Articles: prospective-studies.
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Subjective well-being is an essential ingredient in the quality of life concept. The Marburg questionnaire, a seven item scale for the assessment of the trait dimension of well-being, claims to possess good psychometric properties. This is investigated in two studies with chronic pain patients. ⋯ The good psychometric quality of the questionnaire along with its brevity allows its application as part of a quality of life assessment.
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This review provides a rigorous investigation of the question of whether the transtheoretical model (TTM) (or stages of change model) is applicable to eating behaviour change. The TTM is currently the most popular of a number of stage theories being used to examine health behaviour change. Stage theories specify an ordered set of 'stages of readiness to change' into which people can be classified and identify the factors that can facilitate movement from one stage to the next. ⋯ Among the key conclusions are: (1) dietary studies using the TTM have been hampered by a focus on nutritional outcomes such as dietary fat reduction, rather than clearly understood food behaviours (e.g. five servings of fruit and vegetables per day); (2) accurate stage classification systems are possible for food-based goals, but major misclassification problems occur with nutrient-based goals; (3) observation of an association between stage and dietary intake is not sufficient to demonstrate the validity of the model for dietary behaviour; (4) there is a need for valid questionnaires to measure all aspects of the TTM, and more research on the whole model, particularly the 'processes of change', rather than on single constructs such as 'stage' (5) cross-sectional studies generally support the predicted patterns of between-stage differences in decisional balance, self-efficacy, and processes of change; (6) studies which test the key hypothesis that different factors are important in distinguishing different stages are rare, as are prospective studies and stage-matched interventions. Only such studies can conclusively determine whether the TTM is applicable to eating behaviour. Since the ultimate test of the TTM will be the effectiveness of stage-matched dietary interventions, the review ends by exploring the requirements for such studies.
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To review the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of digoxin in health and disease and the potential use and toxic effects of digoxin in the critically ill patient. ⋯ Digoxin is a therapeutic agent with unique effects. It should be considered in all patients with systolic heart failure, supraventricular tachycardia, and, in association with other treatment, as a single dose of 750 -1000 mug/70 kg in patients not treated previously with digoxin who have septic shock. It should be avoided in patients with critical coronary artery disease and ischaemic or hypertrophic diastolic failure.
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To determine the nutritional status and nutrient intake of preschool children in a sub-Sahelian setting so as to ascertain whether they meet the acceptable standards. ⋯ The poor nutritional status of the children was largely due to the low intake of essential nutrients.
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To assess birthweight, length and head circumference of live births, and to examine the effect of maternal age, parity and gestational age on birth size of the live births. ⋯ This study has provided information on the effects of some of maternal characteristics on the size, particularly length and head circumference of newborns which were not given emphasis on previous birthweight studies. We suggest proper recording and analysis of birthweight, length and head circumferences be given importance for monitoring and evaluating maternal and child health programmes.