Aging / Alzheimer's Disease
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/21674
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Browsing Aging / Alzheimer's Disease by Author "Hartos, Jessica"
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Item Development of A Geriatric Training Certificate For Family Medicine Residents(2017-03-14) Young, Richard; Knebl, Janice; Severance, Jennifer; Smith, Don; Prasad`, Subhada; Hartos, Jessica; Hadley, LescaBackground: With a lack of Geriatricians, Family Physicians must be prepared to care for older adults and provide team-based care in different settings. However, geriatric training for Family Medicine Residents is inconsistent, and their comfort level in caring for elderly patients varies. To expand the Family Physician’s understanding and collaboration with community partners in geriatrics care, Family Medicine Residency Programs at JPS Health Network and Plaza Medical Center integrated community-based experiential learning modules into Y2 and Y2 curriculum as part of a new Geriatric Certificate. Methods: Residency Directors at JPS Health Network, Plaza Medical Center and UNT Health Science Center, faculty, and representatives from community organizations identified evidence-based practices providing experiential opportunities for residents. The enhanced curricula includes a 4-hour home visit with a Meals on Wheels client; a 4-hour home visit with an Alzheimer’s Association patient and caregiver; a 1-hour group session for A Matter of Balance fall prevention program; and a 1-hour Virtual Dementia Tour. Residents completed evaluation surveys using a 5-point Likert scale to assess the quality of training, knowledge of older patient needs, and attitudes towards geriatric patient care. After pilot testing the modules with Geriatric Fellows in the Spring 2016, the modules were implemented with Family Medicine Residents in Fall 2016. Results: 12 Family Medicine Residents completed Meals on Wheels home visits, 10 completed Alzheimer’s Association home visits, and 57 completed the Virtual Dementia Tour. 13 Plaza Medical residents completing the Virtual Dementia Tour completed evaluation surveys, and reported gaining confidence in their knowledge of healthcare needs, and increasing in knowledge of services for older patients. They also reported increased confidence in talking with older adults about needs and services. 92% recommended the training. Qualitative feedback revealed major themes, including residents’ increased awareness of patient care considerations, caregiver roles and greater appreciation for working with older adults. Conclusions: Results suggest that Family Medicine Residents benefit from experiential geriatrics training developed in partnership with community based organizations.Item Geriatric Leadership Training For Health Professionals In Emerging Health Systems(2017-03-14) Fairchild, Thomas; Knebl, Janice; Smith, Don; Severance, Jennifer; Prasad, Subhada; Hartos, Jessica; Hawley, DianeBackground: Increasingly integrated health delivery systems require that healthcare practitioners work effectively in interprofessional teams and lead change in emerging health care environments. To prepare the next generation of leaders and in transforming geriatric systems of care, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas Christian University’s Nursing and Business Schools and the United Way’s Area Agency on Aging of Tarrant County partnered together to develop a ten-month Geriatric Practice Leadership Institute (GPLI). Methods: Applying a Rapid Cycle Quality Improvement Approach, faculty developed curricula for three two-day sessions held in October, November, and December 2016. Curricular content focused on five domains: 1) Leading Self; 2) Leading Teams, 3) Leading Organizational Change, 4) Population Health Science, and 5) Aging Network and Healthcare Delivery for Older Adults. Six teams of 27 healthcare professionals were selected from JPS Health Network, Texas Health Resources, UT Southwestern, UNT Health Science Center, Brookdale Senior Living, and The Women’s Center. Teams developed a geriatrics-related quality improvement project in their areas of practice. Projects focused on caregiver support, combating isolation, fall prevention, and improving electronic health records systems. Coaches support project development. Evaluation surveys were completed by participants at the end of each session to assess the quality of the training, and its impact on project development, implementation, and professional practice. Results: The majority of respondents agreed the sessions were helpful for personal mindfulness of leadership attributes and skills, and in developing, implementing and evaluating their quality improvement projects. Qualitative responses indicate the trainees intend to make changes to their professional practice as a leader and team member. Comments include changes to “better define roles in the group setting to improve outcomes and efficiency” and “engage stakeholders.” Comments related to projects include changes “in the scope of the project to something more manageable and suited for our resources,” and to “identify the obstacles that may affect the success of the project.” 92% would recommend the training. Conclusions: Enhancing health professionals’ personal leadership skills can create meaningful interventions designed to improve geriatrics care in primary healthcare systems.Item Is Chronic Alcohol Use a Risk Factor for Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Women?(2017-03-14) Luna, Silas; Naguit, Ashley; Barron, Kirk; Hartos, Jessica; Chustz, EricaIntroduction: Cognitive impairment and alcohol consumption are both significant health concerns in the United States; however, there is insufficient research regarding a possible relationship between these two variables in women and the elderly. Based on these gaps in the literature, the purpose of this study was to assess whether there is a relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment in women aged 55-64. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used 2014 BRFSS data for females ages 55-64 from AL, AR, KY, and MS. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between heavy alcohol use and cognitive impairment, while controlling for education level, employment status, income level, history of stroke, weight, and ethnicity. Results: A minority of the target population reported cognitive impairment, defined as serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions in the last 30 days (17-21%), and an even smaller minority reported heavy alcohol use of 1+ drinks daily (2-5%). After controlling for demographic factors, medical history, and socioeconomic status, cognitive impairment was not significantly related to alcohol use in any of the 4 states. Conclusions: In adjusted analyses, cognitive impairment was not significantly related to alcohol consumption in females aged 55-64 in any state. Education level, employment status and income level were all inversely related to alcohol consumption in all states. This study was unable to obtain any history of the patients’ alcohol use or cognitive impairment over time. Primary care providers may not need to screen for cognitive impairment or chronic alcohol use in women aged 55-64, unless indicated by patient presentation, since these conditions are low prevalence, and providers should should be aware of possible relations between cognitive impairment and education level, employment status, and income.