Digital Commons Network^™

Assessment Of Quality Of Life In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Oman., Masoud Y. Al-Maskari, Ali O. Al-Shookri, Samir H. Al-Adawi, Khor G. Lin

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To measure quality of life of type 2 diabetes patients in Oman, and examine which patients9 socio-demographic and diabetes-related clinical characteristics are associated with better quality of life. METHODS: This cross-sectional study of 200 diabetic subjects was conducted in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Al-Khod, Oman between April and September 2009. A short form of the diabetes quality of life questionnaire (DQoL) was used to elicit indices of quality of life on subjects (n=200) seeking consultation at the diabetic outpatient clinic. Socio-demographic variables, body mass index (kg/m) and clinical parameters relevant for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, including glycated …

Vitiligo-Epidemiological Study Of 4134 Patients At The National Center For Vitiligo And Psoriasis In Central Saudi Arabia., Ahmed Alissa, Abdulla Al Eisa, Rozeena Huma, Sajeev Mulekar

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical patterns, epidemiological profile of vitiligo, and its awareness among Saudi nationals. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted among Saudi nationals with a confirmed diagnosis of vitiligo presenting to the National Center for Vitiligo and Psoriasis, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from August 2002 to August 2006 using a retrospective questionnaire based on the history and medical records of patients. RESULTS: Of the 4134 cases, 53.5% were females. The mean age of onset of vitiligo was 17.4 years. Vitiligo vulgaris was the most common type in 42.3% of cases, 90.5% had no associated autoimmune conditions. The family history …

Impact Of Computerized “Sounding Out” On Spelling Performance Of A Child Who Uses Aac: A Preliminary Report, Jillian H Mccarthy, David R. Beukelman, Tiffany Hogan

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Spelling is a vital skill for people who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The ability to spell words provides an opportunity to create novel and spontaneous communication and increases educational, social, and employment opportunities for children and adults. However, many children and youth who rely on AAC struggle to gain functional spelling skills and written language. The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to develop a strategy to provide auditory letter-sounds using commercially available computer equipment and to evaluate how such a computerized “sounding out” strategy influences spelling accuracy for one child who required AAC support. The spelling …

Childhood Maltreatment, Parental Monitoring, And Self-Control Among Homeless Young Adults: Consequences For Negative Social Outcomes, Lisa A. Kort-Butler, Kimberly A. Tyler, Lisa A. Melander

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Although parenting factors have been found to contribute to self-control, little is understood about how experiences of maltreatment affect the development of self-control and whether self-control mediates the relationship between maltreatment and negative social outcomes, especially among homeless individuals. This study examined whether lower parental monitoring, physical abuse, and neglect affected the development of self-control and if self-control mediated the relationship between parenting factors and negative social outcomes among a sample of homeless young adults. Results from path analyses indicated that lower parental monitoring and earlier age at first abuse contributed to less cognitive self-control. The effect of monitoring on …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of A Function-Based Intervention To A Non-Function-Based Intervention To Address Problem Behaviors In Preschoolers, Katherine Marie Bellone

Master's Theses

Problem behaviors occur frequently among preschool children in classrooms, impeding academic development. Past methods employed for development of behavioral interventions include functional assessment and use of evidence-based practices. The current investigation sought to empirically compare the effectiveness of both function-based and non-function-based interventions to increase appropriate engagement and decrease occurrence of problem behaviors. Participants included three preschool children, two attending pre-kindergarten classrooms at an elementary school and one at a Head Start Center. Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior was used as the function-based intervention and was compared to a token economy intervention in an Alternating Treatments Design. Results indicated that …

State Super-Maximum Security Policies: An Examination Of Admission Characteristics, Classification Reviews, Mental Health Amenities, And Inmate Privileges, Harry Daniel Butler

Master's Theses

Super-maximum security prisons have flourished within a political environment that endorses tougher criminal sanctions. This punitive evolution has created new problems for correctional agencies attempting to control the “worst of the worst” inmates. Federal courts and researchers have examined the detrimental effects supermax isolation has on inmates’ mental health. This analysis examines forty-two state supermax policies to determine how states admit inmates to supermax custody, the classification review process, the management of inmates with mental illnesses, and the availability of privileges for supermax inmates. Drawing on the concept of the McDonaldization of Justice (Ritzer, 1993), particular attention is given to …

The Effects Of Check In/Check Out On Levels Of Problem Behavior And Academic Engagement In Elementary School Students, Leila Mullooly Miller

Master's Theses

Previous studies have largely evaluated the effects of check in/ check out (CICO) using office discipline referrals (ODRs). However, ODRs are not always reliable measures of student behavior, and direct observation is known to be an accurate tool for behavioral measurement. Due to this, the current study used direct observations to evaluate the effects of CICO on levels of problem behavior and academic engagement for a group of elementary school students. One second, one fourth, and one sixth grade student served as participants. Results indicate CICO is effective in decreasing problem behavior and increasing academic engagement. Data from teacher ratings …

Motivating Factors Influencing Spectator Attendance At Professional Soccer Events In Brazil, Rafael Andreis

Master's Theses

In Brazil, soccer is regarded so highly that Brazilians often refer to their country as o pais do futebol, or the country of football ("Natal Brazil", 2006). Brazil national soccer teams won five of the nineteen World Cup tournaments, a record that is so far unmatched by any other country. Brazil boasts 102 million soccer fans who attend games in the country's 300 soccer stadiums, which, combined, have more than five million seats (Helal et al., 2006; Fifa.com, 2010). However, while the importance of soccer in Brazil is unquestionable, the monetization of professional soccer in Brazil is currently far from …

Lead And Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Meta-Analysis, James Kenneth Goodlad Iii

Master's Theses

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is thought to have a significant neurological component, and several brain structures have been implicated. Environmental variables like lead have been shown to affect brain structures, which in turn impacts cognitive development and behavior. Some studies have begun to associate environmental variables like lead with the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms of ADHD. This meta-analysis examined the association between different components of ADHD (including attention problems and hyperactivity/impulsivity) and level of lead exposure in children and adolescents. Articles focusing on the association between lead and inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms were gathered from the online databases PsycINFO and Medline. …

A Meta-Analysis Of Component Treatment Studies: Are The Parts As Good As The Whole?, Erin Jane Clarke

Master's Theses

Psychotherapy has been proven effective in treating a variety of mental health issues. However, there is disagreement in psychotherapy research about whether or not factors common to all psychotherapies or specific ingredients within a treatment package are responsible for successful treatment outcomes. Component studies are research designs specifically aimed at identifying the mechanisms of change in a full treatment package. Component studies do this by comparing the differences in outcome among dismantled treatment components and the full treatment protocol. The present metaanalytic review of component studies examined whether or not differences between these two treatment groups generally exist. Fifty-nine component …

Workplace Harassment: The Social Costs Of Bullying, Andra Gumbus, Bridget M. Lyons

WCBT Faculty Publications

Most research on workplace bullying uses survey results to understand working conditions, target and bully characteristics, and results of bullying situations. This study uses content analysis to determine themes emerging from a writing assignment that asks students to respond to questions about workplace bullying. The intent of the research is to enable bullying targets to better understand the situation, to help managers to learn how to mitigate possible bullying situations, and to assist witnesses to better react to workplace incidents.

Alumni Journal - Volume 82, Number 4, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Features:
10 | A Life Well Lived - A look at the work of Dr. Heath Rowsell '54
16 | Todd Westra Takes Charge - Dr. Todd Westra '96 manages operations at the new Ontario Vineyard Medical Center
18 | Scheer Memorial Hospital - Celebrating 50 years of service in Nepal

News:
5 | New Executive Director
7 | School of Medicine News
28 | Alumni Activities
30 | In Memoriam

Regulars:
4 | Editorial
6 | The President's Page
9 | The Dean's Page
32 | They Walked These Halls
36 | Placement Ads

Analyzing The Construction Of The Medical Professional Identity: How Do Doctors Learn To "Do Doctoring?", Lauren Dougall

Honors Program Theses

This study is a qualitative analysis of how primary care physicians within the first five years of practice after residency construct their medical professional identity. An open-ended interview schedule was used to collect data which revealed the main themes of observational learning, dealing with uncertainty, and the importance of communication and education in patient interaction. Each doctor's professional identity was ultimately a refined version of the image they attributed to doctors as a lay-person.

Enriched Vs Impoverished Housing: Food Choice And Consumption, Berenice Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study focused on the relationship between environmental setting, eating choices and food intake. Ten Swiss Webster female subjects were socially housed under impoverished environmental conditions and ten under enriched housing conditions. Subjects were exposed to a nutritious food and sweet fat-laden food diet together with ad lib access to regular tap water on a 12 h light and dark cycle for four weeks. Results showed that an impoverished environment does not lead to an increase in body weight (t(6)= 0.293, p > .05) and environmental manipulations do not delineate a preference for diet type (t(6)= .877, p >.05). Further research …

Validation Of A Model Of Information Systems User Competency, Brenda Eschenbrenner, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

IS user competency, or the ability to realize the fullest potential and the greatest performance from IS use, is important for IS users. However, which factors contribute to IS user competency is unclear. Based on the findings of previous research, a model of IS user competency was developed that focuses on IS-specific characteristics: (i) domain knowledge of and skills in IS, (ii) willingness to try and to explore IS, and (iii) capability of perceiving IS value. The model was validated using the survey approach and the findings suggest that all three factors are pivotal to IS user competency, with willingness …

A Study Of Expressed Emotion In Psychiatric Nurses And Its Relation To The General Role And Effects Of Emotions In Nursing, Lauren A. Buck

Senior Honors Theses

Nurses play a vital role in the health and care of a patient. Through that care, the nurse has the ability to improve the patient’s experience or ruin it. A vital component influencing the care provided are the emotions the nurse displays toward her coworkers, patients, and patients’ family members. The emotions of a nurse may positively or negatively impact a patient. The studies that examine the impact of the nurse’s emotions on patient’s outcomes are varied and few. The communication and emotion of nurses are likely to impact their care and, from that, the patient’s outcome; however, there is …

Promoting Innovation In Hospitality Companies Through Human Resource Management Practices, Song Chang, Yaping Gong, Cass Shum

Hospitality Faculty Research

In this study, we investigate how hospitality companies can promote incremental and radical innovation through human resource management practices (i.e., selection and training). Data from 196 independent hotels and restaurants operating in the People’s Republic of China show that hiring multi-skilled core customer-contact employees and training core customer-contact employees for multiple skills both have a significant and positive effect on incremental and radical innovation among hotel and restaurant companies. The two human resource management practices are also found to have a negative joint impact on incremental but not radical innovation. The implications for promoting innovation in hospitality companies are discussed.

Using Social Judgment Theory To Identify Preexisting Attitudes In Millennial Audiences Of Public Radio, David W. Morrissey

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

As the Millennial generational group (individuals aged 34 or younger at time of publication) ages, it becomes a more important fundraising target for public radio organizations. This study explored ways to get members of the Millennial generational group more actively involved as financial contributors to public radio organizations. The Literature Review examined a brief history of public radio in the United States, including its move to listener funding, and the consolidation and homogenization of programming, which only occurred relatively recently and during the formative years of Millennials. The study used Social Judgment Theory as a theoretical framework to help identify …

A Case Study Of The Rhetorical Styles And Content Used In Devising And Delivering A Workplace Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Program As An Example Of A Gender-Related Power Construct In A Private Sector Workplace With A Predominantly Male Workgroup, Kimberly Campbell

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This work examines what rhetorical approaches were used in the devising and delivery of workplace training materials that address intimate partner violence and gender-related power constructs in a predominantly male workplace and why these approaches were chosen. Specifically, this study analyzes the language used throughout the discourse for the purposes of determining how language can shape the perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of the participants. The data was obtained using the qualitative methods of rhetorical analysis and interviewing. The materials were analyzed and this data was synthesized with the results of interviews with the author of the discourse. Supporting research examines …

An Expectancy Violations Theory Study Of Employee Satisfaction, Melissa Cleland

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study seeks to find what drives employee satisfaction using the expectancy violations theory. An exploration of the literature including Judee Burgoon’s expectancy violations theory against leadership credibility, narcissistic communication, and use of power are fully discussed. Ethnographic research is used to study a nonprofit organization, the three employees of Nonprofit XYZ were surveyed, interviewed, and observed over a two week period. The Executive Director of Nonprofit XYZ allowed full access to her office space and employees, however, didn’t participate in the study. The results of the study showed that employee satisfaction was a direct result of specific leadership attributes …

Relationship Maintenance And Facebook, Kelli Kapp

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Research to date on Facebook users has not included part of Generation Y, those born from 1976 through 1989. This study examined the use of Facebook to maintain relationships to extend previous work by Steinfield and Lampe (2009), Pennington (2009), and Bryant and Marmo (2009) whose work served as a lens for comparison. A survey questionnaire (N=215) was administered to Facebook users to determine their uses for the site, frequency of use, and perceived closeness of Facebook friends. Results suggested Facebook has become a daily part of respondent’s lives. Questions regarding Facebook use indicated the number one motivator for using …

What Is The Perceived Impact Of Social Media On Personal Relationships In Adolescence?, Samantha Sexton

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

A study was conducted to review the perceived impact social media plays in children’s personal relationships during adolescence. Surveys and interviews were sent out to 50 subjects in an effort to gather and compile information for analysis. The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (Meerkerk et al.) was used in a survey format and administered to participants to access their perceptions in which their child(ren) and/or grandchild(ren)’s use the internet and social media. A 5-point Likert Scale was also implemented in order to provide measurable analysis. Adult anxiety in regards to social media was observed at different levels depending on the developmental …

Identifying Online Communities As Self-Sustaining Ecosystems For Fulfilling Members' Needs, Elliot S. Volkman

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The following study shows what current online community members expect of their communities, and how each member plays a vital role in the self-sustaining ecosystem. In the past online communities were self-contained and managed by moderators who would often generate much of the content, and set guidelines for the users within the community. Based on the results of this study members now show that there are two different types of Lurkers (Active and Passive), which make up the majority of all members within a community. Active Lurkers have been identified as those who share content externally and back to their …

Symbolic Convergence: A Case Study Of Magnum, P.I., Melissa C. Wessman

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The study that follows examines the depiction of Vietnam veterans in the television series Magnum, P.I., particularly the representation of the struggles Vietnam veterans faced when reintegrating into civilian society after the war. Assessment of the series using fantasy theme analysis reveals that Magnum, P.I. generates a shared understanding for regular viewers of the post-combat experience for veterans. This is important to note because entertainment media, namely television, is a far-reaching outlet that can be utilized to teach and expand viewer understanding of social issues, such as the plight of veterans. Also, the struggle of veterans to reintegrate into society …

Sneaky Peeks: An Examination Of The Use Of Subliminal Messages In Children's Television And Film, Mary Patricia Charvat

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis project is an account of how advertising agencies and film and television companies make use of subliminal messaging and product placement to manipulate viewers‟ subconscious minds. According to research, there is some skepticism in some areas as to the effectiveness of their subliminal messages. However, it is clear that there is some recognizable effect; statistics show an increase in obesity and self-image and self-esteem problems spurred on by subliminal messaging in television and film aimed at the young. The selected literature included well-known books on subliminal messages and other materials covering 50 years of research. The literature also …

Cracking The Case: Uncovering Key Communication Practices Of Successful Financial Professionals, Heidi Struve Currey

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The economic events of recent years have unquestionably had an impact on the financial services industry; however the challenge to retain quality financial services professionals has been a struggle for decades. A review of the literature found that Cognitive Bias Theory, Social Judgment Theory, Cognitive Dissonance Theory and the Narrative Paradigm Theory uncovered two potentially valuable communication techniques that could be used by financial professionals: asking questions and sharing stories. The philosophical and ethical underpinning of this study assumed that all financial professionals view every client relationship as if it were personal; so that when a financial professional experiences success …

Direct Instruction And African American Middle School Students, Zelda Togun

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study examined teacher-created instruction and direct instruction using The Muted Group Theory. The study questions were: RQ1: Which is the better method for teaching African American middle-school children? RQ2: What role does Muted-Group Theory play in the academic choices offered to families of African American middle school children?

Friends On Facebook: The Impact Of Facebook On Interpersonal Friendships Of Female College Students, Kathryn T. Schultz

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Using the Internet is extremely common among college students, and one major function of Internet use is communicating with friends from their offline lives. With the popularity of social networking sites, it is important to explore how the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) is impacting female college students' relationships. Two theories provided a foundation for this study: Walther's social information processing theory (2002) and Baxter and Montgomery's relational dialectics theory (1996). Quantitative research was done for this work by surveying female college students regarding their feelings about Facebook's potential impact on their interpersonal friendships. Some initial findings include that, of …

Cultivating Culturally Empathic Environments In The Academic Setting, Sharon-Rose Lau

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Teachers, as leaders and facilitators in the classroom, not only disseminate information, but ultimately propagate and perpetuate ideologies that shape their students' cognitive world. However, with the enrollment of minority students increasing in the United States, greater challenges are encountered as teachers struggle to promote advocacy, respect, and understanding in the classroom. Navigating the relationally ambiguous or uncertain requires certain cognitive tools. The Uncertainty Management Theory which encompasses relational mindfulness and empathy assists individuals in developing the communicative skills necessary to fortify relational contingencies. This thesis explores the communicative methods teachers use to create culturally empathic environments within the academic …

A Critical Analysis Of Direct To Consumer Advertising Of Prescription Medications Using Language Expectancy Theory, Lisa Marie Emig

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis explores the relationship of Direct to Consumer Advertising (DTCA) and Language Expectancy Theory (LET) by conducting a critical analysis of three medications used to treat depression. Society and the medical profession have created a dichotomy between the well and pathological state. The study reviews if DTCA uses language and visual cues to influence the use of medications, to downplay potential side effects, to portray life as better when taking a medication and to remove personal responsibility for health. There are common elements used in DTCA of antidepressants. The review of the common elements shows the use of specific …