Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Relationship Between Nursing Nutrition Knowledge And Attitudes And Identification Of Malnutrition In The Acute Care Setting, Susan D. Kendziorski

Masters Theses

Malnutrition is widespread in healthcare and effective protocols are needed to identify those at risk. Nurses are well suited to carry out screening for malnutrition because they are in close contact with the patient and are responsible to coordinate each patient's care. In order to perform this role nurses must have nutrition knowledge and the skills to complete an accurate nutrition screen. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between nursing nutrition knowledge, nursing attitudes towards nutrition, and the accurate completion of a nutrition screening protocol. Patient's charts were reviewed for accurate completion of the nutrition screening protocol …

Agouti Mice Models To Study The Diabetogenicity Of Fk506 (Tacrolimus), Rashika Joshi

Masters Theses

Dominant mutations in the promoter region of the mouse agouti gene lead to a syndrome characterized by agouti yellow coat color, obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, type II diabetes and increased linear growth. The mechanism of agouti modulation of the coat color development as well as obesity involves competitive antagonism of the ? -melanocortin stimulating hormone at its receptor.

Hyperplasia of the pancreatic ? cells in agouti mice precedes the development of obesity. Enhanced insulin secretion is induced in vitro by agouti effects on calcium influx into islet cells. Preliminary testing of insulin producing pancreatic cells has shown that exposure to high …

Pragmatic Behaviors And Competency Levels Of Typically Developing And High Risk African American Preschoolers, Jennifer Dodd

Masters Theses

The pragmatic behaviors and competency levels of typically developing (TD) and high risk (HR) African American preschool children were assessed through the use of the Pragmatic Coding System (PCS, Hyter & Dodd, 1999). Ten children were videotaped within two play settings (i.e., dramatic play and manipulative toy play) for a total of twenty minutes. Results indicated that TD and HR children used the same types of pragmatic behaviors in both play settings. Frequency differences, however, were found between the two groups. Typically developing children produced a significantly greater number of initiations, total responses, multi word responses, one word responses, no …

The Incidence Of Caregiver Reported Sensory Processing Disorders In Children Who Are Experiencing Traumatic Stress Reaction, Ann K. Viviano

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research project was to determine whether children who are experiencing traumatic stress reaction to childhood neglect· or abuse demonstrate sensory processing disorders. It was hypothesized that since neurodevelopment has been disrupted in children who have been exposed to trauma or neglect, sensory processing abilities may also be disrupted.

The Sensory Profile, a judgment-based caregiver questionnaire, provides a standard method to measure a child's sensory processing abilities and to profile the effect of sensory processing on a child's functional performance. A convenience sample of 25 children, with documented traumatic stress reaction due to abuse and/or neglect, …

Effects Of Adult Modeling On Literacy Behaviors Of Head Start Preschoolers, Stephanie L. Kerbel

Masters Theses

This project explored the uses of literacy artifacts in the dramatic play of preschool children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds who live in poverty in Kalamazoo County. The purpose of this 9-week study was to determine the impact of adult modeling on the frequency and quality of use of literacy artifacts during the dramatic play of at-risk preschoolers. Two Head Start classrooms received different types of intervention: (a) a literacy-enriched dramatic play area with adult modeling for 5 minutes at the start of each play period ( once per week); and (b) a literacy-enriched dramatic play area without adult …

Does Mutual Goal Setting Make A Difference In Level Of Self-Efficacy For Patients With Congestive Heart Failure Receiving Home Care, Avis A. Rogers

Masters Theses

This secondary analysis evaluated the effect of a mutual goal setting nursing approach on the level of self-efficacy to manage disease in general in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The conceptual frameworks utilized were King's theory of goal attainment and Bandura's theory of self-efficacy. The primary study used a convenience sample of 54 patients who had been admitted to two home healthcare agencies with the primary diagnosis of CHF. Data were collected at baseline, 3-months and 6-months. The data collection tool was the Self-Efficacy Tool, which was from Outcome Measures for Health Education and other Health Care Interventions (Lorig, …

Quality Of Life In A Heart Failure Population, Diane S. Rexford

Masters Theses

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to identify what impact nursing approaches had on quality of life over time in a heart failure population. The sample was those patients who were receiving home care for heart failure.

The theoretical framework was the King theory of goal attainment. This secondary analysis used data from the study by Dr. Kay Setter Kline, Home Care Outcomes for Heart Failure: A Test of Two Nursing Interventions. The specific tools utilized were a demographic tool and the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index: Cardiac Version III. The subjects received nursing approaches from graduate …

Study To Test Nursing Smoking Cessation Interventions On The Stage Of Behavior Change Of Smokers, Barbara J. Goudie

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to test the effect of smoking cessation interventions given by nurses on the stage of behavior change of smokers. Prochaska & Velicer’s (1997) trans-theoretical model of behavior change was used to provide direction for the study. The sample was a convenience sample of ten. The subjects were patients on the medical/surgical floors of a general hospital who met the selection criteria. Demographic information and smoking history were obtained from the patients, and an intervention based on a protocol developed from Prochaska’s health promotion model was given to each subject One month after the intervention …

Knowledge About Stroke In Adults From Rural Communities, Julie Billett

Masters Theses

Fifty middle to low-income adult clients of a rural family care center were surveyed in a descriptive correlational study in order to determine their abilities to identify the signs and symptoms of a stroke and their knowledge of stroke risk. Additionally, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was used to ascertain whether the participants’ level of knowledge was related to their actual stroke risk, as identified by the American Heart Association’s Stroke Risk Tool Descriptive analysis of the item responses revealed that the percentage of the sample correctly identifying individual signs and symptoms ranged from 44 to 77%. When actual stroke risk was …

The Effect Of Supportive-Educative Nursing Interventions On The Hospital Readmission Rates Of Patients With Heart Failure, Patrice M. Whitaker

Masters Theses

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing and patients with HF are frequently readmitted to hospitals soon after discharge, at great cost. Improving self-care and reducing hospitalizations in this group is vital. This study, based on Dorothea Orem’s ( 1995) self-care deficit theory, evaluated supportive-educative vs. placebo nursing interventions. The study results were drawn from a larger longitudinal study done by Dr. Kay Setter-Kline, Ph.D., R.N.

The study sought to determine if supportive-educative nursing interventions reduced the rehospitalization rate for patients with HF. The Self-Management Tool was utilized for data collection, after being adapted from the Chronic Disease Self-Management …

Perceived Problem Areas For Adults Living With Diabetes, Valda Tolliver

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to examine the perceived problem areas for adults living with diabetes. A descriptive design using the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID) among a convenience sample of 24 African Americans provided the data in this study. King’s (1971) conceptual framework for nursing provided the theoretical foundation.

Data indicated that 83% of the sample did not perceive living with diabetes as a serious problem. However, the majority of them identified food deprivation and coping with diabetes, in addition to worrying about the future and possible serious complications from the disease as problematic. These results suggest …

Exploring The Relationship Between Life Experiences And Quality Of Life In Patients With Heart Failure, Sharon Vanleeuwen

Masters Theses

This was a secondary analysis of data from 86 home care patients from a primary study by Kline (1999) of home care outcomes for persons with heart failure. Surveys were used to collect data on quality of life, energy/fatigue levels and functional abilities. In the secondary analysis, the relationships between functional abilities and energy/fatigue levels with quality of life in heart failure patients were examined using a Pearson’s r correlation. Parse’s theory of human becoming was used as the framework for this study.

The life experiences of persons with heart failure were examined in this study focusing specifically on functional …

Body Image Perception Of Adolescents With Diabetes, Cathleen E. Kessler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare body image of adolescents with diabetes to adolescents without diabetes in order to increase the awareness of the psychological, emotional, and spiritual effects that diabetes may have on an adolescent’s consistently evolving body image. Neuman’s systems model was applied as the theoretical framework.

A Body Image Questionnaire was completed by two groups of adolescents, one group with diabetes and one group without diabetes. Both groups completed a 100 item Body Image Questionnaire (What I Think About Me). The questionnaire consisted of 45 physical traits and 55 Actors that influence or correlate to …

Faculty And Student Perceptions Of Effective Clinical Teachers, Sylvia A. Counts

Masters Theses

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify which characteristics of clinical teachers were considered most important by associate degree nursing (ADN) students and Acuity, and to investigate whether the perception of effective clinical teacher characteristics (ECTC) change as the student advances toward graduation. Imogene King’s conceptual framework for nursing served as the framework for this study. Faculty and students were surveyed using the Clinical Teacher Characteristic Instrument (CTCl). The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to investigate if there were significant differences in perceptions between faculty and students. A Kruskal-Wallis test …

Nurse Managers' Responses To Chemically Impaired Nurses, Dorothy Taylor Moon

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of nurse managers toward chemically impaired nurses and to understand how managers respond to nurses in their charge. The research further examined whether certain demographic characteristics influenced the nurse managers' attitudes.

A descriptive research design with a probability convenience sample was used. The sample consisted of 83 nurse executives from throughout Michigan. The sample was randomly selected from the roster of the Michigan Organization of Nurse Executives (MONE). Data were obtained through a mailed survey.

Analyses of the data revealed that while managers held different attitudes and perceptions toward impaired …

Perceived Knowledge Of Heart Failure And Adherence To Self-Care Recommendations, Cheryl Lynn Van Ess

Masters Theses

During the last decade, research has indicated that patient education is an essential component in the comprehensive management of heart failure. However, few data are available that evaluate how effective that education is and the relationship between knowledge and self-care adherence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between patients’ perceived knowledge of heart failure and their reported self-care adherence with diet, exercise, and medication in the management of their chronic disease. Orem’s self-care theory provided the framework for this study.

This study was a secondary analysis of the baseline data collected from a self-reporting questionnaire …

The Effects Of Mentoring On Staff Nurses' Job Satisfaction, Karen Delrue

Masters Theses

The shortage of registered nurses in the nation’s healthcare organizations calls for an exploration of avenues that can impact recruitment and retention. The practice of mentoring has demonstrated a positive impact on job satisfaction in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to determine if RNs would identify having mentors in their professional careers and to examine differences in levels of job satisfaction compared to those without a mentor. This study also explored whether or not the perceived quality of the mentor affected job satisfaction. Data were collected through the use of standardized questionnaires from a probability sample of …

School Nurses Asthma Knowledge And Management, Roles And Functions, Carolyn Levi

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore school nurses’ asthma knowledge, and how they implemented their clinical practice within the school setting. The study also examined the role and functions of the school nurse to compare for continuity. This study examines the relationship of school nurses’ educational level and length of experience upon asthma knowledge.

A self-report survey design was used to collect data. Instrument modification was initiated prior to use. The theoretical basis for this study was the Neuman Systems Model. Results were analyzed in order to investigate relationships and findings. The findings of this study showed no …

Relationship Of Perceived Self-Efficacy Of Disease Management And Hospital Utilization Among Patients With Heart Failure, Linda K. English

Masters Theses

This secondary analysis examined the relationship between perceived self-efficacy of disease management and hospital admissions for heart failure patients based on Bandura’s social learning theory. A convenience sample of 76 patients who were receiving home care services were visited over the course of several weeks. Data were collected at baseline, 3, and 6 months using the Self-Management Tool adapted from the work of Lorig et al. (1996).

Data indicated a weak negative statistically significant relationship between perceived self-efficacy of disease management and hospital utilization at 3 months (r = -.33, p = .01). In addition, hospital utilization decreased over time, …

Perceived Parenting Style, Adolescent Family Life Satisfaction, And Self-Esteem As Predictors Of Adolescent Substance Use, Megan Cox

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to identify predictors of adolescent substance use. Eighty-seven junior high school students completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Adolescent Family Life Satisfaction Index, Parental Authority Questionnaire, and the Michigan Alcohol and Other Drug School Survey. When examining self-esteem, adolescent family life satisfaction, and perceived parenting style, it was found that the authoritarian father parenting style was the best predictor of total adolescent substance use and, more specifically, tobacco use. Self-esteem and the authoritarian father parenting style were found to be the best predictors of adolescent alcohol use. Furthermore, the authoritarian father parenting style was significantly correlated with …

The Surveillance Of T-Lymphocytes In The Human Blood Stream, Ivan Temesvari

Masters Theses

T-Lymphocytes (T-cells), one of the many different lymphocytes, are the precursors of disease detection. Their primary purpose is to maintain a healthy immune system. They use the blood vasculature (blood stream) and lymphatic system to circulate throughout the body. Study of a T-cells journey throughout the human blood stream is useful to understand how they can detect disease, such as cancer, in an efficient and effective manner. T-cells are to be thought of as the good cells in our body searching to destroy the bad cells (cancer/infectious cells). The thymus lies in the anterior mediastinum, which is directly behind the …

Physical Therapists' Perceptions Concerning The Determination Of Fibromyalgia Interventions: A Qualitative Study, Elizabeth Jayne Levengood

Masters Theses

This qualitative explored some of the concepts under which physical therapists in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area operate when treating patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Four physical therapists with at least two years’ experience working in local pain clinics were interviewed. The data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed into themes. Seven categories of physical therapists’ perceptions concerning the determination of interventions were developed: (a) Factors affecting decision-making, (b) physical therapeutic interventions, (c) decision-making in the absence of intervention guidelines, (d) judgments of effectiveness according to clinical findings, (e) judgments of effectiveness through consultation, (f) perceptions of intervention decisions, and (g) perceptions …

The Relationship Between Income And The Ability To Follow The Prescribed Medication Plan In Elderly Persons With Heart Failure, Lori Houghton-Rahrig

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between income, and obtaining and taking of medications as prescribed. The conceptual framework used for this study was Madeleine Leininger's cultural care diversity and universality theory. This secondary analysis used the initial data from the primary study. “ Home Care Outcomes for Heart Failure: A Test of Two Nursing Approaches" (Kline, 1999). A convenience sample of 70 home care clients with heart failure were interviewed using a Likert scale format. A non-parametric correlation using Spearman’s rho depicted a weak relationship between annual income and taking the medication …

The Sexual Assault Exam: A Comparison Of Physical Findings And Legal Outcomes Between An Emergency Department And Free Standing Nurse Examiner Program, Linda L. Rossman

Masters Theses

The study objective was to compare the documentation of physical findings and legal outcomes of women evaluated in an emergency department (ED) and freestanding nurse examiner program (NEP). The study was a retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive female patients presenting after sexual assault to either the ED or to the NEP.

Genital injuries were documented in 19% of the ED group, in 74% of the 1997 NEP group and 77% of the 1998 NEP group. These differences were statistically significant (x²=75.75; df=2; p=.000). In 24% of the ED patients and 21% of the 1997 NEP patients, warrants were …

The Relationship Between Critical Thinking Skills And Perceived Self-Efficacy In Associate Degree Nursing Students, Christine M. Overly

Masters Theses

The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to determine if a relationship exists between critical thinking skills and self-efficacy in Associate Degree nursing students. A convenience sample of 30 nursing students in their second year of an Associate Degree RN program was used. The framework for this study utilized Bandura's social cognitive theory and Benner's nursing theory of skill acquisition and development. Critical thinking skills were measured by the California Critical Thinking Skills Test. Self-efficacy was measured by the Generalized Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale. Demographic data of age, gender, marital status, number of dependents, employment status, and income were obtained …

Three Dimensional Gait Analysis Following The Adeli Treatment For Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report, Troy Lase

Masters Theses

This case report describes the use of three-dimensional gait analysis to identify kinematic changes following the Adeli suit treatment. The suit's original design was to decrease the effects of weightlessness in space but has been modified to become the primary modality for the Adeli treatment used to treat cerebral palsy. Data were quantitatively produced by three-dimensional gait analysis before and after treatment were used to identity any changes in gait. Following the Adeli treatment, instrumented gait analysis showed that no clinically significant changes in four critical events of gait following the Adeli treatment occurred.

A Secondary Analysis Of Twelfth Grade Students And Their Engagement In Risk Behaviors, Dana L. Morton

Masters Theses

This study was a secondary analysis of data from a national survey of 135 high schools throughout the nation, including both rural and urban settings. A sample of 14,056 twelfth grade students participated in the survey. This study explored the relationships between religious attendance, perceived importance of religion, and smoking and consumption of alcohol in adolescents. Very little research was found on the relationship between religion and adolescent health, indicating a need for more investigations. This study found that the greater number of times an individual attended religious services the less they reported engaging in smoking and drinking. Future intention …

Rehabilitation Nurses' Attitudes And Behaviors Related To Sexuality Of Rehabilitation Patients, Renae Boss Potts

Masters Theses

Sexuality is intrinsic to the nature of human beings. If nurses are to practice holistically, issues concerning sexuality are relevant to nursing practice. The attitudes and behaviors that rehabilitation nurses express regarding the care of rehabilitation patients were explored in this descriptive study. One hundred and one members of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) responded to the Williams - Wilson Sexuality Survey (WWSS). The possible range of scores on the attitude scale was 11 - 66. The actual results ranged from 21 to 65, with a mean of 48 and a standard deviation of 10. The higher the attitudinal …

Narrating Identities: Adult Children Of Alcoholics And Their Social Support Systems, Laura J. Wolff

Masters Theses

This study examines communication between adult children of alcoholics and the social support systems that result from their relationships with their alcoholic parents. These relationships may form either with the alcoholic parent or with others around them. Surveys and a focus group were used to draw information from participants concerning social support systems, communication patterns, coping methods, and critical incidents that occurred during childhood. Adult children of alcoholics were also found to suffer from interpersonal problems, dependency problems, poorer communication skills, approval seeking tendencies, and intimacy problems. The findings of this report suggest that good social support minimizes the negative …

A Longitudinal Descriptive Study Of Service Delivery Employing Collaborative Classroom-Based Or Pull-Out Service Delivery, Courtney L. Benefiel

Masters Theses

This study investigated whether there was a difference in SLP behaviors during 40 minutes of speech-language intervention using a collaborative classroom-based model of intervention versus 40 minutes of traditional pull-out intervention. Additionally the study evaluated whether there was a difference in the amount of child practice productions of IEP goal behaviors during 40 minutes of speech-language intervention provided in the classroom versus 40 minutes of intervention provided in the pull-out speech room. One-half of the subjects participated in the collaborative classroom-based model, while the other half participated in the traditional pull-out intervention. Four hours of classroom-based or pull-out treatment were …