ANNO BIB

Annotated Bibliography Summary

Cornell University Library site gives a definition of an annotated bibliography, directions to complete one, and also an example. An annotated bibliography is a list of citations with brief sentences about the relevance and accuracy of the article and author. The annotated bibliography should contain a citation of the work, the intended audience, author background, comparison to other works, and an explanation as to why this article works for one’s topic. The citation should be put in the correct format for the style of writing. Following all of this information are two examples using APA and MLA format which I found to very helpful and I’m sure others will as well.

Questions

1) How can an annotated bibliography help you write the intro and lit review sections in your own paper?

- An annotated bibliography can help write both an introduction and literature review. The introduction is something that needs to catch the reader’s attention and keep their attention. By using the annotated bibliography, one will have a general outline of everything that is interesting and important to one’s topic. It can then be weeded through to determine what will keep the reader’s attention and that can in turn be used for the introduction. With the literature review, this is something that the writer will be able to express what has already been done and well the writer knows the subject. In turn, using the annotated bibliography will help with the literature review because it will give an outline as to what has been done and what one knows, just in less detail than a literature review.  Both can benefit from the annotated bibliography.

2) How do you know if your sources from your anno bib are reliable, valid, timely, and unbiased?

- Knowing that the sources are reliable, valid, timely, and unbiased comes from reading the article and this annotated bibliography. I have learned key things to look for when reading critically and have used them to weed out bad articles. Also checking the date of publication can insure timely information. The only real way to know if something is biased or not, is to read it. Read articles critically and these key points will jump out at anyone.

Annotated Bibliography

(2008). Excessive sweating. Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 26(5), 7. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

• Just like the other articles about sweating and excessive sweating, all that I have come across including this one had indicated there is an interference with social life and embarrassment is a sure result. “Occasionally, when excessive sweating is worsened by stress-induced anxiety, anti-anxiety drugs may be helpful (7).” This is an indication to me that sweating and anxiety are related. This is a health letter, but looking into the article I see no citations to back this information up. A website URL is provided that future indicates it is a journal. Information like this should be considered lightly.

Cinà, C., Cinà, M., & Clase, C. (2007). Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis: Technique and results. Journal of Minimal Access Surgery, 3(4), 132-140. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database

• Quality of life is address in this article in relationship to after surgery for Hyperhidrosis. All information and articles I find address that anxiety and Hyperhidrosis are correlated and all seem to indicate that quality of life is strained when Hyperhidrosis is affecting a person. Some key information I haven’t found yet, but in this article it is mentioned is “Excessive sweating usually starts in childhood or adolescence and continues throughout life. Nervousness and anxiety can cause or aggravate sweating (132).”  Also a non bias of men to women ratio are studied.

Krogstad, A., Mork, C., & Piechnik, S. (2006). Daily pattern of sweating and response to stress and exercise in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis. British Journal of Dermatology, 154(6), 1118-1122. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07212.x

• This study addressed palmar Hyperhidrosis and how stress is related to these suffers. What I found interesting about this study was how it addresses stress with sweating of the hands. “Focal Hyperhidrosis is an embarrassing condition that can have a significant negative impact on patient quality of life. It is characterized by excessive sweating affecting a variety of areas, including the palms (1118).” Stressful events were compared to amount of sweating. Participants keep journals. This can be biased on the fact that another person had to interpret their journal entries. However findings are clear and cut.

Lear, W., Kessler, E., Solish, N., & Glaser, D. (2007). An Epidemiological Study of Hyperhidrosis. Dermatologic Surgery, 33S69-S75. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2006.32334.x.

• This study found that stress and anxiety was correlated with palmar Hyperhidrosis, especially in women. Lear showed some evidence that some social situations, like work or something that can cause stress is correlated with palmar Hyperhidrosis. “Hyperhidrosis affects approximately 3% of the population (69).” The study was about 50 percent women participants and 50 percent men. Biased is not present. Both sexes were studied. “The most common sites of primary Hyperhidrosis are palms, soles, axillae, face, and scalp (69).”

Mason, M. (2009). NO SWEAT. Nursing Standard, 23(52), 23. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

• This article indicates that confidence has improved with the use of treatments for Hyperhidrosis, which in turn indicates to me that before there was a lack of confidence. This article at first seemed one sided, but it did indicate later on that this treatment doesn’t always work. The author has traveled around and toured a factory where the machine is made and has started a support group for Hyperhidrosis suffers. I would indeed say that her insight is helpful and valid.

McElhaney, K., Antonishak, J., & Allen, J. (2008). “They Like Me, They Like Me Not”: Popularity and Adolescents’ Perceptions of Acceptance Predicting Social Functioning Over Time. Child Development, 79(3), 720-731. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01153.x.

• This study is not about Hyperhidrosis but draws in a clear fact about growing up and wanted to be accepted. The following quote expresses this, “Although many adults may get frustrated or impatient with adolescents’ investment in being well liked by their peers, the current study suggests that adolescents’ level of acceptance from their peers is indeed a key predictor of their future social development (727).” Although the key information about Hyperhidrosis in comparison to stress and social situations is not present, social acceptance in any situation I believe can be applied to other situations. This article is well organized with a lot of key information, which makes it easy to apply.

Nagurney, A. (2007). The effects of relationship stress and unmitigated communion on physical and mental health outcomes. Stress & Health: Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, 23(4), 267-273. doi:10.1002/smi.1146.

• This last study was conducted with stress and anxiety within relationships in mind. It mentions great information about the college students that were interviewed. For future research on this subject, this article suggests to test people with heart disease or fibromyalgia. There are some clear stated draw backs of this study which leads me to take this information with a grain of sand, but it was the first of it’s kind presented. Compared to other articles found, this one seems hard to follow.

Pohjavaara, P., Telaranta, T., & Väisänen, E. (2003). The role of the sympathetic nervous system in anxiety: Is it possible to relieve anxiety with endoscopic sympathetic block?. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 57(1), 55. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database

• This study plays great attention to social phobia and treatments. “Headache, sweating and stucking of voice are common in social phobia and differentiate it from generalized anxiety disorder(57).” This social phobia represents a fear of embarrassment, which is great information to connect to Hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is not caused by embarrassment, but the excessive sweating can lead to fear or social situations. The treatment mentioned in this study is the treatment I underwent for Hyperhidrosis. There could be a possible link between social phobia and Hyperhidrosis.

Solish, N., Benohanian, A., & Kowalski, J. (2005). Prospective Open-Label Study of Botulinum Toxin Type A in Patients with Axillary Hyperhidrosis: Effects on Functional Impairment and Quality of Life. Dermatologic Surgery, 31(4), 405-413. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

• This study was conducted about effects on functional impairment and quality of life of a person who suffers from Hyperhidrosis but was treated with BoNT-A. These subjects have already been treated with BoNT-A and the research captured how their lives improved or how they didn’t improve. This study touches on if it improved their way of life. “A recent rigorous household survey estimated that 2.8% of the population has hyperhidrosis, with roughly half of these individuals suffering from axillary  hyperhidrosis. As many as 1.3 million individuals (0.5% of the US population) in this survey have been estimated to have severe axillary hyperhidrosis, defined as symptoms that frequently or always interfere with daily activities and that are intolerable or barely tolerable (405).” This study is also about 50 percent men and 50 percent women. This is great to know, because both sides were tested.

Weber, A., Heger, S., Sinkgraven, R., Heckmann, M., Elsner, P., & Rzany, B. (2005). Psychosocial aspects of patients with focal hyperhidrosis. Marked reduction of social phobia, anxiety and depression and increased quality of life after treatment with botulinum toxin A. British Journal of Dermatology, 152(2), 342-345. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.06334.x.

• This study addresses the possible psychosocial impacts of the treatment mentioned above, Botulinum toxin A. This passage is extremely important, “People with excessively sweaty palms may not be able to handle paper without soaking it. They may also experience social stigmatization and discrimination, especially when shaking hands. People who suffer from excessive axillary sweating have to change clothes frequently. Their clothes may show stains and may not last as long. Furthermore, quality of life may be affected (342).” This article contains a lot of medical language, but weeding through it contains non bias facts. There was a significant reduction of social phobia, stress, and anxiety for the patients treated with Botulinum toxin A.