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The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the overall effectiveness of eating disorder prevention programs and to investigate potential moderating variables that may influence the magnitude of intervention effects. Meta-analysis was used to conduct a comprehensive and systematic analysis of data across 46 studies. Effect size estimates were grouped into outcome sets based on the following variables: knowledge, general eating pathology, dieting, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, negative affect, and self-esteem. Q statistics were used to analyze the distribution of effect size estimates within each outcome set and to explore the systematic influence of moderating variables. Results revealed large effects on the acquisition of knowledge and small net effects on reducing maladaptive eating attitudes and behaviors at posttest and follow-up. These programs were not found to produce significant effects on negative affect, and there were inconsistent effects on self-esteem across studies. Population targeted was the sole moderator that could account for variability in effect size distributions. There was a tendency toward greater benefits for studies targeting participants considered to be at a relatively higher risk for developing an eating disorder. Previous assumptions regarding the insufficiency of "one-shot" interventions and concerns about the iatrogenic effects of including information about eating disorders in an intervention were not supported by the data. These findings challenge negative conclusions drawn in previous review articles regarding the inability of eating disorder prevention programs to demonstrate behavioral improvements. Although these findings have implications for the prevention of eating disorders, it was argued that a clear link between intervention efficacy and a decreased incidence of eating disorders was not demonstrated. Rather, only direct information was offered about the ability to influence eating disorder related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Specific recommendations related to intervention content, reasonable goals/expectations, and outcome criteria were offered for improving research in this area.

Animal disease outbreaks either through deliberate terroristic act or accidental introductions present a serious economic problem. This work concentrates on the economics of choosing strategies to mitigate possible agricultural terrorism and accidental introduction events largely in the animal disease management setting. General economic issues and the economic literature related to agricultural terrorism broadly and animal disease concerns specifically are reviewed. Basic economic aspects, such as the economic consequences of outbreaks, costs and benefits of various mitigation strategies, and stochastic characteristics of the problem are discussed. A conceptual economic model is formulated to depict the animal disease outbreak related decision making process. The key element of this framework is the choice between ex ante versus ex post mitigation strategies. The decision of investing in preventative and/or responsive strategies prior to the occurrence of an event versus relying on response and recovery actions after an outbreak event needs careful consideration. Comparative statics investigations reveal that factors that affect this decision are event probability, and severity, as well as costs, benefits, and effectiveness of various mitigation strategies. A relatively simplified empirical case study is done analyzing the economic tradeoffs between and optimum levels of ex ante detection, as a form of prevention, and ex post slaughter, as a form of response. The setting chosen involves Foot and Mouth Disease management. Empirical investigation is done on the conditions under which it is economically more advantageous to invest in ex ante detection as opposed to relying just on ex post response. Results show that investment in ex ante activities becomes more advantageous as the probability and severity of an agricultural terrorism event increases, response effectiveness decreases, and costs of surveillance decrease. Also spread rate is found to play a key role in determining optimal combination of ex ante and ex post strategies with more done ex ante the faster the disease spread. Finally, an economic framework is posed for future work given availability of a more detailed epidemiologic model. Access to such a model will allow for incorporation of wider spectrum of strategies including numerous possibilities for prevention, detection, response and market recovery facilitation. The framework allows more localized options, multiple possible events and incorporation of risk aversion among other features.

There has been a lack of information and research as to the reasons students did not graduate from high school with a diploma, or GED certificate, or certificate of completion, even though they were given the opportunity to attend an alternative drop-out or credit recovery program. This study identified the reasons why some students failed to complete an alternative education program in a K-12 school district in Texas. Of the 29 former PACE students failing to graduate with either a diploma or GED certificate that participated in this research, a little less than half either quit the program or were administratively dropped because they felt that earning money from their job was more important than graduating from high school. Each of the others had this excuse as well as many other excuses for not graduating. Three inter-locking conclusions were reached by the researcher after interviewing 29 of the students that did not complete the PACE program. The first conclusion was that students did not understand the value of a high school diploma at the time they were attending PACE. The second was that money, even in the form of a minimum wage job, was more important than an education. The final conclusion was that each student did not have a plan for their life beyond the coming evening or weekend. All students that failed to graduate or earn a GED had at least one of these misconceptions, while most had two, and a few had all three.

<p>Trycksår är ett vanligt förekommande problem som medför stort lidande för den som drabbas och bidrar till extra kostnader för samhället. Syftet med studien var att sammanställa vilka förebyggande omvårdnadsåtgärder sjuksköterskor använder sig av och om de är tillräckliga för att motverka trycksår hos sängliggande patienter på sjukhus. Metoden som användes var en litteraturgranskning där artiklar samlats inom ämnet och där fokus lagts på trycksår, omvårdnadsåtgärder och riskfaktorer. Resultatet visade att det är viktigt att sätta in preventiva åtgärder i god tid för att förhindra uppkomsten av trycksår. De omvårdnadsåtgärder som sjuksköterskan använder sig av idag är riskbedömning, tryckavlastning, observation och vård av huden, nutritionsstatus och dokumentation. Slutsatsen av studien visar att det är viktigt att göra en riskbedömning och använda sig av olika hjälpmedel för att förhindra uppkomsten av trycksår. Sjuksköterskan bör bli bättre på att dokumentera i patientjournalen och införskaffa sig ny kunskap.</p>

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Cincinnati, 2002. / Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed Apr. 21, 2003). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Introduktion/Bakgrund: Obstipationsproblematiken på särskilda boenden är utbredd ochförskrivandet av laxantia är stort. Obstipation kan leda till ett lidande hos den som ärdrabbad. Det är viktigt att sjuksköterskan identifierar och arbetar förebyggande till de somligger i riskzonen. Syfte: Belysa icke- farmakologiska omvårdnadsåtgärder för att förebyggaobstipation hos äldre på särskilt boende. Metod: Arbetet är en litteraturöversikt där trettonvetenskapliga artiklar ingår i resultatet. Artiklarna kvalitetsgranskades, analyserades ochsammanställdes i resultatet. Resultat: Resultatet indelades i tre rubriker: Kost, Fysiskaktivitet och Vårdpersonals kunskap. Olika interventioner resulterade i minskadanvändning av laxantia och ökad kunskap hos vårdpersonal när det gäller att identifiera ochförebygga de som ligger i riskzonen för att utveckla obstipation. Diskussion: Ändringar ikosten i form av fibertillägg gav patienterna en positiv inverkan på deras tarmvanor samt enminskning av användandet av laxantia. Vårdpersonalens kunskap är en färskvara somkontinuerligt bör uppdateras för att kunna bibehålla fortsatt god kvalitet på omvårdnaden.Slutsats: Ökad kunskap om förebyggande omvårdnadsåtgärder hos vårdpersonalen, samtatt de delar med sig av den, kan ge positiva effekter på obstipationsproblematiken påsärskilda boenden.

Specialiteten intensivvård utvecklades på 1950-talet, ända sedan dess har det varit känt att vissa av patinterna utvecklar akut förvirring eller psykiska störningar som senare kom att benämnas IVA syndromet. IVA syndromet orsakas av en process som startar vid insjuknandet/olyckan och beror på ett samspel mellan en psykologisk process, kemisk påverkan och den miljöstress som uppkommer av intensivvårdsmiljön som patienten vårdas i. IVA Syndromet orsakar ökad morbiditet och mortalitet. Syftet med arbetet är att beskriva omvårdnadsproblem och vilka åtgärder sjuksköterskan kan vidta för att förebygga utvecklandet av IVA syndromet. Undersökningen har utförts som en litteraturstudie. Resultatet visar att det finns en mängd olika omvårdnadsproblem relaterat till IVA syndromet. Sjuksköterskan kan med hjälp av kunskap och medvetenhet om problemet vidta en rad åtgärder inom ramen för sin profession för att förhindra och lindra effekterna av IVA syndromet. Resultatet visar att sjuksköterskan måste ha en helhetssyn i omvårdnadsarbetet för att effektivt kunna förebygga utvecklandet av IVA syndromet.

The effectiveness of speed limits has been the subject of considerable debate over the years. In most cases in the past, speed limits have been changed because of a single factor (e. g. improving the safety of road traffic or saving energy). In this thesis an attempt has been made to evaluate the consequences of changing a speed limit using cost-benefit analysis which formed the principle objective of this study. The scope was confined to motorways and similar high-quality roads operating under free-flow traffic conditions where speed limits were believed to be most effective. To achieve the main goal, the effect of the speed limit on the mean speed of traffic was investigated which was the second objective of the study. The third objective was to find the effect of the speed of traffic, and especially the mean speed of traffic, on the frequency and severity of personal injury accidents. There was a need to investigate these two relationships as the literature was not consistent on these relationships. A hypothesis was proposed to achieve the second objective. This was tested by defining criteria that had to be met for each of the data collection sites and measuring the speed of vehicles. There were II sites in Tyne & Wear, England and 14 sites in the State of Bahrain. A statistical analysis was applied to the data collected. It was found, from both sets of data, that speed limits had a positive effect on the mean speed and the eighty-fifth percentile speed of traffic. Linear and non-linear (multiplicative) models were developed for each set of data. In addition to the speed limit, the trip length and the length of the section were shown to affect significantly the mean speed of traffic. The amount of change in the mean speed of traffic varied between the models tested but, generally, for every 4 to 5 km/h change in the speed limit the mean speed of traffic changed by, about, I km/h. In a similar way, a hypothesis was proposed to pursue the third objective. Criteria were established for the selection of suitable data collection sites and for the types of accidents. 9 sites were selected in Tyne & Wear and 10 sites in the State of Bahrain. Data was drawn from a5 year set of accident records in Tyne and Wear and a four year set in the State of Bahrain. A statistical analysis was applied to the data. The set of data from Tyne & Wear revealed no significant relationship between the mean speed of traffic and the frequency of accidents but the speed differentials affected the frequency of the personal injury accidents. The data from Bahrain showed that both the mean speed of traffic and the speed differentials of vehicles affected the frequency of the personal injury accidents. No significant relationships were found between the speed of vehicles and the severity of the personal injury accidents. The principle objective of the study was achieved by applying cost-benefit analysis to the consequences of changing the speed limit for a hypothetical typical section of road. The components of cost were the cost of travel-time, the vehicle operating cost, and the cost of accidents. No monetary values were assigned to the environmental effects so it was not possible to include them in the cost-benefit analysis but they were acknowledged. Any changes in air pollution and noise annoyance due to a change in the mean speed of traffic following a change in a speed limit were likely to be small and were not considered in the study. The significance of the uncertainty in the frequency and severity of personal injury accidents in relation to the mean speed of traffic was studied using 'break-even analysis'. Generally, it was believed that lowering the speed limit on motorways and similar high-quality roads would produce negative benefits, even if the frequency and severity of personal injury accidents decreasedw ithin expectedr anges. Increasing the speed limits would produce positive economic benefits but the conclusion was less firm than the previous case. Sensitivity analysis was applied to the variables used in the cost-benefit analysis. It was found that the net benefits were most sensitive to the estimation of the effect of the speed limits on the mean speed of traffic, the initial mean speed of traffic in the base year of the assessment, the travel-time cost, the changes in the frequency of the personal injury accidents, and changes in the number of fatal injury casualties per average personal injury accident as the speed limit varied (i. e. in descending order for most speed limits). The ranking of these variables differed as the speed limit was changed.