Digital Commons Network^™

Family And Child Psychosocial Functioning Of Infant Heart Transplant Recipients, Kimberly R. Freeman

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With the advancement of medical procedures, heart transplantation has become a viable alternative for infants born with congenital or acquired heart disease. Although these children are thought to experience much improvement in their overall physical functioning post-transplantation, the long-term psychological functioning of these children and their families is currently unknown. This study examines the long-term family functioning and psychosocial development of infant heart transplant recipients in comparison to children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and non-clinical control children. Results indicate that infant heart transplant recipients and their families experience fewer overall problems as compared to the CHD group, and more …

Various Presentation Styles For Informing Parents About Pediatric Dental Procedures, Tracy Dean Walker

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: The treatment of pediatric dental patients can only be as effective as the degree to which the parent consents to treatment. This study was designed to A) determine the most effective method of communicating a dental procedure to the parent of a pediatric patient and B) determine the impact that various presentation methods would have on a parent's willingness to give informed consent.

Methods: A Pulpotomy procedure was explained to each parent by one of the following methods; 1) written, 2) written and model, 3) verbal or 4) verbal and model.

Results: A statistically significant relationship was shown between …

Clinical Debonding Simulation Study Of One Metal And Two Ceramic Brackets, Hyunsup Shim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study is to compare two mechanical debonding methods on ceramic brackets (TP MXi and 3M Clarity) and a metal bracket (GAC OmniArch) with four different bonding materials (light-cured, one-step chemical-cured, two-step chemical-cured, and Fuji GIC) in clinical simulation, where the diametral force was applied on the handle of the pliers. The effectiveness of mechanical debonding technique was determined by evaluating the following variables: the amount of force required to debond the bracket, the amount of residual adhesive remaining on the enamel surface, the frequency of unexpected bracket failure, and the prevalence of visible enamel damage. The …

The Effect Of Mandibular First Molar Tip Back On Mandibular Incisor Long-Term Stability, Barton L. Soper

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine if mandibular first molar distal tip back during orthodontic treatment will result in improved long-term alignment of mandibular incisors. Our pre and posttreatment sample consisted of 57 Class I and Class II patients (40 female and 17 male). Incisor irregularity was recorded at T2 and T4 (average of 12.9 years postretention at T4). Molar tipback was evaluated T1 to T2 and T2 to T4. The sample was divided into 3 groups - molars tipped distally 1 degree or more during treatment, molars essentially not tipped, and molars tipped mesially 1 degree or …

Children's Health Perceptions, Amy Forrest

MSN Research Projects

Little empirical knowledge exists regarding children's perceptions of health. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to determine the health perceptions of children with a convenience sample of fourth-grade students at a small elementary school in Northeast Mississippi. The theoretical framework utilized was Bandura's Social Learning Theory. The directional hypothesis in the proposed study was school-age children have a positive perception of health. The Children's Health Rating Scale was utilized as a measurement tool that ranked 17 health-related questions on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = most negative, 5 = most positive). A high cumulative score indicated …

Factors Which Affect Post-Hospital Resource Use And Patient Health Outcomes Among Taiwanese Older Adults, Chouh-Jiaun Lin

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore relationships among population characteristics, patient post-hospital resource use and patient health outcomes in terms of the Andersen health behavioral model. An additional purpose of this study was to examine a discharge planning screening instrument used in a large urban hospital in Taiwan to determine if it predicts resource use and patient outcomes. A longitudinal research design was adopted for this study. Data were collected from the general medicine departments of an 800-bed university teaching hospital. Out of 109 patients who were interviewed, 78 participants qualified (participation rate = 71.6%).

The majority of …

The Validation Of An Existing Sleep Apnea Questionnaire And Its Application To Clinical Orthodontics, Jeffery C. Biggs

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to validate a sleep apnea questionnaire from the Loma Linda University Sleep Disorders Center, and then to utilize the questionnaire in order to identify potential sleep apnea patients from a pre-orthodontic patient sample. Study patients were selected from the Loma Linda University Sleep Disorders Center and the Loma Linda University Orthodontics Clinic, both in Loma Linda, California, USA.

Methods: The study sample represented all of the patients initially examined from 1996 through 1998 who were age 8-15 years old at the time of the initial exam. Validation of the questionnaire was based on responses …

Dna-Dna Checkerboard Hybridization To Identify Bacteria In Human Plaque Samples, Jasan Lee Zimmerman

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Previous research has shown that using DNA probes to identify the presence of specific bacteria in human plaque samples is superior to the commonly used anaerobic cultural procedures. Some periodontal pathogens are either uncultivable or very difficult to grow, such as Prevotella intermedia, P. nigrescens, and Eubacterium brachy. Digoxygenin probes were prepared for 15 oral bacteria. These probes were used with a checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization scheme to analyze whether human plaque samples contained any of the 15 bacterial species. Our results have shown that this method is successful in identifying bacterial DNA present in the subgingival patient plaque …

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Swallowing Dysfunctions : Semg Cognitive Training As An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy, Vicky T. Nguyen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study compared surface electromyography (sEMG) cognitive training to conventional myofunctional therapy in controlling a swallowing dysfunction, commonly referred to as "tongue thrust". Nasal airway resistance (NAR) was assessed on every subject, to rule out mechanical obstruction that would prevent proper function. The scope of this investigation composed of evaluating baseline activity and dry swallowing patterns. Subjects were distributed to one of three treatment groups: sEMG cognitive training, conventional myofunctional therapy, and control, based on the degree of NAR (normal, mild, or moderate). Initial sEMG recordings were then taken on subjects that clinically demonstrated a tongue thrust habit to confirm …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of Heat Treatment Using Orthotherm On Thermally Activated Archwires, Brent J. Hurst

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of heat treatment on thermally activated nickel titanium archwires, and to determine the differences between wires from individual manufacturers. Thermally activated, nickel titanium wires were obtained from five different manufacturers in the 0.016 x 0.022 format. All wires were measured with a micrometer to determine their exact dimensions. Half of the wires were heat treated with the use of the Orthotherm Bending Art Programmer from Syrinx Medical Technologies (Berlin, Germany) while the other half served as a control. By passing an electrical current through the wires for a predetermined period …

Effect Of Obturation And / Or Coronal Seal On The Success Of Root Canal Therapy : An In Vivo Histologic Investigation, Douglas Snider

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Numerous studies have examined coronal leakage with in vitro protocols. A search of the literature showed the absence of a long term in vivo, histologic study, examining the effect of coronal and/or radicular leakage on periradicular health.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of obturation and / or coronal seal in preventing the formation of periradicular lesions in dogs over time. The study was conducted on six beagle dogs. Premolars were cleaned and shaped. Sixteen roots in each dog were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups of equal size. Group one was obturated using …

Women's Perception Of Provider, Social, And Program Support In An Outpatient Drug Treatment Program, Melaine Marie Salmon

Master's Projects

The purpose was to explore perceptions of pregnant and parenting substance abusing women in an outpatient drug treatment program regarding provider and social support. Also identified were aspects of the rehabilitation program perceived by the women as assisting them to maintain abstinence from substance use. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire and a tool designed by the authors based on the Social Stress Model of Substance Abuse (Lindenberg, Gendrop, & Reiskin, 1993) and the literature of social support. The majority of the women were satisfied with their social support from family and friends. Sixty-seven percent of the women felt …

The Accuracy Of Nitrous Oxide Passive Dosimeters As Compared With An Infra-Red Spectrographic Reference Method, Susan Allen

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Nitrous oxide is a gas often used in dental, surgical and veterinary operations as an anesthetic agent. Employees stationed in proximity of fugitive gas emissions may potentially suffer adverse health effects from chronic exposure to this agent. Passive dosimeters can be worn in the breathing zone of potentially affected personnel during exposure periods, then later analyzed to quantify nitrous oxide exposure. This study sought to establish the accuracy of several commercially available passive monitoring devices for nitrous oxide by comparison against an infra-red spectrophotometric reference method.

Prevalence And Possible Causes Of Vitamin B-6 Deficiency Among Women In The Philippines, Siew Sun Wong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Recently maternal intake of multivitamins has been associated with a reduced risk of orofacial clefts (OFC) in human epidemiologic studies. In the Philippines, vitamin B-6 deficiency was found to be associated with increased risk of OFCs. The birth prevalence of OFCs in the Philippines is among the highest known, but Filipino emigrants in the United States have lower rates, indicating that environmental factors may play an important role in causing OFCs in the Philippines.

The prevalence and possible causes of vitamin B-6 deficiency were investigated through dietary and biochemical assessments in case-control study in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Mothers with OFC …

Medicaid Fraud: Medical Students' And Physicians' Attitudes And Perceptions, Kristin M. Byars

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the attitudes and perceptions of medical students and physicians concerning Medicaid fraud. The primary tool was an anonymous survey distributed to both medical students and physicians in the Hampton Roads area. Previous research suggests that physicians would be more likely to view Medicaid fraud as less serious and less justifiable than medical students would. Since little research looks specifically at the attitudes and perceptions of medical students and physicians two theories, Differential Association and the Theory of Organizational Misconduct, were used because they best fit the research already out there. The analyses …

Cultural Adaptability Of Students Attending Culturally Diverse And Non-Culturally Diverse Dental Hygiene Programs, Katrina White Magee

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive investigation was to determine the cultural adaptability of students attending culturally diverse and nonculturally diverse dental hygiene programs throughout the U.S. The dental hygiene schools were identified according to their ethnic diversity as reported by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation in the 1996-1997 Survey of Dental Hygiene Education Programs. Once the programs were identified, a random sample was taken from the diverse and non-diverse dental hygiene programs. A 50-item inventory, the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI), was mailed to the participating dental hygiene programs. One-hundred eighty-eight students represented U.S. dental hygiene programs in the …

Sexual Harassment In The Virginia Dental Hygiene Profession, Anne Pennington

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Marginal Discrepancy Of Components Utilized For Implant Framework Construction, Mathew Thomas Kattadiyil

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study evaluated marginal fit discrepancy of the abutment-implant body interface employing various components commonly utilized for implant framework fabrication. Four types of components ( castable plastic patterns, premachined gold abutments, premachined titanium abutments and CAD-CAM custom premachined titanium abutments) were evaluated. Five castable plastic patterns and five premachined gold abutme~ts from each of two manufacturers, five premachined titanium abutments and five CAD-CAM custom premachined titanium abutments were used. Components were affixed to a 3.75 x 10 mm dental implant and standardized measurements were obtained of the abutment-implant interface using a computerassisted microscope at various experimental time intervals. Measurements of …

Patients' Perceptions Of Physicians' Role In Smoking Cessation By Age And Readiness To Stop Smoking, Chris Van Ryn, Joel Wetzel

Masters Theses

It is imperative for health care providers to initiate an individually tailored program to counsel smokers in a more effectively. Finding patients’ perceptions of their physicians' role in smoking cessation is critical to aid healthcare providers to design an individualized plan to get patients to quit smoking. 68 smokers who presented to their family practice clinics in the rural area of Hastings, Michigan completed self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires assessed patients’ perceptions of their physicians’ role according to the 4 A s protocol (asking, advising, assisting, and arranging), with a focus on age groups (18-29, 30-49, and >50) and stage of …

Unplanned Hospitalization Of A Child: Perceptions Of Stress, Family Life Events, And Coping Resources, Jennifer Lee Moes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the parental perceptions of family stress, family life events, and coping strategies of a family whose child is hospitalized in the pediatric unit.

A descriptive correlational design with a non-probability convenience sample consisted of 30 parents or primary caretakers of a child who was hospitalized in pediatrics. Data was obtained with three instruments; 1) demographic questionnaire assessing current perceived stress of the family, 2) Family Inventory of Life Events (FILE); and 3) Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES).

Data analysis included three correlations between (a) pile-up and perceived family stress, (b) …

Empirical Foundations: The Core Competencies Of Registered Nurse Graduates, Bennie Lee Davis Marshall

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Rising health care costs, introduction of new technologies, changing societal demographics and changes in reimbursement policies and practices are some of the forces creating an urgent need for a more efficient and effective health care delivery system. With the growth of managed care and the delivery of health care increasingly in community-based settings, the roles and responsibilities of health care personnel, especially nurses are also changing.;The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities graduates of basic nursing education programs need, upon entry to practice, to function across work settings. Nursing staff, nurse executives and …