Impact of interprofessional geriatric teamwork on students' perceptions of older persons and collaborative practice.

Health professions programs lack sufficient exposure to geriatric education in curricula. The Seniors Assisting in Geriatric Education (SAGE) Program exposes interprofessional (IP) teams of health professions students to older adults. To determine the impact of an interprofessional geriatric educational experience on student perceptions of team collaboration and older adults. IP teams of three or four students (n = 662) representing eight disciplines from two institutions were paired with an older adult to promote person-centered care over three semesters. Students completed two online questionnaires (pre- and post-SAGE Program, ~10 min). 136 students completed both questionnaires. Three IP collaborative practice sub-competencies under the Roles & Responsibilities and Interprofessional Communication Core Competencies increased significantly from pre- to post-SAGE Program (p ≤ 0.002). Comparison of the means for attitudes toward geriatric patients revealed statistically significant improvement in one item, Compassion (p < .002). The SAGE Program had a positive impact on IP collaborative practice and attitudes toward older people in some, but not all, areas.

Access to choice: Examining differences between adolescent and adult abortion fund service recipients.

The results of a study examining differences between U.S. adolescent and adult abortion fund service recipients are presented in this paper. Using existing case data from 2010 to 2015 from the National Network of Abortion Funds (N = 3,288), a secondary data analysis was conducted to determine whether or not the experiences of adolescent (n = 481) and adult abortion patients (n = 2,807) who received financial assistance to help pay for an abortion differed. Fisher's exact tests examined differences in dichotomous variables, and regression examined differences in procedural costs, patient resources and expected travel distances to obtain an abortion. Results show that a greater proportion of adolescents in this data set identified as African American, and that adolescents were more likely to report seeking an abortion due to lack of contraception, and rape, while adult patients were more likely to be seeking an abortion due to contraceptive failure and partner violence. Results are discussed using a trauma-informed framework.

A cross-cultural exploration of abortion fund patients in the USA and the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

This paper details results of a study examining administrative case data from 2010-2015 from abortion funds serving the USA and the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Driven by the available data, the researchers compared organisational characteristics, patient characteristics, procedural costs, patient resources and the ratio between patient resources and procedural costs. Independent t-tests were conducted to assess whether differences in characteristics, costs or resources were significant. The number of patients serviced by abortion funds across the two datasets increased yearly from 2010-2015. While patients in the USA had more resources, on average, to contribute to their abortion procedure, Irish, Northern Irish and Manx patients had the resources to pay for a greater percentage of their costs, on average, which was mainly attributable to the differences in gestational age of those helped by the different abortion funds. Patients across all nations were similar in terms of their marital status, average age and number of existing children. Patients across these countries face expensive procedures and a lack of resources that are bridged in part by abortion fund assistance.

Improving health in at-risk youth through Photovoice.

Photovoice is a practical method to allow at-risk youth to express the environmental influences in their lives at school, at home, and in their community. This project emerged from an interprofessional collaboration between social work and nursing that focused on school health. The purpose was to explore the factors influencing the mental and emotional health using photographs by students in a largely Hispanic middle school. Ten students were recruited and consented but only eight completed the project. The SHOWeD method was used to assist the students to formally reflect upon their photographs. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis to identify themes presented the students' reflections. The themes were staying healthy, stress dealing with anger/frustration, maintaining friendships and communication, recognizing bullying, and planning for the future. Reflections aided students to provide rich details about how the school environment influences their mental and emotional health. The use of Photovoice is a reasonable method for at-risk youth to explore and describe their environment. Nurses, social workers, parents, and school leaders can use the new knowledge about how the school environment influences the health of students to develop tools to support a healthy school and community environment.

A trauma-informed examination of the hardships experienced by abortion fund patients in the United States.

Researchers describe hardships experienced by abortion patients, examining administrative health cases from 2010 to 2015 in the United States. All patients received financial assistance from an abortion fund to help pay for abortion. Case data were analyzed to assess types and numbers of hardships experienced by age, race, and geographic origin. Hardships ranged from homelessness to parenting multiple children. Patients from the geographic South experienced the most hardships, followed by those from the Midwest. Hardships experienced by abortion fund patients are like those reported in other samples of abortion patients; hardships potentially cause or exacerbate trauma. Results are discussed in the context of a trauma-informed perspective.

The undue burden of paying for abortion: An exploration of abortion fund cases.

The results of a secondary data analysis of 3,999 administrative cases from a national abortion fund, representing patients who received pledges for financial assistance to pay for an abortion from 2010 to 2015, are presented. Case data from the fund's national call center was analyzed to assess the impact of the fund and examine sample demographics which were compared to the demographics of national abortion patients. Procedure costs, patient resources, funding pledges, additional aid, and changes over time in financial pledges for second-trimester procedures were also examined. Results indicate that the fund sample differed from national abortion patients in that fund patients were primarily single, African American, and seeking funding for second trimester abortions. Patients were also seeking to fund expensive procedures, costing an average of over $2,000; patients were receiving over $1,000 per case in pledges and other aid; and funding pledges for second trimester procedures were increasing over time. Abortion funding assistance is essential for women who are not able to afford abortion costs, and it is particularly beneficial for patients of color and those who are younger and single. Repeal of policy banning public funding of abortion would help to eliminate financial barriers that impede abortion access.

A study of the relationship between protective behaviors and drinking consequences among undergraduate college students.

The authors identified the number, type, and frequency of protective behaviors that undergraduate college students who consume alcohol use to prevent alcohol-related consequences. Their hypothesis was that students who engage in more types of protective behaviors with greater frequency would be less likely to experience alcohol-related consequences. Participants consisted of a randomly selected sample of 1,355 undergraduates aged 18 years and older at a large public university. Students completed a mailed questionnaire on alcohol and health behaviors in spring 2002. The findings (after adjustment for covariates) indicated that self-protective behaviors are inversely associated with alcohol-related problems for women but not for men. The influences of gender and racial and ethnic differences are considered in relation to prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing alcohol-related consequences on college campuses.