Paper
Friday, July 13, 2007
Community Collaboration Using Evidence Based Nursing Practice to Decrease Violence in Vulnerable Youth
Kathryn Puskar, DrPH, MN, MPH, FAAN, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| Learning Objective #1: identify 3 components of a collaborative model of Community Health Promotion for Youth. |
| Learning Objective #2: discuss 5 results of evidence-based nursing practice using a randomized controlled trial. |
Violence in communities is a global health concern. International and national statistics indicate the need to develop programs to target anger and violence, which can lead to negative health outcomes of homicide, suicide, and physiological stress disorders. Teaching community health promotion such as anger management is an important preventive strategy. The purpose of this presentation is twofold: 1) to discuss strategies for implementing a collaborative model of evidence based nursing practice conducted in high schools in rural communities; and 2) to share the results of the health promotion model of anger management targeting the vulnerable adolescent population. Results of this randomized controlled study provide evidence of the effectiveness in improving coping. The community program, easily applied, practical, and feasible has been implemented with over 1000 youth in various settings. Federal and private funding from the National Institute of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research and the Staunton Farm Foundation supported the program. The model involves surveys with eleven behavioral questionnaires, screening and referral of high-risk youth, and intervention of an eight-week health promotion education class. Scores on pre and post testing show positive results. The collaborative team includes nurses, physicians, teachers, guidance counselors, community liaisons, and university researchers to provide the program. Translation and dissemination of the program is illustrated in fifteen publications and distribution to several states demonstrating evidence of the model. Implications for practice are provided for nurses working in community health clinics, schools, and primary care facilities.