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Promotion of physical activity in primary care for obesity treatment/prevention in children.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Physical activity has been highlighted internationally as a beneficial intervention for weight control and the improvement of physical and mental health. This review highlights findings from recent literature to guide office-based promotion of physical activity for obesity treatment and prevention. RECENT FINDINGS: Children worldwide participate in far less than the current physical activity recommendations. Family-based activity provides children with positive role modeling as well as motivational support for maintaining an active lifestyle. The integration of physical activity into daily life can be an effective alternative to sports and structured exercise programs. Decreasing sedentary behaviors is also a positive contribution, although its link to physical activity levels is still unclear. Some families may see neighborhood safety and access to recreational facilities as barriers to keeping their children physically active. SUMMARY: Research in the field of pediatric obesity and overweight treatment and prevention continues to find challenges and solutions. Promotion of physical activity by the pediatric provider is demonstrated by current evidence to be a positive intervention against this global problem.

Child↗

Teaching the teachers.

This and the following two papers describe historically the development of courses for general practice teachers in Manchester from 1966. The first paper describes the early attempts to fashion an appropriate course, discusses the content of such courses and the methods used. The second and third papers then discuss a course on non-directive behavioural counselling as an educational tool and describe the evolution of a cycle of four courses, each dealing with separate aspects of teaching. The emphasis throughout is on person to person teaching, it being considered that this is the commonest teaching/learning situation in general practice. The second part of the first paper goes on to discuss the logistic needs for the preparation and maintenance of teachers in general practice.

Curriculum↗

To know or not to know? Genetic ignorance, autonomy and paternalism.

This paper examines some arguments which deny the existence of an individual right to remain ignorant about genetic information relating to oneself--often referred to as 'a right to genetic ignorance' or, more generically, as 'a right not to know'. Such arguments fall broadly into two categories: 1) those which accept that individuals have a right to remain ignorant in self-regarding matters, but deny that this right can be extended to genetic ignorance, since such ignorance may be harmful to others, particularly those to whom one is genetically related (the 'harm to others objection') and 2) those which contend that, even if genetic ignorance is only self harming, it is not something to which individuals can rationally or morally claim to have a 'right' at all, since they defend their claims on autonomy-respecting grounds and ignorance is inimical to autonomy (the 'incoherence objection'). I argue that defenders of a right not to know have some plausible responses to the 'harm to others objection', they and their opponents reach an impasse in which both sides are left voicing concerns about the paternalistic implications of the other's point of view. I conclude that defenders of a right not to know would, therefore, advance their position further by analysing it in terms of values other than those of autonomy and rights.

Directive Counseling↗

Advice alone vs. structured detoxification programmes for medication overuse headache: a prospective, randomized, open-label trial in transformed migraine patients with low medical needs.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of strong advice to withdraw the overused medication with the effectiveness of two structured pharmacological detoxification strategies in a cohort of patients diagnosed with probable migraine overuse headache (MOH) plus migraine and presenting low medical needs. One hundred and twenty patients participated in the study. Exclusion criteria included: previous detoxification treatments, coexistent medical or psychiatric illnesses and overuse of agents containing opioids, benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Group A received only intensive advice to withdraw the overused medication. Group B underwent a standard out-patient detoxification programme (advice+prednisone+preventive treatment). Group C underwent a standard in-patient withdrawal programme (as in group B + fluid replacement and antiemetics). Withdrawal therapy was considered successful if, after 2 months, the patient had reverted to an episodic pattern of headache and to an intake of symptomatic medication on fewer than 10 days/month. We were able to detoxify 75.4% of the whole cohort, 77.5% of patients in group A, 71.7% of patients in group B and 76.9% of those in group C (P>0.05). In patients with migraine plus MOH and low medical needs, effective drug withdrawal may be obtained through the imparting of advice alone.

Adolescent↗

The effect of a social work intervention to enhance advance care planning documentation in the nursing home.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of a multicomponent advance care planning intervention directed at nursing home social workers on identification and documentation of preferences for medical treatments and on patient outcomes. DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial. SETTING: New York City nursing home. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-nine newly admitted long-term care residents. INTERVENTION: Nursing home social workers were randomized to the intervention or control groups. The intervention consisted of baseline education in advance care planning that incorporated small-group workshops and role play/practice sessions for intervention social workers; structured advance care planning discussions with residents and their proxies at admission, after any change in clinical status, and at yearly intervals; formal structured review of residents' goals of care at preexisting regular team meetings; "flagging" of advance directives on nursing home charts; and feedback to individual healthcare providers of the congruence of care they provided and the preferences specified in the advance care planning process. Control social workers received an educational training session on New York State law regarding advance directives but no additional training or interventions. Subjects were enrolled from January 9, 2001 through May 25, 2003 and followed for 6 months after enrollment. MEASUREMENTS: Nursing home chart documentation of advance directives (healthcare proxies, living wills) and do-not-resuscitate orders; preferences for artificial nutrition and hydration, intravenous antibiotics, and hospitalization; and concordance of treatments received with documented preferences were compared for residents assigned to intervention and control social workers. RESULTS: Intervention residents were significantly more likely than residents in the control group to have their preferences regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (40% vs 20%, P=.005), artificial nutrition and hydration (47% vs 9%, P<.01), intravenous antibiotics (44% vs 9%, P<.01), and hospitalization (49% vs 16%, P<.01) documented in the nursing home chart. Control residents were significantly more likely than intervention residents to receive treatments discordant with their prior stated wishes. Two of 49 (5%) intervention residents received a treatment in conflict with their prior stated wishes (one hospitalization, one episode of intravenous antibiotics), compared with 17 of 96 (18%) control patients (P=.04). CONCLUSION: This generalizable intervention directed at nursing home social workers significantly improved the documentation and identification of patients' wishes regarding common life-sustaining treatments and resulted in a higher concordance between patients' prior stated wishes and treatments received.

Advance Care Planning↗

Should women at high risk of neural tube defect have an amniocentesis?

As part of an investigation into the practical problems of a maternal serum alphafetoprotein (AFP) neural tube defect (NTD) screening programme carried out in Mid Glamorgan, South Wales, between 1977 and 1979, obstetricians were recommended to refer women with high risk pregnancies directly for counselling, high resolution ultrasonography, and amniocentesis without first carrying out serum screening. Out of 15 687 pregnant women one-third attended too late to be screened. A total of 637 was classed as high risk, mostly at greater risk than 1 in 50 because of a previously affected pregnancy or an affected close relative. Compliance with recommended procedure was relatively low as many were screened. There were 10 pregnancies with a recurrence of NTD, of which one was not tested at all, two were not detected (one closed meningocele and one closed iniencephalic), and seven were detected and the pregnancies terminated. All the latter, as well as the iniencephalic, would have been detected from a serum AFP determination and a high resolution ultrasound scan alone. It is concluded that these investigations are sufficient for high risk pregnancies and that amniocentesis is not really cost effective or necessary unless either of these investigations is abnormal. As numbers in this study were small it is suggested that these conclusions should be tested in a larger study.

Amniocentesis↗

Molecular genetics in the National Health Service in Britain.

A recent report from the Departments of Health draws attention to the value of DNA diagnosis for inherited diseases and the need for planning these services in the National Health Service. There is great potential for preventive medicine, but a major immediate benefit is the newfound ability to exclude the carrier state in many people at risk and to protect fetuses from abortion when, as in most cases, they are shown to be normal by DNA tests. However, the widespread application of these new techniques requires prior evaluation and general acceptance. This will only be obtained after public debate, education of professionals and the population, and the establishment of adequate non-directive genetic counselling services. Some of the points to be considered in setting up molecular genetics laboratories are described.

Cystic Fibrosis↗

Patient reports of adverse events associated with acupuncture treatment: a prospective national survey.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim was to establish from acupuncture patients the type and frequency of adverse events they experienced and attributed to their treatment. Secondary aims included the measurement of patient reported adverse consequences arising from advice received about conventional/prescribed medication or from delayed conventional diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Postal survey of prospectively identified acupuncture patients. One in three members of the British Acupuncture Council (n = 638) invited consecutive patients to participate in the survey. Participating patients gave baseline data and consented to direct follow up by the researchers at 3 months. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on perceived adverse events. RESULTS: 9408 patients gave baseline information and consent and 6348 (67%) completed 3 month questionnaires. Responders were not dissimilar to non-responders for all known characteristics. 682 patients reported at least one adverse event over 3 months, a rate of 107 per 1000 patients (95% CI 100 to 115). Three patients reported a serious adverse event. The most common events reported were severe tiredness and exhaustion, pain at the site of needling, and headache. Patients receiving acupuncture treatment that was not funded by the NHS and patients not in contact with a GP or hospital specialist were less likely to report adverse events (odds ratios 0.59 and 0.66, respectively). 199 (3%) of responding patients reported receiving advice about conventional/prescribed medication, six of whom reported adverse consequences after taking the advice. Two patients reported delayed conventional treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients report a range of adverse events but these do not prevent most patients seeking further acupuncture. This large scale survey supports existing evidence that acupuncture is a relatively safe intervention when practised by regulated practitioners.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

Primary care physicians as providers of frontline genetic services.

Due in part to shortages of health care professionals with expertise in genetics, primary care physicians will assume a greater role in providing frontline genetic services as genetic tests for more diseases become available. I report some preliminary findings from a national survey of primary care physicians, psychiatrists, medical geneticists and genetic counselors. As expected, no group of nongenetics specialists had as much knowledge as geneticists. Nongeneticist physicians with the greatest exposure to patients with genetic problems had more knowledge than physicians without such exposure. Non-geneticist physicians were more likely to be directive in counseling than geneticists. Problems for future research are enumerated.

Fetal Diseases↗

Undue influence in the context of medical treatment.

It is argued that the application of the doctrine of undue influence to patient's decisions in the context of medical treatment is ripe for development. The doctrine is capable of providing much needed protection for vulnerable patients if developed along lines suggested by its use in other contexts. Unfortunately, the Court of Appeal has recently missed an opportunity to develop the law in this way and it may be some time before another suitable opportunity is presented to the courts.

Coercion↗

Directive and supportive behaviors used by families of hospitalized older adults to affect the process of hospitalization.

As part of a grounded-theory study exploring the social processes of hospitalized older adults, family members were asked about their roles in relation to their hospitalized relative. Participants included five hospitalized older adults (aged > or = 75 years), a family member, and a nurse for each older adult. Data saturation determined the number of participants. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to develop the substantive theory of managing personal integrity during hospitalization. Personal integrity is a concept encompassing the properties of health, dignity, and autonomy. Siblings, spouses, children, and grandchildren used a combination of supportive and directive behaviors to affect personal integrity and the hospitalization for their older relatives. In prior research, the entire family was viewed as the patient. This research is unique in that the family is viewed as a modifier of hospitalization affecting the older adult's hospital experience and not as the focus of care.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Treatment processes and outcomes among adolescents with a history of abuse who are in drug treatment.

This study reports on the effects of having a history of physical and/or sexual abuse on treatment processes and posttreatment abstinence among adolescents (N = 803) in a multisite study of drug treatment outcomes. A history of physical and/or sexual abuse was reported by 59% of the girls and 39% of the boys and was related to being White and having higher levels of comorbidity, exposure to other traumatic events, dependence on alcohol and marijuana, problem recognition, and negative peer or family influence. Abused adolescents had more service needs at treatment admission and there was some variation in treatment processes related to gender and abuse status. Youths with a history of physical abuse had a lower likelihood of posttreatment abstinence, except among those who had better rapport with their counselors. Attention to treatment processes and engagement strategies is crucial for treating youths in drug treatment who have a history of abuse.

Adolescent↗

Feasibility and effectiveness of offering a solution-focused follow-up to employees with psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Long-term sick leave has been of concern to politicians and decision-makers in Norway for several years. In the current study we assess the feasibility and effectiveness of offering a voluntary, solution-focused follow-up to sick-listed employees. METHODS: Employees on long-term sick leave due to psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain were randomly allocated to be offered a solution-focused follow-up (n = 122) or "treatment as usual" (n = 106). The intervention was integrated within 2 social security offices' regular follow-up. The intervention group was informed about the offer with letters, telephone calls and information meetings. Feasibility was measured by rate of uptake to the intervention, and effectiveness by number of days on sick leave. RESULTS: In general, few were reached with the different information elements. While the letter was sent to all, only 31% were reached by telephone and 15% attended the information meetings. Thirteen employees (11.5%) in the intervention group participated in the solution-focused follow-up. Intention to treat analysis showed no difference in mean length of sick leave between the intervention group (217 days) and the control group (189 days) (p = 0,101). CONCLUSION: Even if the information strategy might be improved, it is not likely that a voluntary solution-focused follow-up offered by the social security offices would result in measurable reduction in length of sick leave on a population level. However, the efficacy of a solution-focused follow-up for the persons reporting a need for this approach should be further investigated.

Adult↗

Solution-focused intervention for sick listed employees with psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain: a randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN39140363].

BACKGROUND: Long-term sick leave has been of concern to politicians and decision-makers in Norway for several years. In the current study we assess the efficacy of a solution-focused follow-up for sick-listed employees. METHODS: Employees on long-term sick leave due to psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain (n = 703) were invited to participate in the project. Following self-recruitment, 103 were randomly allocated to receive solution-focused follow-up (n = 53) or "treatment as usual" (n = 50). The intervention was integrated within the regular follow up of six social security offices and organised as eight weekly solution focused work sessions. Effectiveness was measured by rate of return to work and health related quality of life (SF-36). RESULTS: Intention to treat analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups for any of the outcome measures. Secondary analysis, comparing those who attended at least 50% of the sessions with the control group revealed a significant difference in favour of the active intervention group in the SF-36 subscale of mental health (Effect Size 0.56, p = 0.05). When comparing the subgroup of participants with psychological problems there was a significant difference in mental health in favour of the intervention group (Effect Size 0.71, p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: A voluntary solution-focused intervention offered by social-security offices is no more effective than regular follow up for employees on long-term sick leave due to psychological problems or muscle skeletal pain.

Adult↗

Antenatal screening and its possible meaning from unborn baby's perspective.

In recent decades antenatal screening has become one of the most routine procedure of pregnancy-follow up and the subject of hot debate in bioethics circles. In this paper the rationale behind doing antenatal screening and the actual and potential problems that it may cause will be discussed. The paper will examine the issue from the point of view of parents, health care professionals and, most importantly, the child-to-be. It will show how unthoughtfully antenatal screening is performed and how pregnancy is treated almost as a disease just since the emergence of antenatal screening. Genetic screening and ethical problems caused by the procedure will also be addressed and I will suggest that screening is more to do with the interests of others rather than those of the child-to be.

Abortion, Eugenic↗