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Biomedical subjects

R Farris

Publications and source records attributed to R Farris.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Information source preferences for selecting dental services among elderly consumers.

This manuscript presents the results of a primary research study conducted among the elderly to determine the sources of information they prefer for the selection of dental services. The results of the study are presented in terms of source preferences by dental need (generalist or specialist), source preferences by gender (male or female), source preferences by level of education (low or high), and source preferences by income level (low or high). Conclusions are drawn from the results of the research, and suggestions are made regarding the use of information source preferences for the marketing of dental services to the elderly.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Scintigraphic quantification of pharyngeal retention following deglutition.

A procedure is described for quantifying the amount of bolus material retained in the pharynx after completion of a swallow, using radionuclide swallow techniques. Data are derived from scintigraphic time-activity curves. The procedure takes into consideration the differential attenuation of radioactivity through various regions in the body, and expresses the result as a percentage of the total radioactivity in the ingested bolus. Illustrative examples are provided for swallows by normal individuals and patients with head and neck cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Dietary assessment in children using electronic methods: telephones and tape recorders.

Selection of dietary assessment methodology is important in dietary intervention studies. Few studies have reported the relative merits of various assessment methods or the feasibility of electronic methods in pediatric populations. Parent-child dyads performed telephone recalls (no. = 32) and tape recorded dietary records (no. = 33). Traditional recalls were first conducted to familiarize parents and children with the telephone recall procedure, to introduce two-dimensional food models, and to instruct on the use of the tape recorder. Parents monitored and documented as unobtrusively as possible the child's intake on the day before the telephone recall and also on the day of the taped record. Children were called at random to reduce bias. Simple correlation coefficients (r) were calculated for nine nutrients and calories for both methods. For telephone recalls, values ranged from a low of r = .64 for saturated and polyunsaturated fat to r = .85 for cholesterol and r = .93 for iron. Tape-recorded data yielded r = .80 or above, except calories with r = .68 (p less than .001 for all values, 1-tail tests). Mean nutrient values were within expected ranges, e.g., 1,800 kcal +/- 500, with saturated fat about 14% of calories per day. Comparisons between parents and childrens reports of food frequencies and portion sizes revealed the best correlations for beverages, bread-cereals-crackers, meat-fish-poultry, and mixed dishes. We conclude that preadolescent children are able to provide dietary intake data using electronic methods in a manner that compares favorably with their parents' written records.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Concomitant infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnancy.

Gonorrhea is an important marker for endocervical chlamydial infections in nonpregnant women. Concomitant infection rates as high as 50% have been reported. There are few data on concomitant infection rates in pregnant patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of endocervical chlamydial infections in pregnant women with gonorrhea. Patients with cervical cultures positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae at their initial prenatal visit had endocervical specimens for Chlamydia trachomatis culture obtained before anti-gonorrheal therapy. Control patients were selected at random from the same prenatal population. The prevalence of C trachomatis in patients with gonorrhea was significantly greater than that in the control population (46 versus 5%; P less than .001). Patients with gonorrhea were younger, less often married, and more often black than the control population, but these demographic differences did not account for the large difference in the chlamydial prevalence. Erythromycin 500 mg four times daily provided an excellent cure rate without intolerable side effects. Pregnant patients being evaluated or treated for gonorrhea should also be considered at high risk for concomitant cervical chlamydial infection.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Scintigraphic assessment of aspiration in head and neck cancer patients with tracheostomy.

Tracheopulmonary aspiration commonly occurs in patients with dysphagia related to head and neck cancer. Scintigraphic studies were performed in 280 patients with head and neck cancer; 33% of these patients had tracheopulmonary aspiration. A subgroup of 18 tracheostomized patients had a tracheostomy tube with a removable obturator, so they could be studied with the tracheostomy open or occluded. When the tracheostomy was occluded the patients aspirated less frequently, and in significantly smaller quantities, than when it was open. When feasible, occluding the tracheostomy tube or permanent surgical closure may reduce or eliminate tracheopulmonary aspiration in these patients.

Deglutition↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a school-based nutrition intervention for high school students: Gimme 5.

PURPOSE: To describe a 4-year intervention targeting fruit/vegetable consumption by high school students. DESIGN: This is a cohort study involving six pairs of schools (n = 12) matched on gender, race, enrollment, and location with schools randomly assigned within pairs to intervention or control conditions. SETTING: Twelve Archdiocese of New Orleans high schools. SUBJECTS: Cohort was defined as students (n = 2339) who were ninth-graders in the 1993-94 school year who provided baseline data. INTERVENTION: Four components of the intervention are: (1) school-wide media-marketing campaign, (2) school-wide meal and snack modification, (3) classroom workshops and supplementary subject matter activities, and (4) parental involvement. MEASURES: Focus groups were conducted for target population input and program development. Process evaluation included student feedback on media-marketing intervention materials and activities reported here. Process measures also included school meal participation, student characteristics, and verification of intervention activities. RESULTS: Focus groups identified barriers to increased consumption of fruit and vegetables as lack of availability, variety, and inconsistency in taste. Student attitudes were favorable regarding a school program to improve diet and parental involvement. Low consumption of fruits/vegetables was reported. After a 2-month school-wide program introduction utilizing various media-marketing materials and activities, 93% of students were aware of the program and 96% could identify the healthy eating message. CONCLUSIONS: Program development can be guided and enriched by student input via focus groups. Media-marketing activities effectively delivered health messages and attracted students' attention. Materials and activities used were acceptable channels for increasing awareness, positive attitudes, and knowledge about fruits/vegetables.

Adolescent↗