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Biomedical subjects

G M Felton

Publications and source records attributed to G M Felton.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Implementation of a school environment intervention to increase physical activity in high school girls.

Physical activity levels begin to decline in childhood and continue falling throughout adolescence, with girls being at greatest risk for inactivity. Schools are ideal settings for helping girls develop and maintain a physically active lifestyle. This paper describes the design and implementation of 'Lifestyle Education for Activity Program', or LEAP. LEAP used a health team approach with participatory strategies to provide training and support, instructional capacity building and opportunities to adapt school instructional program and environmental supports to local needs. The social-ecological model, based on social cognitive theory, served as the organizing framework for the LEAP intervention and elements of the coordinated school health program model as intervention channels. For the 12 intervention schools, LEAP staff documented 191 visits and interactions with 850 individuals over the 2-year period. Teachers reported successful implementation of most components of the intervention and demonstrated optimism for sustainability. These results indicate that a facilitative approach to intervention implementation can be used successfully to engage school personnel, and to change instructional programs and school environments to increase the physical activity level of high school girls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Physical activity stages of change in African American women: implications for nurse practitioners.

We examined stages of change in the physical activity in African American women aged 17 to 64 years (N = 104) who obtain primary health care. Forty-seven percent of the women had at least 1 chronic health problem that required treatment. Overweight or obesity was found in 66% of the women. The majority of women were in the precontemplation (21%) and contemplation (19%) stages of change; 27% were preparing to become active. Forty percent were classified as very low active; 34%, low active; and only 26% were moderate or high active. Simple logistic regressions showed that women who were inactive during adolescence were 6 times more likely than other women to be in an early stage of change in physical activity (precontemplation or contemplation stage). Women who were self-motivated to be physically active, had support of friends and family, and enjoyed physical activity were more likely than other women to be in maintenance stage of activity. This article provides information on ways to use the stages of change and associated factors to move patients from inactivity to activity and help them remain active in the long term.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Health risk behaviors of rural sixth graders.

The purposes of this study were to examine the frequency and risk factors (correlates) of single and concurrent health risk behaviors (HRBs) including obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol use in a sample of 352 rural, predominately African-American sixth graders. This study was guided by Jessor's (1992) adolescent risk behavior conceptual framework. Data were collected using physical measures and a self-report questionnaire. Thirty-two percent of the sample had no HRB, 44% had one HRB, and 24% had two or more HRBs. Obesity and physical inactivity were more prevalent in this sample than in the general population. Gender differences in risk factors were evident. Our findings suggest the testing of interventions that focus on the social needs of girls and that influence behavioral modeling for boys to reduce single and concurrent health risk behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Health-promoting behaviors of rural adolescent women.

A part of a larger study of the health behaviors of adolescent women, this investigation examined health-promoting behaviors and the influence of cognitive, social, and environmental factors on these health-promoting behaviors of rural adolescent women. The sample consisted of 128 rural African-American and white adolescent women. Forty-four percent of the variance in health-promoting behavior of this sample was explained by five variables: self-image, problem solving, mother's education, employment status, and family structure. Self-image was the most salient predictor of health-promoting behavior, explaining 33% of the variance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Correlates of physical activity behavior in rural youth.

The purpose of this study was to identify correlates of physical activity behavior in a sample of rural, predominantly African American youth. Three hundred sixty-one fifth-grade students from two rural counties in South Carolina (69% African American, median age = 11 years) completed a questionnaire designed to measure beliefs and social influences regarding physical activity, physical activity self-efficacy, perceived physical activity habits of family members and friends, and access to exercise and fitness equipment at home. After school physical activity and television watching were assessed using the Previous Day Physical Activity Recall (PDPAR). Students were classified as physically active according to a moderate physical activity standard: two or more 30-min blocks at an intensity of 3 METs (metabolic equivalents) or greater, and a vigorous physical activity standard: one or more 30-min blocks at an intensity of 6 METs or greater. According to the moderate physical activity standard, 34.9% of students were classified as low-active. Multivariate analysis revealed age, gender, television watching, and exercise equipment at home to be significant correlates of low activity status. According to the vigorous physical activity standard, 32.1% of the students were classified as low-active. Multivariate analysis revealed age, gender, television watching, and self-efficacy with respect to seeking support for physical activity to be significant correlates of low activity status. In summary, gender and the amount of television watching were found to be the most important correlates of physical activity in rural, predominantly African American youth.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1997

Demographic factors: interaction effects on health-promoting behavior and health related factors.

The purpose of this study was to examine the main and interaction effects of race, gender, and education on health-promoting behaviors, problem solving appraisal, health value, and health definition. Using a convenience sample of 331 employees, a series of three-way ANOVAs were performed. Only gender exerted main effects on health-promoting behaviors, including exercise, relaxation, and health promotion. No interaction effects were presented. Neither main nor interaction effects were found for approaching problems and having confidence in solving problems. However, interaction effects indicated that better educated women and better educated black employees perceived less personal control when solving problems. Women valued health more than men, even though there were no gender, race or education differences in the sample's definition of health. Community health nurses and workplace wellness planners are challenged to design programs sensitive to gender differences regarding health behaviors and the valuing of health. Developing training programs to enhance personal control over problem situations is also indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

National Delphi study to determine competencies for nursing leadership in public health.

PURPOSE: To identify competencies needed by nurse leaders in public health programs. DESIGN: Five-round national Delphi. SAMPLE: Convenience sample of members of major public health nursing associations and nurse and non-nurse public health leaders in the USA. METHODS: Mailed survey in 1994-1995 using a modified snowball technique based on a modification of the Pew Foundation health professions' competencies for Round 1. Four additional rounds produced consensus. FINDINGS: Initially, 62 competencies were identified. Factor analysis resulted in four factors: political competencies, business acumen, program leadership, and management capabilities; 57 competencies were clustered in the four groupings and accounted for 91.4% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: Graduate schools in nursing and public health must prepare students with broad-based competencies from a variety of disciplines. Findings of this national survey provide a database for curriculum development and evaluation of programs to prepare nurse leaders for roles in public health-based delivery systems.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1997

Health-promoting behaviors of black and white college women.

There is growing recognition that race and socioeconomic variables in health research demand greater attention. The investigators compared racial differences in health definition, health value, and health-promoting behavior of 62 pairs (N = 124) of Black and White college women matched on age, body mass index, and socioeconomic status. Both groups of women had similar definitions of health, valued health to the same extent, and reported similar levels of self-actualization, health responsibility, exercise, and stress management. Black women, relative to White women, practiced fewer nutrition behaviors and had less interpersonal support. Interventions to reduce health risk associated with nutrition practices of Black women are warranted and further research is needed to explore the influence of the social structure of educational institutions on interpersonal relationships and other health behaviors. When socioeconomic status is taken into consideration, Black and White college women demonstrated more commonalities in health behavior than differences.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1996

Female adolescent contraceptive use or nonuse at first and most recent coitus.

The purpose of this study was to determine factors that differentiate contraceptive use behaviors of sexually active adolescent women. A sample of 159 subjects, recruited from three publicly supported family planning clinics, were classified according to nonuse, inconsistent, or consistent use of contraceptives at first and most recent coitus. The Health Promotion Model provided the organizing framework for this study. Factors entered into the discriminate functions included self-image, problem solving, health-promoting behavior, race, age at first coitus, previous pregnancy, contraceptive history, chronological age, family structure and size, mother's education, and Medicaid status. Three-group multivariate discriminate analysis resulted in two significant functions that explained 38.7% of the variance in contraceptive behavior. The three groups of adolescents were discriminated by age at first coitus, history of previous pregnancy, health-promoting behavior, self-image, problem-solving skill, chronological age, family size, and race. In particular, the findings suggest public health nurses and other health care providers can reduce unintended pregnancy through interventions that address the alterable factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Predictors of alcohol use among rural adolescents.

There is increasing evidence that alcohol use is becoming more common during childhood and early adolescence. However, little is known about alcohol use among rural youths. This article reports a study of alcohol use among 367 fifth-grade students in two rural South Carolina school districts. More than one third (n = 131) of the fifth graders reported having used alcohol. Of these, 34 percent (n = 44) reported drinking during the previous month; 8 percent had been intoxicated during the previous two months; and 54 percent reported drinking in the home with or without parental approval. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of alcohol use by fifth graders. The results indicated that gender (OR = 2.82), mother's alcohol use (OR = 1.86), father's alcohol use (OR = 2.13), and smoking (OR = 8.30) were significantly associated with alcohol use. The findings suggest that prevention programs address cigarette smoking and drinking behaviors of parents to reduce alcohol use and the acquisition of other health compromising behavior by youths. Early intervention approaches must go beyond the schools and target families as well as community populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Factors influencing physical activity in average-weight and overweight young women.

Young women are a specific population that is falling short of performing what is considered to be an optimal level of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of nine explanatory variables to predict physical activity in a sample of average-weight (n = 225) and overweight (n = 115) young women. Personal control, race, regular participation in organizations and groups, and interpersonal support were the significant predictors of physical activity in overweight women. For average-weight women, only three variables--personal control, regular participation, and race--were significantly related to physical activity. Recreational activity was routinely performed by 25% of the women. Of the 14% who reported regular vigorous physical activity, 26% were White and 10% were Black. The findings suggest that nurses in community settings design interventions that are sex and race specific and that include personal-control skill building, interpersonal support systems, and multiple forms of physical activity, particularly recreational forms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Improving school nursing practice in South Carolina through continuing education.

School nurses often provide direct health care to school-age children, and thus need a range of knowledge and skills to meet the needs of less healthy children, as well as healthy children. To meet this challenge in South Carolina, a statewide continuing education program with didactic and school-based clinical instruction was implemented to enhance the scope of school nurse practice. The physical, psychosocial, and environmental health dimensions of the school nurse's role improved significantly when the program ended at nine months and were maintained at 18 months follow-up. However, program management skills did not improve. Practice guidelines indicate continuing education can improve practice in areas under direct control of the school nurse. Focus on development of program management skills is called for in continuing education. Redefinition of this aspect is crucial to full development of the school nurse role and improved health for school-age children.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The impact of nursing education on ethical/moral decision making.

A study of 227 baccalaureate and 111 master's nursing students was conducted to determine the influence of the level of formal education on three selected factors: ethical/moral reasoning, attribution of responsibility, and ethical/moral dilemma resolution. Moral development theory and Heider's attribution of responsibility construct provided the theoretical framework. A comparison of the overall index of ethical/moral reasoning showed that graduate students reasoned at a higher level than undergraduate students. The amount of attribution of responsibility assigned and the dilemma resolution score did not differ for the two groups. The results of this study suggest that undergraduate and graduate nursing programs must place more emphasis on identifying dilemmas, increasing ethical/moral reasoning levels and attributing responsibility in a justifiable manner. Nurse researchers must continue to study how nurses respond in dilemma situations and how personal characteristics, factors in the environment, education, and the assignment of responsibility affect nurses' ability to resolve ethical/moral dilemmas.

Conflict, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health behavior and related factors in adolescents with a history of abortion and never-pregnant adolescents.

Although prevention of unintended births among adolescents is health promoting, abortion, as one of those methods, has not been examined from a health promotion perspective. The authors describe and compare health behaviors, problem-solving appraisal, self-image, age, and use of contraceptives at first and most recent coitus in adolescents with a history of abortion and never-pregnant adolescents. A cross-sectional design with 26 pairs of adolescents matched on age, race, grade level, and Medicaid status was used. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups. The matched pairs' health behaviors and problem-solving scores were less favorable than those reported in the literature for nonmetropolitan women. Although the 2 groups of adolescents had similar self-image scores, they were significantly below those of the norm reference group. The matched pairs initiated coitus at an earlier age, and a smaller proportion used contraceptives at first and last coitus than national norms. These findings support the need for early intervention to enhance self-image, problem-solving confidence, and coitus delay. The findings point to the importance of aggressive family planning interventions and maintenance of access to abortion services.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Faculty practice plan entrance strategy for nursing.

Nursing is a practice discipline that places great value on members of the profession who excel as providers of direct care. With health care reform, nursing faculty have unprecedented opportunities for advanced practice and are implementing entrepreneurial ventures to meet their commitments to practice. The purpose of this article is to describe a nursing faculty practice plan in conjunction with a decentralized medical school plan. The major benefits and barriers to its adoption are addressed.

Contract Services↗