Digital Commons Network^™

Does The Method Of Treating Bacterial Vaginosis In Early Pregnancy Affect The Re-Occurrence Rate Near Term?, Karen Taylor

Masters Theses

There is no significant difference in the relationship between oral or vaginal metronidazole and oral clindamycin in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in early pregnancy and the re-occurrence rate of BV at 35 to 37 weeks gestation. Treatment of BV in pregnancy has been shown to decrease the preterm delivery rate saving millions of dollars and improving the health of infants. This was a descriptive, correlational study using a retrospective chart review. A constructed checklist was used for collecting data from 186 charts.

Age, parity, and insurance were comparable in each of the three drug groups. The re-occurrence rate …

The Effect Of An Osteoporosis Prevention Program On Knowledge And Self-Efficacy, Kathryn Hayter

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an Osteoporosis Prevention Program on knowledge and self-efficacy for exercise and calcium intake. Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Model was used which describes efficacy expectations and outcome expectations as predictors of behavior.

A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test was used with 32 women, age 40-62, at an urban outpatient center. The experimental group attended an Osteoporosis Prevention Program.

There were significant post-test differences between groups for osteoporosis knowledge and osteoporosis self-efficacy for calcium intake but not for osteoporosis self-efficacy for exercise. Additionally, paired t-tests found a significant improvement in scores pretest …

Concurrence Of Decreases In Barometric Pressure And Spontaneous Rupture Of Membranes In Term Gravid Women, Linda M. Owen

Masters Theses

A retrospective design was used to examine the relationship between spontaneous rupture of membranes in term gestation gravid women and decreased barometric pressure of ten millibars or greater in the twenty-four hours proceeding the rupture of membranes. Delivery logbooks and charts of all women who were admitted to a Midwestern Hospital in 1997-1998 with spontaneous rupture of membranes (N-533) were examined and data from the Midwest Climate Center was utilized to determine the changes in barometric pressure within the twenty-four hours proceeding the documented rupture of membranes.

No correlation was elucidated between the timing of spontaneous rupture of the amniotic …

Adolescent Knowledge About The Relationship Between Exercise And Prevention Of Osteoporosis, Alice M. Padilla

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess the intact of an educational intervention on adolescent knowledge concerning exercise as an osteoporosis preventive behavior. This study examined whether there was a knowledge gain in each group (girls and boys) after receiving the education intervention and it investigated the difference in knowledge gain between groups.

This was a secondary analysis of data from a study that used a pre-experimental pretest-post-test, no control group design. There were 82 boys and 102 girls who completed the Healthy Bones Knowledge Questionnaire as a pre-test, received an education intervention based primarily on nutrition, then completed …

The Effect Of Social Support On The Psychological Adaptation Of An Individual Receiving An Alternate Form Of Nutrition Therapy, Kristin J. Ladd

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of social support on an individual's psychological adaptation to an alternate form of nutrition support. Betty Neuman's Systems Model provided the framework for this study. A descriptive correlational design was chosen for this study and data were collected using a questionnaire methodology. Proposed data analyses measures were Pearson's product moment correlation, t- Test, and Mann-Whitney U. The targeted sample size for this study was 20 patients with cancer or gastrointestinal disorders, however, termination of the study occurred when only four individuals were recruited after five months of data collection. This …

Early Nursing Interventions And Their Effect On Fatigue In Patients Receiving Chemotherapy, Karla J. Baker

Masters Theses

Fatigue is the number one side effect that patients experience when they receive chemotherapy. They do not always expect it or know what to do when it effects their entire life. This study described the affect of early nursing interventions on fatigue caused by chemotherapy. This descriptive, two group comparative study used a convenience sample of patients, receiving chemotherapy for the first time, to determine the degree of fatigue they experienced. A tool by Barbara Piper RN (1997) was used to describe the effect of early intervention on fatigue experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Internal consistency of this tool …

Fetal Infant Mortality In Kalamazoo, Lisa A. Wullschleger

Masters Theses

The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the incidence rates of five pre-selected perinatal variables that existed within the white and non-white groups of fetal, infant deaths that occurred in Kalamazoo County between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1997. The variables were prenatal care, birth weight, estimated weeks of gestation, and maternal, fetal, infant medical complications. The question posed was as follows: Is there a difference in incidence rates of the variables between the white and non-white perinatal deaths in Kalamazoo County?

A sample size of 50 cases was studied. Kotelchuck's instrument tool (1994), the Adequacy of …

The Relationship Between Physician Knowledge, Physician Background, Experience With Nurse Practitioners And Role Expectations For The Nurse Practitioner, Heidi Brands Flamming

Masters Theses

This descriptive study examined the relationship between physician knowledge and role expectations as influenced by experience with nurse practitioners. The sample consisted of 111 physicians practicing in West Michigan. Data was collected using a combination of instruments--a nurse practitioner role behavior tool (Hupcey, 1994) and nurse practitioner/physician role appropriate vignettes (Davidson & Lauver, 1984). Physician knowledge of the nurse practitioner role was significantly higher (t = -2.85; p = .005) for the group of physicians who had practiced with a nurse practitioner as compared to the group of physicians who had not practiced with a nurse practitioner. Role expectations between …

Patient Perception Of The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In Primary Care, Betsy J. Mulder

Masters Theses

As nurse practitioners (NP) provide services to a variety of health care consumers, there remains ambiguity regarding their scope of practice. This descriptive, comparative study asked a convenience sample of patients who have had contact with nurse practitioners (n = 56), and those patients who have had no contact with nurse practitioners (n = 51), to indicate their agreement with the appropriateness of behaviors for the NP role. A questionnaire used by Bambini (1995) was modified for this study with an alpha reliability of .95. Perceptions of behaviors were ranked according to the level of perceived appropriateness. None of the …

The Relationship Between A Functional Throwing Performance Test And Strength Of Various Scapular Muscles, Karen L. Bos, Kellie S. Gehrs, A. Louise C. Hester

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the strength of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior, and overhead throwing accuracy in 52 female collegiate softball players. The correlation between manual muscle testing (MMT) and hand-held dynamometry (HHD) was also examined. The Functional Throwing Performance Index (FTPI) was used to measure throwing accuracy. Spearman’s correlation analysis demonstrated no correlation between the strength assessments and throwing accuracy, as measured by the FTPI. Moderate correlations were found between MMT and HHD strength assessments of the lower and middle trapezius and serratus anterior muscles. A poor …

Perceived Concerns Surrounding The Utilization Of Physical Therapy Aides In Michigan, Jill Bydalek, Greta Swasey-Hadlock

Masters Theses

Utilization of support personnel to perform physical therapy treatments has been a controversial topic in the physical therapy profession for many years. As Managed Care and other health care changes emerged, physical therapists have been pressured to cut costs while maintaining productivity. The use of non-licensed personnel became common place to meet these demands. The purpose of this study was to investigate five research questions. First, to what extent do physical therapists delegate patient treatment and utilize physical therapy aides in Michigan? Secondly, does aide utilization differ based on: the ways in which aides are identified to patients, various settings …

Examination Of The Reliability And Validity Of Rancho Los Amigos Observational Gait Analysis, Heather Groth, Sarah Novak

Masters Theses

The Rancho Los Amigos Observational Gait Analysis system (Rancho OGA) is a standardized approach utilized to assess gait impairment for various diagnoses. Physical therapists, orthotists, and physicians utilize Rancho OGA for clinical decision making and recommending treatment interventions for gait disability. This study examined the reliability and concurrent validity of Rancho OGA from gait files obtained from the GVSU/Mary Free Bed Center for Human Kinetic Studies. Comparisons were made between computerized 3-D gait analysis and Rancho OGA data from videotaped records of cerebral palsy gait to determine the level of agreement utilizing the Kappa statistic and percent agreement. Results indicated …

The Relationship Between A Functional Throwing Performance Test And Strength Of Various Scapular Muscles, Karen L. Bos, Kellie S. Gehrs, A. Louise C. Hester

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the strength of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior, and overhead throwing accuracy in 52 female collegiate softball players. The correlation between manual muscle testing (MMT) and hand-held dynamometry (HHD) was also examined. The Functional Throwing Performance Index (FTPI) was used to measure throwing accuracy. Spearman’s correlation analysis demonstrated no correlation between the strength assessments and throwing accuracy, as measured by the FTPI. Moderate correlations were found between MMT and HHD strength assessments of the lower and middle trapezius and serratus anterior muscles. A poor …

A Comparison Between Primary Stage Endorectal Pull-Through Versus Two-Stage Surgical Resection In Hirschsprung's Disease, Tamara M. Bengtson

Masters Theses

Hirschsprung’s Disease (HD), congenital megacolon, in infants has been historically treated by a multiple stage surgical process. Initial diagnosis is made by a rectal biopsy followed by a diverting colostomy, subsequent pull-through procedure and finally a colostomy take-down. In recent years, a single-stage primary endorectal pull-through (PERPT) has been advocated. Advantages include a single operation with potentially equal or fewer complications. Whether a PERPT is superior to a staged procedure is yet to be proven.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the incidence of enterocolitis (EC), the most significant complication of HD in those who underwent the …

South African Distance Runners: Issues Involving Their International Careers During And After Apartheid, Carrie A. Lane

Masters Theses

While some sports in South Africa have a distinct racial identity, distance running is one of the most popular sports in the country for people of all ethnic backgrounds. This study examined the issues that South African distance runners faced from the time the country was banned from Olympic competition, in 1968, to the present day. It profiled 21 male and female elite and collegiate runners who have competed in the United States from 1980 to 1999.

Because of South Africa's apartheid government, which legalized racial segregation and inequality, South African sport was excluded from international competition for 32 years. …

A Comparison Of The Health Belief Model And Stages Of Change In Exercise Behavior Construct In Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients, Tracey Phillips

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the STAGES theoretical constructs in the uncovering of influencing factors associated with exercise compliance behaviors in cardiac rehabilitation subjects.

Sixty subjects who had experienced a cardiac event and who were attending a phase II outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program participated in this study. A questionnaire regarding health beliefs and exercise behavior classification was administered. Questions pertained to general health motivations, effectiveness of the intervention, perception of disease severity, perception of susceptibility and the stage of exercise behavior.

An analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc comparison statistical …

A Comparison Of Nutritional Knowledge, Eating Attitudes, Training Regimens, And Body Composition Between Normal And Abnormal Menstruating Female Adolescent Cross Country Athletes, Dena Maureen Block

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare factors that may influence menstrual irregularities of female adolescent high school cross-country runners, ranging from 13-18 years of age. A survey was utilized to determine the subjects age, year in school, exercise history, menstrual history, and training regimens and where the subjects sought nutritional information. The groups were separated according to their current menstrual status. One group (normal) consisted of subjects who currently had a normal menstrual cycle for at least one year (n=17), while the other group (abnormal) (n=18) experienced an irregular menstrual cycle.

A twenty item questionnaire was administered to …

The Pre-Absorptive, Instantaneous Effects Of Natural And Refined Sugar On Quadriceps Peak Torque, Brian Adams, Kevin Valdes, Scott Vanzanten

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of natural and refined sugar at an instantaneous, pre-absorptive level on quadriceps peak torque and to measure any prolonged effect on normal, healthy subjects. The experimental group (n=40) was randomly assigned to sugar testing order, with refined sugar testing occurring on one day and natural sugar testing occurring on the opposite day. The control group (n=10) followed the same protocol but held distilled water in their mouth. Isokinetic peak torque was recorded for each subject at three intervals, pretest, post-test I (~1 min.), and posttest n (-15 min.). Results showed …

The Effect Of Nutritional Supplementation And Exercise On Subjective Pain And Function In People With Osteoarthritis Of The Knee, Anna Power, Dan Scheffer

Masters Theses

Nutritional Supplementation of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are being promoted in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Recent research has indicated that gelatin was found effective. Moderate exercise is also being advocated. The purpose of this eight week double blind study was to examine the effects of the inexpensive nutritional supplement gelatin, in the form of Knox Nutrajoint, and exercise on pain and functional activity in 49 subjects with osteoarthritis in one or both knees. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo, placebo plus exercise, gelatin supplement plus exercise and exercise. Exercise consisted of a progressive walking program. …

Exploration Into The Validity Of Use Of The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test Of Motor Proficiency In Assessing The Adolescent With Down Syndrome, Robin J. Essebaggers, Wynne M. Martin, Gina E. Smies

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) in assessing the adolescent with Down syndrome. Thirteen individuals with Down syndrome ages 13 to 20 years with an IQ of at least 35 were administered the short form of the BOTMP (BOTMP-SF). The functional abilities of these subjects were assessed using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Four parts of the PEDI were utilized: 1) Self-Care Functional Skills, 2) Self- Care Caregiver Assistance, 3) Mobility Functional Skills, and 4) Mobility Caregiver Assistance. No evidence of significant correlation existed between the …

Re-Cycling The Menstrual Cycle: A Multidisciplinary Reinterpretation Of Menstruation, Heather H. Rea

Masters Theses

This thesis offers a reinterpretation of the human female menstrual cycle that understands the process as positive, functional, and practical experience. Standard western definitions and understandings of menstruation use negative terminology and focus on menstrual blood as an indicator of failed conception. This view contributes significantly to the negative perception women have of menstruation in general, their own menstrual cycles, and ultimately of their femaleness. This fundamental, physiological process that symbolizes femaleness, the menstrual cycle, has been defined both, bio-medically and culturally, as a negative experience. I propose a reconceptualization of the menstrual cycle that is not only a tool …

Effect Of Concentrated Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Gel On Moderate-Intensity Intermittent Exercise, Sarah M. Handlogten

Masters Theses

The researcher compared the effects of a carbohydrate-electrolyte (CE) gel and water ingested 5 min before and after 20 min of moderate-intensity running for I hour. Six dependent variables were measured: heart rate (HR), VO₂, blood glucose, respiratory exchange ratio (R), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and timed exercise performance. Independent variables were condition, trials (2), and sample time. On 4 days, subjects completed a 60-min training run at 65% of maximal oxygen consumption in 20-min bouts with 3-min rests between bouts. A timed 200-m sprint followed each run. Two trials were completed with each condition. Water was …

Spatial Analysis Of Agricultural Cucurbita Sp. Varieties In The Eastern Broadleaf Province, Kathleen M. Baker

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research was to explain and quantify twentieth century agricultural distributions of the genus Cucurbita in the United States to determine the effect of temporal changes in economic utilization and a variety of historical, environmental and social circumstances on those distributions. Geographic information system (GIS) methods were combined with statistical software techniques to analyze the spatial and temporal trends of pumpkin and squash growth in one region (the Eastern Broadleaf Province, as defined by Bailey) of the United States from 1982-1992.

Counties with fewer frost free days, later spring frosts, more accumulated growing degree units throughout the …

Quality Of Life In Grandparents After A Diagnosis Of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia In Their Grandchild, Laura S. Mullins

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess grandparents' perceptions of their quality of life (QOL) after the diagnosis and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in their grandchild. The following questions were addressed: (a) How do grandparents of children with ALL perceive their current QOL; (b) How do grandparents of children with ALL perceive their current QOL has changed since their grandchild was diagnosed; (c) What specific changes in QOL have grandparents experienced since the diagnosis of ALL in their grandchild; (d) What is the grandparents' overall attitude about life with leukemia; (e) Is there a relationship between the …

The Effect Of Caffeine On Reaction Time, Hand Steadiness, And Certain Physiological Variables, Amy K. Ryan

Masters Theses

The problem of this study was to analyze the effect of caffeine on heart rate, blood pressure, reaction time, and hand steadiness. Subjects (N = 20) were classified as high-caffeine users or low-caffeine users. Heart rate, blood pressure, reaction time, and hand steadiness were measured. Subjects then consumed 24 oz of coffee containing 345 mg of caffeine in a 5-min period. Dependent variables were measured again at 30, 60, and 90 min after caffeine administration. Significant differences were found among test time means for every dependent variable except hand steadiness. No difference was found between the high-caffeine-use group and the …

Effects Of The Prbar And Powerbar On Fat Metabolism, Chad F. Witt

Masters Theses

The purpose was to compare the effect of dietary supplementation using two different energy bars, the PRBar and the PowerBar, ingested 1 hour before exercise, on the exercise metabolism of endurance athletes. Four dependent variables were measured: respiratory exchange ratio (R), oxygen consumption (VO₂), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood glucose. Independent variables were bars (2), trials (2), and sample time. Sample times occurred at 5-min intervals for R, VO₂, and RPE. Blood glucose was sampled before exercise, at 15 min and 25 min during exercise, and after exercise. Subjects completed four 35-min training runs, …

The Effects Of Habitual Physical Activity On Number Of Colds And Incidence Of Cold Symptoms, Katie Lynn Maniatis

Masters Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to compare frequency of colds and symptoms of upper respiratory infection in college students who have different levels of habitual physical activity. Subjects were Eastern Illinois University students (N=535, aged 18-25). A survey was conducted which included questions inquiring about demographic information, physical activity habits, the number of colds contracted the month before the survey, and symptom number and severity. Data collection occurred between February 12th and March 1st, 1998. This particular time period was chosen for several reasons, including that student stress level should have been lower than at the beginning or end …

Principal Perceptions Of School Breakfast Programs In Small Enrollment Illinois School Districts, Teresa M. Martin

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate school breakfast programs in small enrollment districts in Illinois. The review of literature and research indicated that school breakfast programs may improve student achievement, behavior and attendance, and that providing a breakfast to hungry children may increase their readiness to learn.

The study took place in 1997-98, using a survey instrument designed by the author to collect perceptions about school breakfast programs from Illinois principals. A random sample of 75 principals was selected from all Illinois school districts with student enrollments of less than 1,000 which had breakfast programs. Surveys were returned …

A Comparison Of Measures In Physical Fitness And Biological Maturity Between Female Gymnasts And Females Not Involved In Organized Sport, Cara Kokenes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in physical fitness and biological development between two groups of twelve year old females. One group consisted of idividuals who had been involved in competitive sport for at least two years while the other group was not involved in organized sport. Two groups of 20 subjects were examined in terms of height, weight, flexibility, strength, body composition, maturation, eating attitudes, and cardiorespiratory endurance. The results indicated that the gymnasts were significantly (p<.05) shorter, lighter, stronger in regard to left hand grip strength, lower in percent body fat, less biologically mature, and had greater cardiorespiratory fitness than the non-gymnasts. No significant differences were observed in right hand grip strength or eating attitudes. It was concluded that maturation level as well as gymnastic training played a major role in influencing values obtained through measurements of physical fitness.

Effects Of Locus Of Control And Timing Of Retirement On Retirement Satisfaction, Denise A. Lathrop

Masters Theses

Previous research to determine which factors predict one's satisfaction with retirement documents varying results. 200 retired Eastern Illinois University professors were surveyed to determine the effects of two factors, locus of control and timing of retirement, considered important on retirement satisfaction. A comparison was made between internal and external locus of control subjects who were placed into three conditions: those who retire early (before age 61), those who retire within the normal or average range (ages 62-66), and those who retire late (later than age 67). The first hypothesis was that those who retire early will have the highest level …