Effects of Associate Degree Nursing Students' Characteristics on Perceptions and Experiences of Mentoring.

BACKGROUND: Mentoring has been identified as a key education program support structure to facilitate student success. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate how associate degree nursing program students experience mentoring and persistence. Mentoring perceptions were evaluated using the College Student Mentoring Scale. Associate degree nursing students throughout the state of Michigan were recruited for an online survey. RESULTS: Sample characteristics (N = 283) resembled those compiled by the National League for Nursing. The study found that men met with a mentor more frequently and perceived greater psychological, emotional, and academic support than women. Part-time students and students who had never failed a nursing course also reported they met more frequently with a mentor than full-time students and those who had failed a nursing course. CONCLUSION: The findings contribute to an evidence base to support the further development and evaluation of mentoring programs for nursing students. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(5):258-265.].

A pilot study of occupational injury and illness experienced by classical musicians.

Limited attention is paid to the hazards experienced by orchestra musicians in the occupational health and safety literature. Within that literature, the primary focus has been on noise exposure. A focus on this area is warranted because high sound pressure levels are a product of this work environment. However, in addition to being at risk for noise-induced hearing loss, workers are also at risk for musculoskeletal injury and illness related to stressful body postures held for prolonged work periods. The socio-political forces of employment may place workers at risk for mental health disorders (e.g., depression). The researchers distributed an anonymous survey to classical orchestra musicians in the southwestern United States. The survey inventoried several areas related to occupational health risks. Results suggest low health care-seeking behaviors relative to self-reported signs and symptoms of morbidity. Musicians also reported limited formal training and education regarding occupational health risks. Risk information was provided late in their professional development. This is a particular concern because of the young age at which music training is initiated.

Testing decisional balance and self-efficacy applied to workers' use of hearing protection.

BACKGROUND: The continued prevalence of low rates of hearing protection device (HPD) use by workers exposed to hazardous noise requires ongoing efforts to investigate ways to increase HPD use. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) for research with factory workers' use of HPDs, specifically focusing on the model suppositions related to the constructs of decisional balance and self-efficacy. METHODS: Using secondary analysis, pretest measures were obtained through a randomized controlled clinical trial of an intervention to increase use of HPDs. The sample included in the analyses were factory workers (N = 1,245) exposed to hazardous noise in a Midwestern automotive manufacturing plant. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA), the TTM constructs pros, cons, and self-efficacy of HPD use were examined across stages. RESULTS: Using ANOVA, significant variance was found across stages of HPD use. Pros, cons, and self-efficacy significantly differed by stage of HPD use in predicted patterns: pros, F(4, 1240) = 46.29, p < .001; cons, F(4, 1240) = 17.14, p < .001; and self-efficacy F(4, 1240) = 7.32, p < .001. The crossover effect of pros and cons occurred in the preparation stage, as expected. CONCLUSIONS: Support was found for the presence of conceptually distinct stages of HPD use and the TTM predictions for decisional balance and self-efficacy across stages. Performance of the TTM constructs within current research on HPD use presents opportunities for increased tailoring of training for factory workers on use of HPDs.

Predictors of hearing protection use for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White factory workers.

The 2000 United States Census reported significant growth in the number of Hispanic workers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, 1996) has identified noise-induced hearing loss as a significant occupational threat. Current theoretical models need to be evaluated for their utility with Hispanic workers. The Predictors for Use of Hearing Protection Model (PUHPM) is a framework for increasing workers' use of hearing protection devices (HPDs). Using regression analysis, the explained variance in HPD use by the model predictors was examined in a sample of 208 Hispanic factory workers. Explained variance was lower for Hispanics (R2 = .20) than for non-Hispanic Whites (R2 = .37). Further research with Hispanic workers is needed to improve the PUHPM fit.

Staging workers' use of hearing protection devices: application of the transtheoretical model.

The threat of noise-induced hearing loss is a serious concern for many workers. This study explores use of the transtheoretical model as a framework for defining stages of workers' acceptance of hearing protection devices. A secondary analysis was performed using a cross-section of data from a randomized, controlled clinical trial of an intervention to increase use of hearing protection. Use of hearing protection devices was well distributed across the theorized stages of change. Chi-square analysis and analysis of variance revealed significant differences between stages for the variables studied. Discrete stages of hearing protection device use can be identified, laying the foundation for further work investigating use of the transtheoretical model for promoting hearing protection device use. The model can provide a framework for tailoring interventions and evaluating their effects. With further development of the transtheoretical model, nurses may be able to easily identify workers' readiness to use hearing protection devices and tailor training toward that goal.

Effectiveness of a tailored intervention to increase factory workers' use of hearing protection.

BACKGROUND: In the United States it is estimated that more than 30 million workers are exposed to harmful levels of noise on the job. When engineering or administrative controls cannot be used to reduce noise, workers should always use hearing protection devices (HPDs) when exposed to loud noise to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Previous research has shown that workers do not always use HPDs when required; therefore, it is essential that workers assume personal responsibility for preventing NIHL by increasing their use of HPDs. OBJECTIVES: This study tested the effectiveness of an individually tailored multimedia intervention to increase use of HPDs by factory workers. METHODS: A randomized controlled design was used to compare the effects of a tailored intervention (n= 446) with two other interventions (a nontailored predictor-based intervention (n= 447) and a control intervention (n= 432)) on workers' self-reported use of HPDs 6 to 18 months following the intervention. RESULTS: Only those workers receiving the tailored intervention significantly increased their use of HPDs from pretest to posttest. However, this increase significantly differed from the nontailored group but not from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Individually-tailored interventions offer promise for changing behavior. In light of the similarity between the results for the tailored intervention and the control intervention groups, further research is needed to understand barriers to HPD use and how to maximize the benefits of individually tailored interventions in this setting.