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Biomedical subjects

G A Griffin

Publications and source records attributed to G A Griffin.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Rey II: redesigning the Rey screening test of malingering.

This study has redesigned the Rey 15-item Visual Memory Test (1964) by introducing more complex figures and by increasing internal logic and pattern redundancy. Standardized administrative procedures and rules for a simple qualitative scoring system were established. Performance on the original Rey continued to be significantly contaminated by ability components and illness while performance on the Rey II qualitative scoring system was not significantly related to intelligence, age, mental status or memory. The Rey II demonstrated improved face validity. Linear Discriminant Function Analysis indicated that the qualitative scoring system had a higher classification accuracy than the quantitative system on both instruments; the Rey II qualitative scoring system accurately detected 31% more college malingerers than the Rey quantitative and 21% more clinical malingerers than the Rey II quantitative. A malingering cut-off of two qualitative errors gave the Rey II a 79% higher sensitivity in the college malingerers and 29% higher specificity in the clinical population than the standard quantitative Rey cut-off of nine items.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Assessing dissimulation among Social Security disability income claimants.

Social Security disability income programs have been tested by increasingly politicized concerns regarding widespread fraud among claimants. This study was an initial investigation of malingering among claimants in Los Angeles seeking disability income on psychological grounds. After a review of 100 disability income applications, a population-appropriate instrument was developed from established psychometric indices of malingering. The Composite Disability Malingering Index was completed by 167 disability claimants (possible malingerers), a sex, age and IQ cognate group of 63 psychologically disabled individuals without incentive to malinger (disabled nonmalingerers), and 45 disability examiners with instructions to malinger (instructed malingerers). The mean score of instructed malingerers and the score at the 95th percentile of the disabled nonmalingerers converged, indicating 8 as the critical score. This cutting score found 32 (19%) of disability claimants to be malingering. Self-reported substance abuse history was the only participant variable that significantly predicted higher malingering scores.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Tobacco-free schools in Minnesota.

Since 1985, Minnesota schools have participated in an intensive, statewide effort to reduce tobacco use among adolescents through a variety of prevention efforts. This article describes the "Tobacco-Free Schools" project, one component of the effort that encourages school districts to adopt policies which prohibit tobacco use for students, staff, and visitors. Tobacco-free policies contribute to comfortable, healthy working and learning environments for students and staff. In addition, tobacco use prevention education is more likely to be effective when health education programs, adult models, and school policies offer the consistent message that tobacco use is unhealthy and unacceptable. From January 1987 to January 1988, the percentage of tobacco-free school districts in Minnesota increased from 3% to 43%, demonstrating that tobacco-free policies can have mass appeal to local schools and communities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Patterns of work in general practice in the Bromley health district.

The results of a survey of patterns of work in general practice over five days in one health district were linked to family practitioner committee data on individual general practitioners. Characteristics of doctors and practices were mostly unrelated to various aspects of workload. However, referral rates for pathological tests and to outpatient departments and claims for cervical cytology screening were significantly higher for younger principals than for older doctors, while younger doctors prescribed less frequently. Women general practitioners had significantly lower personal list sizes and claims for night visits and temporary residents than their male colleagues but saw only 10% fewer patients and made significantly more claims for cervical cytology screening. It was also found that UK graduates made more requests for pathological tests than doctors graduating in the Indian sub-continent. A correlation was found between list size and consultation rate, though the list size only explained a relatively small part of the variation in the rates.The results have been fed back to doctors in the area and it is hoped that this will increase awareness of the patterns of work in general practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Muscle and joint pain: design and evaluation of courses for general practitioners.

Existing deficiencies in general practice management of rheumatic disease are identified and the evolution of a three-day course designed to remedy these deficiencies is described. Evaluation of the courses showed changes in the performance of participants in diagnosing and treating rheumatic disorders. Knowledge was increased, referral to hospital was halved and treatments in general practice, such as injections of steroids and advice on self-care, were increased. These changes were measured and were maintained up to two years after the course.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗