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Nursing Care Of The Elderly In The Acute Care Setting: An Investigation Of Powerlessness, Dorothy De Boer Zylstra

Masters Theses

This study's purpose was to identify whether persons 65 years of age or older hospitalized with congestive heart failure perceive personal powerlessness. Cognitive competence of the subjects was determined by the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire. A Powerlessness Interview Schedule (PIVS) was used to identify subjects' perceptions of personal powerlessness.; Perceived powerlessness was not conclusively apparent in the fifty-one subjects of this study. No subjects received a score of 38 or below. Ten of fifty-one subjects received scores ranging from 46 to 56 which may place them at risk for perceived personal powerlessness. Forty-nine subjects had areas of limited feelings …

Determinants Of Health Promotion In The Elderly, Victoria Ann Merren

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to look at determinants of health promotion in the elderly. Pender's (1982) Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile, Wallston & Wallston's (1979) Health Locus of Control Scale, and demographic variables were included on a questionnaire given to a convenience sample of 47 adults, ages ranged from 60-89. All subjects were Caucasian and 65% were female.; The theoretical framework that was used in this descriptive study was Pender's (1987) Health Promotion Model. Standardized z-scores for the Health Locus of Control subscales classified subjects as either "internal" or "external" locus of control. Thirty-five percent were internal.; Forward Regression …

Relationships Of Osteoporosis Health Beliefs To Calcium Intake Of Women, Mary C. Peterson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of health beliefs to calcium intake of women. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) There is a positive relationship between the strength of health beliefs related to susceptibility, seriousness, benefits and motivation and the level of calcium intake. (2) There is a negative relationship between the strength of health beliefs related to barriers and calcium intake.; The study was conducted using a descriptive correlational design. The sample included 201 women between the ages of 35 and 95. The study used the Osteoporosis Health Belief Calcium Scale to measure health beliefs about …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Improvement In Physical Status And Self-Esteem In Geriatric Patients, Kate A. Hayner

Masters Theses

The improvement in physical abilities in the geriatric population after occupational therapy was investigated to determine whether self-esteem would also improve. Fifteen subjects from three different nursing homes were measured. All of the subjects were referred to occupational therapy by their physician.

Treatment was implemented by trained rehabilitation aides after an occupational therapist assessed each subject and determined the need for therapy. Measurable goals were set for each subject to improve dysfunctional areas and reviewed with each resident and rehabilitation aide responsible for implementing the treatment program.

Types of treatment consisted of active and passive range of motion, strengthening, retrograde …

Hands-On Purposeful Activity And Short-Term Memory Retention In Elderly Patients With Cognitive Deficits, Desiree Arah Varner

Masters Theses

This study compared the effects of hands-on purposeful doing with demonstration (HO) versus a demonstration-only (DO) activity in terms of the level of memory retention in elderly females. Twenty-nine females with a mean age of 81.8 years (SD = 11.6) and with moderate cognitive deficits as determined by a score of 3-8 on the Mental Status Questionnaire (Kahn, Goldfarb, & Pollack, 1960) were selected from an extended care nursing facility. Fifteen randomly assigned subjects (in three sub-groups of five) had approximately one hour of demonstration and hands-on involvement with ice cream making. Fourteen randomly assigned subjects in sub-groups of four …

Communication And Aging: Perceptions Of Family And Friend Interaction On Self Reported Life Satisfaction Among Selected Residents Of Three Nursing Homes, Patricia J. Fetzner

Masters Theses

The study of communication and aging provides great potential for enriching the lives of the elderly. Of course this should be of great interest to each of us as we are all inevitably aging. One rapidly growing area in communication research deals with how communication affects the life satisfaction of the elderly. Of particular interest is the attitudinal effect of family and friend interaction.

Early research dealing with the elderly focused on two theories: 1. Activity theory, which is the idea that social activity is essential to an older person's sense of well being and; 2. Disengagement theory, which suggests …

Repeated Acquisition With The Developmentally Disabled, Jeannie Madsen

Masters Theses

Repeated-acquisition data were obtained from four developmentally disabled adults. The task was selecting the poker chip with the sticker on its underside in a sequence of sets of chips. When a sequence was mastered (four consecutive errorless runs) the subjects were given a new sequence to learn. Money was reinforcement for correct sequence completion. Total errors before mastery was the dependent variable.

In Phase 1 the subjects completed as many sequences as possible during each 15-minute session. Errors per sequence was a reasonably stable dependent variable within subjects, and between-subject differences were what would be expected on the basis of …

Congruence Between Type Of Activity And Volition And Its Relationship To Life Satisfaction In Nursing Home Residents, David De Noble

Masters Theses

This study examines the relationship between life satisfaction and the volition subsystem of 32 older adults who reside in nursing homes. Specifically, it attempts to measure congruence or the perception of the individual that the inherent characteristics of an activity "fit" his or her sense of personal causation, values and interests. The study examines the relationship between this congruence and life satisfaction.

Results of the study identified positive correlations between congruence and life satisfaction. Correlations between congruence of volition subsystem components and activity were at a statistically significant level (p <.05) for personal causation, values and total volition. Correlations between congruence of volition subsystem components and some specific activities were also found.

Mental Practice: Its Effects On Walking Balance In An Elderly Population, Cheryl A. Linden

Masters Theses

The effect of mental practice on improving walking balance in an elderly population was studied. Walking balance was measured by the number of upper extremity equilibrium reactions elicited and placement of feet observed as subjects traversed an activity course. Twenty-three female subjects between the ages of 67-90 were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group mentally practiced traversing the activity course with the aid of a six minute audio tape. The control group participated in sedentary activities of equal duration. Both groups met for eight sessions. Independent and correlated t-tests indicated no significant difference in walking balance …

The Effects Of Altruism On Activity Productivity In Elderly Women In Skilled-Care Nursing Facilities, Carol J. Getz

Masters Theses

This study investigated altruism as a factor in productivity in elderly women. Eight groups of institutionalized elderly women (n = 33) stenciled personalized (initials) stationery. Groups were randomly assigned to either the non-altruistic condition or the altruistic condition; there was control for time of day and location of the activity. Subjects in the non-altruistic condition made stationery for themselves, while subjects in the altruistic condition made stationery for abused children living in an innercity. The number of pieces of stationery produced and the duration of time engaged in activity were recorded for each subject. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed that subjects …

Effects Of Seating Arrangement On Affective Meanings And Group Interaction In Healthy Senior Citizens, Judith Ann Boughton

Masters Theses

Occupational therapists state that environmental factors (seating arrangements) influence behavior. This ex post facto study examined the effect of peripheral versus central seating arrangement on interaction (verbalizing and looking), affect, and group climate in 41 healthy senior citizens. Nine men and 32 women aged 62 to 83 participated in two collage activities (creative and imitative) in either a parallel/nonsharing group or a project/ sharing group. Seating arrangement was added to an earlier study's independent variables (creative and imitative activities, and sharing and nonsharing groups). Dependent variables consisted of three factors of affective meaning from the Osgood Semantic Differential, evaluation, power, …

Dual-Purpose Activity Versus Single-Purpose Activity In An Institutionalized Geriatric Population, Rita M. Yoder

Masters Theses

The use of purposeful, goal-directed activity has traditionally been a central theme for occupational therapy. In dual-purpose activity the participant has two goals: successful task completion and the making of adaptive responses in the activity process. This study compares the extent to which a dual-purpose activity (stirring for the purpose of exercise and baking cookies) enhances performance in contrast to a single-purpose activity (stirring for the purpose of exercise alone) in an institutionalized geriatric population.

Thirty women between 70 and 92 years of age were randomly assigned to either the single- or dual-purpose activity. Duration, exertion, and discontinuities were measured …

The Use Of Repeated Acquisition As A Technique For Establishing A Behavioral Baseline With Victims Of Alzheimer's Disease, Michelle D. Stone

Masters Theses

Three subjects suspected as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) victims were trained on a behavioral chain of three sets of three poker chips, each set differing in color and position, to investigate subtle changes in learning and performance behaviors over time. For each session the subjects learned a new three-response sequence with a marked poker chip serving as the correct response for each set. A within-session learning curve resulted for all three subjects with the errors in the learning trial (LT) exceeding the errors for the performance trials (PT1 and PT2). Only Subject III demonstrated a stable pattern of learning, with the …

The Effect Of Discrimination Training On Salt And Sugar Taste Thresholds Of Preschool Children, Susan M. Castine

Masters Theses

Using a single-subject A-B-C-D design, this study examined NaCl and sucrose taste thresholds in water, tomato juice, and milk with four 4-year-old children. Taste thresholds were determined by presenting several concentrations of an adulterant (i.e. NaCl, sucrose) in each vehicle, in blocks of ten trials. Subjects evaluated each taste sample by pressing one of two levers (Yes/No response). Detection threshold was defined as the level at which there was 50% correct responding. During Baseline, subjects received no feedback regarding the accuracy of their response. During the differential reinforcement phase, subjects received reinforcement following each correct response. Results suggested that detection …

The Effects Of Validation Versus Reality Orientation Approaches In Music Therapy With Disoriented Elderly Adults, Debra Diane Harvey

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Validation and Reality Orientation in a music therapy setting with disoriented elderly adults. Subjects (age 80 and older) were divided into four treatment groups, two each of Validation and Reality Orientation (total n=19). The groups met for thirty minutes, five days a week, for six weeks. Pre and posttest measures of orientation, ego integrity, and behavior were compared using a one-way analysis of variance on mean gain scores. Results showed a significant improvement (p<.05) on the measure of ego integrity in the Validation treatment groups. No other significant differences were found for either treatment group on the measures of orientation or behavior. Recommendations for further investigation include more attention to specific levels or orientation and behavior prior to treatment, and the use of a larger sample population.

A Comparison Of Two Methods Of Presenting Nutrition Education To Senior Citizens Participating In A Congregate Meal Program, Janice M. Williams

Masters Theses

Senior citizens participating in a congregate meal program received nutrition education lessons in two different ways. One group received nutrition lectures, a second group recieved nutrition lectures accompanied by printed material. A third group served as a control. Each group contained an urban and rural site. The nutrition lectures and printed material centered on the Basic Four food groups. The lessons were presented to the subjects once a week in four successive weeks. The length of the nutrition lecture for each food group was twenty minutes. The senior citizen took pre and posttests to measure an increase or decrease in …

Relationship Of Field Dependence/Independence To Personality For Younger And Older Adults, Thomas T. Lambirth

Masters Theses

The cognitive style of field dependence/independence is a perceptual construct that relates degree of reliance on the visual field to a variety of personality variables. Among the relationships found are that the field independent individuals are less involved with other people, independent in judgment, and cold and distant in interpersonal relationships. In contrast, field dependent subjects are seen as seeking close involvement with others, conforming in judgment, and warm and accepting in interpersonal relationships. Although field dependence/independence has received much attention in the literature over the years, little interest has been shown in the relationship between field dependence/independence and personality …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Training, Internships, And Job Opportunities For Clinical And Counseling Psychologists, Mary Theresa Zirpoli

Masters Theses

Recent literature indicates that clinical and counseling psychologists are trained in very different ways, work with very different populations, and perform different skills. The literature also shows this traditional exclusivity to be vanishing. Three studies were conducted to determine similarities and differences in the training, internships, and types of jobs that clinical and counseling psychologists obtain. Data for the three studies were obtained from the curricula of 7k American Psychological Association approved graduate programs, six job opening lists from the American Psychological Association Monitor, and the American Psychological Internship Centers Manual. Variables included specific types of coursework, settings, patient population, …

An Investigation Of The Gerontological Educational Background And The Need For Training Of Practitioners In East Central Illinois, Kathryn L. Carey

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was two-fold. The first was to investigate the gerontological educational background of persons presently working in the field of aging. The second purpose was to determine if there was a need for and interest in further training, and if so what particular topics the respondents would find most critical to their interests or beneficial to their work. The subjects were fifty-four persons involved in serving the over sixty-five population in a ten county area within the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, Area Five.

A three page questionnaire was used as the investigative instrument …

Therapeutic Dance: An Annotated Bibliography Of Books, Articles, Records And Films Applicable For Use With Adults And Published From January, 1975 Through March, 1979, Susan Allene Meyer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Themes Elicited By The Senior Apperception Test In Institutionalized Older Adults, Nancy A. Stock

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the major themes elicited by the 16 stimulus cards of the Senior Apperception Test (SAT) (Bellak, 1975). The SAT was administered to 40 institutionalized male and female volunteers from seven nursing homes in the central Illinois region. They ranged in age from 61 to 97 years of age. There were 20 females (mean age = 78.6 years, S.D. = 8.3 years) and 20 males (mean age = 78.l years, S.D. = 10.4 years). All subjects were initially given a brief organic screening device to rule out those subjects with severe or moderate …

Test-Retest Reliability Of The Hand Test With The Institutionalized Elderly, Thomas J. Lundquist

Masters Theses

The Hand Test (Wagner, 1962) was administered to 50 institutionalized elderly subjects. There were 36 female and 14 male subjects with a mean age of 76.94 years and a standard deviation of 10.48 years. A list of possible subjects was initially obtained from the activity directors at each nursing home. They were instructed to list the individuals which were "alert" and would be cooperative. The subjects were given a brief organic screening device to eliminate those subjects of severe or moderate mental impairment. Those subjects which missed two or less questions were then administered the Hand Test. Following approximately a …

Age And Attitude Similarity-Dissimilarity As Determinants Of Task-Related Attraction, Sharon Fange Von Montry

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Aphasia Treatment Techniques In Restoring Language Behavior In The Senile Aged, Forrest H. Braack

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Exploratory Investigation Of The Relationship Between Personality And Intelligence With Community-Living And Institutionalized Elderly Females, Richard D. Stolp

Masters Theses

The Hand Test and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale were administered to 25 institutionalized (Mage = 80.00) and 25 community-living (Mage = 72.92) elderly females to investigate personality differences between the two groups, and to explore the relationship between personality and intelligence in regard to the aged. It was discussed that the results of the present study should be interpreted with caution, since significant age and educational differences were found between the groups that may have contributed to the results. The hypothesis concerning greater personality deterioration in institutionalized subjects than in community-living subjects was given partial support inasmuch as depletion …

Old Age In The Rural Philippines, Trina I. Jacob

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Behavioral Community Psychology: Encouraging The Community-Based Elderly To Participate In A Nutritious Meal Program, Theodore J. Bunck

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

College Students' Attitudes Towards The Aged, John Edward Duffy

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Age And Disease Upon Language, Mary Ellen Kelleher

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.

The Effects Of Institutionalization Upon The Self Conceptions Of Nursing Home Residents, Jack D. Nelson

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.