Event Title
Differences between nurses who provide a gut microbiome sample for research and those who do not
Location
Central Division
Start Date
26-10-2023 9:35 AM
End Date
26-10-2023 9:40 AM
Description
Abstract:
Title: Demographic differences between nurses who provide a gut microbiome sample for research and those who do not
Background: In the United States (U.S.), there are over 4.1 million registered nurses and 60% work in acute care to treat hospitalized patients. On average, the nursing workforce is female, Caucasian, and approximately 49 years old. Only 60% of U.S. nurses report a bachelor’s degree education or higher. Compared to other licensed care professionals, nurses suffer higher prevalence of obesity and are high risk for metabolic diseases which may negatively impact their occupational and physical wellbeing. The gut microbiome mediates immune function and is implicated in metabolic disease states. Gut microbiome composition can shift within 24 hours in response to the environment, including stressors related to working as an acute care nurse. To map composition of the gut microbiome and recommend pathways to prevent and treat metabolic illnesses, research including collection of stool samples is imperative in the nursing population. However, it is unclear what proportion of nurses may volunteer to provide a stool sample for research nor whether demographic differences exist between nurses providing/not providing samples.
Purpose: To characterize proportion of acute care nurse research participants who optionally provide a stool sample and test for demographic differences between those who provided versus declined the sample.
Methods: This secondary analysis combined data from two observational studies of acute care registered nurses. In each study, consented nurses were provided an option to provide a stool sample. Nurses were categorized as those who provided a sample and those who did not. Demographics (sex, ethnicity, age range, education level, body mass index [BMI], and assigned shift) were compared across groups using independent t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables.
Results: Across the two studies, a total of 56 (36.8%) nurses provided a stool sample and 96 (62.6%) declined. Overall, nurse participants from the two studies were 40 years or younger (n=113, 74%), female (n=135, 88.8%), Caucasian (n=133, 87.5%) and had a BSN or higher (n=119, 78.3%). No significant differences existed when comparing BMI, sex, day versus night shift, age category, education level, or ethnicity of participants who provided or declined to provide a sample (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Less than 40% of our acute care nurse study participants provided an optional stool sample. Our findings suggest that nurse study participants may be proportionally as likely to provide a stool sample regardless of demographics. Yet, compared to U.S. nurse workforce demographics, nurses in our studies were on average younger and more likely to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Future work is needed to validate demographic representativeness of nurses providing stool samples to support biomedical research for nursing wellbeing.
Implications for Practice: Nurses are a critical component of the healthcare team, yet are at risk for chronic, metabolic illness, particularly when working in the hospital setting, which may prohibit the care they can provide. Biomedical research including collection of microbiome samples is indicated to uncover underlying mechanisms driving metabolic pathophysiology. Strategies to encourage more nurses to provide stool samples for biomedical research purposes should be explored.
Recommended Citation
Rangel, Teresa and Romesburg, Ellen, "Differences between nurses who provide a gut microbiome sample for research and those who do not" (2023). Central Division Nurse Clinical Inquiry Conference. 17.
https://digitalcommons.providence.org/central_nurs_conf/2023/agenda/17
Included in
Differences between nurses who provide a gut microbiome sample for research and those who do not
Central Division
Abstract:
Title: Demographic differences between nurses who provide a gut microbiome sample for research and those who do not
Background: In the United States (U.S.), there are over 4.1 million registered nurses and 60% work in acute care to treat hospitalized patients. On average, the nursing workforce is female, Caucasian, and approximately 49 years old. Only 60% of U.S. nurses report a bachelor’s degree education or higher. Compared to other licensed care professionals, nurses suffer higher prevalence of obesity and are high risk for metabolic diseases which may negatively impact their occupational and physical wellbeing. The gut microbiome mediates immune function and is implicated in metabolic disease states. Gut microbiome composition can shift within 24 hours in response to the environment, including stressors related to working as an acute care nurse. To map composition of the gut microbiome and recommend pathways to prevent and treat metabolic illnesses, research including collection of stool samples is imperative in the nursing population. However, it is unclear what proportion of nurses may volunteer to provide a stool sample for research nor whether demographic differences exist between nurses providing/not providing samples.
Purpose: To characterize proportion of acute care nurse research participants who optionally provide a stool sample and test for demographic differences between those who provided versus declined the sample.
Methods: This secondary analysis combined data from two observational studies of acute care registered nurses. In each study, consented nurses were provided an option to provide a stool sample. Nurses were categorized as those who provided a sample and those who did not. Demographics (sex, ethnicity, age range, education level, body mass index [BMI], and assigned shift) were compared across groups using independent t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables.
Results: Across the two studies, a total of 56 (36.8%) nurses provided a stool sample and 96 (62.6%) declined. Overall, nurse participants from the two studies were 40 years or younger (n=113, 74%), female (n=135, 88.8%), Caucasian (n=133, 87.5%) and had a BSN or higher (n=119, 78.3%). No significant differences existed when comparing BMI, sex, day versus night shift, age category, education level, or ethnicity of participants who provided or declined to provide a sample (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Less than 40% of our acute care nurse study participants provided an optional stool sample. Our findings suggest that nurse study participants may be proportionally as likely to provide a stool sample regardless of demographics. Yet, compared to U.S. nurse workforce demographics, nurses in our studies were on average younger and more likely to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Future work is needed to validate demographic representativeness of nurses providing stool samples to support biomedical research for nursing wellbeing.
Implications for Practice: Nurses are a critical component of the healthcare team, yet are at risk for chronic, metabolic illness, particularly when working in the hospital setting, which may prohibit the care they can provide. Biomedical research including collection of microbiome samples is indicated to uncover underlying mechanisms driving metabolic pathophysiology. Strategies to encourage more nurses to provide stool samples for biomedical research purposes should be explored.
