Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Analysis Of Risk Factors Associated With High Rates Of Cesarean Births In Three Selected Northeast Tennessee Hospitals., Karen Stewart-Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study consists of an analysis of hospital discharge data from three Northeast Tennessee hospitals to identify maternal demographic factors that may be linked to higher rates of cesarean sections in this region of Appalachia. Maternal age, race, insurance status, length of stay, and birth weight were evaluated to identify regional trends in the prevalence of these factors over a two-year period.

There were 1,678 (23.3%) singleton live births by cesarean section of which 7.6% were repeat cesarean section deliveries. Less than one percent of the 7,181 births were vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC) delivery. Overall, insurance and maternal age …

Validation Of Passive Air Sampling Monitors Onboard United States Navy Submarines, Larry A. Mcfarland

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

An operating submarine creates a unique air quality mixture of compounds that result from a combination of human metabolism, construction materials, materials brought onboard and compounds created through the interaction of ship systems. A comprehensive study of submarine atmospheres is ongoing during deployments of U.S. Navy nuclear submarines. As part of the overall effort, a paired air sampling comparison field validation was conducted to compare the air sampling effectiveness of passive diffusive monitors compared to more traditional active air sampling methods when sampling for acrolein, formaldehyde and ozone in the enclosed submarine atmosphere. Acrolein monitors containing 2-hydroxymethylpiperidine (HMP) impregnated glass …

Locus Of Control, Coping, And Anticipatory Nausea In Women With Breast Cancer, Melinda L. Nielsen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Many cancer patients experience adverse chemotherapy-related side effects. The present study examined whether the perception that one can control and effectively cope with her treatment for breast cancer mitigate against any nausea and vomiting that she may experience in anticipation of chemotherapy treatments. Seventy-five women with breast cancer completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale - Form C, the Krantz Health Opinion Survey, the Ways of Coping Scale - Revised, and the Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis. As hypothesized, internal health locus of control was significantly positively related to positive reappraisal coping strategies. This relationship was moderated by …

Whose Turn Is It Anyway : The Impact Of Job Rotation On The Reduction Of Cumulative Trauma Disorders, Francesco Dimiceli Jr.

Theses

In today's fast-paced world, repetitive activity on the job has become very demanding. Many workers are suffering from injuries known as cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs). Job rotation can be an effective and powerful tool when seeking to minimize CTDs by allowing workers to experience different activities, thereby distributing the physical demands on the workers' bodies.

A case study was conducted on a northwestern New York manufacturing facility to identify the presence of excessive work stressors and to formulate potential corrective actions, including an analysis of their current job rotation system. The jobs were evaluated using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment. …

Effects Of High Fruit Intake On Systematic Blood Pressure In African Americans, Leonard L. Gibbons

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This randomized dietary intervention trial examined the effects of a high fruit diet on systemic BP in African-Americans. Thirty-eight free-living subjects with systolic BPs between 130-159 mm Hg and diastolic BPs between 85-99 mm Hg, were enrolled for a six week period. The cases were given daily supplements of potassium rich foods: bananas, orange juice and raisins, while no dietary advice or food was given to the controls.

After six weeks, the means systolic BP was 5.79 mm Hg ( p=.009) lower in the cases than the controls. The mean diastolic BP at week six was 3.76 mm Hg (p=.047) …

Explanatory Power Of The Behavior Model Of Utilization For Pediatric Asthma Health Care In An Urban Managed Care Setting, Kathie Marie Sawyer Zimbro

Health Services Research Dissertations

The Behavior Model of Utilization played a key role in explaining health services use for pediatric members with asthma in one urban, regional managed care company. The critical role the asthma management program played in promoting the health and well-being of enrolled members was elucidated. Information gleaned from this empirical study can be used to encourage appropriate resource utilization, formulate pediatric asthma health policy, and deliver cost-effective, quality health care. More importantly, managed care company administrators and clinicians can demonstrate the value of their efforts by achieving measurable improvements in the health and well-being of children in the communities they …

The Pediatric Breathing Survey, Linda J. Galloway

Health Services Research Dissertations

To ensure culturally-sensitive assessments, the researcher designed a Pediatric Breathing Survey (PBS) to measure quality of life for African-American children. The purpose of this study was to test whether the PBS is a reliable and valid instrument. Comparisons of group differences on race, income and parent's level of education based on parent responses to the questionnaires were conducted. More specifically, differences in Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) between Caucasian and African-American children were examined. The researcher-designed instrument was compared to Juniper's Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. The sample consisted of parents of 84 school-aged children diagnosed with asthma. …

Current First Aid And Cpr Credentials Of Selected Head High School Athletic Coaches In West Virginia, Amy Robinson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Coaches are typically the immediate caregivers to high school athletes. To date the state of West Virginia has no mandatory laws that coaches be first-aid and CPR certified before they are hired as a coach. The general purpose of this study is to assess current status of first-aid and CPR certifications held by high school head athletic coaches in the state of West Virginia. A packet will be sent to the 160 high schools in West Virginia. The principal will randomly choose five head coaches, at least two females and two males, to fill out the survey which are to …

Ambulatory Care Physician Barriers Contributing To The Low Advance Directive Education Rate, Cindy Lynn Grant

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Stress And Genetic Factors On Alcohol Consumption Among Males In Olancho District, Honduras, Gloria Amanda Madrid

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Alcoholism is a major public health problem globally. More than twenty studies have examined the association between the neurotransmitter dopamine DRD2 TaqI polymorphism and the onset of alcoholism, with half supporting an association. This study was based on the assumption that there is a relationship between the presence of the DRD2, one’s exposure to stress, and alcohol consumption. We examined the gene-stress interactional model in a sample of 309 males of Mayan descendents in the Olancho district of Honduras (age range 18-87). Participants were interviewed by a health care professional and blood samples were obtained for genetic identification. The Michigan …

Factors Associated With Asthma Readmissions In Children's Hospitals, Maria Acedo Kronenburg

Health Services Research Dissertations

Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood. Pediatric asthma hospitalization rates and costs of care have risen in recent years. Readmissions, an adverse outcome often used to monitor quality of care, may account for the increase in asthma hospitalization rates. This research examined selected hospital and patient risk factors related to asthma readmissions, using Donabedian's framework for structure, process, and outcomes to assess the quality of care for children with asthma. Outcome measures included readmission for asthma within one year of initial hospitalization, readmission within 30 days, and multiple readmissions within one year. Structure factors measured were insurance …

Predictors Of Condom Use Self-Efficacy And Perceptions Of Responsibilities Of Safer Sex Behaviors Among College Students, Lucy Ann Quatrella

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Factors Associated With Healthy Eating: Attitudes, Cultural Adherence, And Snacking Behavior Among Korean-American Adolescents, Kyoung Eun Oh

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Adolescents have increased nutrition needs and report frequent meal skipping and snacking, but there are few studies that examine the determinants of unhealthy eating, especially among ethnic minority groups. This study investigated dietary intake and snacking behavior among Korean-American adolescents in the Los Angeles area. We determined the relationship between dietary fat intake and overall quality of the diet as assessed by two healthy eating indices: the Healthy Eating Index (HEl) and Mean Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (MNAR). HEl assessed degree of compliance to Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines for Americans while MNAR assessed nutrient consumption compared to Recommended Dietary …

University Baccalaureate Curriculum Analysis For Safety And Health In The United States Of America (Usa) Toward A Model University Baccalaureate Curriculum, Margie L. Kolbe-Mims

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The goal of this research was to determine a model safety and health baccalaureate curriculum. A secondary target was to ascertain if safety and health practitioners and safety and health educators would concur on course offerings. To simplify this study effort, a search of literature was conducted on the Occupational Safety and Health field. There were no in-depth studies of this type for such a general population; therefore no instrument was available for this study. The perusal of literature indicated that most such studies had been conducted using a more specific target group of subjects. That is, faculties or former …

Men's Health: How Men Understand The Concept Of Health And How This Understanding Shapes Actions, Craig T. Thompson

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this research was to explore how men understand the concept of health, and how this understanding shapes actions. This dissertation developed as a result of both working at a Community Health Centre, and having an awareness that in Australia, statistics indicate that men's health is steadily deteriorating. A theoretical framework implementing the concepts of health, socialisation (masculinity) and cognition was utilised to guide the research. The research involved interviewing six male participants, who were university students ranging in age from 20 to 40 years. Participants were questioned regarding their perceptions of health and health management. Interview transcripts …

Predicting Milk And Soft Drink Consumption Among Female Adolescents Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Nada Osman Kassem

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A total of 756 female adolescents, aged 13 to 18 years, from five public high schools in Antelope Valley Union High School District located in North Los Angeles County participated in this study between February 1999 and March 1999. The ethnic composition was 53.3% White/Anglo Americans, 19.3% Hispanics or Latinos and 10.2% Black/African Americans. The constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control and their underlying beliefs) were assessed to determine the predictors of low-fat milk and regular soda consumption. A cross-sectional design with group-administered questionnaires was utilized.

Most participants (89.6%, n = 636) …

Risk Factors Associated With Infant Mortality Among Very Low Birthweight Infants Of Teenage Mothers In San Bernardino County, C. Letitia Henry

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Typically, infant mortality decreases as maternal age increases in teenagers. In contrast to these national data, San Bernardino County (SBC) experienced a different phenomenon in 1989-1994 among very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. The infant mortality rate (IMR) of VLBW infants born to mothers under 17 years old (283 per 1000 live births) was significantly lower than the IMR of VLBW infants born to mothers between the ages of 17-19 years old (430 per 1000 live births) (p = .02).

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to explain the discrepancy between IMRs of VLBW infants of younger teenage mothers …

Client-Centered Versus Traditional-Directive Educational Approach: A Randomized Study Of Exercises And Perceived Control Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Melissa D. Olfert

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A patient’s adherence to self-management therapies in diabetes strongly influences health outcomes, health care utilization, and ultimately health care costs. Engaging in regular exercise therapy reduces risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this randomized prospective study was to determine if a client-centered approach (CCA) toward diabetes education, verses a traditional-directive approach (TDA), would improve exercise participation, perceived control, intention to exercise, and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Fifty-nine type 2 patients were randomized into two groups: CCA and TDA. Diabetes education in the CCA group provided empowerment toward acquiring knowledge, skills, and responsibility …

The Determinants Of Post-Discharge Healthcare Utilization And Outcomes For Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Social Ecological Perspective, Shyuemeng Luu

Theses and Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a persistent nature: PTSD troubles patients

even decades after the occurrence of traumatic events. The “health behavioral model” is

adopted to examine the effects of external environmental, predisposing, enabling, and

need for care factors on the use of VA post-discharge ambulatory care and readmissions.

Data were obtained from the Patient Treatment File (PTF) and the Outpatient Care File

(OPT), the Area Resource File (ARF), American Hospital Association data sets (AHA), and the Uniform Crime Report (UCR).

The use of VA post-discharge ambulatory care is analyzed by using structural equation modeling (SEM). The readmission to VAMCs …

Tactile Hazardous Material Information System (Thmis), Alejandro Ruiz

Theses

In today's work environment, many dangers exist around that can harm workers who are not aware of the hazards in their environment. If these workers happen to be visually impaired, then identifying those hazards with the present labeling systems would be difficult. The Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS) was chosen to be adapted with tactile patterns and numbers. The tactile patterns and numbers would not change the layout and intent of the HMIS, but enhance its effectiveness.

Five tactile patterns and five tactile numbers were designed to be recognizable and simple. The patterns and numbers were tested and observed to …

Assessment Of Knowledge Regarding Three Popular Dietary Supplements: Chromium Picolinate, Creatine, And Androstenedione, Terry L. Williams Jr.

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Are Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia And Binge Eating Genetically Caused?, Lurlena A. Burnett

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

No abstract provided.