PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L E Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to L E Thomas.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Identity, ideology and medicine: health attitudes and behavior among Hindu religious renunciates.

In-depth interviews and participant observation was conducted with 14 Hindu religious renunciates, 70 years or older. Despite having taken vows renouncing concern for physical pain or comfort, respondents differed markedly in their attitudes toward pain and their rationale for utilizing medical treatment. They differed still further in their use of Ayurvedic and allopathic medicine, with the most culturally conservative accepting only Ayurvedic medicine. Rejection of allopathic medicine tended to be associated with a highly systematized religious world-view. The results are discussed in terms of both the ideological conflict between religious world-view and medical usage, and the need for sophisticated distinction of religious world-view if research on the religious factor of health care utilization is to prove fruitful.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Dialogues with three religious renunciates and reflections on wisdom and maturity.

In-depth interviews and participation observation were conducted with Hindu religious renunciates living in Varanasi and Pondicherry, India. The respondents selected were designated by their acquaintances as being spiritually mature. Analysis of excerpts from three representative interviews indicate that these men rate as highly mature by Western developmental models, but Western correlates of life satisfaction were not found to hold for these men. The implications for Western aging are considered, particularly the importance of contemplation and acceptance of death.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Correlates of sexual interest among elderly men.

Interview data were collected from 46 English elderly men (age 70 to 94 years) relating to attitudes, psychological traits, and life satisfaction. Sexual interest was not related to life satisfaction or marital status but was significantly correlated with measures of emotional expressivity, personal identity, as well as regrets about the past. Findings are discussed in terms of Erikson's later stages of ego development.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Phenomenology of life satisfaction among elderly men: quantitative and qualitative views.

Standardized measures of subjective well-being were compared with qualitative analysis of life satisfaction from 100 elderly men (70 years and older) from New Delhi, India, and London, England. 3 structured measures were used, Life Satisfaction Index (A), Cantril Self-Anchoring Ladder, and a one-item happiness question. Qualitative data were obtained from semistructured interviews covering past and present experiences. Meaning units were extracted from interview protocols, emerging themes were identified for each respondent, and overall summaries were written for English and Indian samples. Groups did not differ significantly on any of the structured measures, but showed marked differences in the qualitative analysis. Limitations of structured measures of subjective well-being are discussed in terms of "context-stripping," both in data collection and data analysis.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Identity loss and psychological crisis in widowhood: a re-evaluation.

This study seeks to clarify the effect of widowhood on ego identity and psychological functioning. The sample consisted of eighty-three widows, ranging in age from twenty-two to seventy-four, who had been widowed an average of 4.9 years. A majority were found to be Identity Achievers on the Marcia instrument, and the group scored significantly higher on a structured measure of self-esteem (TSCS) in comparison to national norms. A quarter of the sample reported positive change after widowhood, 39 percent reported mixed effects, and only 30 percent reported only negative change. The results are discussed in terms of Erikson's developmental theory, suggesting that intimacy may be a more central issue of widowhood than ego identity. Further, little support is given the pathological sheen often attributed to widowhood. Rather, the data better fit a developmental or growth model of crisis resolution.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1985

Survival of herpes simplex virus and other selected microorganisms on patient charts: potential source of infection.

This study indicated that when inoculated onto dental charts, both viruses and bacteria were capable of survival allowing the potential for transmission of infection within the dental office. The conscientious dental practitioner can take steps to reduce this possible mode of infection by removing contaminated surgical gloves or washing hands before handling the chart. An additional method of reducing this potential would be to wipe the chart with an antiseptic solution. Although this study has shown that there is a potential for the spread of infection with the organisms tested, the actual extent of dental chart contamination and resultant illnesses contracted are the basis for further study. Additional studies are needed to follow the pattern of chart distribution from person to person within the dental office, determine the types and quantities of pathogens present in the mouth that would contaminate the charts, and sample the charts under actual clinical conditions to determine the types and viability of the organisms present.

Bacterial Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1984

Detection of arrhythmia: limited usefulness of patient activated recording devices.

The findings of 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiography and monitoring with the Cardiomemo, a device recording 32 seconds of electrocardiogram during symptoms, were compared in 20 patients with symptoms suggestive of arrhythmia. Ambulatory electrocardiography showed arrhythmia in seven patients, extrasystoles in six, and normal findings in seven. Nine patients failed to transmit any Cardiomemo recordings, and the Cardiomemo failed to show ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia. It did not show any appreciable arrhythmia in the seven patients with normal 24 hour electrocardiograms. The Cardiomemo does not offer any important advantages over ambulatory electrocardiography, and its relative cheapness is outweighed by the limited number of patients who can use the device in one year. It can, however, reassure anxious patients of the absence of arrhythmia during symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Head and neck manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common condition with many manifestations which are of interest to the otolaryngologist. Factors predisposing to GER include anatomic abnormalities of the esophagus and pharynx, neurogenic disease and diet induced decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure. Three interesting cases are reported, including subglottic stenosis which has not previously been thought to be a complication of GER. A literature review of otolaryngologic symptoms, the problems of diagnosis, and a suggested treatment plan are presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Subjective time experience in an intergenerational sample.

The roles chronological age and gender play in subjective time experience were explored in a sample of 294 adult men and women. Subjective time experience (STE: the difference between subjective age and chronological age) was found to vary widely among individuals, with some being "accurate" (SA = CA), and others either "retarded" (SA less than CA) or "advanced" (SA greater than CA). Males were more retarded in STE than females at every point in the lifespan, and patterns of age differences in adulthood differed for the two sexes as well. The results suggest that chronological age may play a key role in transitions in STE, and that chronological age is more significant in the STE of women than in the STE of men.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acquired pulmonary stenosis: ultrasonographic diagnosis.

A 15-year-old boy presented with chest pain and a new heart murmur. The clinical diagnosis of pulmonary stenosis was confirmed by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations. A large, encapsulated, partly solid and partly cystic tumor in the anterior mediastinum, visualized by ultrasonography, was compressing the main pulmonary artery and producing the right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The tumor was removed surgically and was found to be a benign teratoma. Postoperative ultrasound examination of the right ventricular outflow tract showed no evidence of obstruction. We conclude that: (1) there are subtle clinical diagnostic differences between intrinsic and extrinsic pulmonary stenosis; (2) ultrasound examination can make cardiac catheterization unnecessary; and (3) relief of the extrinsic cause of pulmonary stenosis should be curative.

Adolescent↗