Kim Curry

The effects of energy drinks alone and with alcohol on neuropsychological functioning

Caffeinated energy drinks—alone or with alcohol—are heavily marketed to young adults, many of whom believe that caffeine counteracts some negative effects of alcohol intoxication. While the effects of caffeine and alcohol have been widely investigated, few studies have examined neuropsychological performance after consumption of a beverage containing both ingredients.

Over-the-Counter Medication and Herbal or Dietary Supplement Use in College: Dose Frequency and Relationship to Self-Reported Distress

Objective: A growing number of researchers have examined the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and herbal or dietary supplements among college students. There is concern about the efficacy and safety of these products, particularly because students appear to use them at a higher rate than does the general public. Participants and Methods: The authors administered surveys to college students (N = 201) to assess the frequency of use in the past week. Results: A substantial percentage reported using OTC medications (74.1%), herbal or dietary supplements (70.6%), or both concurrently (61.2%). Dose frequency of OTC medications was the best predictor of self-reported emotional distress in the past week. Higher doses of products containing pseudoephedrine or valerian were associated with self-reported anxiety. Conclusions: These data further reflect an increasing trend toward self-medication among college students. Investigators must conduct reliability and validity studies to evaluate the clinical utility of the measurement tool developed in this study.

Prevalence and management of headache in a university undergraduate population

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the incidence, morbidity, and management of headaches in university undergraduate students. The authors also explored choice of reliever medications for headaches in an effort to assess potential needs for patient education concerning effective headache management. Data sources: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 104 students. The Headache Assessment Quiz was used to measure type and severity of headache and to collect data on symptom management. Conclusions: A majority of students surveyed reported experiencing headaches of moderate to severe intensity. Sixty percent of respondents indicated that headaches interfered with their usual activities while 92.5% reported use of nonprescription relievers only for headache management. Knowledge of headache prevention and treatment is lacking in this age group. Implications for practice: Headaches are a common symptom in the college age population. Further research is needed to determine the incidence of specific types of headaches. Primary care providers are challenged to address patient education in this population as well as to assist patients in properly diagnosing headache types.

The Use of High-Fidelity Simulation to Teach Cultural Competence in the Nursing Curriculum

The United States population is undergoing a major demographic shift, by the year 2050, it is predicted that minority populations will constitute half of the general population. This evolving population change is significant due to the overwhelming burden of disease that minorities face in the nation. Cultural competence training is currently being used to prepare practitioners to provide care to a diverse population in an effort to eliminate health disparities. With the increasing demands of the nursing curriculum and the limited time frame to prepare competent clinicians, the search continues for innovative strategies that will produce culturally competent providers. Patient simulation is a technique that replicates real-world scenarios in a controlled and nonthreatening environment. However, despite the legal and moral obligations that nurses have to provide culturally competent care, a lack of evidence exists regarding how to properly integrate simulation methods for cultural competence training into the nursing curriculum. In the nursing curriculum, patient simulation has been used mainly to teach the biomedical aspects of care with less focus on the psychological, cultural, and environmental context. The potential exists for the use of high-fidelity patient simulation as an effective teaching strategy for cultural competence training.

Laws and guidelines governing the use of herbal supplements

Abstract:In the last of a three-part series on herbal supplements, laws and guidelines impacting the use of herbal supplements are discussed. Distinct differences exist between regulations for herbal supplements and those products defined as drugs. Consideration of herbal therapy should be approached within a context of holistic treatment.

Herbal supplements for health promotion and disease prevention.

This three-part series is designed to provide clinicians with a working knowledge of using herbal supplements for health and disease states. Common herbal preparations used for health promotion or disease prevention will be featured in this part of the series.

Herbal supplements used to treat common chronic conditions.

Abstract: This is part 2 of a three-part series designed to provide clinicians with a working knowledge of the use of herbal supplements for health and disease states. Part 2 of the series focuses on the efficacy of herbal supplements used in the treatment of common chronic conditions.