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Biomedical subjects

M R Dear

Publications and source records attributed to M R Dear.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Adherence to tuberculosis preventive therapy among Latino immigrants.

Tuberculosis infects someone in the world every second. Although TB is preventable and curable, it has resurfaced as a significant health problem in the U.S., particularly among Latino immigrant groups. In this study of 65 Latino immigrants primarily from Central America, we examined adherence to appointments and medication taking during the six months of preventive therapy for latent TB infection. Findings indicated that the Latinos' adherence to appointment keeping ranged from 81% on the first visit to 59% by the sixth monthly visit. Similarly, medication adherence dropped from 89% in the first month to 64% at six months. Demographic factors, self-assessment of health, other support and presence of side effects were examined in the analysis. Implications for public health nursing are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Self-care agency in persons with rheumatoid arthritis.

Using a framework based on Orem's self-care deficit theory, five hypotheses related to conditioning factors in self-care agency were tested. The study sample consisted of 60 outpatients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in a large research hospital. Patients completed the Exercise of Self-Care Agency instrument and the Health Assessment Questionnaire; a physician rated their arthritis severity. Twenty percent of subjects had high scores on self-care agency, 63% had average scores, and 16% had low scores. The conditioning factor of age was not related to self-care agency. However, education and the duration of illness were related to self-care agency in this group of persons with rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Pressure sores among hospitalized patients.

A cross-sectional survey was done to determine the prevalence of pressure sores in hospitalized patients and the factors associated with having a pressure sore in the hospital. Among 634 adult patients, 30 (4.7%; 3.1% to 6.3%, 95% confidence interval) had a pressure sore and 78 (12.3%; 9.8% to 14.8%) were at risk for a pressure sore because they had been confined to a bed or chair for at least 1 week. Comparing these two groups of patients, we found that fecal incontinence, diarrhea, fractures, urinary catheter use, decreased weight, dementia, and hypoalbuminemia were associated with having pressure sores (p less than or equal to 0.05). Using logistic regression analysis, hypoalbuminemia, fecal incontinence, and fractures remained significantly and independently associated with having a pressure sore (odds ratios = 3.0, 3.1, and 5.2, respectively; p less than or equal to 0.05). Our findings suggest that 17% (14% to 20%) of hospitalized patients have pressure sores or are at risk for them, and that hypoalbuminemia, fecal incontinence, and fractures may identify bedridden patients at greatest risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Insect sting allergy in children: what is the real cost of the disease?

The impact of insect sting allergies on the quality of life of 118 children and their parents is assessed using attitudinal and psychometric questionnaires. Children, ranging in age from 7-15 years, manifested more anxiety in the clinical setting (state anxiety) than usual (trait anxiety), whereas for parents the trend was reversed. Most children believed that they could control being stung, and restrictions imposed by two-thirds of the parents assisted in preventing stinging episodes. Parents perceived their child's academic achievement, social abilities and extracurricular involvement as superior to that of their peers and closest aged siblings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Independent study as a learning experience in baccalaureate nursing programs: perceptions and practices.

While nursing education recognizes the need for independent study in baccalaureate nursing education, the literature suggests that nursing educators hold diverse views on the meaning, purpose, and conduct of independent study. This study reports the findings of a survey of nursing faculty designed to learn more about the perceptions and practices of independent study in baccalaureate nursing education. A mailed questionnaire was used to gather information from a random sample of nursing faculty at 40 baccalaureate nursing programs in the South. Fifty-one percent of the 441 faculty members responded. Of the 219 respondents, 95% reported independent study in their schools; however, wide variation in practices and faculty perceptions was evident. Limitations in curriculum design, available resources and time were influential factors in provision of opportunities for independent study. The lack of consensus suggests that faculty examine independent study options so that efforts may be better coordinated.

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An examination of the self-care needs of clients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Investigators used Orem's self-care deficit theory to guide their examination of the needs of clients with rheumatoid arthritis. Several research questions, which were guided by the proposition that universal self-care requisites are influenced by a person's age, gender, and health state, were addressed. Interviews with 59 clients with rheumatoid arthritis were tape recorded, and transcripts of the interviews were analyzed by two experts using assigned codes of universal self-care requisites (USCRs). The most frequently reported USCRs for these clients with rheumatoid arthritis were the maintenance of a balance between activity and rest (83%), the promotion of normalcy (66%), and prevention of hazards (58%). Clients' health state and age, but not their gender, affected USCRs. The clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are described in light of clients' rehabilitation.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Employment patterns among newly hired hospital staff nurses; comparison of nursing graduates and experienced nurses.

Comparison of newly hired nursing graduates in their first hospital staff nurse positions and newly hired experienced nurses employed in the same hospitals revealed that the two groups were indistinguishable with respect to turnover patterns and rates, job hunting behavior, and job satisfaction levels. Type of basic nursing education did not alter results. Differences between the two groups were in the opposite direction from that expected based on the literature which emphasizes problems associated with role transition among new graduates. These findings imply that the process of job acclimation is fundamentally the same for the two groups. Implications for hospital and nursing administrators are discussed.

Employment↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Children's knowledge and affective response to AIDS.

Given the urgency of the AIDS crisis, the current emphasis is on prevention of the disease. School-age children may be considered a vulnerable population at risk for future development of HIV infection. Prevention needs to involve educational programs founded on children's knowledge and beliefs about AIDS. Scant literature exists on children's cognition and affective response to AIDS. In this study, 58 school-age children were interviewed to determine their attitudes, beliefs, and emotional response to AIDS. Findings indicate that, in this sample, children had little specific knowledge of AIDS etiology, transmission, or treatment. They expressed negative emotional response to the discussion of AIDS. Health educational programs need to be designed to target children's need for accurate AIDS information that reflects their developmental stage.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of function among older Hispanic immigrants: a five-year follow-up.

In a 5-year follow-up of 76 participants in a community study of older Hispanic immigrants, there were minimal functional declines in social resources and activities of daily living and minimal increases in economic, physical, and mental health function. Age and education were significantly correlated with most of the functional ratings but years of residence in the United States were related only to economic resources. In general, functional ratings from the original study were the strongest predictors of follow-up ratings.

Activities of Daily Living↗