Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Knowledge Of Type Ii Diabetes And Its Complications Among Adult Vietnamese Immigrants, Thao Phuong Le

Master's Projects

This was a non-experimental quantitative study using survey method to assess diabetic knowledge of 102 adult Vietnamese immigrants. The Health Belief Model provided the theoretical framework, and the 24-item diabetes knowledge questionnaire was adopted from the Starr County Texas study to use for this study. Data were categorized and analyzed using descriptive methods such as frequency and percentage. The findings indicated that lack of knowledge about diabetes was a significant issue among the Vietnamese immigrant population. Health care providers should develop an appropriate cultural educational program about diabetes to help the Vietnamese population to detect diabetes early and to control …

The Effect Of Body Position And Mattress Type On Interface Pressure In Quadriplegic Adults-A Pilot Study, Parivash Moody

Master's Projects

Dental morbidity is a chronic problem that affects a child's ability to attend school, to learn, and to enjoy good health. Of all childhood diseases, oral disease ranks as one of the highest and is considered one of the most common and the least treated. The prevalence of dental caries is high among children and adolescents in school populations. This study explored the prevalence of dental caries in a California Central Coast middle school during the 2002-03 school year (N=526). Findings indicated that severe dental caries existed in both boys and girls and in students of various ethnic groups. Approximately …

Investigating The Correlation Between Nurses' Spiritual Well-Being And Spiritual Care Perspectives, Marion Lieber Reyes

Master's Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between nurses' spiritual well-being (using the JAREL Spiritual-Well Being Scale) and their perspectives of spiritual care (using the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale). Both instruments use Likert-scale ratings. An additional survey obtained general demographic information including an item regarding spirituality in nursing in-service participation. A total of 130 registered nurses (23%) participated in the study. The data was analyzed using SPSS in which a Pearson's r correlation was performed on the JAREL and SSCRS scores. The results were statistically significant for a positive correlation between nurses' spiritual well-being and …

Quality Of Life After Heart Transplantation, Jacqueline Trammell

Master's Projects

Background: Cardiac transplantation has been a treatment option for patients with end stage heart failure for the past 35 years. As evaluation and treatment protocols emerge and evolve it is the responsibility of the healthcare provider to assist the recipient in attaining the best quality of life (QOL) possible. Method: A demographic survey, along with the SF-36v2 generic survey, which measures quality of life in physical and functioning domains, was mailed to 100 heart transplant recipients in a large health plan in Northern California. The data from sixty five surveys were analyzed for any relationships between time from transplantation, employment …

Nurse Practitioners' Characteristics And Job Satisfaction, Priscilla Wild

Master's Projects

PURPOSE: To identify demographics and job satisfaction levels of currently working nurse practitioners (NPs) in California. DATA SOURCES: A mail-in survey was used to gather data The Mueller McCloskey Satisfaction Scale was sent to a randomized sample of 200 California NPs with active licensure. Descriptive statistical analysis of usable data was employed. CONCLUSIONS: NPs reported high levels of job satisfaction. Aspects of the job that showed significant levels of satisfaction were schedules, flexibility of hours, and interprofessional relationships. NPs were least satisfied with not having professional opportunities such as participation in nursing research, writing/publishing, and belonging to a department/nursing committee.

Comparison Of Color And Thiobarbituric Acid (Tba) Values Of Cooked Hamburger Patties And Top Sirloin Steaks After Storage Of Fresh Beef Chubs And Raw Steaks In Modified Atmospheres Of 80% Oxygen Or 0.4% Carbon Monoxide, Liza John

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study compared the effect of packaging method (0.4% carbon monoxide, 80% oxygen or vacuum), storage time (7, 14 and 21 days) and internal cooking temperature 49, 57, 66, 71 and 79°C) on color and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values of top sirloin steaks and ground beef patties. Ground beef was obtained from 3 different sources (chuck, loin and trim). All samples were stored at 2°C for 7, 14 and 21 days.

All raw ground beef samples stored in 0.4% carbon monoxide remained bright red throughout the 21-day storage period. The phenomenon of premature browning (appearance of cooked color at lower …

Pain Management Through Music Therapy, Dereck H. Ko

Master's Projects

In 1999, approximately three quarters of patients admitted to emergency departments reported pain (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 2000). Managing pain pharmacologically alone may not be enough because pain perception is a complex phenomenon that consists of both physiological and psychological components (Trauger-Querry & Haghighi, 1999). Music therapy is one of the systematic applications in treatment of physiological and psychological aspects of an illness or disability (Cook, 1981).The objectives of this study were to measure the pain intensity index PPI (Melzack) level before after the intervention with music therapy to investigate if music therapy is effective for pain …

Factors Influencing Middle-Aged And Older Latin American Women's Participation In Physical Activity, Stephanie Vaughn Phd

Dissertations

Ethnographic methodology was used to explore the factors that influence middle-aged and older Latin American women's participation in physical activity. Semi-structured interviews and field observations were used to elicit information from the twenty five Latin American women in this study sample. Perceptions of health, the health activities in which the women engage, and the factors that influenced their participation in physical activity comprised the three categories of responses. Facilitators and barriers were identified as the two primary groups and were further sorted into intrinsic or extrinsic factors. A sense of self, decreased feelings of stress, wellbeing, managing chronic disease, the …

Spirituality And Self-Efficacy In Counseling And Social Work Trainees, Pam J. Matthews

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships of the counseling/social work trainee spirituality and religion/spirituality awareness to trainee self-efficacy in counseling clients with religious/spiritual issues or backgrounds. In addition, the study explored the influence of demographic variables on spirituality, religion/spirituality awareness, and self-efficacy including: (a) religious/spiritual affiliation (Christian, Non-Christian), (b) ethnicity (Caucasian, Non-Caucasian), (c) training/accreditation program affiliation, (d) gender, and (e) age.

The Effect Of Computer Versus Cadaver-Based Instruction On Anxiety Levels In Athletic Training Students, Elise Buckner

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare student anxiety level in computerand cadaver-based anatomy instruction. Design and Setting: The study used a preinstruction and post-instruction survey design. This study took place in a generic classroom setting, where instruction focused on computer-generated laboratory models of human anatomy and cadaveric instruction of human anatomy. Subjects: The subjects were 29 students from the Entry-Level Athletic Training Education Program at Indiana State University. Measurements: Science anxiety was measured before and after laboratory instruction. Results: The cadaver-based instruction group showed no statistical difference in their anxiety level (pre12.3±6.7, post13.0±5.1), however, the computer-based instruction …

Comparison Of Selected Orthotic Devices On Ground Reaction Forces Produced During A Drop Landing, Betsy Faye Halwes

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: The effect of different types of athletic shoes, foot orthoses, and other arch support materials on lower extremity kinetics and ground reaction forces during walking and running gait has been documented; however, the potential effects of such devices on ground reaction forces during drop landings has not been extensively studied. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if over-the-counter orthotics, made of the same material, affect vertical and mediolateral ground reaction forces during a drop landing. Design and Setting: A lx3 repeated measures design guided this study where the independent variable, orthotic, has 3 levels (no orthotic-control, …

Correlates Of Depression In Young Adult Caregivers, Mark Gillen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research examined depression in young adult caregivers. It was hypothesized that levels of depression in 18 to 40 year olds who provided care to older adult family members would be similar to depression levels of middle age adult caregivers. This study also examined the relationship between depression, gender, employment, physical health, and relationships. Participants included 172 young adult caregivers that were employees of one of three mid-west universities or colleges. All employees in the young adult age range were contacted and provided with a survey packet. The survey included the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and predictor …

Adaptation To Changing Marketplace Conditions By Psychologists In Independent Practice, Keith James Monroe

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent surveys have provided support to the frequently asserted opinion that managed care has negatively impacted psychologists in independent practice. Many recommendations have been made by professional organizations to address the negative impact and most have been directed at guiding practitioners to adapt to changes in health care delivery. However, there is little data on how private practitioners evaluate these recommendations or if they are using these strategies to adapt to the changing practice environment. The focus of this dissertation was to assess the extent that psychologists in independent practice have adopted the recommended strategies. By establishing a representative sample …

Effects Of Warm-Up And Stretching On Vertical Jump Performance And Leg Power, Douglas C. Samuelson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the effects of a general warm-up, a general warm-up and sitting quietly, a general warm-up and static stretching, and a general warm-up and ballistic stretching protocols on vertical jump performance and leg power. Eleven National Collegiate Athletic Assoiciation (NCAA) Division 1-A female volleyball players served as subjects. The subjects performed four treatments prior to the three vertical jump trials, consisting of a general warm-up, a warm-up and sitting quietly, a warm-up and static stretch, and a warm-up and dynamic stretch. The subjects also performed a Sit and Reach test prior to and after each treatment to determine …

Predictors Of Job Placement After Successful Completion Of An Accredited Graduate Athletic Training Education Program, James A. Gibson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: Indicators such as grade point average (GPA) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores have been used to predict academic achievement at the graduate level. However, academic success measured, in part by these variables have not been used to predict clinical job placement. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if academic predictors exist for classifying students in employment settings following completion of a Masters degree from an accredited Graduate Athletic Training Education Program. Design: The criterion variables were initial and current job placement after completion of Indiana State University's accredited Graduate Athletic Training Education Program. The predictor …

The Influence Of Social And Environmental Support On Diabetes Self-Management, Cheryl Mckee

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background The reduction of diabetes complications depends on adherence to self-management behaviors. The current study was designed to examine the influence of multiple social-environmental levels of support on diabetic self-management behaviors in a lower income community. The eight distinct levels of social-environmental support studied were personal characteristics, physician and health team, family and friends, neighborhood, community, media and policy, community organizations, and the workplace. Methods An anonymous self-administered survey, consisting of questions about demographic features, hemoglobin AlC, self-management behaviors, and perceived support from multiple social-environmental levels, was completed by 36 diabetic participants from the Regions Family Physicians clinic. Results Significant …

The Prevalence Of Low Back Pain And Its Association With Body Mass Index, Lance Beebout

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Prevalence of Low Back Pain and its Association with Body Mass Index Background: The question of whether obesity is a risk factor for the development of low back pain (LBP) has been the subject of considerable research. To date no clear consensus has been made concerning this highly debated issue. The purpose of this study is to determine whether overweight individuals, BMI > 25, reported higher incidences of LBP over the course of one year while accounting for other known risk factors for the development of LBP. Methods; This non-experimental study design utilized an eleven question survey to gather data …

The Prevalence Of Axis I Mental Disorders In Perpetrators Of Murder-Suicide In Minnesota In A Three-Year Period, Aaron Koppel Pitman

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: Murder-suicide is an uncommon but devastating act for everyone associated with the event. World-wide, murder-suicide occurs at a constant rate, between 0.2-0.3 per 100,000 people. One explanation for this constancy of murder-suicide incidence is a consistent underlying level of mental illness in all populations. Methods: Death certificates, The Femicide Report, newspaper articles, and supplemental homicide reports identified 30 murder-suicide cases involving 68 individuals within a three year period (1999,2000,2001) in Minnesota. Medical examiner records and the aforementioned sources provided data which was recorded on the Minnesota Violent Death Reporting System abstract form (MVDRS), adapted from the National Violent Death …

Lifestyle Choices Of Minnesotan Physician Assistants: An Exploratory Investigation, Paul Mortlock

Theses and Graduate Projects

Few studies address the physical health, mental health and quality of life issues for the physician assistant and the ways in which their personal choices are reflected in the assessment and recommendations of those served. This study evaluated the lifestyle choices of the Minnesota Physician Assistant and how PA choices influence the promotion of health. The particular problem statement for this thesis is: Are Minnesota Physician Assistants living a healthy life? Specifically, the sub problems are: (1) What are the lifestyle choices of Minnesota Physician Assistants and do their choices reflect healthy living; (2) What is the relationship between the …

Does Body Mass Index (Bmi) Affect The Prevalence Of Pap Smears?, Debra Maas

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background The pap smear test is highly effective at detecting pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical cells. However, only 68.3 percent of women in the U.S. received a Pap smear in 2001. Previous research studies have shown that overweight and obese women are less likely to receive routine pap smears. This is especially concerning because obesity is a risk factor for cervical cancer Methods A retrospective review of data was conducted from the medical records of 90 women, 18 years of age or older, who were seen by the researcher at SMDC clinics in Deer River and Remer, Minnesota from February 2003 …

Quality Of Life In Patients With Graves' Disease, Jennifer L. Smith

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Despite receiving treatment for hyperthyroidism, symptoms often persist, despite being chemically euthyroid. By performing this study, the researcher hoped to learn how the persistence of these symptoms affects quality of life in Graves' disease. Methods The questionnaire used was adapted from the Hyperthyroidism Complaint Questionnaire designed by Fahrenfort and Wilterdink, with results published in the February 2000 issue of psychoneuroendocrinoloy. The modified questionnaire was sent to members of the National Graves' Disease Foundation. Respondents were questioned on symptoms and affects on relationships, careers and overall functioning. Data was analyzed using …

Keeping Safe: Field Public Health Nurses' Perceptions, Karen Nielsen-Menicucci Phd, Ms, Rn, Phn

Dissertations

By the year 2005, there will be an estimated 1.25 million workers involved in providing nursing care to individuals in their homes (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1997). There is limited empirical data available on the issue of safety of nurses within the context of home visiting or in the public health venue. Recent research on safety in home visiting has focused on home health rather than public health nursing. The purpose of this study was to explore and explain the perception of safety among field public health nurses. A purposive sample of 19 public health nurses employed in an official …

The Prevalence Of Herbal Product Use In The Treatment And Management Of Diabetes In The Latino Population, Gobind Tarchand

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background. Healthcare providers are often concerned about the use of alternative treatments by patients of Hispanic decent. Herbal product use is one type of alternative treatment that is most concerning. This study examined the prevalence of herbal product use for diabetes control by a sample of patients of Hispanic decent. Methods. A convenience sample of 42 patients of Hispanic decent with type 2 diabetes was surveyed. Following a descriptive, quantitative design, questionnaires were available in both English and Spanish and were distributed to participants by the diabetic educator at La Clinica en Lake. Questions were asked about demographics, diabetes status …

Effects Of A First Responders Automatic External Defibrillator (Aed) Program On Patient Outcomes In A Rural Emergency Medical Service System, Michael D. Olson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background For patients in cardiac arrest the most important variable in survival is rapid activation of emergency medical services to provide early defibrillation. Previous studies have indicated that for the greatest chance of survival the patient must be defibrillated within six minutes of collapse. In September of 2002 the Fairmont police department placed AED's in the medical kits of their officers in an effort to improve the chances of survival for the cardiac arrest patients in the city. This study is an attempt to gauge the success of this AED program by Iooking at multiple variables in the care of …

Bioterrorisrn Preparedness Of Rural Hospitals Compared To Urban Hospitals In Minnesota, Lee G. Schotzko

Theses and Graduate Projects

Bioterrorisrn has been a threat to many cultures around the world for centuries. The first record of their use dates back to 184 B.C. in a battle between Hannibal and King Eumenes of Peranum. Within the past five years, the concern over biological weapons and bioterrorism has greatly increased in the United States because of worldwide political dynamics. Is the United States prepared for a bioterrorism attack? Is Minnesota prepared for an attack? These are important questions, and many experts have not agreed upon the answers. Currently there is no industry standard for hospitals in regards to bioterrorisrn preparedness. Utilizing …

What Specific Characteristics Influence Patients To Receive Their Health Care From A Physician Assistant?, Christine L. Rogers

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background. This research investigated patient satisfaction with physician assistants in a primary health care. The literature reviewed concluded high patient satisfaction ratings resulted because of the clinicians strong interpersonal skills, easy accessibility, adequate time was spent, were good listeners, explained medical issues well, and were courteous and respectful. The study looked at what specific characteristics influenced high patient satisfaction ratings with physician assistants. It also looked at the top three characteristics that were important to the patient and whether the patient would see the PA again. Methods. A patient satisfaction survey was give n to 92 patients at Allina clinic …

Motivation For Medicine: What Factors Influence Men And Women To Enter Physician Assistant School Versus Medical School?, Ross Golla

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background The purpose of this study was to distinguish what factors were most significant in medical and physician assistant student's decision to enter medicine, in addition to comparing male and female student's motivation. Methods A survey consisting of potential motives or deterrents for entering medicine was given to medical and PA students. Results were analyzed using an independent T-test. Results PA students reported greater significance on the duration of academic and clinical training, the ability to balance work and family, the opportunity to achieve a high income, dealing with malpractice allegations and the need to be on-call as motives for …

An Exploration Into Gender Role Conflict, Attitudes Toward Females, And Relationship Beliefs, Julia M. Wood

Doctoral Dissertations

Gender role conflict and negative attitudes toward females have been areas of increasing concern since the early 1970s. Research has shown that both gender role conflict and negative attitudes toward females cause complications for the person with such perspectives. Relationships are an area that has been impacted by gender role conflict and attitudes toward females. Determining the impact that gender role conflict and attitudes toward females have upon each other and upon relationship beliefs will increase awareness of the seriousness of these complications allowing clinicians to focus therapeutic interventions on methods that will increase relationship quality.

Using the Gender Role …

Measuring Spelling Growth Over Time In Elementary Writing Samples, Pamela M. Ansell

Masters Theses

Developmental spelling stage theories have been proposed and disputed for 30 years. The current study used Gentry's (1982) model to assign category ratings to narrative writing samples produced by 32 students over two years to observe developmental growth over time. In addition, quantitative measures were obtained from the samples, including an index of control (Laminack & Wood, 1996) and a percentage correct. Analyses were also used to test the effectiveness of using a writing lab approach (Nelson, Bahr & Van Meter, 2004) on spelling development. During the last half of second grade, all 32 students received intervention guided by the …

Psychological Effects Of Martial Arts Training: Fear Of Physical Assault And Self -Esteem, Robert C. Clanton

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in the effects of martial arts training on self-esteem and fear of physical assault. Two studies were performed. The Fear of Physical Assault Scale was developed in the first study in order to measure individuals' perceived vulnerability to attack. Results indicated that the instrument was a reliable measure. Males scored significantly higher on the scale, indicating that they tend to perceive themselves as less vulnerable and more competent at defending themselves against physical assault. The second study examined the effects of martial arts training on the self-esteem and fear of …