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- All Subjects: Alternative Medicine
- All Subjects: Cancer Treatment
- Creators: Bucho-Gonzalez, Julie
- Creators: Colloca, Christopher
Description
This purpose of this thesis study was to examine variables of the "War on Cancer" frame, loss-gain prime, and patient gender on treatment decision for advanced cancer patients. A total of 291 participants (141 females) participated in an online survey experiment and were randomly assigned to one of eight possible conditions, each of which were comprised of a combination of one of two levels for three total independent variables: war frame ("War on Cancer" frame or neutral frame), loss-gain prime (loss prime or gain prime), and patient gender (female or male). Each of the three variables were operationalized to determine whether or not the exposure to the war on cancer paradigm, loss-frame language, or male patient gender would increase the likelihood of a participant choosing a more aggressive cancer treatment. Participants read a patient scenario and were asked to respond to questions related to motivating factors. Participants were then asked to report preference for one of two treatment decisions. Participants were then asked to provide brief demographic information in addition to responding to questions about military history, war attitudes, and cancer history. The aforementioned manipulations sought to determine whether exposure to various factors would make a substantive difference in final treatment decision. Contrary to the predicted results, participants in the war frame condition (M = 3.85, SD = 1.48) were more likely to choose the pursuit of palliative care (as opposed to aggressive treatment) than participants in the neutral frame condition (M = 3.54, SD = 1.23). Ultimately, these significant findings suggest that there is practical information to be gained from treatment presentation manipulations. By arming healthcare providers with a more pointed understanding of the nuances of treatment presentation, we can hope to empower patients, their loved ones, and healthcare providers entrenched in the world of cancer treatment.
ContributorsKnowles, Madelyn Ann (Author) / Kwan, Virginia S. Y. (Thesis director) / Presson, Clark (Committee member) / Salamone, Damien (Committee member) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
This paper focuses on the current use of complementary medicine in Oncology. First, it reviews the general trends in the rise of complementary therapies in the United States and look at the organizations responsible for the advancement of research. Next reviewed is the specific use of complementary medicine in cancer prevention, during treatment, and post-treatment therapy for increased quality of life. There are many modalities used in the management of this disease including yoga, tai chi chuan, botanicals, probiotics and meditation practices. Each of these therapies has their own unique benefits and are used at different stages of disease prevention and treatment.
ContributorsBalcerzak, Erin Mary (Author) / Larkey, Linda (Thesis director) / Hosley, Brenda (Committee member) / Bucho-Gonzalez, Julie (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
Introduction. Intervertebral disc degeneration (DD) is one of the most common diagnoses in patients with neck pain and contributes to worldwide disability. Despite the advances in diagnostic imaging today, little is known about functional status of cervical DD. The purpose of this research was to 1) develop and validate an ovine model of cervical spine DD, 2) to quantify and compare the effect of disc lesions on dynamic spinal stiffness, and 3) study the effect of disc lesions on spinal accelerations and displacements during two types of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). Methods. Fifteen sheep received surgically induced disc injury to the mid-cervical spine via scalpel wound a minimum of five months earlier and 15 sheep served as controls. All animals were biomechanically assessed at the level of the lesion using swept-sine mechanical loads from 0-20 Hz under load control to quantify dynamic dorsoventral (DV) spine stiffness (load/deformation, N/mm). The effect of disc lesion on stiffness was assessed using a one-factor repeated measures ANOVA comparing 32 mechanical excitation frequencies. Tri-axial accelerometers rigidly attached to adjacent vertebrae across the target level further evaluated the effect of disc lesion on spinal motion response during two types of SMTs. A 2x6x2 repeated measures ANOVA examined the effect of disc lesion and SMT force-time profile on spine motion response. Postmortem histological analysis graded specimens at the target site and comparison was made with descriptive statistics. Results. Annular disc tears were only observed in the disc lesion group and the mild degeneration identified was localized to the injured annular tissue that did not progress to affect other areas of the disc. No difference in overall DD grading was found among the groups. DV stiffness was significantly increased in the disc lesion group by approximately 34% at 31 of 32 frequencies examined (p<.05). SMTs resulted in decreased displacements in the disc lesion group (p<.05), and SMT type significantly influenced spinal accelerations for both the DV and axial planes. Conclusion. Disc lesions in the ovine cervical spine produce localized annular degenerative changes that increase the cervical spine dynamic stiffness and reduce its spinal motion response during manual examination and treatment that is further augmented by the force-time profile administered by the clinician.
ContributorsColloca, Christopher (Author) / Hinrichs, Richard N (Thesis advisor) / Abbas, James (Committee member) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Committee member) / Hooker, Steven (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015