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Biomedical subjects

L L Harrison

Publications and source records attributed to L L Harrison.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Physiologic and behavioral effects of gentle human touch on preterm infants.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a gentle human touch (GHT) intervention provided to 42 preterm infants (27-33 weeks gestational age), for 10 min, three times daily for 10 days. There was no significant difference in mean HR levels or in percent of abnormal heart rate (HR) or O2 saturation comparing 10-min baseline (B), GHT, and 10-min post-touch (PT) phases. There were significantly lower levels of active sleep, motor activity, and behavioral distress during GHT compared to B and P phases. There were no differences among the 42 infants in the GHT group and 42 infants in a randomly assigned control group on any outcome variable including weight gain, morbidity status, or behavioral organization. The findings suggest that GHT generally is a safe and soothing type of touch to provide to young preterm infants, but that individual infant responses to touch need to be continuously monitored by NICU staff and parents.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Factors associated with vagal tone responses in preterm infants.

The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to vagal tone (VNA) among preterm infants receiving a 10-minute gentle human touch (GHT) intervention three times daily for 10 days. VNA was measured continuously for 10 minutes before, during, and after each 10-minute GHT intervention. Findings indicated that there was a significant relationship between VNA and gestational age, although there were no relationships between VNA and measures of motor activity or behavioral distress. There was no difference in pattern of response to GHT or level of morbidity, average daily weight gain, or behavioral organization among infants with low, moderate, and high baseline VNA levels. There was no difference in VNA comparing infants in the GHT and control groups or during baseline, touch, and posttouch phases for infants in the GHT group. There is a need for further research to examine the usefulness of VNA as a measure of stress vulnerability among preterm infants.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Administration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate retards onset but not progression of autoimmune disease in NZB/W mice.

NZB/W mice spontaneously develop an autoimmune disease characterized by the formation of anti-DNA antibodies and subsequent development of a fatal immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. Treatment of NZB/W F1 female mice with DHEAS, a precursor of DHEA, beginning at 2 months of age delayed the onset of autoimmune disease and prolonged survival. Animals treated with DHEAS beginning at 2 months of age had significantly lower anti-dsDNA serum antibody titers when compared to controls. Interestingly, DHEAS treatment had no effect on titers of anti-phosphatidylcholine (PtC) "natural" antibodies. Serum levels of IL-10, which increase with onset of disease, were also significantly reduced in mice treated with DHEAS beginning at 2 months of age. In contrast, if DHEAS treatment was started at 6 months of age, there was no effect on mortality rates. In addition, treatment of animals with DHEAS beginning at 6 months of age did not lower serum titers of anti-dsDNA and had no ameliorating effect on anti-PtC antibody production. Serum levels of IL-10 were also unaffected in mice treated with DHEAS beginning at 6 months of age. Together, these data suggest that parenteral administration of DHEAS is effective at delaying autoimmune disease and prolonging survival when given prior to the onset of symptoms. However, DHEAS treatment does not affect the course of disease when treatment begins after the onset of disease. We propose that DHEA(S) therapy used under similar conditions would not provide a clinically beneficial effect in the specific symptoms of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Changes in nursing students' knowledge about and attitudes toward research following an undergraduate research course.

This study examined changes in baccalaureate nursing students' attitudes toward and knowledge about research, following completion of a research course. The teaching methods used in the course included having students critique research articles, complete objective examinations, and work in small groups to develop research proposals. The sample of 54 students completed a pretest and two post-tests measuring research knowledge, and a pretest and one post-test measuring research attitudes. The pretest was administered at the beginning of the research course, and the first post-test was administered at the end of the course. The second post-test was administered during the students' last semester in the nursing programme. Students reported more positive attitudes toward research at the end of the programme than at the beginning of the course. Knowledge scores were significantly higher at the end of the course than at the beginning of the course or at the end of the programme. There was no differences in knowledge scores on the pretest and on the second post-test. The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of traditional research curricula in preparing baccalaureate nursing students to be competent research consumers.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

Effects of early parent touch on preterm infants' heart rates and arterial oxygen saturation levels.

A descriptive exploratory design was used in this study to evaluate the effects of early parent touch on the heart rates and arterial oxygen (O2) saturation levels of 36 preterm infants. The infants were between 27-33 weeks gestational age at birth, and were free of congenital defects. Infants were videotaped during parent visits on up to three separate occasions during the first month of life. Parents were encouraged to interact with their infants as they usually would, and data on the infants' heart rates and O2 saturation levels were recorded every 6 seconds on a portable computer that was interfaced with the infants' monitors. Mean O2 saturation levels were significantly lower during parent touch than during baseline periods on 45% of the visits, and significantly higher during parent touch periods on 19% of the visits. O2 saturation variability was greater during periods of parent touch, and there were more abnormal O2 saturation values during parent touch than during baseline periods. Mean heart rates during parent touch were significantly lower compared to baseline on 17% of the visits, and were higher during parent touch on 43% of the visits. There were no overall differences in mean heart rates between baseline, parent touch and post-visit classifications, although heart rate variability was greater during periods of parent touch. The results indicate that preterm infants' responses to early parent touch are variable, and suggest that blanket policies that limit parent touch during the early weeks of life may not be appropriate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cues↗
PubMed1989

Interfacing bioinstruments with computers for data collection in nursing research.

Nurse researchers gain many advantages over manual collection and recording of data when they interface bioinstruments with computer technology for data collection. This article describes both the advantages and disadvantages of such technology, and uses examples from a study evaluating the effects of parent touch on preterm infants to illustrate strategies to overcome potential disadvantages.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of a gerontological nursing continuing education programme: effect on nurses' knowledge and attitudes and on patients' perceptions and satisfaction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a four-session (8-hour) gerontological nursing continuing education (CE) programme on nurses' knowlege of and attitudes towards the elderly. The study also sought to ascertain the effects of the CE programme on patient satisfaction with and perceptions of nursing care. Seventy-six nurses completed the Miller-Dodder Revision of the Palmore Facts on Ageing Quiz and the Kogan Attitudes Towards Old People Scale before and after participating in the CE programme. Post-test scores on both measures were slightly but significantly higher than pretest scores. Thirty hospitalized elderly patients were interviewed before and 33 were interviewed after the CE programme was offered to the nurses on their hospital units, using the LaMonica-Oberst Patient Satisfaction Scale and the Harrison-Novak Patient Perception Scale. Post-test measures of patient satisfaction and perception were not significantly different from pretest scores. Patients were generally satisfied with their nursing care, but perceived that nurses did not focus on health promotion activities. In addition, 59% of the patients indicated that they were unable to distinguish nurses from other health care providers. The article identifies implications of the study for nursing education, practice and research.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dysregulation of IL-10 production with aging: possible linkage to the age-associated decline in DHEA and its sulfated derivative.

Peripheral lymphoid cells isolated from the spleens and peritoneal cavities of aged mice were found to constitutively secrete the multifunctional cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 when cultured in vitro. B-Lymphocytes were implicated as the cell type responsible. Abnormal expression of this cytokine was also detected in vivo because high levels of mRNA for IL-10 were present in splenocytes freshly isolated from aged animals. In addition to the spontaneous secretion of IL-10, lymphoid cells from aged donors were hyperresponsive to exogenous stimulation with endotoxin, producing exaggerated quantities of both IL-10 and IL-6 in culture. Treatment of aged animals with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), a natural steroid, reversed the age-associated alterations in cytokine production, rendering the treated mice quite similar to mature adult controls. DHEAS treatment of aged mice also resulted in a lowering in the number of B1 cells present in the peritoneal cavity and also reduced the titers of circulating autoantibodies specific for phosphatidylcholine (PtC). Based on its wide range of biologic activities, a dysregulation in the mechanisms that control IL-10 production could be a major contributor to immunosenescence. The ability of DHEAS treatment to restore normal control over the expression of IL-10 may explain how this steroid enhances immunocompetence in aged animals.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Freshmen baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions of their academic and nonacademic experiences: implications for retention.

As a component of the evaluation for a program designed to enhance recruitment and retention of disadvantaged nursing students, qualitative interviews were conducted, with a sample of 20 baccalaureate nursing students at the end of their freshman year. Students were asked to describe positive aspects of their academic and nonacademic experiences as well as problems that were experienced, with recommendations for resolving these problems. Positive aspects of the freshman experience that were identified included academic, social, familial, and financial support. Problems cited were related to two categories of factors, external and internal. Problems related to external factors included excessive academic loads, course-specific problems such as with the sciences, large class size, faculty inattentiveness, racial tensions, dorm/roommate problems, and parking or commuting time. Problems related to internal factors included poor study habits, loneliness, homesickness, family conflicts, and difficulties with peer relationships. The findings can be used by nursing faculty to determine the extent to which programs address students' perceived needs and to identify innovative retention strategies that would enhance students' perceptions of their college experience.

Alabama↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Implementing the research facilitator role.

What are the factors that enhance or impede successful implementation of the research facilitator role in a school of nursing? The authors review the literature related to research facilitation and describe their experiences in planning, implementing and evaluating research facilitator roles in two different schools of nursing. Implications for others initiating similar roles are identified.

Faculty, Nursing↗