Sensor and Survey Measures Associated With Daily Fatigue in HIV: Findings From a Mixed-Method Study.

Fatigue is the most common symptom among people living with HIV (PLWH), but may have many causes. This mixed-method study was designed to characterize PLWH's fatigue experiences and associated self-management behaviors, using Two Minds Theory. Fifty-five PLWH completed daily smartphone surveys on psychological states and fatigue at random times for 30 days and used a Fitbit Alta™ wristband.

Impact of a community-based approach to patient engagement in rural, low-income adults with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: This secondary analysis examined the relationships between Patient Activation Measure (PAM) scores, use of health services, and HgA1C.

Design: A feasibility study was conducted for a community-based intervention for high-risk adults with uncontrolled diabetes. Data were collected at baseline and monthly, including PAM and modified Diabetes Self-Management Assessment Report Tool.

Characteristics of falls and recurrent falls in residents of an aging in place community: A case-control study.

Background: Falls and fall-related injuries remain an ongoing and serious health problem in older adults. Many clinical and environmental factors have been implicated in falls and recurrent falls, including sleep disturbances, sensory deficits, balance problems, incontinence, comorbid conditions, and certain categories of medications. We undertook this study to determine if there was an association between these factors and falls or recurrent falls in older adult residents of an aging in place community.

Intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and unintended pregnancy in women with disabilities.

Background: Women with disabilities experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) than the general population. Reproductive coercion, a type of intimate partner violence, is associated with an increased risk of unintended pregnancy (UIP), yet little is known about this relationship among women with disabilities.

Objective: This qualitative descriptive study explored perspectives of women with disabilities who had experienced an UIP as a result of reproductive coercion.

Exploring the mutual regulation between oxytocin and cortisol as a marker of resilience.

Early trauma can increase the risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adulthood. Early trauma has also been associated with the dysregulation between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and oxytocin systems and may influence the co-regulation between these two systems. But whether the mutual regulation of the two systems represents a sign of resilience and/or mutual dysregulation could be a sign of vulnerability to PTSD and the dissociative subtype of PTSD (PTSD-D) is unknown.

Upper extremity disability and quality of life after breast cancer treatment in the Greater Plains Collaborative clinical research network.

Purpose: Chronic upper extremity disability (UED) is common after breast cancer treatment but under-identified and under-treated. Although UED has been linked to quality of life (QoL), the role of UED as mediator between contemporary treatment practices and QoL has not been quantified. This investigation describes UED in a contemporary sample of breast cancer patients and examines its relationship with personal and treatment factors and QoL.

Lymphoedema therapists: a national and international survey.

The American Lymphedema Framework Project (AFLP) surveyed lymphoedema therapists in the US in 2009 to describe their preparation, patient population and care practices. In the autumn of 2018, the survey was expanded to trained therapists worldwide to describe and compare current and past therapist characteristics and practices. The updated 2009 survey was distributed via Qualtrics to US and international therapists.

Testing the efficacy of a scaffolded writing intervention with online degree-completion nursing students: A quasi-experimental design.

Writing should receive dedicated time in the nursing classroom for students to become competent writers, offering practical experiences for them to critically think and organize their ideas into meaningful messages. The purpose of this pre-post quasi-experimental study was to compare implementation of a scaffolded sequence of writing assignments (intervention) to typical writing assignments (comparison) in final coursework for baccalaureate nursing (BSN) completion students. Student writing self-efficacy and writing competency were measured pre and post coursework using the Post Secondary Writerly Self-Efficacy Scale, 6 + 1 Trait scale and Holistic scale.

Lymphedema symptoms and limb measurement changes in breast cancer survivors treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and axillary dissection: results of American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z1071 (Alliance) substudy.

Purpose: Lymphedema is a potential complication of breast cancer treatment. This longitudinal substudy aimed to prospectively assess arm measurements and symptoms following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and axillary dissection in the ACOSOG/Alliance Z1071 trial to characterize the optimal approach to define lymphedema.

Methods: Z1071 enrolled patients with cT0-4, N1-2, M0 disease treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Lymphedema following cancer therapy: overview and options.

This summit focusing on lymphedema following cancer therapy was held during the 7th International Symposium on Cancer Metastasis through the Lymphovascular System. It was unique for the inclusion of patients with lymphedema joining physicians, therapists, healthcare professionals, and researchers to highlight what is known and more importantly what is unknown about the current state of research and treatment in the United States. The session opened with an introduction to lymphedema and then explored the incidence of multiple cancer-related lymphedemas, imaging tools and techniques useful for the diagnosis of lymphatic system abnormalities, and the new findings concerning the genetics of cancer-related lymphedema.

Allostatic load: A theoretical model for understanding the relationship between maternal posttraumatic stress disorder and adverse birth outcomes.

Background: Adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight are significant public health concerns and contribute to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Studies have increasingly been exploring the predictive effects of maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on adverse birth outcomes. However, the biological mechanisms by which maternal PTSD affects birth outcomes are not well understood.

Contraceptive use by disability status: new national estimates from the National Survey of Family Growth.

Objective: The objective was to determine population-based estimates of use of contraception among women 15-44 years of age in the United States by disability status.

Study Design: We examined the relationship between disability status and use of contraception among 7505 women at risk of unintended pregnancy using data from the 2011-2015 National Survey of Family Growth.

Results: After examining the full distribution of contraceptive method use by disability status, we found that disability status was significantly associated with differences in three categories of use: female sterilization, the oral contraceptive pill and nonuse of contraception.

Disparities in receipt of family planning services by disability status: New estimates from the National Survey of Family Growth.

Background: A substantial and increasing population of US women of childbearing age live with disability. Disability-based disparities in access to family planning services have been previously documented, but few studies have used population-based data sources or evidence-based measures of disability.

Objective: To determine population-based estimates of use of family planning services among women 15-44 years of age in the United States, and to examine differences by disability status.

Why older adults may decline offers of post-acute care services: A qualitative descriptive study.

The most common post-acute care (PAC) services available to patients after hospital discharge include home care, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, inpatient rehabilitation, and hospice. Patients who need PAC and receive services have better outcomes, however almost one-third of those offered services decline. Little research exists on PAC decision-making and why patients may decline services.

Exploring Health Information Exchange Implementation Using Qualitative Assessments of Nursing Home Leaders.

Objectives: Limited research exists on nursing home information technologies, such as health information exchange (HIE) systems. Capturing the experiences of early HIE adopters provides vital information about how these systems are used. In this study, we conduct a secondary analysis of qualitative data captured during interviews with 15 nursing home leaders representing 14 nursing homes in the midwestern United States that are part of the Missouri Quality Improvement Initiative (MOQI) national demonstration project.

Health Literacy in Older Latinos With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review.

Background: By 2050, one-third of US residents will be Latino, with an incidence of heart failure (HF) higher than other ethnicities. Culturally linked risk factors and socioeconomic challenges result in cardiometabolic risks, healthcare disparities, and worsening health outcomes. Individuals with low health literacy (HL) and HF are less likely to possess tools for optimal self-care, disease management, or preventative health strategies.

Evaluating undergraduate nursing students' self-efficacy and competence in writing: Effects of a writing intensive intervention.

While professional nurses are expected to communicate clearly, these skills are often not explicitly taught in undergraduate nursing education. In this research study, writing self-efficacy and writing competency were evaluated in 52 nontraditional undergraduate baccalaureate completion students in two distance-mediated 16-week capstone courses. The intervention group (n = 44) experienced various genres and modalities of written assignments set in the context of evidence-based nursing practice; the comparison group (n = 8) received usual writing undergraduate curriculum instruction.

Exploring the usefulness of botanicals as an adjunctive treatment for lymphedema: a systematic search and review.

Objectives: To provide a critical analysis of the current published research regarding the use, risks, and benefits of botanicals in the treatment of lymphedema and to provide health professionals with current knowledge of safe, appropriate use of botanicals for treatment of lymphedema. TYPE: This systematic search and review addresses the use of botanicals in the treatment of lymphedema in order to develop a best evidence synthesis of the research.

Literature Survey: Articles were identified from 11 major medical indices published from 2004-2012 using search terms for lymphedema and management.

Lipid outcomes from supervised exercise interventions in healthy adults.

Objectives: To meta-analyze lipid outcomes from supervised exercise interventions among healthy adults.

Methods: Comprehensive search strategies identified trials testing supervised exercise interventions in samples of healthy adults. Data were coded and analyzed using random effects meta-analysis methods.

Barriers and facilitators to managing multiple chronic conditions: a systematic literature review.

The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) is increasing, creating challenges for patients, families, and the health care system. A systematic literature search was conducted to locate studies describing patient's perceptions of facilitators and barriers to management of MCC. Thirteen articles met study inclusion criteria.

Blue Button use by patients to access and share health record information using the Department of Veterans Affairs' online patient portal.

Objective: The Blue Button feature of online patient portals promotes patient engagement by allowing patients to easily download their personal health information. This study examines the adoption and use of the Blue Button feature in the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) personal health record portal, My HealtheVet.

Materials And Methods: An online survey presented to a 4% random sample of My HealtheVet users between March and May 2012.