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Biomedical subjects

K J Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to K J Ferguson.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Surgeons' knowledge, attitude, and use of preoperative autologous blood donation.

Before a comprehensive educational program on preoperative autologous blood donation was begun, 118 surgeons from three different areas of the country were tested to assess their baseline knowledge and attitude about this practice. Test results were correlated with the percentage of eligible patients that the surgeons actually referred for preoperative donation during a period of observation. The purpose of this preliminary effort was to identify areas in the educational program that required emphasis. Overall, the surgeons' attitude toward preoperative donation was quite favorable, but their depth of knowledge varied. Misunderstandings may have led to diminished use of this service (eg, about 50% didn't realize that many patients with medical conditions or low hematocrits are permitted to donate). However, it is not clear that simply bolstering surgeons' knowledge will increase their appropriate use of preoperative donation. When all 118 surgeons were studied, their knowledge and attitude were unrelated to the percentage of eligible patients referred. However, when 44 surgeons who managed the largest number of eligible patients were analyzed separately, their use of preoperative donation was directly correlated with their knowledge and attitude. The local awareness of AIDS also significantly influenced the use of this service. It is proposed that knowledge of preoperative donation may be important for inducing surgeons to begin referring patients for this service. Once a pattern of successful participation is established, referral seems to increase with the acquisition of working knowledge.

Blood Transfusion, Autologous↗
PubMed1989

Estrogen replacement therapy. A survey of women's knowledge and attitudes.

Because the significant health risks related to postmenopausal osteoporosis can be reduced by estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), this study assessed women's attitudes toward ERT to assess factors that might increase its use. Results showed that women taking ERT were more likely to know that decreased estrogen levels lead to osteoporosis, to perceive that menopause is a medical condition, to believe that natural approaches to menopause are less preferable, to be seeing a gynecologist for care, and to believe that women should take ERT for hot flashes. The study suggests that a systematic educational approach could influence women's willingness to take ERT, especially if the recommended therapy does not cause withdrawal bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs as predictors of exercise intent and behavior in schoolchildren.

Physical education programs represent an important gateway for encouraging young people to develop life-long exercise habits. In this study of middle school students (N = 603), attitudes toward physical education, knowledge about the benefits of exercise, and beliefs about one's abilities were assessed to determine their influence on exercise intent and current exercise behavior. As predicted, perceived benefits of exercise, current exercise behavior, attitudes toward physical education, self-esteem, and gender contributed significantly and independently to exercise intent (total variance explained = 37%). Exercise intent, outside sports activities, perceived benefits of exercise, gender, and attitudes toward physical education contributed significantly and independently to current exercise behavior (total variance explained = 27%). Programs that make attending physical education a pleasant experience and that explain specific benefits of exercise can influence exercise intent and can enhance students' sense of self-esteem, both of which may increase future exercise behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Factors associated with behavior change in family physicians after CME presentation.

Registrants of a four-day family practice refresher course responded to a survey assessing their reaction to a brief presentation recommending the use of penile anesthesia in newborn circumcision. Of the 110 respondents who had attended that session, 56 percent reacted favorably to the recommendation, 27 percent rejected it, and 17 percent had mixed reactions. Twenty-three percent of the respondents who were performing circumcisions at the time of the survey said they began using the recommended procedure following the conference, most with good results. Those who did not adopt the recommendation said using penile anesthesia for newborn circumcision was unnecessary, potentially dangerous, or both. The results suggest that evaluation of behavior change resulting from continuing medical education efforts should consider attitudinal variables on the part of those attending conferences in addition to variables related to the overall quality of the conference.

Anesthesia, Local↗
PubMed1984

Should dentists advise smokers to stop?

This study surveyed 391 dentists to determine their current practices with patients who smoke. About two-thirds of respondents (71%) said they advise smokers to stop. Although most respondents advised patients of negative health effects of smoking, few provided suggestions to patients, referred them to smoking cessation programs, provided self-help materials, or scheduled follow-up sessions. Recent evidence suggests that even brief counseling interventions can help some patients stop smoking.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Appointment-keeping behavior and patient satisfaction: implications for health professionals.

This study examines patient satisfaction with care received in a subspecialty clinic, appointment-keeping behavior in that clinic, and the interrelationships between satisfaction and appointment-keeping compliance. The implications for health education and patient counselling are also discussed. The setting is an outpatient clinic of a large university hospital that serves both an urban and rural population. A mailed questionnaire was returned by 150/270 (56%) patients. While satisfaction and compliance were not significantly related, satisfaction was significantly related to the patient's perception of benefit received as a result of care provided by the clinic.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol use, drug use, and sexual activity among pharmacy students at three institutions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine alcohol and drug use and sexual activity among pharmacy students at three colleges of pharmacy. DESIGN AND SETTING: A survey to obtain self-reported information on alcohol and drug use, and sexual activity was administered to professional pharmacy students at the University of Iowa (UI), Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, and Texas Southern University. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Information on sexual activity and condom use, alcohol and drug consumption, and the effect of alcohol on unintended sexual activity. RESULTS: 848 students (50% response rate) completed the survey. Alcohol use was high at all three institutions, and most students had consumed five or more drinks on one or more occasions within the last three months. The extent of drug use among pharmacy students was similar to that reported in other college students. The majority of students were sexually active. More men than women reported having been sexually active with one or more partners. Most students reported having had sexual intercourse without a condom. Significant numbers of students had engaged in unintended sex after alcohol use, especially at UI (chi 2 = 12.6, p = 0.002). Sexual contact and drinking were strongly correlated (Pearson r = 0.31, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption among pharmacy students was high. Heavy drinking (five or more drinks on one occasion) was associated with unintended sexual contact. Given low condom use and increased sexual contact, pharmacy students are at an increased risk for HIV infection. Strategies should be developed to reduce alcohol intake and unprotected sexual activity among pharmacy students.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality assessment of athletic trainers.

This paper reports the first published assessment of the quality of services provided by athletic trainers. Medical coverage for the 1985 Junior Olympic Games was provided by certified athletic trainers (ATC), physicians, and other health care personnel. This study assessed the services of the 30 attending ATCs who managed 121 significant injuries. Standard injury information was collected by the ATCs and separately collected by their physicians. Nine months after the Games, phone interviews were conducted with the injured participants and assessment questionnaires were given to the attending physicians. Results revealed that young, injured, Junior Olympic participants generally did not inform their parents about their injuries or medical contact while at the Games. Athletes and physicians overwhelmingly agreed that they were positively impressed with the capabilities of the ATCs with whom they had contact. About 70% recovered from the symptoms and limitations of injury, as determined by the athlete, within the month following the Games. About 17% sustained some type of injury recurrence to the same body part, and at 9 months about 97% of the athletes had fully recovered from their injuries. These data not only indicate that athletic trainers can accurately identify minor athletic injury but signify the importance of long-term followup in our athletic populations. Multisport events, such as the Junior Olympic Games, impose considerable problems to a communication effort. The athletic trainer, as an ever-present figure in collegiate and professional circles, can be the central focus of an adequate communication effort regarding the patient care of other athletic populations.

Athletic Injuries↗