Procedural preference as a function of conflict intensity.

Conducted 2 studies with college students to examine procedural preferences in conflict situations that, unlike the conflicts in most procedural justice work, permit concession exchange. In this conflict setting, disputants have been found to prefer procedures that provide them with a share of decision control as well as complete process control. Among competitively motivated disputants, bargaining strength is shown to qualify these preferences, in that weak-case disputants want the least 3rd-party involvement. Exp I, with 126 Ss, demonstrated the robustness of disputants' preferences for process control, because an autocratic procedure receives unfavorable ratings independently of the opportunity for concession exchange. Exp II showed that disputants confronted with integrative settlement options prefer bargaining over mediation and arbitration. It is concluded that findings support the claim that conflict structure must be considered in any attempt to predict disputants' procedural preferences. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Results of a questionnaire on sperm morphology assessment

This survey describes the results of a questionnaire on the methodology of sperm morphology assessment. A questionnaire form was sent to 410 fertility centres. A total of 170 answer forms (41.5%) from 40 different countries was evaluated. Most responding centres (147 or 86.5%) treat more than 200 new couples per year. According to our results, a wide and complex variation in different methods of sperm preparation, staining procedures and classification systems is observed world wide. WHO recommendations for sperm preparation seem to be poorly followed. Only 86 centres (50.6%) reported the use of a single approach to both semen preparation and sperm morphology evaluation. Our results indicate an urgent need for standardization and consensus on sperm morphology methodology to regain the power of this important sperm parameter.     

Dietary assessment in the elderly: validation of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to assess the relative validity of a 170-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) adapted for use in the elderly. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: The study was carried out in a sample of 80 men and women aged 55-75 y participating in a community based prospective cohort study in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The two-step dietary assessment comprised a simple self-administered questionnaire (20 min) followed by a structured interview with trained dietitians (20 min) based on the completed questionnaire. Multiple food records (FR) collected over a one year period served as reference method. 24 h urine urea was used as indirect marker for protein intake. RESULTS: Compared with FR, the SFFQ generally overestimated nutrient intake as reflected by difference in means and the ratio of SFFQ to FR. Energy adjustment reduced the observed overestimation. Pearson's correlation coefficients varied from close to 0.5 to about 0.9 for crude data, and after adjustment for age, sex, total energy intake, and for within-person variability in daily intake for 0.4-0.8. Cross-classification into quintiles resulted in correct classification into the same or adjacent quintile of 75.8% for crude and 76.8% for energy-adjusted data. Validation of protein intake estimated by SFFQ with protein excretion from 24h urine urea indicated overestimation of protein intake by SFFQ. Spearman correlation coefficient between protein intake estimated from urea excretion and SFFQ was 0.67. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptation of a SFFQ for use in the elderly resulted in a valid and time-efficient dietary assessment instrument. Its ability to adequately rank study subjects according to their dietary intake support its application in epidemiological studies in the elderly.     

Work assessment of psychiatric patients: A critical review of published scales.

Critically examines 7 published scales designed for rating the work performance of psychiatric patients: (a) Minnesota Follow-up Study Rehabilitation Evaluation Scale; (b) M-R Fergus Falls Patient-Employee Rating Scale; (c) D. Ethridge scale (see record 1968-15840-001); (d) M. Distefano and M. Pryer scale (see record 1970-21324-001); (e) A. Cheadle, D. Cushing, C. Drew, and R. Morgan scale (see record 1968-00995-001); (f) A. Burger scale; and (g) J. Clark, B. Koch, and R. Nichols scale (see record 1965-10332-001). Special reference is made to concurrent and predictive validation. Suggestions for the design of such scales are presented. (33 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A quantitative assessment of serum chylomicron by light scattering intensity: application to the intestinal fat absorption test

We cloned the canine interleukin-12 (IL-12) subunit cDNA. Canine IL-12 exhibited sequence homology to the known sequences of human, mouse, and bovine genes at nucleotide and amino acid levels. Cotransfection of the p35 and p40 subunits of canine IL-12 cDNA clones into COS-1 cells resulted in the secretion of IL-12, which supported proliferation of the stimulated canine lymphocytes, promoted induction of canine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) from canine lymphocytes, and showed antitumor effect in vitro. The cloned canine IL-12 will be useful for canine therapeutic applications.     

Comprehensive effects of alcohol: Development and psychometric assessment of a new expectancy questionnaire.

A comprehensive measure of alcohol outcome expectancies was developed through the use of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The questionnaire assesses both positive and negative expected effects of alcohol as well as the subjective evaluation of those effects. The measure was found to demonstrate adequate internal consistency, temporal stability, and construct validity. Criterion validity was demonstrated through structural regression analyses of the independent and combined influences of outcome expectancies and subjective evaluation on 3 measures of alcohol use. Information on Ss' dose-related expectancies provided further validation of the expectancy construct and yielded information about the effects people associate with drinking different amounts of alcohol. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The prediction of outcome in elderly psychiatric patients

Clinical and psychometric characteristics of a sample of elderly psychiatric patients were established soon after admission and they were then followed for 1 year. An attempt to predict outcome was most successful for an unfavourable type which was predictable by measures related to intellectual impairment.     

An examination of nonresponse in a work environment questionnaire mailed to psychiatric health care personnel.

Nonresponse to surveys, which seems to plague work environment studies and studies of health care personnel in particular, may pose problems of generalizability and validity. The aim of this study was to provide an estimate of nonresponse error in a self-administered survey concerning the work environment of psychiatric health care personnel. A random sample of 10% of the original survey population (N?=?693) was selected to participate in a telephone follow-up of a postal survey that had a response rate of 51%. There were no differences between the responders and nonresponders to the postal survey on the exposure or outcome variables. There was no evidence of nonresponse bias in this study, although recall bias may have been a problem. In those cases in which generalizability is deemed important, it is recommended that nonresponse studies be regularly carried out when response rates are less than 100%. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mortality in psychiatric hospital patients: a cohort analysis of prognostic factors

BACKGROUND: This work followed a group of patients living in a psychiatric hospital in Central Italy in 1978 at the time of enforcement of the Italian reform law (No. 180) for closing down mental hospitals. The study had the following aims: a) to compare in terms of mortality patients discharged into the community with patients who did not experience deinstitutionalization; b) to determine the survival of the cohort of patients and to analyse prognostic risk factors for death; c) to analyse differences in mortality rates between psychiatric patients and the general population. METHODS: The study was designed as an historical follow-up investigation. Univariate (product limit) and multivariate (proportional hazards model) methods were used to estimate prognostic variables and related death risks. Mortality was assessed using standardized mortality ratios (SMR) on the entire cohort as well as after stratification according to age, sex, cause of death and discharge status, assuming the Abruzzo Region's population as standard. RESULTS: Length of hospitalization and discharge from hospital are prognostic variables for death risk, with relative risks respectively of 4.22 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.41-7.40) for a length of hospitalization of 10-25 years, and 8.13 (95% CI: 4.73-13.88) for non-discharge. The global SMR of the cohort was 2.68 (95% CI: 2.42-3.07). Non-discharged patients showed higher SMR than discharged. Excess mortality was found both in males and females for circulatory, respiratory and undefined diseases. A significantly lower mortality for cancer was observed in male patients. A strong excess mortality was observed in younger patients (20-29 years: SMRmales = 43.57; SMRfemales = 97.52). CONCLUSIONS: Longer periods of hospitalization and non-discharge from hospital are the main risk factors for death in psychiatric patients, who globally experience higher death rates than the general population for a wide spectrum of causes of death, whatever their diagnosis or gender. These findings strongly suggest positive actions in order to overcome the effects of institutionalization.     

The effects of light intensity on hatching of Echinostoma caproni Miracidia

Egg cultures of Echinostoma caproni were exposed to 25-W incandescent light at control intensities (9.7 mumol s-1 m-2) and reduced intensities (1.0, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.06, 0.03, and 0.01 mumol s-1 m-2). Low intensities of light did not affect the diurnal hatching rhythm of the miracidia, with maximum hatching occurring from 1200 to 1300 hr. However, at 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 mumol s-1 m-2, hatching was delayed 2 days at each interval. From 0.06 to 0.01 mumol s-1 m-2, hatching still occurred, but at 17 days of development rather than at the 11.3-day average found under illumination with a 25-W incandescent light. No appreciable hatching was observed in cultures kept in the dark.     

The use of aliases by psychiatric patients

Bone scintigraphy is routinely used in the diagnosis of lower jaw osteomyelitis; however, the radiation dosage of 3.5 mSv is quite high. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives information about soft tissue and bone marrow alterations. This study compares the sensitivity of the two imaging modalities in the diagnosis of lower jaw osteomyelitis. Thirteen patients with clinical signs of the disease were examined and followed up using both methods, three-phase bone scintigraphy and MRI. Compared to three-phase bone scintigraphy, MRI has the same diagnostic sensitivity. However in one case of active osteomyelitis bone scintigraphy showed a false-negative result. MRI once indicated a higher activity rate but never failed to provide the diagnosis. In addition, it gives exact information about the location, size and involvement of the soft tissue. A STIR sequence should be performed in addition to the native and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted spin echo sequence. The metal artifacts of the antibiotic chain on the MRI can be eliminated by replacing the wire by nonresorbent suture material. In the diagnosis of lower jaw osteomyelitis, three-phase bone scintigraphy can be replaced by the MRI.     

Jokes as a projective technique: the humor of psychiatric patients

Jokes were obtained from psychiatric patients during the course of diagnostic testing and interviewing. The material was subjected to a content analysis which included the nature of the main characters and their relationships, the situations presented, and the major overt and concealed themes. This paper discusses and gives examples of the projective and psychodynamic value of humor in professional practice. The jokes helped in the understanding of diagnosis, symptoms, and basic conflicts. They provided guidelines for treatment and the treatment plan. They depicted the struggles of the participants to cope with relationships, problems, crises, and change. None of these struggles were unique to patients. Jokes cut through professional distinctions and diagnostic classifications, and present the person behind the label. They reflect the nature of the self especially in its more troubling and problematic aspects; yet they also reveal the healthy and intact part of the person. Jokes were valuable as a projective method because they constituted a non-threatening vehicle for revealing otherwise threatening and concealed truths about the person; they communicate those aspects of the human condition that are most anxiety provoking; and last, but not least, they end the interview on an enjoyable and positive note.     

Patient assessment in ambulatory surgery. A questionnaire study

In our department, from the beginning of December 1994 to the end of February 1995, we operated upon a selected group of 199 patients, hospitalized as day surgery patients. Each patient was given a questionnaire to fill in after discharge. We asked them to evaluate day surgery from the consumer's point of view. We did not record any data which could identify the single patient. We received 158 questionnaires (79%) of which 151 were accepted. One hundred and seven patients (71%) found day surgery acceptable and a good alternative to conventional hospitalization, 82% preferred having the same doctor and primary nursing during the treatment. One hundred and sixteen patients were discharged as planned (77%). There were no serious complications. Provided that patients are carefully selected, we find day surgery a highly satisfactory method of management which is safe and efficient.     

Information in the ICU: are we being honest with our patients? The results of a European questionnaire

BACKGROUND: We were interested in determining the current practices and views of European intensive care doctors regarding communication with patients and informed consent for interventions. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to the 1272 western European doctor members of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. All questionnaires were anonymous. Five hundred four completed questionnaires from 16 western European countries were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 25 % said they would always give complete information to a patient, although 35 % felt they should. Thirty-two percent would give complete details of an iatrogenic incident, but 70% felt they should. There were significant differences in these attitudes between doctors from different countries, with doctors from the Netherlands more likely to give complete information, and doctors from Greece, Spain and Italy less likely. Fifty percent of the respondents required written consent for surgery, but for insertion of an arterial catheter oral consent was more widely accepted. The Netherlands and Scandinavia generally accepted oral requests for procedures, while Germany and the United Kingdom preferred written requests. Doctors of all countries were generally happy with their current practice concerning informed consent. Seventy-five percent would accept the right of a patient to refuse treatment, but 19% would carry out the procedure against the patient's wishes. CONCLUSIONS: Doctors are often not completely honest with their patients regarding their diagnosis or prognosis, or in the event of an iatrogenic incident. However, most doctors will respect a patient's right to refuse treatment. Informed consent practices vary substantially and are largely determined by locally accepted policy and accepted by doctors working in those areas.