Microswitch-aided programs to support physical exercise or adequate ambulation in persons with multiple disabilities

Three microswitch-aided programs were assessed in three single-case studies to enhance physical exercise or ambulation in participants with multiple disabilities. Study I was aimed at helping a woman who tended to have the head bending forward and the arms down to exercise a combination of appropriate head and arms movements. Study II was aimed at promoting ambulation continuity with a man who tended to have ambulation breaks. Study III was aimed at promoting ambulation with appropriate foot position in a girl who usually showed toe walking. The experimental designs of the studies consisted of a multiple probe across responses (Study I), an ABAB sequence (Study II), and an ABABB¹ sequence (Study III). The last phase of each study was followed by a post-intervention check. The microswitches monitored the target responses selected for the participants and triggered a computer system to provide preferred stimuli contingent on those responses during the intervention phases of the studies. Data showed that the programs were effective with each of the participants who learned to exercise head and arms movements, increased ambulation continuity, and acquired high levels of appropriate foot position during ambulation, respectively. The positive performance levels were retained during the post-intervention checks. The discussion focused on (a) the potential of technology-aided programs for persons with multiple disabilities and (b) the need of replication studies to extend the evidence available in the area.     

Spatial accessibility of drug treatment facilities and the effects on locus of control,drug use,and service use among heroin-injecting Mexican American men

BackgroundThis study explores the spatial accessibility of outpatient drug treatment facilities and the potential relationship with drug use-related outcomes among Mexican American heroin users.MethodsSecondary data on 219 current and former heroin-injecting Mexican American men aged 45 and older were drawn from a research study in Houston, Texas. We used geographic information systems (GIS) to derive two spatial accessibility measures: distance from one's place of residence to the closest drug treatment facility (in minutes); and the number of facilities within a 10-minute driving distance from one's place of residence. Exploratory logistic regression analyses examined the association between the spatial accessibility of drug treatment facilities and several drug use-related outcomes: internal locus of control (LOC); perceived chances and worries of injecting in the next six months; treatment utilization; and location of last heroin purchase.ResultsParticipants with greater spatial access to treatment programs were more likely to report a higher chance of injecting in the near future. However, while current heroin users were more worried about injecting in the next six months, greater spatial access to treatment programs seemed to have a buffering effect. Finally, those who lived closer to a treatment programs were more likely to have last purchased heroin inside the neighborhood versus outside the neighborhood. Spatial accessibility was not associated with internal LOC or treatment utilization.ConclusionThe findings showed that the presence of outpatient treatment facilities—particularly services in Spanish—may influence perceived risk of future heroin use and purchasing behaviors among Mexican American men. Implications for future spatially-informed drug use research and the planning of culturally and linguistically responsive drug treatment programs are discussed.     

Factors Influencing Nursing Career Choices and Choice of Study Program

In advance of a recruitment campaign, Israeli first-year nursing students of all ethnicities were surveyed to elucidate what factors had influenced them to make nursing their career and what sort of training track they preferred. The responses made it clear that different factors influence different groups differently. There were noticeable differences by gender, age, and ethnicity. Overall, training institutions were chosen for their closeness to the student's home but other factors also operated among particular groups, such as institutional prestige and flexible entry criteria. There was a blatant preference for academic, particularly university-sited, programs over diploma programs.     

微信平台在乳腺癌术后延伸护理中的应用

目的 探讨微信在乳腺癌术后延伸护理中的实施办法和效果。方法 选取2015年2月至2016年1月在安徽省肿瘤医院治疗的乳腺癌病人172 例,按照随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组86例。对照组出院后给予健康教育,观察组在健康宣教基础上利用微信平台进行延伸护理,医护团队与病人互动,发布医疗科普,传播正能量,告知术后治疗、随访时间。比较两组病人康复知识掌握情况、肢体功能锻炼依从性、患肢锻炼效果。结果 术后3个月复查时,观察组功能锻炼依从性、康复知识掌握情况、患肢锻炼效果均优于对照组(P＜0.01)。回复病人提问651个,发布正面信息93条,预约床位,平均每人提前入院1 d,病人信任感和满意度提高。结论 微信平台交流节约了医护患的时间;基于微信的延伸护理提高了病人肢体功能锻炼依从性及康复知识掌握度,增进了医护患互信。     

Orally disintegrating tablets and orally disintegrating mini tablets – novel dosage forms for pediatric use

The oral administration route is considered to be the most widely used route because of its convenience of administration and manufacturing. Dosage forms, like orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs), mini tablets, and orally disintegrating mini tablets (ODMTs), are recognized as promising for use in pediatric patients. ODTs are known to be suitable drug delivery systems, especially for pediatric patients, because of their rapid disintegration properties, use without water, and no swallowing problems. In addition, in recent years, a new formulation approach has been developed. ODMTs, are the newest drug delivery systems. They combine the advantageous properties of ODTs and the small size of mini tablets, aimed for pediatric use. These tablets, which can be formulated as 2–4?mm in diameter, are known as drug delivery systems that have children acceptability age as low as 6-months old. The fact that the ODTs and the ODMTs can be formulated with acceptable flavors for children further increases the importance of these carrier systems in the treatment. The objective of this article is to highlight the development of ODTs and mini-ODTs, their significance, ideal characteristics, various techniques, and aspects related to design and formulation, marketed preparations, and future perspectives, especially for the pediatric patients.     

“互联网+”健康教育模式在乳腺外科的构建及应用

目的 探索“互联网+”健康教育模式在乳腺外科的构建及应用效果。方法 选择2019年3月至2020年3月在河北大学附属医院乳腺外科手术治疗的160例乳腺癌(breast cancer,BC)患者作为研究对象,按照入院先后顺序分为对照组和观察组,每组80例。对照组采取传统健康宣教模式,观察组在对照组的传统健康教育模式基础上,重点运用“317护”微信平台开展健康宣教。比较干预后两组患者健康教育内容掌握情况、依从性以及患者满意度指标。结果 干预后,观察组乳腺癌患者健康教育内容掌握情况、依从性、满意度评分均明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 “互联网+”健康教育模式在乳腺外科的应用效果较传统健康教育方式有显著优势, 值得临床推广应用。     

微信课堂在绝经相关疾病诊治培训中的运用及效果评价

目的评价微信课堂在妇科医师绝经相关疾病诊治培训中的运用效果。方法选取2017年3月自愿参与北京世纪坛医院线下继续医学教育项目"绝经相关疾病诊治培训"的47位妇科医师作为对照组(传统教学),自愿参与线上微信课堂培训的52位妇科医师作为实验组(微信课堂教学)。通过比较培训前后妇科医师对绝经相关疾病知识的掌握情况及课程满意度,以评价教学效果。采用SPSS 20.0对组间数据行t检验或卡方检验。结果所有妇科医师均完成了研究,培训前后的测评问卷回收率均为100%。培训前实验组学员绝经相关疾病知识平均得分(63.65±21.42)、知识考核通过率为65.4%,与对照组[(60.85±24.83)分,63.8%]相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两组学员培训后的绝经相关疾病知识得分和考核通过率均高于培训前,且差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。培训后,实验组学员平均得分为(77.50±16.19)分、考核通过率为90.1%,优于对照组[(78.72±16.89)分,87.2%],但两组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。实验组学员对培训的满意度相较对照组更高,但两组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论微信课堂用于妇科医师绝经相关疾病诊治培训,具有与传统教学相同的效果且培训满意度更高,可进一步运用于妇科其他亚专业培训及向其他专科推广。