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Biomedical subjects

D Hermoni

Publications and source records attributed to D Hermoni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

The inventory to diagnose depression (IDD) in primary care patients.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in ambulatory primary care patients. Severe functional impairment and risk of suicide are features of the condition. Although treatment can reduce morbidity, detection of MDD by primary care physicians is suboptimal. The aim of this study is to assess the inventory to diagnose depression (IDD) as compared with clinical psychiatric assessment for case finding in primary care patients. Adult members of an Israeli kibbutz (communal settlement), where all psychiatric diagnoses made by the family physician are confirmed by psychiatric consultation, were asked to complete the IDD; a 22 question, self-administered questionnaire. Patients whose scores indicated MDD, if not previously diagnosed, were also referred to psychiatrists. Patients' medical charts were reviewed for the diagnosis of MDD and response to therapy prior to the administration of the IDD. Of the sample of 312 patients, 207 (66.3%) completed the IDD. Refusers were younger (P = 0.04), more likely to be native born Israelis (P = 0.02), and had a higher prevalence of known MDD (P = 0.05) than participants. MDD by IDD scores was present in seven patients, in three of whom the diagnosis had previously been established; the other four were newly diagnosed. In the three previously diagnosed patients, one (metastatic carcinoma) refused treatment and two were receiving psychotherapy; all were clinically depressed. Four additional previously diagnosed patients whose IDD scores were insufficient for MDD had had a successful response to current therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Preventable deaths: 16 year study of consecutive deaths in a village in Israel.

The aims of this study were to examine mortality in one village in Israel and to determine which deaths could have been prevented by identifying those which were associated with avoidable factors or were caused by conditions which would have been amenable to preventive measures. The medical records of all 171 patients (91 males and 80 females) who died in the geographically defined population of 1800 during the 16 year period 1974-89 were reviewed. The mortality rate, adjusted for age, in the second eight year period (1982-89), was significantly lower for females (4.0 deaths per 1000 females per year) than for males (8.5) (P < 0.01). Downward trends in the birth rate, stillbirth rate and perinatal mortality rate were found, while there was an upward trend in both mean and median age at death. Of the 171 deaths, 36 (21%) were classified as being associated with a total of 44 factors which could be perceived as being avoidable. Twenty five of the avoidable factors were patient related and of these 17 were smoking (more than 20 cigarettes a day in patients aged less than 70 years who died of a smoking related disease). These findings confirm the need for continuous health education for patients. An audit of mortality in general practice is valuable and may contribute towards the prevention of some deaths.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of a rapid method for diagnosing streptococcal pharyngitis in a rural community clinic.

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis is a common ailment whose accurate diagnosis is dependent on laboratory testing. Transport problems common to rural practices, for laboratory testing, could be resolved by a reliable rapid test. Laboratory evaluations of rapid streptococcal tests, performed mostly in research settings, indicate that the tests have acceptable specificity and sensitivity. This paper describes a comparison study of 248 consecutive throat swab specimens using a commercially available agglutination test with routine throat culturing. All agglutination testing was done by the office staff under actual working conditions, in a rural primary care clinic. The cultures were processed in the main regional microbiology laboratory. As a result of transportation delay, swabs were plated either within 6 h from collection or after 6 h. The test sensitivity (72%) and specificity (88%) compared well with that reported in the literature from microbiology laboratories, especially for swabs plated within six hours (80% and 93% respectively). The rapid test is an acceptable alternative to the standard culture technique in the family practice office under normal working conditions, provided that patients with negative results follow up with throat cultures.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed1990

Failure to keep appointments at a community health centre. Analysis of causes.

The scheduled appointment system in primary care clinics became popular recently in Israel. Failed appointments created a problem for the doctors, patients and the clinic in Netivot. During 11 months, 2.317 appointments were surveyed. The survey showed 36% of failed appointments, with a decrease to 28% one year later. Rates of failed appointments were 38% for the paediatric population, 35% for adults, and 34% for pensioners. Market days and holidays predisposed to more failed appointments, representing community customs. The presence of a chronic disease that needed follow up ensured a higher rate of attendance (76%), especially among the paediatric population (92% attendance rate). By contrast, a geriatric patient with an acute disease had difficulty attending the clinic (only 16% attending). 512 people (35% of the population) were responsible for the 827 failed appointments, and among them only 12% of the population accounted for 59% of the failed appointments. These findings have important implications in the planning of an appointment system in an urban health centre, and they strengthen the assumption that a small number of patients cause a large number of failed appointments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Failure to keep appointments at a community health centre. Analysis of causes.

The scheduled appointment system in primary care clinics became popular recently in Israel. Failed appointments created a problem for the doctors, patients and the clinic in Netivot. During 11 months, 2,317 appointments were surveyed. The survey showed 36% of failed appointments, with a decrease to 28% one year later. Rates of failed appointments were 38% for the paediatric population, 35% for adults, and 34% for pensioners. Market days and holidays predisposed to more failed appointments, representing community customs. The presence of a chronic disease that needed follow-up ensured a higher rate of attendance (76%), especially among the paediatric population (92% attendance rate). By contrast, a geriatric patient with an acute disease had difficulty attending the clinic (only 16% attending). 512 people (35% of the population) were responsible for the 827 failed appointments, and among them only 12% of the population accounted for 59% of the failed appointments. These findings have important implications in the planning of an appointment system in an urban health centre, and they strengthen the assumption that a small number of patients cause a large number of failed appointments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effects of a health activist course on knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use.

A cohort study investigated the specific outcomes of a health education coursed carried out by recently graduated physicians in an urban primary care setting in Israel. Questionnaires were used to study the effects of the programme on knowledge and awareness concerning antibiotic usage. The results showed a significant gain in knowledge about the causes of infectious disease, appropriate duration of antibiotic intake, side effects of antibiotics and the importance of compliance. In contrast with other studies, low income blue collar workers with less than high school education showed the most significant gains from the programme. Inexperienced physicians were able to implement a community health education programme with clearly defined goals.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of post-thaw sperm motility after freezing in liquid nitrogen with protective media of either glycerol or glycerol-egg-yolk-citrate.

Thirty semen samples with a mean prefreezing motility of 70.4% were frozen for 1 month in liquid nitrogen by means of a modified Barkay's method and with either glycerol or glycerol-egg-yolk-citrate (GEYC) as protective media. The post-thaw motility was found to be 37.9% and 30.7% and cryosurvival rate (CSR) was 54.6% and 44.4%, respectively--the difference being significant (P less than 0.05). When samples achieving at least 40% of post-thaw-motility (PTM) in either medium were selected, the mean prefreezing motility increased to a 71.6%, and the PTM and the average CSR were 44.1% and 62.2% and 35.5% and 50%, respectively, when either glycerol or GEYC was used. It appears that glycerol alone is superior to a mixture of GEYC for cryo-preservation of sperm if the technique mentioned above is used and PTM is a criterion for sperm quality.

Citrates↗
PubMed1979

The Duffy blood group system in Israeli Jews and Arabs.

The distribution of the Fy gene was studied in 1,207 Israeli Jews and 509 Arabs. The Fy(a--b--) phenotype (FyFy) was observed in Moslem, Christian and Druze Arabs, and in Jewish immigrants from Yemen and Iraq, but not in Sephardi or Ashkenazi Jews. The Fy gene frequencies in Arabs and Jews were compatible with historical evidence of interactions with native African and admixed regional populations. Compared with Rho (cDe) and Jsa, Fy(a--b--) is a more useful genetic marker for recognizing African admixture in Middle Eastern populations.

Blood Group Antigens↗