Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Career Orientation Levels In Adolescents : A Comparison Of Cleft And Noncleft Subgroups, Tara Darice Gaddis

Dissertations and Theses

The current research studied career orientation levels during adolescence utilizing previously collected cross-sectional data on 80 subjects. The subjects had participated in a study focusing on the ways in which clefting, gender, self-concept, mental ability, and socioeconomic status impact career development. Preliminary analysis of the data found that self-concept, mental ability, self-ratings of facial appearance, and desired level of future educational status were the factors most predictive of level of career development. In the initial analysis of the data, subjects, cleft and noncleft, who demonstrated high self-esteem, high mental ability, reported a more advanced level of desired higher education, and …

The Effect Of Fear On Myocardial Infarction Patients In Intensive Care Units., Geraldine Williams Allen

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Racism And Hiv/Aids Among African Americans : Dismantling One Addresses The Other, H. Timothy Ewing

Capstone Collection

Nationally, HIV/AIDS transmission rates are rising in African American communities while decreasing in white, gay communities where the disease has been the most devastating. Classism, homophobia, lack of cultural competency/sensitivity, distrust of health care providers, and racism are all social and cultural components which contribute to the spread of this pandemic. Racism has historically impacted the lives of African Americans in many different forms. Unfortunately, racism has also impacted the rate of HIV/AIDS transmission among African American. This project addresses the questions: Does personal, cultural, and institutional racism effect HIV/AIDS transmission among African American in Seattle-King County, and if so …

Spiritual Assessment And Care Plan Development In A Long Term Care Facility, Eugene J. Neff

Theses

A healthy spirituality in the long term care resident is an important factor in holistic care. A review of literature coupled with the knowledge and experience of the author, an ordained clergy person with pastoral care training, and experience in the long term care setting, has indicated a growing need to ensure that the long term care resident's spiritual needs are properly assessed. The results of that assessment must be incorporated into the care plan. Appropriate steps must be taken to respond to surfaced needs and reinforce the areas of spiritual strength.

The purpose of this thesis will be to …

An Overview Of The Long-Term Care Industry: Current Issues And Future Considerations, Angela L. Onermaa

Theses

Americans today live longer than their parents did, often two to three decades after retirement. For many, modern medicine's gift of time is a blessing. But when independent living is no longer possible, few elderly people or their families are prepared for the confusing and emotionally wrenching world of long-term care. Despite reforms passed by Congress, nursing homes remain controversial. Moreover, they are too expensive for many people, and the federal Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs provide limited benefits for nursing home care. Although innovative alternatives to nursing homes have emerged in recent years, long-term care remains a costly and …

"Ssmart Care": The Development Of Disease Management Programs Within An Integrated Health Care Network, Carol E. Oberaitis

Theses

This cumulative project paper will focus on the development of disease management programs by SSM Health Care - St. Louis, an integrated health care delivery network. This paper will detail the process used by the network to prepare for this project, the key roles and functions of the staff and physicians, the design phase and implementation phase of the project. The rationale for the project, the literature review, the barriers to the project and the outcomes will be included in this paper.

The purpose of this project paper is to share with other networks or individual hospitals the experience of …

Health Aspects Of Native American Indians And Alaskan Natives, Beverly V. Bennett-Maine

Theses

This thesis will focus on the decline in health of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives in regards to chronic diseases due to changes in their food habits, customs, traditions, and culture.

The purpose of this study is to explore why Native Americans and Alaskans health has deteriorated in relation to diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and alcoholism.

Limitation in access to health care facilities includes geographic location, cul tural, and linguistic barriers.

The studies to be discussed include: the Inter-Tribal Heart Project (ITHP) for cardiovascular disease; the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for self-reported risk factors; and the Navajo Health …

Dialogue: A Qualitative Study Of A Faculty Development Intervention To Assist Faculty In Exploring The Practitioner Assumptions That Impact Their Role In Higher Education And Medical Education, Donna M. Qualters

Educational Studies Dissertations

The Dialogue study is concerned with understanding how Dialogue could be applied to faculty development. Dialogue is a structured form of group interaction developed as an organizational behavior tool (Isaacs, 1993) which creates space for practitioner assumptions to be probed and insight into practice be achieved. It provides an intervention for faculty at the pre-contemplative stage of change (Prochaska, 1986), who are not motivated to modify their practice. The study focused on self-selected multi-discipline faculty from a four year institution and a public medical school. Participants ranged in experience from one to thirty five years of practice. This study was …

Superior Mesenteric Artery Flow Velocity Waveforms In Small For Gestational Age Fetuses, Eleanor Hoon Joo Rhee

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

No abstract provided.

Concurrent Validity Of Mental Ability Screening Tools : A Comparison Of Normal Students’ Performance On The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test And The Shipley Institute Of Living Scale-Revised, D. Melanie Peters

Dissertations and Theses

This study compared the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT), a verbal and nonverbal mental ability screening tool, to the Shipley Institute Living Scale (SILS), a nonverbal screening tool of mental ability, as part of a larger, ongoing study which is examining the effects of orofacial clefts on early career maturity. In terms of general intellectual ability, the K-BIT and the SILS provide descriptive categories, percentile ranks, raw scores, standard error of measurement, standard scores, standardization and norms, subtest scores, and total scores. The K-BIT provides normative curve equivalents and stanines, which the SILS does not. The SILS provides abstract and …

Discovering The Recreational Interests Of South Florida's Youth For Use In The Expansion Of 4-H Programs In Broward County, Florida, Thomas W. Kehlhofer

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

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Euthanasia : Dignity In Death, Dignity In Life : A Qualitative Approach Utilizing Karl Marx's Concepts Of Alienation, Reification, And Commodification In Contemporary Society, Bryan R. Williamson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research endeavor investigates the social condition of euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide. Viewed from the perspective of Karl Marx's conceptual framework of alienation, the external influences from society's institutions and from the perspective of the individual are used towards the goal of understanding the need for continued debate concerning individuals and their quest for a dignified death A core concept has been to accent a person's right to choose death when faced with terminal illness. Throughout the study a main objective has been to offer insight into the alienating influences large social structures exert upon individuals, and the manner …

The Medicare Program: Ripe For Reform, Gina M. Barhoumy

Theses

This thesis will evaluate several proposals to reform the Medicare system and how those proposals differ in terms of focus on either financial restructuring or care delivery redesign. This thesis proposes that an emphasis on managed care strategies will represent an effective way to reform the Medicare system.

The purpose of the study is to consider how a shift in focus from acute care treatment to illness prevention and chronic disease management would salvage the Medicare program. The thesis will further explore how an acute care focus has affected the Medicare program, turning a social policy into fuel that feeds …

The Efficacy Of A 'Spacer' In The Delivery Of Salbutamol For The Prevention Of Exercise-Induced Asthma, David G. Reed

Theses : Honours

Salbutamol is a Beta-2-agonist, commonly prescribed for the prevention and reversal of Exercise induced asthma (EIA). The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of a spacer device in the delivery of salbutamol for the prevention of EIA Thirteen confirmed asthmatic subjects (10 female and 3 male), completed 3 exercise test sessions consisting of three treatments a) Ventolin via MDI (metered dose inhaler) and placebo via spacer, b) Ventolin via spacer and placebo via MDI and c) Placebo via spacer and MDI, randomly administered utilising a single blind, cross--over design. Following treatment, subjects completed an asthmogenic physical challenge …

Sense Of Effort Associated With Exercise In The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Karen E. Wallman

Theses : Honours

Investigations into the mediators of effort sensation have indicated that central mechanisms related to corollary discharges may be responsible for an increased sense of effort during fatiguing isometric exercise. The role for central mediators for sense of effort have been objectively demonstrated through use of contralateral limb matching tasks. Subjects diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) often report prevalent fatigue associated with a greater sense of effort when involved in exercise. This study employed a fatiguing contralateral limb-matching task in order to determine if CFS subjects (n == 6) experienced an altered sense of effort associated with the task when …

The Participant's Perception Of The Contribution Of Lyengar Yoga To Their Health And Well-Being, Ann Dragon

Theses : Honours

To date little research has been conducted to substantiate the many anecdotal claims that yoga improves both physical and mental health. Berger and Owen (1992) demonstrated that yoga practice could enhance mood state. Mind-body exercise modalities, such as tai chi and yoga, potentially offer significant benefit in the areas of exercise rehabilitation and health promotion strategy (LaForge, 1997). Yoga is steadily gaining popularity amongst western culture with an increasing number of people participating in this mind-body exercise modality. Investigating the perceived contribution of regular yoga practice to health and well-being could uncover a number of positive 'indicators towards exercise adherence …

The Roles Of Transferrin Receptor In T Cell Activation, Allison Lorayne Bayer

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Transferrin receptor (TfR) appears on activated T cells following interaction of the antigen-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) with the T cell receptor (TCR) and the resulting expression of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R). Previous work in the laboratory has demonstrated allograft prolongation following administration of anti-TfR monoclonal antibody (mAb). Studies in the area of cancer immunotherapy have shown that TfR blockade and modulation deprives the tumor of iron, which is essential for continued growth and proliferation, while TfR modulation results in poor T cell proliferation, respectively. This dissertation focuses on the hypothesis that modulation of T cell TfR expression is associated with altered …

Nurse Practitioner Professional Autonomy: Relationship Between Structural Autonomy And Attitudinal Autonomy, Dolores C. Jones

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the possible components of structural autonomy that influence Nurse Practitioners' (NPs) perceptions of independence in practice. The components identified were NP state regulatory practices, educational background, and managed care environment. The study explored the relationship between NP structural autonomy as it relates to the above components and attitudinal autonomy as it relates to perceptions of independence in practice. A conceptual framework derived from a review of the literature demonstrated the possible relationships.

The investigator employed a mail survey to collect data from certified NPs in six eastern and mid-eastern states. …

Predicting The Severity Of Radiation Skin Reactions In Women With Breast Cancer, Davina Porock

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Skin reactions are unavoidable side effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer that may limit the amount of treatment a patient is able to receive. As well, the discomfort associated with the treatment may negatively affect the patient's quality of life and their willingness to complete a course of treatment that typically extends over seven weeks. Prior literature suggests that variations in patients' tissue reactions to radiation may be related to Individual patient characteristics. Before health care providers can intervene to prevent or minimise skin reactions, a clinical model that helps predict which patients will experience more skin reactions is needed. …

Early Discharge Planning : Primiparous Women's Perceptions Of Their Readiness For Going Home, Graeme N. Boardley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Early discharge for women after childbirth was introduced in Australia approximately ten years ago. Early discharge involves going home from hospital within three days of giving birth. Since its introduction, early discharge has been the subject of much debate. Previous research has argued the cost effectiveness and safety of early discharge, but little has been done to examine this phenomenon from the human aspect. An exploratory study of first time mothers, in an early discharge programme was undertaken to address how these women felt in relation to their readiness for going home. A purposive sample of twenty Caucasian, English speaking …

Women's Perceptions Of Birth Centre Care: A Qualitative Approach, Karen Coyle

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe women's perceptions of the care they received in a birth centre, compared to their previous experiences in a hospital. Australian statistics indicate that five percent of childbearing women now choose to receive care in a birth centre setting. Clinical outcomes of birth centre care are now well documented, but there is limited empirical data about women's experiences of this model of care. Seventeen women, who had recently given birth in a birth centre, and had previously experienced care in a hospital setting, were interviewed about their care experiences. Using content analysis, …

Young Families' Utilisation, Self-Perceived Requirements, And Satisfaction With Child Health Services In The City Of Belmont, Western Australia, Ailsa M. Munns

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The expectations of young families regarding care they would like to receive from community nurses working in the child health area is affected by the relationship between those expectations, utilisation and sociocultural factors such as family type, family composition and ethnicity. These factors influence family dynamics, needs, functioning and interactions with the wider community. A descriptive study with both quantitative and qualitative components was used to identify and analyse the self-identified requirements of young families utilising Child Health Services in the Belmont area, Western Australia, and their patterns of utilisation. Twenty five women who had a child or children under …

A Systematic Evaluation Of Methods To Separate X- And Y- Bearing Sperm, Jacquelyn Irving

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This project was initiated to determine if was possible to enrich either X- or Y- bearing sperm, and hence to preselect the sex of a child. Two of the possible reasons why couple might want to select the sex of a child are firstly because of a family history of an X-linked recessive genetic disorder, which usually only affect sons, and secondly families who have had several children of one sex. For this study, men with three or more children of the same sex were recruited following the publication of an article in The West Australian newspaper. The percentage of …

Accident Experience Of Commonwealth Government Employees In Western Australia : 1 June 1993 To 2 December 1995, David R. Wright

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This quantitative study documents, analyses and discusses the accident experience of Commonwealth employees in Western Australia from 1 July 1993 to 2 December 1995 as recorded on 1663 accident report forms. The research addresses the problem of lack of knowledge of accidents in the Commonwealth sector of the Western Australian work force. Its purpose is to identify possible areas of health and safety improvement and highlight where accident frequency may be reduced. Risk management is adopted as a conceptual framework to explore categories of accident related data, including month of year, time of day, day of the week of accidents, …

Validation Of The Barkemeyer-Callon-Jones Malingering Detection Scale: The Ability Of A Scale Differentiate Simulating Malingers From Controls And Prior Litigants From Those With No Litigation Experience Within A Sample Of Men Who Have All Suffered Chronic Low Back Pain, David Curnow

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Chronic low back pain costs the community, and several authors have suggested that individuals often attempt to exaggerate chronic low back pain. Currently no reliable and valid scale for assessing malingering in chronic pain populations exists, and there is a large difference in opinion on the ability of experts using clinical judgment to detect malingering. The current study seeks to provide a validation for the BarkemeyerCallon-Jones Malingering Detection Scale (MDS) which has purported to be able to identify individuals attempting to malinger neurological conditions and pain. A simulation design was used, as in previous research, because it is difficult to …

Changes In Muscular Power Associated With Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Carmel Nottle

Theses : Honours

The aims of the this study were to investigate the effects of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following downhill running on cycling power output and to determine the extent of any relationships between power output, strength, and DOMS. 12 active male subjects (aged 18-25 years) were randomly assigned to either a test (n=7) or control (n=5) group. The test group performed a 5 x 8 minute downhill running protocol at a grade of -7% and a speed corresponding to 80% of the subjects age predicted heart rate maximum. Measurements of isometric knee extension and flexion strength, peak and average cycling …

Biometrics : An Exploration And Analysis Of User Acceptance Issues, Brendan J. O'Loughlin

Theses : Honours

The security industry has undergone dramatic growth over the last twenty years due to a burgeoning of demand for security products and services. The protection of people, assets and information has been prominent among the concerns of business, industry and the broader community. Crimes against domestic, commercial, and industrial premises, small and large, are a commonplace occurrence and security has therefore become an essential component of any facility's continual operation. The security industry has been quick to respond to these concerns through the rapid development of a wide range of products and services. Growth in security as an academic discipline …

Current Trends In Designing A Therapeutic Milieu For The Victims Of Alzheimer's Disease, Nancy J. Allen

Theses

The increasing awareness of the need to appropriately manage victims of Alzheimer's disease has created an explosion of special care units across the country. This research project was designed to investigate the most current trends in caring for these individuals and the complex issues that are involved in the creation and operation of a therapeutic environment. Several existing Alzheimer's special care units in the St. Louis area are examined and compared. The results of this survey reveal the status of these units and how they compare to the desired therapeutic milieu described in this exercise.

Molecular Analysis Of The Factor V-Leiden Mutation In A Cardiac Transplant Patient Population, Caroline Maher

Theses

Venous thrombosis is a serious health problem affecting 1 in 1000 individuals annually. Until recently the pathogenic factors underlying thrombosis were associated with genetic defects in protein C, protein S and antithrombin III. However these were recognised in fewer than 5-10% of thrombotic patients. A breakthrough was made with the discovery of activated protein C resistance (APCr) which is associated in 90% of cases v/herein a G-->A transition in the factor V gene results in an abnormal molecule, Factor V Leiden. APCr is a major risk factor for thrombosis being present in 20-60% of thrombotic patients. Recently a G-^A …

A Discovery-Oriented Process Study Of Enactment In Family Therapy: Development Of The Family Therapy Enactment Rating Scale, Elizabeth Ong-Mythuan Fong

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

With the effectiveness of psychotherapy now well-supported in both the individual and family literatures (Garfield & Bergin, 1994), we are entering an era where questions of how and why therapy works are of interest. More specifically, there has been support and encouragement by some researchers (Rice & Greenberg, 1984; Mahrer, 1988) for the use of discovery-oriented methodologies to explore clinical phenomena that have yet to be empirically validated. The following is a discovery-oriented study of enactment, a structural family therapy intervention. The theoretical goals of enactments, their relevance to clinical practice, as well as how they are actually implemented in …