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Factors associated with college student intent to engage in community service.

Many universities in the United States highlight service as an integral component to their mission. Additionally, a growing pedagogical focus highlights the importance of community service as an integral component of student development. The current study was an investigation of the factors associated with college student intentions to engage in volunteer community service. University students (N = 403) at a comprehensive university located in the southern plains completed an anonymous Web-based questionnaire to assess community service attitudes and intentions. Subsequent to testing for statistical assumptions, results from multiple regression analysis suggest that a sense of community connectedness, cost and benefit considerations, and the seriousness of community needs are significant variables in explaining variance in the intent to engage in community service.

Adult↗

Validation of Italian version of the Women's Health Questionnaire: assessment of quality of life of women from the general population and those attending menopause centers.

OBJECTIVES: The Women's Health Questionnaire has been developed and validated in Anglo-Saxon and Swedish populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Italian version of the questionnaire to determine whether cross-cultural differences exist in the perception of quality of life, and to use it to compare the quality of life in women attending menopause centers with that of women in the general population. METHODS: An Italian version of the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) was produced, using the forward-backward translation method to ensure conceptual equivalence, and approved by the originator. Women were recruited by random selection from the general population and from menopause centers, those taking hormone replacement therapy being ineligible. The questionnaire was completed anonymously at home and mailed to the co-ordinating center. Psychometric evaluation included tests of item convergent and discriminant validity, internal-consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, construct validity and the discriminative properties of the questionnaire. RESULTS: The completeness of the data was good, with missing-value rates consistently low for most items. Item-scale correlations, used to evaluate internal consistency, were also good and the scaling success rate, used to measure item discriminant validity, was high for all scales. Scale scores were reliable for seven out of nine scales and test-retest reliability was excellent. There were few significant differences between the two populations of women in most of the WHQ areas. A comparison of Italian data with published data on English women showed great similarity. CONCLUSION: The Italian version of the WHO is valid and reproducible. The subjective perception of the menopause and its related problems is similar in geographically and culturally different populations.

Affect↗

[Detection of domestic violence against women. Survey in a primary health care clinic].

According to Pan American Health Organization nearly 50% of women suffer chronic domestic violence in Latin America. We evaluated the prevalence of gender based violence (GBV) in women assisted in a University Outpatient Clinic in Buenos Aires. We used a survey originally developed by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in Spanish. The survey was distributed to a consecutive sample of women more than 18 years of age who attended the clinic. Participants were randomized to fill out the questionnaire anonymously (self-administered) or during an interview with the physician in order to test the sensitivity of these two different modalities of data collection. Of 360 eligible women 270, (75%) completed the questionnaire. The respondents had a median age of 45.4 years, only 33% had more than 7 years of formal education and 48% did not live with a partner. Of the 270 respondents, 120 (44%) women reported mistreatment at least once during their lifetime. Of these, 108 (40%) reported psychological GBV, 53 physical GBV and 45 reported sexual GBV. Most of the respondents suffered more than one type of violence. 46 (17%) women reported sexual abuse during childhood, 219 (81%) of participants never had been asked by their physician about domestic violence. Women interviewed by the physician reported GBV more frequently than those completing the self-administered survey (p <0.005). The survey developed by the IPPF is considered a useful tool for screening in a clinical setting.

Adult↗

The surveillance of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in England and Wales. PHLS AIDS Centre.

Comprehensive surveillance is necessary for effective and efficient primary prevention as well as appropriate resource allocation for patient care. The surveillance of HIV-1 infections and AIDS in England and Wales is based upon voluntary confidential reporting by clinicians of AIDS cases and deaths in HIV-1 infected persons without AIDS, monitoring of named HIV-1 tests through laboratory reports and a special collaborative laboratory study. In addition an unlinked anonymous HIV-1 prevalence monitoring programme has been developed recently to provide a more accurate picture of the evolving epidemic.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

An anonymous seroprevalence survey of HIV infection among pregnant women in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

We performed an anonymous seroprevalence survey of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection through HIV antibody testing of blood samples from 22,512 women aged 15 to 44 years receiving prenatal care in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory from Mar. 15 to Sept. 30, 1989. Of the samples six were confirmed to be HIV positive; this yielded a crude overall seroprevalence rate of 2.7 per 10,000 pregnant women (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 5.8). All of the positive samples were from women 20 to 29 years of age; four were from Vancouver, one was from Victoria, and one was from elsewhere. The highest seroprevalence rates were among women aged 15 to 29 years in Vancouver and Victoria (7.2 and 9.4 per 10,000 pregnant women respectively). Thus, 1 in 1300 pregnant women in that age group in the metropolitan areas of British Columbia was HIV positive. Application of seroprevalence rates to the total female population in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory revealed that as many as 401 women had HIV infection in 1989. Our estimates likely represent the minimum. As a subset of women of childbearing age pregnant women are likely at lowest risk of HIV infection, and so the true number of women 15 to 44 years of age with HIV infection is probably several times higher. Our study has provided a baseline assessment and will be repeated annually to analyse trends in HIV seroprevalence among pregnant women in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection of heterosexual men attending a sexual health centre.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors, particularly circumcision status, associated with serological evidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection of heterosexual men. DESIGN: A cross-sectional case-control study employing an anonymous delinked interviewer-administered questionnaire, clinical examination, and a type-specific serological test for HSV-2. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Three hundred consecutive heterosexual male patients at a public sexually transmissible diseases (STD) clinic in Sydney, Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations between serological evidence of HSV-2 infection and history of genital herpes or contact with genital herpes, history of other common STDs, and demographic and behavioural factors such as age, education level, number of sexual partners and lack of circumcision. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-four patients (64.7%) had antibodies to HSV-2 but only 24% of these gave a history of genital herpes. A history of genital herpes or sexual contact with genital herpes, reported total lifetime number of sexual partners, failure to complete high school and a history of non-gonococcal urethritis or genital warts were associated with serological evidence of HSV-2 infection at the univariate level. Neither increasing age nor lack of circumcision was associated with HSV-2 infection. Following multivariate analysis only the lifetime number of partners and failure to finish high school were significantly strong predictors of HSV-2 infection. CONCLUSION: This is the highest prevalence of HSV-2 infection ever detected in an Australian population and one of the highest recorded globally. As younger men were as commonly infected as older men, and an earlier (1985) study involving the same clinic yielded a lower prevalence, it appears that a high level of ongoing HSV-2 transmission is occurring among Sydney heterosexuals. Increased awareness of this fact could enhance safer sex campaigns.

Adolescent↗

HIV knowledge, beliefs and sexual behavior of male heterosexual drug users and non-drug users attending an HIV testing clinic in Israel.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to compare HIV-related knowledge, beliefs in self-control and sexual behavior of non-drug using and drug using heterosexual men. All individuals attending an HIV testing site during a two-month period were asked to complete a questionnaire anonymously. Data for 49 drug users (DU), most of them non-injectors, were compared to that of 94 non-drug using (non-DU) men with similar education levels (high school or less). Sexual behavior items refer to previous six months. FINDINGS: HIV-related knowledge was reported correctly by the majority of men in both groups, but the DU showed significantly more misconceptions (p < 0.01). Consistent but statistically insignificant lower levels of self-control were reported by the DU. Type of sexual relations and the number of regular sexual partners were not different between the groups: 55% of the DU and 67% of the non-DU were not monogamous. DU had either none or many casual partners (three or more), significantly different from the non-DU. The proportion of DU who never used condoms (65%) was higher as compared to non-DU men (43%, p < 0.05). However, when controlling for type of partnership, this difference was sustained only among monogamous men (82% of DU vs. 42% of non-DU never used condoms, p < 0.05). Condom use was significantly associated with age, HIV knowledge and sexual partnership in the DU. The greater deficiencies in HIV-related knowledge, and the prevalence of risk behaviors among DU require intensive individual and group counselling, specifically adapted for the needs and the culture of drug users in Israel and incorporated with social-influence-orientated change processes.

Adult↗

Interspecific reciprocity explains mobbing behaviour of the breeding chaffinches, Fringilla coelebs.

When prey animals discover a predator close by, they mob it while uttering characteristic sounds that attract other prey individuals to the vicinity. Mobbing causes a predator to vacate its immediate foraging area, which gives an opportunity for prey individuals to continue their interrupted daily activity. Besides the increased benefits, mobbing behaviour also has its costs owing to injuries or death. The initiator of mobbing may be at increased risk of predation by attracting the predator's attention, especially if not joined by other neighbouring prey individuals. Communities of breeding birds have always been considered as temporal aggregations. Since an altruist could not prevent cheaters from exploiting its altruism in an anonymous community, this excluded any possibility of explaining mobbing behaviour in terms of reciprocal altruism. However, sedentary birds may have become acquainted since the previous non-breeding season. Migrant birds, forming anonymous communities at the beginning of the breeding season, may also develop closer social ties during the course of the breeding season. We tested whether a male chaffinch, a migrant bird, would initiate active harassment of a predator both at the beginning of the breeding season and a week later when it has become a member of a non-anonymous multi-species aggregation of sedentary birds. We expected that male chaffinches would be less likely to initiate a mob at the beginning of the breeding season when part of an anonymous multi-species aggregation of migratory birds. However, their mobbing activity should increase as the breeding season advances. Our results support these predictions. Cooperation among individuals belonging to different species in driving the predator away may be explained as interspecific reciprocity based on interspecific recognition and temporal stability of the breeding communities.

Aggression↗

Performance of antenatal HIV screening strategies in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: In 1996 only 13.5% of previously undiagnosed HIV infected women were detected in pregnancy. In this study, all 265 maternity units in the United Kingdom were surveyed to determine the relation between screening strategy, uptake of testing, and detection rate. METHODS: Data on HIV screening strategy and uptake of testing were collected in 1997 by postal questionnaire. The proportion of women with previously undiagnosed HIV infection identified during pregnancy (detection rate) was calculated using data from national obstetric HIV surveillance and unlinked anonymous seroprevalence studies. RESULTS: 239 (90%) units responded; 25 of these (10%) had a universal offer strategy, 89 (37%) a selective offer, and 125 (52%) tested only women who requested it. All selective units offered testing to injecting drug users, but only 26% to women who had lived abroad in high prevalence areas. Uptake was over 10% in only eight units, all with a universal strategy, and in 76% of selective units it was below 0.1%. The detection rate was 14.7% in universal units, 7.8% in selective units, and 7.7% in on request units. In universal units, detection increased by 6.3% (95% confidence interval 3.7% to 8.8%) for every 10% increase in uptake of testing. There was evidence of both selective presentation for testing and avoidance of testing among infected women. CONCLUSIONS: All current antenatal HIV testing strategies fail to identify most infected women. Universal offer strategies achieve a very low uptake and a poor detection rate. Units with selective strategies tend to test only a minority of women at high risk and do not target all the main high risk groups.

Female↗

Real-World Testing Landscape and Costs of Companion Diagnostics and Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Across Nine Solid Tumors in Japan: A 10-Year Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine utilization, testing sequences, and associated genomic testing costs of companion diagnostics (CDx) and comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) among Japanese patients with nine representative solid tumors. METHODS: This retrospective study used anonymized data, from Medical Data Vision Co., Ltd. (MDV; January 2015-March 2025) and JMDC Inc. (JMDC; January 2015-January 2025), for patients with solid tumors of nine cancer types who underwent CDx and/or CGP testing or received any cancer treatment. Patient demographics, distribution and testing sequences of CDx and CGP, and associated genomic testing costs per patient were evaluated. RESULTS: Proportions of CDx and CGP testing varied across nine cancer types. Most patients underwent CDx testing once or twice, although some cohorts, particularly with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), were tested thrice or more. Biliary tract cancer demonstrated the highest proportions for CGP testing alone, and both CDx and CGP testing. For both CDx and CGP testing, the greatest median costs were observed for ovarian and breast cancers, with bimodal peaks near US dollars (USD) 4000 and USD 5000. Median CDx costs were equal to or higher for patients who underwent both CDx and CGP testing compared with those who had CDx testing alone, particularly in breast, pancreatic, prostate, and ovarian cancers. For CDx testing alone, NSCLC, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer had the highest costs, with a small peak near USD 1333. These results were mostly consistent across databases. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple CDx testing followed by CGP testing increased genomic testing costs per patient. Early implementation of CGP testing could reduce redundant testing and associated delays in treatment, thereby contributing to lower overall healthcare costs and more efficient treatment selection amid rapid advances in targeted therapies.

Administrative claims database↗

Tuberculosis exposure risk in emergency medicine residents.

OBJECTIVES: To assess purified protein derivative (PPD) test surveillance and respiratory protection practices of emergency medicine (EM) residents, along with the prevalence of PPD test conversion and the development of active tuberculosis (TB) in EM residents. METHODS: The study instrument was an anonymous, self-reporting, multiple-choice survey administered to U.S. and Canadian EM residents. It was distributed for voluntary completion in conjunction with the American Board of Emergency Medicine's annual in-service examination, which was administered February 25, 1998. RESULTS: A total of 89.3% (n = 2,985) of residents eligible to complete the survey completed at least part of it. The majority of residents are PPD-tested once a year. The prevalence of PPD test conversions in EM residents was between 1.4% (36/2,575) and 2.0% (52/2,575). Of the residents who PPD test-converted, the ED was most often the perceived area of TB source exposure (n = 15). Two residents (0.08%) reported having developed active TB, including chest radiographic findings or clinical infection, which equals a 0.14% (95% CI = 0.005 to 0.31) risk of developing active TB over a three-year residency. Half of all the residents do not routinely wear National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved particulate filtration respirator (PFR) masks in patient encounters at risk for TB exposure. While more than a third of EM residents have not undergone fit testing for a NIOSH-approved PFR mask, the lack of routine easy availability of such masks is the most common reason they are not routinely worn by EM residents during at-risk encounters for TB transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Most surveillance PPD testing of EM residents is performed at intervals recommended by the CDC. TB control programs at institutions sponsoring EM residencies need to improve both compliance with PFR mask fit testing by EM residents and availability of approved PFR masks in appropriate areas of the ED. Despite poor compliance with personal respiratory protection in ED patient encounters at risk for TB transmission, the risk of an EM resident's developing active TB over a three-year residency is low.

Emergency Medical Services↗

Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus among childbearing women. Estimation by testing samples of blood from newborns.

Attempts to predict the course of the epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been hampered by the lack of an objective, practical way to estimate the prevalence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the general population. Testing for the prevalence of HIV infection in women should be a sensitive means to track the epidemic and to study the potential for perinatal transmission. Antibodies in maternal blood are contained in neonatal blood specimens routinely collected on absorbent paper for other purposes, such as screening for phenylketonuria; we therefore tested for HIV antibody in these specimens. Analysis of batches of individually blinded specimens from selected hospitals protected the anonymity of the mothers and babies and was cost efficient. Using the newborn's blood as an indicator of the mother's serologic status, we concluded that 1 of every 476 women (2.1 per 1000) giving birth in Massachusetts was positive for HIV antibody by immunofluorescence assay or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, both confirmed by immunoblot (Western blot) testing. The prevalence of HIV infection varied according to the type and location of the maternity hospitals; rates of seropositivity were highest in inner-city hospitals (8.0 per 1000), lower in mixed urban and suburban hospitals (2.5 per 1000), and lowest in suburban and rural hospitals (0.9 per 1000). This method is useful for collecting data needed to plan and evaluate prevention strategies and to predict the health care resources that will be needed to care for women and children who contract AIDS. Because other states have newborn screening programs similar to the Massachusetts program, this approach can be used for national surveillance of AIDS in women.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Oddball-evoked P300-based method of deception detection in the laboratory. II: Utilization of non-selective activation of relevant knowledge.

We used a deception paradigm modeled on the type used for pre-employment screening procedures. Our novel dependent measure was P300 amplitude. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while subjects were presented with a list of eight antisocial acts one at a time, and one target-response phrase to which a 'yes' button press was required. Subjects were instructed to try to escape detection during the ERP test if they were guilty of any of the acts. After the ERP test, ground truth was established by the completion of an innocent/guilty check list of antisocial acts under perceived anonymous conditions tending to favor honest responding. Subjects were classified as innocent (n = 14) or guilty (n = 17) based on their check list response to the relevant act 'Used Falsified ID'. When comparing the P300 amplitudes in response to the relevant and to another act, we found that most group analyses revealed significant differences between guilty and innocent subjects. The subjects were also individually classified by a 3-step algorithm which involved: (1) a bootstrap amplitude test that compared the bootstrapped amplitudes of the P300s to the relevant and to another act; (2) relevant-to-target item P300 amplitude ratios; and (3) relevant act P300 amplitudes. Overall, the algorithm yielded 87% accuracy. The present study was intended to be an advance over our previous study (Rosenfeld, et al., 1991), in which we correctly classified 89% of the subjects using a similar P300-based deception detection paradigm. However, the possible confounding limitation of that study was that subjects had to complete an innocent/guilty check list of their antisocial acts prior to the ERP test. The present study investigated the accuracy of the P300-based test when subjects did not admit or selectively rehearse their guilt of the relevant act prior to the ERP test.

Electrodes↗

Modeling adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension.

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify and test a model of the psychosocial variables that influence adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension. METHOD: A convenience sample of 219 patients with hypertension who were enrolled in an outpatient clinic of a cardiovascular center in Korea participated in the study. They completed self-administered questionnaires anonymously. The questionnaire was based on the Social Action Theory model and a literature review. The explanatory model was constructed and tested using structural equation modeling in order to examine the effects within the model. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that perceived self-efficacy was the strongest factor influencing patient adherence in this sample. Adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension was influenced by self-efficacy, patient-provider relationship, social support, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension was most strongly influenced by self-efficacy. These findings suggest that nursing interventions to promote patient adherence should focus on the promotion of self-efficacy including improvement in patient-provider relationship and social support, and reduction in depression.

Aged↗

Masturbation prohibition in sex offenders: a crossover study.

Some self-help groups for individuals with aberrant sexual interests (e.g., Sexaholics Anonymous and Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous) maintain that a period of "sexual sobriety" is necessary for treatment. The hypothesis was tested that sexual urges during a 30-day period of voluntary abstinence from masturbation would be less frequent and intense than during a period when masturbation was not avoided. Outpatient pedophiles were randomly assigned to either refrain from masturbating or make no attempt to alter their masturbation frequency for a period of 30 days. All participants were crossed over to the other treatment condition at the start of the 2nd month. Sexual urges and behavior were measured using weekly self-reports. A repeated measures ANOVA failed to show a difference in reported intensity of sexual urges, F(7, 91) = 1.15, p = 0.34; masturbation urges, F(7, 91) = 1.73, p = 0.11; adult sex urges, F(7, 91) = 1.82, p = 0.09; or child sex urges, F(7, 91) = 1.58, p = 0.15, in Masturbation Allowed vs. Masturbation Not Allowed conditions. Of 17 participants, 3 (18%) were able to retain completely from masturbating for 1 month, 4 participants (25%) thought it was helpful not to masturbate; 1 participant (7%) thought therapists should recommend avoidance of masturbation. This study suggests that sexual sobriety from masturbation does not aid in the control of pedophilic fantasies. This may be because the technique is ineffective, or because so few participants are willing to engage in it.

Adult↗

Omissions and errors during oxygen therapy of hospitalized patients in a large city of Greece.

Omissions and errors are commonly found concerning hospital oxygen use and the use of nebulizers. The aim of the study was to record oxygen use in seven hospitals located in a large district city of Greece. Another aim was to record the use of nebulizers in the same hospitals. We included 105 head nurses (HNs) working in seven hospitals of a large city district of Greece. Data were collected after interviewing each HN using a questionnaire and completing an anonymous data form. Data are expressed as percentages and analyzed using the chi-square test. We found that 41% of HN believed O(2) is a gas that improves patient's dyspnea. The majority of the nurses (88.6%) stated that there was no protocol for O(2) therapy in the departments in which they worked. We found that O(2) therapy was commonly started, modified, discontinued by nurses in the absence of a medical order. Oxygen therapy was commonly not guided by arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis. We also found that there are no guidelines to prevent O(2) therapy interruption during intra-hospital transportation, and that few measures were taken to prevent O(2) explosion. In 95.2% of the departments the nebulizers were filled with tap water and were not changed on a daily basis (81.2%). Our results indicate that educational programmes, nursing protocols and guidelines are becoming mandatory in our country in order to ensure the proper use of O(2) therapy and nebulizers.

Clinical Competence↗

Perinatal screening for drugs of abuse: reassessment of current practice in a high-risk area.

Anonymous urine toxicology screening among parturient women during 1 month in 1990 and selective newborn testing during this and the subsequent 4-month period was done to assess prevalence of drug use among parturients in a municipal hospital in the Bronx and to assess impact of infant urine toxicology screening on discharge placement. Infant testing was performed for maternal history of drug use, poor prenatal care (5 or fewer visits), or infant symptoms. Urine was screened for cocaine, opiates, methadone, barbiturates, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines. Of 204 women screened, 9.3% were positive. Of these, 74% were positive for cocaine and 21% revealed polysubstance use. Only 28.6% of cocaine-positive mothers gave a history of use. Selective testing of 1196 newborns during this 5-month period revealed an apparent prevalence of cocaine exposure of 4.9%. Selective infant testing failed to identify 42.1% of newborns of cocaine-positive women. Social work evaluation was performed on all families and was the basis for reporting to state agencies for protective services. Only 6 of 83 drug-positive infants entered foster care, none because of positive toxicology per se. Selective infant toxicology studies miss many cocaine-exposed infants and has little impact on placement. Universal social work evaluation of families may be as effective and freer of bias than selective urine screening.

Female↗

HIV antibody in persons screened for syphilis: prevalence in a New York City emergency room and primary care clinics.

An anonymous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence survey was performed on bloods sent for syphilis serologic testing from the general medical or pediatric clinics or emergency room of a municipal hospital in the Bronx, New York City. From July-December 1987, 549 sera from persons aged 15-54 were collected. HIV antibody was detected in 29/549 (5.3%) sera, increased with age from 0% in the group under 20 to 16.7% in those aged 35-39, and was significantly higher in men (27/230, 11.7%) compared to women (2/319, 0.6%) (P less than .05). Among men aged 35-39, 10/29 (34.5%) were HIV infected. The HIV seroprevalence in emergency room sera was 8/61 (13.1%) versus 21/488 (4.3%) from the out-patient clinics (P less than .05). The presence of a reactive syphilis serology was strongly associated with HIV infection independent of gender (Mantel-Haenszel summary odds ratio (OR) 4.1, 95% CI [1.8, 7.7]) but was stronger for women with reactive syphilis serologies (OR 45.5, 95% CI 5.3, 387.6) than for men (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2, 5.8). AIDS prevention strategies may reach at-risk sexually active individuals by focusing on hospital-based emergency rooms and out-patients clinics in areas with high HIV seroprevalence.

Adolescent↗