PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L K Zahr

Publications and source records attributed to L K Zahr.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Predictors of development in premature infants from low-income families: African Americans and Hispanics.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the study was to determine the factors that affect the motor and mental development of premature Latino and African American infants from low socioeconomic backgrounds. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of 41 low birth weight (LBW) African American infants along with 82 LBW Hispanic infants examined the factors that influence mental and motor development at 8 months of age. Multiple regression analysis was performed to correlate perinatal, environmental, and demographic variables with mental and motor development using the Bayley scales of infant development. The perinatal variables included birth weight, gestational age, and days of hospitalization. The demographic and environmental variables chosen were: income, education, the home environment, social support, mother-infant interaction, and maternal confidence. RESULTS: The results indicated that, for African American infants, motor development was correlated with the mother's education and the number of days the infant spent in the hospital Mental development for African American infants was predicted by the home environment. For Hispanic infants, the home environment predicted motor scores while the mother-infant interaction was correlated with the mental scores. CONCLUSION: Factors contributing to the development of premature infants vary according to ethnicity, and social variables may be more predictive of development than medical factors.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1998

Nursing care of Arab children: consideration of cultural factors.

As the number of Arabs living in the United States increases, so does the number of children of Arab descent seeking medical attention. However, despite the sizable and ever increasing number of American Arabs, their health beliefs and practices remain relatively unexplored. When cultural differences exist with regard to beliefs about health and illness, health practices, and health-seeking behavior, the process of health-related interaction becomes difficult and often detrimental to health outcomes. Among Arab immigrants, their children tend to be the least visible population. This article describes the beliefs and practices, both cultural and health-related, of Arab families, with an emphasis on child care and rearing. Nursing considerations, which take these cultural factors into account, are discussed that will accommodate the needs of Arab children receiving professional Western medical treatment.

Africa↗
PubMed1996

Effects of war on the behavior of Lebanese preschool children: influence of home environment and family functioning.

To investigate the psychological effects of armed conflict on children, the behavior of preschool Lebanese children exposed to heavy shelling two years prior to data collection was compared to that of Lebanese children who had experienced no direct shelling. Although the quality of the home environment was similar in the two groups, children who lived in the area of heavy shelling had significantly more behavioral problems than did those not exposed to shelling. For children in the shelled area, negative sequelae appear to have been buffered by a positive home environment and what the mother perceived as a more functional family.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Nursing management of children with sickle cell disease: an update.

This article reviews current trends in managing children with sickle cell disease (SCD). The pathophysiology, medical and nursing management, and complications of SCD are discussed. Current trends and research findings related to improving the prognosis of children with SCD are offered. The importance of the nurse's role in educating the family about the disease process and clinical interventions to prevent or manage complications are stressed. Lastly, a nursing care plan is offered which focuses on pertinent nursing diagnosis.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed1994

Chronic illness in Lebanese preschoolers: impact of illness and child temperament on the family.

The impact on their families of chronic illness in young Lebanese children and the relationship between such impact and perceived temperament of the child were assessed. The effect was greater in families of children with leukemia than in families of children with congenital heart defects. Chronically ill children were rated as more persistent/unstoppable, difficult, and irregular, and as less adaptable than were healthy children. Culturally determined perceptions of child temperament were examined with regard to differential impact of illness on the family.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

The confidence of Latina mothers in the care of their low birth weight infants.

The growing numbers of Latina mothers with low birth weight (LBW) infants in U.S. hospitals prompted an investigation of maternal confidence and caretaking ability in this group. A sample of 54 Mexican-born, Latina mothers with LBW infants was compared with a group of 25 who had full-term infants. Unexpectedly, there was no significant difference in the perceived maternal confidence of the two groups. Behaviors indicative of sensitivity and competence in caretaking, assessed in mothers with LBW infants, did not correlate with maternal confidence. Factors correlated with maternal confidence and caretaking behavior were the mother's age, education, and parity, as well as the infant's birthweight, weight at discharge, and medical complications. Weight at discharge correlated with caretaking behaviors. The strongest predictor of maternal confidence was parity, followed by infant health (fewer medical complications). These factors together accounted for 25% of the variance in confidence, suggesting that other factors that contribute to maternal confidence of Latina mothers need to be identified.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The benefits of home care for sick premature infants.

The care of sick premature infants at home is evaluated in terms of the benefits related to the health outcome of infants. The home care was provided by trained pediatric nurses through a service-oriented community agency. Pediatric nurses delivered home care 24 hours or less to sick very low birth weight infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit in lieu of continued hospitalization. Nursing care at home is described along with a sample nursing care plan for an infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The efficacy of home care on medical utilization indicated that there were less hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and visits to the specialty clinics than previously reported in the literature. Home visitation appeared to improve the health of high-risk premature infants, is cost effective, and may be less stressful for parents.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
PubMed1992

Outcome after developmental intervention in the neonatal intensive care unit for mothers of preterm infants with low socioeconomic status.

The efficacy of developmental intervention in the neonatal intensive care unit for mothers of preterm infants with low socioeconomic status was evaluated. Mothers were assigned to an experimental group in which they met at least weekly with an infant-development specialist or to a control group in which they did not. During the sessions, they participated in a structured developmental and behavioral assessment of their infants, with the goal of enhancing their ability to provide appropriate interactions and environmental stimulation for their infants. When the infants were 4 and 8 months of age, follow-up home visits by a nurse who was unaware of group assignment showed that the experimental-group infants performed more optimally on the Bayley Mental scale (Bayley Scales of Infant Development) at 4 and 8 months of age and on the Bayley Motor scale at 4 months. In addition, the home environment was more developmentally appropriate at 4 months of age, and the mothers rated their babies as temperamentally less difficult at 4 and 8 months. We conclude that a mother-focused, neonatal intensive care unit-based program that utilizes the assessment process in a therapeutic way is an effective strategy in the initiation of interventions for families of low socioeconomic status whose infants were born prematurely.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparing the effects of neonatal intensive care unit intervention on premature infants at different weights.

This study investigated the efficacy of an intervention program in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on the development of premature infants from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds. Sixty premature infants born at a county hospital over an 8-month period and their mothers were the focus of this study. The infants were assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The experimental group received teaching and reinforcement about their babies' behavior from a child development specialist when they visited the NICU. Of the initial 60 infants, 49 completed the study at 8 months, but because data from only the first born of twin pairs were used, 41 infants were included in the final analysis. Infants were divided into two weight groups: one below and one above 1500 g. There was a significant effect of the intervention on the infants' mental and motor scores at 4 and 8 months. Significant differences on the total Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) were noted between the groups. There were some significant differences between intervention and control groups on the interaction of the mother with the infant at 4 months but not in the play situation at 8 months. The lighter premature infants had a greater boost from the intervention than did the heavier premature infants. The intervention had no effect on the mother's perception of her infant's temperament or on her confidence skills. In line with other research findings, the infants who weighed less than 1500 g seemed to have benefited most from the intervention, and the effect of the intervention was most notable at 4 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

The short bowel syndrome: an update and a case study.

Infants with the short-bowel syndrome are living longer and are increasing in number due to new medical treatments and a larger number of survivals with very low birth weights. This article reviews the medical and nursing management of these infants. A case study of an infant with the short-bowel syndrome is presented with a detailed nursing care plan emphasizing the physical, emotional, and social care of these infants.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1991

The relationship between maternal confidence and mother-infant behaviors in premature infants.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between maternal confidence in mothers of premature infants, maternal behaviors and skills, and infant temperament. The relationship between certain prenatal and background variables and maternal confidence also was assessed. The sample consisted of 49 mother--infant pairs from low socioeconomic backgrounds who were followed for 8 months. Maternal behaviors were assessed in the neonatal intensive care unit and during 4- and 8-month follow-up visits at home. Infant temperament was assessed using the Bates Infant Characteristics Questionnaire. The results revealed that maternal confidence was related to education, income, and parity as well as the presence and severity of intraventricular bleed. There was no relationship between observed maternal behaviors and skills and perceived confidence by mothers. Maternal confidence was related to infant temperament ratings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Patient satisfaction with nursing care in Alexandria, Egypt.

The study assessed the satisfaction of medical and surgical patients in a university hospital in Egypt using the La Monica/Oberst Patient Satisfaction Scale. In spite of the nursing shortage in that hospital, the results indicated that patient satisfaction was high. The implications for nursing care are discussed in terms of the validity of the scale and the objectivity of clients when responding to the questionnaire.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The effect of education and written material on compliance of pediatric clients.

One hundred and fifty babies and their mothers, presenting to the Well Baby Clinic of the Pediatric Outpatient Department were studied for compliance. They were divided randomly into three groups, one serving as a control (n = 55) and two as experimental groups (n = 48 and 47). The latter were exposed to two different intervention methods; teaching and written material respectively, in addition to the routine care given to the control group. The three groups were compared in terms of compliance and improvement in knowledge. The results showed that reinforcement of the doctor's advice by a nurse, or written instructions to the patients, did not improve knowledge or compliance. Possible explanations for such results are given and suggestions for other modes of intervention are made.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1989

Gastroesophageal reflux, fundoplication, and dumping: literature review and case study.

This article describes a very uncommon phenomenon that can result from surgery to correct gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Although, GER is a common illness in infants, the methods of management and nursing care are diverse. Review of the literature on GER and dumping are discussed and a case study of a girl with dumping following a fundoplication is presented.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome repair. Preventing complications.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome presents a special challenge for the neonatal/pediatric critical care nurse. The nurse plays a vital role in preventing the complications that may arise from the syndrome itself or the surgical repair. Here, the authors describe how to prevent complications following first stage palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment and management of the child with asthma.

The physical challenges of asthma present problems for children and their parents. Nurses can minimize the physical difficulties experienced by asthmatic children and enhance their emotional growth and self confidence by teaching and support.

Asthma↗