scholarly journals A Survey of Neonatal Nurses Perspectives on Voice Use and Auditory Needs with Premature Infants in the NICU

Author(s):  
Amy R. Smith ◽  
Deanna Hanson-Abromeit ◽  
Ashley Heaton ◽  
Brenda Salley

Background: Exposure to the voice and language during the critical period of auditory development associated with the third trimester is thought to be an essential building block for language. Differences in the auditory experience associated with early life in the NICU may increase the risk of language delays for premature infants. NICU nurses are fundamental in the care of premature infants; how they use their voices may be important in understanding auditory experiences in the NICU. This study examined voice use behaviors of NICU nurses in the United States and their current knowledge of early auditory development. Method: An opt-in, online questionnaire. Results: Nurses reported using their voice more as the age of infants approached term gestation and speaking to infants was the most common type of voice use. Both infant and nurse factors influenced reported voice use decisions in the NICU. Nurses did not believe the NICU auditory environment to be sufficient to meet early auditory needs of premature infants but did believe that premature infants are exposed to adequate voice sounds. Conclusions: A gap in knowledge regarding the importance of early exposure to voice sounds may be a barrier to nurses using their voices to support early auditory development.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Davis

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine and demonstrate the need for structured vocal training/seminars for fitness professionals to prevent voice disorders and improve overall voice use during instruction. Method Approximately 230 fitness professionals responded to an anonymous online questionnaire consisting of 20 items addressing voice care, voice use, vocal demands, and self-reported vocal difficulties within the fitness instructor role. The survey was distributed via SurveyMonkey, and the answers contributed to the data results (see Appendix ). Results The data display overwhelming agreement among fitness professionals that voice has an important role in and major impact on every class. The majority of respondents consider themselves occupational voice users but affirm they have never had a vocal training, although they feel a vocal training would be beneficial for their work in the fitness industry and they would be interested in attending such a training. A majority of respondents also teach three or more classes per week and qualify as “vocal athletes.” Over half of the respondents perceive themselves to be inadequately hydrated, and the majority also report hoarseness at some point related to their jobs teaching fitness classes. A majority of those surveyed have experienced a feeling of straining the voice/using effort during and/or after instruction of classes and also report being social/talkative individuals outside class instruction—therefore displaying a consistent use of voice in and outside their “work” setting, implying high vocal demand and full vocal schedules with reduced time for vocal rest. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that there is an imperative need to educate and empower fitness professionals to take adequate care of their voices and use their voices in the most healthy, efficient, effective, and dynamic ways possible to create outstanding classes, motivate clients, and protect their instrument (larynx/vocal folds) while doing so.


Author(s):  
Celine Parreñas Shimizu

Transnational films representing intimacy and inequality disrupt and disgust Western spectators. When wounded bodies within poverty entangle with healthy wealthy bodies in sex, romance and care, fear and hatred combine with desire and fetishism. Works from the Philippines, South Korea, and independents from the United States and France may not be made for the West and may not make use of Hollywood traditions. Rather, they demand recognition for the knowledge they produce beyond our existing frames. They challenge us to go beyond passive consumption, or introspection of ourselves as spectators, for they represent new ways of world-making we cannot unsee, unhear, or unfeel. The spectator is redirected to go beyond the rapture of consuming the other to the rupture that arises from witnessing pain and suffering. Self-displacement is what proximity to intimate inequality in cinema ultimately compels and demands so as to establish an ethical way of relating to others. In undoing the spectator, the voice of the transnational filmmaker emerges. Not only do we need to listen to filmmakers from outside Hollywood who unflinchingly engage the inexpressibility of difference, we need to make room for critics and theorists who prioritize the subjectivities of others. When the demographics of filmmakers and film scholars are not as diverse as its spectators, films narrow our worldviews. To recognize our culpability in the denigration of others unleashes the power of cinema. The unbearability of stories we don’t want to watch and don’t want to feel must be borne.


Author(s):  
Thomas E. Fuller-Rowell ◽  
David S. Curtis ◽  
Adrienne M. Duke

Conceptual frameworks for racial/ethnic health disparities are abundant, but many have received insufficient empirical attention. As a result, there are substantial gaps in scientific knowledge and a range of untested hypotheses. Particularly lacking is specificity in behavioral and biological mechanisms for such disparities and their underlying social determinants. Alongside lack of political will and public investment, insufficient clarity in mechanisms has stymied efforts to address racial health disparities. Capitalizing on emergent findings from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study and other longitudinal studies of aging, this chapter evaluates research on health disparities between black and white US adults. Attention is given to candidate behavioral and biological mechanisms as precursors to group differences in morbidity and mortality and to environmental and sociocultural factors that may underlie these mechanisms. Future research topics are discussed, emphasizing those that offer promise with respect to illuminating practical solutions to racial/ethnic health disparities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 405-405
Author(s):  
Megan Janke ◽  
Julie Son ◽  
Jill Naar ◽  
Stephanie West ◽  
Toni Liechty ◽  
...  

Abstract Although participation in physical activity is recommended for adults with arthritis, research indicates individuals often stop participating in sports and physically active leisure due to the pain and symptoms associated with arthritis (Wilcox et al., 2006). Examining a group of older adults with arthritis, the present study examines motivations and constraints related to participating in sport and physically active leisure as well as how they negotiate constraints. Data (N=1203) were collected through an online questionnaire of adults aged 50 and older in the United States. This study includes individuals reporting a diagnosis of some form of arthritis (n=288; M age = 64.8, SD = 8.08). Approximately 32% self-reported participation in sport in the past 12 months. Descriptive statistics were conducted to explore motivations and constraints to sport involvement. Regressions were run to determine whether constraints and motivations explained adults’ functional mobility and social wellbeing. The most commonly identified motivation for participation was for health purposes (80.2%). Constraints to participation included not being in good enough shape (51.9%) and not having others their age with whom to participate (47.4%). The most commonly identified constraint negotiation was to budget money (51.4%); this is not surprising since sport participation was perceived as expensive (41.3%). Motivations (p<.01) and constraints (p<.001) significantly predicted functional mobility; constraints significantly predicted some aspects of social wellbeing (i.e., coherence, contribution, actualization; p<.05) while constraint negotiation predicted social acceptance (p<.05) and integration (p<.001). Discussion will include implications and strategies for agencies and professionals who work with adults who have arthritis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanchi Malhotra ◽  
Imran Masood ◽  
Noberto Giglio ◽  
Jay D. Pruetz ◽  
Pia S. Pannaraj

Abstract Background Chagas disease is a pathogenic parasitic infection with approximately 8 million cases worldwide and greater than 300,000 cases in the United States (U.S.). Chagas disease can lead to chronic cardiomyopathy and cardiac complications, with variable cardiac presentations in pediatrics making it difficult to recognize. The purpose of our study is to better understand current knowledge and experience with Chagas related heart disease among pediatric cardiologists in the U.S. Methods We prospectively disseminated a 19-question survey to pediatric cardiologists via 3 pediatric cardiology listservs. The survey included questions about demographics, Chagas disease presentation and experience. Results Of 139 responses, 119 cardiologists treat pediatric patients in the U.S. and were included. Most providers (87%) had not seen a case of Chagas disease in their practice; however, 72% also had never tested for it. The majority of knowledge-based questions about Chagas disease cardiac presentations were answered incorrectly, and 85% of providers expressed discomfort with recognizing cardiac presentations in children. Most respondents selected that they would not include Chagas disease on their differential diagnosis for presentations such as conduction anomalies, myocarditis and/or apical aneurysms, but would be more likely to include it if found in a Latin American immigrant. Of respondents, 87% agreed that they would be likely to attend a Chagas disease-related lecture. Conclusions Pediatric cardiologists in the U.S. have seen very few cases of Chagas disease, albeit most have not sent testing or included it in their differential diagnosis. Most individuals agreed that education on Chagas disease would be worth-while.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Sheikh Saifur Rahman Jony ◽  
Ubydul Haque ◽  
Nathaniel J. Webb ◽  
Emily Spence ◽  
Md. Siddikur Rahman ◽  
...  

COVID-19 has harshly impacted communities globally. This study provides relevant information for creating equitable policy interventions to combat the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to predict the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the COVID-19 pandemic at a global level to determine control measures and psychosocial problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to October 2020 using an online questionnaire. Questionnaires were initially distributed to academicians worldwide. These participants distributed the survey among their social, professional, and personal groups. Responses were collected and analyzed from 67 countries, with a sample size of 3031. Finally, based on the number of respondents, eight countries, including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the United States, and Zambia were rigorously analyzed. Specifically, questionnaire responses related to COVID-19 accessibility, behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility were collected and analyzed. As per our analysis, age groups were found to be a primary determinant of behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility scores. Gender was the second most influential determinant for all metrics except information about COVID-19 accessibility, for which education was the second most important determinant. Respondent profession was the third most important metric for all scores. Our findings suggest that greater encouragement from government health authorities and the promotion of health education and policies are essential in the dissemination of COVID-19-awareness and increased control of the spread of COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Manmeet Kaur ◽  
Laura Charlesworth

Abstract Aims: To explore student therapeutic radiographers’ understanding of obesity and cancer and to identify if student therapeutic radiographers believe that radiographers should have a role within weight management. Materials and Methods: This study used a self-completed online questionnaire (google forms) to collect data from Radiotherapy and Oncology students, studying at one Higher Education Institution, to gain an understanding of their current knowledge of weight management. A retrospective margin of error calculation was carried out, showing a 9% margin of error with a 90% confidence level. Results: In total 57 responses were received, n = 50 BSc students and n = 7 pre-registration MSc students. Three key barriers to openly discussing weight loss management with service users emerged from the questionnaire data; these were a lack of time, lack of clear guidelines and lack of confidence. These barriers could potentially be addressed by improving education and training, making it easier for therapeutic radiographers to openly discuss weight management with service users. Findings: Awareness of guidelines was suboptimal, with 82% (n = 47) of respondents unaware of any guidelines. In addition to this, the majority of students identified a lack of confidence as a barrier to them providing weight management advice. Despite this, 54·4% of respondents agreed that radiographers should have a role in providing weight management advice, with 22·2% of respondents being unsure. Findings suggest that behaviour change is required amounts both students and staff members, so that healthcare professionals are more inclined to have healthy weight management discussions. Perhaps more specialist roles need to be developed, so that healthy weight management discussions can become a norm.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1951 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 570-572

IN THE summary of the report of the Expert Committee on Prematurity of the World Health Organization, published in this column in February 1951, Dr. Ethel Dunham indicated the concern of the Expert Committee in regard to uniformity of information on the incidence and mortality of prematurity. The need for uniformity is particularly urgent in a field where there are so many intrinsic variable factors. It has been shown time and again that the ability of a premature infant to survive, under the best of care, is closely correlated with the birth weight, which in itself reflects the stage of maturity. In turn, the stage of maturity at a given weight is affected by sex, race, and whether the child is a single or one of a multiple birth. Uniformly, at a particular stage of maturity, male infants are larger than female, single births are larger than multiple births and, in the United States, white babies are larger than Negro babies. These considerations underline the danger of misinterpretation of so-called over-all rates for the incidence of prematurity and for the mortality of premature infants. For example, at any given weight, Negro premature infants are probably more mature and consequently have a better chance of surviving.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1113-1114
Author(s):  
DALE L. PHELPS

Preventing handicaps in premature infants is a pressing goal, and vitamin E has been offering some hope for the prevention of one of the most emotionally distressing sequelae, blindness. The report of Speer et al1 confirms the observation of Chiswick et al2 that vitamin E may also reduce severe CNS hemorrhage, one of the other major handicapping conditions faced by the premature infant. Naturally, we welcome this information, but in our eagerness to find a cure, we must not blunt the sharp edge of critical examination of the data. Extreme caution must be still be exercised for the following reasons: (1) some questions have been raised about the data to be examined; (2) a third study suggests the opposite result3; and (3) there are significant differences in the vitamin E formulations that were used and those available for use in the United States.


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