Browsing by Author "Wion, Rachel K."

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Evaluation of emergency department-based seizure and epilepsy education: Exploring the need for early epilepsy self-management intervention
    (Elsevier, 2021) Miller, Wendy R.; Wion, Rachel K.; Eads, Pam; School of Nursing
    Many people with epilepsy (PWE) present to the emergency department setting with their first seizure and must wait weeks or months to be seen by a specialized epilepsy provider. The time period between presentation of first seizure and entry into specialized care can be extremely stressful and precarious for PWE and their families. In order to achieve optimal outcomes, epilepsy self-management should be initiated as soon as possible, including in the emergency department setting. The purpose of this study was to review and evaluate existing epilepsy/seizure-related education materials provided to patients in the emergency room setting to determine the degree to which these materials prepare patients and their families for self-management of epilepsy, or potential epilepsy, during the interim between emergency department discharge and entry into specialized care. Twenty emergency department epilepsy/seizure patient discharge education materials were collected and evaluated using a rubric based on the framework of the Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (AESMMI). Materials were rated on a 0-3 scale based on the degree to which self-management education, resources, and skill building were included. The mean score of materials reviewed was quite low at just 10.4, with a score of 33 possible. Also concerning is that the materials scored lowest in the domains of social support, stress management, and coping, all of which are extremely important areas for PWE, especially in the early phases of the disease when patients and families are adjusting. Findings highlight the need for development of robust self-management interventions tailored to PWE in the transition period from presentation of first seizure to entry to specialized care.
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    Factors that influence the emotional impact of memory problems in older adults: A qualitative descriptive study
    (Wiley, 2022) Hill, Nikki L.; Bratlee-Whitaker, Emily; Wion, Rachel K.; Madrigal, Caroline; Bhargava, Sakshi; Mogle, Jacqueline; School of Nursing
    Background: Associations among psychological health and memory concerns in older adults are well-established, but much of this research is quantitative. Objectives: This study examined how memory problems influence emotional well-being in older adults without dementia, and whether this differs by cognitive status and current depressive or anxiety symptoms. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used to examine our research questions. Community-dwelling older adults without dementia (n = 49, Mage = 74.5[10.1], 63% women) completed a cognitive assessment, questionnaires and two semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was used to code and categorise the transcribed interview data, then identify themes within and across participant groups. Results: Five themes described the influence of memory problems on emotional well-being: Evoking Emotions, Fearing Future, Undermining Self, Normalising Problems and Adjusting Thinking. Memory problems' impact on emotional well-being varied by current anxiety symptoms, characteristics of the problem and personal experience with dementia. Conclusion: The emotional impact of memory problems tended to differ by affective symptoms, not cognitive status. Older adults who report memory concerns without objective evidence of impairment may be at risk for negative impacts to mental health and well-being. Implications for practice: Cognitive screening guidelines should consider best practices for responding to memory concerns when cognitive testing results are normal.
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    The Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Self-Management, Affective Symptoms, and Stress in People Living with HIV in the United States
    (Springer, 2021-09) Wion, Rachel K.; Miller, Wendy R.; School of Nursing
    COVID-19 has the potential to detrimentally impact HIV self-management in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Effective HIV-self management is critically important in managing symptoms as well as viral suppression. We examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV self-management, social support, social isolation, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress in PLHIV. 85 PLHIV were recruited from social media sites and completed an online survey. Data were collected between April 23 and 30, 2020. Participants reported increases in social isolation, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress and decreases in social support and overall HIV self-management from pre- to during the pandemic. Additionally, the Social Support domain and Chronic Nature of HIV domain of the HIV Self-Management Scale were also decreased from pre- to during the pandemic. The ability for PLHIV to maintain HIV self-management during this time is essential and HIV care providers should have plans in place to provide support.
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    Inmates Care: Computer-Based Training for Geriatric and End-of-Life Care in Prisons
    (Mary Ann Liebert, 2021) Loeb, Susan J.; Murphy, Julie L.; Kitt-Lewis, Erin; Wion, Rachel K.; Jerrod, Tiffany; Myers, Valerie H.; School of Nursing
    The growing aged and dying incarcerated population increases demands on corrections health care. People who are incarcerated can assist in care delivery; however, currently, their training is typically face-to-face, home grown, and variable in content and duration. Six focus groups conducted with peer caregivers (PCs) (n = 12) and staff (n = 15) identified priority training topics. Three prototype modules (Standard Precautions; Loss and Grief; and Role of the Inmate Caregiver in the Final Hours) were developed in consultation with an advisory board. Face-to-face usability testing with (n = 20) PCs and staff confirmed contextual relevance and feasibility of the Inmates Care training. The mean system usability score for all participant segments was 86.5. Inmates Care holds promise to complement nurse-led training with a standardized e-training package.
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    Relationship and sexual satisfaction are associated with better disease self-management in persons with epilepsy
    (Elsevier, 2021) Gesselman, Amanda N.; Wion, Rachel K.; Garcia, Justin R.; Miller, Wendy R.; School of Nursing
    Prior research has demonstrated that PWEs view intimate interpersonal relationships as personally important and as a substantive challenge in their lives. This is significant as high-quality intimate relationships have been linked with greater well-being and better healthcare self-management in other disease contexts. For persons with epilepsy (PWEs), self-management is critical for seizure control, lower mortality, and better quality of life. In the current study, we conducted the first known investigation into the quality of PWEs' intimate relationships and their self-management abilities. In a sample of 88 PWEs, using the Adult Epilepsy Self-Management Instrument, results demonstrate links between greater relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction with better self-management on seven of the eleven subscales: health communication, coping skills, social support, seizure tracking, seizure response, stress management, and wellness; satisfaction was unrelated to the treatment, safety, medical adherence, and proactivity subscales. Importantly, these results held while controlling for age, gender, social support, and presence of comorbidities. These findings provide some evidence of the importance of intimate relationships in understanding PWEs' healthcare management abilities. Given that intimate relationship dynamics have been shown to be highly amenable to intervention, this is an area of potential interest for improving self-management in PWEs.
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    The Association Between Leisure Activity Engagement and Health-Related Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Older People With HIV
    (Oxford University Press, 2022) Wion, Rachel K.; Fazeli, Pariya L.; Vance, David E.; School of Nursing
    Background and objectives: Middle-aged and older adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk for decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which may be improved by engaging in leisure activities. We examined associations between HRQoL and participation in cognitive, physical, social, and passive leisure activities, and whether depressive symptoms mediated these relationships. Wilson and Cleary's conceptual model of HRQoL guided this study. Research design and methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, we enrolled 174 adults living with HIV aged 40 and older (M = 51.3, SD = 7.03). Participants completed assessments of leisure activities, depressive symptoms, and HRQoL. Data were analyzed using Spearman's rho correlations, hierarchal multiple regression, and mediation analyses. Results: Greater engagement in physical activities was associated with higher physical HRQoL (b = 2.02, p < .05). Greater engagement in social activities was associated with both higher physical (b = 1.44, p < .05) and mental HRQoL (b = 1.95, p < .01). However, all associations between leisure activities and HRQoL were fully attenuated by depressive symptoms. Cognitive and passive leisure activities were not significantly correlated with HRQoL. Mediation analyses confirmed that depressive symptoms were the mediator mechanism by which social activities affected mental and physical HRQoL. Discussion and implications: More frequent engagement in physical and social leisure activities is associated with better HRQoL, and social leisure activities improve HRQoL via their impact on mood. Interventions to increase leisure activities, especially among people living with HIV who have poorer affective functioning, may be the most effective approach to improving HRQoL.
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    The role of cognitive self-report measure type in predicting cognitive decline among older adults: A systematic review
    (Sage, 2022) Wion, Rachel K.; Hill, Nikki L.; Bell, Tyler R.; Mogle, Jacqueline; Yates, Jennifer; Bhang, Iris; School of Nursing
    Many types of items are used to measure self-reported cognition, resulting in heterogeneity across studies. Certain cognitive self-report measure types may be more predictive of future decline. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to compare whether specific types of cognitive self-report measures better predict risk for cognitive decline over time when measures are directly compared within the same study. The PRISMA criteria guided the review. Eligibility criteria included: longitudinal studies, outcome of cognitive decline, at least 2 different cognitive self-report measures, and no cognitive impairment at baseline. Nineteen studies were included in the final review. A narrative synthesis of results was completed, resulting in 3 thematic groups of comparisons across self-reported measure types. Self-reported memory decline with worry and peer perceptions of memory were associated with the highest risk for cognitive decline. Future longitudinal investigations of self-reported cognitive problems should focus on using measures that may be most sensitive to predicting cognitive decline risk.
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    Within-Person Associations Among Self-Perceptions of Memory, Depressive Symptoms, and Activity Participation in Older Adults
    (Oxford, 2020) Hill, Nikki L.; Mogle, Jacqueline; Bhargava, Sakshi; Bratlee-Whitaker, Emily; Wion, Rachel K.; Sweeder, Logan; Sliwinski, Martin; Barnes, Lisa L.; School of Nursing
    Background and Objectives Self-perceptions of memory problems may impact older adults’ mood as well as their activity participation, thereby negatively affecting health and well-being. We examined within-person associations among self-reported memory, depressive symptoms, as well as physical, social, and cognitive activity participation in older adults without cognitive impairment. Research Design and Methods Samples were drawn from the Einstein Aging Study (EAS), National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP), and Minority Aging Research Study (MARS), with over 8,000 participants (65+ years) included across data sets. In a series of coordinated analyses, multilevel structural equation modeling was used to examine within-person relationships over periods of up to 20 years. Results Across EAS, NHATS, and MAP/MARS samples, we found that older adults’ self-perceptions of memory did not directly covary with activity participation over time. However, we did find an indirect association in NHATS such that within-person changes in depressive symptoms were associated with changes in self-reported memory, and these contributed to lower physical as well as social activity participation. Discussion and Implications Older adults’ activity participation is important for health, but maximizing engagement requires understanding potentially impeding factors. We found some evidence that as self-perceptions of memory change over time, associated depressive symptoms may contribute to lower activity participation. Inconsistent findings across data sets, however, suggest future research is needed to understand individual characteristics that may influence these relationships.