Use of activity schedule to promote independent performance of individuals with autism and other intellectual disabilities: a review.

A literature review was conducted on the effectiveness of activity schedules. Twenty three studies that a) were peer-reviewed, b) were experimental, c) implemented activity schedule as a primary intervention, d) incorporated multiple activities, and e) aimed to teach learners to self-manage individual schedules were included in the review. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of activity schedules for promoting independence and self-management skills for a broad range of individuals with intellectual disabilities. An increase in engagement and on-task behavior was the most frequently cited outcome, followed by independent task initiation or transition and self-scheduling. Failure to include social validity measures and caregivers as interventionists were discussed. A corpus of the reviewed studies supports applications of activity schedule in school and (group) home settings.

Clinical outcomes of EMR for gastric tumors: historical pilot evaluation between endoscopic submucosal dissection and conventional mucosal resection.

BACKGROUND: EMR is currently a standard treatment for mucosal gastric tumors. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been developed for en bloc resection. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the clinical outcomes of ESD compared with conventional EMR. DESIGN: Not applicable. SETTING: A historical control study was performed between EMR and ESD. PATIENTS: EMR of 245 gastric tumors was performed in 229 patients. Lesions were divided into two groups. Conventional EMR was performed in group A from February 1999 to June 2001, and ESD was performed in group B from July 2001 to March 2004. Group B was divided into subgroups: subgroup B-1 underwent ESD from July 2001 to March 2003 and subgroup B-2 from April 2003 to March 2004. INTERVENTIONS: All lesions were resected with conventional EMR or with ESD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: En bloc resection rate, rate in completeness of resection, required time, remnant ratio, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: With regard to lesions >10 mm in size, the en bloc resection rate and the rate in completeness of resection of group B was significantly higher than that of group A (p < 0.01). Although the required time was longer in group B than A (p < 0.01), it was shorter in subgroup B-2 compared with B-1 (p < 0.05) with lesions < or =10 mm in size. The remnant ratio and perforation rate were not different between groups. LIMITATIONS: Not applicable. CONCLUSIONS: The en bloc resection rate was better with ESD than with conventional EMR. The required time was longer in ESD, but this disadvantage might be improved with experience.