Thesis (Ph. D.)--New York University, School of Education, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-121). Also available in electronic format on the World Wide Web. Access restricted to users affiliated with the licensed institutions.

<p> This study examines females&rsquo; various motives and barriers for running. Female event participation has grown exponentially over the past two decades. However, current research does not explore levels of runners to include the evolving running culture, nor does it explore stages experienced throughout motherhood in connection to running. Using an online questionnaire, a total of 150 female runners were grouped into different runner levels (e.g. serious, enthusiastic, and incidental) as well as different stages of motherhood (e.g. mothers with young children, mothers with school aged children, mothers with older children, and females with no children). Participants completed the Motivations of Marathoners Scales (MOMS) to measure running motives and a modified version of the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS) to measure running barriers. Multiple multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) analyses were used to test the hypothesized differences. As a group, serious runners endorsed goal achievement, competition, life meaning, psychological coping, and affiliation as reasons for running. Enthusiastic runners were more likely to endorse personal goal achievement than incidental runners. Additionally, mothers with young children were more likely to cite family barriers as barriers to running than mothers with older children or females with no children. The findings&rsquo; potential applications to research, programs, policy, and training are discussed.</p><p>

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University

An intervention study was conducted in a Vancouver, British Columbia High School in the Spring of 1977. The objective of the study was to measure changes in knowledge, attitude and behaviour in regard to the cardiovascular risk-factors, smoking, physical inactivity and high-fat diet, following a short-term educational program. The principal hypotheses were that students exposed to an educational program directed towards reducing cardiovascular risk-behaviours will: (I) have more knowledge about cardiovascular risk-behaviours than students who are not exposed to the program. (2) have a more positive attitude towards reducing cardiovascular risk-behaviours than students who are not exposed to the program. (3) will change their behaviour in such a way as to practice fewer risk-behaviours than students who are not exposed to the program. The majority of the students in the study school were from middle-class backgrounds and were in the university entrance program. The study population consisted of all of the students in grade 9 and one-half of the students in grade 10 and 11 for a total of 510 students. The students were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was exposed to a health educational program directed towards reducing risk of cardiovascular disease. The program consisted of a presentation by a health educator, a film and written materials provided by the British Columbia Heart Foundation. The control group took part in the regular school guidance classes. A pretest, post-test research design was used. The measuring instrument used was a written questionnaire developed from the content of the educational program. The students completed the same questionnaire before and after their exposure to the educational program. The students also took part in pretest, post-test fitness testing using the Canada Home Fitness Test. The 287 students exposed to the educational program were compared with 187 from the same grade and school who were not exposed to the educational program. In regard to the hypotheses stated above, significantly more students in the intervention group answered 11 of the 34 of the knowledge questions correctly. There were no differences between the intervention and nonintervention groups indicated by replies to the questions about attitude towards reducing cardiovascular risk. There were no differences between the intervention and nonintervention group in self-reported, cardiovascular risk-behaviour. Fitness levels as measured by the Canada Home Fitness Test showed a puzzling increase in fitness among the nonintervention group. In summary, the study indicated that students exposed to a health educational program in school had a significant increase in health knowledge but not in health, attitude nor behaviour. The evidence in this study that students made significant knowledge gains following an educational program, together with the theory that knowledge of factual information is often the first step in the decision making process (Bloom, 1956), justifies continued health educational programs in schools. Although, this study did not provide evidence of attitude or behaviour change in the short-term, further long-term evaluative studies of health educational programs in the schools are indicated. / Medicine, Faculty of / Population and Public Health (SPPH), School of / Graduate

Traumatic rib fractures are common in blunt force trauma and present numerous complications. These fractures are caused by excessive force to the chest wall in scenarios such as car accidents, falls, and assaults, as well as penetrating injuries. Rib fractures are extremely prevalent in blunt thoracic trauma, as 2/3 of patients involved in motor vehicle accidents present with fractures.1 The number of rib fractures directly correlates with an increase in morbidity and mortality and it is recommended that patients with 3 or more rib fractures be hospitalized.2 Flail chest involves 3 or more ribs fractured in two or more places resulting in a floating segment and paradoxical movement with inspiration.3 This abnormal breathing pattern can compromise respiratory effort, increase the work of breathing, and necessitate intubation and ventilator support. Both flail chest and multiple rib fractures are associated with numerous complications including pneumonia, respiratory failure, fracture non-union (non-healing fractures), and chronic disability.4 Standard conservative treatment for multiple severe rib fractures and flail chest includes pain control and pulmonary care and support. Numerous studies have found an increase in hospital stay, time on a mechanical ventilator, and worse long-term outcomes with conservative management.5 6 In recent years surgical rib fixation has become increasingly popular at specific trauma centers around the world, although no current guidelines exist for when to perform the procedure, who would benefit the most, and which surgical approach should be utilized. Some recent research indicates there may be a benefit of surgical rib fixation in regards to long-term outcomes, initial recovery, and hospital stay. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the current randomized controlled trials comparing surgical rib fixation and other conservative treatment methods to determine if there is a quantifiable benefit of surgery, when it can be implemented, and in what population it should be utilized. A study will be proposed to further evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of surgical rib fixation for multiple traumatic rib fractures.

No description available.

No description available.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects on parental quality of life in managing sleep disturbances associated with their child’s atopic dermatitis by integrating sleep behavioral interventions in pediatric atopic dermatitis management. DESIGN: Randomized Control Trial SETTING: Boston Medical Center Pediatrics and Pediatric Dermatology Program Participants: 126 pediatricians, dermatologists and pediatric dermatologists; 384 parents of children ages less 6 years old with atopic dermatitis; and 384 children ages less than 6 years old with atopic dermatitis INTERVENTIONS: This study will provide two webinar modules on sleep behavioral intervention made by experienced psychologists and sleep medicine specialists from existing multidisciplinary care settings for the intervention arm of recruited pediatricians, dermatologists, and pediatric dermatologists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measured is the score changes in a 26-item parental quality of life questionnaire at the initial first visit and 12-month follow-up appointments. A monthly electronic 5-subscale survey will be sent to all recruited physicians to assess the frequency of addressing and counseling on sleep behavioral interventions to their pediatric AD patients and their parents. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Primary pediatric physicians and dermatologists, including pediatric dermatologists, should recognize, address, and integrate sleep behavioral counseling and interventions in pediatric atopic dermatitis management. Sleep behavioral interventions should be addressed in anticipation of development of sleep disturbances given the potential impact on children with AD and importance of quality sleep in a growing child. Recognizing and counseling on sleep disturbances can improve parental/caretaker confidence in caring for their child, which may overall improve the quality of life for the parent, child and family.