Meditation for Anxiety: A Holistic Approach to Treatment.

This comprehensive integrated literature review provides evidence-based information on mindfulness meditation as a primary care treatment for anxiety. A variety of databases were utilized for article collection including MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Plus with full text, Cochrane library, APA PsycInfo, APA PsycTests, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and PsycARTICLES. Research suggests anxiety can be treated effectively with a minimum of 8 weeks of meditation practice.

Alternatives to glucocorticoid monotherapy in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica.

Background: Treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) can be challenging. The most efficacious and cost-effective treatment of PMR is some type of glucocorticoid (GC), with necessary treatment duration typically one year or longer. This duration of GC use is often associated with significant morbidity.

The Gut-Brain-Microbiome Connection: Can Probiotics Decrease Anxiety and Depression?

Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent mood disorders worldwide. Complete remission of symptoms is often difficult to achieve, despite following recommended treatment guidelines. Numerous antidepressants and anxiolytics exist, and new drugs are being developed constantly, yet the incidence of common mood disorders continues to rise.

Palliative Care in a Death-Denying Culture: Exploring Barriers to Timely Palliative Efforts for Heart Failure Patients in the Primary Care Setting.

Context: Heart failure (HF) is a complex, life-limiting disease that is prevalent and burdensome. All major cardiology societies and international clinical practice guidelines recommend the integration of palliative care (PC) interventions alongside usual HF management.

Objectives: The purpose of this review of the literature was to evaluate the various barriers to the early initiation of PC for HF patients in the primary care setting.

Analysis of common barriers to rural patients utilizing hospice and palliative care services: An integrated literature review.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this literature review is to explore barriers and potential solutions related to hospice (HC) and palliative care (PC) services among rural residents. Although the healthcare system is continually advancing, healthcare providers may not be optimizing HC and PC referrals for the growing rural population who underutilize these services. Suggested methods to close the utilization gap between HC and PC services among rural patients appear feasible, but universal effectiveness cannot be determined.

Oral sucrose for pain control in nonneonate infants during minor painful procedures.

Purpose: To provide information regarding the effective use of oral sucrose as an analgesic for immunization and venipuncture procedures in the older infant.

Data Sources: Evidence-based literature including original clinical trials, reviews, and clinical practice guidelines.

Conclusions: Most infants are exposed to multiple minor painful procedures during the first year of life.

Blending technology in teaching advanced health assessment in a family nurse practitioner program: using personal digital assistants in a simulation laboratory.

Purpose: This article describes the development and implementation of integrated use of personal handheld devices (personal digital assistants, PDAs) and high-fidelity simulation in an advanced health assessment course in a graduate family nurse practitioner (NP) program. A teaching tool was developed that can be utilized as a template for clinical case scenarios blending these separate technologies.

Data Sources: Review of the evidence-based literature, including peer-reviewed articles and reviews.

Pharmacological prevention of combat-related PTSD: a literature review.

Preventing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could have a significant positive impact on military readiness and quality of life. Few studies have examined whether pharmacological agents may prevent PTSD, and there has not been a systematic and critical review of these studies in order to guide future research efforts. We performed a literature review of articles examining the use of pharmacological agents for the prevention of PTSD.

Empowering the primary care provider to optimally manage mild traumatic brain injury.

Purpose: This article provides current, evidence-based information regarding the management of mild traumatic brain injuries for the primary-care provider.

Data Sources: Literature review of the evidence-based literature, including peer-reviewed articles and reviews of published randomized controlled trials and clinical practice guidelines.

Conclusions: There are lessons to learn from the civilian and military care of mild traumatic brain injuries.

Exploring the value of an international service-learning experience in Honduras.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an international service-learning experience in Honduras on the cultural competence of the participants. The study included a quantitative portion in which participants utilized the Cultural Competence Assessment instrument as a pretest-posttest evaluation of change in cultural competence, and a qualitative portion in which students discussed their feelings about the experience. The quantitative portion showed an increase in cultural competence behaviors following the experience.

How can primary care providers manage pediatric obesity in the real world?

Purpose: To provide information regarding evidence-based interventions and clinical practice guidelines as a basis for a clinical toolkit utilizing a step management approach for the primary care provider in managing childhood obesity.

Data Sources: Evidence-based literature including original clinical trials, literature reviews, and clinical practice guidelines.

Conclusions: Interventions can be stratified based on initial screening of children and adolescents so that selection of treatment options is optimized.