A cross-sectional survey was employed to assess parenting stress, family satisfaction, and parental concerns and to determine predictors of stress in parents of children with port-wine stains (PWSs). The participants were 46 parents of 24 children receiving treatment with pulsed dye laser photocoagulation for facial PWS at an outpatient dermatology clinic based at a university medical center. Outcome measures used were self-report instruments assessing psychosocial adjustment (Parenting Stress Index, Family Satisfaction Scale, and Parental Concerns Questionnaire). As a group, parents scored in the average range on the stress and family satisfaction measures when compared with a normative sample; five parents (11%) scored in the clinical range for stress. Forty-nine percent of the variance in parenting stress was accounted for by four variables: the child's age (beta = 0.34; p = 0.031), the parents' degree of family satisfaction (beta = -0.27; p = 0.077), the level of parental concern regarding the child's facial PWS (beta = 0.45; p = 0.005), and the parents' satisfaction with staff communication (beta = -0. 51; p = 0.002). The data suggest that while, as a group, parents of children with a facial PWS report to be in the average range for psychological stress, some do not fare as well as others. Factors associated with lower stress include younger children, more family cohesion and adaptation, fewer parental concerns, and greater satisfaction with parent-staff communication. The potential for the development of medical complications and psychological problems over time suggests the need for treatment of the PWS at an early age. Health care providers should be prepared to screen for clinical levels of distress and to refer parents for psychological intervention when needed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A distraction technique for control of burn pain.

Research has indicated that analgesics alone do not adequately relieve pain for 75% of patients with burns. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a distraction therapy, in which videos were used in combination with administration of analgesics, on intensity and quality of pain and on levels of anxiety in adults during burn dressing changes. The sample consisted of 17 patients who were randomly assigned to the treatment or the control group. The treatment group viewed video programs that were composed of scenic beauty accompanied by music. Each was asked to score his or her present pain intensity and pain rating index with the McGill questionnaire and anxiety with the Spielberger questionnaire before and after the dressing change. A nested general linear model using the "F" test in multiple regression analysis was adjusted for age, percent partial-thickness burn, and choice of topical agent demonstrated that the use of videos during the dressing changes significantly reduced pain and anxiety: present pain intensity (F = 8.69; p = 0.01), pain rating index (F = 5.57; p = 0.03), anxiety (F = 9.10; p = 0.01). It is recommended that the use of pain medication be augmented by use of videos during burn dressing changes.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pseudallescheria boydii mycetoma in northern New England.

Mycetoma is a chronic subcutaneous fungal infection characterized by tumefaction, draining sinuses, and grains. It is most common in the tropics but occasionally occurs in the United States. We report a case of a mycetoma affecting the foot of a 38-year-old mentally retarded man from northern New England. The causal organism was identified as Pseudallescheria boydii, the most common cause of mycetoma in the United States. The patient showed a partial response to 8 months of ketoconazole therapy.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Writing man-machine dialogues for a MUMPS system using the Application Controller Language (ACL).

The Application Controller Language (ACL) was designed to facilitate the development of man-machine dialogues. An exact specification of such a dialogue before programming begins is unlikely to be implemented without many changes. Immediately a dialogue is used, the 'hands-on' experience suggests many improvements. ACL was designed to serve as a flexible tool to enable easy re-shaping of this dialogue. For this reason, ACL is structured, allows documentary comments, and may be easily edited. ACL complements MUMPS and encourages the writing of small modular MUMPS programs to carry out well-defined tasks. For this purpose, ACL serves as the 'top' of a top-down written structure, with calls to MUMPS programs being made from ACL statements. A smooth dialogue is made easier to achieve by having all ACL statements use a single I/O processor giving a uniform terminal behaviour and appearance to the display. The programmer is encouraged to call this same I/O processor from his MUMPS application programs. ACL was used extensively for the development of a data management systems for hospital critical care.

Computers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Indicators of potential success among radiography students.

As the demand for qualified radiographers grows and the number of applicants to schools far exceeds the available capacity, program directors across the country face increasing difficulty in screening candidates for admission. This study sought to determine if there was a significant correlation between high school class rank, Scholastic Aptitude Test scores and the successful completion of a radiography curriculum as measured by a passing score on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists examination.

Educational Measurement↗