Improving Resiliency in U.S. Air Force Healthcare Personnel: A Randomized Preventive Trial.

Introduction: The effectiveness of the Stress Management and Resilience Training (SMART) with U.S. military personnel has not been reported in the literature.

Treatment-Seeking Beliefs and Behaviors in Air Force Nursing Personnel.

Introduction: Perceptions of stigma and barriers associated with seeking mental health services have been described in past research with military service members who reported or screened positively for mental health concerns or who reported an intention to seek care. The reported influence of stronger perceptions of stigma on treatment seeking has varied.

Materials And Methods: An anonymous, online survey was administered to Air Force nursing personnel (N = 250) at three locations to describe beliefs associated with seeking mental health treatment and to investigate the extent to which stigma and barriers, stress, and resilience were related to mental health treatment seeking.

Building academic-military research collaborations to improve the health of service members.

Background: Academic-military research collaborations are desirable for many reasons; however, little guidance in the literature exists to help researchers understand collaboration requirements.

Purpose: To describe the process for establishing academic-military research collaborations.

Method: Specific collaboration requirements researchers must be aware of are outlined, two case studies are provided, and opportunities for and challenges with collaborations are discussed.

Personal growth, symptoms, and uncertainty in community-residing adults with heart failure.

Background: Personal growth has not been studied extensively in heart failure (HF).

Objectives: To characterize personal growth in HF and its relationships with symptom burden, uncertainty, and demographic and clinical factors.

Methods: Associations among personal growth, uncertainty, symptom burden, and clinical and demographic variables were examined in adult outpatients with HF using bivariate correlations and multiple regressions.

Symptoms among patients receiving in-center hemodialysis: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Assessment of dialysis-related symptoms is not currently a requirement for hemodialysis (HD) providers in the United States. The purpose of this study was to describe patients' perspectives on symptoms associated with end-stage chronic kidney disease treated with thrice-weekly, in-center HD.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study using interpretive description.

A Concept Analysis of Stigma Perceived by Military Service Members Who Seek Mental Health Services.

Problem: The aim of this concept analysis is to clarify military service members' stigma associated with seeking mental health services (MHS). Since 2001, over 2 million military service members have been deployed for or assigned to support military operations. Many service members develop a mental health concern during or after a deployment.

Resilience, Stress, Stigma, and Barriers to Mental Healthcare in U.S. Air Force Nursing Personnel.

Background: Stigma may deter military service members from seeking mental health (MH) services. Previously, substantial proportions of U.S.

Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile: an instrument for clinical and laboratory research.

There is growing awareness that dyspnoea, like pain, is a multidimensional experience, but measurement instruments have not kept pace. The Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP) assesses overall breathing discomfort, sensory qualities, and emotional responses in laboratory and clinical settings. Here we provide the MDP, review published evidence regarding its measurement properties and discuss its use and interpretation.

Stigma and barriers to accessing mental health services perceived by Air Force nursing personnel.

We investigated perceptions of stigma and barriers associated with accessing mental health services among active component U.S. Air Force officer and enlisted nursing personnel (N = 211).

Impermanence and Sense of Coherence: Lessons Learned From the Adaptive Behaviors of Sri Lankan Buddhist Nuns With a Chronic Illness.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of traditional Buddhist spiritual beliefs and practices on coping with chronic illness.

Design: The study was a descriptive ethnography. Participant observation and semistructured interviews were used with 45 Sri Lankan Buddhist nuns with a chronic illness and 20 secondary informants.

Unpacking the 2 × 2 table.

Statistics estimated from a 2 × 2 contingency table, such as sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios, are usually presented in contexts of diagnostic decision making or evaluation of screening tests. However, their use is not restricted to those contexts. The purpose of this article is to summarize for clinicians and researchers in nursing and other health care disciplines the conceptual basis, calculation, application, and limitations of statistics derivable from a 2 × 2 table and to provide a worked example based on previous research.

Test-retest reliability of multidimensional dyspnea profile recall ratings in the emergency department: a prospective, longitudinal study.

Background: Dyspnea is among the most common reasons for emergency department (ED) visits by patients with cardiopulmonary disease who are commonly asked to recall the symptoms that prompted them to come to the ED. The reliability of recalled dyspnea has not been systematically investigated in ED patients.

Methods: Patients with chronic or acute cardiopulmonary conditions who came to the ED with dyspnea (N = 154) completed the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP) several times during the visit and in a follow-up visit 4 to 6 weeks later (n = 68).

An official American Thoracic Society statement: update on the mechanisms, assessment, and management of dyspnea.

Background: Dyspnea is a common, distressing symptom of cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular diseases. Since the ATS published a consensus statement on dyspnea in 1999, there has been enormous growth in knowledge about the neurophysiology of dyspnea and increasing interest in dyspnea as a patient-reported outcome.

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to update the 1999 ATS Consensus Statement on dyspnea.

Validation of a three-factor measurement model of dyspnea in hospitalized adults with heart failure.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate a 3-factor measurement model of dyspnea sensory quality (WORK-EFFORT, TIGHTNESS, SMOTHERING-AIR HUNGER) originally derived in patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Methods: In this validation study, adult patients with heart failure were enrolled after hospital admission (median hospital day 1) and asked to rate the intensity of dyspnea sensory quality descriptors on the day of enrollment (study day 1; N = 119) and in a recall version for the day of admission (study day 0; n = 97).

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good model fit for both days.

Predictive validity of short-form health survey [36 items] scales for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

Objective: We evaluated whether any short-form health survey [36 items] (SF-36) domain scale or component scores would predict exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during a 1-year period.

Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, the sample included 127 patients with spirometrically confirmed COPD who completed baseline assessments and > 80% of daily diary card entries during 1 year. Exacerbations were defined as >or= 2 days of worsened respiratory symptoms or as new use of corticosteroids or antibiotics.

Predictors of emergency department visit disposition for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Study Objectives: The study objective was to validate among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinical predictors of emergency department (ED) disposition (admission vs discharge) found in a previous study. We hypothesized that the initial heart rate (HR) at presentation and the number of nebulizer treatments would predict visit disposition adequately and that existing triage criteria would not.

Methods: In this correlational study, all ED visits to a university medical center related to a diagnosis of COPD over a 2-year period were identified and reviewed retrospectively (N = 114 patients and 226 visits).

Assessing recalibration as a response-shift phenomenon.

Background: Traditionally, the difference between pretest and posttest scores is used as an estimate of change. This can be problematic when repeated self-report measures are used to assess change resulting from interventions intended to change beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, or values about health or safety. If the intervention is effective, participants may apply more stringent criteria in response to a posttest questionnaire than they did at the pretest.

Psychometric characteristics of dyspnea descriptor ratings in emergency department patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability, content validity, and factor structure of dyspnea sensory quality descriptor ratings in emergency department (ED) patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During an ED visit 104 patients with COPD rated the intensity of 16 dyspnea sensory quality descriptors (numerical ratings of 0-10) in relation to how they felt when they decided to come to the ED (Decision) and 1 week before the visit. Content validity of 15 descriptors was supported.

Characteristics and treatment of patients with heart failure in the emergency department.

Introduction: This study was conducted to develop a detailed profile of patients who come to the emergency department for heart failure treatment.

Methods: Patient interviews were supplemented by medical record reviews in a convenience sample of 57 participants. A structured interview guide included data concerning patient characteristics and ED treatment.