A Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Three Walking Self-monitoring Strategies.

Purpose: Walking programs improve health outcomes in adults at risk for cardiovascular disease and self-monitoring strategies can improve adherence to such programs. The objective of this study was to determine if a six-month internet-based walking program using web-enhanced pedometers results in more weight loss than walking programs based on time or simple pedometer-step count goals in adults with or at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: This was a multi-site, randomized controlled trial of 255 male Veterans who were ambulatory, insufficiently active, BMI ≥ 28, and who reported 1 ≥ CVD risk factors.

Recruiting families at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer from a statewide cancer registry: a methodological study.

Purpose: Cancer genetic services (counseling/testing) are recommended for women diagnosed with breast cancer younger than 45 years old (young breast cancer survivors-YBCS) and at-risk relatives. We present recruitment of YBCS, identification and recruitment of at-risk relatives, and YBCS willingness to contact their cancer-free, female relatives.

Methods: A random sample of 3,000 YBCS, stratified by race (Black vs.

Implementation of the Tobacco Tactics intervention versus usual care in Trinity Health community hospitals.

Background: Guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) implementation framework, a National Institutes of Health-sponsored study compared the nurse-administered Tobacco Tactics intervention to usual care. A prior paper describes the effectiveness of the Tobacco Tactics intervention. This subsequent paper provides data describing the remaining constructs of the RE-AIM framework.

Effectiveness of the Tobacco Tactics Program in the Trinity Health System.

Introduction: This study determined the effectiveness of the Tobacco Tactics intervention.

Design/setting/participants: This was a pragmatic, quasi-experimental study conducted from 2010 to 2013 and analyzed from 2014 to 2015 in five Michigan community hospitals; three received the Tobacco Tactics intervention, and two received usual care. Smokers (N=1,528) were identified during hospitalization, and sent surveys and cotinine tests after 6 months.

Gardening/Yard Work and Depressive Symptoms in African Americans.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of gardening/yard work in relation to depressive symptoms in African-Americans while controlling for biological and social factors.

Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on the National Survey of American Life (n=2,903) using logistic regression for complex samples. Gardening/Yard work was measured by self-reported frequency.

Refusal to participate in heart failure studies: do age and gender matter?

Aims And Objectives: The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate reasons heart failure patients decline study participation, to inform interventions to improve enrollment.

Background: Failure to enrol older heart failure patients (age > 65) and women in studies may lead to sampling bias, threatening study validity.

Design: This study was a retrospective analysis of refusal data from four heart failure studies that enrolled 788 patients in four states.

Implementation of a Psychoeducational Program for Cancer Survivors and Family Caregivers at a Cancer Support Community Affiliate: A Pilot Effectiveness Study.

Background: Psychoeducational interventions, tested for efficacy in randomized clinical trials, are seldom implemented in clinical practice where cancer survivors and their family caregivers can benefit from them.

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of the FOCUS Program on cancer survivors' and their family caregivers' outcomes when implemented at a Cancer Support Community (CSC) affiliate by agency social workers. Study aims were to (1) test effects of the program on survivor and caregiver outcomes as a unit and (2) determine program feasibility in terms of enrollment, retention, intervention fidelity, and satisfaction.

Nurse-Enhanced Computerized Cognitive Training Increases Serum Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor Levels and Improves Working Memory in Heart Failure.

Background: Memory loss is common in heart failure (HF) patients, but few interventions have been tested to treat it. The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy of a cognitive training intervention, Brain Fitness, to improve memory, serum brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels, working memory, processing speed, executive function, instrumental activities of daily living, mobility, depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life.

Methods And Results: Twenty-seven HF patients were randomly assigned to Brain Fitness and health education active control interventions.

DEFENS - Drug Exposure Feedback and Education for Nurses' Safety: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Three decades of research findings have documented the health effects of handling hazardous drugs. Oncology nurses are vulnerable due to frequent administration of antineoplastics, low adherence to equipment use, reported barriers to use, and perceived low risk of health effects. No interventions have been tested in a controlled, multi-site trial to increase nurses' use of protective equipment when handling hazardous drugs.

Protocol of a randomized controlled trial of hearing protection interventions for farm operators.

Background: Hearing loss and tinnitus are prevalent in America, and noise-induced hearing loss is a leading cause of hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss has negative impact on quality of life, physical and emotional functioning, social life, and employment. In addition, noise-induced hearing loss results in heavy social and economic burdens on families and communities from all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Effectiveness of the tobacco tactics program for psychiatric inpatient veterans: an implementation study.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the inpatient, nurse-administered Tobacco Tactics program for patients admitted for psychiatric conditions in two Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals compared to a control hospital.

Methods: This is a subgroup analysis of data from the inpatient tobacco tactics effectiveness trial, which was a longitudinal, pre- post-nonrandomized comparison design with 6-month follow-up in the three large Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) 11 hospitals.

Results: Six-month self-reported quit rates for patients admitted for psychiatric conditions increased from 3.

Evaluation and costs of volunteer telephone cessation follow-up counseling for Veteran smokers discharged from inpatient units: a quasi-experimental, mixed methods study.

Background: The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to evaluate the volunteer telephone smoking cessation counseling follow-up program implemented as part of the inpatient Tobacco Tactics intervention in a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental, mixed methods design that collected data through electronic medical records (EMR), observations of telephone smoking cessation counseling calls, interviews with staff and Veterans involved in the program, and intervention costs.

Results: Reach: Of the 131 Veterans referred to the smoking cessation telephone follow-up program, 19% were reached 0-1 times, while 81% were reached 2-4 times.

A Pilot Intervention to Promote Safer Sex in Heterosexual Puerto Rican Couples.

Although the sexual transmission of HIV occurs in the context of an intimate relationship, preventive interventions with couples are scarce, particularly those designed for Hispanics. In this article, we present the effect of a pilot intervention directed to prevent HIV/AIDS in heterosexual couples in Puerto Rico. The intervention was theory-based and consisted of five three-hour group sessions.

Depressive Symptoms and Walking in African-Americans.

Objective: Although increased frequency of physical activity is associated with fewer depressive symptoms in African-Americans, most studies do not focus on a specific type of activity. Identifying the activity can provide helpful information for designing interventions that focus on depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to examine the odds of depressive symptoms in relation to walking in African-Americans.

Web-enhanced tobacco tactics with telephone support versus 1-800-QUIT-NOW telephone line intervention for operating engineers: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Novel interventions tailored to blue collar workers are needed to reduce the disparities in smoking rates among occupational groups.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and usage of the Web-enhanced "Tobacco Tactics" intervention targeting operating engineers (heavy equipment operators) compared to the "1-800-QUIT-NOW" telephone line.

Methods: Operating engineers (N=145) attending one of 25 safety training sessions from 2010 through 2012 were randomized to either the Tobacco Tactics website with nurse counseling by phone and access to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or to the 1-800-QUIT-NOW telephone line, which provided an equal number of phone calls and NRT.

Nursing knowledge, practice patterns, and learning preferences regarding chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Purpose/objectives: To explore nurses' practice patterns, knowledge, and barriers related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional.

Setting: The United States.

A tailored Web-based psychoeducational intervention for cancer patients and their family caregivers.

Background: Most programs addressing psychosocial concerns of cancer survivors are in-person programs that are expensive to deliver, have limited availability, and seldom deal with caregivers' concerns.

Objective: This study examined the feasibility of translating an efficacious nurse-delivered program (FOCUS Program) for patients and their caregivers to a tailored, dyadic Web-based format. Specific aims were to (1) test the preliminary effects of the Web-based intervention on patient and caregiver outcomes, (2) examine participants' program satisfaction, and (3) determine the feasibility of using a Web-based delivery format.

Effectiveness of the tobacco tactics program in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Purpose: The purpose was to determine the effectiveness of the Tobacco Tactics program in three Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Methods: In this effectiveness trial, inpatient nurses were educated to provide the Tobacco Tactics intervention in Ann Arbor and Detroit, while Indianapolis was the control site (N = 1,070). Smokers were surveyed and given cotinine tests.

The impact of Sun Solutions educational interventions on select health belief model constructs.

The purpose of this study was to offer the Sun Solutions intervention to operating engineers (N = 232) to decrease sun exposure and skin cancer. The majority (82%) of the engineers worked outside between 10 a.m.

The relationship of alcohol use and physical activity from an ecologic perspective.

Purpose: To determine the predictors of alcohol use (AU) and their relationship to physical activity (PA) among adolescents and to examine differences among groups using an ecologic model.

Design And Methods: Cross sectional secondary analysis of 11,432 adolescents (51% 8th and 49% 10th graders).

Results: Attitude, perception of risk, and academic performance were the strongest predictors of AU.

Train-the-trainer intervention to increase nursing teamwork and decrease missed nursing care in acute care patient units.

Background: Teamwork is essential for patient safety and results in less missed nursing care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the impact of a train-the-trainer intervention on the level of satisfaction with nursing teamwork and the amount of missed nursing care.

Methods: This study used a quasiexperimental design with repeated measures taken at pretest, posttest, and 2 months after completion of the intervention.

Patient-centered communication and health assessment with youth.

Background: Patient-centered communication is fundamental to individualizing healthcare, but there has been limited evaluation of provider communication with youth.

Objectives: The aim was to compare communication outcomes after use of an event history calendar (EHC) and Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) to structure interactions during a clinic visit. Patient and provider descriptions of EHC and GAPS communication experiences were also obtained.

The development of the tobacco tactics website.

Background: Web-based cessation interventions have been shown to reduce tobacco use, be more efficacious than self-help booklets, be more efficacious if they provide tailored messages, and enhance quit rates in conjunction with nicotine replacement therapy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to usability test and pilot test the Tobacco Tactics website for veterans.

Methods: Both formative and summative evaluations were used across three small successive studies to develop and test the Tobacco Tactics website for veterans, which was based on a prior face-to-face smoking cessation intervention.

Healthcare resource use among heart failure patients in a randomized pilot study of a cognitive training intervention.

Objectives: To compare healthcare resource use of patients with heart failure (HF) randomized to the cognitive training intervention and to the health education active control intervention in a randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Cognitive training interventions may be efficacious and improve patients' memory and abilities to perform instrumental activities of daily living and self-care behaviors that may, in turn, lower healthcare resource use, but the influence of these interventions on healthcare resource use is unknown.

Methods: Thirty-four HF patients were randomized to the computerized plasticity-based cognitive training intervention called Brain Fitness and to the health education active control intervention and completed the study.