Note:

Purpose: The purposes of this study were: (a) to describe the physical and mental health status of Afghan immigrant women in one Canadian city; (b) to construct an Afghan cultural model of pain (experience and management) using interview data and available literature; (c) to explore the experience of chronic pain and its management among Afghan immigrant women, both culturally and individually; and (d) to identify potential barriers to chronic pain management for both Afghan immigrant women and their health care providers. Methods: This study has two parts; questionnaires were used in Part 1, and semi-structured interviews supplemented by three short questionnaires were used in Part 2. Interpretive description methodology using thematic analysis and conceptual mapping was used for analysis of interviews in Part 2. Results: SF-36 responses (n = 9) in Part 1 suggested that the physical health status of the Afghan women was better than their mental health status. Health sciences literature and interviews with 6 Afghan immigrant women and 1 healthcare professional were used to construct cultural models of pain experience and pain management. Findings indicated that Afghan immigrant women who experienced and managed their chronic pain within their cultural model did so holistically across multiple factors: environmental, spiritual, biological, and psychological. However, each individual internalized their cultural model of pain in varying amounts. Barriers in healthcare access that prevented Afghan immigrant women from managing their pain well included: (a) different cultural perspectives between Afghan immigrant women and healthcare professionals regarding how pain is experienced and managed; and (b) communication difficulties between healthcare professionals and Afghan immigrant women. Significance of Findings: Cultural perspectives on pain experience and pain management influence treatment expectations and pain management. Differences in cultural perspectives are a barrier in healthcare access that prevents Afghan immigrant women from managing their pain well. Addressing the differences in perspective identified in this study will increase understanding for healthcare professionals as they work together with Afghan immigrant women patients, thereby improve communication and reduce barriers to pain management.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Clinical and Developmental Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-53). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004 & res_dat=xri:pqdiss & rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation & rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR31988.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2008. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-93). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR45952

Thesis (M.Tech.:Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xii, [137] leaves / Musculoskeletal injuries in computer users are an increasing concern. The computer has become an essential working tool that is used throughout all levels of companies and organisations. Management and professional personnel are required to use computers, often without training in typing skills, this combined with higher stress and responsibility levels and lengthy work hours. Potentially this makes them a high-risk group for work related injury. Previous research has focused mainly on data entry and secretarial workers, who are often competent in typing and keyboard skills. There is an increasing body of literature that implicates a wide variety of factors responsible for computer and office related musculoskeletal injury, however there is still much conflict as to what factors play the most influential role in development of these disorders. Conflict largely remains over the role of individual and constitutional factors versus workplace factors such as ergonomic design and patterns of computer use. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of and related risk factors associated with work related musculoskeletal injuries of the neck and shoulder in non-secretarial computer users within the South African context.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Edith Cowan University, 2006. / Submitted to the Faculty of Education and Arts. Photographs by Nick Djordjevic. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 59 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 29-32).

Thesis (doctoral)--Munich, 1935. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 16).

Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1998. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

Thesis (B.A.)--Haverford College, Dept. of Psychology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.