Stressful life events and use of physician services among the elderly: The moderating role of pet ownership.

The physician utilization behavior of 938 Medicare enrollees in a health maintenance organization was prospectively followed for 1 year. With demographic characteristics and health status at baseline controlled for, respondents who owned pets reported fewer doctor contacts over the 1-year period than respondents who did not own pets. Furthermore, pets seemed to help their owners in times of stress. The accumulation of prebaseline stressful life events was associated with increased doctor contacts during the study year for respondents without pets. This relationship did not emerge for pet owners. Owners of dogs, in particular, were buffered from the impact of stressful life events on physician utilization. Additional analyses showed that dog owners in comparison to owners of other pets spent more time with their pets and felt that their pets were more important to them. Thus, dogs more than other pets provided their owners with companionship and an object of attachment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Epidemiologic study of cats and dogs affected by the 1991 Oakland fire

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors of pets affected by the 1991 Oakland, Calif fire for being lost, found, adopted, or reunited with owners. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: 1,075 cats and 197 dogs affected by the fire and 221 cats and 128 dogs not affected by the fire. PROCEDURES: Records compiled from 1991 to 1995 by the Oakland Firestorm Pet Hotline were analyzed. RESULTS: Peak activity for the hotline was on days 3 and 4 after the fire, but decreased to a low, steady rate by day 21. Many pets were found that had been abandoned or were part of a large free-roaming population that existed at the time of the fire. Many were missing after the fire and presumed killed. The longer owners delayed looking for their pet, the lower the chance of being reunited. Pets wearing collars with the owners' names and addresses had a more than 10-fold chance of being reunited, compared with pets without collars. Increasing odds for adoption of lost pets was associated with their proximity to the fire. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Hotlines set up after sudden impact disasters, such as the Oakland Firestorm Pet Hotline, will probably register primarily abandoned animals. Reunion of pets with their owners appears to be most likely for those that receive an overall better level of care than pets found at other times. Adoption of pets after this disaster was primarily by the person who found that animal and principally resulted when the pet was found close to the disaster area.     

A survey of the attitudes of Sydney pet owners to veterinary services

One thousand questionnaires were distributed to a random sample of Sydney pet owners in 1974 by a market research organisation. A response rate of 37.5% was obtained. Respondents were most likely to use a veterinary practice because it was conveniently located (27%), recommended by someone (22%),or they had been dissatisfied elsewhere (8%). The majority of pet owners preferred veterinary practices to be multiman (65%), unassociated with other services (61%), and run on an open clinic system (52%) with consultation hours between 6 pm and 8 pm on weekdays (45%), and 9 am and 11 am at weekends (about 50%). 91% had no preference regarding the sex of practitioner who treated their pet. 46% of cat owners and 25% of dog owners said that they would be unwilling to spend over +30 to save their pets life while 34% of cat owners and 55% of dog owners were willing to spend over $100. Professional competence and concern for animals were the qualities pet owners desired most in veterinary surgeons and veterinary practices. After these, pet owners rated prompt attention, 24 hour emergency service and modern professional equipment as the next most important features.     

The teacher's pet phenomenon: Rate of occurrence, correlates, and psychological costs.

The teacher's pet phenomenon was investigated in 80 5th-grade Israeli classrooms. Pets were identified through students' sociometric nominations in 80% of the classrooms: exclusive pets in 26% and unexclusive pets in 54% of the classrooms. Pets tended to be girls rather than boys, of Ashkenazi rather than Sephardi origin, very good (but not necessarily the best) students academically, and perceived as charming, socially skilled, and compliant. Teachers who had pets were found to hold somewhat more authoritarian attitudes than teachers who did not have pets, and the rate of occurrence of the pet phenomenon was higher in religious than in secular schools. Students' affective reactions to their teachers were more positive in classrooms without pets, and most negative in exclusive-pet classrooms. Potential favoritism in assigning teacher grades to exclusive pets was also investigated: No overall favoritism was found, but a trace of favoritism by more authoritarian teachers was discovered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pet loss: Issues and implications for the psychologist.

The subject of pet loss has received little attention within the field of psychology, which is surprising given the millions of people who form strong attachments with their pets and experience the death of a pet at some point during their lifetime. The primary purpose of this article is to show why it is important for psychologists to understand how significant pets can be in the lives of their clients and to be sensitive to clients' grief in response to the death of a pet. We discuss special considerations related to the effect of pet loss on families, children, and the elderly. In addition, we examine how psychologists can play an important role in helping people cope with the emotional impact of pet loss through grief counseling, consultation with animal health care professionals, and outreach. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The "teacher's pet" phenomenon, students' perceptions of teachers' differential behavior, and students' morale.

The relationships among the teacher's pet phenomenon, students' perceptions of teachers' differential behavior, and students' morale were investigated in 80 upper elementary Israeli classrooms. The intensity of the teacher's pet phenomenon (rate of students' consensus in identifying teachers' pets in each classroom) was related to perceived teachers' differential behavior, particularly to teachers' differential (also preferential) affect. In turn, teachers' perceived differential affect was negatively related to students' morale and satisfaction. In classrooms of teachers who had pets who were not popular, students demonstrated lower morale, whereas students in "popular-pet" classrooms did not demonstrate lower morale. Previous findings on the teacher's pet phenomenon and on students' and teachers' perceptions of teachers' differential behavior were replicated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An epidemic of Malassezia pachydermatis in an intensive care nursery associated with colonization of health care workers' pet dogs

BACKGROUND: Malassezia species are lipophilic yeasts that are emerging as nosocomial pathogens, particularly in low-birth-weight neonates who receive lipid emulsions. When a cluster of patients with Malassezia pachydermatis infection was identified in an intensive care nursery, we initiated an investigation. METHODS: A case patient was defined as any infant in the intensive care nursery who had a positive culture for M. pachydermatis between October 17, 1993, and January 18, 1995. We conducted a cohort study to identify risk factors for colonization and infection with M. pachydermatis. We collected cultures from the infants and the health care workers and from the health care workers' pets, since this organism has been associated with otitis externa in dogs. RESULTS: Fifteen infants met the case definition: eight with bloodstream infections, two with urinary tract infections, one with meningitis, and four with asymptomatic colonization. The case patients were significantly more likely than the other infants to weigh 1300 g or less (15 of 65 vs. 0 of 419, P<0.001). In a multivariate analysis of infants weighing 1300 g or less, the independent risk factors for colonization or infection with M. pachydermatis were a greater severity of concomitant illness (odds ratio, 19.7; P=0.001), arterial catheterization for nine or more days (odds ratio, 29.5; P=0.027), and exposure to Nurse A (odds ratio, 74.7; P=0.004). In a point-prevalence survey, 9 additional infants, 1 health care worker, and 12 of the health care workers' pet dogs had positive cultures for M. pachydermatis. The isolates from all 15 case patients, the 9 additional colonized infants, 1 health care worker, and 3 of the 12 dogs had identical patterns of restriction-fragment-length polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: In this outbreak, it is likely that M. pachydermatis was introduced into the intensive care nursery on health care workers' hands after being colonized from pet dogs at home. The organism persisted in the nursery through patient-to-patient transmission.     

Pet dogs as attachment figures for adult owners.

This study assessed the extent to which, and under what conditions, owners turn to their pet dogs in times of emotional distress. This feature of an attachment figure—safe haven—is a key characteristic of an attachment bond. Participants (N = 975, mean age = 47.95 years, 789 women and 186 men) were relatively dedicated dog owners who completed an online survey. Relative to other features of an attachment figure, safe haven was the least salient. Nonetheless, participants were more likely to turn to their dogs than they were to turn to their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, best friends, and children but less likely to turn to their dogs than to their romantic partners. Characteristics of both owners (being male, widowed, highly involved in the care of the dog, and uncomfortable with self-disclosure) and dogs (strongly meeting owner’s needs regarding relatedness) heightened the likelihood that dogs were turned to rather than some humans. It is concluded that some owners develop attachment bonds with their pet dogs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Human salmonellosis associated with exotic pets

During the period from 1994 to 1996, an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of human salmonellosis associated with exposure to exotic pets including iguanas, pet turtles, sugar gliders, and hedgehogs was observed in Canada. Pet turtle-associated salmonellosis was recognized as a serious public health problem in the 1960s and 1970s, and in February 1975 legislation banning the importation of turtles into Canada was enacted by Agriculture Canada. Reptile-associated salmonellosis is once again being recognized as a resurgent disease. From 1993 to 1995, there were more than 20,000 laboratory-confirmed human cases of salmonellosis in Canada. The major source of Salmonella infection is food; however, an estimated 3 to 5% of all cases of salmonellosis in humans are associated with exposure to exotic pets. Among the isolates from these patients with salmonellosis, a variety of Salmonella serotypes were also associated with exotic pets and included the following: S. java, S. stanley, S. poona, S. jangwani, S. tilene, S. litchfield, S. manhattan, S. pomona, S. miami, S. rubislaw, S. marina subsp. IV, and S. wassenaar subsp. IV.     

Fake ID ownership and heavy drinking in underage college students: Prospective findings.

The authors examined the ownership of false identification (fake ID) for the purpose of obtaining alcohol and the relation of fake ID ownership to heavy drinking in a longitudinal sample of college students under 21 years of age. A sample of 3,720 undergraduates was assessed the summer prior to college entrance and during the 4 semesters comprising freshman and sophomore years. Regression analyses were used to estimate bidirectional relations between consumption and fake ID ownership. Sex, Greek membership, and prior drinking were controlled. Results showed that fake ID ownership increased over time (12.5% precollege to 32.2% fourth semester) and that Greek members were more likely than others to own fake IDs. Fake ID ownership predicted concurrent and next-semester heavy drinking with increasing strength over time. Also, the acquisition (onset) of fake ID ownership at each time point was predicted by previous-semester consumption. When traditional, robust risk factors of consumption are controlled, fake ID ownership meaningfully relates to heavy drinking in college. It thus presents a significant public health problem, addressable through training for alcohol servers and retailers, punitive measures toward fake ID owners, and other possible interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nitrogen solubility in liquid Fe-V and Fe-Cr-Ni-V alloys

Nitrogen solubility in liquid Fe, Fe-V, Fe-Cr-V, Fe-Ni-V and Fe-18 pct Cr-8 pet Ni-V alloys has been measured using the Sieverts’ method for vanadium contents up to 15 wt pct and over the temperature range from 1775 to 2040 K. Nitrogen solution obeyed Sieverts’ law for all alloys investigated. Nitride formation was observed in Fe-13 pet V, Fe-15 pet V and Fe-18 pet Cr-8 pet Ni-10 pet V alloys at lower temperatures. The nitrogen solubility increases with increasing vanadium content and for a given composition decreases with increasing temperature. In Fe-V alloys, the nitrogen solubility at 1 atm N₂ pressure is 0.72 wt pet at 1863 K and 15 pct V. The heat and entropy of solution of nitrogen in Fe-V alloys were determined as functions of vanadium content. The first and second order interaction parameters were determined as functions of temperature as: $$e_N^V = \frac{{ - 463.6}}{T} + 0.148 and e_N^{VV} = \frac{{17.72}}{T} - 0.0069$$ The effects of alloying elements on the activity coefficient of nitrogen were measured in Fe-5 pet and 10 pet Cr-V, Fe-5 pet and 10 pet Ni-V and Fe-18 pet Cr-8 pct Ni-V alloys. In Fe-18 pet Cr-8 pet Ni-10 pet V, the nitrogen solubility at 1 atm N₂ pressure is 0.97 wt pet at 1873 K. The second order cross interaction parameters, e _N ^Cr,V and e _N ^Ni,V , were determined at 1873 K as 0.00129 and ? 0.00038 respectively.     

Avian exposure and risk of lung cancer in women in Missouri: population based case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association, previously reported in three European studies, between ownership of pet birds and the risk of lung cancer. DESIGN: A population based case-control study with a structured questionnaire administered by telephone. SETTING: Missouri, a midwestern state in the United States with a population of about 5 million. SUBJECTS: All newly diagnosed cases of primary lung cancer in women aged 30-84 years in Missouri from 1 January 1993 to 31 January 1994 reported to the state cancer registry were invited to participate (n = 652); and 629 population based controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds ratios were computed in relation to whether or not the study subject ever kept pet birds, the type of bird kept, and several measures of intensity or duration of exposure. Odds ratios were adjusted for smoking. RESULTS: The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the development of lung cancer associated with keeping pet birds was 0.84 (0.65 to 1.09). The results were similar for the type of pet bird kept, the number of birds kept, the location of the bird in the house, and the duration of ownership. CONCLUSION: The keeping of pet birds carries no excess risk for the development of lung cancer.     

Defining and measuring of attachment bonds: Comment on Kurdek (2009).

Kurdek’s (see record 2009-12106-001) study of dog owners raises a series of provocative questions about the nature of attachment bonds and whether dogs can serve as attachment figures for their owners. This commentary suggests that it is important to distinguish attachment from other types of affectional bonds that are motivated by caregiving, reproductive or affiliative concerns. It is suggested that preferences for attachment figures are best tested in situations involving danger and in situations in which preferences are not confounded with immediate physical proximity. Using these distinctions as a guide, this commentary concludes that although dog owners undoubtedly form affectional bonds with their pets, these bonds are more likely to meet criteria for caregiving rather than attachment bonds. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Critters in the cube farm: Perceived psychological and organizational effects of pets in the workplace.

This article reports the findings of an exploratory study examining the perceived functions and psychological and organizational effects of pets in the workplace. Participants were 193 employees from 31 companies allowing pets in the workplace who completed anonymous questionnaires. Results indicated that participants perceived pets in the workplace to reduce stress and to positively affect employee health and the organization. Participants who brought their pets to work perceived greater benefits than participants who did not bring their pets to work and participants who did not own pets. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Primary care health psychology training: A collaborative model with family practice.

Are you planning a new postdoctoral training program in health psychology? Are your students seeking postdoctoral training in health psychology? Are you looking for a good formal postdoctoral fellowship in health psychology to continue your training? This article describes in detail the philosophy, educational objectives, and learning activities that make up a 13-year-old fellowship approved by the American Psychological Association in clinical health psychology, a model for clinical training in this specialty. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assigned versus participative goal setting with educated and uneducated woods workers.

Conducted a field experiment of (a) 24 educationally disadvantaged woods worker crews and (b) 24 educated logging crews to compare assigned goal setting, participative goal setting, and a "do your best" condition. The experiment was conducted separately for each sample. Results show that for the uneducated Ss, the participative condition had higher productivity than the assigned and "do your best" conditions. In addition, goal difficulty and goal attainment were significantly higher in the participative condition than in the assigned condition. No significant differences among conditions were found for the educated Ss, although this may have been due to problems in implementation of the goal-setting program with this sample. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Infant respiratory symptoms in relation to mite allergen exposure

The relationship between the Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) I content of house dust and the respiratory symptoms reported for young infants was studied. One hundred and four infants, aged 3-15 months, were selected during July-September 1993 through the Dutch postnatal health care service, using a short screening questionnaire to identify mothers with respiratory allergy to house dust and/or pets. Forty-eight were selected from this group of mothers ("high risk" infants) and 56 infants were selected when neither of the parents reported allergy or chronic respiratory symptoms ("low risk" infants). All homes were visited in October 1993. Dust samples were collected from the infant's mattress and from other places in the home, and the Der p I content was measured in dust extracts. The results indicate that on more than half of the mattresses, the Der p I level was over 2,000 ng.g-1, the level suggested to be associated with an increased risk of sensitization. Information on respiratory symptoms ("wheeze" and "prolonged cough") experienced since birth was obtained by questionnaire from one of the parents on the dust sampling day. The occurrence of respiratory symptoms in the infants appeared to be positively related to the Der p I concentration of the dust. Although no objective measurements of respiratory symptoms were available, the results of this study suggest that exposure to mite allergen in early life may lead to respiratory symptoms that are suggestive of airway obstruction in the first year of life.     

A questionnaire study on improving occupational safety and health services provided by part-time industrial physicians

In order to evaluate factors improving part-time industrial physicians' services, a questionnaire study on occupational safety and health services was conducted on 237 part-time industrial physicians (PIPs) and 628 enterprises in Kochi. PIPs who received physician's fees visited enterprises and consulted with employees about their health conditions, communicated with employers and licensed occupational health supervisors (LOHSs) in enterprises more frequently than PIPs who did not receive physician's fees (p < 0.1-0.001). The rates of performing regular duties related on occupational safety and health, and PIPs' participations in health promotion programs and health consultations with employees among enterprises which paid physician's fees were significantly higher than those among enterprises which did not pay physician's fees (p < 0.05-0.001). Significantly higher rates of health consultation with employees and communications with employers and LOHSs, participation in occupational safety and health committees, recommendations of health promotion programs were found where physicians visited enterprises frequently(p < 0.1-0.01). Although no significant changes in PIPs' occupational safety and health services were observed for hazardous risk factors in enterprises, the rates of performing regular duties on occupational safety and health, and walk-through inspections by LOHSs and PIPs, estimating PIPs' advice and suggestions in enterprises with hazardous risk factors were significantly higher than those in enterprises without hazardous risk factors (p < 0.05-0.001). It is important for PIPs to have a written contract concerning physicians' fees and occupational safety and health services with enterprises and visit enterprises frequently in order to improve PIPs' occupational safety and health services and promote occupational safety and health programs in enterprises.     

Oral absorption of D-oligopeptides in rats via the paracellular route

Mortality differs substantially between the Flemish and Walloon regions is Belgium. The question remains as to whether the health status of both populations varies in a similar way. The difference in healthy life expectancy, an indicator of population health, between the Flemish and Walloon regions was therefore assessed. In 1989-1990 a cross-sectional survey in the general population was performed in which 2640 persons were selected by a multistage random process. Perceived health status was determined through a validated question: "On the whole, how would you describe your health for the moment? Would you say it is very good/good/fair/rather bad/bad?" The prevalence of "being in good health (very good to fair)" was combined with mortality data (Sullivan method) to estimate the healthy life expectancy (HLE), and the following results were found. Among males, life expectancy (LE) and HLE at age 15 was 58.9 years and 56.5 years in the Flemish region, compared with 56.6 and 50.2 years in the Walloon region. At age 65, LE and HLE in the Flemish region was 14.3 and 13.3 years, and only 13.2 and 9.2 years in the Walloon region. Women at age 15 had an LE and HLE in the Flemish region of 65.2 years and 61.3 years, compared to 63.9 and 58.1 years in the Walloon region. At age 65, both the LE and the HLE in the Flemish region were higher, with LE at 18.5 versus 17.7 years, and HLE at 16.0 versus 14.3 years. Similar results were obtained when the criteria of "being in good health" were restricted to those indicating their health to be very good or good. In conclusion, the data indicate that the population in the Walloon region not only has a shorter life but apparently also has a shorter healthy life. Research is needed to explain what proportion of these differences can be attributed to differences in the prevalence of diseases, cultural differences and socio-economic differences.     

The solubility of hydrogen in solid binary aluminum-lithium alloys

The solubility of hydrogen in solid binary aluminum alloys with 1,2, and 3 wt pet lithium has been determined for the temperature range of 473 to 873 K and the pressure range of 26,700 to 113,300 Pa (0.26 to 1.12 atm), using an absorption/quench/desorption technique. The results fit the Van't Hoff isobar and Sieverts' isotherm and are given by log (S/S°)- log (p/p°) =-A/T/K +B whereS, S° are, respectively, the solubility and a standard value of solubility equal to 1 cm3 of diatomic hydrogen measured at 273 K and 101,325 Pa/100 g of metal;p, p° are, respectively, the pressure and a standard value of pressure equal to 101,325 Pa (1 atm). The values of the constantsA andB are Al-1 pet Li 473T/K 680:A = 358;B = 0.576 680T/K 873:A = 604;B = 0.620 Al-2 pet Li 473T/K 740:A = 273;B = 0.597 740T/K 873:A = 676;B = 0.767 Al-3 pet Li 523T/K770:A = 615;B = 1.272 770T/K 873:A = 830;B = 1.166 The solubility of hydrogen is one or two orders of magnitude greater in the alloys than in the pure metal and increases with lithium content. The results are consistent with the dissociative dissolution of a diatomic gas. The isobars are discontinuous at critical temperatures which lie within the a-phase field,i.e., 680, 740, and 770 K for Al-1 pet Li, Al-2 pet Li, and Al-3 pet Li, respectively, indicating a change in the character of the solution at lower temperatures due to an increase in the solute binding energy, which is attributed provisionally to an unidentified change in thea matrix. P. N. Anyalebechi, formerly with the Department of Materials Technology at Brunei, The University of West London, United Kingdom