Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

"Rassling The Hog": The Influence Of Correlated Item Error On Internal Consistency, Classical Reliability, And Congeneric Reliability, Joseph F. Lucke

Joseph Lucke

The properties of internal consistency ($\alpha$), classical reliability ($\rho$), and congeneric reliability ($\omega$) for a composite test with correlated item error were analytically investigated. Possible sources of correlated item error are contextual effects, item bundles, and item models that ignore additional attributes or higher-order attributes. The relation between reliability and internal consistency is determined by the deviance from true-score equivalence. Reliability (classical or congeneric) is internal consistency plus the relative deviance from true-score equivalence. The influence of correlated item error on $\alpha$, $\rho$, and $\omega$ is conveyed strictly through the total item error covariance. As the total item error covariance …

Community-Based Participatory Research: Defining Community Stakeholders, Laurene M. Tumiel-Berhalter, Robert Watkins, Carlos J. Crespo

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Community-based participatory research requires the participation of community stakeholders to inform the process. The West Side Community Asthma Project, a community-based participatory research program to study the effects of the environment on asthma conducted in Buffalo, N. Y, identified a stakeholders group of community leaders and activists. Creative strategies have been implemented to reach out to other community residents to invite them to participate in the participatory process.

The Effects Of Childhood Obesity On Self-Esteem, Heather L. Paxton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Obesity is a growing health problem affecting children in the United States. The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically over the past 10 years across virtually all populations and age groups. Recent data suggest that 15 percent of U.S. children are severely overweight or obese (National Center for Health Statistics, 2002) . Obese children are at risk for significant health problems, but also face many psychological and social consequences, including low self-esteem. Children who are obese face an increased risk of emotional problems lasting well into adulthood. Factors such as peer rejection, weight-related teasing, and internalized social standards play a …

The Effectiveness Of Memory Training Programs In Improving The Subjective Memory Characteristics Of Healthy Older Adults With Memory Complaints : A Meta-Analysis, Kimilee Y. Wilson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The focus of this study was to examine the effectiveness of memory training programs in improving the metamemory (i.e., subjective memory characteristics) of healthy older adults by integrating recent research findings in a meta-analysis. In particular, the following research questions were proposed: (a) How effective are memory training programs in improving the subjective memory characteristics of healthy older adults with memory complaints? (b) Which components of the memory training programs increase the effectiveness of memory training (in terms of metamemory characteristics)? (c) How do the results of this meta-analysis compare to those reported by Floyd and Scogin (1997)? Studies that …

Discovering The Barriers To Health-Promoting Lifestyles Among Appalachian Veterans With Uncontrolled Hypertension, Tara L. Porter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to discover the barriers to health promoting lifestyles among the Appalachian veteran population with uncontrolled hypertension.

Design: A quantitative research study was conducted over five months using a non-experimental, descriptive research design. Pender’s Health Promotion Model served as the study’s framework. Subjects were recruited from a primary care setting through advertisement within the hospital. A convenience sample of thirty-two subjects was obtained.

Method: The Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) II survey assessed for barriers to controlled hypertension in the following areas: health-promoting lifestyle, health responsibility, stress management, spiritual growth, interpersonal relationships, nutrition, and …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 47 Number 3, Winter 2005, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

8 - AFTER AMERICA by Deepa Arora. Thomas J. Reese, S.J., the former editor of the Jesuit weekly magazine, America, is spending a sabbatical year at SCU. He sat down for an exclusive interview with SCM to reflect on what he has witnessed, what inspires him, and the future of the Church.

16 - A HALF-CENTURY OF ART AND HISTORY AT SCU by Victoria Hendel De La O. "Through its exhibitions and collections, the museum allows students and faculty to expand the walls of the classroom," says Rebecca M. Schapp, director of the de Saisset Museum, which is celebrating its …

Information Interface - Volume 33, Issue 1 - January/February 2005, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Information Interface (1976 - 2009)

News and information about Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library of interest to users. Includes articles on journal subscription renewals and database search tips.

Managed Mental Health Care: Findings From The Literature, 1990–2005, D. Richard Mauery, Lissette Vaquerano, Rachel Sethi, Joanne Jee, Lisa Chimento

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Willingness-To-Pay For Services Provided By The Clinical Services Improvement Project (Csi) In Egypt, John H. Bratt, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Magdi A. Ibrahim, Mohammed Edress

Reproductive Health

Willingness-to-pay (WTP) surveys are increasingly used in reproductive health programs to predict the impact of price changes on revenues, utilization, and client profile. The FRONTIERS program worked with the Clinical Services Improvement (CSI) project and the Cairo Demographic Center to carry out a WTP survey in six CSI clinics in Egypt. The survey found that most clients would be willing to pay higher prices for CSI services, and WTP did not vary much by client economic status. However, predictive validity was low when all reasons for client discontinuation were included. WTP surveys have the potential to be useful tools for …

Attitudes And Intentions Toward Purchasing Novel Foods Enriched With Omega-3 Fatty Acids, C. Patch, P. G. Williams, Linda C. Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: To identify the nature, strength and relative importance of influences on intentions to consume foods that are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Design: A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire. Setting: Community based residents living in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Subjects: Two sub-samples were surveyed via questionnaire: Community members who responded to a local media advertisement (n=79), and subjects in a dietary intervention trial for type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=50). Variables Measures: Using the TPB variables – intention, attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control - questionnaire items were constructed to …

Plant Sterol/Stanol Prescription Is An Effective Treatment Strategy For Managing Hypercholesterolemia In Outpatient Clinical Practice, C. Patch, Linda C. Tapsell, P. G. Williams

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective To determine the effectiveness of prescribing 2 g plant sterols/stanols per day as an addition to standard practice in a dietary outpatient clinic. Design A randomized parallel design of comparative 12-week interventions. Subjects/Setting Patients referred by a general practitioner to a dietary outpatient clinic for the management of hyperlipidemia were eligible. Twenty-five patients (15 women and 10 men) completed the study. Intervention Counselling regarding diet for hyperlipidemia was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. The intervention group was instructed to incorporate ~25 g/day of margarine containing plant sterols/stanols, which delivered ~2 g of plant sterols/stanols. Main …

Overview Of Computerized Dietary Assessment Programs For Research And Practice In Nutrition Education, Y. Probst, Linda C. Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Computerized dietary assessment programs are often used for nutrition education research and practice. This article provides an informal overview of 29 dietary assessment programs mentioned in the literature covered by MEDLINE from 1996 to 2003, along with the components and capabilities of these programs derived from additional sources as needed. According to the literature, the advantages of using computers for dietary assessment include standardization of the questioning sequence, fast and easy processing, immediate results, and increased flexibility.The disadvantages include the need for typing skills and computer literacy, as well as potential bias in the responses if an interviewer is required.

Low Plasma Vitamin E Levels In Major Depression: Diet Or Disease?, A. J. Owen, Marijka Batterham, Y. C. Probst, Brin F. Grenyer, Linda C. Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

"Objective: Levels of vitamin E have been reported to be lower in patients suffering major depression, but whether this is due to inadequate dietary intake or the pathophysiology of depression is not known, and was the subject of the present study. Setting: Wollongong, Australia. Methods: Plasma vitamin E (a-tocopherol) was measured in 49 adults with major depression, age (mean7s.d.): 47712 y. In a subset (n¼19) usual dietary intake of vitamin E was determined by diet history. Results: Subjects had significantly lower plasma a-tocopherol (4.7170.13 mmol/mmol cholesterol) than has previously been reported for healthy Australians, and plasma a-tocopherol was inversely related …

Walnuts And Dietary Approaches To The Prevention And Management Of Abnormal Lipid Profiles In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Linda C. Tapsell, L. J. Gillen, C. S. Patch

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Dietary fat is considered central to the management of obesity and heart disease risk, and more recently with the risk of type 2 diabetes, given its observed role in the development of insulin resistance in mechanistic studies. For changes in lipid profiles, foods delivering substantial amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids relative to saturated fats are of interest, and walnuts fit this category.As a class of foods, nuts have been shown to provide benefits to health in a number of clinical trials. A review of the cardiovascular benefits of nuts indicated their value on thrombotic factors, inflammatory markers and endothelial function.Including …

The Relationship Between Media Exposure And Awareness Of Health Behaviour Guidelines Among Older Australians, Sandra C. Jones, Christina Hoang

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study aimed to determine whether or not there was a relationship between media exposure and awareness of health behaviour guidelines for physical activity, breast cancer screening and alcohol consumption among older Australians. The results of the study suggest that media exposure to certain health issues does in fact impact on people’s health knowledge and in some cases lead people to form incorrect perceptions. This is most evident with breast cancer where the heavy emphasis on the disease in the media has led to the misconception that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among Australian women and that …

Beer, Boats And Breasts: Responses To A Controversial Alcohol Advertising Campaign, Sandra C. Jones

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Over the last 30 years there has been a notable increase in the use of sexual appeals in advertising. In 2003, as with previous years, approximately 30% of all complaints to the Australian Advertising Standards Board related to portrayal of sex/sexuality/nudity and for the past four years this has been the most common issue prompting complaints. The stimulus for this study was a current television commercial for a full-strength beer which used an overt sexual/sexist appeal. The ad has been the subject of a large number of complaints to the ASB, which were rejected as the ASB deemed that the …

A Practical Application Of Theory: Using Social Marketing Theory To Develop Innovative And Comprehensive Sun Protection Campaigns, Sandra C. Jones, Donald C. Iverson, A. Penman, A. Tang

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper presents the background to a large-scale collaborative project between researchers at the University of Wollongong and the Cancer Council of New South Wales, and outlines in detail the stages of the ongoing research project. The project provides the opportunity to synthesise and apply best evidence form research in marketing, mass media communication, and health behaviour change real-life campaigns for a leading industry partner. This project demonstrates the value of ongoing research collaborations between university researchers and industry practitioners in systematically applying, and evaluating, research findings to real-world programs.

Message Framing Effects In Exercise Promotions: Confounded By Linguistic Complexity?, Sandra C. Jones

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Studies of framing effects on health-related intentions and behaviour have been conducted in numerous areas, with contradictory results. These inconsistent results can be partially explained by the differential nature of the behaviours concerned, and by the degree to which people engage in detailed processing of the messages, but there is clearly more to learn about framing effects. This study compared the effectiveness of the communication approaches inherent in the four-cell framing model towards adopting a health-enhancing behaviour (exercise). However we found an atheoretical interaction effect caused by the linguistic complexity of the messages.

Parents' Inferences About Other Parents' Motives For Food Choices For Children: A Pilot Study, Sandra C. Jones, Danielle Mcvie, Gary Noble

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The traditional approach to improving children’s diets has been to educate parents about the importance of healthy food choices. However, it is recognized that knowledge does not necessarily lead to improved food choices. This study used an indirect measure to investigate the underlying reasons for parents’ decisions about their children’s diets. We found a significant difference in parents’ perceptions of a hypothetical mother on items that related directly to food choices. It appears from these results that parents do indeed make value judgments about the food choices that mothers make for their children. Our results suggest that indirect question techniques, …

Australian Industry Responses To Current Ethical Dilemmas – Fast Cars And Fast Food, Sandra C. Jones

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper reviews two ethical dilemmas currently facing advertisers in Australia, which have resulted from lobby group activities and public concern over health and safety issues, and discusses industry responses to these dilemmas. In Australia the main response mechanism for advertisers has been the introduction of self-regulatory codes of practice. A review of the general and trade press, and of the records of the Australian Advertising Standards Board, finds that industry responses tend to be based on teleological ethics (focus on the ends) rather than deontological ethics (focus on the means), with the primary teleological motive being to avoid deleterious …

Are Negative Reactions To Sexist Appeals In Alcohol Advertisements A Function Of Feminism Or Gender?, Sandra C. Jones

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the use of sexual appeals in alcohol advertising is increasing. It has been shown that the use of sex appeals may result in a more negative attitude towards the brand, particularly among female consumers. This study investigates the proposition that this is the effect of feminist ideology rather than, or in addition to, biological gender. The results show that female respondents have more negative attitudes towards alcohol advertisements utilizing overt (or demeaning) sexual appeals than males and more positive attitudes towards alcohol advertisements utilizing feminist (empowering) appeals than males; and that there is no consistent independent …

Recommendations For Short Questions To Assess Food Consumption In Children For The Nsw Health Surveys, Victoria M. Flood, Karen Webb, Anna Rangan

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Monitoring key food habits of children is important for planning and improving health services in New South Wales. The NSW Health Department conducts the NSW Health survey program using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). This survey includes questions for monitoring food habits of children aged 0-16 years. In this report, we recommend survey questions to be used in the NSW Health survey for this purpose, which meet a range of criteria for good survey questions about nutrition and food habits.

The Interaction Of Transcutaneous Heating And Helicopter Flight Simulation Performance, Joanne N. Caldwell, Mark J. Patterson, Nigel A.S Taylor

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

It is well known that elevations in body temperature can impair both physical and cognitive performance. For helicopter pilots, the major heat source during flight originates from solar radiation. However, when nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protective clothing is worn, metabolic heat generated during the pre-flight period, and during the mission, is trapped, exacerbating thermal strain. In this project, the hypothesis that elevations in body heat content would degrade flight performance was tested. Helicopter pilots completed three, two-hour flight simulations under three levels of thermal strain, administered in a balanced order. Thermal strain was induced using a water-perfusion gannent, worn …

An Assessment Of The Repetitive Manual Tasks Of Cleaners, Fiona Weigall, Katrina Simpson, Alison F. Bell, Lynn Kemp

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

WorkCover NSW established a Steering Committee to investigate musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the cleaning industry following advice arising from the Workplace Safety Summtt 2002. In September 2004, Health & Safety Matters Pty Ltd was appointed to undertake research into this area, with a focus on conducting an assessment of the upper limbs demands of repetttive cleaning ta~ks, and to provide advice on reducing the risk of MSDs. The objectives of the project were to: 1. explore the impact of upper limb musculoskeletal disorder injuries amongst cleaners; 2. describe the physical and work organisational demands of the upper limb work in …

Workforce Issues, Skill Mix, Maternity Services And The Enrolled Nurse : A Discussion, Moira Williamson, Avon Strahle

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

New South Wales (NSW) is experiencing a shortage of registered midwives. Currently midwives are being actively recruited for 125 metropolitan and 45 rural positions in area health services across the state. This shortage of registered midwives is occurring not only in NSW but also throughout Australia, and has also been reported internationally (McKenna & Hasson, 2002; Keeney et al. 2005). In an attempt to address the ongoing shortage of registered nurses and midwives the NSW Health Department has proposed that a skill mix of 80% registered nurses or midwives to 20% enrolled nurses be implemented within hospitals. This initiative will …

Do Infants Use A Generalised Motion Processing System For Discriminating Facial Motion?, J V. Spencer, J M. O'Brien, Harold C. Hill, A Johnston

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at The 28th European Conference on Visual Perception, 22-26 August 2005, A Coruña, Spain

Adaptation To Differences In 3-D Face Shape Across Changes In Viewpoint And Texture, Harold C. Hill, T Watson, G Vignali

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at The 28th European Conference on Visual Perception, 22-26 August 2005, A Coruña, Spain

Collaborative Recovery: An Integrative Model For Working With Individuals Who Experience Chronic And Recurring Mental Illness, Lindsay G. Oades, Frank P. Deane, Trevor P. Crowe, Gordon Lambert, David Kavanagh, Christopher Lloyd

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives: Recovery is an emerging movement in mental health. Evidence for recovery-based approaches is not well developed and approaches to implement recovery-oriented services are not well articulated. The collaborative recovery model (CRM) is presented as a model that assists clinicians to use evidencebased skills with consumers, in a manner consistent with the recovery movement. A current 5 year multisite Australian study to evaluate the effectiveness of CRM is briefly described. Conclusion: The collaborative recovery model puts into practice several aspects of policy regarding recovery-oriented services, using evidence-based practices to assist individuals who have chronic or recurring mental disorders (CRMD). It …

Functional Foods: Definition And Commercialisation, Linda C. Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper outlines the framework for a working definition of functional foods utilised by the National Centre of Excellence in Functional Foods, considers trends in the areas of influence, and raises issues for the successful commercialisation of functional foods by the Australian food industry.

An Evaluation Of A Life-Coaching Group Program: Initial Findings From A Waitlist Control Study, Suzy Green, Lindsay G. Oades, Anthony M Grant

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Life coaching has grown substantially in the last few years and received considerable media coverage worldwide (Rock, 2001). However, there have been few empirical investigations into its efficacy (Grant, 2003). The study outlined in this chapter aims to add to this limited empirical base.