Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Program Acceptability”

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 775 records · Page 43Linked to original sources

Human kidney preservation using machine perfusion followed by intracellular electrolyte flushing.

Transplant centers that do not have pulsatile machine perfusion capabilities are reluctant to accept kidneys from programs that do. Four human kidneys were retrieved by other centers, initially placed on pulsatile machine perfusion pumps for 13 to 28 hours, removed from the pumps, flushed with intracellular electrolyte solutions and cold-stored for 13 to 36 hours before transplantation at our institution. All recipients required dialysis during the first week after transplantation. The 1-month serum creatinine nadir was 2.2 plus or minus 1.1 mg. per dl., and all kidney grafts were functioning 3 months after transplantation. Pulsatile machine perfusion followed by ice-cold intracellular electrolyte flushing and simple cold storage can provide satisfactory renal function when the warm ischemia time is short.

Cold Temperature↗

Robotic surgery: the computer-enhanced control of surgical instruments.

Robotic procedures are still in a developmental stage. Studies have shown that many operations can be performed safely with computer-enhanced telemanipulators, but distinct advantages of robotic procedures have not been established. Before third-party payors begin paying a premium for the use of a robot, costs will need to decrease or outcomes will need to be sufficiently better. Manufacturers of robotic surgery systems are marketing directly to consumers and promoting their systems to hospitals based on the number of patients that can be attracted by such programs. Only the acceptance of robotics into mainstream surgical practice, however, will prove it to be more than just a niche technology.

Endoscopy↗

Predeposit autologous blood transfusion: an analysis of donor attitudes and attributes.

Predeposit autologous blood transfusion now accounts for 11% of the total transfusion volume at Saint Cloud Hospital in Minnesota. This hospitalwide program represents a major positive quality assurance/risk management change in transfusion practice. To understand the factors responsible for the success of the program, a questionnaire was sent to 224 patients donating during a 26-month period ending July 1, 1985. Factors important in the increasing utilization of the program include donor acceptance, clinician referrals, and perceived lack of conflict with the homologous donation process.

Aged↗

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion during pregnancy.

The development of battery-powered pumps for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion added new dimensions to control of diabetes during pregnancy. In this report, we describe our experiences with 28 pregnant diabetic women offered participation in an insulin pump program. Fifteen (54%) accepted pump therapy and ten continued usage during their pregnancies. Excluding abortions, eight women continuing pump use are compared to 11 others who declined such therapy and were treated with conventional methods. Although these two groups are small and not strictly comparable, the experiences now reported provide clinical insights into the application of this new technology during pregnancy. Women who successfully used insulin pumps were typically from the private sector and in better glucose control at study entry. The degree of control during pregnancy in women using pumps was not significantly different compared to conventional glucose control methods (mean glucose 120 mg/dl and 142 mg/dl, respectively). Similarly, several indices of pregnancy outcome including length of hospitalization, costs, and perinatal morbidity associated with diabetes were analyzed and no significant differences were observed. We conclude that insulin pumps are not acceptable to all pregnant diabetic women and that such therapy may not necessarily improve pregnancy outcome.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Prospective study of manikin-only versus manikin and human subject endotracheal intubation training of paramedics.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of manikin-only training on field success of endotracheal intubation by paramedics. DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of individual field endotracheal intubation success rates for paramedics after they participated in a manikin-only or a manikin-plus-cadaver training program. TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS: Paramedics responding to emergency calls involving adult medical or trauma victims. INTERVENTIONS: All participants were trained using a controlled manikin training program; then, half were randomly selected for additional instruction using fresh human cadavers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Individuals trained using only the manikin program had mean +/- SD individual success rates of 82 +/- 32%, and individuals who received additional cadaver training had mean individual success rates of 83 +/- 31%. Overall success rates for the two groups were 86% for the manikin-only group and 85% for the manikin-plus-cadaver-trained group. The sample size was not adequate to allow rejection of the null hypothesis. CONCLUSION: Paramedics trained in endotracheal intubation using a systematic manikin-only teaching program can attain acceptable individual success rates in the actual field setting.

Cadaver↗

Diagnosis of complex acid-base disorders: physician performance versus the microcomputer.

Patients with acid-base disturbances that are often complex frequently present to the emergency department. The sometimes hectic nature of the ED can preclude the appropriate quantitative analysis required by these disorders, especially when mixed disturbances are present. A computer program using generally accepted acid-base and electrolyte formulae was developed for use on the Apple II+ or IBM-PC microcomputer. Each of a series of 35 acid-base disturbances incorporating single, double, and triple disorders was correctly identified by the computer in less than 45 seconds. Problem sets based on the same 35 disturbances were presented to 21 physician-subjects at various levels of training from the emergency medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and family practice specialties. Although the physicians were given unlimited time and the necessary formulae to reach a diagnosis, they were requested to perform their analyses in the same fashion used in the ED. Although times varied widely, no physician spent more than five minutes on any problem. The physician correct response rates were 86%, 49%, and 17% for single, double, and triple disorders, respectively. The primary disorder correct response rate was 89% for double disorders and 94% for triple disorders. The primary and secondary disorder correct response rate was 58% for triple disorders. The data suggest that the microcomputer may be beneficial in the rapid assessment of complex disorders.

Acid-Base Imbalance↗

[Factors associated with latent tuberculosis infection in the contacts of tuberculosis patients].

BACKGROUND: As tuberculosis control programs have reached acceptable levels in the identification and treatment of persons with active tuberculosis, the next step should be to develop methods of preventing new cases. Persons with latent tuberculosis infection (LTI) are considered to have a higher risk of developing active tuberculosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of LTI and its associated factors in the contacts of tuberculosis patients. METHODS: We studied the contacts of tuberculosis patients who were examined in the Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention in Lleida (Spain) from 1991-1997. Factors associated with the index case (demographic, radiographic, bacteriologic and therapeutic) and tuberculin skin test results and demographic data in contacts were collected. Data on HIV infection, injection drug use and alcohol consumption in tuberculosis patients were also collected. The associations were assessed by obtaining crude and adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: The prevalence of LTI among contacts was 36.1% (780/2,161). In the multivariate analysis a higher frequency of LTI was detected in contacts older than 14 years (ORa = 3.34; 95% CI, 2.51-4.45), contacts who had a higher degree of exposure to the index case (ORa = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.59-2.42), contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients (ORa = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.01-2.35), contacts of patients with a positive sputum smear (ORa = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.15-1.99), contacts of patients with caverns on chest x-ray (ORa = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.01-1.61) and contacts of patients with delayed treatment (ORa = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.05-1.62). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of LTI in the contacts of patients with tuberculosis was high. Among the factors studied, delayed treatment in the index case was independently associated with the frequency of LTI in tuberculosis contacts. Measures for the early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis should be intensified.

Adolescent↗

Effectiveness of student admission essays in identifying attrition.

Nursing school admission selection processes exist to select the "best and brightest" applicants assuming that those selected will be successful. However, attrition occurs. Effectiveness of grade point averages (GPAs) and test scores have been reported, while the effectiveness of essays in predicting attrition in undergraduate nursing education has not been reported in the literature. For the purposes of this study, attrition was defined as students enrolled in courses following acceptance into the program who did not complete the program. Data from a retrospective longitudinal sample including 236 students from one baccalaureate nursing program were analyzed for differences between students who completed the program ("completers", n=193) and those who dropped out ("non-completers", n=43). t-tests between the group mean essay scores revealed a statistical difference (t=2.092, p=0.043), while there was no statistical difference (t=0.22, p=ns) between the mean admission GPAs of the groups. Content analysis revealed thematic differences in the essays. Non-completers tended to write about nursing as external to themselves, in contrast to the completers who described an internalization of the role. Answers to questions of motivation for entering nursing and personal experience with a nurse may provide helpful information in selecting those students most likely to complete the program.

Adult↗

Screening for thalassemia: a model of success.

Programs of prospective carrier screening and genetic counseling for beta-thalassemia among couples planning marriage, preconception, or during early pregnancy are ongoing in several at-risk populations in the Mediterranean area, including Greeks, Greek Cypriots and Continental Italians. Carrier detection is carried out by haematological analysis followed by mutation detection by DNA analysis. Once carrier couples are identified, prenatal diagnosis is accomplished by mutation analysis on PCR amplified DNA from chorionic villi. These programs have been very effective, due to education programs and subsequent acceptance of screening. Future prospects include automation of the process of mutation detection by microchips analysis, introduction of preconception and preimplantation diagnosis and hopefully fetal diagnosis by analysis of fetal cells in maternal circulation.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

Epidemiological analysis of immunity to poliovirus after termination of an era of vaccination with OPV in Germany. An analysis of the German Association Against Viral Diseases (DVV).

The global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000 is an objective of the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 1998, after a period of 37 years of vaccination using live oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), single use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) has been recommended in Germany. The present epidemiological analysis shows the immunity of 3474 patients to poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3 by using a microneutralization assay. A non-age-specific evaluation of antibodies seroprevalence to poliovirus type 1 remained 81% and similarly, for poliovirus type 2 86% while the poliovirus type 3 decreased from 78% in 1990-1992 to 68% in 1997. In the important group of children aged 5-14 years, the prevalence of antibodies to type 3 decreased clearly from 74% in 1990 to 47% in 1997. The relatively favorable level of seroprevalence of antibody to type 2 in children aged 1-4 years (89%) indicates a good acceptance of vaccination programs. However, a good immunity to all 3 serotypes was not achieved by primary vaccination. The objective of a global eradication of poliomyelitis has not yet been be achieved. Great problems still exist, especially in Africa and Asia.

Adolescent↗

Rationale for combining different screening strategies.

It is generally accepted that screening programs should be quite safe, and that the benefits should substantially outweigh the harms. As Cochrane and Holland stated: We believe that there is an ethical difference between everyday medical practice and screening. If a patient asks a medical practitioner for help, the doctor does the best he can. He is not responsible for defects in medical knowledge. If, however, the practitioner initiates screening procedures he is in a very different situation. He should, in our view, have conclusive evidence that screening alters the natural history of disease in a significant proportion of those screened. If this is so, one should recommend the combination over either test alone only if there is sufficient evidence that the combination is more effective and no more dangerous. There is a difference of opinion over whether the evidence, which is certainly not strong, is nevertheless sufficient. This poses a dilemma. Many expert groups prefer that screening for colorectal cancer be done with both FOBT and sigmoidoscopy rather than either alone. Yet, the strength of the evidence for additional effectiveness, and information on the magnitude of that effect if it is present, is substantially less than for the individual tests. This being the case, the author believes that it is premature to advocate the combination over either test alone, especially when the most pressing national priority in colorectal cancer screening is to get a large proportion of the adult population to be screened at all.

Colonic Polyps↗

The role of donor age and ischemic time on survival following orthotopic heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The advances in immunotherapy, along with a liberalization of eligibility criteria have contributed significantly to the ever increasing demand for donor organs. In an attempt to expand the donor pool, transplant programs are now accepting older donors as well as donors from more remote areas. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of donor age and organ ischemic time on survival following orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). METHODS: From April 1981 to December 1996 372 adult patients underwent OHT at the University of Western Ontario. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify predictors of outcome. Variables affecting survival were then entered into a stepwise logistic regression model to develop probability models for 30-day- and 1-year-mortality. RESULTS: The mean age of the recipient population was 45.6 +/- 12.3 years (range 18-64 years: 54 < or = 30; 237 were 31-55; 91 > 56 years). The majority (329 patients, 86.1%) were male and the most common indications for OHT were ischemic (n = 180) and idiopathic (n = 171) cardiomyopathy. Total ischemic time (TIT) was 202.4 +/- 84.5 minutes (range 47-457 minutes). In 86 donors TIT was under 2 hours while it was between 2 and 4 hours in 168, and more than 4 hours in 128 donors. Actuarial survival was 80%, 73%, and 55% at 1, 5, and 10 years respectively. By Cox proportional hazards models, recipient status (Status I-II vs III-IV; risk ratio 1.75; p = 0.003) and donor age, examined as either a continuous or categorical variable ([age < 35 vs > or = 35; risk ratio 1.98; p < 0.001], [age < 50 vs > or = 50; risk ratio 2.20; p < 0.001], [age < 35 vs 35-49 versus > or = 50; risk ratio 1.83; p < 0.001]), were the only predictors of operative mortality. In this analysis, total graft ischemic time had no effect on survival. However, using the Kaplan-Meier method followed by Mantel-Cox logrank analysis, ischemic time did have a significant effect on survival if donor age was > 50 years (p = 0.009). By stepwise logistic regression analysis, a probability model for survival was then developed based on donor age, the interaction between donor age and ischemic time, and patient status. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in myocardial preservation and peri-operative management may allow for the safe utilization of donor organs with prolonged ischemic times. Older donors are associated with decreased peri-operative and long-term survival following. OHT, particularly if graft ischemic time exceeds 240 minutes and if these donor hearts are transplanted into urgent (Status III-IV) recipients.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Demographic characteristics of fathers of infants born to adolescent mothers in Taiwan.

It has been well accepted that effective programs for prevention of adolescent pregnancy should involve adolescent women and their partners. Using data from certificates of live births in Taichung County, Taiwan, in 1994, the demographic characteristics of fathers whose infants were born to adolescent women were compared with a matched group fathers whose infants were born to women aged > or =20 years. Most of the fathers of infants born to adolescent women were adults: 57% of the fathers of infants born to women aged < or =15 years were > or =30 years of age. Fathers of infants born to adolescent women had a lower educational level than that of matched fathers. These demographic characteristics of fathers should be carefully interpreted and taken into consideration in developing intervention programs.

Adolescent↗

A brief, regular, proactive telephone "coaching" intervention for diabetes: rationale, description, and preliminary results.

Telephone-delivered interventions (TDIs) represent a potentially cost-effective method to increase medical adherence. TDIs for diabetes patients have typically been delivered by nurses or computerized telephone messaging. Psychology undergraduates, however, are less costly than nurses, have a strong background in behavioral science, and provide the personal relationship missing with computerized contact. This paper presents the rationale for and description of a brief, regular, proactive telephone intervention designed to be delivered by psychology undergraduates (i.e., paraprofessionals). "Coaches" administer a 15-min telephone intervention weekly for 3 months and biweekly for 3 additional months. Guided by a semistructured protocol that focuses on behavioral goals, coaches provides support, collaborative problem-solving, and apply basic cognitive-behavioral techniques. Results from a pilot study on type 1 diabetes patients are presented. This preliminary evidence suggests that the program is feasible, acceptable to a large majority of patients, and effective in reducing HbA1c levels.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗

Public versus private food assistance: barriers to participation differ by age and ethnicity.

OBJECTIVE: To examine participation in the Food Stamp Program, food pantries, and soup kitchens and to identify reasons food-insecure households choose not to participate. DESIGN: Cross-sectional retrospective cohort study. SETTING: In respondents' homes. PARTICIPANTS: 330 randomly selected low-income households (below 185% of poverty). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participation in any of 3 public or private food assistance programs and barriers to participation in each program. ANALYSIS: Chi-square tests of association between program participation and sociodemographic characteristics. Logistic regression tested for associations between program participation and ethnicity and between food security status and household composition while controlling for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Controlling for socioeconomic status, Black households are less than half as likely to receive food stamps (odds ratio [OR] = 0.49; P <.02) as Hispanic households. Hispanic households are more likely than non-Hispanic households to say that they feel uncomfortable using food pantries (P <.01). Elderly households are less than half as likely to receive food stamps (OR = 0.44; P =.04) as nonelderly households and are more likely to say that they feel uncomfortable receiving food stamps (P =.05). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Low-income households' perceptions of which programs are socially acceptable differ by race and age. Outreach for food stamps and private food assistance should accommodate these differences so that food-insecure households can benefit from all available food assistance.

Adolescent↗

Quality of life at the initiation of maintenance dialysis treatment--a comparison between the SF-36 and the KDQ questionnaires.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the construct validity of the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and to assess the quality of life of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at the initiation of maintenance dialysis treatment. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Eight ambulatory dialysis units in São Paulo city, Brazil. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Eighty ESRD patients at the initiation of chronic dialysis program and consecutively accepted for treatment in selected units in 1998. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality of life as measured by the dimensions of the SF-36 questionnaire. The 'Kidney Disease Questionnaire' was used in a subgroup of patients to evaluate the validity of the SF-36. RESULTS: Median (range) scores of the SF-36 dimensions (ranging from 0 to 100, higher scores representing better quality of life) were: Physical Function 70 (0-100), Role Limitations due to Physical Problems 25 (0-100), Bodily Pain 62 (0-100), General Health 57 (5-100), Vitality 55 (10-100), Social Function 63 (0-100), Role Limitations due to Emotional Problems 34 (0-100) and Mental Health 68 (0-100). SF-36 dimensions correlated significantly with those of the 'Kidney Disease Questionnaire' (correlation coefficients ranging from 0.23 to 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: The SF-36 was shown to have construct validity when used in patients with ESRD in Brazil. The quality of life of ESRD patients is impaired at the initiation of dialysis treatment and this was clearly evidenced in the Role Limitations due to Physical Function and Emotional Function items. Greater attention should be given to interventions that could improve the quality of life parameters at the initiation of dialysis treatment.

Adult↗

Design and results of a group counter-detailing DUR educational program.

PURPOSE: The study objectives were to (1) design, (2) implement and (3) evaluate a multi-step educational program as an integral component of a healthcare system's activities to improve medication use quality and control drug costs. Design and implementation of the educational program were based upon established principles of changing prescriber behavior. Two classes of oral medications, antihistamines and antibiotics, were targeted. METHODS: A before-after nonequivalent comparison group design with 2 comparison groups was used for evaluation. Medication claims data from the same time period one year previously were used as historical controls. Prescribing rates, net savings and prescribers' attitudes were assessed. RESULTS: Prescribing trends in the treatment group but not comparison groups generally reflected changes consistent with the educational message. A net savings of $84 was achieved in the antihistamine program. A net loss of ($2722) was seen in the antibiotic program. Over 75 percent of prescribers agreed or strongly agreed that the educational program was an appropriate mechanism to optimize medication use. Level of exposure and practice years affected perceived knowledge gains. CONCLUSION: The group counter-detailing DUR educational program was effective in improving prescribing rates. Prescribing rate changes and economic impacts differed by therapeutic category. The entire program was well accepted among prescribers including physicians and nurse practitioners.

Drug Prescriptions↗

Effects of stress on sleep: the moderating role of coping style.

The aim of this prospective quasi-experimental study was to assess the role of coping style as a factor moderating the relationship between stress and sleep. Sleep of 36 students was assessed by means of actigraphy and daily logs during low-stress and high-stress periods. The high-stress period was the week that the students were evaluated for acceptance to graduate programs in clinical psychology. The low-stress period was a regular academic week. The students' ways of coping were assessed during the baseline low-stress period using the COPE inventory. Data analysis revealed that a high emotion-focused coping score was significantly predictive of reduction in sleep time from the low- to the high-stress period. These results suggest that coping style is a key factor in assessing the relationship between stress and sleep.

Adaptation, Psychological↗