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Biomedical subjects

Patricia Snyder

Publications and source records attributed to Patricia Snyder.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Using cooperative learning in clinical laboratory science education.

OBJECTIVE: To compare performance of students instructed by cooperative learning (CL) activities with those taught by lecture. A secondary objective was to assess students' perceptions about their ability to work in teams before and after their exposure to these instructional approaches. DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: CL was incorporated into the immunology/serology course of a university-based clinical laboratory science (CLS) program. Twenty-two students participated in a 4-week study and were randomly assigned to one of two study groups. INTERVENTION: One group received the course material by CL activities, and the other group was exposed to the material through lecture. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE: Mean examination scores for CL and lecture groups were compared using an independent samples t-test. Teamwork knowledge, skills, and attitude (KSA) assessment rated students' perceptions of their ability to work in a team environment pre and post tests were compared using a 2 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between mean examination scores of students who acquired their knowledge by CL activities (85.09%) and those taught by lecture (82.18%). Teamwork KSA means scores pre and post tests (22.5, 22.6 CL; 22.7, 21.6 lecture) were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the incorporation of CL activities did not reduce the students' academic performance or self-perceptions of their ability to work in teams. The use of CL in the classroom, student laboratory, or clinical setting may help prepare students for the role they will be expected to perform as laboratory professionals.

Adult↗

Pacing as a treatment technique for transitional sucking patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether the implementation of a paced feeding protocol in a sample of preterm infants with respiratory diagnoses will result in the development of more efficient sucking patterns, increased weight gain, decreased incidence of bradycardia during feeding, and shorter length of hospital stay. METHOD: A total of 36 premature infants were enrolled into a nonrandomized clinical trial conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The first 18 infants were traditionally bottle-fed. Following this cohort's discharge from NICU, nursing staff completed continuing education on implementing a paced feeding protocol and the next 18 infants were delivered paced feedings. RESULTS: The two cohorts were equivalent at the initiation of oral feedings on gestational age, birth weight, 1 and 5 minute Apgar scores, weight, and postconceptual age. The paced infants demonstrated statistically and clinically significant decreases in bradycardic incidences during feeding and gains in development of more efficient sucking patterns at discharge. Discharge and average weekly weight gain did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The incorporation of pacing into NICU care practices appears to be beneficial for preterm infants with respiratory disease.

Bottle Feeding↗

Maintenance of effects of the eat smart school food service program: results from the CATCH-ON study.

The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) Eat Smart Program targeted the food service of the 56 CATCH intervention elementary schools to effect positive changes in the total fat and saturated fat content of school lunch. Maintenance of the food service intervention in former intervention (n = 56) and control (n = 20) schools was evaluated 5 years postintervention. After 5 years of follow-up and no further intervention, the former CATCH intervention schools not only maintained prior levels but also had further decreases in the mean percentage of calories from total and saturated fat to 31% and 10.4%, respectively. Significant decreases in these nutrients were also observed in the former CATCH control schools; however, the former intervention schools more closely approached the Eat Smart goal for total fat Overall, sodium levels rose in both school conditions and did not differ significantly at follow-up.

Adolescent↗

How the CATCH eat smart program helps implement the USDA regulations in school cafeterias.

This article describes the implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards in school lunch menus in 56 intervention and 20 control schools from the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) 5 years after the main trial, compared with 12 schools previously unexposed to CATCH. School food service personnel completed questionnaires to assess CATCH guideline implementation, demographic data, behavioral constructs, training, program material use, and participation in competing programs. Five days of menus and recipes were collected from school cafeteria staff, averaged, and compared to USDA School Meal Initiative (SMI) standards. Significant differences between intervention and unexposed schools were found for training and knowledge of CATCH and in mean percentage energy from fat and carbohydrates. Intervention schools most closely met USDA SMI recommendations for fat. Thus, the CATCH Eat Smart Program assisted school cafeterias in meeting USDA guidelines 5 years postimplementation.

Adolescent↗

Practitioners' reading patterns, attitudes, and use of research reported in occupational therapy journals.

Occupational therapists are encouraged to use research-based evidence to guide practice. In this study, we investigated whether members of the American Occupational Therapy Association read their flagship journal, the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT, or other scholarly journals. Therapists' attitudes about research, their reading patterns, and their use of research in clinical practice were also explored. A proportional, random sample of 626 therapists from five states was mailed a questionnaire; 52% were returned. Of the 328 respondents, 85% reported reading AJOT: For those who did not read AJOT, barriers cited included time constraints, difficulty interpreting results, lack of clinical information, and too much scientific information. Attitudes about research generally were positive, although ratings regarding the usefulness of research to inform clinical practices were less favorable. Attitudes about and use of research ratings were not strongly related to practice settings, educational degree level, years of experience, or state of residence. Results suggest education and clinical practice changes may be necessary to support therapists' use of empirical evidence in practice contexts.

Attitude↗