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Biomedical subjects

S L Pontious

Publications and source records attributed to S L Pontious.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Complementary alternative medicine in health and mental health: implications for social work practice.

This article describes the increasing use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in this country and its implications for social work practice, education, research and policy in the health care field. Descriptive examples of CAM treatment modalities are provided along with their underlying rationale, common uses and available empirical support. It is concluded that patients will be better served by social workers who have knowledge of CAM treatment modalities. Furthermore, the need for further research on the efficacy of many CAM treatments and the certification of CAM treatment providers is discussed.

Certification↗
PubMed1993

Nutritional support for the patient with diabetes.

Nutritional support for critically ill patients with diabetes mellitus will be successful when nutrition meets the patient's metabolic needs; blood glucose levels are maintained between 100 and 200 mg/dL; complications of hyperglycemia, sepsis, and hypoglycemia are prevented; insulin dosages take basal metabolic needs, stress level, pharmacologic therapy, and the degree of illness into account; and nutritional support is provided in the least invasive manner possible. Providing nutritional support without adequate glycemic control and appropriate insulin administration is counterproductive for the patient. Careful monitoring of blood glucose and blood chemistries, along with the physical assessment of patients receiving nutritional support, are essential to successful treatment. Further research is necessary to define better which levels of glycemic control are most beneficial for providing optimal nutritional support for critically ill patients with diabetes mellitus.

Critical Illness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Weight loss from inappropriate insulin manipulation: an eating disorder variant in an adolescent with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

This is the first in a series of papers being sponsored by the Psychosocial Committee of AADE that will highlight psychosocial issues encountered in the treatment of diabetes. The present case describes the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a young woman with IDDM who inappropriately manipulated her insulin to lose weight. The discussion focuses on the role of the diabetes treatment team in the early detection and prevention of maladaptive weight-loss behaviors. This is achieved through routine assessment, diabetes-specific dietary counseling, and the education of young patients and their parents on the serious health and financial consequences of inappropriate insulin a adjustment.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship among six psychosocial domains, age, health care adherence, and metabolic control in adolescents with IDDM.

This pilot study examined the relationship among six psychosocial factors, age, health care compliance, and metabolic control in adolescents with IDDM. Four objectives were identified: 1) to determine whether specific compliance areas predict metabolic control; 2) to determine whether specific psychosocial factors predict metabolic control; 3) to determine whether compliance and psychosocial issues change with age; and 4) to determine whether the parent or the youth is the more accurate predictor of metabolic control. Twenty-one adolescents age 13 through 18 years participated in this study. Dietary compliance was found to be the best predictor of metabolic control. Parents more accurately predicted metabolic control for youths younger than 16 years old, while the reverse was true for older youths. A negative relationship was identified among strong self-concept, high knowledge of IDDM, parental support, and poor metabolic control. Several possible explanations are discussed, including power struggles, coping difficulties, and fear of peer reactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Research on social support in adolescents with IDDM: a critical review.

This article provides a review of the findings of 32 scientific studies that examined the relationship between social support and adherence/metabolic control in adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Social support included qualitative family support characteristics, communication patterns, sibling and peer relationships, and regimen-specific support behaviors. The literature was examined in the context of adolescent development. Although the results of these studies were somewhat inconsistent, some general patterns emerged that are described and discussed in detail. Methodological limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy and reliability of temperature measurement in the emergency department by instrument and site in children.

PURPOSE: 1. To determine the accuracy, precision, specificity, sensitivity, positive prediction, and negative prediction of TempaDOT, FirstTEMP, and Genius as compared to the glass mercury thermometer; 2. To determine the influence of age, behavior, febrile status, tympanic membrane bulge, presence of ear wax, and site on temperature readings; and 3. To determine the ability of each instrument to detect a shift in temperature after Tylenol. METHOD: A quasi-experimental, multiple-correlational design was used to study 960 temperature measurements obtained on 89 febrile and 83 afebrile children in an emergency unit. FINDINGS: TempaDOT was found to be the most accurate and most precise instrument for children ages 5 years and under with and without fevers. FirstTEMP was found to be most sensitive for temperatures above 37.5 degrees C and best in detecting shifts after Tylenol was given. Age, behavior, febrile status or tympanic membrane bulge did not significantly affect accuracy. The most accurate sites in order of accuracy were: oral axillary, aural, rectal. The order of precision of sites was: oral, aural, rectal, and axillary. Behavior did not significantly affect the precision. CONCLUSION: TempaDOT was found to be the most clinically useful temperature measurement instrument. FirstTEMP may be used as a screening tool to determine if antipyretic medication is working to decrease fevers. TempaDOT is recommended for use in emergency units to validate the presence or absence of fevers in children especially when the FirstTEMP reading is near 37.0-38.8 degrees C.

Body Temperature↗