Significant Increase In Satisfaction Research Articles

Improving information provision for patients undergoing vertical gastroplasty as surgical treatment for severe intractable obesity

An information booklet, assessed for readability using the Flesch formula, was made available at the pre-operative stage to a consecutive series of adults with severe intractable obesity, who were to receive surgery (vertical gastroplasty) as treatment for this. At follow-up approximately 6 months after surgery, ratings of satisfaction with information and with surgical outcome were compared to the ratings from a previous series of patients who had undergone surgery without exposure to the booklet. Provision of the booklet led to a significant increase in satisfaction with information provided prior to surgery and a significant increase in satisfaction with outcome. Factor analysis suggested that satisfaction with information and satisfaction with other aspects of outcome are largely distinct in this population. It is concluded that providing information in easy-to-read written format prior to gastroplasty is beneficial to patients.

Incorporating a Quality of Life and Well-Being Instrument as an Additional Outcome Measure of a Comprehensive Weight Management Program

LEARNING OUTCOME: To understand the value of incorporating a psychosocial indicator with traditional outcome measures for obesity intervention. Traditional outcome measurements for weight management programs have focused on anthropometric changes such as body weight and body fat measures exclusively. The Institute Of Medicine report, Weighing the Options, underlined the importance of monitoring global outcome measures due to the multi-factorial nature of obesity. The Behavioral Modification Weight Management Program at Malcolm Grow Medical Center incorporates principles of sustainable lifestyle changes, healthy attitudes, increased physical activity, healthy food choices, and supportive relationships. Patterned largely after the LEARN® program developed by Kelly Brownell at Yale University, a registered dietitian and a clinical health psychologist conduct the 17 week course. After program completion, clients are encouraged to attend monthly follow-up sessions. The Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), a comprehensive measure of life and health satisfaction, was incorporated in addition to more traditional outcome measures. Baseline, post-treatment, and quarterly follow-up data were collected for the following: Body Mass Index (BMI), waist to hip ratio, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and QOLI. The dietitian reviewed weekly food and exercise diaries during the program. The clients set weekly goals and perceived adherence to the goals was monitored. Sixty-six participants have completed this program in three separate groups, attending an average of 10 sessions. The mean age was 44 years old and 83 percent were women. Mean reduction in BMI was 1.79; total cholesterol was 16.67 mg/dL; weight loss was 11 lb. Well-being, as measured by the QOLI, improved by an average T-score of 6.66. These physical and psychosocial changes indicated a clinically significant increase in satisfaction with health and quality of life as well as a decreased health risk. Follow-up assessments indicate maintenance of these outcomes. Further research is needed to determine if these positive changes resulted from the content of the program, the frequency of contact, or compliance monitoring techniques utilized by the instructors.

Long Term Evaluation of a Compressed, Rapidly Rotating Work Schedule

A current trend in alternative work schedules is to increase the length of the workday while decreasing the number of days in the work week. These “compressed” work schedules are popular amongst shiftworkers, in part because of longer periods of non-work days. The current research is an attempt to add to the short list of long-term evaluations of compressed work schedules. A change in work schedules from an 8 hour rotating shift schedule to a rotating 10 hour day/14 hour night operating schedule in a fire department was studied. Multiple measures were used to address a variety of outcomes associated with the new schedule. From the significant increase in satisfaction with their work schedule, it is clear that the new shift schedule is well liked by the fire fighters. Reasons for the satisfaction include significant changes in usual sleep length, a decrease in being tired or sleepy at work and an increase in free time benefits. Other results are discussed in the paper. In conclusion, the use of a compressed work schedule is beneficial when workers are allowed to sleep on the job, however, generalizations to other workplaces must be limited. Use of these popular work schedules should be limited to applications which incorporate a systematic evaluation of the new work schedule.

Psychosexual sequelae of gynaecological conditions

Abstract This article presents selected findings of a study investigating the effects of gynaecological conditions and hysterectomy on the emotional health and sexuality of 656 Western Australian women. The women were assigned to one of the following three groups: women affected by gynaecological conditions; women who had undergone a hysterectomy; and women who had experienced neither and considered themselves to be in good health. The responses of women affected by gynaecological conditions suggested that these conditions were contributing to emotional impairment and sexual dysfunction in terms of loss of sexual interest, pain on intercourse and sexual avoidance. Some of these sequelae were confirmed by statistical analysis. The responses showed a significant loss of satisfaction with coitus since the onset of gynaecological problems, compared with their previous health state. By contrast, the hysterectomy group showed a statistically significant increase in satisfaction with coital activity. The gynaeco...

Effect of flexible working hours on employee satisfaction and performance: A field experiment.

The effect of flexible working hours on employee satisfaction and performance was investigated in a field experiment conducted in a federal agency among 64 clerical employees who were randomly assigned to either flexible or fixed working hours for 6 months. The results indicated that flexitime caused a significant increase in satisfaction but had negligible effects on performance, whether assessed by ratings or output. Future research should aim to uncover reasons for positive effect of flexitime on employee feelings about their jobs. As part of a general trend to reexamine patterns of working hours, an increasing number of work organizations have introduced flexible working hours for their employees. The essential feature of such schemes is that the starting and quitting times are flexible for employee, but that he or she must be there during a core working (Glickman & Brown, 1974, p. 34). Typically, organizations that adopt flexible working hours define a core time period during which all employees are expected to work and then allow a range of time before and after this period during which employees can decide on their own arrival and departure times. Despite its widespread adoption by many organizations, however, actual effect of flexible working hours on employee morale and productivity has yet to be demonstrated. With notable exception of studies by Golembiewski, Hilles, and Kagno (1974) and by Schein, Maurer, and Novak (1977), most of information regarding effects of flexible working hours has not been based on controlled studies but instead on managerial judgments, single case studies, and surveys of employee opinion (cf. Baum & Young, 1974). In their longitudinal study based on preattitudinal and postattitudinal measures, Golembiewski et al. found employee reactions to installation of flexible working hours to be generally positive. In their study among insurance clerks in five different working units, Schein et al. found a significant increase in productivity following initiation of flexitime in two of units but no change in other three units. As researchers of both these studies admit, however, no clearcut conclusions regarding actual effect of flexible working hours can be made from their

Physical environment and job satisfaction in a community mental health center.

Relocation of professional staff in a community mental health center provided a setting in which to evaluate the effects of physical environment on job satisfaction. Two mental health teams moved from an old, drab central clinic building to new satellite clinics while a third team remained in the old building. Relocated staff reported significant increase in satisfaction with physical surroundings as compared to staff that did not move. Furthermore, satisfaction with physical surroundings had some impact on overall satisfaction ratings. Physical surroundings in a community mental health center may be a mediating variable for staff morale and effectiveness.