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A Somerville

Publications and source records attributed to A Somerville.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Health-related quality of life in Swiss adolescents with asthma. Validation of the AAQOL-D and comparison with Australian adolescents.

PRINCIPLES: The Adolescent Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AAQOL) is the only asthma-specific quality-of-life questionnaire to date for use specifically in adolescents. The aim of this study was translation of the AAQOL into German, revalidation of the German version (AAQOL-D) and comparison of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Swiss and Australian adolescents. METHODS: 60 adolescents with frequent episodic or persistent asthma aged 12-17 years were recruited. The standardised method consisted of (1) translation of the AAQOL; (2) additional item selection via semistructured interviews (n = 11); (3) item reduction and re-validation (n = 56). For item reduction the clinical impact method was applied. RESULTS: The same 32 items were identified as relevant for the AAQOL-D as in the original version (AAQOL). Internal consistency for the 6 dimensions and the total score was high (alpha = 0.76-0.87). Despite consideration of psychosocial aspects relevant to adolescents, high correlation with the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire was confirmed for the AAQOL-D (rho = 0.85; p <0.0001). Correlation with a health status thermometer consisted in rho = 0.74 (p <0.0001). There was moderate correlation with clinical parameters of asthma severity (rho = 0.51-0.73; p < or = 0.0002), not however with frequency of medication (rho = 0.22; p = 0.13). Comparison of Swiss and Australian adolescents showed that Swiss adolescents were more bothered by cigarette smoke and the need to avoid places where cigarettes were smoked. CONCLUSIONS: The AAQOL-D is a valid multidimensional instrument in German for assessing HRQOL of adolescents with asthma. HRQOL of Swiss adolescents with asthma may be enhanced by implementing non-smoking policies promoting smoke-free environments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Differential validity of the Defense Mechanism Manual for the TAT between Asian Americans and Whites. Thematic Apperception Test.

Thematic Apperception Test (Murray, 1943) responses of 69 Asian American (hereafter, Asian) and 83 White students were coded for defenses according to the Defense Mechanism Manual (Cramer, 1991b) and studied for differential validity in predicting paper-and-pencil measures of relevant constructs. Three tests for differential validity were used: (a) differences between validity coefficients, (b) interactions between predictor and ethnicity in criterion prediction, and (c) differences between groups in mean prediction errors using a common regression equation. Modest differential validity was found. It was surprising that the DMM scales were slightly stronger predictors of their criteria among Asians than among Whites and when a common predictor was used, desirable criteria were overpredicted for Asians, whereas undesirable ones were overpredicted for Whites. The results were not affected by acculturation level or English vocabulary among the Asians.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of two adaptive sodium nitroprusside control algorithms.

Computer control of sodium nitroprusside infusion may be safer and provide better control of arterial blood pressure than is achieved with manual control. In a series of test maneuvers in 20 mongrel dogs, the performance of two adaptive control algorithms (controllers) was compared and their safety tested. The controllers were set to infuse sodium nitroprusside to decrease mean arterial pressure and maintain it 20 to 30 mm Hg below the control pressure. Then, sequentially, the right atrium was paced to simulate a supraventricular tachydysrhythmia, the right ventricle was intermittently paced to simulate ventricular extrasystoles, large tidal volumes were given to simulate a respiratory-therapy maneuver, the catheter was clamped to simulate clotting, an air bubble was introduced, and the infused sodium nitroprusside concentrations were either doubled or halved. Next, 500 ml of blood was drawn. Then, in sequence, positive end-expiratory pressure was applied, the right atrium was paced, and large tidal volume breaths were given to cause the blood pressure to fluctuate. When the controllers were turned on, mean arterial pressure reached the set point and remained within 5 mm Hg of the target pressure after 8.6 +/- 0.9 minutes (mean +/- SEM). The controllers properly handled the differences in sodium nitroprusside sensitivity and the catastrophic challenges presented in the experiments. When the animals were not being disturbed, stability was maintained and the blood pressure was kept well within 5 mm Hg of the desired pressure. The controllers rejected all invalid pressure signals during testing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Planning services for the intellectually handicapped in North Canterbury.

The development of a wider range of service alternatives for the care of the intellectually handicapped (IH) has led to the establishment of multiple agencies in the field of service provision. A multi-agency, multi-disciplinary working party has undertaken a survey of all IH persons in the area, including an assessment of problems in service provision. There were a total of 2330 IH persons in the area. The prevalence rate for North Canterbury is 3.94 per 1000 which is substantially higher than the New Zealand figure of 3.29 of a previous survey. The working party has sponsored communication and mutual understanding and support through workshops, the formation of a parents committee and an information exchange system.

Adolescent↗