Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Perceived Needs Of Parents Of Critically Ill Children, Linda D. Scott

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to (a) identify the perceived needs of parents of critically ill hospitalized children, (b) identify parental needs as perceived by critical care nurses, and (c) identify the differences in these perceptions.; A descriptive research design with a non-probability convenience sample was used. The sample consisted of 30 parents or primary caretakers of critically ill children and the responses of 30 pediatric critical care nurses. Data were obtained by a structured interview technique. Data analysis included a comparison of the relationship of parental total scores and the nurses' total scores. No significant differences were found …

The Effects Of Partial Unweighting On Hemiplegic Gait, Natasha A. Creaser, Michael W. Jones

Masters Theses

This study investigated the effects of 30% body weight support on gait in two individuals with hemiplegia secondary to stroke. Two subjects with right hemiplegia were tested. Each completed four trials, two full weight bearing and two unweighted 30%, in random order. Each trial consisted of walking six meters on a treadmill at the subjects' self-selected speed. Temporal distance data were collected via Stride Analyzer footswitches. Subjects were also videotaped from the side during all trials. We expected velocity, cadence, stride length, uninvolved limb swing time, and involved limb stance time to increase with unweighting. Subjects 1's results agreed only …

Employer Perceptions Of Entry-Level Master's Degree Physical Therapy Graduate's Ability To Practice In A Direct Access Environment, Michele Allen, Matthew J. Duley, Jamie J. Eltzroth

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if employers in physical therapy outpatient facilities believed entry-level Master's degree graduates were adequately prepared to practice in a direct access environment. Three-hundred surveys were sent to employers in facilities in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. A Likert Scale was utilized to determine opinions regarding physical therapy skills a new graduate may have after graduating from an entry-level Master's degree program. Analysis of variance was used to determine differences in opinion based on skill and employer categorization. Results indicated that employers did not believe physical therapy graduates have adequate skills to recognize diagnoses …

The Linkage Between Hospitals And Nursing Homes: Alternative Approaches To Minimizing Transaction Costs, Herng-Chia Chiu

Theses and Dissertations

Finding more efficient ways to organize and deliver medical care is a major policy and management concern in the United States. High levels of expenditures for administrative and coordinating functions are attributed to the fact that health care systems are not "seamless" and that excessive transaction or friction costs are incurred in the exchanges between providers and purchasers and among providers. Renewed interest in vertical integration as a means to addressed these problems is being explored in the empirical literature, but rigorous theory-based investigations are rare. This study is a theory-based exploration of how hospitals address the "make-or-buy" decision of …

The Impact Of The Tau Mutation On Reproductive Function In The Golden Hamster, Eliza Leake Thomasson

Theses and Dissertations

The tau mutation affects the circadian system of the golden hamster primarily by decreasing the period of the activity cycle from 24 to 20 hours. To study the effect of this mutation on reproductive function in the golden hamster, 3 experiments have been designed. In the first experiment, wild-type and tau female hamsters will be maintained in conditions of 14:10 LD and 11.7:8.3 LD, respectively. Blood samples will be taken and analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) to determine the timing of the proestrus LH surge. In the second experiment, wild-type and tau males will be transferred to shortened photoperiods of 10:14 …

Determinants Of Continuity Of Care For Persons Transitioning From State Psychiatric Facilities To Communities, Sarah P. Farrell

Theses and Dissertations

When individuals with serious mental illness are discharged to the community, continuous and coordinated care are both desirable and necessary. A lack of continuity places the individual at risk for becoming lost to further services.

This study explores continuity of care for persons discharged from state psychiatric facilities in Virginia to communities. Continuity of care is defined as the successful initiation and maintenance of face-to-face contact by CSB staff with individuals to be discharged from state hospitals, and the subsequent provision of services post-discharge. This study identifies factors that influence continuity of care, examines the degree to which these factors …

Feminist Therapy: A Qualitative Examination Of The Practitioner's Perspective, Kathleen Marianne Scott De Jong

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study was undertaken to investigate feminist therapeutic practice from the practitioner's perspective. The initial goals of this study were to explore practitioner perspectives on feminism and power and their impact upon feminist practice. Additionally, the researcher sought to discover how practitioners found congruence between their feminist-informed values and therapeutic practice and if, in the course of practicing as a feminist, ethical dilemmas arose. Based on a sample of eight women who identified themselves as feminist practitioners, the researcher used semi-structured open-ended interviews to investigate the participants' beliefs, values and perspectives on clinical practice. From the application of a generic …

Lexical Learning As A Function Of Categorization Training In Young Developmentally Delayed Children, Deanna L. Coffin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Lexical training is often the focus of young developmentally delayed children's early intervention programs, yet little is known about the most efficient way to train new vocabulary items with this population. Current literature links categorization skills to the rapid increase in normal developing children's vocabulary. The present study attempts to address the issue of whether or not taxonomic or thematic categorization training is an effective means of enhancing lexical learning. Subjects were 12 developmentally delayed children ages 2:8 to 5:11. They participated in four or five separate sessions: (a) pretesting session(s), (b) thematic categorization training, (c) taxonomic categorization training, and …

The Role Of Attachment, Affect And Integrative Complexity In Couple Discussions, Fiona Jill Currie

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of the present investigation was to explore the possible associations between marital affect and cognitive complexity of discourse within an attachment context. Attachment theorists (e.g., Bowlby, 1982) have proposed that bonds formed between infants and their parents are internalized as working models of self and others and continue to influence the infant in relationships even into adulthood. In particular, possible longitudinal influences of variations in early attachment experiences may be seen in the discussions of couples about relationship issues. It was hypothesized that childhood attachment relationships with parents would be associated with the level of cognitive complexity of …

A Phenomenological Study Of Infertility : The Couple's Perspective, M. Imeson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and interpret the experience of infertility from the perspective of infertile couples, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of how it affects their lives. Ten to twenty per cent of the global population share the experience of infertility, however, little is known of their experiences and perceptions related to infertility. Literature to date mainly focuses on the physiological effects of infertility and does not take into account the context in which the experience takes place, or the meanings that people assign to this experience. To be effective, health carers need …

Illness Impact And Adjustment To Parkinson's Disease: Before And After Treatment With Tolcapone, Mickie D. Welsh Dnsc, Rn

Dissertations

There is evidence that adjustment to chronic illnesses such as Parkinson's disease (PD) may be affected by psychological factors especially how patients appraise and cope with the stress of their illness. There has been limited research available examining the role of illness impact or appraisal in adjustment to chronic illness. No studies were found dealing with the interrelationship of illness impact, adjustment and pharmacological treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quality of life (as conceptualized by impact of illness and adjustment) was improved by treatment with tolcapone in persons with Parkinson's disease. This study was …

Life At A Rural Psychiatric Hostel : The Experience Of A Group Of Male Residents, Rosalie R. Van Aken

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The study reported in this thesis describes and analyses the experience of 15 men with long term mental illness, living and/or working at a rural farm and hostel complex. The research was set in the context of recent studies and literature focussing on the transfer of care of people with mental illness from large psychiatric hospitals to community based care and the consequent quality of life issues. A phenomenological approach was chosen as the most appropriate for the study, in order to understand the meaning of the residents' experience. Data was obtained from three sources: in-depth interviews with 2 key …

An Examination Of Selected Factors Associated With Nurses' Behaviour And Intentions Related To Patient Teaching, Ian R. Mullins

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Patient teaching is integral in the provision of an effective health care service. Registered nurses in all settings, have a professional responsibility to contribute towards their clients’ health promotion and maintenance by providing those clients with the health education they require. This study investigated the patient teaching intentions and behaviours of 181 registered nurses employed in acute medical and surgical settings at three metropolitan hospitals in Perth Western Australia. Within the framework of Ajzen and Fishbein’s (1980) theory of reasoned action, the study examined the relationships between registered nurses’ intentions to teach patients, their patient teaching behaviours and selected factors …

The Effect Of High-Dose Ephedrine Hydrochloride On High-Intensity Treadmill Performance, John T. Voelz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

To determine the effect of a greater than therapeutic dose of ephedrine HCl on short term high-intensity running, 10 University Division I male track athletes (mean age 22.9 ± 1.8 years) were tested on two occasions. The study was double-blind and placebo controlled. Subjects ingested a capsule containing ephedrine HCl (75 mg/70 kg body weight) on one test date and alternately ingested a placebo capsule on the opposite test date. Subjects then sat quietly for 60 min while measurements of heart rate, blood pressure and electrocardiographic response were taken at 20 min intervals. A sample of blood was taken from …

A Comparison Of Two Methods Of Body Composition Assessment In Prepubescent Males And Females, Kristine M. Feldmann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The. purpose of this study was to compare two methods of body composition assessment in predicting body fat percentages of 6-8 year old males and females. The percentage of body fat predicted from the bioelectrical impedance method was compared with the percentage of body fat predicted from skinfold measurements. It was hypothesized that there would be no difference between the RJL System's BIA 101 Impedance Analyzer and skinfolds in determining body fat percentage. Subjects consisted of 38 females with a mean age of 7.27 + .802 years and 22 males with a mean age of 7.16 + .808 years. Statistical …

Assessment Of Weight Control Strategies Between Athletes And Nonathletes, Linda K. Buehler

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the present study was to assess motivation factors from a cognitive/social learning model for choosing a particular dieting style based on athletic status. One hundred ten athletes and 119 nonathletes were asked to fill out a series of questionnaires which included: A demographics inventory, an experimental questionnaire containing eight dieting methods (5 pathogenic dieting methods and 3 nonpathogenic dieting methods), the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Bulimia Test. The significant findings were: (a) nonathletes smoked to lose weight more often than athletes and athletes exercised to lose weight more often than nonathletes; (b) …

Attachment Theory And Self-Disclosure Of Hiv Status, Amy H. Grimshaw

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the influence of attachment style on self-disclosure of HIV seropositive status. Subjects were classified according to Bartholomew's model of adult attachment (i.e., secure, preoccupied, fearful, or dismissing). Steps were then taken to assess differences in the subjects' willingness to disclose their HIV seropositive status, the communication style chosen for disclosure, the subjects' perceptions of the importance of disclosing their HIV seropositive status, and the feared negative consequences of disclosure. To increase generalizability subjects were asked to assess their self-disclosure to three types of target persons: lover, same-sex friend, and opposite-sex friend. Attachment style significantly affected perceived importance …

Hazard Recognition And Regulation : An Asbestos Chronology, Diane A. Colson

Theses

One hundred years after it was first mined, several uses of asbestos were banned in the United States. The latency period that typifies asbestos-related diseases was but one factor in the delayed recognition of asbestos as a health hazard. Many other factors delayed the initiation of practical measures to alleviate the hazards.

Controversies surrounding exposure to asbestos continue. Epidemiological studies have answered many questions, but many others are, and may remain, unanswered. Some of the controversies surrounding exposure to asbestos are embedded in the development of the United States of America as a country. An understanding of the historical basis …

The Effect Of Color Overlays On Oral Reading Performance, Shirley Holmes Westall

Graduate Theses

A study was performed on adults taken from the Need to Read and General Education Degree programs administered by Midland College. This study utilized color overlays to ascertain the effect of the overlays on oral reading performance of subjects ascertained to have symptoms indicative of scotopic sensitivity syndrome, SSS. Adults were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups and pre-tested and post-tested with the Slosson Oral Reading Test. The experimental group received the treatment of color overlays in the post-test. Results of the study showed the null hypothesis was rejected and color overlays do affect oral reading performance of probable …

Personality Variables In Weeping Propensity, Michelle C. Lamb

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Until recently, few empirical studies have explored crying reactivity in normal adults. The present study investigated adult weeping by first developing the Weeping Propensity Scale (WPS) and then by comparing scores on that scale to traits which had been hypothesized to be related to weeping propensity. The WPS is a self-report, 22 item, Likert-type scale designed to measure an individual's tendency to react to emotional stimuli with tears. Factor analysis results and internal consistency are reported for the WPS. In order to investigate traits hypothesized to be related to the WPS, 173 university students completed the WPS, the Questionnaire Measure …

A Comparison Of Isokinetic And Isotonic Predictions Of A Functional Task, Mitchell L. Cordova

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Controversy still exists regarding the use of isokinetic and isotonic exercise in rehabilitation of the injured athlete. Many studies have compared these two types of training methods on various strength measures and functional activity, but have focused on open kinetic chain training. The purposes of this investigation were to determine: 1) which form of closed kinetic chain training, isokinetic or isotonic, would produce the greatest increase in one-legged jump reaction force; and 2) which training method most accurately predicts peak force produced during a one-legged jump. Forty-two legs from 21 female volunteer subjects were used. Each subject had her dominant …

The Impact Of Social Support On Long Term Adult Psychological Functioning: Study Of The Role Of A Confidant In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Danny Ray Russell

Graduate Theses

This project examined the effects a confidant had on adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The subjects were volunteer adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse solicited from undergraduate and graduate psychology classes at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Volunteers completed a childhood sexual abuse questionnaire, a confidant questionnaire, the Jaloweic Coping Scale and the Brief Symptom Inventory in a structured interview. The Jaloweic Coping Scale determined the coping styles and the Brief Symptom Inventory determined the symptom level. Those subjects that had a confidant were expected to have more successful coping styles and fewer symptoms as adults. …

Illness Behavior In Meniere's Disease Patients, Dianne Riesenmy

Theses

In order to determine whether or not vertiginous and nonvertiginous Meniere's disease patients differ in regard to certain emotional and psychosocial attitudes, ideas, affects, and attributions related to illness behavior, 30 Meniere's disease patients (16 vertiginous; 14 nonvertiginous) completed the Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBO) either at a Meniere's support group meeting or through the mail. Comparison of sample mean scores revealed that the vertiginous group showed greater hypochondriasis and affective disturbance than did the nonvertiginous group. The nonvertiginous group demonstrated greater denial of life stressors not related to illness and greater psychological (rather than somatic) perception. The same group showed …

Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavior, And Decision-Making Orientation Relating To Cardiovascular Health In High School Students, Patricia E. Bromfield

Masters Theses

Planning for cardiovascular health (CVH) education for adolescents

requires an awareness of students' cardiovascular knowledge and attitudes

toward "heart healthy" behavior, and an understanding of the dynamics

of health-related decision-making in this age group. This study attempted

to measure these parameters using an 81-item survey administered to 93

9th graders (45 females, 46 males, 2 undisclosed) and 107 12th graders (57

females, 47 males, 3 undisclosed). The survey was administered m a

suburban high school in southwest Michigan in the spring of 1994.

Results were evaluated descriptively for knowledge, attitudes, and

behavior, and for differences across grade and gender. ANOVA's …

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Pelvic Tilt And Unilateral Sacroiliac Pain, Beth-Anne Moody Jones

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Low back pain is the nation's leading cause of disability. Differential diagnosis of a low back injwy can be complicated and uncommon disorders can be overlooked. Many of the signs and symptoms related to low back pain may in fact be caused by sacroiliac dysfunction. Reliability of the current clinical tests for detection of sacroiliac involvement has been of concern. Recently more focus has been given to the use of pelvic tilt measurement as a source of clinical information on the sacroiliac joint. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation of unilateral sacroiliac dysfunction with asymmetrical changes …

Development Of A Mammographic Image Processing Environment Using Matlab, John L. Kelley

Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is a disease that accounts for a disturbingly large number of deaths in females each year. Its prevalence is a topic of concern to all of us since it can affect our families, friends, and coworkers. Although mammographic screening is the most effective method currently available for the early detection of breast cancer, it is far from being an infallible procedure. Mammographic reading is error prone, partly because of the complexity of the task and partly because of the variability in human performance. Computers offer high reproducibility, and when used as an adjunct by the radiologist, may improve …

The Pollution Effects Of Pleasure/Work Boat Sewage Discharges On Fecal Contamination Levels Of Waters In And Around Marinas And Other Places Where Boats Are Moored On The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, George H. Bangs

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Contamination of seafood harvested from and recreational areas of the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries and the Atlantic coast inshore waters may cause health problems for people consuming the seafood or coming in contact with the waters by swimming, water skiing, or other water sports. These health problems include, but not limited to, dysentery, typhoid and hepatitis (Natchez, 1990). This is a preliminary study into the level of fecal pollution generated by sewage discharges from boats in marinas and other places where boats are moored on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Sites selected for the study included; (I) marinas and other …

Transcriptional Regulation Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor : Binding Protein-4 By Protein Kinase A And Protein Kinase C Signal Transduction Pathways In Human Bone Cells, Kuk-Wha Lee

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) system is an important local regulator of osteoblast proliferation, the primary determinant of bone formation. Six IGF Binding Proteins (IGFBPs) either inhibit or enhance IGF actions. Previous studies have shown that IGFBP-4 is an important negative regulator of osteoblast cell proliferation and that agents such as PTH which increase intracellular cAMP significantly increase expression of IGFBP-4 at the protein and mRNA levels. The underlying molecular mechanism which accounted for IGFBP-4 expression had not been determined and was the focus of my dissertation. Agents which increase intracellular cAMP rapidly increased IGFBP-4 mRNA levels. Nuclear run-off experiments …

A Pilot Study Comparing The Forces Applied : Using A Chin Cup And Three Types Of Protraction Headgear, Daniel Miles Beisiegel

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A pilot study comparing force distributions of a chin cup, the Great Lakes reverse pull headgear (RPHG), Ormco's adjustable dynamic RPHG, and Grummons RPHG was done. A skull from a 69 year old female which demonstrated a Class III malocclusion was used to perform the tests of force. Forces applied to and generated on the skull were measured using a water-filled balloon system. This method was tested and found to be reliable and accurate.

Repeated measurements of force were recorded for each of the areas of stress (forehead, cheeks, chin, and condyles, as well as the posterior and superior portions …

Cytokines And Ovulation In The Mouse Ovary, Jong G. Kim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ovulation has been hypothesized as an inflammatory process. Interleukin(IL)-1$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$ and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-$\alpha$ are potent cytokines produced from macrophages and various other cell types, and are pivotal components of inflammation. Although previous studies have investigated cytokine activities in the reproductive system, there is little information on their precise localization and activities during the periovulatory period. To investigate the role of cytokines in ovulation, experiments were designed to determine the immunohistochemical localization and time specific production of cytokines IL-1 and TNF-$\alpha$ using a mouse model at 36h, 12h, 6h, 2h before ovulation, and at 6h and 18h after ovulation in …