Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Teaching Health-Promotion Knowledge To Post-Stroke Patients, Jody Jackson

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effects of music therapy on the behavior of Alzheimer's disease patients.

Facilitators And Barriers To Practice Of Nurse Practitioners In The Emergency Department, Teresa Stanford

MSN Research Projects

The focus of this descriptive study was to identify facilitators and barriers to practice of nurse practitioners in the emergency department.

Demographics At Diagnosis Of Children With Type 2 Diabetes, Marcia Fleming Hammett

MSN Research Projects

Since 1991 the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in children has increased at an alarming rate. Researchers have identified some common descriptors which may be predictive of early assessment and intervention for this population. Further validation of established descriptors and identification of other descriptors are needed. In this retrospective descriptive study, one research question guided the study: What are the demographic characteristics of children with Type 2 diabetes at the time of diagnosis? The Neuman Systems Model (198 9) provided the theoretical framework. Data were collected using the Hammett Chart Survey with 3 9 review variables. Charts from three endocrinology …

Influence Of Music Therapy On Adult Patients In An Outpatient Setting, Cathy Waldrop

MSN Research Projects

Patients requiring medical care frequently experience increased levels of anxiety. This increase in anxiety may be attributed to fear of the medical examination, procedures to be performed, or the findings. Music therapy was tested as a possible intervention to reduce anxiety. The focus of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the influence of music therapy on adult patients in an outpatient clinic. The purpose of this study was to compare responses in adult patients who received music therapy while awaiting medical treatment in an outpatient setting and those who did not. Martha Rogers' Unitary Human Beings served as the theoretical …

Effects Of Exercise On Lipid Levels And Muscle Strength In Elderly Women, Lisa Foley

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this comparative, descriptive study was to ascertain the effects of exercise on serum lipid levels and muscle strength in elderly women. The theoretical framework utilized was Pender's Health Promotion Model. The null hypotheses were there will be no difference in lipid levels among elderly women who participate in a structured exercise program, those who participate in an unstructured exercise program, and those who have no exercise program; and there will be no difference in muscle strength among elderly women who participate in a structured exercise program, those who participate in an unstructured exercise program, and those who …

Factors That Influence Family Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction, Jeffrey M. Bishop

MSN Research Projects

Job satisfaction influences employee retention, employee self-actualization, worker productivity, and performance quality. This study investigated the factors that influence family nurse practitioners' (FNPs) job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction. Additionally, the study was an attempt to ascertain the intrinsic and extrinsic factors as well as the general level of job satisfaction. A descriptive survey design with a triangulated approach utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods was used. Job satisfaction was conceptualized based on Frank Herzberg's dual-factor theory of satisfaction and motivation. A random sample of 100 FNPs was surveyed with the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form and a researcher-designed Demographic Data Questionnaire that …

Herbal Prescribing Practices Among Nurse Practitioners In Mississippi, Michelle Smith

MSN Research Projects

The focus of this descriptive study was to examine herbal therapy prescribing practices of nurse practitioners in Mississippi.

Comparison Of Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Devices For Accuracy And Ease Of Use, Kelly Kitabchi Pfrommer

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this comparative study was to evaluate several self-monitoring blood glucose devices with regard to accuracy and ease of use.

Effects Of Music Therapy On The Behaviors Of Alzheimer's Disease Patients, Jody Jackson

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effects of music therapy on the behavior of Alzheimer's disease patients.

Current Sexual Behaviors Of Hiv-Positive Women, Nina Sublette

MSN Research Projects

The incidence of HIV among women of childbearing age in the United States continues to rise. Literature and statistics show that the number of new HIV infections continue to increase, despite the fact that the transmission of the disease is preventable. The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe the current sexual practices on HIV-positive women and to determine whether these behaviors had changed since the diagnosis of HIV. A convenience sample (N = 13) of HIV-positive women was obtained from a support group for HIV-positive women in a metropolitan city in the Southeastern United States. Albert Bandura's Social …

The Effect Of Chelation Therapy Upon The Perceptual Quality Of Life And The Perception Of Pain In Clients Receiving Infusions, Francine Glenn

MSN Research Projects

The use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for chelation in patients with diseases of the circulatory system has been a controversial issue for several decades. However, there was a lack of studies substantiating the perceived benefits of patients receiving chelation therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect on pain and perceived benefits related to the quality of life for patients receiving chelation infusions. The theoretical framework that guided this study was the Health Promotion Model developed by Nola J. Pender. The research questions were what are the effects of chelation therapy on the perceptual quality of life …

Screening Practices Of Primary Care Nurse Practitioners For Domestic Violence, Amy Branyon

MSN Research Projects

Domestic violence is prevalent in our society, affecting 2 million women each year (Butler, 1995). This creates a significant health problem for women, yet research has shown that few health care providers routinely screen for domestic violence. The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the number of nurse practitioners screening for domestic violence among their clients, identify the methodology used for screening, and identify barriers to screening. The theoretical framework was based on the Health Promotion Model (Pender, 1997). The research questions for this study were as follows: What are the screening practices for domestic violence of nurse …

Screening And Intervention Practices Of Family Nurse Practitioners For Smoking Tobacco Usage, Joseph H. Maness

MSN Research Projects

Smoking tobacco usage and it’s related health problems are a significant problem addressing the health care industry. Clients depend on primary health care provides to help identify potential health problems and to assist them in improving their health. The family nurse practitioner is in an ideal position to screen for smoking, and to intervene with those clients found to be at risk, to promote wellness within their client populations. Erikson, Tomlin and Swain’s theory o f Modeling, Role-Modeling served as the theoretical fi-amework for this research. This descriptive study explored the screening and intervention practices utilized by family nurse practitioners …

Bedtime Routines And Sleep-Rest Patterns Of Elders, Leanne Lott Tew

MSN Research Projects

Changes in elders" sleep patterns such as a decrease in sleep time, an increase in sleep latency, and changes in the sleep cycle often lead to sleep that is lighter, shorter, and interrupted (Foreman & Wykle, 1995) . Studies in the past have suggested that the presence of a bedtime routine may enhance sleep, but only minimal research has been done. The purpose of this descriptive study was to further evaluate nightly bedtime routines and sleep-rest patterns of elders. Two research questions were generated: What are the bedtime routines of elders and what are the sleep-rest patterns of elders? Orem"s …

Standardization Of An Immunoassay For The Detection Of Antibodies To B2 Glycoprotein-I, Eric N. Erickson Jr.

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an evolving autoimmune disease with numerous clinical manifestations. APS occurs in two forms: Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (PAPS) and secondarily in association with other autoimmune disorders such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE). In the brief period since its discovery as a cofactor for anticardiolipin antibodies, p1-glycoprotein I (�GPI; apolipoprotein H) has been recognized as the autoantigen in the absence of anionic phospholipid when appropriately presented to human autoantibodies. Recent studies suggest that this presentation requires the surface-dependent unmasking of a cryptic epitope. Immunoassays of autoantibodies directed against p1GPI, developed through the application of suitable polymeric matrices, may …

Marital Decision Making Scale: Psychometric Properties, Kathy Szynklewski Babel

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The psychometric properties of a revised version of the Marital Decision Making Scale (MDMS) were evaluated in this investigation. Sixty-eight couples served as participants. Distressed couples (n=34) were recruited from a community-based outpatient mental health clinic where they were seeking conjoint therapy for relationship problems; demographically matched nondistressed couples (n=34) were recruited from the community through a local survey research firm. The MDMS showed high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, interjudge agreement, and convergent and discriminant validity. A second independent sample of 60 couples (30 distressed couples and 30 nondistressed couples) was also recruited to cross-validate the results found with the …

Factors Which Affect Post-Hospital Resource Use And Patient Health Outcomes Among Taiwanese Older Adults, Chouh-Jiaun Lin

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore relationships among population characteristics, patient post-hospital resource use and patient health outcomes in terms of the Andersen health behavioral model. An additional purpose of this study was to examine a discharge planning screening instrument used in a large urban hospital in Taiwan to determine if it predicts resource use and patient outcomes. A longitudinal research design was adopted for this study. Data were collected from the general medicine departments of an 800-bed university teaching hospital. Out of 109 patients who were interviewed, 78 participants qualified (participation rate = 71.6%).

The majority of …

Identification And Characterization Of Determinants Of Head And Neck Tumor Cell Invasion, Yangguan Wu

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common malignant disease with poor prognosis. The majority of patients die from local invasion or lymphatic metastasis. The mechanism(s) underlining the invasiveness of HNSCC are poorly understood. Utilizing a panel of HNSCC cell lines previously established in our laboratory, we tested the application and relevance of the three-step hypothesis of tumor invasion to HNSCC and investigated the mechanism(s) pertaining to the regulation of each step in the invasive process. Data presented in this thesis demonstrated that tumor cell invasion in HNSCC is a complex process involving three repeated sequential steps: adhesion, …

The Effects Of Group Counseling On The Self-Esteem, Anxiety, And Behavior Of Children With Deployed Parents, Nancy Taylor Mitchum

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a six-session group counseling intervention for children who had a parent experiencing military-induced deployment. Participants were 65 children (30 boys, 35 girls) of enlisted military personnel attending elementary schools near the Norfolk Naval Base. Elementary school counselors facilitated the counseling groups.

An experimental/control group pretest-posttest design was employed. Independent variables were the child's participation in the Children of Deployed Parents-Group/control group, child gender and age. Dependent variables were self-esteem, anxiety, and behavior as measured by the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), the Child …

African American Community Mental Health Center Service Utilization: A Test Of The Cultural Compatibility Hypothesis, Alicia Michelle Marsh

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This exploratory study examined whether community mental health centers (CMHCs) in Virginia that had services evaluated as being more compatible with the cultural needs of African Americans attracted a higher percentage of adult African American service users from their catchment areas than CMHCs which were evaluated as being less culturally compatible. The cultural compatibility of 36 CMHCs was assessed via a telephone interview with their clinical directors using a modified version of the Cultural Competence Self-Assessment Questionnaire: Administrative Version (Mason, J., 1995). This study did not find a correlation between CMHCs' cultural compatibility and their success at attracting African American …

An Exploratory Study Of The Correlates Of Drug Use Among Juveniles: Analysis Of Regional Variations In The United States, Denise D. Nation

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Research on substance use and abuse has increased exponentially over the past twenty-five years. However, research focusing on regional differences in drug use seems to be very limited. The purpose of this study is to examine the correlates of drug use among juveniles in the four major geographic regions of the United States: the Northeast, the North Central, the South and the West. Here, drug use is defined in terms of alcohol and marijuana use for the age group 12-19. Four research hypotheses are proposed. The 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse data was used to assess and analyze …

Generation Of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Beta Subunit Specific Monoclonal Antibody Using A Synthetic Peptide, Zhe Huang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is well known for early immunological and bioassay tests for early detection of pregnancy. Since the hormone specific beta subunit confers unique biological and immunological specificity to hCG, immunochemical measurement of hCG has achieved greater specificity and sensitivity in recent years by using either the beta subunit as an immunogen or a partially reduced beta subunit polypeptide chain. However, antiserum raised against the entire hCG beta subunit usually cross-reacts to some extent with human luteinizing hormone (hLH). hCG has been found to be present in the extract of tumors and minute quantities of hCG are synthesized …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Considering The Impact Of Educational Institutions And Teacher Perceptions, Cynthia S. Glass

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This research examines teacher perceptions about the nature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD") and the teaching strategies used to work with students who display ADHD behaviors. It also examines the relationship between classroom size and perception of incidence of ADHD within the classroom.

Results indicate that older and more experienced teachers are more flexible than younger, less experienced teachers in their teaching strategies when working with students who display ADHD behaviors. Teachers who received information about ADHD from their school administration utilized flexible methods more often than those who did not receive information. The proportion of students identified as …

An Extracellular Protein Produced By Staphylococcus Hominis Strain Αm With Antimicrobial Activity Against Mycobacterium Spp, Sandra May Jacobsen

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The inhibitory activity exhibited by Staphylococcus hominis strain αM toward Mycobacterium species was examined. These studies included determining the conditions that maximized inhibitory agent production, analyzing characteristics of the agent, determining the time of agent production, ascertaining plasmid possession and the role of plasmids in the production of this inhibitory agent, and ascertaining the antimicrobial activity of other strains of S. hominis. On solid and in liquid media, S. hominis strain αM exhibits a unique inhibitory activity toward Mycobacterium species that is not demonstrated by Staphylococcus epidermidis or other S. hominis strains. Maximum agent production and recovery was …

Home Health Nurses: Are They Satisfied With Their Work Environment, Said Abu Salem

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

Objectives. This study addressed the questions, (1) To what degree are home health nurses satisfied in their job? (2) What variable ranks as the most important for home health nurses' satisfaction? and, (3) Is there a difference between job satisfaction of full time employment, part time, and per diem home health nurses?

Methods. The data were collected from six home health agencies in the Hampton Roads Area resulting in a sample of (N = 72). The McCloskey and Mueller Satisfaction Scale developed in 1990 (MMSS) was used to measure home health nurses' satisfaction.

Results. The home health …

The Effectiveness Of An Accent Reduction Program On Foreign Speaker’S Oral English Proficiency And Understandability, Kara Elizabeth Sewell

Dissertations and Theses

Accent reduction is a program to assist foreign speakers in developing a level of oral English proficiency that is more similar to native English speakers. This study examined whether an accent reduction program, focusing on intonation and articulation, would improve the oral English proficiency and understandability of 2 Vietnamese speakers.

The research questions this study sought to answer were: (a) Does a foreign speaker's oral English proficiency as measured by the Proficiency of Oral English Communication (POEC) subtest scores improve immediately after completion of an accent reduction program?, (b) Does a foreign speaker's POEC subtest scores 4 weeks after termination …

Characterizing Erythrocyte Motions In Flowing Blood, Markos Leggas

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Characterizing the probabilistic motions of cells is a prerequisite for the development of a general model of transport and surface deposition of white cells and platelets (WBC/P). These phenomena differ greatly when red blood cells (RBC) are present at normal levels, but follow convective diffusion in dilute suspensions. A critical need is to understand and characterize dispersion and diffusion as they apply to red cells in suspension flow. The dispersive motions of
0.5-micrometer beads and fluorescently labeled human RBC flowing in dilute (0.003%) and concentrated (25%) RBC suspensions, respectively, were characterized using fluorescence videomicroscopy methods, and times for individual tracer …

Late Effects Of Ionizing Radiation On Normal Microvascular Networks, Vinh Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation result in changes in the structure and function of microvascular networks in normal tissue. Previously, we reported on the early effects of ionizing radiation on microvascular networks at 3, 7, and 30 days post-irradiation [1-3]. Data from the early time points suggested that ionizing radiation significantly alters the structure and function of microvascular networks and interferes with the normal processes of vessel maturation. Here, we
present our findings on the late effects of ionizing radiation on normal tissue microvasculature at 60, 120, and 180 days post-irradiation. The cremaster muscle of Golden Syrian hamster was locally …

The Effects Of Sibling-Implemented Training On Social Behaviors Of Autistic Children, Cristin L. Sullivan

Dissertations

The present study investigated the effectiveness of sibling-implemented pivotal response training (PRT) on the social behaviors of five children with autism. Using a multiple-baseline design across sibling pairs, participants were trained to use PRT while playing with their brother’s with autism. Measures of play skills and social behavior were assessed during baseline, training, sibling-independent play, and two-month follow-up sessions. Also, parents were asked to rate randomly selected video-tape segments from baseline and sibling-independent play sessions. The results indicated that siblings were able to learn effectively and implement PRT strategies following training. All of the children with autism demonstrated an increase …

Recidivism Among Jamaican Teenage Mothers : A Historical Cohort Study 1995-1998, Vonna Lou Caleb Drayton

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Pregnancy is the single most important reason why girls fail to complete secondary school in the Caribbean. The Women's Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) Program was established in 1978 to enable adolescent mothers 16 years and under to return to school, and to delay second pregnancies until completion of their education.

This historical cohort study assessed the effect of the WCJF Program on the incidence of repeat pregnancies over the period 1995-1998, and on the educational attainment of program participants. A random sample (n=260) of primiparous Jamaican adolescent mothers 12-16 years who gave birth in 1994 in the parishes of …