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Incidence, utilization, and costs associated with acute respiratory conditions, United States, 1980.

Acute respiratory conditions are common causes of health disturbance in the general population. They are generally self-limiting, although occasionally recurrent, and seldom result in large health care costs for each episode of illness. The National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey (NMCUES), conducted during 1980, provided an opportunity to assess the effect of acute respiratory conditions on utilization of medical services and on functional capability as well as the cost of related medical care. Acute respiratory conditions were reported by survey respondents and separated into five subgroups: colds, influenza, nasopharyngitis, otitis media, and lower respiratory infections. Allergic conditions and chronic respiratory disorders (tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumoconioses) were excluded. The subgroupings of acute respiratory conditions appear to separate the disorders in a manner consistent with the epidemiologic characteristics of each condition. About one-half (50.4 percent) of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population had one or more acute respiratory conditions during 1980. The highest rates for upper respiratory conditions (colds, influenza, nasopharyngitis, and otitis media) were reported for those under 18 years of age, and rates were lower in successively older groups. Lower respiratory infection rates were higher in the youngest and oldest groups. Despite a high incidence in the general population, most symptomatic episodes of colds, influenza, and nasopharyngitis did not result in ambulatory care visits or hospital admissions. Otitis media and lower respiratory infections were more often associated with medical visits. Acute respiratory conditions were associated with lower disability levels than the average for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population during 1980 (5.9 restricted-activity days for acute respiratory conditions, compared with an overall average of 13.8 restricted-activity days). Persons with upper respiratory conditions (colds, influenza, otitis media, and nasopharyngitis) averaged 2.3 to 5.4 restricted-activity days, but persons with lower respiratory infections experienced an average of 8.2 restricted-activity days. Indirect costs attributed to acute respiratory conditions in 1980 were $7.7 billion for employed persons and $698 million for homemakers, for a total of $8.4 billion, about the same as total direct costs ($8.3 billion). These indirect costs were several times larger than the annual indirect costs estimated for either cardiovascular diseases or musculoskeletal diseases, two common chronic or recurrent condition groups. The high indirect costs reflect the high frequency of episodes in the general population during 1980 and the greater likelihood of associated bed-disability and work-loss days than for other conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

A video lesson series is effective in changing the dietary intakes and food-related behaviors of low-income homemakers.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relative cost-effectiveness of a self-administered video series in delivering nutrition education to low-income homemakers. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental design was used, with subjects randomly assigned to traditional lessons (Traditional Group) or video lessons (Video Group). SUBJECTS/SETTING: 108 subjects were recruited, with 93 nonpregnant, low-income, female homemakers completing the study (response rate = 86%). Subjects had recently enrolled in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, or the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program, and had a videocassette recorder and telephone. INTERVENTION: Both groups received 12 lessons from the Eating Right Is Basic Series, 3rd edition, with the Traditional Group being taught in face-to-face sessions and the Video Group receiving self-administered, video-lesson packets. OUTCOME MEASURES: Dietary intake and food behaviors were assessed at pre and post intervention with 24-hour recalls and a 14-item checklist. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Chi(2) and t tests were used to compare the groups on demographics and pre-intervention dietary factors. Multiple analysis of variance was used for comparisons of change from pre to post intervention. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in both groups for fruits, calcium, and vitamins A and C. The Video Group improved on fiber intake (P<or=.005). The groups did not differ on dietary or behavior change (P=.2357). Duplication and implementation costs of the video series totaled 4,820 dollars, or 36% of the traditional lesson cost of 13,463 dollars. APPLICATIONS: Both methods achieved similar improvements in diet and behaviors, but the video method was less expensive. The video series seems to be a cost-effective method for delivering nutrition education to low-income homemakers.

Adolescent↗

Costs of illness: United States, 1980.

The total costs of illness and injury in the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population in 1980 amounted to $381.7 billion. The direct costs of illness and injury--resource expenditures for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of medical and dental conditions--were $153.9 billion, or 40.3 percent of total costs. Indirect costs--economic losses from morbidity and mortality--were $227.9 billion, or 59.7 percent of total costs. Of indirect costs, $104.9 billion resulted from productivity losses because of morbidity, and $123.0 billion represent the present value of lost productivity from premature mortality based on a net effective discount rate of 4 percent. These estimates, based on data from the 1980. National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey (NMCUES), differ from other estimates of the costs of illness and injury in 1980 (Gibson and Waldo, 1982; Rice, Hodgson, and Kopstein, 1985). The differences, which can be resolved, are attributable to two major factors: (1) NMCUES includes only the civilian noninstitutionalized population, but the other estimates include the institutionalized population and the military; and (2) NMCUES indirect cost estimates for the population unable to work include persons who were retired for health reasons in 1979 and 1980, disabled homemakers, and other persons who were disabled for the entire year 1980 but were not retired for health reasons in 1979, but the Rice et al. estimates do not include the last two categories in the population unable to work. The principal NMCUES findings on the total costs of illness in the civilian noninstitutionalized population reinforce the importance of considering distributional effects. Persons 65 years of age and over represent one-tenth of this population yet account for more than one-fourth of direct costs and more than their share of total costs, even though the institutionalized elderly are excluded. More than two-thirds of total costs for this age category are accounted for by direct costs. Direct costs also account for more than two-thirds of total costs for people under 17 years of age. However, this youngest age category, which constitutes over one-fourth of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, generates only 12.3 percent of direct costs. In contrast, indirect costs account for well more than 60 percent of total costs for the working-age population (17-64 years of age). Within the working-age population, per capita direct costs are highest among persons who are not full participants in the work force, many of whom are not working full time or at all because of injury or ill health.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Culturally relevant nutrition education improves dietary quality among WIC-eligible Vietnamese immigrants.

OBJECTIVE: To provide culturally appropriate nutrition education to improve the diets of Vietnamese women. DESIGN: A total of 152 homemakers were recruited to participate in a nutrition education project, with 76 receiving the intervention and 76 serving as the control group. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Non-English-speaking women eligible for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) with incomes below 185% of the poverty level living in 5 California counties. INTERVENTION: Bicultural, bilingual Vietnamese-American nutrition education assistants taught 5 to 7 lessons in the Vietnamese language using nutrition education materials written in the Vietnamese language by 2 bilingual, bicultural nutritionists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Twenty-four-hour food recalls were obtained before and after the 8-week interval on the treatment and control groups. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: To examine if there were changes over time in nutrient intake and nutrient density within groups, matched pair t tests were done. Analysis of covariance techniques determined differences between groups. McNemar tests determined if, within groups, there were changes over time in food groups consumed. Chi-square techniques determined changes between groups. RESULTS: Over time, the number of treatment group participants who had at least one serving from each food group (P <.01), and who had the recommended number of servings from each food group (P <.05), significantly increased in comparison to the control group. Over time, the dietary nutrient density of calcium, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 (P <.05), as well as potassium (P <.01), of treatment group participants significantly improved in comparison to the control group. IMPLICATIONS: With training, bilingual, bicultural women can effectively deliver culturally relevant nutrition education to their peers.

Adolescent↗

Understanding economic and other burdens of terminal illness: the experience of patients and their caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Terminal illness imposes substantial burdens--economic and otherwise--on patients and caregivers. The cause of these burdens is not understood. OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanism for economic and noneconomic burdens of terminal illness and to identify potential ameliorating interventions. DESIGN: In-person interviews of terminally ill patients and their caregivers. SETTING: Six randomly selected U.S. sites: Worcester, Massachusetts; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson, Arizona; Birmingham, Alabama; Brooklyn, New York; and Mesa County, Colorado. PARTICIPANTS: 988 terminally ill patients and 893 caregivers. MEASUREMENTS: Needs for transportation, nursing care, homemaking, and personal care; subjective perception of economic burden; expenditure of more than 10% of household income on health care costs; caregiver depression and sense of interference with his or her life; and patient consideration of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. RESULTS: Of all patients, 34.7% had substantial care needs. Patients who had substantial care needs were more likely to report that they had a subjective sense of economic burden (44.9% compared with 35.3%; difference, 9.6 percentage points [95% CI, 3.1 to 16.1]; P = 0.005); that 10% of their household income was spent on health care (28.0% compared with 17.0%; difference, 11.0 percentage points [CI, 4.8 to 17.1]; P < or = 0.001); and that they or their families had to take out a loan or mortgage, spend their savings, or obtain an additional job (16.3% compared with 10.2%; difference, 6.1 percentage points [CI, 1.4 to 10.6]; P = 0.004). Patients with substantial care needs were more likely to consider euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (P = 0.001). Caregivers of these patients were more likely to have depressive symptoms (31.4% compared with 24.8%; difference, 6.6 percentage points [CI, 0.4 to 12.8]; P = 0.01) and to report that caring for the patients interfered with their lives (35.6% compared with 24.3%; difference, 11.3 percentage points [CI, 5.0 to 17.7]; P = 0.001). Caregivers of patients whose physicians listened to patients' and caregivers' needs had fewer burdens. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial care needs are an important cause of the economic and other burdens imposed by terminal illness. Through empathy, physicians may be able to ameliorate some of these burdens.

Adult↗