This thesis reviews the past studies on the effect of alcohol on HDL-C, total cholesterol and apolipoproteins and tests 14 participants for the overnight effect of alcohol on HDL-C and total cholesterol. The relationship between high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with alcohol and coronary heart disease is one that has gained more attention recently. Over the past 15 years several epidemiological studies have found that alcohol intake is inversely related to heart disease. Other studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption raises the level of HDL-C, and may have a protective effect against heart disease. Still other studies show that increased use of alcohol increases the total cholesterol level. The results of this thesis showed a significant increase in three of the HDL-C levels and in four of the total cholesterol levels. The results also show a significant decrease in two of the HDL-C levels and three of the total cholesterol levels. Both of these changes occurred after consuming a set amount of alcohol per body weight.

Membership continues to be the key to the success of all association efforts and activities. In an association, the members are the foundation of the association and the reason for its existence. The more members an association has the more financial resources it will have. Membership is also the source from which an association draws its strength. Florida Nurses Association (FNA) is committed to building new sources of revenue by better promoting membership, meetings, publications and other products and services. FNA realizes their goals must extend beyond just keeping members happy. To hold members, recruit new members, and provide a higher level of services, FNA understands they must adopt more aggressive, sophisticated marketing efforts. By developing a profile and grouping individuals into market segments, a degree of homogeneity is attained, making it possible to tailor optimal marketing strategies to each segment. This new marketing orientation has a customer-driven focus, with its objective being to analyze markets, find a niche and develop on that position. Demographic and psychographic data was gathered from responses to the mailed-out questionnaire. Frequencies were evaluated by the Statistical Analysis System. The observations of this research have resulted in a profile of the 'typical' nurse member and additional marketable segments of Florida Nurses Association.

Nursing, respiratory care and physical therapy have personnel shortages which impact the quality and quantity of patient services within Florida hospitals. The 1988 Florida Hospital Association surveys report vacancy rates for nursing (15.8), respiratory care (12.6), and physical therapy (24.1). A descriptive survey was distributed to 256 Florida acute care hospitals with 102 returned (40%). This study identifies recruitment activities and costs. The results are reported for each profession and are reported for effectiveness by way of HRS region of the state, hospital bed capacity and type of ownership. Newspaper advertising was the most frequently reported and was considered the most effective, especially for nursing. Greater variety and recruitment methods was considered in both respiratory care and physical therapy, notably in more populous regions and in larger hospitals. Cost effective measures reveal that management needs improved tracking and internal reporting systems to facilitate planning and decision-making processes.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to measure the mortality rates of diabetics and non-diabetics patients following coronary artery bypass surgery. The research hypotheses for this study were that: 1. Diabetes Mellitus is a contributing risk factor in the development of cardio-vascular disease. 2. The risk factors have a significant effect on the mortality rates following surgery. This retrospective descriptive study included the examination of the medical records of 1814 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery at one of the three local hospitals in Central Florida, during 1988. Data showed those risk · factors considered (family history, obesity, hypertension, lipids, smoking an renal disease) to be different in each age group and sex. Renal disease was highly significant (98%) in the male population with smoking, obesity, hypertension, family history and lipids following. Renal disease was significant (95%) in the female population followed by obesity, smoking,family history, lipid and hypertension. Family history was the number two risk factor in all four groups while lipids appeared in one of the top three positions in all groups. Data showed that the number of risk factors presented does not directly relate to the mortality rate. The data showed the highest rate to be with two documented risk factors. The crude death rate for diabetics is 3.9% and for non diabetics is 5.0%. As a health care provider, it is important to be familiar with these risk factors. The importance of education, research, along with early diagnosis and treatment can not be over emphasized. The decreased incidence and the ultimate prevention of the cardio-vascular complication is the responsibility of the health care professional and the consumer.

Racial/ethnic disparities persist in hypertension (HTN) prevalence in the United States, and African Americans are disproportionately affected. The incidence is more than two-folds in African Americans compared to Caucasians, and mortality is highest among African Americans. Understanding the risk factors in HTN and how these factors vary across racial/ethnic groups is essential to reducing the mortality among African Americans. This study examined the prevalence of HTN among a sample non-institutionalized U.S. residents (N = 30,852), assessed racial/ethnic disparities and determined factors associated with racial/ethnic variance in HTN. A cross-sectional design was used to address these aims, utilizing the National Health Interview Survey, 2003 dataset. Chi square and logistic regression techniques were employed in the data analyses. The race-nonspecific prevalence of HTN was 26.7% (N = 8,243). African Americans had the highest prevalence (35.5%), Caucasians (27.5%), and Hispanics (18.6%), p < 0.01. African Americans were 45% more likely to be hypertensive relative to Caucasians, Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.45, 99% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.16-1.82. African Americans significantly differed from Caucasians in the factors that were associated with HTN: smoking, alcohol, physical activities, age, higher income, college education, body mass index, marital status, higher cholesterol and diabetes mellitus. After controlling for these factors, ethnic/racial disparities in HTN persisted. Compared to Caucasian, African Americans had a 61% increased in HTN prevalence, (OR = 1.61, 99% CI, 1.39-1.86) and Hispanics had a 27% decreased prevalence, (OR = 0.73, 99% CI, 0.68-0.79). Confirming that HTN differed by race/ethnicity while controlling for associated factors, this study contributes to positive social change by highlighting the importance of biologic or biologic-environmental interactions for future research or intervention planning.

Prevalence of onychomycosis, as high as 26.9% in the general population, can be reduced by improving current antifungal treatment. This could be accomplished by understanding prognostic factors, especially healthy nail growth, associated with achieving complete cure. This population-based study aimed to evaluate if healthy nail length or percentage of total full nail length as healthy can be early indictors for complete cure. Logistics regression analyses were performed by comparing variables between a population who achieved the complete cure and a population who failed after both populations received the same antifungal treatment in two large randomized double-blinded clinical trials that assessed drug efficacy. Results showed that the largest odds ratios for healthy nail length (mm) and percent of total nail grown as healthy (%) were achieved at Week 12 with 1.63 and 1.07, respectively. Mean healthy nail length at Week 12 was 3.56 mm among cured patients and 1.90 mm among failed patients. Other significant baseline factors for the cure were: younger in age; naive to antifungal treatment; and having less severe disease. Growth of healthy nail during the treatment period is significantly associated with achievement of complete cure. Treatment success might be improved by monitoring the healthy nail growth. This study bears public health importance and can foster positive social changes because better managed disease can improve patient's quality of life and reduce financial burdens to the healthcare system. It could also be a tool for researchers to filter out better drug candidates and reduce research costs therefore cheaper treatments.

The purpose of this study was to determine the contamination level of Campylobacterjejuni in chicken quarters. Ninety-seven thigh and breast samples were purchased from thee supermarkets (Publix, Winn- Dixie, and Sedano's) in Miami-Dade County, Florida over an eight-week period. The bacteria were removed from the chicken skin by shaking the sample in a sterile bag containing nutrient broth. This extract was enriched in thioglycollate broth and subcultured onto selective media, which were incubated for 48 hours under microaerophilic conditions. Suspected colonies that were positive for the four biochemical tests performed were considered C. jejuni. The overall rate of contamination was 62%. Publix had the highest rate of contamination, 72%. Winn-Dixie had a contamination rate of 66%. Sedano's had the lowest rate of contamination, 48%. These findings show that the current methods used in preparing chicken for retail sale is not sufficient to eliminate pathogens, including Campylobacter jejuni.

Experts suggest that the cultural competence of healthcare providers is a critical factor impacting healthcare services to the ethnically diverse patient populations in the U.S. and that it may play a role in improving outcomes and reducing health disparities; however, the association between cultural competence and health outcomes remains unclear. This study used a cross-sectional quantitative design grounded by cultural competency constructs and the ethnic origins theory to explore the relationships between provider cultural competence, adequacy of prenatal care, and neonatal health outcomes in Hmong women, a population whose cultural beliefs affect their use of early and adequate prenatal care. Patient perception and provider self-reported cultural competence data were collected from 80 patients and their 19 corresponding providers. No correlation was found between the patient and provider total cultural competency scores, nor were they predictive of adequacy of prenatal care or neonatal outcomes in multiple regression analyses. However, 3 specific constructs related to physicians' ability to communicate and demonstrate culturally competent behaviors predicted adequacy of prenatal care. There was a moderate but negative correlation between patient and provider cultural competence subscores and a significant difference in 6 of 13 survey questions suggesting discordance between patient and provider perceptions regarding communication during the healthcare encounter. Implications for positive social change include new prenatal care delivery models that incorporate Hmong health beliefs that may increase the number of Hmong women who receive adequate prenatal care, thus potentially improving birth outcomes. This can lead to reduced health disparities experienced by the Hmong.

Stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS poses a significant threat to the curtailing of the epidemic by acting as a barrier to HIV testing and disclosure of serostatus. Previous research in the United States found personal knowledge of someone with HIV/AIDS to be a predictor of lower levels of HIV/AIDS-related stigma. However, no study to date has examined this relationship in Zimbabweans. Allport's contact hypothesis was hypothesis was the theoretical frame used to assess the effect of direct contact on public attitudes towards people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Zimbabweans with the goal of identifying areas of stigma reduction. Stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS poses a significant threat to the curtailing of the epidemic by acting as a barrier to HIV testing and disclosure of serostatus. Previous research in the United States found personal knowledge of someone with HIV/AIDS to be a predictor of lower levels of HIV/AIDS-related stigma. However, no study to date has examined this relationship in Zimbabweans. This study surveyed English-speaking adult Zimbabweans from anywhere in the world. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, and hierarchical stepwise multiple regression were used for analysis. Personal knowledge of someone with HIV/AIDS and the beliefs about HIV/AIDS transmission through casual contact emerged as the statistically significant predictors of stigma in the final model (r = -.172, p < .01, and r = .281, p < .001, respectively. There was an inverse correlation between personal knowledge of someone with HIV/AIDS and stigma. Potential positive social change contributions include a mobilized population with a common goal of eradicating HIV/AIDS, seeking HIV/AIDS testing services, disclosure of HIV serostatus, and seeking treatment leading to control of HIV transmission.