Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Intravenous To Oral Medication Streamlining Manual, Christina Cognata Smith

Theses

This thesis will examine intravenous to oral medication streamlining in hospitalized patients.

For multiple reasons the cost of healthcare has been rising over the past ten years. As a result of rapidly escalating expenditures, pharmacoeconomic strategies that center on reducing costs without adversely affecting patients' outcomes are commonplace throughout the pharmaceutical industry.

The literature demonstrates that the early transition from intravenous to oral medications is an opportunity to decrease hospital and patients' costs without compromising patients outcomes. It is important to note that an inappropriate or careless transition can result in a drastic increase in cost, therefor, patients should be …

The Impact Of Community Violence On African American Children And Families, Simeon J. Williams

Theses

This thesis will attempt to increase awareness of the significant impact of community violence on the social and emotional development of African American children and families and to examine the role that mental health and maternal and child health agencies could play in the implementation of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

The purpose of the study is to give an overview of the scope of the problem, identifying the extent, prevalence, and nature of the community violence in African American communities. Additionally, the study will review the theoretical and conceptual frameworks that have guided research in the area of violence …

The Integration Of The Long Term Care Continuum Into A Seamless Health Delivery System, Virginia E. Moseley

Theses

A seamless continuum of healthcare services is necessary to serve older adults, caregivers and the community. Personal knowledge and experience of the author, a nurse and skilled nursing facility administrator. is combined with a literature review to determine a vision for serving older adults and caregivers. A vertical integration of long term care into a health delivery network traditionally focused on acute and primary care is proposed.

Coping Resources: A Comparative Study Of Parents Of Children With Down Syndrome And Parents Of Children Without Down Syndrome, Randee Jo Feco

Theses

A comparative study was conducted on differences in coping resources in parents of a child with Down syndrome and parents of children without Down syndrome. Participants included twenty- three parents of a child with Down syndrome and twenty-nine parents of children without Down syndrome . All parents were from the St. Louis metropolitan area. The participants completed a personal data questionnaire and the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI). The personal data questionnaire contained demographic questions, and the CRI measured coping resources in five domains: cognitive , social, emotional, spiritual/philosophical, and physical . Data was statistically analyzed to determine differences in each …

Getting Ready For Total Joint Replacement Surgery: A Pre-Operative Education Program, Jason R. Delaney

Theses

Today's health care system is in a state of constant flux attempting to merge, decrease jobs and increase profits. A method to accomplish the goal for increased profits is to have a decline in the number of days any patient remains in the hospital. One such facility attempting to achieve this goal is a 340 bed acute care hospital in the Midwest.

ln the view of the author it seems possible for the physical and occupational therapy departments to have the ability to improve outcomes and decrease the total amount of time any patient remains hospitalized. With this in mind, …

Quality Assisted Living For Older Adults, A Study Of Three Single Family Homes, A Viable Housing Alternative To Institutionalization, Rhonda Lynn Dahlberg

Theses

Long-term care is one of the greatest threats to the financial security of older Americans and their families. People are living longer and because of this many are becoming frail, developing functional impairments and suffering from chronic illnesses. In the past, elderly people did not have many options when health problems made running a household too difficult to manage. It then became necessary to explore other housing alternatives. Previously, nursing homes were the traditional solution for individuals without the family resources to help them stay at home.

Today, new housing options are emerging. These housing options are gaining considerable attention. …

Determining The Degrees Of Needed Support For First Time Parents In The Immediate And Early Post Partum Period, Marilyn Grimes Fraktman

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study investigates the needed support for first-time parents in postnatal care.

The Effects Of Human-Computer Communication Mode, Task Complexity, And Desire For Control On Performance And Discourse Organization In An Adaptive Task, Cristina Bubb-Lewis

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined how different communication patterns affected task performance with an adaptive interface. A Wizard-of-Oz simulation (Gould, Conti, & Hovanyecz, 1983) was used to create the impression of a talking and listening computer that acted as a teammate to help participants interact with a computer application.

Four levels of communication mode were used which differed in the level of restriction placed on human-computer communication. In addition, participants completed two sets of tasks (simple and complex). Further, a personality trait, Desire for Control (DC), was measured and participants were split into high and low groups for analysis. Dependent measures …

Effect Of Phenobarbital On Extracellular Matrix Production, Cell Replication, Transforming Growth Factor-��1 Binding, And Tgf-�� Receptor Profile In Rat Dermal Fibroblast Cultures, Rani Karina Spudich

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

No abstract provided.

Conflict Is Optional, Difference Is Not : Toward A Difference-Based Approach To Interpersonal Communication, James Arthur Gieseking Jr

Dissertations and Theses

An examination of the discussion of conflict in general, interpersonal and small group communication texts indicates that the conceptualization of conflict theory in the U.S. is increasingly dependent upon three theoretical pillars: the qualities of ubiquity, utility and necessity. A critical, deconstructive analysis of these operational characteristics in relation to the actual human experience of conflict reveals that they are more appropriately associated with the essential condition of difference, rather than conflict, and the concepts of conflict and difference are generally conflated in U.S. communication texts. The synergistic interaction of a variety of specific cultural constructs can be seen as …

Anatomical Abnormalities In The Dominant Right Coronary Artery And Its Implications On Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty And Eventual Patient Outcome, Katherine E. Brown

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The success of Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty {PTCA) is dependent on the exact knowledge of the coronary artery anatomy and the adaption of the catheter configuration to the anatomical variations. This is a case study of a 54-year-old male with anatomic abnormalities in the dominant right coronary artery undergoing PTCA for a total occlusion. The anatomic abnormalities caused PTCA to fail, and the patient was taken emergently to surgery for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. At present, newer smaller PTCA guiding catheters have the potential to provide safe and successful PTCA for people with a broader range of anatomical …

A Comparison Of Caregiving Self-Efficacy, Stress, Social Support, Coping, Depression, And Life Satisfaction Among African-American And White-American Female Caregivers Of Elder Bedbound Patients., Norma Graciela Cuellar

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Identification, Localization, And Characterization Of Sodium/Hydrogen Exchanger Isoforms 1 And 3 In The Gerbil Cochlea, Brian R. Bond

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Mongolian gerbils were used in an investigation into the expression of cochlear sodium/hydrogen (NHE) exchanger isoforms 1,2,3 and 4. NHE 1-4 gene products were identified in the gerbil inner ear by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The distribution of NHE-1 and 3 subsequently was mapped in the adult gerbil inner ear using isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies generated against rat antigens. Changes in the cellular expression level of NHE-1 protein in response to treatment with dexamethasone or NH4 CI-induced acidification were then assessed by semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis. Cochlear cDNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using NHE isoform-specific primers based …

Management Needs And Development Of Nursing Administrators In The Long Term Care Industry, Myrtle Jean Darnell

Theses

This thesis will focus on the role of the nursing administrator in long-term care in the past, at present, and the requirements for the future. The major emphasis will be to focus on the educational needs required for the nursing administrators to function effectively in their role as top nursing leader of the facility.

There are many external forces affecting long-term care facilities: early discharges from hospitals result in sicker residents in the nursing home, a case mix prospective payment system is being piloted for rollout to all fifty states, and managed care enrollment is increasing for the Medicare population, …

The Perception Of Effort During Muscular Fatigue And Recovery, Juan H. Svendsen

Theses : Honours

This study investigated how sense of effort is altered during fatigue in nine normal subjects. A contralateral limb matching paradigm was used in which the subjects nondominant (reference) arm was held at 20% MVC with force production matched at one minute intervals by the dominant (marching arm). It was found that matching force increased in a linear fashion with fatigue. It was also observed that EMG amplitude increased in the reference and matching arm and remained elevated during a 15 minute recovery period. As in previous studies strong correlation (r = 0.85) between rmsEMG in the reference arm and matching …

Home Hospice Cancer Care: Family Members' Expectations, Perceptions And Satisfaction With Care, Kristina Medigovich

Theses : Honours

Increasingly, there is greater expectation by the public, as health consumers, that they will receive care from health professionals which meets their expectations and does not leave them dissatisfied. The stress experienced by families caring for a family member with advanced cancer may be complicated when they are dissatisfied with care received from health care professionals. To further promote family satisfaction it is important therefore for health professionals to understand the theoretical underpinning of family satisfaction with care. One theoretical explanation of family member satisfaction with advanced cancer care in the palliative care setting, Porter's Discrepancy Theory, was investigated in …

Examining The Problem Of Power In Divorce Mediation: A Naturalistic Inquiry, Shelley Lynne Hermer

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

How problematic is power imbalance in divorce mediation? Research in the last fifteen years has drawn attention to this issue, resulting in criticisms levelled at mediation from women’s groups, lawyers and others. Using six in-depth interviews with Ontario divorce mediators, this study examined power imbalance and its management. Three main themes emerged from the findings related to power: (1) the ‘emotional readiness’ of the couple, (2) the effects of the legal system, in particular, the relationships with lawyers, and, (3) physical intimidation and financial intimidation. Techniques employed by the mediators were similar across the interviews. These findings led to a …

The Effect On Feeding And Wheel Running Behaviours Of Housing Rats In Pairs, Roison M. O'Connor

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The effects on feeding of moving animals from individual- to pair-housing were explored in the present three experiments. Wheel access is known to result in a temporary suppression of feeding. The move to pair-housing was compared with the effect of wheel access. In Experiment l, a group of rats was moved from individual to pair-housing (IP group) and compared to a group of individually-housed rats (IND group) and a group of chronically pair-housed rats (PAIR group). The animals in the IP group showed a temporary (three days) suppression in feeding (initially 23%). When half of the IND and PAIR group …

Pilot Study Of The Efficacy Of Computer Aided Instruction As A Supplemental Teaching Instrument For Dialysis Patients, Joyce J. Daugherty

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This pilot study examined the feasibility of computer aided instruction (CAI) as supplemental interactive nutrition education for patients requiring chronic dialysis. The CAI prototype was developed using Gagne's Model of Instructional Design and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Forty-two patients were enlisted from a chronic dialysis clinic and assigned randomly to either treatment or comparison group. All subjects completed pre- and post-test questionnaires regarding their phosphorus-rich food consumption habits. Each group received the usual phosphorus control education adjunct to the monthly lab review. The experimental group also received supplemental education by CAI. Serum phosphorus lab results were assessed for change …

A Study Of Biblical Families From The Perspective Of Family Systems Therapy, Gunar John Kravalis

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study proposes that family systems therapy can prove useful in understanding Biblical families and thus add to our understanding of the Bible. Employing family systems therapy is appropriate because the Biblical narrative contains a comprehensive treatment of the human family. The Bible deals with family overall, many specific families as in the Jacob cycle, and ends with a vision of the family of God that exists already in the kingdom of heaven. Family systems theory is often useful to the pastor in understanding his/her own family, and the larger extended family of their church congregation. Thus, with new freshness …

Narrow Escapes: A Feminist Deconstruction Of Anorexia Nervosa In Women, Yvonne L. Mireau

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is a feminist deconstruction of anorexia nervosa (AN) in women. It begins with questioning the truth claims about AN established by the psychological and psychiatric fields. After an overview of the medical model literature and the feminist literature on eating problems, a critical analysis is used to deconstruct the sociocultural elements of AN. The purpose of this analysis is to critically examine the assumptions which have shaped how clinicians approach the phenomenon of AN in their practice with clients. What has been accepted as underlying psychopathology is deconstructed to reveal normative culturally constructed factors. A paradigm shift towards …

Client And Therapist Experiences With A Narrative Therapeutic Summary Format, Peter Duncan Whyte

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This qualitative research study explored the use of a narrative therapeutic summary letter format as an adjunctive intervention with clients engaged in individual therapy. The study’s sample consisted of six client subjects who received summary letters from six therapist subjects. Client subjects were furnished with written summaries of four consecutive counselling sessions. The summaries were based on pre-established narrative summary guidelines supplied to each respective therapist. After client subjects had received four consecutive summary letters, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with each client. The aim of these interviews was to explore and document clients’ experiences with the narrative therapeutic summary …

The Effects Of 50 Beat Per Minute Music To Decrease Anxiety And Lower Heart Rates In A Select Group Of College Students, Laura E. Burnell

Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess the affect of experimenter chosen 50 beat per minute music composed especially for stress and anxiety reduction on a select group of college students, and to examine its usefulness in promoting relaxation. The rationale for the study was based on research done in the area of using music to promote relaxation, and on the composer's claims that this music has been effective on a variety of populations for such purposes. Thirty subjects comprised of 17 males and 13 females ranging in age from 18 to 25 years participated in the study. This …

Cost-Effectiveness Of Activities In Extended-Care Facilities, Nancy Marie Knapp

Theses

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of activities in extended-care facilities. The life expectancy of older adults and housing options is presented in the introduction to this project. A literature review highlights the need for activities to maintain and restore the health of older adults in extended-care facilities. The literature shows that activities help to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of older adults. Meeting these needs leads to life satisfaction for the residents in extended-care facilities. The importance of evaluation in determining the cost-effectiveness of activities in extended-care facilities is also presented in the …

Negative Consequences Of Undergraduate Alcohol Usage : A Multivariate Gender Comparison, Leonald Dean Robinson

Dissertations

Problem. While the literature indicates that many male undergraduates suffer numerous negative consequences from alcohol usage, little is known about what, if any, consequences female undergraduates experience. Therefore, this study empirically tested if female undergraduates, ages 17-24, who share similar demographics, perceptions, and alcohol use locations as male undergraduates, also share similar alcohol usage patterns, negative consequences, and predictors for both.

Method. Secondary analysis was conducted on 1992 and 1993 United States Department of Education CORE Survey data collected from 345 male and 584 female undergraduates at two Midwestern private liberal arts colleges. Frequency, chi-square (p

Results. Both genders' …

Locus Of Control And Self-Directed Learning As Predictors Of Well-Being In The Elderly, Deborah Gardner

Theses : Honours

Elderly people who remain mentally and physically active are more likely to be happy than those who do not (George, 1980; Toscland & Sykes, I 977). Demographic factors have usually accounted for only a small amount of the variance in well-being (Diener, 1984 ). Internal control, personal growth and direction in life might have more to do with well-being than demographic or personality factors (Ryff, 1995). This study examined the theoretical relationship between locus of control and self-directed learning readiness in the elderly and the predictability of self reported well-being from an internal locus of control and a self-directed learning …

Have A Safe Trip: An Investigation Of Rituals And Sanctions Surrounding Lsd Use, David Wellbourne-Wood

Theses : Honours

There is little recent literature which identifies social controls operating among illicit drug users in Perth, Western Australia. This hinders understanding of the local illicit drug scene and makes the formulation of appropriate harm reduction strategies difficult. This study is a qualitative investigation of rituals and social sanctions which surround the use of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD). The research describes these rituals and sanctions, and examines their various functions for eight experienced users. The research adopted elements of a phenomenological approach, using in-depth semi-structured interviews to elicit a description of users' subjective experiences with LSD, and Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological analysis …

The Ms. Stereotype : Could It Be A Health Risk?, Phillip Van Der Klift

Theses : Honours

Two studies extend previous findings of stereotyping (a) within the nursing context (Ganong, 1993; Ganong & Coleman, 1992, Ganong et al., 1988), and (b) in relation to female title of address (Dion, 1987; Dion & Cota, 1991; Dion & Schuller, 1991; Heilder, 1975). Against the theoretical background of person perception theory and its influence upon the therapeutic nurse client relationship, study 1 investigates the extent to which nurses' stereotype a vignetted female client on the basis of title of address. Fifty registered nurses from two hospitals rated their impressions and subsequent expectations of a vignetted client on the First Impressions …

Determination Of The Presence Of Antibiotics And Bacterial Pathogens With Their Susceptibility In Fresh Milk From The San Nicolas Community And The Cities Of Penipe, Guano, And Chambo In The Chimborazo Province, Lupe Marín

Theses and Dissertations

This study is entitled, “determination of the presence of antibiotics and bacterial pathogens with their susceptibility in fresh milk from the San Nicolas community and the cities of Penipe, Guano, and Chambo in the Chimborazo province”. It was funded by the Benson Institute of Brigham Young University and Nestle. The objectives were: 1) to determine the presence of antibiotics in fresh milk from the San Nicolas community and the cities of Penipe, Guano, and Chambo, 2) to determine the presence of bacterial pathogens in milk from the places previously mentioned, and 3) to detect the susceptibility of the isolated bacteria …

Healthy Back Promotion Program: Barriers To Implementation, A. Alice Endter

Master's Projects

The Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners (OHNPs) and the education specialist at a community hospital in northern California designed and implemented the Patient Lifting Equipment Program and protocol. After 1 year, the investigator used a questionnaire to identify and describe 17 female subjects' barriers to implementing the new equipment and protocol and their risk factors for back injuries. The barriers that the subjects cited most often were increased time to prepare and use the devices and the lack of staff who could assist with the lifts. Risk factors, e.g., age, body mass index, hours worked, stress on the job, and social …