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PubMed2003

"They're too smart for that": predicting what children would do in the presence of guns.

OBJECTIVES: We examined parents' beliefs about how children would react to finding guns, with particular emphasis on how parents reasoned about children's actions. METHODS: Based on a randomized telephone survey of Northeast Ohio residents, we focused on the 317 urban and 311 rural respondents who had children 5 to 15 years old in their homes. Respondents were asked about gun ownership and their expectations of how children would react to finding guns. Analysis examined responses in relation to various demographic and socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: All respondents--regardless of gun ownership, geography, race, gender, education level, income, or child age--were equally likely (approximately 87%) to believe that their children would not touch guns they found. Fifty-two percent of those reasoned that children were "too smart" or "knew better." Only 40% based their predictions on specific instructions they had given their children. Only 12% (15/122) of owners stored guns locked and unloaded. Only 3 of 13 variables tested were positively associated with safe storage: having a child 5 to 9 years old, having at least a 4-year college education, and having an income >or=65,000 dollars per year. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that parental beliefs may effectively relieve adults of responsibility and place the burden on children to protect themselves. The implication for injury prevention is that caregivers' unrealistic expectations of children's developmental levels and impulse control may influence storage decisions or the inclination to address gun safety issues with children or other adults with whom children spend time (relatives, playmates' parents).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Risk factors for Leishmania chagasi infection in an urban area of Minas Gerais State.

In order to understand the determinants of human infection by Leishmania chagasi in an urban area, a cross-sectional population based study was conducted using molecular and serologic methods to identify infection. Participants were interviewed using a pre-coded questionnaire. Two criteria were tested to identify risk factors: Model 1--including all participants positive in hybridization by Leishmania donovani complex probe; Model 2--including all participants positive for hybridization and at least one serologic test. In Model 1, the variables associated with infection were: ownership of birds, time spent outside house between 6:00-10:00 PM and garbage not collected. In Model 2, the variables associated with infection were: family with knowledge of the vector, garbage not collected, garbage not removed or buried, ownership of birds and eroded areas in the neighborhood. The risk factors identified were associated with household conditions, presence of animals and the likelihood of contact with phlebotomine sandflies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Clinical pharmacist staffing in United States hospitals.

We evaluated hospital demographics (census regions, size, teaching affiliation, hospital ownership, hospital pharmacy director's degree, pharmacist location within the hospital) and clinical pharmacist staffing/occupied bed in United States hospitals. A database was constructed from the 1992 American Hospital Association's Abridged Guide to the Health Care Field and the 1992 National Clinical Pharmacy Services database. Simple statistical tests and multiple regression analysis were employed. The study population consisted of 1391 hospitals that reported information on clinical pharmacist staffing. The mean number of clinical pharmacists/100 occupied beds was 0.51 +/- 0.18. Factors associated with increased clinical pharmacist staffing were west north central region (slope = 0.0029439, p = 0.002), Pacific region (slope = 0.0032089, p = 0.004), affiliation with pharmacy teaching hospitals (slope = 0.0025330, p = 0.0001), teaching hospitals (slope = 0.0028122, p = 0.001), federal government ownership (slope = 0.0029697, p = 0.012), directors with Pharm.D. degrees (slope = 0.0335020, p = 0.002), directors with M.S. Pharmacy degrees (slope = 0.0028622, p = 0.003), pharmacists in a decentralized location (slope = 0.0035393, p = 0.0001), and pharmacy technician staffing (slope = 0.0517713, p = 0.0001). Statistically significant associations between demographic variables and decreased clinical pharmacist staffing/occupied bed were mid-Atlantic region (slope = -0.0028237, p = 0.002), small size (slope = -0.0028894, p = 0.001), pharmacy directors with B.S. degrees (slope = -0.0019271, p = 0.023), and pharmacy administrator staffing (slope = -0.0184513, p = 0.042). The R2 for this multiple regression analysis was 28.31% and adjusted R2 was 24.83%. Increased pharmacy technician staffing had the greatest association (slope = 0.0517713) with increased clinical pharmacist staffing. Significant differences were observed between clinical pharmacist staffing and hospital demographic factors. It appears that one of the most effective ways to increase clinical pharmacist staffing is to increase pharmacy technician staffing (slope). These findings will help future researchers determine specific reasons why some types of hospitals have higher and some lower levels of clinical pharmacist staffing.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1977

Toxocara infection in animal hospital employees.

The recent development of a sensitive and specific test (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) for Toxocara canis infection has made it possible to study the epidemiology of this parasite in man. Antibody to Toxocara was measured in veterinarians, kennel workers, nurses, laboratory technicians, and clerical personnel in an animal hospital (Animal Medical Center, New York, NY) in order to determine the risk of infection in persons with varying degrees of occupational and home exposure to pet dogs. Antibodies were found in 8 (11 per cent) of 73 employees, and the prevalence and intensity of antibody was not statistically associated with either job exposure or dog ownership. However, antibody was not detected in any of the 14 employees who denied both past and present dog ownership. Additional studies using larger numbers of sera are required to determine the significance of these findings.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation of accessibility and use of new communication technologies in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The role of patients in the management and control of type 1 diabetes mellitus, a chronic disease, is well established. The advent of new communication technologies is expected to improve patients' access to health information. However, little is known about the extent to which patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus use the Internet to retrieve medical information and about the impact, if any, this retrieval has on their health status. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accessibility and use of new communication technologies in a population of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending the Diabetes Clinic of the Hospital de Sabadell, Sabadell, Spain, in a 6-month period were asked to answer a structured questionnaire about education level, Internet accessibility, use of health-related Web sites, and mobile-phone ownership and use. RESULTS: Of 302 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending the Diabetes Clinic on a regular basis, 244 (115 men, 129 women) were interviewed (response rate 80.8%). Personal computers were owned by 58.2% of patients. Fifty-nine percent had access to the Internet, 39.3% had access to the Internet at home; however, only 36.5% were regular Internet users. Internet users were younger, more frequently men, and of higher education level. Among Internet users only 49.4% had ever accessed a health-related Web site. Internet users who had ever accessed a health-related Web site had a higher level of education, presented severe hypoglycemia more frequently, and were more likely to have access to the Internet at home. No differences were found in metabolic control between Internet users and nonusers or between Internet users who had ever accessed a health-related Web site and Internet users who had never accessed a health-related Web site. Of the 76.6% of the patients that owned a mobile phone, 96% used it more than once a week. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of new communication technologies might be jeopardized by the low rate of access and utilization of the Internet for health-related purposes. Because of their high rate of ownership and use, mobile phones show promise as a tool in health care communication technologies.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Parents of urban adolescents in Harlem, New York, and the Internet: a cross-sectional survey on preferred resources for health information.

BACKGROUND: Vulnerable populations suffer disproportionately from a variety of health conditions. Access to health information is an important component of health promotion. Reports suggest that while health providers and print media are traditional sources of information, the Internet may be becoming an increasingly important resource for consumers. Particularly, for parents of urban adolescents of color, the Internet could prove to be a valuable asset in helping them understand adolescent health and behavioral issues. OBJECTIVE: To determine the types of adolescent health and behavioral issues of concern to parents of color and to assess their preference for sources of health information, including the Internet. METHODS: A confidential, self-administered survey was administered to parents (largely of African American and Hispanic descent) of 9th-grade students over a 2-year period during 2001-2002 in Harlem, NY. The instrument assessed health and behavioral topics of concern, preferred resources for information, ownership and utilization patterns of computers and the Internet, and interest in obtaining additional computer/Internet training. RESULTS: A total of 419 surveys were completed; 165 in 2001 (67% response rate) and 254 in 2002 (no response rate available). Analysis of responses indicated a substantial degree of interest in obtaining information about a variety of adolescent health issues, including: HIV, sexually transmitted infections, , mental health concerns and relationships with family and peers. While home ownership of computers (84%) and access to the Internet were reasonably high (74%), use of the Internet for health information was low (14%). However, 62% of parents indicated a strong desire to have more instruction on computers and the Internet. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to other sources of health information, the Internet is underutilized by urban parents of color. Additional research is needed to identify strategies to improve utilization and assess subsequent impact on parenting activities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Simulation of lean lamb production systems.

A series of simulations were performed to evaluate the effects of mature size (WMA; 60, 70, 80 and 90 kg), slaughter weight (SW; 55, 60 and 65 kg) and three diets fed to feedlot lambs. Rations included a traditional diet (C2L) or placing weaned lambs on alfalfa for either 30 (A30) or 60 (A60) d before placing them on the C2L diet (A30-C2L and A60-C2L). Two lamb pricing schemes were used in the financial analysis of the biological results: sale price based on weight with or without adjustment for carcass fat. Placing lambs on alfalfa pasture increased ownership by 22 d on average compared to C2L. As WMA and SW increased, ownership increased from 3 to 11 d. Across nutritional treatments, fat decreased by 5.8 to 9.0% as WMA increased from 60 and 90 kg. When market lambs were priced on weight, net returns per lamb were greatest for A30-C2L or A60-C2L ($2.34 and $5.21, respectively above C2L) and for greater SW ($4.77 and $7.16 greater for SW 60 and 65 kg than for SW 55). The combination WMA of 90 kg, a SW of 65 kg and nutritional treatment of A60-C2L proved most profitable. However, when sale price was discounted for excessive fat content, the combinations WMA of 60 or 70 with a SW of 65 and A60-C2L were most profitable. The rank correlation between biological efficiency (weight gain/dry matter feed consumption) and net return, when sale price was based on weight, was found to be -.51. This was because lambs slaughtered at lighter weights had high biological efficiencies but low net returns due to a negative price margin. With negative price margins but positive feeding margins, net returns are greatest for heavier, fatter lambs fed longer.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2002

Growth performance of stocker calves backgrounded on sod-seeded winter annuals or hay and grain.

Economically viable options for retaining ownership of spring-born calves through a winter backgrounding program are somewhat limited in the southeastern United States. Although sod-seeded winter annual forages produce less forage than those same forages planted using conventional tillage practices, sod-seeded winter annual forages have the potential to provide a low-cost, rapid-gain, ecologically and economically viable option for retaining ownership of fall-weaned calves. A study was conducted during the winters of 1998, 1999, and 2000 using 180 crossbred calves (261 +/- 2.8 kg initial BW; n = 60 each year) to compare sod-seeded winter annual forages with conventional hay and supplement backgrounding programs in southeast Arkansas. Calves were provided bermudagrass hay (ad libitum) and a grain sorghum-based supplement (2.7 kg/d) on 1-ha dormant bermudagrass pastures or were grazed on 2-ha pastures of bermudagrass/dallisgrass overseeded with 1) annual ryegrass, 2) wheat plus annual ryegrass, or 3) rye plus annual ryegrass at a set stocking rate of 2.5 calves/ha. Calves grazed from mid-December until mid-April but were fed bermudagrass hay during times of low forage mass. Mean CP and IVDMD concentrations were 19.0 and 71.1%, respectively, across sampling dates and winter annual forages, but three-way interactions among forage treatments, year, and sampling date were detected (P < 0.01) for forage mass, concentrations of CP, and IVDMD. The IVDMD of rye plus ryegrass was greater (P < 0.05) than that of ryegrass in yr 2. A forage treatment x sampling date interaction was detected for forage CP in yr 1 (P < 0.05) and 2 (P = 0.05) but not in yr 3 (P = 0.40). Forage mass did not differ (P > or = 0.22) among winter annual treatments on any sampling date. During the first 2 yr, calves fed hay plus supplement gained less (P < 0.05) BW than calves that grazed winter annual forages; gains did not differ (P > or = 0.23) among winter annual treatments. During the 3rd yr, undesirable environmental conditions limited growth of the winter annual forages; total gain did not differ (P = 0.66) among the four treatments. Winter annual forages offer potential to provide high-quality forage for calves retained until spring, but consistent forage production and quality are a concern when sod-seeding techniques are used.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1993

The impact of hearing impairment on television viewing in the UK.

Just under one in 10 of a nationally representative sample of UK television viewers said that they experienced difficulty with their hearing. These hard-of-hearing viewers were found to report much greater difficulty watching programmes (mean difficulty rating = 32%) than elderly viewers with no reported hearing difficulty (mean difficulty rating = 10%), or those viewers generally who said they had no hearing problems (mean difficulty rating = 3%). Using a similarly constructed rating for reported enjoyment of different television programmes, hard-of-hearing viewers were found to exhibit a small reduction in enjoyment across the majority of programmes types. While it might have been anticipated that a greater proportion of those with impaired hearing owned a teletext television set giving them access to subtitling, this was not found to be the case. Across the sample as a whole, teletext ownership was shown to be 45%, but was lower than this (38.5%) amongst the hard-of-hearing. The findings corroborate what has been shown in another study, namely that teletext ownership is lower among older viewers. Hearing impairment, if it is not congenital or of early childhood origin, is a condition associated with increasing age. Thus, those whose viewing and appreciation of programmes might be enhanced by subtitles, in the main, do not have access to them. Among hard-of-hearing viewers who did have access to the teletext subtitle service, two thirds of those aged 51 years and over felt that subtitles assisted their understanding of television programmes. As one might expect, of those owning teletext, hard-of-hearing viewers reported greatest use of subtitles. Thirteen per cent of those with hearing difficulty and aged over 51 years said they used subtitles for all programmes watched and a further 26% of the over fifties with hearing difficulty reported regularly using subtitles for selected programmes. These data advocate that there are many hard-of-hearing viewers whose viewing could be enhanced by subtitling. Effort should be made to promote public and professional awareness of the availability of teletext subtitling and additional resources will be needed to combat the technophobia which may hinder older people from initially purchasing a teletext television set, or making effective use of one they already own.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Public or non-public family medicine--patients perspective of the quality of primary care in Białystok, Poland.

OBJECTIVES: Privatisation of primary healthcare is believed to raise the efficiency and quality of care. Poland offers a good opportunity to study relationships between ownership status and quality of provided services. The aim of our study was to compare patients' opinions concerning family physicians working in a public healthcare centre (owned and managed by local administrative authorities) with those in a non-public practice (property of family physicians). Both institutions work within the obligatory insurance scheme (the National Health Fund) with open and free access for patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients using mail questionnaires was conducted in Białystok, Poland. Overall 1000 subjects aged 18 and over were randomly selected out of all the patients in two primary healthcare centres distinguished by ownership status (non-public and public health centre). The main measures were physician-patient relations and overall satisfaction with physician care. RESULTS: The response rate was 58% and 560 questionnaires were used for analysis. Respondents from the non-public centre rated family physician care as very good twice as often (21.6%) as those from the public centre (10.6%). Patients from the non-public centre were significantly more frequently informed by doctors about their disease, ways of prevention and therapeutic management, and were also given significantly more support and consolation during visits. The major cause of dissatisfaction with family physicians in het non-public centre was the problem of being referred to a specialist or accessory investigations. CONCLUSION: From the patients perspective, the quality of family physician care in non-public practice is better than in public institutions, especially with regard to communication and work time management. However, the cost-containment enforced by the capitation method of payment may present a threat to doctor-patient relationship.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Using alumni research to assess a veterinary curriculum and alumni employment and reward patterns.

RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY: The purpose of the study was to obtain an outcomes assessment of the professional degree program of a veterinary college and to determine whether recently published national gender differences were true for a program that has always been predominantly female. METHODOLOGY: A survey was developed and mailed to all alumni of the veterinary degree program at North Carolina State University. Anonymous responses were collected by an independent organization for summation. Results were expressed numerically where possible, although the survey included numerous opportunities for textual responses. Responses were stratified by year of graduation, in five-year increments, and by gender of the respondents. RESULTS: Sixty-one percent of graduates remained within North Carolina. While most of the prerequisite courses were considered useful preparation for the curriculum, physics and calculus were exceptions. Over half the alumni thought time allocations to specific courses were appropriate. However, there were substantial differences between courses. The alumni were satisfied with most aspects of the training program, although there were differences between various components. There were substantial gender differences in length of first employment, salaries, species treated, practice ownership and type of ownership, and career satisfaction. Most alumni work in small animal private clinical practice. Ninety-four percent were employed within three months of graduating. Ninety-five percent did no work with the state's predominant agricultural species. Nineteen percent of alumni were either unsure, probably would not, or definitely would not become a veterinarian if they could choose again. CONCLUSION: The survey was a tremendously valuable source of information. Results provided support for curricular revision. The survey also provided comparative data in relation to national norms, where such norms were available. Unfortunately, few reports of this type are available, making inter-institutional comparisons difficult. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges could assist with standardizing the process of outcomes assessment.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The endowment-institutional affinity effect.

The endowment effect occurs when ownership of a good leads consumers to value the good more than its market value. Students who were given College of Business Administration insignia mugs to keep valued them significantly more than students who were given the same mugs to examine and return (nonendowment condition). The endowment effect also occurred for plain white mugs. Students who were given plain white mugs to keep valued them more than students who were given the same mugs to examine and return. Ownership of insignia mugs not only resulted in the endowment effect but also resulted in an institutional affinity effect: Students provided higher satisfaction ratings with the College of Business Administration than did students endowed with plain white mugs and students in nonendowed conditions. This study demonstrates the impact of the endowment effect on institutional affinity for insignia goods. However, the tandem endowment-affinity effect occurs at the attitude formation stage, not when an attitude has already been formed.

Attitude↗
PubMed1986

Air conditioning and television as protective factors in arboviral encephalitis risk.

In California, the advent of television and air conditioned housing has coincided with a general decrease in mosquito-borne viral encephalitis cases in humans in the past 25 years. During this same period, levels of vector populations, virus activity in vectors, birds, and horses has been high at times. Air conditioning and television encourage persons to remain indoors during summer evenings, the primary time when infected Culex tarsalis transmit western equine encephalomyelitis and St. Louis encephalitis viruses. The attack rates for these 2 diseases in 33 counties in the central valley of California, 1945-1982, were compared with the prevalence of household air conditioning and television. Encephalitis rates were negatively associated with television ownership in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. Moreover, individual counties which experienced the most rapid increase in household television ownership had the greatest decline in encephalitis rates. A telephone survey conducted in Kern County revealed that air conditioner and television utilization times corresponded closely to the feeding times of Cx. tarsalis, and respondents indicated a preference to remain indoors during this time because of these appliances. It is concluded that changed behavioral patterns may protect from vector-borne diseases and be complementary to vector control programs.

Air Conditioning↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors associated with visceral leishmaniasis in Nepal: bed-net use is strongly protective.

Since 1980, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has reemerged as a public health problem in lowland Nepal. We conducted a case-control study to identify risk factors. In univariate analyses among 84 cases and 105 controls, protective factors included sleeping on a bed or cot (Odds ratio [OR] 0.44, P < 0.01) and sleeping under a bed-net regularly (OR 0.23, P < 0.001) or in the warm months (OR 0.20, P < 0.001). The bed-nets in use in this region were commercially available and untreated with insecticide. Ownership of a cow or buffalo was protective (OR 0.34, P < 0.001), whereas dampness observed in the mud floor of the house was a strong risk factor (OR 4.0, P < 0.001). In multivariable models, bed-net usage, cow or buffalo ownership, and damp floors were significantly associated with altered risk. A program to increase bed-net usage could therefore decrease the incidence of VL in Nepal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Socio-economic risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition among children in Mulago Hospital, Kampala.

BACKGROUND: Despite Uganda's recent economic success, malnutrition is still an important public health problem and little information is available on socio-economic risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: To determine socio-economic risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition among children aged 0-60 months. DESIGN: A case control study. SETTING: Mulago Referral and Teaching Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. PATIENTS: Sixty six severely malnourished children (age 0-60 months) were matched, for age and sex, with 66 well nourished controls, and socio-economic, demographic, health facility utilisation and feeding practices were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Severe protein energy malnutrition was associated with young age of the caretaker (p = 0.005), living in a mud walled house (OR 2.44, CI 1.13-5.32), lack of breast feeding (OR 3.22, CI 1.31-8.02), failure to complete immunisation (OR 3.68, CI 1.53-9.011), no land ownership (OR 4.62, CI 2.09-10.3), and no ownership of livestock (OR 13.65, CI 3.60-60.84), by the caretaker. The level of formal education of the caretaker was not associated with severe malnutrition. CONCLUSION: There seems to be a strong association between severe malnutrition and some indicators of poverty, lack of breastfeeding, and failure to complete immunisation. Programmes aimed at poverty alleviation, promotion of breastfeeding and immunisation, will go a long way in preventing malnutrition.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2004

Socio-economic factors predisposing under five-year-old children to severe protein energy malnutrition at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children aged five years and below. Risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition (PEM) have been identified as ignorance, family size, mothers and fathers education, poverty, residence, chronic infections, and congenital defects or malformations. The role of such social factors as the caretaker, extended family, homestead surroundings, and family cohesiveness have not been studied in Kenya. OBJECTIVE: To determine the social and economic factors that predispose children to severe PEM as seen at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret. DESIGN: Prospective and case control study. SETTING: The MTRH, Eldoret, Paediatric wards, outpatient and MCH clinics over a 12 month period (June 2001 to June 2002). SUBJECTS: Sixty six children aged 3 to 36 months with severe PEM attending the MTRH outpatient clinics and those admitted in the Paediatric wards were age-matched with 66 controls. METHODS: A standard pretested questionnaire was used to interview caretakers with severely malnourished children and age-matched controls. The children were weighed after interviewing the caretakers. The data was entered on a computer and analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) programme. RESULTS: The social risk factors for PEM were single mothers (Odds Ratio) OR 14.93, p= 0.00001), young mothers aged 15-25 years (OR 3.95, p= 0.00020), the child's living conditions such as living in a temporary house (OR 3.627 p= 0.00257), caretaker who was not married to the child's parent (OR 0.10, p= 0.00005) and not staying with both parents in the past six months (OR 0.28606, p=0.00101). The economic risk factors were father's lack of ownership of land (OR 0.401, p= 0.01732), cattle (OR 0.24, p=0.00022), not growing maize (OR 0.15, p=0.00013), not growing beans (OR 0.36, p=0.00484) and ownership of small piece of land by grandfather (OR 6.00, p= 0.02274). Other risk factors were incomplete immunization (OR 3.87, p= 0.00151) and female sex (p=0.03721). CONCLUSION: Poverty, social conditions under which the child was living, sex of the child and incomplete immunizations were risk factors for the severe protein energy malnutrition.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1999

[Effect of pets on human health: is there a correlation?].

Is there a Relationship? Despite an increasing number of studies devoted to the health benefits of interacting with pets, the empirical evidence of such an effect still remains weak. Many reports comparing health-related variables in pet owners and non-owners do not find significant differences. Some studies find a statistical correlation between pet ownership and better health, but they do not adequately demonstrate that the better health is a result of the pet. There is experimental evidence suggesting that the presence of animals is associated with a lowering of cardiovascular responses to stressors. Accordingly, pets could be used in the therapy of stress-related diseases. Nevertheless, no consistent clinical studies testing this hypothesis have been carried out. Moreover, neither evolutionary nor learning hypothesis for the observed decrease in cardiovascular reactivity have been tested till now. Research on the benefits of pet ownership still are in its preliminary steps. Further studies are needed for the understanding of the underlying psychological mechanisms of human/animal relationship and its therapeutic possibilities.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Woes of Charter's ESOP show vulnerability of plan's funds.

While many economic experts tout employee stock ownership plans as a way to increase workers' ownership of their company, ESOPs do involve risk. Employees at Charter Medical Corp. may be the losers there, as their retirement plan--valued at as much as $634 million at one time--may be worth about $16 million after the company emerges from restructuring.

Employee Incentive Plans↗