Journal of general internal medicine
-
To assess the effects of depressive symptoms on asthma patients' reports of functional status and health-related quality of life. ⋯ Nearly half of asthma patients in this study had a positive screen for depressive symptoms. Asthma patients with more depressive symptoms reported worse health-related quality of life than asthma patients with similar disease activity but fewer depressive symptoms. Given the new emphasis on functional status and health-related quality of life measured by disease-specific and general health scales, we conclude that psychological status indicators should also be considered when patient-derived measures are used to assess outcomes in asthma.
-
To determine if type of hospital ownership is associated with preventable adverse events. ⋯ Patients in for-profit and minor teaching or nonteaching government-owned hospitals were more likely to suffer several types of preventable adverse events. Further research is needed to determine how these events could be prevented.
-
Multicenter Study
Patients' perceptions of physicians' recommendations for comfort care differ by patient age and gender.
To determine patient characteristics associated with patient and proxy perceptions of physicians' recommendations for life-prolonging care versus comfort care, and with acceptance of such recommendations. ⋯ Among patients with advanced illness, perceived comfort care recommendations were related to patient age and gender, raising concern about possible gender and age bias in physicians' recommendations. Although all patients and proxies gave significant decision-making authority to physicians, older individuals were more likely to give physicians decision-making authority, making them more vulnerable to possible physician bias.
-
Comparative Study
Breast cancer screening use by African Americans and Whites in an HMO.
To examine racial differences in breast cancer screening in an HMO that provides screening at no cost. ⋯ In this HMO, African-American and white women obtained breast cancer screening at similar rates. Comparisons with national data showed much higher screening rates in this HMO for both white and African-American women.