PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Juanita Conkin Dale

Publications and source records attributed to Juanita Conkin Dale.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Ethnicity, traditional health beliefs, and health-seeking behavior: guardians' attitudes regarding their children's medical treatment.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this research was to examine ethnic variation in attitudes about traditional health beliefs concerning the use of home remedies and self-medicating behavior among guardians for their children. METHOD: As part of a community health care utilization study of children, questions were included regarding guardians' traditional health beliefs. Survey questions were adapted from the National Health Interview Survey or developed by the researchers. A cross-sectional stratified sample of households with children (n = 1606) were surveyed by random digit dialing. RESULTS: Two of four traditional health belief questions were significantly associated with ethnicity. Differences were observed for (a) guardians' willingness to treat their children with home remedies rather than use a health care provider if the condition was nonemergent and (b) their belief that some home remedies are better than prescribed drugs for curing illness (P <.01). DISCUSSION: Some traditional health beliefs among guardians differed by ethnicity. However, differences between the two minority groups were as pronounced as differences between minority and nonminority guardians. An understanding of the diversity of ethnic attitudes about traditional health beliefs is necessary for those involved in the delivery of health care. A stereotypical view that larger proportions of minorities subscribe to traditional health beliefs than do Whites is not supported in this research.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of distraction on pain, fear, and distress during venous port access and venipuncture in children and adolescents with cancer.

This study evaluates the effect of self-selected distracters (ie, bubbles, I Spy: Super Challenger book, music table, virtual reality glasses, or handheld video games) on pain, fear, and distress in 50 children and adolescents with cancer, ages 5 to 18, with port access or venipuncture. Using an intervention-comparison group design, participants were randomized to the comparison group (n = 28) to receive standard care or intervention group (n = 22) to receive distraction plus standard care. All participants rated their pain and fear, parents rated participant fear, and the nurse rated participant fear and distress at 3 points in time: before, during, and after port access or venipuncture. Results show that self-reported pain and fear were significantly correlated (P = .01) within treatment groups but not significantly different between groups. Intervention participants demonstrated significantly less fear (P <.001) and distress (P = .03) as rated by the nurse and approached significantly less fear (P = .07) as rated by the parent. All intervention parents said the needlestick was better because of the distracter. The authors conclude that distraction has the potential to reduce fear and distress during port access and venipuncture.

Adolescent↗