Qualitative Inquiry: An Overview for Pediatric Psychology

Objective: To provide a framework for critically evaluatingqualitative research to professionals interested in pediatricpsychology. Qualitative methods emphasize the phenomenologicalexperience of participants and may be pertinent to studyingcontextual factors that contribute to child health and well-being. Method: A bask overview of the types of qualitative research,methodological procedures, and ethical considerations is provided.Examples are drawn from qualitative studies that focus on childand family health. Results: The article concludes with guidelines for examiningqualitative research and recommendations for use in pediatricpsychology. Conclusions: Qualitative methods have the potential to addressimportant issues In pediatric psychology.     

Brief Report: Behavioral Correlates of Postoperative Pain in Toddlers and Preschoolers

Objective: To investigate the association between preoperatlveparent and child behaviors and postoperative pain in toddlersand preschoolers. Method: Participants were 74 pediatrlc patients (59 boys, 15girls), scheduled for Inguinal hernia or hydrocele repair, andtheir parents. Children ranged in age from 12 to 64 months (M= 33.7 months, SD = 14.7 months). Child and parent behaviorswere assessed 30 minutes prior to surgery using the BehavioralObservation Scale (BOS), a modified version of the Dyadic PrestressorInteraction Scale (Melamed & Bush, 1985). Postoperativepain was assessed using an observational measure, the Toddler-PreschoolerPostoperative Pain Scale (TPPPS) (Tarbell, Cohen, & Marsh,1992). Results: Postoperative pain was negatively related to parents'provision of surgery–relevant information during the preoperativeobservation period. Conclusions: Preoperative interventions for young children shouldinclude information about the surgery experience.     

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for physical and emotional disturbances in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of anenhanced cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT), Primary andSecondary Control Enhancement Training (PASCET-PI-2), for physical(obesity) and emotional (depression) disturbances in adolescentswith polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Method In anopen trial, 12 adolescents with PCOS, obesity, and depressionunderwent eight weekly sessions and three family-based sessionsof CBT enhanced by lifestyle goals (nutrition and exercise),physical illness narrative (meaning of having PCOS), and familypsychoeducation (family functioning). Results Weightshowed a significant decrease across the eight sessions froman average of 104 kg (SD = 26) to an average of 93 kg (SD =18), t(11) = 6.6, p <.05. Depressive symptoms on the Children'sDepression Inventory significantly decreased from a mean of17 (SD = 3) to a mean of 9.6 (SD = 2), t(11) = 16.8, p <.01. Conclusion Amanual-based CBT approach to treat depression in adolescentswith PCOS and obesity appears to be promising.     

Psychosocial adjustment in children with kidney disease

Objective: To examine family environment, levels of parentingstress, and child behavior problems in children with one ofthree kidney diseases compared to healthy children and to examinepredictors of psychological distress in the full sample. Method: Parents of children with steroid sensitive nephroticsyndrome, chronic renal insufficiency, or kidney transplant (n = 41) were compared to 34 healthy children of similar demographic characteristics. Results: Mean scores on family functioning, parenting stress,and child behavior were within normal limits. Family environment variables significantly predicted child behavior and parentingstress for parents of ill and healthy children. Qualitativeresponses provided insight into developmentally specific stressorsand intervention needs in the illness groups. Conclusions: These data indicate that long-term survivors ofkidney disease function similarly to demographically matchedpeers and that the family environment may buffer stress causedby illness. Specific concerns raised by parents in the kidneydisease groups indicate the need to appropriately assess andintervene with this understudied population.     

APPENDIX A. RELATIVISTIC KINEMATICS

To cover the complete energy range of interest in radiation-transportstudies, relativistic kinematics must be used. The linear momentump the wave vector k, the total energy      

Examining short-term stability of the Mealtime Interaction Coding System (MICS)

Objective This study assessed the stability of ratings on theMcMaster Mealtime Interaction Coding System (MICS), an observationalmeasure of family functioning, across three typical eveningmeals. Methods Participants included families of infants andtoddlers with cystic fibrosis (n = 33) and with no chronic illness(n = 33). Three meals were videotaped across a 3-week period(M = 17.4 days) and involved a secondary data analysis froma larger study. Results Across both groups, test–retestreliability (paired correlation coefficients) was generallymoderate, but significant, for all scales at each time pointcomparison. Analyses revealed no significant within-or between-groupdifferences across time periods on healthy versus unhealthyratings. Conclusions This study highlights the limitations ofcoding a single mealtime observation or interpreting multipleobservations using the MICS. Findings highlight that family,meal, illness, and assessment factors may impact variabilityin ratings over time.     

Effect of peers and friends on youth physical activity and motivation to be physically active

Objective To test whether the presence of a peer or a friendincreases the motivation to be physically active in overweightand non-overweight youth in a laboratory setting. Methods Youthmotivation to be physically active as a function of the socialcontext was measured using a computerized relative reinforcingvalue task to earn points exchangeable for physical and/or sedentaryactivities. Results The presence of a friend (p<.001)increased youth's; motivation to be physically active. The presenceof a peer increased overweight youth's; motivation to be physicallyactive, whereas this was not the case for lean youth (p=.47).Participants biked a greater distance in the presence of a friendthan when alone (p<.001). Overweight youth biked a greaterdistance in the presence of a peer than when alone, while thiswas not the case for lean youth (p=.23). Conclusions Friendshipsmay increase youth's; motivation to engage in physical activityand promote greater physical activity in non-overweight andoverweight youth.     

Problem Behaviors and Personality of Children and Adolescents With Prader-Willi Syndrome

Objective: Compare behavioral and emotional problems of childrenand adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and clientsconsulting mental health centers (MHC) and related behavioraland emotional problems to the children's personality in thePWS group. Methods: Participants were 39 children with PWS and 585 matchedMHC dlents. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) syndromes were relatedto the Big-Five personality factors measured with the CaliforniaChild Q-sort (CCQ). Results: Mean CBCL Total Problems scores were not differentfor the PWS and MHC groups, but differences were found for severalof the CBCL subscales. Patterns of correlations among CBCL scaleswere similar In both groups, although coefficients were generallyhigher in the PWS group, indicating higher comorbidity or co-absenceof CBCL syndromes in children and adolescents with PWS. Personalityprofiles were specific for Internalizing and Externalizing problemsof children and adolescents with PWS.     

Induction of micronuclei by lambda-cyhalothrin in Wistar rat bone marrow and gut epithelial cells

Mutagenesis, 20,     

Resistance to the antibiotic Zeocin by stable expression of the Sh ble gene does not fully suppress Zeocin-induced DNA cleavage in human cells

Mutagenesis 20     

Characterization of recessive RYR1 mutations in core myopathies

Human Molecular Genetics 15     

A Gne knockout mouse expressing human V572L mutation develops features similar to distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles or hereditary inclusion body myopathy

Human Molecular Genetics Advance Access published on December12, 2006 Human Molecular Genetics 16, 115–128; (2007)     

Sleep difficulties in infants at risk for developmental delays: a longitudinal study

Objectives We compared the sleep of infants at risk forneuromotor delays to that of infants without such risks, andexamined the predictive validity of risk indicators to the developmentof sleep problems. Methods Conveniently recruitedinfants (n = 142) were assessed for neuromotor achievementsand sleep behaviors at 4–6 months and 10–12 monthsof age. Assessment tools were the Harris Infant Neuromotor Testand Morrell's Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Based on a cumulativerisk index, three groups were defined: higher risk (n = 28),lower risk (n = 42), and no risk (n = 72). Results Atboth ages, the sleep scores were similar among the groups. Inthe no risk and lower risk group, sleep difficulties decreasedwith age, while for infants in the higher risk group, more difficultieswere reported over time. Overall, the neuromotor attainmentswere not related to sleep fragmentation or settling difficulties. Conclusions Ina diverse sample of infants, with and without risks for developmentaldelays, overall, sleep patterns were similar. It appears thatthe neuromotor achievements are not associated with sleep-wakeregulation, as measured by caregivers’ report.     

Erratum

Hum. Reprod., 20, 1     

Uniparental disomy at chromosome 11p15.5 followed by HRAS mutations in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: lessons from Costello syndrome

Human Molecular Genetics 16,     

A Qualitative Study of Parent to Parent Support for Parents of Children With Special Needs

Objective: To examine qualitatively the experiences of parentsparticipating In Parent to Parent programs. Method: Twenty-fourparents of children with special needs, a subset of subjectsin a larger quantitative study, participated in a semi-structuredtelephone interview to explore the Impact and meaning of beingmatched with a trained supporting parent. Results: Qualitative analysis reveals a successful match iscontingent upon creation of a "reliable ally" in the supportingparent, comprised of four main components: (1) perceived sameness,(2) situational comparisons that enable arning and growth, (3)round-the-clock availability of support, and (4) mutuality ofsupport. Conclusions: Parent to Parent support creates a community ofsimilar others trained to listen and be supportive and providesan opportunity for matched parents to experience equality andmutuality in their relationship. Findings also identify theneed for quality control In Parent to Parent programs and theimportance of such programs as an adjunct to traditional professionalservices.     

Spontaneous pregnancy and normal delivery after repeated autologous bone marrow transplantation and GnRH agonist treatment

Hum. Reprod., 22,     

From genome to proteome: developing expression clone resources for the human genome

Human Molecular Genetics (2006) 15,     

The effect of fibroids without cavity involvement on ART outcomes independent of ovarian age

Hum Reprod 2007; 22