- Email: [email protected]
Developments
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Using independent t-tests high positive scores on the outcome expectancy scale were found to be significantly associated with both the patient-rated adherer groups (t = 2.37, p = 0.02, n = 83) and t h e therapist-rated adherer groups ( t= 3.5, p = 0.001, n = 119). Outcome expectancy scores also correlated positively with the patients’ rating of percentage improvement (r = 0.38, p > 0.01, n = 77). The significance of the outcome expectency scale may lie in either the particular representations that patients have about their problem or from previous experience of injuries and/or physiotherapy (see Leventhal and Nerenz, 1985). This enables patients to match their problem to a particular intervention approach, eg exercises. Thus a strong positive expectation about the treatment promotes their adherence and the likelihood of a good outcome. The concept of matching patients, conditions, interventions and therapists is documented in the literature (De Rosa and Porterfield, 1992). A brief screening of a patient’s outcome expectancy before
starting physiotherapy may enable therapists to identify this match and thereby provide expedient and efficacious treatment. Where t h e match is less apparent, therapists may be able to learn to adapt their treatment approaches from the outset.
Acknowledgment This study is part of an MSc in Health Psychology for which the
author acknowledges grant support from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and BUPA Chalybeate Hospital. References
Carroll, D (1992). Health Psychology: Stress, behaviour and disease, Falmer Press, London, chapter 8, pages 75-84. DeRosa, C P and Porterfield, J A (1992).‘A physical therapy model for treatment of low back pain’, Physical Therapy, 7 2 , 261-269.
Leventhal H and Nerenz, D (1985).‘The assessment of illness cognition’, in: Karoly, P (ed) Measurement Strategies in Health Psychology, Wiley, New York.
new journals RCM Midwives Journal edited by Matthew Pulzer and published by T G Scott and Son Lid, Brettenham House, Savoy Street, Strand, London WC2E 7HR. Monthly. 32 pages. Annual subscriptions: UK f60, EU f80, rest of world f85.Started January 1998.
This is t h e official journal of t h e Royal College of Midwives and as such replaced Midwives. The first issue starts with news, an industrial relations page and a research round-up. There are three clinical articles, including one on stress and the management of change. ‘Impressions of t h e midwife in literature’ misses some opportunities t h a t physiotherapists would envy by starting as late as 1873 and comes to a familiar conclusion that compared with doctors and nurses, midwives a r e rarely mentioned in literature. The presentation is impressively professional and logically ordered with generous embellishment of colour, but it is to be hoped that all midwives have excellent eyesight because the lack of bulk is compensated for by small type sizes - more appropriate for the short items and narrow columns of a newspaper than for solid reading matter. This journal contains no recruitment advertising, b u t members receive a mid-month supplement which contains formal professional
Physiotherapy,April 1998, vol84, no 4
news - mainly reports of Council and conferences, etc - with job advertisements. . . . and a crossword!
Developments edited by Nick Tancock and published by the Department for International Development. Available from Information Department, room 428,DFID, 94 Victoria Street, London S W l E 5JL. Quarterly. 32 pages. Free. Started first quarter 1998.
This colourful publication is produced by the Government department responsible for managing Britain’s programme of development assistance to poorer countries and for ensuring t h a t Government policies which affect developing countries, including environment, trade, investment and agricultural policies, take account of developing country issues. Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, is the author of the first article which reiterates t h e Government’s aim of eliminating absolute poverty and draws attention to the opportunities while Britain holds the presidency of the European Union. Other articles deal with commercial exploitation, the conflicts of tourism, the devastation of war and the potential of re-cycling and inter-
mediate technology. The health section in the first issue concentrates o n the current resurgence of tuberculosis. The second issue will feature ethical trading, and readers a r e invited to give their views on how they wish to see the magazine develop.
Adoption Quarterly edited by Renee Garfinkel and published by The Haworth Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA. Quarterly. 9 1 pages. Annual subscriptions: individuals $36,institutions $48,libraries $95, all plus 40% outside the USA and Canada. Started June 1997.
According to the editor, who is president of t h e Adoption Studies Institute in Washington DC, this journal is unique i n bringing together all issues concerned with adoption. Previously these were fragmented in publications for psychologists, geneticists, paediatricians, and so on, which only occasionally mentioned adoption. For physiotherapists the converse applies, i n t h a t the journal plans to cover a huge range of topics concerned with adoption, only a fraction of which would be relevant to health care. It would however be of value to anyone who is adopted, plans to
Using independent t-tests high positive scores on the outcome expectancy scale were found to be significantly associated with both the patient-rated adherer groups (t = 2.37, p = 0.02, n = 83) and t h e therapist-rated adherer groups ( t= 3.5, p = 0.001, n = 119). Outcome expectancy scores also correlated positively with the patients’ rating of percentage improvement (r = 0.38, p > 0.01, n = 77). The significance of the outcome expectency scale may lie in either the particular representations that patients have about their problem or from previous experience of injuries and/or physiotherapy (see Leventhal and Nerenz, 1985). This enables patients to match their problem to a particular intervention approach, eg exercises. Thus a strong positive expectation about the treatment promotes their adherence and the likelihood of a good outcome. The concept of matching patients, conditions, interventions and therapists is documented in the literature (De Rosa and Porterfield, 1992). A brief screening of a patient’s outcome expectancy before
starting physiotherapy may enable therapists to identify this match and thereby provide expedient and efficacious treatment. Where t h e match is less apparent, therapists may be able to learn to adapt their treatment approaches from the outset.
Acknowledgment This study is part of an MSc in Health Psychology for which the
author acknowledges grant support from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and BUPA Chalybeate Hospital. References
Carroll, D (1992). Health Psychology: Stress, behaviour and disease, Falmer Press, London, chapter 8, pages 75-84. DeRosa, C P and Porterfield, J A (1992).‘A physical therapy model for treatment of low back pain’, Physical Therapy, 7 2 , 261-269.
Leventhal H and Nerenz, D (1985).‘The assessment of illness cognition’, in: Karoly, P (ed) Measurement Strategies in Health Psychology, Wiley, New York.
new journals RCM Midwives Journal edited by Matthew Pulzer and published by T G Scott and Son Lid, Brettenham House, Savoy Street, Strand, London WC2E 7HR. Monthly. 32 pages. Annual subscriptions: UK f60, EU f80, rest of world f85.Started January 1998.
This is t h e official journal of t h e Royal College of Midwives and as such replaced Midwives. The first issue starts with news, an industrial relations page and a research round-up. There are three clinical articles, including one on stress and the management of change. ‘Impressions of t h e midwife in literature’ misses some opportunities t h a t physiotherapists would envy by starting as late as 1873 and comes to a familiar conclusion that compared with doctors and nurses, midwives a r e rarely mentioned in literature. The presentation is impressively professional and logically ordered with generous embellishment of colour, but it is to be hoped that all midwives have excellent eyesight because the lack of bulk is compensated for by small type sizes - more appropriate for the short items and narrow columns of a newspaper than for solid reading matter. This journal contains no recruitment advertising, b u t members receive a mid-month supplement which contains formal professional
Physiotherapy,April 1998, vol84, no 4
news - mainly reports of Council and conferences, etc - with job advertisements. . . . and a crossword!
Developments edited by Nick Tancock and published by the Department for International Development. Available from Information Department, room 428,DFID, 94 Victoria Street, London S W l E 5JL. Quarterly. 32 pages. Free. Started first quarter 1998.
This colourful publication is produced by the Government department responsible for managing Britain’s programme of development assistance to poorer countries and for ensuring t h a t Government policies which affect developing countries, including environment, trade, investment and agricultural policies, take account of developing country issues. Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, is the author of the first article which reiterates t h e Government’s aim of eliminating absolute poverty and draws attention to the opportunities while Britain holds the presidency of the European Union. Other articles deal with commercial exploitation, the conflicts of tourism, the devastation of war and the potential of re-cycling and inter-
mediate technology. The health section in the first issue concentrates o n the current resurgence of tuberculosis. The second issue will feature ethical trading, and readers a r e invited to give their views on how they wish to see the magazine develop.
Adoption Quarterly edited by Renee Garfinkel and published by The Haworth Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA. Quarterly. 9 1 pages. Annual subscriptions: individuals $36,institutions $48,libraries $95, all plus 40% outside the USA and Canada. Started June 1997.
According to the editor, who is president of t h e Adoption Studies Institute in Washington DC, this journal is unique i n bringing together all issues concerned with adoption. Previously these were fragmented in publications for psychologists, geneticists, paediatricians, and so on, which only occasionally mentioned adoption. For physiotherapists the converse applies, i n t h a t the journal plans to cover a huge range of topics concerned with adoption, only a fraction of which would be relevant to health care. It would however be of value to anyone who is adopted, plans to