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Biomedical subjects

L T Midanik

Publications and source records attributed to L T Midanik.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Alcohol problems and sense of coherence among older adults.

The relation between alcohol problems and sense of coherence (SOC), a salutogenic model developed by Antonovsky, was assessed on a sample of 952 older members of a health maintenance organization. Data on alcohol problems (5-item index) and SOC (9-item scale) were obtained from mailed questionnaires. Multiple regression analyses indicated that SOC was a significant negative predictor of alcohol problems while controlling for alcohol consumption level, frequency of drunkenness and demographic characteristics. In addition, SOC scores were significantly higher for a subsample of lighter drinkers who reported no alcohol problems in the last year and had not been drunk in the last year (n = 419) as compared to heavier drinkers who reported at least one alcohol problem in the last year, and reported being drunk at least once in the last year (n = 107). These findings emphasize the importance of assessing factors which contribute to healthier behaviors as opposed to focusing exclusively on predictors of pathogenic outcomes.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Reliability of self-reported alcohol consumption before and after December.

The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability of a self-reported 12-month alcohol measure obtained 1 month before and after December. As part of a larger study involving multiple telephone contacts, this sample consisted of 112 volunteers who drank alcohol at least monthly. During telephone interviews, respondents were asked about their drinking in the last 12 months in November, 1989, and again in January, 1990. The results indicate that the sample reported significantly lower alcohol use during the past year after December. These lower estimates occurred in both the frequency and the average quantity per occasion measures. There were significant reductions in reports of alcohol consumption in the last 12 months after December for the group which was contacted more often (greater than or equal to 7 times during December). The group contacted fewer times (less than or equal to 2 times during December) also reported lower, but not significant, amounts of alcohol consumed after December. These findings indicate that the prevailing idea that reports of last year's typical drinking obtained in January will be overstated because of the holiday season may be unfounded.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

'Unstandard' ways of answering standard questions: protocol analysis in alcohol survey research.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the history and development of protocol analysis as a useful approach for survey research in the alcohol field, and to describe the results of a pilot study which used protocol analysis to assess the recall strategies used for four standard alcohol questions commonly used in surveys. Twenty-nine subjects were interviewed and asked to think aloud their responses to four alcohol items: frequency of drinking, average quantity, frequency of drinking over 5 drinks, and frequency of drunkenness. Results indicate that respondents most often used anchoring and adjustment and context strategies to arrive at their answers. Suggestions for facilitating the use of specific strategies during an interview are given.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The effect of retirement on health services utilization: the Kaiser Permanente Retirement Study.

The relationship of retirement and use of medical services was investigated among members of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Northern California. A mailed survey of a 10 percent random sample of members 60-66 years old (N = 10,202) was followed by a telephone interview of (a) all respondents who had planned to retire in the next year, and (b) a random sample of respondents who had not planned to retire: 253 had retired (Retired group) and 238 were still working 20 hours a week or more (Not Retired group). Medical charts were reviewed for one year before and after the retirement date for the Retired group and for one year before and after a randomly assigned anchor date for the Not Retired group. With the exception of urgent care and emergency visits, no significant difference was found between the two groups in overall use of outpatient and inpatient services following retirement.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Changes in drinking behavior: demographic, psychosocial, and biomedical factors.

Demographic, psychosocial, and biomedical variables were collected from 12,371 ambulatory persons who had an initial multiphasic health examination in 1978 or 1979 and a second examination 5 years later in 1983 or 1984. Subgroups of this cohort who had substantially increased and decreased their drinking were compared with persons who continued to drink at baseline rates. A balanced model of demographic, psychosocial, and biomedical variables had the capacity to differentiate persons who had substantially increased their drinking; fewer variables--primarily psychosocial--differentiated persons who had greatly decreased their drinking.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of 7-day recall with two summary measures of alcohol use.

A 7-day recall measure of alcohol consumption was compared with two summary measures (a quantity/frequency scale and an overall summary measure) for 535 persons who had health examinations in a prepaid health plan. The data showed relatively strong correlations between the 7-day recall measure and the summary measures. Generally, the 7-day recall method yielded lower estimates when compared to the other two measures. These findings indicate that, imprecise as the measures may be, they all provide useful information. In addition, these findings do not support the assumption that measures of recent occasions yield higher estimates of alcohol consumed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Perspectives on the validity of self-reported alcohol use.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the search for an answer to the question "are self-reports of alcohol consumption valid?" and the concurrent denial by most alcohol researchers, that over-reporting of alcohol may be a possibility. Researchers have tended to ask this question with the inherent assumption that there is an absolute answer. The truth, however, is unlikely to be so neat or so simple.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1985

Methodologic issues in evaluating stop smoking programs.

Three methodologic issues (definitions of smoking, period of follow-up, composition of study group) were assessed in 426 persons five years after participation in a stop smoking program of a prepaid medical plan. When smoking was defined by measurement interval or by type or amount of tobacco smoked, smoking rates varied only slightly. Little information was gained by extending the follow-up period beyond the first year. However, study group composition (as defined by attendance at program sessions) had a pronounced effect on smoking rates. Those who attended fewer sessions were more likely to smoke during the follow-up period.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Home blood pressure monitoring for mild hypertensives.

A clinical trial of 204 untreated patients with mild hypertension was conducted to assess the effect of home blood pressure monitoring on blood pressure level, pharmacologic treatment, reduction of risk factors, and use of health services. After 1 year, no statistically significant differences were found between the treatment and control groups. The findings indicate that, while home blood pressure monitoring may be useful, it has no measurable short-term impact on these aspects of blood pressure management for patients with mild hypertension.

Blood Pressure Determination↗