Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Factors In The Non-Recognition Of Overseas Qualifications: The Case Of Medical Practitioners, Christine V. Farag

Theses : Honours

The overseas qualified doctor is a potential threat to the state-sanctioned control practising doctors have over medical knowledge in Australia. The nonrecognition of qualifications of many migrant and refugee doctors, in particular from non-English speaking background (NESB) countries, presses them into a subordinate relationship lo that of registered practitioners. The ownership of medical knowledge is limited lo state-recognised practitioners, thus allowing them to maintain significant economic and social advantage within the general community. The relationship between qualified practitioners and the state is indicative of a particular dynamic in which some individuals are able to exclude others by mechanisms of social …

Comparison Of Pulmonary Artery Pressure Measurements In The Supine And Lateral Positions, Leanne Maree Aitken

Theses : Honours

Pulmonary artery pressure monitoring, with the patient in both the supine and lateral position, constitutes an essential element of assessment in the critically ill. Previous work offers conflicting results regarding the accuracy of pulmonary artery pressure measurements obtained with the patient in the lateral position. Additionally, recent studies question the most appropriate thoracic surface landmark for use as the zero point for pulmonary artery pressure monitoring. The purpose of this study was to identify a reliable surface landmark to be used as the zero point for pulmonary artery pressure monitoring, as well as to determine if use of that zero …

Professional Experience Programme Report: Women's Health Promotion, An International Perspective, Lynne Hunt

Research outputs pre 2011

Between August 1988 and January 1989 I visited niQe countries in the Western Pacific, North America and Europe to survey women's health promotion from the perspective of the women's health movement. The experience was facilitated by study leave (Professional Experience Programme) from the Western Australian College of Advanced Education (now Edith Cowan University).

The main purpose of the study was to exchange ideas with selected academics and experts in women's health. The information acquired will be applied in courses in women's health offered by Edith Cowan University and in the ongoing development of a series of videotape productions on women's …

Phonological Profile For The Hearing Impaired : Manual, Iris Vardi

Research outputs pre 2011

Anyone who deals with the speech of the hearing impaired is only too well aware of the wide range of speech problems that can present. Many of these problems have been thoroughly researched and documented. Toni Gold (1980), detailed the following characteristics of hearing impaired speech as revealed by the literature to that date:

(l) intelligibility problems;

(2) consonant errors relating to voicing, consonant omissions, position of consonant error in word, difficulties with consonant blends, effects of place of articulation;

(3) vowel and diphthong errors;

(4) suprasegmental errors including problems with rate, increased duration of phonemes, timing, pausing; and

(5) …

An Evaluation Of Comparative Strategies For Teaching Breast Self-Examination, Julia Agars

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study addresses the issue of breast self-examination (BSE) in female nurses, as nurses who perform BSE are more likely to promote BSE to their clients. The purpose of the study is twofold: first, to assess the effects of three alternative methods of BSE instruction on nurses’ BSE practice; and second, to determine the influence of nurses’ health beliefs on their practice of BSE. Previous studies have indicated that various teaching strategies have improved BSE practice. However, the three methods of BSE instruction to be assessed on this study which includes booklet with written instruction, film and group discussion, and …

New Graduates' Self-Perceived Preparedness To Begin Practice As Registered Nurses, Vicci Lodge

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to investigate new nurse graduates' perceptions of their preparedness to begin practice as registered nurses. The investigation included determining whether their perceptions changed over time and in which areas they perceived they were best and least prepared. A longitudinal descriptive survey design was used for this study. Two self-administered questionnaires were used to gather data from all the students (79) who graduated with the Diploma of Health Science from Edith Cowan University at the end of Semester 1 for 1991. Of these, 34 new nurse graduates completed and returned both questionnaires. Both quantitative and …

The Effect Of Prolonged Cycling At The Conconi-Predicted Anaerobic Threshold On Blood Lactate Concentrations, Michael John Newton

Theses : Honours

A study which assessed the validity of the Conconi test to predict the anaerobic threshold (AnT) was undertaken with 20 sport science students. The study involved the subjects undertaking three tests over a one week period. Each test was separated by a period of at least 48 hours which allowed the subjects time to recover. The subjects initially completed a Conconi test which attempted to predict their AnT through plotting heart rate against work intensity. Following the specified recovery, a maximum oxygen uptake test (V0₂max) was undertaken by all subjects. Following another recovery period those subjects who produced …

Parents' Understanding Of Discharge Advice, Susan Howard

Theses : Honours

Although it is often assumed that a person will have increased knowledge after being given new information, it is important to determine how much information the person can recall and comprehend. The study sample was drawn from a paediatric hospital in Australia. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate parents' understanding of discharge advice. The study is significant both to nursing practice and to hospital credibility. Medical records (1979-85) at the study hospital showed that approximately 100 children per year returned to hospital with secondary haemorrhage after discharge, post tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. It is reasonable to assume that at least …

Do Nurses Write Nursing Diagnoses Correctly?, Graeme Neil Boardley

Theses : Honours

In this study it was proposed to examine the effect of educational intervention on nurses' abilities to write nursing diagnostic statements. Studies have shown that the way nurses write nursing diagnoses is an area of weakness in the overall documentation process, and this was perceived by the researcher as being true also in Western Australia. One reason for this, identified in the literature, appears to be lack of education in writing nursing diagnoses. This study was conducted in a 190-bed public hospital using an experimental research design, using control and experimental groups to test the hypothesis that nurses' abilities to …

The Effectiveness Of Salt Baths In Post Partum Perineal Healing, Patricia Dey

Theses : Honours

Midwives have advocated the use of salt baths for the relief of perineal trauma in post partum women because they believe in their therapeutic powers in an extensive review of the literature no scientific evidence has been found to support this belief. The use of salt baths bas been discontinued in favour of showers and normal hygiene in many obstetric units. The purpose of this study is to discover whether the faith of the believers is misplaced or justified. It is designed to contribute to the body of knowledge of current nursing practice and provide a scientific base for change. …

Nurses' Attitudes To The Nursing Process, Glenda M. Prideaux

Theses : Honours

The nursing process was 'introduced in Australia in the mid 1970s, as a teaching tool, however, with the advent of tertiary based education in the late 1970s, it was used as a problem solving approach to the practice of nursing. Acceptance of the nursing process has required changes' in attitudes and practice. The objectives of the study were firstly, to describe nurses' attitudes to the nursing process, and. secondly, to relate these attitudes to education and experience. The purpose of this study was to describe nurses' attitudes to the nursing process because they are reported to influence the standards or …

Prophylatic Cord Care: Is It Necessary?, Karen Coyle

Theses : Honours

Since the evolution of 'open' cord care in 1974, the umbilical cord of the newborn has been treated prophylactically with many different forms of antibacterial solutions. Recent studies have demonstrated that cord separation is facilitated by bacteria and many of the current treatments, such as the use of alcohol, actually delay separation. The purpose of this study was to compare cleaning the cord with alcohol to dry cord care, a method of cord care which is now being considered as an acceptable alternative to prophylactic umbilical cord treatment. A convenience sample of 205 babies was taken from a small private …

Nursing Health Assessment: A Meta-Analysis, J. E. Jarvis

Theses : Honours

Health assessment is the responsibility of all nurses (McCain, 1965), however, it is frequently discussed without reference to any global definition and studied under a variety of conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of clinical setting, year of assessment, nursing education and experience in nursing on the scope of nursing health assessment using meta-analysis techniques. Sixty five research journal articles were located of which 16 primary studies were selected and grouped for analysis. The result of this analysis indicates there is a significant difference in the scope of nursing health assessment in varied clinical settings …

Evaluation Of A Patient Education Program For Patients With Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes (Type Ii), Helen M. Walker

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a group outpatient program for patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes (Type II). It endeavoured to establish whether at the completion of a patient education program, and again at the 3 month follow-up period, the patients were complying with : (a) the recommended dietary plan, (b) the exercise program, and (c) were monitoring blood glucose levels at home, as evidenced by weight loss and metabolic control of their diabetes. The study also investigated factors influencing non-compliance. The theoretical rationale used for this study was Pender's Health Promotion Model, which theorises that health-promoting behaviour …

The Relationship Between Diet And Exercise And The Occurrence Of Headaches In Adolescents Aged 12 To 15 Years, Paula Hahnel

Theses : Honours

Headaches in adolescents present school nurses with a challenge. Al though separate research has focussed on headaches in children, and on dietary and exercises practices of adolescents, little attention has been paid to the relationship between the two. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether adolescents' dietary and exercise practices affect the occurrence of their headaches. The randomly selected sample consisted of 97 adolescents, aged 12 to 15 years, from a Perth metropolitan high school. Males accounted for 28%. Of respondents, and females 72%.. The average age was 13.5 years. All students taking part in the study were …

Nurses' Use Of Universal Precautions, Robin G.S. Jackson

Theses : Honours

Research into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Hepatitis B., and other bloodborne pathogens has led to the current worldwide awareness that patients can be admitted to hospitals with potentially fatal diseases that can remain undetected in blood and certain body fluids. This has resulted in a change of emphasis in Infection Control, namely isolating the source of infection rather than isolating the diagnosed infectious patient. One such technique recommended to protect healthcare workers, and other patients from nosocomial disease, is Universal Precautions. This study, using a descriptive survey design and structured questionnaire examined nurses' stated compliance to this technique in a …

The Effect Of Shift Length On The Number Of Needlestick Injuries In An Acute Private Hospital, J. Mcmahon

Theses : Honours

Needlestick injuries present a hazard to both nurse and patient in that they may be the source of transmission of Hepatitis B and the human immunodeficiency virus. It is therefore important to study the factors which either precipitate or prevent needlestick injury. This study examined the effect of shift length on the number of needlestick injuries. Variables which were tested included length of shift, location of work, time of shift, and time within shift. A descriptive survey was used to demonstrate a relationship between any of these variables and the occurrence of needlestick injuries. The study included two data sources: …

The Post-Discharge Medication Compliance Of Elderly Medical Patients: Incidence And Influencing Factors, Donna L. Mitchell

Theses : Honours

This study was designed to estimate the extent to which elderly patients complied with their medication regimens post-discharge from three general medical wards of an acute hospital in Perth. Relationships between medication compliance and age, education, cognitive function, medication supervision, number of drugs taken, number of doses per drug per day, regimen recall and drug knowledge were observed. The sample of the study was the general medical patients of three medical wards who were 60 years or older, fluent in the English language, returning to a home in the metropolitan area with no full-time nursing care needs and discharged during …

Clinically Practising Nurses' Perceptions Of Professionalism, Diane E. Twigg

Theses : Honours

This study describes clinically practising nurses’ perceptions of professionalism and compares these with reports of nurses’ perceptions of professionalism in the published literature. A phenomenological approach was chosen to identify and interpret the phenomena (professionalism). Ten Registered Nurses representing a range of clinical nursing positions were interviewed on the subject. Data were analysed using an interpretive methodology which identified themes and meanings. Credibility of results was established through participant validation of the identified themes and meanings and by researcher and data triangulation. The study identified six themes common to all participants’ descriptions: expertise based upon a sound education, continued learning, …

Optimal Axillary Thermometer Placement Time For Recording Neonatal Temperature, Athalie Johnston

Theses : Honours

Since body temperature is a reflection of neonatal wellbeing, taking and recording an accurate temperature is an important nursing role. Research has shown that axillary temperature adequately reflects core body temperature and is the recommended site for neonates. However, researchers have been unable to agree on the length of thermometer placement time to record an accurate axillary temperature. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal thermometer placement time to record the maximum axillary temperature in newborn infants using a descriptive correlational design. Axillary temperatures were taken using a convenience sample of 100 healthy, term neonates between 38 …

Measuring Midwives Accuracy Of Estimating Blood Loss, Christine J. White

Theses : Honours

This study focused on the assessment of blood loss during childbirth by attending midwives. It is very important that the volume of blood loss during childbirth be reported with accuracy. However, it is traditionally accepted that the most commonly used method of estimating blood loss is' inaccurate, This study attempted to determine the accuracy of the attending midwives' visual estimation of blood loss, during vaginal delivery, by measuring all blood loss with electronic weighing scales and comparing it to their visually estimated figures. One hundred and seven women, booked for confinement at a large metropolitan hospital, were selected for the …

Umbilical Cord Separation Time In Infants, Helen Bailey

Theses : Honours

Umbilical cord separation vary throughout the world. This variation makes it difficult to advise parents when the umbilical cord will separate. The purpose of this study was to determine the length of time until umbilical cord separation for a sample of babies born in Perth. A descriptive study was conducted at two hospitals using two different cord care methods. Data were collected on a convenience sample of 228 babies by a structures telephone interview. Mothers were contacted at home after cord separation and asked questions about the study variables. Influencing variables included type and frequency of cord care, sex, mode …

Base-Line Equivalence In Three Paired Groups Prior To The Implementation Of Primary Nursing, Julien Harris

Theses : Honours

Primary nursing, one of the methods advocated for assigning nurses to care for patients, has been the subject of much investigation. The value of the system remains unclear. A review of the literature indicated a lack of consensus with positive, equivocal, and negative findings. This study formed phase one of a collaborative Project which measures the effects of the implementation of primary nursing over a two year period. This portion of the Project studies the base-line data of three paired nursing units, to determine whether there was evidence of base-line equivalence of the study and control groups, as determined by …

Effect Of Ice Therapy On Post Partum Perineal Pain And Wound Condition, Sheila Klimczyk

Theses : Honours

The application of ice to the perineal wound is a common treatment in the post partum period. There is little research available that evaluates the efficacy of ice therapy. This study examined the effects of ice therapy on the perineal wound in the first 24 hours post partum. An experimental design was used to test the hypothesis that the application of ice to the perineal wound, in the first 24 hours post partum, produces a significant reduction in reported pain and use of oral analgesia, and improvement in wound condition. A convenience sample of 58 post partum women from a …

Personal Practice Of And Beliefs About Breast Self Examination In Students Of Nursing, Charles Lancaster

Theses : Honours

Epidemiological data reveal that breast cancer is a major health problem to women today. Although there are no known means for preventing it, detection and early diagnosis of breast cancer can be readily made through Breast Self Examination (BSE), an inexpensive, non-invasive, cost--effective procedure undertaken by women themselves. Yet, while most women have heard of BSE, very few perform it. By employing Pender's (1987) Health Promotion Model (HPM) as the theoretical nursing framework, it is possible to study reasons for this noncompliance. In this study, two areas are looked at specifically: perceived susceptibility to breast cancer and perceived benefits from …

The Development Of The 'Nursing Home/Hostel - Quality Of Life Index': A Tool To Measure The Quality Of Life Of Permanent Residents In Geriatric Care Institutions, Linda Pettit

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to develop the 'Nursing Home/Hostel: Quality of Life Index' (NH/H:QLI). This was to be a tool which would indicate the 'quality of life' of elderly residents in geriatric care institutions, such as nursing homes and hostels. Several means were employed to establish the validity of the tool. These were: consultation with experienced geriatric nurses, an examination of similar types of tools and correlation with another already established tool; Bigot's Life Satisfaction Index. The reliability of the NH/H:QLI was established by determining how well the scores correlated on a test re-test format. Kendall's Tau was …

Patient Attitudes Toward Self-Medication During Hospitalization, Elizabeth A. Reilly

Theses : Honours

This study explored patient attitudes toward the behaviour of self-medication during hospitalization using Ajzen's and Fishbein's model of Reasoned Action {1980}. The goal of Ajzen's and Fishbein's model is to predict and understand an individual's behaviour. This study adapted the model and identified seven variables which were thought to influence a person's intention to self-medicate. Two hypotheses were developed based upon the relationships between the variables in the model and their predicted effect upon the behaviour of self-medication. Correlational statistics were performed to determine the general relationships between a subject's specific and general attitudes toward the behaviour of self-medication, their …

Personal And Professional Practices Of Breast Self-Examination In Nurses, Julia Agars

Theses : Honours

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in females in Western Australia (W.A.). Despite technological advances the death rate from breast cancer is not decreasing. With the hope of reducing the mortality rates, preventative measures are being encouraged for the early detection of breast cancer. The Cancer Foundation of W.A. promote the performance of Breast Self Examination (BSE) on a monthly basis. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of BSE practice amongst nurses and the incidence of nurses teaching BSE to patients. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is used as a theoretical framework. This model …

An Investigation Into The Effects Of Preoperative Teaching On The Self Reported Levels Of Anxiety Of Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery, Megan Inglis

Theses : Honours

Over the last twenty years there has been a considerable amount of research conducted into the effects of preoperative teaching on postoperative recovery. While it is well known that preoperative instruction assists patients to recover from their operation, the mechanisms by which this occurs are not clear. One mechanism which may improve postoperative recovery is preoperatively. This research the reduction of anxiety examined the effects of preoperative teaching on preoperative levels of anxiety in patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy or herniorrhaphy. Twenty eight patients had their preoperative anxiety levels measured by a widely used questionnaire known as the State Trait Anxiety …

'Night Duty' : A Study Of Nurses' Attitudes Toward Night Duty, With Implications For Hospital And Nursing Management, Beth Louise Brown

Theses : Honours

Research specifically related to the needs and attitudes of nurses to night duty is in its infancy. Nurses have previously been included in studies related to circadian rhythms, and job satisfaction but only recently have complex aspects of the adaptation to working at night in health care institutions been given consideration. Shift work in general, has been identified as a stressful, occupational health hazard. Nurses cannot be compared to other shift workers. Chronobiological research now confirms that many individuals are unable to adapt to night work. This is in contrast to the historical management view which held the opinion that …