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Important Things (important + thing)
Selected AbstractsMigraine Prevention: What Patients Want From Medication and Their Physicians (A Headache Specialty Clinic Perspective)HEADACHE, Issue 5 2006Todd D. Rozen MD Objective.,To document the results of a migraine patients survey, from a headache specialty clinic, in which patients were asked to rank, in order of importance, certain characteristics of migraine preventive treatment. Methods.,A 10-question survey was completed by 150 patients (114 females and 36 males) with a history of migraine who presented to the Michigan Head Pain & Neurological Institute. The patients were asked to rank, in order of importance, characteristics of migraine preventive treatment. Each characteristic was rated individually on a 1 to 10 scale (1 being of little importance and 10 being extremely important). The mean rating of each characteristic was then calculated and the results analyzed. Results/Discussion.,From this migraine preventive treatment survey, the most important thing to migraineurs, from a headache specialty clinic population, is that the prescribing physician involves them in the decision making of choosing a preventive agent. The physician taking time to explain the possible medication side effects is the second most highly ranked characteristic. Migraine preventives with published efficacy in the medical literature are also deemed very important. Migraineurs do not mind using more than 1 preventive agent at one time if greater efficacy can be achieved. Agents that may affect weight and /or cause sedation may be important factors as to why patients (especially females) may not want to take a preventive medication. Natural therapies and once-daily dosing are ranked lower overall but still are important characteristics of preventive treatment. Some gender differences are noted in the ranking of migraine preventive characteristics. [source] Public perceptions about low back pain and its management: a gap between expectations and reality?HEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 3 2000Jennifer A. Klaber Moffett PhD MSc MCSP Objective To compare public perceptions and patient perceptions about back pain and its management with current clinical guidelines. Design A survey using a quota sampling technique. Setting On-the-street in South Derbyshire in the UK. Subjects 507 members of the general population aged between 20 and 60 years, including a representative subsample of 40% who had experienced back pain in the previous year. Survey To test knowledge and perceptions of back pain and its best management using statements based on The Back Book which was produced in conjunction with the Royal College of General Practitioners and based on best available evidence. In addition expectations of back pain management and outcome were investigated. Results Forty percent of this sample had experienced back pain during the previous year, more than half of whom had consulted their GP. More than half believed the spine is one of the strongest part of the body, but nearly two thirds incorrectly believed that back pain is often due to a slipped disc or trapped nerve. Two thirds expected a GP to be able to tell them exactly what was wrong with their back, although slightly fewer among those who had consulted. Most expected to have an X-ray, especially if they had consulted. Most recognised that the most important thing a GP can do is offer reassurance and advice. The responses were not related to age, gender or social class. Those who had consulted appeared to have slightly more misconceptions: this could be partly due to people with more severe problems or more misconceptions being more likely to consult, but also suggests either that GPs are still giving inaccurate information or at least failing to correct these misconceptions. Conclusions The problem of managing back pain might be reduced by closing the gap between the public's expectations and what is recommended in the guidelines through the promotion of appropriate health education messages. Further professional education of GPs also appears to be needed to update them in the most effective approach to managing back pain. [source] Review paper: more than ringing in the ears: a review of tinnitus and its psychosocial impactJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 21 2009Susan Holmes Aim and objectives., To provide an overview of tinnitus, current management and its psychosocial impact offering strategies for managing acute and chronic tinnitus in practice. Background., Tinnitus, characterised by the perception of sound in the absence of external stimuli, is experienced by about 10% of the population at some time in their lives. It may be temporary/longstanding; approximately 5% adults experience severe, persistent tinnitus affecting their lifestyle. Although many adjust successfully, others are disabled by the condition. Though often unrecognised, tinnitus affects many patients regardless of their presenting illness. Design., A literature review including descriptive, theoretical and empirical material. Databases were searched using the keyword ,tinnitus' providing diverse information which was used to address the research questions. Results., Tinnitus represents more than ,simple' ringing in the ears and may be accompanied by many distressing changes. It may be acute or chronic. It is difficult to treat, care may be directed towards management rather than cure. Many patients are, however, told that ,nothing can be done'. Relevance to clinical practice., Despite the high prevalence of tinnitus, there is a paucity of relevant nursing literature suggesting that there is an information deficit amongst nurses. The information provided shows that understanding the full impact of the condition and identification of patients' needs are essential to effective care. Strategies to help affected patients are given. Conclusions., Tinnitus, a widespread, often intractable condition, affects millions of people; there is considerable debate about its causes. Tinnitus is distressing and may be severe enough to affect lifestyle and quality of life. Affected patients need considerable support and advice on healthcare options, encouragement to try different treatments and recognition that help and hope are available. Though patients may have to learn to live with tinnitus, the most important thing is that they recognise that help is available. [source] A philosophical analysis of the concept empowerment; the fundament of an education-programme to the frail elderlyNURSING PHILOSOPHY, Issue 4 2005Anne Merete Hage RN Cand.san. Abstract, The word ,empowerment' has become a popular term, widely used as an important claim, also within the health services. In this paper the concept's philosophical roots are traced from Freire and his ,Pedagogy of the Oppressed' to the philosophical thoughts of Hegel, Habermas, and Sartre. An understanding of the concept, as a way to facilitate coping and well-being in patients through reflection and dialogue, emerges. Within an empowerment strategy the important claim on the nurse and the patient will be to reveal the patient's own resources and limitations in times with sickness and reduced functionality to promote the patient's choice to act and cope. From this point of view an education-programme for the frail elderly is outlined. If the nurse wants to empower the elderly patient she has to be willing to be educated through the dialogue with the patient, and to look for the patient's own meaning of being frail and elderly. The coping and self-care solutions for the patient may then even be different from the preferences of the nurse, and this does not mean that the empowerment strategy is a failure or that the patient then has to continue without the assistance from the nurse. Within an empowerment strategy, in the Freirerian sense, the important thing is that both the patient and the nurse together critically reflect on the meanings of the sickness so that the patient can be able to make his own conscious choices. [source] The 10 most important things known about addictionADDICTION, Issue 1 2010Doug Sellman ABSTRACT If you were asked: ,What are the most important things we know about addiction?' what would you say? This paper brings together a body of knowledge across multiple domains and arranged as a list of 10 things known about addiction, as a response to such a question. The 10 things are: (1) addiction is fundamentally about compulsive behaviour; (2) compulsive drug seeking is initiated outside of consciousness; (3) addiction is about 50% heritable and complexity abounds; (4) most people with addictions who present for help have other psychiatric problems as well; (5) addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder in the majority of people who present for help; (6) different psychotherapies appear to produce similar treatment outcomes; (7) ,come back when you're motivated' is no longer an acceptable therapeutic response; (8) the more individualized and broad-based the treatment a person with addiction receives, the better the outcome; (9) epiphanies are hard to manufacture; and (10) change takes time. The paper concludes with a call for unity between warring factions in the field to use the knowledge already known more effectively for the betterment of tangata whaiora (patients) suffering from addictive disorders. [source] Wittgenstein, Freud, Dreaming and Education: Psychoanalytic explanation as ,une façon de parler'1EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY, Issue 5 2008James D. Marshall Abstract Freud saw the dream as occupying a very important position in his theoretical model. If there were to be problems with his theoretical account of the dream then this would impinge upon proposed therapy and, of course, education as the right balance between the instincts and the institution of culture. Wittgenstein, whilst stating that Freud was interesting and important, raised several issues in relation to psychology/psychoanalysis, and to Freud in particular. Why would Wittgenstein have seen Freud as having some important things to say, even though he was sharply critical of Freud's claims to be scientific? The major issues to be considered in this paper are, in Section 1, the scientific status of Freud's work,was it science or was it more like philosophy than science; the analysis of dreams; rationality, and dreams and madness. Section 2 considers Freud and education, including the indignity of Freud's notion of ,the talking cure.' Section 3 considers psychoanalytic explanations not as theory but as a manner of speaking: ,une façon de parler.' [source] Quality of Life While Dying: A Qualitative Study of Terminally Ill Older MenJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 11 2003Elizabeth K. Vig MD Objectives: To characterize the experience of quality of life while dying from the perspective of terminally ill men. Design: Descriptive study involving semistructured interviews. Setting: Patients attending clinics at two university-affiliated medical centers were interviewed in a private conference room or in their homes. Participants: Twenty-six men identified by their physicians as having terminal heart disease or cancer. Eligible participants acknowledged that they had serious illness. Measurements: The interview contained open-ended questions such as: "What are the most important things in your life right now?" The interview also contained closed-ended questions about symptom intensity, presence of depressed mood, and other items related to overall quality of life. The open-ended questions were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using grounded theory methods. The closed-ended questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Participants believed that death was near. Participants saw engaging in hobbies and other enjoyable activities as an alternative to moving into the final stage of illness, in which they saw themselves as actively dying. They admitted to occasionally ignoring prescribed diets; these actions improved their overall quality of life but worsened symptoms. New symptoms brought concerns about progression to active dying. They anticipated what their dying would be like and how it would affect others. Participants believed that their actions in the present could improve the quality of their dying and lessen the burden of their deaths on others. Many participants therefore were preparing for death by engaging in such tasks as putting their finances in order and planning their funerals, to relieve anticipated burden on loved ones. Conclusion: To help terminally ill patients plan for the end of life, clinicians are encouraged to become familiar with their patients' experiences of living with terminal illness, to identify each patient's unique priorities, and to incorporate that information into care plans aimed at maximizing quality of life at the end of life. [source] Good Deaths, Bad Deaths, and Preferences for the End of Life: A Qualitative Study of Geriatric OutpatientsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 9 2002Elizabeth K. Vig MD OBJECTIVES: Patient involvement in decision-making has been advocated to improve the quality of life at the end of life. Although the size of the oldest segment of the population is growing, with greater numbers of older adults facing the end of life, little is known about their preferences for the end of life. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of older adults with medical illness about the end of life, and to investigate whether current values could be extended to end-of-life preferences. DESIGN: Descriptive study with interviews using open- and closed-ended questions. SETTING: Patients attending two university-affiliated geriatric clinics were interviewed in a private conference room near the clinic they attended or in their homes. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen older men and women identified by their physicians as having nonterminal heart disease or cancer. MEASUREMENTS: The interview contained open-ended questions such as: "What are the most important things in your life right now?" and "What would you consider a good/bad death?" The interview also contained closed-ended questions about symptoms, quality of life, and health status. Additional questions elicited preferences for the end of life, such as location of death and the presence of others. The open-ended questions were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative methods. The closed-ended questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Patients with heart disease and cancer provided similar responses. Participants' views about good deaths, bad deaths, and end-of-life scenarios were heterogeneous. Each participant voiced a unique combination of themes in describing good and bad deaths. Because each participant described a multifaceted view of a good death, for instance, no theme was mentioned by even half of the participants. Participants provided differing explanations for why given themes contributed to good deaths. Currently valued aspects of life were not easily translated into end-of-life preferences. For example, although the majority of participants identified their family as being important, many gave reasons why they did not want their family members present when they died. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the heterogeneity of views and the difficulty in inferring end-of-life preferences from current values, older adults should be asked not only questions about general values, but also specific questions about their end-of-life choices and the reasons for these choices. A thorough understanding of an individual's end-of-life preferences may help health professionals working with older adults develop patient-centered care plans for the end of life. [source] Twenty one important things you should knowMICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Carmen Michán [source] West Turns East at the End of HistoryNEW PERSPECTIVES QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2009Octavio Paz Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1990, Octavio Paz was Latin America's great poet, essayist and critic whose most enduring work was The Labyrinth of Solitude. We would often meet in the late afternoon over scotch on ice at his apartment on Reforma in Mexico City, the warm afternoon rain pounding against the windows of his book-lined study, gazing out toward the Angel of Independence column in the center of that daunting megalopolis. Over the years, we collaborated on several issues of Vuelta, a small but influential journal like NPQ. Paz believed that "the most important things can be said at the margins beyond the entertainment and commercial imperatives of the mass media." Though petty literary politics sometimes intruded, Paz was a truly magnanimous soul whose entire life was an exploration. Everything interested him, from Surrealism to the Indian caste system (he was the Mexican ambassador to India before resigning in 1968 to protest the student massacre at Tlatelolco). He liked to quote Baudelaire, saying that poets were universal translators because they translate the language of the universe,stars, water, trees,into the language of man. Paz died in 1998. We held this conversation in 1992. It also appeared in Vuelta as "La Transformacion del Tiempo: El Encuentro de Oriente y Occidente." [source] THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED Conscience in Renaissance moral thought: a concept in transition?RENAISSANCE STUDIES, Issue 4 2009M. W. F. Stone This paper focuses on a neglected aspect of the history of the discussion of conscience in late fifteenth-century Europe. It seeks to explain how Adrian of Utrecht (1459,1523), a prominent scholastic theologian at Louvain, pondered the more subjective dimensions of conscience, and how his arguments can be appraised from the perspective of a wide-ranging discussion of the nature and function of moral cognition and judgement that took place in humanist and philosophical circles. Adrian's work is especially interesting for reason that he has important things to say about ,moral integrity', and ,convictions of the heart', ideas that bring into focus how highly personalized aspects of moral reflection impinge upon the activities of conscience. Having outlined Adrian's concerns, his description of the machinations of our moral conscience will then be set in context by comparing his account to that of a leading philosopher of his age, Marsilio Ficino (1433,1499). In addition to this, the thoughts of the celebrated ,Christian humanists' John Colet (1467,1519) and Desiderius Erasmus (1466/9,1536) will also be enlisted so that a richer picture of Renaissance ideas of conscience can emerge. [source] ,Post-financial meltdown: What do the services industries need from us now?' by Roger W. Hoerl and Ronald D. Snee: Discussion 2APPLIED STOCHASTIC MODELS IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, Issue 5 2009Ron S. Kenett Hoerl and Snee have done three important things in their excellent paper. First of all, they address the current work environment conditions head-on, describing the facts about the 2008 economic meltdown. Secondly, they provide a retrospective about the role of Statistics and Statisticians in service industries, thus providing a context for their third contribution, which is to lay out a clear road map with specific recommendations. This discussion paper expands their comments addressing the question they posed, namely ,what do the service industries need from us now?' It will discuss some aspects of the causes of the economic meltdown and present some methodological implications. It will then take a wide-angle view of the role of Statistics and Statisticians in business and industry and finally, revisit the recommendations of Hoerl and Snee with some add-ons and emphasis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dispersion and Accuracy of Simulated Phosphene Positioning Using Tactile BoardARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 12 2009Leilei Zhang Abstract The evaluation of phosphene is one of the most important things after the electrode array's implantation. Some experiments have been used to study the basic rules on people using their tactile perception in describing the characteristics of simulated phosphenes, such as the dispersion, accuracy, and response time. In order to describe the simulated phosphenes more systematically and scientifically, an improved phosphene-positioning method using tactile board was designed in this study. Using tactile board to guide the tactile perception, the dispersion was limited to less than 6 mm, while the largest mean error was 8.1 mm, which was nearly equal to the minimal resolution of tactile board (8 mm). The response time greatly increased because of the standard processes in using tactile board. Moreover, the long-term experiment to repeat the procedure could improve and sustain the subjects' performance in good results. [source] | |||||||||||||