ABSTRACT
Adult obesity is a common health problem associated with significant adverse health outcomes. Evidence-based guidelines support intensive nutrition and behavioral counseling and moderate physical exercise. Pharmacotherapy agents are available for long-term use to enhance weight loss efforts for some patients.
Subject(s)
Anti-Obesity Agents/therapeutic use , Diet, Reducing , Exercise , Obesity/therapy , Adult , Anti-Obesity Agents/adverse effects , Evidence-Based Medicine , Humans , Obesity/diagnosis , Obesity/physiopathology , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
Exercise has been shown to positively influence quality of life for people with a wide variety of medical illnesses. Tai chi,a slow and graceful form of exercise and meditation, has been offered as the ideal exercise for diverse conditions such as chronic heart failure and for breast cancer survivors. In one recent study, tai chi was found to improve exercise capacity,sleep stability, and quality of life in heart failure patients. Another study focusing on breast cancer survivors revealed tai chi to be superior to psychosocial support in increasing aerobic capacity, muscular strength, flexibility, and quality of life. Primary care providers can play a vital role in encouraging their patients with chronic illnesses to participate in safe forms of exercise such as tai chi in order to improve their healing experience, physical function, and overall quality of life.
Subject(s)
Exercise Therapy/methods , Holistic Nursing/methods , Quality of Life/psychology , Tai Ji/psychology , Transcultural Nursing , Adaptation, Psychological , Exercise Tolerance , Humans , Muscle Strength , Pliability , Psychometrics , Social Support , Stress, PsychologicalSubject(s)
Primary Health Care/methods , Psoriasis/diagnosis , Psoriasis/therapy , Acitretin/therapeutic use , Acute Disease , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Body Surface Area , Calcitriol/analogs & derivatives , Calcitriol/therapeutic use , Dermatologic Agents/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Drug Monitoring , Female , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Keratolytic Agents/therapeutic use , Middle Aged , Nurse Practitioners , Nursing Assessment , Patient Education as Topic , Phototherapy , Physical Examination , Psoriasis/etiology , Tacrolimus/analogs & derivatives , Tacrolimus/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Body Piercing/adverse effects , Infections/etiology , Infections/therapy , Nurse Practitioners , Adolescent , Adolescent Behavior , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Body Piercing/nursing , Body Piercing/psychology , Body Piercing/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Infection Control , Infections/epidemiology , Medical History Taking , Nurse's Role , Nursing Assessment , Patient Education as Topic , Physical Examination , Risk-Taking , Skin Care/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: National standards and goals for childhood immunization rates are well established. Yet, despite clear standards and goals, physicians do not achieve the desired rate (90%) for immunization coverage. This study examined factors related to immunization status for 2-year-old children in pediatric and family practice settings. METHODS: Specially trained personnel used computer software to audit 2,552 records from 42 practices in Northeast Florida throughout 1997-1999. Immunization records were judged as either complete or incomplete, and factors related to immunization status were studied. Clinic type and 18 immunization practice standards were reviewed for effect on immunization status. RESULTS: The probability of complete immunization status for children in pediatric clinics was greater than for those in family practice clinics. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that use of semiannual audits (odds ratio [OR]=2.00, confidence interval [CI]=1.65-2.42) was the most important factor for immunization completion. This was followed by availability of discounted immunizations (OR=.44, CI=.27-.73) and the use of an immunization tracking system (OR= 1.48, CI= 1.18-1.70). Factors that were not found to contribute included clinic type and the remaining 15 practice standards. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the significant factors, immunization status was not affected by the type of clinic providing immunizations. Based on this analysis, family physicians should implement tracking systems and should perform semiannual audits to match the success of pediatricians in immunizing children. Neither group met nationally established goals for administration of immunizations for 2-year-old children.
