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Biomedical subjects

J G Hollandsworth

Publications and source records attributed to J G Hollandsworth.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Using videotape modeling to prepare children psychologically for surgery: influence of parents and costs versus benefits of providing preparation services.

Sixty pediatric patients having first-time elective surgery participated in this study. Surgery preparation using videotape procedures was employed. The research design included two viewing conditions (with parent present and without parent present) and three treatment procedures (adult-narrated videotape, peer-narrated videotape, and control/no-videotape condition). Results suggested that children who viewed the videotape with their parent present exhibited less preoperative arousal compared to children who did not. The patients undergoing preparation using the videotape model exhibited less arousal, less self-reported anxiety, and less behaviorally rated anxiety when compared to patients who did not view the videotape preparation. There was no difference between the patients who viewed the adult-narrated versus the peer-narrated videotape. In addition, parents who viewed the videotape or whose children viewed the videotape without them exhibited less arousal prior to the operation than parents who did not and whose children did not view the videotape preparation. Finally, a cost-benefit analysis revealed that preparation services could reduce individual and overall medical costs.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Evaluating the impact of medical treatment on the quality of life: a 5-year update.

A comparison of the studies investigating the impact of medical care on quality of life over a recent 5-year period (1980-1984) with those appearing during the preceding 5 years from 1975 to 1979 [1]reveals; that (a) 3 times as many (69 as compared to 23) appeared during the time span, that (b) almost two-thirds (60%) of the recent studies included a subjective measure of quality of life as compared to only 1 in 10 for the previous 5-year period, but that (c) one-shot, case studies designs still predominate. On the other hand, (d) the use of control groups doubled from 1981 to the present, although (c) the majority of studies continues to use samples of convenience (e.g. consecutive patients or treatment survivors) rather than employing random assignments or random sampling. Nevertheless, (f) the average size of samples has doubled from 90 to 178, and (g) whereas almost all of the studies in the earlier review concluded that the intervention being studied improved quality of life, now approx. 1 in 5 report negative outcomes with another 30% reporting mixed results. It is concluded that in spite of increasing methodological sophistication, investigation of the impact of medical care on quality of life will be hindered until there is better agreement as to what constitutes adequate assessment of the construct. Suggestions for how a consensus might be attained are discussed.

Humans↗

Development of a computerized reference retrieval system: a behavior therapy training tool.

The vastness of the behavior therapy literature base often poses problems for beginning therapists who need greater familiarity with assessment and intervention literature. Hence a computerized reference retrieval system was developed for trainees to access behavior therapy references efficiently. The system contains over 1600 references from 158 problem categories and is economically competitive with commercial systems. Similar systems can be established using currently available microcomputer technology. The present system is primarily used by doctoral and masters students to assist in case conceptualizations and decision making during practicum courses.

Behavior Therapy↗

The effects of a multicomponent smoking cessation program with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease outpatients.

While a number of multicomponent treatments have been utilized to control smoking, many of these are not suitable for some populations such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients because they consist of aversion procedures which can stress the body's cardiovascular system. Little research has been published regarding nonaversive approaches to smoking control in a COPD patient population. This study examined the long-term effects of a nonaversive multicomponent smoking cessation program consisting of brand fading and stimulus control with a COPD outpatient population as measured by self-report. Using four COPD outpatients, this study employed a multiple baseline design across subjects for a visual analysis of treatment effects. At 3- and 6-month follow-up, one subject had quit smoking. Two subjects who continued to smoke reduced their smoking frequency and drastically reduced their nicotine intake by brand fading to a cigarette containing lower amounts of nicotine. A fourth subject returned to her original brand of cigarettes, although she reduced her smoking frequency. Collaborators and measurements of thiocyanate levels were used as reliability checks on subjects' self-report.

Adult↗

The effects of physical fitness and exercise on cardiac awareness.

This experiment was run to further evaluate the role of individual difference factors in perception of heart beats (cardiac awareness). The present study examined 24 male subjects who showed high and moderate levels of physical fitness. Cardiac awareness was examined using Brener-Jones type discrimination trials. Subjects discriminated first while standing quietly on a treadmill (32 trials), then while walking briskly on a motorized treadmill (32 trials), and finally during recovery from exercise (elevated HR but behavioral quiescence) (16 trials). Results showed that only the moderate fitness group showed heightened awareness during exercise, while both groups showed greater than chance awareness during recovery from exercise. Neither group was highly aware while resting before exercise. These results fail to support notions that high fitness distance runners are highly aware of cardiac function during exercise. A number of reasons for this finding are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Nicotine level as a predictor of smoking frequency: a case report.

Laboratory-based evidence is inconsistent regarding the regulation of nicotine intake for habitual smokers. The present case report describes an in vivo double-blind alteration of nicotine level for two long-term, heavy smokers. In spite of large changes in nicotine intake, the frequency of smoking remained stable. It was concluded that other variables may play an equal or more important role than nicotine in governing smoking behavior in the natural setting.

Adult↗

Use of social-skills training in the treatment of extreme anxiety and deficient verbal skills in the job-interview setting.

A 30-year-old recent college graduate, exhibiting extreme anxiety and deficient verbal skills in job interviews, was treated with a social-skills training procedure that included instructions, modelling, behavior rehearsal, and videotape feedback. Three target behaviors--focused responses, over coping statements, and subject-generated questions--were presented using a multiple-baseline design. Galvanic skin-response activity was monitored during pre- and posttraining in vivo job interviews. In addition, independent judges unobstrusively rated the subject's social-communicative behaviors in his temporary worksetting before and after training. Training resulted in expected changes for all three target behaviors and a decrease in the rate of speech disturbances. Physiological data supported the subject's report that training enabled him to deal with his anxiety more effectively during job interviews. Training was found to generalize to novel interview questions and different interviewers. Furthermore, unobtrusive measures of eye contact, fluency of speech, appropriateness of verbal content, and composure supported the subject's report that training generalized to his daily social interactions on the job.

Adult↗

The adult self expression scale: validation by the multitrait-multimethod procedure.

The present studies were designed to provide further validation of the Adult Self Expression Scale as a measure of assertive behavior for adults in general. Validation was approached by the Campbell and Fiske multitrait-multimethod procedure and was concerned with the convergent relationship of assertion as measured by the Scale with measures of dominance and abasement as well as the discriminant capability of the instrument in terms of its relationship to various types of aggression, both verbal and physical. A variety of self-report, peer-rating, and unobtrusive measures were obtained from four distinct samples: participants in avocational interest classes at a technical institute, adults enrolled in an evening course in counseling theories at a state university, psychiatric inpatients, and convicted male felons. The results indicated that the Adult Self Expression Scale exhibits moderately strong convergent validity and moderate discriminant validity. The utility of the scale as a measure of assertive behavior for use with adults in general was supported.

Adolescent↗