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Biomedical subjects

M Kay Libbus

Publications and source records attributed to M Kay Libbus.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Abuse during pregnancy: current theory and new contextual understandings.

This study used Landenburger's theory, a process of leaving and recovering from an abusive relationship, as a framework to interview 35 pregnant women identified as being at high risk for abuse. Results are reported on 18 women who disclosed active abuse during the study. Landenburger's model was not a good fit. Our participants became trapped and endured violent relationships if they perceived this was the best situation for their unborn child. Additionally the chaos, instability, and lack of resources experienced by these women likely contributed to their inability to complete the four phases described by Landenburger's model for non-pregnant women.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Medication-taking beliefs of adult renal transplant recipients.

PURPOSE: To describe the medication-taking beliefs of younger and older adult renal transplant recipients. METHOD: A descriptive design was used to study 16 adult renal transplant recipients, 8 older and 8 younger, recruited from a renal transplant program in the midwest. A semistructured interview was conducted based on the theory of planned behavior. Data were examined using manifest content analyses. RESULTS: Both groups had similar behavioral, normative, control, and problem-solving medication-taking beliefs. Planning ahead, organizing, using cues, involving a support person, and remembering the donor and life on dialysis were key control beliefs. Differences were found in beliefs regarding difficulties with taking immunosuppressive medications. The majority in both groups mentioned forgetting to take their immunosuppressive medications on at least one occasion. CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION: As empiric evidence in this area grows, the clinical nurse specialist is paramount in assisting both younger and older renal transplant recipients with immunosuppressive medication taking and, consequently, in fostering better outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Breastfeeding and employment: an assessment of employer attitudes.

Both research and anecdotal reports suggest that maternal employment is associated with failure to initiate breastfeeding and early breastfeeding attrition. The objective of this study was to describe the experience with and attitudes toward breastfeeding of a sample of employers in a small Midwestern city in the United States. Based on an analysis of 85 mail-out questionnaires, we found that less than half of the employers had personal experience with breastfeeding. A large percentage of the sample, however, indicated that they would be willing to facilitate women who wished to breastfeed or express milk in the workplace. However, these employers also stated that they saw little value to their business of supporting breastfeeding in the work environment. Thus, enhancement of breastfeeding opportunity in the work environment may come as a result of public and employer education but, more likely, will require some type of directive from official sources.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Continuing education: improving perceived competence in school nurses.

An investigator-designed survey was used to determine if attendance at specific continuing education programs increased the perceived competence of school nurses who enrolled and completed the programs. Respondents were queried about the general content of six courses offered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in conjunction with the University of Missouri-Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing. Specific content areas were mental health concerns, suicide prevention, diabetes management, asthma management, seizure disorders, and developing clinical skills as they pertained to school-age children. Comparing a sample of school nurses who had attended the programs with a group whom had not, a statistically significant difference was found in the participant group who reported higher self-perceived competence than the nonparticipant group in all content areas. Results of the study suggest that school nurses who attend specific continuing education programs feel more competent in practice than nurses who do not attend.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

TB-HIV Registry Matching in Missouri, 1987-1999.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is an important problem for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients. This study investigated whether all cases of MTB reported to the HIV/AIDS Registry (HARS) in Missouri were also reported to the Tuberculosis Information Management System (TIMS) to determine the sensitivity of TIMS and the predictive value of HARS. We found 262 total MTB cases registered in HARS. Of these, 145 (55%) were included in the TIMS. Thirty-eight of the remaining 117 were caused by mycobacteria other than TB leaving 79 for investigation. Chart review of the 79 revealed 16 cases of MTB. Sensitivities and predictive values were calculated first including unknown/unreported group as being MTB-positive and the second including this group as being MTB-negative. Sensitivities for TIMS were 83 and 90%, respectively, and predictive values for HARS were 68 and 63%, respectively. The fact that there were at least 16 unreported cases of MTB has significant public health implications for TB control in Missouri. Public health nursing could work with HARS surveillance staff to help improve the accuracy of case finding and reporting. By whatever means necessary, communications between the TB and HIV programs within the Missouri Department of Health should be enhanced.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Program evaluation of mobile dental services for children with special health care needs.

This paper summarizes an evaluation of the Elk Mobile Dental Program for children with special health care needs. Evaluation results indicated overall client satisfaction with mobile dental unit services in the absence of competent community based dental care. Evaluator recommendations included expanding the mobile dental services along with a continued effort to establish permanent community based dental care for children with special healthcare needs. Recommendations for program improvement in the areas of patient care, service coordination, and ongoing continuous quality improvement evaluation were provided to program personnel and funding organizations. Many of the improvement recommendations were initiated during the process of the program evaluation.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗