Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Factors Impacting Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Outcomes: An Analysis Of State-Federal Service Provision, Valerie Jeannette Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

State-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs are widely recognized for providing various services to individuals with disabilities to help them reach their goals of independence and employment. Because rehabilitation programs are required to meet federal and state goals, standards, and indicators, thorough and ongoing program evaluation is necessary to identify predictors of successful and unsuccessful employment outcomes in order to determine best practices in vocational rehabilitation service delivery.

In the large southwestern state examined in this research study, there is an estimated return on investment of $9 for each dollar spent on successful VR cases. Cases closed successfully by state-federal VR …

Personality Of Personal Trainers: A Study Of Perception And Preference, Andy L. Chasse

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study used a personality questionnaire to address the lack of literature concerning how the general population perceives personal trainers and what qualities they desire in them. The Big Five Inventory (BFI) with two demographic items (gender and previous experience) was administered to 130 undergraduate students at The University of Texas-Pan American to determine perceived and desired characteristics. High extraversion was most commonly associated with personal trainers. High extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, as well as low neuroticism, were most desired in personal trainers. Significant differences were seen between perceived and desired means across all dimensions. Additionally, gender produced main effects …

Secondary Complications Among Person's With Spinal Cord Injury And Best Practices For Life Care Planners, Noel A. Ysasi Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The current study was intended to deliver life care planners with a guide as to whether or not secondary complications (SCs) should be included within the LCP, while obtaining the professional opinion of physiatrists as to the incidence rate of SCs. Each research question was designed to determine whether differences exist between life care planners (LCPs) and physiatrists in their knowledge regarding SCs while comparing their responses with empirical research. In addition, it was determined to investigate whether costs should be included in a LCP based on the reports given from certified and non-certified LCPs; even though it meets the …

Factors Affecting Attitudes Towards Individuals With Schizophrenia: Perceptions Of Mexican American College Students, Valerie Paredes

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study is designed to examine the effects of acculturation and level of familiarity on stigma of Mexican American college students towards individuals with schizophrenia along the border of Texas and Mexico (N = 223). The area has a history of high levels of disparity in regards to the utilization of mental health services. Data was collected by surveying Mexican American college students through a convenience sample at two separate post-secondary southwestern Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) along a border community. The instrumentation for the study was composed of a demographic questionnaire, The Acculturation Scale for Mexican-Americans-II (Cuéllar, Arnold, & Maldonado, 1995), …

Factors Contributing To Successful Employment Outcomes For Hispanic Women Who Are Deaf: Utilization Of Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detector And Logistic Regression Analysis, Amber M. Feist

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Hispanic women who are deaf constitute a heterogeneous group of individuals with varying vocational needs. To understand the unique needs of this population, it is important to analyze how consumer characteristics, presence of public supports, and type of services provided influence employment outcomes for Hispanic women who are deaf. The purpose of this study was to examine predictive factors of consumer characteristics, public supports, and patterns of service delivery related to employment among Hispanic women who are deaf utilizing the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) case service report (RSA-911) for fiscal year 2009 (FY 2009). Exhaustive chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) …

Border Hispanics’ Physical Activity Improvement In A Chronic Disease Prevention Program, Lu Xu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In seeking of effective prevention programs to improve physical activities, we want to examine the factors related to physical activities improvement in Alliance for a Healthy Border, a chronic disease prevention program with pre-post-post evaluations through 12 federally qualified community health centers serving primarily Hispanics in communities along the U.S.- Mexico border. Logistic regression was performed to examine the association between physical activity and twenty predictors at baseline. Multinomial regression was used to examine the determinants of physical activities improvement at two time points: program end and post six-months. Socio-demographic, baseline health condition factors, and determination of doing physical activity …

Use Of Preventative Health Care Services In Hispanic Workers In Manufacturing Sector In South Texas, Pooja Chopra

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study analyses the factors that determine the intensity of use of preventive health care services for a sample of Hispanic manufacturing workers in South Texas (RGV). Logistic regression is used to estimate the effect of health insurance, age, income level and education on the use of preventive health care of Hispanic workers in the manufacturing sector in South Texas (RGV). The outcome variables are vaccinations, tests and screening for women and men. The sample includes 228 manufacturing workers from the RGV. People with health insurance were more likely to use preventive care services such as vaccination for flu, hepatitis, …

The Effects Of Ssris On Sexual Function In College Students, Adriana Ivette Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The present study will investigate the effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) on sexual function in college students. Depression is the most prevalent disorder individuals’ encounter. Depression could occur at any age but is most prevalent at 25-years to 44-years of age. The most common treatment is antidepressant specifically SSRIs, but it’s most common side effect is sexual dysfunction. The study includes 328 participants. The average age of the participants is 23.9 years old and had a standard deviation of 6.8. The participants answered a questionnaire asking about their sexual function. This study resulted with a very low sample …

An Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach To Assess Health Service Quality, Yan Li

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

While improving quality in health care is currently at the forefront of professional, political, and managerial attention, the key dimensions constituting health-care quality have not been fully understood. Also, few valid approaches have been proposed to the measurement of health-care quality. In this research, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach is applied to study the structure of health-care quality and deducted relative importance weights for each of the quality elements. A statistical quality model is derived to assess medical equipment quality which is an important part constituting the general health-care quality. Finally, the application of the AHP model to assess …

Predictors Of Pap Smear Utilization Among Female Mexican American College Students, Sylvia M. Morales

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Pap smear is a diagnostic screening test that detects abnormal cell growth, which may lead to cervical cancer. Pap smears are performed at a consistently lower frequency among Hispanic than non-Hispanic American White women, potentially contributing to a 70% higher rate of cervical cancer in Hispanic Americans. This study examined possible predictors of Pap smear utilization among 165 Mexican American female college students aged 18 to 30 attending the University of Texas-Pan American situated near Texas’s United States – Mexico border. Significant predictors were: recommendation by a health care professional; sexual activity; mother’s educational level; and external locus of …

Self-Efficacy, Metastasis, Treatment, And Demographics As Predictors Of Functional Performance Status Of Adult Colorectal Cancer Patients, Dollie A. Husfeld

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to assess self-efficacy as a predictor of functional performance status in order to discover correlations that could be used to improve care of the colorectal cancer patient. Thirty participants were accessed through three outpatient cancer clinics during a two-week period. Data was collected through a demographics questionnaire, the Cancer Behavior Inventory Long Form, and the Karnofsky Performance Scale Index. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify and relationships between the dependent variable, functional performance status, and the independent variables, self-efficacy, age, gender, residence, treatment, and metastasis ( p = .05). Pearson's correlation showed a …

Antes: A Web-Based Acanthosis Nigricans And Other Obesity Related Information System, Chunyue Wang

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Acanthosis nigricans is a cutaneous marker associated with systemic disorders and may serve as an indicator for risk of Type 2 diabetes. Acanthosis nigricans screening can help identify children who have high insulin levels and who may be at-risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. The ANTES system is a computerization attempt for acanthosis nigricans control of the student population from elementary schools and secondary schools in Texas. A general description of the system and the medical and history background of the ANTES program is given. The technology applied to the system is demonstrated. An overview of the system operation status …

Data Analysis In The Antes System, Yavuz Tor

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that can be used as an indicator for the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Border Health Office, in University of Texas - Pan American, organizes screenings in schools for acanthosis nigricans. Screening results are, then, collected and evaluated in the Border Health Office. The ANTES System is a computer system that stores and manages the data collected in those screenings.

This study is on the analysis of those collected data to track the progress of data entry, to evaluate the progress on obesity and related problems, and to discover the …

An Investigation Of Pre-Nursing And Second-Year Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Perception Of Spirituality, Jacquelyn Kay R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This pilot study investigated whether spiritual care education is a part of the baccalaureate nursing curriculum at a south Texas university. This study used two standardized scales to compare the pre-nursing students' and senior baccalaureate nursing students' attitude about spirituality at different levels in the nursing program. Two quantitative questionnaires were used to investigate the nursing students' personal spiritual involvement and beliefs and their opinions about the spiritual role of the nurse in meeting patient spiritual needs. No statistically significant differences in the two group's personal spiritual involvement and beliefs were found. Statistically significant differences were found in the opinions …

Human Reliability Analysis In The Performance Of Advanced Cardiac Life Support Tasks, Lucia Veronica Rosas

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Error reduction in the performance of medical emergency situations is an area of great concern in today's society. This is specially the case when the situation involves a cardiac arrhythmia. These situations are generally categorized as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) events. The American Heart Association provides the proper procedures that practitioners of ACLS should follow to provide care to patients presenting heart arrhythmia problems. These situations occur inside and outside the hospital, outside the hospital being the most critical ones considering the limitation of equipment and availability of qualified care. Errors made by the practitioners of ACLS in this …

Healthcare Trends And Attitudes Of Migratory Winter Visitors In The Rio Grande Valley, Caprica Ann Neal

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This original research explores the general trends and attitudes of migratory winter visitors to the Rio Grande Valley regarding the local healthcare environment/options, general health status, and attitudes toward alternative medicine. The sample consisted of 115 winter visitors to the Valley, and exploratory data was gathered through a self-administered questionnaire. The average respondent was female, over 70 years old, had a high school level education, and reported earning a minimum average of $20,000/year for the past five years. Most respondents had Medicare coverage; over half had private insurance coverage. Commonly reported health conditions were visual problems, joint/bone problems, and high …

The Relationship Between Perceived Self-Efficacy, Regimen Adherence, And Glycemic Control In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study, Antonieta Pelias Alteza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This pilot study examined the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and regimen adherence on glycemic control among adolescents, aged 11 to 18 years, with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Thirty-six adolescent-parent dyads participated in this study. Bivariate analysis using Pearson product moment-correlations identified no significant relationships among the variables. Regarding treatment regimen, adolescents on insulin pumps had a mean glycosylated hemoglobin level of 8.09% whereas adolescents on daily insulin injections had a mean glycosylated hemoglobin level of 9.26%. Bandura's theory of self-efficacy provided the theoretical framework for this study. The Self-Efficacy for Diabetes scale and Questionnaire of Self-Care Behaviors scale were used …

A Case Study Of A School-Age Stutterer's Response To Delayed Auditory Feedback, Marcia Lynn Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Stuttering is a multidimensional disorder that is influenced by hereditary factors, as well as environmental. Numerous methods of treatment exist that address stuttering. However, the Smooth Talking Program (Radford 2001) is unique in its inclusion of mediated learning and delayed auditory feedback. The purpose of this study was to conduct a retrospective analysis of treatment data for a child with moderate to severe dysfluency that was gathered over three summer, five-week sessions with the inclusion of speech motor repatterning exercises during the last summer. The purpose of the analysis is to determine the effects of mediated learning combined with DAF …

Wordless Picture Books Versus Standard Stories For Language Assessment Of Spanish-Speaking Children, Yvonne De Anda

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Narrative samples from Spanish-speaking children will be analyzed using a wordless picture book and standard storybook. Ages of participants will be between 6.0 and 7.11 years and demonstrate: normal hearing and vision, no familiarity with books used in study, and receptive and expressive language skills 1.5 to 2 standard deviations below the mean as predetermined by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. The first story will be orally presented. Afterwards, children will respond to questions and retell the story. A silent presentation of the second story will follow, along with retelling of story and questions. Utterance length, sentence complexity, and vocabulary will …

Four Case Studies Of Hispanic Children's Responses To A Videotaped Language Sampling Procedure, Adelaida E. Saenz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This investigation was an examination of four Hispanic children's responses to a videotaped language sampling procedure, and was designed to determine bilingual (English/Spanish) and monolingual (English) children's expressive language development. Participants consisted of four normally developing Hispanic monolingual and bilingual males from the Rio Grande Valley between the ages of 8–6 and 9–2 years. Language samples were evoked using a videotape appropriate for children entitled Frankenweenie © . Following viewing of the videotape, children participated in a controlled conversation to explain what they had seen and to complete a twenty-one-item survey to measure their attitude toward the videotape. Total word …

The Relationship Between Acculturation Level And Patient Satisfaction Among Adult Mexican American Emergency Department Patients, Sharon M. Schaaf

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The relationship between acculturation level and patient satisfaction among adult Mexican American emergency department patients was explored. Acculturation level was determined by the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II). Patient satisfaction was measured with the Patient Satisfaction Inventory (PSI). The study was conducted in an emergency department in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, where 23 participants provided the data. The questionnaires were offered in English and Spanish. The independent variable of acculturation level did not demonstrate a significant relationship with the dependent variable of patient satisfaction. A statistically significant difference was identified among the subscales of …

Advance Directives And Communication Styles In A Lower Rio Grande Valley Health Facility, Armando G. Dominguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study explores physicians' decision-making communication styles at end-of-life and advance directives in a hospital. Participant observation, case studies and a survey questionnaire are used. Egalitarian communication style is found to have moderate reliability. A .6969 coefficient, is measured by Cronbach's Alpha model. Authoritative communication style, yields a less than moderate alpha coefficient of .4278. Regression analysis using these two variables as the independent variables obtains insignificant results. However, sixty-three percent of the respondents speak Spanish moderately or very little. Eighty percent of the surveyed sample do not have training to administer advance directives. Twenty-two percent of the respondents have …

The Relationship Between Health Attitudes, Beliefs, Health Locus Of Control And Use Of Breast Cancer Screening Modalities In Elderly Hispanic Women, Debra Kay Gillett, Rosamaria Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A non-experimental design was used to examine the relationship between health attitudes, beliefs, locus of control and the use of breast cancer screening modalities in elderly Hispanic women in this pilot study. Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality and the Health Belief Model were the supporting theoretical frameworks. Research was conducted at the Amigos del Valle senior centers in Hidalgo County and included 52 English-speaking elderly Hispanic volunteer participants. Instruments used for data collection were the Health Care Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Results of this study revealed that there appears …

The Relationship Of Acculturation And Social Support To Birth Outcomes Of Pregnant Mexican-American Adolescents, Enriqueta Garcia, Martha Ruth Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The adolescent pregnancy rate in the U.S. continues to be an issue that concerns nursing and allied health related fields. There has been minimal research published regarding Mexican-American adolescent pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this was to assess the relationship between social support and acculturation on pregnancy outcomes of Mexican- American adolescents.

Statistical descriptive analysis analyzed the relationships between the demographic data, the Acculturation Rating Scale-II for Mexican-Americans, the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, and birth outcomes. Pearson's product moment correlation analyzed the relationship between acculturation and social support on birth outcomes. Several positive correlations were found at the p ≤ …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Moderate- And High-Carbohydrate Diets On Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors: A Pilot Study, Margaret Helen Fernandez, Julia Ava Niehaus Soper

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This pilot study compared the effects of two diets on total cholesterol to high- density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, body mass index, and waist circumference. A diet of 15% protein, 55% or more carbohydrate, and 30% or less fat was compared to a diet of 30% protein, 40% carbohydrate, and 30% fat. Lipid levels and anthropometric measurements were obtained on 18 adult males with moderately elevated lipid levels before and after 12 weeks of dietary intervention. Analyses showed variances between and within the study groups in the areas of anthropometric measurements and lipid levels; no statistically significant differences between the groups …

Culturally Congruent Care: Predictors Of Patient Satisfaction Among Adult Mexican Americans, Shannon Marie Dowdall, Alma Rosa Flores, Karyn Elizabeth Taplay

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Predictors of patient satisfaction among hospitalized adult Mexican Americans were examined in this pilot study. Acculturation as determined by the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II), ethnicity of the nurse, age, gender, socioeconomic status, level of education and marital status were examined as predictors of patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was measured by the Patient Satisfaction Inventory (PSI). The pilot study was conducted in an acute care setting in the lower Rio Grande Valley, where 81 participants provided the data. The questionnaires were offered in both English and Spanish. Two qualitative questions were asked regarding the patients' perception of culturally …

Perceived Health Competency And Health Value, Acculturation And Obesity In A Mexican American Population, Roberto Eliud Maldonado

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Mexican Americans have a higher incidence of obesity than non-Hispanic whites, yet this population seems to be less concerned with maintaining an ideal body weight than non-Hispanic whites. This puts the Mexican Americans population at higher risk for illnesses associated with increased body fat and obesity. One important factor found to influence health maintenance behavior is perceived self-efficacy, or the degree to which the individual feels capable of effectively managing his or her behavioral outcome. This study examines the moderating effect of health competency and health value on body weight in individuals undergoing acculturation.

Although no significant correlations were found …

The Developmental Abilities Of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates, Cynthia A. Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Bayley Mental Psychomotor Developmental Indices Scores of 61 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates were examined to investigate whether a predicted early developmental lag would occur followed by an increase or "catch-up" over time. Results indicated that no significant changes occurred over time; however, mental (Bayley MDI) scores were lower than motor (Bayley PDI) scores particularly at the 4- and 22-month test age. Gross motor, fine motor, social, cognitive, and language development was also investigated to see whether expected differences among these domains occurred over time. Results indicated that gross motor scores were greater than all other domains. Ethnicity, birth weight, …

Risk Factors In Adolescents For Engaging In Sexual Behaviors, Dolores Calderon Castellano

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Teenage sexuality has become a social concern, because of its impact on teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, government aid and school drop-out. In an effort to better predict risk of early sexual activity, a secondary analysis was conducted on data collected from 413, 11-14 year old students attending the 6th, 7th and 8th grade levels in Hidalgo County, in south Texas. Parent-child Communication, Children's Religiosity, Educational Goals, Educational Grades, Self-Esteem, and Congruency of Sexual Values between children and parents were used as predictor variables. Multiple regression analysis revealed Congruency of Values, Educational Goals, Educational Grades and Religion as the …

Case Studies Of Selective Mutism In Hispanic Children, Colleen Anne Gittins

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Selective mutism is a consistent refusal to use spoken language in specific social situations. This can occur in a particular environment or with specific individuals. A collaboration of four case studies was used to study the possible etiologies, characteristics, and intervention strategies associated with selective mutism. Four children from public school campuses in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas were subjects in this investigation as well as teachers and parents.

A questionnaire was used to gather data along with informal interviews. Results concluded that prevalence rates for selective mutism are relatively high in the area surveyed. Furthermore, many professional …