Use of a computer-based health risk appraisal by older adults

BACKGROUND. A health risk appraisal (HRA) is a tool for health promotion. Conversational microcomputer-based HRAs may be more cost effective than other HRA formats. The acceptability of conversational HRAs, however, has not been demonstrated for older adults. METHODS. We studied the acceptability of a conversational microcomputer-based HRA in a sample of 247 adults at the Minnesota State Fair and the Senior Options Exposition. All users were offered the appraisal via mouse or keyboard interface. Acceptability was measured in terms of user-reported helpfulness, intent to change, time of use, and willingness to view HRA health recommendations. Data on completion time and willingness to view HRA recommendations were collected for Senior Exposition users only. Regression analyses were used to examine the combined impact of interface (mouse or keyboard), location (State Fair or Senior Exposition), age, and sex on user acceptability. Results. Interface and location had no effect on helpfulness or change ratings. Older users rated the appraisal more helpful (P less than .007). Both older and female users reported more intent to change behavior (P = .016, both). Time to use the appraisal was related to interface, age, and sex. Mouse users (P less than .0001), older users (P less than .0001) and female users (P less than .05) took significantly longer to use the appraisal. Significantly more mouse users declined to see recommendations (P less than .02). CONCLUSIONS. Older users can derive as much or more value from conversational health risk appraisals as younger users; however, a mouse interface may be less effective for this age group.     

An improved method for determining 89Sr and 90Sr in urine

A method has been developed for the rapid isolation and quantitation of 89Sr and 90Sr in urine samples. The radiostrontium is concentrated from the bulk urine sample by coprecipitation with calcium phosphate. The precipitate is then wet ashed with nitric acid, and a solution of the resulting residue in 2 M HNO3-0.5 M Al(NO3)3 is passed through an extraction chromatographic column containing a supported crown ether that preferentially retains strontium. Sorbed strontium may then be eluted from the column with either dilute HNO3 or water and counted via liquid scintillation. A new counting scheme that permits quantitation of both 89Sr and 90Sr on the same day the separation is performed is described.     

Predictors of oral health quality of life in older adults

There is limited information regarding oral health status and other predictors of oral health‐related quality of life. An association between oral health status and perceived oral health‐related quality of life (OHQOL) might help clinicians motivate patients to prevent oral diseases and improve the outcome of some dental public health programs. This study evaluated the relationship between older persons' OHQOL and their functional dentition, caries, periodontal status, chronic diseases, and some demographic characteristics. A group of 733 low‐income elders (mean age 72.7 ISD=4.71, 55.6% women, 55.1% members of ethnic minority groups in the U.S. and Canada) enrolled in the TEETH clinical trial were interviewed and examined as part of their fifth annual visit for the trial. OHQOL was measured by the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI); oral health and occlusal status by clinical exams and the Eichner Index; and demographics via interviews. Elders who completed the four‐year assessment had an average of 21.5 teeth (SD=6.9). with 8.5 occluding pairs (SD=4.6), and 32% with occlusal contacts in all four occluding zones. Stepwise multiple regressions were conducted to predict total GOHAI and its subscores (Physical, Social, and Worry). Functional dentition was a less significant predictor than ethnicity and being foreign‐bom. These variables, together with gender, years since immigrating, number of carious roots, and periodontal status, could predict 32% of the variance in total GOHAI, 24% in Physical, 27% in Social, and 21 % in the Worry subscales. These findings suggest that functional dentition and caries influence older adults' OHQOL, but that ethnicity and immigrant status play a larger role.     

Chemical warfare agents

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. Key points

• Chemical personal protective equipment must be wornwhen in contact with contaminated casualties.
• Recognizing theclinical features of chemical warfare agent poisoning allowssupportive treatment and appropriate antidotes to be promptlyadministered.
• The mnemonic DUMBELS describes the muscarinicfeatures of the nerve agent poisoning toxidrome.
• There areeffective antidotes for poisoning with nerve agents, blood agents(metabolic poisons), botulinum toxin and kolokol-1.
• There areno specific antidotes for blistering agents (vesicants) andchoking agents.

  Chemical warfare (CW) agents are chemical substances that havea direct toxic effect on plants, animals and humans. Classifiedaccording to their physiological effects, agents effective againsthumans include nerve agents, blistering agents (vesicants),blood agents, choking agents and toxins. Incapacitating, vomiting,psychoactive and riot control agents (e.g. CS gas) also exist.¹ All personnel in contact with contaminated casualties must wearthe appropriate level of chemical personal protective equipment(CPPE) until adequate decontamination is . . . [Full Text of this Article]