Multitudinous brands of therapies and therapists now promise to fulfill Western man's historic longing for self-knowledge. Yet no technique bears a warranty, and self-anointed practitioners carry on without sanctions. Here are some guidelines for consumers and professionals. (Editor/RK)

Family physicians and specialists were asked to identify the sources of information they used in the process of making changes in their clinical practices. An average of 3.08 sources of information were utilized for each change and over 50 percent of the changes were complete in less than one year. (CT)

Compared the effects of fixed-interval and on-demand administration of analgesic medications in chronic pain patients. A fixed-interval analgesic schedule was found more effective than an on-demand schedule in reducing subjective pain and elevating mood. No differences were found between the two conditions on measures of physical activity.…

Indicates a vertical flow of influence from health professional to consumer, but questions the assumption that physicians are perceived as the most appropriate interpersonal sources for all health matters. Finds that sources of information and advice vary with the type and characteristics of the medication and the characteristics of the…

Describes a workshop strategy which provides a mechanism for implementing change and facilitates the administrative support necessary to improve nursing care in institutional settings. Participants learn to set realistic, high-priority goals; implement change theory; and use available resources to achieve a goal. (CT)

Older persons are more likely to get physical checkups and overutilize the health care system for minor complaints, but are little different from the younger in underutilization for conditions which should receive a doctor's attention. There is a need to help the elderly sort out symptoms requiring attention. (Author)

The development of the holistic health movement and the new health consciousness has been accompanied by an increasing dissatisfaction with certain aspects of medical care delivery. (Author/JD)

The evaluation methods, the characteristics of the study population, and some preliminary results of the first year of a three-year study of a demonstration school health program are reported. The principal measures of health care used are episodes if care and the Health Guarded Child Index. (JMF)

Three consumer groups--physicians, hospital administrators, and patients--that would benefit most from evaluation of health care are described. Problems each group has in understanding and supporting the use of evaluation in the delivery of health care services are discussed. Strategies to improve acceptance of evaluation are presented. (SLD)

Examines the benefits which need to be included in a health care reform program to improve coverage for children and adolescents. Reviews three criteria (medical necessity, insurability, and cost effectiveness) that may be used to develop a benefits package and finds them of limited utility. Maintains that informed consensus is the most reliable…

A study investigated patient attitudes toward different disease control measures taken in dental school clinics (n=272 patients) and private practices (n=107 patients). Variables examined included sex, age, educational background, and knowledge of infectious diseases. Patients tended to accept the control measures being used in each context. (MSE)

In the selective contracting era, consumer choice has generally been absent in most state Medicaid programs, including California's (called Medi-Cal). In a setting where beneficiary exit is not a threat, a large payer may have both the incentives and the ability to exercise undue market power, potentially exposing an already vulnerable population…

A content analysis examined the narratives of 3,868 patients at 6 health care institutions, who described critical incidents during hospitalization and ambulatory health care. Results indicated that from the patient perspective, assessments of quality have less to do with clinical and administrative quality, than with providers' communication…

Part I of this kit provides information for program planners and health professionals on ways to overcome barriers to health care among the medically underserved, promote high blood pressure control through the media and other community channels, and improve adherence to treatment among hypertensive patients. It lists additional resources for…

A study was conducted of the internalization of the nursing process, based on the assumption that use of nursing-process terminology (to describe an interaction between a health-care provider and a client) might indicate internalization of the process. Six subjects (three college seniors and three registered nurses who had completed a…