Research Update in CoNHP

The Research Update will be an occasional publication in CNHP, designed to let everyone know what kinds of research are underway in the college, which faculty members are currently involved in research projects, and who our new research faculty members are.

If you have suggestions for future issues of the Update, or comments to make, feel free to communicate with any member of the research committee:

Rita Naremore
Beulah Hall
Betty Hartzell
Eric Johnson
Penny Killian
Frankie Powell
Trish Shewokis

New Faculty Profiles

Dr. Betty Hartzell is a new faculty member in the Creative Arts in Therapy Program, Art Therapy Education. She comes to us with a Ph.D. from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she completed her degree in Clinical Psychology. Her dissertation, titled: Visual Creativity Through the Prism of Psychological Type, was a qualitative phenomenological investigation of the interface of varied ways of creating art and observing the art product with personality type. The results of her research suggest that there was support for the basic assumption of the triangular inter-relatedness of personality type, creative process and artwork. As expected the majority of the artists scored dominant intuitive or auxiliary intuitive on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the instrument used for selection of subjects. The creative process of the co-subjects (all professional artists) reflected the expected personality characteristics and behaviors of the particular types. Dr. Hartzell is interested in pursuing research related to creativity as it applies to the visual artist, applications to art therapy and finally to the art therapist as private individual and professional. She can be found at 215-762-3767, e-mail: eah38@drexel.edu, room #1047

Dr. Roberta Waite is a new faculty member in the BSN Nursing Program. She comes to us with an EdD from Widener University, where she completed her degree in Higher Administration-Leadership. Her dissertation, titled Transition: The Lived Experience of the Advanced Beginner RN Employed in the Mental Health Facility, was a phenomenological investigation of advanced beginner nurses' perceptions of their educational preparedness for their transition to working in a mental health facility. The results of her research suggest that significant enhancements are needed in the educational process. Her findings provide enlightenment for health care service administrators on issues relating to both the transition process and to retention issues. Dr. Waite is interested in pursuing research related to the identification, intervention and evaluation of minor depression in women seeking treatment at urban community health centers. She is also interested in exploring psychotherapeutic strategies and medication interventions for patients with dissociative disorders, and in issues relating to cultural competence. She can be found at 215-762-497, Room 1242
Bellet, e-mail rlw26@drexel.edu

Dr. Linda Wilson is a new faculty member in the BSN Program. She comes to us with a PhD from Rutgers, Newark, where she completed her degree in Nursing Research and Theory Development. Her dissertation was entitled Investigation of the Relationships of Nurse Caring, Social Support and Emotion-focused Coping to Comfort in Hospitalized Medical Patients. The results of her research showed a positive relationship between nurse caring and comfort, and social support and comfort. Dr. Wilson is interested in pursuing research related to pain management and comfort, and sources of nurse satisfaction. She can be found at 215-762-4343, e-mail lbw25@drexel.edu Room 1211 Bellet Building

Dr. Wilson is co-author of article published in August:
Krenzischek, D. & Wilson, L. (2003). An introduction to the ASPAN Pain and Comfort Clinical Guideline. Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, 18(4) 228-231.

In addition in October 2003 she presented "Biological & Chemical Warfare: An Introduction" and "Thermoregulation" at the Louisiana Association Perianesthesia Nurses State Conference in New Orleans.

Dr. Barbara Celia is a new faculty member in the undergraduate nursing program. She comes to us with the EdD from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, where she completed her degree in the Graduate School of Education. Her dissertation, titled A Study of Professional Nurses' Pain Management Practices with Ethnic Minority Patients, was an investigation of pain medication administration to patients following Coronary Artery Bypass surgery. The results of her research show that (1) 99% of patients received less than 28% of prescribed pain medication; (2) ethnic minority patients received more pain medication, but not significantly more; (3) patients 60 years or younger received more pain medication (4) males received more than females. Dr. Celia is interested in pursuing research related to pain management and access to health care for ethnic minorities. She can be found at 215-762-4976, email is bjc38@drexel.edu and Room 1210, Bellet Building.

Dr. Kathleen Falkenstein is a new faculty member in Nursing. She comes to us with a PhD from NYU, where she completed her degree in Steinhart School of Education. Her dissertation is titled The Impact of Nutrition on Growth and Development in Children with Biliary Atresia Awaiting Liver Transplant. The results of her research suggest that children who receive aggressive nutrition prior to liver transplant will continue to grow and develop while waiting for a liver transplant. Methodology was a repeated measures design. Dr.Falkenstein is interested in pursuing research related to pediatric liver disease in relation to growth, nutrition, and development as well as quality of life in children and families of children with chronic liver disease. Her interests also include a focus on the primary care issues of children with chronic liver disease and on childhood obesity. One current research question is whether we are starting to educate children and parents about childhood obesity too late. She can be found at (215-762-4978, kf33@drexel.edu, or in Bellet 735

Recently Completed PhDs

Sharon Goodill, Creative Arts in Therapy, completed her doctoral degree in medical psychology with a concentration in mind/body studies. Her dissertation, titled An Introduction to Medical Dance/Movement Therapy, shows that dance/movement therapy may be a viable approach for psychosocial support and intervention with people who have primary mental illness.

Margo Orlin, Rehabilitation Sciences, completed dissertation research related to the effects of foot pronation on gait, balance and biomechanical performance during standing and walking in children with typical development. Her research provided insight into how children with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome may be affected by pronation as they try to accomplish higher level motor skills.

Sheri Silfies, Rehabilitation Sciences, competed dissertation research related to trunk muscle and motor control impairments in patients with lumbar instability. To extend her dissertation work, Dr. Silfies was awarded a Switzer Fellowship for 2003-2004.

Faculty Research Activities

Dr. Al Rundio is PI on a $172,000 grant from the Tenet Health System to work on an educational product for a new nursing care delivery model that Tenet will be placing in all of their 114 hospitals in all acute medical-surgical nursing units. The focus of the educational product is leadership, change, and delegation. This product will be utilized by Tenet to educate their staff prior to implementation of the new nursing care delivery model. The educational product will be developed both in an on-line format and hard copy for in class presentation. A facilitator's guide will also be developed.

Dr. Bob Palisano, Rehabilitation Sciences, is co-investigator in a multi-center prospective longitudinal study of changes in functional mobility and self-care in adolescents with cerebral palsy. The project is funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research through the CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research were Bob is a co-investigator. Our long-term goal is to determine how to optimize mobility and self-care of adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. The aims of the project are to:

1. Expand gross motor development curves to include data from the same children with cerebral palsy in adolescence, for determination of prognosis and optimal intervention planning.

2. Evaluate the consequences of changes in body functions and structures, environmental factors, and personal factors on changes in mobility and self-care of adolescents with cerebral palsy.

3. Identify key environmental and personal factors that positively or negatively influence changes in mobility and self-care, and explore relationships between mobility, self-care, participation, and quality of life from the perspective of the adolescent with cerebral palsy.

This research expands on a recently completed longitudinal study of gross motor development of children with cerebral palsy funded by the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, National Institutes of Health. The following are two publications from this study:

Rosenbaum PL, Walter SD, Hanna SE, Palisano RJ, Russell DJ, Raina P: Prognosis for Gross Motor Function in Cerebral Palsy: Creation of Motor Development Curves. Journal of the American Medical Association, 288(11): 1357-1363, 2002

Palisano RJ, Tieman BL, Walter SD, Rosenbaum PL, Bartlett DJ, Russell D, Hanna SE, Raina P: Effect of Environmental Setting on Mobility Methods of Children with Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 45:113-120, 2003

Dr. Patricia A. Shewokis, a member of the faculty in Rehabilitation Sciences, recently published a paper on the impact of practice scheduling on the learning and memory of computer skills. Her single author manuscript, entitled " Memory consolidation and contextual interference effects with computer games," was published in the journal Perceptual and Motor Skills in August 2003. This topic has important implications for designing training protocols for rehabilitation and instruction. In addition, Margo N. Orlin and Patricia A. Shewokis are co-investigators on a grant awarded from the Shriner's Foundation ($705, 718). The grant entitled, Electrical stimulation gait training to effect improvements in walking function and posture for children with cerebral palsy, is effective January 2004 through December 2006. Currently, Drs. Orlin and Shewokis are funded as 20% time research consultants at Shriners' Hospital for Children, Philadelphia. This grant extends their research affiliation for an additional three years.

Dr. Lisa Chiarello's primary research interest is the study of physical therapy service delivery methods in early intervention Her specific focus includes the exploration of the caregiver-therapist relationship, child-therapist relationship, caregiver-child relationship, and the use of play. Her research methodology includes both quantitative and qualitative components. She is presently collaborating with Abby Huntington, OTR/L, MFT, clinical supervisor KenCrest Children and Family Services, on a research project investigating mother-child and father-child interactions for children with motor delays and conducting pilot work with graduate students and Drs. Palisano and O'Neil on physical and occupational therapy in early intervention.

Her recent publications include:

Gocha, V., Chiarello, L., Lange, B. (2003). Strength and functional mobility in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Medical Oncology in Pediatrics.

Tieman, B., Palisano, R., Gracely, E., Chiarello, L., O'Neil, M., Rosenbaum, P. "Changes in Mobility of Children with Cerebral Palsy Over Time and Across Environmental Settings". Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, accepted for publication, 2003.

Chiarello, L. A., Effgen, S., Milbourne, S., Campbell, P. (2003). Abstract: Specialty Certificate Program in Early Intervention and School-Based Practice. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 15,(1),52.

Tieman B, Palisano R, Gracely E, Rosenbaum P, Chiarello L, O'Neil M. (2002).
Abstract: Gross motor capability and performance of mobility in children with
cerebral palsy: a comparison across home, school, and outdoors/community
settings. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, Suppl. 91; Vol. 44: 28.

She also had several presentations in the last year:

By Invitation:

"Early Intervention: Promoting Family-Centered Care in Natural Environments."
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Invited speaker, February
2003.

"Maximizing outcomes of physical therapy in early intervention: Sociocultural and
environmental considerations." American Physical Therapy Association, CombinedSections Meeting Preconference course, Tampa, Florida, February 2003. Co-presenters: Thubi Kolobe, PT, PhD, Kim Nixon-Cave, PT, PhD, PCS, Maggie O'Neil, PT, PhD, MPH.

"Promoting Leadership: Orientation to Serve." American Physical Therapy Association, Combined Sections Meeting, Tampa, Florida, February 2003. Presented by Regional Directors of the Section in Pediatrics.

By Peer-Review:

"Promoting Competencies in Pediatric Physical Therapy Practice: Use of Multimedia Distance Education", Platform Presentation at 14th International Congress of World Confederation for Physical Therapy, Barcelona, Spain, Chiarello, L. A. & Maggs, J. June 11, 2003.

"Developing a Post Professional Clinical Doctorate", Poster Presentation at 14th
International Congress of World Confederation for Physical Therapy, Barcelona, Spain, Maggs, J.& Chiarello, L. A., June 9, 2003.

"Specialty Certificate Program in Early Intervention and School-Based Practice", Poster Presentation at CSM 2003, Tampa, FL. Chiarello, L. A., Effgen, S., Milbourne, S., Campbell, P.

Eric D. Johnson, Ph.D., Couple and Family Therapy , completed research on families of the seriously mentally ill. In the research study, 180 families with a seriously mentally ill member were interviewed at length, using a semi-structured interview schedule. It was found that both environmental and illness-related stressors had a significant negative effect on the community functioning of persons with mental illness, but that family functioning (in general) and family members' sense of competence in handling the problems related to mental illness helped to buffer these negative strains. Further analyses investigated differences by ethnic group and socioeconomic status. Research strategies included multiple regression, main and indirect effects, and structural equation modeling, as well as qualitative investigation of family members' experiences. Dr. Johnson is continuing to analyze these data with respect to families as well as differences based on diagnosis and substance use among the mentally ill population. In addition, Dr. Johnson is interested in investigating program evaluation in community-based mental health services, and in establishing competency standards for graduate education in family therapy to family attributions, social support, and family burden, as well as differences based on diagnosis and substance use among the mentally ill population.

Ron Hays, Creative Arts in Therapy, published "Development of an Art Psychotherapy Model for the Prevention and Treatment of Unresolved Grief During Midlife" in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association in conjunction with former student Cheryl J. Turetsky.

Research Activities in the Center for Health Equality

As many of you will remember, the Center for Health Equality is a joint venture between CNHP and the School of Public Health. With funding from the Office of the Provost, the Center provides a focus and a serves as an incubator for the research efforts of faculty members whose work relates to health disparities. Four CNHP faculty members are currently associated with the Center.

Dr. Michael Dreher (Nursing) is pursuing research on sleep and depression in Women with HIV Infection. During the past year, he submitted a NINR RO3 grant application on this topic. Also related to this topic were presentations: "Perceived Indicators of HIV-Related Sleep Disruption" at the Seventh Annual NYU Nursing Research Conference at New York University Medical Center in May, as well as "Sleep Disorders in racial, Ethnic, and Sexual Minorities" at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in March.

Dr. Elizabeth Gonzalez (Nursing) is investigating interventions for family caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. She is in the process of conducting a pilot study to determine feasibility of interventions for caregivers of patients in the early to moderate stages of dementia. In connection with this work, she has one manuscript in revision, "Strategies in Recruitment and Retention of African American Family Caregivers in Research." In addition, she has a manuscript in press for the Annual Review in Nursing Research, "Psychosocial and Cultural Factors in Health Disparities Among Asian Americans."

Frankie Denise Powell, Ph.D. (Couple and Family Therapy) is working on A Community Assets Approach to Breast Cancer Education. This pilot project will develop a community assets map of the Eleventh Street Health Services Center area as a capacity-building phase to future community-based participatory research projects. These projects will not only educate families, particularly minority families in the poor and underserved community of North Philadelphia Eleventh Street Family Health Services, about the causes and treatment of breast cancer but will also begin to empower the community to improve the health and well being of its members via campus-community collaborations.

Dr. Margaret O'Neil (Rehabilitation Sciences) is conducting an intervention project entitled "A Health and Wellness Program in an Urban Health Center: Improving Health Behaviors and Physical Activity in Children 9-13 Years Old Who Are Overweight or Obese." She has 11 children currently enrolled in the program, and will examine outcome measures and change in measures in this group. Both exercise and nutrition programming are included in the intervention. She also received her second community mini grant from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Maternal and Child Health to support an interdisciplinary conference on "Partnerships to Improve Health Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs", and presented findings from the previous community grant project at the National Association of Pediatric Care and Home Care in Mystic, CT.