Thesis (M.A. (Nursing Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The aim of the study is to determine the knowledge and practices of midwives regarding the utilization of cardiotocography in labour units, at Hospital A and Hospital B, Waterberg District in Limpopo Province. Further, the objective of the study is to explore and describe the knowledge and practices of midwives regarding the utilization of cardiotocography in labour units and to develop strategies to enhance midwifery practices and knowledge regarding the utilization of cardiotocography in the labour units of Hospital A and Hospital B. The research question is:” What is the knowledge and practices of midwives regarding the utilization of cardiotocography in the labour units of Hospital A and Hospital B?” The Donabedian Model has been used as a theoretical framework. A qualitative exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design has been used in this study. Purposive sampling was used to sample eighteen (18) participants from Hospital A and Hospital B. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Tesch’s eight steps of qualitative data analysis were followed and two themes and ten sub-themes emerged. The study found that there were several challenges encountered by participants such as a shortage of material and human resources and lack of continuous training which has a negative impact on the provision of midwifery care. The study recommends that the Department of Health should appointment new skilled midwives as there is shortage of staff, to improve service delivery. It should ensure that there is a guaranteed supply and availability of equipment, such as CTG. The nursing administration should ensure that there is adequate training for midwives. This includes in-service training, workshops and a post basic advanced midwifery course.

Simultaneous maternal indirect blood pressure measurements, electronic fetal heart rate monitoring, and ultrasonographic biophysical profile testing were used to assess maternal-fetal homeostasis in gravid ewes during gestational days 127 to 134 (term 146), during a 72-hour fast, and during treatment with thromboxane synthetase inhibitors CGS13080 and CGS12970. Seventy-five percent of the ewes (12 of 16) developed clinical signs of ovine pregnancy-induced hypertension, including maternal hypertension and fetal depression. In three untreated hypertensive ewes, pregnancy was terminated by spontaneous premature delivery, and one maternal death occurred after an eclamptic seizure. All nine ewes treated with one of the two thromboxane synthetase inhibitors responded to therapy with decreases in blood pressure and resolution of fetal depression. These nine ewes completed gestation, and were delivered at term. These data indicate that therapy with thromboxane synthetase inhibitors in this animal model of preeclampsia results in profoundly beneficial effects and suggest that further studies of thromboxane synthetase inhibitors are warranted in preeclampsia.

No description available.

A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Engineering, in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. January 2017 Johannesburg / It is well known that emotional stress has a negative impact on people’s health and physical, emotional and mental performance. Previous research has investigated the effects of stress on various aspects of physiology such as respiration, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance, skin temperature and electrical activity in the brain. Essentially, HRV, Electroencephalography (EEG), skin conductance and skin temperature appear to reflect a stress response or state of arousal. Whilst the relationship between respiration rate, respiration rhythm and HRV is well documented, less is known about the relationship between respiration rate, EEG, skin conductance and skin temperature, whilst HRV is maximum (when there is resonance between HRV and respiration i.e. in phase with one another). This research project aims to investigate the impact that one session of slow paced breathing has on EEG, heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance and skin temperature. Twenty male participants were randomly assigned to either a control or intervention group. Physiological data were recorded for the intervention and control group during one breathing session, over a short initial baseline (B1), a main session of 12 minutes, and a final baseline (B2). The only difference between the control and intervention groups was that during the main session, the intervention group practiced slow paced breathing (at 6 breaths per minute), while the control group breathed spontaneously. Wavelet transformation was used to analyse EEG data while Fourier transformation was used to analyse HRV. The study shows that slow-paced breathing significantly increases the low frequency and total power of the HRV but does not change the high frequency power of HRV. Furthermore, skin temperature significantly increased for the control group from B1 to Main, and was significantly higher for the control group when compared to the intervention group during the main session. There were no significant skin temperature changes between sessions for the intervention group. Skin conductance increased significantly from Main to B2 for the control group. No significant changes were found between sessions for the intervention group and between groups. EEG theta power at Cz decreased significantly from Main to B2 for the control group only, while theta power decreased at F4 from Main to B2 for both groups. Lastly, beta power at Cz decreased from B1 to B2 for the control group only. This significant effect that slow-paced breathing has on HRV suggests the hypothesis that with frequent practice, basal HRV would increase, and with it, potential benefits such as a reduction in anxiety and improved performance in specific tasks. Slow-paced breathing biofeedback thus shows promise as a simple, cheap, measurable and effective method to reduce the impact of stress on some physiological signals, suggesting a direction for future research. / MT2017

Wu, Kin Fai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-91). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 槪要 --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.vi / List of Tables --- p.x / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Motivation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Outline of the Proposed Design --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Purposes of the Present Study --- p.2 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Background and Literature Review --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Electrocardiogram --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Conventional ECG Measurement --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Heart Rate --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- Heart Rate Variability --- p.9 / Chapter 2.5 --- Capacitive Sensing --- p.11 / Chapter 2.6 --- Review of ECG Monitoring System by Capacitive Sensing On a Sleeping Bed --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- System Design and Implementation --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1 --- Hardware --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Bedsheet Sensor --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Pre-amplifier --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Measuring Device --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Power Supply & PCB Layout --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- Software --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Detection of R Waves --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Tracking of HR & Mean RR Intervals --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Estimation of Signal-to-Noise Ratios --- p.56 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Preliminary Tests on the Functionality of the Proposed System --- p.57 / Chapter 4.1 --- Test I - Test on the Arrangement of Electrodes --- p.57 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Methods --- p.57 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Results --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Test II - Test on the ECG Measurement of Subjects in Different Sleeping Postures --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Methods --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Results --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Experiments on the Performance of Continuous Monitoring of ECG and HR --- p.69 / Chapter 5.1 --- Experiment I - Experiment on the Reliability of the Proposed System for Continuous Monitoring of ECG and HR on Thirty Subjects --- p.69 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Methods --- p.70 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Results --- p.70 / Chapter 5.2 --- Experiment II - Experiment on the Feasibility of the Proposed System for Continuous Monitoring of ECG and HR on a Subject During an Eight-hour Sleep --- p.75 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Materials --- p.76 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Methods --- p.76 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Results --- p.77 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Discussions --- p.81 / Chapter 6.1 --- Selection of the Passband of the Proposed Circuit --- p.81 / Chapter 6.2 --- Arrangement of Electrodes on the Bedsheet --- p.82 / Chapter 6.3 --- Practical Design of Electrodes --- p.83 / Chapter 6.4 --- Performance of Continuous Monitoring of HR by Using the Proposed System --- p.84 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.86 / References --- p.88

No description available.

In this thesis, I examine the use of medical technology as the product of, among other things, value systems and individual and collective needs; technological use therefore is shown to be culturally influenced and subject to change according to historical and social context. / I describe and discuss the use of the Electronic Fetal Heart Rate Monitor (EFM)--a state of the art form of electronic information technology--in obstetrical care in a rural Canadian hospital and community. The central issue I examine is why this technology was obtained and repeatedly used despite local medical opinion and scientific evidence that it was ineffective as a tool to improve obstetrical outcome, and also had been shown to put pregnant women at considerable risk of unnecessary and potentially harmful interventions during birth. / I describe how EFM use appeared contradictory because medical understanding of EFM use was limited to what I define as "case centered" research; research limited to measuring the impact of the EFM on individual patient outcome. Case centered studies were not examinations either of the EFM itself, or of its associated technical regimens. Moreover, case centered studies were not used to relate the EFM to women's experiences during birth, hospital traditions, or community expectations. These latter relationships, which are ignored in case studies, form the focus of this research and explain why an EFM was used in this community.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-94). / Microfiche. / vii, 94 leaves, bound 29 cm

The primary purpose of CTG is to detect early signs of intrapartum hypoxia and improve foetal outcomes. Intrapartum hypoxia remains the major cause of perinatal deaths mainly in monitored labours. This is attributed to the midwives’ lack of skills in the foetal implementation and interpretation of CTG. Midwives interpret foetal heart rate patterns erroneously hence they fail to detect early signs of severe foetal compromise. Accurate interpretation of CTG is the cornerstone for clinical decision during intra-partum foetal surveillance. Therefore, it is mandatory that midwives are competent in CTG. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to the CTG. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to the CTG. The objectives of this study were: -to explore and describe the perceptions of the midwives regarding their level of competence relating to cardiotocography. -to establish the levels of competence of midwives in relation to CTG. -to develop clinical guidelines that could be utilised by midwives in the implementation and interpretation of the cardiotocograph. The study utilised a quantitative non-experimental comparative descriptive research design. A self-developed and self-administered questionnaire was developed under the supervision of a statistician and was to collect data from a purposively selected sample of midwives who work in labour wards in Kwa-Zulu Natal public hospitals. A sample of 226 practicing midwives working in labour wards of the nine KZN public hospitals was selected using a non-probability convenience sampling method; only 125 responded. Data were collected on an excel spread sheet and analysed under the supervision of the statistician and research supervisor. The researcher assured of validity and reliability of the data collection method and data as well as of the data collection instrument. The findings revealed that the midwives in KZN public hospitals perceived themselves as being competent regarding CTG tasks; however they lack knowledge and skills in the implementation and interpretation of CTG. It was also evident that the midwives’ years of midwifery clinical experience, labour ward experience, possession of additional post basic midwifery qualification and the perceived level of competence related to CTG tasks number of years of the midwives did not influence their level of competence in the implementation and interpretation of CTG. Literature control supported these findings and there was consistency with that literature. Recommendations were made and clinical guidelines were developed to assist midwives with the assessment of foetal heart rate and the interpretation of the cardiotocograph results.

This study examined effectiveness of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback-assisted stress management training in reducing anxiety and stress in pregnant women and the effect of maternal stress management skills practice on fetal heart rate measures in real time. Participants were seven working pregnant women who volunteered in response to recruitment announcements and invitations from cooperating midwives. Reported state and trait anxiety and pregnancy specific stress were measured during five 45- to 50-minute training sessions. Training included bibliotherapy, instruction in the use of emotion-focused stress management techniques, and HRV biofeedback. Subjects used portable biofeedback units for home practice and were encouraged to practice the skills for 20 minutes a day and for short periods of time during stressful life events. At the end of training, fetal heart rate was monitored and concurrent maternal HRV measures were recorded. Repeated measures ANOVA and paired samples t-test analysis of study data revealed no statistically significant reductions in state or trait anxiety measures or in pregnancy specific stress measures. Partial eta squared (n²) and Cohen's d calculations found small to medium effect sizes on the various test scales. Friedman's analysis of variance of biofeedback measures showed a statistically significant decrease in low HRV coherence scores (X2 = 10.53, p = .03) and medium HRV coherence scores (X2 = 11.58, p = .02) and a statistically significant increase in high HRV coherence scores (X2 = 18.16, p = .001). This change is an indication of improved autonomic function. Results of concurrent maternal and fetal HRV recordings were generally inconclusive. A qualitative discussion of individual subject results is included. During follow-up interviews five subjects reported that they felt they were better able to cope with stress at the end of the study than at the beginning, that they used the stress management skills during labor, and that they continue to practice the skills in their daily lives.