PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

M S Goldstein

Publications and source records attributed to M S Goldstein.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Gender and physical therapy career success factors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Gender and profession are thought to affect how career success is perceived as well as how it is achieved. This study investigated items considered important in defining career success for male and female physical therapists. The study also explored the relationship among gender, beliefs about career success, and career experiences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data were obtained through an investigator-developed survey. The self-report questionnaire consisted of 78 items in 4 areas: descriptive information, items important in characterizing career success, items perceived to enhance or inhibit career success, and items assessing self-esteem. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of active physical therapist members of the American Physical Therapy Association (N = 5,000). The response rate was 38.1% (n = 1,906). RESULTS: Both men and women selected indicators such as practicing ethically, improving patient health, and feeling satisfied over high income or status when describing career success. All respondents agreed that clinical competency and motivation are key factors related to achieving career success. Family issues, full-time employment, and flexibility of practice conditions emerged as primary gender differences. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: A unique set of indicators describe physical therapy career success. Gender differences in its description and factors that influence its achievement are related primarily to family issues. Career success for women depends to a greater degree on the ability to manage family responsibilities in conjunction with employment opportunities.

Adult

Use of and satisfaction with homeopathy in a patient population.

BACKGROUND: This article describes a survey of new clients entering care with nine practicing classical homeopaths in the Los Angeles metropolitan area between January 1994 and July 1995. METHODS: Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire before undergoing diagnosis by the homeopath. Follow-up interviews were conducted by phone 1 month after diagnosis and face to face 4 months after diagnosis, along with a self-administered questionnaire before the final interview. A total of 104 participants entered the study; 77 completed all data collection. RESULTS: Clients sought homeopathic care for a wide array of largely chronic conditions. Respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female reproductive problems were the most common primary complaints. Most clients were highly educated, but had limited knowledge about homeopathy before entering treatment. Approximately 80% reported earlier, unsuccessful attempts to get relief from mainstream care. Four months after treatment, general measures of health status showed improvement, and only 29% of participants reported no improvement for the primary complaint leading to treatment. Satisfaction with homeopathic treatment was high regardless of outcome. Three outcome measures of perceived change--overall health status, primary condition for which treatment was sought, and outlook on life--were predicted by different combinations of study variables. CONCLUSIONS: Homeopathy does not divert people from seeking mainstream care. The use of alternative modes of care such as homeopathy can be understood as attractive and satisfying to educated individuals with chronic problems.

Adult

Joining a healing community for cancer: who and why?

This paper provides a description and evaluation of selected aspects of The Wellness California. Based upon participant observation, TWC's philosophy and program are described. The ways in which charismatic leadership is used to create a sense of 'healing charisma' is specified. Interviews were conducted at 3 points over a 10 month period with 65 individuals who initiated contact with TWC. Thirty-seven eventually became participants at TWC, while the 28 who did not were used as a comparison group. Participants were healthier, more oriented toward self-care and less satisfied with their existing social support networks. The findings indicate the role, and limitations, of healing communities for people with chronic physical illness.

Adaptation, Psychological

Cystometric evaluation of vesical endometriosis before and after hormonal or surgical treatment.

Subjective patient complaints as they relate to bladder endometriosis have been well reported. Objective findings have been lacking. The case reported on demonstrates the cystometric finding of a small-capacity irritable bladder in a patient with vesical endometriosis. It further demonstrates the improvement of these findings following surgical resection of endometriosises and hormonal therapy using danazol.

Adult

Psychosocial distress and perceived health status among elderly users of a health maintenance organization.

A variety of measures was used to assess the relationship of psychosocial distress and perceived health status among 1,034 older (65+) members of an HMO. Distress was measured by recent life events, four types of social strain, and the CES-D, a measure of depression/demoralization. The distributions of these measures and perceived health status indicate that this sample was relatively healthy and undistressed. The strength of the associations within each group of variables is significant but generally modest. Using hierarchical multiple regression analysis with demographic variables, social support, and religiosity as controls, the strongest associations are between health status and the CES-D, life events, financial strain, and the strain of being single (unmarried respondents only).

Aged

Holistic physicians and family practitioners: similarities, differences and implications for health policy.

Although loosely defined, holistic or alternative medicine has been viewed by most observers as fundamentally at odds with mainstream biomedical approaches. Convergence or integration of the two are seen as highly unlikely. We attempt to assess the potential for such integration empirically through a survey of physicians, members of the American Holistic Medical Association (N = 340) and a comparison group of family practitioners (N = 142). Although social origins of the two groups are similar, they differ in their completion of residency training and a variety of practice characteristics. While the groups differ in the predicted directions in their evaluation and utilization of holistic techniques and in their attitudes toward the nature of medical practice, there is a good deal of overlap. Personal experiences, especially those in the area of religion/spirituality and psychotherapy differ sharply between the groups. Policy concerned with fostering cooperation or convergence between holistic and mainstream medicine should differentiate between clinical attitudes and behaviors (which appear to be more compatible than has been suggested), and the personal world views of physicians (which appear to be much further apart).

Adult

An organizational approach to the hospital pharmacist shortage.

A Task Force was formed by the Pennsylvania Society of Hospital Pharmacists to review the shortage of hospital pharmacists and to recommend ways to deal with it. Recommendations by the Task Force to PSHP are discussed. These recommendations should place hospitals and their departments of pharmacy in a better position to recruit and retain pharmacists.

Data Collection

Ionizing radiation and tritium transmutation both cause formation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine in cellular DNA.

HeLa cells grown in the presence of [methyl-3H]thymidine contained large amounts of 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (HMdU) in their DNA. When the cells were grown in [6-3H]thymidine and their DNA was labeled to the same specific activity, no HMdU was present. When such [6-3H]thymidine-labeled cells were exposed to increasing amounts of gamma-radiation, small but increasing amounts of HMdU were formed in their DNA. This indicates that HMdU can be formed in DNA by two distinct mechanisms. The first is the result of the transmutation of 3H to 3He (beta decay) in the methyl group of thymidine, leading to formation of a carbocation. This short-lived ion reacts with hydroxide ions of water, yielding the hydroxymethyl group. HMdU that is formed by this mechanism is formed at the rate of beta decay of 3H. It appears only in [methyl-3H]thymidine residues and is present in the DNA of both nonirradiated and gamma-irradiated cells. The second mechanism is the result of the radiolysis of water caused by ionizing radiation. The resultant radical species, particularly hydroxyl radicals, may react with many sites on DNA. When the methyl group of thymine is attacked by hydroxyl radicals, the hydroxymethyl group is formed. The formation of HMdU by this mechanism was detected only when [6-3H]thymidine-labeled cells were used, since transmutation of 3H in position 6 of thymine cannot yield HMdU.

DNA

A calcified adenocarcinoma of the lung with very high CT numbers.

A case is reported of a man with a solitary pulmonary nodule that had an average CT number of 366 HU. Biopsy of the lesion demonstrated a primary adenocarcinoma of the lung with diffuse calcification. It is concluded that high CT numbers of solitary nodules do not ensure a benign lesion.

Adenocarcinoma

Fallopian tube occlusion with silicone: radiographic appearance.

A new method of tubal occlusion for sterilization, which is both promising and potentially reversible, is undergoing clinical trials nationwide. At hysteroscopy, a catalyzed silicone rubber compound is instilled in the fallopian tubes where it hardens to form a radiopaque plug. Radiologists may assist the gynecologist in confirming adequate initial formation of the plug and with follow-up radiographs. Radiologists not involved in the procedure may see the radiopaque plugs on radiographs obtained for other clinical purposes, and they should be aware of this new method of sterilization.

Female

Predicting changes in perceived health status.

Panel data from the Los Angeles Health Survey (N = 903) were used to examine variables associated with changes in perceived health status over a one-year period. Our findings replicate previous research showing that perceived health status is associated with variations in chronic illness, disability, and the utilization of health services. However, we found that neither positive nor negative changes in perceived health status were related to any indicator of health beliefs or practices or physical health status. The data suggest that single item measures of perceived health status may reflect the individual's sense of long-standing chronic illness.

Adult

Outcome evaluations in substance abuse: a comparison of alcoholism, drug abuse, and other mental health interventions.

Outcome evaluation studies in the areas of alcohol and drug abuse have suffered from design problems. The lack of control groups, prospective designs, adequate outcome measures, and sufficient follow-up has presented the major difficulties. This study reviews all such studies reported in 50 major journals between 1969 and 1979 and compares them to outcome evaluations on other mental health topics reported in the same journals. We find that significant problems remain in each of these areas. In general, drug abuse studies employ the least adequate methodologies. Alcohol evaluations are approximately as rigorous as other mental health evaluations. A major finding is the lack of rigor found in all types of outcome evaluations. Attention must be paid to these issues if outcome evaluations are to remain credible and able to secure continued support.

Adolescent