Lisa Raiz

Medication compliance following renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND There appears to be general consensus that a relationship exists between noncompliance and clinical outcomes in health care, including renal transplantation. This study investigated variables associated with medication noncompliance after renal transplantation. METHODS A mail survey containing objective and subjective variables was sent to individuals who met eligibility criteria. Medication compliance was measured by two items: 1) Frequency of forgetting to take medications and 2) Frequency of not taking medications exactly as prescribed. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were utilized to examine the data. RESULTS Individuals who were older and those who perceived less pain were less likely to forget medications. The belief that health outcomes were controlled by chance and feeling bothered by part of the transplant experience were associated with greater likelihood of forgetting medications. Individuals who perceived a higher level of social functioning and those who believed that health outcomes were controlled by powerful others were more likely to take medications exactly as prescribed. An internal locus of control for health outcomes and feeling bothered by part of the transplant experience were associated with less likelihood of taking medication exactly as prescribed. CONCLUSIONS The finding of this study suggest that compliance with medications after renal transplant is associated with subjective, not objective variables. Positive feelings regarding their physicians and the transplant experience increased compliance. Combining consistent measurement of compliance, examination of its relationship to clinical outcomes, and appreciation for the patient perspective should result in increased levels of compliance and better clinical outcomes.

Attitudes Toward Gays and Lesbians Among Undergraduate Social Work Students

This article identifies the factors behind students’ attitudes toward lesbian and gay individuals on the basis of the responses of 575 heterosexual undergraduates from 12 social work programs in the United States. Consistent with attribution theory, the findings suggest that the belief that sexual orientation is a choice is the strongest predictor of responses to gays and lesbians. The precepts of social learning theory and the intergroup contact hypothesis were also substantiated because sexual prejudice was lower among students with ‘‘gay-friendly’’ parents and numerous interactions with homosexual peers. Finally, negative interpretations of gay men and lesbians were higher for students who embraced authoritarian orientations and traditional gender-role beliefs and attended religious services more frequently. Implications for educators in the university environment and the classroom are presented.

EXPLAINING COMFORT WITH HOMOSEXUALITY AMONG SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS: THE IMPACT OF DEMOGRAPHIC, CONTEXTUAL, AND ATTITUDINAL FACTORS

While recent research explores the determinants of homophobia among college students, only a few studies look at the perceptions of homosexuals among social work students. Unfortunately these rare studies generally present a modest list of predictor variables or small sample sizes. To address this gap, this research explores the ways in which undergraduate social work students (N=748) from 12 colleges feel about homosexuality. In doing so, the work initially delineates the extent to which future social workers feel comfortable being around gay and lesbian persons. The work then explores the impact of specific social statuses, educational processes, and ideological beliefs. In the end, the role of homosexual peers is emphasized, as are the effects of familial attitudes, the perceived cause of homosexuality, conservative religious maxims, traditional gender role beliefs, and anxieties over AIDS.

Illness intrusiveness among survivors of autologous blood and marrow transplantation

Illness‐induced disruptions to lifestyles, activities, and interests (i.e., illness intrusiveness) compromise subjective well‐being. The authors measured illness intrusiveness in autologous blood and bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) survivors and compared the results with survivors of solid organ transplants.

Predictors of Heterosexual College Students' Attitudes Toward LGBT People

This study identifies the predictors of U.S. heterosexual undergraduate and graduate college students’ attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a group rather than toward individual identities. Findings suggest that affirming LGBT attitudes are most strongly associated with liberal political ideology and whether one believes in biological causation of transgender identity. Understanding sexual orientation as biological and having LGB friends, LGB immediate family members, and transgender friends are also important, but to a lesser degree. Age, gender, and select races/ethnicities and select religious affiliations are marginally associated with LGBT attitudes. These findings clarify areas to target for improvement in campus climate for LGBT persons, and implications for campus programs and research are discussed.

Predicting the Support of Same-Sex Relationship Rights Among Social Work Students

Since the 1980s, the United States has seen several instances of legislative action on the topic of same-sex marriages and civil unions. As some studies explored public reactions to such laws, the perspectives of social workers and social work students have mostly been ignored. In addressing part of this oversight, this paper looks at the approval of same-sex relationship rights among 571 heterosexual social work students enrolled in 12 U.S. colleges. In having an explanatory scope, the article focuses a multivariate analysis of potential antecedents to these policy preferences. Consistent with attribution theory, the strongest associations were located in the belief that sexual orientations are voluntary. In addition, students who were surrounded by homophobic parents and peers, or had little contact with gays or lesbians, were against the expansion of broader gay and lesbian relationship rights. Conversely, individuals who ignored traditional gender roles and authoritarian principles, as well as did not attend regular religious services, were more amiable to extending the relationship rights of sexual minorities.

Play and Art in Existential Trauma Therapy with Children and Their Parents

In existential family trauma therapy play and art can be utilized during the treatment process to help children and their parents hold, tell, master, and honor their trauma experiences and trauma pain. Clinical material is offered to illustrate this existential treatment process.

Employment post-transplant: a biopsychosocial analysis.

Abstract Employment following renal transplantation has been lower than predicted at the time of the original end-stage renal disease (ESRD) legislation more than 30 years ago. This paper uses the biopsychosocial model to identify predictors of employment for 411 individuals transplanted at a single, large Midwestern academic center. Less than 50% of respondents reported part-time or full-time employment post-transplant. Factors found to predict employment were age at the time of transplant, race, sex, and patient perception of physical functioning. Individuals who were younger when transplanted, Caucasian, and males were more likely to be employed full-time following transplantation as were those who perceived themselves to have a higher level of physical functioning. No biological factors, including serum creatinine, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and diabetic status, were significant predictors of employment. The biopsychosocial model is used to discuss the implications of these findings for post-transplant employment and social work intervention.

Barriers to employment following renal transplantation: implications for the social work professional.

Abstract The biopsychosocial model was used to analyze data from an open-ended item in a survey of individuals following kidney transplantation. After sending surveys to kidney transplant recipients at a large, Midwestern teaching hospital, this work analyzed the themes that emerged from an inquiry into factors that affected their ability to return to work or switch jobs. The results revealed that concerns reflecting biological/psychological factors were most frequently indicated followed by social concerns. That is, the majority of the responses were related to a physical disorder or condition (biological) that appeared to have been directly related to a psychological response to it. This was followed by social concerns primarily related to health insurance. Thus, the researchers involved in this study conclude that social workers in health care must: (1) consistently embrace the assumptions of the biopsychosocial model so that the most inclusive assessments and interventions can be rendered, while (2) remaining knowledgeable regarding legislative changes that impact health insurance coverage for this specific population.

College Students' Support of Rights for Members of the Gay Community

ABSTRACT Support of rights for gay men and lesbians was investigated in a sample of students from 12 colleges and universities across the United States. The belief that religious teachings against homosexuality are not reasonable was the strongest predictor of support, followed by the belief that homosexuality is caused by biological forces beyond control of the individual, the belief that friends and parents were accepting of homosexuality, and having a school acquaintance known to be gay. More traditional gender-role beliefs and having a roommate known to be gay were significantly associated with less supportive attitudes. University educators can create the opportunity for students to examine and challenge beliefs.