Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P J Michels

Publications and source records attributed to P J Michels.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Childhood problems of alcoholic women.

A sample of three hundred and nine alcoholic and non-alcoholic women in South Carolina were asked three family-of-origin questions that were thought to relate to the development of alcoholism. Specifically the women were asked: "While you were growing up did anyone in your family: (1) drink a lot? (2) use drugs? or (3) serve a jail sentence?" Results of multivariate odds ratio analyses indicate that alcoholic women were 7.31 times more likely to indicate a family member who drank a lot, 3.57 times more likely to report a family member who used drugs, and 5.6 times more likely to report a family member who served a jail sentence in their families of origin. The prediction of alcoholism by any of these family of origin variables did not differ as a function of age or race. These data suggest that policy makers may contribute to improved outcome measures by providing attention to children passing through these difficulties.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Drinking problems of nursing students.

A sample of 315 nursing students in yearly cohorts (1988-1992) completed the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). A simple and quick instrument with established reliability and validity, the MAST had a reliability coefficient of .78 with this sample. The MAST scores of the nursing students indicated that 21.5% had probable alcoholism or were alcoholic. Drinking problems among these nursing students were similar to those of other nursing students and college students in general. Implications for nurse educators include recognition that nursing students need continuing self-assessment and monitoring to avoid drinking problems as a student and future practitioner. Alcoholism self-screening is an excellent introduction to client assessment for drinking problems. Implications for future research include identifying correlates and determinants of problem drinking behaviors and ultimately developing and testing educational interventions to eliminate the problem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Psychological, demographic and situational factors of family physicians which influence cigarette cessation interventions in office-based practice.

Sixty-five office-based family physicians completed a mailed questionnaire which sought to determine the extent to which these physicians offer cigarette cessation interventions to their patients. This information was related to 44 scales from 7 psychological tests completed by each physician during residency training. Ninety percent of these physicians intervene personally, while outside referral to an expert and internal referral to a nurse were each utilized by less than 12% of the sample. Over 45% of these private practitioners used supplemental video or written materials. A number of psychological characteristics but no demographic or situational variables discriminated physicians regarding the implementation of these cigarette cessation interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Training family physicians: a case study.

A survey of USC/RMH Family Medicine alumni indicated that a large proportion have remained in South Carolina, providing primary care especially in small towns and rural areas. These physicians engage in a broad range of clinical activities and feel comfortable with treating a wide spectrum of patient problems. The alumni are active participants in religious, cultural and civic programs in their communities and they express satisfaction with their decision to practice Family Medicine in South Carolina.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Factors which discriminate rural and urban family physicians practicing in South Carolina.

A sample of 28 rural and urban private practicing family physicians was compared on a number of attitudes and practice characteristics based on results from a mailed questionnaire. Results cross-validated previous findings and provided new ones. A number of self-report discriminators are discussed to better predict which physicians will locate in rural areas.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The importance of street drug terms as diagnostic clues.

"Words are both better and worse than thoughts; they express them and add to them" [Tyrone Edwards]. Choice of street terms is a clinical expression of the mental state and the drug history of the individual which evolves from repetition and frequent use. Broadened experiences usually accompany continued use, including experimentation with esoteric and powerful drug combinations. Drug terms employed by the user may have diagnostic utility for the experienced clinician in determining severity of symptoms. Recommendations for relapse prevention become more credible through a familiar lexicon. Practitioner understanding of drug terms as a tool to elicit information may lead to a deeper understanding of the breadth and depth of patient use of drugs. The authors recognize that they have contributed to the homogeneity, understanding, and distribution of terms by this article.

Communication↗
PubMed1990

Antihypertensive regimen and quality of life in a disadvantaged population.

A sample of family practice patients with essential hypertension (N = 106) who were predominantly elderly, black, and disadvantaged were studied to determine psychosocial and physiological side effects from antihypertensive therapy regimens. Patients were assigned randomly to one of four monotherapy treatment groups: Hydrochlorothiazide-triamterene, metoprolol, captopril, and methyldopa. These medications have been reported to have contrasting effects on quality of life. Measurements of quality of life, physical symptoms, and depression taken at baseline and during therapy revealed few significant changes in these indicators. Changes in mean levels of diastolic and systolic hypertension over time were clinically and statistically significant. Findings raise issues regarding medication effectiveness and cost given the disadvantaged population studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Chronic pain.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1980

Inventory responding models people's acceptance of feedback 'derived' from tests and from interviews.

Sixty-four undergraduates were individually and randomly given one of four assessment procedures: The Rorschach, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Structured Interview, or Unstructured Interview. Students then completed a series of 7-point Likert-type rating scales indicating their perception of the assessment. One week later students individually received identical personality descriptors, presented either as personality "feedback" or as a personality "test". Finally, students completed a second Likert-type rating task, again indicating their faith in the assessment and perception of the examiner's skill. Layne and Michels' model that inventory responding parallels people's acceptance of Barnum feedback was supported. Descriptor favorability significantly enhanced acceptance of both "feedback" and inventory items, while type of prior assessment had no significant effect on either behavior. Student perceptions of assessment accurately paralleled characteristics of each type of assessment. Finally, student faith in the assessment and perception of the examiner's skill failed to significantly increase from before to after receiving "feedback" It was concluded that inventory responding accurately models the Barnum Effect and that people accept feedback rationally, not gullibly.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1979

Inventory responding as a model of people's acceptance of personality interpretations.

The hypothesis was tested that inventory responding modeled the acceptance of personality feedback. A barnum group (n=40) was asked to rate the personal accuracies of a list of personality inventory items and then an equivalent list of bogus personality feedback. The two lines of evidence which supported the model were (a) that the correlation between their inventory ratings and their feedback ratings was not only Significant (p < .001) but achieved a ceiling magnitude, as evidenced by a control group's (n = 40) data; and (b) that the variables influencing, inventory responding exerted an equal influence upon feedback acceptance, Contrary to the model, it was found that feedback was accepted more highly than were the inventory items. Conclusions were that inventory responding, as a model of feedback acceptance, is accurate with respect to individual differences but somewhat inaccurate with respect to overall levels of acceptance due to the additional influences of persuasion. It was also concluded that clients' acceptance or rejection of personality feedback is not evidence of the validity or invalidity, respectively, of assessment devices. A reformulated model of personality feedback acceptance was proposed.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Physical and psychological health of family practice residents.

OBJECTIVE: Substantial evidence supports the concept that residency training is physically and emotionally stressful. However, few studies have examined resident health. This study measured the physical and psychological health of family practice residents and compared these results with population norms. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study used physical health measures of weight, blood pressure, skin-fold thickness, serum cholesterol, and aerobic exercise capacity. Psychological measures included the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. A demographic and lifestyle questionnaire was also administered. Data were collected on 178 residents in seven family practice residency programs in South Carolina. RESULTS: Physical health measures show that residents are indistinguishable from age-specific population norms. Psychological testing revealed excellent coping skills with clinically significant psychological symptoms noted in only one of the 178 residents. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that despite the rigors of residency training, family practice residents in South Carolina have average physical health and better-than-average psychological health, according to age-adjusted population norms. These results suggest that the coping skills of family practice residents are well suited to the stresses of family practice residency training.

Adult↗