Context: In studying physician shortage issues, few studies have utilized individual interviews, allowing rural physicians to voice their own stories. Purpose: To explore rural physicians' unique characteristics affecting their decisions and satisfactions with practice in a rural area. Methods: A qualitative interview study with 11 Nebraska family…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability over time of low-frequency auditory thresholds to better determine if the new technique of using a short-electrode cochlear implant that preserves residual low-frequency acoustic hearing can be a long-term solution for those with severe-to-profound hearing loss at high frequencies. The…

A study, to support the need for exploratory research, was designed to elicit a description of the medical chart located in its setting--the chart was looked "through" as a tool (as a means to an end to effect particular medical goals) and looked "at" itself as technology. This could provide a way to understand the relationship…

This report examines the nature of the conditions presented by adolescents and the health care provided by office-based physicians. The characteristics of patients are noted and the reason for the visit to the doctor and the length of the visit are summarized. Tables present information on: (1) average annual rate of office visits of adolescents…

This book contains 16 papers from the 1974 conference held by the Pregnancy and Infancy Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to: (1) assess the photobiological processes involved in phototherapy used in treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, and (2) to document long term clinical experience with the treatment…

Data are reported suggesting that a change in practice patterns did occur subsequent to a continuing medical education program. Twenty-eight physicians took a course in pulmonary artery pressure monitoring and followup surveys indicate its objectives were met. (LBH)

Evaluation of the efficacy of a medical intervention requires measurements of both its benefits and risks as compared to those of alternative forms of management. The requisite measurements are more difficult to make than this description suggests, and the accumulation of information is inhibited by certain characteristics of our pattern of health…

In spite of remarkable advances in medical therapy and in the development of fantastic diagnostic devices, American society appears increasingly disenchanted with the physician. Some of the reasons for this paradox are discussed in this article. (BB)

Discusses family influence on health care by addressing questions about appropriate selection of informants and data sources when investigating family and health concerns, questions about sample selection and the ability to generalize findings to the population as a whole, and questions concerning the subject's ability to differentiate between…

The Practice Integrated Learning Sequence (PILS) process was used in an educational program on hypertension management involving 1,013 physicians. Data suggest that PILS can help physicians assess practice needs by evaluating practice behaviors. Results indicate the importance of designing programs that facilitate physicians' development of…

The new microprocessor-based fire alarm systems can help to control smoke movement throughout school buildings by opening vents and doors, identify the burning section, activate voice alarms, provide firefighters with telephone systems during the fire, and release fire-preventing gas. (KS)

This is one in a series of reports to the President and Congress developed by the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) on key contemporary issues in information technology. This report argues that significant improvements in health care would be possible if modern clinical information systems were widely implemented and a…

Clinical, ethical, and legal issues in the health care of college students are discussed. (JD)

This study investigated the effects of health care financing on the utilization and cost of services for people with developmental disabilities (n=22,986). Hospital admissions data was collected for alternate years between 1983 and 1991 and compared to the data for the nondisabled population of New Jersey. (Author/CR)

Considers how communication audits are typically presented as one-shot events, whose impact is not measured. Employs a follow-up audit to track the effects of an initial audit upon a major health care organization. Illustrates how the audit can play a useful role in an organization's communication strategy. (SG)