ABSTRACT
The purpose of this case study is to describe three incremental personal digital PDA-based informatics strategies aimed at improving screening for tobacco use and guideline-based tobacco cessation management: 1) PDA clinical log with tobacco cessation diagnoses and plan of care options, 2) PDA decision support system, and 3) PDA decision support system with infobuttons--context-specific links to the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Services tobacco cessation information. These strategies were implemented within the context of an evidence-based advanced practice nurse curriculum at the Columbia University School of Nursing.
Subject(s)
Computers, Handheld , Decision Support Systems, Clinical , Smoking Cessation , Smoking , Adult , Decision Support Techniques , Female , Humans , Male , New York CityABSTRACT
The authors evaluated the psychometrics of a 14-item scale designed to assess attitudes about handheld decision support software. In a sample of 103 nursing students, a principal components factor analysis resulted in three factors that explained 55.1% of the variance. Internal consistency reliability ranged from .71-.83.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Computers , Computers, Handheld , Decision Making, Computer-Assisted , Surveys and Questionnaires , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Humans , Psychometrics , SoftwareABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although there is consistent evidence of a link between antibiotic use and increasing antimicrobial resistance in the community, inappropriate use of antimicrobials continues to be a global problem. OBJECTIVE: To describe knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Latino community members in upper Manhattan regarding use of antibiotics. METHODS: Written questionnaires and eight focus groups comprised of Hispanic community members (three groups), bodega employees, and healthcare providers (one group) in a Latino neighborhood in New York City. RESULTS: There were major knowledge deficits regarding use of antibiotics. Informants reported taking antibiotics for pain or other conditions as well as for symptoms of infection. Antibiotics were frequently obtained from bodegas without prescription, but generally only for adults, not for children. DISCUSSION: Interventions to improve antibiotic use that are focused on the formal healthcare system (e.g., clinicians, pharmacists, persons with health insurance) are unlikely to be effective with recently immigrated Latino community members. Successful interventions for this population should include targeted messages to bodega employees, community organizations, and children and their parents.
