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Biomedical subjects

R I Evans

Publications and source records attributed to R I Evans.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Diagnostic accuracy and observer performance in the diagnosis of abnormalities in the anterior maxilla: a comparison of panoramic with intraoral radiography.

An investigation was undertaken to assess the reliability of radiographic diagnosis of abnormalities of orthodontic significance in the anterior region of the maxilla from intraoral and dental panoramic tomograph (DPT) views. DPT films of 200 patients were scrutinised by two observers on two separate occasions, who also examined intraoral radiographs of the same patients. Sixty-three of these patients were selected because they had previously been diagnosed as presenting with a defined abnormality of orthodontic relevance, such as supernumerary teeth, absent incisors, etc. The remaining cases had been assessed as depicting normal radiographic appearances. Each radiograph was allocated a unique, randomly selected code number as the only means of identification. It was not possible for the observers to match the DPT to the corresponding intraoral films, and this information was only available to the principal investigator (JWF). Both observers were asked to record the presence or otherwise of any abnormalities at each observation of each radiograph, and to record their findings. The overall level of diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility was fairly high, and in general terms the DPT views were as reliable as the intraoral films with regard to the detection of abnormalities; however, there were significant differences between the observers. It was concluded that in many instances supplementary intraoral films would not contribute any additional information compared to the DPT and that selection criteria should be defined for the former.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1991

Quality assurance. A project on patient waiting times at appointment in an orthodontic department.

A quality assurance project to establish patient waiting time at appointments was undertaken over a four-week period during the spring of 1989. The Orthodontic Department was selected as one of two departments in the Birmingham General Hospital/Birmingham Dental Hospital unit site that was to participate in the programme initiated at the District Health Authority management level. Patient waiting periods for a total of 142 clinical sessions were assessed. Fifty per cent of patients were kept waiting and 50 per cent were seen either earlier or at their appointed time. The mean period of time that patients were kept waiting past their appointment time was 9.4 min (+/- 10.9). On clinics for which patients arrived late the mean time that they were kept waiting increased to a mean of 18.9 min (+/- 9.1). Data from 92 patient questionnaires established that they considered a reasonable mean time of waiting to be 16.1 min (+/- 7.9). Five recommendations were proposed as a result of this quality assurance initiative and their implementation is discussed.

Appointments and Schedules↗
PubMed1989

Formative evaluation in school-based health promotion investigations.

This article is intended for behavioral and biomedical researchers who have become involved increasingly in health promotion research in social settings. It describes how researchers may more precisely plan and profit from employing formative evaluation, which is too frequently more casually undertaken than is summative evaluation. Formative evaluation includes responses from the student subjects of such programs and school administrative and instructional staff, as well as other elements unique to the school setting such as existing curricula and the logistics of time and space. In order to tailor such programs to the unique properties of the school setting, a continual feedback loop should be in place. Such loops can channel both quantitative and qualitative data to the researcher to assist in adapting projects to changing conditions during the course of their implementation. This article presents a case history of the application of formative evaluation drawn from a health promotion project conducted by the authors. It includes as background for this case history, definitions of formative evaluation and an analysis of its costs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Smoking.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Forecasting↗
PubMed1989

Effect of initial treatment of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease in adults on spontaneous peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation.

The spontaneous proliferative response (SPR) of peripheral blood lymphocytes, as a measure of the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), has been found to be depressed in adults with chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD). The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that initial treatment of CIPD in adults restores the SPR to normal levels. 10 periodontal disease subjects (mean probing attachment loss of 4.2 mm and a mean bleeding index of 0.65) and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were studied. The SPR for each patient was evaluated on days 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 in culture, before and after initial treatment for CIPD. The peak SPR, which occurred at day 5, was depressed in the untreated periodontal disease subjects compared to the healthy control subjects (p less than 0.01). In addition, the kinetics of the SPR were found to be significantly different in 4 of the 10 parameters compared with the untreated periodontal disease patients and the healthy control subjects. After treatment, there was a significant reduction in probing attachment loss and bleeding indexes (p less than 0.001). In addition, the magnitude of the peak SPR was not significantly different from that of the healthy control subjects. Nevertheless, a difference in 1 of the 10 kinetic parameters persisted, which suggested that complete restoration of the SPR to normal had not occurred so soon after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Progressive development of supernumerary teeth in cleidocranial dysplasia.

A 9-year-old boy suffering from cleidocranial dysplasia presented with multiple unerupted permanent teeth and five unerupted supernumerary teeth. During a 4-year observation and treatment period he developed nine more supernumerary teeth at a time when normally new teeth would no longer be forming. By the age of 13 years and 5 months a total of fourteen supernumerary teeth had been produced and it is possible that more teeth may develop in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The evolution of challenges to researchers in health psychology.

One of the keynote addresses presented at the National Working Conference on Research in Health and Behavior. This address is a historical review of current challenges to researchers in health psychology. Current challenges discussed include (a) creation of physical pathology, (b) physical symptoms of physical pathology in the absence of true pathology, (c) increased or decreased vulnerability to infectious disease, (d) intensify, prolong, or diminish existing pathology, (e) individuals' preoccupation with illness or disease, (f) voluntarily engaging in health-threatening behavior (e.g., allowing toxic agents to enter the body or engaging in accident-prone behavior or high-risk sexual practices), (g) engaging in health-enhancing life-style behaviors, and (h) involuntarily becoming the victim of toxic agents. The shift in public health policy as related to psychological research--from mental health to physical illness--reflects societal support for such areas of research by health psychologists.

Cognition↗
PubMed1989

Smoking research: basic research, intervention, prevention, and new trends.

Smoking is a behavior that is influenced by a variety of factors that cut across methodologies, disciplines, and content areas within health psychology. The present article is designed to show the diversity and richness of smoking research by examining smoking from four perspective: basic laboratory research, intervention, prevention and deterrence, and new directions in smoking research. Methodologies that were derived from such varied sources as psychopharmacology, behavioral pharmacology, behavior therapy, clinical psychology, public health and health promotion, and social and developmental psychology have been used to study the smoking problem. The subject populations in these investigations ranged from animal models, to the individual smoker attempting to quit, to communities involved in health promotion and public health approaches. Future research should seek to provide new and improved examples of interdisciplinary research within the field of health psychology to multidisciplinary approaches from the basic and applied sciences.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Health promotion--science or ideology?

This article is the author's American Psychological Association Division 38 Presidential Address, which was delivered at the 1987 APA meetings. It challenges health psychologists to be wary of becoming zealots in health promotion activities without continuing to recognize that health promotion programs should be anchored in sound science. This is discussed in terms of the biomedical research support for a recommended health practice or in terms of the psycho-socio-behavioral research support for techniques applied or advocated in intervention programs. To illustrate this problem in health promotion, the research foundations for recommendations of cholesterol control programs and the "Say No to Drugs" campaigns are explored. Other concerns relating to the appropriate role for the health psychologist in health promotion activities are also discussed.

Health Promotion↗
PubMed1987

Psychology and health: contributions of psychology to the improvement of health and health care.

Psychology as both a science and a profession has been closely identified with other disciplines in the broad field of health since the turn of the present century. Recent advances in health care have reinforced the growing belief that the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of illness can be greatly enhanced by incorporating the scientific findings and modern techniques of psychology into everyday practices. This review outlines the contributions of psychology to health care throughout the world; only some of the most timely and relevant issues are mentioned, together with examples of current work in the field. After an introductory overview, special attention is given to each of the major areas within the broad field of health care where psychological applications have been particularly useful.

Community Mental Health Services↗
PubMed1978

Social-psychologic perspective in motivating changes in eating behavior.

Some reasons for difficulties in motivating changes in eating behavior are outlined, and the application of the major principles of social psychology relevant to dietary management are reviewed. Locus of control and varying communication models are discussed in the context of nutritional counseling. The importance of the patient assuming responsibility for his/her own behavioral change is reviewed in terms of attribution theory. Specific suggestions for helping nutritionists motivate patients to change their eating behavior are made.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1975

Teachers as models in programs for school dental health; an evaluation of "The Toothkeeper".

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Toothkeeper program was performed in Houston to determine if participation in the program by elementary school children would result in their having cleaner teeth and better gingival health than seen in similar children not in the program. Assessments for plaque and gingivitis were made at the beginning, at the completion of the formal 16-week program, and again after a second 16-week period. In this particular setting, the Toothkeeper was found to be ineffective. Possible reasons for the ineffectiveness of the program are discussed and several suggestions for modifying the program are offered.

Child↗