Nursing-Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11274/8864
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Browsing Nursing-Dissertations by Subject "Acquired immune deficiency syndrome--AIDS"
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Item The effects of ice massage therapy on peripheral neuropathic pain and sleep in persons with AIDS(2000-08) Ownby, Kristin Kane; Newman, Mary M.; Krepper, Rebecca; Ragsdale, DianePain is a universal human experience and the most frequent reason that people seek health care. Peripheral neuropathic pain is a unique form of chronic pain that afflicts 10% to 30% of persons with AIDS (PWAs). The pain manifests as tingling and burning sensations known as dysthesias. Dysthesias result in constant pain and impaired rest and sleep. Peripheral neuropathic pain is unique from other pain types because the dysthesias are not alleviated with the traditional pharmacological intervention of opiods or analgesics. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the efficacy of ice massage to reduce neuropathic pain and improve sleep quality in PWAs. A quasi-experimental, repeated measures with three treatment levels design was used for the study. The three treatment levels were ice massage, dry towel massage, and no treatment. A nonprobability, consecutive sampling technique was used to select 33 PWAs who suffered from peripheral neuropathies. Pain was measured with a Visual Analog Scale prior to each treatment, immediately after each treatment, and immediately upon waking up the next morning. The Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, a 5-item instrument with a visual analogue scale design, was used to measure sleep quality after each treatment in the morning upon waking. A data sheet was used to record descriptive information. The first hypothesis, there will be a significant difference in peripheral neuropathic foot pain in PWAs who receive ice foot massage prior to bedtime, than when receiving dry towel massage or no massage, was examined using a 2-way within-subjects approach. The second hypothesis, there will be a significant difference in sleep quality in PWAs who receive ice foot massage prior to bedtime, than when receiving dry towel massage or no massage, was examined using a multivariate approach to ANOVA for repeated measures. None of the hypotheses were supported. Ice massage did not significantly affect pain or sleep quality caused by peripheral neuropathies. The findings must be viewed with caution, because power analysis revealed low effect size and an inadequate sample size.Item HIV/AIDS knowldege, beliefs, and attitudes in deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescents(1998-05) Flowers, Deborah; Beard, Margaret; McGadney, Joanette; Grant, DorothyThis study sought to determine the validity and reliability of the adapted form of the AIDS Knowledge and Beliefs Survey when used to measure the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes of deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescents. A descriptive research design was used to gather data for this study. The study sample had an average of 71.44% of correct answers on the knowledge scale, which indicated they needed educational information about HIV and AIDS presented to them. An average of 48.33% of positive responses on the beliefs scale indicated that the sample did not have a positive attitude about AIDS or persons with AIDS. The content validity of the adapted AIDS Knowledge and Beliefs Scale was estimated using a content validity index (CVI), which revealed an acceptable level of validity at 98.7. The reliability of the instrument was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. The alpha for the knowledge scale was.743, alpha for the belief scale was.749, and alpha for the instrument in its entirety was.809. Reliability was further analyzed using bootstrapping methodology. The sample mean of each of the subsamples showed no variability, thus indicating a high reliability for the instrument.Item Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of college students regarding AIDS(1991-05) Taliaferro, Donna H.; Harrington, Linda; Laubach, Emily; Drapo, Peggy J.This was a descriptive, correlational study to explore the relationship of knowledge, attitudes, and changes in sexual behavior among college students regarding AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Two hundred twenty four students from a regional university in Kentucky were surveyed to determine levels of knowledge of AIDS, attitudes toward AIDS, and sexual activity that included lifetime behavior, past three months behavior, and last one month behavior. The theory of reasoned action (Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980) was used to guide the study. The theory states that overt behavior is a function of one's intention to perform the behavior. Attitude and knowledge are necessary to identify specific consequences following the behavior. Data from the three questionnaires were analyzed by SPSSx statistical package. Ages ranged from 18 to 30 years with a mean of 21.5 years. All married students were deleted from the sample. Ninety-two males and 132 females were surveyed. Findings indicated that only 18% of the students maintained a high level of knowledge. Three percent of the students reported a positive attitude towards AIDS. Of the six students with positive attitudes, none had high knowledge scores. Ninety percent of the students admitted to vaginal intercourse, while only seven percent stated they always used condoms. No relationship was found between knowledge and attitudes and changes in behavior. This sample of college students is consistent with other studies where high sexual activity is flourishing with multiple partners and no means of protection from AIDS. Results of the study should not be generalized to other colleges and universities due to the non-random, cluster sampling. A wide range of majors and classifications were surveyed to help reduce bias of non-randomization. Further research into the reasons why college students are not changing behavior was recommended. Evaluating the effects of educational programs on behavior change was also recommended, especially long-term effectiveness.Item Patient activated nurses' support: A grounded theory of how hospitalized PLWA elicit nurses' support(1994-12) Yarbrough, Suzanne; Ragsdale, Diane; Kotarba, Joseph; Hanneman, SandraSocial support helps persons living with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) address everyday problems associated with their illness. The healing orientation of nurses and the extensive time that they spend with persons living with AIDS (PLWA) in the hospital pinpoint nurses as likely sources of effective support. The way that nurses provide that support is not described in the literature. The purpose of the study was to explore nurses' support as perceived by PLWA. A qualitative research design was guided by the tenets of grounded theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a theoretical sample of male and female (N = 27) patients admitted to a specialized AIDS hospital unit (SAU). Participant observation was used as a means of validating and refining concepts that emerged from interviews. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Data analysis followed the constant comparative logic of grounded theory. Findings revealed that nurses' support results from an intricate relationship where patients acknowledge the need for assistance, yet maintain control of both the relationship and the terms of support. PLWA exert control by having plans which change/evolve (learning, planning, implementing, re-evaluating) during the course of the illness. Plans change as PLWA become more experienced with the illness. Terms of support were controlled by the use of clued communication to elicit nurses' assistance. Nurses are able to engage in supportive activities when they correctly interpreted clues. Delivery of nurses' support changes over the course of the illness and progresses, under PLWA control, through the four stages of planning. Implications for nursing from the findings are that patients want support, but their need for control precludes the use of direct requests. Therefore, PLWA relay their requests through clued communication which must be correctly interpreted by nurses. Nursing activities which result from correct interpretation of clued communication convey that nurses understand patients' strategies. Supportive nursing activities communicate that patients are valued by nurses.Item Perceptions of nutritional beliefs and behaviors of persons with HIV/AIDS(1995-08) Koester, Priscilla; Ragsdale, Diane; Kotarba, Joseph; Hanneman, SandraPrior research indicates that nutritional status is important in preventing opportunistic infections and probably in delaying the progress of HIV disease. Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) have identified that they want information about building their immune systems. However, information is sparse about their current beliefs and practices in nutritional support. The purpose of this study was to identify nutritional beliefs and behaviors of PLWH/A. A grounded theory approach with constant comparison methodology was used to guide this qualitative study. Purposeful sampling was used to identify 28 HIV+ respondents on a Special Disease Unit in a private community hospital in a large southwestern city of the United States. Two audiotaped interviews were conducted for 22 of the participants with one interview in the hospital room and one in the home. Six other participants were interviewed only in the hospital. Observations were conducted at mealtime in the hospital and in three homes. The core variable of Taking Charge was identified from the findings. Within this framework, PLWH/A used four strategies to manage their nutritional intake--Continuing, Exploring, Experimenting, and Committing. As PLWH/A moved from Continuing to Committing, they assumed increasing responsibility for their nutritional intake. Wasting and other changes in health status prompted PLWH/A to explore and experiment with new foods, different preparation methods and supplements. PLWH/A who perceived that their chosen foods and supplements were beneficial, committed to regular use. Their selection of specific foods was highly individualized and dependent upon available information. Nurses should identify the present strategy and aim their care to support that strategy. A collaborative model, utilizing the skills of PLWH/A, nurses, and dietitians, should be developed to provide nutritional support for the strategies that PLWH/A use. Loss of appetite can occur at any time. Foods need to be readily available for this population.Item Predictors of condom use among young women: AIDS-related knowledge, AIDS vulnerability, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, contraceptive choice, risk behaviors(1997-08) Reichmann, Lajuana; Kashka, Maisie; Hamilton, Patti; Beard, Margaret; Marshall, DaveThe purpose of the research study was to test a model of predictors of condom use among young women. Specifically, relationships between AIDS-related knowledge, AIDS vulnerability, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, contraceptive choice, risk behaviors and condom use were examined. A predictive, correlational research design was used to test the hypotheses. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (Radloff, 1977), the AIDS-related Knowledge and Attitudes Scale (Flaskerud and Nyamathi, 1989), and the General Information Questionnaire were used to collect data. The study sample consisted of 178 sexually active young women who presented at a family planning clinic for contraceptive purposes or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and from a rural hospital maternity unit. The mean age was 20.5 years. The young women completed the questionnaires after being informed verbally and in writing about the purpose and the voluntary nature of the study. Pearson's product moment correlation was used to analyze the proposed relationships. Crosstabulation tables and chi-square analysis were used to analyze the relationship between condom use and demographic variables, contraceptive choice and risk behaviors. Logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of variables being different between women who were married and those who were not. Logistic regression was also used to determine the power of AIDS-related knowledge, AIDS vulnerability, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, risk behaviors, contraceptive choice, and demographic data in predicting condom use. Relationships were found between age, AIDS vulnerability, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and risk behaviors. AIDS-related knowledge, AIDS vulnerability, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, oral contraceptive use, and risk variables differed between women who were married and those who were not. Income and the use of oral contraceptives were the only two variables found to predict condom use in either group. Additional findings showed significant relationships between risk behaviors and condom use, and between risk behaviors, demographic variables, AIDS vulnerability and depressive symptoms. The conclusions drawn from the study were that AIDS-related knowledge is not enough to change risk behavior, risk behavior and condom use have little affect on women's feelings of AIDS vulnerability and that depressive symptoms and self-esteem women's feelings of AIDS vulnerability. Depressive symptoms and self-esteem have strong relationships with risk behaviors and should be further investigated.