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Demographic Questionnaire (demographic + questionnaire)
Selected AbstractsExploring the Subconcepts of the Wittmann-Price Theory of Emancipated Decision-Making in Women's Health CareJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 4 2006Ruth A. Wittmann-Price Purpose: To explore the subconcepts of the Wittmann-Price Theory of Emancipated Decision-Making (EDM); which is proposed as a new theoretical model for the nursing care of women to increase women's satisfaction with decision-making about healthcare issues. Infant feeding method was used as the clinical exemplar. Design and Method: A descriptive correlational design was used to test the five identified subconcepts of EDM (empowerment, flexible environment, personal knowledge, reflection, and social norms) in women's healthcare. The relationship of emancipated decision-making and satisfaction were explored with the Subject Demographic Questionnaire (SDQ), the Wittmann-Price Theory of Emancipated Decision-making Scale (EDMS), and the Satisfaction with Decision (SWD) scale. The research design was retrospective, without random sampling of subjects. Four research questions were posed for this investigation. Women who had uncomplicated deliveries and met the selected criteria were enrolled (N=97). Findings: All five subconcepts of EDM were scored on subscales on the EDMS; flexible environment and personal knowledge had the highest mean scores. Pearson correlations showed that all five subscales were significantly related to each other except reflection with personal knowledge and reflection with social norms. A significant relationship was found between the EDM and satisfaction with the decision. Personal knowledge and flexible environment were the best predictors of satisfaction with the decision. Conclusions: The Wittmann-Price Theory of EDM is a theoretical model with implications for nursing care of women who are involved in a healthcare decision, such as choice of infant feeding. Further studies are needed to determine the importance of each of the subconcepts in relation to emancipated decision-making. [source] Family Secrets and Family Functioning: The Case of Donor AssistanceFAMILY PROCESS, Issue 4 2008RONI BERGER PH.D. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adult offspring's perception of family functioning and of parental use of topic avoidance to maintain secrecy regarding the use of donor assistance to conceive. A cross-sectional design was used to study a convenience sample of 69 young adult donor offspring who completed a demographic questionnaire, a topic avoidance scale relative to each of their rearing parents, and the Beavers Self Report Family Instrument. Findings indicated that participants perceived both parents as avoiding the topic of donor assistance more than other topics, mothers as avoiding all topics less than fathers, and topic avoidance was negatively associated with family functioning. Mothers' general topic avoidance was the strongest predictor of family functioning. Parents' disclosing together was predictive of higher family functioning. Implications for practice and future research are suggested. RESUMEN El propósito de este estudio era examinar la relación entre la percepción que los hijos adultos tienen del funcionamiento familiar y de la práctica, por parte de los padres, de evitar ciertos temas para mantener en secreto el haber recurrido a un donante para concebir. Se utilizó un diseño transversal para estudiar una muestra de conveniencia de 69 adultos jóvenes hijos de donantes que rellenaron un cuestionario demográfico, una escala de evasión del tema sobre sus padres por separado y el Instrumento Familiar Beavers de Autoinformes (Beavers Self Report Family Instrument). Los resultados indicaron que los participantes percibían que sus padres evitaban el tema de la ayuda del donante más que otros temas, que las madres evitaban temas en general menos que los padres, y que la evasión de temas se veía negativamente asociada al funcionamiento familiar. La evasión por parte de las madres de temas en general era el factor pronóstico más fuerte del funcionamiento familiar. El afrontar el tema por parte del padre y la madre juntos era pronóstico de un funcionamiento familiar más alto. Se sugieren implicaciones para futuras prácticas e investigaciones. Palabras clave: secretos familiares, funcionamiento familiar, evasión de tema [source] Age at Acquisition of Helicobacter pylori in a Pediatric Canadian First Nations PopulationHELICOBACTER, Issue 2 2002Samir K. Sinha Abstract Background. Few data exist regarding the epidem-iology of Helicobacter pylori infections in aboriginal, including the First Nations (Indian) or Inuit (Eskimo) populations of North America. We have previously found 95% of the adults in Wasagamack, a First Nations community in Northeastern Manitoba, Canada, are seropositive for H. pylori. We aimed to determine the age at acquisition of H. pylori among the children of this community, and if any association existed with stool occult blood or demographic factors. Materials and Methods. We prospectively enrolled children resident in the Wasagamack First Nation in August 1999. A demographic questionnaire was administered. Stool was collected, frozen and batch analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for H. pylori antigen and for the presence of occult blood. Questionnaire data were analyzed and correlated with the presence or absence of H. pylori. Results. 163 (47%) of the estimated 350 children aged 6 weeks to 12 years, resident in the community were enrolled. Stool was positive for H. pylori in 92 (56%). By the second year of life 67% were positive for H. pylori. The youngest to test positive was 6 weeks old. There was no correlation of a positive H. pylori status with gender, presence of pets, serum Hgb, or stool occult blood. Forty-three percent of H. pylori positive and 24% of H. pylori negative children were < 50th percentile for height (p = 0.024). Positive H. pylori status was associated with the use of indoor pail toileting (86/143) compared with outhouse toileting (6/20) (p = 0.01). Conclusions. In a community with widespread H. pylori infection, overcrowded housing and primitive toileting, H. pylori is acquired as early as 6 weeks of age, and by the second year of life 67% of children test positive for H. pylori. [source] What can dropouts teach us about retention in eating disorder treatment studies?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 7 2007Renee Rienecke Hoste PhD Abstract Objective: To describe strategies used to retain adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN) in a randomized clinical trial, and to compare treatment completers and dropouts on baseline demographic and symptom severity information. Method: Adolescents with BN (N = 80) completed a demographic questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Examination, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, and Beck Depression Inventory prior to beginning treatment. Results: Several strategies were used to promote treatment retention (e.g., encouraging parental involvement in treatment, prompt rescheduling of cancelled appointments). Six participants (7.50%) voluntarily dropped out of treatment and three additional participants (3.75%) were asked to terminate treatment for medical/psychiatric reasons. Compared with treatment completers, noncompleters reported significantly longer duration of illness (p < .01). Sixty-two percent of treatment completers and only 22% of dropouts were from intact families. Conclusion: Examining factors related to retention in adolescent treatment trials is important, and could be utilized to improve retention in adult studies where drop out rates are higher. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Long term care staff beliefs about evidence based practices for the management of dementia and agitationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2009Liat Ayalon Abstract Context Despite a growing literature on effective interventions for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and agitation, the management of these conditions in long term care (LTC) often is inadequate. The goals of the present study were: (a) to evaluate existing beliefs about evidence based practices (EBP) for the management of Alzheimer's disease and agitation among LTC staff; and (b) to evaluate the contribution of demographic and attitudinal variables to LTC staff beliefs about these EBP. Method A cross sectional study of 371 LTC staff members completed an EBP questionnaire, a short demographic questionnaire, and an attitudinal questionnaire about AD and agitation. Results Paraprofessional caregivers, those of lower educational level, and ethnic minorities were more likely to be in disagreement with the EBP views examined in this study. Those in disagreement with the EBP views also reported a preference towards not working with residents with AD and agitation and a sense of helplessness associated with such work. Disagreement with EBP views was associated with both normalization and stigmatization of AD and agitation. Conclusions Paraprofessional caregivers, ethnic minorities, and people of lower educational level are most at need for educational activities about AD and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Educational efforts geared towards changing the belief system of LTC staff should target not only EBP but also information about AD and agitation as conditions that are deviant from the normal aging process, yet non-stigmatizing. It is expected that following EBP will empower staff and improve staff motivation to work with residents with AD and agitation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Correlates of knowledge and beliefs about depression among long-term care staffINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 4 2008Liat Ayalon Abstract Context Despite the high prevalence of depression in long-term care (LTC), it often is unrecognized and inadequately treated. Thus, the goals of the present study were to evaluate LTC staff characteristics that are associated with knowledge and beliefs about depression. Methods A cross sectional study of 371 LTC staff members completed a knowledge and beliefs about depression questionnaire, a short demographic questionnaire, a burden measure, and a questionnaire about attitudes associated with working with depressed residents. Results Relative to nurses, social workers, and activity staff, paraprofessional caregivers had a lower score on the depression measure and a higher score on the burden measure. Paraprofessional caregivers were more likely to view depression as a normal phenomenon, held less accurate beliefs about signs and symptoms of depression, and were less familiar with the effectiveness of specific treatments of depression. Conclusions Educational interventions about depression should be specifically geared to meet the needs of paraprofessional caregivers who provide the majority of care to LTC residents, yet possess less knowledge about depression and its treatments. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Side-effects and treatment with clozapine: A comparison between the views of consumers and their cliniciansINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2008Kay Hodge ABSTRACT:, This study sought to clarify the prevalence of various side-effects experienced by consumers taking clozapine (n = 27) and to elucidate the impact of clozapine on their quality of life. Responses of consumers were contrasted with those of clinicians to highlight any discrepancies between the two groups, thus providing a focus for the improvement of clinical practice. Consumers completed a demographic questionnaire, the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side-Effect Rating Scale. They next took part in a semistructured interview, which explored their attitudes to clozapine treatment. File searches provided historical data for antipsychotic use before the prescription of clozapine. Clinicians completed the same instruments and submitted them by mail. Most clinicians overestimated the prevalence and severity of clozapine side-effects. Consumers reported drooling mouth as the most prevalent and severe side-effect, whereas clinicians estimated that difficulty staying awake was the most prevalent side-effect, and the most severe side-effect was sleeping too much. Clinicians and consumers agreed that clozapine lifts mood. Only 19% of consumers were unhappy about blood tests, whereas 52% of clinicians estimated that consumers were unhappy about blood tests. This study suggests that despite significant side-effects and regular blood tests, most stable consumers taking clozapine were happier and more satisfied with their treatment than many of their clinicians believed they were. The study also highlights the need for clinicians to ask consumers about the different side-effects they may be experiencing, so they can provide clinical support to improve their quality of life. [source] Demands of immigration among Chinese immigrant nursesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 5 2010Amy X Ma DNP APRN-BC FNP Ma AX, Quinn Griffin MT, Capitulo KL, Fitzpatrick JJ. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16: 443,453 Demands of immigration among Chinese immigrant nurses The purpose of this study was to identify the demands of immigration among Chinese nurses that have immigrated to the USA. The relationship between the demands of immigration and length of stay in the USA was investigated also. A descriptive correlational study design was used. A convenience sample of 128 nurses was recruited. A self-administered survey was conducted using the demands of immigration scale developed by Aroian, along with a demographic questionnaire. The results showed Chinese immigrant nurses have high demands of immigration. There were significant negative relationships between the demands of immigration and length of stay in the USA. Immigration demands decreased as length of stay increased but remained high even for those who had been in the USA for > 5 years. This information is vital to health-care agencies designing and implementing adaptation programmes targeting these demands to facilitate Chinese nurses' adaptation process. [source] Translation and restandardization of an instrument: the Early Infant Temperament QuestionnaireJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2003Elisabeth O.C. Hall PhD RN Aims of the study. ,To test the psychometric properties of a Danish translation of the Early Infant Temperament Questionnaire (EITQ) and to establish standards for scoring the questionnaire. Rationale. ,The general aim was to create a translation that remained close to the original version, was meaningful for the Danish participants, and had acceptable psychometric properties. Background. ,Patterns of temperament can be discerned early in life and tend to persist over time and across situations. For the past 50 years, temperament has been studied by theorists, clinicians and nurse clinicians to predict behaviour, discover interventions that prevent serious behaviour disturbances, and help parents understand the implications of their child's temperament. Thomas and Chess's conceptualization of temperament in nine categories was the framework for the development of the English-language EITQ. Research methods. ,The translation followed a stepwise process of translation, back translation and consensus. A convenience sample of 204 Danish mothers with 1,4-month old infants completed the translated questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire in 1999. Results. ,Alpha coefficients for the nine subscales ranged from 0·59 to 0·82. All alpha coefficients were comparable to or higher than those reported on the original United States standardization study. There were statistically significant differences between reported United States mean scores and those in the Danish sample. Discussion. ,The psychometric properties of the Danish translation are equal to or better than those reported for the United States study. Differences in mean scores or most subscales point to the need to create Danish profiles for scoring. Conclusions. ,The Danish version of the EITQ has acceptable reliability and is ready for use in Denmark. [source] The psychometric properties of the Miller Behavioural Style Scale with adult daughters of women with early breast cancer: a literature review and empirical studyJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2000Charlotte E. Rees BSc PhD The psychometric properties of the Miller Behavioural Style Scale with adult daughters of women with early breast cancer: a literature review and empirical study Several researchers have suggested that the information-seeking behaviours of patients need to be taken into consideration when assessing their information needs. This study reviews published evidence of the psychometric properties of the Miller Behavioural Style Scale, a tool commonly used to identify the information-seeking behaviours of individuals under threat, and examines its reliability and validity with adult daughters of women with early breast cancer. Ninety-seven adult daughters completed the MBSS and a 30-item, self-administered questionnaire, a tool designed to explore the information needs of adult daughters of women with breast cancer. The internal consistency of the monitoring and blunting sub-scales of the MBSS was ,=0·65 and 0·41 respectively. The blunting sub-scale fell substantially below acceptable limits and was discarded from subsequent analyses. The monitoring sub-scale possessed good test,retest reliability (n=17) with a 5-week time interval (r=0·71, P < 0·005), as measured using a Pearson's correlation coefficient. Furthermore, the majority (73·4%) of monitoring items possessed moderate or substantial test,retest reliability, as indicated by kappa coefficients. Finally, the monitoring sub-scale possessed good construct validity, both discriminant and convergent validity, as measured by the univariate associations between monitoring behaviour and selected items from the information questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire. In conclusion, adequate support exists for the psychometric properties of the monitoring sub-scale of the MBSS and its use with adult daughters of women with early breast cancer in future research. These findings have a number of implications for nursing research and these are discussed in this paper. [source] Using Past Performance, Proxy Efficacy, and Academic Self-Efficacy to Predict College PerformanceJOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 11 2007Steven M. Elias This study examined the ability of prior academic performance, proxy efficacy, and academic self-efficacy to predict college academic performance. Participants (N = 202) completed a modified version of the Teacher Collective Efficacy scale (Goddard, 2001), the Academic Self-Efficacy scale (Elias & Loomis, 2000), and a demographic questionnaire. Prior performance was predictive of both academic self-efficacy beliefs and college performance. Hierarchical regression analysis indicates that academic self-efficacy beliefs explain a significant amount of unique variance beyond past performance in predicting college performance. Proxy efficacy did serve as a predictor of student academic self-efficacy, but did not serve as a predictor of college performance. Implications for instructors, as well as for future research, are discussed. [source] Influence in the Ivory Tower: Examining the Appropriate Use of Social Power in the University ClassroomJOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 11 2007Steven M. Elias A study was conducted to determine how appropriate university students feel it is for professors to use varying bases of social power as a means of influence. Participants (n = 91) completed a modified version of the Interpersonal Power Inventory (Raven, Schwarzwald, & Koslowsky, 1998) and a demographic questionnaire. Students rated the use of soft power as significantly more appropriate than harsh power. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated that informational and expert power were thought to be the most appropriate bases for professors to use, and a gender effect was observed such that female students rated the use of social power in the classroom as significantly less appropriate than did male students. Implications for university instructors and other power holders are discussed. [source] Adolescent Depression: Important Facts That MatterJOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING, Issue 2 2000Lisa M. Pullen PhD PURPOSE. To determine if there are differences in adolescent depression using variables of age, gender, smoking, and alcohol use. METHODS. A comparative, descriptive survey design was used. The adolescents (N = 217) completed either the Beck Depression Inventory or the Children's Depression Inventory and a demographic questionnaire. FINDINGS. The 15- to 2 6-year-olds (p = .016), females (p = .003), and smokers (p = .001) scored significantly higher than the 12- to 14-year-olds on depression. The 15- to 16-year-olds who used alcohol were found to be twice as depressed as the nonusers (p = .002). No significant differences were found in the 17- to 19-year-old age group. CONCLUSIONS. This study confirmed depression increased with age, in females, and with smokers. Nurses are in a unique position to provide interventions to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the likelihood of depression and alcohol and nicotine abuse in adolescents. [source] Attitudes of Japanese students toward people with intellectual disabilityJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2002W. Horner-Johnson Abstract Background The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into the structure and organization of the attitudes of Japanese students toward people with intellectual disability (ID). The study also examined how these attitudes are related to individual characteristics, such as experience with people with ID, major field of study and career interests. Methods The participants completed a series of measures developed in the USA: three measures of attitudes toward people with ID, a demographic questionnaire and a social desirability scale. Students completed the measures anonymously. Results The factor structures of all three attitude scales replicated the structures found in the USA. Attitudes toward the community inclusion of people with ID were negatively correlated with an endorsement of eugenics. Students in social work and psychology had more positive attitudes than other students. Participants who expressed an interest in a career working with people with ID had more positive attitudes than students with no interest in such a career. Conclusions Attitude measures developed in the USA can be used in Japan, and can provide useful information as well as an opportunity for cross-cultural comparisons. For a more complete understanding of the attitudes of Japanese people toward people with ID, these attitudes should also be studied using measures based in Japanese culture which have specifically developed to measure attitudes in Japan. [source] My Choice, Your Categories: The Denial of Multiracial IdentitiesJOURNAL OF SOCIAL ISSUES, Issue 1 2009Sarah S. M. Townsend Mixed-race individuals often encounter situations in which their identities are a source of tension, particularly when expressions of multiracial and biracial identity are not supported or allowed. Two studies examined the consequences of this identity denial. In Study 1, mixed-race participants reported that their biracial or multiracial identity caused tension in a variety of contexts. Study 2 focused on one often-mentioned situation: completing a demographic questionnaire in which only one racial background can be specified. Relative to mixed-race participants who were permitted to choose multiple races, those compelled to choose only one showed lower subsequent motivation and self-esteem. These studies demonstrate the negative consequences of constraining mixed-race individuals' expression of their chosen racial identity. Policy implications for the collection of racial and ethnic demographic data are discussed. [source] Obesity as a Confounding Health Factor Among Women With Mobility ImpairmentJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 10 2003FAAN, Nancy C. Sharts-Hopko PhD Purpose To examine the relationships between self-reported height and weight and factors associated with disabilities that impair mobility among adult women. Data Sources Survey data were gathered from a convenience sample of 83 women with disabilities at community events targeting the disabled population. Height, weight, and factors associated with their disabilities were reported on a demographic questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was estimated using a conversion table and the self-reported height and weight of each participant. Conclusions The average self-reported weight was 168.3 lb. Only 38% of the women fell into the normal range on estimated BMI, but 62% of the women fell into the categories of overweight or obese. The incidence of overweight and obesity exceeded that reported for the general population of women in a national sample X2= 6.48, p= 03, 2 df). Self-reported weight was positively correlated with the number of comorbidities reported by the women (r= .419, p < .0001). Implications The issue of obesity is an important problem facing women with disabilities. Women who have mobility limitations need to be weighed periodically, and strategies should be devised for weight management, including both dietary plans and appropriate exercise regimens given their limitations. [source] Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer SurvivorsJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 6 2001APRN, Janice J. Twiss PhD Purpose The overall purpose of this longitudinal 18-month study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The purpose of this article is to describe the baseline bone mineral density (BMD) findings for 30 postmenopausal women and to compare these BMD findings to time since menopause, body mass index, and tamoxifen use. Data Sources Baseline data of BMD findings for 30 post-menopausal women, who have had a variety of treatments including surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and or tamoxifen, and are enrolled in the 18-month longitudinal study. A demographic questionnaire and a three day dietary record were used to collect baseline data. Conclusions Eighty percent of the women with breast cancer history had abnormal BMDs at baseline (t-scores below -1.00 SD). Thinner women showed a greater risk for accelerated trabecular bone loss at the spine and hip. Implications for Practice These findings suggest the need for early BMD assessments and for aggressive health promotion intervention strategies that include a multifaceted protocol of drug therapy for bone remodeling, 1500 mg of daily calcium, 400 IU vitamin D and a strength weight training program that is implemented immediately following chemotherapy treatment and menopause in this high risk population of women. [source] Effects of posttraumatic stress and acculturation on marital functioning in Bosnian refugee couplesJOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 2 2000Jelena Spasojevi Abstract Forty Bosnian refugee couples living in the United States completed a translated version of the PTSD Symptom Scale,Self Report, the Behavioral Acculturation Scale, the Marital Satisfaction Inventory,Revised, and a demographic questionnaire. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology was the best predictor of marital functioning and was related negatively to acculturation. After controlling for PTSD, acculturation did not predict marital functioning. Wives' marital satisfaction was best predicted by husbands' PTSD, husbands' acculturation, and their own PTSD. Husbands' marital satisfaction was not predicted significantly by any of these variables. These findings suggest several implications for mental health professionals dealing with refugees and other traumatized populations. [source] Approaches to learning on placement: the students' perspectivePHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2009Clare Kell Abstract Background and Purpose.,With Continuing Professional Development activity, a requirement of Allied Health Professional registration in the UK and said to be most effectively supported by practitioners who adopt a deep approach to learning, a UK university has been exploring how its pre-registration curriculum influences learner development. This paper investigates the possible influences of the clinical placement component of the curriculum that is structured as four 4-week blocks during both Years 2 and 3 of the 3-year BSc (Hons) programme. A range of placement models are used within this structure including the traditional 1:1 educator,:,student ratio and those that have a higher ratio of student(s),:,educator(s).,Methods.,This phase of the larger project used a case study design framed about students from two academic year groups on one UK undergraduate, pre-registration physiotherapy programme. Three questionnaires comprising a learning approaches inventory, a demographic questionnaire and a placement self-assessment form were posted to Year 2 and 3 students during one clinical placement. The students were invited to complete the questionnaires halfway through their placement, but in advance of the first, formal placement education feedback meeting. The need for students' self-assessment prevented follow-up data collection.,Results.,Analysis of the data from the learning approaches inventory against the demographic variables and placement assessment scores suggest that students' learning strategies depend upon the number of students, educators and assessors involved in their placement. The paper explores the possible links between placement experience, learning strategy and academic outcome. The authors question assumptions about the perceived benefits of some placement education models.,Conclusion.,Increasing the ratio of student,:,educator or educator,:,student may have a detrimental effect on students' learning development when placements are of 4-week duration. If such placement models are adopted, then students and placement educators must be adequately prepared and supported so that students' learning development towards the deep-learning autonomous professionals of tomorrow can continue through placement education. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparison of symptomatology in Taiwanese women pregnant with and without assisted reproductive technologyRESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 3 2008Pi-Chao Kuo Abstract We compared the symptoms of 91 Taiwanese women, 50 pregnant by assisted reproductive technology (ART), with those of 41 women, pregnant without assistance. They completed a self-administered demographic questionnaire and symptomatology inventory (SI) during each trimester. The ART group had a higher frequency of complications and hospitalizations than the unassisted women. No significant differences were found in physical and affective symptoms in the ART group across three trimesters, but significant differences were found in the unassisted group. In addition, ART and non-ART women differed in types of individual symptoms experienced each trimester. These findings suggest the need for nurses to assess each group for the presence of specific symptoms throughout pregnancy and to provide individualized symptom management. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 31:208,216, 2008 [source] Family stress and BMI in young childrenACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 8 2010C Stenhammar Abstract Aim:, The aim of this study was to investigate if family stress and parental attachment style are associated with body mass index (BMI) in young children, and identify possible explanations. Methods:, A cross-sectional survey with a two-stage design was used. Parents of 873 children participated. They completed a demographic questionnaire, the Swedish Parenthood Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ), the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) and reported their children's television-viewing habits (as a marker of physical activity). Children's height, weight and BMI were obtained from a general population-based register, BASTA. Associations with over- and underweight in children were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results:, Family stress indicated by SPSQ-score was associated with suboptimal BMI. Maternal, but not paternal, SPSQ-stress score was statistically significantly associated with overweight and underweight, with adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence interval) of 4.61 (3.11,6.84; p < 0.001) and 3.08 (1.64,5.81; p < 0.001) respectively. Associations between childhood BMI and parental attachment style were identified, but were not independent of maternal SPSQ-score. Conclusion:, Our findings support a role for family stress in development of both overweight and underweight among young children. This is likely to be attributed to behavioural mechanisms but a more direct metabolic influence of stress could also be involved. [source] Danger,early maladaptive schemas at work!: the role of early maladaptive schemas in career choice and the development of occupational stress in health workersCLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THEORY & PRACTICE), Issue 2 2008Martin Bamber The schema-focused model of occupational stress and work dysfunctions (Bamber & Price, 2006; Bamber, 2006) hypothesizes that individuals with EMS (unconsciously) gravitate toward occupations with similar dynamics and structures to the toxic early environments and relationships that created them. They subsequently re-enact these EMS and their associated maladaptive coping styles in the workplace. For most individuals, this results in ,schema healing', but for some individuals with more rigid and severe EMS, schema healing is not achieved and the structures and relationships of the workplace, together with the utilization of maladaptive coping styles, serve to perpetuate their EMS. The model hypothesizes that it is these individuals who are most vulnerable to developing occupational stress syndromes To date, this model has been subjected to very little empirical investigation, so the main aim of this study was to address this gap in the literature by testing out some of its main assumptions and to provide empirical data, which would either support or reject the model using a population of health workers. Specifically, it was hypothesized that ,occupation-specific' EMS would be found in health workers from a range of different healthcare professions. It was also hypothesized that the presence of higher levels of EMS would be predictive of raised levels of occupational stress, psychiatric caseness and increased sickness absence in those individuals. A cross-sectional study design was employed and a total of 249 staff working within a NHS Trust, belonging to one of five occupational groups (medical doctors, nurses, clinical psychologists, IT staff and managers), participated in the study. All participants completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (Young, 1998); the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Form (Maslach & Jackson, 1981), and the General Health Questionnaire-28-item version (Goldberg, 1978). A demographic questionnaire and sickness absence data was also collected. The results of a between groups analysis of variance and further post hoc statistical analyses identified a number of occupation specific EMS. Also, the results of a series of multiple linear regression analyses indicated the presence of some EMS to be predictive of higher levels of burnout, psychiatric caseness and sickness absence in health workers. In conclusion, the findings of this study provide empirical support for the schema-focused model of occupational stress and work dysfunctions (Bamber & Price, 2006; Bamber, 2006), and it appears that the existence of underlying EMS may constitute a predisposing vulnerability factor to developing occupational stress.,Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Blood pressure and lifestyle on Saba, Netherlands AntillesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Laura E. Soloway During the 20th century, infectious disease morbidity and mortality generally waned whereas chronic degenerative diseases posed a growing burden at the global level. The population on Saba, Netherlands Antilles has recently experienced such an epidemiologic transition, and hypertension was reported to be extraordinarily high, although no prevalences have been reported and relationships with lifestyle factors associated with rapid modernization have not been explored. In this study, a medical and demographic questionnaires, as well as body composition and blood pressure measures were collected from 278 Saban men and women aged 18,91 years. When age and sex adjusted, 48% of the population was hypertensive. Age, BMI, and Afro-Caribbean descent were all associated with higher blood pressures. In a second phase, 124 individuals of the 278 were invited to receive a longer questionnaire on individual exposure to modernizing influences such as travel and education. Higher blood pressure was associated with having lived in fewer different places in the past; those who stayed only on Saba or Statia had higher blood pressures than those who had also lived in more modernized areas. However, this was no longer statistically significant after adjustment for age and BMI. Lifestyle incongruity was positively associated with higher blood pressure in that those with more discord between material wealth and income were more likely to be hypertensive, and this remained statistically significant after adjustment for age and adiposity. In summary, hypertension is highly prevalent on Saba and tended to be associated with greater age, adiposity, Afro-Caribbean ancestry, and lifestyle incongruity. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Prevalence of low serum cobalamin in infertile couplesANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2009R. Pront Summary A high prevalence of low levels of cobalamin had been found in a survey of multi-ethnic normal individuals in Israel. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of cobalamin deficiency among Israeli couples suffering from infertility. All couples seen at the in vitro fertilization clinic at an urban hospital (Shaare Zedek Medical Center) in Jerusalem for a 6-month period were invited. Mean cobalamin levels were 259.2 pg ml,1 in males and 275.1 pg ml,1 in females (normal >200 pg ml,1), 35.5% of 172 men and 23.3% of 223 females had cobalamin deficiency (P = 0.01). There were 171 couples with complete demographic questionnaires and cobalamin values for each partner. In 74 couples (43.3%), one partner was cobalamin deficient, with no significant difference between those with unexplained infertility versus those with explained infertility; and in 13 couples, both partners were cobalamin deficient. Thirty-nine per cent of all men with an abnormal semen analysis had cobalamin deficiency, a finding that requires further investigation. This study questions whether higher rates of male infertility in Israel are partially ascribable to cobalamin deficiency. Recommendation for supplementation in both males and females to achieve high-normal levels of cobalamin would be prudent. [source] A pilot study of research utilization practices and critical thinking dispositions of Alberta dental hygienistsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE, Issue 3 2008SJ Cobban Abstract:, In order to test interventions for increasing uptake of research findings into dental hygiene practice, we must first identify factors that influence research use. There has been little work on this topic in dental hygiene, but much in other disciplines that can provide exemplars of how others have approached the study of this phenomenon. Objectives:, A pilot study was conducted to determine if protocols used to study research utilization (RU) behaviours and critical thinking dispositions (CTD) in nursing could also be applied to dental hygiene. Methods:, A cross-sectional survey design was used with a random sample of 640 practicing dental hygienists in Alberta, Canada. Three questionnaires were included: one to capture measures of RU including direct, indirect and symbolic RU; the California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI) and a demographics questionnaire. Results:, Mean responses for the three types of RU were highest for indirect at 3.52 (SD 0.720), followed by direct at 3.13 (SD 0.903) and symbolic 2.86 (SD 0.959). The majority (74.8%) scored between 280 and 350 on the CCTDI (maximum 420). Cronbach's alpha reliability for the RU measures and four of the seven sub-scales were over .7, indicating internal consistency reliability. Conclusions:, The instruments proved reliable for this population, but other challenges, including a low response rate, were identified during the process of using the RU questionnaire in the context of dental hygiene practice. Pilot testing identified the need for improvements to the presentation of scales to reduce cognitive load and improve the response rate. [source] Adherence in adolescents and young adults following heart or heart-lung transplantationPEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2006Jo Wray Abstract:, To assess the prevalence and some potential correlates of non-adherence to medications in adolescent and young adult transplant patients. Fifty patients who had undergone heart or heart-lung transplantation 1.4,14.9 yr (mean 8.8 yr) previously completed the Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire (BMQ), Perceived Illness Experience (PIE) scale and a demographics questionnaire. Medical notes were reviewed for information regarding previous psychiatric referral, rejection episodes and complications and noted concerns about adherence. Forty (80%) completed questionnaires were received. Non-adherence determined from the questionnaires was associated with forgetting to take medication and was classified as unintentional non-adherence. Such non-adherence was reported by 11 (28%) patients. Seven patients (18%) showed evidence from their records of deliberate non-adherence, which was classified as intentional. Whilst intentional non-adherence was associated with depression and transplant-related lymphoma, unintentional non-adherence and perceived difficulties with medications were associated with high scores on the PIE preoccupation with illness and BMQ concerns subscale and with drinking alcohol. Future research is required to determine whether unintentional non-adherence results in significant medical complications in the longer term and how a reduction in the prevalence of non-adherence can be facilitated. [source] |