TQM in a test environment

In response to the changing aerospace economic climate, Martin Marietta Astronautics Group (MMAG) has adopted a Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy to maintain a competitive edge. TQM emphasizes continuous improvement of processes, motivation to improve from within, cross-functional involvement, people empowerment, customer satisfaction, and modern process control techniques. The four major initiatives of TQM are Product Excellence, Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II), People Empowerment, and Subcontract Management. The Defense Space and Communications (DS&C) Test Lab's definition and implementation of the MRP II and people empowerment initiatives within TQM are discussed. The application of MRP II to environmental test planning and operations processes required a new and innovative approach. In an 18 month span, the test labs implemented MRP II and people empowerment and achieved a Class 'A' operational status. This resulted in numerous benefits, both tangible and intangible, including significant cost savings and improved quality of life. A detailed description of the implementation process and results are addressed

Effectiveness of nutrition programs in increasing healthy eating behaviors among low income women

This article presents a review of the literature regarding nutrition education programs targeting low income women. A total of 15 interventions were found, which met inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria included publication between January 1, 2001 and January 1, 2007, focus on low income females, focus exclusively on nutrition and improvement of dietary behaviors, publication in English, and intervention took place in the US. The 15 studies meeting the search criteria were, in turn, re-reviewed collectively by the authors. Ten main themes were found: 1) WIC and EFNEP-based interventions, 2) collaborative approaches, 3) theoretical framework, 4) learner-centered, 5) skills-based programs, 6) use of produce coupons or vouchers, 7) computer-based programs, 8) culturally-based interventions, 9) peer teaching, and 10) recommendations to include social support or physical activity. A summary of each was developed and emergent themes were identified. In this manner, effective strategies and lessons learned from the research regarding increasing healthy eating among low income females could be more clearly delineated and discussed. This paper could be quite beneficial to health educators and health researchers interested in increasing healthy dietary practices among low income female

Contemplative Practices: A Strategy to Improve Health and Reduce Disparities.

Health has many dimensions, and intolerance and lack of compassion may contribute to the poor health and disparities in our nation. Tolerance can convey an inherent paradox or dissonance that can be associated with stress. However, tolerance has a dimension of acceptance, an acknowledgement and acceptance of what "is" at the present moment, that can relieve tension associated with differing beliefs and practices. Compassionate consideration of others can be combined with acceptance to create harmony within and across individuals. In this article, we explore how contemplative practices can cultivate tolerance and compassion and contribute to improvements in individual and population health

School Principals’ Perceptions of Students Walking and Bicycling to School

Background. The purpose was to identify presence of restrictive policies, frequency of active commuting to school, beliefs of childhood health and perceived enabling and restrictive factors with regard to students walking/bicycling to school as observed by elementary and middle school principals. Methods. The study used a non-experimental quantitative survey research method. The census consisted of all public and private, elementary and middle schools in three counties in a Midwestern region (n=96). Results. A total of 71 principals completed the survey (74% response rate). Analyses indicated that the actual number of students walking/bicycling to school did not significantly differ between schools with a restrictive policy and schools with no restrictive policy. Overall, the actual number of students walking/bicycling to school was largely underestimated by principals. In addition, principals at schools with higher walking/bicycling rates were significantly more likely to report that students should consider walking/bicycling if residing within one mile, had significantly more enabling environments, and had significantly less restrictive environments

Medicalization of Female Beauty: A Content Analysis of Cosmetic Procedures

Over the past decade, cosmetic procedures have significantly increased in options available for females to achieve the American cultural standards of beauty. The purpose of this study is to conduct a content analysis of brochures and to observe what cosmetic procedures are made available to female customers from plastic surgery centers, and also to examine the medical and therapeutic framing techniques used to encourage females to undergo cosmetic procedures. Three plastic surgery centers (overall response rate= 60%) located in one metropolitan area served as participants for this study. The researcher observed the locations and collected all brochures made available. Twenty - one diverse brochures were used in this study as well as the researcher locate d the websites to view any missing information of services offered not included in the brochures. A content analysis was conducted of the brochures. All of the cosmetic surgery centers were accredited and advertised each plastic surgeon’s credibility. Various invasive and noninvasive cosmetic procedures were offered by each center including procedures that focus on the face, breasts, body, and skin care. Additionally, all cosmetic surgery centers marketed their elective surgeries to females by using medical terms as well as therapeutic terms. As the rates of cosmetic procedures have significantly increased overtime, cosmetic surgeons appear to benefit from employing medical terms to diagnose beauty among their target population of healthy females. In addition, using therapeutic terms to ensure increase self - esteem among females is another beneficial framing techniqu

Effect of Exercise on Reported Physical Sexual Satisfaction of University Students

The purpose of this study was to examine sexually active university students’ reported level of physical sexual satisfaction and perceived impact of exercise on physical satisfaction. In addition, this study investigated whether reported physical sexual satisfaction and perceived impact of exercise on physical sexual satisfaction differed based on current exercise status, body mass index, and gender. A sample of 678 college students completed a two page, 35-item survey instrument. Results indicated that students who were regular exercisers (engaged in vigorous physical activity for 20 minutes ? 3 days per week) were significantly more likely than students who were not regular exercisers to report higher levels of physical sexual satisfaction. Body mass index was also significantly correlated to physical sexual satisfaction. A series of multivariate analyses of variance revealed that physical sexual satisfaction and perceived impact of exercise on physical sexual satisfaction differed significantly based on gender. Overall, students perceived body image, sexual desirability perception, and physical strength as the three leading components of physical sexual satisfaction impacted by exercise. Since regular exercise may increase physical sexual satisfaction levels, health professionals could use the results of this study to help motivate individuals to enhance their physical sexual satisfaction by becoming more physically active

Does Involvement in Healthy Eating Among University Students Differ Based on Exercise Status and Reasons for Exercise?

Background. Unhealthy nutritional habits are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the US. Research indicates that regular physical activity can influence dietary habits of adults. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine whether university students’ involvement in healthy eating differed based on current exercise status and reported reasons for exercising. Methods. A sample of 204 university students completed a 22-item survey on healthy eating and physical activity. Results. Less than 10% met all Food Guide recommendations. The leading barriers to healthy eating were time, convenience and healthy food availability. Less than half exercised on four or more days each week. The leading reasons for exercising were to improve appearance, improve health and lose weight. Being physically active did not have a significant effect on healthy eating, nor did specific reason for exercising. Discussion. Most students did not eat healthy and their physical activity levels did not significantly affect their nutritional habits. Increased awareness campaigns are warranted. Conclusions. Strategies other than physical activity promotion are needed to positively impact students’ healthy eating behaviors. Students should continue to be educated about healthy nutrition and ways to reduce perceived barriers to healthy eating

Physical Pain and Participation in Organized Activities Among U.S. Adolescents

Chronic physical pain is a public health problem among adolescents in the United States. One important consideration for adolescent healthy development is participation in organized activities. Therefore, the study objective was to examine the associations between repeated or chronic physical pain and participation in organized activities overall and by activity type including sports, clubs, and other organized activities (e.g., dance) among U.S. adolescents. This secondary analysis utilized the 2018-2019 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) combined two-year dataset, and included 24,680 adolescents ages 12-17 years. We conducted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses to examine the relationships between adolescent physical pain and participation in organized activities overall and by type (sports, clubs, other organized activities). Nearly 14% of adolescents had physical pain in the past 12-months. Unadjusted logistic regression model results indicated that adolescents with physical pain were less likely to participate in organized activities (odds ratio [OR] = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66, 0.99) compared to adolescents without physical pain. Concerning specific organized activity type, unadjusted (OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.61, 0.86) and adjusted (aOR = 0.83, 95%CI = 0.70, 0.99) model results indicated that adolescents with physical pain were less likely to participate in sports compared to adolescents without physical pain. The current study found that adolescents with physical pain had lower odds of overall participation in organized activities, and specifically sports, when compared to adolescents without physical pain. Findings should be considered when developing and implementing pain prevention and treatment programming for adolescents in school and community settings

Performance Asymmetry in the Star Excursion Balance Test

Please refer to the pdf version of the abstract located adjacent to the title

Negative School Experiences and Pain Reliever Misuse among a National Adolescent Sample

A recent public health concern is the nonmedical use of prescription drugs among U.S. adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between negative school experiences and lifetime and past year pain reliever misuse among adolescents enrolled in high school nationwide. A secondary analysis was performed using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2017 data. Participants included 8,337 adolescents enrolled in 9th -12th grades. A total of 6.0% of high school students reported they had misused pain relievers in their lifetime, and 3.9% reported they had misused pain relievers during the past year. High school students who reported the following negative school experiences were at increased odds of reporting lifetime pain reliever misuse: liked/hated going to school (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.66-2.50); felt their coursework was somewhat/very boring (aOR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.48-2.22), seldom/never meaningful (aOR = 2.01, 95%CI = 1.64-2.45), and/or would be somewhat/very unimportant to them later in life (aOR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.33-2.01); and had teachers who seldom/never let them know they were doing a good job (aOR = 1.71, 95%CI = 1.40-2.09). High school students who had a “D” grade average or lower (aOR = 2.69, 95%CI = 1.89-3.82) and skipped school on at least one day (aOR = 2.18, 95%CI = 1.76-2.70) were more likely to report lifetime use. Similar significant findings were reported between negative school experiences and past year pain reliever misuse. Negative school experiences are risk factors for lifetime and past year pain reliever misuse among U.S. adolescents. Programming that reduces students’ negative school experiences may create a positive environment, and in turn, reduce misuse