Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Health Care Service Quality On Patient Satisfaction, Mary Ann Hackmeister

Theses

This thesis will concentrate on the delivery of health care services and the influence the level of service quality has on patient satisfaction.

The health care industry continually experiences changes. but the changes that have occurred over the past five to ten years have occurred quite rapidly. These changes have altered the way that patients view delivery of health care services. Those within the industry itself, including physicians, administrators. and staff members, have been faced with many challenges.

From a competitive standpoint alone, today's health care environment is drastically different from the previous decade. Declining revenues for the health care …

Aggression And School Performance Among Seventh-Grade Students Enrolled In A Midwestern Suburban Middle School: A Social-Cognitive Behavioral Perspective, Gayle G. Anderson

Theses

Aggressive tendencies constitute a consistent behavioral pattern that spans early childhood through preadolescence, adolescence, and adulthood. Researchers have linked high levels of preadolescent aggression with adolescent adjustment problems in school, the home, and community. This study explored the relationship between aggression levels and school performance among a sample of seventh-grade students. Thirty subjects were randomly selected from a seventh-grade class (n=230) located in a midwestern suburban middle school. Behavior and academic performance was associated with aggression levels as measured by the Missouri Children's Behavior Checklist (MCBC) among this sample. Academic performance, as measured by Grade Point Average (GPA) was negatively …

A Study Of The Relationship Of Adolescent Self-Esteem With Parental And Peer Attachment, Julie A. Cervenka

Theses

This study examined adolescent attachment to parents and peers and its relation to their self-esteem. Attachment to parents and peers was operationalized with the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPP A) by Greensberg and Armsden ( 1987) and self-esteem was operationalized by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). A convenient, volunteer sample was used from a high school in a suburban area of St. Charles County, Missouri. The 127 adolescents ranged in age from 15 to 19 with an average age of 16 years. The sample included 120 Caucasians (94.4%), 5 African Americans (4%), 1 Hispanic (.8%), and 1 Asian …

Issues Of Spirituality And Gender Differences, Michael J. Brawn

Theses

This study focuses on issues of spirituality and gender differences. The often interchanged terms of religion and spirituality are described, and the antagonism of science towards religion which has fostered a dearth of literature is reviewed. Implications for counseling are offered, and observations regarding gender differences are provided. The hypothesis that men and women do not differ on measures of spirituality is examined using the spiritual Well-Being Scale (Ellison & Paloutzian, 1983). Study participants were 45 males and 79 females from a church congregation of moderate Protestants. Results suggest that on measures of spiritual well-being, and on indices of religious …

Intimacy In Marriage: A Comparison Between Married Men With Children And Married Men Without Children, Kurt D. Soell

Theses

This investigation explored the differences in perceptions of levels of intimacy in their marriage between married men with children and married men without children. Participants completed the Intimacy Scale (IS). Levels of intimacy were compared between both groups using a two-tailed independent T-test. The results showed that married men with children showed significantly lower levels of intimacy than married men without children. This study will review definitions of intimacy, marital satisfaction, the development of intimacy, how to improve on intimacy, how to experience intimacy within marriage, and how intimacy is related to the transition to parenthood.

The Knowledge Of Dementia Among Nursing Staff Working In Special Care Units, Julia M. Gray

Theses

Dementia is a growing concern among the elder population. Special Care Units in long-term settings are becoming common placements for elders with dementia. The nursing staff within Special Care Units ideally have additional training in dementia. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the knowledge of dementia among nursing staff working in Special Care Units.

The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And Caregiver Burden In Female Social Workers Who Care For An Elderly Relative, Joanne K. Kerns

Theses

This study examined the relationship between job satisfaction and caregiver burden in 29 female social workers employed full time at the Missouri Division of Family Services in St. Louis County. Because of multiple caregiving roles experienced by social workers who also care for an elderly relative, it was hypothesized that there would be a significant negative correlation between job satisfaction and caregiver burden. The Caregiver Burden Scale developed by Zarit, Reever, and Bach-Peterson was used to determine caregiver burden. Job satisfaction was determined by Holland and Guttfredson' s Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory Job Satisfaction scale. No correlation was found …

A Factual Review Of How Nursing Homes Are Accommodating The Elderly With Mental Illness, Martha L. Straughter

Theses

Thanks to improved drugs, diet and medical treatment, America's population is living longer than ever. While this is certainly a good occurrence, there are problems arising from it. Experts are seeing that many of these elderly people have a variety of mental illnesses. These illnesses have either been with the individual since youth, are the result of a deteriorating mind. State hospitals and other mental health facilities are unable to provide continuous, long-term care for the large number of elderly affected with these unfortunate illnesses.

This thesis will address this complex, ever-growing, issue in three parts by identifying and defining …

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem. Locus Of Control, And Gender Among College Athletes, Rhonda J. Kane

Theses

Studies have shown that female athletes can have lower self-esteem than male athletes as they deal with the challenges and issues that arise as they progress through adolescence and become young adults. Researchers have implicated the gender socialization process which places the role of the female athlete in direct conflict with traditional female roles. This casual-comparative study examined differences in self-esteem and locus of control between female athletes and male athletes. Forty-three females and thirty-two males completed the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Levenson Locus of Control, I, P & C Scales. The results suggest the self-esteem of female college …

Effects Of Religiosity And Problem Type On Counselor Description Ratings: An Alternative Population Study To Guinee And Tracey, Victor W. Landers

Theses

This analogue study reexamines the work of Guinee and Tracey ( 1997), repeating the interaction between pre-counseling information, religiosity, and problem type and its subsequent effect on counselor ratings of social influence and willingness to seek help. The author assessed members of a large rural county in the Mid-west using an inventory of Christian beliefs. After providing a presenting problem and reading self-descriptions of secular (nonreligious), spiritually empathic, or Christian counselors, participants responded to the Counselor Rating Form-Short and Willingness to Seek Help scale. Based on a paired sample t test, the interactions between participant religiosity and counselor description is …

A Method Of Teaching Oral Communications To Adults, John C. Bettag

Theses

This thesis addresses teaching public speaking to adult students. It takes into account the unique characteristics of adult learners in developing a ten-lesson course to teach confidence and proficiency in public speaking.

Chapters One through Three explore ideas found in literature relating to the rapid growth of adult education, adult learning processes, and the specific ways to teach public speaking to adults. The works of important pioneers in public speaking education such as Dale Carnegie and Dr. Ralph Smedley are discussed . Also included are successful modern- day advocates o f polished speaking skills such as Lilly Waters and Jack …

Perceived Empathy In Self-Help Books, Jerome M. Spector

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether written self-help materials conveyed empathy and whether reader's perceptions of empathy could be measured. Subjects (N = 65) were asked to rate 6 passages from 3 books on 2 questions derived from Rogers' (1961) restatement rule, and make a hypothetical choice among the authors as therapists. Using paired sample t tests, it was found that the mean differences in the ratings in 9 out of 12 cases were significant. One choice of therapist outcome out of the 2 was significant, x2 (2, N = 55) = 37.673, p < 0.001. It was concluded that the results supported theories that empathy, as a pluralistic concept, was inherent in written materials, and could be measured.

Consequences Of Using Fear As A Motivator And Its Effects On The Employer / Employee Relationship, Nicole M. Griggs

Theses

The following work is an in-depth analysis of the consequences of using fear as a motivator, specifically, in the workplace, and the effects fear has on employees. The empirical research identifies the successful, and often, unsuccessful components of the employer/employee relationship. For many, using fear would seem to be a powerful way of getting employees to produce more, work harder, increasing motivation. This is not always the answer. The study provides reasons why fear can be a negative motivator and detrimental to an organization.

Elder Abuse: A Need For Awareness, Jill M. Hannagan

Theses

Abuse of the elderly continues to be amplified as the older population of the United States has increased . Lack of professional awareness within healthcare institutions has put seniors at risk for violence . One problem associated with the identification of elderly abuse has been assaults going unreported or unnoticed for lack of poor assessment and observation skills. Therefore it is incumbent for healthcare institutions to take all steps necessary to better define and identify this serious and growing problem.

A Comparison Among Older And Younger Caregivers Of Physically Disabled Adults And Their Ability To Handle Stress, Traynette Jenkins-Reese

Theses

This study was designed to determine if there was a significant relationship in the level of caregiver burden and age. Participants consisted of thirty-three individuals who considered themselves to be the primary caregiver for a physically disabled or elderly family member. These thirty-three volunteer caregivers were drawn from those who had a disabled or frail family member receiving services from a local agency. The subjects were asked to complete Zarit's Caregiver Interview Questionnaire. The findings in the study did not produce significant levels to justify rejecting the null hypothesis or to show that there is a relationship between the caregiver's …

Depression, Well-Being, And St. John's Wort, Katherine M. Randolph

Theses

The following paper examines the relationship of depression, wellbeing, and St. John's wort. ln formation and studies are reviewed concerning depression, well-being. antidepressants, and Sl. John's wort. A survey was given to thirty people varying in age and gender. The survey compared people taking St. John's wort to those not taki11g it and their sense of well-bei11g. A favorable relationship was found with a person's sense of well-being, between individuals taking St. John's wort and those not taking it.

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Coping Strategies Of Adolescents And Parental Marital Status, Sheri Morrison

Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between adolescent coping strategies and the marital status of the adolescent's parents. The 88 subjects in this study were all students from the same suburban St. Louis County high school. The subjects ranged in age from 15 to 19 years of age. The participants were administered the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experience (A-COPE). It was determined that there was no significant difference between adolescents from divorced and nondivorced families in nine of the twelve subscales of the A-COPE. Three subscales, however, did reveal a significant difference between adolescents from …

Cascade: Computer Aided Synchronization Of Code And Documentation, Mark Roth

Theses

Complete, accurate and up-to-date documentation is a critical factor in the development and maintenance of robust software products. Often, however, the documentation and the product diverge over time, leading to inconsistencies that are the source of confusion and faults, which can lead to failure. This thesis addresses the inconsistency problem by describing a standard method for the synchronization of documentation with code. As part of the thesis, existing research in the field of Document Engineering is surveyed and related to the method being developed. One goal of this approach is to create straightforward integration with existing languages, coding styles, and …

A Study Of Key Factors Affecting The Degree Of Job Satisfaction Of Tour Guide In Bangkok, Thailand, Thareethip Laowirojanakul

Theses

This study is aimed to find out the degrees of job satisfaction of tour guides in Bangkok, Thailand and key factors affecting their job satisfaction, and to compare the job satisfaction with sociological factors in term of gender, age, education, and work experience. The procedure of this study used questionnaires as an instrument and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) as an analysis. The survey was conducted in June 1999, administrated to tour guides, currently working in Bangkok, Thailand and finally analyzed by SPSS. According to the results of this study, tour guides are very satisfied in their …

A Study Of Replacing Pvc With Pegt Plastic Bottles Due To Recycling Concers For Pvc, Manpreet Soch

Theses

Environmental concerns in European countries caused a US cosmetics company to evaluate plastic materials to replace PVC bottles for fragrances. PVC bottles and PETG bottles were measured and tested for several attributes, including finished dimensions following molding, leak testing, ink adhesion, drop testing, and product compatibility. Testing results indicate that PETG bottles make an acceptable replacement material for PVC bottles for a fragrance package. (Abstract

User-Responsivity And Environment-Sensitivity Consideration For State-Funded Housing In Alain City, Nassra Saif Al Daheri

Theses

Massive housing projects have shown that prospective users are rarely given the opportunity to participate in the design decisions. Subsequently, such schemes commonly fail to accommodate all their needs. In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the housing projects that aim at resettling of Bedouin into newly developed urban communities are state-funded. Many of these houses that were built in the late seventies and early eighties were transferred back to the state (in a very bad condition due to the users random modifications and additions) in exchange of newer better houses. The lack of an adaptive design concept that can accommodate …

Development Of Tourism In Croatia As A New Tourist Destination Compared To Tourism Development In Select Post-Communist Countries, Nina Skuric

Theses

This study talks about the development of tourism in Croatia in the post-war period (1995 - 1999) compared to the development of tourism in the selected post-communist Eastern European countries of the Czech Republic and Hungary. In order to present this process, the study will analyze the present situation of tourism in Croatia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Additionally, it will compare facts in order to analyze the gaps and give the recommendations. Furthermore, the study will review the historical conditions that caused the similar social development in all three indicated countries.

Airport Design, Long-Wen Chen

Theses

Not provided.

Reliability And Validity Of The "Organizational Team Survey" When Used At The Level Of Line-Workers, Satoko Murata

Theses

Not provided.

Genetic Algorithm And Tabu Search Approaches To Quantization For Dct-Based Image Compression, Michael Champion

Theses

Today there are several formal and experimental methods for image compression, some of which have grown to be incorporated into the Joint Photographers Experts Group (JPEG) standard. Of course, many compression algorithms are still used only for experimentation mainly due to various performance issues. Lack of speed while compressing or expanding an image, poor compression rate, and poor image quality after expansion are a few of the most popular reasons for skepticism about a particular compression algorithm. This paper discusses current methods used for image compression. It also gives a detailed explanation of the discrete cosine transform (DCT), used by …

Assessing Career Value Of Hospitality Management Curriculum From Program Alumni, James Reid

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the assessment of hospitality management baccalaureate program alumni from New York Technical College (NYCTC) as being a valuable resource to the Hospitality Management curriculum assessment effort . Through the development of an alumni questionnaire, participants in this study were asked to rate individual courses of their curriculum (both core and elective) by the degree of value each course had been in terms of usefulness to their career development and/or relevance to meeting the demands of their current positions. Although the questionnaire response rate was less than desirable, it is stressed that survey …

Packaging Development Process For A Wholesale Club Pack Of Flea And Tick Topical Treatment For Dogs, Carol Pregger

Theses

The Hartz Mountain Packaging Development Department was presented with the challenge of designing a warehouse club package system for the company's One-Spot flea and tick topical treatment product, to take the place of the competitor's flea and tick treatment product sold in some warehouse clubs. In order to properly service the warehouse club market and better understand the reasoning behind the unique package configurations typically sold in that environment, Hartz Packaging Engineering undertook a study of the background, history and current trends of the club market. This information, along with observations gathered from numerous visits to various club locations, was …

Characteristics Of Prosperity: Building Tourism On A Solid Foundation - Frankenmuth, Michigan, Annette Rummel

Theses

Not provided.

Properties Of An Aluminum Based Multilayered Material Versus Package And Processing Performance, Eoin De Roiste

Theses

Due to a manufacturing issue within the company the lack of knowledge of a key material is highlighted. Research into the material is conducted under seal testing and mechanical properties. The material is multilayered, with aluminium foil as its core plus is top coated and has a sealant layer as its bottom coating. Background literary review commences with a chronological assessment of packaging down through the ages and culminates with details on multilayered materials, concentrating on the type of material being researched. A test plan details the research requirements. Seal testing consists of burst and peel testing of the material …

Mechanical Properties Of Polystyrene And Polypropylene Based Materials After Exposure To Hydrogen Peroxide, John Torres

Theses

This study addresses a specific problem faced by a company in the food industry, although all food companies face similar issues. In an effort to reduce costs, the pursuit to down-gauge packaging materials is constant. In the case of this study, the primary package of a dairy product is being considered for reduction from the current 57 mil thickness to 52 mils. In the past, as the material was down-gauged from 62 mils, a loss in material strength and an increase in damage were observed. Initial research into the issue by line personnel found that the increase in damage was …