A major goal when conducting worksite health promotion activities is to reach a high percentage of employees. Participation rates vary, especially between blue and white-collar workers. This study investigated perceived barriers to participation in both participants and non-participants, as identified by Support, Professional and Auxiliary Service employees (which include blue and white-collar) at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie Indiana. A questionnaire was sent through interoffice mail to a random sample of employees. It included five barrier categories: perceived physical barriers, lack of perceived self-efficacy, perceived psychological barriers, convenience factors and presence of social support. The categories were subjected to an F test and results in 3 of the 5 supported the research hypothesis that there would be a significant difference in the perceived participation barrier scores. For four of the five barrier categories the mean value was highest for Professional Service employees. / Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among perceived stress, stressors, and coping mechanisms of nurses in the areas of the intensive care unit, coronary care unit, cardiac recovery unit, and the emergency room. It was proposed that nurses in these areas perceive environmental and job stressors for which they developed specific copingmechanisms. It was further proposed that a relationship exists between levels of stress and coping mechanisms used by nurses.All registered nurses (RN's) and licensed practical nurses (LPN's) in each of the above units at Ball Memorial Hospital who agreed to participate were included in the study. The nurses were surveyed by questionnaires which they completed during their leisure time and placed in a drop box on their unit. No names or signatures were asked for. Informed consent was implied by the completion and return of the questionnaire which included, the Nurse Stress Scale by Gray-Toft & Anderson (1981), a coping mechanism scale by Kelly & Cross (1985), and a demographic questionnaire. Demographic characteristics included age, gender, educational level, marital status, years of experience, and type of nurse (manager or staff and RN or LPN). No risks were foreseen to the participants. However, it is hoped that participants in the study were able to develop a greater awareness of job related stress and coping mechanisms employed.The design of the study was nonexperimental, descriptive, and correlational. The independent variable was work related stress and the dependent varible was coping mechanisms. Pearson's product moment correlation, t-test, and multivariate analysis of variance were used to analyze the data.The results indicated that there were sigificant relationships between five of the stress subscales, and selected coping mechanisms. Total stress was also found to have significant posititve correlations with four of the coping mechanisms. There were no significant differences between RNs and LPNs in general level of stress and in the seven subscales of stressors. / School of Nursing

A growing body of research suggests that certain environmental conditions may positively contribute to the healing process. Consequently, the medical and design professions are now exploring how the medical environment - both indoors and out - can better support the health and well being of its patients and their caregivers. Landscape architects and environmental psychologists are contributing to the growing interest in healing environments by exploring the relationship between nature, therapeutic gardens, and patient healing.One result of this interest has been the formulation of design recommendations for therapeutic gardens serving specific populations such as those with Alzheimer's Disease, AIDS or psychiatric illnesses. However, little attention has been given to therapeutic gardens designed to meet the needs of cancer patients even though a number of such gardens already exist. The purpose of this project is to identify design guidelines for therapeutic gardens that support the health and well being of cancer patients and to use these guidelines to design a model garden.The research for this project focused on two areas. First, literature review and interviews with employees of Ball Memorial Hospital were used to establish a base knowledge of cancer, including the emotional, physical and psychological characteristics associated with it. Next, characteristics of healing environments for cancer patients were determined through literature review, review of case studies and interviews with Ball Memorial Hospital employees. Based upon this research, design guidelines were established for therapeutic gardens serving cancer patients and applied in a design for Ball Memorial Hospital's soon to be completed CancerCenter. / Department of Landscape Architecture