Topics and features of academic medical library tutorials.

In a 2007 study, librarians at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library examined freely available online tutorials on academic medical library Web sites. The team identified tutorial topics, determined common design features, and assessed elements of active learning in library-created tutorials; the team also generated a list of third-party tutorials to which medical libraries link. This article updates the earlier study, describing changes and trends in tutorial content and design on medical libraries' Web sites; the project team plans to continue to track trends in tutorial development by repeating this study annually.

Relationships between Myers-Briggs type indicator measure of psychological type and neo measure of big five personality factors in Polish University students: a preliminary cross-cultural comparison.

English-language versions of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Form G) measure of psychological type and the NEO-FFI measure of the Big Five personality factors were completed by 57 Polish university students fluent in the English language. The pattern of correlations between MBTI and NEO-FFI scales for the Polish sample was compared to the pattern of correlations for measures of these same constructs reported for Americans. Four of the five significant relationships between MBTI and NEO-FFI scales reported in the American sample were also recorded in the Polish sample: MBTI Extraversion-Introversion with NEO Extraversion, MBTI Sensing-Intuition and MBTI Judging-Perceiving with NEO-Openness, and MBTI Judging-Perceiving with NEO Conscientiousness. Pending replication with a larger, more representative sample, this preliminary study supports the validity of psychological type in Polish society.

Exercise use as complementary therapy among breast and prostate cancer survivors receiving active treatment: examination of exercise intention.

BACKGROUND: Exercise is associated with an improved quality of life among cancer survivors. Previous research has highlighted the utility of the theory of planned behavior in understanding cancer survivors' intention to exercise. The purpose of this study was to extend the research on the theory of planned behavior in relation to exercise intention in breast cancer survivors and to provide preliminary evidence supporting its application with prostate cancer survivors during treatment. METHODS: Participants consisted of 126 breast and 82 prostate cancer survivors receiving active treatment. Participants completed self-administered, mail-in questionnaires that assessed demographic and medical variables, past exercise, and the theory of planned behavior. RESULTS: For breast cancer survivors, the results revealed that attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control explained 66% of the variance in exercise intention with the instrumental component of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control making significant unique contributions to intention. For prostate cancer survivors, attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control explained 57% of the variance in exercise intention, with subjective norm and perceived behavioral control making significant unique contributions to intention. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide further support that the theory of planned behavior is a useful framework for understanding determinants of exercise intention in breast cancer survivors undergoing active treatment and preliminary support for prostate cancer survivors undergoing active treatment. When designing exercise interventions, differences in breast and prostate cancer survivors' exercise intention merit consideration.

Human immunodeficiency virus acquired heterosexually abroad: expert panel assessment of the "indigenous/nonindigenous to the United kingdom status" of cases.

BACKGROUND: In Scotland the proportion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-diagnosed patients who were presumed to have acquired their infection abroad increased from 4% (12/269) in 1985 to 34% (53/154) in 2000. Several journalists and health professionals assumed that this increase in diagnosis rate reflected HIV among persons from Scotland who had acquired their infection while traveling abroad. Because of limitations in HIV surveillance data quality, no attempt had been made to distinguish diagnosed persons who were indigenous to the United Kingdom from those who were not. To address this problem, the investigators set out to interpret the existing surveillance data using a probability-based judgment approach. METHODS: A panel of travel medicine experts was employed to generate a judgment on reported heterosexual cases, presumed to have acquired HIV abroad and diagnosed before 2001, as to their likelihood of being indigenous to the United Kingdom (I) or not (NI). Median score thresholds were set to produce a range of possible values of I as a proportion of I + NI. RESULTS: For diagnoses made during 1991 to 1995, the possible value of I as a proportion of I + NI ranged between 17% (5/29) and 34% (23/68); for 1996 to 2000, the range was 32% (39/123) to 33% (43/130). Overall, 15% of cases were unclassifiable. Thus, up to one-third of HIV-diagnosed heterosexuals who likely acquired their HIV abroad originated in Scotland. CONCLUSIONS: Amid current publicity about infections among immigrants, the distinction between I and NI group sizes should better inform public health professionals for resource allocation to prevent new HIV infection among indigenous persons, and for the health care of nonindigenous persons entering Scotland with HIV. Using classification criteria derived from this study, there are plans to publish such data routinely in the context of national surveillance.

Patient-physician communication regarding use of complementary therapies during cancer treatment.

It is estimated that as many as 80% of adult cancer patients use at least one form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) during or after conventional treatment. Studies of physician-patient communication about the use of CAM have concluded that patients frequently do not tell their oncologists about their use of CAM and physicians consistently underestimate the numbers of their patients using CAM. The purpose of this multi-site study was to assess newly diagnosed cancer patients' and oncologists' communication practices with regard to complementary therapies. Patients (106 breast and 82 prostate) indicated which of 45 complementary therapies they were using while physicians at their institutions indicated which they supported. It is noted that, although we use the popular acronym "CAM" all patients surveyed were receiving conventional medical treatment. Thus, the survey addressed complementary therapies only. A large majority (84%) indicated they were using at least one therapy with the most popular being exercise, vitamins, prayer, and nutritional supplements. Surprisingly, the oncologists surveyed were generally enthusiastic and supportive of patients' use of complementary therapies. In addition to those therapies popular with patients, at least half the physicians supported massage, journal writing, support groups, acupuncture, biofeedback, and art therapy. However, discussions of CAM are relatively rare and most likely to be initiated by patients. When the topic is discussed, both patients and doctors say it usually enhances their relationship. Implications for CAM program development and oncology professionals' roles in patient education regarding complementary therapies are presented.

Oral health status and oral treatment needs of dependent elderly people in Christchurch.

AIM: To describe the general health, oral health status, and treatment needs of dependent older people living in Christchurch rest homes. METHODS: 210 Grade 3 residents from seven randomly selected care facilities were examined for: dental/denture status, caries, periodontal disease, and oral cleanliness. RESULTS: Age ranged from 65 to 103 with an average age of 84.6 years. The female-to-male ratio was 3:1. Thirty-two percent of residents were dentate (average 14 teeth). This figure was up from 16-19% one decade ago (p<0.01; chi-squared test). Sixty-five percent of dentate residents had caries. Each dentate person had an average of 2.38 teeth with carious lesions in the root or crown. 51.5% of residents required restorative treatment and 38.2% required an extraction. Twenty residents had at least one 'carious stump'. Eighty-two percent of residents required scaling of the teeth. Two thirds had no natural teeth, and one third of those with dentures required treatment. Eighty-nine residents (42%) were unable to communicate about past dental behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that (compared to one decade ago) more dependent elderly people are retaining their natural teeth--but they are keeping no more teeth, and the health of the teeth has not improved. Most elderly people do not regularly receive dental assessments or care.

Tomboys, masculine characteristics, and self-ratings of confidence in career success.

Previous research focusing on gender-roles and self-concept suggests a positive relationship between masculinity and self-concept. The present study explores self-perceptions of being a "tomboy," gender-role and ratings of self-confidence in later success. Higher self-ratings on the tomboy scale correlated with confidence in career success but not with confidence in passing a college course or jogging for 20 min. There was a positive correlation between masculinity scores but not femininity scores with tomboy ratings. Masculine characteristics such as independence, aggression competitiveness, leadership ability, ability to defend, stand by beliefs, mediated by compassion appear to be positively correlated with perceptions of success.