PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S A Fox

Publications and source records attributed to S A Fox.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Mammography usage and the health belief model.

Regular screening mammograms for asymptomatic women are the most effective method for early detection of breast cancer. This study assessed the relative influence of Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs on prior mammography usage and the intention to obtain mammograms with data from a sample of 1,057 women over the age of 35 years residing in an urban community in the United States. Covariance structure analysis with latent variables was used initially to perform a confirmatory factor analysis of indicators of Socioeconomic Status (SES), Perceived Susceptibility, Perceived Barriers, Perceived Benefits, Cues to Action, Prior Mammography, and Future Intentions. Once a plausible factor structure was confirmed, a predictive path model was tested with Future Intentions and Prior Mammography as the outcome variables. Cues to Action, operationalized as a physician influence variable, particularly impacted Prior Mammography, and Perceived Susceptibility was the most powerful predictor of Future Intentions. SES only related significantly to Perceived Barriers, and Cues to Action, and did not directly influence Prior Mammography and Future Intentions. HBM predictor variables alone accounted for the relationship between previous mammography experience and intentions to obtain mammograms in the future. Health education implications and an applied outreach program are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The effect of physician-patient communication on mammography utilization by different ethnic groups.

The differential utilization of screening mammography by racial/ethnic groups was examined through 35-minute bilingual, random digit dialed telephone interviews with 1,057 women over age 35 years. Results showed that 71% of hispanic women had never had a mammogram and that only 27% over age 50 years had had one in the year before the survey. White and black women over the age of 50 years were being screened more frequently with 34% of white women and 36% of black women having had a mammogram in the prior year. More than half of the hispanic women over age 50 years had never had a mammogram. Analyses showed that the most important variable that predicted whether women of all racial groups had a mammogram, at any time or within the last year, was whether their doctors had discussed mammography with them. The discussion did not need to be lengthy or complex. Hispanic women, however, were less likely to have physicians who discussed screening with them even though these women reported that they were just as motivated as other women to get a mammogram if their doctor referred them. Suggestions for what primary care physicians can do to increase mammography rates, especially among hispanic women, are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The influence of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and psychological barriers on use of mammography.

This study assessed the relative influence of psychological barriers, SES, and ethnic differences in mammography use for a community sample of 586 White, 227 Black, and 150 Hispanic women. Confirmatory factor analyses with latent variables indicated plausible factor structures for all groups on items related to barriers to mammography. Summed indicators of SES, fear of radiation, embarrassment, pain, anxiety, and cost concerns were correlated significantly with mammography use for the pooled group. Separate analyses by ethnicity indicated a substantial relationship between mammography use and cost concerns by White and Black women, and fear of pain by Black and Hispanic women. Use of mammography was associated more highly with SES among Hispanic women. Pooled logistic regression analyses controlling for SES and ethnicity showed that the psychological barriers, especially concern about cost, remained important independent predictors of mammography use. We explore sociocultural explanations for less mammography use by Hispanic women, especially those less acculturated.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1991

The impact of physician compliance on screening mammography for older women.

Screening mammography is underutilized, even for women older than 50 years for whom there is a general consensus that regular annual screening is appropriate and necessary. To evaluate reasons for this underutilization, we studied a random sample of 517 women in Los Angeles, Calif who were older than 50 years. All women were found to be underscreened, especially women older than 65 years. For example, approximately 35% of women 50 to 64 years old and 47% of women aged 65 years and older never had had even one mammogram. Analyses revealed that the most important factor that predicted whether a women ever had had a mammogram was whether her physician had talked to her about mammography. Women were between four and 12 times more likely, depending on their age group, to have had a mammogram at some time if their physicians discussed it with them. The discussions did not need to be lengthy or complex. These results indicate that physicians need to know that discussing screening mammography with their patients has a major impact on breast cancer screening behaviors.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Improving the adherence of urban women to mammography guidelines: strategies for radiologists.

Only 16% of women over 40 years of age are being screened regularly with mammography. To learn what radiologists and technologists can do to increase patient adherence to the screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society, especially by poor, urban women, the authors surveyed patients at a county facility immediately after mammography to document the patients' experiences with technologists and the procedure. Analysis of these data led to the conclusion that the radiologist should encourage an expanded role for the technologist as a breast health educator. By incorporating the use of a well-designed patient brochure, technologists can greatly enhance their effectiveness by decreasing the patient's anxiety and increasing her understanding of the procedure and of the importance of screening. Radiologists need to appreciate the potential of an expanded technologist's role for increasing future referrals.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

Mammographic screening in southern California: 2 1/2-year longitudinal survey of fees.

The American Cancer Society sponsored a community-wide low-cost mammographic screening project in March 1986. One of the major goals was to effect a decrease in mammographic screening fees. To evaluate the effectiveness of the project, a telephone survey of 58 facilities was conducted six times over 2 1/2 years, beginning January 1986 and at 6-month intervals thereafter. The number of facilities offering lower fees for screening than for consultative mammography increased from two with a mean fee of $50.00 in January 1986 to 16 with a mean fee of $68.71 in July 1988. The trend for differentiating screening and consultative examination fees occurred at both hospital- and office-based practices, but fees were significantly lower in the office-based practices. There was also a statistically significant increase in the number of facilities accepting self-referred patients between January 1986 (15.5% of facilities) and July 1988 (34.5%). At the time of the last survey, 60% of office-based practices were accepting self-referred patients.

California↗
PubMed1979

Lens extraction with anterior chamber lens implantation in the macaque.

Three macaques (Macaca arctoides) had anterior chamber implantations with the Choyce Mark VIII lenses in 5 eyes. The eyes were monitored clinically and histologically for approximately 2 years. Histologic sections verified that these lenses were well tolerated in the eyes of the macaques.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Levator tucking.

Nine cases of ptosis were repaired by levator tucking. There were 4 postoperatuve complications. Tucking seems to offer no advantage over levator resection or the Fasanella-Servat procedure in the lesser degrees of ptosis. A new firmer tucking procedure is suggested for those who wish to try this technique.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Senile (atonic) entropion.

The etiology and surgery of senile entropion are reviewed. Many of the presumptive causes of this clinical entity including the vague neurological etiology which caused it to be labeled "spastic" have been found baseless, and the explanation of the elder Fuchs, later confirmed by Duke-Elder, that the cause of senile entropion is due to degenerative tissue changes has been found to be more logical and more compatible with the anatomic findings. There have always been two methods of surgical repair of senile entropion: (1) unwinding the lid by resection of horizontal strips of skin or skin and muscle, and (2) by resection of vertical spindles and triangles of tissue to tauten the lids horizontally. I prefer the latter technique.

Aged↗
PubMed1975

A modified Fasanella-Servat procedure for ptosis.

This procedure was first suggested for "minimal ptosis of 3-4 mm." However, since the amount of ptosis varies widely with the etiological factors, the true indication in any given case is not the amount of ptosis but the amount of levator action. Hence, unless there is at least 10 mm of levator action, this operation is contraindicated. Since the levator (except that part of the aponeurosis that is adherent to the tarsus) is not involved, the procedure has been simplified accordingly.

Blepharoptosis↗
PubMed1975

A simple levator resection operation.

A simple procedure for identification and isolation of the levator muscle is presented. With this technique the conjunctiva need not be cut from its tarsal connection. No extra sutures are used to create a lid fold. It is emphasized again that the criterion for the amount of levator resection is not the degree of ptosis but the amount of levator action.

Blepharoptosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Testing mammography equipment: evolution over a 4-year period.

The results of quality control (QC) tests on 70 mammography units in Southern California from 1986 to 1990 are reported. Thirteen facilities, selected because they housed all of the mammography units in three communities involved in a National Institutes of Health research project, had their units tested twice at an interval of 1 year. Fourteen self-selected units were also tested twice at intervals ranging from 1-3 years. Forty-three self-selected units in 31 additional facilities had testing only once. All 70 units underwent measurement of focal spot size or resolution, tube output, half-value layer (HVL), automatic exposure control (AEC) accuracy, relative kVp accuracy, mean glandular dose, and imaging of several test objects. The test results for the units tested once showed no significant differences compared to those tested twice. For the latter, once the units were tested and determined to be acceptable, retesting showed differences only in overall film optical density, dose, and AEC performance.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗