Supporting university students with autism spectrum disorder.

Increasing numbers of students with autism spectrum disorder are entering higher education. Their success can be jeopardized by organizational, social/emotional, and academic challenges if appropriate supports are not in place. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a support group model for university students with autism spectrum disorder in improving psychological and functional outcomes.

An online social network to increase walking in dog owners: a randomized trial.

Purpose: Encouraging dog walking may increase physical activity in dog owners. This cluster-randomized controlled trial investigated whether a social networking Web site (Meetup™) could be used to deliver a multicomponent dog walking intervention to increase physical activity.

Methods: Sedentary dog owners (n = 102) participated.

The effect of hippotherapy on functional outcomes for children with disabilities: a pilot study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of hippotherapy on functional outcomes using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) for children with physical disabilities.

Methods: Participants included 4 children aged 5 to 9 years with physical impairments and/or documented motor delays. Individual measurable objectives were developed using the GAS for each child.

The marginalization of chronically ill adolescents.

Chronic illness during adolescence adds a dimension to a developmental stage that already has the potential to be tumultuous. Consequences of marginalization that predispose well adolescents to risk behaviors such as low self-worth and feelings of isolation are compounded in the chronically ill. In the author's proposed model, it is essential that nurses promote strategies that empower chronically ill adolescents.