So this has been a really rough week and I have made pretty much no progress on this project, which makes me upset and frustrated. This is especially bad because my project is to reduce or manage my stress level, so by not doing my interventions presumably my stress level is increasing? The reason I haven't been up on this project is because I've been having really weird bad headaches for a week (and still having them) so I physically couldn't exercise this week. My head might have exploded.
Oddly enough, it's been very hard for me to find the time to destress because I'm too busy being stressed about everything right now. My headaches are taking the cake right now, mostly because nursing school is making me a HUGE hypochondriac but also I'm moving this weekend so that's a big stress. And then just classes... So while I haven't been following up on my project this week, my lack of participation has just reaffirmed that I really really do need to work on my stress management and that this is the right project topic for me at this time in my life.
To do list: move, fix headaches, and actively work on de-stressing!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Starting the PPP
My first stress intervention is daily exercise--I'm interested to see if this helps my stress level. I've been exercising a few times a week throughout January and February, but this time I am charting my stress level along with the exercise.
Officially started the project last night, with 45 minutes of elliptical while studying pharmacology. Not sure if that's a good way to reduce my stress, but it works. Today I did 35 minutes of elliptical while also studying pharm. I took my various self-administered tests (PSS, WSI, DSI, and the good old 1-10 scale how would I rate my stress level). I will not be publishing daily scores on the blog, but rather bimonthly score updates and preliminary statistical analysis. I think that's it for now.
Officially started the project last night, with 45 minutes of elliptical while studying pharmacology. Not sure if that's a good way to reduce my stress, but it works. Today I did 35 minutes of elliptical while also studying pharm. I took my various self-administered tests (PSS, WSI, DSI, and the good old 1-10 scale how would I rate my stress level). I will not be publishing daily scores on the blog, but rather bimonthly score updates and preliminary statistical analysis. I think that's it for now.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Proposal
Personal Prevention Project
Chelsea Glessner
Draft #2 (2-2-08)
I. Project Vision
Name: Staying Sane?
Project Identity: This project is designed to test various coping mechanisms with regard to daily stresses and use statistical analysis to determine the validity of distinct interventions upon my personal stress levels as measured by self-report (See I. A. a. for specific tests used).
Goal: To improve mental health and increase ability to use positive coping mechanisms
Healthy People 2010 Focus Area: Mental Health and Mental Disorders (#18)
Outcomes:
1. Show consistently lower stress measures upon completion
2. Reduce recurrence of stressful states
3. Show ability to lead a 10-30 minute teaching workshop on positive coping strategies and their benefits using first-hand knowledge
Secondary Outcomes:
1. Increase knowledge of mental health problems and diseases
2. Increase knowledge of positive coping mechanisms
3. Increase awareness of services for mental health
Level of Prevention: Secondary
Project Timeline: February 1 – August 24
Project Documented: blog found at http://stayingsaneppp.blogspot.com/ with weekly journaling, milestones, intervention plans, and assessment report as completed
Milestone Check: The specific interventions for stress management will change monthly. Upon this change, the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983) will be completed to get data on the monthly stress level prior to starting an intervention and finishing another. Another check will be to obtain cathecolamine and cortisol tests (urine and saliva, respectively) from the Duke Student Health Center to get a physiologic picture of stress in between stress interventions. The milestone check will include assessment of compliance to interventions and a self-analysis of possible barriers to compliance as well as written suggestions to improve compliance. This will all be completed on the blog.
A. Assessment Parameters
a. Self-evaluation tests
b. Self-identified weekly stressors
c. Physiological Response to stress and interventions
i. Heart rate self-measured before and after every intervention
ii. Blood pressure weekly as measured by a student nurse
iii. Catecholamines (urine test) and cortisol (saliva) monthly
d. Statistical analysis on stress-measurement scores and any evidence of statistical correlation between self-assessment scores and intervention plans
B. Empirics
a. Bormann, J. E., Becker, S., Gershiwin, M., Kelly, A., Pada, L., Smith, T. L., et al. (2006). Relationship of Frequent Mantram Repetition to Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being in Healthcare Workers. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing , 218-224.
b. Brantley, P. J., Bodenlos, J. S., Cowles, M., Whitehead, D., Ancona, M., & Jones, G. N. (2007). Development and Validation of the Weekly Stress Inventory-Short Form. Journal of Psychopathological Behavioral Assessment , 55-60.
c. Brantley, P. J., Waggoner, C. D., Jones, G. N., & Rappaport, N. B. (1987). A Daily Stress Inventory: Development, Reliability, and Validity. Journal of Behavioral Medicine , 61-74.
d. Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A Global Measure of Perceived Stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior , 385-396.
e. Granarth, J., Ingvarsson, S., von Thiele, U., & Lundberg, U. (2006). Stress Management: A Randomized Study of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Yoga. Cognitive Behavior Therapy , 3-10.
f. Harris, A. H., Cronkite, R., & Moos, R. (2006). Physical activity, exercise coping, and depression in a 10-year cohort study of depressed patients. Journal of Affective Disorders , 79-85.
g. Roth, D. L., & Holmes, D. S. (1987). Influence of Aerobic Exercise Training and Relaxation Training on Physical and Psychological Health Following Stressful Life Events. Psychosomatic Medicine , 355-365.
C. Action Strategies
a. Participate in self-monitored predetermined interventions
b. Self-evaluate stress before and after every intervention action
c. Keep personal and professional journal
d. Attend therapy sessions at CAPS
e. Consult with Dr. Martin for self-assessment scales
f. Consult with CAPS therapist for self-therapies and interventions
g. Consult with Duke Integrative Medicine for self-therapies and interventions
D. Baseline Assessment
a. Self-evaluation tests
i. Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983)
ii. Heart rate and blood pressure measurements
iii. Catecholamine and cortisol measurements
b. Initial assessment visit with CAPS at Duke University
E. Implementation Plan
a. Use of different intervention strategies for predetermined amount of time
b. Self-evaluation during each intervention
i. Prior to and after intervention (monthly): Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983)
ii. Weekly Stress Inventory-Short Form (Brantley, 2007)
iii. Daily Stress Inventory (Brantley, 1987)
c. Intervention Schedule:
February: Daily Exercise
March: Meditation
April: Volunteer Work
May: Mantram Repetition
June: Yoga
July: Progressive Relaxation
August: Subject Choice
F. Evaluation
a. Descriptive Statistics of assessment scores
b. Statistical examination of correlation between interventions and assessment scores
c. Subjective opinion of intervention effectiveness
d. Peer Evaluation of Portfolio
Chelsea Glessner
Draft #2 (2-2-08)
I. Project Vision
Name: Staying Sane?
Project Identity: This project is designed to test various coping mechanisms with regard to daily stresses and use statistical analysis to determine the validity of distinct interventions upon my personal stress levels as measured by self-report (See I. A. a. for specific tests used).
Goal: To improve mental health and increase ability to use positive coping mechanisms
Healthy People 2010 Focus Area: Mental Health and Mental Disorders (#18)
Outcomes:
1. Show consistently lower stress measures upon completion
2. Reduce recurrence of stressful states
3. Show ability to lead a 10-30 minute teaching workshop on positive coping strategies and their benefits using first-hand knowledge
Secondary Outcomes:
1. Increase knowledge of mental health problems and diseases
2. Increase knowledge of positive coping mechanisms
3. Increase awareness of services for mental health
Level of Prevention: Secondary
Project Timeline: February 1 – August 24
Project Documented: blog found at http://stayingsaneppp.blogspot.com/ with weekly journaling, milestones, intervention plans, and assessment report as completed
Milestone Check: The specific interventions for stress management will change monthly. Upon this change, the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983) will be completed to get data on the monthly stress level prior to starting an intervention and finishing another. Another check will be to obtain cathecolamine and cortisol tests (urine and saliva, respectively) from the Duke Student Health Center to get a physiologic picture of stress in between stress interventions. The milestone check will include assessment of compliance to interventions and a self-analysis of possible barriers to compliance as well as written suggestions to improve compliance. This will all be completed on the blog.
A. Assessment Parameters
a. Self-evaluation tests
b. Self-identified weekly stressors
c. Physiological Response to stress and interventions
i. Heart rate self-measured before and after every intervention
ii. Blood pressure weekly as measured by a student nurse
iii. Catecholamines (urine test) and cortisol (saliva) monthly
d. Statistical analysis on stress-measurement scores and any evidence of statistical correlation between self-assessment scores and intervention plans
B. Empirics
a. Bormann, J. E., Becker, S., Gershiwin, M., Kelly, A., Pada, L., Smith, T. L., et al. (2006). Relationship of Frequent Mantram Repetition to Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being in Healthcare Workers. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing , 218-224.
b. Brantley, P. J., Bodenlos, J. S., Cowles, M., Whitehead, D., Ancona, M., & Jones, G. N. (2007). Development and Validation of the Weekly Stress Inventory-Short Form. Journal of Psychopathological Behavioral Assessment , 55-60.
c. Brantley, P. J., Waggoner, C. D., Jones, G. N., & Rappaport, N. B. (1987). A Daily Stress Inventory: Development, Reliability, and Validity. Journal of Behavioral Medicine , 61-74.
d. Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A Global Measure of Perceived Stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior , 385-396.
e. Granarth, J., Ingvarsson, S., von Thiele, U., & Lundberg, U. (2006). Stress Management: A Randomized Study of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Yoga. Cognitive Behavior Therapy , 3-10.
f. Harris, A. H., Cronkite, R., & Moos, R. (2006). Physical activity, exercise coping, and depression in a 10-year cohort study of depressed patients. Journal of Affective Disorders , 79-85.
g. Roth, D. L., & Holmes, D. S. (1987). Influence of Aerobic Exercise Training and Relaxation Training on Physical and Psychological Health Following Stressful Life Events. Psychosomatic Medicine , 355-365.
C. Action Strategies
a. Participate in self-monitored predetermined interventions
b. Self-evaluate stress before and after every intervention action
c. Keep personal and professional journal
d. Attend therapy sessions at CAPS
e. Consult with Dr. Martin for self-assessment scales
f. Consult with CAPS therapist for self-therapies and interventions
g. Consult with Duke Integrative Medicine for self-therapies and interventions
D. Baseline Assessment
a. Self-evaluation tests
i. Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983)
ii. Heart rate and blood pressure measurements
iii. Catecholamine and cortisol measurements
b. Initial assessment visit with CAPS at Duke University
E. Implementation Plan
a. Use of different intervention strategies for predetermined amount of time
b. Self-evaluation during each intervention
i. Prior to and after intervention (monthly): Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983)
ii. Weekly Stress Inventory-Short Form (Brantley, 2007)
iii. Daily Stress Inventory (Brantley, 1987)
c. Intervention Schedule:
February: Daily Exercise
March: Meditation
April: Volunteer Work
May: Mantram Repetition
June: Yoga
July: Progressive Relaxation
August: Subject Choice
F. Evaluation
a. Descriptive Statistics of assessment scores
b. Statistical examination of correlation between interventions and assessment scores
c. Subjective opinion of intervention effectiveness
d. Peer Evaluation of Portfolio
Preparing for this...
So this is my first posting. This blog is designed to record my lifestyle changes that I will be making from February to August as part of a Community Health Class I am taking at Duke University School of Nursing. Somewhere on this blog is the second draft of my Personal Prevention Project Proposal if I can figure out how to add documents...
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