Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Mail Distribution”

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 1,207 records · Page 67Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Dental anxiety in adolescents with a history of childhood dental sedation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether adolescents with a history of childhood dental treatment using sedation had a higher level of self-reported dental anxiety than adolescents without such a history. A group of 287 adolescents were identified who had received dental treatment using an identical sedation regime during childhood (mean age 5.05 +/- 0.16 years). A cover letter and a modified Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) were mailed to the parents of all subjects. Sixty-one subjects (n = 61, 21 males, 40 females, mean age = 14.79 +/- 0.16 years) (+/- SE) completed and returned the form. Age matched control subjects (n = 38, 18 females, 20 males, mean age = 14.36 +/- 0.06 years) who had no history of sedation or general anesthesia for dental or medical procedures also completed the DAS. Using the Mann-Whitney U test, the DAS score for test subjects (13.49 +/- 0.76) was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the DAS score for control subjects (10.84 +/- 0.69).

Adjuvants, Anesthesia↗
PubMed1998

[Excessive daytime somnolence in the adult population of Warsaw].

We studied prevalence of excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) in a representative cohort of people living in Warsaw, aged 38-67y. Forty eight items questionnaire concerning sleep habits and symptoms including Epworth Sleepiness Scale assessing EDS was mailed twice to 1503 subjects. The response rate was 79%. The average sleep time on working days was 7.1 +/- 1.1h and 8.1 +/- 1.3h on week-ends. Moderate DS was found in 21% and severe DS in 7.5% of the studied group. 0.4% of studied subjects admitted falling asleep while driving a car. These figures are comparable to that reported in recent literature. There was no relation between EDS and short hours of sleep. Severe DS was twice as frequent among men than among women (p < 0.001). There was no clear-cut relations between age and EDS.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Perceptions of the influence of prescription medicine samples on prescribing by family physicians.

BACKGROUND: The provision of free prescription medicine samples is a common and traditional marketing strategy used by pharmaceutical companies, but concerns have been raised about their influence on physician prescribing behavior and patient safety. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Australian family physicians regarding the use of sample prescription medications. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative techniques were used, including (1) mailed questionnaires to family physicians, (2) semistructured interviews with family physicians, and (3) sample cupboard inventories. RESULTS: A number of issues about samples were identified by the questionnaires (208) and interviews (17 doctors), including insufficient labeling, poor record keeping, diversion of stock (personal use by doctors, their families, practice staff and pharmaceutical representatives), and wasting of expired stock. Prescription medicine samples also influenced prescribing behavior. Australian doctors were less likely to provide samples to patients on financial grounds compared with a previous study in the United States on medical residents. Six sample cupboards were inventoried. Median wholesale value of sample cupboards was AUD Dollars 4959 (range Dollars 2395-Dollars 8709), with 6% of stock expired. Very little generic medicine was included in the sample cupboards. CONCLUSIONS: Better methods are needed to meet legislative requirements and to ensure quality use of medicines (and optimal public health) with respect to prescription medicine samples. Doctors and practice staff require training on the appropriate handling and storage of prescription medications. Alternative ways for distribution of sample medications need to be investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Drug information pharmacists at health-care facilities, universities, and pharmaceutical companies.

A national survey was conducted to provide a profile of drug information pharmacists. Questionnaires were mailed to 436 drug information pharmacists whose names were obtained from directors of drug information centers (DICs) at health-care facilities, universities, and pharmaceutical companies. The net response rate was 64% (278 usable replies). Most respondents were 30 to 39 years of age and had practiced in drug information for four years or less. There were equal numbers of male and female respondents. More than half had a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, and about half had completed a postgraduate residency or fellowship. Respondents with a Pharm.D. degree or postgraduate training reported a more favorable professional outcome, including position, income, and job satisfaction. Respondents reported a high level of professional involvement, including faculty appointment, publishing, and professional membership. Common reasons cited for choosing a career in drug information were an opportunity to continually learn, job satisfaction, and regular work hours. More than 70% of respondents were either very satisfied or extremely satisfied with their current job position. The most frequently reported income range was $40,000-44,999; distribution of income differed significantly among geographic regions. Drug information pharmacists report a high level of job satisfaction and involvement in professional activities; they often have completed advanced pharmacy education or postgraduate training.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Attitudes, practices, and recommendations by obstetricians about infant feeding.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available about the degree to which obstetricians promote breastfeeding through patient care practices and educational activities. The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes, practices, and recommendations of obstetricians regarding infant feeding selection. METHODS: A written survey was mailed to 148 obstetrician/gynecologists in Monroe County, New York (78% response rate, n = 116). RESULTS: Of the 104 physicians in active obstetric practice, 86 percent conducted prenatal discussions about infant feeding with patients, 80 percent recommended breastfeeding, and 68 percent were commonly contacted postpartum by patients to address breastfeeding questions. Overall, 57 percent routinely incorporated these breastfeeding supportive practices into their prenatal and postpartum patient care. Attitudes about obstetric responsibility for infant feeding counselings and about the importance of counseling independently predicted the provision of these services. Infant feeding information was given to patients by 98 percent of obstetricians; 75 percent used written and 39 percent used videotaped materials. Formula company-produced infant feeding literature (41%), pregnancy literature (57%), and free formula offers (61%) were commonly used. Of those surveyed, 58 percent lacked training and 22 percent reported inadequate training in infant nutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Although most obstetricians in Monroe County provide infant feeding education and recommend breastfeeding, most report that their training about infant nutrition is inadequate, and they distribute infant formula company materials and offers to patients. Such discrepancies in patient care are inconsistent with promoting breastfeeding as optimal infant nutrition.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2001

Communication with terminal cancer patients in palliative care: are there differences between nurses and physicians?

The aim of this study was to find whether there were interprofessional differences in specific elements of communication with terminal cancer patients and decision-making processes that concern such patients. Given that interdisciplinary team work is one of the basic values in palliative care, if there are conflicting views between professions on such important issues it is most important to know about these and to understand them. A questionnaire utilized in an earlier survey of palliative care physicians and addressing their attitudes to and beliefs about specific elements of communication and decision making was sent to a sample of palliative care nurses working in the same regions, i.e. the French-speaking parts of Switzerland, Belgium and France. After a second mailing (reminder), 135 of the 163 questionnaires (83%) were returned. There was general agreement between nurses and physicians on questions dealing with perceptions of patients' knowledge of their diagnosis and stage of disease, patients' need for information, "do not resuscitate" orders and ethical principles in decision-making processes. Statistically significant, but small, differences between professional groups were only observed for a minority of the questions. Interprofessional differences in specific elements of communication with terminal cancer patients and decision-making processes affecting these patients were not so marked that they could be called "conflicting interprofessional views."

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Research use of the AIDA www.2aida.org diabetes software simulation program: a review-part 1. decision support testing and neural network training.

The purpose of this two-part review is to overview research use of the AIDA diabetes software simulator. AIDA is a diabetes computer program that permits the interactive simulation of plasma insulin and blood glucose profiles for teaching, demonstration, and self-learning purposes. It has been made freely available, without charge, on the Internet as a noncommercial contribution to continuing diabetes education. Since its launch in 1996 over 300,000 visits have been logged at the main AIDA Website-www.2aida.org-and over 60,000 copies of the AIDA program have been downloaded free-of-charge. This review describes research projects and ventures, undertaken for the most part by other research workers in the diabetes computing field, that have made use of the freeware AIDA software. Relevant research work was identified in three main ways: (i) by personal (e-mail/written) communications from researchers, (ii) via the ISI Web of Science citation database to identify published articles that referred to AIDA-related papers, and (iii) via searches on the Internet. In a number of cases research students who had sought advice about AIDA, and diabetes computing in general, provided copies of their research dissertations/theses upon the completion of their projects. The two reviews highlight some of the many and varied research projects that have made use of the AIDA diabetes simulation software to date. A wide variety of diabetes computing topics have been addressed. In Part 1 of the review, these range from testing decision support prototypes to training artificial neural networks. In Part 2 of the review, issues surrounding dietary assessments, developing new diabetes models, and performance monitoring of closed-loop insulin delivery devices are considered. Overall, research projects making use of AIDA have been identified in Australia, Italy, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These reviews confirm an unexpected but useful benefit of distributing medical software, like AIDA, for free via the Internet-demonstrating how it is possible to have a synergistic benefit with other researchers-facilitating their own research projects in related medical fields. The reviews highlight a variety of these projects that have benefited from the free availability of the AIDA diabetes software simulator. In a number of cases these other research projects simply would not have been possible without unrestricted access to the AIDA software and/or technical descriptions of its workings. In addition, some specific common themes begin to emerge from the research ventures that have been reviewed. These include the use of simulated blood glucose data from the AIDA program for preliminary computerlab-based testing of other decision support prototypes. Issues surrounding such use of simulated data for separate prototype testing are discussed further in Part 2 of the review.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2005

Knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases in women among primary care physicians.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about sexually transmitted disease (STD) knowledge of primary care providers. The objectives of this study were to determine the knowledge about the management of STDs among primary care physicians and to identify physician characteristics associated with possession of STD knowledge. STUDY: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1600 obstetrician/gynecologists, pediatricians, family physicians, and internists practicing in Pennsylvania. Information on physician and patient demographics was gathered, and we assessed knowledge and practice patterns concerning the management of STDs in young women. RESULTS: Physician knowledge regarding the evaluation and management of women with or at risk for STDs was associated with female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-3.2), age < or =40 (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.4-3.6), and metropolitan practice location (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.6). Familiarity with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) STD treatment guidelines was independently associated with STD knowledge (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.3). Physicians with good STD knowledge were more likely to report routinely screening at-risk women for Chlamydia trachomatis (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 2.3-6.8). CONCLUSIONS: Inadequacies in physician knowledge may serve as a barrier to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of STDs. Interventions to improve STD management practices should include continuing medical education and distribution of CDC's STD treatment guidelines to primary care providers.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Epidemiologic studies of human semen quality: considerations for study design.

Few empirical data exist on the characteristics of subjects who provide semen specimens in epidemiologic studies. The objective of this investigation was to determine participation rates and potential biases in a contemporary study of human semen quality. Subjects (n = 268) are a subset of the Child Health and Development Studies. Their mothers enrolled between 1960 and 1963 during pregnancy. Archived prenatal serum samples, prenatal and birth records, placental examinations, and follow-up for growth and development through adulthood are available. Sons were aged 36-39 years at the time of this study. Respondents to the initial mailing and nonrespondents, who were subsequently traced and recruited, differed in semen parameters, including sperm concentration (78.3 x 10(6)/ml for respondents vs. 37.2; p = 0.003) and the percentage of normal morphology according to the 1987 criteria of the World Health Organization (58.7% for respondents vs. 53.3%; p = 0.04). The authors conclude that researchers designing population-based studies of semen parameters should expect nonrepresentative samples. Adaptation of the design to anticipate and mitigate bias and to maximize efficiency can yield scientifically sound information. Recommendations for study designs are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Single surgeon experience with bilayer polypropylene mesh repair of inguinal hernia.

BACKGROUND: Open mesh repair of inguinal hernia has been shown to be an effective and safe method of hernia repair. In search of the 'ideal' method of open mesh hernia repair, many different methods of mesh placement have been developed. Laparoscopic hernia repair is reported to be superior to open repair in terms of postoperative pain and rehabilitation. These improved functional outcomes could be the result of placement of mesh in the preperitoneal space (underlay), rather than the laparoscopic method per se. A bilayer polypropylene mesh implant has been developed that provides onlay and underlay (preperitoneal) mesh layers. The present study reports the singular experience of a general surgeon with this bilayer polypropylene mesh implant. METHODS: A retrospective audit of the first 169 consecutive inguinal hernia repairs was conducted by mailed questionnaire and telephone interview. Data was collected on patient demographics, postoperative pain scores and complications. Patients with potential recurrences at the time of follow up were invited for clinical review. RESULTS: One hundred and three patients (71%) participated in the audit. Thirteen per cent of cases were for recurrent hernia. Median age was 60 years (range 21-99). Median length of follow up was 19 months (range 8-27). No recurrences were detected in the patients who underwent primary repair of inguinal hernia. CONCLUSION: Inguinal hernia repair with bilayer polypropylene mesh is safe and has low complication and recurrence rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Impact of HIV on the practice of dentistry in Houston, Texas.

Texas ranks fourth in the nation in the number of documented HIV-infected and AIDS cases. The city of Houston has the highest prevalence of HIV-infected and AIDS cases in Texas. Dental health personnel have an ethical and legal obligation to provide dental services for HIV-infected persons. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of HIV on the practice of dentistry in Houston. The study population was all dentists with a current Houston practice address registered with the Texas State Dental Board. A 41-item questionnaire was mailed to a stratified random sample of 500 dentists in Houston. The questionnaire covered four main areas: demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. About three-quarters of the dentists said they had treated an AIDS or HIV+ patient. Sixty percent of the dentists were not aware that breastmilk is a mode of transmission of HIV. There was a significant correlation between "ever treated" an HIV+ patients and "willingness to treat" an AIDS or HIV+ patient (p < 0.01). The experience of treating HIV-infected patients has a greater impact than knowledge alone in influencing dentists' behavior towards AIDS/HIV+ patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2003

Pharmaceutical services in rural hospitals in Illinois--2001.

The results of a survey characterizing pharmaceutical services in rural hospitals in Illinois are reported and compared with results of a similar survey conducted in 1991. A questionnaire was developed and mailed to pharmacy directors at rural hospitals in Illinois to obtain information about product-related services, the use of technology, clinical pharmacy services, and human resources data (including vacancies) for 2001. Of the 71 surveys that were mailed, 47 pharmacy directors (66%) responded. Respondent hospitals were smaller compared with those responding in 1991 (mean average daily census, 41.0 versus 51.2, respectively). As in 1991, nearly all respondents reported the provision of unit dose services and complete and comprehensive i.v. admixture programs (100% and 83%, respectively, for 2001). Three respondents (6%) reported having a cleanroom facility. The most commonly used technology reported was nursing-unit-based automated drug dispensing cabinets (35%). Nearly all hospitals reported providing drug therapy monitoring, patient education and counseling, pharmacokinetic consultations, and nutritional support. Consistent with national reports, staffing levels and vacancies increased between 1991 and 2001. In 2001, the mean number of full-time equivalents was 7.1, with a pharmacist to technician ratio of 1.0:1.08 and a ratio of pharmacists to occupied beds of 1.0:22.6. The overall vacancy rate was 8%, with a vacancy rate of 14% and 5% for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, respectively. A 2001 survey of pharmacy departments in rural hospitals in Illinois showed progression in the provision of distributive and clinical pharmacy services since 1991. Employee vacancy rates in pharmacy departments were high in 2001, especially among pharmacist positions, but were lower than those reported for the general population of hospitals.

Automation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Opinions of practitioners and program directors concerning accreditation standards for postdoctoral pediatric dentistry training programs.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess opinions of program directors and practitioners about the importance and necessary numbers of experiences required by current accreditation standards for training of pediatric dentists. METHODS: A 32-item questionnaire was sent to all program directors of ADA-accredited postdoctoral pediatric dentistry training programs and to a random sample of 10% of the fellow/active membership of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. RESULTS: An overall response rate of 56% was obtained from the single mailing. Practitioners and program directors differed significantly (P < or = 0.05) only in their opinions about the number of submucosal and intravenous sedation cases required for proficiency of eight experiences surveyed. The two groups differed significantly in 3 of 12 areas in terms of importance attributed for practice of contemporary pediatric dentistry: initiating and completing a research paper, biostatistics/epidemiology, and practice management. Program directors had little difficulty obtaining required experiences, and program dependence on Medicaid did not negatively affect quality of education. CONCLUSION: Practitioners and program directors agreed on the importance of most experiences and activities required by current accreditation standards.

Accreditation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Utilization of dental services and preventive oral health behaviors among preschool-aged children from Delaware.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated factors associated with age-appropriate dental care utilization and preventive behaviors among preschool-aged children in Delaware. METHODS: In June 1994, child health questionnaires were mailed to a simple random sample of 1,005 Delaware caregivers whose children were ages 6 to 36 months. RESULTS: Only 12% of children > or = 12 months old had been to the dentist. Child's race, maternal education, maternal age, dental insurance, having a regular place for medical care, receiving information on tooth care from medical personnel, and family income were not associated with having a dental visit. CONCLUSIONS: Improving information provided to caregivers and health professionals on appropriate timing of dental services and preventive dentistry is recommended to enhance oral health for preschool-aged children.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2005

The challenge of psychiatric comorbidity to the public services for drug dependence in Italy: A national survey.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated the availability of resources and specific expertise for treating comorbidity at the Italian public Services for Drug Dependence (SerTs). A stratified sample of 100 SerTs was constructed and a specific questionnaire mailed to the clinical managers. The interview aimed at: characteristics of the respondent; theoretical knowledge of comorbidity; influence of dual diagnosis on clinical practice; general, human, and organisational resources; quality evaluation. MAIN RESULTS: (a) 90% of managers are medical doctors but <50% have a specialisation in psychiatry or qualification in psychotherapy; (b) about half of the managers have a fair knowledge of comorbidity; (c) the managers' estimate of prevalence is 25% for Axis I and 25-50% for Axis II comorbidity, and they consider the bad course of illness as the main cause of increased costs; (d) the SerTs' resources appear incomplete: psychiatric consultation and collaboration with therapeutic communities are available in about 90%, but routine assessment of psychopathology and day hospital or day care programs are lacking in over 50%; (e) about half of the managers declare themselves fairly satisfied about the treatments offered, but 80% complain about inadequate cooperation of the mental health services and >95% claim about inadequate education of their staff. The results were also analysed by factors of stratification: regional distribution, urban/rural location, and number of clients in care. In conclusion, the problem of comorbidity should be faced more effectively, particularly by means of improved organisational resources and continuing education of staff members.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Exclusion of ill children from child-care centers in Israel.

The aim of the study was to examine criteria for ill children in child-care centers. A questionnaire on practices of exclusion/return of children according to specific signs and symptoms was mailed to the directors of care centers in central Israel. Thirty-six of the 60 questionnaires (60%) were returned by mail and the reminded were completed in personal visits to the CCCs achieving a response rate of 100%. About half (51.7%) used "common sense" and "personal feelings" to exclude children and to allow their return, and 29 (48.3%) used the guidelines of the Ministries of Education and Health or other authorities. The percentage of centers excluding children by signs/symptoms was as follows: high fever (>38 degrees C), 100%; low-grade fever, 76.7%; asthma exacerbation, 80.0%; heavy cough, 75.0%; eye discharge or conjunctivitis, 83.3%; diarrhea and vomiting more than twice per day, 100%; rash, 72.3%; otalgia, 46.7%; and infected skin lesion, 66.7%. Only four centers excluded children with head lice. Most centers required a physician's note on return of a child after high fever (76.7%), eye discharge or conjunctivitis (48.3%), and from 75 to 80%, respectively, for frequent vomiting and bloody or mucinous diarrhea. The results show that exclusion practices among child-care centers (CCCs) vary widely, suggesting the need for the establishment of a uniform exclusion and return policy in Israel, with distribution of clear, up-to-date guidelines on the prevention and control of communicable diseases to all day-care centers. In a simple way, this study identified attitudes concerning the exclusion/return of sick children in CCCs and was useful for the discussion of the related policy with CCCs responsible and national health and educational authorities.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1995

The prevalence of cervicogenic headache in a random population sample of 20-59 year olds.

STUDY DESIGN: From a random population sample, those experiencing frequent headaches were identified. They were examined to determine how many fulfilled the 1990 International Headache Society classification criteria for cervicogenic headache. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of cervicogenic headache in the general population and in the group experiencing frequent headaches. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Only with the publication of the 1990 headache classification criteria did a generally accepted clinical definition of cervicogenic headache emerge. The prevalence of this form of headache has been estimated only in two highly selected in-clinic patient populations. No data exist regarding the prevalence in representative unselected populations. METHODS: A short questionnaire on headaches was mailed to 826 randomly selected residents of a midsized Danish town. A group of 57 individuals in the age range 20-59 years who reported having headache episodes on 5 or more days in the previous month were identified. Forty-five of the 57 were eventually interviewed and examined with respect to the IHS criteria for cervicogenic headache (the radiological criteria were omitted on ethical grounds). RESULTS: Of the 45 persons examined, eight fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache, equivalent to a prevalence in the headache group of 17.8% (95% confidence interval = 8%-32%). CONCLUSIONS: Cervicogenic headache appears to be a relatively common form of headache, similar to migraine in prevalence.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Noncardiac chest pain: interest in a medical psychological treatment.

The aim of this study was to assess to what extent patients with unexplained chest pain (UCP) are interested in a medical psychological treatment, and to find biographical or medical status variables predictive of that need. A total of 1053 patients with a discharge diagnosis of UCP from two cardiac outpatient clinics were approached by mail. Of these, 77.2% returned the questionnaire, which inquired about duration, frequency, and intensity of UCP; limitations in activities; and whether they would like medical psychological treatment for their UCP. Results showed little spontaneous recovery, and indicated no association between duration of UCP and interest in treatment. Younger patients and males were more interested in treatment. Furthermore, limitations in activities rather than frequency or intensity of pain was the most important predictor of interest in treatment. A three-step plan is proposed to enhance care for patients with UCP.

Activities of Daily Living↗