Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Basic Needs Satisfaction And Social Support In The Adult Trauma Victim, Gail A. Mercer

Masters Theses

Traumatic injury prevention and treatment is an increasingly important focus for the nursing profession as trauma tops the list for causes of death among young people in the United States. The specific purpose of this study was to explore whether a pre-existing state of low basic need satisfaction and low social support contribute to traumatic injury in adults. A descriptive correlational design was used. The theoretical frameworks of Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain (1983) and Lazarus (1964) formed the foundation for this study. Two survey tools were employed, the Basic Need Satisfaction Inventory (Kline Leidy, 1994) and the Personal Resource Questionnaire …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Initial Neurological Status And Adaptation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Margaret D. Carriker

Masters Theses

Trauma is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. Approximately 4% of victims incur life-long debilitating alterations in physical and personal integrity. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between initial neurological status following traumatic brain injury and adaptation. The study used a retrospective single group repeated measures design. Subjects were patients admitted to an acute care rehabilitation program and completed in patient and outpatient rehabilitation regimes (N=49). All had traumatic brain injuries with Glasgow Coma Scale Scores documented on admission to acute inpatient hospitalization. The Glasgow Coma Scale was used to assess …

Exercise Walking For Obesity Management In Older Adult White Women, Mary I. Dallas

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if a program of exercise walking would lead to any changes in the level of physical fitness for obese white women, aged fifty and over. Twenty-two women were recruited from three sites located in Holland, Michigan. The ten week program consisted of exercise walking three times a week for forty-five minutes at 60% to 70% maximum heart rate capacity. Subjects' weight, mean percentage of body fat, waist to hip ratio, body mass index, and the step test were found to decrease significantly between the pre- and post-test measures. As a result of …

The Effects Of An Eleven-Week Therapeutic Riding Program On Motor Skills As Measured By The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test Of Motor Proficiency, Angela M. Cripe, Angela A. Schmid

Masters Theses

The purpose of this single-case experimental design study was to determine whether or not therapeutic horseback riding was effective in improving motor skills. The subject was a 7-year-old girl with diplegic cerebral palsy. She participated in a therapeutic riding program for 11 weeks. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form (BOT-SF) was administered a total of seven times (two pretests, three tests during the riding program, and two posttests). Due to the limited number of testing sessions and only having 1 subject, the results of the study are considered inconclusive. However, based on visual analyses of graphs, some improvements in …

Nurses' Perceptions Of The Profession Of Physical Therapy In The Inpatient Setting, Sharon Vanmullekom, Joanne Childs

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the interprofessional relationship that exists between nurses (RNs) and physical therapists (PTs) as perceived by RNs in the inpatient setting. A questionnaire, the Interprofessional Perception Scale, (Ducanis & Golin 1978) was modified and sent to 230 day shift nurses who have contact with PTs at four West Michigan hospitals. Forty-five percent of the surveys were returned. RNs responded to the following questions regarding the nursing and physical therapy professions: how would you answer; how would PTs answer, and how would PTs say that you answered, for 15 interprofessional issues. Differences between how …

Effects Of A Feldenkrais-Based Mobility Program On Function Of A Healthy, Elderly Sample, Barbara Brown, Susan Finney, Carolyn Sarantakis

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore whether a program of mobility exercises, based on the Feldenkrais Method, would result in an increase in range of motion and function, as measured by the Functional Reach (FR), modified Functional Reach (modified FR), and Timed "Up and Go" tests. Twenty-eight healthy elderly volunteers participated in the study. The experimental group participated in the program three times a week for six weeks. Measurements were taken before and after the six week program. The Timed "Up and Go" test improved significantly (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05) in the experimental group when age was accounted for. Right ankle dorsiflexion also increased significantly (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05). The FR and modified FR measurements did not demonstrate a significant change. As measured by the Timed "Up and Go" test, a Feldenkrais based program may improve function in healthy elderly individuals. Further research, with healthy and disabled subjects, is needed to understand the benefits of the Feldenkrais Method.

Caring Behaviors In The Emergency Department: Perceptions Of Patients And Nurses, Marcia Moerman

Masters Theses

Caring is recognized as an essential element in the definition of nursing. The purpose of this research study was to identify and compare the perceptions of caring behaviors held by patients in the emergency department with Registered Nurses who practiced in the same department.; Two questionnaires were used to obtain data. The first was an instrument listing 30 caring behaviors. The responses were listed by mean for the patient group and the nurse group. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to test the magnitude of the difference between the two groups. The second was a demographic questionnaire describing characteristics of …

Repeat Violence In The Emergency Department, Jeanne A. Dorsey

Masters Theses

The purpose of this descriptive study was to conduct a secondary analysis of the data set obtained from the Trauma and Emergency Center Violence Project (Dorsey, 1994). It was noted during the original 6 month study of 33,098 emergency department visits that some patients threatened or carried out real violence on multiple visits.; This study (a) identified the percentage of incidents in the initial sample that were perpetrated by repeat offenders, (b) described the types of violent behaviors, (c) explored the relationship between current substance and psychiatric history and the number of threatened or real violence incidents.; A descriptive research …

A Study Of The Leadership Practices Of The First Line Nurse Manager, Deborah L.P. Cress

Masters Theses

There is a need for nursing leaders to understand the practices of effective leaders in order to become extraordinary leaders themselves and positively impact the future of healthcare. A descriptive correlational research design was used to examine the relationship between the self assessment and the subordinate's assessment of the leadership practices of the first line nurse managers. The data were collected from a 420 bed midwest community teaching hospital. The data consisted of 84 managers and subordinates who responded to the Leadership Practices Inventory tool. The study revealed that the managers moderately performed the leadership practices. A significantly positive relationship …

The Effects Of Exercise Training On Functional Balance In A Community-Dwelling Elderly Population, Kathryn E. Smith

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of aerobic exercise training to improve balance in healthy adults over age 65. Twenty-five habitual exercisers (mean age 75.3 yrs.) and 25 control subjects (mean age 72.8 yrs.) were recruited from a senior day center. Balance was measured by the functional reach test. A two-sample t-test revealed no significantly higher difference in the mean balance score of the exercise group compared to the control group. Regression analysis indicated that none of the other variables collected (age, group, or level of fitness) were significant predictors of the functional reach scores. There …

Pre- And Post-Operative Comparison Of Kinematic Data In Ambulatory Patients With Cerebral Palsy, Douglas A. Miller, Matthew J. Vanderkooi

Masters Theses

Computerized three-dimensional gait analysis effectively supplements clinical examination by objectively assessing dynamic gait abnormalities and surgical outcomes. The purpose of this research was to assess the ambulatory outcomes of corrective surgery performed on children with spastic cerebral palsy by comparing pre- and post-operative kinematic data. It was hypothesized that post-operative data would be significantly improved compared to pre-operative values. Clinical examination and computerized gait analysis were performed pre-operatively and six to eighteen months following corrective surgery. Gait analysis included video taping of gait and recording of three-dimensional joint motion, synchronized force plate, and dynamic EMG data. The three patients (average …

The Effects Of A Downhill Skiing Program On Standing Balance In Adults And Children With Various Disabilities, Colleen Kavanaugh, Tara Mcnabb, Tami Revett

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess possible improvements in balance following a downhill ski program at Cannonsburg Ski Area. The 15 subjects' ages ranged from 7-67 and were obtained by a convenience sample of participants in the Cannonsburg Challenged Ski Association. Diagnoses of the participants included cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, cerebral vascular accident, hearing impaired, visually impaired, and developmentally disabled.; A pre-test, post-test design was used to assess the participants balance using the functional reach test--yardstick method. Data was analyzed by computer using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Using the t-test for paired comparisons, …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Aerobic Dance To Water Aerobic Training On Maximal Oxygen Consumption, Terri L. Bedford, Tamara A. Dusterwinkle, Darcy J. Hoppman

Masters Theses

Water aerobics is one mode of exercise that is gaining popularity. Water aerobics allows adults who participate in an exercise program to improve their cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this study was to determine if water aerobic training is as effective as land dance aerobic training in improving cardiorespiratory fitness in sedentary healthy adults. Eighteen subjects participated in this study; nine in dance aerobics and nine in water aerobics. Before and after eight weeks of training, subjects performed a graded maximal exercise test on a Schwinn Air-Dyne while maximal oxygen uptake was measured via a Beckman Metabolic Cart. ANCOVA was …

The Relationship Between Spirituality And Depression In Family Caregivers Of The Elderly, Mary Jean Chappel

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spirituality and depression in family caregivers of the elderly. This study sought to test the following hypothesis: The level of spirituality will be negatively correlated with the level of depression for family caregivers of the elderly. A descriptive, correlational design utilizing Neuman's wholistic system theory was used with a convenience sample of 44 family caregivers aged between 32 and 88 years. Self-reporting questionnaires were mailed to clients (identified as caregivers) of a home care agency, a caregiver respite program, and a Parkinson's support group all providing services in Northern …

Relationships Among Role Strain, Hardiness, And Academic Achievement, Evelyn Clare Rutlin

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative importance of role strain versus that of hardiness in predicting academic achievement in first semester female ADN students. A convenience sample of 61 students from Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan, participated in the study.; The Lengacher Role Strain Inventory and the Cognitive Hardiness Scale were used to assess role strain and hardiness. Academic achievement was determined by the grade received in the nursing fundamentals course.; Correlation coefficients were used to determine correlation among the variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to explain the variance. Neither role strain nor …

The Effect Of Anterior Tibial Translation On Quadriceps Recruitment During An Isometric Squat, Natalie K. Howard, Penny P. Tussing

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine how closed chain anterior tibial translation (ATT) affected quadriceps femoris recruitment as evidenced by electromyography.; Forty-three healthy subjects performed a unilateral squat under two conditions: anterior tibial force (ATF) and no tibial force (NTF). Two adjustable-height pulleys produced ATF by each pulling with ten percent of body weight in opposite directions on the proximal tibia and distal femur. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis was monitored using surface electrodes. Percentage change in EMG area between the two squat conditions was averaged across all subjects and muscles. …

Vocational Interest Profiles Of Critical Care Registered Nurses, Julene Beth Hannink

Masters Theses

The purpose o f this investigation was to obtain descriptive data regarding the vocational interest profiles o f a population o f currently employed critical care registered nurses. John L. Holland’s Theory o f Careers, which was used as the theoretical fi’amework, describes six major types or characteristics o f vocational personalities: Realistic (R), Investigative (I), Artistic (A), Social (S), Enterprising (E) and Conventional (C). A vocational interest assessment tool, the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) was used to determine a given individual’s vocational interests, with results recorded as a three letter profile.

A convenience sample was obtained from the critical …

Communities Of Cloacal Bacteria In Tree Swallow Families, Michael P. Lombardo, Patrick A. Thorpe, R. Cichewicz, M. Henshaw, C. Millard, C. Steen, T. K. Zeller

Peer Reviewed Publications

Our aim in this study was to survey the communities of bacteria found in the cloacae of adult and nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), determine if there were familial patterns of prevalence, and determine if there were relationships between bacteria loads and nestling size when 12 days old and fledging success.

Geriatric Knowledge, Attitudes And Interests Of Physical Therapy Alumni Of Grand Valley State University, Elizabeth Johnson

Masters Theses

Gerontologic knowledge, attitudes and interest in working with the elderly were investigated and potential relationships explored. Six years of Grand Valley State University alumni (3 years Bachelor's {dollar}\{lcub} \rm N=63\{rcub}{dollar} and 3 years Master's {dollar}\{lcub} \rm N=84\{rcub} ){dollar} were surveyed. Questionnaires consisted of: a Personal History Questionnaire, to collect demographic data; the Palmore's Facts on Aging Questionnaire Part 2 with a "don't know" option added; and a modified Semantic Differential by Rosencrantz and McNevin. P-values were set at {dollar}\le{dollar}.05 to determine statistical significance. Correlations were also run on the data. Results indicate a fairly high correlation between people who believe …

The Effects Of Contralateral Limb Strength Training On Muscle Atrophy In An Immobilized Upper Extremity, Robin R. Hlavacek

Masters Theses

Four case studies were used to evaluate the effects of three weeks of isokinetic strength training on retarding muscle atrophy in the contralateral casted limb. The non-dominant arm of each subject was immobilized in a long-arm plaster cast. Two subjects participated in an isokinetic strength training program three times per week for three weeks and two subjects were untrained. Each subject was measured for limb circumference and strength before and after casting. Pre- and post-immobilization values were compared within each subject. The results suggest a possible cross transfer effect of strength from the trained limb to the casted limb in …

Role Clarification And The Myocardial Infarction Patient's Primary Support Person, Susan L. Dunn

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of role clarification in reducing anxiety of the myocardial infarction patient's primary support person (PSP). A quasi-experimental design was utilized. A nonprobability convenience sampling method produced a sample of 31 experimental and 38 comparison subjects. During the patient's hospitalization a pretest was given and the experimental group attended a role clarification session. Posttesting was done three weeks later. Both groups had higher trait and state anxiety levels than the norm at pretest and posttest. It was hypothesized that the experimental group would have lower posttest state anxiety levels. This was …

Use Of Alternative Approaches By Physical Therapists In Michigan, Karen E. Huber, Brian W. Scherff

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of use of alternative treatments by physical therapists in Michigan, what approaches are used most often and if use of alternative techniques is associated with practice characteristics. A questionnaire listing 20 treatment techniques which met the operational definition of alternative was mailed to a random sample of 300 licensed physical therapists in Michigan. Number of modalities used, frequency of use for each alternative treatment, average caseload treated, and relationships between modality use and characteristic of practitioners were determined. Results showed 83% of respondents use one or more alternative modalities; 39% …

The Validity Of The Physiological Cost Index At Short Distances, Devin Deboer, John Heyerman, Robert Stout

Masters Theses

Background and purpose. The Physiological Cost Index (PCI) was developed as a tool using heart rate and walking speed to measure energy expenditure during walking. This tool was developed using long distances, therefore, its validity at short distances is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the PCI at short distances.; Subjects. Forty-six subjects aged 20-30 years old were tested. Methods. Subjects walked 600 meters around a 40 meter oval track. Heart rate and walking speed were monitored at various intervals. Results. No strong correlation between short and long distances was found until 80 meters …

Relationships Among Isokinetic Knee Flexion And Extension Parameters, Three Functional Tests, And Subjective Knee Scores In Acl Reconstructed Patients, Laura Call, Sheryl Chandler

Masters Theses

The purposes of this study were: (1) to investigate the relationships between isokinetically tested quadriceps femoris and hamstring strength, the subjects' self-assessment of knee function, and three functional tests, and (2) to determine the strength and functional differences between the surgical and non-surgical limbs. Subjects included 18 males and 27 females aged 18 to 45 years who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee strength was measured at 180, 300, and 450{dollar}\sp\circ{dollar}/second and normalized to body weight, while functional hop data were normalized to height. Significant differences existed between limbs for the single, triple, and cross-over hops, and all, but …

Knowledge, Utilization, And Favorability Of Commonly Referring Michigan Physicians Regarding Physical Therapy, Jill M. Cabanilla, Sandra J. Frantz

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess commonly referring Michigan physicians' knowledge of physical therapy, and its impact on favorability toward, and utilization of, its services. Three hundred questionnaires were sent to physicians of orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, physical medicine & rehabilitation, and general practice. The usable return rate was 22 percent. Technical, professional, and overall knowledge scores, as well as utilization patterns were compared across medical specialty, practice location, and years of experience. The mean overall knowledge score was 63% with orthopedic physicians scoring the highest at 77 percent. Physicians demonstrated higher knowledge of "professional" PT procedures over "technical" …

Validation Of The Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, Annette L. Backus

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to validate the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS). This was accomplished by determining inter-rater reliability, the ability to measure pain in infants of any gestational age, and the relationship between the NIPS behavioral scores and physiological parameters of heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.; Inter-rater reliability on total scores obtained before, during and after the procedure yielded correlations ranging from 0.69 to 0.90, which were significant at p {dollar}<{dollar}.001. All groups showed significant increases in NIPS scores after a painful procedure was started. Total mean scores before, during and after a procedure were 0.44, 3.04 and 0.6 respectively. There were no significant correlations between NIPS scores and heart rate, respiratory rate or oxygen saturation.; The NIPS appears to be a reliable tool for evaluating pain in neonates of any gestational age. Physiological measures were not reliable indicators of pain in neonates.

Nurses' Verbal Responses In Four Types Of Client Situations, Ann V. Dilbeck

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to determine to what degree nurses vary in their utilization of empathy when responding to patients experiencing different types of physical and emotional discomfort. Nurse participants ({dollar}N = 32{dollar}) worked primarily in a hospital setting. They were administered the Behavioral Test of Interpersonal Skills and responded to videotaped vignettes. Actors portrayed patients exhibiting pain, anxiety, depression, or anger. "Feeling", "Content", or "Don't Feel" were the three categories scored. "Don't Feel" responses negate or suppress patient's feelings.; A chi-square was done to compare "don't feel" responses to all other responses. "Don't Feel" responses were generally …

Intuition And The Decision Making Process Of Expert Critical Care Nurses, Kelley A. Hempsall

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of intuition and the decision making process of expert critical care nurses in providing health care for hospitalized patients. A descriptive correlational design was employed using a non-probability convenience sample of 172 registered nurses working in critical care areas. Data were obtained by a questionnaire developed by the researcher. Ninety five nurses (55.2%) responded. Data analysis included a comparison of the relationship of expert nurses' (n = 49) total scores and the total scores of the non-expert nurses (n = 46). No statistically significant difference was found in either the …

Knowledge, Sources Used And Factors Considered In The Surgical Treatment Decisions Of Women With Breast Cancer, Debra J. Bisel

Masters Theses

The purpose of this replication study was to examine how women with breast cancer reached their decision for surgical treatment (Ward, Heidrich and Wolberg 1989). Twenty-one women who met the surgical criteria, i.e. option for Breast Conserving surgery or Modified Radical Mastectomy, completed four surveys 1 to 7 days post operatively. The women were divided into two groups, 13 who had Breast Conserving surgery and 8 who had Modified Radical Mastectomy. The surveys assessed demographic characteristics of the groups, the level of knowledge regarding breast cancer, factors considered important in reaching the decision for surgery and the sources of information …

A Comparison Study Of Emergency And Medical/Surgical Registered Nurses' Understanding Of Pain And Its Management, Jo A. Oborski

Masters Theses

This replication study was designed to compare emergency and medical/surgical registered nurses' actual and perceived knowledge of the pharmacological and nonpharmacological aspects of pain and its management. A modification of the original tool that consisted of a combination of multiple choice, short answer and open-ended questions was utilized. A convenience sample representing beginner and expert medical/surgical and emergency nurses was obtained.; No difference was found between specialty or experience and current pain knowledge. All participants functioned at a similar level. Participants were unable to describe basic terms related to current pain theory and therapy. The only significant difference identified between …