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Biomedical subjects

L Ruggiero

Publications and source records attributed to L Ruggiero.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Accuracy of blood glucose estimates in adolescents with diabetes mellitus.

Although self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an integral part of the daily self-care regimen for the effective management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), compliance with this task remains a significant problem, particularly for adolescents. Research should be focused on identifying other management approaches which may supplement SMBG. One potential approach involves placing greater reliance on the patient's own ability to estimate glucose levels. Although some research has examined blood glucose self-estimation in adults, little is known about this construct in children and adolescents. The purpose of the current study was to examine the accuracy of blood glucose self-estimates in adolescents with IDDM and examine the relation between child characteristics and accuracy. The results for 70 adolescents with IDDM indicated that as a group they were moderately accurate in estimating their glucose levels; however, much variability in accuracy was found among subjects. Subject characteristics were not found to be significantly related to accuracy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Gonadal function after allogenic bone marrow transplantation for thalassaemia.

Thirty prepubertal patients with thalassaemia major (15 boys and 15 girls) aged from 9.3 to 17.2 years (mean 12.9) who had successfully undergone allogenic bone marrow transplantation were studied. Before the transplant all patients were given short courses of high doses of busulphan (total dose 14 mg/kg) followed by cyclophosphamide (total dose 200 mg/kg). Pituitary gonadal function was assessed between 0.7 and 5.1 years (mean 2.3) after bone marrow transplantation. Increased gonadotrophin concentrations indicating gonadal damage were found in 80% of the girls, probably as a result of the chemotherapy. In all the prepubertal boys the basal follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone concentrations were normal. Most of the boys had reduced gonadotrophin and testosterone responses after gonadotrophin releasing hormone and human chorionic gonadotrophin tests. This could have been the result of iron overload but the effect of cytotoxic agents cannot be excluded. These findings emphasise the need for vigilant long term follow up of thalassaemic patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy for bone marrow transplantation so that those requiring hormone replacement can be identified and treated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Impact of social support and stress on compliance in women with gestational diabetes.

Compliance with medical recommendations is especially important for women with gestational diabetes because of the health implications for both mother and fetus. This study examined compliance with two daily self-management tasks, diet and insulin administration, in 98 women with gestational diabetes. Furthermore, the influence of stress and regimen-related social support on compliance was investigated. Results indicate that the level of reported compliance was high for both insulin administration and diet. Fewer minor stressors and greater social support were associated with greater compliance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Screening measure to assess knowledge of diabetes in pregnancy.

The purpose of this study was to develop a brief measure to assess knowledge regarding diabetes in pregnancy (Diabetes in Pregnancy Knowledge Screen [DPKS]). A test-retest design was used for subjects enrolled in a diabetes in pregnancy program at a university hospital. There were 58 women with overt diabetes (OD; insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent) and 67 women with gestational diabetes (GD). Three forms of the DPKS scale were developed for use with women with OD and women with GD treated or not treated with insulin. Adequate readability, internal consistency (r = 0.71), and test-retest reliability (r = 0.76) were demonstrated with the DPKS. Initial support for the validity of the measure is suggested by its ability to differentiate women with GD versus OD, women on insulin versus those who are diet controlled, and women with shorter versus longer duration of illness. The DPKS may prove a useful clinical tool for diabetes educators working with pregnant women.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Psychological impact of the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

The psychological impact of the diagnosis of gestational diabetes was examined in 68 pregnant women. No differences between the women with gestational diabetes and 50 non-diabetic pregnant controls, matched for gestational age, were found on the Profile of Mood States--Bipolar Form. Contrary to clinical lore, the prescription of insulin was not found to have an adverse effect on the emotional status of women with gestational diabetes. In this diabetic population whose blood glucose levels were well controlled, psychological status was not found to be related to blood glucose levels. The results suggest that the majority of pregnant women adapt readily to the unexpected diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Forbidden Food Survey: measure of bulimic's anticipated emotional reactions to specific foods.

The Forbidden Food Survey is an instrument that was designed for use with eating disordered individuals. The first experiment in this study includes a description of the Forbidden Food Survey and the reliability and internal consistency of its scales. The second investigation examined the discriminant validity of the Forbidden Food Survey by comparing the responses of three groups: bulimic binge-purgers, bulimic binge-eaters, and normals. The Forbidden Food Survey was found to differentiate the two bulimic groups on two scales, high caloric foods, medium calorie foods, and milk. As predicted from the anxiety model of bulimia, binge-purgers consistently reported stronger negative emotional responses to these foods than did the other groups. In the third experiment, bulimic binge-purgers were compared on Forbidden Food Survey responses to obese and normal subjects. Again, binge purgers were found to respond with stronger negative responses than obese and normals. These studies support the reliability and discriminant validity of the Forbidden Food Survey with eating disordered individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Assessment of depression in childhood and adolescence: an evaluation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC).

Psychometric characteristics of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) were evaluated with 148 child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity were adequate. Principal components analysis identified three distinct factors: behavioral and cognitive components of depression and a happiness dimension. However, subsequent factor scores and CES-DC total scores were unable to discriminate DSM-III diagnoses, including depressive and nondepressive categories. The CES-DC showed poor reliability and validity in the children alone but had good psychometric properties for the adolescents. More validational research is required before standard clinical use can be recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Prevalence of DSM-III conduct and adjustment disorders for adolescent psychiatric inpatients.

The prevalence of DSM-III conduct and adjustment disorders in two adolescent psychiatric facilities, both located near large U.S. cities, was investigated. Overall, 31.6% of the adolescent inpatients were conduct disordered while 12.5% were adjustment disordered. The conduct disorders were primarily "aggressive" subtypes suggesting that this characteristic may influence hospitalization and diagnostic decisions. Such data on prevalence assists future treatment planning, allowing anticipation of case loads.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking patterns of low-income ethnoculturally diverse pregnant women: are we casting the net wide enough?

Cigarette smoking poses significant risk to mother and infant during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Recruitment of pregnant smokers to intervention studies has often been reactive and has excluded certain subgroups of women, such as those who have recently quit smoking. In this study, we examined smoking patterns among a proactively recruited sample of women presenting to six urban community maternity clinics. The current report describes the patterns of smoking in this population of ethnoculturally diverse low-income urban pregnant women and examines differences across subgroups. The majority of the total sample in the current study reported that they had never smoked. Of the total, 30% reported having "ever" smoked and 16% were current smokers. Of the group of "ever" smokers, 18% quit greater than 12 months before pregnancy, 5% quit 0-12 months before pregnancy and 23% quit during this pregnancy. On the average, women who quit during pregnancy did so about 5 weeks after diagnosis. Of those women who continued to smoke during pregnancy, the average number of cigarettes smoked per day was 10 +/- 8. Differences were found in smoking patterns across the ethnocultural subgroups. Recruitment represents the first and one of the most important phases in intervening with pregnant women. Inclusion of both current smokers and recent self-quitters takes the fullest advantage of the window of opportunity to help women quit smoking and remain cigarette free for good.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking and diabetes: readiness for change and provider advice.

Smoking is a serious health risk, particularly for people with diabetes. This study was designed to examine important aspects of smoking in a large group of individuals with diabetes. A survey was mailed to 2,056 individuals with diabetes. The variables examined were the stages of change for smoking, prevalence of quitting advice given by health care providers, and the patterns of readiness for change. The majority (57.8%) of current smokers were in the precontemplation stage. Comparisons on the stage of change indicated that more individuals with Type 2 diabetes have quit while there are more current smokers among those with Type 1 diabetes. Comparisons on current smokers indicated no differences on stage of change across the Type 1 and Type 2 groups, across three subgroups of individuals with Type 2 diabetes, or across duration of diabetes. Those who reported that they were given cessation advice were further along in the stages of change. These results suggest that the majority of individuals with diabetes who smoke are in the precontemplation stage of change and provider advice is important in moving smokers toward change. The current findings underscore the importance of assessing stage of change and providing stage-matched interventions when working with smokers with diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a pregnancy-tailored decisional balance measure for smoking cessation.

The Transtheoretical Model suggests that perception of pros and cons of smoking (decisional balance) is related to quitting. This study examined the underlying structure of decisional balance items to aid in development of a pregnancy-tailored measure. A sample of 281 low-income, pregnant women attending public maternity clinics who smoked or had recently quit smoking completed a decisional balance measure. The measure included items from the general decisional balance scale plus pregnancy-related decisional balance items. Confirmatory factor analysis examining the general-plus-pregnancy-related items suggested a four-factor solution, with factors representing general pros, pregnancy-related pros, cons related to disapproval from others, and health-related cons. Perceptions of pregnancy-related pros and disapproval-related cons differed significantly across stages of change. Findings suggest that inclusion of pregnancy-related items could provide additional information about concerns that are salient during pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The transtheoretical model of smoking: comparison of pregnant and nonpregnant smokers.

Pregnant smokers represent a special population of women smokers. Since smoking affects both the mother and the unborn child, it might be hypothesized that pregnant women should be highly motivated to quit smoking during pregnancy. Results from both naturalistic studies and intervention studies have generally shown only modest changes in smoking during pregnancy. To help design more effective interventions tailored for this special population of smokers, more information is needed on how they differ from other smokers. The current study was designed to examine patterns and differences on constructs of the Transtheoretical Model between low-income culturally diverse pregnant and nonpregnant female smokers. Groups were compared on the distribution of the stages of change. In addition, stage and group comparisons were conducted for the pros and cons of smoking, situational temptations to smoke, and the processes of change. The sample included 103 economically disadvantaged, culturally diverse pregnant women and a matched group of 103 nonpregnant women smokers. Pregnant smokers as a group were similar to their nonpregnant peers on their readiness for quitting. In general, the patterns observed across the stages of change were consistent with those seen in other populations of smokers. The primary difference found between the groups were on the cons of smoking, habit-related temptations to smoke, and experiential processes of change. Specifically, pregnant women perceived a less negative attitude toward their smoking, were more tempted in habit-related situations, and made less use of important experiential processes of change. The implications of these findings for designing interventions tailored for this special group of smokers are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the transtheoretical model for behavioral change in women's health.

Application of stage-based counseling approaches using the transtheoretical model can help providers of primary care to women take full advantage of windows of opportunity for promoting women's health. The transtheoretical model enables the counselor or clinician to individualize the message provided to patients based on their stage. This matching of stage of change with the appropriate principles and processes of change will enable primary care providers to more effectively bring about behavioral change and improve the health status of our patients.

Decision Making↗