Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Voluntary Programs”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

BVDV infection risk in the course of the voluntary BVDV eradication program in Styria/Austria.

A total of 1362 persistently BVDV-infected animals were identified in 850 herds during the first 3 years of the voluntary BVDV eradication program in Styria/Austria. Within the same period of time, the prevalence of BVDV-infected herds dropped from 7.3% to 2.2% of the 4412 herds covered by the program. The relative BVDV infection risk decreased at least four-fold in herds on common grazing and at least five-fold in herds which purchased cattle during the first 30 months of the BVD control program. Thus, the relative BVDV infection risk was reduced by between five to nine times of the initial risk following the implementation of the 3-year eradication program in all herds participating in the program.

Animals↗

Obstacles to effective professional education programming by a voluntary health association: findings from a national survey.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) conducted a nationally representative survey of ACS professional education committee volunteer chairpersons and ACS staff responsible for professional education programs in Divisions and Units of the Society. The survey questionnaire included a set of 25 items (15 in the chairperson questionnaires) representing potential obstacles to effective professional education programming. Subjects rated these obstacles on a four-point scale indicating the extent to which they were perceived as problems in professional education. The survey identified which potential obstacles to professional education programming by a voluntary health association were considered to be most problematic. These included competition from other providers of oncology professional education, outdated audiovisuals and publications, and the recruitment and retention of physician volunteers. The survey verified that there were differences within the organizational structure of the association. In particular, small Units of the Society faced more problems than did Divisions and large Units. The survey found differences in perceived problems between volunteers and staff, particularly in that staff found outdated audiovisuals and publications to be more of a problem than did chairpersons. In general, however, there was a commonality of opinion among all respondents as to which obstacles posed more of a problem than others in professional education.

American Cancer Society↗

Implementing a routine, voluntary HIV testing program in a Massachusetts county prison.

Although U.S. prison inmates have higher rates of HIV infection than the general population, most inmates are not routinely tested for HIV infection at prison entry. The study objective was to implement a routine, voluntary HIV testing program in a Massachusetts county prison. During admission, inmates were given group HIV pre-test counseling and were subsequently offered private HIV testing. This intervention was compared to a control period during which HIV testing was provided only upon inmate or physician request. Between November 2004 and April 2005, 1,004 inmates met inclusion criteria and were offered routine, voluntary HIV testing. Of these, 734 (73.1%) accepted, 2 (0.3%) were HIV-infected, and 457 (45.5%) had been tested for HIV in the previous year. The testing rate of 73.1% was significantly increased from the rate of 18.0% (318 of 1,723) during the control period (p<0.001). Among the inmates tested for HIV in the prior year, 78.2% had received their last HIV test in the prison setting. Careful attention should be paid to prevent redundancy of testing efforts in the prison population. Implementing a routine HIV testing program among prison inmates greatly increased testing rates compared to on-request testing.

Counseling↗

Patching the patchwork quilt: "reforming" the Medicaid program--the Medicaid Voluntary Contribution and Provider-Specific Tax Amendments of 1991.

Congress modified the Medicaid program by restricting states' sources of funding, capping payments to certain hospitals, and altering the relationship between the states and the federal government. While the legislation puts to rest an ongoing dispute between the state and federal governments, it does not improve access to or quality of care nor address fundamental problems with the Medicaid program; it is simply another patch to the patch-work quilt called Medicaid.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗

House staff recruitment to municipal and voluntary New York City residency programs during the AIDS epidemic.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact on house staff recruitment of large numbers of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). DESIGN: Trends in yearly survey data from the National Resident Matching Program from 1983 to 1990 were examined for residency programs in New York City, NY, where AIDS is epidemic, in the four largest US cities with the fewest AIDS cases, and nationally. Within New York City, trends were compared for residency programs serving large numbers of AIDS patients (high AIDS) and for other programs (low AIDS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of matches in each study year as compared with the baseline year of 1983 and the yearly percentage of positions offered that were filled by matches. RESULTS: During the study period, New York City experienced a greater decline in US graduate matches than did the four low-AIDS cities or the nation. Within New York City, recruitment to municipal programs, all with large AIDS patient populations, dropped from 241 to 173 matches (28.2%) despite a 3.6% increase in positions. However, recruitment to both high-AIDS and low-AIDS voluntary programs improved in all years except 1990. After controlling for numbers of offered positions, high-AIDS and low-AIDS voluntary programs again showed similar trends until 1990. CONCLUSIONS: These observations cannot be attributed to AIDS alone. Multiple economic and social factors, including AIDS, may have contributed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Employee volunteers in a professional preadmission program.

The voluntary involvement of hospital staff in a preadmission program can enhance the delivery of psychosocial care in a cost-effective way. This paper describes how a large pediatric teaching hospital pooled its multidisciplinary resources to pilot a professionally coordinated preadmission program with a strong volunteer component. Early evaluation of the involvement of employee volunteers highlights the benefits provided to hospital staff and to the institution as a whole.

Adult↗

Testing of central nervous system shunt devices.

This paper presents the results of a study performed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) under the Conformance Assessment to Voluntary Standards program. The ASTM voluntary standard F647-85 (American Society for Testing and Materials: Standard Practice for Evaluating and Specifying Implantable Shunt Assemblies for Neurological Applications) was evaluated as to the adequacy of its test methods and the reasonableness of its application to currently marketed shunt devices. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of ASTM: F647-85 on the safety and effectiveness of shunt devices and thereby assist the FDA in setting priorities for its mandatory standards development activities. By searching the FDA's postmarketing surveillance database and by testing seventeen shunt devices and three catheters from six manufacturers, it was determined that these devices conform with most of the ASTM standard requirements. However, no single device conformed to all of the requirements of the standard. Suggestions for improving the voluntary standard's impact on the safety of shunt devices are presented.

Central Nervous System↗

Elevated prolactin levels among adult male sex offenders.

A sample of 528 successive admissions to the Phoenix Program, a voluntary inpatient treatment program for sex offenders, was studied in regards to serum prolactin levels. Serum prolactins were obtained as part of a battery of endocrine tests. A substantial number of patients had prolactin levels above the normal range, i.e., 21.0 microg/L. In this sample, fully 10.0% of the men showed elevated prolactin levels (the maximum being 41.0 microg/L), compared with an expected 2.5% according to laboratory norms. None of these individuals had clinical manifestations of prolactinoma. The significance of this increased rate of hyperprolactinemia in this sample of sexual offenders is unclear. There was a negative correlation with age and no correlation with other endocrine tests.

Adult↗

Factors associated with attendance in a voluntary nutrition education program.

PURPOSE: This paper examines factors associated with attendance in a National Cancer Institute-funded randomized trial of nutrition education to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among women served by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). SETTING: The study took place at 16 WIC sites in Maryland. SUBJECTS: The participants were 1528 women who were enrolled in WIC or who had children enrolled in WIC, were > or = 18 years of age, and planned to continue enrollment at that WIC site for at least 6 months (68% of eligible women approached agreed to participate). INTERVENTION: Women received personal invitations, letters, and telephone reminders from peer educators encouraging their attendance at three bimonthly nutrition sessions. MEASURES: Demographic data were collected in a baseline survey. Attendance data and telephone and address changes were also collected. The postintervention survey included a question regarding reasons for nonattendance. Focus groups were also held to ascertain reasons for attendance or nonattendance. Chi-square tests of trend and multiple logistic regression, adjusted for within-site correlation, were used in statistical analyses. RESULTS: Fifty-four percent of enrollees attended at least one session. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed increased odds of attending with higher age, breast-feeding, and/or knowledge of the recommendation to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily. There were decreased odds of attending for pregnant women who already had children. There were nonsignificant trends toward decreased attendance among unmarried women compared with married women and among blacks compared with nonblacks. Reasons given for nonattendance included withdrawal from WIC, moving, conflicting activities, negative feelings about nutrition education, and lack of transportation or child care. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that numerous barriers hinder participation in nutrition programs aimed at low-income women. These barriers should be considered by health care professionals when planning intervention programs. Overcoming these barriers presents a major challenge.

Adolescent↗