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The effectiveness of health education on home use of ipecac
202 this problem depends on two essential facts: The appearance of new drugs which allow us to envisage a mass treatment aimed at deparasiting all of the patients and breaking the parasite life cycle. The recent extension of the endemic zones due to the man-made creation of epidemiological factors favorable to the proliferation of the intermediate mollusk host and to the diffusion of the parasite. This problem can only be resolved by the development of a campaign combining mass treatment, health education, and sanitation of the environment. In France, bilharziasis is one of the most frequently encountered tropical diseases for which we now have a number of effective and well-tolerated drugs. 4) The effectiveness of health education on home use of ipecac DERSHEWITZ, R.A., POSNER, M.K., and PAICHEL, W. Dept. Pediatr., Michael Reese Med. Cent., Chicago, IL, U.S.A. Clin. Pediatr. (Philadelphia) 22(4),
268-210,
1983
It is widely recommended by pediatricians that syrup of ipecac for secondary prevention of poisoning be kept in homes where there are young children. To evaluate the efficacy of this recommendation we measured mother’s gain in knowledge of how to use ipecac safely at home. The study population (n = 78) were primarily middle class mothers bringing their nine-month-old infants to one pediatrician at a health maintenance organization for a well-baby visit. The pediatrician delivered health education on poisonings. A before-after study design was used. The highly significant Cp < 0.001) gain in knowledge demonstrates that parents can learn to use ipecac safely at home. The practitioner should limit safety counseling to selected areas most problematic at each age level, and, within each topic, should concentrate on the most salient points. 5) Rational therapeutics in the elderly CROOKS, J. Dept. Pharmacol. Therap., Ninewells Hosp., Univ. Dundee Med. Sch., Dundee, United Kingdom J. Chronic Dis. 35(l), 59-65, 1983 The potential for altered responsiveness to drugs in elderly patients together with their high frequency of multiple disease states for which drug therapy might be indicated makes it important to define certain basic principles of prescribing for them in order to obtain maximum efficacy with minimum unwanted effects. Many diseases from which the elderly suffer do not require drug treatment and, if it is required, the decision should be made in light of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of the alternatives, the increased potential of certain drugs to produce adverse
effects in the elderly, and a regular review of the need for continued medication. In order to improve compliance with prescribing instructions, the minimum number of drugs and doses should be prescribed, the size, shape, and color of tablets and capsules should also determine choice, and attention should be paid to packaging and labeling. The methods by which the patient living at home can manage his/her medication effectively should be carefully considered. 6) Patients’ views on psychiatric patient education TERRELL, D., and BISBEE, C. Univ. South Alabama, Mobile, AL, U.S.A. J. Orthomol. Psychiatry 11(3), 182-184, 1982 The Psychological Learning Center at Bryce Hospital is a program in which psychiatric patients attend patienteducation classes to learn about their illness and its treatment. A study was made of the views of patients who have participated in the program about their experience. The overall results suggest that patients retain much of the information they have learned, that they appreciate being given information about diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and their own role, and that they make constructive plans for changes in their behavior after discharge, based on what they have learned. ELECTRONIC INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA Various forms of electronic media and audiovisual technology now augment the standard tools of the patient educator. The sophistication and cost efficiency of most such technology renders it attractive to many institutions subjected to the rising costs of health care. However, the effectiveness of such technology for a given patient population and for the purposes intended must be clearly ascertained before extensive purchasing is considered. Pretesting of technology and materials with intended audiences is also necessary. 7) Teaching patient care audit via iadlviduallzed instruction CLARK, D.L. Med. Record Adm. Program, Med. Coil. Virginia, Virginia Commonw. Univ., Richmond, VA, U.S.A. J. Am. Med. Rec. Assoc. 53(6), 65-69, 1982 The use of an individualized learning approach in one component of a quality assurance course, required of undergraduate medical record administration students, is described. The goal of the individualized component is to familiarize students with the basic concepts, terminology, and procedures used in the patient care audit process. This knowledge can then serve as the foundation for further study of quality assurance concepts and activities. Individualized learning is particularly appro-
PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING
268-210,
1983
It is widely recommended by pediatricians that syrup of ipecac for secondary prevention of poisoning be kept in homes where there are young children. To evaluate the efficacy of this recommendation we measured mother’s gain in knowledge of how to use ipecac safely at home. The study population (n = 78) were primarily middle class mothers bringing their nine-month-old infants to one pediatrician at a health maintenance organization for a well-baby visit. The pediatrician delivered health education on poisonings. A before-after study design was used. The highly significant Cp < 0.001) gain in knowledge demonstrates that parents can learn to use ipecac safely at home. The practitioner should limit safety counseling to selected areas most problematic at each age level, and, within each topic, should concentrate on the most salient points. 5) Rational therapeutics in the elderly CROOKS, J. Dept. Pharmacol. Therap., Ninewells Hosp., Univ. Dundee Med. Sch., Dundee, United Kingdom J. Chronic Dis. 35(l), 59-65, 1983 The potential for altered responsiveness to drugs in elderly patients together with their high frequency of multiple disease states for which drug therapy might be indicated makes it important to define certain basic principles of prescribing for them in order to obtain maximum efficacy with minimum unwanted effects. Many diseases from which the elderly suffer do not require drug treatment and, if it is required, the decision should be made in light of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of the alternatives, the increased potential of certain drugs to produce adverse
effects in the elderly, and a regular review of the need for continued medication. In order to improve compliance with prescribing instructions, the minimum number of drugs and doses should be prescribed, the size, shape, and color of tablets and capsules should also determine choice, and attention should be paid to packaging and labeling. The methods by which the patient living at home can manage his/her medication effectively should be carefully considered. 6) Patients’ views on psychiatric patient education TERRELL, D., and BISBEE, C. Univ. South Alabama, Mobile, AL, U.S.A. J. Orthomol. Psychiatry 11(3), 182-184, 1982 The Psychological Learning Center at Bryce Hospital is a program in which psychiatric patients attend patienteducation classes to learn about their illness and its treatment. A study was made of the views of patients who have participated in the program about their experience. The overall results suggest that patients retain much of the information they have learned, that they appreciate being given information about diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and their own role, and that they make constructive plans for changes in their behavior after discharge, based on what they have learned. ELECTRONIC INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA Various forms of electronic media and audiovisual technology now augment the standard tools of the patient educator. The sophistication and cost efficiency of most such technology renders it attractive to many institutions subjected to the rising costs of health care. However, the effectiveness of such technology for a given patient population and for the purposes intended must be clearly ascertained before extensive purchasing is considered. Pretesting of technology and materials with intended audiences is also necessary. 7) Teaching patient care audit via iadlviduallzed instruction CLARK, D.L. Med. Record Adm. Program, Med. Coil. Virginia, Virginia Commonw. Univ., Richmond, VA, U.S.A. J. Am. Med. Rec. Assoc. 53(6), 65-69, 1982 The use of an individualized learning approach in one component of a quality assurance course, required of undergraduate medical record administration students, is described. The goal of the individualized component is to familiarize students with the basic concepts, terminology, and procedures used in the patient care audit process. This knowledge can then serve as the foundation for further study of quality assurance concepts and activities. Individualized learning is particularly appro-
PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING