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Biomedical subjects

J K Austin

Publications and source records attributed to J K Austin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Predicting parental anticonvulsant medication compliance using the theory of reasoned action.

One approach to better understanding compliance behavior is the use of the theory of reasoned action. In this article, the theory of reasoned action is used to predict the compliance behavior of 29 parents of children with epilespy. In support of the theory, behavioral intention was found to significantly predict (p less than 0.01) parental medicine-giving behavior. Contrary to the results predicted by the theory, parents' attitudes toward giving the medication correlated with a significant amount of variance in medicine-giving behavior beyond that accounted for by behavioral intention.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cross-cultural relationships between self-concept and body image in high school-age boys.

The relationship between self-concept and body image was investigated through a secondary analysis of data from a sample of 1,200 high school male students from 30 language/culture communities (Osgood, May, & Myron, 1975). Subjects rated adjectives pertaining to self-concept and body image using 7-step semantic differential bipolar scales. Adjectives were related to the dimensions of Evaluation, Potency, and Activity. Correlation, factor analysis, and multiple regression were utilized to examine multivariate relationships among self-concept dimensions and body-image dimensions. Significant positive correlations were found between self-concept and body image. In addition, significant positive relationships were found when self-concept factors were regressed on the body-image factor (R2 = .49 to .57, p less than or equal to .001) for Activity and Potency. Results support the existence of a strong positive relationship between self-concept and body image across the 30 cultures involved. Findings have important implications for nursing in assessment and interventions with clients who have deficits in either self-concept or body image.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Parental attitude and coping behaviors in families of children with epilepsy.

This study investigated the relationship between parental attitudes toward their children's epilepsy and parental coping patterns. Subjects were 27 parents whose children had epilepsy. Parental attitude was measured using the Fishbein Expectancy-Value Model, while coping was measured using the Coping Health Inventory for Parents. Significant positive correlations were found between parental attitude and the coping pattern of Maintaining Family Integration, Cooperation and Optimistic Definition of the Situation (r = .42, p less than .02). Parental attitude was also positively related to the coping pattern of Maintaining Social Support, Self-esteem and Psychological Stability (r = .32, p less than .05). Results suggest parents with positive attitudes toward their children's epilepsy use more positive coping behaviors than parents with less positive attitudes.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1987

Strategy for teaching evaluation research in psychiatric/mental health nursing.

The evaluation research course presented in this paper is one strategy for introducing needed evaluation research content at the graduate level in nursing. The course was developed for students who were in their final semester of completing requirements for an MSN degree with a major in psychiatric/mental health nursing. To provide for active involvement in the evaluation research process, students evaluated a psychotherapy group in which they were therapists. The theoretical framework for both class content and the evaluation research project was based on Bloch's extension of Donabedian's approach to evaluation. Using the theoretical framework as a guide, students investigated both process and outcome as well as the relationship between process and outcome. Students reported that the knowledge and skills gained were valuable to their clinical practice. On the other hand, students found the course to be very demanding and difficult to complete in a 15 week period. One unexpected benefit, however, was that the course helped students to understand group process better.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1986

Attitudes of patients with schizophrenia toward taking medication.

The attitude of 50 hospitalized persons with schizophrenia toward taking their medication was examined. Both open-ended and fixed-response estimates of attitude were made. Insight also was measured, and the relationships between insight and attitude and between hallucinations and insight were analyzed. Patients were able to provide information about beliefs and feelings about taking medication and about insight toward illness and treatment. Attitudes varied, and both strongly positive and strongly negative beliefs about taking medication were held simultaneously. Some of the implications for nursing are explained.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Crosscultural comparison on nursing image.

Conceptual ratings for 'Nurse' and 'Feminine' were investigated across 30 language/culture communities. Data were from Osgood's Atlas of Affective Meanings, which contains ratings of 1200 males from each culture on 620 concepts, using Semantic Differentials. The study provides important information regarding the image of nurses crossculturally and the close link between nursing and femininity. In general, both 'Nurse' and Feminine' were perceived to be good and active, yet weak. A crosscultural view of the nurse as impotent may limit nursing's ability to deliver health care.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reflecting on a nurse's personal experience with a stroke.

These reflections chronicle the experience of a retired nurse educator who had a stroke and shared her experience with the author. The format alternates between the first person remembrances of the nurse who had a stroke and the author's analysis of the nurse's experience. The article is followed by two nursing research perspectives.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Brief report: Adolescents' attitudes toward epilepsy: further validation of the Child Attitude Toward Illness Scale (CATIS).

OBJECTIVE: To examine adolescents' attitudes toward having epilepsy using the Child Attitude Toward Illness Scale (CATIS) and to provide further psychometric validation of the scale in this population. METHODS: Participants were 197 adolescents aged 11 to 17 years who completed the CATIS at two points and two external validation scales. Test-retest and internal consistency reliability and construct validity were computed. Analysis of variance was used to examine differences in attitudes according to gender, age, and epilepsy severity. RESULTS: Girls, older adolescents, and those with more severe epilepsy had more negative attitudes toward having epilepsy than boys, younger adolescents, and those with moderate or mild epilepsy, respectively. Psychometric analyses yielded excellent internal consistency reliability and good test-retest reliability. The CATIS was moderately correlated with self-esteem and mastery, supporting its construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: The CATIS is a useful and psychometrically sound tool to assess adolescents' attitudes toward having chronic illness.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of early pregnancy loss on adolescents.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of early pregnancy loss on adolescents' self-esteem, symptoms of depression, family relationships, grief responses, and perception of life changes. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional, comparison design was used to examine responses of 164 never-married, sexually active, low socio-economic females ages 13 to 19 years. Adolescents were placed in four groups based on pregnancy status: (1) Never Pregnant, (2) Pregnant, (3) Early Pregnancy Loss, and (4) Early Pregnancy Loss and Subsequent Pregnancy. METHODS: Reliable and valid instruments measuring self-esteem, symptoms of depression, family relationships, grief responses, and perception of life changes were used. ANOVA, chi square, t tests, and posthoc tests were used in data analyses. RESULTS: The Early Pregnancy Loss group (group 3) had significantly higher scores than all other groups on overall grief responses, grief subscales, and depressive symptoms. Groups 3 and 4 had higher physical, emotional, social, and cognitive grief scores versus Groups 1 and 2. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Adolescents who experience early pregnancy loss may have significant physical, emotional, social, and cognitive grief responses and may be at risk for depressive symptoms. Nurses should assess adolescents' responses to early pregnancy loss and provide sensitive nursing care. Discharge planning should include verbal and written information on the bereavement process and grief responses, anticipatory guidance, when and how to access health care, and referral as appropriate.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlates of behavior problems in children with epilepsy.

We report results from the first part of an ongoing longitudinal study aimed at identifying the relative contributions of demographic, seizure, and family variables in the prediction of behavior problems in children with epilepsy. We studied 127 children with epilepsy aged 8-12 years and their mothers. Self-report questionnaires, interviews, and medical records were data sources. Backward and forward stepwise elimination procedures using multiple regression indicated five variables that contributed significantly to prediction of behavior problems: female gender, family stress, family mastery, extended family social support, and seizure frequency. These factors accounted for 29% (p < 0.001) of the variation in behavioral problems. Findings suggest that family variables are important correlates of behavior problems and should be considered in clinical management of children with epilepsy.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Childhood epilepsy and asthma: comparison of quality of life.

We report results from the first data collection on an ongoing longitudinal study aimed at describing the natural history of adaptation to childhood epilepsy and asthma in children and their families. We studied 136 children with epilepsy and 134 children with asthma aged 8-12 years. Data were collected from the children, their mothers, and their school teachers through interviews, school records, and questionnaires. The two samples were compared on four domains of quality of life: physical, psychological, social, and school. Data were analyzed by a 2 x 2 between-subjects multivariate analysis of covariance with type of illness (epilepsy or asthma) as the independent variable and length of time since onset of illness as a covariate. A significant main effect was noted for illness [multivariate F (15, 236) = 11.36, p < 0.001]. Our major finding was that children with epilepsy had a relatively more compromised quality of life in the psychological, social, and school domains. In contrast, children with asthma had a more compromised quality of life in the physical domain. Our findings suggest that attention simply to seizure control in the clinical setting will not address the full range of quality-of-life problems of children with epilepsy.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of child adaptation to epilepsy and asthma.

Self-concept, home behavior and school behavior of 128 children with epilepsy and 126 children with asthma were measured in order to compare and contrast differences in psychosocial adaptation. Results indicated that children with epilepsy were experiencing significantly poorer psychosocial adaptation (p less than .001) in all three areas. An exploration of gender differences across groups indicated that girls were more at risk for the home behavior problems of depression, somatic complaints, social withdrawal and hyperactivity than boys. Clinical implications for interventions with these two populations are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors associated with self-concept in children with asthma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship of demographic asthma, family, and child factors with self-concept in children with asthma. METHODS: Data were collected twice approximately 4 years apart from both the affected children and their mothers (N = 134) via interviews and self-report questionnaire. FINDINGS: Children who demonstrated more negative attitudes toward their illness, had less satisfaction with family relationships, and used more negative coping behaviors had the poorest self-concepts. Over time, the greatest improvement in self-concept occurred in children whose attitudes and satisfaction with family relationships improved and whose use of negative coping behaviors decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that some children with asthma, especially girls with severe asthma, appear to be at risk for poor self-concept.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patient and staff perceptions of a psychiatric ward environment.

Perceptions of 37 psychiatric patients and 34 staff were surveyed to compare their views of ward environment, using items from the Ward Atmosphere Scale (WAS). The actor-observer (A-O) model, which focuses on the inclination of individuals to make ego-enhancing explanations for their situation, was used in interpreting patient and staff differences. Perceptions of patients and staff were significantly different (p less than or equal to .05) on six of the nine WAS subscales. In situations where staff take pride in a behavior (involvement, support, spontaneity, practical orientation, personal problem orientation, and program clarity), perceptions on the WAS were higher for staff than patients. In the area of staff control, which may be perceived as negative by staff, staff rated themselves as less potent than did patients. Discussion of the difference in perception has potential therapeutic use in clarifying roles, sharing of responsibility, and enhancing the ability of patients and staff to express or modify perceptions.

Adolescent↗