Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Program Effectiveness”

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 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Program effectiveness of a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed adolescent females as measured by exit personality tests.

This study examines whether there are any significant differences in the Jessness Inventory psychological profiles between adolescent females who have successfully completed a treatment program at a residential treatment center and adolescent females of similar socioeconomic backgrounds and age who have not exhibited overt evidence of psychological problems. A significant difference was found in the mean scores on several of the scales. Implications as to the meaning of these differences and program effectiveness are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Epidemiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and its macrovascular complications. A basis for the development of cost-effective programs.

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is a major health problem in developed countries. The descriptive epidemiology of this disease and its cardiovascular complications are reviewed, and insulin resistance is identified as a common risk factor for both of them. The requirements for cost-effective programs to modify insulin resistance to prevent this disorder and its cardiovascular complications are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluating liaison program effectiveness: the use of unobtrusive measurement.

The author suggests that the goal of liaison psychiatry as well as its organizational and clinical properties require the use of measures which are non-reactive and developmental in nature. In this paper four categories are theorized as representing the implicit working assumptions of nonpsychiatric housestaff in clinical formulation. By analyzing the overt and latent assumptions of the questions presented to a liaison psychiatrist in patient care conferences, the author illustrates how the assumptions can change through six levels of development. Changes within the assumptions are then used as criteria for program effectiveness since the working assumptions represent preconditions to holistic care. Potential uses of this global scheme for evaluating liaison programs are suggested.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1988

Modified aerobic walking program: effect on patients with postpolio syndrome symptoms.

Modified aerobic exercise may have a role in the management of patients with symptoms of postpolio syndrome by improving biomechanical efficiency, alleviating secondary cardiorespiratory and muscular deconditioning, and avoiding some risks associated with traditional strengthening exercises. The effects of a walking program on the functional capacity of patients with symptoms of postpolio syndrome were studied. Three patients participated in full oxygen consumption studies during submaximal treadmill exercise tests before and after an eight-week period. Two patients participated in an eight-week program designed to prolong walking duration while maintaining perceived exertion and discomfort/pain at minimal levels. A third patient was tested before and after eight weeks but did not receive training. The untrained patient showed some reduction in the retest compared with the initial test at all workloads with respect to oxygen consumption, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure, but ratings of perceived exertion and discomfort/pain were comparable for the two tests. Reductions in metabolic responses during the retest could be explained by the effect of habituation to the testing situation. In contrast, the trained patients showed relatively marked reductions in both metabolic and subjective responses after training. These results suggest that patients with symptoms of postpolio syndrome can increase their functional work capacity after a modified aerobic walking program. This improvement reflects improved biomechanical efficiency and possible training effects at the cardiorespiratory and muscular levels. Further research is needed to elucidate the role and interactions of these mechanisms in improving the functional work capacity of patients with chronic neuromuscular dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Health education program effects on the management of hypertension in the elderly.

Because the elderly are viewed as having more difficulty in complying with therapy, this analysis was directed at the effects of a health education program on their control of primary hypertension when compared with a younger population. The program consisted of three sequential interventions introduced in a randomized factorial design. Depsite the fact that elderly patients had more chronic disease, more complications from hypertension, and were receiving more complex drug therapies than younger patients exposed to the same experimental interventions, they demonstrated significantly higher levels of compliance with drug therapy, significantly higher levels of appointment keeping, and no difference in the proportion having their BP under control at two-year-follow-up. Longitudinal data collected at five-year follow-up indicate no decay effect. These results indicate such programs can be successfully implemented and equally effective for an elderly population.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Program integrity as a moderator of prevention program effectiveness: results for fifth-grade students in the adolescent alcohol prevention trial.

This study reports the results of a test of the quality of program delivery (program integrity) as a variable that may moderate the effectiveness of alcohol prevention programs. Two theory-based programs, Resistance Training and Normative Education, were delivered to fifth-grade students who were then tested on program relevant mediating variables. Resistance Training was found to improve students' knowledge of peer pressure resistance strategies, their performance on a behavioral assessment of peer pressure resistance skills and the manifestation of their future intentions to drink alcohol. Normative Education was found to improve students' perceptions of a conservative norm regarding alcohol use, facilitated their belief that refusing unwanted offers to drink alcohol could be easily accomplished and reduced their perceptions of the prevalence of alcohol use. Program integrity was measured by program specialists who taught the programs to students and by trained observers. Ratings of program integrity were found to significantly moderate outcomes for three of seven mediating variables. Affected were knowledge of peer pressure resistance strategies, behavioral pressure resistance skills and perceived self-efficacy. These results suggest that the quality of program delivery and reception may play an important moderating function on prevention program effectiveness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

How D.A.R.E. works: an examination of program effects on mediating variables.

The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program has relied on a curriculum that addresses a variety of psychosocial processes thought to be related to substance use and potentially modifiable through programmatic intervention. This study examines 12 postulated mediators of substance use prevention programs to determine the degree to which D.A.R.E. has an effect on mediators and the degree to which those effects account for behavioral outcomes of the program. Results indicate that the primary effect of D.A.R.E. is a change in commitment to not use substances. This change significantly mediates behavioral effects. However, the magnitude of D.A.R.E.'s effect on the mediator is relatively small. Other mediators that offer strong potential paths for intervention effectiveness are not affected by the program. These results suggest that in order to achieve prevention effectiveness, the curriculum used in the D.A.R.E. program needs to be replaced with one that targets and meaningfully changes appropriate mediating variables.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Effects of audiometric threshold step size on proposed ANSI S12.13 outcomes for characterizing hearing conservation program effectiveness.

Audiometric records of 213 employees with low noise exposure were selected from the public domain data base underpinning Draft American National Standards Institute (ANSI) S12.13-1991 Standard Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hearing Conservation Programs. Records were selected from an ANSI S12.13 "control" group demonstrating raw audiometric thresholds in 1-dB steps, presumably resulting from self-recording audiometry. Raw audiometric data were rounded to the nearest 5-dB step, and ANSI S12.13 analysis protocols were applied to both raw and rounded data sets. The magnitude of all proposed ANSI test statistics increased with audiometric step size. Percent worse sequential and percent better or worse sequential protocols were markedly more sensitive to threshold step size than standard deviation of difference thresholds. The direction and magnitude of change in these outcomes supports the assumption that criterion ranges in the draft standard hold artifactual bias against hearing conservation programs (HCPs) collecting audiometric data in 5-dB steps.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1998

Effects of pre-existing hearing loss on proposed ANSI S12.13 outcomes for characterizing hearing conservation program effectiveness: follow-up investigation.

Draft ANSI S12.13 1991 Standard Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hearing Conservation Programs presents statistical protocols purportedly sensitive to temporary threshold shift (TTS) in occupational hearing conservation program (HCP) audiometric databases. Because it is well established that less TTS is found in humans with hearing loss than in those with essentially normal hearing, one might predict baseline hearing level to be a confounding variable in interpreting ANSI S12.13 outcomes, with better-hearing industrial populations tending to demonstrate greater year-to-year audiometric variability than poorer-hearing groups. However, in a large industrial sample from the public domain audiometric database, poorer-hearing groups systematically demonstrated greater audiometric threshold variability than better-hearing groups, and ANSI S12.13 outcome magnitudes were highly positively correlated to baseline hearing levels. These findings generally do not support notions that ANSI S12.13 outcomes clearly provide indirect measures of TTS. HCP managers should exercise extreme caution in interpreting ANSI S12.13 outcomes to rate overall program performance. In particular, HCP managers should not rely upon these outcomes for decisions regarding hearing protection policies without careful consideration of pre-existing hearing loss in the populations involved.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Resistance exercise program effects on abdominal function and physique.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different abdominal exercise programs on abdominal muscular function and physique. Forty-five men and women (aged 18-26 yr) were randomly assigned to training using: (1) abdominal crunch (AC) weight machine; (2) steated incline (SI) weight machine; or (3) incline sit-up (ISU) exercise. Strength training occurred three times per week for 10 weeks. All groups improved in abdominal muscular strength and endurance. The ISU and AC group improved in muscular power (timed sit-up), while flexibility was maintained or increased in all groups. Abdominal skinfolds tended to increase and girths generally were unaltered by the abdominal exercise programs. These results suggest that abdominal weight machines or traditional incline sit-ups are effective in altering abdominal muscular function, but local abdominal exercise alone is unsatisfactory for reducing stomach skinfolds or girths.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1999

After drug treatment: are 12-step programs effective in maintaining abstinence?

Although participation in 12-step programs is now widely utilized as a treatment aftercare resource by individuals with drug and alcohol problems, little is known about the effectiveness of such a practice. This paper identifies gaps in the existing literature and articulates methodological concerns that may compromise investigations of 12-step programs. It highlights the need for additional after-treatment studies, and it presents findings from a 24-month longitudinal after-treatment study that suggests the effectiveness of 12-step programs. Rather than a behavioral indicator of recovery motivation or a spurious relationship confounded by additional treatment, aftercare, or alumni activities that occur simultaneously with 12-step participation, the findings suggest that weekly or more frequent 12-step participation is associated with drug and alcohol abstinence. Less-than-weekly participation is not associated with favorable drug and alcohol use outcomes, and participation in 12-step programs seems to be equally useful in maintaining abstinence from both illicit drug and alcohol use. These findings point to the wisdom of a general policy that recommends weekly or more frequent participation in a 12-step program as a useful and inexpensive aftercare resource for many clients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Effects of pre-existing hearing loss and gender on proposed ANSI S12.13 outcomes for characterizing hearing conservation program effectiveness: preliminary investigation.

Draft American National Standard "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hearing Conservation Programs" identifies potentially important links between audiometric threshold variability outcomes and occupational hearing conservation program (HCP) practices. Unacceptable threshold variability in annual audiograms may identify poor testing practices and temporary threshold shifts. This preliminary investigation reveals pre-existing hearing loss to be a potentially important confounding viable to interpreting ANSI S12.13 outcomes. Poor hearing groups in this study consistently yielded greater threshold variability (i.e., "poorer" HCP performance) than better hearing groups. Gender may also be a confounding variable, however, to a far lesser degree. HCP managers should exercise caution when interpreting relative ANSI S12.13 outcomes among HCPs differing in baseline hearing sensitivity. Potential causes for these findings are discussed, and implications for future research are identified.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A comprehensive support program: effect on depression in spouse-caregivers of AD patients.

Caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients often suffer from depression. Using a longitudinal treatment/control study, we examined the effects of a comprehensive support program on depression in spouse-caregivers. This psychosocial intervention program treats the primary caregiver and family members over the entire course of the disease through individual and family counseling, the continuous availability of ad hoc counseling, and support group participation. In the first year after intake, the control group became increasingly more depressed, whereas the treatment group remained stable. By the eighth month, treated caregivers were significantly less depressed than those in the control group. These results suggest that enhancing long-term social support can have a significant impact on depression in caregivers.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

A modified cancer education program. Effect on cancer knowledge and beliefs of the elderly.

This pilot study examines the effect of a cancer education program on the knowledge and beliefs of elderly adults. The program, developed for this age group, was based on principles of adult education and on an understanding of changes related to aging. It focused on cancer risks and early diagnosis of cancer for older adults. The sample included 21 elderly adults from three retirement centers. The questionnaire used to determine knowledge and beliefs about cancer included seven scales based on the Health Beliefs Model: knowledge, severity, susceptibility, utility, barriers, behavioral intentions, and cues to action. A week following administration of the questionnaire, a program was presented: the modified cancer education program, a conventional cancer education program, or a program not related to cancer. The questionnaire was then readministered as a posttest. Findings were insignificant except that the group receiving the modified cancer program had increased scores on the knowledge scale from pretest to posttest; and the level of education accounted for 25% of the variability of posttest utility scores. The pilot study was useful for identifying problems with the questionnaire, the testing procedure, and the educational program that need to be corrected before a larger study can be undertaken.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Cycling program effects on one rheumatoid arthritic.

These researchers investigated the effects of a progressive resistive, cycle ergometric exercise program on cardio-vascular endurance in one rheumatoid arthritic. The 46 yr. old, male subject exercised three days/week for 14 weeks. Workouts included interval-type training using 5 minute intervals for a total of 20-30 minutes (work rate set at 50-75 watts for each interval), not including 3-minute warm-up and cool-down periods (work rate set at zero resistance). Maximal exercise stress testing on the cycle ergometer was completed and blood samples collected before and after the exercise program. Also, psychological and physical health and lifestyle data were gathered before, during and after completion of the program. The conditioning program produced a training effect (greater than 75% of the HR max after the second exercise session) and blood values improved (10-28%) from the beginning to the end of the program. Finally, the program appeared to have a positive influence on various physical and psychological parameters as perceived by the subject and his wife.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1997

Rate-drop response programming.

Effective programming of the rate-drop response algorithm requires careful attention to the heart rate and blood pressure responses seen during diagnostic tilt testing. In order to undertake effective programming, additional tilt testing procedures may be necessary, and it is vital that the protocol should be identical on each occasion and very careful note taken of exact times of onset of symptoms and relative timing of onset of changes in heart rate and blood pressure. The algorithm settings in the Thera DR generator as delivered (factory or "shelf" parameter settings) must be considered nontherapeutic (an unusual situation for a pacemaker algorithm) and will require adjustment for each individual patient. Effective therapeutic settings are likely to result in an excess of pacing interventions; these, however, tend to be less symptomatic than the syncope or presyncope suffered by the patient and are generally well tolerated or not noticed.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1979

The Primary Mental Health Project (PMHP): evaluation of current program effectiveness.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Primary Mental Project (PMHP), a program for early detection and prevention of school adjustment problems. Pre- and postprogram assessments were done with 215 primary-grade children seen in PMHP, usig teacher ratings of problem behaviors and competencies, and child-aide ratings of problems. School mental health professionals judged educational and behavioral changes in project children during the year. Significant across-the board improvements were found on all criterion measures. Modest intercorrelations among criterion change estimates suggested that the observed changes were due to program, rather than halo, effects. PMHP children also improved significantly more than matched, retrospective controls.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Helping homeless mentally ill people: what variables mediate and moderate program effects?

This process evaluation study examined what variables moderate and mediate treatment effects on days in stable housing and client satisfaction for homeless mentally ill clients. In general, demographic characteristics did not moderate either outcome variable. Housing contacts, entitlement contacts, mental health contacts, and supportive services were significant mediators of the treatment effect on days in stable housing. Program contacts, mental health contacts, and supportive services were significant mediators of client satisfaction.

Adult↗