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Health Topics (health + topics)
Selected AbstractsInterest in Preventive Health Topics Changed in New York after the Disaster on September 11, 2001ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 4 2003Ingrid Llovera MD No abstract is available for this article. [source] Survey of computer use for health topics by patients with head and neck cancerHEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 1 2005Jane Lea BSc Abstract Background. Computers are potentially powerful tools for patient education. E-health, which refers to health services and information delivered through the Internet, is a growing phenomenon within the health-care field. We sought to describe computer use and interest in e-health resources among patients with head and neck cancer. Methods. A questionnaire was administered to 207 patients with head and neck cancer attending oncology follow-up clinics at a single comprehensive cancer center. Results. Forty-eight percent had never used a computer; 43% used one more than once a week. E-health information had been sought by 31%. Likelihood to access e-health information increased with education and income but decreased with age (p , .05). Conclusions. Many patients with head and neck cancer welcome information technology, but most prefer more traditional sources of information. Interventions to improve computer access and/or skills are largely undesired. Individuals seem to either embrace technology or not. In this respect, patients with head and neck cancer are similar to, rather than unique from, other patients with cancer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: 8,14, 2005 [source] Two-Minute Mental Health Care for Elderly Patients: Inside Primary Care VisitsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 12 2007(See editorial comments by Drs. Charles Reynolds, Bruce L. Rollman), Carrie Farmer Teh, Mario Cruz OBJECTIVES: To assess how care is delivered for mental disorders using videotapes of office visits involving elderly patients. DESIGN: Mixed-method observational analysis of the nature of the topics discussed, content of discussion, and the time spent on mental health. SETTINGS: Three types of settings: an academic medical center, a managed care group, and fee-for-service solo practitioners. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five primary care physicians and 366 of their elderly patients. MEASUREMENTS: Videotapes of 385 visits covering 2,472 diverse topics were analyzed. Coding of the videotapes identified topics, determined talk time, and coded the dynamics of talk. RESULTS: Mental health topics occurred in 22% of visits, although patient survey indicated that 50% of the patients were depressed. A typical mental health discussion lasted approximately 2 minutes. Qualitative analysis suggested wide variations in physician effort in providing mental health care. Referrals to mental health specialists were rare even for severely depressed and suicidal patients. CONCLUSION: Little time is spent on mental health care for elderly patients despite heavy disease burdens. Standards of care based on a count of visits "during which a mental health problem is discussed" may need to be supplemented with guidelines about what should happen during the visit. System-level interventions are needed. [source] Adequacy of Oral Health Information for Patients with DiabetesJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2009Hon K. Yuen PhD, OTR/L Abstract Objective: We investigated the perception of dental hygienists regarding their adequacy of providing diabetics with diabetes-related oral health preventive education. Methods: A one-page questionnaire printed on both sides was mailed to 2,237 licensed registered dental hygienists with a South Carolina (SC) mailing address. In addition to the dental hygienists' background and practice characteristics, their perception of adequacy for educating patients with diabetes on various diabetes-related oral health topics and reasons for inadequate coverage of materials were queried in the survey. Results: After two follow-up mailings, 995 completed and usable surveys were returned. An average of 93.6 percent of respondents indicated that they adequately covered topics of oral hygiene and general oral health issues. However, about 60 percent of respondents reported not covering all essential materials related to oral health when educating diabetic patients. The three most common reasons were: a) insufficient time (60.1 percent); b) patient disinterest (41.2 percent); and c) insufficient information on oral care and diabetes (39.7 percent). Respondents reporting insufficient information were less likely to adequately address the effect of periodontal disease on diabetes (P < 0.001), effect of uncontrolled diabetes on periodontal disease (P < 0.001), and dry mouth management (P = 0.03). Conclusion: This study indicates that SC dental hygienists do not routinely provide patient education on diabetes-related oral health and healthy lifestyle topics. Lack of time, patient disinterest, and insufficient information were the three main reasons for respondents not covering these essentials. A practical method for improving dental hygienists' comprehensive service to patients with diabetes is to offer them more continuing education on diabetes and oral health to supplement their knowledge, skills, and confidence to educate this growing population. [source] Management of Chronic Hepatitis CJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 10 2001APRN-C, Mary Jo Goolsby EdD One purpose of the Clinical Practice Guideline column is to increase the awareness of the broad availability of existing guidelines and recommendations on various health topics. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) currently accounts for 20% to 40% of acute viral hepatitis, 60% to 80% of chronic hepatitis, and 20% to 30% of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer. Nearly four million Americans are currently infected with hepatitis C. Nurse practitioners should be aware of the recommendations regarding the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of the dis ease. This column summarizes the content of two NIH documents regarding the care of patients with hepatitis C: Management of Hepatitis C: NIH Consensus Statement (NIH, 1997) and Chronic Hepatitis C: Current Disease Management (NIDDK, 2000). Readers are encouraged to suggest specific CPGs for future columns or to request that the editor search for and summarize a CPG addressing a common health problem. Readers are also invited to submit a manuscript reviewing CPGs that they find helpful in their area of practice. [source] Effect of an Integrated Public Health Curriculum in an Emergency Medicine ResidencyACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2009Marian Betz Background: Emergency departments (EDs) serve as a central point of interaction between the public and the medical system. Emergency physicians need education in public health in order to optimize their clinical care and their ability to evaluate potential public health interventions in the ED. Methods: As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of American Medical College's (AAMC) national initiative for "Regional Medicine-Public Health Education Centers-Graduate Medical Education", we designed and implemented a new public health curriculum for the emergency medicine residents. Over four sessions during regular didactic time, we used a modular approach to link a basic public health principle, such as environmental hazard assessment, to a relevant clinical topic, such as violent patients and ED safety. Each session emphasized resident involvement, including small group work and role-plays. Journal clubs and quality assurance projects supplemented the curriculum. We sought resident feedback through focus groups and anonymous online pre- and post-tests for each session. Assessment: Both before and after the curriculum, 76% of responders felt it was important for physicians to receive training in public health. The program appeared to have a positive effect on residents' comfort level with various public health topics, and felt the residency program had taught them the skills necessary to implement public health principles in clinical practice (23.8%, versus 11.5% before; p<0.05). Conclusions: Integration of public health principles into existing clinical curricula in emergency medicine may increase resident interest and knowledge. Combining public health and emergency medicine topics in regular didactic conferences facilitates public health education for residents. [source] Multicenter Study of Preferences for Health Education in the Emergency Department PopulationACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010M. Kit Delgado MD Abstract Objectives:, Emergency departments (EDs) are increasingly proposed as high-yield venues for providing preventive health education to a population at risk for unhealthy behaviors and unmet primary care needs. This study sought to determine the preferred health education topics and teaching modality among ED patients and visitors. Methods:, For two 24-hour periods, patients aged 18 years and older presenting to four Boston EDs were consecutively enrolled, and waiting room visitors were surveyed every 3 hours. The survey assessed interest in 28 health conditions and topics, which were further classified into nine composite health education categories. Also assessed was the participants' preferred teaching modality. Results:, Among 1,321 eligible subjects, 1,010 (76%) completed the survey, of whom 56% were patients and 44% were visitors. Among the health conditions, respondents were most interested in learning about stress and depression (32%). Among the health topics, respondents were most interested in exercise and nutrition (43%). With regard to learning modality, 34% of subjects chose brochures/book, 25% video, 24% speaking with an expert, 14% using a computer, and 3% another mode of learning (e.g., a class). Speaking with an expert was the overall preferred modality for those with less than high school education and Hispanics, as well as those interested in HIV screening, youth violence, and stroke. Video was the preferred modality for those interested in learning more about depression, alcohol, drugs, firearm safety, and smoke detectors. Conclusions:, Emergency department patients and visitors were most interested in health education on stress, depression, exercise, and nutrition, compared to topics more commonly targeted to the ED population such as substance abuse, sexual health (including HIV testing), and injury prevention. Despite many recent innovations in health education, most ED patients and visitors in our study preferred the traditional form of books and brochures. Future ED health education efforts may be optimized by taking into account the learning preferences of the target ED population. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:652,658 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine [source] Child health indicators for Europe.CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2004A priority for a caring society Background Measurement of children's health is important for two reasons: first, because young people are citizens in their own right, yet largely unable to act as self-advocates, particularly at the population level; and second, because their health determines the health of the future population. Indicators based on measurements of child health are important for identifying progress, problems and priorities, changes over time, and newly emergent issues. The European Community Health Monitoring Programme (HMP) is a comprehensive programme to develop and implement a set of national-level indicators. The Child Health Indicators of Life and Development (CHILD) project is the only population group-specific project, seeking to determine a holistic set of measures. Methods The project endeavoured to address all aspects of child health and its determinants, balancing positive and negative aspects. It undertook a structured search of published evidence to seek to identify, and validate, indicators of health and illness, health determinants and challenges to health, quality of healthcare support and health-promoting national policies. A systematic approach was used in identifying valid indicators, and in assembling a balanced composite list. All ages from infancy to adolescence were covered. Results The project's final report identifies 38 core desirable national indicators, citing purpose and evidence for each. Of equal importance, it also identifies 17 key child health topics on which further research work is needed in order to identify and validate indicators appropriate across different national settings. [source] | ||||||||||