Unit 8 Medications for Sleep Disorders —2 Peer Response 600w. due 10-25-23

Please read and respond to at least two of your peers' initial postings. You may want to consider the following questions in your responses to your peers:

• Compare and contrast your initial posting with those of your peers.

• How are they similar or how are they different?

• What information can you add that would help support the responses of your peers?

• Ask your peers a question for clarification about their post.

• What most interests you about their responses?

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

Ingrid A.

· There are multiple sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, hypersomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and parasomnia which I think is “sleepwalking” or at least very similar to sleepwalking (Sleep Disorders, 2020).

Screening tools to diagnose sleep disorders can be just as gathering information from the patient, like history and physical. There are other screening tools such as actigraphy which is something like a watch the patient must wear and this tracks the movements the patient makes when sleeping and being awake (How is actigraphy used to evaluate sleep?, 2022)

Adding more we also have polysomnography also known as the “sleep study”, and this particular test records brain waves, oxygen level as well as heart rate (Polysomnography (Sleep Study) 2023). Epic (electronic health record) has something called the stop-bang questionnaire and it basically asks questions about snoring, blood pressure, and the size of the neck. There is also something called the Athens Insomnia Scale and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Sleep disorders: Clinical tools, 2023).

Z-drugs such as zolpidem, zopiclone, and zaleplon are innovative hypnotics that aid with sleep, reduce sleep latency, and improve quality. These drugs are prescription dispensed only and they work by slowing the activity in the brain (Commissioner, 2023).

Benzodiazepines are medications such as lorazepam, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and clonazepam among others that can have potential side effects such as respiratory depression, drowsiness, impaired judgment, nausea and vomiting, confusion, addiction, and even respiratory distress (Brandt & Leong, 2017).

References:

Brandt, J., & Leong, C. (2017). Benzodiazepines – statpearls – NCBI bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470159/

Commissioner, O. of the. (2023). Taking z-drugs for insomnia? know the risks. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/taking-z-drugs-insomnia-know-risks

How is actigraphy used to evaluate sleep?. Sleep Foundation. (2022, May 10). https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-studies/actigraphy

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, February 17). Polysomnography (Sleep Study). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/polysomnography/about/pac-20394877#:~:text=Polysomnography%2C%20known%20as%20a%20sleep,measures%20eye%20and%20leg%20movements.

Sleep disorders: Clinical tools. CAMH. (2023). https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals/treating-conditions-and-disorders/sleep-disorders/sleep-disorders—clinical-tools

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020, January 3). Sleep disorders. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/sleepdisorders.html

Mojgan A

Week 8, Medications for Sleep Disorders

What screening tools can be used to affirm your initial diagnosis that a patient may meet the diagnostic criteria for a sleep disorder?

        There are different tools for assessing sleep disorders. Among various rating scales, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was specifically designed to evaluate overall sleep quality and is among the recommended questionnaires for examining global sleep patterns and symptoms related to insomnia (Zitser et al., 2022). It is a self-report questioner and will assess the sleep quality over one month. Another useful scale is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), which is a questionnaire designed to assess daytime sleepiness. A higher score on the ESS suggests the need for further evaluation for possible sleep disorders (Clinical application of headache impact test (HIT)-6 and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, 2023).

        According to the literature, the gold standard for monitoring sleep and breathing is polysomnography (PSG). PSG observes various physiological factors during sleep, including brain activity, eye movement, heart rate, and muscle activity. It involves the use of special bands around the chest and abdomen, as well as sensors for temperature and airflow in the nose. PSG also utilizes a device to measure airflow and sensors for air pressure in the airway. However, it's important to note that these methods can be invasive and time-consuming to set up and understand (Naik et al., 2023). Home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) is a simplified version of PSG that can be conducted at home and offers several potential benefits compared to traditional PSG, such as increased accessibility, quicker treatment initiation, and cost savings (Johns et al., 2022).

Describe the pharmacological actions of non-z sleep medications?

       Non-benzodiazepine (non-Z) sleep medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and zaleplon (Sonata), function by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the central nervous system. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation and facilitates sleep. One key distinction between benzodiazepine medications and non-Z medications is their selectivity in targeting GABA receptors (Stahl, 2021).

       Benzodiazepines act on various GABA receptor subunits (including alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3 and alpha 5 receptors) nonselectively. Benzodiazepines acting on alpha2 and alpha3 receptor subtypes have effects that reduce anxiety, promote muscle relaxation, and enhance the effects of alcohol. On the other hand, the alpha5 subtype, found in the hippocampus, may be implicated in cognitive processes. As a result, benzodiazepines are employed for the treatment of sleep disorders, seizure disorders, and anxiety disorders due to their broader spectrum of activity (Stahl, 2021).

        In contrast, non-Z medications selectively target alpha 1 receptors, which are primarily associated with the sleep process. Therefore, non-Z medications are specifically designed to induce and improve sleep without affecting the full spectrum of GABA receptors. Another distinction to note is that benzodiazepines typically have longer half-lives, which means they remain in the body for a more extended period compared to non-Z medications. This difference in half-life can have implications for factors such as prolong sedation and potential for dependence or withdrawal when using these medications. Non- Z medications are usually used for short amount of time and do not cause dependence or withdrawal symptoms (Stahl, 2021).

What problems can occur when benzodiazepines are used to help with sleep?

        Benzodiazepines are potent medications known for their effectiveness, but they come with a range of significant concerns and potential problems. They have sedative properties, leading to drowsiness and increased sleepiness in patients. Additionally, benzodiazepines exhibit a prolonged half-life, resulting in an extended duration of action within the body, which can impact a patient's overall quality of life. These medications have been associated with several adverse effects (Stahl, 2021).

        Benzodiazepines can impair cognitive function, memory, and coordination, potentially leading to accidents and reduced overall performance. A major concern with benzodiazepines is the development of tolerance. Over time, patients may require higher doses to achieve the same therapeutic effect. This can lead to physical and psychological dependence, as patients become addicted to the sedative properties of the medication (Stahl, 2021).

        Abruptly discontinuing benzodiazepines can result in unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, which can be challenging for patients. One study by Ritvo et al. (2023) revealed that over 40% of the respondents reported experiencing 17 or more symptoms persisting for at least one year after discontinuing their use of benzodiazepines. Common side effects associated with benzodiazepines include dizziness, drowsiness, and coordination problems, which can be especially problematic for individuals who need to remain alert and functional. It's essential to be mindful of potential drug interactions, as benzodiazepines can interact with other medications, potentially affecting their effectiveness or causing unexpected side effects (Stahl, 2021)

        Given these concerns, it is advisable to use benzodiazepines cautiously and only for short durations. When discontinuing their use, a slow tapering approach is often recommended to minimize the risk of withdrawal symptoms. This ensures that the benefits of these medications are balanced against the potential risks and adverse effects they may cause.

References

Clinical application of headache impact test (HIT)-6 and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for sleep apnea headache. (2023). 
Sleep Science and Practice, 7, 1-9. 
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41606-023-00084-2Links to an external site.

Johns, J. D., Armin, M., Alexandra, W., Jeffrey, K. H., Mikula, S. K., & Hoa, M. (2022). Reliability of home sleep apnea testing for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea in patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks. 
Cureus, 14(10)

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.29854

Naik, G. R., Breen, P. P., Jayarathna, T., Tong, B. K., Eckert, D. J., & Gargiulo, G. D. (2023). Morphic sensors for respiratory parameters estimation: Validation against overnight polysomnography.
 Biosensors, 13(7), 703. 
https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13070703Links to an external site.

Ritvo, A. D., Foster, D. E., Huff, C., Reid Finlayson, ,A.J., Silvernail, B., & Martin, P. R. (2023). Long-term consequences of benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction: A survey.
 PLoS One, 18(6) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285584

Stahl, S. M. (2021). 
Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical application (5th ed.).

Zitser, J., Allen, I. E., Falgàs, N., Le, M. M., Neylan, T. C., Kramer, J. H., & Walsh, C. M. (2022). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) responses are modulated by total sleep time and wake after sleep onset in healthy older adults.
 PLoS one, 17 (6) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270095

 Reply

 There are many users, sources, and purposes for health care statistics. One of the significant sources of health care statistics is the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP, pronounced “H-Cup”). As the HCA, you mention this to your new CEO, but he says he is not familiar with it and asks you to put together a short description of it on how you and your colleagues make use of the data and information provided.

You will prepare a 400w description of HCUP for the CEO. Include the following in your description:

• 1–2-sentence introduction to HCUP, including the agency that administers the project and its purpose
• What types of data and reports are provided and who uses this resource.
• An example of a report available to anyone on the site
  • Go to the Reports tab on the Home page. Click on the tab, and then select “HCUP Statistical Briefs – Chronological List.” 
  • From the list, choose a recent brief (the most recent are listed first in the list). 
  • Open and review the brief, and describe what it contains and the types of health care statistics and graphical presentations included in it (e.g., line graphs or pie charts).
• Finish by including your thoughts about this Web resource and what you find valuable about it. 

Introduction

As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, your participation and leadership in interdisciplinary teams will be vital to the health outcomes for your patients and organization. One way to approach designing an improvement project is to use the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement describes it thus:

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is shorthand for testing a change in the real work setting—by planning it, trying it, observing the results, and acting on what is learned. This is the scientific method adapted for action-oriented learning…Essentially, the PDSA cycle helps you test out change ideas on a smaller scale before evaluating the results and making adjustments before potentially launching into a somewhat larger scale project (n.d.).

You might also recognize that the PDSA cycle resembles the nursing process. The benefit of gaining experience with this model of project design is that it provides nurses with an opportunity to ideate and lead improvements. For this assessment, you will not be implementing all of the PDSA cycle. Instead, you are being asked to interview a health care professional of your choice to determine what kind of interdisciplinary problem he or she is experiencing or has experienced in the workplace. This interview, in Assessment 2, will inform the research that you will conduct to propose a plan for interdisciplinary collaboration in Assessment 3.

It would be an excellent choice to complete the PDSA Cycle activity prior to developing the report. The activity consists of four questions that create the opportunity to check your understanding of best practices related to each stage of the PDSA cycle. The information gained from completing this formative will promote your success with the Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification report. This will take just a few minutes of your time and is not graded.

Reference

Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (n.d.). 
How to improve. http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/HowtoImprove/default.aspx

Demonstration of Proficiency

· Competency 2: Explain how interdisciplinary collaboration can be used to achieve desired patient and systems outcomes.

· Summarize an interview focused on past or current issues at a health care organization.

· Describe collaboration approaches from the literature that could be relevant in establishing or improving an interdisciplinary team to address an organizational issue.

· Competency 3: Describe ways to incorporate evidence-based practice within an interdisciplinary team.

· Identify an issue from an interview for which an evidence-based interdisciplinary approach would be appropriate.

· Competency 4: Explain how change management theories and leadership strategies can enable interdisciplinary teams to achieve specific organizational goals.

· Describe change theories and a leadership strategy that could help develop an interdisciplinary solution to an organizational issue.

· Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly, evidence-based communication strategies to impact patient, interdisciplinary team, and systems outcomes.

· Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.

· Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references, exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.

Professional Context

This assessment will introduce the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Model to create change in an organization. By interviewing a colleague of your choice, you will begin gathering information about an interprofessional collaboration problem that your colleague is experiencing or has experienced. You will identify a change theory and leadership strategies to help solve this problem.

Scenario

This assessment is the first of three related assessments in which you will gather interview information (Assessment 2); design a proposal for interdisciplinary problem-solving, (Assessment 3); and report on how an interdisciplinary improvement plan could be implemented in a place of practice (Assessment 4). At the end of the course, your interviewee will have a proposal plan based on the PDSA cycle that he or she could present to stakeholders to address an interdisciplinary problem in the workplace.

For this assessment, you will need to interview a health care professional such as a fellow learner, nursing colleague, administrator, business partner, or another appropriate person who could provide you with sufficient information regarding an organizational problem that he or she is experiencing or has experienced, or an area where they are seeking improvements. Consult the 
Interview Guide [DOCX]
 Download Interview Guide [DOCX]for an outline of how to prepare and the types of information you will need to complete this project successfully.

Remember: this is just the first in a series of three assessments.

Instructions

For this assessment, you will report on the information that you collected in your interview, analyzing the interview data and identifying a past or current issue that would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach. This could be an issue that has not been addressed by an interdisciplinary approach or one that could benefit from improvements related to the interdisciplinary approach currently being used. You will discuss the interview strategy that you used to collect information. Your interview strategy should be supported by citations from the literature. Additionally, you will start laying the foundation for your Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal (Assessment 3) by researching potential change theories, leadership strategies, and collaboration approaches that could be relevant to issue you have identified. Please be certain to review the scoring guide to confirm specific required elements of this assessment. Note that there are differences between basic, proficient and distinguished scores.

When submitting your plan, use the 
Interview and Issue Identification Template [DOCX], 
 Download Interview and Issue Identification Template [DOCX],which will help you to stay organized and concise. As you complete the template, make sure you use APA format for in-text citations for the evidence and best practices that are informing your plan, as well as for the reference list at the end.

Additionally, be sure to address the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the scoring guide carefully so you understand what is needed for a distinguished score.

· Summarize an interview focused on past or current issues at a health care organization.

· Identify an issue from an interview for which an evidence-based interdisciplinary approach would be appropriate.

· Describe potential change theories and leadership strategies that could inform an interdisciplinary solution to an organizational issue.

· Describe collaboration approaches from the literature that could facilitate establishing or improving an interdisciplinary team to address an organizational issue.

· Communicate with writing that is clear, logically organized, and professional, with correct grammar and spelling, and using current APA style.

Additional Requirements

·
Length of submission: Use the provided template. Most submissions will be 2–4 pages in length. Be sure to include a reference page at the end of the plan.

·
Number of references: Cite a minimum of 3 sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than 5 years old.

·
APA formatting: Make sure that in-text citations and reference list follow current APA style.

Portfolio Prompt: Remember to save the final assessment to your ePortfolio so that you may refer to it as you complete the final Capstone course.