College of Nursing & Health Professions

Kaitlin Kelly

College of Nursing & Health Professions Health Sciences -- Accelerated Physician Assistant Track

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili Doctor of Nursing Practice

Dr. Michael S. Weingarten, Dr. Vaishali Purohit, Dr. Michael Neidrauer, Alec Lafontant Co-Mentors

Early Detection of Deep Tissue Injury in Surgical Patients

The purpose of this pilot study is to establish the feasibility of using non-invasive optical measurements of blood flow as a screening tool for pressure injury (PI), more commonly known as pressure ulcer, in surgical patients. Many PIs begin as deep tissue injury (DTI) beneath the skin’s surface and are not clinically apparent until it spreads through subcutaneous tissue and into the skin. However, by this time the PI may be too extensive to avoid advanced ulceration, impacting the patient’s quality of life. Our long-term goal is to develop and validate a method for early detection of DTI by measuring blood flow in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue with a non-invasive optical method, diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). A pilot study was recently completed in spinal cord injury patients at a rehabilitation hospital suggesting that sacral blood flow measurements, obtained using a DCS system, can predict sacral PI development. For this pilot study, we recruited 16 patients from the Surgical floors at Hahnemann Hospital and gathered data on the blood flow, clinical, nutrition and metabolic characteristics of these patients. Our next step will be to continue collecting data in surgical patients during the perioperative period.

Purva Rege

College of Nursing & Health Professions Nursing

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Fisher Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Benefits of Using Music Therapy in People with Dementia

Dementia is a degenerative, progressive disease that results in severe cognitive decline, including memory loss. The majority of people affected by dementia are elderly, and over the age of 65. Though no cure has been found for this disease, a music therapy intervention has proven to be very useful in alleviating behavioral symptoms in people with dementia (PWD). In this project, five PWD were selected from a life plan community in Souderton, PA to be part of a “Music and Memory” program. This program aims to study the effects of familiar music on the cognition and overall mental health in PWD. The participants were assessed using a questionnaire, relating to their musical interests. An individualized playlist was made and utilized for PWD when they were perceived to be anxious, upset, or withdrawn. Typically, these behaviors were observed during dinner, bath time, and before getting dressed. Observed outcomes of the intervention included increased calmness, cooperation, and communication with staff members. This research provides an important first step to change the way that PWD interact with their environment, including their family and caregivers.

J’anna-Mare Lue College of

Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Faculty Mentor: Dr.

Shannon P. Marquez Environmental & Occupational Health

Idris Robinson Co-Mentor