PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Community setting”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,099 records · Page 61Linked to original sources

Methods used to maintain a high level of participant involvement in a clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the strategies adopted to maintain high level participation throughout a community based clinical trial, and the reasons given by participants for why they participated in the study. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Community based clinical trial in Melbourne, Australia that ran for 68 weeks and involved 2811 community based individuals from 600 families. A high level of commitment was required of the families; each participant completed a Health Diary each week of the 68 week study, as well as answering numerous other questionnaires, and providing faecal and blood samples. MAIN RESULTS: Only 41 of the 600 families withdrew from the study; the majority of these families withdrew because they sold their home and moved from the study area. The completion rate of Health Diaries averaged 90.7% over the 68 weeks of data collection. Of the 559 families who completed the study, 524 (93.7%) completed the Participation Questionnaire. The statement that received the highest rating for why families enrolled in the study was they thought the study was researching an important community issue. The statements that received the highest ratings for why families continued to participate in the study was the family being kept well informed about the study's progress and that the study was well run. CONCLUSIONS: The low numbers of withdrawals and the high level of participation throughout the study suggests the strategies of (a) having a non-aggressive recruitment method, (b) maintaining regular contact with the participants and (c) ensuring participants were kept well informed of the study's progress and constantly encouraged to continue participation were successful. The results also suggest people involve themselves in research because they perceive it to be of value to the community, not simply for personal gain. They indicated that they maintained their participation because it was a well run study and they were kept well informed throughout the study.

Adolescent↗

Effects of patient management guidelines on physician practice patterns: the Community Hospital Oncology Program experience.

The Community Hospital Oncology Program (CHOP), funded under contracts by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) from 1981 to 1984, was designed to be a model for delivery of the most up-to-date cancer care in the community setting. Site specific patient management guidelines (PMGs) were developed by physicians who saw a majority of cancer patients in each community and represent a consensus of the most current information on pretreatment evaluation and management for each cancer site. There was the potential for PMGs to have a strong effect on physician practice patterns. A patterns of care study (POC) was conducted in the 17 CHOPs to determine the influence of guidelines on practice patterns. The practice elements examined in this report are clinical staging for breast and small-cell lung cancer, medical oncology consultation for breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes, and radiation therapy consultation for rectal and small-cell lung cancer. These elements were in all CHOP guidelines. Except for physicians most active in the CHOP, the data provide no evidence of diffusion of guideline principles to the majority of practicing physicians. Although all guidelines contained discussion of the importance of staging before definitive treatment for breast cancer, only 33% of the 1,922 charts examined had a stage recorded. In small-cell lung cancer, 67% of the 388 charts examined had stage recorded. The years in practice of the primary physician had an inverse relationship to practice patterns as defined by the guidelines. Physician specialty was also a determinant of practice patterns for small-cell lung cancer. However, participation in guideline development and their dissemination did not significantly influence the patterns of care elements examined in this study.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Health status, utilization patterns, and outcomes of persons with intellectual disabilities: review of the literature.

A literature review was conducted to analyze existing data on health status, health care utilization, and medical outcomes of persons with intellectual disabilities. We found that barriers exist, but evidence indicates that (a) individuals with intellectual disability and medical needs are living in the community, (b) people with significant medical conditions can be maintained in community settings, and (c) medical supports can and are provided to people with intellectual disabilities and allied medical conditions to enable community living. However, some people had unmet medical needs, and the availability of and access to community-based services were problematic for others. These contradictory findings indicate that it is possible to provide services in the community, but the service delivery system needs improvement.

Adult↗

Non-adherence to community directed treatment with ivermectin for onchocerciasis control in Rungwe district, southwest Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) for onchocerciasis control was developed as a strategy for achieving sustained high coverage in endemic communities. This strategy for over a short period of time has radically altered the consequences of infection with Onchocerca volvulus. The present challenge is maintaining the high therapeutic coverage especially in some of the impoverished endemic countries. One of these challenges is non-adherence to ivermectin treatment and this provides compelling reason for data collection at community level. OBJECTIVE: To describe the factors associated with non-adherence to CDTI. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: Communities participating in CDTI activities in Ndubi village, Rungwe district, southwest Tanzania. RESULTS: A high proportion (66%) of respondents were aware of onchocerciasis, and this was more significant in males than females (X2 = 9.17; p< 0.002). Knowledge on causes of the disease was low, only 29.3% associated it with the bite of Simulium fly, 17% associated it with mosquitoes, 17.1% to houseflies, and 30% had completely no idea. Knowledge on signs and symptoms of onchocerciasis was also observed to be equally low (20.4%) among the respondents. Similarly, only 35.4% of the respondents knew itching, swelling of the body, diarrhoea and vomiting as associated side effects of ivermectin. There was, however, no sex difference in knowledge levels (X2 = 0.01; p>0.939). Low knowledge levels on causes of the disease, signs and symptoms and side effects of ivermectin were attributed to inadequate health education in the communities. However, some other factors associated with non-adherence were local beliefs and the lifestyle of alcoholism. CONCLUSIONS: Factors identified to affect programme implementation and associated with non-adherence were inadequate knowledge on causes of the disease and sign/symptoms, side effects of ivermectin, local beliefs and lifestyle of alcoholism in the communities.

Adult↗

Clostridium difficile colitis following antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures.

Clostridium difficile-induced diarrhea and colitis are common complications of therapeutic courses of antibiotics in the hospital setting. We report a case of Clostridium difficile colitis following antibiotic prophylaxis for endocarditis prior to dental procedures in the community setting. The infection necessitated hospital admission and a prolonged hospital stay. Dental practitioners must be aware of the significance of the disease and the risk associated with antibiotics, whether they are used for prophylaxis or treatment.

Aged↗

From randomized trial to community-focused practice.

PURPOSE: To describe the use of findings from a randomized trial--a nursing intervention using telephone contacts to reduce the incidence of low-birth-weight and preterm births--in four community settings in North Carolina, to show that implementing research into practice is important. Low-birth-weight and preterm births are the major cause of high infant mortality in the United States. Rates are highest among African-American women. Telephone intervention as a strategy for preventive health care can be cost effective, reduce low-birth-weight and preterm births in African-American women, and provide a means of health consultation for parents of children age five and under. ORGANIZING FRAMEWORK: Four community programs are discussed in relation to five phases of implementing and sustaining research in communities: research, transfer, transition, regeneration, and empowerment. Modification from the original research, bonuses, and barriers are described for each program. METHODS: The randomized trial was conducted from 1990-1995. Randomized trial data and data for subsequent projects were collected from telephone interviews and health care records from 1994-1998. A successful adaptation was made from the original randomized trial to the four programs by (a) educating the staff for each program about the methods and findings in the original research, and (b) working with program staff to make appropriate modifications for each site. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from a randomized trial can be used in a variety of settings. By working together, researchers and community-health nurses can integrate research findings into community-health nursing practice.

Black People↗

Teaching as therapy: cross sectional and qualitative evaluation of patients' experiences of undergraduate psychiatry teaching in the community.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of participating in undergraduate teaching in general practice for patients with common mental disorders. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey and qualitative in-depth interviews. SETTING: Community based undergraduate teaching programme for fourth year students at a London medical school doing a psychiatry attachment. PARTICIPANTS: Questionnaire survey: all patients involved in the teaching programme over one academic year. In-depth interviews: 20 patients, 14 students, and 12 general practitioner tutors participating in the programme. RESULTS: The questionnaire showed high levels of satisfaction with teaching encounters for participating patients, which were corroborated in the interviews. Many patients and general practitioners reported specific therapeutic benefits for patients from contact with students, including raised self esteem and empowerment; the development of a coherent "illness narrative"; new insights into their problems; and a deeper, more balanced, and understanding doctor-patient relationship. For a few patients the teaching caused some distress, which may relate to a lack of insight into their condition or deficits in students' interviewing skills. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in teaching can have additional positive therapeutic outcomes for selected patients with common mental disorders, although a small minority report negative effects. Testing in a larger sample is needed to determine the characteristics of patients in these two subgroups and establish whether these effects persist.

Adult↗

Role utilization of nurses in public psychiatry.

This study examined the professional, work and organizational characteristics, and the actual and preferred work activities of nurses employed by one state mental health agency. Findings include neutral ratings by this older and experienced group of nurses in relation to job satisfaction, work autonomy, and organizational commitment regardless of educational background or work setting. Specific activities of the nurses varied appropriately based on education, but differences emerged among functions performed by nurses in inpatient and community settings. All nurses preferred to increase their direct care activities and significantly reduce their clerical activities. Factors related to the appropriate utilization of public sector psychiatric nurses are analyzed.

Adult↗

Geriatric patient outcomes and costs in three settings: nursing home, foster family, and own home.

Forty-nine matched triads of geriatric patients were compared after three months in their respective placement settings: nursing homes, geriatric foster homes, and own homes with supportive services. Compared to similarly disabled patients in nursing homes, patients in the two community settings made greater improvements in self-care skills and mobility, expressed greater well-being, had similar types and amounts of morbidity, and entailed lower costs. The results support the expansion of home and community-based services as alternatives to institutional care for a substantial number of geriatric patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Chronic pelvic pain: aetiology and therapy.

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common condition in women and rates of consultation for CPP in general practice are similar to those for asthma and migraine. US and UK population-based studies, together with data from UK hospital settings demonstrate a substantial impact of CPP on health-related quality of life. In this review, we will examine the current evidence on the aetiology and management of CPP, focussing on the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that are available to date. CPP is a heterogeneous condition and causation is often unclear. There are associations with specific pathological processes but a barrier to understanding is that many studies have data that are not comparable. In the community setting, as many as 60% of women with CPP have not received a specific diagnosis and up to 20% have not undergone any investigation. The factor most commonly associated with CPP in the community is irritable bowel syndrome, although in a tertiary setting with laparoscopy, pathology associated with CPP in ascending order of frequency is endometriosis (33%), adhesions (24%) and 'no pathology' (35%). Current RCT evidence provides some support for the use of ultrasound scanning as an aid to counselling and reassurance, progestogen (medroxyprogesterone acetate) or goserelin for pelvic congestion and a multidisciplinary approach to assessment and treatment. Adhesiolysis is not shown to be of benefit other than in women with extensive adhesions. While studied in relation to dysmenorrhoea rather than CPP, the short term results for presacral neurectomy (PSN) and laparoscopic utero-sacral nerve ablation (LUNA) seem to be similar, although PSN has better results in the long term. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants have not been shown to be of benefit in CPP. Most of these conclusions are based on the outcome of single randomised trials and therefore need replication.

Adolescent↗

Nonfatal and fatal firearm injuries in a rural county.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the incidence of fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries in a rural setting. DESIGN: A prospective, population-based surveillance system using information from medical and legal records, newspapers, and members of the community. SETTING: A rural county in North Carolina. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence rates and case-fatality ratios (fatal:non-fatal). RESULTS: Of the 114 firearm injuries detected by the surveillance system from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1991, nearly two thirds were nonfatal. The overall age-adjusted annual incidence of firearm injuries was 66.4 per 100 000 population, and the incidence of nonfatal firearm injuries was 41.2 per 100 000 population. Subgroup annual incidence rates were greatest for African Americans. The overall case-fatality ratio was 1:1.8 (fatal:nonfatal). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence rates and case-fatality ratios for firearm injury in this rural setting were greater than expected, based on national estimates, perhaps because of greater proportions of rifle injuries and self-inflicted injuries.

Accidents↗

Understanding community re-entry of former prisoners with mental illness: a conceptual model to guide new research.

Criminal justice, mental health, and social service professionals face a myriad of role expectations in working with prisoners with mental illness to facilitate community re-entry. These expectations include those related to law enforcement, social welfare, and administrative efficiency. The challenge for front line workers and the multiple systems that employ them is to integrate all these expectations effectively on behalf of the individual as well as the community. Current models of re-entry for individuals leaving prison with mental illness focus on the management and interaction of service systems. This paper presents a model of prisoner re-entry that incorporates a larger social context, illustrating dynamics related to both individuals with mental illness leaving prison and their interaction with the community setting. This model was generated through an interdisciplinary team effort. It was refined through a focus group process that included advocates, community members and other informants from mental health and criminal justice systems in five states. The model is designed to generate new questions for research that address both individual and community level issues.

Community Mental Health Services↗

A community approach to diabetes education in Australia--The Region 8 (Victoria) Diabetes Education and Control Program.

The Australian Region 8 (Victoria) Diabetes Education and Control Program (DECP) is a community-based program which seeks to integrate ambulatory diabetes education programs into primary health care centres. The overall goal of the DECP is to reduce the human and economic costs of diabetes in a health region which covers 25% of the population of Victoria. Several implementation models are being tested and a rigorous evaluation has been built into the program. Diabetes education activities are targeted at 3 levels--the community, persons with diabetes, and health professionals. The DECP may provide of useful model for establishing diabetes and other chronic disease education and control programs, within community settings, in other parts of Australia and other countries.

Australia↗

Setting priorities for a discharge plan for stroke patients entering nursing home care.

OBJECTIVE: To agree priorities for the structure and content of the discharge process for stroke patients entering nursing home care. DESIGN: A formal priority-setting exercise using the Nominal Group Technique. PARTICIPANTS: A panel of 12 members of a multidisciplinary team from a hospital and community setting with experience in the management of stroke patients on a daily basis. RESULTS: Agreement was good and improved during the process (Kendall coefficient of concordance 'W increased from 0.48 to 0.58 for physical care needs, 0.45 to 0.75 for care needs and 0.56 to 0.72 for the discharge process). The priorities for discharge were: 1) Plans need to be co-ordinated by one person 2) Clear written information on medication should be provided 3) Clear written information on nutritional needs should be provided. CONCLUSION: Agreement was reached by a panel of clinicians on an evidence-based discharge plan for stroke patients entering nursing home care.

Aged↗

Clinical efficacy and pharmacoeconomics of a continuous-infusion piperacillin-tazobactam program in a large community teaching hospital.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare continuous versus intermittent administration of piperacillin-tazobactam with regard to clinical, microbiologic, and economic outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective, open-label controlled study SETTING: Community teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Ninety-eight hospitalized patients prescribed piperacillin-tazobactam. INTERVENTION: Substitutions were implemented so that 47 patients initially prescribed intermittent infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam were switched to continuous infusion of this drug combination. Dosages varied in accordance with the type of infection and each patient's renal function. Fifty-one other patients with similar demographics and types of infection received intermittent infusion with piperacillin-tazobactam. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Clinical success rates were 94% for the continuous-infusion group and 82% for the intermittent-infusion group (p=0.081). Microbiologic success rates were 89% for the continuous-infusion group and 73% for the intermittent-infusion group (p=0.092). Days to normalization of fever were significantly lower (p=0.012) in the continuous-infusion group (1.2 +/- 0.8 days) than in the intermittent-infusion group (2.4 +/- 1.5 days). Level 1 and level 2 costs/patient were both reduced by continuous infusion, although the difference was statistically significant only for level 2 costs ($399.38 +/- 407.22 for continuous infusion vs $523.49 +/- 526.85 for intermittent infusion, p=0.028). CONCLUSION: Continuous infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam provided clinical and microbiologic outcomes equivalent to those for intermittent infusion. Compared with intermittent infusion, continuous infusion significantly shortened the time to temperature normalization, while also offering a significant reduction in level 2 expenditures.

Aged↗

The role of the occupational therapist-work evaluator.

This paper presents the role of the occupational therapist as that of a work evaluator who provides services to injured workers. Therapists, by virtue of their professional knowledge, have a frame of reference for work evaluation and understand the factors that interrupt the work process. In work evaluation, the therapist assists the injured worker to develop work readiness and the physical capacities necessary for working productively. This development takes place in a therapeutic milieu where the "worker" role is regained. The role of the occupational therapist-work evaluator includes work-oriented treatment in the acute care setting, job analysis, work tolerance screening, work capacity evaluation, work hardening, and job market reentry management in the work evaluation and community settings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Community partnership model for health professions education.

Many health professions schools have neglected the US population's health by emphasizing acutely ill patients in hospitals, biomedical research of disease, and high technology. Because most students will eventually fill practitioner roles in primary and secondary care, it is logical that the health professions must shift their curricula's focus to prepare practitioners for the health care needs of the community. The Community Partnership Model is one approach that focuses on public health care needs by educating students in multiprofessional teams in a new organizational structure known as the academic, community-based, primary health care center. This partnership between academic institutions and communities is designed to shift the educational and socializing activities of health professions training outside hospitals to the community setting where research, teaching, and service take place in one structure.

Community Health Services↗

Resident medical care utilization patterns in continuing care retirement communities.

This article presents the findings of an evaluation of medical care service utilization by two elderly cohorts: one living in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and the other living in traditional community settings. CCRC residents' overall use of Medicare-covered medical services did not differ significantly from that of the traditional community-residing elders. Both groups incurred annual per capita expenditures of approximately $2,000. In their last year of life, however, CCRC residents displayed significantly lower expenditures for hospital care ($3,854 versus $7,268) but higher expenditures for Medicare or non-Medicare-covered nursing home care ($5,565 versus $3,533).

Aged↗