Impact of Participation in Community-Based Research Among Undergraduate and Graduate Students.

Participation in community-based research provides college students with a high-impact experience involving both research and service learning. Presently, the impact of participation in community-based research projects has been measured most often through the use of post-learning course evaluations and case studies. The authors describe the impact of participation in community-based research, at a small liberal arts college, on undergraduate education students and graduate physical therapy students using the Community-Based Research Student Learning Outcomes Survey. Results from 2 years of survey responses and open-ended responses suggest that participation in such an experience may impact professional and personal growth, educational experiences, and civic engagement. This study provides support for universities and colleges to continue offering high-impact learning experiences for students by utilizing community-based research experiences while collaborating between academic departments.

Reducing blood stream infection in patients on hemodialysis: Incorporating patient engagement into a quality improvement activity.

Introduction Infection in our immunocompromised patients is the second leading cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In an effort to improve quality of care, engage patients in their own care, and reduce morbidity and mortality secondary to infection, the Network designed a joint quality improvement/patient engagement activity to decrease bloodstream infection (BSI) rates. Methods Dialysis facilities were ranked utilizing 2014 National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data. Selection included 20% of Network 13 facilities (n = 58) with the highest BSI rates, which captured 31% of the patient population. Findings Statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement was reached in the reduction of BSIs; increasing patient engagement in the infection control process; and, correct completion of hand hygiene audits. Significant (P < 0.01) improvement was reached in correct completion of cannulation audits. There was also improvement in the catheter audits, but results were not significant. Discussion Involving patients in the infection control process contributed to our successful outcomes and could be replicated to meet the needs of the end stage renal disease community as a whole.

Impact of a community-based exercise program on children and adolescents with disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in a community-based fitness program improves: a) strength and endurance, b) self-concept and quality of life, and c) positive social interactions among participants with disabilities. Nineteen children completed the study (10 experimental group, 9 control group). Pre/post testing included body mass index (BMI), energy expenditure index (EEI), Presidential Fitness Test (PFT), strength testing using a handheld dynamometer, PedsQL, and the Piers-Harris 2 Self-Concept Scale (PH-2). The experimental group participated in an 8-week exercise program two times per week and were given a home exercise program (HEP). No statistically significant differences were observed in BMI, EEI, PFT, strength, quality of life, or self-concept. A statistically significant difference in social interactions was found between the first and second half of the exercise program while the children performed group activities and ran track based on repeated measures MANOVA at p<0.05. While changes in fitness may not be observed following an 8-week exercise program, improvements in social interactions may be possible.

Network 13 partnership to improve the influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, and hepatitis B vaccination rates among dialysis patients.

Vaccinations are available for primary prevention of many infections in adults. Morbidity and mortality from invasive diseases such as influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) remain high and may be largely preventable by vaccination of high-risk adults, including dialysis patients. The current 23-valent vaccine-efficacious, with a low adverse event profile-is widely available. Revaccination is also recommended in patients with immunocompromising conditions, including chronic kidney disease. Despite having many opportunities to be vaccinated, adult hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients are often missed During the recent H1N1 influenza outbreak, we conducted a performance improvement project to increase the vaccination rates for pneumococcal pneumonia, hepatitis B, and influenza, with a special focus on prevention. The project included an education phase, baseline assessment of vaccination rates, intervention, and a follow-up assessment of vaccination rates. The geographic jurisdiction of ESRD Network 13 encompasses the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. At the beginning of the network-wide project, the documented state-specific rates for influenza immunization were below the average influenza immunization rates for adults reported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and far below its target for adults. Our improvement project incorporated educational interventions to improve patient acceptance of vaccinations, educational interventions to improve staff participation in quality improvement activities, and improved techniques of quality improvement data collection and analysis by participants. During this project, the immunization rates for hepatitis B and pneumococcal pneumonia were also reviewed. At project's conclusion, improvement was demonstrated in all three focus areas, with statistically significant improvements noted in both influenza and pneumococcus vaccination rates. The use of educational interventions to improve staff participation in quality improvement, and the collection and analysis of quality improvement data can be replicated in many practice settings to improve immunization rates for dialysis patients and other patients with chronic illnesses.

The effects of aerobic exercise on academic engagement in young children with autism spectrum disorder.

PURPOSE: To determine whether participation in aerobic exercise before classroom activities improves academic engagement and reduces stereotypic behaviors in young children with autism spectrum disorder. METHODS: This study employed a within-subjects crossover design, using a treatment condition (aerobic exercise) and a control condition, across 4 classrooms. The treatment condition included 15 minutes of running/jogging followed by a classroom task. The control condition included a classroom task not preceded by exercise. The number of stereotypic behaviors, percentage of on-task behavior, and correct/incorrect responses were measured. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare differences between conditions. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were found in correct responding following exercise (P < .05). No significant differences were found for on-task behavior or stereotypic behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with findings in older children, these results indicate that aerobic exercise prior to classroom activities may improve academic responding in young children with autism spectrum disorder.

Interdisciplinary learning experience: two years of experience with an interdisciplinary learning engagement for physical therapy and special education students.

This article describes two cohorts of students who participated in an interdisciplinary learning experience in which physical therapy (PT) and special education (SE) pre-professionals collaborated weekly during an eight week fitness program for children and youth with disabilities. Forty-one children with disabilities and ranging in age from five to 20 years, participated in the fitness program. One short term outcome achieved for PT and SE students was learning to communicate effectively with students from another discipline. In addition, PT and SE students successfully planned and implemented a variety of age appropriate fitness activities for participants with disabilities, as well as motivated and encouraged participants to engage in the activities. Outcomes for participants with disabilities included improvements in the sit-up component of the Presidential Fitness Test at the conclusion of the fitness program. The children and their parents/guardians appreciated the opportunity to engage in fitness activities in a non-threatening environment.

Objective structured clinical interview training using a virtual human patient.

Effective interview skills are a core competency for psychiatry residents and developing psychotherapists. Although schools commonly make use of standardized patients to teach interview skills, the diversity of the scenarios standardized patients can characterize is limited by availability of human actors. Further, there is the economic concern related to the time and money needed to train standardized patients. Perhaps most damaging is the "standardization" of standardized patients -- will they in fact consistently proffer psychometrically reliable and valid interactions with the training clinicians. Virtual Human Agent (VHA) technology has evolved to a point where researchers may begin developing mental health applications that make use of virtual reality patients. The work presented here is a preliminary attempt at what we believe to be a large application area. Herein we describe an ongoing study of our virtual patients (VP). We present an approach that allows novice mental health clinicians to conduct an interview with a virtual character that emulates an adolescent male with conduct disorder. This study illustrates the ways in which a variety of core research components developed at the University of Southern California facilitates the rapid development of mental health applications.