Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Mail Distribution”

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 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Development of a psychometrically valid and reliable sports nutrition knowledge questionnaire.

The present range of sports nutrition knowledge questionnaires have inadequate psychometric validation, and few are up to date in a rapidly changing discipline. The purpose of this study was to design a sports nutrition questionnaire that satisfied acceptable psychometric criteria of validity (content and construct) and reliability (test-retest). The questionnaire was designed by an expert panel of six sports dietitians and distributed to five groups, selected for their expected variation in sports nutrition knowledge. Dietitians, university business staff and nutrition students received questionnaires via e-mail. The response rates obtained were 21.3% (n = 49), 34.4% (n = 33), and 72.0% (n = 18), respectively. University business and fitness students completed questionnaires during class time. Response rates were 52.3% (n = 23) and 75.4% (n = 49), respectively. The questionnaire was administered a second time to the business staff and the dietitians to assess test-retest reliability. Two methods were used: 1, Pearson's product-moment correlation; and 2, a percentage calculation of questions answered in an identical manner on both test occasions. Reliability was acceptable with Method 1 yielding acceptable values (r = 0.74-0.93), aside from the fluid sub-category (r = 0.52). Method 2 showed good test-retest concordance with 81.2% duplication of responses of all questions. Construct validity was high, as indicated by significant mean knowledge score differences between the groups (p = 0.0001). Dietitians and nutrition students achieved significantly greater mean scores than the remaining groups. The findings of this study indicate that the questionnaire is suitably valid and reliable to be used in research and practice to determine sports nutrition knowledge.

Dietetics↗
PubMed1998

Measurement of how well a paediatric training programme prepares graduates for their chosen career paths.

To provide a sound basis for modification of our paediatric residency education programme, we surveyed graduates from the past 16 years. The questionnaire was designed to determine the adequacy of training rotations in preparing graduates for their career paths. Questionnaires were mailed to 81 graduates; 73 (90%) replied. A modified version was completed by 27 of 29 current residents (93%). For most rotations, responses were normally distributed. However, 10 or more respondents identified exposure in one area as 'excessive' and in 6 as 'inadequate'. Current residents scored many rotations as 'inadequate', likely indicative of their limited exposure to actual practice. Recommendations were consistent for subjects needing more instruction. All major issues raised by graduates had been identified by faculty, but the substantiation enabled changes to be made with widespread support. We recommend periodic survey of graduates to evaluate how well education is preparing residents for their ultimate career paths.

Career Choice↗
PubMed2005

DNA assembly with gaps (Dawg): simulating sequence evolution.

MOTIVATION: Relationships amongst taxa are inferred from biological data using phylogenetic methods and procedures. Very few known phylogenies exist against which to test the accuracy of our inferences. Therefore, in the absence of biological data, simulated data must be used to test the accuracy of methods which produce these inferences. Researchers have limited or non-existent options for simulations useful for studying the impact of insertions, deletions, and alignments on phylogenetic accuracy. RESULTS: To satisfy this gap I have developed a new algorithm of indel formation and incorporated it into a new, flexible, and portable application for sequence simulation. The application, called Dawg, simulates phylogenetic evolution of DNA sequences in continuous time using the robust general time reversible model with gamma and invariant rate heterogeneity and a novel length-dependent model of indel formation. On completion, Dawg produces the true alignment of the simulated sequences. Unlike other applications, Dawg allows indel lengths to be explicitly distributed via a biologically realistic power law. Many options are available to allow users to customize their simulations and results. Because simulating with indels would be problematic if biologically realistic parameters could not be estimated, a script is provided with Dawg that can estimate the parameters of indel formation from sequence data. Dawg was applied to the sequences of four chloroplast trnK introns. It was used to parametrically bootstrap an estimation of the rate of indel formation for the phylogeny. Because Dawg can assist in parametric bootstrapping of sequence data it is useful beyond phylogenetics, such as studying alignment algorithms or parameters of molecular evolution. AVAILABILITY: Dawg 1.0.0 can be obtained at the following websites: http://www.genetics.uga.edu/sw/ or http://scit.us/dawg/. The package includes source code, example files, a brief manual and helper scripts. Binary distributions are available for Windows and Macintosh OS X. A development page for Dawg exists at http://scit.us/dawg/, with links to a Subversion repository, mailing lists and updated versions.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Australian paediatricians and the new morbidity: a national survey of changing paediatric practice patterns.

General paediatricians across Australia were surveyed to determine whether their practice reflected the commonly held assumption that paediatrics was changing, with an increased emphasis on ambulatory and community care and involvement with conditions comprising the new morbidity. A 10 page questionnaire was mailed to every paediatrician in the Australian College of Paediatrics directory of members considered to be practising general paediatrics. Of a total of 287 questionnaires distributed, 224 were returned (response rate 80.9%). Two-thirds of respondents practised in a capital city, while the remaining third were divided equally between isolated paediatricians and those who practised in a provincial city. Only 15 paediatricians (6.8%) spent more than half their time involved in inpatient care, while 60% spent less than one-fifth of their time with inpatients. There was no correlation between inpatient involvement and length of paediatric practice, but surprisingly there was a significant trend (P = 0.007) for paediatricians practising in a capital city to do more inpatient work. Respondents were provided with a list of eight conditions held commonly to comprise the new morbidity, and there was a strong response indicating an increase in children seen with these conditions over the past 5 years, as well as a decrease in children with clearly identifiable organic disease. Furthermore, respondents indicated in absolute terms the numbers of patients seen in the past month with each of the conditions. Results confirmed the significant numbers of children seen with conditions comprising the new morbidity, their increased presentation to paediatricians in the past 5 years and the predominance of non-inpatient work in consultant paediatric practice in Australia.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed2002

Anthrax postexposure prophylaxis in postal workers, Connecticut, 2001.

After inhalational anthrax was diagnosed in a Connecticut woman on November 20, 2001, postexposure prophylaxis was recommended for postal workers at the regional mail facility serving the patient's area. Although environmental testing at the facility yielded negative results, subsequent testing confirmed the presence of Bacillus anthracis. We distributed questionnaires to 100 randomly selected postal workers within 20 days of initial prophylaxis. Ninety-four workers obtained antibiotics, 68 of whom started postexposure prophylaxis, and of these, 21 discontinued. Postal workers who never started or stopped taking prophylaxis cited as reasons disbelief regarding anthrax exposure, problems with adverse events, and initial reports of negative cultures. Postal workers with adverse events reported predominant symptoms of gastrointestinal distress and headache. The influence of these concerns on adherence suggests that communication about risks of acquiring anthrax, education about adverse events, and careful management of adverse events are essential elements in increasing adherence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Pharmaceutical services in rural hospitals in Illinois--1991.

The results of a 1991 survey of pharmaceutical services in rural hospitals in Illinois are reported and compared with the results of previously published national and regional surveys. A questionnaire was developed and mailed to the director of pharmacy at each hospital in the study population (n = 95 rural hospitals in Illinois) to obtain information about inpatient drug distribution services, ambulatory-care services, clinical services, and human resources. The response rate was 81% (77 usable responses). Respondents reported a mean hospital size of 115.5 licensed beds. The mean average daily census was 51.2. Drug distribution systems appear similar to those reported in the 1990 ASHP survey, with complete unit dose drug distribution systems existing in 90.1% of respondent rural Illinois hospitals and complete and comprehensive i.v. admixture services in 71.2%. The percentage of pharmacy departments that are decentralized is lower among rural Illinois hospitals than among previous survey populations. Respondents indicated that they provided the following clinical pharmacy services: drug therapy monitoring (73%), patient rounds (12.2%), nutritional support (37.8%), pharmacokinetic consultations (32.4%), and patient education and counseling (24.3%). These results are comparable to those reported in previous surveys. Respondents reported an average of 5.9 full-time equivalents per hospital pharmacy department. The pharmacist vacancy rate and the total vacancy rate per department were reported as 10% and 5.3%, respectively, with vacant positions taking an average of 15 months to fill. The pharmacist vacancy rate is markedly higher than that reported in the 1990 ASHP survey. Rural Illinois hospitals are comparable to other U.S. hospitals in the provision of most pharmaceutical services.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1995

Transfusion medicine monitoring practices. A study of the College of American Pathologists/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Outcomes Working Group.

OBJECTIVE: To survey transfusion medicine practices in 1990, to determine the distribution of defects in the transfusion process, to examine the relationship between defects and complications, and to recommend improvements in the transfusion process. DESIGN: A mail survey that divided the transfusion process into 24 risk-prone steps and gathered defect rates on each step, along with incidence data for eight known complications of transfusions and other demographic information. SETTINGS: Hospitals, independent laboratories, and blood centers that provide transfusion medicine services. OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Respondents were 1365 participants in the College of American Pathologists 1991 Blood Bank Quality Assurance Survey. RESULTS: While processing 6.2 million units of blood and blood products, respondents reported detecting over 88,000 defects: 41% in the preanalytic phase of testing, 55% in the postanalytic phase, and only 4% in the analytic phase, the phase to which most monitoring efforts were devoted. A median of eight steps were actively monitored by survey participants overall, whereas 96 facilities sought defects in all 24 steps. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the data showed several monitoring steps provide similar information. Although monitoring of the transfusion process could not be linked with prevention of the complications studied, active surveillance does focus attention on defect-prone steps and allows testing of strategies to improve the transfusion process. We describe how defect detection systems may be improved.

Blood Banks↗
PubMed1997

Rheumatoid arthritis: a commonly misused diagnosis by the general population.

The purpose of this study was to explore what a young general population include when they answer questions concerning the diagnosis rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Altogether 14,420 subjects answered questionnaires concerning disease history, living habits and musculoskeletal pain. They were also asked specifically if they, or any close relative, had RA. One hundred and sixteen (1.6%) men and 115 (1.6%) women reported that they had the disease. Altogether 14 (12%) men and 23 (20%) women of those answering "yes" to the RA question, were found to have the disease verified according to their hospital records. Fifty-five (25%) of the subjects who reported to have RA, were classified in their hospital records as having other defined rheumatic diseases. Our study indicates that when the general population refers to the diagnosis of RA, they include most defined rheumatic diseases as well as unspecified arthralgia. We find it interesting that such a substantial number of young people report they have this serious disease. We therefore recommend that other measures should be used or used in addition to mailed questionnaires when exploring the prevalence of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of the Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale (SPRS) with the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ): psychometric properties.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: This study compared the psychometric properties of two community integration measures used with people with acquired brain injury (ABI) in the community. RESEARCH DESIGN: Questionnaires were mailed-out to people with ABI and nominated proxies. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Responses were obtained from 96 people with ABI and 121 proxies on the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) and the Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale (SPRS). MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Matched client-proxy scores were not significantly different. The SPRS had greater internal consistency and more normal distributions than the CIQ. Correlations between the three pairs of theoretically parallel sub-scales were modest (0.41-0.60). Multi-dimensional scaling did not support the theoretical structure of the sub-scales, but found two dimensions underpinning the measurement of community integration. CONCLUSIONS: Mail-out administration is associated with poor completion rates. The SPRS has sound psychometric properties when compared to the CIQ. Further research investigating the theoretical structure of community integration in ABI is recommended.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

A comparative description of three multipurpose phantoms (MPP) for external audits of photon beams in radiotherapy: the water MPP, the Umeå MPP and the EC MPP.

AIM: To present a technical description and intercomparison of three multipurpose phantoms (MPP) developed for mailed dosimetry checks of therapeutic photon beams in reference and non-reference conditions. MATERIALS: The W-MPP is a water MPP, whereas the Umeâ-MPP, made of perspex (PMMA, Plexiglas), and the EC-MPP, made of polystyrene, are solid MPPs. The W-MPP uses only thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) for dosimetry checks, the EC MPP uses film and TLD; the Umeâ phantom uses film and TLD, and offers in addition the possibility for ionization chamber measurements. Either using TLD or films, the MPPs have been designed to check on-axis and off-axis the following irradiation conditions: square and rectangular fields, asymmetric fields, wedged beams, oblique incidence and, for the solid MPPs, also the influence of inhomogeneities. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The MPPs have been compared for different aspects going from their dosimetric performance (number of dosimetric parameters that can be checked) to some practical consideration in the use of the different MPPs (set-up time, stability, instruction sheets, etc.). From a comparison between the solid multi-purpose phantoms, it turns out that the EC-MPP is capable of checking the largest number of dosimetric parameters per beam, but has the longest set-up time ( approximately 2 h) per beam according to the users. The Umeå-MPP has a smaller number of set-ups (hence a smaller average time) and also includes some parameters not checked with the EC-MPP (e.g. SSD accuracy). The major drawback however of the Umeå-MPP is considered to be its high density (>1.1 g/cm(3)) which increases the difficulty of the analysis with the treatment planning system. The W-MPP checks the smallest number of parameters, but is the fastest in set-up time, the easiest for mailing, and is water equivalent, which is advantageous for the TPS checks. The major drawback of this MPP is however the inability to check complete dose distribution (film) or inhomogeneities.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2001

Quality of life study in prostate cancer patients treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy: comparing late bowel and bladder quality of life symptoms to that of the normal population.

PURPOSE: The goals of this study were twofold. First, differences were quantified for symptoms that impact bowel and bladder quality of life (QOL) in prostate cancer patients treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) alone to the prostate vs. whole pelvis with prostate boost. Second, bowel and bladder QOL measures for these patients were compared to those of the normal population of men with a similar age distribution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two health status surveys evaluating bowel and bladder functioning, along with the AUA Symptom Problem Index and the BPH Impact Index, were mailed to 195 prostate cancer patients treated with 3DCRT between 12/92 and 11/95 at Fox Chase Cancer Center by a single clinician (GH). No patient received hormonal management as part of his treatment. Ninety-five patients had pretreatment PSA levels <10 ng/ml, T1/T2A tumors with Gleason scores 2-6, and no perineural invasion. They were treated to the prostate alone and are referred to as Group I. The remaining 100 patients had one or more of the following characteristics: pretreatment PSA levels > or =10 ng/ml, T2B/T3 tumors, Gleason scores 7-10, or perineural invasion. These patients were treated to the whole pelvis followed by a boost to the prostate and are referred to as Group II. Frequencies were tabulated, and differences in percentages for the two groups were evaluated using the two-tailed Fisher's Exact Test. Overall percentages were compared to those for equivalent measures reported by Litwin (1999) based on a normal population of men with a mean age of 73 years (range 47-86). Comparisons to the normal population were also evaluated using two-tailed Fisher's Exact p values. RESULTS: The mailing yielded a high response rate of 71% (n = 139, 66 in Group I and 73 in Group II). The mean age was 67 (range 49-82), and the median ICRU dose levels for Groups I and II were 73 and 76 Gy, respectively. Responses relating to bladder symptoms were similar for Groups I and II, except for the degree of bother associated with trouble in urination over the last month. Percentages for no bother at all were 66% and 56% for Groups I and II, respectively. Observed differences in bowel functioning related to rectal urgency over the past year (22% vs. 40% for Groups I and II, p = 0.03), the use of pads for protection against bowel incontinence (0% vs. 10% for Groups I and II, p = 0.01), and bowel satisfaction (88% vs. 72% for Groups I and II, p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in the degree of bother bladder symptoms cause men treated with radiotherapy as compared to men without cancer. Few patients reported bowel dysfunction bother as a big problem, but patients do tend to have more very small to moderate bother from bowel dysfunction than the normal population (55% vs. 33%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the first long-term study of QOL in men treated with high-dose 3DCRT for prostate cancer. It demonstrates that these men enjoy QOL related to bladder function similar to that of the normal population. Few patients report bother from bowel symptoms as a big problem but tend to have more very small to moderate bother than the normal population. Treatment of prostate cancer patients to the whole pelvis may result in decreased QOL as defined by rectal urgency, the use of pads for bowel incontinence, and satisfaction with bowel functioning. However, regardless of field size, men are generally satisfied with their bowel and bladder functioning three to six years post treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Severe carpal tunnel syndrome potentially needing surgical treatment in a general population.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) that potentially needs surgical treatment in a general population. METHODS: A health-status questionnaire was mailed to a random general population sample of 3,000 subjects (ages, 25-74 y). The responders who reported numbness and/or tingling in the median nerve distribution in the hands were asked to attend a clinical evaluation at which they completed the validated CTS questionnaire and underwent physical examination and nerve conduction tests. The CTS questionnaire measures the severity of symptoms and disability on a scale from 1 (none) to 5 (most severe). The potential need for surgery was defined as CTS symptom severity score of 3.2 or greater or functional status score of 2.5 or greater (corresponding to median preoperative scores for surgical patients in previous reports). RESULTS: The response rate for the survey was 83%. Of the responders who reported numbness and/or tingling in the median nerve distribution in the hands 81% attended the clinical evaluation. Of the 94 subjects diagnosed with clinically certain CTS, 19 (20%; 12 with electrophysiologically proven median neuropathy) had previously undiagnosed CTS that potentially needed surgical treatment, yielding a population prevalence of 7 per 1,000 (95% confidence interval, 4-11 per 1,000). CONCLUSIONS: In a general population there was a 0.7% prevalence of undiagnosed CTS with a severity similar to that of patients undergoing surgery. The degree to which variable numbers of this group are drawn into a medical system could account for variations in the rate of surgery performed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Health-care professionals' use of cancer-related patient education materials: a pilot study.

While the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute expend much effort designing patient education materials, little is known about how health-care professionals use such materials in everyday practice. We piloted a descriptive study of primary care providers in San Francisco. Using a standardized questionnaire, we conducted face-to-face interviews with 71 health-care professionals who responded to a mailed offer of a free set of American Cancer Society (ACS) materials. Most (72%) said their patients rarely or never requested cancer information, yet most (87%) distributed some type of health education material. However, 35 (49%) did not currently use ACS materials, citing as reasons: not having access to them (97%), incorrect language for patient population served (9%), and patient illiteracy (6%). Only 6% of providers believed these materials ineffective. The 33 practitioners using ACS materials most commonly distributed breast self-examination, colorectal cancer screening, smoking cessation, and mammography information. All 71 respondents were given a display rack containing ACS materials. Most (70%) planned to place the display rack in their office waiting room; few planned to place it in their examination room (13%) or adjacent hallway (10%). One-third (32%) of providers planned simply to let their patients browse through the materials, and only 7% planned to hand materials to patients directly. Future studies should focus on how such materials can be more efficiently distributed and more effectively used.

American Cancer Society↗
PubMed1997

Register of dietary assessment calibration-validation studies: a status report.

A register of dietary assessment calibration-validation studies was created to improve communication between investigators, avoid duplication of effort, and identify gaps in knowledge. Calibration-validation studies were defined as investigations in which the participants completed at least two different dietary measurements. A questionnaire soliciting descriptive information about such studies was widely distributed. Completed questionnaires were received from October 1993 through September 1994 and the data from them were entered into a computer database. Preliminary individual reports were mailed to all contributors in September 1994 for revision or updating. Responses received by the end of October 1994 were incorporated into the database. A status report was published in December 1994. The report includes descriptions of 84 studies, 15 summary tables, and 6 reference indexes. Of the 84 studies included, 44 (52%) were conducted in North America, 35 (42%) in Europe, 2 (2%) in South America, 2 (2%) in Asia, and 1 (1%) in Australia. Sixty-three of the 84 studies (75%) used food-frequency questionnaires, 52 (62%) used food records, 35 (42%) used one or more dietary recalls, 11 (13%) used biological measures, and 8 (10%) used diet histories. Plans for maintaining and updating the register are being developed.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2001

'Natural' progesterone creams for postmenopausal women.

Creams containing 'natural' progesterone for application to the skin have been available over the counter in mainland Europe and the USA for around 20 years. They are not licensed in the UK and their availability here (in the form of Pro-Gest or Pro-Juven creams, all distributed by Higher Nature) is limited to provision by prescription on a named-patient basis (related formulations are also being purchased from abroad by mail-order and via the Internet). Their UK distributor claims the creams can help treat menopausal symptoms and may prove useful in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Here, we assess the efficacy and safety of 'natural' progesterone creams in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms. In particular, we look at whether the products can protect against osteoporosis, or adequately oppose stimulation of the endometrium by exogenous oestrogen and so replace the progestogen component of conventional HRT.

Drug Costs↗
PubMed2000

Orthopaedics, ethics, and industry. Appropriateness of gifts, grants, and awards.

At the Academic Orthopaedic Society meeting in San Francisco on November 8 and 9, 1996, the membership addressed the issue of ethics and industry in an academic setting. Using a Delphi panel technique, they arrived at a definition of conflict of interest, and 41 separate points of acceptable and unacceptable behavior related to gifts, research awards, and funding of various activities. The Academic Orthopaedic Society Delphi Committee also mailed 191 questionnaires (157 department chairpersons and 34 program directors) to 157 training programs. The respective department chairpersons and program directors were asked to copy and distribute the questionnaires to staff (faculty) and house officers (residents and fellows) to complete anonymously and return them for collation. Ninety-one programs (58%) responded. Three hundred and fifty-two questionnaires were returned (237 from staff, 115 from house officers), each of which expressed agreement or lack of agreement with the Delphi panel report using a Likert scale technique. With only modest (and usually predictable) disagreement on certain items, the final statements by the Delphi panel were supported strongly by the survive results. The Academic Orthopaedic Society believes that the major points arrived at by the panelists should serve as the basis for ethical guidelines in the relation between academic orthopaedic institutions and industry.

Awards and Prizes↗
PubMed1994

[Contact allergy to cosmetic ingredients in an adult Danish population. The Allergy Study, the Population Studies in Glostrup].

The distribution of allergic contact sensitization to cosmetic ingredients was studied in an unselected population, living in Western Copenhagen, Denmark. Ready-to-apply patch tests were mailed to 793 adults, and 567 (71.5%) participated. The tests were read two days after application. Sensitization to one or more of the cosmetic ingredients included in the test was diagnosed in 3.2% of the males and in 4.2% of the females. Old age was associated with an insignificantly higher probability of sensitization (p = 0.06). When adjusted for sex and age, the probability of sensitization was increased by a factor 2.3 among those reporting a history of cosmetic-related skin symptoms as compared to those who did not (p = 0.08). Among males, current daily use of cosmetics was less probable among those sensitized than among those not sensitized (p = 0.02). Contact sensitization to cosmetic ingredients was relatively frequent in the general population. Sex was not an important risk factor for sensitization to cosmetic ingredients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Health education on the six-o'clock news. Motivating television coverage of news in medicine.

Prepackaged video news releases are being increasingly used to motivate television stations to cover stories in medicine and public health in their news programs. On Feb 26, 1987, the Office on Smoking and Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, distributed a prepackaged video news release to television stations across the country, calling attention to the new health warnings required on smokeless tobacco packages and advertisements. The video was sent by satellite as well as by overnight mail to selected stations. To assess the use of the video, we surveyed 76 stations that had been targeted by special intervention. These stations were in major metropolitan areas in states with a higher prevalence of smokeless tobacco use. Seventeen (22.4%) of the stations aired the story using our video during the six days following the satellite feed, reaching an estimated 2.8 million households. Another 20 stations reported that they were holding the video for use in the near future or for file footage. We conclude that the distribution of prepackaged video news stories can be an effective, relatively inexpensive technique to communicate health information to a large audience.

Health Education↗