This Survey (this + survey)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Migraine Disability Awareness Campaign in Asia: Migraine Assessment for Prophylaxis

HEADACHE, Issue 9 2008
Shuu-Jiun Wang MD
Objectives., This study aimed to survey the headache diagnoses and consequences among outpatients attending neurological services in 8 Asian countries. Methods., This survey recruited patients who consulted neurologists for the first time with the chief complaint of headache. Patients suffering from headaches for 15 or more days per month were excluded. Patients answered a self-administered questionnaire, and their physicians independently completed a separate questionnaire. In this study, the migraine diagnosis given by the neurologists was used for analysis. The headache symptoms collected in the physician questionnaire were based on the diagnostic criteria of migraine proposed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition (ICHD-2). Results., A total of 2782 patients (72% females; mean age 38.1 ± 15.1 years) finished the study. Of them, 66.6% of patients were diagnosed by the neurologists to have migraine, ranging from 50.9% to 85.8% across different countries. Taken as a group, 41.4% of those patients diagnosed with migraine had not been previously diagnosed to have migraine prior to this consultation. On average, patients with migraine had 4.9 severe headaches per month with 65% of patients missing school, work, or household chores. Most (87.5%) patients with migraine took medications for acute treatment. Thirty-six percent of the patients had at least one emergency room consultation within one year. Only 29.2% were on prophylactic medications. Neurologists recommended pharmacological prophylaxis in 68.2% of patients not on preventive treatment. In comparison, migraine prevalence was the highest with ICHD-2 "any migraine" (ie, migraine with or without migraine and probable migraine) (73.3%) followed by neurologist-diagnosed migraine (66.6%) and ICHD-2 "strict migraine" (ie, migraine with or without aura only) (51.3%). About 88.6% patients with neurologist-diagnosed migraine fulfilled ICHD-2 any migraine but only 67.1% fulfilled the criteria of ICHD-2 strict migraine. Conclusions., Migraine is the most common headache diagnosis in neurological services in Asia. The prevalence of migraine was higher in countries with higher referral rates of patients to neurological services. Migraine remains under-diagnosed and under-treated in this region even though a high disability was found in patients with migraine. Probable migraine was adopted into the migraine diagnostic spectrum by neurologists in this study. [source]


Workplace Stressors and Coping Strategies Among Chinese Psychiatric Nurses

PERSPECTIVES IN PSYCHIATRIC CARE, Issue 4 2008
Zhong-Xiang Cai RN
PURPOSE.,This study was conducted with Chinese psychiatric nurses to identify their workplace stressors and coping strategies, as well as the relationships between their demographics, workplace stressors, and coping strategies. DESIGN AND METHODS.,This survey was conducted, with the use of three questionnaires, on 188 psychiatric nurses recruited via convenient sampling in central China. FINDINGS.,The findings indicated that (a) workload and dealing with death/dying were the greatest workplace stressors; (b) positive coping strategies were the most often used coping strategies; and (c) a series of correlation results occurred. PRACTICE APPLICATION.,Understanding the relationship between workplace stressors, effective and ineffective coping, and demographics can contribute to designing less stressful environments and more constructive coping strategies. [source]


Complementary and alternative medicine inclusion in physical therapist education in the United States

PHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2009
Paula Richley Geigle
Abstract Purpose.,The purpose of this study was to determine the current prevalence, and at what level, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) content is included in physical therapist (PT) education in the United States. This survey study provides self-report data regarding reasons why faculty members choose to include or not include CAM into programme content.,Background/Significance.,This study investigates the current prevalence of CAM content, and what level of inclusion (minimal, moderate, advanced) in PT curricula will assist programmes as they modify existing curricula and develop new programmes.,Subjects.,All 196 US-accredited programmes were included in our survey.,Materials and Methods.,An IRB-approved (Investigational Review Board), pilot-tested, two-page survey was emailed to all programme chairpersons of accredited PT programmes. A hard copy survey was mailed to non-responding programmes.,Analyses.,Returned surveys were analyzed descriptively to characterize the data shape, tendency and variability. Data were summarized in a frequency distribution and graphically depicted in a histogram for each category. In addition, qualitative analysis was completed for the explanatory data.,Results.,Forty-seven per cent (92) of all accredited PT programmes (196) responded. Most commonly included CAM areas were: manipulative and body-based methods, alternative medical systems and biologically based therapies. Most frequent responses to limitations to including CAM in PT curriculum were: limited curriculum time, lack of evidence supporting CAM practices and trouble locating qualified CAM presenters.,Conclusions.,This survey suggests the following: CAM techniques are included in entry-level PT education in the United States; the majority of these techniques are offered at the minimum or exposure level; manipulative and body-based methods, alternative medical systems and biologically based therapies are the most frequently included CAM techniques. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Patients' Knowledge about Risk Factors for Erectile Dysfunction is Poor

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 10 2008
Martin K. Baumgartner MD
ABSTRACT Introduction., Well informed and educated patients ideally manage to prevent or delay the onset of severe chronic diseases. With respect to erectile dysfunction (ED) this is of importance because ED is considered to herald debilitating cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease. Aim., This survey aimed to assess patient's knowledge about risk factors (RF) for ED and to identify their preferred source of information. Main Outcome Measures., Knowledge of RF for ED and sources used to gather information about ED as reported by patients with ED. Methods., Between July 2004 and June 2006, 126 patients who presented at our outpatient clinic for an assessment of their ED were prospectively evaluated. The patients received a questionnaire about their demographic and socioeconomic circumstances, their strategies to gather information about ED, and their knowledge of specific RF for this disease. The questionnaire was completed by 81 patients (64%). Results., Forty-one patients (51%) could not name one single RF for ED. Three men knew more than three RF. The two most popular sources of information were the Internet and general practitioners. Well-educated patients were significantly better informed than others. Patients using the Internet as source for health information were significantly younger and had a better knowledge about RF for ED compared to those not using the Internet. Conclusions., Patients' knowledge about RF for ED is poor. The Internet seems to be the most useful information source for patients with ED and is predominantly used by younger and better educated patients. Given that ED is considered to be a precursor lesion of severe cardiovascular diseases, patient information and education deserves more attention. Baumgartner MK, Hermanns T, Cohen A, Schmid DM, Seifert B, Sulser T, and Strebel RT. Patients' knowledge about risk factors for erectile dysfunction is poor. J Sex Med 2008;5:2399,2404. [source]