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Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study (cross-sectional + questionnaire_study)
Selected AbstractsIllness and exposure to negative life experiences in adolescence: two sides of the same coin?ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2004A study of 15-year-olds in Oslo, Norway Aim: To investigate associations between negative life experiences and common illnesses among adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire study carried out at all lower secondary schools (10 grade) in Oslo, Norway, during 2000 and 2001 (n= 8316 pupils). Different negative life experiences and illnesses were addressed. Results: The participation rate was 88%. Among reported negative life experiences last year were a pressure felt to succeed (62%), death of a close person (26%), exposure to physical violence (22%), bullying at school (15%) and sexual violation (4%). A large number of the pupils had some chronic illness: hay fever (38%), eczema (29%) and asthma (13%). Reported illnesses the previous 12 month were: headache (56%), painful neck or shoulders (35%), sore throat at least three times (15%), lower respiratory tract infection (9%) and mental problems for which help was sought (7%). During the week prior to the survey, 26% of all girls had symptoms of a depressive disorder, while this applied to 10% of all boys. Fifty-three percent of the boys (29% of the girls) who had depressive symptoms had been exposed to physical violence. Sexually violated boys had a high probability for seeking help for mental problems (OR = 4.9) and for frequent episodes of sore throat (OR = 2.5). Corresponding odds ratios for girls were 1.7 and 2.5, respectively. Conclusion: Common illnesses in adolescence are significantly associated with negative life experiences. In clinical encounters with adolescents not only should the presenting complaints be addressed, but also other common illnesses and relevant background factors such as negative life events. [source] Attitudes to dental care among parents of uncooperative vs. cooperative child dental patientsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 2 2002Kristina Arnrup The aim of this cross-sectional questionnaire study was to investigate four aspects of parents' attitudes to dental care (knowledge, child's oral health behavior, priorities and responsibility). One study group (n=50) of parents of uncooperative child dental patients (aged 8,12 yr) was compared to a reference group (n=113) of parents of ordinary child dental patients of similar age, and to a second study group (n=36) of parents of uncooperative younger child patients (aged 4,7 yr). Study group parents had significantly lower socio-economic status and a higher level of dental fear as compared to parents of ordinary child patients. We found indications of a poorer dental knowledge and a differing responsibility-taking profile among study group parents. Their children also had sweets more often. As compared to parents of younger children, the older study group parents had lower socio-economic status and showed a lower responsibility-taking related to the child's treatment refusal. In conclusion, parents of uncooperative children differ from parents of ordinary child dental patients, not only in socio-economic status and dental fear, but also in aspects such as dental knowledge and responsibility-taking. These differences were partly related to the child's age. [source] Danish dentists' knowledge, attitudes and management of procedural dental pain in children: association with demographic characteristics, structural factors, perceived stress during the administration of local analgesia and their tolerance towards painINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2005J. K. RASMUSSEN Summary., Objective., The aim of the present study was to describe Danish dentists' knowledge of, attitudes towards and management of procedural pain during paediatric dental care, and to assess the importance of demographic characteristics, structural factors, perceived stress during administration of local analgesia and the dentists' own tolerance towards procedural dental pain. Design., A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in Denmark in May 2001. Subjects and methods., The subjects were a random sample of 30% of Danish dentists treating children. Usable information was obtained from 327 (80·3%) of the dentists in the sample. Results., One-quarter of the respondents answered that a 3,5-year-old child could report pain only with uncertainty. More than 80% of the dentists stated that they never compromised on painlessness. Very few agreed to the statement that children forget pain faster than adults. One-third agreed to, or were neutral to, the statement that all restorative care in primary teeth could be performed painlessly using N2O-O2 sedation alone. The majority of the respondents reported using three or more methods to assess the effect of their pain control methods. Almost 90% reported using local analgesia for restorative work ,always' or ,often'. A similar proportion reported using topical analgesia before injection ,always' or ,often'. Administering a mandibular block to preschool children was the procedure perceived as the most stressful (33·6%) pain control method. Demographic factors (gender), structural factors (always working alone and treating 3,5-year-old children daily), perceived stress during the administration of a mandibular block in preschool children and the dentists' own willingness to accept potentially painful dental treatment without local analgesia were associated with knowledge of, attitudes towards and management of procedural dental pain in children. Conclusions., Danish dentists treating children demonstrate concern about procedural dental pain in children. Factors amenable to change via training and reorganization into larger clinical units seem to determine their knowledge of, attitudes towards and management of procedural dental pain in children. [source] Suicidality among Finnish anaesthesiologistsACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 8 2009P. M. LINDFORS Background: Suicide rates among physicians have constantly been reported to be higher than in the general population and anaesthesiologists appear to lead the suicide statistics among physicians. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was sent to all working Finnish anaesthesiologists (n=550) investigating their suicidality (ideation and/or planning and/or attempt). The response rate was 60%. Results: One in four had at some time seriously been thinking about suicide. Respondents with poor health (crude odds ratios 11.2 and 95% confidence interval 3.8,33.0), low social support (10.5, 4.0,27.9), and family problems (6.5, 3.4,12.5) had the highest risk of suicidality. The highest risks at work were conflicts with co-workers (4.1, 2.3,7.1) and superiors (2.1, 1.2,3.6), on-call-related stress symptoms (3.9, 1.9,8.3) and low organizational justice (1.9, 1.1,3.2). If a respondent had several risk factors, the risk of suicidality doubled with each cumulating factor. Conclusions: The reported level of suicidal ideation among Finnish anaesthesiologists is worth concern. It should be of utmost importance to screen the risk factors and recognize suicidal physicians in order to help them. Interpersonal relationships, decision-making procedures, and on-call-burden should be focused on when aiming to prevent suicidality among physicians. [source] An epidemiological study of environmental factors associated with canine obesityJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 7 2010E. A. Courcier Objectives: To assess the relationships between socioeconomic and other environmental factors with canine obesity. Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study of dog owners attending five primary veterinary practices in the UK. Owners were asked about dog age, neuter status, feeding habits, dog exercise, household income and owner age. The body condition score of the dogs was also assessed. Factors hypothesised to be associated with obesity were investigated. Results: In total, data from 696 questionnaires were evaluated. Out of those data evaluated, 35·3% of dogs (n=246) were classed as an ideal body shape, 38·9% (n=271) were overweight, 20·4% (n=142) were obese and 5·3% (n=37) were underweight. Identified risk factors associated with obesity included owner age, hours of weekly exercise, frequency of snacks/treats and personal income. Clinical Significance: Environmental risk factors associated with canine obesity are multifactorial and include personal income, owner age, frequency of snacks/treats and amount of exercise the dog receives. Awareness about health risks associated with obesity in dogs is significantly less in people in lower income brackets. This phenomenon is recognised in human obesity. [source] Does the presence of medical students affect quality in general practice consultations?MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 4 2008Richard Price Context, Previous studies have suggested that the patient's experience of a consultation with a doctor is not affected by the presence of medical students. However, no study has looked at the effect of student presence on conventional UK general practice consultations. Objectives, This study aimed to measure the quality of the consultation as experienced by patients when students are present, to explore patients' attitudes to the presence of medical students, and to look at the relationships between these factors. Methods, We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study in general practices in north-east England. General practitioners (GPs) from practices teaching fourth and final year students administered questionnaires to patients who were seen in either teaching or non-teaching consultations. The questionnaire comprised previously validated measures of empathy and enablement as measures of quality, attitudinal statements regarding the presence of students, a scale rating pertaining to the patient's degree of acquaintance with the doctor, and items on demographic data. Results, Results showed no significant differences in enablement scores between the 2 groups. Consultations with student presence last longer. Empathy scores were significantly lower in the ,student present' group, but the size of the difference was small. Attitudinal statements regarding the presence of students showed a high proportion of positive responses, and some groupings of negative ones. Further analysis demonstrated some significant links between attitudinal statements and enablement and empathy scores. Conclusions, The quality of general practice consultations was not adversely affected by medical student presence. However, significant numbers of patients who agreed to be seen with a student present were resistant to the student's presence. [source] Rheumatology nurse practitioners' perceptions of their roleMUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 2 2006Leslie Goh MRCP(UK) Abstract Objectives:,To identify the current practices of rheumatology nurse practitioners and ascertain their perceptions of how their role could be enhanced. Method:,A cross-sectional questionnaire study of currently employed nurse practitioners in rheumatology in the United Kingdom (UK) was undertaken. Results:,200 questionnaires were distributed and 118 nurses responded. Ninety-five respondents met the inclusion criteria for undertaking an advanced nursing role. Typical conditions dealt with included: rheumatoid arthritis (96.8%); psoriatic arthritis (95.8%); osteoarthritis (63.2%); ankylosing spondylitis (62.8%); systemic lupus erythematosus (51.6%); and scleroderma (34.7%). Drug monitoring, education, counselling of patients and arranging basic investigations were routinely performed by more than 80% of respondents. A smaller proportion performed an extended role that included dealing with referrals, research and audit, the administration of intra-articular injections, and admission of patients. Specific attributes identified as being necessary for competence were: knowledge and understanding of rheumatic diseases (48.4%); drug therapy (33.7%); good communication skills (35.8%); understanding of the roles of the team (27.4%); working effectively (23.2%) as part of a multidisciplinary team; assessment of patients by physical examination (28.4%); teaching (26.3%), research (17.9%); organizational skills (14.7%); and the interpretation of investigations (9.5%). Factors that could enhance their role included: attendance at postgraduate courses (30.5%); obtaining further qualifications (13.7%); active participation in the delivery of medical education (41.1%); training in practical procedures (31.6%); protected time and resources for audit and research (11.6%); formal training in counselling (11.6%); and implementation of nurse prescribing (10.5%). Conclusion:,Nurse practitioners already have a wide remit and play an invaluable part in the delivery of modern rheumatology services. An extended role could improve patient care and enhance nursing career pathways in rheumatology. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Fear of recurrence in long-term testicular cancer survivorsPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Tone Skaali Abstract Objective: To explore fear of recurrence (FoR) in long-term testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) since FoR hardly has been examined in TCSs. Methods: In a cross-sectional questionnaire study, 1336 TCSs at a mean of 11.4 years (SD 4.2) after diagnosis gave information about their medical and social situation, and completed measures on mental distress, fatigue, quality of life, coping, self-esteem and neuroticism. FoR during the last week was explored with one question, with the response categories rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Nine percent of the TCSs had a structured psychiatric interview. Results: Twenty-four percent of the TCSs reported ,quite a bit' FoR and 7% reported ,very much' FoR during the last week. The FoR question showed moderate correlations (0.22,0.51) with established psychological measures. The level of FoR was significantly positively correlated with mental distress, fatigue and neuroticism and significantly negatively correlated with quality of life, self-esteem and coping. In univariate analyses, neurotoxic side effects and somatic symptoms, but not treatment modality, were significantly associated with level of FoR. In a multivariate analysis, a medium educational level, increasing levels of traumatic cancer-related stress symptoms and of neuroticism were significantly associated with rising FoR. Among those who had a psychiatric interview, the presence of at least one current mental disorder was significantly associated with FoR. Conclusions: High levels of FoR in long-term TCSs are not uncommon. Levels of mental and somatic problems are associated with the levels of FoR. Clinical consequences of these findings for TCSs are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||