Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Social And Environmental Support On Diabetes Self-Management, Cheryl Mckee

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background The reduction of diabetes complications depends on adherence to self-management behaviors. The current study was designed to examine the influence of multiple social-environmental levels of support on diabetic self-management behaviors in a lower income community. The eight distinct levels of social-environmental support studied were personal characteristics, physician and health team, family and friends, neighborhood, community, media and policy, community organizations, and the workplace. Methods An anonymous self-administered survey, consisting of questions about demographic features, hemoglobin AlC, self-management behaviors, and perceived support from multiple social-environmental levels, was completed by 36 diabetic participants from the Regions Family Physicians clinic. Results Significant …

The Prevalence Of Low Back Pain And Its Association With Body Mass Index, Lance Beebout

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Prevalence of Low Back Pain and its Association with Body Mass Index Background: The question of whether obesity is a risk factor for the development of low back pain (LBP) has been the subject of considerable research. To date no clear consensus has been made concerning this highly debated issue. The purpose of this study is to determine whether overweight individuals, BMI > 25, reported higher incidences of LBP over the course of one year while accounting for other known risk factors for the development of LBP. Methods; This non-experimental study design utilized an eleven question survey to gather data …

Lifestyle Choices Of Minnesotan Physician Assistants: An Exploratory Investigation, Paul Mortlock

Theses and Graduate Projects

Few studies address the physical health, mental health and quality of life issues for the physician assistant and the ways in which their personal choices are reflected in the assessment and recommendations of those served. This study evaluated the lifestyle choices of the Minnesota Physician Assistant and how PA choices influence the promotion of health. The particular problem statement for this thesis is: Are Minnesota Physician Assistants living a healthy life? Specifically, the sub problems are: (1) What are the lifestyle choices of Minnesota Physician Assistants and do their choices reflect healthy living; (2) What is the relationship between the …

Does Body Mass Index (Bmi) Affect The Prevalence Of Pap Smears?, Debra Maas

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background The pap smear test is highly effective at detecting pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical cells. However, only 68.3 percent of women in the U.S. received a Pap smear in 2001. Previous research studies have shown that overweight and obese women are less likely to receive routine pap smears. This is especially concerning because obesity is a risk factor for cervical cancer Methods A retrospective review of data was conducted from the medical records of 90 women, 18 years of age or older, who were seen by the researcher at SMDC clinics in Deer River and Remer, Minnesota from February 2003 …

The Prevalence Of Herbal Product Use In The Treatment And Management Of Diabetes In The Latino Population, Gobind Tarchand

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background. Healthcare providers are often concerned about the use of alternative treatments by patients of Hispanic decent. Herbal product use is one type of alternative treatment that is most concerning. This study examined the prevalence of herbal product use for diabetes control by a sample of patients of Hispanic decent. Methods. A convenience sample of 42 patients of Hispanic decent with type 2 diabetes was surveyed. Following a descriptive, quantitative design, questionnaires were available in both English and Spanish and were distributed to participants by the diabetic educator at La Clinica en Lake. Questions were asked about demographics, diabetes status …

Burden Of Infectious Diseases In South Asia, Anita K M Zaidi, Shally Awasthi, H Janaka Desilva

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Healthnet News V.19:No.1 Spring 2004, Judith S. Kronick, Alberta Richetelle

Articles - Patient Care

A newsletter for public librarians and others interested in consumer health information services.

Ua61/6 Newsletter Issue 3, Wku Institute For Rural Health Development & Research

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about the Institute for Rural Health Development & Research. This issue contains:

• Senator Mitch McConnell Earmarks Dollars for WKU Hispanic Initiative
• Dr. Louella Fong Directs Bilingual Program
• Give Kids a Smile Brightens Children’s Day – Dental Hygiene
• College of Health & Human Services Focuses on Gerontology Demands
• Partners Key to Successful Hispanic Health Fair & Screening Event
• Public Health Department Now Offers Worksite Health Promotion
• KEMSA Offers EMS Management Workshop – Kentucky Emergency Medical Services Academy

Chronic Wasting Disease—Prion Disease In The Wild, Steve Bunk

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

In 1967, mule deer in a research facility near Fort Collins, Colorado, in the United States apparently began to react badly to their captivity. At least, that was the guess of researchers working on the natural history and nutrition of the deer, which became listless and showed signs of depressed mood, hanging their heads and lowering their ears. They lost appetite and weight. Then they died—of emaciation, pneumonia, and other complications—or were euthanized. The scientists dubbed it chronic wasting disease (CWD), and for years they thought it might be caused by stress, nutritional deficiencies, or poisoning. A decade later, CWD …

What's Happening: April, 2004, Maine Medical Center

What's Happening

No abstract provided.

Cost Analysis Of The Built Environment: The Case Of Bike And Pedestrian Trials In Lincoln, Neb, Guijing Wang, Caroline A. Macera, Barbara Scudder-Soucie, Tom Schmid, Michael Pratt, David Buchner, Gregory Heath

United States Public Health Resources

We estimated the annual cost of bike and pedestrian trails in Lincoln, Neb, using construction and maintenance costs provided by the Department of Parks and Recreation of Nebraska. We obtained the number of users of 5 trails from a 1998 census report. The annual construction cost of each trail was calculated by using 3%, 5%, and 10% discount rates for a period of useful life of 10, 30, and 50 years. The average cost per mile and per user was calculated.
Trail length averaged 3.6 miles (range=1.6–4.6 miles). Annual cost in 2002 dollars ranged from $25 762 to $248479 (mean=$124927; …

Psychological Effects Of Martial Arts Training: Fear Of Physical Assault And Self -Esteem, Robert C. Clanton

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in the effects of martial arts training on self-esteem and fear of physical assault. Two studies were performed. The Fear of Physical Assault Scale was developed in the first study in order to measure individuals' perceived vulnerability to attack. Results indicated that the instrument was a reliable measure. Males scored significantly higher on the scale, indicating that they tend to perceive themselves as less vulnerable and more competent at defending themselves against physical assault. The second study examined the effects of martial arts training on the self-esteem and fear of …

Inside Unlv, Gian Galassi, Carol C. Harter, Jeffrey Koep

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Oncolog, Volume 49, Number 04, April 2004, Katie Prout Matias, Karen Stuyck

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Gastric Cancer Studies Focus on Prolonging Survival and Finding Molecular Markers for Targeted Therapies
• Clinical Ethicists Help Patients, Families, and Staff Resolve Difficult Dilemmas
• An Unexpected Finding: Male Breast Cancer Is Rare and Often Overlooked
• House Call: Getting Screened for Oral Cancer

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Summer 2004), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Summer 2004 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Opening Remarks
• PCOM Updates
• Leaving a Legacy of Strength
• Alumni Association News
• Physician Helps the Needy – Wherever They Are
• Cover Story: Primary Care and Psychology: Perfect Together
• He’s Got Heart
• Class Notes
• In Memoriam
• My Turn
• Andrew Taylor Still Legacy Society
• PCOM Events

Qtc Is Associated With Obesity And Physical Activity Level For African American Females, C. Jayne Brahler

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular or ischemic disease mortality. Obesity as a cause for acquired LQTS in otherwise healthy individuals is rapidly gaining the attention of the scientific community. African American people have a higher incidence of obesity compared to Caucasians, yet race-specific information is not available for their prevalence of LQTS. Chronic physical activity can help reduce the incidence of obesity, yet little is known about the effects of chronic physical activity on acquired LQTS. Subjects in this study were a volunteer sample of African American mothers (21-53 yr, n = 44) and …

Chironian Spring/Summer 2004, New York Medical College

The Chironian

No abstract provided.

Monitoring Physical Activity: Uses And Measurement Issues With Automated Counters, Michelle L. Granner, Patricia A. Sharpe

Faculty Publications

Background: Promotion of physical activity is a public health priority, and environmental factors influence physical activity behavior. Valid and reliable automated measurement tools of physical activity for assessment and evaluation within public settings are needed. Methods: Searches of the research literature and governmental reports from physical activity, transportation, and recreation fields were conducted to identify methods of automated counting and validation studies. The article provides a summary of (a) current methods and uses of automated counters, (b) information about validity and reliability where available, (c) strengths and limitations of each methods, and (d) measurement issues. Results: Existing automated counting technology …

Correlation Between Nutritional Knowledge And Food Choices In Seventh Grade Students, Jennifer Rysavy

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background Diets of adolescents in the United States are not meeting the Food Pyramid guidelines, especially for fruits, vegetables, and dairy, yet they are far exceeding the recommended daily allowance for fat and added sugars. Even though adolescents possess nutritional knowledge, they are often choosing foods based on their taste, rather than their nutritional value. This study aimed to explore the relationship between nutritional knowledge and food choices in seventh grade students. It also evaluated the relationship gender had on nutrition knowledge and food choices. Method Nutritional knowledge and food choices were studied in two seventh grade health classes at …

The Florida Legislature’S Physical Activity And Nutrition Bills And Florida’S Youth: A Health Professional’S Call To Action

Florida Public Health Review

No abstract provided.

Physical Activity Levels And Social Influences In Rural Minnesotan Hmong Children And Adolescents, Kimberly Smith

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background Research has shown that physical activity levels are declining in children and adolescents of racial and ethnic minority groups. It has been suggested that social influences may play an important role in these trends. A large and growing Hmong population exists in Minnesota and there is no data regarding physical or sedentary activity trends or possible underlying social influences within this group. This study examined the physical activity levels, sedentary leisure habits, and social influences in a group of Hmong children and adolescents Methods. Following a descriptive, qualitative design, a sample of 45 Hmong children and adolescents in a …

The Female Athlete Triad: Role Of The Coach In Prevention And Intervention, Michelle Turner Breiland

Theses and Graduate Projects

Introduction The Female Athlete Triad consists of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. Eating disorders affect between 1-10% of adolescent and college age women (Haller, 1992),particularly in women's' sports in which leanness is considered important for performance such as cross-country running. Methods A three page 17 item questionnaire was sent out to 45 coaches of women's Division III cross-country teams in the Midwest region of the US. Descriptive statistics were run on the data. Results Results showed that 8% of coaches have coached an athlete with a diagnosed eating disorder. Of the top three topics for team discussions, 9% of coaches …

The Amount Of Prenatal Care In Women Thirty-Five Years And Older And It's Effects On Birth Weight, Gestational Age And Apgar Scores, Amy Moe

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background Prenatal care is essential to the health of mothers and their babies. It is unclear what aspects of prenatal care influence maternal and infant health the most. The purpose of this study was to determine if the amount of prenatal care visits a woman thirty-five years or older receives impacts the newborn's health, Methods The medical records of all women thirty-five years of age and older who gave birth at Cambridge Allina Medical Center in a one-year period were reviewed. The number of prenatal care visits for each subject was correlated with the birth weight, gestational age and Apgar …

Perceptions Of Access To U.S. Health Care Of Haitian Immigrants In South Florida

Florida Public Health Review

No abstract provided.

School Health Is Public Health

Florida Public Health Review

No abstract provided.

Patients' Perceptions Of Herbal Medicines And Natural Supplements, Penny L. Vinnedge

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background Herbal medicine and natural supplement use is becoming more popular among the general population. They are being used as adjuncts to conventional medicine, in place of conventional medicine, or as a last resort after failure of conventional medicine. There are benefits and downfalls to these alternative therapies. The problem is determining what beliefs patients have about herbs/supplements and how they form these beliefs. Methods A written survey was distributed to patients visiting a family practice clinic over a single week. Descriptive statistics were obtained to determine frequencies and totals of data and two types of inferential statistics were performed …

Medical Education Digest, Vol. 6 No. 2 (March 15, 2004), Nova Southeastern University

Medical Education Digest

No abstract provided.

Use Of Hospitals, Physician Visits, And Hospice Care During Last Six Months Of Life Among Cohorts Loyal To Highly Respected Hospitals In The United States, J. E. Wennberg, Elliot S. Fisher, Therese A. Stukel, Jonathan S. Skinner

Dartmouth Scholarship

Objective: To evaluate the use of healthcare resources during the last six months of life among patients of US hospitals with strong reputations for high quality care in managing chronic illness.

Attitudes Of Expectant Fathers Regarding Breastfeeding And The Effect Of The Expectant Father On The Expectant Mother's Intention To Breastfeed, Danielle M. Semling

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: previous studies regarding breastfeeding have demonstrated the importance of the father in the infant feeding decision and shown that mothers were more likely to breastfeed if the father had a positive opinion of breastfeeding. Methods: This study intended to determine what attitudes fathers had regarding breastfeeding and if a positive view of breastfeeding by a father correlated to the intention of his partner to breastfeed. The subjects for the study were couples participating together in one of two birth and parenting classes- The mothers were questioned about their intended breastfeeding decision, their perceived support from their male partner and …

Influences On The Mother's Decision To Breastfeed Her Infant, Melissa Rae Kennedy

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background Nutrition is essential to the health and development of infants and children' The American Academy of pediatrics, [the American Academy of Family Physicians] and the world Health organization recommend breast milk as the best form of nutrition for at least the first year of an infant's life due to the health benefits it provides children and mothers (American Academy of Family physicians, 2000, Pletta, Eglash, & Choby, 2000). Increasing the rates of both initiation of breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding are national health objectives. Methods The research design is a prospective descriptive study. The study included 43 pregnant women …