Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/epidemiology , Long QT Syndrome/epidemiology , Melanoma/drug therapy , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/antagonists & inhibitors , Skin Neoplasms/epidemiology , Vemurafenib/adverse effects , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/chemically induced , Female , Humans , Incidence , Long QT Syndrome/chemically induced , Male , Melanoma/genetics , Middle Aged , Mutation , Prospective Studies , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/chemically inducedABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This report presents demographic characteristics, service utilization, and primary admission diagnoses of elderly users of home health care services. Included are home health care services used by both current and discharged clients (called patients). These services are provided by home health care agencies and hospices. The focus of the report is on services used by both current patients and discharges aged 65 years and over. METHODS: The data used for this report are from the National Center for Health Statistics 1996 National Home and Hospice Care Survey's (NHHCS) sample of current patients and discharges. The 1996 NHHCS is the fourth survey of home health care agencies and hospices and their current patients and discharges. RESULTS: The overall results of the survey indicate that, as in previous years, the elderly current patients and discharges were predominantly women, 75-84 years old, white, non-Hispanic, widowed, and most often lived in a private residence with members of their family. For elderly men and women, the most commonly used home health care service was skilled nursing services and the primary admission diagnosis was diseases of the circulatory system, including heart disease.
Subject(s)
Health Surveys , Home Care Services/statistics & numerical data , Hospices/statistics & numerical data , Activities of Daily Living , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Demography , Female , Humans , Male , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , Patient Discharge/statistics & numerical data , United StatesABSTRACT
The overuse of drugs as a means of alleviating stress and anxiety is thought to be characteristic of modern American society. This article addresses the problem by asking the question: given the number of people suffering from certain common symptoms, what percentage will seek relief through the use of medication? Multiple standardization is used to assess the effects of race, sex, age, marital status, and SES on the proportions of people reporting each symptom and the proportions of those who took medications, both before and after standardization for subgroup differences. More than 40 percent of the nearly 4000 adults surveyed reported some problems of sleeplessness and enervation, but when only those who reported persistent problems are examined, very few resorted to medications. The authors conclude that the U.S. is not a "pill-popping" society as depicted by the popular press.
