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Biomedical subjects

J W Walkley

Publications and source records attributed to J W Walkley.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Development of a scale to measure discomfort during pregnancy.

During pregnancy fundamental changes occur in a woman's body that make physical discomforts almost unavoidable. Extensive literature searches revealed that there was no psychometrically acceptable tool available to assess accurately maternal physical discomfort. This paper presents the procedures undertaken to develop the Maternal Physical Discomfort Scale (MPDS), an assessment instrument designed to quantify the type and number of maternal physical discomforts. The MPDS, a scale consisting of 36 items, was developed and psychometrically evaluated using factor analysis, item response theory and reliability measures. The initial version of the scale was validated by a sample of 307 pregnant women. Based on the result from this sample, the MPDS was modified to 33 items and validated by a further sample of 125 pregnant women. The MPDS developed in this study was demonstrated to have content and construct validity and to be reliable.

Factor Analysis, Statistical↗

The effectiveness of an interactive videodisc qualitative assessment training program.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of an interactive videodisc motor skill assessment training program on the development of preservice and inservice teachers' qualitative assessment proficiency on two motor skills: the overhand throw and catch. Twenty-seven preservice and 27 inservice physical education teachers were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: interactive videodisc (IVD), teacher-directed (TD), or self-directed (SD). Motor skill qualitative assessment accuracy was evaluated on a pre- and post-test basis using a 50-item motor skill assessment accuracy test (10 performances rated on 5 components) for each skill. Analysis of covariance results indicated significant main effects for treatment for both skills. Post hoc tests revealed that for the overhand throw, the IVD and TD groups were superior to the SD group but not different from each other. For the catch, the IVD group was found to be superior to both the TD and SD groups. These findings are discussed in relation to the advantages of interactive videodisc in terms of efficiency and user independence and with comparable findings in other educational applications.

Adult↗

The persistence of dextran 70 in blood plasma following its infusion, during surgery, for prophylaxis against thromboembolism.

An infusion of dextran (mean molecular weight 70000) in normal saline (either 1 litre or 500 ml) was given to patients undergoing hysterectomy. The infusion was started at induction of anaesthesia and continued throughout the operation and for up to 5 h thereafter. The rate of elimination of dextran was independent of the dose given. The time to eliminate half the dose was nearly two days and up to 10% was still present in the circulation after one week. The persistence of dextran in the plasma in these amounts and for this length of time may have considerable implications in the prophylaxis of postoperative deep venous thrombosis.

Blood Glucose↗