Tag: Samantha Shune

Breathing based meditation to decrease stress and improve symptoms in persons with COPD

Presenter: Autumn Mosley – Communication Disorders and Sciences

Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Samantha Shune

Session: (Virtual) Oral Panel—Health and Social Science, Poster Presentation

Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), struggle with dyspnea and dysphagia which can increase their stress and anxiety levels having a quality-of-life impact. The aim of this study was to explore the impact that breathwork meditation has on anxiety and perceived stress levels in persons with COPD. It was hypothesized that participation in a Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) meditation program would lower stress and anxiety resulting in a decrease in the severity of symptoms associated with COPD. 9 participants diagnosed with COPD were recruited from across the United States. Participants engaged in a 3-day group SKY meditation program together through zoom. Data were collected from each participant through open-ended zoom interviews where they discussed their experiences during and after the SKY meditation program. Results indicated that participants had decreased severity in their symptoms and in overall stress and anxiety levels. Some participants reported a significant improvement in their quality of life and personal outlook. The SKY program improved stress and anxiety through several avenues. Improved sleep, emotional regulation, and feelings of social connectedness led to improved symptoms. Improved symptoms led to additional improved mental states. SKY intervention served to reverse the feedback loop exacerbating symptoms and negative emotions. Findings hold promise for future research into meditation as a holistic treatment option for this population.

How Smartforks Regulate Rate of Eating in People with Dysphagia Recovering from Stroke

Presenter(s): Anyasha Aragon – Communication Disorders and Sciences, German Language

Faculty Mentor(s): Samantha Shune

Oral Session 1S

Research Area: Communication Disorders and Sciences (College of Education)

Funding: Clark Honors College Thesis Grants for Extraordinary Expenses

Individuals recovering from stroke have a very high incidence of swallowing problems (dysphagia). One way to reduce rates of aspiration and choking in this population is by reducing rate of eating. Current methods for reducing rate, such as verbal cueing, often decrease quality of life. With advances in technology, smartforks provide a potentially novel method for reducing eating rate while maintaining increased autonomy. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a smartfork on eating rate and quality of meals in stroke survivors with dysphagia. The research was conducted at Oregon Rehabilitation Center over the course of two meals: one meal was eaten without the use of the smartfork’s feedback and the second meal was eaten with the vibrotactile and visual feedback turned on. Results indicated that the fork was effective for two out of the three participants. Specifically, for those two participants, their rate of eating decreased and the percentage of bite intervals when the target rate of eating was met increased with the use of the smartfork feedback. The visual feedback provided by the fork was more effective than the vibrotactile feedback. All participants felt the fork maintained or improved the quality of their meal. These results indicate that a smarkfork is potentially a helpful device to make eating a safer and more enjoyable experience for people with dysphagia.

Qualitative Study of Speech Language Pathologists Working With Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Patients with Dysphagia

Presenter(s): Brianna Southworth

Faculty Mentor(s): Samantha Shune

Poster 80

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Dysphagia, commonly described as difficulty swallowing, affects a wide-range of culturally and linguistically diverse patients. As the importance of patient-centered care has continued to grow in the medical field, speech-language pathologists continue to search for ways to accommodate the needs, and wants of the countless diverse patients that they treat, particularly when they vary from the mainstream culture. This is especially true in inpatient settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes. This qualitative study was conducted to identify common challenges and potential solutions for accommodating the unique preferences of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) patients with dysphagia. In this study we interviewed six speech language pathologists who had experience working with CLD populations in nursing homes and hospitals. Interviews were transcribed and data was then analyzed using thematic analysis, or “qualitative description” in order to identify the common themes across participants. Analyses revealed many problems created by the limiting environment that these patients are confined to, such as decreased flexibility in food options and eating times. It was clear that speech-language pathologists have to be creative and compassionate to minimize these barriers and that individualized care and trusting relationships are crucial. This research is vital for identifying strategies for speech-language pathologists to be able to better care for the ever growing diverse population in America.

Differences in respiratory-swallowing patterns across eating conditions among healthy older adults

Presenter(s): Eric Graboyes—Communication science and disorders

Co-Presenter(s): Carissa Hartmann, Natalie Hanson

Faculty Mentor(s): Samantha Shune

Session: Prerecorded Poster Presentation

Safe and efficient eating relies on the precise coordination of the respiratory and swallowing systems . It is necessary for the airway to be briefly closed during the swallow itself in order to prevent food/liquid from entering the lungs (aspiration) . Previous research has suggested that an exhale before and after the swallow is the most protective pattern . Yet, little is known about the effects of aging and sensory environment on these patterns . The purpose of the current study was to characterize the pre- and post-swallow respiratory patterns in older adults across different eating environments . A total of 18 older adults participated (age range 65-90; 11 females) . Participants consumed water (via straw) and applesauce (via spoon) under three different conditions: typical self-feeding, assisted feeding (being fed by someone else), and sensory loss assisted feeding (being fed by someone else while blindfolded) . Across all three conditions, exhalations prior to the swallow were commonly observed; 58-61% of swallows were preceded by an exhale across the three conditions . Inhales were most commonly observed after the swallow, with a trend for increasing percentages given increased sensory loss (59% self-feeding, 64%, assisted feeding, 71% blindfolded assisted feeding) . Future analyses will continue to explore the differences across conditions within the individual participants and differences across the consistency types (i .e ., water—drink and applesauce—eat) . These findings preliminarily support that various factors can influence respiratory- swallow coordination, potentially increasing risk during eating for older adults .

Post-stroke Dysphagia’s Impact on Survivors and Spousal Caregivers: The Importance of Perceptual Congruence

Presenter(s): Kayla Davis—Communication Disorders and Sciences

Faculty Mentor(s): Samantha Shune

Session 1: Human Behavior—I am Who I Am

Previous studies have shown a link between survivors’ stroke severity and family caregiver burden, however other factors may contribute to this burden . Burden specific to post-stroke dysphagia and the consequences of incongruence between care recipient and care partner in their perception of the impacts of the care recipient’s dysphagia are potential variables that are unexplored . The present study aimed to determine the role of partner congruence of the perceived mealtime impacts of post- stroke dysphagia on caregiver burden . Twenty-seven spousal dyads consisting of a stroke survivor experiencing post-stroke dysphagia and their spousal caregiver were surveyed concerning their perceptions of the logistical and social impacts of dysphagia on mealtimes and stroke and dysphagia severity . Dyadic congruence in perceptions of mealtime logistical impacts, but not mealtime social impacts, was associated with increased caregiver burden . Additionally, increased survivor dysphagia severity and caregivers’ perceived mealtime logistical impacts were also associated with increased caregiver burden . These results can guide speech-language pathologists and other health professionals in their interventions for clients with dysphagia and their families .