Biomedical subjects
M Groër
Publications and source records attributed to M Groër.
Measures of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A and state anxiety after a nursing back rub.
This study examined the effects of a 10-minute nursing back rub on salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and state anxiety in well older adult subjects. A control group (n = 14) received no intervention, and an experimental group (n = 18) received a slow stroke effleurage back rub. All subjects initially completed the state portion of the Spielberger State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and provided a timed, nonstimulated saliva sample. Control subjects lay positioned in bed for 10 minutes, and experimental subjects received the back rub. Both groups then provided a second saliva sample and completed the STAI again. Anxiety scores decreased for both groups, but not significantly, and s-IgA concentration increased in the experimental group. This study provides rationale for further research into the holistic benefits of the nursing back rub and should encourage nurses to continue to provide caring touch interventions to patients.
Relationships between self-reported symptoms of infection, menstrual-cycle-related distress, and cycle phase.
This study examined the relationships between symptoms of common infectious illnesses, menstrual cycle phase, and cycle-related distress. Sixty-five women who had regular menstrual cycles and were not taking birth control pills were the convenience sample for this research. Subjects completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and an investigator-developed symptom checklist (SCL) that inventoried symptoms of common respiratory, skin, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary infections. The subjects completed all questionnaires three times during the menstrual cycle (during menstruation, midcycle, and premenstruum). The results of the study indicated a highly significant clustering of infectious illness symptoms during the perimenstrual period compared with midcycle. There were significant relationships between scores on the MDQ and PSS and the frequency and intensity of infection symptoms throughout the cycle. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of the effects of phase, PSS, MDQ, and SCL scores revealed that phasic influences were not significant when MDQ scores were controlled. PSS and MDQ scores significantly influenced symptom scores when phase was controlled, suggesting a general relationship between distress and infectious symptoms during the menstrual cycle.
Menstrual-cycle lengthening and reduction in premenstrual distress through guided imagery.
This study investigated the effects of a program of relaxation and specific guided imagery on menstrual-cycle length and premenstrual distress. Thirty healthy college women with regular menstrual cycles were studied for 6 months. The subjects completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) at the beginning and end of the study and recorded their menstrual cycles for 3 months on an investigator-developed calendar recording sheet. Subjects were then given an audiotape with a progressive muscle relaxation exercise followed by guided imagery with a suggestive message focusing on lengthening the menstrual cycle and delaying the onset of menstrual bleeding. The 15 subjects who completed the entire study had significant increases in cycle lengths during the 3 months of imagery. The total premenstrual distress scores also declined significantly, as did the subscales measuring behavior and negative affect. This study provides preliminary evidence that menstrual-cycle rhythmicity and premenstrual distress are amenable to the mind-body intervention of guided imagery and suggests that further investigation of this phenomena with larger sample size and careful controls for confounding variables be conducted.
Guarding against cancer's hidden killer: anorexia-cachexia.
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Childbirth stress. An immunologic study.
The study examined salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations during pregnancy and at parturition. A significant drop in salivary IgA (p less than 0.001) occurred at parturition. State anxiety appeared to account for some of the variance in IgA concentration during pregnancy and at childbirth. Mothers who had very low or undetectable IgA concentrations when they gave birth had increased incidences of postpartum complications, and their infants had more illnesses during the first six weeks postpartum.