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Biomedical subjects

B Pfefferbaum

Publications and source records attributed to B Pfefferbaum.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Disparities in adolescent-physician views of teen health information concerns.

To enhance communications between physicians and adolescents, 600 middle school students and 99 physicians completed written questionnaires assessing the importance of 45 items from seven subscales: smoking; physical fitness; weight control; self-actualization; comparison with others; peer opinion; and communications. Adolescents rated the importance of knowing about items from each scale. Physicians rated how much importance they attached to each scale and their perception of the adolescents' ratings. Physicians placed more importance on each scale than did the adolescents, and they did not accurately judge the importance adolescents placed on the items. Physicians and adolescents differed significantly in the ratings of all but one scale, weight. With the exception of one scale (peer opinion), physicians estimated that adolescents would place less importance on the items in each scale than the adolescents actually reported. Our results suggest the need to concurrently consider adolescent-physician views when seeking to meet adolescents' health needs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Rorschach assessment of borderline children.

Projective testing may provide the clinician with a valuable context in which childhood borderline conditions may be investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine if Rorschach scores could be useful in diagnosing borderline disorders. Rorschach scores from a group of 13 borderline children and 10 conduct disorder children were compared using a step-down discriminate analysis. The results indicated that children in these two groups could be correctly classified beyond chance levels using Rorschach scores. Three variable, content analysis, human movement, and animal movement were the strongest contributors in separating the two groups. The Rorschach measure of form quality (i.e., adequacy of perception) was notable in that it failed to produce any independent discriminatory power in this analysis. As in the case of adult borderline testing using the Rorschach, novel scoring procedures, used in conjunction with standard scoring procedures may lead to further clarification of childhood borderline disorders.

Borderline Personality Disorder↗
PubMed1987

Two cases of benzodiazepine toxicity in children.

While benzodiazepines have been widely used in adult populations, their role in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents has not been well established. The authors report on two cases in which benzodiazepine use resulted in psychotic symptoms. The importance of eliciting a careful history as well as being familiar with drugs' side effects and withdrawal effects is stressed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Brief psychiatric rating scale for children: quantitative scoring of medical records.

The utility of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for Children (BPRS-C) for transcribing narrative medical records into standard quantitative form for research purposes is examined. Three clinicians independently read and rated the records of 40 child and adolescent patients. Interrater reliabilities were adequate in most major domains of psychopathology, the one notable exception being symptoms in the anxiety domain. On the basis of these results, the BPRS-C appears appropriate for use in administrative and audit reviews, as well as in epidemiological and program evaluation research in which medical records are the primary sources of information.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Assessing adolescent health needs: a factor analytic approach.

Advances in technology are rapidly expanding health educators' resources for presenting information tailored to meet individual health needs and interests. A self-administered questionnaire was given to 510 youths in grades 6 through 9 to ascertain adolescents' health concerns and thus develop more appropriate educational programs. Smoking, diet and weight control, physical fitness, and general health items were included. Factor analysis methods identified ten concerns; smoking, weight control, exercise effects, peer approval of appearance, preparatory health behaviors, planning and maintaining a personal health program, feeling good about oneself, communication issues, comparisons with others, and resistance to negative peer influences. Sex and grade were significantly associated with particular responses. Recommendations include the value of addressing each area of the content domain as it relates to health lessons to ensure that information is relevant to the needs and interests of individual adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

A factor analysis of the informational concerns of adolescent cancer patients.

To acquire insights into the number and nature of different underlying concerns that motivated individual adolescent cancer patients' responses to health information items previously studied by Levenson and associates, exploratory factor analysis methodology was employed. Ten major aspects of the content domain emerged as important information needs of individual cancer patients: physical appearance, current treatment concerns, nonspecific cancer information, future outlook, familial implications, communication, health behavior, near-term expectations, teenage identification, and use of medications. Most factors failed to consistently relate to patient age, sex, race or diagnosis. Discussion focuses on the implications and suggested application of outcomes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Attitudes and practices of families of children in treatment for cancer. A cross-cultural study.

A follow-up study was made of the prevalence of the use of unproven treatment methods by families of children being treated for cancer at UT M.D. Anderson Hospital. Information was also obtained about parental attitudes toward conventional and alternative treatments and their understanding of them, as well as the physicians' awareness of the use of alternative treatments. Cross-cultural comparisons were made to assess the differences between Hispanics and Anglos in their perceptions of treatment. Sixty-six parents responded to questionnaires (34 Anglo, 30 Hispanic, and two others), and the results in terms of prevalence of use were comparable to those obtained in an earlier study (less than 10%) at the same institution, as well as to those recently reported by investigators at another institution in northwestern U.S. No parents reported the use of Laetrile. Significant differences were found between the Anglos and Hispanics in their perceptions of the treatment administered at the hospital. A significant number of parents expressed a desire for more information from their physicians about all types of treatment. This study serves as a pilot project for a nationwide, multihospital study to be conducted in 1982.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of physician and patient perceptions of communications issues.

Sixty-three adolescent cancer patients and 53 physicians participated in a study designed to compare physician and patient perceptions of (1) the delivery of information at diagnosis, (2) patient reactions to treatment-related concerns, and (3) physician utilization patterns. Both patients and cancer center physicians appeared comfortable with the designation of the cancer center physicians as specific care providers for cancer-related issues and the community physicians as care providers for other health problems. however, differences in physician-patient perceptions were found in regard to the diagnostic period. Considerable disparity was also noted between physician and patient perceptions of tests and treatments, with physicians reporting significantly more patient fear, lack of understanding, discomfort, dissatisfaction with choice, and preoccupation with illness than was reported by the patients. Analysis of physician responses according to level of training showed concordance across all levels. Implications for continuing education are discussed and recommendations are offered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Adolescent cancer patient and physician responses to a questionnaire on patient concerns.

In order to help physicians provide informational support to young patients with cancer, 63 adolescent cancer patients and 53 physicians completed self-administered questionnaires; 30 disease-related information items were included on the questionnaire. Although physicians and patients agreed on one-half of the items, they differed significantly on the others. Physician responses were not significantly related to the physicians' level of training, suggesting that education programs on this topic should be required at all levels of medical training. Psychiatrists may have a role to play in designing these programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Management of acute psychologic problems in pediatric oncology.

Several psychologic issues in pediatric oncology are addressed and case illustrations of psychologic intervention for selected problems are offered. Psychologic intervention must take into account the patient's perception of his illness, the patient's developmental level, the parents' coping mechanisms, the dynamics of the child's emotional and behavioral responses, the staff's perception of the problems, and the community's capacity for reintegration of the patient. Each of these issues is addressed by use of case examples to demonstrate important aspects of psychosocial intervention.

Acting Out↗
PubMed1979

Lithium therapy and toxicity.

Lithium is a potent agent for the control of psychiatric disease. It is safe and effective when properly administered; however, its use requires a maximally informed physician and careful clinical monitoring of patients. The drug's side effects are usually dose related, and certain patients are at greater risk of experiencing toxicity than others. Management of acute intoxication involves gastric lavage, sodium replacement and the administration of other agents or dialysis to facilitate clearance.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1978

Stages in pediatric bone marrow transplantation.

Bone marrow transplantation is a relatively new and aggressive procedure that is being used in the treatment of leukemia and aplastic anemia. We observed approximately 30 children and their families at the UCLA Medical Center throughout the procedure. Various psychological responses during the treatment are outlined. Eleven stages are identified, including the patient's and family's first awareness of this procedure, the preadmission evaluation and psychosocial assessment, the introduction into isolation, the donor's hospitalization, the transplantation itself, and the various reactions and interactions of the patient, family, and staff throughout these stages.

Anemia, Aplastic↗