Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Knowledge And Attitudes Of Emergency Contraception On Its Use In Undergraduate Students, Amanda Marie Waldrup

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

A web-based cross sectional analysis utilizing the Spearman Coefficient was used to examine the relationship between 341 college students’ knowledge and attitudes toward emergency contraception. Personal characteristics and background factors such as age, race, gender, past and current use of contraception, past unintended pregnancies, and type of sex education in high school were compared to current knowledge levels and attitudes as related to use among college students. Results indicated that general knowledge is high, but detailed knowledge is lacking. Confusion between emergency contraception and RU-486 exist, which could lead to concerned attitudes ultimately effecting use. Most high schools that offer …

Look Beyond And Rejoice : A Spiritual Intervention For Patients With Life-Threatening Illness Or Chronic Pain, Jung H. Park

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Recently, the study of religious coping has increased dramatically. Researchers have recognized that cognitive-behavioral interventions imbued with spiritual dimensions may have greater impact when they incorporate a persons’ belief system. Based on scientific literature and Christian coping methods in the Bible, the Look Beyond & Rejoice [LB&R] Healing Model was developed to provide a theoretical framework for an intervention aimed at improving spiritual, mental, and physical health. The model includes: (a) positive reframing of illness that may change a patient’s perception from a threat to challenge and hope, and (b) daily transcendent visualization and verbalization, through looking beyond adversity and …

The Association Of Maternal Intention To Breastfeed, Early Skin-To-Skin Mother/Infant Contact, And Exclusive Breastfeeding During The Maternity Hospital Stay, Leslie Mary Bramson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Breastfeeding is the optimal method to nourish and nurture an infant. Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the United States have reached the goal of Healthy People 2010 that 75% of mother's breastfeed in the immediate postpartum period. Yet, less than 35% of San Bernardino county mothers and 47.7% of Riverside county mothers are exclusively breastfeeding during their maternity hospital stays, with as many as 50% of the infants being weaned from the breast in the first 14 days of life.

This prospective study examined archived data collected by Perinatal Services Network (PSN) of Loma Linda University Medical Center/Children's Hospital for the …

Hiv Risk Among Nursing Students In Rwanda : Self-Efficacy, Knowledge And Attitudes, Jacqueline Wosinski

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. With a prevalence rate of 3.1% in 2006, Rwanda is one of the hardest hit countries. Nurses are often the leading health professionals in rural communities and at the forefront of the fight against the HIV pandemic. Little has been written on how nurses are prepared to intervene successfully along the continuum of HIV prevention and care. A mixed-methods sequential exploratory approach was used to explore this question.

In the first phase, cognitive, socio-psychological, and environmental factors of nursing education in Rwanda in regard to HIV …

Partner Communication And Factors Associated With The Decision To Obtain An Hiv Test Among Chinese/Chinese American Community College Students In Northern California, Sang Leng Trieu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

HIV testing and counseling is considered the cornerstone of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention and education. Little is known, however, about HIV prevention, including HIV testing rates for Asian Pacific Islander (API) women, because data for this ethnic group is aggregated, thus limiting specific data for Chinese/Chinese American population or other API subgroups. This dissertation research examined factors associated with the decision to obtain an HIV test among Chinese/Chinese American community college women and explored the association among relationship status, partnership communication, and discussions of HIV testing.

Using constructs of the health belief model, an online and paper-pencil, crosssectional …

Psychosocial Support, Newborn Readmissions, And Postpartum Follow-Up, Dora Barilla

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Women and their infants are being discharged as soon as 24 hours after giving birth without proper follow-up care. The Maternity Department at San Antonio Community Hospital established the Family Care Center (HBFCC) in November 2000 in response to a higher than expected newborn readmission rate, shorter maternity hospitalizations, and a lack of postpartum follow-up. A comprehensive program was offered to support new families in the form of developmental assessment and intervention, breastfeeding, infant and toddler nutrition, health promotion and education, and referrals to appropriate agencies when indicated. In 2004, due to inadequate funding, the hospital reduced the intervention …

Knowledge, Perceptions, Beliefs And Behaviors Related To The Prevention Of Hypertension Among Black Seventh-Day Adventists Living In London, Maxine A. Newell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was a cross-sectional survey of the hypertension (HTN) knowledge and risk behaviors of Black Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) in London. Recruitment took take place in 17 predominantly Black SDA churches in London. A questionnaire assessed knowledge and lay-beliefs about HTN and perceptions towards HTN using the health belief model (HBM) constructs of susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale was incorporated into the questionnaire. Blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference were and current lifestyles practices were evaluated for the presence of HTN risk factors.

Of the 312 volunteers, ages 25 to 79, 55% were born …

Application Of The Asset Mapping Model To Church Based Hiv/Aids Prevention And Control In Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, Godwin Nwadibia Aja

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined whether HIV/AIDS activities were more frequent among churches with needs and assets for HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Aba, Nigeria and whether this connection was mediated by collective efficacy. A cross-sectional design was used to obtain data in two phases. First, a three-step forum focus group discussion (FFGD) method was used to obtain data from 32 representatives of five denominations. Second, a quantitative survey questionnaire was constructed based on the result of the FFGD and the collective efficacy model. This questionnaire was administered to 830 members aged 18 years and above from 83 churches that had operated …

Infant Feeding Decisions Among Pregnant Black Wic Participants And The Role Of Peer Support, Astrid D. Mickens

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify the important factors that impact infant feeding decisions among Black women, and to determine whether peer support influences the relationship among theoretical constructs of the social learning theory. A convenience sample of 110 Black pregnant women, ages 18-45, attending Women, Infant and Children (WIC) clinics throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties were recruited to participate in the study through the Nutrition Services Department. Eligible participants included pregnant Black WIC clients in any stage of pregnancy.

The survey questions contained information about perceived support, cognitive knowledge, abilities and beliefs regarding breastfeeding. The goal …

Academic Incentives Impact On Increasing Seventh -Graders Physical Activity During Leisure Time, Jeffrey Scott Brinker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent research clearly demonstrates that a decrease of physical activity has occurred among young people. Hence, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of external motivation on physical activity. Drawn from self-determination theory, the specific research question examined if academic incentives effectively motivated 7th grade students to participate in a 3-week fitness program. A quasi-experimental pre-post design examined treatment and control groups drawn from a sample of 24 students from three physical education classes. The treatment group received academic incentives whereas the control group received no external incentives but were asked to complete the same fitness Program. …

In-Vivo Delivery Of Dna Vaccines Using Metallo-Lipid Nanoparticles, Clarissa Sara Gomez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

There has been a rapidly growing area of research in the design and synthesis of molecules that self-organize in water to form functional nanosystems and due to the high interest in the area metal ligand complexes were tested as drug delivery systems with a Leishmania vaccine. Herein, we present the design, synthesis and functional activity of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes that self-assemble in water to form spherical nanoscale structures that exhibit an affinity to bind DNA and deliver it into eukaryotic cells with a high percent efficiency in-vitro. In order to assess the effectiveness of these nanoparticles to deliver DNA …

Theory Of Planned Behavior Constructs As Mediators Of Behavior Change Associated With A Brief Alcohol Intervention, Denise Servo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the Theory of Planned Behavior constructs (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control [PBC], and behavioral intentions) as mediators of changes in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in a longitudinal sample of 206 college students. The Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) is a program designed to curb risky alcohol consumption and its related consequences among college students. Eligible students completed a baseline assessment battery at assessment and again six months after participating in BASICS. The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) assessed alcohol consumption and the RAPI (Rutgers Alcohol Problem Inventory) assessed alcohol-related problems. …

Evaluation Of A Nutrition Program Targeting Child Care Centers, Kendra Witt

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Color Me Healthy (CMH) is an interactive nutrition program designed for preschool aged children in child care settings. The current study examined if CMH increases the consumption of fruit and vegetables. Child care centers were randomly assigned to one of two conditions; children (n=165) in ten centers received CMH and children (n=98) in seven centers acted as controls. Consumption of fruit and vegetable snacks was assessed at baseline, one week post-intervention and 3 months post-intervention. Hierarchical linear modeling determined that group assignment was the only significant predictor of fruit and vegetable consumption. Children who were exposed to the CMH program …

Knowledge And Perceptions About Hepatitis C Among Police Undertaking Training At The Western Australia Police Academy, Cerissa Papanastasiou

Theses : Honours

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a significant health issue in Australia with approximately 90% of new cases attributed to injecting drug use (IDU). With no vaccination for this infection it is important that preventive methods are utilised to reduce the likelihood of it being transmitted from the IDU community into the wider community. Research has suggested that people's beliefs, which are influenced by the knowledge they have, play an important role in influencing the action people take in protecting and promoting their health. While there are numerous studies which have measured the HCV-related knowledge and perceptions of other professions in the …

Is Enough Really Enough? : Evaluation Of An Alcohol Awareness Campaign At Ecu Joondalup, Marissa Macdonald

Theses : Honours

Australian young adults aged 17-25 years old attending university are more likely to drink at levels which put themselves at risk of both short and long term alcohol-related harm. University settings are an appropriate place to target university students with alcohol education or awareness-raising campaigns. Australian research on this topic is relatively limited. This mixed methods study involved two phases. The first phase quantitatively evaluated the impact of the 'Enough is Enough' campaign, implemented by the North Metropolitan Community Drug Service Team at ECU Joondalup, on students' awareness of the consequences of excessive alcohol use and perceived acceptability of drunkenness. …

Evaluation Of A Community Radio Station In Tulikup, Bali: Indonesia, Dane Anthony Waters

Theses : Honours

Community-oriented radio can be a valuable tool to mobilise communities and contribute to making positive social changes throughout the world (Dagron, 2001). Heartline Bali FM is a community-oriented radio station, which since development, has sought to positively impact the people within the community it serves. Located in the rural Balinese village of Tulikup, Indonesia, the station has responded practically to the health and social needs of the community through radio and other social development strategies since its establishment in 2003. In 2004, a base-line needs assessment was conducted within the village to help inform the radio station of the health …