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Orgasm without organisms: science or propaganda?

The worldwide epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) presents a major public health challenge to medical practitioners and educators as they seek to implement preventive educational strategies in the adolescent population. The serious consequences of many STDs and the insufficient impact of condom promotion in this high-risk group have led to increasing recognition that sexual intercourse is medically unwise for young adolescents. As a result of this recognition, some educators have proposed that adolescent sexuality education focus on the explicit teaching of noncoital sexual activities, sometimes called outercourse. This paper explores the emergence of this educational strategy, the assertion that noncoital sexual activities will positively impact the rising incidence of STDs and unplanned pregnancy in teenagers, and the hypothetical benefits of adolescent noncoital sex.

Adolescent↗

Psychiatric emergencies and the millennium: an international study.

BACKGROUND: The millennium posed an unknown challenge to mental health services worldwide. In anticipation, contingencies were implemented in preparation for the unexpected impact on psychiatric morbidity. RESULTS: This study evaluates the impact of the millennium on psychiatric emergency service utilization in the Northern and Southern hemispheres--the UK, Nigeria and Australia. Findings did not demonstrate a notable "millennium effect" on mental health services. A number of patients presented psychopathology incorporating millennium themes. A post-Christmas and post-New Year increase in presentation was observed. CONCLUSION: There was no change in service needs.

Emergency Services, Psychiatric↗

Using self-monitoring with an adolescent with disruptive classroom behavior: preliminary analysis of the role of adult feedback.

Current research supports the effectiveness of self-monitoring strategies for addressing academic and behavioral challenges within educational settings. Although variations in procedures exist, frequently implementation of self-monitoring involves some form of adult feedback as a method of establishing accurate self-monitoring. To date, however, researchers have not systematically evaluated whether adult feedback is a necessary component for self-monitoring to be effective. In the current investigation, the influence of adult feedback on the effectiveness of self-monitoring was analyzed. The participant was a 13-year-old student receiving educational services in a special education school at a residential facility for youth with conduct problems. The effectiveness of self-monitoring with and without adult feedback was compared. Results suggest that adult feedback may be an important component for establishing self-monitoring as an effective intervention for behavior problems exhibited in academic settings.

Adolescent↗

Successful strategies for effective management of hospital utilization.

Providing high-quality, cost-effective medical care is the challenge facing all managers of health care, physicians and administrators alike. Meeting this challenge will help determine the financial success of any health care delivery system. Innovative programming to successfully decrease hospitalization and the length of stay is one of the keys to successfully meeting this challenge. This article provides an overview of programs which, if implemented, will do much to either eliminate or shorten hospital days.

Ambulatory Care↗

The use of environmental strategies and psychotropic medication in the management of delirium.

BACKGROUND: This paper examines the pattern and frequency of implementation of environmental strategies and the use of psychotropic medication in the management of patients with delirium in an acute hospital setting. METHOD: The study involved 46 consecutive referrals to a consultation psychiatry service each of whom met ICD-10 criteria for delirium. Patients were subdivided into hyperactive, hypoactive and mixed subtypes of delirium and assessed regarding severity of delirium, the use of psychotropic medication prior to consultation and the implementation of environmental measures in their management. RESULTS: Mean age was 60.1 years. Thirty per cent of patients were of the hyperactive subtype, 24% hypoactive and 46% mixed. Psychotropic medication was given to 56.5% prior to consultation and this is significantly associated with severity of delirium and in particular, with hyperactive delirium subtype. Of eight environmental strategies only four were instituted in over 50% of the patients prior to consultation. The application of these strategies was associated with overall severity of delirium, agitation, mood lability and sleep-wake cycle disturbance. It was not significantly associated with severity of disorientation or with disturbed perception/thinking. CONCLUSION: Simple environmental strategies such as limiting changes in staff, minimising noise levels and involving relatives in re-orientation are frequently overlooked in the management of patients with delirium. Our study suggests that the implementation of environmental strategies occurs primarily in responses to behavioural challenges rather than to limit the core features of delirium.

Adult↗

Changing pressure-redistributing mattress stocks: costs and outcomes.

There remains considerable confusion regarding the selection of appropriate pressure-redistributing support surfaces, although it is accepted that use of low-pressure foam mattresses is likely to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers compared with standard hospital mattresses. In this study, a 650- hospital replaced its mattress stock with low-pressure foam mattresses with over pounds sterling 100 000 cost savings in the first year after implementation. Incidence and prevalence data were recorded but given the challenges of interpreting apparent trends in the data (due to the lack of robust data collection methodologies and no case-mix adjustment) these data were not included.

Beds↗

Comment on medication management models and other pharmacist interventions: implications for policy and practice.

Implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 poses challenges for policy makers and administrators, not the least of which is a provision that high-risk or targeted beneficiaries receive Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Services. To ensure that Congressional intent is carried out when Medicare Part D goes into effect in January 2006, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is responsible for issuing regulations to operationalize MTM Services. This article comments on the policy and practice implications of providing such services, including recommendations of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and presents findings from the Medication Management Model and other community-based Pharmacist-centered interventions as examples of solutions to improve medication management and prevent medication-related problems in Medicare beneficiaries.

Aged, 80 and over↗

Exercise participation in a frail elderly population.

A low-intensity exercise demonstration project was developed jointly by researchers, social service practitioners, and program participants to actively involve frail older people in their own health maintenance. This article describes this collaborative process and its impact on the success of the health promotion program, which was conducted at three senior centers serving a low-income, urban elderly population. Participants were predominantly sedentary women over age 70 with multiple chronic conditions. The program was conducted with peer leaders to facilitate its continuation after the research demonstration phase. In addition to positive health outcomes related to functional mobility, blood pressure maintenance, and overall well-being, this intervention was successful in sustaining active participation in regular physical activity through the use of peer leaders selected by the program participants. The planning, implementation, and outcomes of this project illustrate the benefits and challenges of combining research and practice perspectives in conducting health promotion interventions with older populations.

Black or African American↗

Significance, management and prevention of Streptococcus agalactiae infection during the perinatal period.

The highest annual death rate during the first five decades of life occurs in the first year, particularly during the perinatal period between the onset of labor and 72 h after birth. Invasive bacterial disease evoking the severe inflammatory response syndrome is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Group B streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) is the most important pathogen in this period of life, although the concept of intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis has impressively reduced the rate of culture-proven invasive infection in neonates. This strategy, however, has considerable limitations since group B streptococcus-related stillbirths or prematurity and late-onset sepsis cannot be prevented. Moreover, the use of intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis has significantly increased the use of antibiotics during labor and therefore may select for intrapartum infections caused by other bacteria, including those resistant to antibiotics. Several advances in the development of vaccines and research on virulence factors and pathways involved in the immune response to group B streptococcus have been accomplished within the last years, including complete sequencing of the group B streptococcus genome. Development of effective vaccines and implementation of vaccination strategies will be one of the key challenges in the future for prevention of neonatal group B Streptococcus infections.

Animals↗

[Social policies and violence: a proposal from Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil].

This bibliographical research and analysis of official documents on social policies and violence aims to present a great and rewarding challenge that is oriented by a new municipal administration guideline, implementing a Network for Children's and Adolescent's Care-RAICA. This Network is aimed at articulation with a view to the integration of different services and their professionals in order to intervene in the problems children and adolescents are facing due to increased violence in several areas.

Adolescent↗

The World Health Organization European Health in Prisons Project after 10 years: persistent barriers and achievements.

The recognition that good prison health is important to general public health has led 28 countries in the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) to join a WHO network dedicated to improving health within prisons. Within the 10 years since that time, vital actions have been taken and important policy documents have been produced. A key factor in making progress is breaking down the isolation of prison health services and bringing them into closer collaboration with the country's public health services.However, barriers to progress remain. A continuing challenge is how best to move from policy recommendations to implementation, so that the network's fundamental aim of noticeable improvements in the health and care of prisoners is further achieved.

Benchmarking↗

Improving the well-being of elderly patients via community pharmacy-based provision of pharmaceutical care: a multicentre study in seven European countries.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to measure the outcomes of a harmonised, structured pharmaceutical care programme provided to elderly patients (> or =65 years of age) by community pharmacists in a multicentre international study performed in 7 European countries. DESIGN AND SETTING: The study was a randomised, controlled, longitudinal, clinical trial with repeated measures performed over an 18-month period. A total of 104 intervention and 86 control pharmacy sites participated in the research and 1290 intervention patients and 1164 control patients were recruited into the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: A general decline in health-related quality of life over time was observed in the pooled data; however, significant improvements were achieved in patients involved in the pharmaceutical care programme in some countries. Intervention patients reported better control of their medical conditions as a result of the study and cost savings associated with pharmaceutical care provision were observed in most countries. The new structured service was well accepted by intervention patients and patient satisfaction with the services improved during the study. The pharmacists involved in providing pharmaceutical care had a positive opinion on the new approach, as did the majority of general practitioners surveyed. The positive effects appear to have been achieved via social and psychosocial aspects of the intervention, such as the increased support provided by community pharmacists, rather than via biomedical mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first large-scale, multicentre study to investigate the effects of pharmaceutical care provision by community pharmacists to elderly patients. Future research methodology and implementation will be informed by the experience gained from this challenging trial.

Aged↗

National data elements for the clinical management of acute coronary syndromes.

Patients with acute coronary syndromes represent a clinically diverse group and their care remains heterogeneous. These patients account for a significant burden of morbidity and mortality in Australia. Optimal patient outcomes depend on rapid diagnosis, accurate risk stratification and the effective implementation of proven therapies, as advocated by clinical guidelines. The challenge is in effectively applying evidence in clinical practice. Objectivity and standardised quantification of clinical practice are essential in understanding the evidence-practice gap. Observational registries are key to understanding the link between evidence-based medicine, clinical practice and patient outcome. Data elements for monitoring clinical management of patients with acute coronary syndromes have been adapted from internationally accepted definitions and incorporated into the National Health Data Dictionary, the national standard for health data definitions in Australia. Widespread use of these data elements will assist in the local development of "quality-of-care" initiatives and performance indicators, facilitate collaboration in cardiovascular outcomes research, and aid in the development of electronic data collection methods.

Acute Disease↗

[Special applications in health telematics: electronic prescription/electronic patient file/digital archiving].

Our challenge for the upcoming years is the development and the implementation of telematic applications that allow the exchange of data between different sectors of the health care system by a network system. Although most of the techniques already exist today, our highly administrated health care system makes further developments difficult. The communication process is subject to conventional procedures that have to be agreed upon between the contracting parties. The aim is to implement a common electronic communication platform for the health care system which can be accessed by all users. For this purpose, the implementation of electronic prescriptions (digital transmission of data that are up to now communicated from the physicians' office to the pharmacy in paper form) and of electronic patient files (structured documentations of findings according to standards agreed upon between the contracting parties) are of fundamental importance.

Drug Prescriptions↗

Rising to the challenge of the new NCEP ATP III guidelines: exceeding current therapeutic limitations.

The third set of guidelines recently issued by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) differs from the second set issued in 1993 in several ways. The third set introduced a quantitative risk scoring system and identified and/or reclassified certain groups of patients at high or moderate risk for a coronary event. Among these groups are patients with type 2 diabetes, and patients with multiple risk factors other than coronary heart disease or diabetes that cumulatively confer high risk for a coronary event. However, the new guidelines also present physicians with the major challenges of identifying these patients, determining their true risk, and implementing the recommended approaches to treatment in clinical practice settings. Although reducing elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol remains the primary focus of therapy, the new NCEP guidelines also include strategies to identify and treat patients with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and/or elevated triglyceride levels. Just as there is "good" cholesterol (HDL) and "bad" cholesterol (LDL), there are also "good" triglycerides, which contain high concentrations of triglyceride remnants and are associated with low risk, and "bad" triglycerides, which contain high concentrations of cholesterol remnants and are associated with increased risk. The mechanisms by which "bad" triglycerides develop explain why elevated triglycerides and low HDL--and patients with the metabolic syndrome--warrant special attention. These mechanisms and others also suggest new targets for therapeutic intervention and the development of new drugs that will correct lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities through a number of different metabolic pathways.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗

Open source handheld-based EMR for paramedics working in rural areas.

We describe a handheld-based electronic medical record (EMR) for use in certain rural settings. The system is based on the Linux operating system and allows access to large mobile databases. The open source system is designed for paramedical health workers serving remote areas in rural India. A PDA loaded with the handheld-based EMR provides workers who have little access to medical doctors with different kinds of decision support and alerts. It addresses two important problems in developing countries: prenatal care and child health. This paper describes the technical challenges and innovation needed in the design, development, adaptation and implementation of the handheld EMR in a real setting in India

Allied Health Personnel↗

[Evidence-based medical approach to clinical medicine and health policy-making in the 21st century].

In the late part of the 20th century, due to the change of disease spectra, rapid increase of health expenditure and imbalanced distribution of health resources, the health management sectors and doctors increasingly demand the scientific decision-making. With the development of clinical evidences and research, evidence-based medicine (EBM) became emerged in the early 1990's. EBM, the medical science in compliance with the best available clinical evidence, integrates clinical epidemiology (CE), systematic reviews (SRs) and health technology assessment (HTA) as the major technology, to emphasize that the clinical practice should be based on the combination of the best available clinical evidence, medical experiences and patient desire to cope with the demand of medical decision-making. Some governments and international organizations like WHO, and Australia have now adopted the high-quality evidence of EBM for decision-making. As the largest developing country, China is challenged by variety of health problems. The introduction, adaptation and implementation of EBM will improve the decision-making and health care services, which should enhance the competitive capacity of medical and pharmaceutical manufactures, as well as promote the popularization of EBM, and protect the doctors and patients rights.

Epidemiologic Methods↗

[Health technology in Mexico].

The features of the health technology cycle are presented, and the effects of the demographic, epidemiologic and economic transition on the health technology demand in Mexico are discussed. The main problems of science and technology in the context of a decreasing scientific and technological activity due to the economic crisis and the adjustment policies are also analyzed: administrative and planning problems, low impact of scientific production, limitations of the Mexican private sector, and the obstacles for technology assessment. Finally, this paper also discusses the main support strategies for science and technology implemented by the Mexican government during the 1980s and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Epidemiology↗