Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Descriptive
Terms modified by Descriptive Selected AbstractsRole of Pap Test terminology and age in the detection of carcinoma invasive and carcinoma in situ in medically underserved California womenDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2004Lydia P. Howell M.D. Abstract Our goals were to evaluate Pap Test findings classified by the Bethesda system, and follow up biopsies from participants in the California Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (Ca-BCCCP) for: 1) correlation in the detection of carcinoma in situ (CIS) and carcinoma invasive (CI), and 2) age-related trends, with discussion in the context of the 2001 ASCCP Management Guidelines. Women (n = 52,339) who had their initial screening Pap Tests with Ca-BCCCP between January 1995,December 1999 were followed for diagnostic services through December 2000. Descriptive and analytical methods were used in the analysis. Of the Pap results, 81.9% were negative, 10.6% showed infection, 4.7% showed an epithelial abnormality as defined by the Bethesda system (atypical squamous cells of undertermined significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL)), 0.1% showed squamous-cell cancer (SCC), and 2.7% showed other or unsatisfactory. Subsequent to the initial Pap Test, follow-up results of carcinoma in situ (CIS) and carcinoma invasive (CI) accounted for 0.36% and 0.05% of the population, respectively. Among HSIL Pap Tests (n = 285), 40.7% had follow-up showing CIS. Among SCC Pap Tests, 17.9% had follow-up results of CIS and 28.6% CI. Of the 191 patients with CIS as a follow-up finding, the initial Pap smear showed: HSIL 60.7%, SCC 2.6%, LSIL 10.5%, ASCUS 13.6%, and negative or infection 9.9%. Of the 27 patients with CI, the initial Pap Test showed: HSIL 40.7%, SCC 29.6%, LSIL 7.4%, ASCUS 7.4%, and negative or infection 11.1%. Pap diagnoses of other or unsatisfactory accounted for 2.6% of the Pap results from patients with CIS and 3.7% of Pap results from patients with CI. Except for LSIL, there was an increasing age trend in the number of cases in each of Pap results, with the exception of age 65+ yr. However, the ratio of LSIL and ASCUS to negative cases decreased with age. (P < 0.0001 and 0.0293, respectively). HSIL Pap results indicate a reasonably high probability of CIS and CI. However, approximately 1/3 of patients with CIS and 1/4 of patients with CI presented with Pap diagnoses of less severity than HSIL. When a negative Pap Test result is chosen as reference group, there is a negative age trend for LSIL and ASCUS, and no age trend for other results. These findings all have important implications in the design of follow-up strategies, and support the 2001 ASCCP Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Women with Cervical Abnormalities. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;30:227,234. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of drug use among adolescents: results from the Mexican Adolescent Mental Health SurveyADDICTION, Issue 8 2007Corina Benjet ABSTRACT Aims To estimate the life-time and 12-month prevalence of illicit drug use among Mexican adolescents, the age of onset of first drug use and the socio-demographic correlates. Method A multi-stage probability survey of adolescents aged 12,17 years residing in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area was carried out in 2005. Adolescents were administered the computer-assisted adolescent version of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview by trained lay interviewers in their homes. The response rate was 71% (n = 3005). Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed considering the multi-stage and weighted sample design of the survey. Findings Of the adolescents, 5.2% have ever tried illicit drugs, 2.9% in the last 12 months. The most frequently used drugs are marijuana, followed by tranquilizers/stimulants. The median age of first use is 14 years. Correlates of life-time drug use are older age, having dropped out of school, parental drug problems, low religiosity and low parental monitoring. Conclusions While drug use among Mexican adolescents is lower than among adolescents from other developed countries, its increasing prevalence with age and the narrowing male/female ratio calls for firm public health actions, particularly prevention strategies. [source] The Impact of CHIP on Children's Insurance Coverage: An Analysis Using the National Survey of America's FamiliesHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009Lisa Dubay Objective. To assess the impact of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) on the distribution of health insurance coverage for low-income children. Data Source. The primary data for the study were from the 1997, 1999, and 2002 National Survey of America's Families (NSAF), which includes a total sample of 62,497 children across all 3 years, supplemented with data from other data sources. Study Design. The study uses quasi-experimental designs and tests the sensitivity of the results to using instrumental variable and difference-in-difference approaches. A detailed Medicaid and CHIP eligibility model was developed for this study. Balanced repeated replicate weights were used to account for the complex sample of the NSAF. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted. Principle Findings. The results varied depending on the approach utilized but indicated that the CHIP program led to significant increases in public coverage (14,20 percentage points); and declines in employer-sponsored coverage (6,7 percentage points) and in uninsurance (7,12 percentage points). The estimated share of CHIP enrollment attributable to crowd-out ranged from 33 to 44 percent. Smaller crowd-out effects were found for Medicaid-eligible children. Conclusions. Implementation of the CHIP program resulted in large increases in public coverage with estimates of crowd-out consistent with initial projections made by the Congressional Budget Office. This paper demonstrates that public health insurance expansions can lead to substantial reductions in uninsurance without causing a large-scale erosion of employer coverage. [source] Clinical Practice Guideline Implementation Strategy Patterns in Veterans Affairs Primary Care ClinicsHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 1p1 2007Sylvia J. Hysong Background. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mandated the system-wide implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in the mid-1990s, arming all facilities with basic resources to facilitate implementation; despite this resource allocation, significant variability still exists across VA facilities in implementation success. Objective. This study compares CPG implementation strategy patterns used by high and low performing primary care clinics in the VA. Research Design. Descriptive, cross-sectional study of a purposeful sample of six Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) with high and low performance on six CPGs. Subjects. One hundred and two employees (management, quality improvement, clinic personnel) involved with guideline implementation at each VAMC primary care clinic. Measures. Participants reported specific strategies used by their facility to implement guidelines in 1-hour semi-structured interviews. Facilities were classified as high or low performers based on their guideline adherence scores calculated through independently conducted chart reviews. Findings. High performing facilities (HPFs) (a) invested significantly in the implementation of the electronic medical record and locally adapting it to provider needs, (b) invested dedicated resources to guideline-related initiatives, and (c) exhibited a clear direction in their strategy choices. Low performing facilities exhibited (a) earlier stages of development for their electronic medical record, (b) reliance on preexisting resources for guideline implementation, with little local adaptation, and (c) no clear direction in their strategy choices. Conclusion. A multifaceted, yet targeted, strategic approach to guideline implementation emphasizing dedicated resources and local adaptation may result in more successful implementation and higher guideline adherence than relying on standardized resources and taxing preexisting channels. [source] Preschool-age adopted Chinese children's sleep problems and family sleep arrangementsINFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2009Tony Xing Tan Abstract Designed to examine the relationship between family sleep arrangements and children's sleep problems in families with preschool-age children adopted from China, this study documented types of sleep arrangements and explored the nature and sources of advice received by parents on co-sleeping. Mothers of 480 children provided survey data on their children's night-time sleep locations, sleep and wake schedules, and changes in sleep arrangements. Children's sleep problems were measured with the Sleep Problem Scale of the Child Behavior Checklist. Descriptive and qualitative analyses showed that most children (71.3%) had a single exclusive sleep location (e.g. solitary sleeping, sharing bedroom with a sibling, sleeping in parents' bedroom, or co-sleeping with parents) and the rest used a combination of two or three different locations. Children with more sleep problems were more likely to have more sleep locations and to co-sleep or share a bedroom with parents. Parents of children with more sleep problems were more likely to seek advice on co-sleeping. When they did, paediatricians were more likely than extended family members and fellow adoptive parents to recommend against co-sleeping. Careful integration of the descriptive and qualitative data permitted us to draw the conclusion that sleep arrangements reflected parental responsiveness to children's sleep behaviours. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Recognizing Opportunities for Spiritual Enhancement in Young AdultsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 3 2001Roberta Cavendish PhD Purpose. To describe opportunities in the lives of young adults that strengthen or enhance spirituality. Methods. Descriptive, qualitative. Tape-recorded, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 well adults the ages 18 to 24. Interview transcripts, field notes, vignettes, and research committee minutes were analyzed to reduce coded data into conceptual categories and themes. Findings. Seven themes emerged from the participant's responses to probes: Beliefs, Connectedness, Inner Motivating Factors, Life Events, Divine Providence, Understanding the Mystery, and Walking Through. Conclusions. The accurate assessment of spiritual needs of young adults may be contingent on the assessment of their developmental needs. Knowing the opportunities that present in the lives of young adults to foster spiritual growth is important for nurses, who often are present when these opportunities occur. Practice Implications. Standardized language is limited for accurate nursing diagnosis of human responses in the spiritual domain. The findings support a new wellness nursing diagnosis, "Readiness for Enhanced Spirituality," to conceptualize a spirituality continuum and support wellness diagnoses. Search Terms: Nursing diagnosis, psychosocial development, religiosity, spirituality, transitions stage [source] Smoking during pregnancy: analysis of influencing factors using the Theory of Planned BehaviourINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 3 2010M. Ben Natan phd BEN NATAN M., VIKTORIA G. & SHAMRAI V. (2010) Smoking during pregnancy: analysis of influencing factors using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. International Nursing Review57, 388,394 Aim:, To investigate factors affecting women's intention to smoke during pregnancy. Design:, A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study, employing the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Methods:, A questionnaire that was constructed based on a literature review of research on smoking during pregnancy and on the TPB was administered to 201 Israeli female smokers aged 19,46. Descriptive, correlational and linear regression statistics were calculated. Results:, Behavioural attitudes (women's total appraisal of smoking during pregnancy), subjective norms (women's perception of the opinion of significant others regarding the specific behaviour) and perceived behavioural control (women's total appraisal of their control of the behaviour and perceived ease or difficulty of quitting smoking during pregnancy) were found to predict women's intention to smoke during pregnancy. Conclusions:, Nursing interventions guided by the TPB constructs may help Israeli women quit smoking during pregnancy and reduce the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy. [source] Critical thinking and learning styles of students in conventional and accelerated programmesINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 1 2006W. A. Suliman rn Aim and purpose:, To assess the difference between the predominant critical thinking disposition(s) and learning styles of nursing students in the conventional (Stream I) and the accelerated (Stream II) baccalaureate nursing education programmes. This study will be beneficial to students, faculty and institutions as it will help them to acquire better understanding of critical thinking potentials and learning styles of nurses, as well as the relationship between learning styles and critical thinking dispositions. Method:, This was a descriptive correlational study. The convenience sample consisted of 80 Stream I and 50 Stream II students. The following instruments were used for data collection: The Learning Styles Inventory of Kolb and the California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory of Facione and Facione. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Results:, Overall, Stream II students were significantly more critical thinkers (P = 0.000), inquisitive (P = 0.000) and self-confident (P = 0.002). The predominant learning styles of Streams I and II were the diverger and the converger, respectively, with no difference except in relation to their learning abilities, namely, concrete experience (P = 0.017), in favour of Stream I. Further, the findings indicate a weak (range of r = 0.209,0.328) though significant (range of P = 0.017,0.000) correlation between learning abilities and various critical thinking dispositions. [source] The Effects of Staffing on In-Bed Times of Nursing Home ResidentsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 6 2004Barbara M. Bates-Jensen PhD, CWOCN Objectives: To examine the effect of staffing level on time observed in bed during the daytime in nursing home (NH) residents. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Setting: Thirty-four southern California NHs. Participants: A total of 882 NH residents: 837 had hourly observation data, 777 had mealtime observations, 837 completed interviews, and 817 completed a physical performance test. Measurements: Cross-sectional data collected from participants at each NH site included direct observations (hourly and mealtime), resident interviews, medical record review, and physical performance tests. Results: In multivariate analyses, staffing level remained the strongest predictor of time observed in bed after controlling for resident functional measures (odds ratio=4.89; P=.042). Residents observed in bed during the daytime in more than 50% of hourly observations were observed also to experience increased daytime sleeping (P<.001) and less social engagement (P=.026) and consumed less food and fluids during mealtimes than those observed in bed in less than 50% of observations, after adjusting for resident function (P<.001). Conclusion: In this sample of NHs, resident functional measures and NH staffing level predicted observed time in bed according to hourly observations, with staffing level the most powerful predictor. Neither of these predictors justifies the excessive in-bed times observed in this study. Staff care practices relevant to encouraging residents to be out of bed and resident preferences for being in bed should be examined and improved. Practice recommendations regarding in-bed time should be considered, and further research should seek to inform the development of such recommendations. [source] The Medical Interview: Differences Between Adult and Geriatric OutpatientsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 1 2001Sandeep Mann MD BACKGROUND: There is a perception that primary care physicians spend less time with older patients and little is known about physician and older patient satisfaction during clinical encounters. OBJECTIVE: To determine how primary care interviews of geriatric patients differ from those of other adults. DESIGN: Descriptive, analytic study. SETTING: Ten primary care sites in the United States and one in Canada, including public, voluntary, and private clinics and practices. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 544 patients, 45.6% were 65 and older and 17.8% were 75 or older. There were 127 participating physicians. MEASUREMENTS: Encounters were audiotaped and analyzed. Patients and physicians also completed exit questionnaires. RESULTS: Interview length increased significantly with age for men but not for women. Physician satisfaction did not change as patient age increased. Patient satisfaction, on the other hand decreased with age among women but not for men. Although physicians' and younger patients' perceptions of health were moderately associated, there was no association for men ages 75 and over. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence that physicians spend less time or are more uncomfortable with older patients. Both physician and male patient satisfaction remain stable with increasing patient age, despite greater disparity in patient and physician perceptions of health. Older female patients are less satisfied with physician visits than their younger counterparts, in the absence of changes in interview length or disparities between older female patients and their physicians in health perception. [source] Tracheostomy management in Acute Care Facilities , a matter of teamworkJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 9-10 2010Vicki Parker Aim., Implement and evaluate an inter-disciplinary team approach to tracheostomy management in non-critical care. Background., Trends towards early tracheostomy in intensive care units (ICU) have led to increased numbers of tracheostomy patients. Together with the push for earlier discharge from ICU, this poses challenges across disciplines and wards. Even though tracheostomy is performed across a range of patient groups, tracheostomy care is seen as the domain of specialist clinicians in critical care. It is crucial to ensure quality care regardless of the patient's destination after ICU. Design., A mixed method evaluation incorporating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Method., Data collection included pre-implementation and postimplementation clinical audits and staff surveys and a postimplementation tracheostomy team focus group. Descriptive and inferential analysis was used to identify changes in clinical indicators and staff experiences. Focus group data were analysed using iterative processes of thematic analysis. Results., Findings revealed significant reductions in mean hospital length of stay (LOS) for survivors from 50,27 days (p < 0·0001) and an increase in the number of tracheostomy patients transferred to non-critical care wards in the postgroup (p = 0·006). The number of wards accepting patients from ICU increased from 3,7 and there was increased staff knowledge, confidence and awareness of the team's role. Conclusion., The team approach has led to work practice and patient outcome improvements. Organisational acceptance of the team has led to more wards indicating willingness to accept tracheostomy patients. Improved communication has resulted in more timely referral and better patient outcomes. Relevance to clinical practice., This study highlights the importance of inter-disciplinary teamwork in achieving effective patient outcomes and efficiencies. It offers a model of inter-disciplinary practice, supported by communication and data management that can be replicated across other patient groups. [source] An evaluation of the hand and nasal flora of Turkish nursing students after clinical practiceJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2009Reva Balc Aim., The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the hand and nasal flora of nursing students before and after the clinical practice. Background., Hospitals are places where infective agents abound. Healthcare workers, relatives of patients and students practising in the hospital medium are often exposed to these infective agents. Although the role of the hand and nasal flora of healthcare workers in the development of nosocomial infections has been emphasised by earlier studies, there are a limited number of studies which investigate the hand and nasal flora of nursing students. Design., Descriptive. Methods., This descriptive study involved 66 volunteer nursing students. Two samples of flora from both hands and nose of each student were obtained. The inoculated samples were then evaluated through routine bacteriological study methods. Chi-square and percentage calculations were used in comparisons. Results., None of the students had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus colonisation in the hand samples before clinical practice, 6·1% of the students had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and 4·5% had methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus colonisation after the practice. Although the differences between the rates of contamination with pathogen micro-organisms in the hand and nasal flora of the student nurses before and after clinical practice were not significant, the rate of colonisation after clinical practice was higher. Conclusions., In this study, the rate of colonisation after clinical practice was higher. These findings indicate that students might have been contaminated with bacteria during clinical practice. Relevance to clinical practice., The results of this study have practical importance in clinical practice. The role of the hand and nasal flora of nursing students in the development of nosocomial infections is significant. For this reason, some precautions, such as using gloves and handwashing with special solutions when needed, should be taken to prevent nosocomial infections and protect students against associated risks. [source] Prevalence of pigmentary disorders and their impact on quality of life: a prospective cohort studyJOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Anne Taylor PA-S Summary Background, Pigmentary disorders are commonly seen in dermatology practice and can have a negative psychosocial impact on patients. Objective, This study aims to examine the prevalence of pigmentary disorders and their level of psychological and physical impact on patients. Methods, A prospective cohort study involved a sample of 140 patients undergoing skin exams at a private dermatology practice in North Carolina. Patient demographics and pigmentary diagnoses were obtained, and participants were asked to fill out a skin discoloration impact evaluation questionnaire. Descriptive and frequency analyses were performed. Results, Around 80% of the participants were diagnosed with one or more pigmentary disorders. About 47.3% of patients admitted of feeling self-conscious about their skin to some degree, 21.8% felt others focused on their skin, 32.7% felt unattractive because of their skin, 32.7% put effort into hiding pigment changes, and 23.6% felt their skin affected their activities. A limitation was the lack of diversity in the population studied (gender and skin type). Conclusions, Pigmentary disorders such as melasma, vitiligo, and lentigo pose significant negative impact on a person's health-related quality of life. Hence, there is a need for effective treatments of pigmentary disorders based on their prevalence and effect on quality of life. Healthcare providers should consider the impact of pigmentary disorders on health-related quality of life and educate patients on possible treatments. [source] SENSORY ANALYSIS AND STORAGE STABILITY OF FLAVORED SOYBEAN SPREADS PRODUCED FROM HOT-GROUND SOYMILK,JOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 2 2002K.A. KHATIB Flavored and unflavored soybean spreads were produced from a soybean variety low in beany off-flavors. The stability of the spreads was evaluated by chemical, physical, and microbiological tests over 35 days at 4C and 50% RH. Descriptive, focus group and consumer acceptance analyses were also conducted. Spreads were rated for degrees of beany flavor, aroma, and aftertaste. Total plate and psychrotrophic counts increased during storage, but no syneresis nor coliforms were detected over the storage period for either flavored or unflavored spreads. No significant treatment by day interactions were noted among pH, moisture content, water activity, lightness, and saturation index of spreads. Flavored spreads scored 6.2 on a 9-point hedonic scale and were more accepted by consumers than unflavored spreads. Shelf-life of flavored and unflavored soybean spreads was estimated to be 28 days at 4C. [source] Sexual Homicide: A Spatial Analysis of 25 Years of Deaths in Los AngelesJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 5 2007Isaac T. Van Patten Ph.D. Abstract: Although it has been frequently studied over the last 100 years, empirical studies of sexual homicide are lacking. The majority of the existing studies have been descriptive in nature. In this study, we consider the spatial geometry of sexual homicide and the impact of time and distance on case solvability. An analysis of sexual homicides (n = 197) from 1980 to 2004 for Los Angeles County was conducted. Offender and victim journey to encounter site, journey to body disposal site, and journey-after-crime trips were examined. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed to examine victim, offender and case characteristics. Using logistic regression models both time factors and offense geometries were found to be significant predictors in case solvability. Simpler geometries are significantly more likely to be solved than cases with complex geometries and the longer a case remains unsolved the less likely it is that it will be closed. The results provide support for some of the findings from earlier descriptive studies and extend our understanding of the spatial geometry of sexual homicide. [source] Caterers' experiences and perceptions of implementing the 2006 school meal standardsJOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 5 2008C.J. Weir Background:, School meal standards were introduced in 2006 (Department for Education and Skills) and caterers are expected to comply with these standards. No research has been conducted looking at the caterer's experiences and perceptions of implementing these standards. This area has 32 school meal provider organisations for 103 schools. Half the schools are with one provider and the others are, mostly, single-handed in-house operations, often managed by a local community member. The aim of the current study was to explore caterers' understanding of the school meal standards, the barriers to implementation, and proposed solutions, to inform local practice. Methods:, A combined quantitative and qualitative design was used. A questionnaire was used to assess understanding and implementation of the standards and distributed to all the catering provider organisations (n = 32), with a good response rate of 78% (n = 25). For each question about achievement of the ten food-based standards the responses were scored 0,4 where: 0 = ,Do not intend to achieve this standard'; to 4 = ,Fully achieved'. This gave a total standards achievement score for each catering provider organisation, where the minimum score that could be achieved was zero which indicated the minimum level of achievement and the maximum score which could be achieved was forty which indicated all ten standards fully achieved. Four focus group were undertaken involving 40 people who considered themselves to be in a management role within a catering provider organisation. Semi structured interviews were undertaken with 11 people (until saturation), using purposive sampling, to explore barriers and solutions to implementation of the standards in detail. Descriptive and appropriate inferential statistics (Fisher's Exact tests and independent samples t- tests) were performedon the datausingStatistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The process undertaken for the qualitative analysis was thematic analysis, and used analytic hierarchy (Richie & Lewis, 2003). Approval for this study was obtained from Leeds Metropolitan University ethics committee. Results:, The qualitative discussions led to caterers' identifying two main themes. These were: support from various groups, and the roles and responsibilities caterers believed these groups had and should be performing in order to achieve successful implementation of the standards ,Think it's good someone's shaken up school meals but who is doing the actually work , it's us isn't it'.(Semi structured interview respondent medium primary provider) ,I've found it really difficult as I'm on my own at the school, totally on my own without anyone to help'. (Focus group participant primary school group). The groups that caterers identified as those who had roles and responsibilities and who should be providing support were the ,whole school'; catering provider organisations; parents; the local authority; and, the broader environment/whole population. Caterers felt the standards had ,gone too far too soon' and did not allow choice. Caterers felt finances were a barrier, and that training was required across all sectors to achieve success. The standards implementation achievement score were statistically higher for caterers who had received formal training compared with those with only food and hygiene (P = 0.001); and, between caterers who provided to a secondary school as opposed to a primary school only (P = 0.034). There was a statistically significant relationship between providers and qualifications with those providing to secondary schools more likely to have had formal qualifications (P = 0.015). Discussion:, Caterers felt all those involved in schools and school meals needed to undertake their roles and responsibilities, to provide support, and, to implement the ethos of a whole school approach. The caterers in this study identified many barriers and practical obstacles either experienced or perceived to implementing the new school meals standards. Conclusions:, The results will be used to inform the Local Authority and Primary Care Trust to ensure the effective implementation of the school meal standards. There may be opportunity to transfer these results to other school caterers, and to develop support and training to assist implementation. [source] Residential Design Implications of Consumers' Recycling BehaviorsJOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Issue 1-2 2003Sharon Macy M.A. ABSTRACT Each year landfills receive a growing amount of waste that could be eliminated by recycling practices supported through the design of kitchens. This study had three objectives: (a) to examine residential design implications for incorporating recycling within the home, (b) to examine consumer's feelings of environmental altruism and their behaviors toward recycling within the context of situational conditions within the home, and (c) to examine consumer's views regarding the convenience of their home's recycling facilities. The primary research instrument was a survey of consumer behaviors and attitudes toward recycling. Certified Kitchen Designers provided client names for whom they had designed a kitchen as part of a remodel or new home construction within the last five years. Questionnaires were mailed to 271 households with a 58.2% response rate achieved. Five areas of information were addressed in the survey: sociode-mographics, behaviors and situational design factors, altruistic values, perceived inconvenience, and economic factors. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis with Chi-square tests used to examine relationships between variables. Results support including an area for recycling in the kitchen or a space that is directly adjacent such as an attached garage; convenience was found to be a primary factor in the recycling behaviors of highly altruistic individuals. It is important to design an environment that supports recycling. Whether recycling is convenient or not will have an influence on an individual's recycling behaviors. With environments that support recycling behaviors, consumers will increase their quantity and accuracy in recycling, which in turn could lead to an increase in attitudes toward other pro-environmental actions. [source] Rate, causes and reporting of medication errors in Jordan: nurses' perspectivesJOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 6 2007MAJD T. MRAYYAN PhD Aim, The aim of the study was to describe Jordanian nurses' perceptions about various issues related to medication errors. Background, This is the first nursing study about medication errors in Jordan. Methods, This was a descriptive study. A convenient sample of 799 nurses from 24 hospitals was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results, Over the course of their nursing career, the average number of recalled committed medication errors per nurse was 2.2. Using incident reports, the rate of medication errors reported to nurse managers was 42.1%. Medication errors occurred mainly when medication labels/packaging were of poor quality or damaged. Nurses failed to report medication errors because they were afraid that they might be subjected to disciplinary actions or even lose their jobs. In the stepwise regression model, gender was the only predictor of medication errors in Jordan. Conclusions, Strategies to reduce or eliminate medication errors are required. [source] A comparative study of transformational leadership in nursing development units and conventional clinical settingsJOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2000A. Bowles RMN Aims This is a comparative study of the leadership provided by nurse managers and leaders in Nursing Development Units and conventional clinical settings in England. Background Nursing development units (NDUs) were originally conceived as centres of nursing excellence, innovation and leadership development. This article describes the first published use of a leadership practices inventory (LPI) explicitly based upon a model of transformational leadership. This style of leadership has been commended as highly effective and suitable for nursing. Methods The use of the LPI was piloted as a postal questionnaire and as a schedule for telephone interviewing, these pilots supported the use of telephone interviewing in the main study. Two matched samples of 70 nurses in total were recruited from across England, comprising 14 nurse leaders and 56 of their day to day colleagues. Data was collected by telephone interviewing over a 6-week period between February and April 1998. Six null hypotheses were developed to identify significant inter-group differences in leadership behaviour. Descriptive and inferential data analysis techniques were employed using SPSS for Windows. Findings The leadership provided by NDU leaders was evaluated more highly than non-NDU leaders. A higher level of congruence between self and observer evaluations was shown by NDU leaders. Statistically significant inter-group differences were apparent in three of the five practices of exemplary leadership and in the overall leadership behaviour. NDU leaders show greater self awareness and are more transformational than their non-NDU counterparts. The limitations of the study design are discussed. Conclusions NDU leaders provide leadership of a more transformational nature than their counterparts working in conventional settings. This finding suggests that NDU leaders have enhanced leadership potential and that formalizing nursing development within NDUs may promote the emergence of transformational leadership and provide a microculture in which it might flourish. The LPI is regarded as a useful, adaptable tool suitable for use in UK nursing applications including research, leadership development and education. [source] Leadership Styles and Nursing Faculty Job Satisfaction in TaiwanJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 4 2005Hsiu-Chin Chen Purpose: To examine nursing faculty job satisfaction and their perceptions of nursing deans' and directors' leadership styles, and to explore how the perceptions of leadership styles relate to faculty job satisfaction in Taiwan. Methods: Descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study with self-administered questionnaires. The sample was recruited from 18 nursing programs, and 286 questionnaires were returned. Results: Faculty perceived that Taiwan's nursing deans and directors showed more transformational than transactional leadership. Taiwan's nursing faculty were moderately satisfied in their jobs, and they were more satisfied with deans or directors who practiced the transactional leadership style of contingent reward and the transformational style of individualized consideration. A style with negative effect was passive management by exception. Conclusions: Three types of leadership behaviors explained significant variance (21.2%) in faculty job satisfaction in Taiwan, indicating the need for further attention to training and development for effective leadership behaviors. [source] Mothers' Experience of Helping Young Adults With Traumatic Brain InjuryJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 1 2005Suporn Wongvatunyu Purpose:To describe mothers' experience of helping young adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design:Descriptive. Methods:A convenience sample of participants from support groups for parents of young adults with TBI met the criteria of engaging in regular interaction or helping their children (aged 20 to 36 years). These young adults had suffered moderate or severe TBI from a motor vehicle collisions, sports-related injuries, or recreation-related injuries more than 6 months earlier. A descriptive phenomenological method was used. Three in-depth interviews were done with each mother over a 2-month period. Data were the mothers' perceptions, actions, and intentions pertaining to their experiences of helping the young adults. Findings:Five phenomena that were structures of the experience were discerned, discussed with participants to obtain their feedback, and compared to the relevant literature. The five phenomena of the mothers' experiences were: reconnecting my child's brain, considering my child's safety, making our lives as normal as possible, dealing with our biggest problem, and advocating for my child. Conclusions:The mothers continued rehabilitation efforts with the young adults, even when only minimal services were available to support their efforts. Mothers needed interventions to enhance their knowledge, and they and the young adults with TBI needed expanded community services. [source] Observing Position and Movements in Hydrotherapy: A Pilot StudyJOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC, GYNECOLOGIC & NEONATAL NURSING, Issue 1 2008Mary Ann Stark ABSTRACT Objective:, To observe and describe the positions and movements women choose while immersed in water during the first stage of labor. Design:, Descriptive, observational pilot study. Setting:, A rural community hospital that provided hydrotherapy in labor. Participants:, Women (N = 7) who intended to use hydrotherapy in labor were recruited prenatally from a midwife-managed practice. Measures:, For 15 minutes of each hour during the first stage of labor, position and movements of the participants were observed and recorded on a laptop computer. The observational tool was developed for this study from a review of the literature and interviews with nursing experts; 435 observations were recorded. Women were free to choose when and how long to use hydrotherapy and had no restriction on their positions and movements. Results:, Only 3 of the 7 participants labored in the tub. Women demonstrated a greater range of positions and movements in the tub than in bed, both throughout labor and during late first-stage labor (7-10 cm of dilatation). Women had more contractions and made more rhythmic movements while in the tub than in bed. Conclusions:, Hydrotherapy may encourage upright positions and movements that facilitate labor progress and coping, helping women avoid unnecessary interventions. [source] Black, Hispanic, and White Women's Knowledge of the Symptoms of Acute Myocardial InfarctionJOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC, GYNECOLOGIC & NEONATAL NURSING, Issue 4 2005Cynthia Arslanian-Engoren Objective: To examine Black, Hispanic, and White women's knowledge of the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction. Design: Descriptive, nonexperimental design. Setting: Detroit, Michigan, and San Antonio, Texas, metropolitan areas. Participants: A convenience sample of 78 ethnically diverse women. Hispanics (n = 26) were recruited from San Antonio, Texas; Blacks (n = 26) were recruited from Detroit, Michigan; and Whites were recruited from San Antonio, Texas (n = 13), and Detroit, Michigan (n = 13). Main Outcome Measures: Participants ranked 10 acute symptoms they believed represented a myocardial infarction: anxiety, arms ache, change in thinking, chest pain, cough, fatigue, decreased appetite, headache, indigestion, and shortness of breath. Next, participants assigned a likelihood score for each acute symptom as representing a myocardial infarction. Results: Hispanic women were more likely than Black women to perceive the symptom of headache as indicative of a myocardial infarction. Women older than age 45 were more likely to assign a higher likelihood score to the symptom of shortness of breath than were women age 45 or younger. Conclusions: Age and ethnic differences were noted in women's perception of the signs and symptoms indicative of a myocardial infarction. [source] Factors associated with resilience of school age children with cancerJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 7-8 2010Dong H Kim Aim: To identify factors associated with resilience of school age children with cancer. Methods: The participants were 74 children, 10,15 years old who were diagnosed with cancer at least 6 months prior to data collection. The instruments used were; a self-reported questionnaire on resilience, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III, measurements of relationship with friends and teachers. Descriptive, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to analyse the data. Results: The average score for resilience was 98.49 (range: 32,128). There was no statistically significant relationship with resilience for age, gender, religion, existence of siblings, mother's age, academic performance, duration of illness or type of cancer. In bivariate analysis, family adaptability and cohesion (r= 0.535, P < 0.001), relationship with friends (r= 0.520, P < 0.001) and teachers (r= 0.318, P < 0.01) were significantly related to resilience. However, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that only family function (,= 0.257, P < 0.05) and relationship with friends (,= 0.581, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with resilience. Conclusions: School age children with cancer who reported higher family function and positive relationships with friends showed higher resiliency than their counterparts. Thus, it is important to help the families of children with cancer to enhance family function and help children to adjust to school re-entry by maintaining ties with school friends and teachers during treatment. Development of counselling programmes for parents to promote family adaptation and cohesion and educational programmes for classmates and teachers are recommended. [source] Type 2 diabetes and periodontal indicators: epidemiology in France 2002,2003JOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006C. Mattout Background and Objective:, ,Diabetes and periodontal disease have been associated in the literature. In the present study, the periodontal heath of noninsulin-dependent diabetic adults was compared with that of a general population of nondiabetic patients. Material and Methods:, In France, 2144 adults (age: 35,65 years) were examined for life habits (tobacco, alcohol), biological diagnosis (type II diabetes, arterial hypertension), biometry (weight, size) and biochemistry. Dental and periodontal data included plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and clinical attachment loss. Results:, Descriptive and multifactorial analysis evidenced a more severe periodontal disease in diabetic patients. Moreover, when the plaque index was held constant, the gingival index was more elevated in diabetics. In nondiabetics, age, gender, glycemia, alcohol, and tobacco smoking were identified as significant risk factors for periodontal disease. In contrast, in diabetic subjects, only tobacco smoking was a significant risk factor. Conclusion:, In type II diabetics, the diabetes factor is probably more significant than periodontal risk factors, age, and gender. [source] A Comparison of Perspectives on Breastfeeding Between Two Generations of Black American WomenJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 1 2001Marjaneh M. Fooladi MSN, PhDArticle first published online: 24 MAY 200 PURPOSE To determine differences in breastfeeding perspectives between two generations of black American women with and without access to governmental food assistance programs (i.e., WIC). DATA SOURCES Descriptive, comparative study of a convenience sample of 118 black American women in their childbearing years and beyond conducted in a primary rural health care clinic serving an indigent population. CONCLUSIONS A significant difference was found between breastfeeding perceptions and rate among younger black American women on WIC program and their mothers without access to these programs. The availability of free formula through WIC programs has partially influ-enced the rate of breastfeeding among the young black American women. The other sig-nificant influencing factor was public embarrassment at breastfeeding. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE An extensive educational campaign is needed in order to influence the public's perceptions of breastfeeding as an embarrassment. The success of programs such as WIC must be measured beyond the first six months of an infant's life. [source] Characteristics of tissue-centric biomedical researchers using a survey and cluster analysisJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2008Sujin Kim The objective of this study was to characterize the types of tissue-centric users based on tissue use, requirements, and their job or work-related variables at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA. A self-reporting questionnaire was distributed to biomedical researchers at the UPMC. Descriptive and cluster analyses were performed to identify and characterize the complex types of tissue-based researchers. A total of 62 respondents completed the survey, and two clusters were identified based on all variables. Two distinct groups of tissue-centric users made direct use of tissue samples for their research as well as associated information, while a third group of indirect users required only the associated information. The study shows that tissue-centric users were composed of various types. These types were distinguished in terms of tissue use and data requirements, as well as by their work or research-related activities. [source] Bone mineral density among cirrhotic patients awaiting liver transplantationLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2004Rana Paramvir Sokhi Osteoporosis is an important and common complication in patients with chronic liver disease. The goal of this study was to determine the bone mineral density (BMD) in different subgroups among pretransplant cirrhotic patients. BMD of the lumbar vertebrae (L) and femoral neck (F) were obtained in 104 consecutive cirrhotic patients. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to compare the BMD among various groups. The mean BMD in males (n = 54) and females (n = 50) at L were 1.28 ± 0.25 g/cm2 and 1.13 ± 0.20 g/cm2, respectively (P = .001); at F they were 1.03 ± 0.14 and 0.91 ± 0.17, respectively (P < .0001). Among males, BMD at L in Child-Turcotte-Pugh class B and C were 1.40 ± 0.21 and 1.13 ± 0.20, respectively (P = .001); at F they were 1.11 ± 0.10 and 0.93 ± 0.13, respectively (P < .0001). Among females, BMD at L in Child-Turcotte-Pugh class B and C were 1.27 ± 0.18 and 1.05 ± 0.16, respectively (P = .0003); at F they were 1.02 ± 0.16 and 0.83 ± 0.12, respectively (P = .001). The BMD in premenopausal females (n = 15) and postmenopausal females (n = 35) at L were 1.20 ± 0.19 and 1.11 ± 0.20, respectively (P = .15); at F they were 0.97 ± 0.17 and 0.88 ± 0.16, respectively (P = .12). The BMD in postmenopausal females on hormone replacement therapy (n = 19) and on no hormone replacement therapy (n = 16) at L were 1.07 ± 0.17 and 1.14 ± 0.23, respectively (P = .29); at F they were 0.85 ± 0.15 and 0.91 ± 0.18, respectively (P = .33). The BMD values between etiologic groups were not significantly different. The overall prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis were 34.6% and 11.5%, respectively, being significantly higher in females than in males. In conclusion, significant difference in BMD values exists between males and females, as well as between Child-Turcotte-Pugh class B and C patients with cirrhosis. In addition, there is no significant influence of menopausal status, hormone replacement therapy, and etiology of cirrhosis on BMD. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:648,653.) [source] Assessing and reporting the quality of commercial weather forecastsMETEOROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS, Issue 4 2008Pascal J. Mailier Abstract In 2005 the Royal Meteorological Society commissioned a study to examine current issues regarding the quality (fitness for purpose) of commercial weather forecasts in the United Kingdom. UK commercial weather forecast providers and users were consulted by means of on-line questionnaires, interviews, visits and an open workshop discussion. Results from this consultation uncovered significant deficiencies in the methodologies and in the communication of forecast quality assessments, a lack of open dialogue and transparency in the industry, and that some users may be indifferent to forecast quality. Descriptive or worded forecasts cannot be assessed objectively. However, suitable quality assessment methods are available for nearly all types of quantitative forecasts identified in the consultation. The crucial importance of choosing proper quality assessment metrics, the impact of their statistical properties on results and the need to estimate the statistical significance of quality assessment results were exemplified by means of four case studies, one of which is presented in this paper. The findings from this study have led to a set of practical recommendations aiming to establish the discipline and rigour that are necessary for achieving best practice in the quality assessment of weather forecasts. Specific recommendations were also made to the Royal Meteorological Society to set up a special commission that would promote a sense of community within the industry, and to run an accreditation scheme that would encourage best practice on a voluntary basis. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Health Perception and Health Care Access: Sex Differences in Behaviors and AttitudesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Marta Gil-Lacruz This article analyzes the link between men's and women's perceptions of health and the demand for health goods and services. The study examines access to the health care system in a community characterized by social and economic variance. The data have been taken from a health survey carried out in a suburb of the city of Zaragoza in Spain. The sample (1,032 people over the age of 15) was selected according to specifications of sex, age, and place of residence. The sample shows a confidence interval of 95.5 percent with a ±3 margin of error. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques are used. Sex differences are reflected in social conditions, lifestyles, health perception, and health care behaviors. The research describes how differences in health attitudes can be contextualized by the neighborhood. The results of this type of research are essential for the design of preventive strategies that are better adapted to need. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||