bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching for America's Future: National Commissions and Vested Interests in an Almost Profession
Authors: Darling-Hammond Linda
Published: March 2007

This article describes how the National Commission on Teaching has sought to implement its recommendations by working with partner states, districts, and stakeholder organizations that are committed to improving the quality of teaching. By creating a comprehensive agenda, democratizing the process of reform, and developing collaborative partnerships, the commission has stimulated substantial ongoing reform in policy and practice. As in the professionalization of medicine, law, and other fields, the creation of a professional accountability system for preparation and practice is a critical next step. If all teachers are to have access to knowledge and all students are to have access to well-prepared teachers, universities and schools will need to develop new partnerships and joint commitments to a democratic profession of teaching based on shared accountability for teacher education.
Living on the Edges of State School-Funding Policies: The Plight of At-Risk, Limited-English-Proficient, and Gifted Children
Authors: Baker Bruce D.
Published: March 2007

This study explores the rationality of state aid allocations to local school districts for providing opportunities to at-risk, limited-English-proficient (LEP), and gifted and talented pupils, referred to throughout as fringe populations, using data from the National Center for Education Statistics 1995-1996 Common Core of Data. Findings indicate that state aid programs for these populations are largely idiosyncratic. States with exemplary programs for fringe populations are Texas where LEP aid falls slightly below, but compensatory aid meets, minimal adequacy benchmarks and is both rational and equitable, and gifted education aid is allocated in an equalized pattern-and Virginia, where compensatory aid passes on all three measures, and gifted education aid is substantial and strongly equalized. States with consistently less than exemplary records include Kansas-which provides uniformly inadequate, questionably rational, and partially disequalizing aid for compensatory and LEP programs-and New Mexico, whose aid allocations resemble those of Kansas.
Parents, Gender, and Education
Authors: David Miriam E.
Published: March 2007

This article discusses social justice in education, specifically issues of social equity and equal opportunities on the grounds of gender. The article explores the ways in which the Right in government in advanced industrial societies, but particularly in Britain and the United States, has tried to implement a new right-wing agenda of parental choice and standards. This is in contrast to earlier liberal administrations that sought to provide equality of educational opportunity by reducing the differences between families through parental privilege or poverty or involving mothers in their children's education. The conclusion is drawn that right-wing strategies will increase social diversity and sexual inequalities around the role of parents, especially mothers.
"How Does My Child Measure Up?" Family Responses to Recent Reforms in Educational Assessment
Authors: Thornburg Devin G.
Published: March 2007

This research initiative was undertaken to examine family beliefs about alternative forms of educational assessment in an effort to guide policy in this aspect of educational reform. Observations of the interactions of 84 families were made and surveys of their beliefs about assessment received from 172 families. Teachers of the participant families' children were asked to rate the children's effort and involvement on alternative assessment measures. Discourse analyses of family interactions during assessments and interviews were conducted. Analyses of the survey data found significant differences among these three variables in such areas as assessing student progress and single-discipline versus integrated assessments and significant correlations between family beliefs and teacher ratings of their children's responses to alternative assessments. These findings are discussed within a constructivist framework of learning and the implications for family-school relations are outlined.
Equity for Children: Linking Education and Children's Services
Authors: Kirst Michael W.
Published: March 2007

Education equity needs to be reconceptualized and merged with both the conditions of children and a broader concept of children's services than schooling. Differences in spending on children's programs and services are rarely analyzed, however; even though they are crucial determinants of child outcomes. National goals such as readiness to learn provide a stimulus for this broader definition of children 'finance and equity. This article is designed to begin a discussion of an expanded definition of educational equity that includes out-of-school variables and services.
The Impact of England's National Curriculum and Assessment System on Classroom Practice: Potential Lessons for American Reformers
Authors: Silvernail David L.
Published: March 2007

Today many American educational reformers and policymakers are beginning to embrace a new reform strategy for improving our schools, a strategy that emphasizes results rather than inputs or the redistribution of power. Key components of this strategy include the creation of "world-class" standards, curriculum frameworks, and "voluntary" national tests. Reforms similar to these are already in place in England. The 1988 British Education Reform Act provided for the creation of a national curriculum and national assessment system. This article describes the British experience with these reforms and identifies potential lessons for American reformers.
Taking Care of Literacy One Feminist's Critique
Authors: Luttrell Wendy
Published: March 2007

This article shows how gender assumptions and inequalities provide the structure for our definition of the literacy problem, the ways we think about and value the teaching of literacy skills, and our perceptions of the relationships between adult literacy learners and teachers. The article draws on a variety of sources to describe and critique the gendered cornerstones of literacy education, particularly how women 's literacy activities (as teachers and learners) get devalued and depoliticized.
Why aren't Computers Used more in Schools?
Authors: Loveless Tom
Published: March 2007

The personal computer is the latest educational technology to fall short of its original promise. Although U.S. public schools now possess 5.8 million computers, roughly one for every nine students, they are not widely used in classroom instruction. Why not? This article argues that the most popular explanations mistakenly fix blame on recalcitrant bureaucracies and stubborn teachers. By enlisting technology in the cause of educational reform, computer advocates overlook some of the real obstacles to the use of computers in classrooms, obstacles rooted in organizational constraints of the school system and the nature of teachers' and students' work.
Institutional Constraints to Advocacy in Collaborative Services
Authors: Mawhinney Hanne B. , Smrekar Claire
Published: March 2007

In this article, we report on a comparative analysis of the influence of the policy frameworks guiding collaborative initiatives in two schools, one located in the state of Kentucky and the other in the Canadian province of Ontario. We focus specifically on the complex issues related to the professional service ethic and the advocacy role that have been identified in studies of new school-community and interprofessional connections. We draw from two longitudinal studies of collaboration, one taken from a 3-year qualitative evaluation of the Kentucky Family Resource Centers (FRCs), which examines the social influence of FRC coordinators on the character and content of family-school connections in six elementary schools. The companion narrative is based on a longitudinal study of the structures and strategies emerging in one school-based service collaboration for youth under study in a sample of high schools in provinces across Canada.
School Reform at the Crossroads: Confronting the Central Issues of Teaching
Authors: Darling-Hammond Linda
Published: March 2007

Despite many serious efforts at school reform, the nation is little closer to attaining its educational goals than it was a decade ago. Policy makers are just beginning to realize that most schools and teachers cannot provide the kind of teaching for all students that new standards demand, not because they do not want to but because they do not know how, and the systems in which they work do not support them in doing so. The policy challenge ahead is to develop schools' capacity to teach challenging content to diverse learners by ensuring teachers access to the knowledge they need to be effective and by developing new organizational forms that can support more powerful teaching and learning.
From Courthouses to Schoolhouses: Emerging Judicial Theories of Adequacy and Equity
Authors: Verstegen Deborah A. , Whitney Terry
Published: March 2007

This research examines three decades of school finance litigation while highlighting emerging judicial constructs of equity and adequacy. The authors find that in large part these decisions turn on whether a finance system is adequate. A bifurcated judicial theory of adequacy has emerged in recent judicial opinions. In states where education finance systems have been upheld, a minimalist, basic skills notion of adequacy is employed. Conversely, in states where public education finance systems have been invalidated, constructs of equity could not be severed from constructs of adequacy as the courts call for a quality education for all children. The authors conclude that the groundswell of school finance litigation indicates that there is a broad movement under way to secure in law and in practice the rights of poor children to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination, which is similar to past civil rights activities on behalf of linguistic minorities and children with disabilities.
Science and Technology Studies and Education: An Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Bromley Hank , Shutkin David S.
Published: March 2007

To introduce this special issue, the guest editors present an overview of the articles within the context of an introduction to science and technology studies (STS). STS scholarship addresses social, historical, and philosophical issues concerning the practices of science and technology, and the articles illustrate the emergence of STS ideas in the fields of educational technology and science education. The editors discuss different approaches within STS and situate the entire field within post-Enlightenment modernity. The representation of scientific and technological knowledge is a central concern in STS, and the editors critically examine efforts to fix the meaning of such knowledge.
Enhancing Education for Immigrants: The Role of Tacit Knowledge
Authors: Sternberg Robert J.
Published: March 2007

This article deals with the role of the construct of tacit knowledge-what one needs to know that usually is not explicitly taught and that often is not even verbalized-in enhancing education for immigrants. The article is divided into seven brief parts, covering the nature of tacit knowledge, the form of tacit knowledge, kinds of tacit knowledge, acquisition of tacit knowledge, tacit knowledge about competence, the role of tacit knowledge in abilities broadly defined, and conclusions.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS): The Pharmacist's Role
Authors: Blahunka Paul C.
Published: March 2007

The provision of pharmaceutical care to the patient undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important evolving concept. Pediatric resuscitation and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) presents a particularly challenging situation for the practicing pharmacist. Etiologies of pediatric arrests include pulmonary conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, and a myriad of accidental factors. Important initial determinations on arriving at a pediatric arrest are described, such as determining the correct weight of the patient, assessing the need for vascular access and/or intubation, and establishing the "code" leader. Recent American Heart Association guidelines for the pharmacotherapy of pediatric ACLS are discussed in detail. Included are recommendations on oxygen delivery, routes of fluid and medication administration, recent changes in epinephrine dosing, and guidelines for the proper use of adjunct medications. A detailed description of a method of using adult emergency drug syringes in the pediatric arrest is provided. Proper use of this method can expedite drug dispensing in an arrest, minimize the potential for needle-stick injury, and optimize the delivery of a patient-specific dose of medication. A "mock code" program is described that includes involvement with pharmacists, nurses, medical residents, and respiratory therapists. This program provides a hands-on role-playing model of a simulated pediatric arrest and serves as a valuable teaching tool for those charged with the responsibility of patient care during an actual arrest. While the ultimate role of the pharmacist in the pediatric arrest continues to be defined, developing the competency to provide pharmaceutical care in this clinical setting can be extremely rewarding. Copyright © 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company
The Use of Anticonvulsants in Psychiatry
Authors: Gaulin Bruce
Published: March 2007

The use of anticonvulsants in psychiatry has steadily increased in recent years. Two anticonvulsants in particular, carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproate (VPA), have become commonplace in psychiatric practice for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Schizoaffective dis order and aggression have also been treated with these agents. Indications, pharmacokinetics, drug inter actions, side effects, and monitoring of the anticonvulsants are discussed. Copyright © 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company
Corticosteroid Misadventures
Authors: O'Donnell James
Published: March 2007

Misadventures and tragic events related to corticosteroids, some involving medical malpractice, some involving prescription errors, some involving illegal excessive refills of steroid prescriptions, and some the result of valid, legitimate steroid medication use, compel the pharmacist to continuous scrutiny and awareness of the serious toxicity related to corticosteroid medication. The pharmacist is encouraged to always pay special attention to the use, dose, frequency, duration, and effects of steroids. Good, complete pharmaceutical care will help limit toxicities associated with this important class of drugs, and thus limit the misadventures. This article provides the pharmacist reader with a review of the pharmacology, clinical uses, and adverse effects. Case discussions, both from the literature, and from litigation are presented, with appropriate discussion to demonstrate certain key information.
Methemoglobinemia Secondary to Primaquine Therapy in an HIV Patient with Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia—A Case Report
Authors: Cawood Christi
Published: March 2007

Purpose: To describe an adverse drug event in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patient treated with primaquine for Pneumocystis carinii (PCP) pneumonia. Summary: A 29-year-old black male presented to the outpatient clinic with symptoms of shortness of breath, nausea, and stomach cramps. The patient had received 10 days of primaquine 15 mg po q d and clindamycin 450 mg po qid for active PCP infection. The patient was found to have a methemoglobin level of 3%. The patient was diagnosed with primaquine-induced methemoglobinemia and admitted to the hospital. He was treated with methylene blue 120 mg IV, prednisone 40 mg po bid (tapered), ascorbic acid 500 mg po q d, and pentamidine 200 mg IV q 24 hrs. During the hospital course, the patient stabilized and was discharged upon completion of his pentamidine therapy. Conclusions: Reporting adverse drug events with all HIV-related therapies is key to enhancing the awareness and possibly preventing future adverse events.
Clinical Utility of Toxicology Testing
Authors: Krenzelok Edward P.
Published: March 2007

Toxicology testing is an extremely valuable asset to the pharmacist in the evaluation and management of the poisoned patient. There is extensive use of toxicology screens and expensive and time-consuming quantitative analysis for toxins that could be more appropriately directed by the pharmacist who has an extensive background in toxicokinetics and pharmacology. The managed care environment mandates even more prudent use of toxicology testing. Application of the results of toxicology testing by the pharmacist can contribute to decisions regarding the patient's therapy and prognosis.
Occurrence of Hip Fractures and Socioeconomic Position
Authors: Bacon W. Edward , Hadden Wilbur C.
Published: March 2007

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to determine hip fracture incidence in the older U.S. White population as a function of their socioeconomic position. Methods: A sample of 5,161 White, hip fracture cases, 50 years and older, was selected using data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey for 1989-91. Median annual household income by ZIP Code of residence based on the 1990 Census was used as the measure of socioeconomic position. Fracture rates were calculated by age, sex, and income groups ranging from under $20,000 to $40,000 and more. Results:A weighted, least squares analysis found a significant linear decrease in rates with increasing income after controlling for age and sex. Conclusions:The results indicate that hip fracture incidence varies as a function of the income level of the ZIP Code area where the population resides. Implications for targeting prevention programs within local areas with low median income are discussed.
Race and Ethnic Variation in the Disablement Process
Authors: Zsembik Barbara A. , Peek M. Kristen , Peek Chuck W.
Published: March 2007

Objectives:This analysis examines ethnoracial group differences in the transition from health to disability. Methods:Using data from the AHEAD study, the authors examine the relative influence of each stage in the disablement process in the evolution of ethnoracial group differences in basic and instrumental disability. Results: Predisposing factors account for disability differences between Whites and other Latinos, whereas excess disability among African Americans stems from their higher level of cognitive limitation. The excess disability of Mexican Americans arises from their higher level of physical limitations. The data also reveal a larger impact of medical conditions and physical limitations on acquisition of disability among African Americans andMexican Americans. This article demonstrates the importance of cognitive status in the disablement process, especially in ethnoracial group differences. Discussion:The authors discuss the practical implications for health care delivery to non-White elders and the theoretical implications for understanding the complexities of disablement.
Appraisal of 4 Months’ Consumption of Nutrient-Dense Foods within the Daily Feeding Pattern of Frail Elderly
Authors: de Jong Nynke , Paw Marijke J. M. Chin A , de Graaf Cees , Hiddink Gerrit J. , de Groot Lisette , van Staveren Wija A.
Published: March 2007

Objectives: The appraisal and acceptance of micronutrient-dense versus identical regular foods among frail elderly are described. Methods:Four types of dairy and four types of fruit products, either enriched with multiple micronutrients or not, were consumed by 150 frail elders for 4 months. In the first 2 and last 2 weeks of the intervention, hedonic aspects were assessed. Afterward, evaluation forms were completed. Results:At the start, small but consistent differences existed between the enriched and the regular foods concerning the scores on pleasantness, desire to eat the product, and attitude toward the product. At the end, those ratings dropped slightly or stayed equal. Significant differences between groups emerged from the overall evaluation score: 6.4 ± 1.6 and 7.7 ± 1.7 respectively ( p< .001). Discussion:Optimization of the hedonic parameters of nutrient-dense foods and major long-term attention for application in the daily elderly feeding pattern is of essential importance.
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the Aging with a Traditional System of Natural Medicine
Authors: Schneider Robert H. , Alexander Charles N. , Salerno John W. , Robinson Donald K. , Fields Jeremy Z. , Nidich Sanford I.
Published: March 2007

Objective:This review focuses on a comprehensive, sophisticated system of natural medicine that appears to hold promise for prevention of chronic diseases and disabilities, loss of independence, suffering, and health care costs often associated with “usual” aging. Methods:The authors discuss the negative impact of usual aging on our society, with its rapidly growing percentage of elderly, and the challenge of promoting “successful aging.” Emphasis is given to research literature suggesting that Maharishi Vedic Medicine (MVM) is particularly effective in retarding usual aging. Results:Proposed mechanisms for the antiaging effects ofMVMinclude reductions in physiological and psychological stress and enhancement of homeostatic and self-repair processes. Conclusions:The authors conclude that this set of innovative strategies may help society achieve recommended health objectives for disease prevention and health promotion in older adults and that widespread implementation of this self-empowering, prevention-oriented approach in the elderly is feasible, cost effective, and timely.
The Philosophical Foundation of Empowerment
Authors: Clark Phillip G.
Published: March 2007

Empowerment of the elderly within the health care system is a concept increasingly discussed in clinical and policy-making contexts. An examination of its current expressions and underlying philosophical principles reveals four different interpretations: empowerment as political activism and social process, empowerment as effective deliberation and moral reflection, empowerment as personal process. and empowerment as balance and interdependence. How empowerment is defined and expressed has distinct implications for the practitioner. who must be sensitive to tile underlying value conflicts that are at the core of decision making in the clinical or the public policy setting.
How a Universal Health Care System Responds to an Aging Population
Authors: Roos Noralou P.
Published: March 2007

Health care planners are concerned with projected increases in the numbers of elderly because of their consumption of costly nursing home- and hospital-based services. Using administrative data from the Manitoba health insurance system, this article examines how a health care system has responded to increased numbers of elderly by comparing how different age groups in the population used hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians in 1975 and 1983. Over this period, there was a marked increase in the numbers of elderly, combined with a decrease in the per capita availability of hospital and nursing home beds.
Assessing Capacity for Self-Care among the Aged
Authors: Kart Cary S. , Dunkle Ruth E.
Published: March 2007

Data drawn from the Supplement on Aging (SOA) to the 1984 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to identify correlates of older persons' assessments of their capacity to provide self-care. The SOA data set consists of responses, based on personal interviews with 16,148 persons 55 years of age and older. Most assessed their capacity to care for themselves in positive terms; only 11% assessed their capacity to provide self-care as fair or poor. Based on stepwise regression, self-reported health status and perceived control of health accounted for approximately 15% of the 17% of variation explained in the dependent variable. The Health Belief Model may provide a theoretical context in which to understand better the self-care component of the health-care continuum.
Body Awareness and Self-Assessed Health among Older Adults
Authors: Hansell Stephen , Mechanic David
Published: March 2007

A longitudinal study of older adult members of a large health maintenance organization found that higher levels of body awareness were associated with significant longitudinal decreases in self-assessed health over time, controlling for physical and psychological health status, sex, age, and education. Also, psychological distress was a significant antecedent of body awareness. Individuals with higher distress had significant longitudinal increases in body awareness. However, physical illness was not associated significantly with changes in self-assessed health or body awareness over time. These results suggested that body awareness is part of a complex process through which global self-assessments of health are constructed.
Deteriorating Health and the Cessation of Employment among Older Workers
Authors: Ruchlin Hirsch S. , Morris John N.
Published: March 2007

Using a representative sample of community-residing elderly in Massachusetts above the age of 65, this study indicates that people who experience a deterioration in their health are more likely to stop working than those who do not experience such an adverse event. Depending on the health measure used, the odds of stopping work due to poorer health range from 2.11:1 to 3.93:1. A decline in health was also a better predictor of working or not working than were the sociodemographic variables included in this analysis.
Language Acculturation and Screening Practices of Elderly Hispanic Women
Authors: Ruiz Monica S. , Marks Gary , Richardson Jean L.
Published: March 2007

The present study examined the hypothesis that language acculturation of Hispanics in the United States increases their exposure to media-based health information which, in turn, increases medical screening practices and knowledge of cancer symptoms. We interviewed 598 elderly Hispanic women (55-92 years of age) residing in Los Angeles. Language acculturation was measured with items on understanding of English and language preference for interpersonal communication, reading materials, television, and radio. Recency of screening (physician breast exam, Pap smear, routine physical exam, mammogram) and exposure to media-based health information were assessed with Likert-type scales; knowledge of symptoms of breast, cervical, colorectal, and oral cancers was assessed through open-ended questions. The results of multiple regression analyses provide support for the hypothesis. First, language acculturation predicted media exposure after controlling for demographic variables. Second, media exposure predicted screening and symptom knowledge after controlling for language acculturation and the demographic factors. The findings suggest that cancer prevention programs should use Spanish-language media to reach a wider Hispanic audience, especially those who are monolingual.
The Effects of Environmental Context on Elderly Depression
Authors: La Gory Mark , Fitpatrick Kevin
Published: March 2007

This article examines the impact of environmental context (social networks and neighborhood characteristics) on the distress process. Both personal history and environmental variables are used to explain differences in depressive symptomatology for a random, representative cluster sample (N = 725) of persons 55+ in four metropolitan counties of Alabama. Levels of distress are higher among Whites, women, the younger old, the poor and more poorly educated, and the functionally impaired. In addition, being environmentally dissatisfied, having limited social supports, or living in neighborhoods with transportation problems increases the likelihood of depressive symptoms. As predicted by M. Powell Lawton and Lucille Nahemow's model of environmental press, person/environment factors are important in predicting depressive symptomatology. Interaction effects are demonstrated between competence and the neighborhood characteristics of age density and transportation accessibility. Functionally impaired elders living in less age dense or low-accessibility neighborhoods experienced an increase in depressive symptoms. Functionally less healthy elders with greater environmental satisfaction had lower depression. These relationships document the importance of the residential and social environment for aging.
Getting Better and Getting Worse
Authors: Crimmins Eileen M. , Saito Yasuhiko
Published: March 2007

This article examines change over 2 years in ability to perform 21 specific functions among Americans 70 years of age and over. Health change in old age is two-directional. Ability to perform specific functions improves for some and deteriorates for others. In addition, many individuals experience both types of functioning change at the same time—improvement in the ability to perform some functions and deterioration in ability to perform others. The covariates of functional improvement differ from those of functional loss. The return to functioning is most likely to occur when the overall functional status of the individual is higher, when the loss has been recent, and when the impairment is not severe. Decline in ability to perform specific functions is more likely when general health and functioning levels are lower and when a person has had a stroke, has arthritis, or has visual or auditory impairment. Age, race, and sex are related to the likelihood that functioning will deteriorate, but they have little effect on the likelihood of improvement.
Predictors of In-Home and Out-of-Home Service Use by Family Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease Patients
Authors: Biegel David E. , Bass David M. , Schulz Richard , Morycz Richard
Published: March 2007

Few studies have examined whether the use of different types of services is predicted by different characteristics of elderly care recipients and primary kin caregivers. Most research aggregates services into a single category, thereby assuming that different services have the same predictors. This investigation differs from the aggregation approach by comparing four groups of elderly care recipients: in-home service of users, out-of-home service users, users of both in- and out-of-home services, and those who do not use services. Data come from personal interviews with 171 family caregivers of mild to moderate dementia patients who reside in the community. Using the modified Andersen framework and multiple group discriminant analysis, results show that care recipients who do not use services and those using only in-home services have inadequate informal supports, more emotionally strained caregivers, and more functionally impaired care recipients compared with users of out-of-home or both in- and out-of-home services.
Examining the Relationship between Health Locus of Control and the Use of Medical Care Services
Authors: Goldsteen Raymond L. , Counte Michael A. , Goldsteen Karen
Published: March 2007

Health locus of control, the extent to which one believes he or she can affect his or her health status, usually is viewed as one of the factors that predisposes individuals to use medical services. However, some social theorists outside the area of utilization studies suggest that locus of control beliefs also are consequences of health-related behaviors and events such as utilization. The authors address this issue by investigating the relationship between health locus of control and utilization of medical services in a sample of 298 elderly community-dwellers surveyed at three points in time. They found that health locus of control was affected by serious medical care encounters and that, for two dimensions of health locus of control, there was a reciprocal relationship between control beliefs and utilization.
Financial Strain and Symptoms of Depression in a Community Sample of Elderly Men and Women
Authors: Mendes De Leon Carlos F. , Rapp Stephen S. , Kasl Stanislav V.
Published: March 2007

For many older Americans, managing economic resources is a considerable challenge, often resulting in chronic financial strain. This study examines the impact of financial strain on one domain of distress: symptoms of depression. Data came from a longitudinal study of a representative community sample of an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse elderly population. In multivariate analysis, financial strain was strongly associated with concurrent depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) among men and women. In addition, financial strain was associated with increases in CES-D scores over a 3-year period, but only among men. Again among men only, emotional support buffered the adverse effect of financial strain, whereas poor physical health aggravated its effect on depressive symptoms. These findings provide further evidence that financial strain is related to psychological distress in the elderly, particularly in men, and that in these men, this effect is modified by social support and physical health.
Resident Selection in a Connecticut Nursing Home
Authors: Ulli Robin Moremen
Published: March 2007

Using data from a year of participant observation, this study provides a detailed description of resident selection procedures in a for-profit Connecticut skilled nursing facility. A system of multiple payers for nursing home services created a hierarchy of admission preferences that privileged those who could pay and denied access to the least profitable and the sickest individuals. Prescreening and waiting list juggling were strategies employed by the home to maximize the selection of private-paying residents and residents requiring the least care.
My Parent—Not Myself
Authors: Wallhagen Margaret I. , Strawbridge William J.
Published: March 2007

We studied 100 adult child caregivers providing care to dependent parents and found that although the vast majority supported family care for older persons in general and their own parent in particular, 46% did not want family care for themselves if they became dependent. For many the contrast between their general statements supporting care of parents and eschewing it for themselves was quite sharp. Caregiver variables significantly associated with not wanting family care for self included age, conflict with relatives over caring, caregiving burden, number of caregiving tasks performed, poorer mental health, and number of years has provided care. Caregivers not wanting family care for self were also more likely to consider placing their parent in a nursing home. Our data reveal contrasting themes in caregiving that may affect caregiver well-being and burden, and that may have implications for the future care of dependent older persons.
The Effects of Socioeconomic Status on Exercise and Smoking
Authors: Wister Andrew V.
Published: March 2007

The aim of this article is to examine the effects of socioeconomic status (as measured by education, income, and labor force status) on patterns of exercise and smoking for three age groups: persons aged 25 to 44, 45 to 64, and 65 and over. Two hypotheses drawn from the literature are tested: (a) that socioeconomic status is associated with risky lifestyle behaviors and (b) that the effect of socioeconomic status is greater for younger and middle-aged groups than for older age groups. Logistic regression analyses are performed on the 1990 Canadian Health Promotion Survey. Our results indicate that socioeconomic status affects health behaviors in relatively important ways, but this depends on the measure, the specific behavior, and the age group. The findings are discussed in relation to controversies about the existence of a culture of poverty and its impact on health behaviors, as well as to several age pattern hypotheses.
A Race- and Gender-Specific Replication of Five Dimensions of Functional Limitation and Disability
Authors: Clark Daniel O. , Stump Timothy E. , Wolinsky Fredric D.
Published: March 2007

Activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) data from the 1989 National Long-Term Care Survey (NLTCS) are used to replicate two domains of functional status with a total of five dimensions among them. LISREL analysis of the 14,415 Black and White older adults obtained from the 1989 NLTCS screen replicates three ADL disability dimensions (basic, household, and advanced) with few modifications, except among Black males. Similarly, analysis of the 4,297 Black and White disabled older adults replicates five functional status dimensions (3 ADL disability dimensions plus lower- and upper-body functional limitation dimensions) with few modifications, except among Black males. These results suggest that improved understanding of functional status will occur from studies that take into consideration the differences between functional limitation and ADL disability. The results also indicate that further research on the validity of functional reports among Black males is needed.
Changes in Living Arrangements of Functionally Dependent Older Adults and their Adult Children
Authors: Mickus Maureen , Stommel Manfred , Given Charles W.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated health and sociodemographic variables associated with co-residency patterns among older patients and their adult children following discharge from an acute care hospital. Data for the analysis were obtained from 172 adult children caring for functionally impaired parents. Logistic regression was employed to determine the probability that an older parent establishes co-residency with the adult child following hospitalization instead of remaining in a separate household. Results indicate that the overall level of caregiver involvement in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were strong predictors of parent and adult children forcing a joint household. Increased household income of caregivers was inversely related to co-residency. Decisions about co-residency following hospitalization appear to hinge both on parental need and the resources of the adult child, suggesting that the decision to move together is largely one of need and not preference.
Predictors of Mammography Use in the Past Year among Elderly Women
Authors: Persky Neal W. , Burack Robert
Published: March 2007

Thirty-two personal characteristics were examined as potential predictors of mammography use in the past year in a geriatric clinic. Interviews assessed demographic, health status, health service utilization, health belief, and psychological and social variables ( n = 242, mean age = 76 years). Four variables were independently associated with mammography use in logistic regression analysis: age, historical mammography use, perceived severity, and perceived barriers. The inverse relationship between age and mammography use in the past year was not modified by health status, functional status, and the other independently predictive variables. The authors conclude that geriatrics specialty care does not eliminate the age-associated decline in mammography use that has been previously described. The factors associated with mammography use in this sample were similar to those that have been described in younger populations of women. Variables examined because of specific gerontologic considerations were not independently associated with mammography use in the past year.
Does Geriatric Evaluation and Management Improve the Health Behavior of Older Veterans in Psychological Distress?
Authors: O'Donnell John C. , Toseland Ronald W.
Published: March 2007

A randomized, controlled trial compared prospective 16-month health service use among 160 frail, elderly veterans receiving outpatient geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) or usual primary care (UPC). In this secondary analysis, multivariable regression was used to determine if the psychosocial assessment and support provided by the GEM team moderated the use of medical services by patients in psychological distress. The results indicate that GEM reduced outpatient use among patients who scored higher on a measure of somatization ( p < .05), but GEM increased outpatient use among patients with higher manifest anxiety ( p≤ .05). Psychological distress was not a factor in the use of inpatient services. GEM had a modest beneficial effect on the health behavior of frail older persons manifesting some symptoms of psychological distress.
Validity of the Quality of Well-Being Scale for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Kerner David N. , Patterson Thomas L. , Grant Igor , Kaplan Robert M.
Published: March 2007

The Quality of Well-Being (QWB) Scale is a utility-weighted measure of health-related quality of life that can be used in clinical trials, population studies, and cost/utility analyses. This article reports evidence for the validity of the QWB in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The subjects were 211 patient-spouse dyads and control dyads recruited from the University of California, San Diego, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) and from community referrals. Among these, three quarters were patients, and one quarter were age- and gender-matched controls. Patient data were obtained by caregiver proxy. Analyses demonstrated that the QWB was strongly associated with dementia ratings and behavioral problems. Caretakers of patients with low QWB scores also reported using more respite time. The authors conclude that the general QWB score allows data from Alzheimer's disease studies to be used in comparative cost/utility analysis.
Physical Activity and Self-Rated Health among 55- to 89-Year-Old Dutch People
Authors: Parkai[T Terttu , Deeg Dorly J. H. , Bosscher Rudolf J. , Launer Lenore L. J.
Published: March 2007

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of physical activity and the possible mediating role of perceived physical self-efficacy (PPSE) on self-rated health (SRH) in the 55- to 89-year-old Dutch population. The data are based on a structured interview carried out in a random sample of 120 subjects-60 men and 60 women with the average ages of 69 and 71 years, respectively-in Sassenheim, the Netherlands, as a pilot study of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). The results of linear multiple regression analyses showed that physical activity was a significant predictor of self-rated health. Moreover, the results supported the role of PPSE as a mediator in the association between physical activity and self-rated health status even when age, gender, and chronic diseases were controlled. These findings suggest that in the elder population, increasing perceived physical self-efficacy may be more important for perceived health than raising the level of physical activity.
Nonfatal Agricultural Injuries among Colorado Older Male Farmers
Authors: Xiang Huiyun , Stallones Lorann , Chiu Yalin
Published: March 2007

Objectives: This study described characteristics and potential risk factors for nonfatal agricultural injuries among older male farmers age 60 years and older in Colorado. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted among 113 older male farmers between 1993 and 1995. Agricultural injuries and potential risk factors were evaluated. Results: A total of 27 injuries were sustained. The leading external cause of injuries was livestock, and most of the injuries affected lower and upper extremities of the body. Injured farmers were more likely to be persons who had gone deeply into debt or who were using prescription medications. Discussion: Older farmers are at risk of injuries. The study results support the need to consider physical limitations of aging in developing prevention programs in agriculture.
Psychometric Properties of a Chinese Translation of the SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire in the Well Elderly Study
Authors: Azen Stanley P. , Palmer Joycelynne M. , Carlson Mike , Mandel Deborah , Cherry Barbara J. , Fanchiang Shan-Pin , Jackson Jeanne , Clark Florence
Published: March 2007

Objectives:To evaluate the psychometric properties of a Chinese translation of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in theWell Elderly Study—a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive occupational therapy services specifically tailored for multiethnic, independent-living, older adults. Methods:Translation and back-translation procedures were used to obtain appropriate meanings for the SF-36 survey questions and to ensure face, functional, and conceptual equivalence. Results:Statistical analyses demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity, with the results generally similar to those reported for older Anglo adults. Discussion:As the percentage of older adults of diverse ethnicity increases, the need for health care research and service strategies that can effectively include multiple ethnicities becomes paramount. The results of this study suggest that a Chinesetranslated SF-36 can be used to assess multiple dimensions of health in a Mandarinspeaking population of older adults.
The Family as Provider of Long-Term Care
Authors: Wolf Douglas A.
Published: March 2007

The passage of the baby-boom generation into old age raises the prospect of intense pressures on public programs benefiting the elderly, limiting any contemplated expansion of programs serving those needing sustained personal care. This necessitates consideration of comparative efficiency of alternative resources for elder care. I focus on two distinct aspects of such efficiency: productive—the relationship between inputs and outputs—and target—the coincidence of served and those viewed as needing services. I argue that for theoretical reasons family members, specifically children, may be more productive and efficient carers than paid helpers. Furthermore, even if no more efficient than formal providers, care provided by children reduces public expenditures on long-term care. In view of the value to society of children’s caregiving activities, if a collective program of long-term care insurance were to be adopted, it should be configured to target its financing and benefits according to family composition.
Mending the Social Safety Net after State Socialism: "Dobrobit"- One Nongovernmental Organization in Zagreb, Croatia
Authors: Coury Joanne M. , Lucanin Jasminka Despot
Published: March 2007

The breakdown of structural arrangements in the former state socialist countries of Eastern Europe means that the "rules of the game" are being renegotiated. Intermediating institutions are now emerging as actors in this process. Based on a series of interviews with key members of one young nongovernmental organization in Croatia, this study seeks to test the validity of particular Western theories to explain whether such organizations foster policy entrepreneurship. Analysis suggests that both contextual and structural factors have an impact on nascent third sector infrastructure development in ways that delimit entrepreneurial resources.
Nonresponse Bias in Organizational Surveys: Evidence from a Survey of Groups and Organizations Working for Peace
Authors: Smith Jackie
Published: March 2007

Nonresponse bias is a major concern for scholars using survey research, as low response rates can lead to serious problems in the generalizability of survey results. Numerous studies have been made to estimate the effects of nonresponse bias on survey results, but these have typically considered only surveys treating individual respondents as the unit of analysis. Organizational theory should lead scholars, however, to expect important differences between individual and organizational survey designs in the sources and effects of nonresponse bias. In this article, the author compares characteristics of organizations responding to a survey of organizations working for peace with those of organizations that failed to respond. The analysis shows that organizational informants behave differently from individual survey targets and that a theory of nonresponse bias in organizational surveys is needed to improve organizational survey designs so as to minimize and account for nonresponse bias.