Phone Call (phone + call)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Cyberbullying: its nature and impact in secondary school pupils

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 4 2008
Peter K. Smith
Background:, Cyberbullying describes bullying using mobile phones and the internet. Most previous studies have focused on the prevalence of text message and email bullying. Methods:, Two surveys with pupils aged 11,16 years: (1) 92 pupils from 14 schools, supplemented by focus groups; (2) 533 pupils from 5 schools, to assess the generalisability of findings from the first study, and investigate relationships of cyberbullying to general internet use. Both studies differentiated cyberbullying inside and outside of school, and 7 media of cyberbullying. Results:, Both studies found cyberbullying less frequent than traditional bullying, but appreciable, and reported more outside of school than inside. Phone call and text message bullying were most prevalent, with instant messaging bullying in the second study; their impact was perceived as comparable to traditional bullying. Mobile phone/video clip bullying, while rarer, was perceived to have more negative impact. Age and gender differences varied between the two studies. Study 1 found that most cyberbullying was done by one or a few students, usually from the same year group. It often just lasted about a week, but sometimes much longer. The second study found that being a cybervictim, but not a cyberbully, correlated with internet use; many cybervictims were traditional ,bully-victims'. Pupils recommended blocking/avoiding messages, and telling someone, as the best coping strategies; but many cybervictims had told nobody about it. Conclusions:, Cyberbullying is an important new kind of bullying, with some different characteristics from traditional bullying. Much happens outside school. Implications for research and practical action are discussed. [source]


Characteristics of Household Addresses That Repeatedly Contact 911 to Report Intimate Partner Violence

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 6 2004
Debra Houry MD
Abstract Objectives: To determine whether households that generate several 911 calls differ in important ways from those that make a single call and to determine whether households that generate repeat 911 calls for intimate partner violence (IPV) experience more severe violence than those that do not. Methods: All cases of police-documented IPV were reviewed and linked with their respective 911 calls. Each incident report was reviewed to determine the relationship between the offender and victim, demographic characteristics of the offender and victim, weapon and substance involvement, prior incidents of IPV, and violence severity. Results: Of the 1,505 IPV addresses identified during the 12-month study interval, 1,010 (67.1%) placed more than one phone call to report IPV. Sixty-nine percent of African American victims, 50.6% of white victims, and 36.8% of Hispanic victims were repeat callers (p < 0.001). There were no differences between addresses that generated repeat calls versus single calls with respect to offender alcohol or drug involvement, presence of children, victim age, or offender age. Sixty-seven percent of households with severe violence and 66.9% of households with minor violence generated repeat 911 calls (p = 0.98). Conclusions: Ethnic differences in 911 use for IPV exist between African Americans, whites, and Hispanics. However, unknown societal, economic, or cultural issues could have influenced this finding. Households that repeatedly contacted 911 during the study interval to report IPV were not more likely to experience severe violence than those that placed a single 911 call. [source]


Leg ulcers and hydroxyurea: report of three cases with essential thrombocythemia

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2002
Zeynep Demirçay MD
Case 1,A 65-year-old woman with essential thrombocythemia (ET) had been taking oral hydroxyurea (HU), 1000 mg daily, for 7 years. Six months ago, she developed an ulcer on the outer part of her left ankle, which healed spontaneously within 2 months. She presented with a new, tender, shallow ulcer, 2 cm × 2 cm in size, at the same site. Doppler examination revealed thrombosis of the left common femoral vein and a calcified atheroma plaque of the left common femoral artery. The dosage of HU was decreased to 500 mg daily when the platelet counts were found to be within normal levels. The ulcer completely healed within 2 months with occlusive wound dressings, and has not recurred within the follow-up period of 1 year. Case 2,A 56-year-old women presented with multiple, painful, leg ulcers of 1 year duration. She had been diagnosed as having ET and had been on HU therapy, 1500 mg/day, for the past 5 years. Interferon-,-2b was started 3 months ago, in addition to HU, which was tapered to 1000 mg daily. She had suffered from hypertension for 20 years treated with nifedipine and enalapril, and had recently been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus which was controlled by diet. Examination revealed three ulcers located on the lateral aspects of both ankles and right distal toe. Arterial and venous Doppler examinations were within normal limits. Histopathology of the ulcer revealed nonspecific changes with a mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate around dermal vessels. The ulcers completely healed within 10 weeks with topical hydrocolloid dressings. After healing, she was lost to follow-up. A year later, it was learned that she had developed a new ulcer at her right heel, 3 months after her last visit (by phone call). This ulcer persisted for 8 months until HU was withdrawn. Case 3,A 64-year-old woman with ET presented with a painful leg ulcer of 6 months' duration. She had been taking oral HU for 5 years. She had a 20-year history of hypertension treated with lisinopril. Examination revealed a punched-out ulcer of 2 cm × 2 cm over the right lateral malleolus (Fig. 1). Doppler examination of the veins revealed insufficiency of the right greater saphenous and femoral veins. Angiography showed multiple stenoses of the right popliteal and femoral arteries. As her platelet count remained high, HU was continued. During the follow-up period of 13 months, the ulcer showed only partial improvement with local wound care. Figure 1. Punched-out ulcer surrounded by an erythematous border over the right malleolus (Case 3) [source]


Midurethral sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence in women over 80 years,,

NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 7 2010
Kobi Stav
Abstract Aims To compare the safety and efficacy of midurethral sling surgery for management of urinary stress incontinence in women over 80 years versus younger women. Methods 1225 consecutive women with urodynamic stress incontinence had a synthetic midurethral sling (955 retropubic, 270 transobturator) at our institution between 1999 and 2007. Ninety one percent (n,=,1112) of the patients were interviewed via phone call with a structured questionnaire and were included in the analysis. The mean follow-up was 50,±,24 months (range 12,114). Comparison between elderly (,80 years, n,=,96) and younger patients (<80 years, n,=,1016) was performed. Results The overall subjective cure rate was 85% (elderly 81%, younger 85%, ,=,0.32). There was no significant difference in cure rate between retropubic and transobturator sling in the elderly group (82% vs. 79.3%, P,=,0.75). The bladder perforation rate was similar between the two groups (3%). The hospitalization time was significantly longer in the elderly (1.6,±,1.7 days vs. 0.7,±,1.1 days, P<0.001). However, major perioperative complications were uncommon (1%). Of the patients who had an isolated sling procedure, 37% of the elderly and 9% of the young patients failed their 1st trial of void (P,<,0.001). However, the long-term rate of voiding difficulty was similar between the two groups (elderly 8% vs. young 6%, P,=,0.21). The rate of de novo urge incontinence was similar between the two groups (7%). Conclusion Retropubic and transobturator slings in women older than 80 years are effective and safe but are associated with an increased risk of transient postoperative voiding difficulty. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:1262,1266, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Long-term outcomes of patients who failed to attend following midurethral sling surgery , A comparative study and analysis of risk factors for non-attendance

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Kobi STAV
Background and aims:, To assess long-term subjective cure and subjective complication rates of women who underwent midurethral sling (MUS) for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in those who failed to attend (FTA) versus those who attended for postoperative follow-up. Predictive factors for non-attendance were identified. Methods:, A total of 1225 consecutive women with urodynamic SUI had a synthetic MUS at our institution between 1999 and 2007. Patients were interviewed via phone call with a structured questionnaire. Comparison between FTA and non-FTA patients was performed and multivariate analysis was utilised to identify risk factors for non-attendance. Results:, Univariate analysis revealed that the FTA rate was lower in patients who underwent concomitant prolapse surgery (29% vs. 84%, P < 0.001), FTA patients were younger (mean age 56 vs. 67 years, P < 0.001) and more depressed (14% vs. 4%, P < 0.05). At a mean follow-up of 50 ± 24 months, the subjective cure rate was similar between the two groups (84% vs. 86%, NS). The incidence of overactive bladder symptoms was significantly higher in the non-FTA patients (34% vs. 6%P < 0.001). Isolated sling procedure (OR = 2.71, P < 0.01) and age <50 years (OR = 3.15, P < 0.05) were significant predictors for failed attendance. Conclusions:, Our results indicate that the subjective cure rate is similar between non-FTA and FTA patients subsequent to a MUS procedure. However, the rate of overactive bladder symptoms is higher in the non-FTA patients. Isolated MUS procedure and younger age are significant risk factors of failure to attend in the longer term. [source]


Fusion of dispatching centres into one entity: effects on performance

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2010
T. MÄÄTTÄ
Background: Dispatching centres were fused into one of the 112 entity, which caused concerns regarding whether the medical calls could be processed effectively also in the new centre. We evaluated the effects of the reform on key performance criteria in medical calls. Methods: This observational study in the Helsinki Dispatching Centre consisted of two periods: Period I 2 years before the reform and Period II 2 years after. The main outcome measures were answering and call processing times, accuracy of risk assessment and appropriate use of ambulances. Results: In Period I (n=574,276), 92.2% of all incoming phone calls were answered within 10 s and in Period II (n=758,022) 82.8% (P<0.0001). Time to dispatch a first responding fire unit increased from 98 to 113 s (P<0.0001) and an advanced life support unit in category A calls increased from 73 to 84 s (P<0.0001). In Period I 47.7%, 34.8% and 17.5% of phone calls were completed in <3, 3,5 and >5 min and in Period II 29.8%, 36.1% and 34.1% (P<0.0001). The number of three studied non-transportation call types and unnecessary lights-and-siren responses increased significantly (P<0.0001 and 0.0001, respectively). Neither the accuracy of risk assessment in the three studied call types nor the rate of telephone-guided cardiopulmonary resuscitation changed. Conclusions: The reform increased the total number of ambulance dispatches, prolonged answering and call processing times and had a negative effect on the appropriate use of ambulances. The accuracy of risk assessment was not affected. Evidence-based data should be the basis for the future as dispatching centre processes are shown to be vulnerable during organisational reforms. [source]


Telephone Enhancement of Long-term Engagement (TELE) in Continuing Care for Substance Abuse Treatment: A NIDA Clinical Trials Network (CTN) study

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 6 2007
Robert L. Hubbard PhD
The TELE study examined the feasibility and potential efficacy of phone calls to patients after discharge from short- term inpatient and residential substance abuse treatment programs to encourage compliance with continuing care plans. After review of their continuing care plans, 339 patients from four programs were randomized either to receive calls or to have no planned contact. Ninety-two percent of patients randomized to receive calls received at least one call. No difference was found between groups in self-reported attendance at one or more outpatient counseling sessions after discharge (p = .89). When program records of all participants were examined, those receiving calls had a greater likelihood of documented attendance (48%) than those not called (37%). Results were not statistically significant (p < .003) because of the Hochberg correction for multiple tests. While the phone calls were feasible, the lack of clear evidence of efficacy of the calls suggests the need for further investigation of the role of telephone intervention to encourage compliance and improve outcomes. [source]