Exercise dependence, social physique anxiety, and social support in experienced and inexperienced bodybuilders and weightlifters.
(73/2223)
OBJECTIVES: To investigate psychological correlates of exercise dependence in experienced and inexperienced bodybuilders and weightlifters. Secondary objectives included measuring social physique anxiety, bodybuilding identity, and social support among bodybuilders and weightlifters. METHODS: Thirty five experienced bodybuilders, 31 inexperienced bodybuilders, and 23 weightlifters completed the bodybuilding dependence scale, a bodybuilding version of the athletic identity measurement scale, the social physique anxiety scale, and an adapted version of the social support survey-clinical form. RESULTS: A between subjects multivariate analysis of variance was calculated on the scores of the three groups of lifters for the four questionnaires. Univariate F tests and follow up tests indicated that experienced bodybuilders scored significantly higher than inexperienced bodybuilders and weightlifters on bodybuilding dependence (p<0.001), social identity and exclusivity subscales of bodybuilding identity (p<0.001), and social support scales (p<.001), and significantly lower on social physique anxiety (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Experienced bodybuilders exhibit more exercise dependence, show greater social support behaviour, and experience less social physique anxiety than inexperienced bodybuilders and weightlifters. (+info)
Patients' views on the professional behaviour of family physicians.
(74/2223)
BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is an important part and a measure of the quality of health care. Patient satisfaction with family physicians was studied within the project 'Analysis of Transition of Health Care System in Croatia'. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore patient satisfaction with family physicians through evaluation of some characteristics of physician behaviour. The specific goals of this study were to determine whether there were differences in the evaluation of patient satisfaction with physician behaviour with regard to some sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. METHODS: The study group consisted of 1217 respondents: 479 (39.4%) men and 738 (60.6%) women. Medical students interviewed the respondents 'face-to-face' immediately after their consultation with the physician. An anonymous questionnaire was created providing answers to 10 questions on patient satisfaction. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and the reason for encounter of the respondents were also collected. RESULTS: The average positive rating over 10 questions on patient satisfaction was 85.3%. There was a statistically significant difference in age distribution between geographic areas (P < 0.001). Differences in answers were found regarding sex, age, educational level (P < 0.001) and reason for encounter (P < 0.01). Two factors were obtained by factor analysis: the first could be called physician's competence/expertise estimated by respondents, and the other physician's empathy evaluated by respondents. The respondents were divided into two groups based on the reason for encounter as a criterion for discriminant analysis: acute (symptoms and complaints, injuries; n = 553) and other reasons (n = 664). The discriminant function obtained was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Younger respondents, regardless of sex, whose reason for encounter was an acute condition, were less satisfied with the physician's expertise, agreeableness during the consultation, physician's interest in what they were saying and physician's friendliness. CONCLUSION: Considering the difficulties present in the health systems of countries in transition, the results of our study were surprisingly encouraging, showing that the respondents were satisfied with the physician's behaviour and that the physicians fulfilled the basic elements of professional behaviour. (+info)
What prevents GPs from using outside resources for women experiencing depression? A New Zealand study.
(75/2223)
BACKGROUND: GPs, often the 'gatekeepers' to mental health and related support services, have been found to refer on less often than seems desirable. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore what issues GPs would discuss with, and which treatments and support services they would consider for, depressed women; and to investigate barriers to referrals to other resources. METHODS: All (217) GPs in one region of Auckland received questionnaires with a vignette and quantitative and qualitative questions concerning their responses to women experiencing depression. Twelve of the 86 respondents were interviewed. RESULTS: GPs wanted to know about a range of medical, psychological and social issues. The solutions valued were biological and psychological, with some also favouring social interventions, such as assistance with childcare. However, the GPs reported limited referrals to outside resources, and frequent use of medication, because of the high cost and limited availability of psychological treatment, and difficulties accessing practical help. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of GPs support improved accessibility, availability and affordability of psychological treatments and support services. (+info)
Structural pluralism and all-cause mortality.
(76/2223)
OBJECTIVES: This study tested the hypothesis that "structural pluralism" reduces age-standardized mortality rates. Structural pluralism is defined as the potential for political competition in communities. METHODS: US counties were the units of analysis. Multiple regression techniques were used to test the hypothesis. RESULTS: Structural pluralism is a stronger determinant of lower mortality than any of the other variables examined--specifically, income, education, and medical facilities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the case for a new structural variable, pluralism, as a possible cause of lower mortality, and they indirectly support the significance of comparable ecologic dimensions, such as social trust. (+info)
Expectations and quality of life of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
(77/2223)
Expectations, real or false, affect the way patients respond to their illnesses. We assessed therapy-related expectations in relation to global quality of life in 55 cancer patients before and after radiotherapy. Factor analysis indicated that therapy-related expectations come into three broad categories--pain/emotional control, healing and tumour/symptom control. 35 patients expected 'healing' even though curative treatment was intended in only 19 and all patients had been fully informed. The expectation of healing was associated with high quality of life, and the same was true of perception of healing after radiotherapy. In the group as a whole, quality of life was little altered by radiotherapy, but it became substantially worse in those patients who had expected healing but perceived that this had failed, even though physician-assessed Karnofsky status did not change. These findings indicate that the expectation of healing, in cancer patients, is a component of a good global quality of life, whereas more limited expectations (pain control, tumour control) relate to lower quality of life. Patients' expectations deserve further study as a novel approach to improving care. (+info)
A questionnaire for the assessment of the multiple dimensions of motion sickness.
(78/2223)
BACKGROUND: A limited number of attempts have been made to develop a questionnaire that assesses the experience of motion sickness. Further, many available questionnaires quantify motion sickness as a unidimensional construct. METHOD: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of motion sickness descriptors were used to derive and verify four dimensions of motion sickness, which were defined as gastrointestinal, central, peripheral, and sopite-related. These dimensions of motion sickness were then used to construct a motion sickness assessment questionnaire (MSAQ) that was administered to individuals who were exposed to a rotating optokinetic drum. RESULTS: Total scores from the MSAQ correlated strongly with overall scores from the Pensacola Diagnostic Index (r = 0.81, p < 0.001) and the Nausea Profile (r = 0.92, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The MSAQ is a valid instrument for the assessment of motion sickness. In addition, the MSAQ may be used to assess motion sickness as a multidimensional rather than unidimensional construct. (+info)
Preferences of patients for patient centred approach to consultation in primary care: observational study.
(79/2223)
OBJECTIVE: To identify patient's preferences for patient centred consultation in general practice. DESIGN: Questionnaire study. SETTING: Consecutive patients in the waiting room of three doctors' surgeries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Key domains of patient centredness from the patient perspective. Predictors of preferences for patient centredness, a prescription, and examination. RESULTS: 865 patients participated: 824 (95%) returned the pre-consultation questionnaire and were similar in demographic characteristic to national samples. Factor analysis identified three domains of patient preferences: communication (agreed with by 88-99%), partnership (77-87%), and health promotion (85-89%). Fewer wanted an examination (63%), and only a quarter wanted a prescription. As desire for a prescription was modestly associated with desire for good communication (odds ratio 1.20; 95% confidence interval 0.85 to 1.69), partnership (1.46; 1.01 to 2.09), and health promotion (1.61; 1.12 to 2.31) this study may have underestimated preferences for patient centredness compared with populations with stronger preferences for a prescription. Patients who strongly wanted good communication were more likely to feel unwell (very, moderately, and slightly unwell; odds ratios 1, 0.56, 0.39 respectively, z trend P<0.001), be high attenders (1.70; 1.18 to 2.44), and have no paid work (1.84; 1.21 to 2.79). Strongly wanting partnership was also related to feeling unwell, worrying about the problem, high attendance, and no paid work; and health promotion to high attendance and worry. CONCLUSION: Patients in primary care strongly want a patient centred approach, with communication, partnership, and health promotion. Doctors should be sensitive to patients who have a strong preference for patient centredness-those vulnerable either psychosocially or because they are feeling unwell. (+info)
Subjective and objective dimensions of quality of life in psychiatric patients: a factor analytical approach: The South Verona Outcome Project 4.
(80/2223)
BACKGROUND: Both subjective and objective information is necessary to assess quality of life (QOL). AIMS: To explore the role of subjective and objective QOL dimensions and their cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors. METHOD: The relationship between QOL, as measured by the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (LQL), and demographic variables, diagnosis, psychopathology, disability, functioning, affect balance, self-esteem, service use and service satisfaction was investigated at two points in time, using factor analysis and multiple regression techniques. RESULTS: One subjective and two objective LQL factors with strong face validity were identified. Cross-sectional predictors of the subjective factor were primarily subjective measures; longitudinally, few predictors of this factor were identified. The cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors of the objective factors were primarily demographic and observer-rated measures. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective and objective data are distinct types of information. Objective measures may be more suitable in detecting treatment effects. Subjective information is necessary to complete the QOL picture and to enhance the interpretation of objective data. (+info)