Many active athletes do not consume enough zinc or iron, which are important for oxygen activation, electron transport, and injury healing. Subclinical deficiencies may impair performance and impair healing times. People who exercise regularly need counseling about the importance of adequate dietary intake of iron and zinc. (SM)

Self-ratings of self-efficacy for engaging patients in health-promotion activities were made by 41 nursing and 60 medical students. Nursing students had significantly higher knowledge and ability scores for counseling patients about exercise, nutrition, and injury prevention. Confidence in knowledge was stronger than counseling ability in both…

Individual men (N=21) were studied as they related to health information over time to uncover motives for changing health habits relevant to prevention of coronary heart disease. Examples are presented, and cues to action are distinguished. Mediating factors and strategies for initiating changes in health behavior are discussed. (EMK)

Presents an ethnographic study into whether or not reading and writing about literature helps medical students communicate more effectively in the physician-patient encounter. Demonstrates that although medical students were embedded in the discourse of medicine, reflective writing enabled them to conceive medicine as an interpretive, personal,…

Psychologists (N=368) who specialize in children read one of six vignettes describing a suicidal youth and a therapist who used a no-suicide agreement (NSA), then rated the appropriateness and effectiveness of the intervention. Results indicated that the psychologists mildly to moderately favored written NSAs regardless of reading level of the…

A self-report measure, the Coping with Health Injuries and Problems Scale (CHIP), was developed to identify basic coping dimensions for responding to health problems. The CHIP factor structure, established with samples of 532 adults and 598 adults in Canada, is cross-validated with 390 general medical patients and 286 chronic back pain patients.…

Australian older adults were trained to act as advocates and role models to inform peers on effective use of medicines. Trainees reported difficulties experienced by older learners when training is too concentrated. Many noted increased self-esteem and personal growth as a result of their involvement. (SK)

Compiled from many of the surveys that the American Dental Education Association routinely publishes, along with data from surveys conducted by the American Dental Association and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, presents statistical tables and descriptive text on trends among dental patients, among dental practitioners, and in dental…

Examines factors that influence the prompt seeking of care for symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Survey of adults in 20 communities in 10 states confirmed the importance of attrition and perceived self-confidence in symptom recognition in care seeking. Concludes that the lack of a significant role of health history and clinician…

Describes a feasibility study conducted to define essential competencies and training methods for diabetic counseling, and to assess whether this approach was practicable in a diabetes resource center. Findings suggest that stages of the change model, motivational interviewing, and behavioral teachings were relevant to working in this area.…

Using 308 patients referred for neuropsychological evaluation, 2 regression equations were developed to predict weighted raw score sums for General Memory and Delayed Recall using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) analogs of 5 subtests from the original WMS. The equations may help reduce WMS-R administration time. (SLD)

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) validity scales were compared for 20 nonclinical participants, 18 subjects asked to fake injury, 18 head injury patients not seeking compensation, and 30 compensation-seeking head injury patients. Results suggest that MMPI-2 overreporting scales are sensitive to complaint fabrication and…

Describes the process of providing people with computer-tailored nutrition education and reviews the studies on the impact of this type of education. Results indicate that computer-tailored nutrition education is more likely to be read, remembered, and experienced as personally relevant compared to standard materials. It also appears to have a…

Examines eating- and weight-related cognitions of 55 adolescents attending a camp for children with a variety of chronic diseases. Cognitions of youngsters with special dietary recommendations showed greater flexibility, less eating pathology, and less weight concern than campers without recommended diets. Contrary to previous reports, dietary…

Purpose: In our study, we sought to improve the accuracy of predicting the risk of hospitalization and to identify older, inner-city patients who could be targeted for preventive interventions. Design and Methods: Participants (56% were African American) in a randomized trial were from a primary care practice and included 1,041 patients living in…