Surveyed 90 administrative and nonadministrative social workers employed in nursing homes who identified their level of influence in 5 spheres of organizational decision making. There were few differences between the two groups. However, among directors, number of full-time equivalent social workers, type of institution ownership, and length of…

In an analysis of pharmacy extern and preceptor activities, 24 externs logged activities at random intervals over a period of 226 days. Students were alone most of the time, with little contact with prescribers or patients. Community-based externs had far more patient contact than hospital-based externs. Students spent most time in the dispensing…

Embedded a context effect experiment in a structured telephone survey of renal transplant recipients. Results indicated that context effects interacted with the treatment adherence status of respondents such that noncompliant recipients were less susceptible to context manipulations. Respondents' characteristics as potential moderators of item…

The clinical utility of using fewer than 12 trials of the Selective Reminding Test, a task to assess verbal memory, was studied with 100 cardiac patients and 100 brain injury patients. Results suggest that as few as 6 trials might be adequate, providing information consistent with that from 12 trials. (SLD)

The intensive case management service provided by a mental health consumer team of case managers was compared to services of nonconsumer case managers. Results from 91 clients with serious mental illness found significant differences in outcomes after a year only in the areas of patient satisfaction and contact with family. (SLD)

The influence of demographic variables on the quality of life was studied for 1,805 persons with chronic mental illness. In general, predicted variations in quality of life experiences based on studies of the general population were not upheld, and modest demographic influences were noted. (SLD)

Presents case study of suicidal woman diagnosed as catatonic schizophrenic in state mental hospital. Account reveals much about woman's life history, suicide career, problems of living, needs for help, and perceptions of relevant systems. Proposed model would use parts of patient's story for preventive intervention regarding suicidal behavior and…

The newly incorporated Computer-Based Patient Record Institute (CPRI) is discussed in the context of the history of medical records, the need for change (mainly because of health care reimbursement and regulation), and the need for involvement by all medical professionals in the development of standards of data collection which reflect public…

The diagnostic accuracy of nonadjusted and bootstrapped diagnosis was compared using a sample of 1,455 psychiatric patients who completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. The usefulness of bootstrapping depended on the criteria for accuracy. Conditions under which bootstrapping might increase diagnostic accuracy are detailed. (SLD)

A study comparing inpatient care costs of family practice residencies and other residency programs found that family practice residencies do not add to direct inpatient costs and may even reduce costs. It is suggested that this provides an additional rationale for institutions to sponsor graduate training in family practice. (Author/MSE)

A study investigated patient attitudes toward different disease control measures taken in dental school clinics (n=272 patients) and private practices (n=107 patients). Variables examined included sex, age, educational background, and knowledge of infectious diseases. Patients tended to accept the control measures being used in each context. (MSE)

Investigated dress and body markings of 100 hospitalized and never-hospitalized adolescent psychiatric patients using in-depth interviews. Found that hospitalized patients had higher incidence of self-scarring, but other individual expressions of appearance did not differentiate two groups. Suggests that dress and appearance observations,…

Examined presence of racial bias in Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory's (MMPI) use with 22 Black and 22 White inpatient psychiatric patients. Found no statistically or clinically significant differences between 2 races on MMPI. Suggests that differences in previous studies may be attributable to variables other than race. (Author/PVV)

This article describes the major components of rehabilitation services in Japan for people who are visually impaired from diabetes. These components include diabetes education and medical care, social welfare and rehabilitation services, nutrition and exercise, medication, monitoring of blood glucose, glycemic control, and the prevention of…

To study the distinction between self-reports of anxiety and depression, a factor analysis was conducted using responses of 298 anxiety disorder patients on the Beck Depression Inventory and the State Anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results suggest that the two conditions can be reliably differentiated in self-reports. (SLD)