<p> As the Baby Boomers age, the question of how to care for the burgeoning frail-elderly population grows more pressing. Sandwich-generation adult children are often called upon to make long-term care choices for their frail-elderly parents. This study used a Likert-type survey to determine if any of the six options for long-term care &ndash; no care, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, assisted living residences, home health care, and living at home with the sandwich-generation adult child &ndash; led to the highest degree of satisfaction for the sandwich-generation adult child who made the long-term care decision. The results indicated that having the frail-elderly parent live with the sandwichgeneration adult child brought the highest level of satisfaction.</p>

<p> Mortality rates in the United States are higher for men than they are for women as a result of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Despite these disproportionate rates, few health interventions are targeted to men, and limited knowledge exists regarding the specific components needed to design technology health tools to appeal to men. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the use of technology health tools and the role of self-efficacy in men and the influence on participation in healthy lifestyle behaviors. A quasi-experimental design was used to analyze data collected from the Health Information National Trends Survey (<i>N</i> = 990). A group of men (<i>n</i> = 323) who used technology health tools were compared to a control group of men (<i> n</i> = 667) who did not use technology health tools. Results from the regression analysis indicated that the use of technology health tools for self-management of health behavior had a significant effect on participation in healthy lifestyle behavior (<i>p</i> = .026). Self-efficacy was also found to mediate the relationship between technology health tools and participation in healthy lifestyle behavior (<i>p</i> = .018). This study supports the United States federal government's Healthy People 2020 objective to increase the proportion of people who use Internet health management tools. The implications for positive social change include knowledge for developing targeted technology health interventions to increase the participation of men in healthy lifestyle behavior, reduce the number of men with chronic diseases, improve chronic disease management, and reduce healthcare costs in the United States.</p>

<p> This study analyzes the relationship between participating in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) and being diagnosed with diabetes. Data for this study was based on participant's response to the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). This study predicted that participation in the FSP would increase the likelihood for participants to develop diabetes type-2. The variables under investigation in this study consisted of participation in the FSP, previously being diagnosed with diabetes, ability to afford and eat balanced meals, socioeconomic status (SES), and consumption rates of soda and fast food. The results of this study showed statistical significance between FSP participation and being diagnosed with diabetes, ability to afford and eat balanced meals and being part of the lower SES, as well as FSP participation and consumption rate of soda and fast food.</p>

<p> This qualitative ethnographic study explored cultural barriers influencing Hispanic Americans in managing diabetes in south Texas. The study explored a descriptive account to understand diabetes, the possibility of the disease developing, and lack of diabetes management among Hispanic Americans at the United States-Mexico border in south Texas. The study focused on recruiting 50 Hispanic American adults who have diabetes in nursing homes and doctor&rsquo;s office in Hidalgo County, Texas. The goal includes identifying common areas of cultural barriers influencing diabetes management. These barriers include language problems, family ties, keeping good and healthy diet, lifestyles, lack of education, socioeconomic issues, poor awareness, and poverty. The study used instruments including demographic questionnaire and open-ended face-to-face interview questions to collect data. The interview guide based on questions from these instruments explored cultural barriers. These barriers make it difficult for people of this ethnic background to see diabetes as a disease they can manage. This ethnographic study identified emerging themes encouraging awareness and change in the way Hispanic Americans in Hidalgo County in rural south Texas view diabetes. Future studies might involve using mixed or quantitative studies to validate findings of this study and provide a broader perspective on cultural barriers influencing the management of diabetes in minority populations.</p>

<p> According to U.S. Census figures and the Michigan Department of Community Health (2011), there are approximately 5% - 6% of children in the State of Michigan who are uninsured and it is estimated 70% of these uninsured children may be eligible for State subsidized health insurance. While the percent of uninsured children in Michigan consistently rates well below the national average, it is concerning the rate of uninsured children in Michigan is relatively stable. There are strong financial and social incentives to design outreach efforts to reach all children in the State and make these efforts an "everyday event." </p><p> This research examines the question of whether or not a school-based outreach program is effective in reaching children who are eligible for State subsidized health insurance but are uninsured and will test the following two hypotheses: </p><p> Ho1: Incorporating health status outreach into routine school district operations does not identify a statistically significant number of uninsured children. </p><p> Ho2: There is no statistical difference in the number of applications received from a school-based outreach program during the pilot period. </p><p> The pilot program takes place in six of the eleven school districts that operate in Van Buren County, MI. School districts were provided two health insurance status collection forms. Form A is designed to be distributed with the Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Form B is designed to be distributed as part of the student registration packet and welcome material. The completed Form A and Form B are sent to a State of Michigan registered application assisting agency for SCHIP application assistance and enrollment. </p><p> As a result of the survey, 156 children were identified as not having health insurance. This represents more than 44% of the 358 children who are eligible for State subsidized health insurance, in the participating school districts, but are uninsured. Enrolling these children will help the State of Michigan to meet targeted enrollment gains and earn CHIPRA performance bonus payments. The additional funds from higher CHIPRA bonus payments could be used to provide the resources to fund the following specific recommendations: </p><p> 1. The Michigan Department of Community Health should lead the effort to work with the Michigan Department of Education to modify the Free and Reduced Lunch Application to capture whether or not the applicant has health insurance. </p><p> 2. The Michigan Department of Community Health should lead the effort to incorporate into the direct certified free and reduced lunch eligibility process a systematic check as to whether or not the applicant has State subsidized health insurance. </p><p> 3. The Michigan Department of Community Health should provide resources from the expected performance bonus to work with schools across the State to implement these changes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)</p>

<p> A Survey of Physical Therapists&rsquo; Perceptions of Workplace Ethics in the State of Georgia. Roberto Cantu, 2014: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler School of Education. ERIC Descriptors: Physical Therapy, Ethics, Conflict of Interest, Ethical Instruction, Job Satisfaction. </p><p> This study examined how physical therapists in Georgia perceive ethical climates in their workplaces, based on the use of the Ethics Environment Questionnaire (EEQ), and how these perceptions may be different based on the type of workplace, financial status of their workplaces, their respective positions within their organizations, their age, gender, and years in the profession.</p><p> Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 1200 physical therapists in Georgia; 340 surveys were completed and returned. The results suggested that, overall, physical therapists in Georgia are satisfied with the ethical environments of their workplaces. The average score was 3.8, higher than the 3.5 cutoff score that indicates an ethical environment. The only sub-group that scored below 3.5 on the EEQ were those who worked in skilled nursing/assisted living facilities (<i>M</i> = 3.35, <i>SD</i> = .67). There was a statistically significant difference in scores between therapists working in for-profit settings (<i>M</i> = 3.75, <i>SD</i> = .55) and therapists working in not-for-profit settings (<i>M</i> = 3.88, <i>SD</i> = .45; <i>t</i> (335) = -2.21, <i> p</i> = .027). Clinicians had the lowest perceptions of ethical climate (3.73), executives/owners the highest (4.29), with middle managers scoring in between the two groups. There were strong negative correlations between the perception of an ethical environment with burnout and intent to leave the place of employment (<i>r_s</i> = -.66, <i>p </i> &lt; .01; <i>r_s</i> = -.524, <i>p</i> &lt; .01).</p><p> Increased governmental/insurance regulation, increased paperwork, decreased reimbursement, and productivity issues were areas of most concern to therapists. Greater communication and dialogue between clinicians and managers was the dominant theme in the recommended solutions to these concerns.</p>

<p> Workers' compensation programs have emerged as among the largest and most important social programs in the United States. Workers' compensation claims in the state of Michigan account for an expenditure of approximately 1.3 billion dollars annually (Michigan Workers' Compensation Agency, 2011. 2011 <i>Annual Report</i>). Back injuries are the most prevalent work-related injury in the United States. Since 2002, such injuries in the baby-boomer generation have increased at a rate of 50% (Toossi, 2005. <i> Labor force projections to 2014: Retiring boomers</i>). The purpose of this study is to describe the personal lived experiences of older (over 55 years old) injured employees as a result of injuring their lower backs at work. The study only examined occupational lower back injuries suffered while assembling automotive parts in the state of Michigan. The study incorporates a qualitative design, specifically an interpretative phenomenological analysis, to focus on the lived experiences of the participants, and underpins the theory of planned behavior to assist with forecasting and understanding the particular behaviors within this population. A four-step data analysis method was used to illustrate and understand the meaning and essence of the lived experience of the injured, older automobile assembler worker.</p>

<p> This study examines the impact adult supervision, role models, and civic engagement has on the health status of adolescents. The dependent variable was health status of adolescents. The independent variables were adult supervision, role models, and civic engagement. The results revealed that adult supervision is related to the health status among adolescents. Specifically, adolescents whose parents were married are more likely to report excellent to very good health. Adolescents who do not live with both parents are more likely to report that they feel hopeless and restless. One of the most consistent predictors of adolescent health status in the area of adult supervision was frequency of an adult around after school hours. Another consistent predictor of health status among this population was gender. Being female was related to worse health status among adolescents. Role model was also a predictor of excellent to very good health status among adolescents.</p>

<p> Healthy nutrition is essential for everyone but in some periods, including pregnancy, people are more susceptible and demand attention for nutrition. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approximately 300 extra calories are needed daily to maintain a healthy pregnancy for women. This study analyzes the effects of health education that is provided to pregnant women who are either seeking an office visit for routine or high-risk pregnancy. This study predicted there is no difference in being referred for any type of health education offered to pregnant women between those who received routine pregnancy care and those with high-risk care. It also predicted there is no difference in whether pregnant women are offered nutrition health education/exercise for receiving routine prenatal care and high-risk care. The Statistical Package for Social Services (SPSS) was applied to analyze the 2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) data using Chi Square statistics. The results from this study indicated no significant relationship between pregnant women who are either seeking an office visit for routine or high-risk pregnancy, as it relates to health education. These results reassure the importance of health education.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to translate evidence-based literature into policy and practice guidelines in order to improve leadership standards and skills among nurse managers and improve patient outcomes and the quality of care. Guided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Model and Lewin's change theory, which sets the framework for creating exceptional nursing leaders, a literature search was conducted from studies ranging from 2010 to 2012 from several databases. Inclusion criteria were based on the presence of one or more leadership styles discussed in the articles and the impact of leadership style on nursing satisfaction. A total of 25 articles were found during the electronic search, but only 7 articles met the inclusion criteria for analysis. The results of this review revealed that transformational leadership enhanced nursing satisfaction rates, while transactional leadership and situational leadership contributed to low levels of nursing satisfaction rates. This project contributes to positive social change for nurse managers because there is limited research available that focuses on leadership styles and its implication for practice. This project will inform the work of nurse managers by illuminating the importance of leadership styles on nursing satisfaction and work environment conditions.</p>