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Biomedical subjects

R D Froman

Publications and source records attributed to R D Froman.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Further validation of the AIDS Attitude Scale.

The AIDS Attitude Scale (AAS) is a self-report measure of attitude toward persons with AIDS. Since its introduction in 1992, the AAS has been used in over 30 research studies. Initial psychometric estimates of reliability and validity for the scale were supportive. This report summarizes emerging psychometric data from a broad range of samples. These data offer additional support for the internal consistency and stability of the two dimensions underlying the scale, as well as documenting the factorial and construct validity of the AAS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

Refinement of the Habitual Physical Activity Index for use with American adults.

The relationship between physical activity and health outcomes makes the assessment of physical activity important to many health professionals. Numerous physical activity questionnaires exist but none is tailored to the assessment of physical activity in cardiac patients. Ideally, a questionnaire should be appropriate for both healthy individuals and those with cardiac disease to allow comparison of epidemiologic and intervention research. The purpose of this research is to adapt and validate an existing physical activity questionnaire for use with healthy individuals and those with coronary artery disease. The Habitual Physical Activity Index (HPAI) is an easy to administer questionnaire developed in the Netherlands by Baecke, Burema, and Frijters (1982). The factorial validity and alpha internal consistency of the HPAI were examined to evaluate its potential for use in assessing physical activity of hospitalized cardiac patients in the U.S. The sample was 213 cardiac patients. A factor analysis produced a meaningful two-factor solution that differed from the original Dutch results. This suggested the HPAI should be modified for use with American adults with cardiac disease. New items were generated and added to the HPAI. The modified HPAI was tested using classical testing theory and generalizability theory. Stability estimates are high and relative generalizability acceptable. However, the absolute generalizability estimates indicate that the addition of new items to the HPAI could improve its use for absolute decision making.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Blood pressure measurement during pregnancy: auscultatory versus oscillatory methods.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the equivalence of auscultatory and oscillatory blood pressure measurements. SETTING: Inner-city prenatal clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-one women in their 2nd to 9th month of pregnancy. DESIGN: Participants were assessed for systolic and diastolic blood pressures on left and right arms using auscultatory (manual) and oscillatory (electronic) methods. A correlational study design was used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in pressures related to arm and method of measurement. RESULTS: The oscillatory method produced consistently higher readings for both systolic (F[1,80] = 45.9, p < 0.001) and diastolic (F[1,80] = 25.79, p < 0.001) pressure readings. Correlations between estimates generally treated as substitutable all fell below the recommended level of 0.80 for measurement equivalence. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the need for caution when interpreting blood pressure estimates as interchangeable. This is particularly important when patients move from clinic settings, where auscultatory methods predominate, to inpatient settings, where oscillatory methods of measurement are used.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Preliminary validation of a measure of life support preferences.

A rapid, easy to use instrument that provides illustrations of life support choices can enhance discussion of life support measures with patients. The goal of this preliminary study was to develop and validate an instrument, the Life Support Preferences Questionnaire (LSPQ). In a convenience sample of 116 healthy adults, the LSPQ showed a sturdy degree of internal consistency for a short measure. The 2-week stability evidence was supportive of respondents' consistent attitudes over time at both the item and scale level. Principal factor analyses give evidence there is one dominant theme underlying the items. Use of the LSPQ with hospitalized patients is being explored as a response to policy changes resulting from the 1991 Patient Self-Determination Act.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Development of a pediatric skill self-efficacy scale.

The Pediatric Skill Survey (PSS) is a self-report measure of self-efficacy for nursing skills needed when caring for patients under 18 years old. Potential item stems were derived from a frequency analysis of case presentations in an emergency department. Expert judges later assessed content sampling of items. Initial use of the PSS with 93 subjects showed an internal consistency estimate of .98 across 47 items. Significant known groups discrimination was found between three groups, from lay person to expert nurse, supporting validity. Subsequent study with a sample of 125 nurses showed significant positive correlations between knowledge of pediatric care, attitude toward pediatric patients, and PSS scores, offering further support for the construct validity of the scale.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Effects of position and mattress overlay on sacral and heel pressures in a clinical population.

A comparison of pressure reducing properties of alternating air, static air, and water mattress overlays was conducted with 57 patients in a surgical intensive care unit. Sacral and heel pressures in both recumbent and semi-Fowler's positions were tested for each surface using a repeated measures design. Mean pressures for the alternating air mattress were significantly higher than pressures with other surfaces, regardless of position or site. There were significant main effects for position and site, with higher pressures in the semi-Fowler's position and at the sacral site. A significant interaction between surface, site, and position was found. Pressure sores developed in eight patients, but the incidence was not significantly different across groups. A pressure measuring device constructed from available clinical materials proved to be both sensitive and reliable. The findings suggest alternating air overlays should be avoided, and that positioning and periodic position change to reduce sacral pressures for patients requiring prolonged upper body elevation is important.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Development of a measure of attitudes toward persons with AIDS.

This paper describes the development of a brief scale to measure attitudes toward persons with AIDS. Results from content validation, factor analysis, classical reliability estimation and generalizability analysis show the measure to have strong psychometric properties.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Mothers' and nurses' perceptions of infant care skills.

New mothers' confidence in their infant care skills are important concerns for maternity nurses. In this study, correlates of mothers' self-efficacy ratings on 52 infant care behaviors included in the Infant Care Scale were identified. Data on demographic variables and nurses' ratings of mothers' skill on five selected tasks were collected from 200 mothers and their nurses. Results from bivariate and multivariate analyses pointed to predictors of maternal feelings of efficacy and to discrepancies between mothers' and nurses' ratings. Maternal age, number of children, and nurses' ratings of mothers' skills were the strongest predictors of self-efficacy for infant care. Mothers of male infants showed slightly lower efficacy perceptions than did mothers of females. Implications for assessing mothers' educational needs before discharge and focusing teaching efforts are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Infant care self-efficacy.

As attention in health care turns to prevention and health promotion, identification of populations at risk for avoiding care becomes increasingly important. The Infant Care Survey (ICS) is a scale to assess self-efficacy expectations for infant care tasks. Reliability and validity estimates for the ICS are supportive. Descriptions of content, factorial, and construct validation are given. Finally, ongoing research is described, and suggestions for use of the ICS are offered.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A national survey of neonatal intensive-care units: criteria used to determine readiness for oral feedings.

OBJECTIVE: To describe criteria used to determine readiness for oral feedings in stable, preterm infants. DESIGN: A 25-item survey questionnaire was mailed to hospitals having level II or level III NICUs. SETTING: Nurseries identified in the 1987 National Perinatal Directory (576 in all) as level II or level III NICUs. PARTICIPANTS: Head nurses (HN) and staff nurses (SN) at 420 hospitals comprised 73% of the sample surveyed. PROCEDURES: Survey items were predominantly multiple choice and included an "other" option to encourage comments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Respondents described clinical practice in their nurseries relative to feeding policies, use of traditional decision criteria, or behavioral cues and related interventions. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than 50% of nurseries identified a specific feeding policy for the initiation of oral feedings. Seventy-five percent used either gestational age or weight criteria in deciding when to start oral feedings. Eighty-six percent considered infant behavior as well when determining feeding readiness. Findings suggest an emerging emphasis on infant behavioral cues in addition to gestational age and weight criteria when making feeding decisions.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Teaching reliability and validity: fun with classroom applications.

In addition to the basic role of educating and facilitating learning, in recent years, staff development educators and continuing educators also have assumed a major role of facilitating research in many institutions. As more emphasis is placed on bedside research, stimulating staff interest has been a challenge. This article describes a fun way to help staff members acquire or refocus on skills and concepts essential to clinical research.

Data Collection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Instrument development: cardiac diet and exercise self-efficacy.

Self-efficacy has been documented as a strong predictor of health behaviors. Unfortunately, availability of reliable and valid measures of self-efficacy for a range of health behaviors is still limited. This study validated two measures of cardiac risk factor self-efficacy: the Cardiac Diet Self-Efficacy Instrument (CDSEI) and the Cardiac Exercise Self-Efficacy Instrument (CESEI). A sample of 370 cardiac rehabilitation participants provided data for principal factor analyses showing the unidimensionality of each instrument. Known groups construct validity was supported by a comparison of CDSEI and CESEI scores for cardiac rehabilitation participants and marathon runners. The value of CDSEI and CESEI scores in predicting subsequent exercise and diet performance was demonstrated with a third group of cardiac rehabilitation participants. Stability and internal consistency estimates in the .80s and .90s, respectively, support the scales' reliabilities.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparative assessment of interactive videodisc instruction.

A counter-balanced design was used to compare student knowledge and self-efficacy following interactive videodisc (IVD) and traditional instruction on intravenous therapy procedures. Students were assigned randomly to treatment groups receiving either IVD instruction followed by traditional lecture or lecture followed by IVD. Subjects were pretested before any instruction and post-tested after each type of instruction to provide three repeated measures for both knowledge and self-efficacy. While both types of instruction produced significant gains over baseline observation, neither method, when used by itself, was clearly superior. Combining both methods, regardless of sequence, was associated with maintained or enhanced knowledge and self-efficacy scores. Traditional-lecture presentation first, followed by IVD instruction, produced the largest gains in self-efficacy for applying intravenous procedures in nursing practice.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗