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Student Research Has Practical Applications in Child Health Care

5/15/2019

A group of students approached Human Development and Family Studies faculty member, Dr. Sherwood Burns-Nader, with an interest in participating in research. With guidance from her, these students completed a research project focused on children. Their abstract was selected for presentation at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research held at Kennesaw State University this spring.

Each of the five students conducting research were involved in UA’s Emerging Scholars program. Three are focusing on the CHES Child Life concentration and two are biology majors. All continued to participate in research in the lab after having completed the Emerging Scholars program.

What did they investigate – the effectiveness of a non-invasive pain relief product called Buzzy. Their abstract says it all:

In the healthcare setting, children are often fearful of needles and the pain that accompanies their use. Different interventions aim to address the fear and pain associated with needles. Buzzy is a tool using a vibration and cooling sensation to stimulate the nerves between the injection site and the brain, which can help to reduce children’s pain and anxiety. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the Buzzy in reducing pain in children receiving an injection during a doctor’s visit. In the study, 75 children, ages 4 to 12, who were receiving an injection, were randomly placed in either the Buzzy intervention group or a control group. The Buzzy group received an intervention in which the Buzzy device was placed on the child’s arm between the brain and site of injection. The control group received standard care (i.e., no psychosocial intervention). Prior to the injection, parents completed a demographic questionnaire. During the injection, a research assistant rated the child’s pain and distress levels using observation scales. After the injection, the child was asked to rate his or her pain level during the injection using analogue scale of faces, and parents rated their child’s perceived pain level using an observation scale. Results showed there were no differences in pain or distress between the two groups. Parents observed differences in pain levels between genders, reporting girls displayed more pain than boys (p =.003). Furthermore, children between 4 and 7 were observed to verbalize distress more frequently than their counterparts, ages 8 to 12, during the injection (p =.001) and report more pain (p = .006). In this study, the Buzzy was not effective in reducing pain and distress in children receiving an injection.

Congratulations to these emerging researchers: Amber Wesoloski of Moon Township, Penn., Emily Goldstein of Santa Clarita, Cal., Shannon Anderson of Mobile, Ala., Molly Lukas of Lakeland, Tenn., and Lily Small of Fairhope, Ala.!

Amber Wesoloski and Molly Lucas at NCUR.

Interior Designer Matthew Bees in Prestigious NYC Show House

5/3/2019

From interior design student in Doster Hall to professional designer in Charleston, South Carolina, Matthew Bees has perfected his craft. His work has been featured in House Beautiful, Garden & Gun, Southern Living, Coastal Living, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

This spring, he was chosen to work his magic in the nation’s most prestigious annual showcase for interior design, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House which runs from May 2 through May 31. Each year, celebrated interior designers transform a home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art and technology. This year top designers from around the world decorated a town house on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

The show house raises funds for much needed after school and enrichment programs for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. For more than four decades, the show house has been a must-see event for thousands of design enthusiasts, renowned for sparking interior design trends throughout the world.

If you are in NYC this month, stop by to see the work of our former CHES student, Matthew Bees. The Kips Bay Show House is open 7 days a weeks and tickets are $40. Learn more about Matthew and see his work at his website Matthew Monroe Bees.

View Matthew’s room and others through these links:

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/05/02/2019-kips-bay-decorator-show-house/

https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/house-tours/g27334515/kips-bay-showhouse-2019/

The Rewards of Extraordinary Effort

4/30/2019

20 Coordinated Program in Dietetics Graduates

CHES 2019 Coordinated Program in Dietetics graduates.

Time to celebrate!

It takes unwavering determination to push through the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at CHES but the rewards are great. Students who complete the program, get two of the requirements for becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist out the way at one time. This option combines the theory presented in class with experience in health care settings under the supervision of faculty or other health professionals. After graduation, students are eligible to take the national examination to become registered dietitians.

Admission to the Coordinated Program, which is currently accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, is competitive. Students apply in the fall or spring semester of their junior year. Admission decisions are based on overall GPA, grades in relevant courses, score on the admission exam, work/volunteer/leadership experience, class attendance, professionalism, and letters of reference.

Once admitted, students spend 12-16 months in the program depending upon when they apply. They enter a unique phase of their college education. No longer traditional college students, they have accepted the additional role of “professional-in-training.” This new role carries a greater responsibility and commitment to class attendance, timeliness, attire and other factors which directly relate to job performance and professional presentation.

The junior and senior years require more time on the student's part than normally would be encountered in a traditional college program. Students take a full class load each semester while working at a supervised practice facility. They complete many hours of practical or supervised practice hours in clinical, community nutrition, foodservice management, long-term care, and dietetics management and communication rotations. For most, a 40-hour work week is the norm in the fall and spring semesters of the senior year. Students work alongside dietitians in hospitals, nursing homes, health departments, employee wellness programs, and non-profit agencies.

On Thursday, May 2, seniors from the coordinated program in dietetics participate in a special graduation ceremony that recognizes the hard work and dedication it took to accomplish this feat.

“Our 20 coordinated program graduates not only complete their degree here at UA, but also complete over 1200 hours of supervised practice at healthcare facilities in the community. I am so proud of their hard work this past year and cannot wait to see what their future holds as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists,” says Lori Greene, MS, RD, LD, director of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics.

A Showcase for Creativity

4/23/2019

Apparel design students at the College of Human Environmental Sciences let their imaginations run wild for a special fashion show that celebrated Earth Week. Tasked with upcycling their finds from thrift stores, family attics and a few unconventional sources, designers created an amazing array of clothing for Tee Time 2019.

Students were asked to present one or two looks focused on sustainable design using alternative materials or re-purposed articles of clothing. Tee Time is an annual event that allows sophomore designers in the apparel production class to show their work for the first time. Junior and senior designers joined in on the fun, too.

Sophomore designers were Jacob Brosky, Julianne Dean, Kate Floyd, Angelina Kim, Faith Lowe, Jessica Lyerly, Nikki Maccariello, Jennica Mancarella, Grace McCoy, Callie McKinnon, Miya Michaels, Shea Ochoa, Makenzie Tokes, Katerina Weakley and Danbi Woo.

Juniors designers were Mara Baez-Velazquez, Marc Biancavilla, Ian Burch, Alexandra Gibson, Sydney Good, Gizelle Macias, Kaitlyn Sarao, Leah Sneddon, Millie Steed, Mo Taylor, Kailyn Thomas, Coleen Tolentino, Pang Vang, Jannell Whitfield and Kendall Worrell.

Senior designers were Jeff Austin, Mary Rives Drake, La’ Shandra Garner, Allie Gipson, Trevor Hill and Tommie Quinlan.

Photos by Eric Gray Photography

A Visit with Blackberry Hill Alpacas

4/18/2019

CHES Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design students took a road trip to visit Blackberry Hill Alpacas, an alpaca farm in Anniston, Alabama. The trip was organized by CTD instructor Danielle Reaves who wanted students to experience the entire process of making wool yarn and envision the design possibilities of this resource. They got to meet the alpacas, see where they are kept, learn what they like to eat and how to shear them.They discovered how to take the sheared wool and prepare it to be spun into yarn. One student even took a turn at the spinning wheel. Students got to feel the wool, both on the alpacas and off, and learn which parts of the sheared wool are used and which must be discarded. Getting to feed and pet the animals was an added bonus that had many of the students wanting an alpaca (or two!) of their very own.

The visit ended with a trip to the gift shop which featured finished products made from alpaca wool. For the students who are participating in the 16th Annual North American Student Design Competition, which is sponsored by Alpaca Owners Association, Inc., this trip was especially valuable for learning the uses of alpaca fiber in fashion, textile and interior design. For a video of the trip visit the CHES Facebook page.