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Biomedical subjects

T C Pratt

Publications and source records attributed to T C Pratt.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1980

A comparison of dropouts and disciplinary discharges from a therapeutic community.

Differences between regular dropouts and disciplinary discharges from drug treatment programs have frequently been overlooked in studies on attrition. Data on symptom, mood, attitudes, and social dysfunction were collected from 104 males under treatment for drug abuse at a VA Hospital A 2 x 2 analysis of variance tested for differences between regular dropouts/disciplinary discharges and heroin/nonheroin subjects. Results showed that the heroin dropouts had the most negative attitude toward the Hard Drug User, and the heroin disciplinary discharges tended to be the most dysfunctional.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The physician's role in the cost-containment problem.

The seemingly uncontrolled increase in the cost of medical care is one of the major problems facing the American physician. Although the reasons for escalated costs are multifactorial, the physician does play an important role in the problem. Several studies have suggested that physicians, the cost generators, and unaware of the economic impact of the care they provide. In the preparation of this report, 70 medical students, 316 interns and residents, and 41 faculty members at the University of Miami School of Medicine were surveyed on their knowledge of frequently ordered hospital billing items. A common lack of knowledge was noted in all three groups of respondents, with the faculty scoring as poorly as the medical students. Major efforts must be directed toward the cost education of physicians.

Cost Control↗
PubMed1979

Minority women's attitudes about aging.

Many factors combine to make middle age a critical period with respect to views about aging. To examine the effects of culture, background, and familial characteristics on attitudes toward old age, 304 middle-aged women from Black, Cuban, American Indian, Chicano, and white cultures were studied. A stepwise multiple regression analysis examined the contribution of each variable in the prediction of attitudes toward old age. Attitude toward death, attitude toward family, and church affiliation were found to be important predictors of attitude toward old age. Thus, clinicians dealing with middle-aged women having negative attitudes or fears about aging and old age in general may need to examine family dynamics as well as views about death and dying for possible problems. Where religion is already an integral part of a client's life, perhaps clinicians could use this orientation for added support.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Living arrangements and well being in elderly women.

Psychosocial and health data were obtained from 50 black and 47 white females age 65 and over. The women were divided according to whether they lived alone, with spouse only, or with persons other than (or in addition to) the spouse. Those living alone were found to have lower life satisfaction, lower self-esteem, and higher social dysfunction than those living with spouse or others. No differences were found with respect to depression, somatization, diet, or activity level. There was a significant interaction effect between race and living arrangement with respect to anxiety, with blacks being less anxious than whites when living with others, and more anxious when living alone or with only a spouse.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1979

Cultural factors and attrition in drug abuse treatment.

The present study examined how race related to attrition in drug abuse treatment. 165 male voluntary admissions to an inpatient Substance Abuse Unit were tested at admission on functioning, motivation, attitudes, symptoms, and mood-using reliable and valid scales. One week later they completed a 12-factor scale measuring perception of the treatment milieu. Data were analyzed in a 2 x 2 factorial design of analysis of variance. There were 106 White subjects and 59 Blacks. The dropout rate for Blacks and Whites was 63%. Two factors measured at intake, motivation and social functioning, showed statistically significant interactions between race and attrition. Four ward perception factors showed a differential effect related to race and attrition. The White dropout and completer did not differ in how they perceived the ward. Blacks, however, who perceived the environment as being more insightful, spontaneous, autonomous, and practical remained. Although Blacks and Whites differed on many variables, only six showed race-related differences in attrition. Having higher motivation and poorer adjustment influenced Whites to stay. Factors in the environment, however, influenced Blacks. What might be considered a more "therapeutic" milieu was effective in helping Blacks remain in treatment. Knowledge of these cultural differences could help in designing treatment programs.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1978

Focus on the family as a factor in differential treatment outcome.

The prognostic relationship between prehospital living arrangements and treatment outcome was explored. Drug (N = 17) and alcohol (N = 19) patients who had lived with parents, wives, nonrelatives, or alone before voluntary admission to an inpatient substance abuse program were compared on changes in social dysfunctioning and symptomatology as a result of treatment. Ratings on each patient's level of dysfunctioning and symptomatology were made following intake into the program and within a 3-day period after receiving a regular discharge. While treatment had a positive effect on all groups, multivariate analysis of covariance showed a significant (P less than .009) differential rate of improvement between the pretreatment residential setting groups. Those who had lived alone or with nonrelatives prior to admission changed the most, becoming significantly less dysfunctional and symptomatic. Those coming from parental families changed the least improvement, while those who had lived with their spouses showed moderate improvement. Findings were consistent for both drug and alcohol patients. Results indicate that the type of home environment from which substance abusers come before engaging in treatment significantly influences their receptivity to rehabilitation. Findings suggest the need for assessment of the family environment and utilization of community resources as a means of enhancing adjustment.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The alcoholic's perception of the ward as a predictor of aftercare attendance.

The present study attempted to determine whether attendance in aftercare services could be predicted from the alcoholic's perception of the inpatient ward environment. Thirty-five Ss who completed inpatient treatment and were eligible for outpatient group therapy were followed up 3 months after discharge. One factor of the Ward Atmosphere Scale, autonomy, significantly differentiated attenders (N = 13) from nonattenders (N = 22); attenders perceived more autonomy on the ward than did nonattenders. Two additional factors, aggression and insight, also differentiated the groups, although not to a statistically significant degree. Attenders were found to perceive more encouragement by the staff to express openly their angry feelings and to share their personal selves with others than were nonattenders.

Adult↗