Biomedical subjects

L Garzon

Publications and source records attributed to L Garzon.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Implementing a nonlatex surgical glove study in the OR.

Sterile surgical gloves are used to protect patients and health care workers (HCWs) from infection during surgery and to shield HCWs from exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Based on increased reports of latex allergy, many HCWs now use nonlatex surgical gloves as a substitute for natural rubber gloves. Little is known, however, about the performance of nonlatex gloves in surgery. This article describes a study that currently is being performed to test the barrier performance of nonlatex surgical gloves after they have been used in surgery and to determine HCW satisfaction. To date, 12,703 latex and nonlatex gloves from all surgical services have been collected and tested for barrier quality. This article describes the project and challenges encountered by the collaborative team of perioperative staff members and nurse researchers as they collect data.

Consumer Behavior↗

PubMed2000

Physician beliefs about victims of spouse abuse and about the physician role.

Our purpose was to measure the beliefs of physicians about victims of spouse abuse and to examine factors related to holding positive (e.g., supportive) and negative beliefs about providing services to victims of domestic violence. This was a total site sample of 150 physicians (76 responded; RR 51%), surveyed at one time, practicing in a large general hospital and the surrounding urban/periurban area. Four specialities are represented: emergency medicine, family practice, obstetrics-gynecology, and psychiatry. Three aspects of beliefs are measured: beliefs toward physician role in assisting victims of spouse abuse, beliefs about victims of spouse abuse, and beliefs about resources available to physicians to assist victims of spouse abuse. Almost all (97%) physicians believe it is part of their role to assist victims of domestic violence. Almost one third (30%) hold victim-blaming attitudes toward victims of spouse abuse, and the majority (70%) do not believe that they have the resources available to them to assist victims of domestic violence. Being female, younger, practicing obstetrics-gynecology, and having fewer years in practice are all significantly related to holding supportive (positive) beliefs. The majority of negative beliefs held are about resource availability. Hence, training programs may need to be developed locally for physicians and tailored to individual community characteristics. Training programs should also emphasize the importance of understanding the victims of spouse abuse and of not blaming the victims for the violence.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Prenatal factors and birth outcomes in the public health service: a rural/urban comparison.

To determine whether predictors of birth outcomes differ for women in rural versus urban areas, data were obtained from the health records of women who received prenatal care through the Public Health Departments of a rural (N = 364) and urban (N = 415) setting. The rural group was more apt to be single, less educated, African-American, and have a lower income than the urban group. Rural women also had a higher incidence of low birth weight infants, which may be related to poor nutrition and low weight gain during pregnancy. Urban women had more maternal and neonatal complications, which may be related to a higher incidence of drug use and smoking. Membership in a rural or urban population did not predict low birth weight. Race, weeks gestation at first prenatal visit, number of total visits, and adequacy of diet and weight gain were significant predictors of birth weight. Neonatal complications were higher in the urban group and best predicted by poor diet, alcohol intake, and race. Both rural and urban women received inadequate prenatal care, as indicated by late entry into care and total number of visits. Alternative models of care which explore strategies to individualize care, while providing comprehensive care, should be investigated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Assessment of radiological emissions from Spanish coal power plants: radioactive releases and associated risks.

The radioactivity of coals and ashes from Spanish coal power plants (CPP) was evaluated. This radioactivity is due mainly to 40K and the U and Th series. The samples were measured in secular equilibrium using a NaI(T1) detector. The annual average airborne releases were also evaluated. An atmospheric dispersion model was developed to predict the annual average concentration of radionuclides in air. The risks from inhalation were calculated and compared with those from nuclear power plants (NPP) and natural radioactivity.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1986

The universal Rn wave. An approach.

A large set of hourly Rn atmospheric concentration data collected during 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1980 has been obtained. These data follow a log-normal distribution law. The Fourier analysis of the mean daily course of Rn by month (Rn wave) shows that to accurately represent such a wave two terms are sufficient. Assuming that with a great deal of data the influence of the meteorological variables is very low, the two terms have been interpreted taking into account only the atmospheric stability, which depends on the solar flux. By applying the same treatment to Rn concentration data from other sites it was found that: (a) the phase of the first harmonic is a constant, independent of the site; (b) the phase of the second harmonic is a linear function of the hourly difference between sunrise and sunset; (c) the amplitude of the first harmonic is a linear function of the solar flux; and (d) no reliable correlation was found for the amplitude of the second harmonic, for which reason a mean value was taken. The error obtained in the prediction of the Rn wave was tolerable.

Air Pollutants↗