An analysis of college students' attitudes and beliefs concerning body disposal

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the body disposal preferences of college students at The Pennsylvania State University, and to identify factors related to their choice in order to draw implications to strengthen death education programming. In this study, 184 undergraduate students were asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding body disposal preferences and related concerns. A variety of independent variables were identified.

Significant interrelationships were found between the independent variables; primary reason for choice of body disposal, religious affiliations, perceived reasonable costs, desire to utilize the services of a funeral director, and the dependent variable, choice of body disposal. These data also indicate that college age students prefer non-traditional burial modalities. The educational implication of these findings are discussed.     

Assistive technology outcomes in post-secondary students with disabilities: the influence of diagnosis,gender, and class-level

This study investigated how outcomes of assistive technology (AT) services for college students with disabilities are influenced by diagnosis, gender and class-level (e.g., Freshman). Students’ pre- and post-intervention ratings of their performance and satisfaction of common academic tasks (using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, COPM) were analyzed, as well as students’ responses on a survey about AT service provision, use, and preferences. Data from 455 students revealed “learning disability” to be the most prevalent diagnosis (38%), similar numbers of females and males served, and Freshmen (23.1%) as the largest class-level seeking AT services. For COPM data, each two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (grouping variable?=?diagnosis) revealed that pre-post change scores significantly improved for the entire sample, and that students with a mood disorder experienced the greatest changes compared to other diagnoses. COPM scores significantly and similarly improved for females and males, and across class levels. AT Survey ratings about timeliness of services and independent AT use were significantly lower for students with mobility deficits/pain and neurological damage, respectively. Gender and class-level variables did not significantly impact AT Survey ratings. The study results reveal that features of a college student’s diagnosis may influence AT service outcomes, and student-perceptions of AT services ability to use AT.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• College students who are Freshman and/or who have a learning disability are the most prevalent students referred for campus-based assistive technology services.

• While student ratings of academic task performance significantly increase across diagnostic groupings, these improvements were greatest for those with a mood disorder compared to other diagnostic groups.

• Service-providers should consider that features of certain diagnoses or disabilities may influence the student?s perception of AT service provision and their ability to use AT.

• A student's gender and class-level (e.g., Freshman) do not appear to influence the outcomes of AT services for college students with disabilities.

     

Exploring assistive technology use to support cognition in college students with histories of mild traumatic brain injury

Purpose: College students with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may experience chronic cognitive deficits necessitating use of external supports for daily task completion. The purpose of this study was to explore cognitive support system selection and use by students with histories of mTBI when completing novel prospective memory tasks.

Materials and methods: We implemented a multiple case study, sequential explanatory mixed-methods design with three participants. Participants completed four experimental phases: (1) background history collection, cognitive assessment completion, pre-trial interview, and selection of two external supports for trial phase use; (2) trial Phase 1 (i.e., 10-days); (3) trial Phase 2 (i.e., 10?days); and (4) post-trial exit interview. We examined participants’ support type and characteristic preferences and evaluated task execution accuracy when implementing differing supports.

Results: Participants expressed both collective and unique cognitive aid preferences before trial completion. Trial phase results revealed that task completion accuracy did not alter substantially between trials; however, personal preferences and perceived usefulness of trialled cognitive aid systems appeared to impact support implementation and effectiveness. Themes emerged from post-trial interview relating to the (a) necessity for differing functions of individual systems and (b) importance of trialling devices prior to selection.

Conclusions: Results emphasize the necessity of person-centred approaches to treatment due to the variability of performance accuracy and system preferences. The cognitive aid selection and implementation intervention protocol piloted in this study appears beneficial for understanding unique strengths and challenges for college students following mTBI and may be useful for clinicians working with individuals with mTBI.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• College-aged students with mild traumatic brain injury report unique preferences for no- and high-tech cognitive aids; however, similar patterns emerge relating to preferred system characteristics.

• Facilitating several trial periods prior to selection and implementation of external cognitive supports for individuals with mild traumatic brain injury is essential given the preference changes that occur post-trial.

• Implementing a three-phase external cognitive aid selection process appears beneficial for young adults with mild brain injuries.

     

Increasing Intent to Vaccinate for Seasonal Influenza

ABSTRACT

Background: The community college student is not currently armed with the resources or prevention information regarding influenza. Less than twenty percent of the college population receives influenza immunization annually.

Purpose: The purpose of the project was to evaluate if an evidenced-based influenza and vaccine education intervention will affect nursing students’ intent to vaccinate for influenza by increasing knowledge of the influenza vaccine using Zingg and Siegrist’s Knowledge Scale.

Methods: Participants were recruited voluntarily from their attendance at orientation for incoming nursing students on a specific date and time. Utilizing a computer survey, all seventy-seven participants completed an online pretest before an educational intervention, and then, the results were compared following the educational intervention with a posttest. Parametric tests such as a paired t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and percent change were utilized to determine whether an educational intervention was effective in improving influenza knowledge and whether there was a change in vaccination intention.

Outcomes and Results: The educational intervention in this project resulted in enhancement of influenza knowledge. The implications of this project demonstrated the value of providing an educational intervention to improve knowledge, intent, and willingness to vaccinate for influenza for nursing students at a community college.     

Words of thanks

Background: Many factors influence medical students’ career choice.

Purpose: Determining the influence of an office‐based component to the 3rd‐year internal medicine clerkship on selection of primary care.

Methods: A prospective study using surveys and internship match information.

Results: Thirty‐seven percent entered primary care; 44% completing the office‐based rotation vs. 36% of others: odds ratio (OR) = 1.6 (1.0, 2.7). Among those interested in family medicine or pediatrics, students completing the office‐based rotation were twice as likely to enter primary care as their peers: family medicine OR = 1.8 (1.1, 3.2); pediatrics OR = 2.2 (1.1, 4.4). Among those not interested in internal medicine, students completing the office‐based rotation were four times more likely to enter internal medicine than their peers: OR = 4.2 (1.6, 11.0).

Conclusions: This office‐based internal medicine clerkship is associated with primary care career choice for students expressing interest in family medicine or pediatrics, and students not identifying internal medicine as a choice.     

Assessing alcohol use in college: is it time for a new approach to identify risky drinking behavior?

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how traditional risky drinking indicators, such as binge drinking, are inefficient when identifying college students who are in need of alcohol-related services. Methods: Using data collected from the 2010 National College Health Assessment II (NCHA-II), the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of binge drinking was analyzed relative to experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences in the previous 12 months. Results: Despite a considerable mathematical advantage, binge drinking demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.69. Additionally, more than 56% of the sample who were identified as binge drinkers did not experience a major negative consequence in the previous 12 months. Conclusions: Risky drinking indicators constructed solely of frequency, quantity and duration items have a limited capacity to discriminate at-risk college drinkers from the general student body. New indicators comprised of novel drinking behaviors are necessary to properly identify students at high risk.     

How Does the Public Evaluate Vaccines for Low-Incidence,Severe-Outcome Diseases? A General-Population Choice Experiment

Background

Because immunizing large numbers of healthy people could be required to reduce a relatively small number of infections, disease incidence has a large impact on cost effectiveness, even if the infection is associated with very serious health outcomes. In addition to cost effectiveness, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices requires evidence of stakeholders’ values and preferences to help inform vaccine recommendations. This study quantified general-population preferences for vaccine trade-offs among disease severity, disease incidence, and other vaccine features.

Methods

We developed a best-practice discrete choice experiment survey and administered it to 1185 parents of children aged 12–23 years and 1203 young adults aged 18–25 years from a national opt-in consumer panel. The data were analyzed using exploded-logit latent-class analysis.

Results

Latent-class analysis identified two classes with similar relative-importance weights in both samples. One of the two classes represented about half the samples and had preferences consistent with well-structured, logically ordered, and acceptably precise stated-preference utility. Preferences for the other half of the samples were poorly defined over the ranges of vaccine and disease attributes evaluated. Both parents and young adults in the first class evaluated protection from a disease with 1 in 100 incidence and full recovery at home as having statistically the same preference utility as a disease with 1 in 1 million incidence requiring hospitalization and resulting in permanent deafness.

Conclusions

The results suggest that vaccines that protect against low-incidence, severe-outcome diseases, provide ‘peace of mind’ benefits not captured by standard health-outcome metrics. The fact that half the respondents had poorly defined vaccine preferences is a reminder of the challenges of implementing patient-centric vaccine decision making.

     

Correlates to over-the-counter drug use among college students

Abstract

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) drug use is an increasing problem among college students. Purpose: The present study examined correlates to OTC drug use among this population. Methods: After a comprehensive review of the literature, a three-page survey was developed to examine the research questions. Students were surveyed in health, fitness and leisure classes. Results: Results indicated that approximately 16% of students used OTC drugs in their lifetime. No significant differences were found based on sex and grade whereas significant differences were found based on perceived harm and friends’ use of drugs. OTC drug use was also associated with recent use of other substances. Discussion: The present study indicates substantial rates of OTC use among college students. Findings may aid prevention specialists and college health professionals in developing effective prevention and intervention programs.     

What are students' needs and preferences for academic feedback in higher education? A systematic review

ObjectiveFeedback is a fundamental factor within the learning process for students. However, it is widely known that students generally report that feedback is done sub-optimally in higher education. Therefore, this systematic review aims to identify students' needs and preferences for academic feedback in higher education.Design, data sources, review methods.A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA Statement Guidelines. Electronic databases were searched using a range of keywords and the findings were integrated in a narrative synthesis. Quality appraisal was undertaken.Results5884 articles were retrieved, and 36 papers included. Three themes emerged across a wide range of academic disciplines which included: 1) preferences for feedback, 2) multimodality feedback and 3) emotional impact. Overall, quality feedback was related to the timeliness of feedback; balance between positive and constructive comments; direct feedback on content; linguistic clarity and legibility; grade justification and feeding forward.ConclusionThis review has informed several important implications for practice uniquely from the students' perspectives. Educators are encouraged to implement the evidence-based preferences for student feedback in their daily practice. Students value multimodality feedback which is personalised to enable students to feed forward in their own individual learning journeys. Future research should explore whether demographic variables influence student feedback needs over time. We would recommend that future studies need to employ a rigorous methodology to avoid the shortcomings in the studies already conducted in this area.     

The Relationship among Young Adult College Students’ Depression,Anxiety, Stress,Demographics, Life Satisfaction,and Coping Styles

Recent research indicates that young adult college students experience increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. It is less clear what strategies college health care providers might use to assist students in decreasing these mental health concerns. In this paper, we examine the relative importance of coping style, life satisfaction, and selected demographics in predicting undergraduates’ depression, anxiety, and stress. A total of 508 full-time undergraduate students aged 18–24 years completed the study measures and a short demographics information questionnaire. Coping strategies and life satisfaction were assessed using the Brief COPE Inventory and an adapted version of the Brief Students’ Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relative influence of each of the independent variables on depression, anxiety, and stress. Maladaptive coping was the main predictor of depression, anxiety, and stress. Adaptive coping was not a significant predictor of any of the three outcome variables. Reducing maladaptive coping behaviors may have the most positive impact on reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in this population.     

Patient-centered mobility outcome preferences according to individuals with stroke and caregivers: a qualitative analysis

Purpose: To explore the mobility-related preferences among stroke survivors and caregivers following post-acute rehabilitation at inpatient or skilled nursing facilities.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study; semi-structured, qualitative interviews of stroke survivors (n?=?24) and informal caregivers (n?=?15) were conducted. The participants were recruited from the community.

Results: Comparative content analysis was used to identify themes by two independent coders. The survivors (68 years) and caregivers (58 years) mentioned mobility-related consequences including inability to walk, balance, drive, and transfer; and increased falls. The survivors (63%) and caregivers (73%) also mentioned the use of assistive devices. The common rehabilitation activities included: walking (62%); followed by standing and mobility; strength and balance; and wheelchair skills. Some stroke survivors were dissatisfied as their rehabilitation was not patient-centered. Frequently mentioned outcome preferences by survivors were ability to walk (88%), move, and balance. They also wanted to acquire assistive devices to move independently. Caregivers were concerned with the survivor’s safety and wanted them to drive (53%), prevent falls, have home accommodations, and transfer independently. Caregivers (40%) also expressed the importance of receiving realistic information.

Conclusions: This study suggests a need to consider the stroke survivors’ and caregivers’ mobility outcome preferences to improve the patient-centered rehabilitation care.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Stroke survivors and caregivers tend to differ in their outcome preferences.

• Caregivers expressed concern for transfers, driving, fall prevention, home modifications, and wished for realistic information.

• Incorporating stroke survivors and their families’ perspectives during rehabilitation may enhance patient-centered outcomes.

     

Loss reactions of college students: A descriptive analysis

Abstract

An analysis of the loss reactions of college and university students was made over a 2-year period, using 1,139 students in nine institutions in New York, who provided data on what they perceived to be major losses in their lives. Variability in choice of coping mechanism, type of loss, and physical and emotional reactions was shown. Social support systems and communication about the loss were important forces in resolution and grief work. Suggestions for building skills and understandings to assist students in dealing with loss are made based on the anecdotal data supplied by respondents.     

Are web-based questionnaires accepted in patients attending rehabilitation?

Purpose: The aim of the present paper was to study preferences for web based self-administered questionnaires (web SAQs) vs. paper-based self-administered questionnaires (paper SAQs) and to evaluate the feasibility of using web SAQs in patients referred to cardiac, lung, occupational and cancer rehabilitation programs.

Methods: The patients were approached by mail and given the choice to answer the compulsory SAQs either on paper or on a web-based platform.

Results: Hundred and twenty seven out of 183 eligible patients (69.3%) were willing to participate and 126 completed the study. Web SAQs were preferred by 77.7%, and these patients were significantly younger, more often cohabiting and tended to have higher level of education than paper SAQ users. Mean number of data missing per patient was less among the web SAQ users than the paper SAQ users (0.55 vs. 2.15, p?Conclusions: Web SAQs were well accepted among the patients scheduled for rehabilitation, led to less missing data and considerable cost savings related to human resources. Patients referred to rehabilitation should be offered the choice to complete self-administered questionnaires on internet platforms when internet access is common and available.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• The high acceptability of web-based self-administered questionnaires among rehabilitation patients suggests that internet platforms are suitable tools to collect patient information for rehabilitation units.

• Web-based modes of patient data collection demonstrate low number of missing data and can therefore improve the quality of data collection from rehabilitation patients.

• Use of web-based questionnaires considerably reduces administrative costs of data collection in rehabilitation settings compared to traditional pen and paper methods.

     

Relationship Between Specialty Choice and Medical Student Temperament and Character Assessed With Cloninger Inventory

Background: Multiple variables affect medical specialty choice, including temperament, sociodemographic factors, and personal experiences. Many studies address specific variables for specific specialties, but few assess the relative impact of each factor.

Purpose: To identify the relative influence of temperament in choosing a specialty.

Methods: A sociodemographic and personal experiences questionnaire and a 240-question temperament and character inventory was distributed to 682 medical students. Their scores for 6 medical specialties were examined using analyses of variance, multivariate analyses of variance, and discriminant analysis.

Results: Students choosing surgery, emergency medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology were higher on novelty seeking than other students. Future surgeons were lower in harm avoidance and reward dependence (RD) than the others. Students choosing primary care specialties, emergency medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology were all high on RD; with pediatrics being highest. Students differed from college students, the women differed from the men, and the Asian Americans differed from the other groups.

Conclusion: The implications of these findings are discussed for career counseling and future research.     

A Review of: “Voices of Bereavement: A Casebook for Counselors by Joan Beder”

Abstract

The object of this study was to examine the effects of in vivo systematic desensitization and systematic desensitization with symbolic modeling on college students who participated in counseling groups on death and dying.

The design employed a three-factor mixed model; three treatments crossed with four leaders, with two groups nested within treatment and leader.

Analysis of covariance was run on two immediate posttest questionnaires and on the follow-up questionnaire using pretests as covariates. No significant differences were found between the treatment groups and control groups as measured by the immediate posttests or the follow-up posttest.     

The Association of Self-Reported Backpack Use and Backpack Weight With Low Back Pain Among College Students

ObjectiveBack pain has consistently ranked among the top general health complaints among college students, but few studies have examined risk factors for back pain in this age group. This cross-sectional survey evaluated the association between the self-reported annual low back pain with the estimated usual backpack weight among college students.MethodsData were collected from health education students during the spring semester of 2007 at the Colorado State University using an online survey. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression.ResultsFour hundred sixty-five (94.6%) health education students completed the online survey. The annual prevalence of low back pain was 29.2% (n = 136). A 25% increase in the odds of annual low back pain for each 4-kg increase in the estimated usual backpack weight was observed after adjusting for sex, smoking, reporting frequently feeling overwhelmed, and body mass index (adjusted odds ratio per 4-kg increase, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.32). There was no evidence of an increased association of annual low back pain with carrying a backpack weight greater than 10% of the students body weight compared with those carrying less (adjusted odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.65).ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that increasing reported backpack weight is associated with increased prevalence of annual low back pain. However, these results do not provide evidence to support the recommendation that the backpack weight necessarily be less than 10% of body weight.     

Teaching Medical Students to Discuss Advance Directives: A Standardized Patient Curriculum

Background: Physicians lack skills in discussing advance directives, and medical students receive little teaching in this area. We developed a standardized patient curriculum to teach 3rd-year medical students to discuss advance directives.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine how frequently students perform key advance directive discussion skills, and what skills they find hard or easy.

Method: This was an observational study in which 258 third-year medical students discussed advance directives with 2 standardized patients.

Results: Students completed 70% of the advance directive discussion skills. A total of 62% of students asked about preferences for life-sustaining treatment, 63% gave a numerical estimate of surviving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and 52% discussed outcomes of CPR. Students reported that the easiest task was eliciting the patient's choice of surrogate, and the hardest task was describing the likely outcomes of CPR.

Conclusion: A standardized patient curriculum may be an effective means of teaching and assessing students' skills at discussing advance directives.     

Does optimism weaken the negative effects of being lonely on suicide risk?

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated loneliness and optimism as predictors of suicide risk, specifically, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, in 457 Hungarian college students. Beyond the expected role of loneliness in suicide risk, being optimistic buffered the positive association between loneliness and suicide. The findings implicate the importance of fostering optimism for potentially lowering suicide risk among lonely college students.