Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Joint Book Reading And The Language Experience Approach On Vocabulary Acquisition, Whitney Sturm

Masters Theses

Research indicates that reading books is beneficial for development of vocabulary and syntax (Robbins & Ehri, 1994). Joint book reading is defined as the interaction between an adult, child, and a book while reading. The language experience approach (LEA) is a reading method that "promotes reading and writing through the use of personal experiences and oral language"(Taylor, 1992). The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of joint book reading and the language experience approach on vocabulary acquisition in preschool and kindergarten children with hearing impairments, as well as, preschool and kindergarten children with normal hearing.

Within …

Examining The Effects Of Nurse Work Hours, Inter-Shift Recovery, Fatigue, And Sleep Debt On Intent To Leave, Amy M. Manderscheid

Masters Theses

The nursing profession contains dedicated professionals who work varying shifts with assorted time frames to recover before returning to work. The purpose of this study was to examine shift work, inter-shift recovery, fatigue, sleep debt and intent to leave among full-time nurses. Data were collected through the use of electronic questionnaires from a sample of 36 registered nurses from the Sigma Theta Tau Kappa Epsilon Chapterat- Large.

Findings revealed significant differences among nurses working 10 hour shifts and their accumulation of sleep debt in comparison to nurses working 8 or 12 hour shifts. Significant differences were not found between acute …

A Narrative Study: Exploration Of Arts And Crafts As Meaningful Productivity In A Middle-Old Adult Who Resides In An Independent Living Facility, Sara E. Thornburg

Masters Theses

This qualitative study explored the meaningfulness of engagement in arts and crafts in one older adult who resides in an independent living facility. A narrative approach was used and one participant was purposefully selected for the study. Data was collected through the use of semi-structured interviews. Additional data sources included the participant’s book of memories, artifacts, and photos. Analysis consisted of thorough readings of the data and the development of a chronology from the participant’s stories and hook of memories. Participant feedback and peer debriefing was elicited in order to insure validity of the researcher’s findings. Consistent with narrative research, …

Motivational Factors Of Marathon Running, Donna Lakinger

Masters Theses

This study was created to identify the motivations of marathon runners, that is, why they choose to participate in marathons. It is hypothesized that motives for running a marathon differ depending on experience, age, and gender.

Participants were eligible to complete the questionnaire if they had run at least one full marathon. Age, gender, and amount of experience were not restricted. Volunteers for the study were found at the Health and Fitness Expo for the Chicago Marathon and through various online running groups. The data was collected through an online survey • located at www.myg3.com. The Motivation of Marathoners Scales, …

Word Retrieval Treatment Using Collaborative Referencing, Cassie (Shuemaker) Flack

Masters Theses

The use of collaborative referencing tasks as a supplement to traditional speech therapy for two individuals ( one male and one female) with non:fluent aphasia due to cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was investigated. The participants' spouses served as communication partners for the collaborative referencing task. Stimuli consisted of three sets of ten pictures of individuals performing actions. Participants and spouses alternated serving as director and matcher for six trials each session. Each picture set was targeted until participants reached 80% accuracy across two trials at identifying pictures. Analysis of transcripts showed that participants and communication partners followed the three phases of …

Using Art In Occupational Therapy With People Who Have Cancer: A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer R. Dochod

Masters Theses

OBJECTIVE. To explore the role of art, with a small group of people who have cancer, as a means provide distraction from pain, to help express feelings, and to assist in making connections with others.

METHOD. Using a randomized sample from Gilda’s Club, a support center for those with cancer, in-house social workers recruited two participants to take part in a small group case study conducted by a master’s level occupational therapy student.

RESULTS. Two participants enrolled in the art class conducted by the researcher. Predetermined questions gathered through participant interviews and class discussions provided the data. Although the participant …

Adolescents’ Perceptions Of Their Roles In Decision-Making In The Oral Cleft Clinic, Rebecca Ann Hague

Masters Theses

Background: The literature suggests adolescents have the cognitive abilities equivalent to an adult for health related decisions. Adolescents should participate in treatment planning at a level equivalent to their cognitive abilities and the extent they desire. Little is known regarding adolescents' perceived and desired level of involvement in decision making in an oral cleft clinic.

Purpose: To describe adolescents' perceptions of their roles and desired level of involvement in decision-making in an oral cleft clinic.

Methods: Four adolescents completed a questionnaire and participated in focus groups.

Results: Participants reported that they perceive they are involved in decision-making processes, are knowledgeable …

Perceptions Of Adolescents: Preferences Of Adolescents For Parental Presence And The Effect On Information Disclosure, Bethany Barrus

Masters Theses

Adolescents born with a cleft lip or palate are in a unique position because they have received a lifetime of interdisciplinary team care where decisions are frequently made by parents, yet they are transitioning into a stage of life in which they will make their own health related decisions. Because of the complexity of their health needs, the preferred method of care is interdisciplinary team care (Nackashi, Dedlow, Dixon-Wood, 1997; Kummer, 2001). Little research has been conducted regarding the perceptions of adolescents with oral cleft about their care and issues of confidentiality in the context of team care. This study …

Occupations, Habits And Routines: A Case Study Of An African-American Woman, Michelle Leigh Velting

Masters Theses

Obesity is a growing problem in the United States. African-American women make up a large portion of the obese population in the United States, however, the treatment techniques available have had limited success with this group. Although many health professionals are involved with the treatment of obesity, literature involving the value of occupational therapy with this population is limited. This mixed-methods case study identified the daily occupations, habits, and routines of a middle-class obese African-American woman. The participant was selected via a health care professional in the area of Grand Rapids, MI. The Occupational Questionnaire (OQ), Model of Human Occupation …

Development Of A Needs Assessment For Youth Violence Prevention Programs In A Large Midwestern City, Laura Lynn Savel

Masters Theses

This research project was designed to examine the relationship between the needs for violence prevention programs and the qualities of occupational therapists. A needs assessment relevant to violence prevention program could not be located. One was therefore created based on the literature available as well as professional input. A pilot study was conducted, revisions were made and the needs assessment was distributed when approval was granted. The assessment was distributed to elementary, middle and high school principals, assistant principals, occupational therapists, guidance counselors/psychologists, and support staff from two western Michigan school systems. A model program was created based on the …

The Effectiveness Of Support Groups In A Community Diabetes Prevention Program, Traci Worby

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a support group in a community Diabetes Prevention Program. The research questions to be answered were: (1) did participation in the intervention group result in better outcomes compared to the participants in the control group, (2) did the participants in the intervention group and the control group feel that the Diabetes Prevention Program's exercise program helped them make positive changes in their life and taught them the importance of continued exercise to help reduce the risk of diabetes according to statements answered on the survey, (3) did the participants …

The Influence Of Physical Activity, Eating Habits, And Social Physique Anxiety On Obesity In Adolescent Females, Rachel Marie Hardesty

Masters Theses

Childhood obesity is becoming a more serious problem as time goes by. A large part of the problem is adolescent children are less active, have poor eating habits, and have negative feelings regarding their body shape. PURPOSE: In order to identify those factors most closely associated with obesity. This study compared the eating patterns, activity patterns, and social physique anxiety in non-obese to over weight and obese adolescent females. Also, this study investigated the relationships between eating patterns, activity patterns, and social physique anxiety to body mass index in adolescent females in order to identify those factors most closely associated …

Assessing Effectiveness Of The Differential Assessment Of Autism And Other Developmental Disorders (Daadd) As A Diagnostic Screening Instrument, Caroline Dahlstrom

Masters Theses

Children with developmental disorders were thought to be more similar than different in the past (Greenspan & Wieder, 1998). Many developmental disorders are a result of neurological differences and/or delays in a child's acquisition of general skills and can present similarly at a young age (Richard & Calvert, 2003). Therefore, there has recently been an emphasis on the need for developmental disorders to be differentiated because of the differences being noted. Many assessment tools, including specialized checklists, interview formats, and standardized tests used to assist in the diagnosis of developmental disorders are available. The Differential Assessment of Autism and other …

Methodological Variables For Eliciting Maximum Phonational Frequency Range In Adults, K. Lenee Moseley

Masters Theses

The current study employed an experimental research design to compare the effect of elicitation tasks (glissando versus discrete-steps) and the integration of visual feedback (auditory-only model versus visual feedback with an auditory model) on obtaining an individual's maximum phonational frequency range (MFPR). Participants included forty normal speaking males and females. A one-way ANOVA indicated the glissando elicitation task yielded a significantly higher MPFR than the discrete-steps elicitation task. [F (1,159) = 34.39; p < .01]. A one-way ANOVA approached but did not reach statistical significance [F (1,159) = 3.104, p = .08] for the difference between the auditory-only model and the auditory model with visual feedback. However, the frequency means depicted a larger MPFR when visual feedback was included within each of the elicitation tasks.

The Effects Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication On The Communication Attempts And Disruptive Behavior Of A Child With Autism, Natalie Arp

Masters Theses

This study evaluated the use of augmentative and alternative communication as a means to decrease disruptive behavior for a child in the autism spectrum. A case study with a training and treatment period was implemented. The dependent variables were the disruptive behaviors and the increased communication that occurred during a speech therapy treatment session. The independent variable was the implementation of augmentative and alternative communication, specifically, a modified Picture Exchange Communication System, (PECS) (Bondy & Frost, 1998) in combination with a VOCA (Twin Talk). The participant was a 3 1/2 year old female diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder at …

The Effect Of Objective Data In Narrative Observation Notes On Changing Supervisee Behavior, Rudyard C. Watson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research study was to determine if two different types of narrative observation notes impacted supervisee clinical behaviors. Narrative observation notes alone and narrative observation notes coupled with objective data were used as the independent variables. Sixteen supervisees and 5 supervisors participated in the study. The supervisees were divided into two numerically even groups of eight and provided with one of the independent variables.

The study consisted of eleven total therapy sessions, with the first three sessions providing baseline data and the following eight involved administration of the independent variables. Group one received narrative observation notes alone …

A Comparison Of School-Aged Children Who Stutter And Do Not Stutter In Difficult Phonological Tasks, Christopher Lading

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess the phonology skills of school-aged children who stutter using tasks that task the speech system. Participants included 11 children who stuttered and 10 normally fluent children. The results suggested that no differences exist in the phonology of children who stutter and children who are normally fluent when presented with complex phonological tasks.

Long-Arm Splinting For Lateral Epicondylitis: A Case Study, Crystal Wolters

Masters Theses

Lateral epicondylitis is a debilitating condition that has a significantly negative effect on the occupational lives of many people. There appears to be no recognized ideal treatment method for the condition. Long-arm splinting for lateral epicondylitis has not been addressed in the literature. A case study was used to thoroughly describe one participant’s experience with long-arm splinting to treat her lateral epicondylitis. She was interviewed, observed, and measurements were taken of her affected arm’s range of motion and strength. The seven themes which were identified through these methods include a description of how her lateral epicondylitis developed, her description of …

Attitudes Of Nurses Toward Research, Nancee Hofmeister

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of nurses toward research. Donabedian’s framework of structure, process and outcome is the conceptual model. A convenience sample (n=119) of registered nurses at a Midwest hospital answered Boothe’s Attitudes on Nursing Research Scale. The scale contains 84-items answered on a 5-point Likert scale. The scores were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA. Comparisons were made of the top and bottom quartile of item scores. The results indicate items that reflect structure and process are a subscale of the interest and environment scale. The most positive attitudes of the nurses …

An Examination Of Factors And Perceptions Related To Steroids/Human Growth Hormone In College Baseball, Benjamin D. Riegle

Masters Theses

This study examined the role modeling effect from professional baseball through an anonymous survey aimed at the prevalence, potential precursors, and deterrents of steroid use among 173 intercollegiate baseball players. Results indicated that 2.3% of participants admitted to using steroids, but this low incidence was not due to low access as 58.4% said they knew how to obtain steroids and 37.8% had previously been offered steroids. Just over one-third (34.1%) agreed that performance enhancement was a precursor to steroid/HGH use and a mean score of 2.53 (SD = 1.46) indicated that it was a greater precursor than improving appearance (19.7%, …

Language-Based Spelling Instruction For Children Who Are Hard-Of-Hearing, Brittney L. Yakey

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SPELL-Links to Reading and Writing, a language-based instructional spelling program, with two hard-of-hearing children. Spelling skills were evaluated using the Spelling Performance Evaluation for Language (SPELL), Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT), and Featured Inventories. The participants included two hard-of-hearing children with mild hearing loss. Spelling intervention targeted four spelling patterns (short u, ck, ch/tch, and ng). The results showed that one child benefited from the SPELL-Links to Reading and Writing by the improvement across all four patterns, while the other child showed improvement in only two of the patterns.

Resilience And Depressive Symptoms In Midlife Women, Keverne L. Lehman

Masters Theses

Rates of depression are increasing throughout the world, with women experiencing depression twice as often as men. This study utilized the Neuman Systems Model to examine the relationship in midlife women between depressive symptoms and resilience. Women ages 35-55, selected from four health care settings, completed written surveys on demographic information, life events, depression, and resilience. Results supported depressive symptoms as a health concern for mid-life women: 32% reporting current or previous treatment for depression, and 24% screening positive for depression. Resilience, measured by the Polk Resilience Patterns Scale, was related to education, perceived health, conflict in the living situation, …

Investigation Of The Effects Of A Rapid Response Team On Nurse Satisfaction, Collaboration, And Communication, Jacob William Ainsworth

Masters Theses

The positive effects of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) on clinical outcomes are well known; however little is known about the effects of the RRT on the registered nurses (RNs) who utilize it. The purpose of this study was to a) examine the overall perceptions of nurses on satisfaction, collaboration, and communication and b) explore the differences in perceptions of satisfaction, collaboration, and communication between RNs who have utilized the RRT versus those who have not using a descriptive design. Data were collected by questionnaires from a sample of 340 RNs who worked at a midwestem institution. The results indicated a …

Examining The Structural Covariates Of Methamphetamine Use: A Social Disorganization Perspective, Justin Smith

Masters Theses

There have been many anecdotal accounts describing the characteristics of individuals involved in methamphetamine use, trafficking and production. However, prior to the current study there was yet to be a macro-level analysis of methamphetamine use. The extant macro-level literature on drug use has suggested that areas with high levels of social disorganization experience high rates of drug use. It was expected that school-districts with low SES and high rates of ethnic heterogeneity, residential instability and family disruption will experience high rates of methamphetamine use. In addition, it was expected that rural school districts would show higher rates than urban and …

Entry Level Therapists’ Perceived Readiness To Prescribe Low-Technology Adaptive Equipment To Geriatric Populations, Russell Wood

Masters Theses

In this research entry-level therapists' were questioned about their readiness to prescribe low-technology adaptive equipment to geriatric populations. The analysis of 33 returned questionnaires have been discussed, with the overall results indicating that experience, familiarity, and education of specific equipment are all significantly related to the confidence levels of entry-level therapists in prescribing those equipment.

Additionally, the results of specific analysis for the groups of equipment, namely dressing, bathing and toileting were entertained. Open ended questions regarding equipment usage, follow up and trends are also discussed. Finally prediction equations are shared resulting from statistical analysis.

Efficacy Of Therapeutic Listening Intervention On Auditory Processing/Attention In Children Ages 3-11, Casey James Pawell

Masters Theses

A study was conducted to determine the effect Therapeutic Listening® intervention has on auditory attention in children when used in conjunction with sensory integration therapy. Single subject experimentation took place with three participants over a ten week period of time. Pre-test and post-test results on standardized tests were compared as well as graphical representation of change during the intervention phase of this study to determine effect. Positive intervention results were concluded when graphical and test changes were compared. Therapeutic Listening® has noted positive change in auditory attention and completion of verbal tasks in children between the ages of 3 and …

Perceived Barriers To Care Among Hispanic Women Who Delay Prenatal Care, Gustavo A. Moretta

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among selected demographic variables and the barriers to prenatal care perceived by English- Speaking, Hispanic women. The Health Belief Model was used as the theoretical framework to guide the development of this study.

The sample consisted of 20 participants aged 18 years to 38 years of age who had sought prenatal care at a primary care clinic in a midwest community. The participants had visited the provider for prenatal care after the twelfth week of gestation. Data were obtained using two instruments. Melnyk’s Perceived Barriers to Care Seale (1990) measured …

The Validity Of The S/Z Ratio As A Voice Screening Tool, Larry L. Panozzo Jr.

Masters Theses

This study investigated the validity of the s/z ratio as a voice screening tool. Twenty female subjects, ten with vocal fold pathology and ten normal control subjects, participated in the current research project. Results indicated that although the s/z ratio was higher for the disordered group than the normal group, the difference was not significant (p=.18). Sensitivity equaled 90% while specificity equaled 50% when 1.1 was used as the cutoff value. When 1.4 was used as the cutoff value, sensitivity was 30% while specificity was 80%. In addition, there was a weak relationship between the clinician's perception of the size …

Role Modeling Attitudes And Physical Activity Behavior Of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Professionals, Emily Dufrene

Masters Theses

Role models are individuals whose behavior, example or success can be observed and learned from. Health professionals are responsible for the motivation and production of goal directed behavior (Wilson & Petruska, 1984). Modeling behaviors that encourage physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life should be the foundation for all individuals certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM Credentialed Professionals, 2005) as exercise specialists, fitness instructors, or program directors. Physicians, exercise physiologists and nurses working in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs are expected to model healthy behaviors for their own health benefit and to encourage their patients.

Low Back Pain In Police Officers, Jennifer Gwyn Arts

Masters Theses

Low back pain (LBP) is something that police officers deal with on a daily basis. The purpose of this research was to explore whether police officers have a higher incidence of LBP than the general population and to explore what factors officers believe contribute to the LBP they experience. Surveys were made available to all police departments in Kent County and all sworn officers were asked to participate. The difference between LBP experienced by police officers (60.2%) and that experienced by the general population (60-90%) was not found to be significant. The top two answers given by officers as to …