| Description |
The aim of this investigation was to determine whether or not the Sudorimeter, a quantity index of finger perspiration, was a valid measure of fear-tension-anxiety responses in persons encountering stressful situations. The Sudorimeter is a tool recently designed by Dr. E. J. Brutten in conjunction with the Stoelting Company of Chicago as a refinement over more lengthy methods of measuring finger perspiration. At the time this investigation was conducted, published studies were not available in the literature or from the manufacturer to support the validity of the new instrument. Since its validity had not been established, this investigator designed a study to test the instrument with graduate nursing students undergoing oral examinations, as it was anticipated that if validity was demonstrated, it would facilitate research designed to measure fear-tension-anxiety responses of pregnant women in labor and vacilitate a wide variety of clinically oriented research. Finger Perspiration Index was related to blood pressure, pulse, and a muscle tension response questionnaire of these indices have yielded positive relationships to stress responses in other research studies. The following were the hypothesis tested: 1. There is a positive relationship of the amount of finger perspiration to the blood pressure and pulse rate among persons encountering stressful situations. 2. There is a positive relationship of the amount of finger perspiration to the extent of muscle tension responses among persons encountering stressful situations. It is acknowledge that sample size, sample composition, and the stressful situation utilized in this study may have contributed to the results obtained, thereby suggesting that addition research in indicated before validity of the Suborimeter is supported or negated beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the data obtained failed to support either hypothesis, thus, seriously questioning the validity of the Sudorimeter as a valid measure of finger perspiration as well as an indicator of fear-tension-anxiety. |
