COHORT 4 ~ 1998-1999

Primary Care Providers’ Attitudes and Beliefs Toward Certified Nurse Midwifery

Practice in Northeastern Minnesota

Kirsten Green, Nursing

Gloria Pearson, M.A., R.N., Department of Nursing

The College of St. Scholastica

Abstract

Certified nurse-midwives (CNM) are professionals who provide care to women and infants across the country.  The practice of certified nurse-midwifery has been occurring for the past 65 years.  In Minnesota there are approximately 141 CNMs licensed to practice; however, most of these professionals are practicing in the southern portions of Minnesota.  Because collaboration with other healthcare team members is an important aspect of certified nurse-midwifery practice, the attitudes and beliefs of these individuals may have a vast impact on the practice itself.  This descriptive-correlational study utilized Lewin’s change theory and the revised Good survey to examine primary care providers’ attitudes and beliefs toward certified nurse-midwifery practice in northeastern Minnesota.  A majority of the primary care providers believe that CNMs are qualified to provide various types of skilled care to women and infants.   However, they will not consider bringing a CNM into their practice or becoming a referral for a CNM.

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Confidentiality of Patient Identifiable Healthcare Data:

The Need for a Uniform National Standard

Melissa C. Merculief, A.R.T, Health Information Management

Kathleen LaTour, M.A., R.R.A, Health Information Management

The College of St. Scholastica

ABSTRACT

Laws to protect the confidentiality of patient identifiable healthcare data need to be passed by Congress to prevent unauthorized access to such data. As databases proliferate, the issue of patient privacy must be balanced against the legitimate need for information. Computerized patient records, like paper-based records, are subject to a number of security threats and the growing public perception of the breach in privacy of patient records poses an increased threat to healthcare. Enactment of comprehensive federal legislation, consistent with the American Health Information Management Association’s key principles for health information confidentiality, will protect patient data and begin to solve security issues in a computerized or paper-based format. This qualitative study attempts to identify the crucial need for preemptive federal legislation and the positive effects of such legislation on healthcare as a whole. The need for on-going attention and future research on this topic is addressed.

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Endogenous Adenosine Inhibits Synaptic Transmission

within the Superficial Dorsal Horn of the Hamster Spinal Cord

Matthew Ostrander, Biochemistry

Tim Grudt, Ph.D., and Edward Perl, M.D.

Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,

Larry McGahey, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry

The College of St. Scholastica

ABSTRACT

The effects of endogenous adenosine on synaptic transmission within the superficial dorsal horn (SDH) of the spinal cord were studied.  Tight-seal, whole-cell recordings from neurons in laminae I and II of the SDH were obtained from transverse slices of hamster spinal cord.  The adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, 1,3,-Dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine  (DPCPX), was applied to each slice by superfusion.  After the application of DPCPX, significant increases in synaptic activity at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses were observed.  Responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the dorsal root were also observed to increase.  From these findings, it is concluded that endogenous adenosine inhibits synaptic transmission within laminae I and II of the SDH and may play an important regulatory role in nociception.

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Relationships Between High School Sex Education Satisfaction

and College Students’ Sexual Attitudes, Behavior, and Knowledge

Nancy A. Pexa, Psychology

Debra S. Schroeder, Ph.D., Department of Psychology

The College of St. Scholastica

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between high school sex education satisfaction and sexual attitudes, behavior, and knowledge.  To examine these relationships, 115 undergraduate students enrolled at a private or public institution completed a survey.  It was found that those who were more satisfied with their high school sex education had less tolerant sexual attitudes and that those who were more satisfied with their sex education program’s addressing of understanding of self had fewer sexual partners.  It also was found that those with more tolerant sexual attitudes had more sexual partners.  Those of higher class status tended to have more tolerant sexual attitudes, but less satisfaction with their high school sex education.  Catholics/Protestants and No Religion/Other differed on various sexual attitudes, and on satisfaction with high school sex education.  Implications for future research are discussed.

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Beliefs, Attitudes and Compliance Rates Among Sophomore and Junior Nursing Students

in Relation to BSE and Breast Cancer Knowledge

Nora L. Robinson, Nursing

Sr. Beverly Raway, D.M.Sc., Department of Nursing

Mary Tanner, M.S.N., R.N., Department of Nursing

The College of St. Scholastica

Abstract

          This comparative study, conducted within a small, private midwestern college, examined the differences between junior nursing students (N = 43) who had received intensive training in breast self-examination (BSE) and general breast cancer education, and sophomore nursing students (N = 34) who did not undergo this training. A modern version of a questionnaire developed by Margot Stillman (1977) was completed by all of the participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Junior nursing students demonstrated a higher level of knowledge and perceived greater benefits from the practice of BSE than did sophomore students. There was a significant correlation between perceived benefits of BSE and increased frequency of BSE; however, there was no correlation between knowledge and frequency of BSE. Junior and sophomore students did not differ in their perceived susceptibility to breast cancer, but those students who did perceive greater susceptibility practiced BSE more frequently than those with lower perception of susceptibility. 

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The Effects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

on the Daily Living Skills of Persons in a Sixteen County

Rural Area in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin

Connie Semmelroth, Nursing

Judith Stratton, M.A., R.N., Department of Nursing

The College of St. Scholastica

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to reveal the self-care deficits of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin and links the need for nursing intervention by using the Orem model for self-care deficit.  The random sample consisted of 132 men and 151 women with COPD.  Findings indicated a significant deficit in activities of daily living (ADLs) for individuals with COPD in the areas of self-care and self-maintenance.  Using the Orem model for self-care deficit, the nurse can then intervene by acting directly or by guiding, supporting, or teaching the individual with COPD or their family member with the ADLs.

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Use of Skills, Personal Religious Experience, and Social Support

as They Relate to Physical Well-being, Psychological Well-being,

and Life Satisfaction among Older Americans

Karen Weiss, Psychology

Debra S. Schroeder, Ph.D. Department of Psychology

The College of St. Scholastica

Abstract

            This study predicted that skill use, religiosity, and social support of older adults would be significantly related to the following well-being variables: psychological distress, physical symptoms related to stress, and life satisfaction.  It was also predicted that skill use would be more significant in the well-being of males, whereas religiosity and social support would be more significant in the well-being of females.  Subjects consisted of 80 females and 34 males over the age of 50, all of whom either resided in a building for senior citizens or frequented senior citizens’ centers.  Results indicated that there were significant correlations between skill use and social support and psychological distress (negative correlations) and life satisfaction (positive correlations), but not between skill use and social support and physical symptoms related to stress.  Religiosity positively correlated with life satisfaction, but did not correlate with psychological distress or physical symptoms related to stress.  Hypotheses about gender differences were not supported.

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Warriors Within:  A Study of Native Americans’ Recidivism Rates

and How They Compare to Trauma, Alcohol/Drug Abuse,

Cultural Conflict and Problem Solving Skills

Julie Yaekel, Psychology

Chip Beal, M.Ed., Multicultural Affairs Coordinator

University of Wisconsin – Superior

ABSTRACT

Citizens assume that the experience of incarceration reduces recidivism.  However, in some states recidivism is as high as 50%.  The truth behind these statistics is they do not represent the general population, but are an over-representation of minorities.  Recidivism rates for Native Americans in Minnesota are 52%-70%, depending on short or long-term placements.  In contrast, the recidivism rates for Caucasians is 33%.  This study addresses the manner in which these rates may be influenced by Post Traumatic Cultural Disorder (PTCD): a reexperiencing of a previous or present value or cultural conflict leading to stress and conflict that culminates into a probable codependent dysfunctional state, with a major emphasis upon loss of identity and boundary/control and relational difficulties.  The study specifically examines correlations between re-offending and substance abuse, trauma, cultural conflict and the ability to problem solve among Native American men.  The study shows a significant correlation between incarceration and alcohol/drug treatment as well as incarceration and out of home placements in early childhood.  Traditional cultural identity brought the Native American men into greater conflict with the dominant society and contributed to an increased recidivism rate. Further research includes the need to look at out of home placement verses any family and social influences.

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