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R Sanson-Fisher

Publications and source records attributed to R Sanson-Fisher.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Drug use in Australia: a community prevalence study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of drug use in a representative Australian community. DESIGN: Using a Census district sampling framework supplied by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we randomly selected dwellings for our survey. A household was defined as all those people living permanently at the postal address. All eligible members of each household, 15 years and older, were asked to participate. SETTING: The data were collected in the context of a large scale general population survey of health practices and attitudes, conducted in the Greater Newcastle area of New South Wales, during 1987 and 1988. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two per cent of eligible individuals approached (2623) agreed to participate in the survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were asked about their use of a number of drug types: medically prescribed drugs, non-prescription drugs, tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. For alcohol, only the results for use at a hazardous level according to the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines are reported here. RESULTS: Seventy-eight per cent (95% confidence interval, 76%-80%) of the community sample reported having recently consumed at least one of these drug types. There were significant age and sex differences in drug use. A greater proportion of women and the older age groups (over 45 years) reported the use of both non-prescription and prescription medications than did men and the younger age groups. Conversely, a significantly greater proportion of men and the younger age groups reported the use of social and illicit drugs. CONCLUSION: The importance of regular, representative, methodologically comparable community studies of drug use is stressed, particularly in view of the inadequacy of the current routine sources of epidemiological data on drug use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Pap smear tests in general practice. An update.

Reduction of deaths due to cervical cancer by two-yearly Papanicolaou smear screening of women at risk aged 18 to 70 years is now a national health goal. We report a study conducted with general practitioners that suggests improving levels of coverage of women at risk. Our research, however, has also identified unexpected challenges in documenting preventive care in general practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Agreement between two measures of drug use in a low-prevalence population.

The present study examined the agreement between two measures of prevalence of drug use in the community: self-report and specific pharmacological analyses of urine samples. The data were collected in the context of a random community survey of health practices and attitudes. A random 20% of the households participating in the health study were targeted for biochemical assay. Compliance with urine delivery was relatively high at 79%. Urine samples were screened qualitatively for cannabinoids and benzodiazepines using the enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) (Syva Diagnostics, Palo Alto, CA). Screening for pharmaceuticals used a standard thin-layer chromatography (TLC) technique. Agreement between the self-report and biochemical assay estimates of prevalence was statistically significant (p less than .05). While self-report of substance use is not a perfect measure of consumption, it remains a relatively economical and reasonably accurate method of obtaining estimates of substance use in community samples.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Cancer prevention: what's worth doing in general practice?

Primary prevention aims to circumvent the onset of malignant change. Secondary prevention aims to detect early cancer or lesions with high malignant potential before extensive local growth or metastatic spread compromises the effectiveness of treatment. This article should help general practitioners appraise the value of cancer prevention measures and plan an effective approach to cancer prevention in clinical practice.

Family Practice↗
PubMed1990

A critical review of Australian cancer organizations' public education material.

Because of the potential benefits of primary prevention and early detection of cancer, a considerable proportion of the efforts of State cancer organizations has been directed towards public educational programs. The study aimed to determine the level of agreement in the messages contained in the written educational material of the State and Territory cancer organizations in Australia. Pamphlets and brochures dealing with primary and secondary prevention of breast, cervical, skin and bowel cancers were obtained. The materials were compared on a number of dimensions: the characteristics of people who are at increased risk of contracting the cancer, how to avoid the cancer through primary prevention, how and when to screen in the case of secondary prevention, and action to be taken if a sign or symptom indicative of cancer is discovered. The study found a lack of agreement in the messages of the State cancer organizations. Some hypotheses are suggested to explain the discrepancies. In addition, some suggestions for remedying this situation are provided.

Australia↗
PubMed1990

Feasibility of sigmoidoscopic screening for colorectal cancer in the Hunter Region.

The success of a cancer detection programme depends on the co-operation of the target population. The aim of this study was to identify factors which might influence those at average and at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer to undergo a sigmoidoscopic screening test if offered. This was addressed by means of a household survey of individuals aged 40 years and over. Overall consent to undergo screening approximated 45%. There was a significant relationship between agreement to sigmoidoscopy and each of the following: age, marital status, educational level attained, and a previous episode of rectal bleeding. Individuals who had undergone sigmoidoscopy in the past were less willing to have the test performed again. Although individuals with a family history of bowel cancer in first-degree relatives perceived themselves as being more likely to develop colorectal cancer, this had no apparent impact on their willingness to have the test. The implications of these findings for community education programmes directed at colorectal cancer are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors affecting nonadherence with antibiotics.

Nonadherence with antibiotic therapy has profound implications both for patient health and the health care system that bears the financial costs incurred. Significant levels of nonadherence with antibiotic prescriptions have been demonstrated. Of the many proposed variables involved, those that are potentially modifiable relate to aspects of the doctor-patient interaction and drug regimen. Despite the potential for intervention with these variables, there have been very few methodologically sound studies examining their effect on adherence with either medications generally or antibiotics specifically. Only two studies were located that had tested the effectiveness of reduced complexity of antibiotic dosage schedules. The results suggest that the less complex the schedule, the greater is the adherence. Both practitioners and patients must be encouraged to use and accept simpler dosage schedules, preferably once-daily schedules wherever possible. The paucity of well-controlled studies to date highlights the need for further research evaluating intervention strategies that utilize variations in dosage schedule and elements of the doctor-patient interaction to improve adherence with antibiotic medications.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Basic concepts of behavior therapy: an experiment involving disturbed adolescent girls.

This paper attempts to summarize some of the basic principles and approaches of behavior therapy that occupational therapists may find useful for application in many areas of practice. It attempts to do this by describing an experimental application of the behavioral modification approach within a treatment unit for disturbed adolescent girls. Two social skills, compliance and social greeting, are dealt with in this article. These skills are two of the many behaviors labeled "performance survival skills" shown in recent studies to be necessary for successful community adjustment.

Adolescent↗