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Biomedical subjects

Donna Clemmens

Publications and source records attributed to Donna Clemmens.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Learning and living health: college students' experiences with an introductory health course.

Despite the Healthy People 2010 initiative and the national focus on promoting healthy lifestyle strategies, studies indicate that U.S. citizens are becoming more obese, and that rates of depression, diabetes, hypertension, homicide, and suicide are increasing. The college campus provides a microcosm of the health issues facing the nation, with college students' reports of increased risk behaviors evident in higher rates of smoking and binge drinking. Faculty in schools of nursing are in an ideal position to develop and provide health promotion and illness prevention programs, both for their own nursing students and for a broader campus-wide student population. This article describes a research study that course faculty conducted during the first year of implementation, designed to evaluate the extent to which participation in the "Introduction to Health" coursework and related activities influenced students' health-related behaviors.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

Epidural analgesia side effects, co-interventions, and care of women during childbirth: a systematic review.

The purpose of this article is to profile research findings targeting the intrapartum care implications of the most common side effects and co-interventions that go along with the use of epidural analgesia during labor. Randomized, controlled trials published in English from 1990 to 2000 that addressed each of the targeted side effects and 3 specified co-interventions were evaluated for inclusion in this report. Side effects such as pruritus, nausea, and hypotension during labor are common, but they are usually mild and necessitate treatment infrequently. However, even with the advent of newer low-dose epidurals, the extent of impaired motor ability remains variable across studies. The incidence of "walking" epidurals during labor is likely to be complicated by multiple factors, including individual patient desires, safety considerations, and hospital policies. In response to risks for a decrease in uterine contractions that could prolong labor, oxytocin augmentation is likely to be administered after epidural analgesia. The use of "delayed" pushing may be an effective way to minimize the risk for difficult deliveries. Upright positioning even when confined to bed may be advantageous and desirable to women; however, additional research to determine actual outcome benefits with epidurals is needed. Implications for further research linked to epidural analgesia also include informed consent, modification of caregiving procedures, and staffing/cost issues.

Analgesia, Epidural↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adolescent motherhood: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

PURPOSE: To synthesize qualitative studies on the phenomenon of adolescent motherhood. METHODS: Databases were searched for qualitative studies regarding the experience of adolescent motherhood (years 1990-2001). Noblit and Hare's (1988) meta-ethnographic comparative method was used for synthesizing the research. A total of 251 citations were found, with a subgroup of 50 studies on "adolescent motherhood" and "qualitative studies." Twenty-five studies conducted in the United States, Canada, China, England, and Australia met the sample inclusion criteria. The combined sample of participants across studies was 257 adolescent mothers. RESULTS: Certain characteristics are common to the studies of adolescent motherhood. Five overarching metaphors were found: (1) the reality of motherhood brings hardship; (2) living in the two worlds of adolescence and motherhood; (3) motherhood as positively transforming; (4) baby as stabilizing influence; and (5) supportive context as turning point for the future. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Nurses working in hospital, home care, community, and school settings can use the results of this metasynthesis to obtain a clearer picture of how adolescents feel during pregnancy, and the types of nursing interventions that can be developed to help them.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postpartum depression as profiled through the depression screening scale.

PURPOSE: To describe in greater depth the profiles of the dimensions of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS), with a focus on those women identified with postpartum depression (PPD), and to provide a discussion of the implications for early detection in the community. METHOD AND DESIGN: Subanalysis of data from 150 new mothers who completed the PDSS and had a DSM-IV diagnostic interview conducted by a nurse psychotherapist. Data analysis focused on exploring the profiles of women who were diagnosed with PPD as well as those who were not. RESULTS: The respondents within the major PPD group averaged scores twice as high as those in the nondepressed group, and described more profound emotional responses to their maternal role transitions. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: PPD should be conceptualized as occurring in a continuum, with symptoms worsening over time for some women. Nurses working across healthcare settings can use the PDSS for identifying women with PPD. All healthcare providers who are in contact with postpartum women should be open to discussing these women's emotional needs, and should assess women on an ongoing basis. Using all opportunities to listen to women's unique stories that unfold during the postpartum period can help identify women who require treatment for this curable illness.

Depression, Postpartum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increasing activity to reduce obesity in adolescent girls: a research review.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a systematic review of physical activity intervention research conducted with adolescent girls (12-19 years of age and/or in middle or high school) in the United States and Canada during the past two decades. DATA SOURCES: Published articles in English were identified in searches using MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycLIT, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, with the keywords adolescent health, obesity, physical activity, and exercise, between the dates of May 1980 and November 2003. STUDY SELECTION: Research studies with interventions that started within the adolescent time period. Only 7 studies met the inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: The publication year, sample description, study design, interventions used, and outcomes were extracted from each study. DATA SYNTHESIS: The 7 studies were published between 1989 and 2003, included girls and boys in the overall sample (no studies with girl-only samples), used randomized controlled trial or quasi-experimental designs, and included multicomponent interventions. Body mass index, fitness levels, exercise, and weight were measured as outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results were not consistent across studies, they suggest that school-based, multicomponent interventions that were also designed to decrease sedentary behavior were effective in increasing physical activity in adolescent girls. Future research should focus on determinants of long-term adherence and the duration and intensity of interventions necessary to prevent obesity in adolescent girls.

Adolescent↗