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Variety Of Instruments (variety + of_instruments)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	75%

Selected Abstracts

Mechanical preparation of root canals: shaping goals, techniques and means

ENDODONTIC TOPICS, Issue 1 2005
Michael Hülsmann
Preparation of root canal systems includes both enlargement and shaping of the complex endodontic space together with its disinfection. A variety of instruments and techniques have been developed and described for this critical stage of root canal treatment. Although many reports on root canal preparation can be found in the literature, definitive scientific evidence on the quality and clinical appropriateness of different instruments and techniques remains elusive. To a large extent this is because of methodological problems, making comparisons among different investigations difficult if not impossible. The first section of this paper discusses the main problems with the methodology of research relating to root canal preparation while the remaining section critically reviews current endodontic instruments and shaping techniques. [source]

Relationship of resident characteristics, attitudes, prior training and clinical knowledge to communication skills performance

MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2006
Toni Suzuki Laidlaw
Purpose, A substantial body of literature demonstrates that communication skills in medicine can be taught and retained through teaching and practice. Considerable evidence also reveals that characteristics such as gender, age, language and attitudes affect communication skills performance. Our study examined the characteristics, attitudes and prior communication skills training of residents to determine the relationship of each to patient,doctor communication. The relationship between communication skills proficiency and clinical knowledge application (biomedical and ethical) was also examined through the use of doctor-developed clinical content checklists, as very little research has been conducted in this area. Methods, A total of 78 first- and second-year residents across all departments at Dalhousie Medical School participated in a videotaped 4-station objective structured clinical examination presenting a range of communication and clinical knowledge challenges. A variety of instruments were used to gather information and assess performance. Two expert raters evaluated the videotapes. Results, Significant relationships were observed between resident characteristics, prior communication skills training, clinical knowledge and communication skills performance. Females, younger residents and residents with English as first language scored significantly higher, as did residents with prior communication skills training. A significant positive relationship was found between the clinical content checklist and communication performance. Gender was the only characteristic related significantly to attitudes. Conclusions, Gender, age, language and prior communication skills training are related to communication skills performance and have implications for resident education. The positive relationship between communication skills proficiency and clinical knowledge application is important and should be explored further. [source]

Care dependency among school-aged children: Literature review

NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 2 2007
Hanan Tork rn
Abstract, Many disabilities and chronic illnesses of children result in those children being dependent on their caregivers. The higher dependence of children in their daily tasks undoubtedly places a greater burden on their caregivers and on care-providers in the health-care system, especially nurses. The objectives were to gain an overview of the literature dealing with care dependency among children and the factors possibly influencing their dependency on care, and to obtain instruments for measuring children's care dependency. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsychINFO were searched for different publications from 1995 to 2005. The literature reveals four categories of factors associated with care dependency of the child. With respect to instruments, a variety of instruments were identified but most of them were restricted to children with specific health conditions. For this reason, the paper suggests the development of a new instrument for assessing children's care dependency that is applicable to healthy children. [source]

The prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders in adolescents with a history of specific language impairment (SLI)

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 6 2006
Gina Conti-Ramsden
Background:, Traditionally, autism and specific language impairment (SLI) have been regarded as distinct disorders but, more recently, evidence has been put forward for a closer link between them: a common set of language problems, in particular receptive language difficulties and the existence of intermediate cases including pragmatic language impairment. The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in a large sample of adolescents with a history of SLI. Method:, The presence of autism spectrum disorders was examined in seventy-six 14-year-olds with a confirmed history of SLI. A variety of instruments were employed, including the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Family History Interview (FHI). Results:, The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in young people with SLI was found to be 3.9%, about 10 times what would be expected from the general population. In addition, a much larger number of young people with a history of SLI showed only some autism spectrum symptoms or showed them in a mild form. Conclusions:, Young people with SLI have an increased risk of autism. The magnitude of this risk is considerable. In addition, a larger proportion (a quarter of individuals) present with a number of behaviours consistent with autism spectrum disorders. [source]