Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Four Week Intervention Program At Albert Lea Medical Center: An Investigative Study Of Employee Lifestyle Practices, Theresa Thorland

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a four-week intervention program on the development of healthy lifestyle practices among employees at Albert Lea Medical Center. Specifically, the study was designed to investigate changes in subjects' predicted health risk age after participation in a four-week worksite health promotion program at ALMC. The intervention program consisted of the following wellness components: physical, emotional, occupational, intellectual, spiritual, and social. The study was designed to answer the question of how the "July Challenge" would effect the risk age of each participant.

Health risk appraisals were sent to randomly selected individuals …

A Pilot Study Of An Employee Developed Observational Tool As A Valid And Reliable Measure Of Organisational Safety, Matthew Wallace

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Given the increasing high social and economic costs of occupational injury and illness to the Australian community, identification of initiatives to reduce the burden is urgently required. Paramount to reversing this trend is the need to identify and address the causes of the injury and illness. Employee involvement in occupational health and safety has for some time been espoused as an essential element in any occupational health and safety program, but its relationship with safety performance still remains unexplored. Although various theories suggest that the involvement of employees will increase their sense of ownership, there is little research to suggest …

Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing Behaviours To Reduce Parental Stress, Fenella Gill

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

A child's admission to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is stressful for the family. Parental presence and involvement with their child in hospital have been recognised as important in reducing their stress. Several studies have identified parental needs in the PICU. Nurses have reported that they felt inadequately prepared to meet those needs. Although principles to guide nursing strategies have been identified, contextual behaviours of PICU nurses to reduce parental stress have not A qualitative study, using an ethnographic approach, was designed to describe contextual behaviours of experienced PICU nurses. Participants self identified their level of clinical practice to …

A Report On Nurses' Response To Occupational Injuries And Exposures To Hazards In A Californian Community Hospital, Sandra Kilminster-Binder

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study set out to determine the reasons for underreporting of occupational injuries and exposures in the American health care environment. A cross sectional survey was used to report the responses and opinions of nurses who failed to report all occupational injuries and exposures, and the type of injuries that are least likely to be reported. The participants were a random sample of Registered Nurses employed in a California Health Care Center, who responded to a simple self-reporting questionnaire. The study revealed that the majority of occupational injuries, accidents and exposures by this group in the previous twelve month period …

Depressed Men Angry Women: Non-Stereotypical Gender Responses To Anti-Smoking Messages In Older Smokers, Debora Brown

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This qualitative study into the effective use of fear arousal in social marketing advertising, focused on exploring gender differences in smokers' attitudes towards threats in anti-smoking messages in the 40 to 50 year old age group. This age group of smokers has received relatively little attention in the fear arousal literature to date, presumably because their 'hard core' attitudes are perceived as difficult to change by social marketing and medical practitioners. The key purpose of this study was to explore the attitudinal responses of male and female smokers in the 40 to 50 year old age group to anti-smoking messages …

Nursing Students' And Clinical Teachers' Perceptions Of Effective Teacher Characteristics, Shirley Chow

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Instructional and organisational strategies can improve students' transfer of knowledge and skill to the workplace. Constraints on transfer include: 1. a shortage of teachers who can build transfer inlo programmes; and 2. time span (interval) between teaching of the task and transfer of learning. Fifteen nursing students and five clinical teachers from a university in Western Australia participated in the initial qualitative component of the study. These students and teachers were asked to list effective clinical teachers' behaviours which were then compared with beaviours listed in the Rauen's Clinical Instructor Characteristics Rating Scale (1974). Using a modified Rauen's Scale, 200 …

Molecular Genetic Investigation Of Autosomal Dominant Muscular Dystrophy, Christopher Meredith

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis contributes to the Human Genome Project by adding detail to the physical and genetic maps of the human genome, and by identifying a strong candidate gene for a form of distal myopathy. Genomic clones for the human skeletal muscle genes slow troponin (TNN/1), alpha actin (ACTA1), and (3-tropomyosin (TPM2) were isolated for use in the fluorescent in situ hybridisation localisation of these genes on the cytogenetic map of the human genome. The localisation of these genes made them potential candidates for inherited skeletal muscle diseases, including the muscular dystrophies investigated here. Microsatellite, VNTR and RFLP markers were used …

An Investigation Into The Use Of The Internet For Medical Informatics, Patricia A. Williams

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The rapid evolution and popularity of the Internet technologies, and the World Wide Web, have resulted in unrestricted worldwide access to medical and health information. This has provided the medical profession with the ability to access up to date research more immediately than by traditional means, and has created the potential for advanced information collation. Also the availability of medical literature, previously difficult to obtain for the general public, is having an effect that is both a benefit and a burden to the medical profession. Whilst benefits exist in the use of the Internet in General Practice for clinical support, …

The Effect Of Prescribed And Preferred Intensity Exercise On The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Perceived Exertion In Older Adults, Keith R. Scotson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study was concerned with acute responses to exercise in people over the age of 50 (N = 80). In particular the relationship between Self-efficacy and perceived exertion during exercise at workloads (a) based on a target heart rate (prescribed intensities) and (b) based on participant preference (preferred intensities) were observed. Perceptual (perceived exertion), Self-efficacy and heart rate responses of low active older participants engaged in either walking or cycle ergometer exercise at preferred and prescribed intensities were also reported. Significant inverse correlations were observed between pre and post exercise Self-efficacy and perceived exertion during acute exercise at prescribed intensities …

The Context Of Recovery: Individual Experiences Of Recovery From Work-Related Trauma, Sally Edmondson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In this study the recovery experiences of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to a work-related trauma was investigated. The aim of the study was to explore individual experiences within an ecological framework in order to develop a clearer understanding of the significance of contextual factors. The study utilised a multiple case methodology and data was analysed using the qualitative method of focused conceptual development. Participants were four males and one female ranging in age from 37 to 57 years and two female key informants who had four and seven years of experience of working with stress claims in …

Genetic Variation And Disease In The Roma (Gypsies), David J. Gresham

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The Roma (Gypsies) are a European people composed of a mosaic of culturally heterogeneous populations. Linguistic analyses point to their origins in the Indian subcontinent. Cultural diversity in extant Romani populations suggests that they are descended from a mixture of Indian populations. Previous population genetic studies of the Roma have supported this claim by demonstrating the genetic heterogeneity of Romani populations. More recently, medical genetic research has detected identical founder mutations in separated Romani populations, which provides evidence of their relatedness. In this thesis, the genetic heritage of the Roma and its significance for genetic disease and research is investigated. …

The Effects Of Four Gymnastics Skills On Vertebral Column Hyperextension In Young Female Gymnasts, Tonia Mcclure Burke

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

There is very limited information available on the effects of gymnastics skills on spinal hyperextension. Eleven young female gymnasts between the ages of 11 and 15 participated in this study. The subjects height and weight were taken then they were screened for musculoskeletal injuries, normal abdominal and back extensor strength, normal hip flexor and hamstring flexibility, spondylolisthesis, and scoliosis. Hyperextension of the spinal column was measured during normal standing, hyperextending the spine in standing, and during four different gymnastics skills, using the Peak5 motion analysis system. Each subject performed five acceptable trials of four different gymnastics skill including a back …

Self-Efficacy In Type 2 Diabetics, Joan M. Hyett

Theses & Dissertations

There are 1.2 million diagnosed diabetics in Texas, 10 % of whom live in Bexar County, Texas. Diabetes is rated as the fifth leading cause of death in the same county. In addition to the diagnosed cases, it is estimated that 125,000 adults in Bexar County have undiagnosed diabetes (Foy, 1999). Diabetic education may prevent complications in some individuals, but sometimes knowledge alone is not enough. Patients often lack motivation or self-confidence in their capacity for self- management of their diabetes. Diabetic educators are often faced with the challenge of not only educating but also motivating patients to be compliant …

Professional Expertise Of Community-Based Occupational Therapists, Lori Ann Madaus Lemorie

Masters Theses

Occupational therapists are increasingly practicing in community-based settings. Due to changes in the health care system, the need for defining roles, and explaining what a profession can contribute to health care has been highlighted. The major goal of this study was to identify job roles, job skills, and professional expertise of community-based therapists. The Community Practice Project survey was mailed to 200 AOTA registered community-based therapists. A response rate of 42% was achieved. The results provided a profile of the typical community-based therapist. Principal roles, job skills, and areas of professional expertise were also identified. The adequacy of educational preparation …

Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Thickness Changes Cooling Time During Cryotherapy, Jeffrey W. Otte

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: Cryotherapy is often applied using a standard treatment time. Use of a standard treatment time fails to consider the insulating effect subculaneous adipose tissue has during cooling of underlying muscle. If differences in adipose lissuc thickness alter I he effects of cryotherapy, then a standard application time may not produce a slamlard clTcct for all patients. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of subcutaneous adipose tissue on cooling time during cryothcrapy. Design: A 1 x 4 factorial design was used in this study. The independent variable was skin-fold thickness, 0-10mm, 1 l-20mm, 2 l-30mm, …

Gender Differences In Presenting Symptoms, Treatment, And Outcome In Myocardial Infarction, Alona Dalusung-Angosta

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purposes of this study were to compare the presenting symptoms, treatment, and outcome between men and women with MI. The study sample consisted of 300 patients (N = 300) who were diagnosed with MI in a county hospital in the Southwest area of the United States.

Chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, and left arm pain were the most common symptoms reported by both genders. Men had more chest pain than their women counterparts (p = .022). No significant difference was found in the cardiac enzyme levels between both genders. Men had more Q wave changes during MI than …

Developmental, Psychosocial, And Economic Predictors Of Healthy Newborns In Michigan’S Teenage Pregnancies, Cheryl Lauber

Dissertations

Teenage pregnancy is a critical health indicator. Using a risk reduction model, this study examined the relationship between the characteristics o f the teenage mother i and her newborn. The research questions were: ( I) what risk factors are associated with poor birth outcomes, (2) is addressing each factor the best way to reduce the risk, and (3) has the overall risk changed as the birth rate has declined? Developmental, psychosocial and economic risks were identified as independent variables, while age and race were mediators.

Combining the birth certificate records of women under age 20 from 1990 through 1997 resulted …

Glucocorticoid Regulation Of Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-5 Gene Transcription In Human Osteoblasts, Xiaoying Wang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Glucocorticoids (GCs) inhibit bone formation in vivo and inhibit osteoblast proliferation and collagen synthesis in vitro. These effects may be mediated by alterations in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. In the present study of normal human osteoblast-like (HOB) cells, we tested the hypothesis that dexamethasone (Dex) inhibits the expression of IGF binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5). Dex decreased IGFBP-5 mRNA levels to 54% of control after 4 hr. Dex did not modify the decay of IGFBP-5 mRNA in transcriptionally arrested osteoblast cells. Dex decreased IGFBP-5 hnRNA levels to 67% of control after 2 hr, and the activity of the human IGFBP- …

Disinfection Of Dentin By Intracanal Laser Irradiation: An In Vitro Model, Silvia Cristina Mafra Cecchini

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A possible cause for root canal failure is the persistence of bacteria that have colonized dentinal tubules. To reduce this risk and, if possible, to also shorten the time consuming endodontic therapy, new equipment and materials are constantly being introduced. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of disinfection of dentinal tubules by intracanal laser irradiation using an in vitro model. The groups irradiated by various lasers were compared with calcium hydroxide, a material frequently used as intracanal medication between appointments. Freshly extracted, intact bovine incisors were used. The root cementum was removed and the teeth …

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 …

The Utilization Of Spirituality In Occupational Therapy: Beliefs, Practices, And Barriers, Jennifer S. Collins

Masters Theses

Spirituality has become an increasingly important topic in healthcare and specifically in occupational therapy. Previous studies of spirituality in occupational therapy indicated that while therapists believed spirituality was important to health and rehabilitation potential, few therapists reported incorporating spirituality into treatment (Engquist, Short-DeGraff, Gliner, & Oltjenbruns, 1997; Howe, 1996; Rose, 1999). This study utilized a survey design to examine occupational therapists' current beliefs and practices regarding spirituality, as well as asking therapists to identify barriers to the use of spirituality in treatment.

The results of this study indicate that beliefs and practices regarding spirituality in occupational therapy may be changing. …

Advance Directives And Communication Styles In A Lower Rio Grande Valley Health Facility, Armando G. Dominguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study explores physicians' decision-making communication styles at end-of-life and advance directives in a hospital. Participant observation, case studies and a survey questionnaire are used. Egalitarian communication style is found to have moderate reliability. A .6969 coefficient, is measured by Cronbach's Alpha model. Authoritative communication style, yields a less than moderate alpha coefficient of .4278. Regression analysis using these two variables as the independent variables obtains insignificant results. However, sixty-three percent of the respondents speak Spanish moderately or very little. Eighty percent of the surveyed sample do not have training to administer advance directives. Twenty-two percent of the respondents have …

Vaccinia Virus-Mediated Glioma Gene Therapy Using P53, Il-2 And Il-12, Bing Chen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Malignant brain tumors are generally lethal soon after their diagnosis, and the five-year survival rate for the patient is low in spite of neurosurgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Gene therapy has the potential to improve patient survival and quality of life by delivering specific combinations of therapeutic genes directly to the tumor for localized treatment.

We have based our cancer gene therapy for glioma on a highly attenuated variant of the Lister strain of vaccinia virus (VV) which has been proven to be a safe and effective vaccine vector. Other advantages include a wide host range, a strong promoter system, …

Chronic Hypoxia, Exercise Training, And Skeletal Muscle Capillarity: Angiogenic Regulation And Morphological Consequences, Ivan Mark Olfert

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Angiogenesis is important in health and disease. In particular, exercise training is known to increase skeletal muscle capillarity, providing there is sufficient training intensity. The stimulus for this may be intracellular hypoxia activating angiogenic growth factor gene expression. Acute hypoxia alone has been shown to increase the gene expression of several key angiogenic regulators, e.g. vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and to a lesser degree transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), an endogenous negative angiogenic regulator. Paradoxically, however, chronic hypoxia is generally not found to increase mammalian skeletal muscle capillarity. Accordingly, we hypothesized that …

Studies On The Purification And Role Of Igfbp-5 Protease In Bone, H. Garrett Rush Thompson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone density and deterioration of mineralized bone leading to enhanced susceptibility to fracture. Several growth factors have been implicated in the coupling of formation to resorption during the bone remodeling process. The net bone forming activity of many growth factors has prompted numerous studies focused on the regulation of osteoblast cell proliferation, differentiation and activity. The current study focuses on the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system, an important growth factor system involved in the regulation of bone formation and bone resorption.

IGF binding protein -5 (IGFBP-5), the most abundant IGF binding protein in …

The Effects Of Psychotropic Medication Therapy On The Behaviors Of The Institutionalized Alzheimer's Disease Patient, Mary Beth Mckinneu

MSN Research Projects

Alzheimer's disease is a devastating illness that is common among the nursing home population. Treatment for Alzheimer's disease is usually palliative and consists of using psychotropic medications to control aggressive and agitated behaviors exhibited by its victims. The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify behaviors exhibited by Alzheimer's disease patients before and after receiving psychotropic medications. Johnson's Behavioral System Model was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The sample (N = 33) consisted of nursing home residents with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease who were treated with one psychotropic medication. The researcher used chart review to …

A Comparison Of Developmental Sentence Scores And Ratings Of Intelligibility, Julie O'Harrow Karnstein

Dissertations and Theses

Speech intelligibility is the term used to describe the degree to which an individual speaker is understood by both familiar and unfamiliar listeners. There are many factors that influence an individual's intelligibility, including (but not limited to) variations in phonology, grammar, rate of speech, and vocal features. Most research has focused on the articulation and phonological influences that impact speech intelligibility. Perhaps for this reason, treatment methods for improving speech intelligibility generally have targeted an individual's phonological production skills. Additional research is necessary to understand more about each of the areas of language production that may be influencing intelligibility. This …

Effects Of Adapted Storybooks On Vocabulary Acquisition Of Children Who Have A Severe Speech Impairment (Ssi), Wendy Ann Peterson

Dissertations and Theses

Research has shown that children who are typically developing have the ability to rapidly learn (fast map) and receptively identify novel vocabulary words presented in the context of storybooks. It has also been shown that repeated exposure to the stories increases the amount of information, or the number of vocabulary words, acquired by the child. Furthermore, studies have shown that children learn more when they are actively rather than passively involved in the learning process. However, little is known about how children who have a severe speech impairment (SSI) fast map new vocabulary in storybook reading contexts, or how active …

Determinants Of Health Promoting Behaviors In Older Adults, Kay Wallace

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between Health Locus of Control, selected demographic variables, and the Health Promoting Behaviors of Physical Activity and Nutrition in older persons. Pender’s (1996) Health Promotion Model (HPM) was used as the conceptual framework to guide this study.

The sample consisted of 48 subjects, aged 65 years and older, who resided in senior living centers. The subjects were predominantly Caucasian (94%) and female (81%). Research instruments were self-administered questionnaires that consisted of demographic data, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale.

No significant relationships between …

Stress In Mexican-American Adolescence And Its Relations To Family Structure And Socioeconomic Status, Diana Villanueva

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

While previous research has demonstrated the importance of studying adolescence, few studies have explored the determinants of Mexican-American adolescent stress. Studies have shown that individual differences exist among adolescents that help determine adolescent stress. Individual differences such as family structure and socioeconomic status among Mexican-American adolescents may help to better understand adolescent stress. This study investigated incidence of Mexican-American adolescent stress in a public high school and middle school composed of 2,686 students from the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District. Data was obtained from the Teen Life Survey administered in the spring of 1998 by Dr. Israel Cuellar. The relations …