Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P K Pletsch

Publications and source records attributed to P K Pletsch.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Inclusion of children in clinical research: lessons learned from mothers of diabetic children.

Nine mothers of diabetic children participated in a qualitative study about the factors that influenced them to consent to have their children involved in clinical research. They were asked to describe how they made decisions about involving their children in research, what motivated them to keep their children in research once they were enrolled, and how they evaluated the clinical studies their children had been in. Results suggest that mothers engage in a personal calculus before making a choice to consent.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Recruitment of minority subjects for intervention research.

Recruitment of ethnic or racial minority subjects for health intervention research is a methodologic challenge. A recruitment plan that consisted of a feasibility analysis, recruitment strategies and activities, and evaluation was developed and used for a smoking cessation study of pregnant Latinas. Specific recruitment recommendations for similar research consist of a thorough feasibility analysis, developing partnerships with target groups and community members, using active face-to-face recruitment, and using process evaluation techniques.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure among Hispanic women of reproductive age.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a potential health risk for women of reproductive age and their children. Household and workplace exposures were estimated for 4256 Hispanic women age 12 to 49 who participated in the Hispanic health and nutrition examination survey. Age-specific household exposure for nonsmokers was 31% to 62% for Mexican-Americans, 22% to 59% for Puerto Ricans, and 40% to 53% for Cuban-Americans. Exposure was significantly high for Puerto Rican and Mexican-American adolescents, 59% and 62%, respectively. Workplace exposure for nonsmokers was 22% to 35% for Mexican-Americans, 28% to 33% for Puerto Ricans, and 33% to 49% for Cuban-Americans. Young Mexican-American and Puerto Rican and all Cuban-American women reported high exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the home or workplace. Assessment of family living and smoking patterns, understanding cultural values and norms, and household smoking control and cessation strategies that are mutually derived are useful for nurses and Hispanic and Latino populations to meet the environmental tobacco smoke health objectives for the nation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Self-image among early adolescents: revisited.

Early adolescence is the developmental period during which children make the physical, psychological, cognitive, and social transitions to adolescence. Because the development of a healthy conceptualization of the self is foundational to adequate functioning later in life, self-image is a concept of interest to clinicians and researchers. Offer, Ostrov, and Howard (1981) conducted considerable research in the area and demonstrated that early adolescents have the capacity for self-reflection and are willing to share their reflections with others. Most early adolescents tend to be self-conscious due, chiefly, to the numerous physical and emotional changes occurring during this time period (M. P. Strommen & A. L. Strommen, 1985). Behavior is characterized by moodiness, impulsiveness, peer influence (Robin, 1985), and a growing resistance to authority. These factors usually result in an awkward child attempting to exert independence in an unprecedented fashion about a variety of topics (Manning, 1983). The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-image of early adolescents, aged 11 to 14 years, in order to plan for the health and developmental needs of middle school children and their families. Survey data were collected to answer the questions: (a) What is the self-image of a representative sample of middle school students in the community?; and (b) Are there differences in self-image based on gender, race, and parental occupation?

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Hispanics: at risk for adolescent pregnancy?

Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982-1984, were analyzed to describe pregnancy, miscarriage, and age-specific birth rates as well as oral contraceptive use among Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, and Cuban-American females age 12 to 19 years. The Cuban-American sample (n = 85) had the lowest pregnancy (99) and fertility (37) rates, with 6.5% ever having used oral contraceptives. In the Mexican-American (n = 638) and Puerto Rican women (n = 300) the pregnancy and fertility rates were 205 and 223, and 141 and 110, respectively. Of these two groups, 14.5% and 12.6% had ever used oral contraceptives. These results suggest that Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans are at risk for adolescent pregnancy, with the latter having more of the sociodemographic characteristics associated with the long-term disadvantages of early childbearing. These facts have implications for nursing practice and research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Substance use and health activities of pregnant adolescents.

Little is known about substance use by pregnant adolescents or the possible effects of such use on their offspring. In this case-control study, substance use and selected health and social variables of 119 pregnant and 313 nonpregnant inner-city high school students are assessed. The most commonly used substances are alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. Pregnant subjects used substances similarly to their nonpregnant counterparts, but were more likely to smoke cigarettes. Pregnant and nonpregnant subjects thought a baby is put at great risk for harm if its mother uses a substance during pregnancy. Pregnant subjects demonstrated more positive health behaviors than nonpregnant subjects. Recommendations for intervention are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Birth defect prevention. Nursing interventions.

Nurses who are knowledgeable about the principles of teratology can effectively assist families in preventing neonatal malformation and dysfunction. A review of the history and development of the field of teratology, related research purposes and methods, a list of currently known teratogenic agents, and recommendations for nursing interventions for primary and secondary prevention are provided.

Congenital Abnormalities↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hysterectomy: what do women need and want to know?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe women's experiences of hysterectomy and to identify their fears, concerns, and met as well as unmet health care needs. DESIGN: Narrative data of women's hysterectomy experiences were collected via a written survey. SETTING: Data were collected from women living in southeastern Wisconsin. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 102 women who had undergone hysterectomy within the previous 2 years. The mean age of the women was 43 and mean time since hysterectomy was 13 months. Eighty percent of the women had undergone both hysterectomy and oophorectomy, and 78% were taking hormone replacement therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A questionnaire of women's hysterectomy needs and a demographic questionnaire were used to collect data via mail. The data from three open-ended questions were content analyzed. RESULTS: Seven themes about women's experiences of hysterectomy were identified: (a) positive aspects, (b) hormone replacement therapy, (c) insufficient information, (d) changes in sexual feelings and functioning, (e) emotional support, (f) psychologic sequelae, and (g) feelings of loss. CONCLUSIONS: Women wanted treatment choices, a part in decision-making, accurate and useful information at an appropriate time, provider support, and access to professional and lay support systems. The essentials for hysterectomy care are outlined and include the characteristics of care that women desire, the informational content that women want, health care systems that support patient satisfaction, and the outcomes women want.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of cigarette smoking in Hispanic women of childbearing age.

A secondary analysis of Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data was conducted to determine the prevalence and degree of cigarette smoking among large probability samples of Cuban-American, Mexican-American, and Puerto Rican women of childbearing age. Percentages, means, and 95% confidence intervals were used to determine age-adjusted and age-specific rates for each Hispanic group. Age-adjusted smoking prevalence rates were 23.2%, 22.6%, and 33.5% for Mexican-Americans, Cuban-Americans, and Puerto Ricans, respectively. Age-specific rates indicated that all Puerto Rican women under the age of 40, Mexican-American women in their 40's, and Cuban-American women in their 30's had smoking prevalences higher than the national average for women. Although most Hispanic women were relatively light smokers, prevention and cessation interventions need to be developed for Puerto Rican women of childbearing age who demonstrated high smoking prevalences.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The cigarette smoking experience of pregnant Latinas in the United States.

Cigarette smoking is harmful to pregnant women and their babies. Although there is a considerable body of knowledge about cigarette smoking and smoking cessation behavior, Latinas in the United States have been included in only a few studies. This research was conducted to explore the smoking and smoking cessation experiences of pregnant Latinas. Sixteen English-speaking pregnant Latina smokers participated in 1 of 4 focus group discussions of smoking-related experiences. Thematic content analysis of data resulted in the elaboration of 3 processes inherent in smoking and smoking cessation for participants: how these Latinas used smoking in their daily lives, how pregnancy influenced their smoking, and what quitting was like for them. Strong family influences were evident in all themes. Recommendations include the development of culturally appropriate, tailored tobacco control programs that engage family members in the smoking cessation process.

Adult↗