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Biomedical subjects

M A Sweeney

Publications and source records attributed to M A Sweeney.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Evaluating the nonverbal communication skills of nursing students.

This study examined the accuracy rate of judging nonverbal skills used by nursing students in communicating with patients. Self-ratings of the students were compared with composite instructor ratings to find areas of disagreement regarding the quality of the nonverbal skills. Students who rated their nonverbal acuity higher than the instructors and students who rated their nonverbal acuity lower than the instructors were parceled out of the total sample of 92 senior nursing students enrolled in a baccalaureate program. Nonverbal acuity was measured by asking subjects to identify nonverbal information about emotional states from pictures. A November Picture Test consisting of 120 pictorial items was utilized as the dependent variable. Results showed that almost one half of the sample disagreed with the instructor rating applied to their nonverbal skills with patients. The differences between the groups was significant at the 0.05 level and the students were accurate in designating the direction of difference. Results are discussed in relation to clinical evaluation by both faculty and students in appraising communication skills. Implications such as grade inflation are discussed and recommendations for further study are covered.

Boston↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An educational intervention for advance directives.

In spite of the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act in 1991, research indicates that providing information alone has not brought about a significant increase in the completion rates of advance directive (AD) documents. The purpose of this pilot study was to design, implement, and evaluate an interactive multimedia CD-ROM educational program on AD. Study subjects consisted of 31 volunteer elderly men and women in a senior citizens center. An interactive multimedia CD-ROM program was developed in phase I of the study. Subjects were administered on-line pretests and posttests. The effectiveness of the CD-ROM intervention was measured by AD attitude and knowledge changes. A program satisfaction scale was used, and an observer rated the subjects' use of the computer program. Subjects had a statistically significant change in posttest knowledge scores and a high degree of satisfaction and ease in using the computer program. The use of an interactive multimedia CD-ROM program with a touch-sensitive monitor to operate a computer-based AD program for senior citizens shows future promise.

Advance Directives↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An investigation of breast-feeding practices in a binational population.

Too few Mexican and Mexican-American mothers breast feed their babies. Results of a study of breast-feeding attitudes in Tijuana and San Diego point to the need for education, guidance, and support at the community level if more young mothers in this population are to give their newborns the advantages of breast feeding.

Adult↗