Biomedical subjects

Mary Jo Clark

Publications and source records attributed to Mary Jo Clark.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The effects of group reminiscence therapy on depression, self esteem, and life satisfaction of elderly nursing home residents.

The need to provide quality mental health care for elders in nursing home settings has been a critical issue, as the aging population grows rapidly and institutional care becomes a necessity for some elders. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to describe the effect of participation in reminiscence group therapy on older nursing home residents' depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants who met the study criteria. Residents of one ward were assigned to the reminiscence therapy group intervention, while residents of the other ward served as controls. Nine weekly one-hour sessions were designed to elicit reminiscence as group therapy for 12 elders in the experimental group. Another 12 elders were recruited for a control group matched to experimental subjects on relevant criteria. Depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction were measured one week before and after the therapy. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 10.0) was used to analyze data. Results indicated that group reminiscence therapy significantly improved self-esteem, although effects on depression and life satisfaction were not significant. Reminiscence groups could enhance elders' social interaction with one another in nursing home settings and become support groups for participants. The model we created here can serve as a reference for future application in institutional care.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Finding the way: a model for educational system analysis.

Administrators new to an academic setting experience a steep learning curve in finding their way around the organization. Leadership strategies that have proven effective in a previous setting or in another role may not be appropriate to or effective in the new setting. Disruptive effects of such leadership transitions can be minimized if newly employed administrators take a systematic approach to learning about the organization. The educational systems analysis model (ESAM) described here provides direction for new academic administrators in rapid analysis of a nursing education program. ESAM is comprised of both external and internal elements that influence system operation and the role of the administrator within the system. External elements include environmental factors that influence the program as well as the community of interest. Internal elements include the mission and goals, culture, relationships, structure, programs and services, resources, and outcomes of the program. Each of the internal elements is considered from both content and process perspectives. Relationships among the elements in the model are dynamic and reciprocal.

Administrative Personnel↗

PubMed2004

Learning the organization: a model for health system analysis for new nurse administrators.

Health systems are large and complex organizations in which multiple components and processes influence system outcomes. In order to effectively position themselves in such organizations, nurse administrators new to a system must gain a rapid understanding of overall system operation. Such understanding is facilitated by use of a model for system analysis. The model presented here examines the dynamic interrelationships between and among internal and external elements as they affect system performance. External elements to be analyzed include environmental factors and characteristics of system clientele. Internal elements flow from the mission and goals of the system and include system culture, services, resources, and outcomes.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Involving communities in community assessment.

Focus groups provide an effective means of incorporating the perspectives of "hidden" populations in assessments of community health needs and assets. A series of focus groups was conducted with specifically targeted segments of a community to develop a comprehensive picture of community health. The authors describe the focus group process, major findings, and the use of focus group results in a highly multicultural community. Despite differences in age, length of residence, and ethnicity, the focus groups were remarkably similar in the issues raised. The majority of participants viewed the multicultural nature of the community as an asset but voiced some of the difficulties of living in a multiethnic and multilanguage environment. Similar areas of concern in the community arose from all of the focus groups, including housing and other environmental issues and problems of access to health care. Focus group findings have been used to initiate activity addressing identified community problems. Focus group participation had the added benefit of increasing community members' participation in other community endeavors.

Adolescent↗