PRIMARY PREVENTION EMPHASIS AND SELF-REPORTED HEALTH BEHAVIORS OF NURSING STUDENTS.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 119
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.
Description: The current climate of healthcare reform demands an increased curricular emphasis on primary prevention, yet the relationship between the level of curricular emphasis on primary prevention and the health behaviors of nursing students has not been established. The purpose of the study was to determine if there is a difference in the self-reported health behaviors of nursing students enrolled in baccalaureate nursing programs ranked as having high and low levels of emphasis on primary prevention. Neuman's systems model was the conceptual framework for the study.

The schools selected for participation in this study were derived from the respondents in a study of primary prevention competencies in nursing programs in the Southern Regional Education Board area conducted by Payne (1993). Results of that study were used to determine the ranking of nursing schools in regards to their level of emphasis on primary prevention. Eight schools from the highest and lowest rankings were asked to participate in the study, and four schools (50%) accepted the invitation: two from each of the levels of emphasis on primary prevention. Subjects were 190 students from schools ranked high and 201 students from schools ranked low for emphasis on primary prevention. The Wellness Inventory, college version, and a researcher-developed demographic tool were mailed to the selected schools to be administered to senior nursing students.

A 46.3% overall response rate (181 students) was obtained: 88 students (46.3%) from schools ranked as having a high level of emphasis and 93 students (46.3%) from schools ranked as having a low level of emphasis on primary prevention. Significant differences were found in 3 of the 10 subscales: intellectual wellness, social awareness, and occupational wellness. However, no significant differences were found in the two school groups for the total wellness score. Thus, the hypothesis that there would not be a difference was not rejected.

Recommendations included that more curriculum research and nursing outcome studies be conducted and that nursing curricula should continue to support the inclusion of primary prevention content and activities as part of the nursing curriculum.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-02, Section: B, page: 0747.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1994.

School code: 0005.