A Community of Healing: Psychosocial Functions of Integrative Medicine Perceived by Oncology Patients/Survivors,Healthcare Professionals,and CAM Providers

ObjectiveA whole systems research approach was used to explore the psychosocial functions attributed to an Integrative Medicine oncology program. Field research was conducted at a cancer clinic to answer the following questions: (1) what meanings do the participants attribute to the Integrative Medicine oncology program; (2) what contributes to sustaining the Integrative Medicine program; and (3) what role does the Integrative Medicine program play in the lives of the participants.MethodsParticipant observation and in-depth interviews were conducted at a community-based cancer clinic that offers various complementary modalities along with conventional cancer treatments.ParticipantsThe data were obtained from a total of 23 participants including cancer patients/survivors, caregivers, volunteers who provided the complementary therapies, and healthcare professionals at the clinic.ResultsResults indicated that the Integrative Medicine program had three major psychosocial functions for those involved. Participants viewed the Integrative Medicine program as a place (1) to exchange health/medical information and learn from others' experiences and expertise, (2) to give and receive emotional support, and (3) for the individual to act on his/her transformed new identity and new life goals through serving others.ConclusionsThe results illustrate the positive psychosocial impacts an Integrative Medicine program may bring to individuals involved in it and suggest the value of using a whole systems research (WSR) approach to Integrative Medicine research.     

调任通督治疗失眠症实施护理干预的临床观察

目的 探讨调任通督治疗并实施护理干预对失眠患者睡眠的影响.方法 将57例失眠患者随机分为对照组28例和干预组29例,对照组给予调任通督针剌治疗,干预组在调任通督治疗基础上实施护理干预,观察两组心理健康状况、睡眠质量、临床疗效及治疗依从性,并进行比较.结果 干预组治愈率明显高于对照组,心理健康状况、睡眠质量指标及对治疗的依从性亦明显优于对照组.结论 调任通督针刺并实施护理干预是治疗失眠症的有效方法.     

初中生学校适应量表的编制和信效度检验

目的:编制适合测量我国初中生学校适应的量表。方法:本研究在查阅文献和开放式问卷的基础上,通过项目分析、鉴别度、探索性因素分析、验证性因素分析确定了初中生学校适应正式量表的题目,并对该量表进行了信度和效度检验。结果:探索性因素分析表明,初中生学校适应量表包括7个因子:学习适应、学校态度、情绪适应、集体活动适应、师生关系亲密性、师生关系冲突性和同伴关系,这7个因子可解释总变异的46.750%。验证性因素分析表明,所提取的7个因子与构想模型拟合较好(χ~2/df=3.038,REMA=0.046,TLI=0.850,CFI=0.855,NFI=0.798,GFI=0.768),该量表具有较好的结构效度。初中生学校适应量表全部题目以及各因子的内部一致性信度Cronbach’sα系数分别为0.958、0.898、0.947、0.912、0.881、0.934、0.906、0.886。该量表全部题目的再测信度为0.752,并且该量表各维度以及全部题目的再测信度也达到了显著性水平(P0.01)。结论:初中生学校适应量表具有较好的信度和效度,适合评定我国初中生的学校适应状况。     

Die Messung von Burnout-Symptomen und Risikofaktoren mit COPSOQ

Measuring burnout symptoms with COPSOQ, a standardized and validated questionnaire, is an important contribution to risk assessment of work. Comparison between the results found in a certain company and datasets in the COPSOQ database allows to estimate the severity of burnout occurance and to develop suitable measures of prevention. It is essential to have reliable knowledge about the factors which influence burnout symptoms positively as well as negatively. This knowledge can be analyzed due to a large number of assessments carried out with the aim of improving occupational health.     

Effect of change in coding rules on recording diabetes in hospital administrative datasets

AimDuring 2008–2011 Australian Coding Standards mandated a causal relationship between diabetes and inpatient care as a criterion for recording diabetes as a comorbidity in hospital administrative datasets. We aim to measure the effect of the causality mandate on recorded diabetes and associated inter-hospital variations.MethodFor patients with diabetes, all admissions between 2004 and 2013 to all New South Wales acute public hospitals were investigated. Poisson mixed models were employed to derive adjusted rates and variations.ResultsThe non-recorded diabetes incidence rate was 20.7%. The causality mandate increased the incidence rate four fold during the change period, 2008–2011, compared to the pre- or post-change periods (32.5% vs 8.4% and 6.9%). The inter-hospital variation was also higher, with twice the difference in the non-recorded rate between hospitals with the highest and lowest rates (50% vs 24% and 27% risk gap). The variation decreased during the change period (29%), while the rate continued to rise (53%). Admission characteristics accounted for over 44% of the variation compared with at most two per cent attributable to patient or hospital characteristics. Contributing characteristics explained less of the variation within the change period compared to pre- or post-change (46% vs 58% and 53%). Hospital relative performance was not constant over time.ConclusionThe causality mandate substantially increased the non-recorded diabetes rate and associated inter-hospital variation. Longitudinal accumulation of clinical information at the patient level, and the development of appropriate adoption protocols to achieve comprehensive and timely implementation of coding changes are essential to supporting the integrity of hospital administrative datasets.     

Psychosocial Profiles among Persons with Substance Use Disorder Undergoing Islamic-Based Inabah Program in Kelantan,Malaysia

Psychosocial profiles among a convenience sample of 37 Malay Muslim participants of Inabah program were measured using the Psychological Measure of Islamic Religiousness (PMIR). Data were analysed using SPSS 23.0. Positive relations with others emerged as the best-scored subscale whereas anger trait and depressed mood were minimal. Single and divorced respondents demonstrated significantly higher score for purpose in life. More favorable social desirability was reported by participants with no previous treatment. Less anger and depression were expressed by those not detained before. Essentially, psychosocial status of persons with substance use disorder undergoing Inabah program was moderate with some influences of sociodemographic factors.     

Dyadic coping and dyadic adjustment in couples with women with high depressive symptoms during pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study aimed to compare dyadic coping (DC) and dyadic adjustment in couples in which the woman was experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms and in couples in which the woman presented minimal or no depressive symptoms.

Background: Pregnancy may be considered a situation of dyadic stress, during which the presence of high levels of depressive symptoms may impair the ways couples cope together with stress; however, this topic has not yet been studied.

Methods: Pregnant women and their partners (n = 289 couples) completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Dyadic Coping Inventory, and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Results: Couples in which the woman was experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms (n = 57) reported less DC enacted by oneself and by the partner (particularly, less supportive and more negative DC), common DC and overall d5yadic adjustment, compared to couples in which the woman was not experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms (n = 232).

Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to assess couples’ dyadic adjustment and DC strategies, which is particularly important when women screened positive for high levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.     

Risk and protective factors for health-related quality of life among persons aging with HIV

For persons living with HIV, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) may be threatened by physical and mental conditions but may be protected by positive psychological traits. We performed an exploratory look at the risk and protective factors for HRQOL in older adults living with HIV. Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from the Rush Center of Excellence on Disparities in HIV and Aging (CEDHA), a community-based cohort of persons ages ≥50 living with HIV (n?=?176) were performed. Analyses examined the relationship between risk/protective factors and two outcomes (i.e., self-reported health status [SRHS] and the healthy days index [HDI]). Having good/excellent health was associated with being a non-smoker (p?=?0.002), greater purpose in life (p?=?0.006), higher education (p?=?0.007), fewer depressive symptoms (p?=?0.004), fewer disabilities (p?=?0.000), and less loneliness (p?=?0.002) in bivariate analyses. Males (p?=?0.03) and African Americans/Blacks (p?=?0.03) reported higher HDI. Fewer depressive symptoms (p?=?0.000), disabilities (p?=?0.002), adverse life events (p?=?0.0103), and loneliness (p?=?0.000) were associated with higher HDI in bivariate analyses. In a logistic regression model, greater purpose in life, fewer disabilities, and being a non-smoker were associated with better SRHS after adjusting for covariates. For African Americans/Blacks, having fewer depressive symptoms and disabilities were associated with higher HDI after adjusting for covariates. Disabilities, depression, smoking status, race/ethnicity, and purpose in life were significantly associated with HRQOL. Findings support the need for research to examine the influence of cultural interpretations of life quality and focus on promoting physical function, smoking cessation, and psychological wellness in persons aging with HIV.