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Biomedical subjects

L L Harrison

Publications and source records attributed to L L Harrison.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Changes in nursing students' knowledge about and attitudes toward research following an undergraduate research course.

This study examined changes in baccalaureate nursing students' attitudes toward and knowledge about research, following completion of a research course. The teaching methods used in the course included having students critique research articles, complete objective examinations, and work in small groups to develop research proposals. The sample of 54 students completed a pretest and two post-tests measuring research knowledge, and a pretest and one post-test measuring research attitudes. The pretest was administered at the beginning of the research course, and the first post-test was administered at the end of the course. The second post-test was administered during the students' last semester in the nursing programme. Students reported more positive attitudes toward research at the end of the programme than at the beginning of the course. Knowledge scores were significantly higher at the end of the course than at the beginning of the course or at the end of the programme. There was no differences in knowledge scores on the pretest and on the second post-test. The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of traditional research curricula in preparing baccalaureate nursing students to be competent research consumers.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

Effects of early parent touch on preterm infants' heart rates and arterial oxygen saturation levels.

A descriptive exploratory design was used in this study to evaluate the effects of early parent touch on the heart rates and arterial oxygen (O2) saturation levels of 36 preterm infants. The infants were between 27-33 weeks gestational age at birth, and were free of congenital defects. Infants were videotaped during parent visits on up to three separate occasions during the first month of life. Parents were encouraged to interact with their infants as they usually would, and data on the infants' heart rates and O2 saturation levels were recorded every 6 seconds on a portable computer that was interfaced with the infants' monitors. Mean O2 saturation levels were significantly lower during parent touch than during baseline periods on 45% of the visits, and significantly higher during parent touch periods on 19% of the visits. O2 saturation variability was greater during periods of parent touch, and there were more abnormal O2 saturation values during parent touch than during baseline periods. Mean heart rates during parent touch were significantly lower compared to baseline on 17% of the visits, and were higher during parent touch on 43% of the visits. There were no overall differences in mean heart rates between baseline, parent touch and post-visit classifications, although heart rate variability was greater during periods of parent touch. The results indicate that preterm infants' responses to early parent touch are variable, and suggest that blanket policies that limit parent touch during the early weeks of life may not be appropriate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cues↗
PubMed1989

Interfacing bioinstruments with computers for data collection in nursing research.

Nurse researchers gain many advantages over manual collection and recording of data when they interface bioinstruments with computer technology for data collection. This article describes both the advantages and disadvantages of such technology, and uses examples from a study evaluating the effects of parent touch on preterm infants to illustrate strategies to overcome potential disadvantages.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of a gerontological nursing continuing education programme: effect on nurses' knowledge and attitudes and on patients' perceptions and satisfaction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a four-session (8-hour) gerontological nursing continuing education (CE) programme on nurses' knowlege of and attitudes towards the elderly. The study also sought to ascertain the effects of the CE programme on patient satisfaction with and perceptions of nursing care. Seventy-six nurses completed the Miller-Dodder Revision of the Palmore Facts on Ageing Quiz and the Kogan Attitudes Towards Old People Scale before and after participating in the CE programme. Post-test scores on both measures were slightly but significantly higher than pretest scores. Thirty hospitalized elderly patients were interviewed before and 33 were interviewed after the CE programme was offered to the nurses on their hospital units, using the LaMonica-Oberst Patient Satisfaction Scale and the Harrison-Novak Patient Perception Scale. Post-test measures of patient satisfaction and perception were not significantly different from pretest scores. Patients were generally satisfied with their nursing care, but perceived that nurses did not focus on health promotion activities. In addition, 59% of the patients indicated that they were unable to distinguish nurses from other health care providers. The article identifies implications of the study for nursing education, practice and research.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Freshmen baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions of their academic and nonacademic experiences: implications for retention.

As a component of the evaluation for a program designed to enhance recruitment and retention of disadvantaged nursing students, qualitative interviews were conducted, with a sample of 20 baccalaureate nursing students at the end of their freshman year. Students were asked to describe positive aspects of their academic and nonacademic experiences as well as problems that were experienced, with recommendations for resolving these problems. Positive aspects of the freshman experience that were identified included academic, social, familial, and financial support. Problems cited were related to two categories of factors, external and internal. Problems related to external factors included excessive academic loads, course-specific problems such as with the sciences, large class size, faculty inattentiveness, racial tensions, dorm/roommate problems, and parking or commuting time. Problems related to internal factors included poor study habits, loneliness, homesickness, family conflicts, and difficulties with peer relationships. The findings can be used by nursing faculty to determine the extent to which programs address students' perceived needs and to identify innovative retention strategies that would enhance students' perceptions of their college experience.

Alabama↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Implementing the research facilitator role.

What are the factors that enhance or impede successful implementation of the research facilitator role in a school of nursing? The authors review the literature related to research facilitation and describe their experiences in planning, implementing and evaluating research facilitator roles in two different schools of nursing. Implications for others initiating similar roles are identified.

Faculty, Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Teaching mothers about their preterm infants.

The effects of a structured teaching program on 30 mothers' perceptions of and interaction with their premature (between 28 and 35 weeks' gestational age) infants was evaluated. Mothers who agreed to participate in the study were randomly assigned to one of three study groups: control, instruction, and attention. Mothers in the control group received routine care and support from the intensive care nursery staff. Mothers in the instruction group, in addition to the usual intensive care nursery procedures, received instruction about the unique physical and behavioral characteristics of premature infants. Mothers in the attention group were provided with the opportunity to discuss nonmedical concerns about their infants or their situations with the nurse researcher. Measures of maternal perceptions and behaviors were obtained by unbiased observers during home visits two, four, and eight weeks after the infants were discharged from the hospital. No significant differences were found among the groups on maternal perceptions or interaction behaviors.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early parental touch and preterm infants.

Thirty-six parents were videotaped during visits with their preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit in order to describe some characteristics of parental touch. Parents most often touched infants' hands, backs, and heads, using stroke, hold, or contact actions of moderate intensity. Mothers and grandmothers provided more touch than fathers, and parents provided less touch to infants at or below a gestational age of 28 weeks. The results can be used as a basis for more controlled experimental studies evaluating preterm infants' physiologic responses to early parental touch.

Adolescent↗