published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

Ching Ho-hong Boby. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-78). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / List of Tables --- p.vii / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.1 / General Oral Health Status in Hong Kong --- p.2 / """How"" is the Message Constructed： Gain versus Loss Frames" --- p.3 / """Who"" are the Recipients： Individual Differences in Self-Construal" --- p.4 / What Accounts for the Message-Self Compatibility Effects： The Mediating Factors --- p.6 / Stage One： Cognitive Integration of the Message Contents --- p.6 / Stage Two: Acceptance of the Messages --- p.8 / Stage Three： Perceptions of Health Behavior --- p.9 / An Addition to the Three-Stage Model: The Role of Anticipated Feelings --- p.11 / Overview of the Present Study --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Method --- p.15 / Participants --- p.15 / Oral Health Message --- p.15 / Independent Measures --- p.16 / Self-Construal --- p.16 / Principle Dependent Measures --- p.17 / Recognition Memory --- p.17 / Subjective Evaluations of the Messages --- p.17 / Self-Efficacy to Perform Oral Health Behavior --- p.18 / Outcome Expectancy of Performing Oral Health Behavior --- p.19 / Anticipated Feelings to Perform Oral Health Behavior --- p.20 / Intentions to Perform Oral Health Behavior --- p.21 / Behavioral Measures --- p.22 / Potential Covariates Measures --- p.22 / Personality --- p.22 / Need for Cognition --- p.23 / Dispositional Optimism --- p.24 / Oral Health Locus of Control --- p.25 / Dental History --- p.26 / Cognitive Ability --- p.26 / Mood --- p.26 / Perceived Threat of Developing Oral Diseases --- p.27 / Perceived Normative Pressure of Performing Oral Health Behavior --- p.28 / Fear and Worry Toward Developing Oral Diseases --- p.28 / Other Potential Covari ates --- p.29 / Procedure --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Results --- p.31 / Manipulation Checks --- p.31 / Different Operationalizations of Gain- and Loss-Framed Messages --- p.31 / Principle Analyses： General --- p.33 / Moderation of the Framing Effects by Self-Construal on Behavioral Intentions --- p.34 / Moderation of the Framing Effects by Self-Construal on Subjective Evaluations --- p.37 / The Mediating Effect of Personal Outcome Expectancy on Behavioral Intentions --- p.39 / The Mediating Effect of Social Outcome Expectancy on Behavioral Intentions --- p.42 / The Mediating Effect of Anticipated Feelings on Behavioral Intentions --- p.44 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- General Discussion --- p.46 / How to Frame the Message: Tailoring Messages to Match Self-construal --- p.47 / Identifying the Mediating Factors of Compatibility Effects Between Message and Self-Construal --- p.49 / The Importance of Anticipated Feelings --- p.55 / The Intention - Behavior Relationships --- p.56 / Improvements and Further Studies --- p.59 / Concluding Remarks --- p.61 / References --- p.63 / Appendix A --- p.79

Background: Comprehensive oral care is an evidence-based, cost effective, essential routine nursing intervention that nurses ought to provide with good knowledge/understanding as it prevents and controls nosocomial infections especially Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Aim of study: To determine ICU nurses’ knowledge, describe their practices and identify their perceptions regarding comprehensive oral health care to critically ill patients in order to refine or develop evidence based oral care protocol. Methods: A quantitative approach with a descriptive, exploratory survey was used for this study. A non probability convenience sample of thirty-four (34) ICU nurses from two public referral hospitals participated in this study. A questionnaire with a combination of open and closed ended questions was used to collect data on comprehensive oral care to critically ill patients. Results Thirty-four nurses responded to the questionnaire (response rate 89%). Only 18% (n=6) were knowledgeable about important aspects of oral care, while the majority, 82% (n=28) lacked knowledge on important aspects of oral care. Fifty-nine percent (59%) n=20 had received training on comprehensive oral care at basic nursing training and 44% (n=15) had orientation at unit level. Ninety-seven percent (97%) n=33 of the participants requested further updates on comprehensive oral care. No significant relationships were found between nurses’ demographic characteristics and knowledge of comprehensive oral care. All (100%) n=34 of nurses gave oral care a high priority and 91% ranked it very important for critically ill patients. Toothbrushes and toothpaste were used by 85% (n=29) of nurses and only 50% (n=17) used mouthwashes. The reason for non- use of mouthwashes was lack of supplies and not having been foreseen in unit protocol although neither of the units had an oral care protocol in place. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1992.

Health related quality of life (HRQoL) refers to the impact of disease and treatment on disability and daily living. Living with a venous leg ulcer (VLU) has a negative impact on HRQoL. The aim of the present study was to investigate the aspects of HRQoL affected by VLUs in a local SA sample. A post hoc research design was utilised comparing 30 VLU patients and 30 non-VLU participants. Four hypotheses were investigated: (1) the experience of having a VLU on HRQoL, (2) the relation between gender and HRQoL of VLU patients, (3) the relation between age and HRQoL of VLU patients and (4) the interrelation between the underlying constructs of HRQoL of VLU patients. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic variables and HRQoL using the SF-36 questionnaire. Interviews were conducted to obtain qualitative data to complete the investigation. Correlation analysis and t-tests confirmed that having a VLU negatively affected HRQoL and that interrelations existed among the constructs of HRQoL. There were no significant relations between gender, age and HRQoL of VLU patients. In line with the social constructivist approach, social support and restructuring a sense of meaning in life to increase HRQoL, are important goals in the management of VLUs. / Psychology / M.Sc. (Psychology)

The hand is one of the most complex of all of the anatomical structures in the human body. It has been found that hand injuries are among the most frequent injuries that occur to the body, predominantly during industrial activities. It has therefore been concluded that more research is needed into protective factors, such as glove use. The design features of a glove emphasise either protection or performance. There is often a trade-off between increased safety and performance capability when donning gloves. It has been determined that gloves which are fitted and comfortable for the worker may provide the best compromise between protective functions and decreased performance. This investigation aimed to assess the influence of glove fit on the performance attributes of industrial tasks, as well as on the responses of the human operator. Glove fit was analysed as 35 male participants donned three different glove sizes during each test, including a best-fitting glove, a glove one size smaller than best-fitting, and a glove one size larger than best-fitting. For each glove size, gloves of two differing materials were tested, namely nitrile and neoprene. A barehanded condition was also tested, totalling seven gloved/barehanded conditions for each test. The seven conditions were assessed in a laboratory setting in a battery of tests. This consisted of components of task performance, including maximum pulling and pushing force, maximum torque, precision of force, tactility, speed and accuracy and dexterity. The performance responses were recorded, as well as participants’ perceptual responses using the Rating of Perceived Exertion scale, and muscle activity. Six muscles were selected: Flexor Digitorum Superficialis, Flexor Pollicus Longus, Extensor Carpi Ulnaris, Extensor Carpi Radialis, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris and Flexor Carpi Radialis. The results revealed that glove fit does affect certain spects of performance, and influences human operator responses for selected task components. Furthermore, discrepancies were distinguished between orking barehanded and working with an optimally fitted glove. There was also a glove material effect established. Overall, it was found that muscle activity when exerting maximum force in a pushing and pulling direction was optimal with the nitrile glove material. Maximum torque performance was enhanced with the use of a best-fitting glove, as compared with an ill-fitting glove or barehanded work. Force precision was preferable when barehanded, as opposed to the tactility task which rendered optimal results with a best-fitting glove. The same was found for speed and accuracy results, as glove fit appeared to have no effect on performance, but performance was improved when participants were barehanded. Dexterity performance was the most conclusively influenced by the conditions, resulting in barehanded performance being optimal. However, should a glove be necessary for a given task, an optimally-fitted glove which is of a thinner material would be recommended. It is necessary to distinguish the performance components of a task within industry and select the most appropriate glove for optimal performance and the least risk of overexertion.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a treatment package to teach a child with autism to willingly accept skin care products conducive to health and normal everyday living. The current study uses graduated exposure, modeling and contingent social attention to teach the child to accept the application of skin care products previously avoided. Results of the study showed that the participant tolerated criterion amounts of all target stimuli with both experimenter and parent. Follow-up probes revealed maintenance of the behaviors with only two out of the three target skin care products.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / The aim of this study was to compare the oral health status between well and malnourished children under five years old attending Mother and Child Health clinic in Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Maseru, Lesotho. / South Africa

The objectives of this research were to (1) characterize the demographics and vocal health history of collegiate-level singers, particularly those with a voice disorder and (2) describe and compare self-reported symptoms of singers across diagnostic categories of vocal fold disorders. Clinical reports of 56 collegiate-level singers (15 male and 41 female) who visited the Voice Diagnostic Clinic at the University of North Texas for voice evaluations between 2010 and 2015 were reviewed. Information was extracted from clinical records including demographic data, vocal health history, self-reported voice-related symptoms, and voice diagnosis confirmed by strobolaryngoscopic examinations and phonatory function testing. Diagnoses of voice disorders were grouped under three categories: normal (i.e., no perceptible pathology), benign lesions and irritation/inflammation. Seven singers were diagnosed as normal, 27 (51.8%) with benign lesions, and 22 (39.3%) with irritation/inflammation. All singers diagnosed as normal were females. Female singers have twice as many benign lesions as irritation/inflammation whereas males presented the opposite pattern. Nodules, polyps, cysts and irritation/inflammation were the most common voice disorders. Singers with allergies and a past history of voice problems demonstrated a higher incidence of voice disorders. The top five self-reported vocal symptoms were worse voice in the morning (50%), pain in throat (46.4%), voice worse with prolonged use (44.6%), vocal fatigue (42.9%), and breathiness (41.1%). Self-reported symptoms are not a reliable screening tool to determine presence or absence of vocal pathology. Voice teachers must be familiar with the singing and speaking voice of each student, so as to perceive early onset of vocal attrition symptoms and encourage the student in seeking medical attention.