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Biomedical subjects

J E Rodnick

Publications and source records attributed to J E Rodnick.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Type A behavior: clinical significance, evaluation, and management.

Throughout recorded medical history a relationship has been postulated between the emotions and heart disease. Type A behavior is, in part, a contemporary restatement of this relationship. It is a clustering of behaviors characterized by a profound sense of time urgency, hostility, competitiveness, and a chronic struggle to obtain more and more poorly defined goals. Originally described in white urban men, it has now been shown to characterize many men and women in a variety of western industrialized societies. Type A behavior has been clearly established as a risk factor for coronary heart disease equal in magnitude to the other standard risk factors. The definitive identification of this behavior pattern is done either through a standardized interview or through one of several written tests. A simplified checklist is presented for use by the family physician in the office setting. Modification of this behavior pattern is best done using a multifaceted approach that addresses the behavioral, cognitive, physiologic, and environmental aspects. The discipline of meditation has potential as a therapeutic tool that fits in with this multifaceted approach.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1985

Changes in cardiovascular fitness following physical fitness classes.

A program aimed at improving cardiovascular fitness was evaluated. This program involved 298 volunteer middle-aged participants who initially had a bicycle ergometry test to calculate fitness. Other measurements included body fat (estimated by skin fold measurements) and a rating of coronary-prone personality. The participants were given their results and then offered a six-week fitness class consisting of both didactic and exercise segments. After six months, bicycle ergometry was repeated. During this period, mean calculated maximum oxygen uptake (a measure of fitness with a "normal" range of 20 mL/kg/min to 60 mL/kg/min) improved from 38.0 to 39.6 mL/kg/min (t test, P = .0001). Classifying this according to a cardiovascular fitness rating based on age and sex, with 5 being excellent fitness to 1 being very poor fitness, the mean fitness rating went from 3.08 to 3.31 (t test, P = .0001). There was no change in weight or percentage of body fat. Both those who attended the fitness classes and those who did not attend improved equally. Those who did not attend classes had higher ratings on a coronary-prone personality scale compared with those attending classes. In some groups, it appears that significant improvement in cardiovascular fitness may be initiated with a five-minute, office-based bicycle test.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Factors related to adherence to an exercise program for healthy adults.

Healthy men (N = 33) and women (N = 73) participated in a 6-month exercise program three mornings per week, and their attendance scores (percent of total classes attended) were related to a variety of physiological, anthropometric, psychological, and demographic variables which were studied. These subjects were also grouped by adherence patterns; 18% attended less than 10% of the classes (early dropouts = EDO), 40% attended between 10 and 50% of the classes (nonadherers = NAd), and 42% attended more than 50% (adherers = Ad). Correlation coefficients between all of the variables and attendance were low. However, certain patterns did emerge. Those who continued the program more than 10% of the sessions tended to be the more physically fit women and less physically fit men. The EDO men and women were more likely to 1) have less stability in the community (less time at present address or occupation), 2) be single, and 3) have no children. Self-motivation scores (SMI) for EDO men were significantly lower, but the correlation between SMI and attendance for all subjects was only r = 0.052. "Blue-collar" men had a greater-than-expected dropout rate; however, educational level did not affect adherence. Health care behavior (including smoking) and previous exercise patterns did not affect attendance. Eleven variables that were related to adherence were selected for further study. The predictive values and sensitivities for these variables ranged from 47-85% and 15-62%, respectively. Using criteria of multiple positive scores did not improve the ability to predict attendance behavior. It was concluded that for healthy volunteers, participant characteristics are not good predictors of compliance to an exercise regimen.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Cardiovascular risk factors and life changes.

Many variables are considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This study examines the associations among a psychological variable (type A personality measurement), a social variable (Holmes and Rahe Schedule of Recent Events), and physiologic variables (age, blood pressure, smoking, and cholesterol), as measured to fill out a health hazard appraisal. These tests and questionnaires were administered to 572 persons from the San Francisco Bay area when they enrolled in a health promotion program (Common Health Care). Recent life changes and a self-measurement of coronary prone behavior showed no significant correlations to major heart disease risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Medical student clinics: the basis for a clerkship in family practice.

In this paper, the authors describe a popular elective clerkship in family practice a Community Hospital, Santa Rosa, California. The key element in the clerkship for the past six years has been the student's General Medical Clinic. Here, under the supervision of a family physician teacher, senior medical students care for patients with a wide variety of problems. The students work as a team with family nurse practitioners. The clinic has succeeded in offering patients an alternative to the emergency room and an entrance to the hospital's Model Family Practice Center. The students give the clerkship a very high rating as an educational experience. It has also been viable economically.

California↗
PubMed1978

Patient education and multiphasic screening: it can change behavior.

Two hundred ninety-two residents of Sonoma County, California, underwent multiphasic screeening and two sessions of group patient education aimed at reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and automobile accidents. Approximately one year later all the participants were retested. A significant reduction was noted in systolic blood pressure in men and women, ages 50 to 70, cholesterol in men over age 40, and reported alcohol consumption in men. A significant increase was noted in the reported frequency of monthly breast self-examination in women, and in the amount of exercise and percentage of time seat belts were used in both sexes. No change was noted in reported amount of cigarette smoking, weight, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides. The combined use of health hazard appraisal, multiphasic screening, and patient education can lead to a reduction in cardiac and other risk factors in well-motivated groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The use of automated ambulatory medical records.

An extensive survey of the uses of computerized automated ambulatory medical record systems has been conducted. The medical services provided which seem to offer the greatest benefits include: patient profiles which are a concise summary of a patient's medical status, patient surveillance to help in preventive care and management of chronic disease, data presentation by flow sheets and graphs, and data-base searches for audit, training, and research. The close integration of medical data with patient management and administrative services such as scheduling, registration, and financial systems, gives valuable utilization and practice information. Improvement in the billing and accounting process is in itself a most important benefit. In addition, the collection and analysis of medical data for health services research, quality of care audits, and training of future providers offers much potential. A number of innovative and economically viable computerized ambulatory record systems are currently operating.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Promoting cancer prevention activities by primary care physicians. Results of a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous interventions to promote performance of cancer prevention activities have largely targeted physicians in university-based practices. METHODS: We randomly assigned 40 primary care physicians in community-based practices to either (1) Cancer Prevention Reminders, computer-generated lists of overdue screening tests, and smoking and dietary assessment and counseling, supplemented by cancer education materials; or (2) controls. For each physician, we reviewed a random sample of 60 medical records for data about screening test, assessment, and counseling performance during 12-month preintervention and intervention periods. We calculated performance scores as percentage compliance with American Cancer Society and/or National Cancer Institute recommendations. Multiple regression analyses provided estimates of incremental differences in performance scores between intervention and control groups. RESULTS: Controlling for preintervention performance levels, significant incremental differences in performance scores between intervention and control groups (P less than .05) were achieved for nine maneuvers: stool occult-blood test, +14.5; rectal examination, +10.5; pelvic examination, +11.8; Papanicolaou's smear, +30.7; breast examination, +8.7; smoking assessment, +10.2; smoking counseling, +17.3; dietary assessment, +12.3; and dietary counseling, +13.9. Increments for sigmoidoscopy and mammography were not significant. CONCLUSION: Computerized reminders can significantly increase physicians' performance of cancer prevention activities in community-based practices.

Health Promotion↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Cancer Prevention Reminder System.

The Cancer Prevention Reminder System is a computer-based system designed to increase the delivery of periodic health maintenance procedures. The program provides printed reminders that identify patients' overdue procedures, prints summary reports of the percentage of patients who are eligible and overdue for a procedure, and prints mailing labels for patients. We performed a randomized, controlled trial in which the effects of computer-based reminders were compared with those of two other interventions among residents in a university-based group practice.

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluating student experiences in a family medicine clerkship.

One hundred students on an eight-week family practice clerkship completed pre- and post-evaluations noting their experience and confidence in diagnosing and treating 20 common medical problems and doing 15 common tasks. Students' confidence increased significantly during the clerkship in dealing with 18 of 20 common problems and 13 of 15 common tasks. Confidence ratings were highly correlated with experiences on the clerkship. Even though clerkship experiences varied at different sites, students reported similar increases in confidence at all sites. A self-administered questionnaire is a simple and effective way of documenting student experience, comparing clerkship sites, and measuring achievement of course objectives.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗