Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Psychometric Evaluation Of An Instrument For Assessing Policy Outcomes For Families With Children Who Have Severe Developmental Disabilities: The Beach Center Family Quality Of Life Scale, Joni Taylor Mcfelea

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (BCFQLS) in a sample of families with children who have severe developmental disabilities. The study sought to determine whether or not the scale could be used to measure the quality of life of such families and to differentiate between the quality of life of two family groups—those whose child lives in the family home and those whose child lives outside the family home.

The study used an observational, cross-sectional design and both qualitative and quantitative methods. Self-identified primary caregivers of …

On A Multinational Assessment Of Rotavirus Disease In Europe, David O. Matson

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Rotaviruses were discovered in the 1960s in animals and in the 1970s in humans; the latter discovery was made by an intrepid group who performed duodenal biopsies on children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) [1]. By the late 1970s, data already clearly indicated that rotavirus was the cause of the annual winter peak of AGE affecting young children, as well as a frequent cause of severe gastroenteritis in various animal species (e.g., [2–5]). Use of the retrospectroscope clarified or left as tantalizing the suggestion that rotaviruses were the cause of the annual “winter vomiting syndrome” first described in children in 1910 …

Using Social Cognitive Theory To Model Health Behaviors Among Chinese Children, Yan Zhang

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study examined the usefulness of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to model fast-food intake, fruit/vegetable consumption, and regular physical activity among a group of Chinese-American children in a Southeastern Virginia urban area.

An observational cross-sectional survey research design and snowball sampling were used. The survey employed items from the Health Behavior Questionnaire, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and a 24-hour Diet Recall Form. Eighty-four children completed the self-administered survey; 54 of these were enrolled in a Chinese Weekend School. The mean age of the children was 10.5 years (range 6-18) and 43% were girls. Logistic regression models were used to …

A Comparison Of Human Energy Fields Among Children, Youth, Adults, & Dahn Masters, Geoffrey K. Leigh, Karen A. Polonko, Catherine D. Leigh

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

While concepts and investigations of human energy fields have been developed for centuries, there has been little systematic work comparing the fields of children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, general fields have had little comparison between average adults and those participating in an intense practice that may affect the field. Using the GDV machine, this research compared small groups of children, adolescents, average adults, and Dahn Hak Masters on measures of 20 basic aspects of the human energy fields, including the seven chakras. Differences were found in seven of the 13 field parameters as well as all seven measures of …

Barrier To Utilization Of Primary Healthcare Resources In Children Two Years Of Age And Under, Ruth A. Waibel

Health Services Research Dissertations

This is a retrospective longitudinal study of health service utilization using the Immunization Practice Data Set obtained from the Center for Pediatric Research, Norfolk, Virginia. Cluster sampling was used to identify a cohort of children (n = 271), aged 0 to 24 months, from the city of Norfolk, Virginia. A two-year abstraction of medical records was used to determine utilization practice patterns for three categories of health: well-baby, acute and chronic care. The purpose of this study was to identify socio-demographic, need, and health system factors associated with under-utilization of primary care services using Aday's model. The proportion of children …

The Effects Of Group Counseling On The Self-Esteem, Anxiety, And Behavior Of Children With Deployed Parents, Nancy Taylor Mitchum

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a six-session group counseling intervention for children who had a parent experiencing military-induced deployment. Participants were 65 children (30 boys, 35 girls) of enlisted military personnel attending elementary schools near the Norfolk Naval Base. Elementary school counselors facilitated the counseling groups.

An experimental/control group pretest-posttest design was employed. Independent variables were the child's participation in the Children of Deployed Parents-Group/control group, child gender and age. Dependent variables were self-esteem, anxiety, and behavior as measured by the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), the Child …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Considering The Impact Of Educational Institutions And Teacher Perceptions, Cynthia S. Glass

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This research examines teacher perceptions about the nature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD") and the teaching strategies used to work with students who display ADHD behaviors. It also examines the relationship between classroom size and perception of incidence of ADHD within the classroom.

Results indicate that older and more experienced teachers are more flexible than younger, less experienced teachers in their teaching strategies when working with students who display ADHD behaviors. Teachers who received information about ADHD from their school administration utilized flexible methods more often than those who did not receive information. The proportion of students identified as …

The Effect Of Growth Hormone Release On Plasma And Erythrocyte Selenium And Zinc Levels In Children, Maria Estela Legal De Reid

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Research studies have suggested that selenium may be important in the release of growth hormone, GH. A selenium-containing amino-acid residue, selenocysteine, has been identified as part of the active site of the three isoenzymes (Type I, II and III iodothyronine 5' -deiodinase) responsible for the synthesis of active thyroid hormone, T_3, which is reported to stimulate GH secretion. The importance of zinc in growth is well- documented because of its involvement in transcription and expression of GH and its intermediary, insulin growth factor I or IGF- I. Thus, selenium and zinc levels in plasma may be altered in response …

Data On Gait Characteristics Of Four, Five, And Six Year Old Children Using Three Dimensional Video Motion Analysis, Donna Soave Nichols

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study resulted from a need to gather and analyze data on gait characteristics of normal children using the Peak Performance Technologies, Incorporated system, initiate a data base for the Motion Analysis Center at Old Dominion University and compare a computerized motion analysis system to studies using different methods. Fifteen children, aged four to six, were evaluated during gait using a video-based computerized motion analysis system manufactured by Peak Performance Technologies, Incorporated. The gait characteristics studied were stride length, cadence, angular displacements and angular velocities of the pelvis, hips, knees and ankles. The results showed that methods …

The Effects Of Orthopaedic Surgery And Dorsal Rhizotomy On Selected Gait Characteristics Of Cerebral Palsy Children, Danielle M. Lanoue

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Surgical management of cerebral palsy children typically involves multiple orthopaedic surgeries in order to achieve and maintain the maximum functional level of ambulation. Orthopaedic intervention to address lower extremity spasticity often includes: muscle lengthenings, muscle releases and tendon transfers. The most recent advance in management of lower extremity spasticity has been through a neurosurgical approach; selective dorsal rhizotomy. The long term effects of dorsal rhizotomy are still being investigated. Through the use of instrumented gait analysis, the specific objective results of both of these types of surgeries can be investigated. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the …

An Analysis Of Selected Family Life Education Curricula, Phoebe Terry Butler

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the content of family life education curricula in Virginia's public schools and determine its appropriateness for the mentally handicapped students. It was the intent of this study to determine if existing curricula were designed to address the needs of mentally handicapped students according to a standard curricula designed by the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States. The 15 participants of this study were selected from a random sample of 69. The response rate was 20.2%.

A letter soliciting family …

The Effectiveness Of Oral Health Computer Assisted Instruction On Increasing The Oral Hygiene Status Of Children, Claudia Ann Michalak

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the effectiveness of computer assisted instruction on the oral hygiene status of children. Over a one month period, as measured by the Personal Hygiene Performance Index, sixty-five fifth grade students participated in one of three intact groups: oral health computer assisted instruction, traditional oral health instruction, or no oral health instructions. Oral health instructions were identical in content for computer assisted and traditional lecture formats. During pretest evaluations, students were presented with a dental kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and an oral health instruction pamphlet. The Personal Hygiene Performance Index was performed on each student prior …

Effect Of The Rubber-Cup Prophylaxis And The Self-Administered Prophylaxis On The Oral Hygiene Performance Of The Pedodontic Patient, Kay Diane Edwards

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The effects of two oral prophylaxis methods on the oral hygiene performance of children (N=l00) between the ages of 8 and 13 years were studied over a three month period. Subjects were randomly selected from a dental hygiene clinic patient population and assigned to one of two prophylaxis groups. Each child's oral hygiene was evaluated using the Patient Hygiene Performance Index prior to and at one month intervals following treatment. Multifactor analysis of variance revealed no significant difference between children's age and the type of prophylaxis received. A significant difference was observed between children ages 8 to 10.5 and 10.6 …