Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effectiveness Of Minimal Pair Therapy For S-Cluster Reduction, Julie Anne Mcdow

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This descriptive study compared minimal pair therapy to a modeling imitative method of phonological remediation. The s-cluster was targeted for remediation. Four phonologically impaired children, ages 3-2 to 3-11, served as subjects. In the minimal pair procedure, minimal pairs were used to contrast the meaning of correctly produced target words and incorrectly produced target words. In the non-minimal pair approach, correct productions were modeled and cued for the subjects to imitate/produce. Generalization to untrained words was insufficient to assess the effectiveness of the two procedures used. Other measures made during the course of the study produced some interesting findings. Imitative …

The Family Caregivers' Health Decision Making About Early Diagnosis For Alzheimer's Disease Patients, Ping Zhong Zhao

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigated the family caregivers' role in seeking early diagnosis for Alzheimer's Disease (A. D.) patients within the theoretical framework of the Health Belief Model (HBM). The research question was why some family caregivers sought diagnosis for their A. D. family members in the presence of mild symptoms while other caregivers delayed seeking diagnosis until severe symptoms had occurred.

Focus-group interviews were conducted to gather data. Participants were family caregivers whose family members had been diagnosed by the A. D. diagnostic units of the Good Samaritan Hospital, Portland, Oregon as having A. D. or related disorder. Participants were divided …

Indirect Intervention For Preschool Stutterers, Prudence Ann Bowers

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigated the advisability of utilizing parents to provide treatment for their dysfluent preschoolers. It involved the development, implementation and evaluation of a specific treatment program involving indirect language stimulation techniques. The primary question asked was whether or not parents can be successful in significantly reducing or eliminating dysfluent speech in their children. The secondary question was whether or not parents can be trained successfully to provide treatment.

A Comparison Of The Vocabulary Needs Of Speaking And Nonspeaking Twins, Dana Lynette Hamburg

Dissertations and Theses

Children with severe physical disabilities often do not have the capabilities for oral communication. Therefore, the vocabulary needs of nonspeaking children has been a subject of research in the area of augmentative communication for a number of years. The idea of allowing children with disabilities the opportunity for expression and communication is one not easily ignored. Obtaining vocabulary items, however, that are useful to nonspeaking disabled children that also meet normal language acquisition standards has been a concern. This study specifically addresses this concern by looking into the vocabulary issues of twins. The purpose of this research project is to …

An Analysis Of Quality Assessment Efforts In Health Care, Margaret M. Curran

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine whether consensus could be reached by experts in the field of quality assurance on the most important indicators of health care quality and to determine whether cause and effect relationship could be attributed to the process and outcome indicators suggested in our survey. We invited participation by a representative sample of experts in a Delphi Panel to address these issues. There were 49 respondants to our Round One Questionnaire and they evaluated the relative importance of 50 process and 50 outcome indicators. Panelists were asked to establish cause and effect relationships between …

A Comparative Analysis Of Registered Nurse Demand In Tennessee Rural And Urban Hospitals And Nursing Homes, Carol H. Pullen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare Registered Nurse (RN) current and future demand between Tennessee rural and urban licensed hospitals and nursing homes. Comparisons of Registered Nurse demand by principal duty or position and by educational level were also undertaken. The educational level of RNs was examined using the proportion of RNs at each of five educational levels: diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate. The variables examined were 1988 and 1989 vacancy rates and proportion of budgeted positions, change in vacancy rates and proportions from 1988 to 1989, projected changes in positions and proportions from 1988 to 1992 …

Managing Patient Care: A Substantive Theory Of Clinical Decision Making In Home Health Care Nursing, Felicitas A. Dela Cruz Dnsc, Ma, Rn

Dissertations

This study investigates the phenomenon of clinical decision making, deriving a grounded substantive theory to explain how home health care nurses make patient care decisions. Despite the continuing shift of health care from acute care settings to the patient's home, little is known about home health care nurses' clinical decision making processes and the factors influencing them. The study employs a field research design using grounded theory based on symbolic interactionism. Data collection at two Visiting Nurse Associations includes participant observation and open-ended interviews of 21 nurses, and document analysis of patients' records and home care nursing practice policies. The …

Baccalaureate Reentry Students: Effects Of Professional Support On Role Conflict And Role Transition, Ruth N. Grendell Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

An increasing number of registered nurses and other health care providers are entering upper division academic nursing programs to obtain the baccalaureate nursing degree. A path analytic model was developed to examine the interrelationships of multiple roles and focal role commitments, previous education, work experience, and role conflicts perceived by reentry adult students, and the influence of professional support in the subsequent transition to the professional role. Group differences between Registered Nurses (RNs) and military corpsmen were also investigated for the variables of importance. A sample of 206 RNs and 37 U.S. Navy corpsmen (from a current population of 96) …

Organized Nursing In The Silver State: A History Of The Nevada Nurses' Association, Ellen Suzanne Fries Dnsc, Mn, Rnc

Dissertations

Membership in a professional organization traditionally has been considered one of the characteristics of a person avowed to practice a profession. The purpose of this study was to conduct an historical analysis of the Nevada Nurses' Association (NNA) to determine the influence of national, state, and local societal issues on the evolution of the organization. Data was collected from the Nevada Historical Society in Reno, the NNA state office, the Special Collections at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Nursing Archives at Boston University. Articles in professional and lay literature also provided information. Organization theory and congruence with …

Comparison Of Laryngographic Waveforms Of An Adult And Child, Elaine Hicken

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The ability to accurately identify and differentially diagnose voice disorders is an important concern for the speech-language pathologist. This need has resulted in the development of methods which focus on identifying "objective, reliable, valid procedures for assessing voice disorders" (Costello, 1985). Several methods that allow direct observation of the laryngeal mechanism are invasive and time consuming. A method that is noninvasive and that provides valuable information about the vocal fold movement pattern is needed for clinical use.

Comparison Of The Laryngeal Behavior Of A Young Stutterer Before And After Fluency Treatment, Trista Farmer

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Stuttering is one of the most complex of all speech and language disorders (Caruso, Conture, & Colton, 1988). Understanding of its etiology and treatment is vague, yet growing. Much research is needed in the area of disfluency to increase our knowledge of the disorder and to provide a clearer picture of how to improve therapeutic intervention. Routine evaluation of disfluency typically includes the assessment of stuttering frequency and rate. However, as stated by Ingham (1984), the minimum evaluation data collected (fluency and rate) should be supplemented by the assessment of a number of additional aspects of speech quality (Ingham, 1984, …

Added-Purpose Versus Rote Exercise For Dynamic Standing Balance Training In Hemiplegia, Ching-Lin Hsieh

Masters Theses

Adding purpose to daily occupation in order to promote performance is a basic premise of occupational therapy. This study investigated the hypothesis that in individuals with hemiplegia, two added-purpose occupations would elicit more exercise repetitions than a rote exercise occupation. In a counterbalanced order, twenty-one hemiplegic patients aged 51 to 78 experienced all three conditions of a dynamic standing balance exercise involving bending down, reaching , standing up, and extending the arm. One condition of added purposes involved materials (small balls and a target); another prompted imagery of those materials; the third involved the same physical exercise without added purpose. …

Nurse Leaders: The Relationship Between Return To School And Sex Role Traits, Family Demographics And Household Responsibilities, Mary Lynn Anderson

Dissertations

The purposes of this study were: (a) to describe differences , if any, in sex-role traits, age and number of children, proportionate income, and responsibility for household tasks and childcare between female registered nurses who return to college and those who do not; and (b) to extend the research regarding the adult learner's return to college in the specific area of baccalaureate degree completion by registered nurses. Chi square and analysis of variance of survey data, and interviews were used in determining differences between the student and nonstudent groups.

Four hypotheses were tested. The only hypothesis which was supported was …

Effects Of Ultrasonic Scaling And Hand Scaling On Root Typography, Kim Lee Herremans

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of scaling and root planing with the modified P-10 Cavitron^R tip and curet instruments on root surface topography. Sample specimens included 20 periodontally involved extracted human teeth. Specimens were carved into a three split root design, each sample specimen acting as its own control. Control and experimental surfaces were randomly assigned to each specimen. Scaling techniques were applied on the assigned experimental surfaces for 2 minutes and 14 seconds. A scanning electron microscope was used to examine and micrograph root surface topography of experimental surfaces. Photomicrographs were evaluated using …

Promoting Careers In Dental Hygiene: The Dental Hygienist's Role, Taline Dadian

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether practicing dental hygienists promote their profession as a desirable career. A self-designed, 48 item questionnaiire, Dental Hygienists' Participation in Career Recruitment, was mailed to a random sample of 600 dental hygienists residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Data were obtained from 393 dental hygienists for a 65.5 percent response rate. Responses from each item were analyzed by frequency distributions, percentages and chi-square test for independence at a 0.05 level of confidence. The factors determined to influence dental hygienists' decisions towards promoting careers in dental hygiene included the perceived image of the …

Identification And Ranking Of Stressors Specific To The Acute Head Care Nurse, Joan A. Breen

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Analysis Of Nurse Leaders' Degree Of Transformational Leadership And Staff Nurse Job Satisfaction, Kathie Sawyer Weatherly

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The intensified pressure for change in nursing organizations has presented nurse leaders with opportunities to transform bureaucratic settings into professional practice environments. Transformational leadership has been identified as supporting the changing values of staff nurses and promoting job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to explore nurse leaders' degree of transformational leadership and the relationship between transformational leadership and staff nurse job satisfaction. Quantitative analysis, using an independent t-test, indicated a significant difference between nurse leaders' and staff nurses' perception of the nurse leaders' degree of transformational leadership. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a significant relationship between transformational leadership and …

Identification Of Health Promotion Behaviors, Perceived Health Status And Perceived Health Education Needs Of Older Women, Susan Carol Fellinger Reynolds

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The health-promoting behaviors, perceived health status, and perceived health education needs of older women were identified in this non-experimental, descriptive, correlational study. Fifty women over 60 years of age, living in three housing complexes for the elderly, disabled and handicapped in two southeastern United States cities were asked to complete The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, The Perceived Health Status Questionnaire, The Health Education Needs Questionnaire, and Demographic Data Sheet. It was concluded that the women engaged in a high level of health-promoting behaviors. The participants rated their health as good and rated their health as good compared to that of other …

Problems And Coping Styles Of Antepartal Patients Being Treated For Risk Of Preterm Labor, Janet Wiehrs Rogers

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the range of problems and coping strategies as perceived by antepartal patients experiencing medical treatment to decrease risk of preterm labor. In this qualitative, interpretive study problems and coping strategies were identified through semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of seven antepartal patients. Using content analysis of interview data, identified problems were categorized, and for each problem, coping strategies were identified and grouped using the categories of the Jalowiec Coping Scale. Major categories of problems were: bedrest, role change, finances, uncomfortable emotions, and reactions of families and friends. Supportant, palliative, and confrontive …

Development And Characterization Of Monoclonal Antisperm Antibodies: Potential For Contraception, Dilrowshan H. Haque

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

There is an expressed need to develop a greater variety of safe contraceptive methods which would find acceptance worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Immunization against spermatozoa might be such a method as judged by the accumulated evidence from studies on human females and in a number of female animal species.

Two extraction techniques were used for sperm membrane antigen isolation. The first technique involved NP-40 detergent for antigen extraction from human motile sperm and the second technique employed homogenized human testis for antigen extraction. Using these immunogens, sperm membrane-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed. When these antisperm MAbs were subjected …

The Academic Coordinator Of Clinical Education In Physical Therapist Educational Programs, Norene Clouten

Dissertations

In physical therapist educational programs the faculty member responsible for the clinical education portion of the curriculum is the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE). The factors that attract individuals to the career of ACCE and that influence them either to leave or remain in the position are of interest and concern to those planning for the future of the profession. The purpose of this study is to gather information about the career of the ACCE. The study was designed to determine the: (a) Personal characteristics and occupational status of ACCEs, (b) preparations made for the career of ACCE, (c) …

Test-Retest Reliability Of The Levels Of Rehabilitation Scale Iib, Maura Katherine Murphy

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate test-retest reliability of the Levels of Rehabilitation Scale IIB (LORS IIB), developed by Carey and Posavac in 1982. Reliability is an important concept when a therapist begins to assess a client's activities of daily living skills. If a test is reliable, the therapist will have a dependable means by which to measure client progress with stability and accuracy.

This study was conducted with eight volunteer post-stroke victims. The study found that the LORS IIB assessment was highly significant in test-retest reliability.

Norfolk Resource Mothers Program Evaluation, Margaret Moore Konefal

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

This study uses the post-test only design to assess the preliminary effects of a community-based policy initiative, the Norfolk State University Resource Mothers Program (RMP), on the gestational ages, birth weights, and survival rates of infants born to participating adolescent mothers.

The RMP uses experienced mothers or paraprofessionals similar in race and socio-economic status to the participating teenagers. These persons are trained to assist pregnant adolescents and teen parents with nonmedical dimensions of pregnancy and child care. They recruit teens into the RMP, encouraging them to get early prenatal care. Resource Mothers provide teen mothers and their families with practical …

Formal And Informal Educational Activities Of Transformational Nurse Leaders In Urban Hospitals, Sue Waltrip Young

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

Absence of educational programs designed to develop a specific leadership style has prompted educators in nursing administration to consider designing such programs. As the cost of hospital care escalates and the recruitment and retention of individuals into hospital nursing remains problematic, it is essential that methods be developed to address these issues. This study described the educational processes experienced by transformational nurse leaders employed in urban hospitals. By discovering the relative importance and amount of these activities for nurses identified as transformational leaders, data are provided for the design and testing of educational programs created to enhance a transformational leadership …

The Correlation Between Correct Verbal And Nonverbal Responses On An Intelligence Test And Expressive Language Test Score, Jeanie P. Wagener

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between verbal and nonverbal indices of intelligence from an infant development scale given at approximately two years of age with scores on an expressive language test administered to the same children two years later. The questions this study sought to answer were: (1) is there a difference between the number of verbal and nonverbal items passed at 18-34 months by a group of normal children and a group of late talkers, (2) is there a significant relationship between correct verbal and nonverbal responses on an infant development test and scores …

Elders Caring For Elders: Risk Of Abuse And Neglect?, Marjorie F. Bendik Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the phenomena of mood disturbance and associated potential to abuse in an elderly caregiver population. The data from which the results were obtained came from structured interviews, using quantitative measures, with 110 men and women caregivers aged 55 and over, living at home and caring for another physically or mentally ill elder (usually a spouse or other relative) who was living with them. A causal model was developed to examine the effects of locus of control, social support, physical health, stress perception, and coping efficacy on total mood disturbance and potential to abuse. Standardized …

Molecular Mechanism Of The Stimulation Of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity In Human Bone Cells By 1,25(Oh)2 D3, Eru Kyeyune-Nyombi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

To facilitate this study an in vitro human model system was established that exhibited many aspects of normal osteoblasts. The human osteosarcoma cell line (TE85 cells) expressed a skeletal alkaline phosphatase activity (an accepted bone cell differentiation marker) which was stimulated by 1,25(OH)₂D₃ (a potent differentiating agent), under serum-free conditions in a dose-dependent, time-dependent, and cell density-dependent manner. Cytochemical analysis of the stimulation of ALP activity by 1,25(OH)₂D₃ showed that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ increased the number of TE85 cells that expressed detectable ALP activity, suggesting that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ promoted the process …

Catecholamines And The Regulation Of Uterine Contractions In The Pregnant Rhesus Macaque, Cahleen Mae Mcnutt

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that: 1) maternal and/or amniotic fluid catecholamines or prostaglandins display nocturnal activity rhythms similar to those of the myometrial contractility in the pregnant rhesus macaque and, 2) catecholamines stimulate prostaglandin production by fetal membranes. Paired maternal arterial blood and amniotic fluid samples were collected at 0900 h (AM) and 2100 h (PM) from chronically catheterized rhesus macaques until delivery and analyzed for prostaglandin metabolites (PGFM and PGEM-II) and catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine). Uterine activity data was continuously recorded. A rhythm in uterine contractility was observed, with peak activity between 1900 and …

Topographic Development Of The Corticocollicular Projection In The Neonatal Rat, F. Allen Richburg Ii

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The density and distribution of labeled cortical cells was examined following discrete deposits of retrograde tracers into the superior colliculus (SC) of neonatal and adult rats to study the topographic order of SC afferents from the cortex during the initial phase of axon ingrowth. Small deposits of red and green latex microspheres (0.02-0.05ul) were placed into the SC of rats ranging in age from birth to adulthood using glass micropipettes (tip diameter 25-35um). The animals, following a 48hr survival period, were deeply anesthetized and perfused with normal saline followed by a 10% formal-saline solution. The brains were sectioned coronally at …

Factors Related To Self-Care Agency And Self-Care Practices Of Obese Adolescents, Kathy Shadle James Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Identification of factors that influence obese adolescents' health behaviors is necessary if obese adolescents are to benefit from therapeutic interventions. The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study was to identify the relationships between selected basic conditioning factors (BCFs)--perceived health status (PHS), perceived self-efficacy (PSE), family satisfaction (FS), and life events (LE)--and the self-care agency (SCA) and self-care practices (SCP) among obese adolescents. The relative predictive strength of each BCF in relation to the outcome variables was also explored. Orem's self-care theory provided the conceptual framework for this study. The convenience sample of 100 obese adolescents included campers from two southern California …