bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discourse Analysis and the Doctor-Patient Relationship
Authors: Stiles William B.
Published: May 2005

This article describes a system of discourse analysis, called a “taxonomy of verbal response modes,” which can be applied to medical interviews. The taxonomy identifies eight basic categories: disclosure, question, edification, acknowledgement, advisement, interpretation, confirmation, and reflection, which are defined by three principles of classification. The categories are mutually exclusive and exhaustive. Each mode conveys a particular interpersonal intent and also has a characteristic grammatical form. With eight forms and eight intents, the taxonomy includes sixty-four possible verbal response modes, eight “pure modes,” in which form and intent coincide, and fifty-six “mixed modes,” in which form and intent differ. The taxonomy has yielded fine-grained descriptions of patient-physician interaction and has identified particular types of utterances and verbal exchanges that are associated with patients' satisfaction with their medical interviews. The system provides a detailed descriptive vocabulary that may be useful for teaching interviewing skills.
Which Cancer Patients Benefit Most from a Brief, Group, Coping Skills Program?
Authors: Cunningham Alastair J. , Lockwood Gina A. , Edmonds Claire V. I.
Published: May 2005

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of a number of variables on the improvements in quality of life of some 400 cancer patients who completed a brief, group program providing psychosocial support and training in coping skills.

Method:

The factors tested were: patient gender, age, marital status, religion, education level, diagnostic site, recurrence status, expectations of the course, previous experience in self-help techniques, and different group leaders. Three assessment instruments were used, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Functional Living Index for Cancer (FLIC), and the Stanford Inventory of Cancer Patient Adjustment (SICPA). Assessments were made at three time points.

Results:

The overall finding was that the program improved mood and enhanced quality of life for most cancer patients: there was no evidence that it was more or less effective for subgroups based on gender, marital status, religious orientation, education level, and previous experience with mental self-help techniques. It was also found that several different group leaders with widely varying experience facilitated similar improvements. However, there was a significant tendency for patients under fifty to improve more by the end of the program, than older patients, although this difference disappeared at the three month follow-up. In addition, patients with recurrent disease showed less improvement in quality of life than those with primary cancer.

Conclusions:

The beneficial effects on quality of life of a seven-session group psychoeducational program were seen across a wide range of categories of cancer patients. The generalizability and implications of these findings are briefly discussed.
Male Involvement in the Bangladesh Family Planning and Reproductive Health Program
Authors: Piet-Pelon Nancy J. , Rob Ubaidur
Published: May 2005

Increasing the involvement of men in family planning and reproductive health program is a challenge which Bangladesh has begun to face. Encouraging their active participation as family planning method users of vasectomy, condoms, as well as their supportive partnership of contracepting women is the major goal of the national program. Evidence for national surveys indicates that male dominated decision making may not be the norm in Bangladesh. Rather, there is high agreement between couples about family size and family planning. Findings suggest that men know about family planning methods and many take an active role in the decision making process. Male attitudes were generally positive about contraceptive methods and also about having a small family. Women rarely mention their husband's disapproval as a reason for contraceptive discontinuation. Unfortunately neither men nor women seem to be sufficiently informed about the relative safety of menstrual regulation (MR) and often opt for traditional abortions. Men's knowledge of obstetric emergencies is minimal, consequently when they are called upon to make an emergency decision they often make an incorrect one.
The Political and Economic Determinants of Health Outcomes: A Cross-National Analysis
Authors: Lena Hugh F. , London Bruce
Published: May 2005

This article investigates the impact of selected political and economic processes on the well-being of domestic populations within samples of 50 to 84 peripheral and noncore nations. Existing research by Cereseto and Waitzkin on the relative merits of market versus socialist systems for the provision of health and welfare needs of their populations is extended by employing a more complex model than the original study. More specifically, the authors assess the impact on measures of population health and mortality rates of regime ideology, state strength, multinational corporate penetration, and position in the world economy. In general, high levels of democracy and strong left-wing regimes are associated with positive health outcomes, and strong right-wing regimes have populations with lower life expectancies and higher levels of various measures of mortality. These findings support the conclusion that political systems make a difference in health and well-being independent of national (gross national product per capita) and international (investment dependency) economic factors.
Mobile Computer Assisted Instruction for Inservice Teacher Education
Authors: Mitzel Harold E.
Published: May 2005

This article describes an application of computer technology to the retraining of inservice teachers. The obvious advantages of the CAI mobile system are its inherent interactive quality and the flexibility of scheduling made available to inservice educators. Preliminary follow-up evaluation results show that teachers find the content useful and would be willing to take additional courses by CAI. It is estimated that a single mobile van can facilitate 1500 course completions annually at a cost of approximately $120 per course for a rented computer or $53 per course for an owned computer.
Abuse and Suicidal Issues in Older Women
Authors: Osgood Nancy J. , Manetta Ameda A.
Published: May 2005

Physical and sexual abuses are traumatic experiences for women. Many older women who suffer from depression and express suicidal ideation are victims of past and/or present abuse. This study reports the results of a study of 364 women aged fifty-five years and older who were former patients in one of three psychiatric facilities in Virginia. Detailed chart reviews provided the data to determine the relationship between abuse and suicidal issues in these older women. Results of the study show that women with identified suicidal issues (attempts and/or ideation) had significantly more prior victimization (child abuse, rape, battering) than women without suicidal issues. Review of existing literature and results of the present study suggest the importance of assessing for past and/or present physical and sexual abuse in older suicidal women. Assessment issues are discussed.
Parent-Child Communication in Bereaved Israeli Families
Authors: Silverman Phyllis R. , Weiner Anita , Elad Nava
Published: May 2005

The nature of surviving parent-child communication in bereaved Israeli families is examined in terms of the culture of Israeli society. Concern is with the way the culture frames the parent-child relationship in the period shortly after the death. Twenty-three surviving parents and their forty-three children between ages of six and sixteen were interviewed four months after the death. Both parents and children seemed concerned with protecting each other from the pain and sadness associated with the loss. Two types of families were identified. In the open family, language is used to console and inform. Parents see themselves as able to respond to their child(ren)'s needs. Less open families used language to influence the child to avoid their feelings and confronting the death. These surviving parents often saw the deceased as the competent family caregiver.
Teacher Ratings of Student Risk for Substance Use as a Function of Specialized Training
Authors: McLaughlin Robert J. , Holcomb J. David , Jibaja-Rusth Maria L. , Webb John
Published: May 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers' abilities to identify accurately students who are at risk for substance abuse can be improved through attendance at a specialized training program. Sixty-three eighth-grade teachers participated in the study. Of these, thirty-six teachers participated in the training sequence (intervention group), while the remaining twenty-seven teachers served as a comparison group. All eighth-grade students in the school district were surveyed regarding their substance usage. Teachers rated the students regarding their risk for substance usage. Teachers' ratings and students' reported substance usage were compared to assess the percentage of matching responses. After training, the intervention teachers provided more accurate ratings among usage categories than did the comparison teachers. The trained teachers were better at correctly identifying the students who were at risk for substance use.
The Art of Falconry: A Surprising Manual of Rhetoric
Authors: Broughton Bradford B.
Published: May 2005

In their searches for examples of rhetorical strategies, students of modern rhetoric frequently overlook writers from the past. In his huge six-book work on the “Art of Falconry” written about 1247–1249, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, a remarkably versatile ruler, an early renaissance man, an empirical researcher, provided numerous excellent examples of rhetorical practices from which students and practicing writers well could learn. This article offers extended examples of definition, contrast, partition, causal analysis, classification, and description, to name but a few.
Psychologic Distress during the Menopausal Years in Women Attending a Menopause Clinic
Authors: Stewart Donna E. , Boydell Katherine , Derzko Christine , Marshall Valerie
Published: May 2005

Objective:

This study measures psychologic distress in women attending a menopause clinic to determine if significant differences exist between perimenopausal and menopausal women.

Method:

Consecutive women attending a university hospital menopause clinic were administered the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and a study questionnaire to determine menopausal symptoms, menstrual cycle status, and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The BSI results were compared between menopausal and perimenopausal women, and to a normative sample of middle-aged women who were nonpatients.

Results:

Two hundred and fifty-nine menopause clinic women completed the questionnaire: 113 perimenopausal and 146 menopausal women. There was significantly greater psychologic distress on the BSI among perimenopausal as compared to menopausal women on the global severity index, and each of the anxiety, hostility, somatization, depression, paranoid, and psychoticism subscales. Perimenopausal women met BSI caseness severity criteria significantly more often than did menopausal women on the global severity index, and on the subscales for depression, anxiety, and psychoticism. On the BSI, menopausal women showed results similar to those of a normative sample of nonpatient middle-aged women.

Conclusions:

Perimenopausal women attending menopause clinics have significantly higher levels of psychologic distress meeting case severity criteria on the BSI. Further research is warranted to define the subgroups of perimenopausal women who are at increased risk, in the hopes of developing effective interventions.
Assessing the Temporal Relationship between Race and Ecstasy Use among High School Seniors
Authors: Yacoubian George S.
Published: May 2005

Previous research has suggested that the use of ecstasy is primarily a white phenomenon. To date, however, these studies have all been conducted at single points in time. No research has examined the temporal relationship between race and the use of ecstasy. In the current study, data collected from 10,088 high school seniors surveyed through the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study between 1996 and 1999 are analyzed. Chi-square statistics are used to explore the temporal relationship between race and the use of ecstasy during this time frame. Statistically significant relationships between race and ecstasy use are discerned. Policy implications are assessed in light of the findings.
An Open Trial of Nortriptyline in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Authors: Walker Edward A. , Roy-Byrne Peter P. , Katon Wayne J. , Jemelka Ron
Published: May 2005

Although antidepressants have been used in the management of several types of chronic pain there have been no systematic trials of these medications in women with chronic pelvic pain. The authors report on the use of nortriptyline in fourteen women with chronic pelvic pain. Seven women dropped out of the study. These seven subjects were significantly different from the treated group only in lower tolerance of antidepressant side effects. Six of the seven treated subjects reported complete or partial relief from pain. Fifty seven percent of the drop-outs and the one nonresponding treated subject had histories of childhood sexual abuse. This open trial suggests that antidepressants may be effective in the treatment of some women with chronic pelvic pain. However, the frequent association of sexual abuse with this disorder indicates that accepted treatment trial designs may need to be altered.
Why Promote Campaigns for Clean Products and Clean Production?
Authors: Geiser Ken
Published: May 2005

Environmental advocacy in the United States has focused on controlling pollution and waste through a system based on government permits for managing the release of environmental pollutants. The conventional focus on pollution control and waste management has been less than comprehensive. From an ecological perspective it makes little sense to focus on reducing environmental pollution from the waste pipe of industrial facilities while ignoring those same pollutants when inside the plant or sent out the product door. But an ecological perspective is not the same as a political perspective. The focus on pollution and waste has achieved legitimacy; focusing on production appears to invite an invasion of private property, a sensitive issue for most businesses. Discussing the constituents and volume of products treads on issues many think should best be reserved for the market. Focusing on production and products requires technical knowledge and skills not conventionally found in environmental advocacy organizations. Why should environmental or occupational health advocates stretch their conventional domain? Here is an argument for products and production, listing ten reasons for campaigning on clean production and products.
“The Play's the Thing”: Samuel Beckett's Midlife Transition and the Theatre of the Absurd
Authors: Cohen-Shalev Amir , Rapoport Aviva
Published: May 2005

This article considers the question of shifts in artistic and literary style from a lifespan developmental perspective, focussing on changes during midlife. Using Samuel Beckett as an example, we demonstrate the relation between his abrupt shift to playwriting (and specifically to the Theatre of the Absurd) and his entrance into midlife. Abandoning the “counting the wrinkles” approach to mid-adulthood, we consider midlife change in terms of growth. We base our contention on theories of lifespan personality development that suggest parallels between the technical demands of dramatic art and the psychological needs of midlife.
The Relation of Waking Fantasy to Dreaming
Authors: Levin Ross , Young Hugh
Published: May 2005

This study investigated the relationship between fantasy immersion (fantasy proneness, absorption, and positive-constructive daydreaming) and qualities of nocturnal dreaming in a large non-clinical community-based sample ( n = 288). The results indicate a strong linear relationship between all of the waking fantasy measures, especially positive-constructive daydreaming style, and phenomenal qualities of dreaming. Further, men and women differed significantly, both in how they experience waking fantasy and with regard to which waking fantasy measures predicted to the dreaming measures. These data suggest that waking and dreaming are not discrete states of consciousness with clearly defined parameters but rather represent continuous attentional states which comprise the “stream of consciousness” endemic to human cognition.
The Relativity of Communication: Albert Einstein as Technical Writer
Authors: Baresich Michael J.
Published: May 2005

Efficient information flow in technical communication depends upon accurate audience analysis. The presentation of information must be adjusted relative to the knowledge and interests of the writer's audience. Problems arise when the relative differences in audiences are slight, but nonetheless important.

Albert Einstein's writing can be used as an example of skillful adaptation of material for audiences with subtle differences. A prime example is his special theory of relativity, which he published in three versions for technical, semitechnical, and nontechnical audiences. Students, teachers, and technical writers can learn much from the way Einstein uses tone, personal address, varying levels of diction, definitions, and concrete examples of each of the three expositions of his special theory of relativity.
Double Standards: The Multinational Asbestos Industry and Asbestos-Related Disease in South Africa
Authors: McCulloch Jock , Tweedale Geoffrey
Published: May 2005

This study documents and contrasts the development of knowledge about asbestos-related disease (ARD) in South Africa and the United Kingdom. It also contributes to the globalization debate by exploring corporate decision-making in a multinational industry. Between the 1930s and 1960s, the leading U.K. asbestos companies developed a sophisticated knowledge of ARD, though in South Africa, where the leading companies such as Turner & Newall and Cape Asbestos owned mines, there was little attempt to apply this knowledge. Asbestos mines (and their environments) in South Africa were uniquely dusty and ARD was rife. Social and political factors in South Africa, especially apartheid, allowed these companies to apply double standards, even after 1960 when the much more serious hazard of mesothelioma was identified. This shows the need for greater regulation of multinationals. Because of the lack of such regulation in the early 1960s, an opportunity was lost to prevent the current high morbidity and mortality of ARD both in South Africa and worldwide.
Sociocultural Factors in MI Recovery: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Ell Kathleen O. , Haywood L. Julian
Published: May 2005

The reported study examines the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) and ethnicity in coping with a first acute myocardial infarction (MI). The study employed a panel design in which seventy-five patients were interviewed during acute hospitalization and six months later, and sixty of those were interviewed again at one year post-MI. Using the analysis of variance test, gradients in anxiety, functional status, and self-reported health status were found among lower SES Blacks, Hispanics, Anglos and upper SES Anglos as well as statistically significant differences in personal sense of control, beliefs about recovery, coping responses, and social support systems. More important, analysis of covariance documents that associations between coping variables and post-MI recovery outcomes vary among the different socioculturel groups.
Meeting Needs of Newly-Married Youth: The Bangladesh Case
Authors: Alauddin M. , Rob Ubaidur
Published: May 2005

In Bangladesh more than 1.15 million couples get married every year and approximately 90 percent of female spouses are below nineteen years of age. It is widely reported that newly married couples (those who are married within the last 12 months) were less likely to have been visited by field workers and have had limited access to family planning including reproductive health services. Findings from 1996–97 Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) suggest that little change has occurred in the age specific fertility rates among the females belonging to age groups fifteen to nineteen and twenty to twenty-four in the last five years [1]. It is also observed that the current contraceptive use rate in age group fifteen to nineteen was 32.9 percent and approximately 10 percent of women in age group fifteen to nineteen do not want any children. The male methods use rate among the newlywed couples was double the national rate. It suggests that males from the younger generation are more likely to practice male contraceptive methods compared to the older generation. Married youths and those soon-to-be-married are critical demographic segments of the population. Achieving early population stabilization depends on how adequately and effectively the national reproductive health program serves them and how other development programs simultaneously compliments to health efforts. Using 1996–97 BDHS data, this article examines fertility and contraceptive behavior of the married youths in Bangladesh.
Promoting Primary Health Care in Contiguous Urban and Rural Populations: Nigeria
Authors: Ebomoyi Ehigie , Adeniyi Joshua D.
Published: May 2005

The World Health Organization's goal of “Health for All by Year 2000” through Primary Health Care (PHC) is commendable, but can only be attained with the involvement and collaboration of the non-health sectors as well as the health community. Thirteen rural and urban communities in Nigeria were assessed to develop social, health and primary health care profiles. A model for introducing PCH applicable to these communities was prepared.
U.S. Marxist Scholarship in the Analysis of Health and Medicine
Authors: Navarro Vicente
Published: May 2005

This article makes a review of 1.) dominant analyses of health and medicine in the social sciences of the U.S. and 2.) Marxist critiques of these analyses. It presents the roots of Marxist scholarship in the study of health and medicine and discusses the main Marxist critiques of the hegemonic pluralist and power elite interpretations of the institutions of medicine and of their corporatization. It also reviews Marxist studies of 1.) the crisis of medicine; 2.) the relationship between production, work, and health; and 3.) imperialism, health, and medicine. It concludes with a discussion of the operational meaning of Marxism in health and medicine, with presentation of current Marxist debates on socialist medicine and their consequence for political praxis.
Modelling the Motion of an Athlete: An Interactive Video Lesson for Teaching Physics
Authors: Zollman Dean , Noble M. Larry , Curtin Ron
Published: May 2005

By using interactive video, particularly the videodisc, students can view and analyze situations which happen outside the classroom. The videodisc enables students to observe and measure the motion of athletes. To analyze the data from such motion the students can develop models of the athlete; then, compare the predictions of the model to the actual motion. Using this procedure students learn about motion and, more importantly, begin to understand the use of models in scientific work.
Be a Winner: Arkansas' Approach to Involving Law Enforcement Officers in Drug Education
Authors: Young Michael , Rausch Susan
Published: May 2005

This paper describes a project which is a joint venture of the Northwest Arkansas Police Institute and the Program in Health Sciences at the University of Arkansas. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education under the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the focus of the project has been the development of an innovative drug education program which brings uniformed law enforcement officers into the elementary school classroom. The officers lead an eight week instructional program at the fifth or sixth grade levels using our Be A Winner curriculum.
The Value of Linguistics to Technical Authors in a Digital World
Authors: Fatt James Poon Teng
Published: May 2005

This article aims to expound the importance of a knowledge of linguistics and the theories of human language to a technical author. Linguistics is often seen as a specialised branch of language for language experts. When technical authors communicate, they do need the tools of linguistics to handle the rhetorical grammar and patterns of technical prose. The linguistic features and semanics involved in technical writing also become relevant, as is visual and graphic representation.
Nurses' Attitudes toward Suicide
Authors: Alston Maude H. , Robinson Beverly H.
Published: May 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine whether nurses' attitudes toward suicide are based on clinical specialty, age, and highest degree completed. A systematic random sample of nurses registered in North Carolina was used. The instrument used was Domino's Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ), which consists of eight clinical scales. These scales were: suicide reflects mental illness; suicide threats are “not real,” i.e., a cry for help; the right to die; importance of religion; impulsivity; suicide is normal; suicide reflects aggression/anger; and suicide is morally bad. Results from a three-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences between clinical specialty groups on any of the scales. Age and degree were significant only on the right to die scale. Subsequent Tukey's HSD tests on these variables showed that older nurses and those with advanced degrees were more likely to agree with a patient's right to die under some conditions. A descriptive analysis of representative items from each scale was completed, and anecdotal accounts of participants' comments about suicide were explored.
Performance Profile of Students in a University General Biology Course
Authors: Haning Blanche C.
Published: May 2005

Performance monitoring of at-risk and not-at-risk students was performed during the spring 1994 semester in a general biology course for non-science majors at a large land-grant institution in the southern United States. This course is required in such curricula as the social sciences, humanities, management, and engineering. Students' potential for success was assessed by Marsh's (1985) Biomathematical Skills Test (BST), a 46-item test using quantitatively-focused questions dealing with biological topics. Additionally, the opportunity was used to examine achievement levels and other characteristics of this class, with the assumption that its makeup and performance represented the profile of students who might typically enroll in this course. Beyond grades, comparative performance assessments were made among several criteria including gender and rank in both the at-risk and not-at-risk populations. Inventory measurements of self-concept and nature of science surveys were also given. This study was supported by a Teaching Excellence and Faculty Initiative Grant provided by the author's home institution and was approved by its Use of Human Subjects in Research Committee.
The Bow and Arrow in the Eastern Woodlands: Evidence for an Archaic Origin
Authors: Bradbury Andrew P.
Published: May 2005

The timing of the introduction of the bow and arrow in the eastern United States has been debated for some time. The bow and arrow have long thought to have been introduced during the Late Woodland period in the eastern United States. An increasing body of evidence, however, suggests that this innovation may have occurred sometime during the Archaic period. Based on data from ethnographic collections, classification functions are developed that allow for archaeological specimens to be classified as dart or arrow points. These classification functions are applied to hafted bifaces from a number of sites in the eastern United States. Based on this evidence, it is argued that 1) the bow and arrow were introduced at least as early as the Late Archaic and 2) the atlatl and bow were probably used in conjunction for some period of time before the bow and arrow became the predominant weapon.
The Engineer: Savior of the Humanistic Tradition
Authors: Meyers Manny
Published: May 2005

Some wry, but discerning observations of the psychological impact on linguistics in a technological civilization. It is noted that a perverse nuance in a milieu obsessed with and possessed of inanimate objects is that the technical vocabulary becomes more imbued with human traits and emotional hues.
The Suicidal Death of a Child: Social Perception of Stepparents
Authors: Calhoun Lawrence G. , Allen Breon G.
Published: May 2005

Research has suggested that the family relationship of a survivor to the victim of suicide can affect how the survivor will be perceived, but no studies have investigated the impact of parental status (parent versus stepparent) on the perception others will have of the parents of a youngster who commits suicide. In this investigation, 210 participants (71 men and 139 women) read typeset obituaries describing the suicidal death of an 18-year-old young man or young woman. Survivors were described as mother and father, father and stepmother, or mother and stepfather. Ratings (derived from previous studies of the social perception of survivors) were obtained to reflect the impressions participants had of the stepparents. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated a main effect for status of parents (i.e., stepparents versus biological parents). Although there were no reliable differences on several items, stepparents were viewed as having been less “close” to the young person, as taking less time to “recover psychologically” from the loss, and stepmothers were rated as less “likable.” These findings suggest that even in situations (i.e., the suicidal death of a child) where social perceptions are likely to be more negative toward any bereaved parent, stepparents may face an additional burden of negative social perception.
Requisite Skills of Entry-Level Programmers: An Empirical Study in Brunei Darussalam
Authors: Rahman Mohd Noah A. , Rahim MD Mahbubur , Seyal Afzaal H.
Published: May 2005

Computing is a fast changing technology. As such, empirical studies are often conducted, particularly in the United States, to identify those critical skills that organizations foresee important for entry-level computer programmers. No such studies have ever been undertaken in Brunei Darussalam, a small oil-rich kingdom located near Singapore and Malaysia—where information technology (IT) is gaining increased prominence at the national level. An attempt was thus made to identify the type of skills for entry-level programmers, as required by the Brunei-based organizations. Moreover, efforts were directed to determine whether the skills of entry-level programmers varied significantly based on organization size. The results suggest that technical skills are no longer the core skills sought by the participating organizations. Communication skills appeared to be the top-most requirement, followed by skills in Database Management Systems (DBMS), application development method, and tools. Lastly, the need for programming skill, particularly in the third generation languages, seem to be declining. This shift in skill demand needs recognition from both academics and IT managers. These findings are discussed, and some suggestions are offered.
Physician Assisted Suicide: A Scale and Some Empirical Findings
Authors: Domino George , Kempton Susan , Cavender Jim
Published: May 2005

A twelve-item scale to measure attitudes toward physician assisted suicide is presented. The scale was developed by considering the existing literature and consulting with both professionals and lay persons. An initial version of the scale was pilot tested on three samples (physicians, elderly medical patients, and graduate students in a geriatrics program). An initial pool of thirty-seven items were administered to college students and twelve items that met specific criteria were retained. The twelve-item scale was then administered to three samples of participants: college students ( n = 118), caregivers ( n = 30), severely ill elderly ( n = 21). For all three samples, the scale showed substantial internal consistency with alpha indices ranging in the low .90s. The results indicate that the most favorable attitudes are held by those the furthest removed from considering the possibility of physician assisted suicide; the most elderly perceive such assistance as least acceptable.
Evaluating the Usability of a Web-Based Stress Management Course
Authors: Burke Adam , Burrows Kenn , Araki George
Published: May 2005

College students must continually deal with the pressures of deadlines, exams, and major life changes. Such stress can affect physical and emotional health, productivity, and lead to self-destructive coping mechanisms. Teaching students effective stress management skills is critical to their success and well-being. To help meet that educational need a Web-based stress management course entitled Stress and Self Care was developed. The objective of the first phase of the project was to examine the usability and acceptability of an eight-lesson prototype. College students from four universities participated in a pilot to provide formative evaluation. In addition, one student group was tested on recall of factual information contained in the first lesson. They showed significant recall of material at posttest compared to pretest. Overall the prototype was determined to be an effective strategy in terms of usability and acceptability.
Meadowcroft Rockshelter — Retrospect 1977: Part 1
Authors: Adovasio J. M. , Gunn J. D. , Donahue J. , Stuckenrath R. , Guilday J. , Lord K.
Published: May 2005

Meadowcroft Rockshelter is a deeply stratified multicomponent site in Washington County, southwestern Pennsylvania. The eleven well defined stratigraphic units identified at the site span at least 16,000, and perhaps 19,000 years of intermittent occupation by groups representing all of the major cultural stages/periods now recognized in northeastern North America. Throughout the extant sequence, the site served as a locus for hunting, collecting and food processing activities which involved the seasonal exploitation of the immediately adjacent Cross Creek valley and contiguous uplands. Presently, Meadowcroft Rockshelter represents the earliest well dated evidence of man in the New World as well as the longest occupational sequence in the Western Hemisphere.
The Rise and Decline of the Cooperative Medical System in Rural China
Authors: Chen Xiao-Ming , Hu Teh-Wei , Lin Zihua
Published: May 2005

The Cooperative Medical System (CMS) in China is an established medical system that serves the rural areas and provides treatment and prevention of disease, immunization, family planning, and maternal and child health care services. Past experience suggests that the CMS benefited the peasants in rural China. During the 1980s, following reform of China's economic system, the CMS underwent major changes. In some places, CMS stations evolved into various other types of medical and health care systems; in other places, CMS stations ceased operation altogether. This article attempts to analyze the causes and meaning of these changes, and examines the conditions for continuation of this system.
Students' Self-Reported Substance Use by Grade Level and Gender
Authors: Nagel Liza , McDougall Dennis , Granby Cheryl
Published: May 2005

Over 900 students in the rural northwest at the fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth grade levels were surveyed for alcohol and drug use. The survey instrument measured self-reported usage of seventeen substances. The descriptive statistical results are reported by gender as well as grade-level usage rates. Discussion includes targeting drug prevention programs for specific grade and gender levels based upon the results.
The Relations of School Staff Smokers' Attitudes about Modeling Smoking Behavior in Students and Their Receptivity to No-Smoking Policy
Authors: Galaif Elisha R. , Sussman Steve , Bundek Nancy
Published: May 2005

This study examined school personnel smokers' reports regarding how they would feel if a no-smoking ban was instituted on school premises. Demographics, smoking history, interest in quitting, and perception of school staff as role models for student smoking behaviors were examined as concurrent predictors of personnel attitudes toward a school-wide no-smoking policy. Generally, the fifty-nine respondents, sampled from fourteen schools, were interested in quitting smoking, but they did not favor a policy prohibiting smoking on campus. A staff role model index was a significant predictor of support for a no-smoking policy; the stronger the belief that staff influence their students' smoking, the greater the desire for a smoking ban at school. Compliance by school staff to future regulations that schools become smokefree environments may be improved if staff believe or are taught that they can directly affect students' smoking behaviors.
Gender Bias in Naval Fitness Reports? A Case Study on Gender and Rhetorical Credibility
Authors: Shenk Robert
Published: May 2005

This article is a case study of a small controversy involving a 1983 government research report on gender biases in naval officer fitness reports. The research at issue indicated that male commanding officers customarily wrote differently in naval fitness reports about women than in fitness reports they wrote about men, and the researchers concluded that the commanding officers needed to change their writing habits. But the objectivity of the researchers was soon challenged. In this survey of the controversy, the writing of several groups—male commanding officers, female naval officers, male newspaper editors, and female personnel researchers—is both illustrated and critiqued. The main focus here is rhetorical credibility in professional communications when gender is the issue at hand.
Family Care for Older Adults With Disabilities: Toward More Targeted and Interpretable Research
Authors: Gaugler Joseph E. , Kane Robert L. , Kane Rosalie A.
Published: May 2005

Family care of the elderly is key to the long-term care system, and its importance has led to an abundance of research over the past two decades. Several methodological and substantive issues, if addressed, could create even more targeted and interpretable research. The present review critically examines methodological topics (i.e., definitions of family caregiving, measurement of caregiving inputs) and conceptual issues (i.e., family involvement in long-term residential settings, and the care receiver's perspective on care) that have received insufficient attention in the caregiving literature. Throughout this review recommendations are offered to improve these areas and advance the state of the art.
Reaction to Truth Telling among Israeli Physicians
Authors: Schindler Ruben
Published: May 2005

This inquiry centers on the issue of truth telling from a physician's perspective. Thirty-two doctors practicing in a large general hospital in Israel responded to a questionnaire on truth telling. Findings suggest that physicians who are Orthodox Jews are less likely to inform patients of their illness in contrast to doctors whose orientation is Conservative Judaism or nonreligious. The rationale for a number of these responses and teachings is based upon Jewish religious Halacha (Law). Findings indicate that doctors judge patients individually based on their physical and psychological state. We also suggest that physicians convey hope, involve the family, and view truth telling as their exclusive right. Tentative observations suggest that Israeli doctors tend to be more liberal in truth telling than their American counterparts.
Reaching the “Tipping Point” in Educational Technology
Authors: Taylor Clint
Published: May 2005

The author applies the basic principles of social epidemics described in Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point to the problem of increasing the use of educational technology among teachers in public schools. He advises school leaders to master three principles: 1) contagiousness; 2) little causes have big effects; and 3) dramatic change occurs at one crucial point, not gradually. Using the “Law of the Few,” leaders should identify their Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen to help spread the use of technology. Focus groups should also be used to test ideas before training plans are launched. The author draws from Gladwell's work that contrary to popular thought, resistance to change can be overcome. Dramatic change is possible if leaders learn how to give those whom they lead the right push.
A Phase in the Psychotherapy of a Juvenile Onset Diabetic Patient
Authors: Levine Robert T.
Published: May 2005

The psychotherapy of a juvenile onset diabetic patient, who initially presented with problems of poor diabetic management and depression, is discussed. Pertinent details of the first two years of treatment are presented to show the interrelationship between the medical and psychiatric problems. The patient severely mismanaged her illness around the tenth anniversary of her father's death. The patient's behavior and attitude toward her own illness were associated with guilt relating to the death of her father, also diabetic. During the anniversary period the patient was able to gain insight into the dynamics of her behavior, and from then on, succeeded in adequate management of her diabetes. The events in this case are linked to relevant literature.
The Use of Hypertext for Learning
Authors: Unz Dagmar C. , Hesse Friedrich W.
Published: May 2005

A popular assumption is that hypertext has great benefits for learning. However, the theoretical and empirical base of this assumption is relatively weak. There is a strong need to clarify the process of using hypertext. An important issue for understanding the role that hypertext-systems play in a learning context is analyzing navigation. Thus, this article outlines important issues that must be considered when analyzing navigation in hypertext. Mainly internal and external factors of learning and information seeking with hypertext are identified, and a summary of related research is presented. Additionally, the article addresses different criteria for analyzing navigation patterns and focuses on the shortcomings of present studies, thereby raising open questions concerning future research on navigation in hypertext.
Leaking Pipeline: Issues Impacting Latino/A College Student Retention
Authors: Hernandez John C. , Lopez Mark A.
Published: May 2005

The continued growth of the Latino college-going population challenges college and university pesonnel to become better informed on the issues that affect persistence of this diverse group of students. This article reviews the current understanding of those personal, environmental, involvement, and socio-cultural factors influencing student retention. Specific recommendations to increase Latino persistence in higher education are included throughout the article.
Apartheid and Medical Education: The Training of Black Doctors in South Africa
Authors: Tobias Phillip V.
Published: May 2005

An analysis is presented of the numbers of medical students in South African medical schools and of medical graduates produced annually. The data are analyzed according to ethnic groups. It is shown that gross discrepancies exist, and that black (African) and “Colored” sectors of the population are seriously underrepresented. This pattern is found for the total number of medical students; the ratio of number of medical students in each ethnic group to the total population of that group; the number of medical schools to which blacks may, in terms of the government's apartheid policy, be freely admitted; the absolute numbers of medical graduates drawn from each ethnic group and the percentage of the total number of medical practitioners stemming from each population group; and the ratio of the numbers of medical graduates in each ethnic group to the total population of that group. No matter which yardstick is employed, marked discrepancies are apparent. It is maintained that the separate and inferior schooling system for blacks, under the apartheid policy, is not providing suitably qualified medical student material from the African and “Colored” population groups; and that the State (under which all South African medical schools fall) has not permitted existing medical school facilities to be freely opened for the medical training of blacks, nor has it made available sufficient facilities for the medical training of blacks. It is concluded that the apartheid policy, with its many ramifications at primary, secondary, and tertiary educational levels, has constituted the most serious setback to medical education in southern Africa. It has left medical education in southern Africa over 30 years behind a point where it could and should have been.
Probing Vividness Increment through Imagery Interruption
Authors: D'Angiulli Amedeo , Reeves Adam
Published: May 2005

The purpose of the present study was to trace how visual experience changes over time during mental image generation, by using an interruption paradigm. In one experiment, participants were asked to read the verbal descriptions of eight common objects and imagine these objects. Changes in the quality of the images evoked by the eight stimuli were probed by interrupting the visual mental image generation process at various times from 0 to 1.7 s, and asking participants to rate the vividness of their image at the time of interruption. We found that vividness increased as the time allowed for image generation was augmented. This relationship was consistently detected in half of the participants and for all stimuli. The present findings support the implicit assumption of some current imagery models positing that mental images “improve” over time, and reject the alternative that images are generated in full detail before becoming accessible to consciousness. However, the “incremental” view is unsatisfactory for imagery models which make no (or not enough) room for individual differences.
German Health Insurance: The Evolution and Current Problems of the Pioneer System
Authors: Pflanz M.
Published: May 2005

The German system of social health insurance is one of the oldest in the world, but it has proven to be astonishingly flexible. Presently about 90 per cent of the population living in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) is cared for by social health insurance. The patient does not have a direct economic relationship with the doctor, and the doctor does not deal directly with the sick fund on financial matters. The association of insurance doctors is the intermediate organization between sick funds and the doctor. It is a self–governed organization of insurance doctors supervised by governmental authority. But beyond legislation the government cannot exert direct influence on doctors or sick funds, particularly since the contributions (except for retired people) are paid not by the government but by the insured and their employers. There are deficiencies in the mode of paying the doctor, leading the doctor to perform many unwarranted services. Moreover, there are apparent disadvantages of inadequate integration of preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services, and of hospital, outpatient, and office practice services. The strictly followed regulation on economical prescribing diminishes the quality of the physician's services. Presently, neither the political parties in parliament, nor the federal government, nor the doctors show tendencies to change the system basically. However, there is strong inclination for selective changes. But there is a lack of planning and of good data which might be drawn on for planning and for the evaluation of the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of the system.