Journal of general internal medicine
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The purpose of this study was to determine how vision problems affect health status. The information was collected in 1990 from 2,249 household heads and spouses over 50 years of age during an annual survey of a nationally representative sample that was adjusted for attrition and nonresponse. ⋯ Regression analyses found a significant relationship between "trouble seeing" and each of five health-status domains. We conclude that it may not be appropriate to require specific functional limitations as a precondition for cataract surgery and that instruments for measuring functional disabilities related to vision should include more general questions.
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To assess the level of involvement patients want in decision making related to the acceptance or rejection of an invasive medical intervention and whether their preference for decision making is related to their preference for qualitative (verbal) or quantitative (numeric) information about the risks of the procedure. ⋯ Male veterans consistently preferred shared patient-physician decision making in the context of invasive medical interventions.
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To evaluate whether laxatives and fiber therapies improve symptoms and bowel movement frequency in adults with chronic constipation. ⋯ Both fiber and laxatives modestly improved bowel movement frequency in adults with chronic constipation. There was inadequate evidence to establish whether fiber was superior to laxatives or one laxative class was superior to another.
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To document the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) skin test positivity among homeless adults in Los Angeles and determine whether certain characteristics of homelessness were risk factors for TB. ⋯ Homeless adults living in congested inner-city areas are at high risk of both latent and active TB. Endemic risk factors and limited access to medical care support the need for aggressive treatment of active TB cases and innovative programs to ensure completion of prophylactic regimens by homeless individuals with latent infection.