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 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Adverse drug reactions and a program of voluntary notification: an opinion survey of primary care physicians].

OBJECTIVES: To discover the view of primary care doctors on aspects of the safety of medicines, their knowledge of the programme of automatic notification of negative side-effects of medicines (NSEM), their opinion of the programme and factors affecting low notification. DESIGN: A survey of views. SETTING: Madrid's Health Area 1. PARTICIPANTS: General practitioners and paediatricians (n = 417). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: 281 doctors (67.4%) replied. 88.4% (48 + 40.4%) said they included questions on possible side-effects in the case history interview (always or almost always). 58.2% suspected at least one negative side-effect each month. CONCLUSIONS: Doctors are very interested in detecting and identifying the NSEM of their patients, and therefore believe that a centralised system to record NSEM should be set up.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The uninsured: Blue Cross and Blue Shield responds through community-based programs.

A voluntary local program to underwrite medical care costs for uninsured children has been developed by Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania. It offers at no cost routine physician and hospital out-patient care services for children to age 19. It is funded by voluntary contributions from the community and matched by the Blue Cross Plan. This program has enjoyed much success and is being replicated by other Plans.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Wisconsin Cytology Proficiency Testing Program. Results of voluntary testing in 1994.

OBJECTIVE: The Wisconsin Cytology Proficiency Testing Program (WCPTP) was developed cooperatively by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, the Wisconsin Society of Pathologists and the Wisconsin Society of Cytology to enable pathologists and cytotechnologists in Wisconsin to meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988 (CLIA '88) requirements for proficiency testing (PT). STUDY DESIGN: A joint steering committee designed the WCPTP to comply with all CLIA '88 regulations. The WCPTP application to the Health Care Financing Administration received tentative approval in May 1994. In 1994, mock PT was conducted at meetings of both state societies, and voluntary, on-site PT was conducted at 19 laboratories. RESULTS: Each of the 119 participants (49 pathologists, 70 cytotechnologists) was tested with sets of 10 glass slides, each representing one of four specified categories: A, unsatisfactory; B, normal/benign; C, low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; and D, high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cancer. The failure rate for pathologists was 22.5% (11/49) and for cytotechnologists, 1.4% (1/70). The CLIA '88 scoring system for pathologists is more stringent. If cytotechnologists were scored as pathologists, 10% (7/70) would have failed. Using the cytotechnologist grid, 14.5% (7/49) of the pathologists would have failed. CONCLUSION: This voluntary program provided some preliminary insights into the issues related to PT evaluation of personnel competence and diagnostic criteria.

Cytodiagnosis↗
PubMed1990

HIV antibody testing among adults in the United States: data from 1988 NHIS.

Data collected from 21,168 adults using the 1988 AIDS supplement to the National Health Interview Survey were examined to determine awareness of and experience with HIV antibody testing in the United States. Three-fourths of adults knew of the blood test for HIV antibodies; awareness was lower among Blacks, Hispanics, older adults, and those less educated. Overall, 17 percent of adults had been tested; of these, 73 percent because of blood donation, 14 percent through other non-voluntary programs (such as military induction), and 16 percent sought testing voluntarily. While a smaller proportion of Black and Hispanic adults had been tested, they were more likely than their White non-Hispanic counterparts to have been tested voluntarily. Persons who reported belonging to groups with high-risk behaviors were also more likely to have been voluntarily tested. Most of those tested voluntarily received their test results, but only one-third also received prevention information. Three percent of adults plan to be tested voluntarily in the next year; about half will seek testing through their doctor or health maintenance organization.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1986

[Chronometric study of a posturo-kinetic program associated with voluntary movement].

Posturo-kinetic programming was investigated by a simple reaction time paradigm. Standing subjects performed voluntary upper limb elevations differing by the importance of their destabilizing effect on the initial balance. It was shown that: The reaction time varied according to the destabilizing effect of the forthcoming movement. These variations were due to differences in the duration of postural adjustments which were shown to precede voluntary movement. Duration of pre-motor period, corresponding to delay between the response signal and the onset of the earliest postural adjustment, did not depend on parameters of the forthcoming movement.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

HIV testing in prisoners: is mandatory testing mandatory?

We studied 977 newly incarcerated Oregon inmates to compare voluntary versus mandatory human immunodeficiency virus antibody (HIVAb) testing in the prison setting. All inmates were offered HIVAb counseling and testing. Blood drawn for routine syphilis serology from those who declined this offer was also tested for HIVAb after personal identifiers had been removed. Only 1.2 percent (12) prisoners were HIV positive. However, 62.5 percent (611) inmates were at risk for HIV infection by being an intravenous drug user, a male homosexual, or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) positive. The ratio of at-risk, as yet uninfected inmates to those already HIV infected was 53 to 1. Two-thirds of all inmates including those at-risk chose to receive counseling and testing. In areas where most at-risk inmates are not yet infected, it may be more appropriate for HIV prevention activities in prison to focus on voluntary programs that emphasize education and counseling rather than mandatory programs that emphasize testing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Quality assessment of cyclosporine monitoring by 32 Canadian laboratories.

The Canadian Quality Assurance Program was initiated in June 1989, and is a voluntary program which currently encompasses all 32 laboratories involved in the measurement of cyclosporine (CsA) across Canada. Two whole blood samples from control or clinical patients (kidney, liver and heart) containing unknown concentrations of CsA are circulated to each participating laboratory monthly, and analyzed by all techniques employed within that laboratory. Four analytical methods are currently employed: HPLC (n = 4). Sandimmun SP (n = 3), CycloTrac SP (n = 27) and TDx (n = 3). Four laboratories reported survey results in more than one methodology. Results from all participating centers are analyzed monthly. The mean, SD, standard deviation index and range are reported to each laboratory with information coded to preserve confidentiality. Accuracy, precision, recovery, analytical specificity, linearity and blank studies have been performed. This report covers the period from June 1989 to April 1990.

Canada↗
PubMed1995

Caries diagnosis and risk assessment. A review of preventive strategies and management.

The scientific basis for caries risk assessment, prevention and treatment on an individual patient basis requires further development, specification and continuing validation. Still, current technologies and techniques, taken together, can provide enhanced capabilities over those that have been employed traditionally. Undoubtedly, the clinical tools for carrying out these responsibilities will be refined and expanded in the future in response to the changing clinical profile of caries in the population. For example, bacteriologic testing methods have become easier and more reliable, and will become more widely used. Other effective methods to detect the early, pre-cavitation stage of caries also should become more available in the future. Practitioners will be continually challenged and responsible for evaluating the effectiveness and value of emerging technologies in their practices and in light of their patients' needs. But how can this be accomplished best? Effectiveness claims will be made for new drugs and devices that come onto the market. There are several sources of information to assist the practitioner in making such decisions. The American Dental Association acceptance programs (voluntary) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration compliance programs (law) provide standards and guidance as to product safety and effectiveness. Without such determinations, the practitioner must judge independently product claims and clinical studies. Marketing materials by themselves (advertisements, videos, pamphlets) may not be sufficient evidence of effectiveness particularly when scientific references supporting claims either are not provided or are inadequate. Peer-reviewed scientific literature in publications of the major scientific and professional associations can be viewed as generally reliable. Changing the way dental caries is managed in clinical practice will require integrating new scientific information and technology into workable clinical procedures. Dental education and third-party reimbursement issues must be addressed also but are beyond the scope of this document. Given that disease patterns are always changing in the population, dentists need to modify practice decisions using risk assessment. Ultimately, the goal for dentistry is that adult patients also will enjoy the same low level of caries experience that many children enjoy today.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Advocacy and compliance factors in a voluntary selective screening program.

To evaluate factors responsible for compliance with a voluntary selective screening program, we surveyed 495 participants and 212 nonparticipants in a screening program for Tay-Sachs disease. Knowledge about the program and motivation are the most important factors in compliance. The primary incentive for participation was to avoid having abnormal children in future generations.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Health and weight control management among wrestlers. A proposed program for high school athletes.

Weight loss is a part of any competitive sport which matches participants of equal weight or sports where participating at lower weights or with a thinner body habitus is considered an advantage. For some wrestlers, weight loss is excessive and often accomplished by methods that lead to loss of lean body mass and total body water. There is convincing evidence that this excessive weight loss is unhealthy for all individuals who follow these practices. Even greater harm is experienced by high school wrestlers who have not yet completed their growth and development. These health consequences include growth retardation, decreased academic performance, altered endocrine or hormonal function and damage to many vital organs. "cycling" of weight results in decrease in strength, power and endurance which would effect adversely a wrestler's likelihood of success. The VHSL has begun an educational program to inform coaches, wrestlers and parents about the hazards inherent in these weight loss practices. History suggests that education alone will not alter the present practices of weight loss. Therefore a weight management program similar to ones initiated in other states is being pursued by the VHSL. The pilot program this year is scheduled to be followed next year by a more wide-spread voluntary program across the Commonwealth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mass mammography screening: using an information system to track participation and identify target populations.

This article describes the 1991 American Cancer Society Greater Tampa Bay Breast Screening Program and an information system developed to track participants from the point of inquiry to mammography results. Information from three sources was linked to create a comprehensive data base, including participant demographics, mammography history, perceived risks of breast cancer, barriers to mammography, and mammography results. This comprehensive data base allowed investigators to describe the 11,134 participants and to assess the program's impact. The analysis suggested that women older than 65 years are underrepresented in this voluntary program. Black women were less likely to participate, as were women in lower income and education groups. To reduce mortality effectively, leaders of mass screening programs need to develop creative strategies for reaching these high-risk groups. Effective information systems can identify program weaknesses and track the impact of changes.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Substance abuse and dependence in physicians: the Missouri Physicians' Health Program.

Substance abuse and dependence (alcohol and drugs) are behavioral disorders and treatable medical diseases. There is growing concern in the medical community for physicians impaired by these diseases. The Missouri Physicians' Health Program has been established to help impaired physicians return to healthy personal and professional lives. This confidential voluntary program of early referral, intervention, treatment, monitoring, and advocacy has been highly successful. The average recovery rate in this study of 146 participants was 94%.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Implementing a quality assurance program using a risk assessment tool on dairy operations.

Concerns and perceptions about antibiotic residues in milk prompted the dairy industry to develop a voluntary program to support rational antibiotic use on dairy farms. One deficiency of this program is the inability of producers to identify easily the weaknesses in antibiotic management in order to develop control plans. To overcome this deficiency, an educational approach was designed. The program centered on an on-farm risk assessment tool used by the producer and an industry educator to determine the current risk for residue violation. The risk assessment tool was tested by 25 field personnel working with northeastern milk receivers and 250 producers in seven states. The participants in the study identified a lack of adequate treatment records as being the highest risk factor for antibiotic residues, followed by deficiencies in understanding how to use antibiotics and poor relationships between veterinarians and their clients. When field representatives utilized the risk assessment tool, for most producers, risk of antibiotic residue decreased by approximately 19%. In particular, more farms kept written records or more complete records. Finally, producers with reported histories of antibiotic residues were less likely to implement management changes to reduce the risk of antibiotic residue.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1986

The impact of a drug information sheet on the understanding and attitude of patients about drugs.

A proposed Food and Drug Administration program to require written information with prescription drugs could cost $500 million annually; the American Medical Association has implemented a similar, voluntary program costing more than $3 million. However, the educational impact of written drug information has not been studied. We evaluated one-page drug information sheets using an objective examination. The baseline score of 71 patients was 3.9 of 6.0. Patients tested before and one day after receiving the drug sheet improved their score by +1.4. In the second phase, patients randomized to receive the drug sheet improved their score after one month by +1.1; those not given the sheet had no improvement. Changes in attitudes and incidence of reported adverse effects seemed to be random and unrelated to the information sheet. Thus, a drug information sheet may be a useful adjunct to patient education.

Attitude↗