Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M A Yates.
The process of establishing a new orthodontic service in any area requires a combination of patience and perseverance. It is a prolonged project littered with frustrating experiences, many of which we encountered. We endeavour to outline the pros and cons of such an undertaking and describe our experiences in implementing a marketing strategy prior to the practice opening. This was specifically geared to running a practice in a 'mixed' NHS/Private environment.
Of 4100 consecutive admissions to the Department of Geriatric Medicine, 414 patients (10.1%) were identified as having atrial fibrillation (AF); 138 (33%) had transient AF and 276 (67%) had constant AF. In the constant group, 41.7% of patients had had a stroke compared with 26.8% in the transient group (P less than 0.01). A random sample of 200 patients in sinus rhythm from the 4100 admissions had a stroke prevalence of 19%. This study suggests that constant AF has a greater association with stroke than transient AF.
This article describes the role and challenges nursing has assumed in the care of elderly patients in an Adult Day Health Care Program (ADHC). It describes the application of the standards of nursing practice from gerontological and rehabilitative nursing settings along with the standards (for Adult Day Care) proposed by the National Institute on Adult Day Care in an interdisciplinary, community based practice setting.
The purpose of this study was to provide cost-related data from an intervention study in the care of patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). In a previously reported study, the study group patients increased exercise more than control patients, but there were no differences on any other health promoting behaviors or clinical outcomes. However, analysis of the differences between the study (N = 44) and the control patients (N = 42) on costs for health care during the course of the study demonstrated substantial differences. A fixed per diem rate was used to determine inpatient and outpatient costs. Study patients required significantly fewer PVD-related hospitalization and health care costs than control patients but not on vascular-related and nonvascular-related illnesses. Since there were no differences between the study and control on non-PVD illnesses, it appears that the intervention targeted to influence PVD problems did so. Limitations to the study are identified and additional research in this area is warranted.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether patients who participated in an intervention program would improve exercise and foot-care habits, reduce smoking, and would, in turn, have fewer PVD-related illnesses than patients not exposed to the intervention. Eighty-six patients with ankle/brachial pressure indices of less than 1.0 on one or both legs were randomly assigned to a study (N = 42) or control (N = 44) group. All patients were assessed on a variety of health-related and activity behaviors prior to and again 26 weeks after enrollment in the study. Study patients who participated in the intervention worked with professionals on selecting programs designed to modify and improve their smoking, exercise, and/or foot-care habits. At the end of 26 weeks, chi-square analysis showed no significant differences between study and control groups on change in smoking and foot care, although the results were in the anticipated direction. Study patients who chose to increase their exercise showed greater increase than control patients in frequency (p = .001), distance (p = .007), and length (p = .002) of walks. Although behaviors were modified, especially in the area of exercise, it was felt that longer interventions on a larger sample size are needed.