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Evaluation of a tobacco and alcohol use prevention program for Hispanic migrant adolescents: promoting the protective factor of parent-child communication.

BACKGROUND: Interventions designed to prevent tobacco and alcohol use targeting high-risk adolescents are limited. In addition, few studies have attempted to improve parent-child communication skills as a way of improving and maintaining healthy youth decision-making. METHODS: A total of 660 Hispanic migrant families participated in a randomized pre-post control group study that was utilized to determine the impact of the intervention on parent-child communication. Both treatment and attention-control groups of youth were exposed to an eight-session culturally sensitive program presented by bilingual/bicultural college students. Parents jointly attended three of the eight sessions and participated in helping their child complete homework assignments supporting the content of each session. The content of the treatment intervention included (1) information about tobacco and alcohol effects, (2) social skills training (i.e., refusal skills), and (3) the specific development of parent-child communication skills to support healthy youth decisions. RESULTS: Significant intervention by household size interactions for both parent and youth perceptions of communication were found indicating that the treatment was effective in increasing communication in families with fewer children. Based on the effect size and the previously established relationship between communication and susceptibility to tobacco and alcohol use, it was determined that the intervention effect could be translated into a future 5 to 10% decrease in susceptibility for these smaller families. CONCLUSIONS: A culturally sensitive family-based intervention for migrant Hispanic youth was found to be effective in increasing perceived parent-child communication in families with fewer children. It is expected that increases in this important protective factor will lead to later observed decreases in tobacco and alcohol use.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases: a follow-up model.

Chronic non-communicable diseases are caused by interaction between numerous environmental and socio-economic factors and biological response of the human body. They are gaining importance due to the fact that they largely depend on common risk factors, of which more than 70% can be prevented. In 1996, an integrated health prevention program for chronic non-communicable disease based on the Aims of the World Health Organization "Health for all in the 21st century" was designed in the Republic of Serbia. This program concerns the whole population and measures for its implementation. For its successful realization it is necessary to define standard procedures: uniform terminology, diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation, its risk factors. The aim of this study was to establish data from basic medical documentation of the primary health care and propose a more efficient and effective evidence, as well as to establish a program for surveillance, prevention and control of mass non-communicable diseases within the existing medical documentation. The data were gathered from medical records of the general practice and occupational health services. A special questionnaire was designed to register data from medical records. Medical records of general practice and occupational health service in Kikinda have been analyzed. The existing medical documentation is insufficient regarding data necessary for evidence, surveillance and analysis of risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases. A follow-up model for surveillance and evidence of risk factors in basic medical documentation, which should be incorporated in routine statistical reports, would actively include medical professionals--doctors and medical staff in prevention and detection of risk factors.

Chronic Disease↗

Participant satisfaction with a school telehealth education program using interactive compressed video delivery methods in rural Arkansas.

Socioeconomic and demographic factors can affect the impact of telehealth education programs that use interactive compressed video technology. This study assessed program satisfaction among participants in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' School Telehealth Education Program delivered by interactive compressed video. Variables in the one-group posttest study were age, gender, ethnicity, education, community size, and program topics for years 1997-1999. The convenience sample included 3,319 participants in junior high and high schools. The School Telehealth Education Program provided information about health risks, disease prevention, health promotion, personal growth, and health sciences. Adolescents reported medium to high levels of satisfaction regarding program interest and quality. Significantly higher satisfaction was expressed for programs on muscular dystrophy, anatomy of the heart, and tobacco addiction (p < 0.001 to p = 0.003). Females, African Americans, and junior high school students reported significantly greater satisfaction (p < 0.001 to p = 0.005). High school students reported significantly greater satisfaction than junior high school students regarding the interactive video equipment (p = 0.011). White females (p = 0.025) and African American males (p = 0.004) in smaller, rural communities reported higher satisfaction than White males. The School Telehealth Education Program, delivered by interactive compressed video, promoted program satisfaction among rural and minority populations and among junior high and high school students. Effective program methods included an emphasis on participants' learning needs, increasing access in rural areas among ethnic groups, speaker communication, and clarity of the program presentation.

Adolescent↗

Test-retest reliability of fMRI during nonverbal semantic decisions in moderate-severe nonfluent aphasia patients.

Cortical reorganization in poststroke aphasia is not well understood. Few studies have investigated neural mechanisms underlying language recovery in severe aphasia patients, who are typically viewed as having a poor prognosis for language recovery. Although test-retest reliability is routinely demonstrated during collection of language data in single-subject aphasia research, this is rarely examined in fMRI studies investigating the underlying neural mechanisms in aphasia recovery. The purpose of this study was to acquire fMRI test-retest data examining semantic decisions both within and between two aphasia patients. Functional MRI was utilized to image individuals with chronic, moderate-severe nonfluent aphasia during nonverbal, yes/no button-box semantic judgments of iconic sentences presented in the Computer-assisted Visual Communication (C-ViC) program. We investigated the critical issue of intra-subject reliability by exploring similarities and differences in regions of activation during participants' performance of identical tasks twice on the same day. Each participant demonstrated high intra-subject reliability, with response decrements typical of task familiarity. Differences between participants included greater left hemisphere perilesional activation in the individual with better response to C-ViC training. This study provides fMRI reliability in chronic nonfluent aphasia, and adds to evidence supporting differences in individual cortical reorganization in aphasia recovery.

Aged↗

Defining the role of a PACS technologist.

As hospitals convert from conventional image processing to picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) technology, new job opportunities arose for PACS analysts, PACS system administrators, PACS operators, and PACS trainers. To support a PACS, these positions require education in computer information systems and work experience in information technology. At Texas Children's Hospital, new roles for radiologic technologists (RT) in supporting the operation of PACS were not recognized until after implementation of the filmless system. A new position entitled PACS technologis was created, but roles and responsibilities largely were undefined. The inadequate job description contributed to problems with appropriate utilization of the PACS technologist. The primary role of the technologist was nebulous, and the priority of tasks was undefined. There was an excessive volume of information and technology to be mastered. The role represented a new paradigm, so no template for the job description was available that encompassed the array of functions to be performed. The result was a "morph" of the RT and PACS analyst job descriptions that was contrived and unworkable. The role of the PACS technologist is vital to the operation of the radiology department that uses PACS. There is a well-established need for cross training of RTs in PACS. PACS technology is not taught in RT training programs. There are recurrent communications problems between RT and Information Technology (IT) personnel. The PACS technologist can participate in a number of activities that improve the overall level of proficiency in the imaging operation, such as specialized PACS training for RTs, collection and analysis of quality control data, and planning for installations of PACS acquisition modalities. RTs have acquired knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy, imaging modalities, and workflow. These qualifications constitute a common basis for communication with other RTs, physicians, and other health care providers. In addition the appropriate candidate for PACS technologist should have computer software and hardware knowledge, interpersonal skills, oral and written communications skills, and analytical skills to troubleshoot issues. This report will describe the evolution of a more accurate job description for the PACS technologist, the relationship between the PACS technologist and the RT supervisor, and specific tasks are appropriate for the PACS technologist to perform.

Allied Health Personnel↗

Interactive electronic teaching (ISIS): has the future started?

Medical education of hypertensives as well as of other asymptomatic cardiovascular risk patients requires individualized, interactive and attractive strategies. Electronic teaching set up in hospital or clinic settings opens the way of the future, saving time and allowing more advantageous use of caretakers. ISIS (Initiation Sanitaire Informatisee et Scenarisee), a French computer assisted program for cardiovascular risk patients, combines a scientific information, divided in 12 sequential but independent modules, with a recreative imaginary trip in the world of ancient Egypt. To test the impact of this tool on patient health information retention, 158 hypertensives hospitalized in a day-hospital clinic were randomized into an intervention or ISIS group (IG, n = 79) and a control group (CG, n = 79). Both groups received cardiovascular education through standard means. In addition, IG patients underwent a 30 to 60 min session on the computer. Cardiovascular knowledge was tested by a nurse administering a standardized 28-item questionnaire before and two months after education. Retesting was done by telephone interview. A total of 138 completed questionnaires (69 from each group) were analyzed. Overall mean cardiovascular knowledge score before education (14.3 +/- 4.2, range 4-25) improved significantly after education (3.7 +/- 3.5, p = 0.0001). This improvement was more important in the IG than the CG (3.8 +/- 3.6 vs 2.4 +/- 3.2 respectively, p = 0.02), especially in hypertensives having a known disease for more than six months. Isis is now available in two languages: French and English. Patients' satisfaction and the conclusion of this comparative trial encourage confirmation of these first results in other French or English speaking populations, in order to test the long term effects of structured electronic teaching sessions on health behaviour, and to promote a wide use of computers and multimedia communication in hypertension control programs.

Adult↗

Maximizing services along the continuum of care from inpatient to home.

The nurse managers of the inpatient pediatric units and home care division of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital met to restructure and optimize the quality of care delivered to children and their families in the home setting. A program was developed using inpatient pediatric staff nurses to perform home visits to children requiring follow-up after an inpatient hospital stay. The nurse managers found home visits could comfortably be delivered by pediatric inpatient nurses if they were appropriately oriented and precepted by experienced home care nurses. When home visits were performed by the nurses who cared for the patient in the hospital, both the child and the family appeared to have an increase in comfort and self-confidence in caring for their child. The program also was successful in reducing the costs associated with pediatric home care. This was achieved by facilitating the downsizing of the inpatient units in periods of low census, as well as in cost avoidance associated with not paying benefits to additional employees that otherwise would have been hired by the home care department. This program could be implemented successfully in institutions that support communication, coordination, and continuous improvement of the programs provided to children and families.

Aftercare↗

Enhancing health knowledge, health beliefs, and health behavior in Poland through a health promoting television program series.

This study examined the impact of a health promoting television program series on health knowledge and the key factors of the health belief model (HBM) that have led people to engage in healthy behavior (exercising, losing weight, changing eating habits, and not smoking/quitting smoking). Using data from a posttest comparison field study with 15) viewers and 146 nonviewers in Poland, we found that hierarchical regression analysis showed stronger support for the HBM factors of efficacy, susceptibility, seriousness, and salience in their contribution toward health behavior among television viewers compared with nonviewers. Cues to action variables (including television viewing) and health knowledge boosted efficacy among viewers. Without the advantage of receiving health information from the television series, nonviewers relied on their basic disease fears on one hand, and interest in good health on the other to take steps toward becoming healthier. A health promoting television series can increase health knowledge and enhance health beliefs, which in turn contribute to healthy behaviors.

Adolescent↗

Sustaining an Aboriginal mental health service partnership.

The Regional Aboriginal Integrated Social and Emotional (RAISE) Wellbeing program commenced in February 2003 as an Aboriginal mental health service partnership between one Aboriginal Health Service and three mainstream services: a community mental health team, a hospital mental health liaison, and an "outback" community counselling service. A case study method was used to describe the drivers (incentives for program development), linkage processes (structures and activities through which the partnership operated), and sustainability of the program. Program drivers were longstanding problems with Aboriginal peoples' access to mental health care, policy direction favouring shared service responsibility, and a relatively small amount of new funding for mental health that allowed the program to commence. Linkage processes were the important personal relationships between key individuals. Developing the program as a part of routine practice within and across the partner organisations is now needed through formal agreements, common care-management tools, and training. The program's sustainability will depend on this development occurring, as well as better collection and use of data to communicate the value of the program and support calls for adequate recurrent funds. The development of care-management tools, training and data systems will require a longer period of start-up funding as well as some external expertise.

Australia↗

Improving nursing home communication: an intervention to reduce elderspeak.

PURPOSE: Opportunities for social interaction are lacking within today's nursing homes and staff frequently communicate messages of dependence, incompetence, and control to residents. This study evaluated a brief educational program designed to increase staff awareness of intergenerational speech modifications such as elderspeak and strategies to enhance communication. DESIGN AND METHODS: A communication-training program was provided to Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs; n = 20) in five nursing homes. Audio recordings of staff interacting with residents before and after training were transcribed, coded, and compared on features of elderspeak. RESULTS: After the training, CNAs reduced their use of elderspeak including terms of endearment, inappropriate collective pronouns, and shortened sentence length. In addition, the emotional tone of staff speech with residents was rated as less controlling and more respectful after the training while caring qualities were maintained. Speech rate did not change significantly. IMPLICATIONS: Teaching CNAs to reduce elderspeak holds promise as an approach to improving the social environment in nursing homes.

Adolescent↗

A rejoinder to "Exercise Programs for Patients with Post-Polio Syndrome: a case report"--a short communication.

This communication is in response to the article by Michael T Gross and Charles P Schuch entitled "Exercise Programs for Patients with Post-Polio Syndrome: A Case Report" published in the January 1989 issue of Physical Therapy. The investigators examined the effects of a rigorous isokinetic training program on peak torque of the knee flexor and extensor muscles of a post-polio patient. The literature on post-polio syndrome, however, does not support the use of either conventional muscle strengthening regimens or rigorous isokinetic exercise programs in the management of post-polio syndrome. In addition, based on the observation that there was no appreciable increase in muscle strength in either the affected or the apparently unaffected leg, the investigators concluded that their rigorous exercise program was not deleterious. The lack of a normal training response, however, is consistent with bilateral muscle fatigue secondary to overuse rather than muscle weakness secondary to disuse. This result is consistent with the need for a balance between rest and low-intensity exercise, which will help to maintain or enhance function while slowing rather than hastening further deterioration. We hope that this rejoinder clarifies some of the misconceptions that may arise from the Gross and Schuch article and that physical therapists consider very carefully the rationale for any type of exercise program for post-polio patients.

Exercise Therapy↗

National library of medicine regional medical library program.

The National Library of Medicine is charged with the development and management of a National Biomedical Communications Network. The Regional Medical Library Program is a forerunner of such a network; the product and institutions involved will be critical elements in its evolution. The immediate objective of the RMLP, the facilitation of biomedical information transfer, presents a logistical problem requiring substantial commitment from the health sciences community and extensive cooperation among libraries in each region.

Journal Article↗

Mass media approaches to reducing cardiovascular disease risk.

A key function of a basic and clinical biomedical research organization is to communicate the findings of clinical investigations so that people may apply the results to improve their health and well-being. To help communicate results from cardiovascular disease research, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has established a series of national health education programs. The authors describe a model for two of the five programs and discuss the role of communication media in supporting national goals for education programs. The research basis for the programs is reviewed, together with the process by which the Institute develops information materials for mass media, notably public service announcements. A description of two national health education campaigns, hypertension and cholesterol, illustrates how market research is used to identify appropriate target audiences, develop messages, and select channels of communication. Lessons learned about the role of mass media in a national health education campaign are summarized.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Communication key for family planning.

4 reports published by Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) include information from husbands of the wives interviewed in the main part of the survey. All are from Africa--Burundi (1987), Ghana (1988), Kenya (1988) and Mali (1987). These surveys of husbands indicate the importance of programs that work to improve communication between spouses about family planning. In particular, they show a positive association between contraceptive prevalence and husband and wife communication about family planning. Husbands and wives were asked how often they discussed family planning in the past year. In Kenya, with a 27% contraceptive prevalence rate--the highest among the 4 countries--about 2/3 of the couples had discussed family planning during the past year. In Ghana, with a rate of 13%, and in Burundi, at 9%, about 1.2 of the couples had discussed family planning during the year. Mali had the lowest contraception prevalence rate of 5% and the least communication among the couples, with only 1.4 discussing family planning during the year. The importance of communication also emerges in data on methods used. In all 4 surveys, the wives reported lower use of male methods than did their husbands. Estimates of use of female methods were more consistent between husbands and wives. Questions were not exactly the same in all 4 surveys, so summaries for each country vary slightly. In Burundi, about 2 of 5 husbands said they used periodic abstinence, compared to about 1 of 5 wives. Husbands said 0.7% used condoms, with 0.3% of the wives giving that response. Husbands an wives agreed that there was no use of male sterilization. The use of vasectomy in Africa is considerably lower than for other regions of the world (see chart below). Ghana showed a similar pattern. Husbands said 2.1% of couples used condoms, compared to 0.3% according to the wives. Husbands also indicated more widespread use of periodic abstinence than did the wives. In contrast, except for pill use, husbands and wives gave similar responses for use of female methods. In Kenya, 1 of every 2 husbands said they were using family planning, compared to about 1 of every 4 wives. The largest discrepancy was in the data for use of periodic abstinence, where 3 times more husbands than wives said they were using this method--26% compared to 8%. Only in Mali, where total contraceptive use is only 5%, were responses from husbands and wives consistent. Even here, husbands gave higher rates of condom use (0.5%) than did wives (none). When it comes to choosing a method of family planning, women apparently think first of female methods. In general, women assume that their husbands will not be interested in using contraception themselves. Women may, however, underestimate their husbands interest or participation in family planning. Or men could be overstating the use of male methods. These DHS husband surveys suggest that programs aimed at both men and women should encourage more and better communication between spouses about family planning. More data related to communication on family planning will soon become available. Other DHS husbands surveys in various stages of completion are from Pakistan, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Egypt.

Africa↗