Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Primary Care Nurse Attitudes, Beliefs And Confidence Levels Regarding Alcohol Abuse And Its Treatment: Impact Of Educational Intervention., Raja Sekhar Vadlamudi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol abuse has been a major burden on the society. In the fight against it a key issue the education of the primary care nurses has been ignored. This study evaluates the effect of education program on the attitudes, beliefs, and confidence levels of primary care nurses regarding alcohol abuse and its treatment. Data from the Project Mainstream educational intervention were used with permission from the investigators. Two hundred one students and faculty of nursing at Vanderbilt University participated in the intervention, which was designed to train primary care providers in the Brief Negotiated Intervention technique for early detection and …

Trapped In A State Of Mitigating Danger: Forgotten Process, Forgotten Women, Alva Hunt Reid

Doctoral Dissertations

Women who are in intimate partner abusive relationships undergo a change process, which is a spectrum of emotional and behavioral responses to violence that is identifiable in stages. The end result is that women terminate their relationships or renegotiate their circumstances to halt the violence: Treatment protocol for abused women is shifting to individualized intervention based on these stages. Leaving and returning to an abusive relationship is a predominant theme in the change process that has not been investigated.

The present study examined this forgotten leave-return process in a sample of forgotten women. Grounded theory methodology was utilized to describe …

Chlorpyrifos In Human Breast Milk?, Karyn Ann Casey

Doctoral Dissertations

The widespread use of pesticides by farmers, pest control operators and even the general public can pose significant risks to children's health. One particular pesticide, chlorpyrifos, was the most widely used pesticide in the United States with total use estimated at approximately 30 million pounds per year. Young children and the developing fetus are far more susceptible to the effects of pesticide exposure as a result of unusual exposure patterns and developmental immaturities. Transplacental transfer and lactational exposure are the pathways exclusive to the developing fetus and infant. Chlorpyrifos exposure is of special concern in this population because of its …

Effects Of Strength Training On The Quadriceps To Hamstring Ratio In A Female Recreational Athlete, Heather Kennedy

Student Dissertations & Theses

Kennedy, H. P. EFFECTS OFSTRENGTH TRAINING ON THE QUADRICEPS TO HAMSTRING RATIO IN A FEMALE RECREATIONAL ATHLETE, 2005. Three recreational female athletes were tested on the effects a strength training program would have on their quadriceps to hamstring ratio. The subjects ranged in age from 24-33 years old. The program was an 8 week strength training program. One subject was unable to complete the program due to pregnancy and one was injured in a car wreck midway through the program. The subject who completed the 8 week training program showed overall improvement in lower extremity strength but did not show …

The Only Way Out Is To Die: Perceptions And Experiences Of Rural, Homebound, Older Diabetics, Sharon Robbins George

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the meaning of diabetes, as perceived and experienced by rural, homebound, 65-year and older, diabetics requiring insulin. The sixty-five year and older persons are disproportionately affected by diabetes. They are more likely than younger diabetics to have co-morbidities, disabilities and difficulty preventing diabetic complications. Guidelines for diabetes management and treatment developed by the American Diabetes Association are not specifically targeted for the 65-year and older population. Phenomenological research was used to examine and describe the understanding of diabetes from perspectives of older diabetics.

A purposive sample of participants was recruited from …

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Correlates Of Outcome In Nonaccidental Trauma, Janice Lyanne Enriquez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Nonaccidental head trauma (NAHT) in infants and children involves intentional injury that is often associated with severe neurological and neuropsychological sequelae. Injuries due to NAHT result in immediate changes in neural function, as evidenced by abnormal biochemical metabolite levels and clinical variables, which are predictive of long-term outcome. Identification of the association between biochemical metabolite levels and clinical variables with long-term outcome of NAHT would permit for an understanding of the types of services that could potentially facilitate recovery or reduce the severity of impairment. Infants and children who sustain such injuries are often excluded from the abuse as well …

Factors Related To Delayed Time For Hiv Care Among Youth Living With Hiv: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Social Support Networks And Access To Care, Patricia L. Jones

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: This research explored the pattern of influence social support networks had on delayed time between diagnosis and first doctor’s visit after diagnosis of HIV in youth. Results showed that factors related to receiving a referral were prosocial peer behaviors and excessive fibbing in the past 6 months. The study identified sources of social support and described the relationship between the source of support and time of first doctor’s visit after HIV diagnosis. Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed on all youth (N=347) and specifically on those seeking care. Methodology: Historical data were extracted from the baseline dataset of …

Eating Behavior And Obesity Risk Of Youth Living In The City Of San Bernardino, California, Carolyn A. Corder

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Adolescents living in the City of San Bernardino, California, are susceptible to health risks due to high rates of violence, suicide, teen pregnancy, and poverty, which place them among the most vulnerable in the Nation to disability, early death, unhealthy offspring, illiteracy, economic disadvantage, and chronic disease. This study analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior (YRBS) and local surveys conducted in the City’s Unified School District from 1999 through 2001. The investigators focused on the relationship, if any, of dietary and anthropometric factors to the priority adolescent behaviors targeted for intervention by the Healthy People 2010 objectives: accidental injuries …

A Newly Identified Hantavirus: The Development Of Immunologic Diagnostic Assays And Phylogenetic Analysis For Detection And Characterization, Shawn Lee Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations

Hantaviruses are the etiologic agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the Americas. As of July 2005, 396 HCPS cases in 30 U.S. states with a 36% mortality rate have been confirmed since reporting began in 1993.

The primary rodent host of numerous U.S. hantaviruses in Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse) although other strains have been found in association with a district rodent host and geographical region. Reservoir hosts are asymptomatically, persistently infected and shed virus particles intermittently in urine, saliva and feces. Thus, the primary transmission route for hantavirus …

Phonological Process Use In The Speech Of Children Fitted With Cochlear Implants, Rhonda Gale Parker

Masters Theses

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the use of both developmental and non-developmental phonological processes in a group of young children using cochlear implants.

Participants: 6 preschool children with severe to profound binaural hearing loss with cochlear implants

Method: 15-25 minute conversational speech samples from six children were collected at three-month intervals over a period of 12-21 months for a prior study. These samples were then transcribed and analyzed using Natural Phonological Analysis (NPA) and a data collection form created solely for the purpose of this study.

Data Analysis: Pearson correlations were used to determine relationships among …

Effect Of Dietary Treatment With Stearidonic Acid And Eicosapentaenoic Acid On Membrane Phospholipid Fatty Acid Composition And Glycogen-Elicited Peritoneal Neutrophil Survival In Absence Or Presence Of Bacterial Endotoxin, Jonathan Earl Phipps

Masters Theses

We previously found that enteral nutrition with diets containing elevated levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 n-3) reduced the number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and improved clinical outcome of patients with or at risk for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We have also shown that the treatment of the neutrophil-like cell line, HL-60, with EPA can induce apoptosis. It is not known, however, if the addition of EPA to the diet would result in similar occurrences in neutrophils.

It has been suggested that the use of diets enriched with stearidonic acid (SDA; 18:4 n-3) may provide a novel …

How Accurate Are Athletes' Perceptions Of Their Coaches' Expectations?, Angela Marathakis

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which there is a correspondence between athletes' perceptions of their coach's expectations and the coach's actual expectations. It was predicted that a significant difference would exist between the coach's expectations of high and low expectancy athletes (Solomon et. al, 1996a; Solomon, 2002; Solomon et. al 1996b). In addition, for both groups of athletes, it was predicted that there would be no difference between athletes' perceptions of their coach's expectations and the coach's actual expectations, supporting the notion that both groups of athletes accurately perceive the expectations their coach …

Evaluation Of An Oral Health Training Program For School Nurses, Linda Drengler

Master's Projects

Pediatric dental disease is a silent epidemic (Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 2002). Dental decay is commonly unrecognized and under-treated, and can affect children's growth and development as well as their ability to perform in school. Effective interventions to prevent dental decay include water fluoridation, dental sealants, pediatric dental screenings, and dental health education programs. This pre-experimental design study evaluated the effectiveness of an oral health training program for school nurses. This training program was designed based on the First 5 California <;>ral Health Training Program (2003). A non-randomized sample of fourteen (N=l4) school nurses participated in the …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of A Diabetes Managment Training Program For Unlicensed Assistive Personnel In Schools, Elaine M. Gomer

Master's Projects

This study evaluated the diabetes management-training program for unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). The purpose of the program was to prepare UAP to recognize and respond to the health care needs of students diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Twenty UAP participated. Teaching strategies were based on Albert Bandura' s social learning theory~ Two instruments were administered before and after the program. One was a 1 0-question survey addressing self-efficacy; the other was a 10 question multiple-choice test measuring knowledge of diabetes. Results of paired t tests indicate consistent and significant improvement in both perceptions of self-efficacy and knowledge (p < .05). This program provides a framework for school nurses training UAP that assist in the health care of students with diabetes. It is important that school nurses capitalize on the contribution that informed confident UAP might contribute to the provision of safe quality care to students with diabetes.

Perceptions Of High Risk Behaviors Among Culturally Diverse Adolescents And The Role Of Parental Influence And Parent Communication, Sharlene E. Junio

Master's Projects

Eighty seven ethnically diverse 9th and 1oth graders from an urban high school in Northern California were studied. Students were mostly female, between 14 and 16 years of age, and reported to be mostly Asian and Filipino. Students completed an 18-item Likert scale questionnaire requesting information about their overall relationship with their parents and their communication with their parents about drugs, sex, alcohol, birth control, and personal problems. Results of this study showed that participants rated their overall relationship with their parents as "good" or "very good." Despite this, communication was lacking among parents and adolescents in all topics of …

Evaluation Of An Oral Health Training Program For School Nurses, Kelley Haines-Kolostian

Master's Projects

Pediatric dental disease is a silent epidemic (Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 2002). Dental decay is commonly unrecognized and under-treated. Dental disease can affect children's growth and development as well as their ability to perform in school. Effective interventions to prevent dental decay include water fluoridation, dental sealants, pediatric dental screenings, and dental health education programs. This pre-experimental design study evaluated the effectiveness of an oral health training program for school nurses. This training program was designed based on the First 5 California Oral Health Training Program, First Smiles (First Smiles Program of California, 2003). The presentation was …

Job Satisfaction Among Staff Nurses In Mental Health Units In A Va Facility, Edith R. Lombard

Master's Projects

Studies have indicated that work environment in mental health is stressful, however, few studies have focused on staff working in acute mental health settings (Jenkins & Elliott, 2004). The purpose of this study was to describe job satisfaction among a sample of mental health staff nurses who were caring for patients with acute psychiatric disorders in a federal hospital. The second purpose was to determine if there were relationships between global job satisfaction and ethnicity, years in the organization, current unit, field of nursing, working with patients with mental disorders and age of staff nurses. An anonymous survey was distributed …

Nurses' Perception Of Family Presence During Resuscitation, Josephine Njoku

Master's Projects

Background Family witnessed resuscitation (FWR) is the concept of allowing family members at bedside during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Studies have shown that the lack of standard policies by hospitals regarding FWR forces nurses to make different decisions regarding family presence at bedside during resuscitation. The framework for this study is Sandman's teleological model. Objectives To examine nurses' perceptions of having family members present during adult cardiac resuscitation. Methods A descriptive study of 57 registered nurses (n = 57) from northern California was conducted. Participants completed a mailed survey consisting of a 22-item Likert scale questionnaire titled "Family Presence Risk-Benefit Scale." Results …

Nurse's Perceptions Of Causes Of Medication Errors And Barriers To Reporting, Virginia M. Ulanimo

Master's Projects

Objective: To describe medical-surgical nurses' perceptions of frequent causes of medication errors, of what constitutes a medication error, and of what are the barriers and empowerments to reporting. The study also explored the nurses' perceptions of the effect of physician order entry (POE) and barcode medication administration (BCMA) on medication errors. Background: Causes of medication errors have been investigated by numerous researchers in an attempt to determine safe medication administration process. Information technology (IT) systems enhance patient safety. No published studies were found on nurses' perceptions of medication errors in a setting with IT systems in place. Method: A descriptive …

Being Whole: Aligning Personhoods To Achieve Successful Childbirth With A History Of Childhood Sexual Abuse During Perinatal Services, Karla Kendall Richmond Phd, Msn, Rnc, Cns

Dissertations

Being a pregnant female is a temporary condition. A woman with a history of childhood sexual abuse aligns the personhoods of child victim, adult survivor and pregnant female to achieve a successful pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum experience. Female survivors desire to be recognized and function as whole being during the perinatal experience. It is estimated that 15 to 32 percent of females prior to the age of eighteen have unwanted sexual contact. Female survivors carry this history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) with them throughout their lives which may involve childbirth. There are many long-term psychological consequences that can …

The Effectiveness Of Aquatic Therapy With Persons Who Have Experienced A Cerebral Vascular Accident, Heather L. Tweedie

Masters Theses

This study examined the effectiveness of using aquatic therapy (AT) as a technique in the treatment of cerebral vascular accidents (CVA). The unique properties of the aquatic environment were manipulated to determine change in range of motion, muscle tone, balance, functional ambulation, and psychological functioning particularly social relationship and positive and negative feelings.

A single subject design was conducted using two subjects that participated in a twelve week aquatic therapy program. Aquatic therapy showed to be effective in treating common symptoms of a CVA. More research needs to be completed to ensure the effectiveness of aquatic therapy in congruency with …

Caregivers’ Perceptions Of Accessibility And Quality Of Services In The Community For Children With Mental Health Diagnoses: A Pilot Survey, Karin E. Brems

Masters Theses

This pilot study was intended to explore caregivers' perceptions of the mental health services available in the community for children with mental health diagnoses. A study-specific survey was developed to look at demographic characteristics, service accessibility, and service quality. This survey was distributed to caregivers through Michigan support groups. Returned surveys were analyzed for themes that could assist in the development of further research to improve community services for children with mental health diagnoses.

This pilot study yielded rich qualitative data. Upon review and analysis, five themes emerged: (1) bureaucratic hassles and getting the runaround, (2) closed doors, (3) support …

Green Engineering And Gate-To Gate Life Cycle Assessments For Pharmaceutical Products, Daniel Fichana

Theses and Dissertations

The research of this thesis focused on the environmental and processing metrics during the development of two different drugs. Previous research in life cycle assessments and green engineering have focused on other products and processes, but only a limited amount of studies have been conducted for pharmaceutical applications. This analysis concerned a gate-to-gate analysis of two distinct pharmaceutical products along with the development of a solvent selection table. The goal of this research was to determine how various processing and environmental metrics were affected by process improvements.

The first drug was the pravastatin, which was made via a fermentation route. …

Vital Pulp Therapy With Mineral Trioxide Aggregate: An Outcomes Study, Heather H. Lauer

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is used in a variety of endodontic procedures. MTA is proven to provide good marginal adaption to dentin, to be biocompatible, and to stimulate dentin bridge formation through animal studies. These properties make MTA a potentially useful material to be used in vital pulp therapy. Clinical data on the use of MTA as a vital pulp medicament is sparse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of vital pulp therapy using MTA as the pulp medicament. Inclusion criteria for patient selection for recall was based on pulp treatment necessary from carious pulp …

Leydig Stem Cell Differentiation In The Prepubertal Hamster (Mesocricetus Auratus), Michael W. Hance

Masters Theses

Leydig cells in the testis are the primary source of androgens in the adult male mammal. Therefore, the process of Leydig cell differentiation during the prepubertal period is essential to establish the Leydig cell population in the adult. Little has been published regarding the factors that regulate the postnatal Leydig cell differentiation in hamsters. However, it has been observed in adult male hamsters that Leydig cells regress under reduced photoperiods, but recrudesce with re-exposure to normal photoperiods. In the present investigation, the effects of light, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and melatonin treatment on Leydig cell differentiation in the neonatal-prepubertal hamster are investigated. …

The Stress Management Self-Efficacy Inventory (Smsei): Development And Initial Psychometrics, Kristin Higgins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of the current study was to develop, pilot, and establish the initial psychometrics of the Stress Management Self-Efficacy Inventory (SMSEI). Once developed and positive psychometrics established, middle school counselors and other mental health professionals can use the SMSEI to identify children who lack self-efficacy in the area of stress management. Once adolescents are identified as having low stress management self-efficacy, this measure can also aid professionals in creating programs and interventions. The SMSEI measures how well adolescents believe they can manage their stress as well as measures specific areas or management techniques that a child believes they …

Accuracy Of The Newtom 3g™ In Measuring The Angle Of The Articular Eminence, Rehana Khan

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of the Newtom 3G™ in determining the angulation of the articular eminence. The benefits of conducting this study were to provide additional uses for the standard records that are taken for the purposes of orthodontic treatment, as well as evaluate the Newtom 3G™ for accuracy in measuring the anatomy of the glenoid fossa. This study required 20 participants that volunteered to allow their records to be used. Records evaluated were the Newtom 3G™, impressions, and wax check bite registrations. The wax record was taken using the 'forced bite' technique to …

Ricketts And Steiner Analysis Using Newtom 3g™ Scout Images, James I. Gibson Iii

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

NewTom 3G™ scout images have the general appearance of traditional lateral cephalometric radiographs. The purpose of this research was to determine if Ricketts and Steiner analyses could be accomplished on NewTom 3G™ scout images.

This was a retrospective study comparing the use of NewTom 3G™ scans in DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format to scout images from 25 consecutive patients of the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics, three of these patients did not meet the inclusion criteria. The DICOM images were used to create controls. The controls and scout images were digitized using QuickCeph™. …

Stability Of The Miniscrew-Bone Interface: Reverse Torque Values In Rabbits, Daniel John Drye

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: Miniscrews are used in orthodontics as practical temporary anchorage devices (TAD's). The purpose of this animal study was to measure reverse torque values for Absoanchor 1.2 mm and Micerium 1.5mm miniscrews at 0, 2, and 12 weeks under loaded and unloaded conditions.

Methods: Ninety-six miniscrews were placed in the femora of twelve rabbits and allowed to heal for either two or twelve weeks. Half of the fixtures were loaded immediately with NiTi open coil springs producing a force of 150-200g and the other half served as unloaded controls. For each of the healing times, two and twelve weeks, …

Mechanisms Of Hbo-Induced Neuroprotection In A Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia Model, John Winter Calvert

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With an incidence approaching 1/4000 live births and as high as 60% in low birth weight infants, cerebral hypoxia-ischemia during the perinatal period is the single most important cause of acute mortality and chronic disability in newborns. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that following a hypoxic-ischemic insult hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment can restore high energy metabolite levels in the affected regions of the brain and through this increase in energy levels ameliorate the spread of cell death following the insult. We also investigated if an additional mechanism by which HBO affords its neuroprotection is by altering the expression of the …