ABSTRACT
From a convenience sample consisting of junior level nursing students enrolled in a research class at a southern Historically Black College and University (HBCU), this pilot study investigated the percent of participants who were overweight as determined by Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements, and the percent satisfied with their body image as measured by the Strunkard Body Image Scale. BMI measurements were correlated with self esteem, body image, self care, and self efficacy in the regulation of eating habits and exercise regimens. The study found that students with greater BMIs had lower self efficacy beliefs about regulating their exercise habits. Self care, post the self directed intervention, significantly correlated with the pre and post intervention scores of self efficacy to regulate exercise, and with the post intervention scores of self efficacy to regulate eating habits. However, the study found that students' self care capacity was significantly different at the end of the study period.
Subject(s)
Black or African American , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/ethnology , Obesity/prevention & control , Self Concept , Students, Nursing , Adult , Black or African American/psychology , Body Image , Body Mass Index , Exercise/psychology , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Obesity/ethnology , Pilot Projects , Self Care/psychology , Self Efficacy , Students, Nursing/psychology , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A liberal-arts-based undergraduate nursing program engaged in curriculum enhancement activities that led to the implementation of a disaster simulation for 81 multidisciplinary undergraduate students. A pretest/posttest design was used to determine the effectiveness of preparation for the simulation. Nursing students in three levels of the program received didactic preparation in disaster preparedness and were assigned to five different simulation response teams. One-way ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences for pretest and posttest scores, p = 0.05. An evaluation of student performance indicated that five of the eight nursing students assigned to the disaster site correctly triaged 81.2 percent of the victims; all eight nursing students assigned to the emergency department correctly reassessed the victims. Classroom didactic content, followed by a simulated learning experience, was found to be an effective teaching strategy for preparing undergraduate nursing students in disaster preparedness.
