bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accident prevention activities: A national survey of health authorities
Authors: Watson Michael , White John 
Published: March 2007

Objective To explore how health authorities in England are participating in the planning and development of accident prevention initiatives, particularly in relation to their partnership work. Design Postal questionnaire. Setting All health authorities in England. Method A questionnaire was sent to the director of health promotion/ lead officer of all the health authorities in England. They were asked for information about priorities, strategies, data collection and joint working. Results A response rate of 93 per cent was achieved. Sixty-eight per cent of districts had accidents as one of their top five priorities. A quarter (25 per cent) of districts did not have an accident prevention strategy. The majority (81 per cent), of districts were dissatisfied with their current position in relation to the collection of data. Recent changes in national policy were seen as positive to accident prevention work. However, lack of resources was seen as an important barrier. Conclusion There appears to be some considerable differences in the activities of health authorities, particularly in relation to partnership work and accident prevention strategies. Recommendations to emerge include the need for national action in relation to the collection of data, and the need for further investigation into the resource issue.
Measuring the incidence of injury among bicycle commuters on cycle networks and open roads: A pilot study
Authors: Nguyen Thao , Williams Brian 
Published: March 2007

Background Government policy is to reduce motorised land travel. Nottingham has a system of segregated and unsegregated cycle pathways. Exposure to risk on these different types of cycle route and related injury rates are unknown. Objective To develop simple, accurate methods of measuring distances travelled on different cycle pathways; to estimate the number of incidents (unexpected occurrences) per unit distance on different pathways, and the number yielding injuries. Design Diary recording over two weeks by a random sample of cycle commuters. Setting Nottingham city cycle routes used by hospital workers between home and work. Method Four hundred bicycle storage area users at a National Health Service (NHS) hospital were asked to map their routes to and from work, to estimate the distance involved and to record the nature and location of any incidents occurring during cycle commuting over two weeks. Using a ruler, string and the map scale, the distances covered on each type of route were calculated. Calculated distances were compared with actual distances measured with a car mileometer. Incident rates were calculated for each type of pathway. The occurrence of any injuries sustained in these incidents was checked against Accident and Emergency (A&E) department records. Results Only 267 proved eligible; 155 replied by the deadline; 87 agreed to participate, 68 declined. Eighty (44 males, 36 females) returned complete data. Cyclists' estimates of route distance, and the distances of the same routes calculated by measuring map lengths differed by 2.1 km on average (range -3.3 to +5.4 km). Distances calculated by measuring map lengths differed from actual distances measured by mileometer by only 0.5 km on average. We calculated that commuters covered 5368 km, averaging 4.6 km per journey (range 0.8 to 7.6 km), 57 per cent of it on roads. Twenty-eight cyclists reported 53 incidents (10 per 1000 km: 95%CI 7 to 13). Segregated cycle paths had the highest rates (43 per 1000 km: 95%CI 26 to 67). In 46 cases the incident involved taking action to avoid an obstacle, a pedestrian, another cyclist or a motor vehicle. No injuries were reported in these incidents and nobody involved in the incidents attended the hospital A&E department. Conclusions It is feasible to record accurately over two weeks the exposure of commuting cyclists to travel on various types of urban cycle route, and the number and nature of potentially harmful incidents experienced. It is likely that the higher rate of injury on off-road cycle paths reported in other countries would be confirmed.
Why are children not being immunised? Barriers to immunisation uptake in South Devon
Authors: Lewendon G.J. , Maconachie M. 
Published: March 2007

Objective To identify local factors contributing to poor immunisation uptake. Design A multidesign study using quantitative and qualitative methods. Setting South Devon - a rural, relatively affluent area. Method In addition to using routinely available data, postal surveys, semi- structured and focus group interviews were used as a means of gathering new data. Results As well as highlighting different parental and health professional perceptions of the reason for low uptake, the study identified a number of factors such as consent, training of health professionals and the accuracy and timeliness of data collection that were contributing to the inadequate immunisation uptake. Conclusion The study has shown a range of factors contributing to whether or not a child is immunised. There is a clinical governance issue to ensure improvement in the quality of the service provided for children and their families. Accredited training should be a mandatory require ment for everyone giving immunisations.
A quantitative nutritional evaluation of a healthy eating intervention in primary school children in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area - A pilot study
Authors: O'Brien Niamh , Roe Caroline , Reeves Sue 
Published: March 2007

Objective To perform a pilot study that evaluates the nutritional and dietary habits of primary school children in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area prior to and following a healthy eating intervention programme. Design A quantitative study whereby the food intakes of 20 boys and 20 girls aged 8 to 9 years old were recorded for five days prior to, and for five days after the intervention. Discussions with the children to ascertain their attitudes towards healthy foods were carried out and parental support was encouraged. Setting A primary school in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area in the city of Limerick, Republic of Ireland. Method Food intake data was collected using food diaries and analysed using the computer package Diet 5 for Windows. Paired t-tests were performed to assess any significant changes in the dietary intakes. Results Following intervention, there were significant increases in the consumption of energy ( P<0.001), protein ( P<0.001), fat ( P<0.01), and calcium ( P<0.0001). Whilst most of the nutrients were consumed in appropriate amounts, the percentage energy from fat was higher than recommendations, whilst iron intakes were below recommendations. Conclusion Although, the changes in food consumption were positive, future interventions should emphasise the need to monitor fat intakes, improve iron status and encourage discussion outside the classroom environment. Similar interventions based on this pilot study could also be used with respect to other areas of health promotion, for example, activity, anti-smoking and so on.
Adolescent health promotion: The value of being a peer leader in a health education/ promotion peer education programme
Authors: Ochieng Bertha M N 
Published: March 2007

Objective To explore the process of adolescent peer leaders and the benefits of being a peer leader in a sexual health HIV/AIDS peer education programme. Design A qualitative study using the principles of grounded theory method. Setting Individual interviews were carried out by the researcher in a room within the building where training of peer leaders took place. Method Fifteen semi-structured in-depth interviews, followed by grounded theory investigation. Results Findings indicated that the process of peer leadership although complex was largely beneficial. The peer leaders were able to identify areas where the experience had benefited them as individuals. Conclusion The peer leaders that participated in the study highlighted positive changes in attitudes and also discussed the effects on their personal lifestyles. From the findings a correlation framework emerged that could be used for studying the interrelationship of factors that determine the effects of being a peer leader.
The training experiences of older, volunteer lay leaders on an arthritis self-management course
Authors: Hainsworth Jenny , Barlow Julie 
Published: March 2007

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the training experiences of a group of older volunteers in preparation for delivering an arthritis self-management course as a lay leader. Design The study was a pre-test post-test design with data collected at three points in time: before attending training; 6 weeks, and 6 months after training. Setting This study recruited participants from three training courses for lay leaders run in Leicester, Shrewsbury and Skipton. Method Data were collected through a baseline questionnaire and interviews. The sample comprised 22 older people with arthritis. The majority of participants were women, with either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Results Volunteering to become a lay leader was motivated by the need to fill the vocational void left by retirement, to feel a useful member of society by helping others and to find a peer group. Expectations included gaining a greater understanding of arthritis, peer support and the opportunity to meet similar people. At follow-up, identified training needs included team-working, presentation skills, and more time for personal discussion. The main benefits of training were social and skills based. The most disliked aspect of training was its intensity. Conclusions Through training, volunteers felt that they had acquired a purpose to their lives. The group training experience had enabled volunteers to draw social comparisons with their peers.Volunteers thrived on feeling 'at home' in a training environment reminiscent of their past working lives. Disappointment was expressed regarding the long gap between training and delivering a self-management course.
Sexual health of women working aboard cruise ships
Authors: Thomas Michelle A. 
Published: March 2007

Objective This paper reports on the sexual health of women working in the cruise sector of the shipping industry. Design Data reported in this paper was collected as part of a larger study exploring company policies and practices relating to women seafarers, and the experiences of women seafarers in both the cruise and cargo . sectors of the shipping industry. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected for the study in over 30 countries worldwide. Setting Data reported here was collected in major cruise ports in Florida, USA. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with women seafarers and cruise company officials exploring women's living and working conditions and their experiences working on board ship. Results Data suggested that sexual relationships among crewmembers are a common feature of life aboard cruise ships. Women's sexual health was found to be at risk due to limited access to contraception and restricted, and frequently nonconfidential, access to ship's doctors. Conclusion Confidential access to the ship's doctor is vital to the consistent use of contraception and the prevention and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Preboarding induction courses for crewmembers should include education on sexual health and sexual risk.
Predicting Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation
Authors: Reigle Nancy , Dowd E. Thomas 
Published: March 2007

Objective This study was designed to investigate nonpsychopathological personality factors that might predict various aspects of affiliation with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Design Forward Stepwise multiple regression was used to predict the ability of the five domain factors of the NEO-PI to predict the number of AA meetings attended, frequency of contact with an AA sponsor, number of close friends in AA, frequency of contact with close friends in AA, and frequency of reading AA literature 12 months after treatment. Setting An archival data sample of 125 veterans who had completed substance abuse treatment at a large Department of Veterans Admini stration Medical Center was used. Results High conscientiousness and low agreeableness predicted change in the number of AA Meetings attended. Low agreeableness predicted change in the frequency of contact with an AA sponsor. Low agreeableness and high neuroticism predicted change in the number of close friends in AA. High neuroticism predicted change in the frequency of contact with close friends. Conclusion Certain nonpsychopathological personality characteristics may be predictive of who will use and affiliate with Alcoholics Anonymous activities.
Knowledge of breast cancer and screening practices
Authors: Vahabi Mandana 
Published: March 2007

Objective To assess young women's breast health knowledge and explore its relation to the use of screening mammography. Methods A convenience sample of 180 women aged 25-45 residing in Toronto, Canada, with no history of breast cancer and mammography received an information brochure and four questionnaires which assessed their knowledge of breast health, sociodemographic/clinical character istics, and intended decision to use screening mammography. Results Women's overall baseline knowledge score ranged from 0-18 with a mean of 10 and SD of 3.9. About half of the participants had a low score (0-9), 31 per cent did not know that the risk of breast cancer increases with age, 43 per cent did not know what was the appropriate age to start breast self examination (BSE), and 48 per cent did not know how frequently BSE should be performed. The overall knowledge score was significantly higher for those women who intended to use screening than those who did not (10.8 vs. 8.4, p<0.001). The intended use of screening was associated with women's knowledge ( p<0.001), self-perceived health ( p=0.02), perceived susceptibility to breast cancer ( p=0.04) and perceived usefulness of information ( p=0.001). Conclusion The study demonstrates that breast health knowledge is limited even among highly educated young women. This finding suggests the need for providing breast health education to women at earlier stage in their life when they have ample time to go through a logical series of decision stages on their way to adopting a new behaviour.
Do patients read breast self-examination booklets?
Authors: Turner Joan , Blaney Roger , Irwin George , Odling-Smee William , Roy Douglas 
Published: March 2007

IF A campaign to encourage women to examine their breasts for lumps is to succeed, it is necessary for women to read the literature produced. An attempt was made to estimate whether such literature was read, and in a group of women 90.6 per cent read the booklet, and 15.9 per cent altered their behaviour. There were several other non- numerical indicators which strongly suggested that women read the literature. A large-scale study is now under way.
Post Release Adjustment of Day and Inpatients
Authors: Kecmanovic Dusan 
Published: March 2007

A comparison was made of the post-release adjustment of patients who were treated in the day hospital and those by the inpatient service. The patients diagnosed as schizophrenics, psychopaths and neurotics, living with their families, who were able to work prior to hospitalization were chosen for samples. In addition, the patients of the two samples were matched with regard to age, the number of hospitalizations and the length of the last one. The day hospital sample consisted of 85 patients and the inpatient sample of 92. Four aspects of social adjustment during the 18 months after discharge were particularly stressed: rehospitalization, working ability, interpersonal relations and role functioning in the family. No significant difference between day and full-time patients with regard to these aspects of post-release adjustment were revealed.
An Arabic Validation of a Depression Inventory
Authors: West Julia 
Published: March 2007

The present study describes an Arabic cross-cultural validation of the Beck Depression Inven tory. An Arab sample of 53 cases was subjected to the original validation procedures which involved a preliminary exercise and a translation from English to Arabic. Acceptable equivalent meanings of Beck's depth-of-depression criteria were established by the Arab clinicians so that independent and valid clinical ratings could be made. Statistical analyses of the internal consistency and stability of the Arabic-BDI indicated a high degree of reliability. Correlations between Arabic-BDI scores and Arab clinicians' ratings indicated a high degree of validity. The results of the cross-cultural validation study agree favorably with those of the original American validation. Although the Arabic inventory makes possible an assessment of the level and intensity of a reactive type depression suffered by Saudi Arab psychiatric outpatients living in the Eastern Province, it must be adapted dialectically for other Arab-speaking regions.
Some Psycho-Social Aspects of Old People Living Outside Their Families in Kuwait
Authors: Malasi T.H. , El-Hilu S.M. , Mirza I.A. , El-Islam M.F. 
Published: March 2007

One hundred and ninety four elderly subjects were studied, 133 of whom were living away from their families, in the only old people's home and in the only psychiatric hospital in Kuwait. They were compared to 61 consecutive elderly subjects atten ding a psychiatric out-patient clinic. Psychiatric, social and clinical characteristics of subjects admitted and those living with their families were analysed and related to recent socioeconomic changes and conditions prevailing in Kuwait. Higher admission rates were significantly related to female sex, the widowed and single status and Kuwaiti and Bedouin nationalities. Low income or housing problems, poor relationships to their families and/or relatives, absence of an interested family member, a small number of own children, referral by family members on account of disabilities, organic brain syndromes or chronic psychiatric disorder was also associated with higher admission rates. Sixty four percent of the residents of the old people's home had psychiatric illnesses in spite of the official policy of excluding the mentally ill from admission. Some of the above mentioned characteristics were similar to findings in other coun tries, but others e.g. the role of nationality and location of residence in admission to institutions were different. Planning social and medical services in Kuwait should take these findings into account.
Supportive Housing: a Consumer Evaluation Study
Authors: Goering P. , Sylph J. , Foster R. , Boyles S. , Babiak T. 
Published: March 2007

The current debate about how to provide housing for persons with persistent psychiatric disabilities should be informed by empirical information from a variety of sources. Data from a study of 17 residents discharged from Regeneration House Inc., illustrates the value of consumer perceptions in the evaluation of supportive housing. Extensive exploration of the positive and negative aspects of living in a group home from the perspective of experienced residents provides useful input for programme planning. The implications of the findings for the individual programme and the wider field are discussed.
Psychopathology and Long-Term Adjustment After Crises in Refugees From East Germany
Authors: Bauer Michael , Priebe Stefan 
Published: March 2007

Objective : In this study we examined psychopathology, diagnoses, social adjust ment and the course of symptoms over two and a half years in East German refugees who suffered a crisis immediately after migrating to West Berlin just prior to or shortly after the breaching of the Wall in autumn 1989. Methods: One hundred and twenty two refugees seeking crisis intervention in a psychiatric outpatient unit after arrival were investigated. Six months later 59% and two and a half years after migration 30% of the patients were re-examined. Results: The patients had been exposed to prolonged stress situations in East Germany and were suffering from anxious-depressive syndrome with vegetative complaints. Sixty patients required more than one crisis intervention during the first six months after resettlement. During the follow-up period symptoms decreased significantly. At the second follow-up interview 81% of the patients had a satisfactory job, and 89% acceptable accommodation. Conclusions : Satisfactory classification of the psychiatric disorders induced in East German refugees by prolonged stress was not possible according to the DSM-III-R criteria. lnitial crises are not necessarily associated with poor long-term adjustment after migration.
Urbanisation and Psychiatric Admission Rates in the Netherlands
Authors: Dekker J. , Peen J. , Gardien R. , De Jonghe F. , Wijdenes W. 
Published: March 2007

This article discusses the possible links between urbanisation, demographic variables and psychiatric admission rates. Inpatient psychiatric admission rates were determined for the 647 Dutch municipalities. Then urbanisation was deter mined using 'area address density', a unit of measurement developed by the Dutch Central Statistical Office. Five degrees of urbanisation are distinguished. Twenty- nine demographic variables which might have a theoretical link with admission rates were collated for all municipalities. The results show that standardised total admission rates increase with urbanisation. The mean admission rate for the least urbanised municipalities is 2.02 per 1000 resident population, the rate for the most urbanised municipalities is 3.72 per 1000. It was then found that the prevalence of demographic risk factors increased with urbanicity. At the same time, it was found that almost all demographic variables correlated with admission rates. A multiple regression model - which accounts for 22% of variance - shows that income distribution, address density and mortality all contribute significantly to the variance in admission rates for the 647 Dutch municipalities.
A Continuous Process for the Production of Whisker Reinforced Composites
Authors: Kirkpatrick M.E. , Staudhammer K.P. , Reger J.L. , Toy A. 
Published: March 2007

Various techniques have been proposed and developed for aligning the whisker reinforcing phase of metal matrix composites. Most of these techniques involve multi-step alignment processes, and are not suitable for economical, continuous production of metal-whisker com posites. A laboratory scale, prototype system for the continuous dielectro phoretic deposition and alignment of micron sized, ultra high strength whiskers has been designed, developed and tested. This process consists of the deposition of whiskers onto one of two electrodes placed in a suspension of the whiskers, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes. By employing a metal matrix foil as the deposition elec trode, this technique has demonstrated that the continuous production of metal-whisker combinations suitable for fabrication into advanced whisker reinforced composites is feasible. The volumetric loading of the reinforcing whiskers on the metal foil can be controlled by varying such process parameters as voltage, foil speed, electrode separation and geometry, and the concentration of whiskers in the supporting media. A discussion of these alignment and deposition process variables is presented. The metal foils containing the deposited, aligned whiskers are then sandwiched into a preform structure consisting of successive layers of metal foil and fibers. Consolidation of the stacked layers into a com posite is accomplished by hot pressing and diffusion bonding. Photo micrographs of the consolidated composite, showing alignment of the whiskers and the microscopic composite structure are shown and discussed for a range of whisker compositions. Preliminary mechanical properties data for selected composite compositions are presented and discussed.