Biomedical subjects

S A Page

Publications and source records attributed to S A Page.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Cannabis use as described by people with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases affecting young adults. The prevalence of MS in Alberta has been described as among the highest reported in the world, estimated at 217 per 100,000. Numerous anecdotal reports, and a few small empirical investigations have suggested that cannabis use may relieve the symptom experience of those with MS. The present study was undertaken to describe cannabis use by this patient group. Information on peoples' beliefs, practices and experiences related to use were investigated. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to a sample of 780 adults with MS in southern Alberta, Canada. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned by 420/673 eligible subjects (response rate 62%). Mean sample age was 48 years and 75% were women. Respondents ranged from mildly to severely impaired. The majority of respondents (96%) was aware cannabis was potentially therapeutically useful for MS and most (72%) supported legalization for medicinal purposes. Forty-three percent had tried cannabis at some point in their lives, 16% for medicinal purposes. Symptoms reported to be ameliorated included anxiety/depression, spasticity and chronic pain. Reasons given for not trying cannabis were the fact that it is an illegal substance, concern about side effects and lack of knowledge on how to obtain it. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective improvements in symptom experience were reported by the majority of people with MS who currently use cannabis. Further evaluation of this substance is warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Parity violation in proton-proton scattering at 221 MeV.

The parity-violating longitudinal analyzing power, A(z), has been measured in pvectorp elastic scattering at an incident proton energy of 221 MeV. The result obtained is A(z) = [0.84+/-0.29(stat)+/-0.17(syst)]x10(-7). This experiment is unique in that it selects a single parity violating transition amplitude (3P2 - 1D2) and consequently directly constrains the weak meson-nucleon coupling constant h(pp)(rho). When this result is taken together with the existing pvectorp parity violation data, the weak meson-nucleon coupling constants h(pp)(rho) and h(pp)(omega) can, for the first time, both be determined.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Physicians' perspectives on massage therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the knowledge, opinions, and referral behaviour of family physicians with respect to massage therapy and to explore factors associated with referral. DESIGN: A random, cross-sectional mailed survey. SETTING: Alberta family practices. PARTICIPANTS: Family physicians (n = 300). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A self-report survey was developed for the study. This survey contained questions about sociodemographic and practice characteristics, perceived knowledge of massage therapy, opinions about the usefulness and legislation (government regulations) of massage therapy, and referral behaviour. RESULTS: Fifty-four percent of physicians (n = 161) completed the questionnaire. Sixty-eight percent of respondents indicated they had minimal or no knowledge of massage therapy. Despite this low level of knowledge, most (83%) believed massage therapy was a useful adjunct to their own practice. Moreover, 71% had referred patients to massage therapists and most (72%) perceived increasing demand from their patients for massage therapy. Approximately half of physicians surveyed supported government regulation of massage therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians demonstrated a discrepancy between their knowledge of massage therapy and their opinions of, and referrals to, the profession. Physicians who referred patients to massage therapists generally held more positive opinions and had more knowledge of the discipline.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

The Chiropractic Outcome Study: pain, functional ability and satisfaction with care.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in pain experienced, changes in functional ability and degree of patient satisfaction with chiropractic care. Patient characteristics influencing these parameters were also explored. DESIGN: A follow-up study consisting of a questionnaire to be completed at the beginning of treatment and a mailed questionnaire 6 wk later. SETTING: Non-random sample of 13 chiropractic practices in Calgary and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. PATIENTS: Three hundred sixty-nine patients presenting with neck and/or back pain who saw a chiropractor for the first time or who had not seen a chiropractor for a period for 6 months before the first visit. RESULTS: Pain relief and changes in functional ability were greatest among patients whose initial pain or disability level was moderate or severe. No significant improvement was found among those whose initial level of pain or disability was mild. Pain relief and improved functional ability was greatest among those with an acute condition and those who saw no one other than the chiropractor during treatment. In addition, pain relief was highest among men, those who perceived themselves to be in good or excellent health and those who had completed treatment in 6 wk. Patients positively endorsed all items on the satisfaction questionnaire, indicating a high level of satisfaction with the care they received. Patients were most satisfied with access to chiropractic care and least satisfied with financial aspects. Improvement in pain and in back and neck disability were significantly related to general satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it seems that patients suffering from back and/or neck complaints experience chiropractic care as an effective means of resolving or ameliorating pain and functional impairments, thus reinforcing previous results showing the benefits of chiropractic treatment for back and neck pain.

Back Pain↗

PubMed1996

Beliefs of Alberta physicians concerning active euthanasia: analysis of qualitative data collected in the Alberta Euthanasia Survey.

Often the type of information collected in surveys of physicians' opinions about active euthanasia has not revealed their experiences and the rationale(s) they use in arriving at their opinions. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of comments made in a large survey of Alberta physicians' opinions about active euthanasia to identify issues physicians commented upon, and to explore the rationale(s) behind their opinions. This information adds an important qualitative perspective to the current debate about euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Alberta↗

PubMed1996

Disease-specific quality of life: the Gallstone Impact Checklist.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a disease-specific quality-of-life scale for symptomatic cholelithiasis for use in clinical trials, and to evaluate its reliability, construct validity and responsiveness. DESIGN: Questionnaire. PARTICIPANTS: Health care professionals, patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis and their significant others. INTERVENTIONS: A 114-item questionnaire was developed from open-ended questions completed by the participants. Questions dealt with physical symptoms, activities of daily living, job performance, leisure activities, emotional factors, marital and sexual relations, support networks and financial situation. The questionnaire was administered by an interviewer to 50 subjects booked for elective cholecystectomy: frequency-importance products were calculated for each of the 114 items. A final shortened scale (the Gallstone Impact Checklist [GIC]) contained 41 items and was completed by patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis on two occasions, 4 to 6 weeks apart. RESULTS: The checklist requires 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Reliability of the questionnaire and its four subscales was assessed by Cronbach's alpha (overall questionnaire 0.88, pain 0.60, dyspepsia 0.73, emotional impact 0.78 and food and eating 0.84). Construct validity was established by comparison of questionnaire subscales with global ratings of physical and emotional health. Among subjects who reported a difference in their symptoms attributed to gallstones, there was a significant change in total GIC score and in each of the four subscales. Among patients who had undergone cholecystectomy, the absolute value of the effect size was 1.63. CONCLUSIONS: The GIC has content validity and appears to be a reliable, responsive measure of within-person change for subjects with symptomatic cholelithiasis.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Quality of life, bypass surgery and the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in health-related quality of life (HQOL) following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) in elderly patients and to compare patient ratings with proxy ratings. DESIGN: Descriptive, nonrandomized, prospective study. SETTING: Patients from a single primary care facility in a major urban centre within a one-year period. PATIENTS: All eligible patients undergoing CABS at the site within a one-year period were approached for study participation. The study sample consisted of 18 patients 65 years of age or older and 18 proxies at baseline. Fourteen patients and 13 proxies completed follow-up assessments. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent CABS. HQOL was studied using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) and the Psychological Well-Being Schedule (PGWB). MAIN RESULTS: Significant improvements were noted in physical, social and psychological functioning (P < 0.05). Proxies' reports provided good indications of patient functioning for these dimensions with significant differences found only for certain preoperative measures including the total SIP score and the Anxiety and Depression subscales of the PGWB (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients 65 years of age and older accrue improvements in HQOL following CABS. Such findings may influence the allocation and justification of various medical procedures. Proxy ratings closely reflected the patients' own ratings and may therefore be considered a reliable, alternate source of information.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized controlled trial of a brief psychoeducational support group for partners of early stage breast cancer patients.

Partners of breast cancer patients are relied upon for support at a time when their own coping abilities are taxed by the challenge of cancer, yet few studies have investigated psychosocial interventions that include or target the patient's 'significant other'. Of the 118 consecutive patients approached, 36 patients and their partners participated in a randomized controlled trial of a brief psychoeducational group program for partners only. Psychometric instruments (including the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS) and DUKE-UNC Functional Social Support Scale (FSSS)) were administered pre-test, post-test and at 3 months follow-up. The Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MAC) was also completed by patients. Three months after the intervention, partners had less mood disturbance than did controls. Patients whose partners received the intervention reported less mood disturbance, greater confidant support (CS) and greater marital satisfaction.

Adaptation, Psychological↗