Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Levels Of Depression In Diabetic Elders With Controlled And Uncontrolled Blood Glucose Levels, Julie Sharon Randolph Briggs

MSN Research Projects

Depression is one of the most prevalent illnesses among elders. However, while it is one of the most treatable illnesses, depression is often the most neglected. It is well documented that depression leads to suicide. With the suicide rate among elders the highest of all age groups, it is imperative that health care providers become aware of the risk of depression among diabetic elders. Elders are at risk for depression with advancing age, loss of previous good health, and social interaction. The purpose of this nonexperimental, descriptive study is to compare depression levels in diabetic elders with controlled and uncontrolled …

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In Home Health Care, Bonnie Mcmillan

MSN Research Projects

Home health agencies have been slow to employ and capitalize on the care provided by the nurse practitioner. The potential contributions of this advanced practice nurse are far-reaching. However, no studies have assessed the role possibilities for the nurse practitioner in the home health field. The purpose of this study was to examine the need for and define the role of the nurse practitioner in home health care. Two research questions guided the study: What is the role of the nurse practitioner in home health care as perceived by home health nurse practitioners and staff nurses and what are the …

Sexual Victimization Recognition And Non-Disclosure Inventory Of Young Adolescents, Nancy S. Faulkner

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to assess sexual victimization recognition and nondisclosure of young adolescents proximate to the age of the abuse. Participants were 214 middle school pupils, ages 12 to 15 who were presented with Informed Consent giving them the right not to respond, presented brief information on Body Safety, and asked to respond to five questions. The Body Safety information and administration of the survey were on videotape for ease and consistency of data collection. Three null hypotheses were tested using Chi square and three research questions were analyzed by descriptive, non-statistical trend analysis. The following results were noted: …

Behavior And Attitudes Related To The Prevention Of Sexually Transmitted Disease And Unplanned Pregnancy, J. Lee Hoover

Dissertations

A sample of 214 persons was tested to determine the impact of gender role orientation, neuroticism, extraversion, authoritarianism, race, gender, and sexual orientation on attitudes and behavior relevant to the prevention of sexually transmitted disease and unintended pregnancy. Specifically measured was the impact of these factors on attitudes toward the condom as contraceptive, attitudes toward the condom as prophylactic, and reported condom use.

Gender role orientation was measured using the short form of the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) (Bern, 1978), neuroticism and extraversion were measured using the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) (Costa & McCrae, 1992), and authoritarianism was measured …

Effects Of Exercise And Psychosocial Stress On Blood Glucose In Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetics, Lisa Renae Clemensen

Dissertations

Non-insulin dependent diabetes often has serious consequences for individuals if blood glucose is not maintained within relatively normal ranges. Exercise and stress have been enumerated as important variables for the control of blood glucose in non-insulin dependent diabetics.

This study compared blood glucose and stress for eight exercise and eight matched control non-exercise adult noninsulin dependent participants. A prospective home monitoring design was used to monitor daily blood glucose, stress, and physical activity via multiple measures for six days.

Results indicated that control participants had significantly higher average blood glucose readings and higher blood glucose variability. Daily stress measures did …

Training Nonconventional Autoclitic And Tact Relationships In Children, Ingolfur Bergsteinsson

Dissertations

To some extent, one understands a complex aspect of human language if one can produce that kind of language in children who have not already acquired it. Skinner’s (1957) concept of autoclitic secondary verbal behavior is the most complex of his various verbal units, and until recently has not been the subject of experimental analysis. Howard and Rice (1988) made the first attempt to generate an autoclitic repertoire in preschool children, and the present study is an attempt to corroborate and extend their findings. They worked with the autoclitic “like” which identifies the accompanying primary verbal behavior as a form …

Differences In The Self-Talk Of Students With Language Impairments When Completing Math Computation And Story Problems, Jennifer Shepard Crouse

Masters Theses

This study was designed to analyze the differences in the self-talk of students with language impairments when compared with students with normal language. Nine fifth grade students with language impairments and nine fifth grade students with normal language, identified by their teachers as average-achieving, participated in this study. Participants were instructed to use a think-aloud technique while completing sets of computational and math story problems. Resulting samples of self-talk were transcribed and coded.

Results indicated several significant differences in the self-talk of students with language impairments when compared with their normal language peers. In regard to quantitative aspects of self-talk, …

Change In Bracket Bond Strength And Enamel Calcium : Due To Repeated Bonding With Conventional And Resinomer Glass Ionomer Cements, David L. Wilkinson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Glass ionomers chemically and mechanically bond to enamel. Repeated bonding may deplete calcium in enamel and reduce the bond strength. Seventy-five non-carious molars were randomly divided into three equal groups and metal brackets were bonded with either Ketac-Cem, Photac-Bond, or Fuji Ortho LC. The samples were stored in 100% humidity at 37° C for 7 days then shear/peel tested with an Instron machine. New brackets were repeatedly cemented with the same cement to the same tooth and shear/peel tested a total of five times. After each shear/peel test the tooth with the mean bond strength from each cement was set …

An Animal Model For Development Of Pulpal Inflammation, John W. Masters

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Several animal models have been proposed to develop pulpal inflammation. Procedures recommended in these models have many variables and have not produced consistent results. The purpose of this study was to create pulpal inflammation using the Nd:YAG laser.

Forty-five cuspids of 12-18 month old beagle dogs were lased at 5, 7.5, and 10 watts (W) for 20 seconds with a 600 micron contact probe. Five cuspids were not lased but were used as controls. Following laser application, the teeth were extracted at intervals of 3, 7, and 30 days. They were then fixed in 10% formalin, decalcified, sectioned, and stained …

A New Soft Tissue Analysis : To Establish Facial Esthetic Norms In Young Adult Females, Anne Béress

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Two hundred and fifty-five articles, books, and masters theses were reviewed for the most frequently applied soft tissue measurements in the literature in order to develop a new soft tissue analysis computer program that includes established soft tissue measurements and the newly developed globe analysis. A meta analysis of 20 normal occlusion studies, was performed to obtain mean values and standard deviations to form a large sample size. Inclusion criteria for articles in the meta analysis were normal occlusion, no orthodontic treatment, pleasing faces, statement on age, race, and lip position of the population. For the lateral view, angular and …

Incidence Of Cesarean Delivery In Nulliparous Patients Based Upon Timing Of Epidural Analgesia Initiation, Wendy H. Sandelin

Theses and Dissertations

Epidural analgesia for the parturient is a safe and effective method of pain relief during labor. This method of pain management permits the pregnant woman to have a virtually pain-free labor while remaining alert and able to participate in the delivery. However, the effect of epidural analgesia on nulliparous labor, and ultimately on the mode of delivery, vaginal or cesarean, remains controversial. Cesarean delivery is associated with greater maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as increased financial cost for the health care system. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and circumstances related to cesarean …

The Implementation Of Specialized Physical Health Care Services-A Descriptive Model Of The Training Of Unlicensed Assistive Personnel, Janet Chang Needman

Master's Projects

No abstract provided.

Job Satisfaction Of Emergency Nurses In Tennessee, Breezie Caudle Finley

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Emergency departments seem to attract highly motivated nurses who are challenged by this unique specialty area of nursing practice. Emergency nurses have initial contact with patients, making assessments and directing patients to the appropriate resources for health care. Skilled emergency nurses need to remain motivated to have job satisfaction and productivity for quality patient care. The purpose of this study was to identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contributed to job satisfaction and dissatisfaction among emergency nurses, to determine if there was a relationship between emergency nurses' years of experience and job satisfaction, and to ascertain if there was a …

Overcrowding In The Emergency Department: A Barrier To Health Care Access, Judy Blaine

MSN Research Projects

Patterns of access for primary health care have placed additional strain on emergency departments (EDs). Issues related to these patterns were explored in this ex post facto study. Johnson's Behavioral Systems Model (1968) provided the conceptual framework. The following research questions were explored; What is the incidence of ED patients leaving without being seen by a health care provider? What are the demographic characteristics of ED patients who leave without being seen? How do demographic characteristics of ED patients who leave compare to those who are seen by a health care provider? And what are the reasons given by patients …

Spiritual Well-Being And Coping In Women With Breast Cancer, Denise Vandergriff Ferriss

MSN Research Projects

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among American women, with 180,000 new cases reported each year. The physiological, emotional, and spiritual challenges of the disease can be awesome. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine if there was a relationship between spiritual well-being and coping in women with breast cancer. The theoretical framework which guided the research was the Neuman Systems Model. The research hypothesis for the study was there will be a significant positive correlation between spiritual wellbeing and coping in women with breast cancer. Using a convenience sample of 31 women between the …

Comparison Of Outcomes In Emergency Department Treated By Nurse Practitioners Or Physicians, Mickey D. Aldridge

MSN Research Projects

The increasing number of patients who seek health care in the emergency department has placed a great strain on the resources of facilities to meet those primary health care needs. Utilization of nurse practitioners as health care providers in the emergency department has been suggested to meet the continuing influx of patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes for patient satisfaction, patient knowledge, and problem resolution. Three hypotheses were generated : (a) There is no difference in the outcome of satisfaction in nonurgent patients presenting to the emergency department when treated by a physician or a …

Health Beliefs In Elderly Clients With Congestive Heart Failure, Collette Dixon

MSN Research Projects

Congestive heart failure is increasing in incidence, prevalence, and mortality in a rapidly growing American geriatric population. Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive study was to identify, examine, and describe the health beliefs of elders with congestive heart failure (CHF). It is believed that health beliefs influence health or illness behavior. This study explored the health beliefs of elderly patients with CHF residing in Northeast Mississippi. The research question was what are the health beliefs of elderly clients with congestive heart failure? The sample consisted of 32 subjects aged 65 and older who were clients of a home care agency. …

The Significance Of The Therapeutic Use Of Pets On Socialization With Elders In An Extended Care Facility, Lisa Byrd

MSN Research Projects

In the year 2020, 80% of the United States population will be over the age of 65 years (Fick, 1993). Elders frequently reside in extended care facilities and experience feelings of loneliness, depression, disorientation, and helplessness (McQuillen, 1985). The therapeutic use of pets has been shown to have positive effects on the socialization of elders. Most research has been conducted utilizing group therapy with a pet. This study focused on the benefits of therapeutic use of pets with the individual elder. The theoretical framework was based on the Neuman Systems Model. The purpose of this study was to determine the …

Health Promotion Practices Of Nurse Practitioners Practicing In The State Of Mississippi, Valerie O-Briant Sullivan

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe the health promotion practices of nurse practitioners who practice in the state of Mississippi.

A Comparison Study: Sexuality In Women With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus And In Women Without Chronic Illness, Beth Eubank

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this descriptive comparative study was to explore sexuality in the insulin-dependent diabetic female.

Health Beliefs In Elderly Clients With Congestive Heart Failure, Collette Dixon

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify, examine, and describe the health beliefs of elders with congestive heart failure (CHF).

A Comparison Study; Sexuality In Women With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus And In Women Without Chronic Illness, Beth Eubank

MSN Research Projects

The relationship between chronic illness and sexuality has long been recognized, and diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness affecting 16 million individuals in the United States. The purpose of this descriptive comparative study was to explore sexuality in the insulin-dependent diabetic female. The research hypothesis that guided the study was there is no difference in perceived sexuality for women with insulin-dependent diabetes and women without chronic illness. The sample consisted of 30 females between the ages of 21 and 40 years who had not experienced surgical menopause and were clients in primary care clinics in the Mississippi Delta. Fifteen of …

The Effects Of A Smoking Prevention Program On The Post-Test Knowledge Levels And Attitudes Of Seventh And Eighth Grade Students, Sandra E. Stinson

MSN Research Projects

Chronic health problems associated with smoking in the adult population have been linked with the use of tobacco in the influential adolescent years. Education aimed toward the adolescent may decrease the incidence of cigarette smoking in the adult population. Little research has been done regarding the knowledge and developmental levels of adolescent smoking and the risks for health problems. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effectiveness of a smoking prevention program on the knowledge and attitudes of seventh and eighth grade students. Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory served as the theoretical framework. The sample consisted of students …

Perceived Needs Of Women With Breast Cancer From Diagnosis To Treatment, Barbarba Collier

MSN Research Projects

Needs of women with breast cancer from the time they were given the diagnosis until treatment has received little attention by researchers. The purpose of this study was to identify the needs of women after they had been diagnosed with breast cancer and until treatment began. The theoretical framework underlying the study was based on Travelbee’s human to human relationship model. A retrospective univariate descriptive study was done. The Collier Needs Assessment Survey identified needs experienced by the participants related to disease, family, and emotional/psychosocial. Data were collected from 25 women in rural North Mississippi who had been diagnosed with …

Dietary Influences And Exposure To Cigarette Smoke On Myringotomy Rates Of Infants, Melanie Eller Thompson

MSN Research Projects

Breastfeeding has been identified as a protective measure to defend against infection, while cigarette smoking is linked with increasing the risk of infection. The purpose of this research was to determine if there is a relationship between dietary influences and exposure to cigarette smoke on myringotomy rates of infants. The Betty Neuman Systems Model was the theoretical framework which guided the study. The researcher, using a correlational ex post facto study design, sought an answer to the question: Is there a relationship between dietary influences and exposure to cigarette smoke on myringotomy rates of infants? A convenience sampling of 128 …

Telemedicine: Discovering And Overcoming The Barriers, Dennis Mcclain-Furmanski

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Telemedicine is the use of teleconmrunications for medical diagnosis and patient care from a distance. This multimedia computer based medium serves as an aid to decision making, a means of transmission of care-related data and as a channel for collaborative care management between a provider and a patient. It is of greatest utility in remote areas, or in other cases where transportation of either provider or patient would be problematic or economically less feasible than the telemedicine alternative.

This study examined the current capabilities of the computer hardware and software necessary to implement a telemedicine system. It found that current …

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv)/Hepatitis B Virus (Hbv) Risk Perception Related To Needlestick Injuries At A Medical School In Norfolk, Virginia, Ronald B. Hartman

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

A limited number of studies have been conducted to assess the perceptions of risk of medical students and residents for acquiring Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) via percutaneous (needlestick) injuries while performing clinical training. The purpose of this study is to investigate these perceptions of risk, and to determine whether there is an association between a high perception of risk and a low incidence of needlestick injury. The method of investigation was a four-page survey questionnaire. The instrument was investigated for reliability by use of a pilot study with a small group of medical students and …

The Role And Perception Of Risk In High-Risk Sports Participants: A Grounded Theory Study Of Rock Climbers, Ronald E. Baglien

Dissertations and Theses

Previous research examining high-risk sports participation has yielded discrepancies between the role assigned to risk and the perceptions of climbers regarding risk. Risk, as it applies to high-risk sport participation, has not been sufficiently defined in the literature. The current study sought to develop, by means of a grounded theory approach, a new, dynamic operational definition of risk as it applies to rock climbers, and to examine the role of risk management as a modifying factor in the perception of risk and its impact on motivation and participation. Nineteen subjects (twelve male and seven female) averaging 14.7 years of climbing …

A Study Of Preprofessional Grade Point Average As A Predictor Of Success For Physical Therapy Majors At Langston University, Jocelyn Evans

McCabe Thesis Collection

Admission criteria for allied health programs have been studied to determine the success a student will have in a given program. Program admissions committees seek students who will perform the best, didactically and clinically, completing the program and demonstrating the potential to pass the professional exams. In an effort to determine which students will successfully complete professional health programs, studies have been conducted to help predict which tools of selection are of most value. Included as variables in these studies to predict success in allied health programs are prerequisite grade point average (pre-GPA), science grade point average (sci-GPA), interview scores, …

Lead Activation Of A Developmentally Regulated Calcium Channel In Rat Hippocampal Nerve Terminals, Troy E. Rhodes

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Low level lead (Pb²⁺) exposure may produce lasting deficits in learning and memory by altering calcium (Ca²⁺) dependent processes. Isolated presynaptic nerve terminals from rat hippocampus were loaded with the intracellular (Ca²⁺) indicator Fura-2. The changes in cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) were measured by stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy following depolarization with elevated potassium on a millisecond time scale (Lentzner et al., 1992). Depolarization promoted a rapid increase in Ca²⁺_i which occured in two kinetically distinguishable phases: a fast component, representing the activity of rapidly inactivating Ca²⁺ channels (τ …