Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Patient Participation In Physical Therapy Goal-Setting, Susan M. Baker

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background and Purpose. An important part of treatment planning in physical therapy is effective goal-setting. The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice recommends that therapists identify the patient’s goals and objectives during the initial evaluation as a way to maximize treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether therapists seek patient participation in goal-setting and, if so, with what methods. We also examined therapists’ attitudes toward participation and patient satisfaction with the evaluation encounter.

Subjects and Methods. Twenty-two physical therapists audiotaped the initial evaluation of 73 elder patients. The audiotaped evaluations were then scored using the Participation …

Effect Of Obturation And / Or Coronal Seal On The Success Of Root Canal Therapy : An In Vivo Histologic Investigation, Douglas Snider

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Numerous studies have examined coronal leakage with in vitro protocols. A search of the literature showed the absence of a long term in vivo, histologic study, examining the effect of coronal and/or radicular leakage on periradicular health.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of obturation and / or coronal seal in preventing the formation of periradicular lesions in dogs over time. The study was conducted on six beagle dogs. Premolars were cleaned and shaped. Sixteen roots in each dog were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups of equal size. Group one was obturated using …

Antitumor Effect Of Il-2, P53, And Bax Naked Gene Transfer In C6 Glioma Cells, Peyman Haghighat

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[Abstract not included]

The Immunology Of Parturition, Ari Mayer Mackler

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Macrophage-derived factors have been implicated in the etiology of preterm labor but little is known about trafficking of this immune cell into the uterus or its regulation of uterine contractility in mice. Enhanced number and activation of macrophages was hypothesized to precede parturition. Studies characterized contractile activity and the distribution of macrophages in the uterus of C3/HeN mice before and after term (=day 19). Contractile activity by uterine strips on days 15 and 18 of pregnancy, the day of delivery, and 1 day postpartum indicate that an endogenous oscillator sustains high frequency contractions. Modest acceleration of the pacemaker occurred before …

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Swallowing Dysfunctions : Semg Cognitive Training As An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy, Vicky T. Nguyen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study compared surface electromyography (sEMG) cognitive training to conventional myofunctional therapy in controlling a swallowing dysfunction, commonly referred to as "tongue thrust". Nasal airway resistance (NAR) was assessed on every subject, to rule out mechanical obstruction that would prevent proper function. The scope of this investigation composed of evaluating baseline activity and dry swallowing patterns. Subjects were distributed to one of three treatment groups: sEMG cognitive training, conventional myofunctional therapy, and control, based on the degree of NAR (normal, mild, or moderate). Initial sEMG recordings were then taken on subjects that clinically demonstrated a tongue thrust habit to confirm …

The Validation Of An Existing Sleep Apnea Questionnaire And Its Application To Clinical Orthodontics, Jeffery C. Biggs

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to validate a sleep apnea questionnaire from the Loma Linda University Sleep Disorders Center, and then to utilize the questionnaire in order to identify potential sleep apnea patients from a pre-orthodontic patient sample. Study patients were selected from the Loma Linda University Sleep Disorders Center and the Loma Linda University Orthodontics Clinic, both in Loma Linda, California, USA.

Methods: The study sample represented all of the patients initially examined from 1996 through 1998 who were age 8-15 years old at the time of the initial exam. Validation of the questionnaire was based on responses …

Dna-Dna Checkerboard Hybridization To Identify Bacteria In Human Plaque Samples, Jasan Lee Zimmerman

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Previous research has shown that using DNA probes to identify the presence of specific bacteria in human plaque samples is superior to the commonly used anaerobic cultural procedures. Some periodontal pathogens are either uncultivable or very difficult to grow, such as Prevotella intermedia, P. nigrescens, and Eubacterium brachy. Digoxygenin probes were prepared for 15 oral bacteria. These probes were used with a checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization scheme to analyze whether human plaque samples contained any of the 15 bacterial species. Our results have shown that this method is successful in identifying bacterial DNA present in the subgingival patient plaque …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of Heat Treatment Using Orthotherm On Thermally Activated Archwires, Brent J. Hurst

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of heat treatment on thermally activated nickel titanium archwires, and to determine the differences between wires from individual manufacturers. Thermally activated, nickel titanium wires were obtained from five different manufacturers in the 0.016 x 0.022 format. All wires were measured with a micrometer to determine their exact dimensions. Half of the wires were heat treated with the use of the Orthotherm Bending Art Programmer from Syrinx Medical Technologies (Berlin, Germany) while the other half served as a control. By passing an electrical current through the wires for a predetermined period …

An Evaluation Of A Nurse Case-Managed Program For Children With Diabetes, Jean Y. Caravalho

Master's Projects

This study evaluates an integrated model of care for children with diabetes that was developed at an HMO. This model program of 56 subjects included a nurse case manager, a multidisciplinary team clinic, and educational and counseling interventions to empower families to improve self-management of the children's diabetes. The purpose of the program was to improve diabetes self-management as measured by pre- and postintervention glycosylated hemoglobin values, quality of life, and self-efficacy ratings. There were improvements in means of all measures of self-management and a statistically significant improvement in self-efficacy beliefs of the parents. The higher quality of life and …

Assessment Of Nurse Practitioner Management Of Breast Cancer Screening, Renee M. Comee

Master's Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine current practice behaviors of adult nurse practitioners when assessing and screening asymptomatic women over age 50 for breast cancer. Rosenstock's Health Model and Bandura's social learning theory guided this research. One hundred-fifty nurse practitioners were surveyed by questionnaire. Seventy-six surveys were completed and returned. Survey results revealed that those practitioners who had experienced breast cancer themselves were more aggressive in their screening and follow-up practices than those who had never had breast cancer. It was also noted that the nurse practitioners surveyed were performing initial breast cancer screening but not having patients …

Childern Witnessing Domestic Violence, Meghan Denzel

Master's Projects

Statement of Problem: Although witnessing violence in the family may account for many symptoms brought to the attention of the primary care providers, such violence is seldom identified as an issue. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of children witnessing violence in the home, as self reported by victims of domestic violence in a clinical setting. Method: The study was a retrospective chart review. Data was gathered from a survey administered to individuals identified in the emergency department as victims of domestic violence. The survey addressed demographics, child witnesses to violence, and co-factors of violence including …

Quality Of Life And Locus Of Control Of Migraineurs, Lesley L. Allen

Master's Projects

Advanced practice nurses are essential primary health care providers actively engaged in health promotion, illness prevention, and the management of acute and chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to measure the quality of life and locus of control among three different groups of migraineurs. A retrospective quantitative study was conducted using Ferrans and Powers' (1985) Quality of Life Index and Martin, Holroyd, and Penzien's (1990) Headache Specific Locus of Control questionnaire. The analysis of 79 adult migraineurs indicated that those who received headache education had a higher quality of life and higher external locus of control scores than …

Southeastern Appalachian Community's Acceptance Of The Family Nurse Practitioner In The Emergency Department, Tami Rowland-Khashman

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to examine the acceptance of an Appalachian community's acceptance of a family nurse practitioner in the emergency department.A conceptual framework of leek Ajzen(1988) was used to predict the acceptance of a family nurse practitioner in the emergency department from a sample of participants in a community.Subjects (n=109) from a sample in Maryville, Tennessee who were shopping at Wal-Mart® were used in this study.A tool in which acceptance was acknowledged was used, and yes and no answers were seen as acceptance or nonacceptance.Descriptive statistics suggest that the sample overall was accepting of the …

A Comparison Of Domestic Violence Screening, Attitudes, And Knowledge Base, Terry Gardner

Master's Projects

Objective: To compare advanced practice nurses' (APNs) and physicians' (MDs) domestic violence screening behaviors, perceived obstacles, and knowledge base so as to determine the efficacy of the collaborative practice model of care. Design: The survey questionnaires were the "Nurse Practitioners' Experience with Partner Abuse in Alaska" and the "Physicians' Experience with Partner Abuse in Alaska". Significant differences were evaluated by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Setting: Two 200-300 bed urban HMO medical centers. Participants: Thirty-five providers (23 MDs and 12 APNs) with the mean age of 40, and with 8 years clinical practice in California. Results: Of total providers, …

The Accuracy Of Nitrous Oxide Passive Dosimeters As Compared With An Infra-Red Spectrographic Reference Method, Susan Allen

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Nitrous oxide is a gas often used in dental, surgical and veterinary operations as an anesthetic agent. Employees stationed in proximity of fugitive gas emissions may potentially suffer adverse health effects from chronic exposure to this agent. Passive dosimeters can be worn in the breathing zone of potentially affected personnel during exposure periods, then later analyzed to quantify nitrous oxide exposure. This study sought to establish the accuracy of several commercially available passive monitoring devices for nitrous oxide by comparison against an infra-red spectrophotometric reference method.

The Comparison Of Gait Characteristics Between Older Adults Who Do Tai-Chi Chuan And Older Adults Who Do Not Do Tai-Chi Chuan, Shu-Ya Chen

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Tai-Chi Chuan (TCC) is a traditional Chinese exercise which has become popular in the Western world recently. The reported health benefits of TCC exercise include increased lower extremity muscle strength, improved balance, improved cardiopulmonary function, reduced tension, and improved overall wellness. However, no study has demonstrated the effects of TCC exercise on walking performance. The purpose of this study is to determine whether TCC exercise has an effect on normal speed walking of older adults. Twenty-four older healthy women over 55 were recruited in this study, 12 subjects practiced TCC exercise at least two times per week and the others …

Prevalence And Possible Causes Of Vitamin B-6 Deficiency Among Women In The Philippines, Siew Sun Wong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Recently maternal intake of multivitamins has been associated with a reduced risk of orofacial clefts (OFC) in human epidemiologic studies. In the Philippines, vitamin B-6 deficiency was found to be associated with increased risk of OFCs. The birth prevalence of OFCs in the Philippines is among the highest known, but Filipino emigrants in the United States have lower rates, indicating that environmental factors may play an important role in causing OFCs in the Philippines.

The prevalence and possible causes of vitamin B-6 deficiency were investigated through dietary and biochemical assessments in case-control study in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Mothers with OFC …

Identifying The Behavior, Attitudes, And Knowledge Of Tobacco Use Among Students Enrolled In Orientation Courses In Six Community Colleges In The Tennessee Board Of Regents System, G. E. Boone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the behavior, attitudes, and knowledge regarding tobacco use of students enrolled in orientation courses in Tennessee community colleges. The six community colleges selected for the study were members of the Tennessee Board of Regents system that offered mandatory orientation courses. Data were collected by use of the College Tobacco Behavior, Attitude, and Knowledge Survey . A response rate of (72.5%) from 700 students was analyzed. Three research questions guided the study and 17 null hypotheses were formulated and tested at the.05 alpha level of significance. Data were analyzed by using t -tests, …

Women's Perception Of Provider, Social, And Program Support In An Outpatient Drug Treatment Program, Melaine Marie Salmon

Master's Projects

The purpose was to explore perceptions of pregnant and parenting substance abusing women in an outpatient drug treatment program regarding provider and social support. Also identified were aspects of the rehabilitation program perceived by the women as assisting them to maintain abstinence from substance use. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire and a tool designed by the authors based on the Social Stress Model of Substance Abuse (Lindenberg, Gendrop, & Reiskin, 1993) and the literature of social support. The majority of the women were satisfied with their social support from family and friends. Sixty-seven percent of the women felt …

The Public Dream: A Jungian Interpretation Of "The Waste Land", Obed Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A Jungian interpretation of The Waste Land was undertaken in this thesis. The symbolic underpinnings of the poem were found to resonate with archetypal significance. A comparative study of key ideas developed by C. G. Jung and T. S. Eliot was adopted in order to illuminate the psychological aspects of the poem. The theme of individuation and the archetypes which accompany it were revealed in the symbolic imagery of The Waste Land. The emotional tenor of Eliot's disposition and the philosophical direction of his thinking at the time The Waste Land was written were found to correlate with and parallel …

Silent Messages In Negotiation: A Descriptive Study Of Negotiators' Perceptions Of The Role Of Nonverbal Communication In Multi-National Business Negotiations, Yun Chu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study specifically explored the perceived importance of the following nonverbal factors in the negotiation process: proxemics (location and negotiation site), physical arrangement (seating and furniture arrangement), and kinesics (eye contact, facial expressions and gestures). The findings show that the negotiators' perception about the three categories and their role in negotiation are consistent with nonverbal communication theory.

Acculturation Level And Performance Of Mexican Americans On A Test Of Malingering, Sonya Rosa Flores

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The detection of malingered neuropsychological impairments is an essential issue for mental health professionals. Acculturation level and performance of Mexican Americans on the Computerized Assessment of Response Bias, (CARB), was investigated in the present study. The CARB was administered to 89 subjects comprised of 51 student volunteers and 38 community volunteers. There were 41 males and 48 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 46 years of age. All subjects were instructed to try their best to "fake" a memory deficit. Subjects were grouped into four acculturative typologies according to their performance on the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II, …

Parental Awareness And Lead Poisoning: A Suburban Analysis, Deborah M. Reed

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Lead poisoning is one of the most common pediatric health problems in the United States. A direct result of industrialization, the toxic substance lead has contaminated our environment. Parents of young children should be aware of the hazards of lead, the environmental sources, the need for annual screening. the implications of screening results. and steps to reduce the chances of exposure. Questionnaires were distributed at a pediatrician's office. Parents with children under six years of age were asked to complete the survey. Sixty-two questionnaires were completed and returned. It was determined that parents have a good understanding of the pathways …

Crossing The Line: Experiences Of The Formerly Homeless Living Past Homelessness, Susan Marie Bennett Dnsc, Msn, Fnp, Rn, Cs

Dissertations

This grounded theory study explored the experiences of formerly homeless individuals and families who have moved from homelessness into stable housing. This was an ethnographic study and involved the researcher staying in an east coast shelter where some of the formerly homeless participants had become staff members and reside. Data analysis was informed by dimensional analysis. Moving out of homelessness was the studies perspective. Findings of the study revealed the following dimensions that related the formerly homeless's experiences: (a)reacting to circumstances, or how they became homeless; (b)surviving as homeless, or how they lived while homeless; (c)crossing the fine, or what …

Child Language And Literacy Development: A Parenting Resource Handbook, Joan B. Harrison

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

One night a few years ago, my husband and I stopped in a fast-food restaurant to grab a sandwich. We sat down at a table and our eyes were drawn to a table close by. A young woman in her teens sat at the table, with a small infant in a carrier next to her on the floor. She sat, staring out the window, sipping a soft drink. After a few minutes, the baby began to fuss and squirm. The young woman continued to stare out the window. Soon the baby began to cry, but even this evoked no response …

The Effects Of High Fat And High Carbohydrate Diets On Aerobic Performance, Julie Becker, Kelly Mattila

Masters Theses

The effect of a high carbohydrate (HCHO) or high fat (HF) diet on time to fatigue and mood state was examined in the present study. Six untrained males, (mean age 26.6 ± 0.74) were randomly assigned to a high fat (HF) or a HCHO diet for seven days. Subjects performed an endurance test at 55% of VO₂max following the diet. Time to fatigue and psychometric variables of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) were recorded. Subjects then consumed the alternate diet following one week of a normal diet and a second endurance test was performed. There was no …

The Effects Of Water Or Sports Drink Ingestion Prior To Exercise On The Performance Of Middle Distance, Amateur Runners In A Thermoneutral Environment, Julie A. Barnes, Scott G. Devries

Masters Theses

Sports drinks have been shown to influence running performance, however, the best methods of hydration are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of water versus sports drink (6% carbohydrate/electrolyte) hydration prior to an exercise bout on the performance of middle distance, amateur runners. Ten subjects were randomly assigned to run two trials and began with either ingestion of water or sports drink. They then completed a maximal treadmill test to volitional exhaustion and returned two days later and drank the opposite drink. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max), time of run, heart rate, respiratory …

Can A Multidisciplinary Team Decrease Hospital Length Of Stay For Elderly Trauma Patients?, Beth A. Ramsey

Masters Theses

Elderly trauma patients often experience prolonged hospital stays. This study was done to determine if a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care would decrease hospital length of stay (LOS) for elderly trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Using a descriptive, correlational design, a convenience sample of 74 elderly patients aged 65 to 99 years was obtained from a trauma registry. The hypothesis that hospital LOS decreases for elderly trauma patients in the ICU who have a team approach to care was not supported using the t-test for independent means (t=1.6, df=72, p=.114). A second hypothesis proposed that the …

Effects Of Collaborative Learning On Test Scores Of First Semester Nursing Students, Theresa Sue Rivera

Master's Projects

Thirty-two first-year nursing students enrolled in a first semester nursing fundamentals class at a local community college participated in a study that compared three test score grades between nursing students who studied with a partner(s) and those who studied alone. Four types of study groups were identified from a questionnaire by having students indicate whether they studied alone or with a partner(s) in-preparation for each of the three tests. Test scores were matched with the student I.D. number and recorded. In this study, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOV A) was used to test the effect of studying together and …

Toys As Language Stimuli For Individuals With Alzheimer’S Disease, Cassandra M. Baer

Masters Theses

The study of the use of toys with institutionalized adults began in the field of gerontological nursing (Bailey, Gilbert, & Herweyer, 1992; Francis & Baly, 1986; Mayers & Griffin, 1990; Milton & MacPhail, 1985). Hopper, Bayles, and Tomoeda (1998) described the comforting qualities of plush animals for people with dementia and began to explore the effects of these toys on the language production of women with Alzheimer's Disease. Women were found to produce more information in fewer words when the toys were present.

This study builds on the work of Hopper et al. (1998), comparing language productions of two men …