Drug use functions predict cocaine-related problems in young people

Over the last decade, concern about young people and stimulant drugs has primarily focused on the use of amphetamines and ecstasy. In the United Kingdom, this concern has recently expanded to include the use of cocaine hydrochloride (powder cocaine). This study examined patterns of illicit substance use, with a particular focus on cocaine consumption, among a sample of 364 young drug users aged between 16 and 22 years. The sample was recruited using snowballing methods and respondents were interviewed in informal settings by peer interviewers. Over half the sample reported lifetime use of powder cocaine and just over 40% of these had used crack cocaine. A seven item scale was used to measure cocaine-related problems. The three most common problems endorsed by the cocaine users were impaired control, 'prioritizing spending money on cocaine over other things' and being pre-occupied with using. In a multiple regression analysis, 50% of the variance in cocaine-related problem scores was predicted by the perceived functions for cocaine use, the number of times of lifetime cocaine use and the total number of days of recent stimulant use. Use of cocaine to alleviate depressed state or negative mood was the most powerful predictor of cocaine problems. The inclusion of a functional appraisal component could be usefully incorporated in further research studies and in service assessment protocols for young people.     

医疗机构传染病疫情报告存在的问题及对策

[目的]提高传染病报告质量减少疫情漏报,以防止传染病的医源性感染和医院感染。[方法]对2004年以来传染病疫情报告工作进行回顾性调查分析。[结果]多种因素导致传染病疫情漏报、迟报现象时有发生,这对于预防和控制传染病医院内感染是十分不利的,整改后漏迟报率由3.9%降至1.1%。[结论]领导重视、常规及强化培训、科学规范的工作方法等一系列措施是降低传染病漏报、迟报的有利措施和关键。     

我国当前社会医疗保障制度存在的问题及对策

本文分析了我国当前社会医疗保险制度建设中存在的四大问题：覆盖率低、缺乏统一性、超实际的高保障和个人账户的浪费。针对我国的实际，提出增加卫生投入、改革投资方向，认真界定基本医疗，打破城乡差别、设立卫生服务基本包，发展多种形式的健康保险市场等四个相互关联的对策。     

皮肤病学多媒体教学中存在的几个问题

多媒体教学手段在皮肤科教学中得到了广泛的应用,本文主要针对目前存在的几个问题进行分析,阐述了师生沟通、授课内容、授课形式及多媒体制作等4个问题,并提出解决问题的策略。     

医院管理年活动检查中存在的问题及反思

目的通过医院管理年活动中的检查,找出存在问题,提出有效的整改措施,促进医院管理水平提高。方法对医院在管理年检查的工作情况,检查时存在问题进行分析,提出相应的整改措施。结果通过医院管理年活动的检查对医院现有各方面的管理工作进行一次检验,为医院管理工作的进一步完善和提高起到了良好的促进作用。结论医院管理年活动是提升医院整体实力的一次契机,针对管理年检查出的问题进行反思,总结经验,以科学的发展观,促进医院管理年活动持续开展下去。     

关于高职高专教学督导工作若干问题的思考

本文阐述了高职高专教学督导工作的现状和存在的问题，提出教学督导工作的基本内容和方法，讨论了如何搞好教学督导工作的几点思考。     

The impact of diabetes mellitus among the Métis of western Canada

Objectives. To examine the impact of diabetes mellitus on the lives of the Métis of western Canada, and to determine the extent of co-morbidity among Métis with diabetes. Design. The source of data was the Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS), conducted by Statistics Canada in 1991. The survey was administered to a representative sample of Aboriginal peoples throughout Canada. Analysis was completed on self-identified Métis participants from the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Results. Métis participants with diabetes were more likely than those without diabetes to report their health status as poor. Significantly greater numbers of Métis with diabetes reported activity limitations at work, at home and in leisure activities, the need for assistance with activities of daily living and difficulties with ambulation than did those without diabetes. The extent of co-morbidity was also significant. Métis with diabetes were almost three times more likely to report hypertension and heart problems and twice as likely to report sight impairments than were those without diabetes. Conclusions. This research represents the first account of the effects of diabetes on the lives of the Métis. The APS data have provided a clear picture of the impairments in physical functioning experienced by the Métis with diabetes and the impact upon quality of life. In addition, the strong associations between diabetes and hypertension, heart problems and sight impairments suggest profound morbidity in this population that warrants prompt attention.     

Are Relations Between Parental History of Alcohol Problems and Changes in Drinking Moderated by Positive Expectancies?

BACKGROUND: Risk factors of alcohol abuse generally have been examined for their additive or direct effects on the development of alcohol-related problems. This study was designed to assess the interaction between two important predictors: parental history of alcohol problems and positive expectancies regarding alcohol consumption. METHODS: The positive expectancies, reported parental alcohol problems, and alcohol use and problems of 169 first-year college students were assessed at their entrance to college, and their alcohol use and problems were assessed again approximately 3 months later. The main effects of positive family history and expectancies as well as their interaction in predicting changes in alcohol use and problems were examined in hierarchical regression analyses. RESULTS: A parental history of alcohol-related problems was related to greater alcohol problems at the two assessment times, and positive expectancies for the effects of alcohol were related to both alcohol problems and alcohol use. The parental history x positive expectancies term significantly added to the prediction of changes in alcohol problems (8% incremental increase in explained variance) even after baseline problems were entered in a prior step in the equation. Follow-up exploration revealed that the interaction was accounted for by high levels of alcohol problems at time 2 being reported by those high in positive expectancies and reporting high parental alcohol problems. The parental history x positive expectancies interaction term also added slightly to the prediction of changes in alcohol use amounts but accounted for a modest 1% incremental variance. CONCLUSIONS: Reported parental history and positive alcohol expectancies interacted to predict increases in alcohol problems over the course of the first semester of college. These results suggest that risk factors for alcohol problems may conjointly interact to confer heightened risk. Such interactive models may further assist in identifying at risk young adults. Limitations such as the reliance on self-report measures and the predominantly female sample are discussed.