Biomedical subjects

R A Levinson

Publications and source records attributed to R A Levinson.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

The contraceptive self-efficacy scale: analysis in four samples.

Previous research has established a relationship between contraceptive self-efficacy (CSE), as measured by the 18-item CSE scale, and young women's contraceptive behavior. In this paper, the authors continue to explore the scale and its relationship to contraceptive behavior with four diverse samples to establish generalizability and to set guidelines for use of the scale. A series of correlational analyses were conducted with each sample. A pattern of low correlations among CSE items across samples emerged, indicating that use of the total item set separately as the basis for CSE was warranted. Zero-order and partial correlations revealed which CSE items were correlated with contraceptive behavior as well as which items explained unique variance in contraceptive behavior for each sample. Regression analyses showed that CSE was significantly predictive of contraceptive behavior for all samples. These results are discussed in terms of scale properties and use in research and clinical settings. Educational implications are formulated as well.

Americas↗

PubMed1996

Testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases: implications for risk behavior in women.

A sample of 808 nonpregnant women residing in an area of high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) was studied with respect to sexual risk behaviors in the 4-month period before and after testing for a series of STDs. All women were tested for both Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis and were given the option of also taking a test for the HIV antibody. Neither the experience of receiving a negative HIV test result nor that of receiving a positive versus a negative diagnosis for STDs resulted in significant mean changes in self-reports of STD or HIV susceptibility, condom use consistency, or number of sexual partners during the 4 months following testing. However, perceived susceptibility was found to predict when women would decrease the consistency with which they used condoms as a function of HIV testing.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Student opinion leaders and HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behavior.

This research applied the construct of opinion leadership to the health area of AIDS. Approximately 290 college students completed a questionnaire that identified individuals whom peers tended to use as sources of information about AIDS. The results showed that, among men, the AIDS opinion leaders tended to have a larger number of sexual partners than their nonleader counterparts and that they were no more likely to practice safer sex or be more knowledgeable about safer sex. Female AIDS opinion leaders tended to engage in less sexual activity than their nonleader counterparts, but showed a greater reluctance to communicate with men about condom use. In addition, female AIDS opinion leaders were neither more knowledgeable about safer sex nor more likely to engage in safer sex than were their nonleader counterparts.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Reproductive and contraceptive knowledge, contraceptive self-efficacy, and contraceptive behavior among teenage women.

This research utilizes a social learning theory perspective to investigate the relationships among teenage women's Contraceptive Self-Efficacy (CSE), reproductive and contraceptive knowledge (RCK), and contraceptive behavior. It was posited that CSE might influence the way knowledge translates into behavior because individuals who feel they can and should use contraceptives may be more receptive to information. A secondary line of analysis examined the individual responses on the RCK to ascertain common knowledge and myths. The 521 respondents were from two diverse samples of teenage women attending family planning clinics. Although no significant relationships were found between RCK and behavior, the four-factor model of CSE explained 12% and 28% of the variance in RCK in the two samples. Results on the RCK items revealed sample differences and common areas of misinformation that are critical to effective contraceptive and prophylactic use. The findings are used to identify measurement issues that may account for the inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between RCK and behavior, and to recommend content for educational interventions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

Disodium azodisalicylate. American College of Gastroenterology Committee on FDA-Related Matters.

For more than four decades, sulfasalazine has been administered for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately, the successes achieved by this agent in the therapy of the acute attack and in the prolongation of the remission period have not been without a concomitant history of significant side effects. This two-edged sword property is based on the two released components of sulfasalazine. The prevailing evidence indicates that the therapeutic effect resides in the 5-ASA moiety, while most of the adverse actions are ascribed to its sulfapyridine portion. Sodium azodisalicylate was synthesized with the expectation that the elimination of the sulfapyridine group would create a drug retaining sulfasalazine's therapeutic efficacy, but associated with less toxicity. Clinical trials are presently addressing this hypothesis.

Aminosalicylic Acids↗

PubMed1984

Contraceptive self-efficacy: a primary prevention strategy.

This paper discusses the development, implementation, and qualitative evaluation of an intervention designed to improve contraceptive self-efficacy (CSE) in a population at high risk for pregnancy. In a previous study, a relationship was found between CSE and a measure of contraceptive use for sexually active young women attending a family planning clinic. Here, the concept of CSE is further developed to identify contraceptive and sexual issues for adolescent males, for adolescents who show little or no motivation to obtain or use contraceptives, and for those adolescents who would plan to carry a pregnancy to term if they were to become pregnant. Implications are drawn for developing primary prevention programs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

Pirenzepine.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

PubMed1976

Ascorbic acid prevents corneal ulceration and perforation following experimental alkali burns.

Depressed aqueous humor glucose and ascorbic acid levels returned to control values within 14 days following a 20 sec, 6 mm. diameter, 1N sodium hydroxide burn of the rabbit cornea. These corneas did not ulcerate or perforate. After a 20 sec., 12 mm. diameter, 1N sodium hydroxide burn, aqueous humor glucose levels returned to normal values, but ascorbic acid levels remained significantly depressed for up to 30 days. These corneas became markedly ulcerated in about 60 per cent of animals and frequently perforated. Following 12 mm. alkali burns, rabbits treated daily with 1.5 Gm. of subcutaneous ascorbic acid rarely developed corneal ulcerations and the corneas did not perforate. It is suggested that exogenous maintenance of adequate aqueous humor levels of ascorbic acid overcomes the relatively scorbutic state of the anterior segment induced by a 12 mm. alkali burn, thereby impairing the development of corneal ulceration and perforation. Elevated aqueous humor levels of ascorbic acid had no influence on corneal epithelial cell migration patterns following alkali burns.

Alkalies↗

PubMed1975

Aqueous humor pH changes after experimental alkali burns.

Following application of 2N sodium hydroxide, or 8.1N ammonium hydroxide to rabbit cornea, the aqueous humor pH reached a maximum of 10.2, 11.9, and 12 within six minutes following 20-, 50-, and 100-mu1 sodium hydroxide burns, respectively; after two hours the pH had fallen to 8.5, 10, and 10.5. The maximum rise following application of 100-mu1 of ammonium hydroxide was 10.8, declining to about 9 at two hours. The fall in pH following a 100-mu1 sodium hydroxide burn was not greatly influence by external lavage. However, the pH was significantly lowered (12 to 10) by paracentesis alone and further reduced by immediate or delayed intracameral administration of phosphate buffer. On the basis of these results moderately severe and severe alkali burns of the eye should be treated by paracentesis and if possible with anterior chamber reformation with a sterile solution.

Alkalies↗

PubMed1972