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Biomedical subjects

J F Tessier

Publications and source records attributed to J F Tessier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Smoking habits and attitudes of medical students towards smoking and antismoking campaigns in nine Asian countries. The Tobacco and Health Committee of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.

As part of a world survey of the habits, knowledge and attitudes of medical students regarding tobacco we report a study in 15 medical schools from nine Asian countries. Some 1646 first year and 1587 final year students were included, of whom 59% were male. The prevalence of daily smoking in males was 4% in first year and 11% in final year; of occasional smoking 18% and 24% respectively, both with considerable variations between countries. The rates were very low in women. Male exsmokers varied from 3% to 24% in different centres. Overall, 33% of smokers had made a serious attempt to quit; 44% expected to have succeeded within 5 years. Over 80% of non- or exsmokers, but only 60% of smokers, thought smoking was harmful to health. There was gross underestimation of tobacco's causal role in a number of important diseases, e.g. coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, emphysema, bladder cancer and neonatal mortality. There were notable defects both in training and in motivation to counsel smoking patients. There was only partial knowledge of legislative and other measures to discourage smoking, e.g. only 44% of final year students (26% of smokers) thought increased taxation an important measure. In knowledge and attitudes there was little difference between the sexes, but in most aspects smokers had notably lower scores.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Bronchial symptoms and respiratory function in the natural gas extraction industry. The role of Pi phenotype and chemical pollution].

The aim of this study was to measure, in workers in the chemical industry, the frequency of symptoms and/or alteration in respiratory function according to the Pi phenotype and the occupational environment of each subject. 188 men (mean age 33) participated in a cross sectional study which included: a questionnaire on the working conditions, smoking habits and respiratory symptoms, a lung function test assessing bronchial flow rates, residual volume and CO lung transfer, laboratory investigations with determination of the Pi phenotype, blood concentration of alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha-1-AT) and antielastase activity in the serum, a study of outdoor environment in each occupation. The Pi phenotype was divided as MM (75.5%) and non MM (24.5%). Both serum alpha 1AT concentration and antielastase activity were lower in non MM subjects than in MM ones. There was no difference between the 2 groups for age, smoking, working conditions, bronchial symptoms or respiratory function values that were within a normal range. The MM subjects stated that they were more exposed to dust, gas and cold; their absence from work for respiratory disorders was more frequent although in a non significant manner and their flow rates at low lung volumes was paradoxically worse than in non MM subjects. It is concluded that neither the outdoor environment nor the Pi phenotype play a role in the respiratory risk which requires, to be more comprehensively evaluated, a prospective study.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Actual usage of medical facilities by asthmatics in two French rural settings: a preliminary study.

Until recently the medical management of asthmatic patients with respect to their socio-cultural environment had only been superficially studied. Four hundred and fifty eight adult asthmatics were identified through a two-stage questionnaire in two rural districts of south west France. The study has mainly demonstrated: 1) the large number of subjects experiencing more than one attack per week (33% in Gironde, 40% in Lot et Garonne); 2) the large number of subjects feeling disabled in their occupational and day-to-day life (52% in Gironde, 54% in Lot et Garonne); 3) the absence of a relationship between the severity of the disease and the use of medical facilities in the community. Despite the frequency of the attacks and the perceived disability, 27% of the patients felt that their asthma did not require any treatment and up to 60% did not seek medical help even during an attack; 4) the role of population density, type of dwelling and social status in the management of asthma. We conclude that under-treatment is widespread in these two rural settings and is closely related with the association of at least two of these three characteristics: 1) living in a low population density area; 2) living in an isolated dwelling; and 3) being a farm owner.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Smoking habits and attitudes of medical students towards smoking and antismoking campaigns in fourteen European countries.

From an ongoing global international survey we present the results for 14 European countries. The survey was carried out through a WHO-based questionnaire given to the students at the beginning of their first year and during the course of their final year. Daily smokers comprised 13.7% in first year and 21.5% in final year, with an overall variation between 3 and 33% according to country. There were already 16% of ex-smokers among first year students. More than 50% of smokers had made attempts to quit. 60% of daily smokers, and almost all others, thought that they would no longer be smoking in five years time. Knowledge of aetiology was moderate in first year. It later improved but there remained many lacunae in final year, e.g. less than 30% were aware that smoking was a cause of coronary artery disease. There was little knowledge of public health measures for smoking control. Attitudes were greatly influenced by smoking; ex-smokers were similar to non-smokers, with occasional smokers intermediate between these and daily smokers. Only 25% accepted a preventive and educative role in advising patients. As regards smoking, students were concerned with their personal health and with advising patients whom they knew to have smoking-related disease, but in general had little conception of smoking as a public health problem. The differences between countries indicate that both habits and attitudes are social and cultural problems. In most of the centres there seemed to be much room for improvement of medical education in this field.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1989

[Choice of antibiotics in periodontology].

For periodontal treatment, the use and choice of antibiotics is a controversial matter. There are many medical reasons for prescribing antibiotics before, during and after periodontal treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review the indications and reasons for antibiotherapy in periodontics. Research is not very advanced in this domain and there is a need to understand the indications for antibiotherapy in periodontics.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1988

Respiratory function and bronchial reactivity in mill workers.

Professional exposure to vegetable dusts affect the respiratory function of the exposed subjects. A previous survey conducted in an industrial flour-mill demonstrated a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms in workers compared to a control group. Ten subjects employed in a work site particularly exposed to dust were studied. Each subject answered a questionnaire and performed on Mondays and Fridays, at the beginning and end of his work shift, a flow volume curve and an isocapnic hyperventilation test. The aerobiology of the professional environment was also measured. We noted: 1) in the flow volume curves: a drop in the FEV1 during the Monday morning shift, a significant difference between the FEV1 (p less than 0.05) and the MMEFR 25-75 (p less than 0.05) measured at 6 am on Monday and Friday, and between the MMEFR 25-75 values obtained at 12 noon on Monday and Friday (p less than 0.05). 2) after isocapnic hyperventilation, a significant drop in the MMEFR 25-75 at 6 am on Monday (p less than 0.01) and in the FEV1 and MMEFR 25-75 at 12 noon on Mondays (p less than 0.05), a significant drop in the FEV1 at 1 pm on Monday (p less than 0.01).

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Respiratory function in flour-mill workers.

The frequency of bronchial symptoms and the alteration of respiratory function parameters were studied in a group of 63 workers of an industrial flour-mill, and in a control group matched according to age, social class, and tobacco intake. In the exposed group the answers to a questionnaire indicated a greater incidence of cough (p less than 0.01) and chronic expectoration (p less than 0.01) as well as clinical airway hyperreactivity (p less than 0.01). No differences were noted for either asthma or allergy. The respiratory function parameters did not differ between the two groups studied. These results suggest that workers exposed to the vegetable dust found in fluor-mills are subject to develop chronic bronchial irritation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[French medical students and tobacco].

This is a pilot study by UICTMR on smoking habits in medical students carried out in five countries before a world study is undertaken. Smoking habits are already established for first year medical students and for fifth year medical students of both sexes. Cessation of smoking, however, is common in the young. One smoker in two hopes to stop. Knowledge of the dangers of smoking is reasonably good. However the study shows, above all, that students have not integrated into the medical field the education about and prevention of smoking, and they appear limited in their openness to the broader conceptions of Public Health.

Adolescent↗