Biomedical subjects

H F Conner

Publications and source records attributed to H F Conner.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1989

The impact of a total ban on smoking in the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

We report the results of a ban on smoking in The Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore, Md, beginning in July 1987. A survey 6 months before and 6 months after implementation of the ban showed current smoking prevalences to be 15% and 13.8%, respectively. The percentage of smokers who smoked at work declined from 82% before the ban to 43% after the ban. After the ban, 66% of smokers and 93% of nonsmokers agreed that a hospital should be smoke free, while 43% and 83%, respectively, agreed with this statement before the ban. Systematic observations showed a decline from 53% of visitors and staff smoking in public areas 1 month before the ban to 0% smoking 6 months after the ban. Twenty-four-hour cigarette butt counts in elevator lobbies located well within the center dropped from 940 for an average day to 19 for an average day 6 months after the ban. Finally, measurement of environmental nicotine vapor showed a decline from a weekly average concentration of 13 micrograms/m3 of nicotine 1 month prior to the ban to 0.51 micrograms/m3 of nicotine 6 months after the ban in nine lobby lounges. The results suggest that a total ban on smoking in a hospital is feasible and effective in virtually eliminating public smoking.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Banning smoking in a children's hospital: are employees supportive?

This study surveyed 762 professional and auxiliary employees in a large urban children's hospital to assess readiness for a total ban on smoking. The prevalence of never smokers was 63.1%, former smokers was 21.1%, and current smokers was 15.1%. Among nonsmokers, 83% indicated that a children's hospital should be smoke-free. The attitudes of former smokers were almost identical to those of never smokers. Less than half of current smokers (43%) agreed with a ban on smoking which suggests some support for a smoke-free setting even among smokers. In multivariate analysis, smokers, however, were eight times less likely to agree with such a policy, independent of age, sex, and occupation. This study suggests that the majority of employees are supportive of a total ban on smoking but that special efforts to help smokers stop smoking may enhance the effectiveness of a policy banning smoking in a children's health care facility.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Burn area measurement by computerized planimetry.

A microcomputer system was developed which allows the user to draw the contour of a burn on a diagram on the computer screen. The per cent body surface area is then determined by direct area measurement by the computer. A total of 148 weekly burn diagrams ranging from 1% to 71% (mean, 23.7%) body surface area burn in 59 patients were analyzed using this system. Excellent correlation between the computer system and the manual Lund and Browder chart method (correlation coefficient, 0.962; p less than 0.0001) was obtained. Computerized planimetry provides a rapid, simple method of recording data and calculating total per cent burn which compares well with the manual Lund and Browder diagram.

Burns↗

PubMed1986

Wound Closure Index: a guide to prognosis in burned patients.

Speed of closure of the burn wound has been shown to influence survival in several large series, yet is difficult to quantitate. A computerized wound mapping system is described which records and computes the extent of the burn wound and its rate of closure. The program stores, displays, and modifies a series of Lund and Browder charts for each patient. The percentage of the wound which is open is computed. Linear regression analysis is used to compute a Wound Closure Index (WCI). The hospital courses of 40 consecutive patients treated for major burns were analyzed using this system. Patients with less than 20% BSA burned, or with burns requiring less than 2 weeks' hospitalization, were excluded from the study. There were 31 survivors and nine who died. Mean WCI for survivors was 1.40, contrasted with 0.44 for nonsurvivors (p less than 0.001). To minimize the effects of age, patients over 60 years old were considered separately. Discriminant analysis applied to this subgroup confirmed that WCI was an accurate predictor of mortality. The system provides an accurate record of changes in the burn wound. The WCI gives an objective measure of wound closure which correlates with survival.

Adolescent↗