 24-week home-based program, analyzing background characteristics and self-efficacy related to exercise.
- Results showed an 80% retention rate during the maintenance phase, with participants adhering to an average of 64% of their walking goals, indicating that both self-efficacy and prior adherence significantly impact the maintenance of physical activity.
The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis is to examine symptoms of depressed mood in relation to age, menopausal status, and length of residence in the United States in midlife women who are recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Data for this analysis are from a longitudinal study of the impact of acculturation on postimmigration health status and psychological well-being. The mean score for the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale was 23.
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- The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a brief, tailored counseling intervention in increasing physical activity among sedentary women in the workplace, using the Transtheoretical Model.
- The intervention group (134 women) received personalized health screening, a brief intervention, and a follow-up call, while the control group (153 women) received standard health counseling without tailoring.
- Results showed that the intervention group significantly improved their physical activity levels after six weeks, demonstrating the potential for brief, tailored strategies in workplace health promotion.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on midlife women from the former Soviet Union, exploring how acculturation impacts depression and cardiovascular health.
- Older participants showed higher depression and less American cultural adaptation, while longer residence correlated with American acculturation.
- Key predictors of cardiovascular risk included obesity, depression, and acculturation, suggesting that adapting to American lifestyles may lower heart disease risk in this demographic.
The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis is to examine modifiable CVD risk factors in relation to menopausal status, age, and length of residence in the U.S. of midlife women from the former Soviet Union.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purposes of this study were to: (a) identify which determinants of physical activity among African American and Caucasian women predict adherence to a 24-week home-based walking program; and (b) explore differences between African American and Caucasian women. Participants were 153 working women who were sedentary at leisure. The program included an exercise prescription, instructions, and support.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBecoming bicultural: Chinese American women and their development.
Health Care Women Int
September 2002
Article Synopsis
- Ethnic and racial diversity in the U.S. has sparked interest in biculturalism, particularly in how it affects young adults.
- Fifteen interviews with second-generation Chinese American women reveal a developmental map showcasing their unique experiences as minority women.
- The study concludes that biculturalism involves both behavioral and psychological elements, enhancing understanding of Asian American women's development and providing insights for nursing research focusing on minority women.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore older adults' views on wellness, self-care, and health promotion activities through six focus groups involving 45 participants aged 62 to 91.
- The findings suggest that health encompasses various elements like independence, illness management, positivity, personal growth, and community contribution, influenced by individual self-assessment and environmental factors.
- Key factors for maintaining health include social interaction, support systems, and program flexibility, with a focus on creating engaging and personalized wellness programs for older adults.