Digital Commons Network^™

Sleep Quality, Stress, Caregiver Burden, And Quality Of Life In Maternal Caregivers Of Young Children With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Christine A. Feeley

All ETDs from UAB

Mothers are usually the primary caregivers of young children with a chronic illness such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and may have no formal caregiver training. Children with BPD often require complex healthcare at home (complex medication regimens, oxygen via nasal cannula, Gastrostomy feedings, etc.), thus many maternal caregivers experience difficulty balancing the needs of their child with their own needs and other responsibilities. As such, maternal caregivers may report increased levels of stress and caregiver burden, as well as decreased quality of life (QOL). Additionally, a great number of maternal caregivers report poor sleep quality due to nighttime caregiving duties. …

The Effects Of Psychological Stress, Depressive Symptoms, And Cortisol On Body Mass And Central Adiposity In 10-To12-Year-Old Children, Hong-Thuy Lam

All ETDs from UAB

The percentage of children with elevated body mass and central adiposity has tripled in the U.S. over the past thirty years. While physical factors, such as decreased physical activity and poor nutrition, have been noted to influence elevated body mass and central adiposity in school-aged children, less is known about psychological factors, such as psychological stress and depressive symptoms, especially in 10-to12-year-old children. Further, it has been suggested that cortisol, a biomarker of psychological stress, plays a role in the underlying mechanism that links psychological stress and depressive symptoms to increased body mass and central adiposity, but this has not …

Socioeconomic Patterning Of Obesity Among African American Women In The Jackson Heart Study, Tonya Moore

All ETDs from UAB

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to expand upon what has been observed in literature about obesity and its ties to socioeconomic status (SES) among African American Women (AAW) participants of the Jackson Heart Study (JHS). Methods: This secondary analysis was a sub-study of the JHS and focused on four SES variables: education, income, occupation and wealth; and five outcome variables: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Two analytic samples were created in order to examine data collected during Exam 1 (2000-2004) and Exam 2 (2005-2008). …

Factors Associated With Participant Retention In A Behavioral Weight Loss Study, Cathy C. Roche

All ETDs from UAB

Participant retention in longitudinal research is gaining increasing attention. By identifying factors associated with participant retention, programs can be better designed to promote effective weight loss. This study examines factors associated with participant retention. The Anderson Behavioral Model provided the conceptual framework for the study. The sample consisted of secondary data abstracted from the research records of 316 participants in the University of Alabama at Birmingham cohort of the Look Action for Health in Diabetes (AHEAD) trial. The Look AHEAD trial is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the long-term effects of interventions aimed at producing weight loss in …

Vitamin D: Implications Of The Institute Of Medicine Report For Clinical Practice, Dorothy Grasso, Margaret A. Rafferty

Publications and Research

In November 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D, a radical departure from previous advice given regarding these two nutrients that have been reported in respected health journals. The 14-member expert committee found clear and convincing evidence to support the association between adequate levels of vitamin D and bone health. The IOM committee did not find enough evidence to support claims that inadequate levels of vitamin D are linked to increased risks for cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. In this article, the authors discuss the controversy surrounding vitamin D and provide guidance …

Acute-To-Home Care Nursing Handoffs: Distributed Cognition Across Patterns Of Knowledge, Rosemary Kennedy

Dissertations

Timely, explicit, and effective communication of patient information during care transitions is fundamental to safe care. Studies show that handoffs or transfers of patient care from one provider to another are susceptible to communication failures (Riesenberg et al., 2009a). Most studies on communication failures focus on communication between providers within the same setting of care. Few studies, if any, focus on communication between care settings in different locations. However, research has identified gaps in care during critical transitions and identified poor communication and incomplete transfer of information as the root cause (Naylor et al., 2004). This qualitative dissertation consists of …

Risk Perception, Psychological Well-Being, And Health-Promoting Behaviors In Persons Informed Of A Coronary Artery Calcium Score, Jennie Elizabeth Johnson

Dissertations

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of adult deaths because individuals continue to engage in behaviors that exacerbate CVD. New technologies such as coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening detect atherosclerosis before clinical disease is manifested. Awareness of an abnormal finding should enhance motivation for change.

Objective: To examine how awareness of a CAC score affects risk perception and health-promoting behaviors in persons at high risk for CVD.

Methods: This study used a descriptive prospective design with 174 high risk adults (3 or more major risk factors) recruited at a radiology center offering CAC scans in a Chicago suburb. …

A Systematic Review Of Interventions In Primary Care To Improve Health Literacy For Chronic Disease Behavioral Risk Factors, J Taggart, A Williams, S Dennis, A Newall, T Shortus, N Zwar, E Denny-Wilson, M Harris

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions used in primary care to improve health literacy for change in smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity and weight (SNAPW).

Methods: A systematic review of intervention studies that included outcomes for health literacy and SNAPW behavioral risk behaviors implemented in primary care settings.

We searched the Cochrane Library, Johanna Briggs Institute, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Psychinfo, Web of Science, Scopus, APAIS, Australasian Medical Index, Google Scholar, Community of Science and four targeted journals (Patient Education and Counseling, Health Education and Behaviour, American Journal of Preventive Medicine and Preventive Medicine).

Study inclusion criteria: Adults over 18 …

Is There Scope For Community Health Nurses To Address Lifestyle Risk Factors? The Community Nursing Snap Trial, B Chan, R Laws, A Williams, G Davies, M Fanaian, M Harris, Cn Snap Project Team

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Background: This paper examines the opportunity and need for lifestyle interventions for patients attending generalist community nursing services in Australia. This will help determine the scope for risk factor management within community health care by generalist community nurses (GCNs).

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted in four generalist community nursing services in NSW, Australia. Prior to service contacts, clients were offered a computer-assisted telephone interview to collect baseline data on socio-demographics, health conditions, smoking status, physical activity levels, alcohol consumption, height and weight, fruit and vegetable intake and 'readiness-to-change' for lifestyle risk factors.

Results: 804 clients participated (a response …

The Mediating Effect Of Distress Caused By Constipation On Predictors Of Quality Of Life Of Hospice Patients With Cancer., Abdel Alkhalouf

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The Mediating Effect of Distress Caused by Constipation on Predictors of Quality of Life of Hospice Patients with Cancer.

Key positive outcomes for hospice patients include the prevention and alleviation of physical and psychological distress, maintenance of physical and mental functioning and all aspects of quality of life. This research used secondary analysis of previously gathered data to answer new research questions with alternative strategies to examine relationships not previously analyzed. The researchers collected data from 717 cancer patients who had been admitted to one of two private hospices. The aim of their experimental intervention was to define the …

The Use Of Naltrexone In Pregnancy In Opiate-Dependent Mothers, Sadie Geraghty, Carly Dixon

Research outputs 2012

There is an absence of sufficient evidence regarding naltrexone use in pregnancy due to the limited range of human studies. Naltrexone implants are being used in Western Australia as a treatment for opioid dependency, and although contraindicated for insertion during pregnancy, there are a number of women who conceive while undergoing treatment. A review of the available data revealed that naltrexone is associated with improved maternal and fetal outcomes. Extensive research into this area in the form of large, multicentre trials is required to confirm the results of the current research.

Sedation Safety Using Clinical Practice Guidelines, Bonnie Wasilowsky Bspa-Hca, Rn, Cnrn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Patients With Cancer And Family Caregivers: Management Of Symptoms Caused By Cancer Or Cancer Therapy At Home, Daniela M. Hazelwood, Sabine Koeck, Martin Wallner, Kathryn H. Anderson, Hanna Mayer

Nursing: Faculty Publications

People are diagnosed with cancer sooner nowadays thanks to increased awareness and improvements in cancer screenings. Patients are able to live longer due to cancer treatment regimens; however, they suffer the consequences of living with cancer and therapy-related symptoms. Symptom management is challenging for both patients and family caregivers. Therefore, family members must be integrated in the patient’s care plan. For this review, a literature search was conducted to determine what types of interventions were available that involved family members of cancer patients with the management of cancer and therapy-related symptoms. The following interventions were found that were designed for …

Fitness Is Fun Club: A Program To Combat Childhood Obesity, Donna Bearden

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Stages Of Change In The Trajectory Of Postpartum Weight Self-Management, Jennifer M. Ohlendorf

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To identify women's patterns of readiness to engage in weight self-management behaviors during the postpartum period.

Design

Prospective, longitudinal design with repeated measures, guided by the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM).

Setting

A tertiary perinatal center in an urban setting in the midwestern United States with approximately 3,000 births annually.

Participants

One hundred ninety-one (191) adult postpartum women.

Methods

Participants were surveyed in person during their postpartum hospitalizations, and by telephone at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum using the Stages of Change for Weight Management (SOCWM) and the Decisional Balance for Weight Management (DBWM) tools.

Results

There …

Weight-Management Information Needs Of Postpartum Women, Jennifer M. Ohlendorf, Marianne E. Weiss, Polly Ryan

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: To describe the weight loss information-seeking behaviors of postpartum women.

Study Design and Methods: The study is part of a larger longitudinal descriptive study of factors associated with women's self-management of their gestational weight loss after birth. Participants answered questions about weight loss information they planned to access, had received, wished they had received, and desired sources of information. A total of 250 women were enrolled during the postpartum hospital stay; 179 completed a 4-month follow-up.

Results: A large portion of the sample (53.3% of normal weight women, 79% of overweight women, and 81.4% obese women) identified plans to …

Biological Measurement In Intervention Research, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Paediatric Nursing : An Investigation Of The Effect Of Specialist Paediatric Nurse Education On The Quality Of Children’S Nursing Care In Western Australia, Jonathan Mark Mould

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In Australia, specialist education in paediatrics is not a requirement for nurses caring for hospitalised children. Thus, nurses can work in paediatrics without any prior knowledge of the unique needs of children such as developmental stages or separation anxiety. As a consequence, there are some clinicians and authors who advocate that when children require health care, they should be cared for by nurses who are educated in, and understand the specific physical, psychological and social needs of children. Despite this, the evidence is lacking as to whether specialist nurse education affects the quality of care in paediatrics. This study investigates …

The Influence Of Time Perspective On Physical Activity Intentions And Behaviors Among Adolescents Residing In Central Appalachia., Tauna Gulley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity and inactivity are prevalent among central Appalachian adolescents. Appalachian residents have been labeled "fatalistic," a time perspective unsupportive of health-promoting behaviors such as regular participation in physical activity. The theory of planned behavior has been used extensively to explain the physical activity behaviors of adolescents. Constructs within the theory of planned behavior include attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to perform the behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine the time perspective of central Appalachian adolescents and examine the relationship between time perspective and the constructs within the theory of planned behavior. …

Chest Tube Dressings: A Comparison Of Different Methods, Susan Kathleen Blackburn Jones

Dissertations

This study is an experimental design with randomization comparing the use of standard gauze dressings (SGD) to transparent adhesive dressings (TAD) to cover chest tube insertion sites in post-operative patients who have undergone cardio-thoracic surgery. The study was conducted in a 400 bed, tertiary non-academic teaching hospital in the Midwestern United States. Seventy-nine patients were enrolled in the study; 39 received TAD and 40 received SGD. The non-inferiority margin was set at 15% in keeping with current recommendations (Kaul & Diamond, 2006). The TAD was found to be not inferior to the SGD with regards to the proportional differences in …

Creating A Healing Environment In The Intensive Care Unit, Elissa Egbers

Theses and Graduate Projects

The intensive care unit (ICU) can be a very stressful environment. Patients are critically ill and require constant monitoring. Indeed, high tech care in the ICU environment includes multiple factors that may impair the patient's ability to sleep and rest. The purpose of this paper is to describe a practice model that is conducive to patient healing in an intensive care unit in a large urban hospital. This practice model is significant to patients, families, and nursing staff and is based on Florence Nightingale's Environmental Model of Nursing and her thirteen canons. This paper describes the potential implementation of the …

The Effect Of Acceptance Training On Psychological And Physical Health Outcomes In Elders With Chronic Conditions, Patricia Mcdonald, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, Laura Dehelian, Diana L. Morris

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This pilot trial investigated the short and long-term effects of Acceptance Training (ACT) intervention on acceptance, perceived health, functional status, anxiety, and depression in elders with chronic conditions living in retirement communities (RCs). The ACT intervention combined Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy with music, relaxation, and guided imagery during six weekly 2-hour sessions. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 African-American and 46 White elders across four data collection points in six randomly selected RCs using well-established measures of perceived health, functional status, anxiety, and depression, and a measure of acceptance of chronic conditions adapted from a previous measure of acceptance of …

Call-Shift Fatigue And Use Of Countermeasures And Strategies By Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Ramona M. Domen Phd, Crna

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) experience fatigue during call and to assess their use of fatigue avoidance strategies (practices that prevent fatigue) and fatigue countermeasures (practices that decrease fatigue) to mitigate its effects. Method: Using a cross sectional descriptive survey design, data were collected from a randomly selected sample of 323 practicing CRNAs who worked call shifts. Data analysis: Data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate statistics. Results: The sample was fairly evenly distributed with slightly more female respondents, 55% (n = 179). Fifty four percent worked a weekday call …

Informal Support To First-Parents After Childbirth: A Qualitative Study In Low-Income Suburbs Of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Columba Mbekenga, Andrea B. Pembe, Kyllike Christensson, Elisabeth Darj, Pia Olsson

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: In Tanzania, and many sub-Saharan African countries, postpartum health programs have received less attention compared to other maternity care programs and therefore new parents rely on informal support. Knowledge on how informal support is understood by its stakeholders to be able to improve the health in families after childbirth is required. This study aimed to explore discourses on health related informal support to first-time parents after childbirth in low-income suburbs of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods: Thirteen focus group discussions with first-time parents and female and male informal supporters were analysed by discourse analysis.

Results: The dominant discourse was …

Adiponectin/Leptin Ratio And Metabolic Syndrome In A Mexican American Population, S. Mirza, Hui-Qi Qu, Quan Li, Perla J. Martinez, Anne R. Rentfro, Joseph B. Mccormick, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Objective: Adiponectin and leptin play critical roles in the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). This study was designed to assess the feasibility of using circulating levels of adiponectin and leptin for the early diagnosis of MetS.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using data from 367 participants randomly selected from a well-characterized cohort of Mexican-Americans living at the US-Mexico border.

Results: Significant differences in circulating levels of adiponectin and leptin were observed between males and females. Adiponectin/leptin correlated significantly with MetS in this population. A receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that adiponectin/leptin showed a high sensitivity (70.9% for males, 78.9% …

Health Literacy And Health Promotion Behaviors Among Samoans, Katherine Tong Phd, Msn, Cfnp, Phn

Dissertations

Limited health literacy is associated with failure to engage in health promotion behaviors. Few studies examine this relationship among Samoans. This study used a cross-sectional correlational design to determine health literacy levels and their relationship to health promoting behaviors in a southern California Samoan population. Health literacy (Short form Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults) and health promotion behaviors (Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II) were measured in a convenience sample of 87 Samoans in southern California. Data analysis employed chi-square, t-test, and one- way ANOVA. Significant associations were found for health literacy and demographic characteristics of employment and marital …

What Can Parents Do To Reduce Youth Obesity? An Initial Study With A Diverse Sample, Marilyn Frenn, Amy Heinrich, Claire Schmidt Dohmen, Jessica E. Pruszynski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The body mass index (BMI) of diverse, low-income fifth grade students (n = 36) was regressed on physical activity (Child Adolescent Activity Log), percentage dietary fat (Food Habits Questionnaire), and the Food/Activity Parenting Practices Questionnaire. The model explained 50% of the variance in student BMI, adjusted R² = .50, F (4, 19) = 6.84, p = .001. Students accurately perceived their weight status. Students' perception of parenting strategies, along with dietary fat, was significantly associated with their BMI. Parent's (n = 14) BMI, not the child's, was associated with the strategies they used. Three parents tested an …

Women’S Perceptions Of Caesarean Birth: A Roy International Study, Jacqueline Fawcett, Cynthia Aber, Susan Haussler, Marianne E. Weiss, Sheila Taylor Myers, Jaye L. Hall, V. Lynn Waters, Charlette King, Marja-Terttu Tarkka, Anja Rantanen, Paivi Astedt-Kurki, Jennifer Newton, Virginia Silva

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this Roy adaptation model-based multi-site international mixed method study was to examine the relations of type of caesarean birth (unplanned/planned), number of caesarean births (primary/repeat), and preparation for caesarean birth to women’s perceptions of and responses to caesarean birth. The sample included 488 women from the United States (n = 253), Finland (n = 213), and Australia (n = 22). Path analysis revealed direct effects for type of and preparation for caesarean birth on responses to caesarean birth, and an indirect effect for preparation on responses to caesarean birth through perception of birth the …

Chapter: The Advanced Practice Nurse In The Community, Kellie Smith, Molly A. Rose

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Objectives

After reading this chapter, the student should be able to do the following:

1. Briefly discuss the historical development of the roles of the advanced public health nurse and the nurse practitioner

2. Describe the educational requirements for population-focused advanced practice nurses

3. Discuss credentialing mechanisms in nursing as they relate to the role of the advanced practice nurse

4. Compare and contrast the various role functions of population-focused advanced practice nurses

5. Identify potential arenas of practice

6. Explore current issues and concerns related to practice

7. Identify five stressors that may affect nurses in expanded roles

Sore No More: The Power Of A Microscope In Skin Integrity., Tracie Heckman Msn, Rn, Cmsrn, Denise Pisciotta Bsn, Rn.

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.