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Biomedical subjects

R C Henry

Publications and source records attributed to R C Henry.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Principles of survey research.

Family practice literature indicates that survey research methods are frequently used, but that design and analysis considerations are often inadequate. Not surprisingly, then, many professionals believe this type of research is less rigorous and less useful than experimental research. Contrary to this belief, the planning and decision making involved in survey research is as technical as that of other types of research. Ten practical principles for survey research are presented. These principles describe the major issues researchers should address in planning and conducting a questionnaire survey study.

Data Collection↗

Gender-specific differences in family practice graduates.

In 1979 the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) conducted a study of family practice residency graduates to develop a database of personal and professional characteristics. Questionnaires were sent to 4,295 physicians, and results were based on a total of 3,021 respondents. Female physicians made up 7.1 percent of this sample; however, analysis of the data at that time did not distinguish between men and women. The current study is a reanalysis of the data collected by the AAFP to include comparisons of male and female respondents and to determine whether gender differences that have been reported in the literature continue to persist. Results indicate that gender differences did persist in four of six areas studied; however, these differences were not so large as described in earlier studies. Areas in which differences were found are demographics, family structure, practice arrangements, and salary. Notable differences were not found in the areas of career choice development and professional activities. Now that the number of female physicians approaches 20 percent of all new family physicians, further data collection efforts are needed to determine their impact on family practice as a specialty.

Family Characteristics↗

The transformation of laryngeal leucoplakia to cancer.

In the transformation of laryngeal keratosis to cancer what one may be witnessing is a progression from normal epithelium to keratosis without cellular atypia, through varying degrees of atypia to the stage of carcinoma-in-situ when the full thickness of the epithelium is occupied by atypical cells until finally, with breaching of the basement membrane, an invasive carcinoma occurs (Fig. 12). Although this is, in theory, an attractive sequence, in practice it seems rare to detect an alteration in the epithelium from keratosis without atypia to keratosis with atypia and furthermore most of the carcinomas which developed were not in-situ but invasive. Therefore the significant pathway is probably a change from normal non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium via keratosis with atypia to invasive carcinoma (Fig. 13).

Adult↗

Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea and otorhinorrhoea following closed head injury.

A discussion of acute traumatic CSF otorrhoea and otorhinorrhoea is presented. The incidence of meningeal infection is reviewed and the management of these cases is outlined with special emphasis on the indications for surgical intervention and the otological procedures available. Two patients who sustained transverse fractures of the petrous temporal bone are described in whom subsequent attacks of meningitis were prevented by a new, simple yet effective operation.

Adult↗

Evaluation and implementation of public health registries.

A rapid proliferation of registries has occurred during the last 20 years. Given the long-term commitment of resources associated with registries and limited public health funding, proposals for new registries should be carefully considered before being funded. A registry is defined as a data base of identifiable persons containing a clearly defined set of health and demographic data collected for a specific public health purpose. Criteria for evaluating whether a registry is needed, feasible, or the most effective and efficient means of collecting a specific set of health data are presented. They include an evaluation of the stated purpose; a review of the function, duration, and scope of the registry; consideration of existing alternative data sources; an assessment of the practical feasibility of the registry; the likelihood of sufficient start-up and long-term funding; and an evaluation of the cost effectiveness of the registry. Creating a public health registry is a complex process. A range of technical and organizational skills is required for a registry to be successfully implemented. Eight requirements are identified as crucial for the successful development of a new registry. They include an implementation plan, adequate documentation, quality control procedures, case definition and case-finding (ascertainment) procedures, determination of data elements, data collection and processing procedures, data access policy, and a framework for dissemination of registry data and findings.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Breast and testicular self-examination in primary care.

Among a random sample of Michigan family physicians, attitudes about encouraging patients to perform breast and testicular self-examination were very positive. The physicians' self-reported incorporation of such encouragement into their practices was much lower for testicular than breast self-examination. Two hundred seventy-eight randomly selected family physicians in Michigan were surveyed about their beliefs about and professional practices regarding encouraging patients to perform breast self-examination (BSE) and testicular self-examination (TSE). Attitudes were very positive about both techniques. Self-reported incorporation of patient encouragement into professional practice was much lower for TSE than for BSE. The physicians' own personal practices were similarly skewed: female physicians performed BSE for themselves far more regularly than young male physicians did TSE. The barriers they identified to incorporating encouragement into their practices were similar for testicular and breast self-examination, with lack of patient motivation the leading barrier seen.

Adult↗

Preventive medicine: physician practices, beliefs, and perceived barriers for implementation.

Despite increasing recognition of the need for physicians to practice preventive medicine, there is much evidence that performance is well below the ideal recommended by experts. The purpose of this study was to determine what preventive medicine activities physicians practice, whether their personal health practices and beliefs about preventive medicine correlate with professional practices of preventive medicine, and what barriers to practicing preventive medicine physicians identify. Results from a questionnaire mailed to a random sample of 430 family physicians indicated physicians practice health promotion for themselves more than revealed in earlier studies and that physicians frequently incorporate many preventive medicine activities into their professional practices. Several exceptions, however, were noted. When identifying barriers to practicing preventive medicine, respondents overwhelmingly selected lack of patient motivation more than any other factor.

Attitude to Health↗