Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Factors Associated With Women's Decisions To Obtain Routine Cervical Cancer Screening In A Prepaid Health Care System, Vicki Debaca Dnsc

Dissertations

The focus of this research study was to explore the factors affecting women's decisions to participate in preventive cervical cancer screening using a conceptual model proposed by Cummings, Becker, and Maile (1980). This descriptive-comparative study investigated the effect between the components of this model (age, education level, race, general barriers, psychological barriers, evaluation of health care, threat of illness, knowledge, social network) and the outcome variable of intent to participate in cervical cancer screening examinations. This study also examined whether there were differences in the predictor variables between two groups of women: those that have had a recent Pap examination …

Quadriceps Strengthening Daily Adjustable Progressive Resistance Exercise (Dapre) Technique Versus Delorme's Progressive Resistive Exercises (Pre) Techniques, Paul R. Cleveland

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

The purpose of this study was to determine if the DAPRE technique would significantly improve strength in the non dominant quadriceps muscle as opposed to Delorme's PRE technique for strengthening. Using a pretest posttest Cybex II strength test and applying a t-test for independent samples, it was found that after four weeks there was no significant difference between Group A (N=10) who exercised using Delorme's technique and Group B (N=10) who used the DAPRE technique It was concluded that possibly because of the low sample number, the short length of the exercise intervention, and using normal healthy subjects instead of …

An Analysis Of Mitochondrial Dna In Rett Syndrome And Other Neurodegenerative Disorders, Catherine Erickson Burgess

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from mutations on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is being recognized in a growing spectrum of diseases. These diseases, resulting from single base mutations, large deletions, or insertions, have been largely neuromuscular in origin. However, as an understanding of the effects of mtDNA mutations progresses, attention is now focusing on neurodegenerative diseases. Rett Syndrome (RS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease with predominantly female cases, demonstrates morphologic mitochondrial changes, mitochondrial enzyme deficiencies and maternal inheritance (characteristic of mtDNA diseases). No investigation of mtDNA involvement has been previously conducted and, to date, no biological marker exists for this disorder.

Our preliminary studies …

The Effects Of Different Types Of Noise On Human Heart Rate, Jose R. Fabregas

Theses

In an industrial environment, chronic noise exposure is assumed to affect human heart rate. If this is true, people who are more sensitive to noise will run a higher risk of incurring cardiovascular diseases.

Sixteen healthy experimental subjects, all with normal hearing, eight males and eight females, were exposed to five different types of pink and white noise at 60, 70, 80, and 85 dBA in order to determine if any relationship exists between the heart rate and sex. Each individual was exposed for a maximum of thirty seconds for each type and level of noise. Audiometric tests were given …

Spirituality Among Terminally Ill Hospitalized Adults And Healthy Non-Hospitalized Adults In A Military Environment, Richard M. Holt

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify whether or not terminally ill hospitalized adults indicated greater spirituality and well-being than healthy non-hospitalized adults. Reed's (1986b & 1987) studies are the bases for this treaty although this is not a replicate study. The conceptual framework of this research is founded on the developmental life-span, and energy field patterns (Rogers, 1980) impacting spirituality and well-being. It was hypothesized that terminally ill hospitalized adults indicate greater spirituality than healthy nonhospitalized adults in a military environment. A terminally ill and healthy adult group of N=30, (n=15 each) were selected for a convenience sample. …

Personality Disorders In Mothers Of Children With An Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Dennis E. Bowman Jr.

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This investigation examined the presence of personality disorders in the mothers of children with an Attention- Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). This was accomplished by examining 60 male subjects ages 6 to 12. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) was administered to 20 mothers of children with ADHD, 20 mothers of children with ADHD and CD and a matched comparison group who did not meet the criteria for ADHD or CD. Repeated analysis of variance (ANOVAS) and Chi Square analyses were calculated on each MCMI-II scale and the Duncan's multiple range test was utilized to determine statistical significance. Data analyses revealed …

Sex Differences In Coping, Judy L. Johnson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nolen-Hoeksema (1987, 1991) has suggested that males engage in more problem-focused, distractive, coping strategies, whereas females engage in more emotion-focused, ruminative, coping strategies. This study tested NolenHoeksema's response styles theory, which suggests that using a ruminative response style may predispose women to depression more than men. It also examined perceptions of effective coping and utilization of social support. One hundred and twenty subjects completed the Ways of Coping Checklist, a coping questionnaire, the Perceptions of Coping Questionnaire, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behavior, and the Personality Attributes Questionnaire. Results provide evidence for sex differences in the …

The Biomechanical Analysis Of Two Types Of Place Kicks: The Toe And Instep Kicks, Kaylynn Albers

Masters Theses

This study described the biomechanical differences between two styles of the place kick; the toe kick and instep kick. The biomechanical variables included joint angles, velocities, and displacements. Five high school age subjects kicked five trials of the toe kick and five trials of the instep kick at both 20 and 35 yards. The place kicks were filmed with a high speed camera, digitized and analyzed with peak 4.2 computer software.

The findings for joint angles were consistent with those found in the literature. The velocity for the kicking foot and the ball were lower in this study than found …

The Effect Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On The Development Of Diagnostic Reasoning Skills Among Occupational Therapy Students, Judith Lynn Freeman

Masters Theses

Diagnostic reasoning is an essential feature of the occupational therapy treatment process. Acquisition of diagnostic reasoning skills is difficult for students, however, because of paradoxical developmental limitations faced during transition from classroom to clinical learning environments. Educators in pre-professional occupational therapy curriculums are searching for educational methods to prepare students for diagnostic reasoning tasks inherent in practice.

This experimental study compared a computer-simulated diagnostic reasoning activity with a more traditional case study reviewing activity in terms of effect on accuracy of problem identification among occupational therapy students. Results found no significant difference between the effect of computer-assisted instruction and case …

The Occurrence Of Alexithymia In Children And Adolescents With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Michael S. Routh

Graduate Theses

Previous studies of the relationship between alexithymia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have utilized samples of combat veterans with PTSD. However, children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and are diagnosed with PTSD exhibit similar or identical symptomology. The current study examined alexithymia in a sample of children and adolescents diagnosed with PTSD. It was hypothesized that the sample, when compared to non-PTSD and control samples, would reveal a significantly greater severity of alexithymia and PTSD. Although overall results were not consistent with previous research, trends of group means supported a relationship between alexithymia and PTSD. 1

Comparative Effectiveness Of Therapeutic Strategies On Drug Knowledge And Drug Attitude In Inpatient Psychiatric Substance Abuse Population, Amber Haque

Dissertations

This study examined the effects of instructional strategies on the change of knowledge and attitude scores in mentally ill subjects with a history of substance abuse. Twenty subjects from a state psychiatric hospital were randomly divided into one control and three experimental groups. The study period was ten weeks with each session lasting forty five minutes, twice per week. Subjects studied issues relating to drug abuse outside scheduled sessions as they pleased. Pre- and post-test scores were measured by a drug abuse questionnaire developed at the Pennsylvania State University. Hypotheses formed were: (a) drug education improves knowledge and attitude in …

Adolescent Substance Use Patterns: Testing A Multidimensional Sociogenic Model, Eric O. Johnson

Dissertations

This dissertation begins with the understanding that behavior is a product of a variegated and complex web of social factors. Bringing this approach to the subfield of adolescent substance use, both substance use itself (alcohol, cigarettes and a broad range of illicit drugs) and the factors that influence such use are viewed as existing within the complex of demographic/structural, social contextual, attitudinal, and behavioral layers of adolescents' social worlds.

The Patterns of Adolescent Substance Use Typology, developed by Stanley S. Robin and me (1992a), is used to categories the overall level and kind of substance use, over time, that adolescents …

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Risk Factors Among Hand Therapists, Suzanne Makielski

Masters Theses

The following study examined the presence of risk factors among hand therapists for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. A review of the literature indicated a significant relationship between the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome and manual workers whose occupational tasks involve repetitive wrist and hand movements. Hand therapists were characterized as manual workers while possessing specialized knowledge and skill in the evaluation and treatment of hand and wrist disorders. Biomechanical analysis of various "hands on" techniques revealed repetitive wrist and hand movements including the use of force and increased risk for injury associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. In order to determine …

Validation Of A Bag Sampling Method For 1,3-Butadiene, Lori Eckenrode

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

At this time there is no NIOSH approved means for bag sampling 1,3-butadiene. An attempt was made to use the application of cold (0°F) to inhibit the reactivity of the gas prior to analysis. The State of California Air Resources Board has an approved method for the gas chromatographic analysis of 1,3-butadiene from stationary sources. The method was utilized in the application of industrial hygiene monitoring of affected workers. The application of cold was found to be ineffective at inhibiting the highly reactive nature of 1,3-butadiene. Analyte losses were too great to classify the method as an accurate measure of …

The Degree Of Exposure To Anesthetic Nitrous Oxide Waste Gas In The Operating Room During Various Surgical Procedures, Kathryn Ann Longworth

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Halsey (1991) summarized the underlying reasons for continuing concern about the problem of waste anesthetic gases. Careful and systematic monitoring studies indicate that individual trends in anesthetic pollution levels are not as low as was confidently predicted 10 years ago, when scavenging devices became commonplace. Second, there are now clear legal requirements for assessment of the situation. It is estimated that each year more than 200,000 health professionals are occupationally at risk of illness as a consequence of chronic exposure to low doses of waste anesthetic gases (Rogers, 1986).

These contaminants are suspected pf being ~eratogenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and embryo-lethal. …

Reproducibility Of Periodontal Probing, Su-Fang Wang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study evaluated reproducibility of periodontal probing by conventional manual and automated force-controlled electronic probes. A total of 1206 sites (6 sites per tooth including maxillary and mandibular incisor/canine, premolar, and molar sites) in 15 patients with history of moderate or advanced chronic periodontal disease were examined. Probings included probing pocket depths (PD), as well as probing attachment levels (PAL) from a reference stent. Measurements were recorded to the nearest 0.5 mm with both methods. Patients were examined twice, 7 to 10 days apart. At each visit, all sites were probed first with the conventional probe and then with the …

Co-Sensitization Of Dopamine And Serotonin Receptors Occurs In The Absence Of A Change In The Dopamine D1 Receptor Complex After A Neonatal 6-Ohda Lesion, Li Gong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To test whether SKF 38393 could ontogenetically sensitize dopamine (DA) D$\sb1$ receptors and whether this sensitization would be associated with biochemical changes, intact and neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats (200 $\mu$g i.c.v.) were treated daily from birth with SKF 38393 (3.0 mg/kg i.p. x 28 days) or its vehicle. In DA D$\sb1$ neonatally sensitized 6-OHDA rats, enhanced locomotor responses were observed with the first SKF 38393 challenge dose (3.0 mg/kg i.p.) at 6 weeks. This response increased further with weekly SKF 38393 treatments. Enhanced stereotyped behaviors were seen in both lesioned and sensitized rats at 8 weeks. There was no change …

Enhanced Renal Sympathetic And Cardiovascular Responses To Substance P In Hypertension, Gregory W. Lindsay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blood pressure, heart rate, and renal sympathetic nerve responses were measured in 9-13 week old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and compared to those in age and sex-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats following intravenous injection of the neuropeptide substance P (SP), the nicotinic stimulant 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP), and the adrenoceptor stimulant norepinephrine (NE). Charles River Sprague-Dawley (CD) rats were used in some studies to develop methodologies. Measurements were made in control rats and also following sinoaortic denervation, pithing, ganglion blockade, or adrenoceptor blockade. Responses were evaluated in order to determine if ganglion stimulation by SP was enhanced in SHR compared to WKY …

Management Of Dairy Farm Wastewater – A Case Study, Saed Mohamed Al Awadi

Dissertations

There are several dairy farms and milk processing plants in U.A.E. which contribute to the problem of industrial wastewater discharges in the country. This study emphasized the waste management aspects of dairy farms and examined the wastewater characteristics, wastewater treatment and effluent reuse in Al-Rawabi Dairy Plant in Dubai as a case study.

An extensive sampling and analysis program was conducted over a period of one year to determine wastewater characteristics at Al-Rawabi Dairy Plant. It has been found that the wastewater COD, BOD, Solids, Nitrogen and Phosphorus content is relatively high but daily variations in pollution loads were not …

The Nuclear Contamination Of Kazakhstan, Rebecca Marie Matter

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

This thesis studies the radioactive contamination of Kazakhstan's environment, concentrating on the period between February 1989 and January 1993. For each type of nuclear degradation in Kazakhstan the thesis asks the questions: what is its cause and extent, what are its consequences for humans, and what are the human responses. The main causes of Kazakhstan's nuclear devastation are atomic weapons' tests, uranium mining, manufacturing of uranium fuel, and the operation of a fast breeder reactor power generator unit. The amount of radioactive contamination is colossal. The consequences for the health of the population, especially at Semey, are severe. The human …

Pain And Hospital Patients Perception Of Quality, Kathy L. Beck

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Each year pain disables approximately 50 million Americans. These patients seekhealth care for the relief of pain and its underlying cause. Many of those seeking relief from pain are hospitalized and others experience pain during their hospitalization. All of these patients have the right to relief of their pain and none should suffer pain needlessly. Yet, often nurses fail to accurately assess and adequately manage patients' pain.

Adequate pain management may increase patient perception of nursing care quality. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationships between pain relief and patients' and nurses' perceptions of quality. The relationship …

A Comparison Of Four Muscle Relaxant Techniques And Their Incidence Of Postoperative Myalgia In Ambulatory Patients, William James Garske Jr.

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Postoperative myalgia was measured 24 and 72 hours following the administration of four different anesthetic regimens to 36 patients undergoing outpatient or 23-hour admission procedures. Each patient, ASA class I or II, was to undergo procedures of limited duration, 30 to 90 minutes, and surgical stimulation, including procedures such as knee arthroscopy, hernia repair, and breast biopsy. Anesthesia was induced with propofol 1.5 mg/kg, fentanyl 50 mcg, and maintained with O₂ , N₂O, and isoflurane. Group I (n=20), the control, received no muscle relaxant and was maintained with mask ventilation. Group II (n=5) received succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg …

Beyond "Detached Concern": The Cognitive And Ethical Function Of Emotions In Medical Practice, Jodi Lauren Halpern

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

This dissertation analyzes the ideal of "detached concern" in medical practice. This ideal arises as an attempt to bridge the gap in medicine between managing diseases and recognizing patients "as persons." First, physicians take their emotions to interfere with making objective diagnoses and making every aspect of their practice "scientific." Second, physicians idealize detachment as the stance of the impartial moral agent who is able to care for all types of patients out of a sense of duty. Third, physicians also recognize the need to be empathic; however they conceive empathy as a purely cognitive capacity that is compatible with …

Analysis And Evaluation Of The Workplace Exposure Assessment Workbook Developed By Keith Tait Including Some Recommended Revisions, Lisa Hebberd

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Some risk due to the contamination of workplace environments is an inevitable part of human lives. These risks can often be reduced by improving the control of environmental pollution in the workplace. An extremely important challenge for any industry is to develop a mechanism to identify acceptable levels of safety, or "acceptable risk" in the workplace for specific situations, and to assure adequate quality control over measured or calculated exposure concentrations and their possible contributions to adverse health effects.

Responses To Dissatisfaction In Psychotheraphy: The Influence Of Prior Satisfaction, Perceptions Of Problem Severity And Attachment Style, Christopher C. Read

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the influence of prior satisfaction, perceptions of problem severity, and attachment style in determining Rusbult's Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect responses to dissatisfying events depicted in a psychotherapy simulation. Constructive responses to therapy dissatisfaction (i.e., Voice and Loyalty) were positively related to prior satisfaction with the therapist and negatively related to perceptions of problem severity. Destructive responses (i.e., Exit and Neglect) were negatively related to prior satisfaction and positively related to problem severity. Attachment style was associated with individual differences in approaches to resolving conflict, but it was not consistently related to Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect …

The Effect Of The Cooper Wellness Program In Promoting Long- Term Lifestyle Behavior Changes, Ernesto P. S. Medina Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Most research on health behavior change programs examines their effectiveness in producing initial behavior changes, but fails to evaluate long-term maintenance of those changes. This study examined the effectiveness of the Cooper Wellness Program (CWP) in Dallas, Texas, in promoting maintenance of lifestyle behavior changes for one year or longer in the areas of diet, exercise, and stress management.

The CWP offers an intensive live-in lifestyle behavior modification program in four-, seven-, or 13-day formats. Data were collected from 223 individuals who attended the CWP between January, 1989, to February, 1992. The study addressed the following areas: 1) long-term maintenance …

A Risk Assessment Of The Health Liabilities From Exposure To Toxic Metals Found In The Composted Material Of Air Force Municipal Solid Waste, Timothy L. Merrymon

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis assesses the risk of the health liabilities from exposure to toxic metals found in the composted material of Air Force municipal solid waste (MSW). The goal is to determine the probability that the composted MSW could be a health hazard if it were used as a soil amendment. The research limited the assessment of the exposure risk to heavy metals found in raw MSW and its resulting compost. The thesis uses reviews of present literature to examine the food and soil ingestion exposure pathways. These pathways are assessed using the heavy metal concentrations found in MSW compost and …

Determinants Of Elite Athletes' Commitment To Sport: Examination Of The Sport Commitment Model In The Professional Sport Domain, Tammy Kay Hall

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the applicability of the Sport Commitment Model for a group of elite, professional athletes. The model proposes that an athlete's commitment will increase as sport enjoyment, personal investments, social constraints, and involvement opportunities increase and will decrease with an increase in involvement opportunities. The influence of identification as an athlete, a determinant of commitment not included in the original model, was also examined. One hundred and eighty three professional football players from the Canadian Football League (CFL) (n = 121) and National Football League (NFL) (n = 69) participated in the study. Each subject completed …

Sds Non-Acrylamide Polymeric Gel-Filled Capillary Electrophoresis For Molecular Size Separation Of Protein, Devon Andres

Honors Theses

Sodium dodecyl sulfide (SDS) non-acrylamide gel-filled capillary columns are a new technology being used for analysis and separation of biotechnology-derived proteins. This research was to compare this new technology to the current methods of SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The molecular mass of four different recombinant proteins were determined by two commercialized SDS non-acrylamide gel-filled capillary columns, SDS-PAGE, and HPSEC. The data obtained showed that the SDS non-acrylamide gel-filled capillary columns were compatible with the SDS-PAGE technique for molecular mass determination. HPSEC was shown to be unreliable for molecular weight determination. SDS non-acrylamide gel-filled capillary …

A Profile Of Psychosocial Adjustments And Self-Care Practices Of Individuals With Diabetes Living In Rural Mississippi, Regan Mensch Brown

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop a profile of the psychosocial adjustments and self-care practices of individuals with diabetes mellitus living in rural Mississippi.