Perceived youth: appraisal and characterization

Results from a mail survey of respondents aged sixty to ninety-four suggest that psychographic dimensions of youthfulness and identification with old age constitute effective inner-age research variables, especially to those seeking to study older populations. The two specific dimensions explored are: "perceived youth," a magnitude measure of the proportional discrepancy between chronological and cognitive ages; and "feeling-old," which inversely measured youth through reliance on a six-point Likert agree/disagree statement: "I feel old...." In addition to the obvious inverse relationship between these inner-ages, research established trait covariation relative to an increase in perceived youth coincidental with a rejection of a feeling-old identity, corresponding to increases in "happiness, own-health rating, being venturesome, giving advice, self-esteem, social activity, and keeping-in-shape," as well as decreases in "taking advice, being a homebody, and having health worries."     

Quality of life,psychological wellbeing and treatment needs of trauma and head and neck cancer patients

There is increasing evidence that patients treated for trauma or cancer of the head and neck may go on to experience psychological distress. We aimed to measure the impact of this on their quality of life (QoL) and to explore their willingness to be referred for psychological support. A total of 96 patients with facial injuries and 124 with cancer of the head and neck completed a self-reported questionnaire to identify psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) Scale), quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF), satisfaction with treatment, and willingness to accept psychological support. Thirty-nine percent of patients showed high levels of depressive symptoms and 43% reported high levels of anxiety; 43% in the trauma group and 12% in the cancer group had high ASD scores. Patients with high scores on the HADS reported poorer QoL, and 40% of those with high levels of psychological distress were willing to consider psychological support. Despite the fact that patients report high levels of satisfaction with their medical and surgical care, many have psychological problems and have needs that are not being met. A large proportion would use psychological support services.     

Watch the lights. A visual communication system.

The trend for hospitals to market their emergency care services results in a greater demand on radiology departments, states Ms. Rahtz. Radiology must provide efficient service to both departments, even when it is difficult to predict patient flow in the emergency care center. Improved communication is the key, and a light system installed at Morton Plant Hospital is one alternative for solving the problem.     

Spontaneous bilateral intraorbital hematoma: A particular form of sickle cell disease complications in children

Spontaneous bilateral intraorbital hematoma is a rare complication of sickle cell disease in children. Imaging examinations are of paramount importance in the diagnosis and conditioning of the management processes in order to avoid complications that can compromise the visual function prognosis.