...
College of Nursing > Faculty Funded Research
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
THE PRETERM INFANT MICROBIOME: BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND HEALTH OUTCOMES AT 2 AND 4 YEARS OF AGE
Project Start Date: 13-MAY-2015
Project End Date: 29-FEB-2020
This project will follow 78 Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants previously enrolled in a R21 grant through the age of 4 years. The data gathered over 6 weeks of the NICU stay includes multiple factors that potentially could alter the gut micro biome, such as prenatal and postnatal events and illnesses, amount of human milk received, weekly means of cytokines, chemokine's, growth factors and secretory Immunoglobulin A in the milk, and weekly levels of fecal calprotectin. Stool samples have been preserved for analysis of the micro biome in the current study. Micro biome species and diversities will be measured in the laboratory of Dr. Jack Gilbert at Argonne National Lab using state of the science deep sequencing and amplification of microbial sRNA genes. The micro biome will again be measured in stool samples from these children at the ages of 2 and 4 years. Relationship between the pre and postnatal factors, human milk volume and immunobiology, fecal calprotectin levels and the very early micro biome will be analyzed. The predictive power of the VLBW infant gut micro biome for determining later childhood micro biomes will be analyzed prospectively. The relationships between micro biomes across time and later growth, development and health will be determined. VLBW infants are at risk for both early and later health effects, and the role of the micro biome in these effects will be measured for the first time in this prospective study.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EFFICACY OF MBSR TREATMENT OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
Project Start Date: 1-JUL-2015
Project End Date: 30-JUN-2020
Due to improved detection and treatment, survival rates among breast cancer survivors (BSC) have increased. However, BCS may experience cognitive impairment (CI) following treatment, which has been reported by BCS up to 10 years after chemotherapy (CT). There is limited evidence on whether stress- reducing interventions improve CI in BSC. The primary goal of this application is to establish the Mindfulness- Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer (MBSR(BC)) program as an effective treatment for CI in BCS. Specifically we aim to (1) evaluate the extent to which MBSR(BC) compared to the Breast Cancer-Education Support (BCES) program or Usual Care (UC) improves cognitive functioning among BCS off treatment; (2) determine if improvements in cognitive functioning achieved from MBSR(BC) are mediated through increased mindfulness and decreased rumination and stress; (3) evaluate genetic variants as moderators of MBSR(BC) on improvements in CI; and (4) determine the impact of MBSR(BC) on healthcare utilization and costs. To achieve these aims, we will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) among 330 BCS with Stage I-III BC who have received adjuvant CT or CT and radiation. Within this RCT, MBSR(BC) will be delivered to a subpopulation of Spanish speaking BCS. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to (1) the 6- week MBSR(BC) program; (2) the 6-week BCES program; or (3) UC. The BCES program will match the MBSR(BC) program for time and attention and parallel the group support component of MBSR(BC). Assessments will take place at baseline, 6 weeks,12 weeks and 6 months and include clinical history and demographic information, objective neuropsychological assessments, subjective cognitive and symptom measurements, cost utilization surveys and a blood sample collection for genetic analyses. This study is highly innovative to be the first randomized trial to: 1) evaluate the efficacy of MBSR(BC) among BCS for objective neuropsychological and subjective improvements in cognitive functioning; 2) evaluate genetic profiles as moderators of MBSR(BC) on improving CI; 3) offer the MBSR trial in Spanish in addition to English for the purpose of improving cognition; and 4) determine the effect of MBSR(BC) on CT-induced CI among BCS related to health service utilization costs. MBSR(BC) provides training to promote stress reduction through self-regulation of attention and awareness to stressful events. Our preliminary results show that MBSR(BC) improves subjective cognitive functioning. If MBSR(BC) is found to be effective, it will provide evidence of a viable non-pharmacological method for managing CI in BCS. Additionally, the examination of the effects of the hypothesized mediators may yield new insights for tailoring MBSR(BC) and/or developing additional interventions to aid BCS. The assessment of genetic polymorphisms to explore if risk alleles are associated with improvement in cognitive functioning may demonstrate that specific genetic profiles may modify improvements in CI for those receiving MBSR(BC). Finally, if MBSR(BC) is shown to be effective, this may significantly impact healthcare utilization and cost and produce necessary evidence for clinicians, researchers and policymakers.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ORAL CARE INTERVENTION IN MECHANICALLY VENTILATED ADULTS
Project Start Date: 1-APR-2001
Project End Date: 31-JUL-2018
Despite its prominent position in bedside care, there is little evidence to judge the benefits or associated risks of nurse-administered tooth brushing for mechanically ventilated adults, and the optimal frequency of tooth brushing in the critically il has never been experimentally determined. This project will complete the examination of oral care interventions in mechanically ventilated adults with a randomized clinical trial of tooth brushing frequency (once, twice, or three times daily) focused on conclusively defining the benefit and risk of varied frequencies, and identification of moderating patient-level factors for risk and benefit. The project's overall goal is to determine optimal tooth brushing frequency for mechanically ventilated adults. Optimal tooth brushing frequency is important for control of dental plaque and reduction of oral inflammation; it is likely to improve patient comfort, improve efficiency of nursing care, and may reduce systemic sequellae related to oral inflammation. The primary aims of the proposed project are: 1) Evaluate the clinical equivalence (non- inferiority) o three tooth brushing frequencies on oral health (dental plaque and mucosal inflammation) in critically ill adults receiving mechanical ventilation; and 2) Quantify and compare the safety of three tooth brushing frequencies on serious adverse outcomes, including ventilator associated complications and clinically relevant HAIs. A secondary aim is to investigate patient factors that influence tooth brushing frequency benefit and risk in critically ill adults. These objectives will be accomplished using a prospective, randomized, experimental design. Subjects (n=345) will be randomly assigned within 24 hours of intubation to one of three intervention groups which differ in frequency of tooth brushing delivered by study personnel (once, twice, or three times daily). Dental plaque (UM-OHI score, with observations documented and augmented by use of a digital intraoral camera), mucosal inflammation (gingival crevicular fluid IL-1β), and HAIs will be assessed daily during the intervention period. The data analysis will focus on providing definitive clinical practice guidance through joint evaluation of non-inferiority (comparison of dental plaque between groups by analysis of covariance) and quantification of number needed to harm. Repeated measures linear mixed models (treating dental plaque and mucosal inflammation as separate outcome variables) will provide insight as to specific patient-level factors that may modify the clinical effectiveness and safety profile associated with frequency of tooth brushing. Information about efficacy and safety of each frequency of tooth brushing will provide a clear recommendation for optimal tooth brushing frequency with direct translation to clinical practice.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IMPROVING DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SLEEP AND THE EFFECT ON HEART DISEASE BIOMARKERS
Project Start Date: 15-AUG-2011
Project End Date: 31-JUL-2016
Informal caregivers provide the majority of care for chronically ill adults, including persons with dementia. While these individuals provide a great benefit to the chronically ill relative, being a caregiver is associated with deleterious health consequences, including premature mortality and higher rates of coronary heart disease (CHD). Another common complaint among dementia caregivers is poor sleep, which has been connected to premature mortality and higher rates of CHD in noncaregiving adults. Currently no sleep therapies are empirically validated as effective for caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD), and since PWD often arise at night, improving caregiver sleep could be potentially hazardous as a sleeping caregiver cannot provide supervision during night awakenings. Our primary purpose is thus to determine whether a combined intervention is effective in improving sleep in caregivers of PWD who arise at night. The intervention consists of a night home monitoring system that provides reliable alerts to caregivers when PWD leave the bed and move through the house. While this system improved home safety for PWD, it did not affect caregiver sleep, so a more traditional sleep therapy will be added-cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi). In the proposed study, experimental participants will receive the night home monitoring system + CBTi; control participants will receive only the night home monitoring system. Participants will remain in the study for 24 weeks, with 4 data collection points. We hypothesize experimental participants will have less time awake after going to bed, and improved sleep efficiency (percent time asleep while in bed). Sleep data will be collected for multiple nights using actigraphy and sleep diary. Our secondary research questions focus on the relationship between poor sleep and CHD. Both in adults and in dementia caregivers, there appears to be a link between poor sleep and abnormal levels on coronary heart disease biomarkers, and likely an increase in CHD with poor sleep. We aim to further explore this relationship as well as determine whether levels of biomarkers improve with improved sleep from the intervention. We propose to draw blood samples at 3 data collection points and measure a set of biomarkers indicative of CHD. Our primary expected outcome is an effective, easy-to-use treatment that can improve sleep in dementia CGs with sleep problems. We will continue to build the science on the relationship between sleep and CHD, and to understand mechanisms that may underlie deleterious changes in CG health. Obtaining evidence of the relationship between sleep and CHD biomarkers, supported by preliminary data that improving sleep reverses changes in biomarker levels, would begin to fill a critically important gap in research aiming to reduce the trend of PWD caregiver mortality and CHD as well as PWD placement in nursing homes. A longer study would then be proposed to determine how to deliver effective sleep therapies to sustain normalization of CHD biomarkers, as well as to determine whether the actual disease process was affected.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
I-CORPS: HEARTMAPP. A MOBILE APP FOR PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE
Start Date: March 15, 2016
End Date: August 31, 2016 (Estimated)
Heart failure is a significant public health problem. Currently there are over five million Americans, predominantly older adults, suffering from heart failure. These patients are expected to follow complex medication regimen and self-management practices at home to stay healthy and prevent getting admitted to hospitals. A mobile application (HeartMapp) is proposed to act as a health coach by reminding patients to follow health care providers' recommendations at home. Decision making on heart failure symptoms are often confusing and challenging for patients. The HeartMapp offers automated feedback to patients based on the patients' weight, heart rate, and symptoms entered in HeartMapp. Thus, patients are alerted when symptoms are mild to take the next step and prevent worsening and readmissions. Under new regulations, if these patients are readmitted within 30-days after discharge from hospital, the hospitals are not reimbursed, as well as penalized if the readmission rates are higher than a government set limit. Reducing readmission penalty for heart failure will provide financial benefit for health care organizations by generating revenue. Therefore, hospitals are also interested in finding ways to keep patients engaged in their self-management. In order to make HeartMapp available, this project needs to better understand the complex health care ecosystem, i.e., all the players in this market, the customers and the value that HeartMapp provides to them, the users and buyers and the approval process, and the revenue streams and resources needed to make it happen.
HeartMapp is an easy to use non-pharmacological, non-invasive application developed with five main features as intervention options: 1) assessment of daily weight, blood pressure, and chronic heart failure (CHF) symptoms with automated feedback to enhance decision making for management of symptoms; 2) exercise including physical activity (walking) and deep breathing to improve physical health and well-being; 3) real time vital signs monitoring utilizing a wearable Bluetooth device; 4) CHF info that includes audio enabled interactive CHF education to improve knowledge; and 5) Stats, a graphical module that displays trends on patient performance. From the technical standpoint, HeartMapp is currently available in the Android platform but it needs to be updated and enhanced to include the features coming out of this I-Corps project and translated into other software platforms (iOS and Windows) to expand the customer base. The current vision is to create a startup company or collaborate with an existing company to host the software and market the technology and license it to be included as part of existing solutions. The final report of I-Corps project will serve as a guiding document to: 1) submit a Phase I SBIR proposal in order to update the technology and test the HeartMapp for its efficacy in improving self-management of patients with CHF and thus potentially curb costly readmissions; 2) submit a Phase II SBIR proposal to take the technology to the market place; 3) Create a startup company or join an existing company interested in the commercialization of HeartMapp; and/or 4) find investors to provide the necessary funding to achieve our goals.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dr. Susan C. McMillan (Principal Investigator)
PATIENT OUTCOMES OF A SELF-CARE MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO CANCER SYMPTOMS: A CLINICAL TRIAL
Start Date: August 1, 2013
End Date: September 30, 2016
...
In addition, they will get two phone calls encouraging them to apply COPE principles. Group II will receive three supportive visits from the research team at the cancer center and subsequent meetings during clinic visits, plus two subsequent supportive telephone calls, matched for time with the COPE group. Group I, the control group receiving usual care, will receive no additional attention from our interventionists. Data will be collected weekly for nine weeks about symptoms (intensity, frequency, interference, appraisal of distress), beliefs in their ability to self-manage symptoms, and barriers to self-management. Quality of life, anxiety, and depression will be assessed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12. We predict that the COPE group will show significant improvement in depression, anxiety, quality of life, symptom intensity, distress, frequency and interference, self-management, and perceived barriers to care, as well as decreased use of healthcare resources, such as the emergency room, compared with the two control groups.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
INTERACTION BETWEEN INFANTS WITH NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME AND THEIR MOTHERS
(SNRS Research Grant Award)
Start Date: 3/8/2013
End Date: 3/7/2016
The aim of this study is to describe the interactions between infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and their mothers and evaluate the influence of the psychological characteristics on the interactions. It is proposed that women with positive urine drug screens commonly exhibit behaviors that increase the distress of their infant, and are unable to read the infant cues for readiness to interact. A comparative, descriptive design of the real time behaviors between mothers and their infants with NAS will be used to identify behaviors unique to this high-risk dyad. The target population is a convenience sample of 40 mothers and their infants admitted to the NICU with NAS. Women will be video-taped with their infant during two visits, one of which includes an episode of feeding. Assessments of maternal self-efficacy, anxiety, mood and stress will be collected following each videotaping, and her response to her feelings about the visit. The nurse caring for the infant will complete an assessment of the visit to specifically identify any concerns. The results of this study will identify the nature of the interactions, and enable development of nursing interventions in the NICU that will enhance parenting in this high risk population.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FEEDING INTERVENTION FOR INFANTS WITH NEONATAL SYNDROME (NAS)
Children’s Board of Hillsborough County
Start date: 10/1/2015
End Date: 9/30/2016
Parent Funding Sponsor: USF Health Women’s Health Collaborative Grant – 2015 – 2016 WHC Foundation
Title: An intervention to Improve Feeding Success in Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PROMOTING CANCER SYMPTOMS SELF-MANAGMENT IN OLDER ADULTS
Subcontract with UCF
Start Date: 9/25/2015
End Date: 8/31/2018
...
The goal of this project is to design, develop, and test an interactive “game” that will engage and prepare older adults to make self-care decisions related to CINV by allowing them to practice making self-care decisions for a character (avatar) in the game and visualizing the outcomes (positive or negative). The knowledge gained from playing the game will assist them in making better self-care decisions at home during or after chemotherapy treatment. This project will be conducted in two phases. Phase I will consist of designing and developing the game prototype to reflect real-life scenarios and experiences with CINV self-management. Older adults who have experienced CINV in the past, their caregivers, and oncology nurses will be included in the development team in order to create a game that is reflective of personal and professional experiences. Phase II will use a randomized clinical design to pilot test the game for feasibility and preliminary effectiveness in increasing self- managements behaviors, reducing CINV severity, and improving quality of life. Once shown to be effective, this novel educational strategy can be widely disseminated for use at the bedside and be adapted to educate older adults on self-management strategies for other cancer-related symptoms with negative outcomes.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A CLINICAL TRIAL OF DECISION SUPPORT FOR END OF LIFE CARE AMONG SURROGATE DECISION MAKERS OF THE CHRONICALLY CRITICALLY ILL
Subcontract with Case Western University
Start Date: 9/2/2015
End Date: 5/31/2020
Each year, millions of Americans are admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), which can initiate a cascade of decisions about treatment and end of life care. This is particularly the case for patients with chronic critical illness. The chronic critically ill (CCI) are at high risk for cognitive impairment, prolonged use of life- sustaining care, and the need for a surrogate decision maker (SDM) to make decisions about end of life. SDMs of the CCI often describe high states of psychological stress associated with the uncertainty of the patient's condition and their decision making role. Many SDMs find it difficult to comprehend, process, and apply information from clinicians to make informed decisions for their loved ones. Presently, SDMs have no effective tools to help them make informed decisions about the care of a cognitively impaired CCI patient at end of life. Thus, we propose to revise and test the efficacy of an avatar-based decision support technology referred to as Interactive Virtual Decision Support for End of Life and Palliative Care (INVOLVE). This project has two phases. In Phase 1, we will revise our INVOLVE prototype through an iterative, user-centered process. Phase 2 is a three-arm, clinical trial of 270 SDMs of cognitively impaired CCI patients, comparing INVOLVE versus information-only support (IS) and usual care (UC). The specific aims for this project are: [1] identify the essential elements of the graphical user interface and educational content needed to revise the INVOLVE prototype for a set of common end of life decisions that occur in the ICU; [2] evaluate if there are differences in the decision making readiness and decision making quality between subjects exposed to INVOLVE, IS, or UC on Days 1, 3, and 7 days post-baseline while accounting for covariates (prior SDM experience, SDM knowledge of the patient's preferences, and SDM's religious beliefs); and [3] determine if there are differences in the post-decision outcomes of SDMs and their CCI patient by study condition while accounting for covariates at 90 days post-baseline. The importance of finding strategies to improve the quality of decision making for end of life care in the ICU has been well recognized. This will be the first study to test interventions tailored to the unique needs of the SDMs of CCI patients delivered using an interactive avatar based format. This is a format that is easily delivered, well accepted, and well suited for this vulnerable and difficult to reach cohort f decision makers. If proven efficacious, these technology-based interventions for end of life decision making may also offer sustainable solutions that can be easily adapted to varied populations to improve the outcomes of SDMs and their cognitively impaired loved ones.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PREDICTORS OF WEIGHT LOSS FAILURE AND REGAIN IN BARIATRIC PATIENTS
Subcontract with Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research
Start Date: 9/25/2015
End Date: 7/31/2020
Although overall obesity rates are declining in the US, severe obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m2) is still increasing; rates are as high as 36% in some US ethnic minority populations. Bariatric surgery is the most promising treatment for weight loss in the severely obese, resulting in much higher excess weight loss (75% vs. 11%) than traditional behavioral methods. The most frequently used bariatric procedures (bypass and gastric sleeve) have clear evidence for durable weight loss, however, even within the same procedure type, weight loss varies substantially. For example, 25% - 50% of RYGB patients regain some of their initial weight lost within 3 years. We propose a unique, mixed methods, prospective cohort study to understand why some patients experience better weight outcomes than others. The healthcare setting for this work, Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), performs ~3,500 bariatric surgeries annually; a larger target population for prospective research than any other single institution. Using socio-ecological, self-regulatory, and social cognitive theories fo the basis of our study design, we propose to collect electronic medical record data and self-report surveys in 1,800 patients before surgery and at 12, 24, and 36 months post-operatively to examine demographic, behavioral, psychosocial, and perceived environmental predictors of weight loss/regain. We will also purposively select cross-sectional samples from 12-, 24- and 36-month survey respondents who do or do not achieve successful weight loss to participate in interviews and focus groups. We will test the following two main study aims and one exploratory aim: Aim 1. Over a 3-year follow-up period, determine how demographic, behavioral, psychosocial, and perceived environmental pre-surgical factors, and post-surgical behavioral and psychosocial factors predict a) the weight loss trajectory and b) weight loss success (defined as achieving and maintaining > 50% excess weight loss); Aim 2. Understand the variability in weight loss using qualitative methods in cross-sectional samples of post-operative survey respondents and use these findings to inform mediational models addressing Aim 1; Exploratory Aim 3. Over a 3-year follow-up period, study the development of adverse psychosocial consequences and determine how they relate to a) overall weight loss and b) weight loss success. Our study is designed to provide results that will move the science forward in two key areas: 1) optimizing patient selection in real-world settings for bariatric procedures using a better understanding of pre-operative predictors; and 2) program development for maximizing the benefits from surgery for the greatest number of people, using the knowledge we gain from studying mediators of post-operative weight loss.
...
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
I-CORPS: HERHEART
National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Teams Program (I-Corps Teams)
Tentative Start Date 6/15/2016
Tentative End Date 12/31/2016 (6 months)
Coronary heart disease (CHD) afflicts nearly 7 million US women annually and remains their leading morbidity and mortality threat. Of these, 2.7 million have a history of myocardial infarction (MI), and an estimated 262,000 women are hospitalized annually with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Within a year of a first MI more women than men will die. Compared with men, women with ACS and those after coronary revascularization have longer hospitalizations and higher in-hospital mortality and endure up to 30% more readmissions within 30 days after the index hospitalization. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an essential component of comprehensive care after ACS, is internationally endorsed, is integrated in evidence based guidelines for women and reveals incontrovertible morbidity and mortality benefits. Although referral to CR is designated as a performance measure of healthcare quality after ACS, CR has failed to reach over 80% of eligible women in the last 3 decades. Patient-oriented, medical and healthcare system barriers variably account for poor CR attendance among women. Without health insurance, CR costs about $6000 and even with health insurance, women can endure co-insurance payments of up to $50 for each of the 36 CR sessions ($1800). With an increasing ageing population and increasingly more women living with symptomatic CHD, the effectiveness and accessibility of secondary prevention (SP) health services for these women have never been more important. Alternatives to center-based CR programs are nonexistent. Thus, after hospital discharge women struggle with disease self-management without the knowledge or behavioral skills to effectively improve their risk factors for a subsequent cardiac event. Mobile health (mHealth) technology can deliver evidence-based health information and behavior theory based behavior change strategies to help women engage in self-care to manage their risk factors. A mobile application (app), “HerHeart” is an innovative SP intervention for improving reach, reducing cost and time, and improving health outcomes for women with CHD wherever they live. Empowering women with tailored information, intuitive self-monitoring, and personalized goal setting and feedback will transform SP from a 3-month center-based program to a paradigm of life-long engagement in healthy behaviors.