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Biomedical subjects

U Brown

Publications and source records attributed to U Brown.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Common colds. Reported patterns of self-care and health care use.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the self-reported prevalence and patterns of self-care and health care use for colds and flu. DESIGN: Using the expert panel method, a questionnaire was developed to explore self-care practices, attitudes, pharmaceutical use, and health care use for a range of cold and flu symptoms. SETTING: London and Windsor, Ont. PARTICIPANTS: Using a random-digit-dialing survey method, 210 residents were interviewed between November and December 1993. Of 1484 telephone numbers called, 1179 calls were ineligible. Two hundred ten questionnaires were completed for 305 eligible respondents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data, typical self-care practices, actual practice during respondents' last cold, opinions on appropriate practices, and knowledge of how to treat colds. RESULTS: Self-care was respondents' treatment of choice, and most respondents use over-the-counter drugs. Prescription drug use was low. Only 1% reported seeing a physician for their last cold. As the number of symptoms increased, however, reported use of over-the-counter drugs and calls or visits to doctors increased. CONCLUSIONS: Results are congruent with other studies showing that the health care practices of most respondents are consistent with low use of the health care system and high levels of self-care for colds and flu.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of a cold/flu self-care public education campaign.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate an Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) cold/flu self-care public education campaign to reduce unnecessary patient visits to doctors. The MOH campaign consisted of an information booklet delivered to every household in an Ontario city, newspaper ads and radio spots. The program ran during January-March 1994. The evaluation consisted of: (1) 2x2 telephone survey in London (experimental area) and Windsor (comparison area), before and during the campaign; and (2) a telephone survey of London family practitioners during the campaign. In addition, data on the incidence of cold/flu visits to three hospital emergency departments and a sample of family physicians' offices were gathered. The data suggest that program rationale may have been questionable because the majority of the surveyed public were knowledgeable and self-reported appropriate doctor visits for cold/flu. Campaign evaluation showed limited impact. Message penetration was low; only one-third of London residents knew of the campaign or read the booklet. Only two of 10 questions showed increases in knowledge in London and no changes were found for beliefs, attitudes, acquisition of new health practices or self-reported visits to the doctor. The physician survey, emergency room and family physician office visit data were consistent with the public survey findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Clinical nursing.

Today clinical nursing in South Africa is at the crossroads. Many of its best practitioners are lured into management and education, where direct patient contact may be minimal or non-existent. Two reasons for this brain-drain are expounded. Furthermore, a more satisfactory and challenging career structure in clinical nursing is suggested as one possible solution. The educational preparation of nurse clinicians in essential life-skills also needs further attention. The Biomatrix approach is modified and applied to nursing education in an attempt to explain the need for nursing students to learn within a framework that generates self-actualisation, competence and adequate feedback.

Career Mobility↗
PubMed1986

Problem solving.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cold/flu knowledge, attitudes and health care practices: results of a two-city telephone survey.

The purpose of this paper is to describe knowledge, attitudes and practices of cold and flu self-care and health care utilization, and to identify the predictors of health care utilization for the cold and flu among residents of London and Windsor. Using a random digit dialing survey method, 417 residents were interviewed between November-December, 1993 and February-March, 1994. This survey revealed good knowledge about colds and flu and understanding of appropriate physician visits. Only seven percent reported a doctor visit for their last cold. Socio-demographic, health status, attitude and knowledge level variables were subjected to a logistic regression analysis to identify which variables predicted self-reported physician visits. Only attitudes and health status showed statistically significant log odds (3.6 and 1.5, respectively). In summary, consistent with other studies, attitude and health status, not knowledge, appear to be significant predictors of physician visits for colds/flu.

Adolescent↗