Browsing by Author "Whitehead, Phyllis B."
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Caring for Patients With Dementia at End of LifeWhitehead, Phyllis B.; Gamaluddin, Shareen; DeWitt, Sarah; Stewart, Christi; Kim, Kye Y. (SAGE, 2021-09-14)Care of the dementia patient continues to be challenging. It is a terminal condition that many times goes undiagnosed leading to improper evidence-based interventions. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) should initiate goals of care conversations early with patients and their families in order to align treatment preferences. Early integration of palliative medicine is an important intervention that can lead to better manage symptoms and lessen the strain on loved ones. Additionally, early enrollment into hospice should be encouraged with loved ones to promote quality of life as defined by the patient.
- Loneliness: Factors that Clinicians Need to KnowWhitehead, Phyllis B.; Gamuladdin, Shereen; White, Carolyn; Stewart, Christi; Dewitt, Sarah; Kim, Kye (HMP Global, 2021-12-01)
- Studying Moral Distress (MD) and Moral Injury (MI) Among Inpatient and Outpatient Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 PandemicWhitehead, Phyllis B.; Haisch, Carl E.; Hankey, Maria S.; Mutcheson, Brock; DeWitt, Sarah A.; Stewart, Christi A.; Stewart, Jonathan D.; Bath, Jennifer L.; Boone, Sherry M.; Jileaeva, Ilona; Faulks, Emily R.; Musick, David W. (2023-10-09)Background: COVID-19 increased moral distress (MD) and moral injury (MI) among healthcare professionals (HCPs). MD and MI were studied among inpatient and outpatient HCPs during March 2022. Objectives: We sought to examine (1) the relationship between MD and MI; (2) the relationship between MD/MI and pandemic-related burnout and resilience; and (3) the degree to which HCPs experienced pandemic-related MD and MI based on their background. Methods: A survey was conducted to measure MD, MI, burnout, resilience, and intent to leave healthcare at 2 academic medical centers during a 4-week period. A convenience sample of 184 participants (physicians, nurses, residents, respiratory therapists, advanced practice providers) completed the survey. In this mixed-methods approach, researchers analyzed both quantitative and qualitative survey data and triangulated the findings. Results: There was a moderate association between MD and MI (r = .47, P < .001). Regression results indicated that burnout was significantly associated with both MD and MI (P = .02 and P < .001, respectively), while intent to leave was associated only with MD (P < .001). Qualitative results yielded 8 sources of MD and MI: workload, distrust, lack of teamwork/collaboration, loss of connection, lack of leadership, futile care, outside stressors, and vulnerability. Conclusions: While interrelated conceptually, MD and MI should be viewed as distinct constructs. HCPs were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with MD and MI being experienced by all HCP categories. Understanding the sources of MD and MI among HCPs could help to improve well-being and work satisfaction.
- Studying the Effects of the End-of-Life Nursing Education ConsortiumWhitehead, Phyllis B. (Virginia Tech, 2009-10-20)The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to assess the ongoing impact of the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) training program on registered nurses’ death anxiety, concerns about dying, and knowledge of the dying process utilizing the principles of The Comfort Theory and Practice by Kolcaba (2003) at the institutional level. The research hypothesis was upon completion of the ELNEC training, registered nurses would have decreased death anxiety, less concerns about dying, and increased knowledge of the dying process. The Revised Death Anxiety Scale (RDAS) was used to measure death anxiety which is a 25 item self-report questionnaire. The Concerns about Dying Instrument (CAD) was used to measure death attitude or concerns about dying which includes three distinct but related areas for providers: general concern about death, spirituality, and concerns about working with dying patients. Participant's perceived knowledge of dying was measured using a self report 5-point Likert format with “0“ indicating no level of knowledge to “4“ reflecting complete knowledge of death and dying. Pre-tests of all dependent variables were administered to both a treatment and control group. Post-tests were administered two weeks after the two day ELNEC training, at 6 months, and finally at 12 months to both groups in order to study its lasting efficiency upon participants at one primary care medical center. Thirty eight participants completed all four questionnaires with 27 participants in the control group and 11 participants in the experimental group. Matched pair analysis with 11 participants in each group was conducted with statistical significance found for perceived knowledge about dying at post two weeks and 12 months (p= 0.01) for the intervention group. Death anxiety and concerns about dying were not found to be statistically significant at any testing interval, but mean scores of the treatment group revealed less death anxiety and concerns about dying. Recommendations included offering the ELNEC training on a routine basis to all registered nurses who care for dying patients. Additionally, clinicians and administrators were encouraged to seek out additional funding opportunities to plan more robust studies with larger samples, incentives, and research method triangulation addressing the qualitative aspects of palliative care.