Nursing Commons^™

Text Messaging As Adjunct To Community Based Weight Management Program, Claudia Bouhaidar

Theses and Dissertations

Obesity ascending rates are still a public health priority. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of tailored text messages on body weight change in overweight and obese adults in a community based weight management program. A secondary aim was to detect behavioral changes in the same population. The study design was quasi-experimental with pre and posttest analysis, conducted over 12 weeks. A total of 28 participants were included in the analysis. Body weight, eating behaviors, exercise and nutrition self-efficacy, attitude toward mobile technology, social support and physical activity were assessed at baseline and at 12 …

The Relationship Among Maternal Parenting Stress, Coping, And Depressive Symptoms Across Time, Karen Foren Lake

Theses and Dissertations

This study was a secondary analysis in which the relationship among maternal parenting stress, coping, and depressive symptoms over time in 161 low-income mothers who participated in an Early Head Start Pathways Project were examined. Measurements were assessed longitudinally over a 12 year period of time. Direct and indirect relationships were proposed between maternal mastery, pre-existing depressive symptoms, relationship with significant other, child behavior, child temperament, maternal parenting stress, coping, and later depressive symptoms. Results from path analyses showed that when assessed earlier in the childbearing years, mastery, depressive symptoms, relationship with significant other, child temperament, child behavior, and maternal …

Listening To The Voices Of Emerging Adults: The Experience Of Living With Phiv, Constance D. Hill

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the research question: "As an emerging adult what is your everyday experience of living with PHIV?" The purposive sample consisted of six emerging adults living with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV), who are 18-29 years of age, speak English, and live in the greater Chicago area.

This was an exploratory study using a participatory action approach of photovoice. Photovoice methodology combines photography and participatory action to provide images and the participants' interpretations of their everyday health realities. Five themes which describe the everyday experience of living with PHIV emerged from the thematic …

Childhood Obesity And The Relationship To Well-Child Visits, Nancee Croatt Wozney

Theses and Dissertations

Trends during the past 20 years have revealed a dramatic increase in childhood obesity in the United States. At present, approximately nine million children over 6 years of age are considered obese (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2011). According to (American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], 2009) the protocol for obesity care for youth is to monitor the body mass index (BMI) routinely (at least annually) and offer appropriate counseling and guidance to children and their families. A report in the literature indicated that the number of children attending yearly well-child visits that include measurement of BMI is well below the AAP …

Perceived Stress And Surgical Wound Cytokine Patterns, Valentina Lucas

Theses and Dissertations

Normal wound healing is a complex process that occurs in overlapping phases and depends upon interactions of the patient, environment and a large number of cells, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and other biochemical mediators. Psychological stress has been shown to adversely affect the normal wound healing process through its impact on cellular immunity. Cellular immunity impacts wound healing through the production and regulation of many of the above biochemical mediators of wound healing. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the relationships among pre- and post-operative psychological stress experienced by women who were undergoing either immediate or delayed …

"Being Certain": Moral Distress In Critical Care Nurses, Marian Baxter

Theses and Dissertations

Published literature has focused on understanding moral distress from a descriptive standpoint. Missing from the literature is an exploration of the role a nurse can play in his/her/own moral distress.A qualitative study with an interpretive design incorporated Clandinin and Connelly' narrative methodology. Results highlighted assumptions were made by participants in the absence of resources, which led them to" know the right action to take" from their own perspective.

Heart Failure Symptom Clusters And Functional Status, Janet Herr

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract HEART FAILURE SYMPTOM CLUSTERS AND FUNCTIONAL STATUS Janet Kay Herr Ph.D A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University 2012 Major Director: Dr. Jeanne Salyer, Ph.D., R.N., F.N.A.P Associate Professor, Adult Health & Nursing Systems Clinical assessment of heart failure includes symptom identification and the evaluation of the relationship of symptoms to functional status. Symptom clusters are groups of at least 2 or 3 co-occurring symptoms that are related but are independent of other groups of symptoms. The objectives of this study are to: …

Relationship Of Demographic Characteristics And Bmi With Health Literacy In Pacific Islander Care-Giving Adults, Sharla E. Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Health literacy and obesity are major global issues. Vulnerable populations, such as those with low health literacy, have the highest rates of obesity. Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) nations have the highest prevalence of obesity in the world. This study describes the relationship between health literacy and demographic variables in a sample of NHOPI caregiving adults. Methods: We conducted a correlational study of 364 NHOPI adults. Each was a caregiver of at least one NHOPI child. Data were collected at grocery stores and a preschool in two Hawaiian Islands (n=209) and at NHOPI events in Utah (n=155). …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A Workshop/Support Group For Parents Raising Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Christina Marie Yazzie

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a workshop/support group for parents raising children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Diagnosis of a chronic disease in a child generally arouses acute anxiety and stress in parents. Parental stress when raising a child with type 1 diabetes is often centered on worry about their child's health and parents' ability to maintain the care activities needed by these children. Parents are the primary caregivers of children with Type 1 diabetes, and the effect of stress on parents can impact the health of both children and parents. The present …

The Relationship Between Select Demographic Characteristics And Body Mass Index Among Native Hawaiian And Other Pacific Islander Caregiving Adults, Katrina Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the world. This study identified the proportion of our NHOPI sample in each body mass index (BMI) category and explored relationships between demographic characteristics and BMI. Design: This descriptive correlational study included 364 NHOPI caregiver adults in Utah (n=155) and Hawaii (n=209). We gathered demographic information with a questionnaire. Height and weight were measured for BMI calculations. Results: According to the CDC's BMI categories, 84.3% of our sample was overweight (BMI=25.0-29.9) or obese (BMI ≥30). Participants in Utah had significantly higher BMIs than …

Emergency Department Nurses' Suggestions For Improving End-Of-Life Care, Robert D. Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Death is not an uncommon outcome for patients who seek immediate care in an emergency department. Although death is common in the emergency department there is little literature regarding end-of-life care in the emergency department. The purpose of this research study is to determine what changes emergency nurses would suggest to improve end-of-life care for dying patients and their families in emergency departments.

Background: A national, geographically dispersed, random sample of 1000 emergency nurses were sent a questionnaire entitled, "Emergency Nurses' Perceptions of End-of-Life Care." Inclusion criteria included nurses who were members of the Emergency Nurses Association, could read …

Postpartum Depression In Immigrant Hispanic Women: A Comparative Community Sample, Laura Mae Shellman

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study was initiated to verify whether a remarkably high rate of postpartum depression (PPD), previously found in immigrant Hispanic women receiving health care at a community clinic, would also be found in a community sample with a similar demographic.

Data Sources: Sixty immigrant Hispanic women who had recently given birth were recruited from local community settings. The Beck Postpartum Depression Screening Scale-Spanish version (PPDS-S) and the General Acculturation Index (GAI) were used to screen for PPD symptoms and to collect demographic data. These data were then compared with previously published data from the community clinic sample.

Conclusions: Sixty …

Symptom Clusters In Lung Cancer Patients, Debra Rattican

Theses and Dissertations

SYMPTOM CLUSTERS IN LUNG CANCER PATIENTS By Debra Rattican, PhD, RN A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Major Director: Debra E. Lyon, PhD. Professor and Chair Family and Community Health Nursing The purpose of the study was to examine selected relationships among symptoms common to individuals with lung cancer. The specific aims were: 1) To examine the relationship between the symptoms of dyspnea and anxiety in patients with lung cancer. 2) To examine the relationships among the symptoms of dyspnea, anxiety, and …

Predictors Of Sexual Relationship Power, Communication And Sexual Decision Making Among Latino Couples, Yui Matsuda

Theses and Dissertations

Unintended pregnancy (UP) is increasing among Latinos in the United States. Unintended pregnancy contributes to many negative consequences for infants, mothers and families. Concurrently, various factors affect Latino couples’ sexual relationship power, communication and decision making about family planning, including sexual relationship power, relationship commitment, dyadic adjustment, individual background, and cultural characteristics. Previous research has not focused on understanding the factors that affect Latino couples’ sexual relationship power, communication and sexual decision making from each partner’s perspective. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sexual relationship power, communication, and sexual decision making from each partner’s perspective …

The Effect Of Oral Care On Intracranial Pressure In Critically Ill Adults, Christina Szabo

Theses and Dissertations

A major goal in the care of patients with neurological problems is to prevent or minimize episodes of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Elevations in ICP in response to nursing interventions have been acknowledged since the 1960’s when ICP monitoring was first introduced in the clinical setting. Until recently few studies have specifically examined the effect of oral care on ICP and oral care and other hygiene measures were combined or not specified, prohibiting a direct interpretation of the influence of oral care alone on ICP. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between routine oral care interventions …

Opioid Withdrawal Signs And Symptoms In The Pediatric Patient During Opioid Tapering, Deborah Fisher

Theses and Dissertations

Opioids are used routinely in the pediatric intensive care population for analgesia, sedation, blunting of physiologic responses to stress, and safety. In children, physical dependence may occur in as little as two to three days of continuous opioid therapy. Once the child no longer needs the opioid, the medications are reduced over time. A review of the literature revealed that the majority of the published studies used either a neonatal opioid assessment tool or no assessment tool. A subsequent international survey of pediatric providers found a wide range of opioid tapering practices and sporadic use of opioid withdrawal instruments to …

Biobehavioral Correlates In Fibromyalgia, Ann Trivigno Mcnallen

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by non-restorative sleep, and fatigue. Over 75% of individuals with FMS complain of poor sleep quality and fatigue. These have been ranked by patients with FMS as having great impact on quality of life. A literature review suggested that poor sleep quality may be a predictor of increased stress and FMS symptom onset in those affected. However, no experimental studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between poor sleep and stress in people with FMS. Methods: Using a single stage cross-sectional design, the primary study aim was to compare 25 women with …