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

Two major nutritional concerns in the United States today are the increasing consumption of soft drinks and the decreasing intake of fruits and vegetables. This study hypothesized that there is a negative correlation between soft drink consumption and fruit and vegetable intake among college students.Data were collected by means of a 3-day food record. The collection time occurred on three consecutive specified days with college students who ate in the college dining commons. These food records were then analyzed on computer software. A Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained by comparing the average intake of fruits and vegetables for each individual with the average intake of soft drinks for each individual. Using an alpha level of 0.05 and 75 degrees of freedom, a significant negative correlation was found between the amount of soft drinks consumed and the amount of fruits and vegetables eaten. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

This study determined outcomes of a low-carbohydrate (CHO) and moderate-CHO diet on weight loss, ketone production, and urinary calcium excretion in a convenience sample of 14 (ages 18-26, m=2, f=12) overweight students at a midwestern college for one month in a two-week, cross over study design. Results showed significant weight loss in subjects over time (p< .01). However, no significant difference between diet groups over time for weight loss was shown. Outcome of urine ketone production remained unaffected over time and between groups over time. A significant difference was noted in urinary calcium excretion within subjects over time (p=.035), yet not between groups over time. These findings suggest that weight loss may be due to a decrease in water and lean body mass from glycogen mobilization. Ketone production was unaffected possibly due to non-compliance with diet recommendations and small sample size of the study. Urinary calcium excretion increases may be attributed to higher protein intakes in participants on the modified-CHO diets, possibly allowing for a negative calcium balance in the body leading to premature osteoporosis. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

This study was designed to determine if the Deming approach to monitoring manufacturing processes could be successfully adapted to monitoring lifestyle processes. This study tested a new self-monitoring instrument that provides quick, accurate, personal feedback. The usability of this new instrument was tested. Validity of the instrument was established through review by experts in appropriate lifestyle management disciplines.The pilot test of this new instrument was done in a program with a convenience sample of 29 people who used the instrument for 28 days. A high percentage of the participants used the instrument and found the instrument to be helpful in developing a healthy lifestyle, although they desired a less cumbersome format. It is recommended that the instrument be adapted for use in lifestyle change programs. / Institute for Wellness

This study examined the relationships between student-environment fit and sense of competence and academic achievement of freshmen students in wellness residence hall environments. This study was conducted at a mid-sized, midwestern state university. Perceived and actual fit scores derived from Form R and Form I of the University Residence Environment Scale (URES) served as the independent measures. Two measures, sense of competence and academic achievement, served as the dependent variables. A Sense of Competence Scale, developed by Steve Janosik (1987), measured a student's level of interpersonal and intellectual competence Academic achievement was measured by accumulative grade point averages. Step-wise multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between these variables.All 571 freshmen residents living in one of six: wellness residence halls were asked to participate in this study. Of this number, 416 (72.7%) returned questionnaires and became the sample population.Freshmen residents living in the wellness residence halls reported that these environments were not as emotionally supportive nor were floor residents as involved with one another as residents would like. Further, a greater emphasis was needed in terms of academic and intellectual stimulation. Additionally, residents in the wellness residence hall environments desired more opportunities to influence their floor/hall and reported that these environments were too competitive.Significant differences existed between freshmen women and men. Women indicated that there was too much emphasis on traditional dating and other social activities and too much emphasis on competition. Women also indicated that their wellness residence hall environments did not provide them with the intellectual stimulation they wanted. Further, women rated the order and organization of these environments much lower than did men.The differences between student-environment fit and sense of competence and student-environment fit and academic achievement were not statistically significant.Actual discrepancy scores were a better measure of student-environment fit than perceived discrepancy scores. / Department of Educational Leadership

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-48). / viii, 48 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

There are estimated to be 840,000 people living with HIV in China (1) of whom 65% are estimated to be in the 16-29 year age group. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution and the opening of China to Western influence, traditional cultural norms have rapidly eroded and China is described as being in the middle of a sexual revolution (2). People are increasingly engaging in behaviours exposing them to the risk of contracting HIV which is spreading from the traditionally high risk populations to the general population via the heterosexual route (3). Comprehensive prevention strategies are necessary to prevent further spread (4). There is evidence that the observed increase in sexual activity is not accompanied by adequate knowledge of HIV transmission. 79% of 18-25 year olds know that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by sexual intercourse, but a mere 30% know that correct and consistent condom use can protect against HIV transmission (5).<br /> <br /> This exploratory study investigated the factors that influence safe sexual practices amongst female Chinese university students, enabling or preventing them from taking responsibility for their reproductive health. The literature search revealed this to be a largely unexplored area. The study was undertaken amongst third year male and female students, recruited from the Department of Comparative Literature and Media Studies at the Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, China. Data was predominantly collected using two male and two female focus group discussions. Three key informant interviews supported and contextualised the findings. The study revealed that the factors influencing female students&rsquo / ability to adopt safe sexual practices are complex. The recognised shortcomings of sex education in China (6) are compounded by the taboo of sex and the pressure placed on students for the achievement of good grades.<br /> <br /> The university environment exerts a powerful influence. The ease with which mutually beneficial same sex friendships develop in the dormitory can be contrasted with the difficulties faced by couples attempting to conduct relationships. The restrictive university environment has the effect of driving relationships underground. Gender roles are deeply entrenched. The need to conform to the ideal pure, na&iuml / ve, and non-inquiring female stereotype affects a female student&rsquo / s ability to source sexual health information, negotiate safe sex, and to adopt safe sexual practices. Two distinct male stereotypes emerged: the traditional more gender equal male, and the liberal male who believes in an earlier age of sexual initiation and condones multiple sexual partners. All students are aware of HIV but have misconceptions about the specifics of HIV transmission, believing that HIV can be transmitted by kissing, from unclean baths and from doctors. Some students were of the belief that poor personal hygiene is an indicator of possible HIV positive status. Students were confused by condom quality issues. As they had received no formal condom training students relied on reading the package instructions or working it out for themselves.<br /> This small exploratory study resulted in the production of rich and surprising findings. These are incorporated into recommendations for future research and a comprehensive sex education programme at the university. Abstinence and mutual monogamy should be emphasised. Gender stereotypes that influence behaviour and choice of sex education materials should be acknowledged. Negotiation skills training should be incorporated together with condom and contraceptive advice. A sexual health page on the student website and a training programme for students to become peer-to-peer sex educators should be introduced.

No description available.

M.Tech. (Homeopathy) / The common cold and influenza (flu) are both acute viral infections affecting the upper respiratory tract (Beers & Porter, 2006). The common cold typically presents with rhinorrhea, sneezing, and a sore throat (Kansal & Kaushal, 2004), and influenza causes fever, coryza, cough, headache, malaise and body pain (Beers & Porter, 2006). Millions of school and work days are missed annually due to cold and influenza symptoms (Fendrick et al., 2003). Students at universities have a high incidence of colds and influenza due to raised levels of stress and close contact with other infected individuals (Zachary, 2006). Researchers believe that Interleukin-6 (a protein in the body responsible for co-ordination of immune response) may be a biological link between psychological stress and the severity of cold and influenza symptoms. This may make students more susceptible to the common cold and influenza (Mercola, 1999). Conventional treatment for both conditions is comprised of analgesics, antipyretics, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-viral drugs, all of which have numerous adverse effects (Roxas & Jurenka, 2007). Linctagon® Forte capsules consists of four ingredients: Pelargonium sidoides (333mg), Quercetin (80mg), Bromelain (53mg) and Zinc (5mg) and are purported to provide antiviral support in the treatment of colds and influenza. The aim of this eight-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to assess the efficacy of Linctagon® Forte Capsules in the treatment of cold and influenza symptoms on first and second year Health Sciences students from the University of Johannesburg. Thirty seven students from the first and second year Health Sciences Faculty of the University of Johannesburg, suffering from common cold or influenza symptoms, were recruited to participate. This included male and female students between the ages of 18 to 30 years. Advertisements (Appendix A) were placed at the UJ Health Training Centre, classrooms and on campus, with relevant permission given. Thirty participants completed the study and seven students did not complete due to poor compliance. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were dealt with by completion of a Participant Information and Consent Form (Appendix B) as well as a Participant Profile Form which recorded all initial symptoms (Appendix C). All participants were required to have a minimum of five of the ten symptoms represented on the Participant Profile form (Appendix C). Once participants were accepted into the study they were allocated to either Group A or Group B, with 15 participants in each group. The medication bottles were packaged and labelled by Nativa (24 capsules in a 100mg container), and the active medication and the placebo were randomised by means of a coding system, Batch “A” and Batch “B”. Group A received the Linctagon® Forte Capsules and Group B received the unmedicated lactose capsules. The participants were requested to take 1 capsule three times per day. Each participant was given eight Symptom Score Cards (Appendix D) to complete each card every morning and evening for the eight day period, to rate the severity of their symptoms according to a 5-point rating system. The influenza and common cold symptoms were analysed according to their decrease in frequency and intensity over the set period of time. Data was only recorded and analysed for days one to seven due to poor compliance by participants in both groups with regards to completion of the Symptom Score Cards towards the end of the study. Both the treatment (Group A) and the placebo (Group B) groups showed similar improvement in symptom severity over the entire research period, and there was no statistical significance between the two groups. This shows neither group outperformed the other, supporting the null hypothesis. Small sample size, the placebo effect and low dosages of certain of the active ingredients are possible factors involved in the results seen, and should be considered for future studies.

Physical inactivity and resultant chronic diseases of lifestyle (CDLs) are becoming a global epidemic as secular modernization and the sedentary lifestyles it brings with it become universal. The importance of physical activity (PA) in reducing morbidity and mortality from CDLs and related conditions has been well established. Since it is generally significant that the onset of many CDLs lies in childhood through to adolescence, preventative strategies should start as early in life as possible. Currently, university students are failing to engage in the levels of PA recommended for better health outcomes over the short and long term. To make matters worse, there is increasing evidence of a decrease in PA during the transitional phase from adolescence to adulthood. This study aimed to determine the physical activity (PA) levels, sedentary behaviour and health-related fitness (HRF) characteristics of female university students. In addition, the participants‘ perceived barriers to PA were investigated. The study was exploratory-descriptive and employed a quantitative research design. Five hundred and thirty-one full-time female students, between the ages of 18 and 46, studying at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University‘s (NMMU) South, North, Second Avenue and Missionvale campuses participated in the study. The participants (n=531) completed an online survey which determined their PA levels, sedentary behaviours and perceived barriers to PA participation. A health-related fitness (HRF) assessment was also administered to 68 participants who completed the online survey. Their height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences were measured, as well as their cardiovascular fitness (CF). The majority (88 percent) of the participants reported low and minimal levels of PA, and 44 percent were either overweight or obese. The participants had a low-risk waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (M=0.70). The majority of the population (94 percent) had poor cardiovascular fitness (CF). A high prevalence of sitting time was recorded among the participants: on average 855 minutes (14 hours) on a usual weekday and 720 minutes (12 hours) on a usual weekend day. Students reported the greatest length of sitting time at work/attending lectures/studying. Cross tabulations and Chi2 tests indicated no significant relationships among PA and HRF (BMI, WHR and CF) and sedentary behaviour and HRF. The ANOVA and t-test results for PA, sedentary behaviour and HRF related to various demographic variables, found small (0.19 < d < 0.50) and medium (0.49 < d < 0.80) significant differences by race (d=0.43; d=0.52), home language (d=0.41; d=0.44) and living arrangement (d=0.38; d=0.28). No significant relationship was found to exist between age, year of study and faculty of registration and sedentary behaviour or HRF. The participants listed: Not enough time; too expensive to exercise; and, no friends who can exercise with me as the most important barriers to participation in PA. Academic obligations (3.08 mean) was found to be the most important barrier to PA.