The 2013 Annual Research Conference involved 264 student contributors who presented work in 72 presentations and 50 posters across the disciplines.
Questions? Please contact one of the 2013 conference coordinators: Daniel Hatch, Daniel.hatch@ung.edu, Bryan Dawson, bryan.dawson@ung.edu, or Michele Hill, Michele.hill@ung.edu.

UNG Annual Research Conference 2013

Abstract
The United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, but food insecurity and hunger within the country remain concerning. Child hunger can result in stifling a young person’s ability to learn as well as lead them to being impoverished as an adult. Many children are coming to school too distracted by their empty stomachs to focus on doing well in school—academically, socially, and emotionally. Local backpack food programs provide needed food to children who would otherwise not have adequate access to food during the weekends. There are many feeding programs that cater to elementary school students; however, models focusing on middle school demographics are scarce. This study measured the acceptance and feasibility of implementation of a weekend feeding program for nutritionally vulnerable Banks County Middle School students, using a cohort design study and qualitative data analysis. The study utilized fifteen semi-structured, qualitative interviews to explore implementation. Staff members determined that societal influences and aspects of family life might contribute to food insecurity. Identification strategies included individual staff efforts and relational interactions between staff, students, and families. Three overarching themes that emerged from this research included: staff members’ philosophy, perspectives, and beliefs about food insecurity, the school as a contextual resource for identifying food insecurity, and the goal of de-stigmatizing those in the program. These findings suggest that successfully implementing the program requires recognition of the multi-level influences on child food insecurity. Recommendations were made to implement and sustain a weekend feeding program for BCMS students.

Evaluating the accessibility and feasibility of implementing a Banks County Middle School Backpack Program (“Pawpack Program”) to provide basic needs for food insecure and impoverished students.

ABSTRACT
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE WEIGHT OF AMERICA’S CHILDREN: BARRIERS WHICH PREVENT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FROM DISCUSSING CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Catherine Blow, RN
Alisa Allicock, RN, BSN
Chandra Cooper-Samuels, RN, BSN
Carolynn DeSandre, MSN, CNM, FNP-BC
Purpose: The purpose of this literature synthesis was to examine the barriers preventing healthcare providers from discussing childhood obesity with caregivers, and to generate recommendations to help reduce and prevent obesity in children by encouraging professionals to initiate conversations with parents and caregivers.
Methodology: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify the barriers that prevent practitioners from identifying and counseling parents and caregivers of overweight or obese children.
Results: Once identified, barriers were organized into thematic categories (parental perceived, provider perceived, and professional barriers) and recommendations were generated to facilitate discussion about childhood obesity between professionals and parents.
Conclusion: Childhood obesity is a significant public health problem. Healthcare providers must be able to effectively communicate with caregivers and put childhood obesity at the front of healthcare discussions. This article provides a synthesis of the relevant literature and makes recommendations for healthcare providers to overcome the barriers allowing healthier outcomes for children.
Keywords: Childhood obesity, pediatric, barriers, parental perception, communication, and discussing obesity.

Conversations About the Weight of America's Children:  Barriers Which Prevent Healthcare Providers from Discussing Childhood Obesity

Though the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ, 2003) considers
advance care planning as “preferences for care at the end of life”, review of the
literature shows that advance care planning is more complex than this. As
preferences for care at the end of life include treatment choices and decision-
making which require thorough patient understanding, vital components entail
patient advocacy, advance directives, alternative treatment, collaboration of care,
coordination of care, cultural sensitivity, do not resuscitate orders (DNRs),
decision-making, effective communication, ethics, holistic practice, “illness
awareness” (Corli et al., 2009), living wills, patient rights, power of attorney, illness
prognostic discussions, and truth-telling. Since the AHRQ (2008) has healthcare
practice guidelines that state that physicians should conduct advance care
planning yearly with their patients, implications for the nurse practitioner are
perfecting role preparedness as increasing autonomy and responsibilities of the
profession are projected on provisions for healthcare coverage (i.e. primary care,
cancer care, and geriatrics). The primary goal for advance care planning in
terminal illness is to improve patient/family outcomes, and the nurse practitioner is
holistically prepared to conduct early and regular discussions of advance care
planning with patients and families when prognoses are poor, treatment fails, or
disease recurs.
Method. In a pilot study of 30 nurse practitioner participants in the Atlanta and
surrounding area, greater insight into communication strategies, tools, and role
preparedness of the nurse practitioner on advance care planning in terminal illness
is sought. For thorough sampling, three random practices types are selected:
internal medicine, oncology, and pulmonary care.
 Keywords: communication, end-of-life, prognosis, advance care planning,
terminal illness

Advance Care Planning in Terminal Illness: A Descriptive Pilot Study

Abstract
Our purpose is to inform nurse practitioners of the prevalence of caregiving youth (CY) and the invisibility of this population. Pauline Boss’s Ambiguous Loss theory can be applied to encounters with (CY) to more fully understand the risks unique to the CY and integrate interventions into their care. In our preparation, we reviewed 23 peer reviewed articles and three theoretical manuscripts written by Dr. Boss.
We came to the conclusion that caregiving youth exist globally. CY contribute to the economic stability of the family and keep families together that would otherwise burden local social services. Caregiving youth fear destruction of the family unit and therefore delay or refuse interventions to prevent further loss to the family unit. For this reason, nurse practitioners must understand how to work with people experiencing ambiguous loss to decrease stress and reduce isolation. The authors developed a screening tool to identify CY in the primary care setting.

“Stepping Into the Light: Understanding the Lived Experience of Caregiving Youth”

Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor (BAF) is a conserved DNA binding protein with cellular roles in nuclear assembly, regulation of chromatin structure, and gene expression. The regulation of chromatin structure by BAF is most likely mediated through its interactions with DNA and histones. BAF is regulated through phosphorylation, but there are other potential modifications of BAF that remain unknown. Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor-Like (BAF-L) is a protein that is 40% identical and 53% similar to BAF at the amino acid level. Recombinant BAF-L can form stable homodimers and can heterodimerize with BAF in vitro and in vivo. Although BAF-L does not significantly bind to DNA and other partners of BAF, it can interact with BAF in the presence of DNA. These distinct biochemical characteristics of BAF-L suggest that it might regulate BAF function through formation of BAF/BAF-L dimers. We hypothesize that binding of BAF-L may help regulate BAF interactions with histones and DNA. Preliminary data for our research group suggests that BAF-L can, like BAF, bind to histones H1 and H3. We will confirm this preliminary finding and extend it by testing BAF-L binding to histones through several methods: far westerns, immunoprecipitations, and chromatography.

Interactions between Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor-Like (BAF-L) and Histones

Multiple studies have investigated how color and sound affect participants’ perceptions and behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not smell would also influence participant’s perceptions. Sixty male and female undergraduate students attending the University of North Georgia volunteered via the Nerd System for this study. Participants received partial credit toward a course research requirement. Participants were assigned to one of three groups; a neutral smelling room, a room with an unpleasant smell, or one with a pleasant smell. Each group was asked to rate 20 pictures of strangers (10 female, 10 male) based on attractiveness and several other characteristics considered socially desirable in a romantic partner. It was hypothesized that the group in the aversive-smelling room would rate the pictures lower and the group in the pleasant-smelling room would rate the pictures higher than participants in the neutral-smelling room. Results are discussed in terms of increasing productivity and positive affect in social situations.

Hot or Not Study

The effects of the pace of background music and the presence of a distraction on the consumption of alcohol were tested. Observations were made at a bar in 30-minute intervals that coincided with the playing of different paces of music (fast, medium, and slow). Observations were also separated by the presence or absence of a distraction, such as a football game televised in the bar. Covertly observations were recorded of the total alcohol consumption of selected groups seated together at tables. Results showed a positive correlation between pace of music and alcohol consumption, with faster paces associated with higher alcohol consumption. There was no significant effect of the presence of a distraction on alcohol consumption.

Effects of Background Music on Alcohol Consumption

Abstract
Reducing the Risk for Dementia: The Evidence is Clear
By Rebecca Danforth Margrave, RN; Melissa Schweiker, BSN, RN, CHPN;
Kim Hudson-Gallogly, PhD, APRN-BC
Dementia is a term that encompasses neurodegenerative disorders that gradually affect cognitive, behavioral, and functional abilities. The impact of dementia on individuals, families, and the healthcare system is devastating and wrought with emotion. Estimates are that close to 5.5 million Americans are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, only one subcategory of dementia and this number is rising. The cost of care for dementia patients in theU.S.by 2050 is estimated at $1.1 trillion.
Is a percentage of the population predetermined to face the effects of dementia or can this disabling disease be avoided by implementing lifestyle modifications in mid-life? The aim of this research highlights current findings that demonstrate a connection between dementia and modifiable risk factors such as central adiposity, body mass index, vascular disease, and diabetes. A systematic review of literature revealed a strong correlation between the presence of risk factors in mid-life and the development of dementia in late-life. These results point to a vital need for greater emphasis on patient education in the primary care setting regarding dementia and its prevention.

Reducing the Risk for Dementia: The Evidence is Clear

No Man is an Island:
Group-based versus Individualized Education for Diabetics
By Hannah Christopher, RN
Alexandra Norton, RN
Elissa Charron, RN
The University of North Georgia
About 25 million, or 8.3% of Americans, have diabetes. Diabetes leads to problems such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, amputations, and more. The current prevention, treatment and education system is fragmented which reduces the effectiveness of self-management skills as well as increases complications and healthcare costs. This evidence-based project seeks to determine whether group-based or individualized education is more beneficial in improving the health of patients with diabetes. Review of the literature from MEDLINE, CINAHL, and ProQuest databases resulted in 10 relevant studies. Results from Cochran Reviews, meta-analysis and RCTs indicate group education leads to improvements in clinically important health outcomes and self-management skills for diabetics as well as a reduction in healthcare costs. Nurses need to advocate for revamped training in diabetes education as well as creating and expanding community based education programs to create a standard of care.
Keywords: Diabetes, group education, individual education, self-management, evidence-based

No Man is an Island: Group-based versus Individualized Education for Diabetics

Although females account for part of the gaming population, video games are still viewed as a male activity (Williams, Conslavo, Caplan, & Yee, 2009). Several studies in the past have focused on gender stereotypes found in video games; however, there has been little research on the effects of gender stereotypes amongst players. In a previous study, researchers examined class selection in World of Warcraft based on gender to confirm or disprove gender stereotypes. Researchers found experience, not gender was the main determinant in class selection (DiGiuseppe & Nardi, 2007).
Our current study seeks to further this research by studying whether or not negative remarks made about a female’s game skill can affect one’s decision in choosing an avatar to reflect one’s true identity or disguise it. We will test this by having participants create an avatar and play Neverwinter Nights with someone that either likes playing with females or dislikes playing with females. We believe female players that hear negative remarks about their gender will be more likely to choose a male character to mask their true gender. We also predict females high in gender centrality will be less likely to change their character. We are currently collecting data and plan on analyzing our results in May 2013. We will use an Independent samples T test to measure the difference of gender scores based on the number of times participants change their character. In addition we will use analysis of variance to examine gender and racial differences amongst character selection.