Length of Stay Does Not Predict Change in Epilepsy Monitoring Unit Comfort Questionnaire Scores.

BACKGROUND: The epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) is a clinical setting designed to help diagnose and analyze the nature behind a patient's seizures in a hospitalized unit. Patients admitted to an EMU may experience sleep deprivation, withdrawal of antiepileptic medications, and the use of a continuous electroencephalogram. The purpose of this study was to explore change in patient comfort during an EMU admission.

Factors associated with young adult engagement with a web-based sickle cell reproductive health intervention.

Objective: To determine the factors predicting the engagement of young adults who have sickle cell disease (SCD) or sickle cell trait (SCT) with an online reproductive health education intervention and engagement effects on knowledge.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 167 participants who completed the web-based intervention either face-to-face (F2F) or online delivery (OL). Measures include: time used relative to length of the intervention narration and media (engagement) and the SCKnowIQ questionnaire.

Sleep Quality, Pain and Self-Efficacy among Community-Dwelling Adults with Sickle Cell Disease.

The aim of this paper was to report the findings of a study examining relationships among sleep, pain, self-efficacy, and demographic attributes of community-dwelling adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Sleep difficulty has been self-reported among adults with chronic pain. Past studies have demonstrated that chronic pain results in sleep difficulties and other complications that threaten effective functioning.

Scholarly tailgating defined: A diverse, giant network.

Scholarly tailgating and developmental relationships can soar professional identity, advance one's scholarly career and foster cultural diversity in healthcare. This paper provides the definition and basis of scholarly tailgating for scholars who wish to propel their careers and help enable diverse cultural approaches. The concept of scholarly tailgating explains the use of homophilic and diverse, multidisciplinary network relationships to foster an intellectual community in healthcare, and to benefit healthcare consumer.

Voices of Adults Living with Sickle Cell Disease Pain.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the lived experiences of adults with sickle cell disease-related pain. Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, a purposive sample of 13 African-American adults living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) was recruited from a national SCD support group. Participants were asked to describe living with SCD-related pain and their experiences with pain management.

Taking learning to the learner: using audio teleconferencing for postclinical conferences and more.

Clinical educators are often burdened by conflicts that occur as they try to balance multiple postclinical scheduling demands with students' varying timetables. The purpose of this article is to inform educators how to use teleconferences to deliver valuable postclinical debriefing, model professional growth experiences, and more. The innovative use of teleconferencing as a pedagogical method enables educators to take learning to the learners.

Genomics and pain research in sickle cell disease: an explanation of heterogeneity?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic illness, and the major complication, pain, results in complex multidimensional problems that affect an individual's ability to maintain adequate quality of life in multiple areas. Chronic SCD pain is inadequately treated, because it is not well understood, and the degree of chronic pain, clinical presentation, and sequela complications can vary from patient to patient, even among individuals with the same SCD genotype. The reason for this variation is unknown, but the underlying cause might be genetic.

Spirituality, Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life among Adults with Sickle Cell Disease.

Spirituality and self-efficacy both have been identified as factors that contribute to management of chronic illnesses and quality of life (QOL). For individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), the lifespan is increasing, but adults report low self-efficacy, ineffective coping skills and poor QOL. The care of adult patients with SCD requires a complex, multidisciplinary team approach with a focus not only on physiological, psychological, and social needs, but also on spiritual needs.

Soar like geese: building developmental network relationships for scholarship.

Have you ever wished you knew someone who could help propel your career, or new idea, to the next level? Who could support your next grant initiative or otherwise direct you toward your professional goals? Most of your moments of wakefulness are preoccupied with thoughts such as, “If I could meet only a seasoned researcher who is an expert in pain genetics, then by association and osmosis I would excel beyond expectations!” • Well, wishes are unfilled dreams. If you can dream it, you can make it happen, with strategic networking and scholarly tailgating. The major ingredients in actualizing dreams are getting started and responsibly taking charge.

USING LIVED EXPERIENCES OF ADULTS TO UNDERSTAND CHRONIC PAIN: SICKLE CELL DISEASE, AN EXEMPLAR.

Healthcare provision pertaining to painful, chronic conditions can best be optimized by developing positive healthcare provider (HCP)-patient relationships that minimize fragmented care. Nurses, with their holistic, humanistic approach provide a multidimensional focus that fosters individualized and effective outcomes for chronic events. The chronic pain phenotype is subjective, difficult to assess, define and effectively manage.

Nurses collaborating with cross disciplinary networks: starting to integrate genomics into practice.

Nurses and other health-care providers are poised to include genetic discoveries into practice settings and to translate such knowledge for consumer benefit within culturally appropriate contexts. Nurses must seek collaboration with multi-disciplinary networks both locally and internationally. They must also capitalize on the expertise of other seasoned researchers in order to gain national and international exposure, recognition, and funding.

Can heterogeneity of chronic sickle-cell disease pain be explained by genomics? A literature review.

Unlabelled: This literature review explores the potential of genomics to explain, or at least contribute to the discussion about, heterogeneity in chronic pain in sickle-cell disease (SCD).

Background: Adults with SCD, a single-gene disorder, are living longer than in years past, yet report being burdened by chronic pain. With only a few studies on chronic pain in this population, the epidemiology is unclear.