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Susan Sereika

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Papers by Susan Sereika

Psychometric Analysis of Quality of Life in Individuals with HIV and Liver Disease

Health literacy and its correlates in informal caregivers of adults with memory loss

Geriatric Nursing, 2018

This secondary analysis examined health literacy among informal caregivers of communitydwelling o... more This secondary analysis examined health literacy among informal caregivers of communitydwelling older adults with memory loss and assessed correlates of caregiver health literacy using the Abilities, Skills and Knowledge Model. Caregiver health literacy (n=91) was assessed by the Newest Vital Sign. Limited health literacy presented in 38.5% caregivers, with significantly low document literacy. Health literacy was associated bivariately with age, education, global cognitive function, executive function, and working memory (all ps<.001), as well as medication knowledge (p=.015). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that older age (p=.017), and lower global cognitive function (p<.001), working memory (p=.001), and academic skills (years of education) (p=.004), independently predicted lower health literacy (R 2 =.54). Medication knowledge, however, was not found to be an independent predictor in the model. Findings suggest limited health literacy is a potential issue among informal caregivers of adults with memory loss. Appropriate assessment and personalized support are needed for informal caregivers who are at high risk for poor health literacy.

Solving insomnia electronically: Sleep treatment for asthma (SIESTA): A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2019

Background: Chronic insomnia is associated with poor asthma control. Cognitive-behavioral treatme... more Background: Chronic insomnia is associated with poor asthma control. Cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia (CBT-I) is an efficacious and durable treatment for comorbid insomnia in medical and psychiatric disorders. However, the efficacy and potential accompanying mechanisms of CBT-I have not been examined in asthma. The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of a CBT-I intervention on sleep and asthma control in adults with insomnia and asthma. We will also explore airway inflammation (i.e., exhaled nitric oxide, blood eosinophils) as a potential biological mechanism linking improvements in sleep with improvements in asthma control. Methods: The study is a single center, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Two hundred and ten adults with insomnia and asthma that is not well-controlled will be randomized to either a 9-week Internet-based CBT-I program (Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi)) or an enhanced usual care condition which utilizes an online educational video about insomnia. The primary sleep outcome is insomnia severity measured by the Insomnia Severity Index. Secondary sleep outcomes are sleep quality and wrist actigraph-recorded sleep parameters. Asthma control will be assessed by the Asthma Control Test, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, pulmonary function testing, and self-report of asthma exacerbations and asthma-related healthcare utilization. Treatment outcomes will be measured at baseline, 9 weeks, and 6 months.

Abstracting ICU Nursing Care Quality Data From the Electronic Health Record

Western journal of nursing research, Sep 1, 2017

The electronic health record is a potentially rich source of data for clinical research in the in... more The electronic health record is a potentially rich source of data for clinical research in the intensive care unit setting. We describe the iterative, multi-step process used to develop and test a data abstraction tool, used for collection of nursing care quality indicators from the electronic health record, for a pragmatic trial. We computed Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) to assess interrater agreement or reliability of data abstracted using preliminary and finalized tools. In assessing the reliability of study data ( n = 1,440 cases) using the finalized tool, 108 randomly selected cases (10% of first half sample; 5% of last half sample) were independently abstracted by a second rater. We demonstrated mean κ values ranging from 0.61 to 0.99 for all indicators. Nursing care quality data can be accurately and reliably abstracted from the electronic health records of intensive care unit patients using a well-developed data collection tool and detailed training.

Characteristics and Correlates of Caregivers' Perceptions of Their Family Members' Memory Loss

Nursing research

Understanding caregiver's perceptions of their family member's memory loss is a necessary... more Understanding caregiver's perceptions of their family member's memory loss is a necessary step in planning nursing interventions to detect and address caregiver burden. The purpose of this study was to characterize caregivers' perceptions of their family members' memory loss and identify potential correlates within Leventhal's common sense model (CSM). This secondary analysis used baseline data from a larger randomized controlled trial. Patients with memory loss and their caregivers (N = 83 dyads) from the community were included. The adapted Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) assessed caregivers' illness perceptions. Eight additional instruments measured correlates within the CSM. Responses were described; multiple linear regression was used to predict BIPQ dimension scores, and logistic regression was used to predict dichotomized BIPQ scores. Most caregivers were female, White, and spouses of the patients; they reported a range of perceptions on ...

Testing a model of health-related quality of life in women living with HIV infection

Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, Mar 1, 2017

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test Ferrans et al.'s (J Nurs Scholarsh 37(4):3... more The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test Ferrans et al.'s (J Nurs Scholarsh 37(4):336-342, 2005) revised model of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (2005) modified from the Wilson and Cleary (J Am Med Assoc 273(1):59-65, 1995) model on women living with HIV. The primary aim was to test this model, examining the relations among the five central components (biological function, symptoms, functional status, general health perceptions, and HRQoL). The secondary aim was to explore the individual (age, children, race, marital status, education) and environmental (HIV-related stigma, social support) characteristics that may impact the main components of the model. This study employed a cross-sectional correlational design using baseline data from 178 women living with HIV/AIDS who participated in one of the two independent randomized controlled trials designed to enhance HIV medication adherence. Path analysis using structural equation modeling was used to examine the hy...

An intervention to maximize medication management by caregivers of persons with memory loss: Intervention overview and two-month outcomes

Geriatric Nursing, 2016

Overseeing medication-taking is a critical aspect of dementia caregiving. This randomized control... more Overseeing medication-taking is a critical aspect of dementia caregiving. This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of a tailored, problem-solving intervention designed to maximize medication management practices among caregivers of persons with memory loss. Eighty-three community-dwelling dyads (patient + informal caregiver) with a baseline average of 3 medication deficiencies participated. Home-and telephone-based sessions were delivered by nurse or social worker interventionists and addressed basic aspects of managing medications, plus tailored problem solving for specific challenges. The outcome of medication management practices was assessed using the Medication Management Instrument for Deficiencies in the Elderly (MedMaIDE) and an investigator-developed Medication Deficiency Checklist (MDC). Linear mixed modeling showed both the intervention and usual care groups had decreases in medication management problems as measured by the MedMaIDE (F=6.91, p<.01) and MDC (F=9.72, p<.01) at 2 months post-intervention. The phenomenon of reduced medication deficiencies in both groups suggests that when nurses or social workers merely raise awareness of the importance of medication adherence, there may be benefit.

Liver transplant recipients: individual, social, and environmental resources

Progress in Transplantation, 2010

CONTEXT-Patient characteristics are important in the liver transplant (LTX) population because of... more CONTEXT-Patient characteristics are important in the liver transplant (LTX) population because of proven associations between individual and environmental factors, treatment adherence, and health outcomes in general medical and other transplant (txp) populations. OBJECTIVE-The objective of this report is to determine generalizability of the sample to other LTX populations and to establish reliability of measures used to assess individual and environmental resources. DESIGN-This is a cross sectional analysis of baseline data in a longitudinal study of adherence and health outcomes. PARTICIPANTS, SETTING-Ninety first-time adult LTX recipients at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center completed assessments of socio-demographic, health history, psychosocial and environmental factors shortly after surgery; adherence and health outcomes are tracked throughout the study. RESULTS-The UPMC cohort is older, less racially diverse, and contains more living donors than the national sample. Our sample is generally comparable to the UPMC cohort on pre-txp socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Comparable reliability/internal consistency on psychological measures is demonstrated between our sample and most published norms. The mean scores on all coping scales in our sample are

Accuracy of Measures of Medication Adherence in a Cholesterol-Lowering Regimen

Western Journal of Nursing Research, 2012

This study examined the concordance between multiple measures of adherence, as well as sensitivit... more This study examined the concordance between multiple measures of adherence, as well as sensitivity to detection of poor adherers, specificity, and predictive validity using a daily cholesterol-lowering regimen. Participants ( N = 180) aged 24 to 60 years participated in an adherence ancillary study in a clinical trial. Males constituted 53.9% of this well-educated, community sample. Data on adherence were collected over a 6-month period, using electronic monitoring, self-report, specific recall, and pill counts. Electronically monitored (odds ratio [OR] = 5.348) and Shea self-report (OR = 2.678) predicted cholesterol lowering. Days (78.9%) and intervals (84.2%) adherent and the Shea (73.7%) were sensitive to the detection of poor adherers. Moderate associations were found between measures of the same type. Low correlations were found otherwise. The electronic monitor was the most accurate and informative measure. The Shea self-report was the most accurate brief, global estimate of a...

Use of the quasi-experimental sequential cohort design in the Study of Patient–Nurse Effectiveness with Assisted Communication Strategies (SPEACS)

Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2008

Personality traits and chronic illness: a comparison of individuals with psychiatric, coronary heart disease, and HIV/AIDS diagnoses

Applied Nursing Research, 2011

Until recently, personality research was conducted primarily with psychiatric patients. However, ... more Until recently, personality research was conducted primarily with psychiatric patients. However, as links between personality characteristics and health are becoming more evident, researchers are increasingly focusing on ways in which personality plays a role in the predisposition for and outcome of physical as well as psychiatric illness. Personality traits underlie stable patterns of emotional and behavioral function that affect risk of

Nurse-Patient Communication Interactions in the Intensive Care Unit

American Journal of Critical Care, 2011

Background-The inability to speak during critical illness is a source of distress for patients, y... more Background-The inability to speak during critical illness is a source of distress for patients, yet nurse-patient communication in the intensive care unit has not been systematically studied or measured. Objectives-To describe communication interactions, methods, and assistive techniques between nurses and nonspeaking critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. Methods-Descriptive observational study of the nonintervention/usual care cohort from a larger clinical trial of nurse-patient communication in a medical and a cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit. Videorecorded interactions between 10 randomly selected nurses (5 per unit) and a convenience sample of 30 critically ill adults (15 per unit) who were awake, responsive, and unable to speak because of respiratory tract intubation were rated for frequency, success, quality, communication methods, and assistive communication techniques. Patients self-rated ease of communication. Results-Nurses initiated most (86.2%) of the communication exchanges. Mean rate of completed communication exchange was 2.62 exchanges per minute. The most common positive nurse act was making eye contact with the patient. Although communication exchanges were generally (>70%) successful, more than one-third (37.7%) of communications about pain were unsuccessful. Patients rated 40% of the communication sessions with nurses as somewhat difficult

Biochemical Indicators of LV Function During Mechanical Ventilatory Support in Critically Ill Adults

by Gerene S Bauldoff and Susan Sereika

Critical Care Medicine, 1998

Elevated Troponin-T Levels in Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilatory Support (MVS)

by Margaret-Ann Carno and Susan Sereika

Critical Care Medicine, 1999

Memory impairments with adjuvant anastrozole versus tamoxifen in women with early-stage breast cancer

by Sarah Berga and Susan Sereika

Menopause, 2007

Objective: Hormones have been implicated as modulators of cognitive functioning. For instance, re... more Objective: Hormones have been implicated as modulators of cognitive functioning. For instance, results of our previous work in women with breast cancer showed that cognitive impairment was more severe and involved more memory domains in those who received adjuvant tamoxifen therapy compared with women who received chemotherapy alone or no adjuvant therapy.

Mediating roles of medication–taking self-efficacy and depressive symptoms on self-reported medication adherence in persons with HIV: A questionnaire survey

by Donna Caruthers and Susan Sereika

International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2008

What is already known about the topic?

The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale: psychometric evaluation: HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale

by Donna Caruthers and Susan Sereika

Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2010

erlen j.a., cha e.s., kim k.h., caruthers d. & sereika s.m. (2010) The HIV Medication Taking Self... more erlen j.a., cha e.s., kim k.h., caruthers d. & sereika s.m. (2010) The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale: psychometric evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(11), 2560–2572.erlen j.a., cha e.s., kim k.h., caruthers d. & sereika s.m. (2010) The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale: psychometric evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(11), 2560–2572.AbstractAim. This paper is a report of an examination of the psychometric properties of the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale.Background. Self-efficacy is a critically important component of strategies to improve HIV medication-taking; however, valid and reliable tools for assessing HIV medication-taking self-efficacy are limited.Method. We used a cross-sectional, correlational design. Between 2003 and 2007, 326 participants were recruited from sites in Pennsylvania and Ohio in the United States of America. Six self-report questionnaires administered at baseline and 12 weeks later during ‘Improving Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy’ were used to examine the variables of interest. Means and variances, reliability, criterion, and construct validity of the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale were assessed.Findings. Participants reported high self-confidence in their ability to carry out specific medication-related tasks (mean = 8·31) and in the medication’s ability to effect good outcomes (mean = 8·56). The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale and subscales showed excellent reliability (α = 0·93∼0·94). Criterion validity was well-established by examining the relationships between the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale and selected physiological and psychological factors, and self-reported medication adherence (r = −0·20∼0·58). A two-factor model with a correlation between self-efficacy belief and outcome expectancy fitted the data well (model χ2 = 3871·95, d.f. = 325, P < 001; CFA = 0·96; RMSEA = 0·046).Conclusion. The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale is a psychometrically sound measure of medication-taking self-efficacy for use by researchers and clinicians with people with HIV. The findings offer insight into the development of interventions to promote self-efficacy and medication adherence in persons with HIV.Aim. This paper is a report of an examination of the psychometric properties of the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale.Background. Self-efficacy is a critically important component of strategies to improve HIV medication-taking; however, valid and reliable tools for assessing HIV medication-taking self-efficacy are limited.Method. We used a cross-sectional, correlational design. Between 2003 and 2007, 326 participants were recruited from sites in Pennsylvania and Ohio in the United States of America. Six self-report questionnaires administered at baseline and 12 weeks later during ‘Improving Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy’ were used to examine the variables of interest. Means and variances, reliability, criterion, and construct validity of the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale were assessed.Findings. Participants reported high self-confidence in their ability to carry out specific medication-related tasks (mean = 8·31) and in the medication’s ability to effect good outcomes (mean = 8·56). The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale and subscales showed excellent reliability (α = 0·93∼0·94). Criterion validity was well-established by examining the relationships between the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale and selected physiological and psychological factors, and self-reported medication adherence (r = −0·20∼0·58). A two-factor model with a correlation between self-efficacy belief and outcome expectancy fitted the data well (model χ2 = 3871·95, d.f. = 325, P < 001; CFA = 0·96; RMSEA = 0·046).Conclusion. The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale is a psychometrically sound measure of medication-taking self-efficacy for use by researchers and clinicians with people with HIV. The findings offer insight into the development of interventions to promote self-efficacy and medication adherence in persons with HIV.

The association between bathing and weaning trial duration

by Dana DiVirgilio and Susan Sereika

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 2011

OBJECTIVE-To describe patterns of bath care for patients who are weaning from prolonged mechanica... more

Coordinated intrahepatic and extrahepatic regulation of cytochrome p4502D6 in healthy subjects and in patients after liver transplantation

by Gilbert Burckart and Susan Sereika

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, 2003

Cytochrome p450 (CYP) 2D6 activity exhibits wide intersubject variation even among individuals wi... more Cytochrome p450 (CYP) 2D6 activity exhibits wide intersubject variation even among individuals with similar genotypes in whom the active enzyme is expressed. There is, therefore, a need to understand the mechanisms involved in determining its activity. The relationship of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression to CYP2D6 activity has been evaluated in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues to test the hypothesis of coordinated regulation. In human liver microsomes, there was a greater than 25-fold variation in both bufuralol hydroxylation and concentration of mRNA for CYP2D6, with a significant association between variables (n = 20; Spearman correlation coefficient [r(s)] = 0.85, P <.001). In normal subjects, there was a similar extent of interindividual variation in in vivo activity of CYP2D6, measured as the debrisoquin (INN, debrisoquine) recovery ratio, and in mRNA for CYP2D6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, with a significant association between variables (n = 78; r(s) ...

Psychometric Analysis of Quality of Life in Individuals with HIV and Liver Disease

Health literacy and its correlates in informal caregivers of adults with memory loss

Geriatric Nursing, 2018

This secondary analysis examined health literacy among informal caregivers of communitydwelling o... more This secondary analysis examined health literacy among informal caregivers of communitydwelling older adults with memory loss and assessed correlates of caregiver health literacy using the Abilities, Skills and Knowledge Model. Caregiver health literacy (n=91) was assessed by the Newest Vital Sign. Limited health literacy presented in 38.5% caregivers, with significantly low document literacy. Health literacy was associated bivariately with age, education, global cognitive function, executive function, and working memory (all ps<.001), as well as medication knowledge (p=.015). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that older age (p=.017), and lower global cognitive function (p<.001), working memory (p=.001), and academic skills (years of education) (p=.004), independently predicted lower health literacy (R 2 =.54). Medication knowledge, however, was not found to be an independent predictor in the model. Findings suggest limited health literacy is a potential issue among informal caregivers of adults with memory loss. Appropriate assessment and personalized support are needed for informal caregivers who are at high risk for poor health literacy.

Solving insomnia electronically: Sleep treatment for asthma (SIESTA): A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2019

Background: Chronic insomnia is associated with poor asthma control. Cognitive-behavioral treatme... more Background: Chronic insomnia is associated with poor asthma control. Cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia (CBT-I) is an efficacious and durable treatment for comorbid insomnia in medical and psychiatric disorders. However, the efficacy and potential accompanying mechanisms of CBT-I have not been examined in asthma. The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of a CBT-I intervention on sleep and asthma control in adults with insomnia and asthma. We will also explore airway inflammation (i.e., exhaled nitric oxide, blood eosinophils) as a potential biological mechanism linking improvements in sleep with improvements in asthma control. Methods: The study is a single center, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Two hundred and ten adults with insomnia and asthma that is not well-controlled will be randomized to either a 9-week Internet-based CBT-I program (Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi)) or an enhanced usual care condition which utilizes an online educational video about insomnia. The primary sleep outcome is insomnia severity measured by the Insomnia Severity Index. Secondary sleep outcomes are sleep quality and wrist actigraph-recorded sleep parameters. Asthma control will be assessed by the Asthma Control Test, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, pulmonary function testing, and self-report of asthma exacerbations and asthma-related healthcare utilization. Treatment outcomes will be measured at baseline, 9 weeks, and 6 months.

Abstracting ICU Nursing Care Quality Data From the Electronic Health Record

Western journal of nursing research, Sep 1, 2017

The electronic health record is a potentially rich source of data for clinical research in the in... more The electronic health record is a potentially rich source of data for clinical research in the intensive care unit setting. We describe the iterative, multi-step process used to develop and test a data abstraction tool, used for collection of nursing care quality indicators from the electronic health record, for a pragmatic trial. We computed Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) to assess interrater agreement or reliability of data abstracted using preliminary and finalized tools. In assessing the reliability of study data ( n = 1,440 cases) using the finalized tool, 108 randomly selected cases (10% of first half sample; 5% of last half sample) were independently abstracted by a second rater. We demonstrated mean κ values ranging from 0.61 to 0.99 for all indicators. Nursing care quality data can be accurately and reliably abstracted from the electronic health records of intensive care unit patients using a well-developed data collection tool and detailed training.

Characteristics and Correlates of Caregivers' Perceptions of Their Family Members' Memory Loss

Nursing research

Understanding caregiver's perceptions of their family member's memory loss is a necessary... more Understanding caregiver's perceptions of their family member's memory loss is a necessary step in planning nursing interventions to detect and address caregiver burden. The purpose of this study was to characterize caregivers' perceptions of their family members' memory loss and identify potential correlates within Leventhal's common sense model (CSM). This secondary analysis used baseline data from a larger randomized controlled trial. Patients with memory loss and their caregivers (N = 83 dyads) from the community were included. The adapted Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) assessed caregivers' illness perceptions. Eight additional instruments measured correlates within the CSM. Responses were described; multiple linear regression was used to predict BIPQ dimension scores, and logistic regression was used to predict dichotomized BIPQ scores. Most caregivers were female, White, and spouses of the patients; they reported a range of perceptions on ...

Testing a model of health-related quality of life in women living with HIV infection

Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, Mar 1, 2017

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test Ferrans et al.'s (J Nurs Scholarsh 37(4):3... more The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test Ferrans et al.'s (J Nurs Scholarsh 37(4):336-342, 2005) revised model of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (2005) modified from the Wilson and Cleary (J Am Med Assoc 273(1):59-65, 1995) model on women living with HIV. The primary aim was to test this model, examining the relations among the five central components (biological function, symptoms, functional status, general health perceptions, and HRQoL). The secondary aim was to explore the individual (age, children, race, marital status, education) and environmental (HIV-related stigma, social support) characteristics that may impact the main components of the model. This study employed a cross-sectional correlational design using baseline data from 178 women living with HIV/AIDS who participated in one of the two independent randomized controlled trials designed to enhance HIV medication adherence. Path analysis using structural equation modeling was used to examine the hy...

An intervention to maximize medication management by caregivers of persons with memory loss: Intervention overview and two-month outcomes

Geriatric Nursing, 2016

Overseeing medication-taking is a critical aspect of dementia caregiving. This randomized control... more Overseeing medication-taking is a critical aspect of dementia caregiving. This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of a tailored, problem-solving intervention designed to maximize medication management practices among caregivers of persons with memory loss. Eighty-three community-dwelling dyads (patient + informal caregiver) with a baseline average of 3 medication deficiencies participated. Home-and telephone-based sessions were delivered by nurse or social worker interventionists and addressed basic aspects of managing medications, plus tailored problem solving for specific challenges. The outcome of medication management practices was assessed using the Medication Management Instrument for Deficiencies in the Elderly (MedMaIDE) and an investigator-developed Medication Deficiency Checklist (MDC). Linear mixed modeling showed both the intervention and usual care groups had decreases in medication management problems as measured by the MedMaIDE (F=6.91, p<.01) and MDC (F=9.72, p<.01) at 2 months post-intervention. The phenomenon of reduced medication deficiencies in both groups suggests that when nurses or social workers merely raise awareness of the importance of medication adherence, there may be benefit.

Liver transplant recipients: individual, social, and environmental resources

Progress in Transplantation, 2010

CONTEXT-Patient characteristics are important in the liver transplant (LTX) population because of... more CONTEXT-Patient characteristics are important in the liver transplant (LTX) population because of proven associations between individual and environmental factors, treatment adherence, and health outcomes in general medical and other transplant (txp) populations. OBJECTIVE-The objective of this report is to determine generalizability of the sample to other LTX populations and to establish reliability of measures used to assess individual and environmental resources. DESIGN-This is a cross sectional analysis of baseline data in a longitudinal study of adherence and health outcomes. PARTICIPANTS, SETTING-Ninety first-time adult LTX recipients at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center completed assessments of socio-demographic, health history, psychosocial and environmental factors shortly after surgery; adherence and health outcomes are tracked throughout the study. RESULTS-The UPMC cohort is older, less racially diverse, and contains more living donors than the national sample. Our sample is generally comparable to the UPMC cohort on pre-txp socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Comparable reliability/internal consistency on psychological measures is demonstrated between our sample and most published norms. The mean scores on all coping scales in our sample are

Accuracy of Measures of Medication Adherence in a Cholesterol-Lowering Regimen

Western Journal of Nursing Research, 2012

This study examined the concordance between multiple measures of adherence, as well as sensitivit... more This study examined the concordance between multiple measures of adherence, as well as sensitivity to detection of poor adherers, specificity, and predictive validity using a daily cholesterol-lowering regimen. Participants ( N = 180) aged 24 to 60 years participated in an adherence ancillary study in a clinical trial. Males constituted 53.9% of this well-educated, community sample. Data on adherence were collected over a 6-month period, using electronic monitoring, self-report, specific recall, and pill counts. Electronically monitored (odds ratio [OR] = 5.348) and Shea self-report (OR = 2.678) predicted cholesterol lowering. Days (78.9%) and intervals (84.2%) adherent and the Shea (73.7%) were sensitive to the detection of poor adherers. Moderate associations were found between measures of the same type. Low correlations were found otherwise. The electronic monitor was the most accurate and informative measure. The Shea self-report was the most accurate brief, global estimate of a...

Use of the quasi-experimental sequential cohort design in the Study of Patient–Nurse Effectiveness with Assisted Communication Strategies (SPEACS)

Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2008

Personality traits and chronic illness: a comparison of individuals with psychiatric, coronary heart disease, and HIV/AIDS diagnoses

Applied Nursing Research, 2011

Until recently, personality research was conducted primarily with psychiatric patients. However, ... more Until recently, personality research was conducted primarily with psychiatric patients. However, as links between personality characteristics and health are becoming more evident, researchers are increasingly focusing on ways in which personality plays a role in the predisposition for and outcome of physical as well as psychiatric illness. Personality traits underlie stable patterns of emotional and behavioral function that affect risk of

Nurse-Patient Communication Interactions in the Intensive Care Unit

American Journal of Critical Care, 2011

Background-The inability to speak during critical illness is a source of distress for patients, y... more Background-The inability to speak during critical illness is a source of distress for patients, yet nurse-patient communication in the intensive care unit has not been systematically studied or measured. Objectives-To describe communication interactions, methods, and assistive techniques between nurses and nonspeaking critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. Methods-Descriptive observational study of the nonintervention/usual care cohort from a larger clinical trial of nurse-patient communication in a medical and a cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit. Videorecorded interactions between 10 randomly selected nurses (5 per unit) and a convenience sample of 30 critically ill adults (15 per unit) who were awake, responsive, and unable to speak because of respiratory tract intubation were rated for frequency, success, quality, communication methods, and assistive communication techniques. Patients self-rated ease of communication. Results-Nurses initiated most (86.2%) of the communication exchanges. Mean rate of completed communication exchange was 2.62 exchanges per minute. The most common positive nurse act was making eye contact with the patient. Although communication exchanges were generally (>70%) successful, more than one-third (37.7%) of communications about pain were unsuccessful. Patients rated 40% of the communication sessions with nurses as somewhat difficult

Biochemical Indicators of LV Function During Mechanical Ventilatory Support in Critically Ill Adults

by Gerene S Bauldoff and Susan Sereika

Critical Care Medicine, 1998

Elevated Troponin-T Levels in Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilatory Support (MVS)

by Margaret-Ann Carno and Susan Sereika

Critical Care Medicine, 1999

Memory impairments with adjuvant anastrozole versus tamoxifen in women with early-stage breast cancer

by Sarah Berga and Susan Sereika

Menopause, 2007

Objective: Hormones have been implicated as modulators of cognitive functioning. For instance, re... more Objective: Hormones have been implicated as modulators of cognitive functioning. For instance, results of our previous work in women with breast cancer showed that cognitive impairment was more severe and involved more memory domains in those who received adjuvant tamoxifen therapy compared with women who received chemotherapy alone or no adjuvant therapy.

Mediating roles of medication–taking self-efficacy and depressive symptoms on self-reported medication adherence in persons with HIV: A questionnaire survey

by Donna Caruthers and Susan Sereika

International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2008

What is already known about the topic?

The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale: psychometric evaluation: HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale

by Donna Caruthers and Susan Sereika

Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2010

erlen j.a., cha e.s., kim k.h., caruthers d. & sereika s.m. (2010) The HIV Medication Taking Self... more erlen j.a., cha e.s., kim k.h., caruthers d. & sereika s.m. (2010) The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale: psychometric evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(11), 2560–2572.erlen j.a., cha e.s., kim k.h., caruthers d. & sereika s.m. (2010) The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale: psychometric evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(11), 2560–2572.AbstractAim. This paper is a report of an examination of the psychometric properties of the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale.Background. Self-efficacy is a critically important component of strategies to improve HIV medication-taking; however, valid and reliable tools for assessing HIV medication-taking self-efficacy are limited.Method. We used a cross-sectional, correlational design. Between 2003 and 2007, 326 participants were recruited from sites in Pennsylvania and Ohio in the United States of America. Six self-report questionnaires administered at baseline and 12 weeks later during ‘Improving Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy’ were used to examine the variables of interest. Means and variances, reliability, criterion, and construct validity of the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale were assessed.Findings. Participants reported high self-confidence in their ability to carry out specific medication-related tasks (mean = 8·31) and in the medication’s ability to effect good outcomes (mean = 8·56). The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale and subscales showed excellent reliability (α = 0·93∼0·94). Criterion validity was well-established by examining the relationships between the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale and selected physiological and psychological factors, and self-reported medication adherence (r = −0·20∼0·58). A two-factor model with a correlation between self-efficacy belief and outcome expectancy fitted the data well (model χ2 = 3871·95, d.f. = 325, P < 001; CFA = 0·96; RMSEA = 0·046).Conclusion. The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale is a psychometrically sound measure of medication-taking self-efficacy for use by researchers and clinicians with people with HIV. The findings offer insight into the development of interventions to promote self-efficacy and medication adherence in persons with HIV.Aim. This paper is a report of an examination of the psychometric properties of the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale.Background. Self-efficacy is a critically important component of strategies to improve HIV medication-taking; however, valid and reliable tools for assessing HIV medication-taking self-efficacy are limited.Method. We used a cross-sectional, correlational design. Between 2003 and 2007, 326 participants were recruited from sites in Pennsylvania and Ohio in the United States of America. Six self-report questionnaires administered at baseline and 12 weeks later during ‘Improving Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy’ were used to examine the variables of interest. Means and variances, reliability, criterion, and construct validity of the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale were assessed.Findings. Participants reported high self-confidence in their ability to carry out specific medication-related tasks (mean = 8·31) and in the medication’s ability to effect good outcomes (mean = 8·56). The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale and subscales showed excellent reliability (α = 0·93∼0·94). Criterion validity was well-established by examining the relationships between the HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale and selected physiological and psychological factors, and self-reported medication adherence (r = −0·20∼0·58). A two-factor model with a correlation between self-efficacy belief and outcome expectancy fitted the data well (model χ2 = 3871·95, d.f. = 325, P < 001; CFA = 0·96; RMSEA = 0·046).Conclusion. The HIV Medication Taking Self-efficacy Scale is a psychometrically sound measure of medication-taking self-efficacy for use by researchers and clinicians with people with HIV. The findings offer insight into the development of interventions to promote self-efficacy and medication adherence in persons with HIV.

The association between bathing and weaning trial duration

by Dana DiVirgilio and Susan Sereika

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 2011

OBJECTIVE-To describe patterns of bath care for patients who are weaning from prolonged mechanica... more

Coordinated intrahepatic and extrahepatic regulation of cytochrome p4502D6 in healthy subjects and in patients after liver transplantation

by Gilbert Burckart and Susan Sereika

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, 2003

Cytochrome p450 (CYP) 2D6 activity exhibits wide intersubject variation even among individuals wi... more Cytochrome p450 (CYP) 2D6 activity exhibits wide intersubject variation even among individuals with similar genotypes in whom the active enzyme is expressed. There is, therefore, a need to understand the mechanisms involved in determining its activity. The relationship of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression to CYP2D6 activity has been evaluated in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues to test the hypothesis of coordinated regulation. In human liver microsomes, there was a greater than 25-fold variation in both bufuralol hydroxylation and concentration of mRNA for CYP2D6, with a significant association between variables (n = 20; Spearman correlation coefficient [r(s)] = 0.85, P <.001). In normal subjects, there was a similar extent of interindividual variation in in vivo activity of CYP2D6, measured as the debrisoquin (INN, debrisoquine) recovery ratio, and in mRNA for CYP2D6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, with a significant association between variables (n = 78; r(s) ...