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Biomedical subjects

H S Campbell

Publications and source records attributed to H S Campbell.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Addressing oral disease--the case for tobacco cessation services.

There is strong scientific evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies that tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is linked to periodontal disease as well as other serious but less common oral health diseases. Given the strength of this evidence, dentists must include tobacco cessation services (TCS) as part of their routine care. This paper describes barriers to the adoption of TCS as identified by Alberta dentists participating in a randomized intervention trial and discusses strategies for overcoming these barriers. As well, suggestions are made to professional associations and educational institutes on ways to increase the incorporation of tobacco cessation into professional practice standards.

Canada↗
PubMed1999

Patient perceptions of tobacco cessation services in dental offices.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is a leading cause of periodontitis and other oral diseases. Dental professionals can help patients quit, but few routinely offer tobacco cessation services, or TCS. In this article, the authors examine dental professionals' attitudes toward offering TCS and patients' attitudes toward receiving TCS from their dental offices. METHODS: The authors used baseline data from a three-year randomized controlled trial designed to test the effectiveness of a dissemination strategy aimed at increasing the proportion of tobacco users identified by the dental office, as well as the proportion of tobacco users advised to quit. Fifty-two dental offices in rural communities completed a questionnaire asking for demographic and professional information about their offices, usual TCS offered, barriers to providing TCS and their views on patient receptivity to TCS. A random sample of patients seen during one month were interviewed over the telephone about the TCS provided during their last visit and their comfort in receiving such services from their dental offices. RESULTS: The authors found that 58.5 percent of the 3,088 dental patients surveyed believed that dental offices should provide TCS to patients. There was equal support among tobacco users and nonusers. Male patients (60.8 percent) and younger patients (69.6 percent) were more likely to believe that dental offices should provide TCS than were female patients (56.8 percent, P < .05) and older patients (57.3 percent, P < .05). The authors also found that patients who had an interest in quitting were more likely to feel comfortable receiving TCS than were those patients who were not interested in quitting (59.7 percent vs. 39.4 percent, P < .01). A total of 61.5 percent of dentists, however, thought patients did not expect such services. When dentists were asked about barriers to providing TCS, 94.3 percent listed patient resistance as a barrier, and 53.9 percent were concerned that patients would leave their practices. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found a wide discrepancy between patients' and dental professionals' views on TCS. A total of 58.5 percent of patients believe dentists routinely should offer such services, while 61.5 percent of dental professionals believed patients did not expect TCS. Patients who were interested in quitting felt more comfortable receiving quit advice. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Periodontitis and other oral diseases are linked directly to tobacco use. Advising patients to quit is a professional responsibility. Tobacco users expect and are comfortable receiving such advice. It is up to dental professionals to overcome their concerns about patient receptivity and provide these services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Knowledge, beliefs, and sun protection behaviors of Alberta adults.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of many dermatologic conditions including nonmelanoma skin cancers and the more serious cutaneous malignant melanoma. Despite this, there is little data on healthy persons' exposure patterns and protection behaviors. METHODS: As part of a larger survey for a cancer prevention demonstration program, a household survey of 3,843 adults ages 35-64 was conducted in four mid-size cities in Alberta, Canada. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on sun-related knowledge, beliefs, occupational and recreational exposure and current protective behaviors. RESULTS: Only 45% of respondents believed sun exposure affected their chances of getting cancer. With few exceptions, less than 50% of either sex were likely to routinely use any of the four protective measures: avoiding the sun, protective clothing, hats, or sunscreen. This propensity was inadequate even for those with sun-sensitive skin types. Men and women differed in the type of protection preferred. Older adults were more likely to take precautionary measures. CONCLUSIONS: There is clearly a need for modification of the public's beliefs and protective behaviors if the predicted skin cancer epidemic is to be avoided. Knowledge of protective behaviors and age- and gender-specific preferences will help in planning future research and health education programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Teaching medical students how to perform a clinical breast examination.

BACKGROUND: One challenge in medical education is to provide training in physical examination skills. The authors conducted a randomized study to compare standardized and unstandardized methods of teaching clinical breast examinations and to determine whether trained non-medical women could teach as well as medical faculty. METHOD: Sensitivity, specificity, and examination techniques were compared between first-year students at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine who in 1992-93 received standardized teaching from family medicine faculty or well women teachers and 70 second-year students who received unstandardized teaching during their clinical rotations. Standardized teaching included a specific examination technique using silicone breast models. The students taught by the well women teachers also examined the women's breasts. RESULTS: The standardized-teaching group had more consistent examination techniques and significantly higher sensitivity but lower specificity. The students taught by the well women teachers performed as well as those taught by the family medicine faculty. CONCLUSIONS: The teaching methods used by trained teachers and standardized models improved the students'accuracy of breast lump detection and examination skills.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed1994

Tobacco counselling among Alberta dentists.

Evidence suggests that dentists, with their existing commitment to prevention and their opportunity for regular interaction with patients, have the potential to significantly decrease tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. In 1992, dentists belonging to the Alberta Dental Association were surveyed to determine their attitudes, behavior and perceived obstacles to tobacco counselling. The 755 respondents represent 55 per cent of the province's practising dentists. Their attitudes toward involvement in tobacco counselling varied. Over 90 per cent agreed that dentists should show leadership and set a good example. However, only 60-70 per cent indicated that they should try to convince or actively help patients quit, and 25 per cent indicated that intervention was not appropriate. Little difference was found in the preferred counselling approach, with most dentists limiting their counselling efforts to discussing the hazards of smoking and benefits of quitting. Very few provided patients with specific strategies to change their smoking behavior. Perceived obstacles to tobacco counselling included a lack of coordination and exchange of information between dentistry and cessation services, pessimism about the patients' ability to change their tobacco habit, the need for further training, and the fact that counselling was not a high priority. This survey suggests that dentists could expand their role as tobacco counsellors. Professional associations and educational institutions have the potential to greatly assist the dental community in this regard, and attention should be given to the development and dissemination of informational campaigns and educational workshops.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Directions.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Steve Fonyo Cancer Prevention Program: description of an innovative program.

The Steve Fonyo Cancer Prevention Program (SFCPP) was a demonstration project of community-based education strategies designed to increase behaviours which will result in reduced cancer deaths, and to assess the feasibility of the involvement of a provincial cancer agency in the delivery of community-based prevention programs. Using primarily two different strategies, the SFCPP attempted to influence people to choose healthy lifestyles which would reduce their risk of getting cancer and to practice those behaviours which would increase early detection. The health unit intervention component consisted of risk assessment, personalized feedback and an invitation to appropriate health education programs delivered by a nurse. The community-based component involved community members in the planning and delivery of cancer prevention programs. The program began in four small cities (combined population 165,000) in early 1987. A baseline survey was done prior to implementation to facilitate evaluation. The purpose of this article is to describe the planning and implementation of the Steve Fonyo Cancer Prevention Program.

Alberta↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving physicians' and nurses' clinical breast examination: a randomized controlled trial.

Health professionals' clinical breast examination accuracy and skills are not optimal. We conducted a randomized trial to evaluate changes in physicians' and nurses' lump detection accuracy and examination skills after a training program emphasizing development of tactile skills and using silicone breast models containing lumps of varying sizes, degrees of hardness, and depth of placement. Sensitivity, specificity, and examination technique were measured before and four months after training in 43 experimental group and 46 control group participants. Mean sensitivity increased from 57% to 63% in the experimental group but decreased from 57% to 56% in the control group (P less than or equal to .05). The experimental group's posttest sensitivity was better for each lump characteristic, with statistically significant improvement for the very small (0.3 cm) and medium hard lumps. Duration of examination independently predicted sensitivity. Specificity decreased from 56% to 41% in the experimental group while it increased from 56% to 68% in the control group (P less than or equal to .05). Physicians had significantly higher mean sensitivity than nurses overall, as well as for the larger (1.0 cm), very small (0.3 cm), and softer lumps, but significantly lower mean specificity (33% versus 57%, P = .03). The experimental group improved significantly in five of six technique components while the control group improved in only one. To determine the effect of training on specificity in the clinical setting, we examined medical records of women seen by a subset of experimental and control physicians during the six months following training. There were no significant differences in the proportion of abnormal breast examinations reported or the number of mammograms ordered by experimental and control physicians. Our results show health professionals can be taught successfully to improve their clinical breast examination accuracy and skills.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Community smoking cessation contests: an effective public health strategy.

This report describes the follow-up of a community-sponsored smoking cessation contest. The aims of the evaluation were to describe the characteristics of contestants and the quit rates at six weeks, six months and one year. The "Quit to Win" contest was held as part of a larger cancer prevention program in Medicine Hat, Alberta. In order to be eligible for prizes, contestants were required to be smoke-free for six weeks and have their smoking status verified by a "Buddy". Contestants were contacted by telephone at the end of the contest and again at six months and one year. Seventy-five individuals entered the contest. The quit rates, 56%, 27% and 21% at six weeks, six months and one year respectively, compare favourably with other smoking cessation interventions. This study demonstrates that a community-based program can reach a variety of smokers with a relatively simple intervention.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is a health promotion campaign successful in retail pharmacies?

A sun awareness campaign with the theme "Be Sun Smart" was initiated by the Alberta Pharmaceutical Association in collaboration with the Alberta Cancer Board, Alberta Health and the Canadian Cancer Society. The campaign aimed to increase awareness and knowledge on the part of pharmacists and their staff and customers of adequate protection from the sun. The evaluation consisted of a precampaign questionnaire focusing on pharmacists' attitudes and knowledge, followed by a post-campaign questionnaire evaluating the campaign and assessing changes in pharmacists' knowledge. Questionnaires were sent to all 697 retail pharmacies in Alberta. The data indicated that responding pharmacists' knowledge was high before the campaign. However, knowledge of skin protection and magnitude of the problem did improve from the pre- to postcampaign survey. Pharmacists' precampaign attitudes varied, 49% agreeing that a tanned person looks healthier, and 96% agreeing that skin cancer is a dangerous disease. There was a high degree of acceptance for educational campaigns within retail pharmacies.

Adult↗