Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Identifying The Influence Of Parents' And Children's Perceptions Of Their Built And Social Environments On Children's Mode Of Travel To And From School, Emily S. Hill

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study examined the influence of parents’ and children’s perceptions of their built and social environments on children’s use of active transportation (AT) between home and school. A mixed-methods approach was used including an environmental/behavioural survey completed by students (grades 5 through 8) and parents from 32 schools throughout London, Ontario, (n=1,623); Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for generating built environment variables to be controlled for; Principal Component factor analysis; and step-wise logistic regression models that divided analysis between the journey to and from school to determine the most influential factors in either direction. Children’s personal attitudes were the …

Nurses’ Perceptions Of The Support Needs Of Women Experiencing A Crisis Pregnancy, Kristyn Dyson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Background: In the United States, one half of all pregnancies are unintended. Research suggests that many women make a decision about their pregnancy immediately, taking action very quickly without any form of options counseling. Women oftentimes do not conceptualize their pregnancy as a scenario involving three alternative outcomes. Research has shown that when in a state of crisis, the decision-making process is diminished and the individual becomes vulnerable. Additionally, when making decisions in the absence of adequate social support, negative health outcomes can result.

Objectives: To explore nurses’ perceptions of the social support needs of women experiencing a crisis …

Exploration Of Self-Care Following Distribution Of Acute Management Tool For Elder Heart Failure Patients In Clinic Setting, Sharon Elaine Vincent

Doctoral Projects

The aim of this study was to develop a broad understanding of heart failure patients’ perceptions about their lived experiences. An acute symptom management tool, Red Flags I Need to Know: Heart Failure Action Plan (Health Net Federal Services, 2011), was distributed to the patients prior to initiation of the project.

The problem of heart failure rehospitalization is significant. Cost of treatment for heart disease in the United States exceeds all other conditions. The national excessive 30-day readmission rate in elders post-discharge is 24.8%. Pay-for-performance initiatives will reduce reimbursement for excessive readmissions beginning FY 2013.

The project was a mixed …

Impact Of Social Marketing On Nurse Practitioners' Acceptance Of Clinical Video Telehealth For Elderly Patients In Rural Mississippi, Teresa Lynn Langley

Doctoral Projects

Elderly patients 65 years and older who have chronic illness and disabilities living in rural Mississippi have increased difficulty in obtaining timely cost-effective healthcare services from nurse practitioners. The purpose of the capstone project was to utilize social marketing strategies for promoting nurse practitioners’ acceptance of clinical video telehealth (CVT) in improving healthcare access for rural elderly patients in Mississippi. Clinical video telehealth is an innovative way to provide healthcare services to populations in need by reducing barriers to healthcare, such as distances, time, and transportation, and financial resources. However, providing healthcare through the use of technology has not always …

Evaluating The Impact Of Two Different Methods Of Diabetes Self-Management Education On Knowledge, Attitude, And Behaviours Of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Laura B. Briden

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study compared the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education (DSME) methods by examining changes in knowledge, attitude, and behaviour (KAB) after receiving education. Participants from a convenience sample were randomized into two groups, one receiving education through conversation maps and the other through traditional group education. Participants’ knowledge and attitude changes were measured by using a repeated measures pre-test/post-test design and changes in Hb A1c were observed. Focus groups were conducted after education was received to obtain perceptions and self-reported behaviour changes. Significant knowledge and attitude score changes were observed in the conversation map group after education. When comparing the …

Computer-Based Sex Education For High School Students, Ashley Jones

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Adolescents are four times more likely than other age groups to contract chlamydia or gonorrhea. In the USA, young people between 15 to 24 years of age acquire almost half of all newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STI) a year. The purpose of this computer-based sex education EBP project was to increase student knowledge regarding transmission, disease process, and treatment for STIs, as well as to reduce high risk sexual behaviors. The evidence-based practice model for change and the Modeling, Role-Modeling nursing theory guided this project. Computer-based sex education is supported in research. Articles critiqued, utilizing Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2011) …

School Based Nutrition And Exercise Program, Darlene L. Amalfitano

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The purpose of this project was to develop a school-based nutrition and exercise program aimed at encouraging and teaching healthful lifestyle choices and facilitating behavior change. A premise of the program was that sustainable changes in diet and physical activity accomplished in childhood may be carried into adulthood and may assist in the prevention of obesity in later years. The Ecological Theory by Urie Bronfenbrenner and Nola Pender's Health Promotion Model (2006) were the frameworks that guided this program development. The program duration was six weeks, and sessions met two times per week with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade participants. …

Elementary School Based Health Centers As Providers Of School Entry Health Exams: Do They Meet The Standards?, Roberta Bavin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The health of today's children is crucial for the future of our society. There are many children without access to healthcare in these turbulent economic times; times that are increasingly uncertain as society maneuvers its way through the maze of healthcare reform. School based health centers (SBHCs) provide a safety net for children needing basic healthcare who are otherwise underserved. School entry health examinations (SEHE) are legal requirements in many states, and are a proven method for identifying health conditions early enough in a child's life that they can be corrected. Treating identified health conditions facilitates academic success for children, …

An Exploration Of Knowledge Translation Amongst Homecare Providers, Family Caregivers, And Clients, L. Jansen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The aim of this two-phased investigation was to enhance understanding of urinary incontinence (UI) knowledge translation (KT) to inform how UI management knowledge might be translated within in-home nursing practice and family caregiving. Although UI can be managed conservatively, it is a principal reason for the breakdown of family-care and care recipient admission to long-term care. Research has afforded little insight into family caregivers’ experience of KT and the process of in-home KT for UI management.

The first study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to explore family caregivers’ experience of UI KT. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with a …

Evidence Based Practice In School Nursing: A Study Of School Nurses In Central And Eastern North Carolina, Lisa M. Barnes

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of the study, Evidence Based Practice Use: A Study of School Nurses in Central and Eastern North Carolina, is to gain insight of the barriers and facilitators of evidence based research in the school setting. The unique and autonomous nature of school nursing makes evidence base practice and research utilization especially important to achieve optimal outcomes in this setting that is often isolated from other health care providers. A descriptive cross sectional survey design using the BARRIER scale was used in this quantitative study (Funk et al., 1991). Using the BARRIER scale by Sandra Funk, school nurses from …

Increasing Participation In The North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System Registration Among Western North Carolina Nurse Practitioners, Elizabeth Scism

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The misuse of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes is a risk to public health and safety. The rates of misuse and diversion of prescription drugs have nearly doubled since the 1990s. This project explored the importance of educating Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in North Carolina (NC) regarding the registration and utilization of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System (NCCSRS). This reporting system was designed to identify and prevent diversion and to reduce morbidity and mortality of unintentional drug overdoses among primary care patients. A website was developed to showcase the multiple benefits and encourage registration and utilization of the NCCSRS …

The Use Of Peppermint Oil To Reduce The Nausea Of The Palliative Care And Hospice Patient, Mary Seale

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

A descriptive study was initiated to investigate the use of peppermint oil to reduce the nausea of the palliative care and hospice patient. Two local palliative care and hospice programs were used as sites for the study. Patients eighteen and older complaining of nausea were invited to participate in the study. The study was conducted for one and a half months. A total of eight patients consented to participate in the study with a mean age of seventy one years. The Bieri Scale, a visual-numeric analog, was used as the measurement instrument for the patients to evaluate their nausea. Results …

What Patient Related Factors Negatively Impact Patient Or Procedure Outcomes In Screening Colonoscopy?, Rebecca Truett

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The success of colonoscopy in early detection and treatment of colonic lesions depends upon adequate bowel preparation. This study addresses factors related to the adequacy of bowel preparation for colonoscopy with a focus on patient factors including variables related to demographics as well as compliance. The hypothesis of the study of factors related to the adequacy of bowel preparation for colonoscopy is that certain patient factors are associated with inadequate colon preparation independent from preparation type or timing of the procedure.

Patient related factors were compared to colonoscopy procedure completion, compliance with colonoscopy preparation instructions and quality of colon preparation. …

Medically Ill Smokers And Planning To Quit, Audrey Darville

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and is the cause of nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. The prevalence of smoking has had a leveling off effect after many years of significant decline. Certain subgroups of the population, such as those with low income and certain illnesses, continue to smoke at disproportionately high rates. Reasons for these disparities in smoking rates are complex. Developing a better understanding of the issues related to persistent smoking particularly for those with medical illness and limited access to cessation resources can help focus interventions to help these high …

Body Image And Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Among University Students, Tracy L. Wright

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children develop beliefs about ideal body image and carry these perceptions into adulthood. Consequences of poor body image may include decreased self-esteem, depression, unhealthy lifestyle, and eating disorders. Understanding healthy lifestyle behaviors and the relationship between body image and these behaviors can empower individuals to engage in behaviors to improve health. Pender’s health promotion model provided the theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between body image and healthy lifestyle behaviors among undergraduate university students. An email was sent to undergraduate students, providing a link to the survey that included: demographic, body …

The Impact Of A Diabetes Self-Management Program On Adult Hispanics In Eastern Coachella Valley, Brijesh Naranbhai Patel

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this clinical project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-management diabetes education program, designed for the underserved Hispanic population in the Eastern Coachella Valley, California. The project was conducted as part of a clinical assignment in the graduate nursing program at California State University, San Bernardino. Thirty-eight participants were recruited from Indio Family Center. In a face-to-face meeting with a diabetic educator, individual participants completed a self-care activity survey and received diabetes related education.

Tobacco Treatment In College Health, Joanne Brown

DNP Projects

ABSTRACT: Tobacco Treatment in College Health

The college years are a critical time in the development of smoking behavior and tobacco use. Smoking is linked to 30% of cancer deaths, 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and early cardiovascular disease and death. Effective treatment interventions at this time provide an opportunity to drastically reduce premature morbidity and mortality.

This document follows the progression from the discussion of the problem to evaluation of an intervention. The first manuscript is a review of existing literature on Internet interventions with young adults, including methodology, theoretical frameworks and outcome measures for tobacco …

College Age Female Smokers And The Efficacy Of Smoking Cessation On College Campuses, Gretchen Suzanne Strobel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Young females are smoking on campuses in increasing rates in the last two decades. This thesis is secondary data analysis of a primary study with data from 472 female respondents, ages 18 to 24, enrolled or registered for classes at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Spring, Summer and Fall semester of 2011. This sample included current smokers, former smokers, and nonsmokers. This research study will discuss the relationship between the age one starts smoking and any association with participation in unprotected intercourse and the concomitant use of estrogen containing oral contraceptives. Among the respondents a majority started smoking between …

Adult Children's Perceptions Of Critical Caregiving Conversations With Their Aging Parents: A Pilot Study, Wendy S. Cregg

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to describe adult children's perceptions of critical caregiving conversations between themselves and their aging parents; barriers to these conversations; factors that facilitate these conversations; and the support from health care providers that adult children believe would help facilitate critical caregiving conversations between themselves and their aging parents. The overall purpose was to increase understanding of family communication processes that promote health as families age. Focus group interviews using a semi-structured interview guide were conducted with 16 adult children with caregiving experience of their aging parents. Data analysis was conducted utilizing Leininger's phases …

Identifying Patient's Reasons Or Rationales For Choosing To Skip Or Shorten Hemodialysis, Linda Marie Lindberg

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Missed dialysis treatment time has potential to increase morbidity and mortality and reduce life expectancy for people with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) who are dependent on hemodialysis (HD) to live. The purpose of this study was to identify some of the reasons that hemodialysis patients provide when explaining their decision to skip or shorten their prescribed HD treatment time by providing ESRD patients with the opportunity to give voice to their perspectives. A secondary purpose of this project was to increase the health care provider's understanding of the HD patient's perspectives and reasons for choosing to skip or shorten …

Struggling While Managing Chronic Illness, Amy M. Perkins

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Although research documenting the struggling response to chronic illness would assist nurses in understanding their patients and potentially in the assessment and support of struggling patients, such research is only in the infancy stage. The purpose of this research study was to address the rarity of literature describing and defining the concept of families struggling while managing chronic illness. Using Strauss and Corbin's paradigm model and grounded theory methodology, the researcher analyzed interviews with nine rural families managing chronic illness. The analysis revealed that families managing chronic illness struggled with everyday living, to obtain a diagnosis, with spiritual beliefs, and …

Nurses' Knowledge Of Heart Failure Education Topics At A Regional Midwestern Hospital, Catherine Joy Standfuss

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to better understand Registered Nurses' knowledge level of commonly taught heart failure education topics. Heart failure is a large reason for hospital readmissions, and subsequently, a major contributor to rising health care costs. Research for this project was completed at a Regional Midwestern hospital using a questionnaire consisting of 20 knowledge questions. Registered nurses working on three separate units with high volumes of heart failure patients were invited to participate. Sixty-nine nurses responded to the survey and obtained an average score of 16.67 out of a possible 20, or 83%. Nurses work in …

The Family Experience Of Participating In An Icu Support Group: A Pilot Study, Rebecca Marie Scharpe

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of family members participating in an intensive care unit support group. The family experience of an adult family member's critical illness is filled with emotional distress, suffering, and difficulty coping. Few family nursing interventions to care for family members of ICU patients have been researched. Research is inconsistent regarding the value of a support group in the ICU setting of a hospital. A qualitative design, using hermeneutic phenomenology was chosen. Five interviews were conducted with seven family members. The experience of participating in an ICU support groups was analyzed within …

Access And Barriers To Diabetic Self Care Education And Support Groups In A Rural Southern Minnesota Community, Elizabeth Waters

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Diabetic education and support groups promote self care, improve health outcomes, and decrease health care costs. Self care, an important aspect of diabetes care, can be promoted through diabetes education and support groups. Few studies have been done to explore rural population's access to and attendance of diabetes self care education and support groups. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine if residents of a rural southern Minnesota community have access to diabetes education and support groups and what barriers they face to attending the groups. The understanding gained through this study will help to develop nursing interventions …

The Effectiveness Of An Incentivized Program To Increase Daily Fruit And Vegetable Dietary Intake By Low Income, Middle-Aged Women, Rebecca White

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Little is known about the effectiveness of the SagePlus' Smart Choices Fruits and Vegetables Program's influence on behavior change and the effects of that behavior change on the cardiovascular health of the participants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the SagePlus Smart Choices Fruits and Vegetables Program at increasing the number of fruits and vegetables in participants' diets and decreasing their cardiovascular disease risk factors. A nonexperimental, descriptive correlational design was used in this study. The Minnesota Department of Health provided data from 327 SagePlus participants that had re-enrolled in the SagePlus Smart Choices Fruits …

Exploration Of Weight Gain In Female Breast Cancer Survivors, Mary Kay Johnson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Breast cancer is no longer a guaranteed death sentence. Many women today can look forward to a long and healthy life after treatment for breast cancer. However, weight gain is an ongoing, distressing and common problem for women treated for breast cancer. The primary purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about the phenomena of weight gain in females treated for breast cancer. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a natural setting. Sample: Electronic medical records for 100 female breast cancer survivors who visited a private suburban medical oncology clinic for treatment and/or on-going follow-up for a breast …