Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Healing Sanctuary, Kammy Downs

Master's Theses

The natural world has hidden wisdom and resources that are disregarded as we misuse our responsibility to care for them. The benefits of being in tune with nature have been traded for a culture that manipulates nature on the altar of expediency, waste, and unquenchable desire. Healing Sanctuary presents a duality. My work speaks about the relationship between the seen and unseen, represented by ten larger-than-life drawings of medicinal herbal plants that have had a profound physical healing effect on me. At the same time, plants, roots, and seeds create visceral metaphors for mental health. Our accomplishments, outlook on life, …

The Point In Which Peak Power Occurs In Relation To The Percentage Of One-Repetition Max For The Clean, Back Squat, And Bench Press Exercises Across Various Athlete Types, Maria Darling

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the force-velocity curve in the athletic population. There was special interest in determining the point of peak-power (PP%), the point of peak power drop-off (PPDO%), and the range (RANGE) between these points for three different exercises: the bench press (BENCH), the back squat (SQUAT), and the floor clean (CLEAN). Further investigation looked to find differences in these points between different sub-groups within the athletes sampled. Data was retrieved from an existing database on 72 healthy Fort Hays State University athletes from five different teams during their off-season six-week training cycle. All …

Effects Of A Run-Walk-Run Training Program On One Mile Time Trial Performance, Ashley Turpin

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to describe the change in performance on a timed one-mile run-walk-run, following training in the Galloway Run Walk Run Training Method (GRWRTM). Operational procedures, data collection, and deidentification were performed by the GRWRTM program director prior to inclusion of this study. Over the span of multiple iterations, 42 (28 female and 14 male) participants met the qualifying criterion of performing the post-training, time trial 7, 14, or 21 days after initial testing. Descriptive statistics and t-tests for paired two sample means were performed on 1) all participants, 2) male participants, 3) female participants, 4) …

State Park Selection As Determined By User Health, Connor Phelan

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether state park difficulty affected location of travel. This study was conducted at three state park locations within the United States. Surveys and on-site examinations were made at the following locations; Wilson State Park, Kansas, Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas, and Kiholo State Park, Hawaii. Park locations were chosen by varying levels of terrain difficulty, as well as a rating from the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. Participants were asked to report data via iPads on exercise habits, mobility limiting impairments, and frequency of exercise so a ranking of the healthiest participants could be …

The Influence Of Pre- And Post Meal Exercise In Relation To Postprandial Blood Glucose Levels In Type Ii Diabetics, Jessica Johnson

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of pre and post evening meal exercise in relation to postprandial blood glucose levels in type II diabetics. Fifteen participants diagnosed with type II diabetes volunteered to participate in this 21 day study. During the first seven days, participants were told to change nothing about their daily routine. Throughout the study they were asked to track all food consumption in the MyFitnessPal application and to record their blood glucose levels fasting, before their evening meal, and 120 minutes after their evening meal. At the end of day seven, each participant’s …

A Comparison Of Therapeutic Heating Modalities And Stretching Techniques To Increase Hip Flexion, Amee Jaymes Stapleton

Master's Theses

Individuals can positively benefit from increasing flexibility. These benefits include: preventing injury, improving blood flow to soft tissues, improving posture, and decreasing low back pain. Traditionally, stretching is used to increase flexibility. However, stretching in combination with heating modalities have shown to increase flexibility as well. This study was designed to investigate the effect of pulsed shortwave diathermy (PSWD) on hamstring flexibility using static stretch versus proprioceptive neuromuscular facility (PNF) contract relax as compared to superficial heat and static stretch. This study examined 30 college-aged individuals who had 90º or less of hip flexion. Participants were randomly divided into one …

Examining Factors Used By Students To Select A Major In Communication Sciences And Disorders, Mackenzie Mccartney

Master's Theses

There is a shortage of practicing speech-language pathologists (SLP) and this is not improving. Within the profession, this shortage is felt mostly in a public school. This study explored factors used by graduate students to decide about their profession and applying the knowledge of these factors to the recruitment process. Specifically, this study looked at the following questions: 1. What are the current factors that influence the selection of communication sciences and disorders as a major? 2. Was there a particular person influencing the decision to major in communication sciences and disorders? 3. What prompted students to enter into their …

The Validity And Reliability Of The Fort Hays State University Shuttle Walk Test, Lynae Wright

Master's Theses

A variety of time limited, distance limited and incremental shuttle walk tests have been utilized to evaluate functional fitness. Most incremental shuttle walk tests require the same leg to always be on the inside of the walking pattern; therefore receiving more stress because the body’s mass shifts to the inside foot. Only one previous study used a figure-8 walking pattern, it was not used to measure functional fitness (Hess, 2010). The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) shuttle walk test of functional walking fitness incorporating a figure-8 walking …

Recognition Of Speech In Multi-Talker Babble By Individuals With Hearing Loss, Kyle J. Christensen

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the speech recognition abilities of individuals with hearing loss using multi-talker babble as a competing stimulus. Twenty-six young adults participated, 15 in the normal hearing group (mean age of 21.9 years) and 11 in the hearing loss group (mean age of 22.2 years). The participants with normal hearing (0-20 dB HL) had a high frequency pure tone average (HFPTA) of 5 dB HL in both ears, while the participants in the hearing loss group had an HFPTA of 13 dB HL in the right ear and 25 dB HL in the left …

The Effects Of Upper Body Vs Lower Body Training On Rate-Pressure Product, Zanae Baird

Master's Theses

Lower body activities such as walking, running, and cycling have traditionally been used as the activity mode during physiological exercise testing. Interest in specific responses to upper extremity exercise has increased since upper body cycle ergometry became an important alternative exercise mode in the 1970s. Previous research on upper extremity exercise utilized upper body cycle ergometry or a standard push-pull rowing movement. Few upper extremity studies measured rate-pressure product. The purpose of this study was to compare rate-pressure product between lower extremity exercise utilizing upright cycling and primarily upper extremity exercise on a double arm swing Ski Erg ergometer. Hemodynamic …

A Comparison Of Three Bicycle Pedal Types And Power Output, Brandon Kuhn

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the power output over a 30-second maximum effort bicycle sprint with three different pedal types; clipless, toe-strap, and flat. The participants for this investigation were eight (7 males and 1 female) mountain bikers with ages between 20 and 55 ( Age = 40) from the Central Kansas Mountain Bike Club. Each participant was required to provide his or her own bicycle and the researchers provided the training stand, Saris CycleOps PowerTap rear wheel, and Garmin Edge 500 cycling computer used for data collection. Testing procedure consisted of a warmup, 30- second maximal …

Effects Of Fatigue On The Balance Error Scoring System For Concussion Testing In Healthy And Previous Concussed Participants, Jason M. Graham

Master's Theses

There has been a recent increase in the attention of concussions in the media and research world. One of the major factors that contribute to injuries including concussion is fatigue. This study has been designed to allow athletic trainers to decipher whether a potential balance insufficiency in an acutely concussed athlete is due to fatigue or the side affects of the concussion on postural stability. The study examined 30 college-aged athletes from a multitude of sports who had either sustained a concussion or never had a concussion. Participants were randomly grouped into one of three groups: non-concussed control group, non-concussed …

A Survey Of Speech-Language Pathologists' Attitudes Toward The 3:1 Service Delivery Model, Whitney Hubert

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of SLPs who are currently using the 3:1 service delivery model. The 3:1 Model consists of services being directly administered for three out of the four weeks of a month and indirect services provided during the fourth week. An internet-based questionnaire was completed by 90 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to obtain their perspectives regarding the 3:1 Model. In general, 45% of the SLPs reported using the 3:1 Model with all of their clients and 86% preferred the 3:1 Model over other models (block scheduling, traditional model). The SLPs noted …

Exploring The Sleeping Experiences Of Shiftwork Nurses, Patricia A. Doty

Master's Theses

Shiftwork scheduling in nursing can lead to diminished health status, quality of life and job dissatisfaction, and it can contribute significantly to decreases in the quality of patient care. In light of the current nursing shortage, and the increasing need for healthcare professionals and services in the coming years, it is imperative that nursing administrators focus on identifying and implementing interventions that counteract the deleterious effects of shiftwork now. This investigation was conducted to explore the sleeping experiences of shiftwork nurses. A convenience sample of 69 (N = 69) licensed nurses working day shift, evenings, nights and rotating shifts at …

Intimidation And Disruptive Behaviors In The Health Care Setting, Janelle Wade

Master's Theses

Intimidation and disruptive behavior can undermine patient care and cause staff dissatisfaction and turnover of professionals in the health care setting. These behaviors have been linked to patient safety issues, nurse satisfaction, nurse retention, as well as ineffective communication and collaboration (Fontaine & Gerardi, 2005; Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), 2004; Martin, 2008; Rosenstein & O‟Daniel, 2005). The Joint Commission has made recommendations to reduce the incidence of disruptive behaviors. Hospitals are being asked to take responsibility, hold physicians accountable for their actions, and address workplace intimidation (ISMP, 2004; Rosenstein & O‟Daniel, 2005; The Joint Commission, July 2008). The …

Factors That Influence Organizational Commitment In Nurse Manager / Subordinate Dyads, Laurie Stegeman

Master's Theses

According to Buerhaus, Auerbach and Staiger (2009), despite the current easing of the nursing shortage due to the recent recession and many nurses putting off retirement, the nursing shortage is projected to grow to approximately 260,000 registered nurses by the year 2025. Creating a work environment within nursing practice that is healthy and productive is essential to maintaining an adequate nursing workforce (Shirey, 2006). Nurse leaders play a vital role in creating work environments that are healthy, positive and productive. The problems associated with decreasing levels of organizational commitment (OC) among staff nurses ultimately resulting in losing dedicated, skilled nursing …

Milliamperage-Seconds, Kilovoltage And Patient Dose In Computed Radiography, Grace Stewart

Master's Theses

Radiographic techniques were applied to a human simulation pelvis phantom with evaluations of the resultant image analyzed by a designated radiologist. Results indicate that a lower patient dose is received when coupled with an increase in the tube voltage. Images analyzed demonstrated little noise variation between images, which indicates the ability to lower patient dose while maintaining quality images.

The Effect Of Using A Turn Clock To Cue Patient Repositioning For Pressure Ulcer Prevention In An Acute Care Setting, Julie Wiens

Master's Theses

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, a nursing care quality indicator, are becoming increasingly common in United States acute care facilities. In fiscal year 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recorded 257,412 “avoidable” Stage III and Stage IV pressure ulcers acquired in our nation’s hospitals on patients who were admitted to receive care for their primary diagnosis (CMS, 2007). Pressure ulcers are associated with pain and suffering, loss of function, increased length of stay, increased morbidity and mortality, and significant financial burden (Ayello & Lyder, 2008). In October 2008, the CMS discontinued payments for additional costs associated with pressure ulcers …

Adn Program Benchmarking Using Standardized Exams For Assessment And Remediation, Amy J. Waters

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research investigation was to determine the correlational values between testing scores when utilizing the Assessment Technologies Institute™, LLC (ATI) standardized content exams during the third and fourth semesters of an associate degree nursing (ADN) program, and the sub-scale scores in the same content areas of the comprehensive final exam, the ATI RN-Predictor, taken during the final weeks of nursing school. The RN-Predictor is used to assess graduating students’ preparedness for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). A Level II, nonexperimental, correlational study design utilized convenience and retrospective sampling of academic variable data of …

New Mothers' Perceptions Of Their First Encounter With A Health Care Provider, Katherine Ure

Master's Theses

Since its genesis, health care has been developing and evolving to meet the needs of the population it serves. Hospital length of stay after childbirth has progressively decreased over the past 29 years initially in response to public pressure to reduce the medical aspect of childbirth. More recently, the decrease in length of stay has accelerated in response to cost-containment pressures (Eaton, 2001). This investigation examined new mothers’ perceptions of their maternal role attainment through their initial interaction with a health care provider. Ramona Mercer (1990) stated in Parents at Risk that there is a pressing need to facilitate early …

The Differences Of Personality Traits And Competitive Tendencies Between Female Collegiate Athletes And Females Majoring In Professional Competitive Fields, Terra Upham

Master's Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the differences between collegiate female athletes to females majoring in professional competitive fields to (1) specific personality factors, (2) levels of competitiveness, and (3) differences in competitive levels with regard to classification year. Methods included discriminating the Big Five personality traits and competitive tendencies to ascertain if personality and competitiveness measures differed between, 23 female collegiate athletes and 27 female majors in traditionally competitive professions. Participants ranged from ages 18 through 43. Participants self-reported their individual demographics, personality traits, and levels of competitiveness through survey tests. The personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, …

Quality Of Life, Environmental Domain, And Use Of Identification Devices In Nursing, William Rhoads

Master's Theses

Significant attention has been brought to the safety of medical and nursing care in acute-care hospitals, but nursing homes are not immune to errors that result in injury (Kapp, 2003). Errors, even minor ones, can have significant impact in this population group of aged, frail individuals (Scott-Cawiezell, et al., 2006). Nursing home residents do not wear an identification device for varied reasons. This places an extra burden on those passing medications to ensure they have the right person receiving the right medication. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between variables with the resident’s willingness to wear …