Digital Commons Network^™

Physical Fitness Perceptions And Exercise Participation Of Older Adults, Kristi J. Spruell

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this descriptive exploratory study was twofold: to determine if older adults are exercising and to examine their perceptions of physical fitness. Nola J. Pender's Health Promotion Model provided the theoretical framework for this study. The following research questions guided the study: (1) Are older adults participating in adequate exercise?; (2) Do older adults perceive themselves as physically fit?; (3) Do older adults perceive motivators to exercise?; and (4) Do older adults perceive barriers to exercise? A convenience sample of 40 adults, ages fifty and above, was obtained from a primary care clinic in a suburban area in …

Congestive Heart Failure Clients' Knowledge Level About Self-Care Measures, Phyllis Savage

MSN Research Projects

Almost 5 million Americans are living with congestive heart failure (CHF) today with over 400,000 new cases diagnosed annually (American Heart Association, 1997; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 1996; Konstam et al., 1994). Despite medical advances, mortality rates remain high for CHF. Lack of knowledge was cited as a frequent cause of clients' noncompliance with prescribed self-care regimen. Client education has been indicated as beneficial in promoting a better self-understanding of CHF. In order to successfully provide education to CHF clients, health care providers must first be able to assess clients' prior knowledge about the condition. The purpose of …

Correlation Of Rate Of Compliance To A Prescribed Treatment Regimen With Sense Of Power Experienced By Elders With Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Elly Vance

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between elderly diabetics' sense of power and their rate of compliance to a prescribed treatment regimen. The researcher hypothesized that there would be no significant correlation between sense of power and rate of compliance to a prescribed treatment regimen. The Health Care Practice Scale - Part A (HCPS-A) and the Health Care Practice Scale- Part B (HCPS-B) were administered to 16 Type II diabetics who were 65 years or older. Statistical analysis using Pearson r^ found no significant relationship ; therefore, the researcher failed to reject the hypothesis. The researcher …

Grief Experiences Of Widowed Women Based On Length Of Bereavement, Brenda Shelton

MSN Research Projects

Death of a spouse is a stressful life event that carries the increased threat of illness developing as a consequence. Spousal loss is a situation that primarily affects women because women usually live longer than men and most wives are younger than their husbands. As widowhood affects more women then men, there is a need for understanding patterns of grief reactions in women. The focus of this descriptive study was to compare the differences in grief experiences of widowed women based on length of bereavement. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in grief experiences by women …

The Effect Of An Educational Intervention On Adolescents' Knowledge And Attitudes About Violence, Jean E. Szorady

MSN Research Projects

Violent injury is among the leading causes of death in adolescents. Adolescents' immaturity and underdeveloped impulse control put them at risk of acting rashly, thus at higher risk for violent injury. This significant public health problem is a preventive objective of Healthy People 2000. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an educational intervention on adolescents' knowledge and attitudes about violence. The nurse practitioner in a school or family clinic is in a unique position to intervene with adolescent clients using an educational intervention. Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory served as the theoretical framework for the research. …

Knowledge And Attitudes About Hiv/Aids In An Adolescent Population, Tracey Hickman

MSN Research Projects

Adolescents are at an increased risk for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as evidenced by increased infection rates and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related deaths within this age group. The focus of this study was to assess the knowledge levels and attitudes of adolescents about HIV/AIDS. The theoretical framework that guided this study was Elkind (1993). Elkind (1993) believed that adolescents make decisions on such concepts as the personal fable and imaginary audience regardless of their knowledge level. Two research questions were addressed in this descriptive study : What are the knowledge levels of adolescents about HIV/AIDS? And …

Outcomes Of An Educational Program On The Knowledge Level Of Shaken Baby Syndrome Among Adolescent Babysitters, Mickey White Parks

MSN Research Projects

Shaken baby syndrome is a form of child abuse that exhibits no external sign of injury. A recent study by Starling, Holden, and Jenny (1995) indicated that approximately 3 0% of the perpetrators were nonparental child caregivers. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in the knowledge level of shaken baby syndrome among adolescent babysitters before and after an educational intervention. The nursing theory. Modeling and Role-Modeling, was used to guide this study. Data were collected from a convenience and network sample consisting of 21 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who reside in suburban …

Impact Of A Multidisciplinary Education Class On Knowledge And Health-Promoting Behaviors In Persons With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Rural Mississippi, Carmen Leigh Parks

MSN Research Projects

Prevalence rates of known diabetes mellitus continue to increase in the United States. However, studies show that people can reduce their risks of long-term complications by maintaining adequate blood sugar control. Good metabolic control, however, can be very difficult for persons with diabetes because it requires knowledge, motivation, lifestyle adjustments, close monitoring, and ongoing support from a health care team. The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest/posttest study was to determine the impact of a multidisciplinary education class on knowledge and health-promoting behaviors in persons with type 2 diabetes in rural Mississippi. Pender's Health Promotion Model was used as the theoretical …

Screening For Domestic Violence By Nurse Practitioners In The Primary Care Setting, Patricia A. Plant

MSN Research Projects

Domestic violence produces major health care problems for women. The prevalence and serious nature of this problem mandates recognition and intervention. Research has demonstrated that health care providers either overlook or fail to recognize or address potential domestic violence issues and situations during health care encounters. This descriptive study was designed to examine the screening practices of nurse practitioners for domestic violence certified and practicing in Louisiana. The theoretical framework for the research was based on the Health Promotion Model (Pender, 1987), which focuses on the integration of health-promoting behavior into lifestyles. The research question for this study was as …

The Effect Of An Educational Intervention On Adolescents' Knowledge And Attitudes About Violence, Jean E. Szorady

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an educational intervention on adolescents' knowledge and attitudes about violence.

Nurse Practitioners' Developmental Screening And Referral Practices For Children With Developmental Delays, Terri Chisolm Smith

MSN Research Projects

This descriptive study explored developmental screening and referral practices of pediatric and family nurse practitioners for children with developmental delays.

The Effects Of Two Teaching Methodologies On Knowledge Of Insulin Administration Practices In An Older Adult Group, Clara D.J. Pieh

MSN Research Projects

Approximately 11 million people are affected with acute and chronic complications of diabetes. An estimated $20 billion is spent annually on the diagnosis and management of diabetes. Client adherence to self-care practice is essential to the control of diabetes. The self-care practice of injecting insulin is imperative for the management of both patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Teaching modalities which effectively increase patient knowledge about insulin administration need to be developed and implemented. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether individualized instructions or audiovisual instructions increased the knowledge of insulin administration practices in older …

The Relationships Among Health Promoting Behaviors, Perceptions Of Health, And Quality Of Life In Elders With Atrial Fibrillation, Eric W. Smith

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to define health-promoting behaviors, perception of health, and quality of life in elders with atrial fibrillation to develop a basis for development of guidelines for nurse practitioners in practice.

Diet Adherence Factors Affecting Diabetic Older Adults, Laurie Schluter

MSN Research Projects

Diabetes is a chronic disease which affects a significant portion of the United States population. Effective management requires adherence to a prescribed dietary regimen. Many diabetics have difficulty adhering to their recommended diet. This descriptive study explored diabetic diet adherence in older adults. The following research question guided the study: What are the factors that affect diabetic diet adherence in older adults? Sr. Callista Roy's adaptation theory provided direction for the study. Thirty two diabetic patients age 45 years and older in Louisiana comprised the sample. The sample included rural and urban patients of a home health agency and a …

Factors Influences Adolescents' Choice And Discontinuation Of Depo-Provera, Carey E. Mccarter

MSN Research Projects

Long-term contraceptives are a needed measure for prevention of unintended pregnancies. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), a long-term injectable contraceptive, is particularly useful for adolescent women. Despite the widespread use of Depo- Provera, limited data exist in the literature on continuation rates, especially among adolescents. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the factors which influence the choice and discontinuation of Depo-Provera among adolescents. The Health Belief Model served as the theoretical framework to guide this study. The convenience sample consisted of adolescent females (N = 14) . The instrument utilized for the collection of data was the McCarter …

Alternative Health Practices Of Homebound Adults In Northeast Mississippi, Jenny Barnes

MSN Research Projects

More people are relying on alternative practices and less conventional therapies for a wide variety of problems. Alternative therapies have gained increasing popularity, recognition, and usage in the past decade. Minimal knowledge exists regarding the alternative health care practices of the essentially homebound population who may be more likely to use alternative forms of health care due to the difficulty in leaving home and in following with certain cultural beliefs and practices. The focus of this descriptive study was to describe the alternative health practices of home health clients and how these practices may effect care in the primary care …

Adolescent Mother-Infant Attachment: Self-Identification Of Problems That May Impede The Process, Desiree Snow

MSN Research Projects

As of 1992, nearly 1 out of every 10 births in the United States was to a single adolescent female (National Center for Health Statistics, 1994). Becoming an adolescent parent is known to elicit significant psychosocial changes. Most adolescents are not capable of accepting all of the responsibilities of the maternal role and the attachment process. The theoretical framework of Erikson's Psychosocial Theory reflects the concept of adolescent parenting constituting a potential crisis situation. The adolescent is torn between self-satisfaction and attending to the needs of the infant, which correlates with role confusion, as explained in the developmental stage of …

Exercise Prescriptive Practices Of Nurse Practitioners Who Use The Internet, Cindy L. Robertson

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the exercise prescriptive practices and individual exercise habits of adult, family, and gerontological nurse practitioners who utilize the Internet. Pender's Health Promotion Model provided the theoretical framework for the study. The target population was adult, family, and gerontological nurse practitioners who use the Internet. The first 34 respondents were the nonrandom convenience sample. A researcher-designed home page was placed on-line with the consent form and Modified Auburn Exercise Questionnaire attached. Participants selected responses to the items and submitted the consent form and questionnaire to the e-mail address of the researcher. The …

Testicular Self-Examination Among College-Aged Males, Angela Pruitt Durham

MSN Research Projects

Testicular cancer represents the most common cancer of men ages 15 to 35 years, with peak incidence occurring in men between the ages of 20 and 34 yrs. Many men in this age group have a knowledge deficit of testicular cancer and testicular self-examination (TSE), a method for early detection of testicular cancer. A descriptive survey study, using the Health Belief Model as a theoretical framework, was conducted to answer the following two research questions: What is the incidence of TSE in men attending a southeastern state university and what are the factors affecting the practice of TSE? One hundred …

Nurse Practitioners’ Developmental Screening And Referral Practices For Children With Developmental Delays, Terri Chisolm Smith

MSN Research Projects

Children with developmental delays benefit from participation in early intervention programs. Yet many children are not screened for developmental delays, and many children with developmental delays are not referred to early intervention programs. Families depend on their primary health care providers for the detection of developmental delays and information about services available for their children with developmental delays. The primary care nurse practitioner is in an ideal position to screen for delays, provide necessary referrals for services, and assist the families in maximizing their self- care potentials. Orem's self-care deficit theory of nursing served as the theoretical framework for the …

Mother-To-Child Transmission Of Aids: A Problem Of International Psychology, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes international psychological phenomena that may be implicated in the identification, prevention, and management of mother-to-child transmission of AIDS.

Basics Of Research (Part 13): Qualitative Research--An Example, Cheryl Thompson, Edward A. Panacek

Journal Articles: College of Nursing

No abstract provided.

Adolescent Perceptions Of Risk-Taking Behaviors, Susan Matthews

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Adolescents often make adult decisions regarding their lifestyle and behavior with little support from their family and community. In this study the researcher examined the difference in risk-taking behaviors between genders and the role that families and communities play in reducing risk-taking behaviors. In the study I further analyzed self-reports of numbers of development assets those students reporting participation in high-risk behaviors. Method: Data were obtained from a sample of convenience of (N=82) 12^th grade students. Behaviors and attitudes were examined using the Search Institute’s Profiles of Student Life survey. Results: Chi square was used to test for significant …

The Relationship Of Self-Esteem, Learned Resourcefulness And Social Support To Health-Related Quality Of Life In Long-Term Cancer Survivors, Leli W. Pedro Dnsc, Ms, Rnc, Ocn

Dissertations

Increased survival and advances in oncology research demand that health professionals attend to the gap in knowledge regarding health-related quality of life (HRQL) variables associated with the unique sequelae of cancer in the long-term (LT) cancer survivor. Research in this area may direct the development of effective interventions to increase the HRQL of LT cancer survivors. The study's purpose was to describe the relationships between self-esteem, learned resourcefulness, and social support to HRQL as well as their predictive value to HRQL for LT cancer survivors. A quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and noninterventional design was used to describe the relationship of self-esteem, …

International Classification For Nursing Practice (Icnp): Most-Frequently Asked Questions, Judith J. Warren, Amy Coenen

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) is a collaborative project under the auspices of the International Council of Nurses. The alpha version ia available online for comment in preparation for the release of the beta version in 1999. The authors answer the most-frequently asked questions about the ICNP and encourage nurses in the United States to participate in the revision by sending comments and suggestions to the American Nurses Association.

The Effects Of Reminiscence Therapy On The Elderly Client's Satisfaction With Nursing Care, Nancy Strong

Masters Theses

This study tested if reminiscence therapy would improve client satisfaction with nursing care. An experimental post test only design was used on 39 clients in a moderate sized home care agency in the Midwest. Ages ranged from 65 to 98. A single, one-on-one reminiscence session was done with 22 subjects in their homes after a routine nursing visit. The control group subjects did not receive the reminiscence intervention. The groups were homogeneous except for the number of hospitalizations experienced in the past year. The control group had a significantly higher number.

The Forbes Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, modified for the home …

The Relationship Of Hardiness And Perceived Social Support To Nurses' Appraisals Of Stress, Susan A. Groesser

Masters Theses

Lazarus' Stress and Coping Theory was used to examine the relationship between hardiness, social support, and nurses’ appraisal of stress as a threat or challenge. This descriptive correlational design used a convenience sample of 40 registered nurses on orientation at a large West Michigan hospital.

Hardiness and social support were dichotomized by splitting them at the median. The proportion of the sample viewing orientation as a challenge versus threat was not significantly different regardless of their hardiness or social support status. The results were limited by lack of variation in stress appraisal (77% challenge) and hardiness levels, sample size, and …

Commencement Program 1998, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

2 | 1998 Events of Commencement

3 | The Academic Procession

4 | The Speakers

8 | The University Honorees

16 | The School Honorees

26 | The Zapara Award

The Programs

• School of Medicine, 28
• School of Dentistry, 35
• Graduate School, 43
• School of Nursing, 52
• School of Allied Health Professions, 57
• School of Allied Health Professions (Physical Therapy), 65
• School of Public Health, 71

Postoperative Nursing Care Contributions To Symptom Distress And Functional Status After Ambulatory Surgery, Beth Ann Swan

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

The relationship of postoperative patient-perceived nurse caring behaviors to symptom distress and functional status in 100 adult ambulatory surgical patients was examined. These behaviors explained 9.3% to 18.2% of the variance in functional status on the 1st, 4th, and 7th day postsurgery, and 10% of the variance in symptom distress on the 7th postoperative day after controlling for ASA physical status classification, preoperative symptom distress, and preoperative functional status.

Measurement Of Autonomic Function In Renal Disease And Diabetes, Ann King Cashion

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Renal disease and diabetes lead to dysautonomia resulting in consequences ranging from gastroparesis to sudden death. New technologies to detect dysautonomia, such as 24-hr heart rate variability, are being evaluated and compared to traditional evoked tests. These advances have, however, lead to a lack of standardization in testing batteries, procedures, and reporting formats. This series of 3 studies psychometrically assessed measures of autonomic function (AF) and explored relationships among objective and subjective measures in healthy adults and uremic patients. Participants underwent evoked tests that included change in heart rate with deep breathing and Valsalva. In addition, measures of 24-hr HRV …