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This dissertation was a study of the efficacy of incorporating a creative writing-based curriculum into English Composition I courses. The goal of this study was to determine whether students learning with this style of curriculum could meet the student learning outcomes and master the core competencies for this course as effectively as students who were taught with the standard curriculum. This study sought to prove that this was a viable instructional option, not to replace the existing curricular design. The quantitative and qualitative data collected indicated that no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups, and that students learning with the creative writing-based curriculum equally met the required learning objectives. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

Problematic college student drinking can predict the subsequent development of severe alcohol use patterns. Several theories have proposed that negative affect (NA) plays a large role in the maintenance of substance use behaviors -- a phenomenon supported in laboratory-based and clinical studies. It has been demonstrated that mindfulness meditation can improve the regulation of NA, suggesting that mindfulness may be very beneficial in treating problematic substance use behavior. The present study utilized a brief mindfulness intervention, followed by a NA mood induction in a sample of college student problematic drinkers (N = 207). A three by two by three factorial design was used to cross Group (Mindfulness, Relaxation, Control), Affect (negative, neutral), and Time (Time 1 [T1], Time 2 [T2], Time 3 [T3]). Participants were randomly assigned to the Group and Affect conditions and assessed across Time for level of NA and urge to drink alcohol via four outcome variables. It was hypothesized that those in the Mindfulness + NA condition would report lower levels of NA, increased willingness to experience NA, lower urges to drink, and less time to next alcoholic drink following the mindfulness intervention and NA induction, as compared to those participants in the Relaxation and Control groups. A 3x2x3 repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine whether the groups differed on level of NA and urge to drink over the three time periods (T1, T2, T3). A one-way ANOVA was conducted to evaluate whether groups differed on willingness to continue experiencing NA and time to next drink, which were measured at the end of the experiment. Results indicated that the mindfulness intervention was effective at increasing level of state mindfulness and decreasing level of NA, above and beyond that of the control group. However, these changes did not maintain following the affect induction and thus the primary hypotheses were not supported. One potential reason for this may be that the mindfulness intervention was not strong enough (e.g., too brief). Recommendations for future research based on these findings are discussed. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

Health care of the 21st century is undergoing major changes due to a myriad of social factors affecting every level of society. From financial desperation due to the high cost of health care to the increased awareness of a generation asking for better services, the importance of patient satisfaction is paramount. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has prioritized the examination of quality care through evaluation of patient satisfaction ratings. Institutions are left to find solutions that will increase patient satisfaction via consumer service excellence. One hospital in the northeastern United States provided a sensitivity training called "Charm Starr" to all its health care workers over the full year of 2007. The goal of this training was to increase the patient satisfaction rate by providing sensitivity skills to health care workers. The population for the study was comprised of yearly discharged inpatients ( N = 10,000 to 16,000). The sample was composed of patients from 2 inpatient units that were similar in characteristics for both years 2006 and 2008. In this study, the independent variable was Charm Starr training and the dependent variable was patient satisfaction ratings. In this quantitative descriptive study design, descriptive statistics and a t test were generated to evaluate significant statistical differences in patient satisfaction ratings prior to and after Charm Starr training. Preexisting data was utilized to compare patient satisfaction ratings 1 year before (2006) to 1 year after (2008) implementation of the Charm Starr training. This data analysis assessed the impact of health care workers' sensitivity training on patient satisfaction. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]