Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Vallbona

Publications and source records attributed to C Vallbona.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Advances in the community control of hypertension: from epidemiology to primary care practice.

PURPOSE: To review the progress in hypertension control in the United States since 1972, to examine the factors that contributed to that progress and to consider areas in which further improvement is required. METHODS: A review of epidemiological, clinical and health services research related to hypertension control was conducted. We report our experience in evaluating hypertension control in a multi-ethnic community clinic population as an illustration of the challenges of hypertension management in primary care practice. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: Hypertension prevalence in the United States population has remained relatively stable, whereas actual blood pressure levels in the population have declined slightly. Most Americans (approximately 80%) have had a blood pressure check within the past year, but the rate of blood pressure control in treated hypertensives has been disappointing. The current diagnostic and therapeutic criterion of blood pressure < or = 140/90 mmHg, regardless of individual patient characteristics (e.g. age, race), should be re-evaluated.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1991

Factors related to medical school application and acceptance in minority summer enrichment program students.

Baylor College of Medicine has conducted a summer enrichment program for minority/disadvantaged premedical students since 1969. Follow-up data on medical school application and acceptance for participants from 1980 through 1984 were analyzed in relation to selected preprogram variables--cumulative college grade point average, total Scholastic Aptitude Test score, competitiveness of undergraduate college, sex, and ethnicity. Results of univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that: 1) females were significantly less likely to apply to medical school than males, 2) females had significantly lower mean MCAT scores (5.9 vs 7.2) even though their preprogram academic performance was comparable to that of the males, and 3) after controlling for MCAT scores, none of the preprogram variables were significant in predicting medical school acceptance. These findings suggest the need for research to explain the discrepancy between male and female MCAT performance and frequency of medical school application in summer program participants. The findings also have implications for the type of counseling provided to female participants in summer enrichment programs.

College Admission Test↗
PubMed1990

AIDS, minority patients, and doctors: what's the risk? Who's talking?

We asked 39 physicians providing primary care for a mostly minority patient population to respond to a questionnaire concerning their attitudes and behavior toward AIDS risk assessment and preventive counseling and to indicate their beliefs concerning patients' knowledge and behavior. Most of the 36 physicians who responded (92%) agreed that physicians must educate their patients about AIDS. They also reported that patients who engage in risk-taking behavior may not know much about AIDS transmission and prevention. Despite these beliefs, these doctors reported that they gave advice to only 11% of their male patients and 14% of their female patients. More than one third of physicians reported feeling uncomfortable talking about patients' sexual preferences and practices. To identify patients at risk and to help prevent AIDS, methods must be found to make physicians more comfortable discussing sexual issues with their patients, especially their minority patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Patient exposition and provider explanation in routine interviews and hypertensive patients' blood pressure control.

Hypertensive patients' expressing themselves in their own words (Exposition) and providers' giving information (Explanation) during medical interviews were hypothesized to be associated with subsequent blood pressure control. Transcripts of routine return visits to clinics in low-income areas of Houston, TX, were coded using the Verbal Response Modes (VRM) system. VRM indexes of Patient Exposition and Provider Explanation were tested in relation to systolic and diastolic blood pressure obtained during home interviews 2 weeks after the clinic visits. Patient Exposition was significantly correlated with reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure from clinic visit to home interview, and Provider Explanation was significantly correlated with lower diastolic blood pressure at home interview. The results suggest that patients' and providers' verbal behavior in medical interviews should be included in predictive models of blood pressure control.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Adult onset diabetes mellitus: glycemic control and family function.

To test the hypothesis that family function differs in patients according to their level of diabetes control, family function was assessed using the Family APGAR questionnaire in low-income patients with adult-onset diabetes who were under comprehensive care in five community health centers. From 3,000 active patients, a group of 385 with the following characteristics were randomly selected: mean age, 59.1 (range 25-93); M:F ratio, 1:4; and ethnic distribution (blacks: Hispanics: whites, 48%:31%:21%). Categorizing patients by their extent of diabetes control, good family function was found in 92% of patients in good control of their diabetes mellitus, in 66% of those in fair control, and only in 50% of those in poor control (p less than 0.005, chi 2 = 44.1, df = 2). Since these data point to the association between levels of family functioning and control of diabetes, further studies are needed to ascertain if an improvement in family functioning will lead to better diabetic control.

Adult↗