A study investigating possible sex bias, concerning both student and standardized-patient genders, in an objective structured clinical examination found that neither men nor women were afforded an advantage by patient or test location. However, women's scores on tests administered by females were higher than corresponding men's scores. (MSE)

Examined utility of cognitive variables (pessimism, perceived and actual problem-solving ability, polarized thinking, self-negativity, construct system constriction and differentiation) as predictors of suicide risk among 79 hospitalized psychiatric patients. Results indicated that hopelessness, self-negativity, and poor problem-solving…

Hospitalized female patients with borderline personality disorder were assessed for Axis II disorders by the Structured Clinical Inventory for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (SCID-II) and for personality traits with the NEO Personality Inventory. The relationship of results to social adjustment and the utility of…

A mother describes her experience and interactions with professionals concerning the birth, surgeries, and early development of her daughter who was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a condition in which the failure of the diaphragm to form completely compromises the position and functioning of many major organs. (DB)

Evaluates the efficacy of a two-day psychoeducational program among patients with epilepsy in Nigeria. Results reveal that participants showed a substantial significant decrease in level of depression; a significant increase in the knowledge about epilepsy; and significant decrease in all measures of neurotic disorders except for hysterical…

Examines the influence of a home-based asthma health education program on parental coping and quality of life. Families (N=40) with children under 11 received either health education sessions or a booklet representing the traditional approach to care. Results suggest the use of a one-time, home-based intervention to assist families caring for…

Describes the goals and content of the Berlin education program for parents and children with atopic dermatitis (AD). Program included six group sessions concerning medical, nutritional, and psychological issues. Program aimed to contribute towards a comprehensive, family-oriented management of childhood AD. Data showed the program had a positive…

Tests the effects of patients' culture and cultural orientations on assertiveness and communication apprehension during medical interviews. Suggests that the greater the patient's construal-of-self as interdependent, the more negative her/his beliefs regarding patient participation, which, in turn, leads to a higher degree of communication…

Assesses the worries of 622 adolescent (between 12 and 20 years old) clients of an Ohio medical clinic on an 80-item self-report measure, the "Things That Worry Me" scale. Findings indicated consistent concerns related to terrorism, adolescents' self-esteem, parents' physical and mental health, and adolescents' dating and sexual relationships.…

Determines the extent to which people with and without health care insurance use public health care facilities and various health care services. Analyzes 6,298 patients from 4 county-funded primary health care clinics. Patients were overwhelmingly poor regardless of insurance status. High cost-sharing requirements, coupled with larger families and…

Investigated a computer-mediated support group for six breast cancer patients. Patients used home computers to connect to a computer bulletin board on which they read messages from and posted messages to each other. Patients discussed their medical conditions, shared personal concerns, and offered support. This online approach provided many…

Format, graphics, and content of print materials for people with diabetes were analyzed. The materials do not encourage proactive self-direction, the information is not contextualized, and diabetes is not presented as systemic. More flexible and inclusive formats and media, use of analogies, and more diversity were recommended. (47 Contains…

The attitudes of medical students of Indian decent (N=150) toward treating minority clients and using alternative therapies were assessed in relationship to the students' ethnic identity, acculturation, and self-concept. Students with strong ethnic identity and acculturation were more likely to treat minority patients and use alternative…

Purpose: Our objective in this study was to compare Medicare costs of treating older adults with and without dementia in nursing home settings. Design and Methods: An expert panel established the dementia status of a stratified random sample of newly admitted residents in 59 Maryland nursing homes between 1992 and 1995. Medicare expenditures…

Quality of life (QOL) is considered as a global, yet unidimensional, subjective assessment of one's satisfaction with life. We examine the construct validity of the available indicators of global QOL by constructing a causal model in which QOL is viewed as causally responding to several dimensions of perceived health. Global QOL is measured with…