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B Fromson

Publications and source records attributed to B Fromson.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

Development, validation and application of computer-linked knowledge questionnaires in diabetes education.

Multiple choice questionnaires (MCQs) capable of being marked manually or by a newly developed optical mark reader, or by use of an inexpensive inter-active microcomputer system have been developed for the separate assessment of insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent patient knowledge. Forty-six insulin-related and non-insulin-related multiple choice questions covering six main areas of knowledge were constructed for inclusion into draft questionnaires. From the responses of a total of 180 completed questionnaires, piloted in 18 randomly selected clinics in 14 Regional Health Authorities in England, psychometric analysis was performed to determine reliability, discrimination coefficients, and facility indices. Seventy-three per cent of insulin-dependent diabetic patients (IDDM) and 92% of non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients (NIDDM) MCQ correct options had facility indices within the acceptable range of 30 to 90%. 82% IDDM and 93% NIDDM correct options had discrimination coefficients exceeding 0.2. Questionnaire reliability (internal consistency) using the Kudor-Richardson (KR20) formula was IDDM 0.87 and NIDDM 0.82. Evidence in support of the IDDM questionnaire's criterion validity was based on significant differences (p less than 0.05) identified between a number of knowledge area scores stratified according to HbA1 levels. Prescriptive correction for screen display and automatic hard copy feedback was designed for both incorrect and omitted question options, providing both educational (patient) and analytical (clinic) documentation. Both technical and psychometric properties of these knowledge assessment instruments should be acceptable for diabetic knowledge evaluation and instruction.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed1986

Computed tomography based estimates of regional gas and tissue volume of the lung in supine subjects with chronic airflow limitation or fibrosing alveolitis.

Twelve patients with chronic airflow limitation and 12 patients with a histological diagnosis of fibrosing alveolitis were studied. The calculated mean (SD) tissue volume of a single lung at total lung capacity was 467 (91) ml in the patients with alveolitis, which was 43% (14%) more than predicted for healthy people of the same age, sex, and height. The tissue volume of a single lung at total lung capacity was 436 (82) ml in the patients with chronic airflow limitation, which was 26% (21%) more than predicted. At residual volumes the tissue contents of the fibrotic and the obstructed lungs changed very little (to 407 (84) ml and 433 (84) ml respectively). This allowed tissue volume to be used as a marker of position within the lung, to match inspiratory and expiratory slices and to calculate regional ventilation. In both groups local ventilation was diminished and more variable than in healthy lungs--that is, in the mid 70% of lung volume the local residual volume to total gas volume ratios (RV/TGV) were 32% (10%) in the fibrotic group and 66% (14%) in the group with chronic airflow limitation, compared with 23% (5%) in healthy subjects. As expected, the fibrotic lungs were much denser (0.246 (0.036) g/ml) and the lungs with chronic airflow obstruction were less dense (0.114 (0.026) g/ml) than were healthy lungs (0.126 (0.017) g/ml).

Adult↗