Nursing Commons^™

Implementation Of A Virtual Journal Club In A Clinical Nursing Setting, Jill Berger, Heather K. Hardin, Robert V. Topp

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Healthcare practice is increasingly focused on delivering care that is based on published research evidence. Staff development nurses can institute journal clubs to teach nursing staff critical appraisal of research articles and ways to translate research findings into clinical practice. Unfortunately, attending meetings regularly is often a challenge for nurses, and relatively few have the knowledge and expertise to adequately critique research articles. One way to bridge the limitations of accessibility and limited research expertise of journal club members is to establish a virtual journal club. This article describes one hospital's experience with developing a virtual journal club.

Religiosity And Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Latina Adolescents: Trends From 1995 To 2008, Lisa M. Edwards, Kristin Haglund, Richard J. Fehring, Jessica E. Pruszynski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine trends in the influence of religiosity on sexual activity of Latina adolescents in the United States from 1995 to 2008 and to determine if differences existed between the Mexican American and other Latina groups.

Methods: The sample comprised the subset of unmarried, 15–21-year-old (mean 17 years) Latina female respondents in the 1995 (n=267), 2002 (n=306), and 2006–2008 (n=400) National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) datasets. Associations between religiosity (importance of religion and service attendance) and history of ever having sex, number of sex partners, and …

Effect Of Topical Menthol On Ipsilateral And Contralateral Superficial Blood Flow Following A Bout Of Maximum Voluntary Muscle Contraction, Robert V. Topp, Lee J. Winchester, Jessica Schilero, Dean E. Jacks

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose/Background: Various doses of topical menthol are commonly applied prior to, during, and after exercise to relieve pain although there is limited empirical evidence examining the physiological effects of this treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two different doses of menthol (3.5% and 10%) on blood flow and arterial diameter before and after an acute bout of three isokinetic maximum voluntary muscular contraction (MVMC) of the quadriceps and hamstrings.

Methods: Blood flow and arterial diameter of the right and left popliteal arteries were measured with an ultrasound Doppler prior to and after subjects completed …

Implementing A Virtual Journal Club In A Clinical Nursing Setting, Robert V. Topp

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Healthcare practice is increasingly focused on delivering care that is based on published research evidence. Staff development nurses can institute journal clubs to teach nursing staff critical appraisal of research articles and ways to translate research findings into clinical practice. Unfortunately, attending meetings regularly is often a challenge for nurses, and relatively few have the knowledge and expertise to adequately critique research articles. One way to bridge the limitations of accessibility and limited research expertise of journal club members is to establish a virtual journal club. This article describes one hospital's experience with developing a virtual journal club.

Creating A Therapeutic Milieu In Retirement Communities, Abir K. Bekhet, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Elderly persons’ relocation to retirement communities is a stressful event that requires person-milieu adjustment. Research has shown differences in relocation adjustment for elders residing in different retirement communities. A secondary analysis used findings from a study of relocated elders in order to determine whether certain therapeutic factors were lacking in retirement communities where elders had difficulty in adjusting. Study participants were 104 elders who relocated to six retirement communities in Northeast Ohio. This study analyzed qualitative data from the researchers’ observations and field notes and narratives obtained from the elders who participated in the original study. The analysis focused on …

Pilot Evaluation Of An Internet-Based Natural Family Planning Education And Service Program, Richard J. Fehring, Mary Schneider, Kathleen Raviele

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, knowledge of fertility, and acceptability of a web-based natural family planning (NFP) education and service program.

Design: A 6-month repeated measure longitudinal evaluation pilot study.

Setting: A university based online website.

Participants: The website was piloted with 468 volunteer women seeking NFP services. Of these participants, 222 used the automatic online fertility charting system to avoid pregnancy. The 222 charting participants had a mean age of 29.9 years (SD=5.6), 2.2 children (SD=1.9), 37% were postpartum, and 47% had regular menstrual cycle lengths.

Intervention: Nurse-managed web-based NFP education and service program.

Outcomes: …

Balancing The Scale: Directions For Future Research For Perinatal Advanced Practice Nurses, Lisa Hanson, Leona Vandevusse, Heidi Paquette

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Quality And Cost Analysis Of Nurse Staffing, Discharge Preparation, And Postdischarge Utilization, Marianne E. Weiss, Olga Yakusheva, Kathleen Bobay

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives. To determine the impact of unit-level nurse staffing on quality of discharge teaching, patient perception of discharge readiness, and postdischarge readmission and emergency department (ED) visits, and cost-benefit of adjustments to unit nurse staffing.

Data Sources. Patient questionnaires, electronic medical records, and administrative data for 1,892 medical–surgical patients from 16 nursing units within four acute care hospitals between January and July 2008.

Design. Nested panel data with hospital and unit-level fixed effects and patient and unit-level control variables.

Data Collection/Extraction. Registered nurse (RN) staffing was recorded monthly in hours-per-patient-day. Patient questionnaires were completed before discharge. Thirty-day readmission and ED …

Fit Into College: A Program To Improve Physical Activity And Dietary Intake Lifestyles Among College Students, Robert V. Topp, Jean S. Edward, S. Lee Ridner, Dean E. Jacks, Karen Newton, Patricia Keiffner, Deborah Woodall, Kathleen P. Conte

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 10-week program could improve physical activity, physical fitness, body weight, dietary intake, and perceptions of exercise and diet among college 30 healthy college freshmen. Outcomes were measured at baseline, and following the 10-week program. The weekly sessions incorporated constructs of the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change and were administered by fitness interns who were junior or senior college students enrolled in health-related majors. The participants presented with low physical activity, physical fitness, and poor dietary intake, and 50% were overweight/obese (BMI > 25). Participants demonstrated gains in their physical fitness …

Outcomes And Cost Analysis Of The Impact Of Unit-Level Nurse Staffing On Post-Discharge Utilization, Kathleen Bobay, Olga Yakusheva, Marianne E. Weiss

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Peer Effects And The Freshman 15: Evidence From A Natural Experiment, Olga Yakusheva, Kandice A. Kapinos, Marianne E. Weiss

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This study investigates the importance of peer effects in explaining weight gain among freshman college students. We exploit a natural experiment that takes place on most college campuses in the US - randomized roommate assignments. While previous studies suggest that having an obese spouse, friend, or sibling increases one's likelihood of becoming obese, these social interactions are clearly non-random. We collect data from female students living on campus at a private Midwestern university at the beginning and end of their first year of college. Our findings suggest that the amount of weight gained during the freshman year is strongly and …

The Effects Of A Closed-Chain, Eccentric Training Program On Hamstring Injuries Of A Professional Football Cheerleading Team, Jay S. Greenstein, Barton N. Bishop, Jean S. Edward, Robert V. Topp

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

Hamstring injuries are a common occurrence among professional football cheerleaders. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of an eccentric, closed-chain hamstring exercise intervention on hamstring injury–associated pain during the course of the football season among professional football cheerleaders.

Methods

Forty-three female cheerleaders participated in an eccentric, closed-chain hamstring exercise intervention protocol provided by doctors of chiropractic that incorporated loops of elastic-band or Thera-Band Loops (Hygenic Corporation, Akron, OH) during practice and at home during the regular football season. Hamstring injury–related pain was assessed in June, during team selection; in September, at the start of the …

Myocardial Dysfunction In An Animal Model Of Cancer Cachexia, Hui Xu, Danielle Crawford, Kirk R. Hutchinson, Dane J. Youtz, Pamela A. Lucchesi, Markus Velten, Donna O. Mccarthy, Loren E. Wold

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Aims

Fatigue is a common occurrence in cancer patients regardless of tumor type or anti-tumor therapies and is an especially problematic symptom in persons with incurable tumor disease. In rodents, tumor-induced fatigue is associated with a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and increased expression of biomarkers of muscle protein degradation. The purpose of the present study was to determine if muscle wasting and expression of biomarkers of muscle protein degradation occur in the hearts of tumor-bearing mice, and if these effects of tumor growth are associated with changes in cardiac function.

Main methods

The colon26 adenocarcinoma cell line was …

Characteristics Of The Menstrual Cycle After Discontinuation Of Oral Contraceptives, Claudia L. Nassaralla, Joseph B. Stanford, Diane Daly, Mary Schneider, Karen C. Schliep, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Menstrual cycle function may continue to be altered after discontinuation of oral contraceptives (OC). Few studies have been published on the effects of recent OC use on menstrual cycle parameters; none have examined characteristics of the menstrual flow or the quality of cervical mucus. The purpose of this retrospective matched cohort study is to assess biomarkers of the menstrual cycle after discontinuation of OCs.

Methods: Among a sample of women who daily recorded observations of menstrual cycle biomarkers, 70 women who had recently discontinued OCs were randomly matched by age and parity with 70 women who had …

Promoting Natural Family Planning, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Psychometric Testing Of The Children's Resourcefulness Scale, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, Elizabeth Bonham

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

PROBLEM: Resourcefulness is known to reduce depression in adults, but its effects on children are less well known, possibly for lack of a psychometrically sound measure.

METHODS: This study examined the reliability and validity of the 32-item Children's Self-Control Scale (C-SCS), which measures resourcefulness, in 122 school-aged children.

FINDINGS: Standard scale refinement methods produced a 10-item scale with α = .72 and correlations with the C-SCS (r = .86), positive thoughts (r = .38), and depressive symptoms (r = –.32). Factor analysis revealed two factors: problem-solving and delay of gratification.

CONCLUSIONS: The 10-item scale may be …

Advancing Nursing Education Science: An Analysis Of Nln's Grant Program 2008-2010, Joanne R. Duffy, Marilyn Frenn, Barbara Patterson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The National League for Nursing has responded to the increasing need for nursing education research through its grant program. Significant growth in proposals has intensified competition for funds and challenged the Nursing Education Research Advisory Council’s review process. The purpose of this article is to explore the NLN’s nursing education research proposals from 2008 to 2010 in order to improve performance and provide guidance to future nursing education researchers. Beginning with the 2008 grant cycle, a database was developed to assist in performance improvement. A total of 113 proposals were submitted; of those, 24 were funded for a success rate …

Dog Models Of Naturally Occurring Cancer, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Studies using dogs provide an ideal solution to the gap in animal models for natural disease and translational medicine. This is evidenced by approximately 400 inherited disorders being characterized in domesticated dogs, most of which are relevant to humans. There are several hundred isolated populations of dogs (breeds) and each has a vastly reduced genetic variation compared with humans; this simplifies disease mapping and pharmacogenomics. Dogs age five- to eight-fold faster than do humans, share environments with their owners, are usually kept until old age and receive a high level of health care. Farseeing investigators recognized this potential and, over …

Access To Adequate Outpatient Depression Care For Mothers In The Usa: A Nationally Representative Population-Based Study, Whitney P. Witt, Abiola O. Keller, Carrisa Gottlieb, Kristin Litzelman, John Hampton, Jonathan Maguire, Erika W. Hagen

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Maternal depression is often untreated, resulting in serious consequences for mothers and their children. Factors associated with receipt of adequate treatment for depression were examined in a population-based sample of 2,130 mothers in the USA with depression using data from the 1996–2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Chi-squared analyses were used to evaluate differences in sociodemographic and health characteristics by maternal depression treatment status (none, some, and adequate). Multivariate regression was used to model the odds of receiving some or adequate treatment, compared to none. Results indicated that only 34.8% of mothers in the USA with depression received adequate treatment. Mothers …

The Influence Of Contraception On Abortion Among Women Of Reproductive Age In The United States, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

There is a common notion that contraception is necessary for women (and couples) to avoid unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The thesis of this paper is that contraception actually will lead to more (not less) abortions. On the other hand, the use of natural family planning (NFP) and the acceptance of fertility lend itself to the openness to life. The specific purpose of the paper is to describe the influence of contraceptive use and NFP on the likelihood of having an abortion among United States (US) women of reproductive age as found in Cycle 7 of the National Survey of Family …

Factors Predicting Physical Activity Among Older Thais Living In Low Socioeconomic Urban Communities, Phachongchit Kraithaworn, Yupapin Sirapo-Ngam, Noppawan Piaseu, Dechavudh Nityasuddhi, Kimberlee A. Gretebeck

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This study was conducted to determine if specific factors (physical activity self-efficacy, sense of community, social support, perceived physical and mental health, and neighborhood environment and facilities) predicted physical activity among 258 older Thais living in six registered, low-socioeconomic, urban communities across metropolitan Bangkok. The theoretical model was based on integrated concepts from Pender’s Health Promotion Model and the Social Ecological Model. The hypothesized model was tested using path analysis.

The final model explained 33%, 51% and 22% of the variance in physical activity, physical activity self-efficacy and sense of community, respectively. Physical activity self-efficacy was the most powerful predictor …

Prediction Of Vo2 Peak Using Sub-Maximum Bench Step Test In Children, Robert V. Topp, Dean E. Jacks, Justin B. Moore

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid prediction of maximal oxygen uptake from data collected during a submaximum bench stepping test among children ages 8-12 years. Twenty seven active subjects (16 male and 11 female), weight 36.1 kg, height 144.4 cm and VO₂ 47.4 ± 7.9 ml/kg/min participated. Subjects completed a maximal oxygen consumption test with analysis of expired air and a submaximal bench stepping test. A formula to predict VO_2max was developed from height, resting heart rate and heart rate response during the submaximum bench stepping test. This formula accounted for 71% of the …

The Effects Of Positive Cognitions On The Relationship Between Alienation And Resourcefulness In Nursing Students In Egypt, Abir K. Bekhet, Mervat Elguenidi, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Alienation is a subjective state, a feeling of being a stranger, as if one were not one's normal self. It is also a sense of homelessness; a feeling of uneasiness or discomfort, which signifies the person's exclusion from social or cultural participation. Alienation can adversely affect healthy functioning of nursing students. Nursing students are the adolescents of today and the nurses of tomorrow who will deal with human behavior, and their psychological well-being will be important in managing their clients’ conditions. Healthy nursing students are likely to become healthy nurses who can then model and promote healthy lifestyles for their …

Effects Of Resistance Training On Functional Ability In Elderly Individuals, Mariane M. Fahlman, Nancy Mcnevin, Debra Boardley, Amy Morgan, Robert V. Topp

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose. Determine the effects of 16 weeks of strength training on measures of functional ability in elderly who are functionally limited.

Design. Quasi-experimental trial in which elderly volunteers were assigned to either an exercise group or a control group.

Participants. Eighty-seven participants (65–93 years) living independently but with some functional limitations.

Intervention. Thirteen different strength training exercises using Thera-Band resistive bands (Hygenic Corporation, Akron, Ohio). The program was 16 weeks in duration, and the frequency was three times per week. Participants exercised in a group setting one time per week and were given a home exercise book to follow for …

Psychometric Properties Of The Pressure To Move Scale In Relocated American Older Adults: Further Evaluation, Abir K. Bekhet, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Wagdy E. Nakhla

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The number of elders who relocate to retirement communities is increasing exponentially, and their ability to exercise free choice, personal control, and autonomy has been associated with relocation adjustment and positive outcomes in regard to physical, emotional, and social well-being. Although a measure of relocation controllability (the degree of personal control associated with the move) exists, there is limited evidence of its psychometric adequacy. This study tested the reliability and validity of the Pressure to Move Scale (PTMS). A convenience sample of 104 American elders who relocated to six Northeast Ohio retirement communities was recruited. Study participants completed the nine-item …

Psychometric Properties Of A Measure Of Acceptance Of Long-Standing Health Problems, Patricia Mcdonald, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Acceptance of chronic illness is important for health promotion and for improving the quality of life of elders with chronic conditions. Thus, a reliable and valid measure of acceptance is needed for this population. Currently available measures of acceptance do not focus specifically on accepting chronic conditions. This study of 176 elders with chronic conditions examined the psychometric properties of an adapted measure of acceptance—the Ideas About Long-Standing Health Problems (IALHP) questionnaire. Although the findings provided beginning evidence for internal reliability and construct validity to support its potential usefulness in elders, further scale development is recommended.

Measuring Use Of Resourcefulness Skills: Psychometric Testing Of A New Scale, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Highly resourceful individuals have been found better able to meet life's challenges and to experience more positive health outcomes. Although psychometrically sound measures of resourcefulness exist and resourcefulness training trials show that the intervention increases adaptive functioning and enhances quality of life, there is no direct measure of intervention fidelity. This study examined the reliability and validity of an 8-item Resourcefulness Skills Scale (RSS), which measures the frequency with which intervention recipients use specific resourcefulness skills. The RSS was found to have acceptable internal consistency (� = .78), criterion-related validity (�'s = .50 and .52 with other resourcefulness scales), and …

The Association Of Religiosity, Sexual Education, And Parental Factors With Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Adolescents And Young Adults, Kristin Haglund, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This study examined the association of religiosity, sexual education and family structure with risky sexual behaviors among adolescents and young adults. The nationally representative sample, from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, included 3,168 women and men ages 15–21 years. Those who viewed religion as very important, had frequent church attendance, and held religious sexual attitudes were 27–54% less likely to have had sex and had significantly fewer sex partners than peers. Participants whose formal and parental sexual education included abstinence and those from two-parent families were 15% less likely to have had sex and had fewer partners.

Psychometric Properties Of The Arabic Version Of The Depressive Cognition Scale In First-Year Adolescent Egyptian Nursing Students, Abir K. Bekhet, Jaclene Zauszniewski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Identifying depressive cognitions in adolescent nursing students can be an important step to prevent the development of clinical depression, which is positively associated with suicide. Purpose: This study focused on the psychometric testing of the Arabic version of the Depressive Cognition Scale (A-DCS) among 170 first-year adolescent Egyptian nursing students. Methods: The questionnaire was assessed for internal consistency, homogeneity, and construct validity using factor analysis and convergent validity. Results: Cronbach's alpha for (A-DCS) was .86. The homogeneity of the instrument was supported by item-to-total correlations between .30 and .70. Factor extraction generated only one factor with eigenvalues greater than …

Resilience In Family Members Of Persons With Serious Mental Illness, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, M. Jane Suresky

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This integrative review summarizes current research on resilience in adult family members who have a relative with a diagnosed mental disorder that is considered serious. Within the context of resilience theory, studies identifying risk/vulnerability and positive/protective factors in family members are summarized, and studies examining seven indicators of resilience, including acceptance, hardiness, hope, mastery, self-efficacy, sense of coherence, and resourcefulness, are described. Implications for clinical practice and recommendations for future research are presented.