Maintaining appropriate glucose levels is important to patients with diabetes because it helps to improve patients' quality of life and prevents medical complications. This study was designed to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in blood glucose levels between a treatment group that completed a certified diabetes education program with telephonic follow-up by a diabetes educator and a comparison group that also received the certified diabetes education program but without telephonic follow-up. A pretest/posttest control group design was used which randomly assigned subjects to groups by clusters. From the analysis of data it was determined that there was no statistical difference in blood glucose levels between the treatment and the comparison groups. Therefore, weekly telephonic follow-up did not statistically impact blood glucose levels in the treatment group. However, the results did indicate that the telephonic follow-up may have impacted the proportion of patients who returned for post blood glucose testing and sought treatment for other related health concerns. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

The purpose of this study was to compare the perception of the nurse and the perception of the patient in identifying priorities for his learning needs with respect to the hospital environment and to his medical condition. A Q-sort of statements related to these two learning needs was developed and used to test the nurses' perception and the patients' perception of these learning needs. The diabetic patient was selected for study because his learning needs with respect to his condition are well documented, and the general staff nurse was selected because she is responsible for direct patient care. To test the hypotheses, the Q-sort was administered to 50 newly hospitalized diabetic patients, to 50 general staff nurses directly responsible for the care of these patients, and to 50 general staff nurses having no contact with a patient or no direct responsibility for his care. The study was conducted in a large hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. The hypotheses assumed that the two groups of nurses and the patients would assign different priorities to the patients' learning needs. The .05 level of significance was used in this study. An analysis of selected personal characteristics of the patients provided a description of the patient population. The findings showed that all but one patient had been in hospital before, and that only three patients were newly diagnosed diabetics. An analysis of selected personal characteristics of the nurses indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups. Thus, any differences in perception could not be attributed to these characteristics. The Q-sort scores of all three groups were examined for differences in perception and the selected personal characteristics were tested with respect to these scores. The results indicated that both groups of nurses and the patients assigned a greater degree of importance to the patient's learning needs related to his diabetic condition than those related to the hospital environment. Although the nurses attached a greater degree of importance to the former needs than did the patients, the difference was not significant. The results also indicated that a majority of nurses and patients, matched as pairs, perceived the patient's learning needs related to the diabetic condition as more important, and yet there was a significant difference in perception. Other results showed a high degree of correlation between both groups of nurses and the patients and the nurses responsible for their care, with respect to priorities assigned to statements within each of the two categories of learning needs. Although the selected personal characteristics of each group were tested with respect to their more important Q-sort scores, only a limited number of relationships were significant for the patients and the nurses directly responsible for their care and none for the other group of nurses. These significant relationships were age, marital status, duration of illness, and education of the patients, and additional education and experience of the nurses. The results of the study have demonstrated the value of the Q-sort technique as a procedure for acquiring data with respect to the learning needs of the patient. The analysis of the data of the nurses and the patients under their care provided a measurement of the quality of patient care. In addition, the analysis of the data of the patients provided a guide for the establishment of a desirable learning sequence for the individual patient. / Education, Faculty of / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Psychiatry / Master / Master of Philosophy

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in physical selfconcept due to level of physical activity or the subject's frame of reference. Participants included female students in two HSC-160 courses and members of the Ball State University women's softball, field hockey, and basketball teams in the fall of 2000. The study was conducted using a demographic questionnaire, the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ), and a physical activity log. Subjects received instructions to complete the PSDQ comparing themselves to either someone more physically fit or less physically fit. Subjects chose one of three physical activity levels, nonparticipant, exercisers, or athlete, based on definitions given on the demographic questionnaire. Results of the study indicated that as the level of physical activity increased, so did physical self-concept scores. Results did not find a significant difference in frame of reference and level of physical activity. / School of Nursing

One-hundred and thirty two insulin-dependent diabetic college students in the state of Indiana comprised the study sample. Within this study, the attitudes, behaviors, knowledge and perceived educational needs were assessed from the sample through a questionnaire. The college students with diabetes who were currently attending either one of the participating sixteen schools or under the care of one physician participating in this study, were voluntarily asked to respond to a 64 item questionnaire by mail. A 53 percent (70 of 132) response rate was achieved. The findings showed that the subjects displayed positive attitudes, an adequate knowledge level and adequate behavior practices. The results also revealed a need for educational programs aimed specifically towards the college student with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Such an education program would include topics which the subjects rated as being of importance to them. Considerations for further study include the effect of these behaviors, attitudes, knowledge levels, and perceived education needs directly on blood glucose control. / Department of Physiology and Health Science