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Biomedical subjects

J A Chase

Publications and source records attributed to J A Chase.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Spinal stenosis. When arthritis is more than arthritis!

Spinal stenosis is the result of disc degeneration and narrowing accompanied by facet joint changes culminating in nerve root entrapment. Symptoms of back and leg pain appear gradually usually over a period of years and slowly worsen. Patients are usually in their 50s or older. Most patients are treated initially with nonoperative measures concentrating on pain relief and maintenance of activity. If the symptoms worsen, surgical intervention to relieve pain by decompressing the affected nerve roots is appropriate. Some patients with instability require a fusion. Most patients are satisfied with the results of surgery in relieving preoperative leg pain. Pain relief is often dramatic, allowing most patients to return to normal activity. Elderly patients tolerate this procedure surprisingly well. Old age alone should not be a contra-indication for this surgery. Therefore, the elderly should not be denied the benefits of surgical decompression. Nursing interventions can help these patients learn about spinal stenosis and assist them in pursuing appropriate treatment resulting in improved quality of living.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

Psychosocial correlates of marijuana use and problem drinking in a national sample of adolescents.

Personality, environmental, and behavioral variables representing psychosocial risk factors for adolescent problem behavior were assessed in a 1974 national sample study of over 10,000 junior and senior high school students. Significant correlations were found with marijuana use, and the relationships held across differences in age, sex, and ethnic group membership. Greater involvement in marijuana use was associated with greater value on independence than on academic achievement, lower expectations for academic achievement, lesser religiosity, greater tolerance of deviance, less compatibility between friends and parents, greater influence of friends relative to parents, greater models and support for problem behavior, greater actual involvement in other problem behaviors such as drunkenness, and less involvement in conventional behavior such as attending church. Multiple regression analyses show that this pattern of psychosocial correlates accounts for over 50 per cent of the variation in marijuana use. The pattern is nearly identical to the pattern that accounts for problem drinking in these same adolescents. The similarity of the patterns of psychosocial risk, and the substantial correlations of marijuana use with problem drinking and with other problem behaviors, suggest that marijuana use is best seen as part of a syndrome of adolescent problem behavior. (Am J Public Health 70:604- 613,1980.)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Outpatient management of low back pain.

Low back pain affects 80% of adults some time in their lives. It is expensive, costing more than $16 billion per year, and causes 40-50% of all lost work days. A variety of disorders can cause low back pain, but the majority of time the problem is self-limiting and resolves within a few weeks. There are specific risk factors associated with low back pain, temporary measures that can be helpful to decrease discomfort, and specific ways to prevent future episodes. The most important management modality is education, and most patients are treated in the outpatient setting. Nursing care is frequently provided by telephone. Using the nursing process, the nurse can assess and advise patients in a systematic, timely manner while maintaining a nursing focus.

Ambulatory Care↗