JoAnn D. Long

Pilot Using World Wide Web to Prevent Diabetes in Adolescents

This pilot study tested the effects of an interactive nutrition education Web site on fruit, vegetable, and fat consumption in minority adolescents genetically at risk for Type 2 diabetes. A one-group nonexperimental pretest, posttest focus group design was used. Twenty-one sixth-grade to eighth-grade junior high adolescents who were minorities volunteered to participate. Participants received 5 hours of Web-based nutrition education over 3 weeks. A significant difference in fat consumption was supported from the computerized dietary assessment. No difference was found in fruit or vegetable consumption. Comparative data indicated a rise in body mass index (BMI) percentile from 88.03 (1999) to 88.40 (2002; boys) and 88.25 (1999) to 91.2 (2002; girls). Focus group responses supported the satisfaction of adolescents in the study with the use of the Web-based intervention for nutrition education. Healthy eating interventions using Web-based nutrition education should be further investigated with adolescents.

Technology-based methods of dietary assessment: recent developments and considerations for clinical practice.

Purpose of reviewThe objective of this review is to provide an overview of recent findings in technology-based methods for the collection and analysis of dietary information, and explore the potential implications of these technologies for dietary assessment in a clinical setting. Recent findingsNumerous technology-based methods for dietary assessment have emerged in recent years. These methodologies have the potential to enhance the dietary assessment process, and overall appear to yield valid results in a wide variety of populations. However, as is the case with the existing technologies they are designed to replace, none is error free and each has its own unique limitations. Therefore, the decision to incorporate one of these methodologies into clinical practice should only be made after a thorough evaluation of the methodology and with specific outcome goals in mind. SummaryEvidence supporting the emerging role of technology-based methods for dietary assessment is growing. As technological advances move rapidly forward it is important to consider a theoretical foundation to help guide the translation of these innovations into routine use in clinical practice.

Modified early warning scoring (MEWS): evaluating the evidence for tool inclusion of sepsis screening criteria and impact on mortality and failure to rescue.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVESnTo evaluate current research evidence reporting outcomes from modified early warning scoring system tools utilisation to prevent failure to rescue in hospitalised adult medical-surgical/telemetry patients.nnnBACKGROUNDnEarly sepsis detection exhibits clinical significance to practitioners and patients. Thorough and timely clinical observations, along with a willingness of nurses to call for help, are pivotal to survival of hospitalised patients. This project examined effects of modified early warning scoring system tool usage on patient mortality and failure to rescue events in hospitalised adult medical-surgical/telemetry patients as reported in the literature.nnnDESIGNnA comprehensive review and evaluation of published peer-reviewed literature was conducted.nnnMETHODSnElectronic databases searched included PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library of systematic reviews and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality through 2014.nnnRESULTSnEighteen articles were identified for review. Evidence ratings included 6% (1) Level I, 44% (8) Level IV, 6% (1) Level V, 33% (6) Level VI and 11% (2) Level VII. Six reported mortality predictive value and/or reduction, three measured impact on emergency calls, and four reported impact on mortality and rapid response team utilisation.nnnCONCLUSIONnWhile modified early warning scoring system tools have been widely adopted and are recommended for utility in detection of inpatients at-risk for clinical deterioration, limited high-level data and no clinical trials linking use of modified early warning scoring system tool usage to robust outcomes were found. Established criteria for validating modified early warning scoring system criteria, organisational-specific reliability testing and multi-site trials are recommended.nnnRELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICEnDevelopment of all-cause illness screening tools, including sepsis, is imperative. The clinical picture may be quantified with scoring tools to assist nurses clinical decision-making, thus leading to improved outcomes and decreased incidence of failure to rescue. Clinical outcomes of interest should be measured and reported in peer-reviewed literature to disseminate the impact on clinical outcomes.

Technology application for dietary control: participants' viewpoints.

An interdisciplinary team addressed the challenge of encouraging college-aged individuals to measure dietary intake of fruits and vegetables using technological advancements. The project used a quasi-experimental, repeated-measures design followed by focus groups (Long et al. 2013). Participants used cell phone cameras to take pictures of their meals to prompt memory and facilitate recording of food consumption for an online dietary assessment. At the end of the study, participants provided information about their experience. The aim of this project was to further examine participants’ viewpoints.