Early Feeding After a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Background: Oral fluids and food are traditionally introduced slowly after total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). This descriptive study examined the effect and tolerance of early oral intake following this surgery. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 164 patients who had been on a clinical pathway following TAH. Comparisons in initiation of fluids and foods, and gastrointestinal effects were made between the early fed group (n=82) and the traditionally fed group (n=82). Results: Both groups had the similar gastrointestinal symptoms postoperatively, but the early fed group had an earlier bowel movement. The early fed group had a statistically significant shorter length of stay. Similar usage of anti-nausea medication and pain medication usage was noted between the two groups, except for a lower usage of Tylenol #3 (acetaminophen with codeine) in the early fed group. Conclusions: This study found that early feeding could be tolerated well in TAH patients, with statistically significant improvements in usage of some pain medication and length of stay were noted in the early fed group

Youth Employment

Youth employment is the norm in American society. Approximately 80% of youth report holding jobs during their high school years (National Research Council, 1998). Entry into the labor market often begins early, with about half of youth ages 12 and 13 reporting that they work (Rothstein & Herz, 2000). Although statistics are gathered regularly about youth employment in the general population, comparatively little was known about employment patterns of youth with disabilities until the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) collected data from 1987 to 1990 (see footnote 1). The National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) (see footnote 2) began updating and expanding data on youth with disabilities in 2001, including information on employment. Information reported here comes from telephone interviews and a mail survey conducted in 2001 with parents and guardians of youth with disabilities, and from comparisons made with 1987 NLTS employment data. Findings from NLTS2 are generalizable to youth with disabilities nationally who were 13 to 16 years old in December of 2000, and to each of 12 federal disability categories and to each age group (e.g., all 13-year-old students with disabilities, all 14-year-old students with disabilities, etc.). According to parents' reports, almost 60% of youth with disabilities are employed during a 1-year period -- some at work-study jobs, but the vast majority at non-school-related jobs

The Gold Standard: Understanding the Impact of Perfectionism on Occupation

Occupational Science seeks to understand human occupation, often grouping occupations into categories and considering external factors that influence what people do. The current literature in psychology includes several studies on perfectionism, but there are no studies within occupational science literature. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how perfectionism impacts the occupations of college students studying occupational science and provide a measurable and meaningful depiction of the interaction between these variables. Original research was conducted using a mixed methods approach. The Almost Perfect Scale, Revised (APS-R), developed by Slaney, Mobley, Trippi, Ashby, & Johnson (1996) was administered to a class of Occupational Science (OS) students. The results of this assessment were used to categorize students as perfectionist or non-perfectionist. A smaller sample of students in both groups were selected and time logs of their occupations were compared and analyzed. For the qualitative portion, a follow- up survey with the subgroup of the perfectionists was conducted. The results showed more perfectionists than nonperfectionists among the sample and a slight difference in time spent in pleasurable and productive occupations. These results could be used to promote lifestyle balance among OS students and encourage them to monitor their time to prevent workaholism in future work related endeavors, as well as prevent stress-related health problems. Finally, this knowledge can help future occupational therapists understand perfectionist tendencies of clients

Viewer\u27s Perception of Local Television Anchors: A Gender Based Study

A number of studies conducted by Lin (1992), Meeske (1992), Stone and Lee (1990), and Weinthal and O\u27Keefe (1984) have examined which variables are rated highest and most prominent by respondents toward television anchors. Professionalism, voice and speech, personal appeal, and attractiveness have been among the top rated variables, but they have never been researched within a single study. This study examines the above variables for local male and female television anchors and discovers which was rated the highest by male and female respondents. Significant findings within this study include male respondents perceive professionalism to be the highest rated variable in both male and female anchors. Results also show that female respondents rated professionalism highest in male anchors and voice, speech and personal appeal highest in female anchors

Analysis of mental imagery of third grade children (in contrast to their comprehension of the same stories)

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston UniversityThe purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of mental imagery to reading comprehension of third grade children. The paragraphs used for the imagery study were taken from the stories tested for reading comprehension. Throughout this study, mental imagery shall be considered to be an image which a child reports after hearing the paragraphs read to him by the examiner. During the testing period there is an opportunity for the child to report the images he perceives, whether it be of a visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, or kinaesthetic nature

Experiences of Balance Among Novice Occupational Therapists

For new occupational therapists, finding balance between the demands of work and their personal lives is challenging. The transition from student to practitioner is filled with uncertainty as new therapists try to meet the demands of working in a continuously changing environment. Research describing how new therapists define and experience balance in their own daily lives is currently missing in the literature. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of novice occupational therapists in creating occupational balance while working in the healthcare system. Six novice therapists in their first year of practice were recruited for this study via convenience sampling. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded and lasted between 20-30 minutes. Recorded data was transcribed and emergent coding was completed. Eighteen codes were identified and narrowed into two overall themes: achieving occupational balance and developing as an occupational therapist. The implications of this research could be useful in providing better support for novice therapists to promote health, quality of life, and occupational balance