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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Opening The Black Box: Understanding Adult Inpatient Falls, Laura M. Rogers
Opening The Black Box: Understanding Adult Inpatient Falls, Laura M. Rogers
Dissertations
Within the United States, falls are the largest category of adverse events reported in hospitals. Injuries associated with falls include increased costs, extended length of stays, increased mortality and morbidity, and liability to hospitals. The purpose of this study was to discover, describe, and systematically analyze universal and diverse care meanings and expressions of adults experiencing a fall while hospitalized. The research was conceptualized with the ethnographic theoretical framework of Culture Care Diversity and Universality (Leininger 2001, 2006). Data collection took place in a large academic medical center, over a five month period and included 24 participants: eight adult inpatients …
Being And Becoming A U.S. Iraq War Veteran: An Exploration Of The Social Construction Of An Emerging Identity, Anna Stachyra
Being And Becoming A U.S. Iraq War Veteran: An Exploration Of The Social Construction Of An Emerging Identity, Anna Stachyra
Dissertations
Background: Traditional perspectives of veteran mental health are grounded in physiological and psychological principles of trauma response and recovery. An alternative perspective is needed for the provision of culturally relevant healthcare to our nation's newest veterans. Research Question: Based on the premise that each veteran cohort has a characteristically identifiable cultural form and process of cultural identification and negotiated development, the research question guiding this study was, "What is the culture of the Iraq War veteran?" Study Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe, from social constructivist perspective, Operation Iraqi Freedom [OIF] veteran cultural identity development. Study Design …
An Ethnography Study Of Hiv Positive Midlife Black Women, Charlotte Stoudmire Phd
An Ethnography Study Of Hiv Positive Midlife Black Women, Charlotte Stoudmire Phd
Dissertations
Black women, ages 45 and older, are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 2001, Black women comprised 11% of all older women in the United States; however, they accounted for more than 50% of AIDS cases and more than 65% of HIV cases (Winningham et al., 2004). The literature review reflected little research specifically looking at the reason(s) for the increase in HIV in Black women, ages 45 to 60. Furthermore, few research studies focused on HIV patient health beliefs and their experiences in living with HIV. This study was conducted with an ethnography research method coupled with the …
African American Father-Child Reproductive Health Communication, Nnenna Ohalete Phd
African American Father-Child Reproductive Health Communication, Nnenna Ohalete Phd
Dissertations
African-American children have their sexual debut (first voluntary penile-vaginal penetration) earlier thus are at disproportionately greater risk for more sexual partners and sexually transmitted infections. Father-child reproductive health communication was found to influence the timing of sex in other children however, a dearth of studies in African-American fathers existed. In this qualitative study reproductive health communication was explored in tape-recorded interviews of 19 African-American fathers from the perspective of critical theory, with the use of critical ethnography as methodology. How the content and pattern of reproductive health communication influenced sexual debut, and how fathers' moral/ethical stances influenced reproductive health communication …
Factors Influencing Middle-Aged And Older Latin American Women's Participation In Physical Activity, Stephanie Vaughn Phd
Factors Influencing Middle-Aged And Older Latin American Women's Participation In Physical Activity, Stephanie Vaughn Phd
Dissertations
Ethnographic methodology was used to explore the factors that influence middle-aged and older Latin American women's participation in physical activity. Semi-structured interviews and field observations were used to elicit information from the twenty five Latin American women in this study sample. Perceptions of health, the health activities in which the women engage, and the factors that influenced their participation in physical activity comprised the three categories of responses. Facilitators and barriers were identified as the two primary groups and were further sorted into intrinsic or extrinsic factors. A sense of self, decreased feelings of stress, wellbeing, managing chronic disease, the …
Crossing The Line: Experiences Of The Formerly Homeless Living Past Homelessness, Susan Marie Bennett Dnsc, Msn, Fnp, Rn, Cs
Crossing The Line: Experiences Of The Formerly Homeless Living Past Homelessness, Susan Marie Bennett Dnsc, Msn, Fnp, Rn, Cs
Dissertations
This grounded theory study explored the experiences of formerly homeless individuals and families who have moved from homelessness into stable housing. This was an ethnographic study and involved the researcher staying in an east coast shelter where some of the formerly homeless participants had become staff members and reside. Data analysis was informed by dimensional analysis. Moving out of homelessness was the studies perspective. Findings of the study revealed the following dimensions that related the formerly homeless's experiences: (a)reacting to circumstances, or how they became homeless; (b)surviving as homeless, or how they lived while homeless; (c)crossing the fine, or what …
Conceptual Metaphor In The Health Care Culture, Cheryl D. Glennon Dnsc, Ms, Rn
Conceptual Metaphor In The Health Care Culture, Cheryl D. Glennon Dnsc, Ms, Rn
Dissertations
The conceptual metaphor has meaning only when understood within the cultural framework which gives rise to the conceptualization. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction of cognition (conceptual metaphor) and culture as manifest during intercultural communication in teaching-learning sessions between health care providers and patients. An ethnography of communication (Hymes, 1974; Saville-Troike, 1989) was the method employed to investigate the use of metaphor by patients, nurses and other health care professionals. Patients were viewed as a sojourner group in the health care culture; nurses and their health care partners were seen as a host group. Data were …
Ethnographic Inquiry Of Social Support Throughout Women's Labor And Childbirth Experiences, Nancy Jane Pinder Saks Dnsc, Msn, Rn
Ethnographic Inquiry Of Social Support Throughout Women's Labor And Childbirth Experiences, Nancy Jane Pinder Saks Dnsc, Msn, Rn
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to explore the phenomenon of social support throughout labor and childbirth in order to develop descriptive theory based on the behaviors of the labor and childbirth convoy. Utilizing ethnographic methodology, five women and their support convoys were observed throughout the women's labor and childbirth experience. Word processing and the ETHNOGRAPH software were used for data management, and constant comparative coding methodology was employed for data analysis. Affirmative, affective and aid-giving behaviors were enacted by all convoy members. Consistently, social support was found to be communicated to the laboring woman by her lay supporters by …
Sociolinguistic Dimensions Of Nurse Practitioner Practice: A Question Of Power, Merrily J. Allen Dnsc, Mn, Rn
Sociolinguistic Dimensions Of Nurse Practitioner Practice: A Question Of Power, Merrily J. Allen Dnsc, Mn, Rn
Dissertations
Ethnographic methods were used to examine the sociolinguistic dimensions of female nurse practitioner interactions with female patients. The purpose was to provide a contextual account of the discursive practices used by the nurse practitioners during routine office visits with female patients. Direction for this research was provided by my concern about power inherent in professional-client dyadic relationships. Data collection methods included formal and informal interviews, participant observation and audio taping nurse-patient encounters. Nine nurse practitioners and 26 patients participated in the study in both private and public ambulatory care settings. Data analysis yielded two concurrent story lines which I labeled …
Nursing Care Through The Eyes Of The Patient, Donna May Fosbinder Dnsc, Msn, Rn
Nursing Care Through The Eyes Of The Patient, Donna May Fosbinder Dnsc, Msn, Rn
Dissertations
Ethnographic methods were used to examine the nurse-patient interaction for the purpose of developing descriptive and explanatory theory of patient satisfaction based on patients' perceptions regarding their nurses' interpersonal skills. A private acute care hospital was the setting for 40 patients and 12 nurses who were study participants. Four processes provided the framework for the themes that emerged: "translating," "getting to know you," "establishing trust," and "going the extra mile." I labeled the action of nurses informing, explaining, instructing, and teaching patients the translation process. Informing and explaining were described by both patients and nurses as very important to the …
The Nurse Manager: An Ethnography Of Hospital-Based First-Line Nurse Managers Practicing In An Expanded Role, Sally Everson-Bates Dnsc, Ma, Rn
The Nurse Manager: An Ethnography Of Hospital-Based First-Line Nurse Managers Practicing In An Expanded Role, Sally Everson-Bates Dnsc, Ma, Rn
Dissertations
The behaviors, beliefs and values that characterize everyday practice of first-line nurse managers role were analyzed. Ethnographic field research techniques were used including nine months of observation and in-depth interviews with practicing nurse managers. After reviewing historical events that shaped the role of the nurse manager, the role was then placed within the economic, social and health care context of the 1970's and 80's. Research and anecdotal descriptions of the manager role of the past twenty years were also explored. Research was conducted in two voluntary acute care, multi-service hospitals. One manager was observed intensively for two months to develop …
The Everyday Life Experiences Of Three To Six-Year-Old Children With Comforting Possessions, Susan H. Harris Dnsc
The Everyday Life Experiences Of Three To Six-Year-Old Children With Comforting Possessions, Susan H. Harris Dnsc
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to explore the phenomenon of comforting possessions in order to develop descriptive theory based on the perceptions, beliefs, values, symbolic meanings, and feelings of young children regarding comforting possessions. Using ethnographic methods, children with comforting possessions were observed extensively in a preschool setting (n = 10). Two of these children were later interviewed with a parent present. In addition, 17 other children were interviewed in the home or preschool setting with a parent present for a total study sample of 27 children. Several major patterns were supported by the data derived from these two …