Mindfulness meditation in older adults with postherpetic neuralgia: a randomized controlled pilot study.

This parallel-group, randomized controlled pilot study examined daily meditation in a diverse sample of older adults with postherpetic neuralgia. Block randomization was used to allocate participants to a treatment group (n = 13) or control group (n = 14). In addition to usual care, the treatment group practiced daily meditation for six weeks.

Dissemination and Implementation Research Funded by the US National Institutes of Health, 2005-2012.

Dissemination and implementation (D&I) research is a growing area of science focused on overcoming the science-practice gap by targeting the distribution of information and adoption of interventions to public health and clinical practice settings. This study examined D&I research projects funded under specific program announcements by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 2005 to 2012. The authors described the projects' D&I strategies, funding by NIH Institute, focus, characteristics of the principal investigators (PIs) and their organizations, and other aspects of study design and setting.

Emotional connection and integration: dominant themes among undergraduate nursing students using a virtual community.

The use of virtual communities is an emerging pedagogical application that enhances student learning in nursing education. This study involved a sample of 40 undergraduate students enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing program using The Neighborhood as a teaching application across the curriculum. The students were followed over three successive semesters.

Health and health behaviors among elderly Hispanic women.

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the relationship between health and health behaviors among elderly Hispanic women who were lifetime U.S. residents.

Adult learner centered processes in an online ADRN to BSN nursing program: independent evaluator and peer self-assessments.

A five year fully online RN to BSN program was assessed by faculty and a consultant using the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Partnerships for Training (PFT) learner-centered evaluation tool. Faculty were more critical of their expertise in learner-centered online course criteria than the consultant. The consultant identified minimal use of peer support, collaborative activities, faculty preference for visual learner activities, and a tendency toward faculty ownership of learning goals and creation of activity rules and guidelines.

Reification of abstract concepts to improve comprehension using interactive virtual environments and a knowledge-based design: a renal physiology model.

Several abstract concepts in medical education are difficult to teach and comprehend. In order to address this challenge, we have been applying the approach of reification of abstract concepts using interactive virtual environments and a knowledge-based design. Reification is the process of making abstract concepts and events, beyond the realm of direct human experience, concrete and accessible to teachers and learners.

A strategy for involving on-campus and distance students in a nursing research course.

Background: Teaching research at the undergraduate level can be a challenge. This is particularly true for distance education courses, in which students often feel isolated from each other and from faculty. Faculty teaching on-campus and distance education research courses designed a student research project and a method for bringing distance and on-campus students together to present their research findings.