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Biomedical subjects

B Oldenburg

Publications and source records attributed to B Oldenburg.

69 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Prediction of quality of life in a cohort of end-stage renal disease patients.

In order to assess the physical, psychological and social impact of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) 102 patients on maintenance dialysis were assessed on standardized self-report measures, a structured interview schedule, a physician assessment and biochemical data. Patients were assessed on two occasions, 18 months apart. Principal components analysis was used to develop a small number of dimensions to characterize quality of life. Multiple regression analysis of patient variables on initial factor scores (cross-sectional analysis) showed that; hospital dialysis and length of time on dialysis were predictive of more psychological distress; males were less compliant than females; patients on peritoneal dialysis made a poorer adjustment to their illness; and, hospital dialysis was predictive of more social distress. As long term predictors (prospective analysis): initial level of psychological distress predicted long-term level of psychological, social distress and illness adjustment; and initial level of compliance predicted long-term level of compliance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The role of psychological intervention in the management of patients after myocardial infarction.

A review of the literature suggests that it is neither appropriate nor cost-effective to involve as a routine all patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction in a traditional outpatient rehabilitation programme where physical conditioning is the principal (or only) ingredient. However, there is evidence to show that psychological intervention programmes that provide short-term psychological support, health education and intervention in coronary risk behaviour influence favourably both physical and psychosocial outcome. The case is put forward for intervention, during the first few days of the patient's admission to hospital, with a treatment package that comprises health education and relaxation therapy. The need for further interventions such as counselling, behavioural therapy, and physical conditioning may be assessed, depending on the patient's response to the initial programme.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1986

Predictors of long term outcome following a bladder re-training programme.

A total of fifty-three female patients suffering from urinary urgency and urge incontinence completed a bladder re-training programme which comprised behavioural and biofeedback treatment components. The psychological status of patients prior to treatment and at eighteen-month follow-up was compared. The role of clinical and psychological factors was examined in relation to treatment outcome (immediately following treatment and at eighteen-month follow-up). Compared to pre-treatment, patients at the eighteen-month follow-up were experiencing fewer psychological symptoms and were more internal with respect to their locus of control, irrespective of urological response to the programme. Poor treatment compliance predicted a poor treatment response both in the short- and long-term. Excessive worrying about, and preoccupation with, the urinary symptoms, previous surgery, and chronic urinary symptoms were all good predictors of a poor treatment response in the long term.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Metronidazole.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Production and characteristics of bacteria-labeled talc dust for experimental air hygiene studies].

Freeze-drying of suspensions of Micrococcus luteus together with talc yields bacteria-labelled dust. This material can be used in experimental air hygiene. Loss of viability due to drying in air during experiments can be expected to be negligible. A wide range of particle diameters (1 to greater than 23 micron) is available. Scanning electron microscopy shows the bacteria sticking on talc particles after freeze-drying (Fig. 3a + b). Viable counts of the material decreased very slowly on storage.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1983

[A simple testing installation for the production of aerosols with constant bacteria-contaminated concentrations].

A simple experimental set for the production and investigation of bacterially contaminated solid-state aerosols with constant concentration is described. The experimental set consists mainly of a fluidized bed-particle generator within a modified chamber for formaldehyde desinfection. The special conditions for the production of a defined concentration of particles and microorganisms are to be found out empirically. In a first application aerosol-sizing of an Andersen sampler is investigated. The findings of Andersen (1) are confirmed with respect to our experimental conditions.

Aerosols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of intention to quit smoking among Dutch employees: the influence of the social environment.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the influence of the social environment in worksites on employees' intention to quit smoking by applying the attitude-social influence-efficacy model. METHODS: Regression analyses were conducted with 509 smoking employees from eight Dutch worksites. Variables of interest were attitudes toward smoking, perceived social pressure to quit, perceived smoking behavior of others, self-efficacy, demographics, smoking history variables, company type, and smoking tolerance. RESULTS: Attitude, social pressure from people out-side the worksetting (partner, children), and self-efficacy explained 23% of the variance for intention. Past behavior increased the adjusted R2 from 0.23 to 0.29. Social influences in the worksite were unrelated to employees' intention to quit smoking. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that, in Dutch work-sites, social influences stemming from people at work have less influence on employees' intention to quit smoking than other important people outside the work situation. Implications for smoking control strategies in worksites are briefly discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mediators of change in physical activity following an intervention in primary care: PACE.

BACKGROUND: The current study evaluated the construct validity of a physical activity intervention in primary care by testing whether the intervention changed hypothesized mediators and whether changes in the mediators were associated with behavior change. METHODS: Matched physician offices were nonrandomly assigned to intervention or control. Apparently healthy, sedentary, adult patients (N = 255) were recruited from physician offices. The intervention was brief, behaviorally based counseling by physicians, plus a telephone follow-up 2 weeks later. Assessments of physical activity and mediators were collected at baseline and at 4- to 6-week follow-up. Hypothesized mediators were processes of change, self-efficacy, and social support for exercise. RESULTS: Patients who were counseled improved significantly more than those in the control group on behavioral and cognitive processes of change. Other changes in mediators were nonsignificant. Behavioral processes of change and self-efficacy made significant contributions to the multiple regression model explaining self-report and objective measures of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention affected some of the targeted mediators of physical activity change. Two of three mediator variables were associated with changes in physical activity regardless of experimental condition and other variables. The construct validity of the intervention was partially supported.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A controlled trial of a behavioral and educational intervention following coronary artery bypass surgery.

PURPOSE: Patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) are obvious candidates for rehabilitation programs because of the potential for progression of disease. Such programs have been shown to foster risk-factor modification, improve quality of life, and prolong survival among post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. However, the efficacy of these programs has not been established among patients who have undergone CABG. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was employed to evaluate whether a behavioral and educational cardiac rehabilitation program was effective in modifying cardiovascular disease risk factors and improving quality of life in a cohort of 86 patients after CABG. Patients were recruited from the cardiac ward of a large teaching hospital and were block-randomized to either an intervention group or routine care. Subjects in the intervention group attended 6 weekly group sessions following hospital discharge, and booster sessions at 8 months and 1 year. They also received a personalized behavior modification program based on their baseline risk factors. Risk factor and quality of life measures were recorded at baseline (6 weeks after surgery), 4 months, 8 months, and 1 year. RESULTS: The results indicated few differences between the study groups. However, the intervention group's aerobic capacity (VO2max) improved over that of the routine care group. With regard to the quality of life variables, all patients tended to improve steadily over time. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively moderate success of this intervention program compared with various post-MI studies may be indicative of differences between the treatment needs of patients after acute myocardial infarction or CABG. Future post-CABG rehabilitation research should explore these patients' unique treatment needs, and investigate a variety of program strategies.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Would general practitioners support a population-based colorectal cancer screening programme of faecal-occult blood testing?

BACKGROUND: The success of a population-based screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is determined to a large extent by general practitioner (GP) attitudes, beliefs and support. The extent to which GPs support population-based CRC screening remains unclear. AIMS: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of GPs in relation to CRC screening, and to identify the determinants of GP support for population-based faecal-occult blood testing (FOBT). METHODS: A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted with a random sample of 692 GPs in Queensland, -Australia. We assessed GP knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning CRC screening in relation to their stance on population-based FOBT screening. RESULTS: Although the response rate was low (41%), participants were representative of Queensland GPs in general. Of 284 participating GPs, 143 (50.5%) indicated that they would support a population-based FOBT screening programme, 42 (14.8%) would not and 98 (34.6%) were unsure. Belief in FOBT test efficacy (P <0.001), possession of CRC guidelines (P <0.05) and belief in earlier stage detection (P <0.05) were major determinants of support for population-based FOBT screening. No significant association was observed for doctor's sex, location of practice, age, year completed medical training, membership of a Division of General Practice, number of weekly consultations, number of patients investigated for CRC per month, size of practice, own family history of CRC, interest in further information on CRC screening or treatment, and current use of FOBT with asymptomatic patients aged > or =40 years. CONCLUSIONS: GP support for FOBT population-based screening appears to have increased over recent years. The knowledge and attitudes/beliefs of GPs are key determinants of their support.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of Queensland Hospital services by interstate and overseas visitors.

In response to concerns about the number of interstate and overseas visitors using Queensland hospital services, the present study examined a sample of 1,295 hospital records to determine the proportion of patients who were incorrectly identified as Queensland residents. Across six hospitals the overall detection rate was 4.6%. Rates varied between hospitals, with the highest detection recorded for Goondiwindi near the Queensland/New South Wales border; and the lowest for Prince Charles in Brisbane. There were also important variations across hospitals based on specific holiday periods. In particular, Goondiwindi and the Gold Coast had substantially higher detection rates for the Christmas holiday period (December-January) than for the mid-year period (June-August). These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for hospital services, especially lost revenue and increased patient load. Health information managers are identified as a key group for addressing some of the current problems in this area.

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Guidelines for treatment with infliximab for Crohn's disease.

Infliximab is an accepted induction and maintenance treatment for patients with Crohn's disease. The effectiveness of infliximab has been demonstrated for both active luminal disease and for enterocutaneous fistulisation. In addition, infliximab can be administered for extraintestinal symptoms of Crohn's disease, such as pyoderma gangrenosum, uveitis and arthropathy. Maintenance treatment with infliximab is effective and is regarded as safe as long as the necessary safety measures are heeded. Infusion reactions occur in 3 to 17% of the patients and are associated with the formation of antibodies to infliximab. A reduction in infusion reactions is possible by the concurrent administration of steroids and the use of immunosuppressants (azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate). Furthermore, immunosuppressants increase the duration of the response to infliximab. For these reasons, the concomitant use of immunosuppressants with infliximab is recommended. Infections and most specifically tuberculosis need to be ruled out before infliximab is administered. Up to now, there are no indications for a connection between an increased risk for malignancies and treatment with infliximab.

Algorithms↗