Education and Research AC H I E V E M E N T S RESEARCH
Obesity and cancer screenings explored in Journal of Obesity
Nursing specialty certification soars The number of nurses at Christiana Care certified in a specialty has increased an impressive 147 percent in only three years, from 552 nurses, or 17 percent of the staff, in 2009 to 1,363 nurses, or 42 percent, in 2012. At the Roxana Cannon Arsht Surgicenter, 83 percent of nurses are certified. Christiana Care’s commitment to excellence in nursing also is reflected in having achieved Magnet status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, joining an elite group of hospitals and health care systems to achieve the honor.
The relationship between obesity and cancer screening is more complicated than previously thought, according to a recent study led by Christiana Care’s Department of Family & Community Medicine.
An article published in the Journal of Obesity by lead author Heather Bittner Fagan, M.D., FAAFP, MPH, director of Health Services The number of Research, Department nurses certified in of Family & Community a speciality has Medicine, noted that the increased an study found that this impressive 147% relationship depends in just three years. on the type of cancer screening test used. The study found that obesity is associated with
higher rates of prostate cancer screening among all races as well as lower rates of cervical cancer screening predominantly in white women. The data on breast and colon cancer screening were contradictory, suggesting the possibility of other determinants such as race, sex, ethnicity and access to care. Original analysis was also conducted examining the role of race, sex and ethnicity in moderating the relationship between obesity and colorectal cancer screening and showed that weight status does not contribute to disparities in colorectal cancer screening in race/ethnicity and gender subgroups.
Examining childhood bullying and teen suicide Bullying, once dismissed as a normal part of growing up, is now recognized as far more dangerous and consequential than once believed. High-profile incidents, including school shootings and suicides, have sparked a national conversation about bullying, placing it topmost in the minds of parents, educators and health care professionals. Preventing adolescent suicide is the life work of Christiana Care’s Gregory D. Cooper, BSN, RN, a crisis interventionalist at Wilmington Hospital. He is the lead author of “Examining Childhood Bullying and Adolescent Suicide: Implications for School Nurses,” published in the March issue of the Journal of School Nursing.
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