Digital Commons Network^™

The Place Of Automation In National Healthcare, Ted J. Macinski

Theses

This cumulating project will focus on the development of the current U.S. healthcare system and the involvement of government, especially the federal government in this process.

The focus is on the proposal to use advanced information systems technology to establish cost control for the healthcare sector of the economy.

The issues which are addressed are what role the federal government plays in the current healthcare system, the proposed use of a comprehensive federal health data bank which would include data on all U.S. residents, and alternative applications of systems technology which are operational or under development by private and state …

A Study Of Body Dissatisfaction And Drive For Thinness Between African-American And Caucasian College Women, Suzanne M. Monroe

Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore the similarities and/or differences in body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness between Caucasian and African-American college women. The Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) as well as questions measuring hours spent reading women's magazines and family, close friends, and significant other's view on the importance of physical thinness was distributed to 18 to 25 year old African-American and Caucasian college women at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE). The EDI-2 is a self-report questionnaire that consists of 91 questions which generate 11 independent subscales. Only 3 of the II subscales were analyzed: I) Drive …

Attitudes Of Student Nurses Toward Domestic Violence, Phyllis Jean Messing

Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if student nurses needed more education about domestic violence. Nurses, more than any other profession, are frequently in a position to identify and assist the victims of abuse. Presently, however, rather than addressing the hidden problem of family violence, nurses may inadvertently contribute to it, due to their lack of awareness and knowledge. Nurses, including student nurses, need to fine tune their knowledge in order to recognize the signs and symptoms surrounding family violence. Once identified, it will take an expanded level of awareness and enhanced skills to deal effectively with this …

The Link Between Established Psychological Type Preferences And Academic Achievement In Elementary School Students, Shelley Nacke

Theses

Sixty-four third through eighth grade students from a rural parochial school were tested using the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children (MMTIC). Students were divided into three groups on the basis of the MMTIC scores: those showing no undetermined preferences, those showing one undetermined preference and those showing two or more undetermined preference. Grade point averages (GPA) were used to determine academic achievement for these students. Mean GP A scores for the three groups were compared using the t-test. Those students with two or more undetermined preferences showed significantly lower mean GP A scores than those students with no undetermined preferences.

The Integration Of The Long Term Care Continuum Into A Seamless Health Delivery System, Viriginia E. Moseley

Theses

A seamless continuum of healthcare services is necessary to serve older adults, caregivers and the community. Personal knowledge and experience of the author, a nurse and skilled nursing facility administrator, is combined with a literature review to determine a vision for serving older adults and caregivers. A vertical integration of long term care into a health delivery network traditionally focused on acute and primary care is proposed.

An Analysis Of Price Discrimination Of Alcoholic Beverages: Marketing Towards African-American Vs. Anglo-Americans In St. Louis Communities, Tamara L. Morrow

Theses

This thesis will focus on the analysis of price discrimination of alcoholic beverages marketed towards African-Americans in St. Louis. Missouri.

Research has indicated that alcoholic beverages cost more in predominantly African-American communities compared to predominantly Anglo-American communities. Previous studies indicate certain factors that play a major role in identifying price discrimination. Some of these factors include social class, type of retail store and brand names and images.

However, an investigation of price discrimination of alcoholic beverages can indicate other reasons why prices are higher in certain areas. The percentage of alcohol and consumer demand in particular areas may pre-determine the …

The History Of American Health Care, Michael R. Niehaus

Theses

Health care in America has grown predominately in response to both social and religious need. All though historically social position was the primary determinant of a patients ability to receive health care, today insurance plays a major role in ones ability to receive that care. This thesis will examine some of the social changes which have effected American hospital and its relation to the patients ability to pay .

Caring For Our Elders: An African-American Perspective, Wilma Virginia Saunders Schmitz

Theses

Wilma Virginia Saunders Schmitz's study explores the caregiving networks that support African American elders, emphasizing the intersection between informal and formal care. Informal care, often provided by family, friends, and faith communities, remains a primary means of elder support within African American culture. The thesis examines how cultural traditions, religious involvement, historical factors, and socioeconomic barriers shape caregiving practices. Schmitz highlights the importance of the extended family concept, the "village" approach, and the critical role of faith communities in providing both emotional and practical assistance. The study also addresses challenges such as limited access to formal care services, economic disparities, …

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Gender Differences Among Washers And Checkers, Jennifer Leigh Siervo

Theses

This research project thoroughly examines Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder to see if there are any gender differences between compulsive washers and checkers. The null hypothesis is that there are no gender differences between the compulsions of washing and checking. Thirty-one subjects from a local self-help group voluntarily participated in this study. Of the thirty-one participants, thirteen were men and eighteen were women. The Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory was used to obtain total obsessions scores, as well as washing and checking scores. The mean scores for men and women for the total obsessions scale were compared. The women reported a higher number of compulsions …

Intravenous To Oral Medication Streamlining Manual, Christina Cognata Smith

Theses

This thesis will examine intravenous to oral medication streamlining in hospitalized patients.

For multiple reasons the cost of healthcare has been rising over the past ten years. As a result of rapidly escalating expenditures, pharmacoeconomic strategies that center on reducing costs without adversely affecting patients' outcomes are commonplace throughout the pharmaceutical industry.

The literature demonstrates that the early transition from intravenous to oral medications is an opportunity to decrease hospital and patients' costs without compromising patients outcomes. It is important to note that an inappropriate or careless transition can result in a drastic increase in cost, therefor, patients should be …

Immigration Issues Of Indian Women, Hema Srikanta

Theses

There are a few thousand Indian families living in St. Louis at the present time. Most of them came here in pursuit of higher education and a better life. Now this population is growing old. Here most of the Indian women are working outside of their homes. Their lives are totally different than that of their mothers and grand mothers. The values they grew up with in India are totally different than what they are experiencing in America. Most of the Indian population has made a home in America; they are growing old here and are going to retire here. …

The Impact Of Community Violence On African American Children And Families, Simeon J. Williams

Theses

This thesis will attempt to increase awareness of the significant impact of community violence on the social and emotional development of African American children and families and to examine the role that mental health and maternal and child health agencies could play in the implementation of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

The purpose of the study is to give an overview of the scope of the problem, identifying the extent, prevalence, and nature of the community violence in African American communities. Additionally, the study will review the theoretical and conceptual frameworks that have guided research in the area of violence …

The Integration Of The Long Term Care Continuum Into A Seamless Health Delivery System, Virginia E. Moseley

Theses

A seamless continuum of healthcare services is necessary to serve older adults, caregivers and the community. Personal knowledge and experience of the author, a nurse and skilled nursing facility administrator. is combined with a literature review to determine a vision for serving older adults and caregivers. A vertical integration of long term care into a health delivery network traditionally focused on acute and primary care is proposed.

Employee Benefits, Kimberly Elinor Miller

Theses

This paper discusses how group benefits have changed over the past ten years, what corporations are offering their employees such as medical insurance, employee assistance programs, wellness training programs, child care programs, flexible compensation plans, continuing education benefits and retirement benefits and how each one of these benefits is set up . Employers want not only to implement benefit programs which will help them meet their organizational goals, but also to attract, retain and motivate employees. In order to succeed in these efforts they must install a program of benefits that is both cost effective and will meet organizational profit …

Estate Planning For The Senior Adult, Susan E. Weis

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of developing a marketing strategy for an attorney firm with the main focus being estate planning and wills. Statistics show that approximately 77 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 are now entering middle age. This represents one-third of the population in the United States who will be the senior citizens of the next century. Due to increasing life spans, the eider's role and societal views, this age group demands a change of their needs. These needs not only include elements suclh as Social Security and housing but a broader perspective of planning …

A Procedure Guide For Resident Directors Of Lindenwood College, Janice L. Pierce

Theses

This culminating project will focus on the role of the Resident Director at Lindenwood College. It is experientially bused and intended Lo address an identified need to document key philosophies and procedures that support the potential success of a new Resident Director.

The Resident Director is a member of the Administrative staff but is generally a temporary employee as opposed to a member of the permanent staff. The key responsibilities of the role are to provide an environment that is safe and secure and conducive to the pursuit of an academic education.

An Investigation Into The Design And Implementation Of A Business Plan For Ozark Builders, A Housing Development Company, Benjamin Luke Beaman

Theses

This thesis will investigate the design and implementation of a business plan for Ozark Builders, a housing development company.

One of the oldest professions in the United States, is the construction industry . This diverse industry that employs a large percent of the populace, plays an important role in our nation ' s economy . While, profits are to be made in the construction industry, the risks are overwhelming. The turnover rate for contractors exceeds twenty percent a year. Speculative building is considered a big gamble, and the builder ' s need to stay attuned to changes in consumer preferences, …

Utilizing Aromatherapy To Reduce Situational Anger In An Academic Setting, Karen R. Duncan

Theses

This study examined the effectiveness of aromatherapy in promoting a positive affect, or emotion, by reducing situational or state anger in an academic setting. Seventeen graduate level counseling students in a Research Methods and Statistics class participated in the study one time per week over a period of four weeks. Subjects completed the state anger portion of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXJ) during each of the four weeks. During two of the weeks, participants were exposed to the scent of rose oil; during the other two weeks no aroma was introduced into the classroom. While a decrease in the …

Coping Resources: A Comparative Study Of Parents Of Children With Down Syndrome And Parents Of Children Without Down Syndrome, Randee Jo Feco

Theses

A comparative study was conducted on differences in coping resources in parents of a child with Down syndrome and parents of children without Down syndrome. Participants included twenty- three parents of a child with Down syndrome and twenty-nine parents of children without Down syndrome . All parents were from the St. Louis metropolitan area. The participants completed a personal data questionnaire and the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI). The personal data questionnaire contained demographic questions, and the CRI measured coping resources in five domains: cognitive , social, emotional, spiritual/philosophical, and physical . Data was statistically analyzed to determine differences in each …

An Investigation Into The Design & Implementation Of A Customer Service Manual For Laboratories In A Hospital Setting, Fay M. Craft

Theses

The following applied learning expository thesis will focus on the design and implementation of a customer service manual for reference laboratories in a hospital setting.

The purpose of the manual is to provide direction for the reference laboratory customer service employees. Specifically, the manual consists of a series of steps which will enable employees to better service the hospital reference laboratory customers. The manual was broken down into sections which addressed characteristics, order taking, dispatching phlebotomists, proper collection of specimens, phlebotomy notification, registration of patient specimens, processing and reviewing of specimens, hiring, training, customer satisfaction, complaints and expectations.

Three reference …

Getting Ready For Total Joint Replacement Surgery: A Pre-Operative Education Program, Jason R. Delaney

Theses

Today's health care system is in a state of constant flux attempting to merge, decrease jobs and increase profits. A method to accomplish the goal for increased profits is to have a decline in the number of days any patient remains in the hospital. One such facility attempting to achieve this goal is a 340 bed acute care hospital in the Midwest.

ln the view of the author it seems possible for the physical and occupational therapy departments to have the ability to improve outcomes and decrease the total amount of time any patient remains hospitalized. With this in mind, …

Airline Deregulation: Success Of Failure, Bonnie E. Barczykowski

Theses

This thesis focused on the study of airline deregulation and the impact it made on the airlines and the consumers.

The history of the airline industry was reviewed, as well as the specific events which lead to the formation of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.

Following deregulation there were debates as to whether deregulation bad achieved its original goals . These debates have continued up until today.

The hypothesis stated herein was that research would indicate that airline deregulation had benefited the industry as a whole and that if further deregulation and more adherence to policies under deregulation were …

Survival Of Women In The Business World Into The Twenty-First Century, Barbara Bradford

Theses

This thesis is a review of the current literature that pertains to the everyday experiences of women in the male dominated working world. This study focuses on the barriers preventing women from advancing where men succeed.

When women enter the workforce, they are naïve about the organizational culture surrounding them. The natural feminine instincts and behaviors of women are not considered as valuable in the corporate world as male instincts and behaviors.

Women are unaware of the subtle and underlying rules of the corporate game in this "man's world." They see men adapting easily and advancing up the corporate ladder. …

A Proactive Approach To Juvenile Delinquency Utilizing The K.A.R.E. Program, Shae Cody Abram

Theses

This project will focus on the study of juvenile delinquency in America and the growing trend of juveniles between the age of 12 and 16 years old who are both the victims and perpetrators of criminal activity. It introduces a program called K.A.R.E., an acronym for Kids At Risk Education which is a proactive approach to addressing the root causes of juvenile delinquency.

Breakdowns in family life, neighborhood environments, socioeconomic, inequities, and peer group's pressures have contributed to this growing trend of youth crimes. Youth violence has become one of the leading causes of death for juveniles in this country. …

Incorporating Critical Thinking Skills Into The Language Arts Curriculum, Particularly In The Field Of Detective Fiction, Charles E. Bright

Theses

In this age of accelerated change and continuing complexity, there is a widely-recognized need to incorporate critical thinking skills into all aspects of everyday life and not simply as an optional philosophy class at the post-secondary level of American education.

Chapter One of this culminating project investigates the historical roots of critical thinking, with a brief investigation into the history of bow education in America (with slight digressions such as Alcott/Emerson's Temple School and John Dewey's Chicago experiments) has historically failed to foster the development of critical thinking skills in America's students by its centuries old tradition of emphasizing rote …

Working With Your Employees To Move Through Change Using Communication And Motivation: A Case Study, David G. Buck

Theses

This thesis focuses on effecting change in a government agency by the use of communication, motivation through incentives, and other management tools.

The United States Army Reserve Personnel Center (ARPERCEN) manages, trains, and mobilizes Army personnel. Its largest directorate is the Personnel Records Management Directorate, which houses the Accessions Division. At least 200,000 hard-copy personnel records pass through the Division for verification and processing in a typical year.

Eighty percent of hard-copy records transferred to ARPERCEN were also transferred electronically; however all were band-processed as if new. This entire accessioning process was redundant and inefficient.

Change was coming. The Reserve …

Marketing Niche Software Products: An Analysis Of How Software Products Are Marketed Through The Channels Of The Computer Industry, James D. Rigman

Theses

This thesis, Marketing Niche Software Products: An Analysis of How Software Products Are Marketed Through the Channels of the Computer Industry, explores the strategies for marketing software products within niche segments of the computer industry, specifically focusing on the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and power management sector. It examines how companies successfully target specific market segments to establish strong positions and maintain competitive advantages.

The study highlights the importance of strategic marketing plans, effective distribution channels, and promotional efforts in the software industry. It discusses challenges faced by marketing managers in launching new software products, including competition, pricing structures, …

The Workplace Of The Future: The 9 To 5 Office Is Dead, Terry Ann Rooney

Theses

The Workplace of the Future: The 9 to 5 Office is Dead by Terry Ann Rooney, explores the shift away from traditional work schedules in favor of more flexible arrangements. Rooney argues that businesses must adapt to evolving workforce expectations by embracing alternative work schedules such as telecommuting, flex-time, job sharing, and compressed workweeks.

The research highlights demographic shifts, particularly the increasing presence of women and minority workers, which necessitate greater workplace flexibility. The document outlines the advantages of these work models, including increased employee productivity, job satisfaction, and retention, as well as reduced absenteeism and operational costs for employers. …

Opening A Child Care Facility: Tomorrow's Stars, Star E. Seeger

Theses

This thesis focuses on the child care industry and the feasibility of opening a child care center in the O'Fallon, Missouri area. It takes a look at the industry from both a national level as well as a local level, analyzing the history, business philosophy, marketing strategies, financial components, competition, management needs, and the service itself.

Research shows there is a definite lack of quality child care centers to care for the number of children in the United States who are between the ages of six months and twelve years. This is also the case in the O'Fallon area where …

T.H.A.N.K.S.: Teens Helping Anyone Needing Knowledge Service, Carole Dawn Arrendale

Theses

This thesis is a business plan for a new non-profit organization for volunteerism. This non-profit organization will connect college students, high school students, grade school students, and other nonprofit agencies for the purpose of providing volunteers to non-profit agencies.

The enactment of the Welfare Reform Act (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, TANF) has created a greater need for quality, well-trained volunteers in order to meet the growing demands for and needs of non-profit agencies. The □ew deadline for Welfare to Work is now 2-5 years and public assistance such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), food stamps, and …