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Biomedical subjects

E J Porter

Publications and source records attributed to E J Porter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Teaching undergraduate nursing research: a narrative review of evaluation studies and a typology for further research.

Before knowledge about strategies for teaching undergraduate nursing research can be synthesized, it must be demonstrated that studies evaluating teaching outcomes are valid. A narrative review using Cook and Campbell's validity framework for experimental and quasi-experimental studies was done to appraise the validity of the eight studies in which teaching strategies for undergraduate research have been evaluated. Although the studies sampled had evidence of uncontrolled threats to validity, the research reports emphasized the teaching strategy's "contextual validity" rather than the study's internal or external validity. This insight stimulated questions about the appropriateness of a traditional perspective on validity for research designed to evaluate teaching strategies. Accordingly, a "typology for research on strategies for teaching research," loosely based on Beer and Bloomer's schema for evaluation research, was proposed. The typology consists of four categories of evaluation studies that vary according to purpose, methodological assumptions, types of validity emphasized, and student sample size. The four categories, which are minimally represented in the current literature, are complementary approaches for further evaluation studies of teaching strategies in undergraduate nursing research.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed2001

An older rural widow's transition from home care to assisted living.

Designed to foster appreciation of comprehensive evaluation of home care outcomes, this case study of an older rural widow is part of a longitudinal phenomenological study of home care. Over 14 months, while her home care agency reacted to the Balanced Budget Act, nine interviews were done with a 95-year-old woman who lived alone until she moved to an assisted living facility. Data analysis yielded structures of her changing experience of home care. Although primarily supportive services may have been inconsistent with Medicare regulations, such services may have influenced the favorable outcomes of sustaining elders at home and undergirding the rural economy.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Potential effectiveness of parents' actions to reduce children's lead exposure.

There have been few descriptive studies of parents' efforts to decrease children's exposure to lead. From parents who brought their children to 6 public lead-screening clinics and agreed to participate in a larger study of lead-exposure patterns, a purposeful sample (N = 125) was selected. The children of these parents had at least 1 lead-exposure risk factor, based on parental report. On a questionnaire, only 30% of the parents documented either the child's sources of possible lead exposure, their actions to reduce exposure, or both. Documenting an exposure source was significantly associated with documenting an action. Documenting exposure sources and documenting actions were both associated with prior knowledge of lead's risks; these relationships were influenced by the child's history of prior lead screening. Parent's reported actions to reduce exposure were categorized for potential effectiveness in relation to the child's risk factors; very few actions were considered effective. Results suggest that parents need information to help them identify sources of lead exposure and to minimize their children's risks.

Child↗
PubMed2000

The church family and kin: an older rural black woman's support network and preferences for care providers.

Although kin and church are considered premier support sources for rural elders, few scholars have undertaken descriptive studies to explore the nature of rural Black elders' support networks and their preferences for in-home service providers. In the case study described in this article, methods of support network analysis and descriptive phenomenology were used to analyze data from five lengthy, open-ended interviews with a 94-year-old rural Black woman. The various groups and individuals of her network are labeled in her words, the network's supportive functions are described, and preferences for providers are noted. In addition, the varying structures of her home care experience with the support network members are described. Her attempts to voice and exercise her preferences for in-home service providers are explained in terms of two contrasting processes: preference uptake and preference suppression. Based on these findings, implications for appraising the appropriateness of rural elders' in-home services are discussed.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2000

Targeting intermediaries to recruit older women for qualitative, longitudinal research.

Crafting a comprehensive recruitment plan for qualitative, longitudinal research requires consideration of many issues, particularly when a culturally diverse sample of older women is to be recruited for interviews conducted in their homes. The development of a detailed recruitment plan for a phenomenological investigation of older widows' experience of home care is described. The plan's two inter-related foci (targeted intermediaries and sequential phases) are presented. Strategies used to recruit participants through each targeted intermediary are explained, and the implementation of the sequential phases of the recruitment process is described. Successes and difficulties are considered in relation to the literature on recruiting older adults for research.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Defining the eligible, accessible population for a phenomenological study.

When a rare target population is the focus of a proposed descriptive, phenomenological study, it is important to project the size of the population that is both eligible to participate and accessible to the investigator. This estimate of the eligible, accessible population is one basis for judging the feasibility of a proposed phenomenological study, and it serves to establish a demographic framework for the analysis. While preparing a grant proposal for a phenomenological study of older widows' experience of home care, the author developed a method of estimating the eligible, accessible population. The philosophical rationale for the method is explained, and its procedures are detailed. Suggestions are given for adapting the method in keeping with the aims of a particular phenomenological study.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

On "being inspired" by Husserl's Phenomenology: reflections on Omery's exposition of phenomenology as a method of nursing research.

The impact of Omery's article, "Phenomenology: A Method for Nursing Research," on nursing science is appraised. In particular, the influence of her emphasis on "being inspired" was compared with that of her detailed reviews of psychological phenomenologic methods. The author's experience of "being inspired" by Husserl's book, Ideas, is described. The author also discusses the tapping of this resource during three phases of her development as a researcher: (1) appraising methods derived from Husserl's phenomenology; (2) spelling out an approach, with help; and (3) "making clearer while glancing-toward." Omery's proposed linkage between philosophic inspiration and methodologic development is highlighted as a challenge to nurse researchers.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1998

"Staying close to shore": a context for older rural widows' use of health care.

Access to health care has been considered central to understanding older rural adults' utilization of health services. Access has been measured in terms of distance to care, use of care, and barriers to care; because older persons' relevant perceptions have received little attention, the validity of the typical access constructs is questionable. During a phenomenological study of their experiences of living alone at home, eight older rural widows shared perceptions about the locales where they received primary care and specialty care. A facet of their life-worlds, "staying close to shore," was seen as a frame of reference for their perceptions and as a general context for health care utilization. The implications of "staying close to shore" are discussed in relation to conventional conceptualizations of access.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Indicators of possible lead exposure among children attending public lead screening clinics: implications for primary prevention.

Because lead exposure is a health-related condition that precedes elevated blood lead levels, the aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of lead exposure among children attending lead screening clinics in two Wisconsin counties and to explore its relationship to demographic variables. Based on data obtained from parents, significant relationships were found between the history of possible exposure and the demographic variables of rural or urban home location, rented or owned dwelling, and family income. About 90% of the children were being exposed to at least one possible lead source. The rationale for intensive study of lead exposure's demographic context was validated, and the need for primary prevention of lead exposure was affirmed.

Child↗
PubMed1996

An assessment of intraocular pressure during fractionated peribulbar anaesthesia.

This study of 20 patients undergoing elective cataract surgery was performed to investigate the change in intraocular pressure that accompanies extraconal peribulbar anaesthesia. We have demonstrated that each injection during peribulbar anaesthesia causes a small rise in intraocular pressure. The routine use of conventional external ocular compression overcomes this pressure rise and safely provides a satisfactory and progressive reduction in intraocular pressure prior to surgery. Our findings suggest that the volumes of anaesthetic solutions used in fractional peribulbar anaesthesia, if used in conjunction with external compression devices, result in intraocular pressures acceptable for intraocular surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

A phenomenological alternative to the "ADL research tradition".

Since the development of the Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, ADL tools have been used to describe older persons' status and to predict outcomes. It is suggested that this approach is grounded in an ADL research tradition. An alternative that is based upon Husserl's phenomenology is proposed. A phenomenological study of older widows' lived experience is described. Distinctions between phenomenological inquiry and the ADL research tradition are addressed in terms of focus (tasks vs. lived experience) and interpretation of key terms such as independence.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1995

Non-equilibrium systems theory: some applications for gerontological nursing practice.

1. In terms of NEST, aging can be understood as a process of formative change toward increasing disorder and order in form, pattern, or structure. The person moves toward greater complexity through self-organization processes. 2. Over time, self-organization processes result in increasingly unique perceptions and behavior. As an older person becomes more unique, he or she becomes more different from other older persons. 3. Self-organization processes are an appropriate focus of concern for nursing when NEST is used as a practice framework. The nurse tries to understand older persons' behaviors as outcomes of self-organization processes (attempts to bring order out of disorder).

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Fostering dialogical community through a learning experience.

Dialogue and community are two common foci of the recent nursing education literature. The author came to a new understanding of these concepts while teaching a capstone seminar course for registered nurses who were obtaining a baccalaureate degree. In this paper, this transformation is discussed in the context of one particular learning experience for the capstone course. The philosophical basis for fostering dialogical community through this learning experience is explained. The experience is described, and students' comments about the experience are cited. Finally, conclusions drawn as a result of the experience are compared to the themes of dialogue and community in the recent nursing education literature.

Communication↗
PubMed1994

"Reducing my risks": a phenomenon of older widows' lived experience.

While scholars and practitioners often use the concept of "risk" in relation to older persons who live at home, there has been limited exploration of risk from the perspective of older persons themselves. During a phenomenologic study of the lived experience of seven older widows who were living alone at home, the participants articulated the risks they experienced and described the ways in which they attempted to reduce these risks. The results have meaningful implications for home care providers and policy makers.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Older widows' experience of living alone at home.

Older widows' experience of living alone is described in this research. Based on Husserl's (1913/1962) philosophy, a phenomenological method was used. Prior to data-gathering, knowledge pertaining to older widows' experience was bracketed. During semi-structured, tape-recorded conversations, seven older widows described how they lived at home alone. From data pertaining to their actions, intentions and perceptions, four phenomena of the lived experience were developed: (a) making aloneness acceptable; (b) going my own way; (c) reducing my risks; and (d) sustaining myself.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Extraocular compression prior to cataract surgery: time course of reduction and subsequent recovery of intraocular pressure.

This study investigated the rate and degree of reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) obtained with an external ocular compression device. Following removal of the device, the subsequent recovery in IOP was monitored. We aimed to establish the time course of IOP changes, and thereby to optimise our use of such devices prior to cataract surgery. A rapid initial reduction over the first 10 minutes of compression was followed by a more gradual reduction to a mean reduction of 6.97 mmHg at 40 minutes. Recovery of IOP was rapid and complete by 20 minutes. We conclude that compression of up to 40 minutes duration is beneficial, and suggest such devices should be left on until immediately prior to surgery to preserve the reduction achieved.

Adult↗