Source Of Information For Professionals Research Articles

Penile Morphometrics and Erectile Function in Healthy Portuguese Men

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between penile morphometrics and erectile function in a sample of healthy Portuguese men. Methods: A sample of 1416 adult men with an average age of 39 years were surveyed and completed the following measures: socio-demographic questionnaire, penile morphometrics evaluation questionnaire, and the Portuguese version of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Results: The average result for penis length was 16.75 cm (SD=2.25) and a circumference of 9.56 cm (SD=2.38). Levels of satisfaction with the morphometrics of the penis were relatively high (7.61 on a scale of 1 to 10, SD=1.87), as well as overall levels of erectile function (4.21 on a scale of 1 to 5; SD=0.61). Results showed a negative association between penis length and erectile function (r=-242; p<0.05), and positive association between the circumference and erectile function (r=0.183; p<0.05); penile length and circumcision was associated with less erectile function. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that penile morphometrics interferes with erectile function and this is an important source of information for professionals working in the male sexual health field.

Stimulation and Early Child Development in China: Caregiving at Arm's Length.

To provide an empirical overview of the parenting landscape in rural China, focusing on 18- to 30-month-old children and their caregivers in rural Shaanxi province. We collected unique data on 1442 caregiver-toddler dyads in rural areas of Shaanxi province and examined caregiver attitudes toward parenting, sources of information about parenting, and interactive parenting practices, and how each of these differed across generations. We measured how parenting attitudes and sources of information informed parenting practices. Finally, we measured levels of child development in our sample and the association between parenting practices and children's developmental outcomes. Most of the caregivers did not engage with children in a way that encouraged early development. Caregivers rarely told stories, sang, or used toys to play with their children. Grandmothers were more stressed by the children in their care and engaged significantly less than mothers did in the 3 stimulating interactions. Professional sources of information about parenting were underutilized by all caregivers. We found high rates of developmental delay in our sample and showed that these delays were associated with the lack of caregiver engagement. Our findings suggest that the major economic and social shifts occurring in rural China have not led to a widespread prevalence of stimulative parenting practices. Although caregivers report positive attitudes toward child-rearing, reliable sources of scientific information are lacking. Our results show a troubling generational disconnect between the information-seeking behaviors and parenting practices of rural caregivers.

The Notions of Pupils and Students about Sexually Transmitted Infections and Ways of Their Development

The sexually transmitted infections are an actual medical social problem of the youth that negatively impacts natality because of high proportion in the structure of causes of infertility and miscarriage. The questionnaire survey was carried out on the sampling of 938 pupils and students of natural science and humanitarian specialties. It is established that those of acquiring natural science education in the issues related to sexually transmitted diseases more often trust professional sources of information (physicians and scientific publications) while humanitarians prefer Internet and social advertising. The profile of education has no impact on self-evaluation of possible infection, readiness to screening examination and visiting the physician in case of corresponding problems occurrence.

The United States’ Federal Parity Act and treatment of substance use disorders: Administrators’ familiarity and perceptions of impact

BackgroundThe 2008 Wellstone and Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) aims to secure parity in private insurance coverage between behavioral and other medical disorders in the United States (U.S.). This legislation represents an important change in the operating field of substance use disorder treatment, but to date, its impact on treatment centers has not been widely examined. The current study measured the extent of center leaders’ familiarity with the MHPAEA and their perceptions of its overall impact on their centers. MethodsUsing a nationally representative sample of treatment centers in the U.S., we examined the extent of MHPAEA familiarity and its perceived impact as reported by treatment center leaders. We further employed logistic and ordered logistic regressions to determine personal and organizational characteristics associated with their reported familiarity and experienced impacts, including changes in the number of privately-insured clients seeking treatment and in the treatment coverage of those clients. ResultsWe found that dissemination of parity information was low. Only 36% of administrators reported high levels of familiarity and 16% used professional sources of information. The majority of administrators (71%) reported no impact of the legislation on their organization, but those that reported any impact were more likely to state positive impact. Greater parity knowledge and perceived positive impacts were associated with administrator and organizational characteristics indicative of greater access to industry-specific knowledge, a medical model orientation, and reliance on private insurance revenue. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that dissemination of parity information is lacking and that the majority of leaders have yet to experience an impact of the MHPAEA. Leaders of centers with more sophisticated structures are most likely to be familiar with the legislation and perceive a positive impact. Research concerning the effective management of treatment centers, including environmental scanning techniques, continues to be needed.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Palliative Care

Many cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during or after their therapy. Because little is known about CAM in palliative care, we conducted 2 surveys among patients and professionals in the palliative setting. Patients of a German Comprehensive Cancer Center were interviewed, and an independent online survey was conducted among members of the German Society for Palliative Care (DGP). In all, 25 patients and 365 professional members of the DGP completed the survey (9.8% of all members); 40% of the patients, 85% of the physicians, and 99% of the nurses claimed to be interested in CAM. The most important source of information for professionals is education, whereas for patients it is radio, TV, and family and friends. Most patients are interested in biological-based methods, yet professionals prefer mind-body-based methods. Patients more often confirm scientific evidence to be important for CAM than professionals. To improve communication, physicians should be trained in evidence for those CAM methods in which patients are interested.

From research to practice in child and adolescent mental health

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ATP-gated P2X receptors in health and disease.

ATP-gated P2X receptors in health and disease.

A multidimensional analysis of Aslib proceedings – using everything but the impact factor

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that the journal impact factor (IF) is not able to reflect the full impact of scholarly journals and provides an overview of alternative and complementary methods in journal evaluation. Design/methodology/approach – Aslib Proceedings (AP) is exemplarily analyzed with a set of indicators from five dimensions of journal evaluation, i.e. journal output, content, perception and usage, citations and management to accurately reflect its various strengths and weaknesses beyond the IF. Findings – AP has become more international in terms of authors and more diverse regarding its topics. Citation impact is generally low and, with the exception of a special issue on blogs, remains world average. However, an evaluation of downloads and Mendeley readers reveals that the journal is an important source of information for professionals and students and certain topics are frequently read but not cited. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to one journal. Practical implications – An overview of various indicators and methods is provided that can be applied in the quantitative evaluation of scholarly journals (and also to articles, authors and institutions). Originality/value – After a publication history of more than 60 years, this analysis takes stock of AP, highlighting strengths and weaknesses and developments over time. The case study provides an example and overview of the possibilities of multidimensional journal evaluation.

등산 활동 참여동기와 위험지각 수준에 따른 위험감소행동 연구

This study investigates risk reduction behavior with risk perception in outdoor wear purchase situations. Data were collected via a questionnaire from 400 consumers between the ages of 20 to 50 residing in Seoul and Kyonggi-do. Data analysis were conducted with SPSS 20 program on the reliability test, factor analysis, cluster analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and Duncan's multiple range test. Factor analyses were employed for the participation motivation of mountain climbing activities, risk reduction behavior and risk perception. Five factors were for the participation motivation of mountain climbing activities (health and fitness, external ostentation, achievement and excitement, improvement of climbing skills, and society). Five factors were for risk perception (fashionability loss and social risk, time and convenience loss, economic risk, performance risk, and psychological risk). Five factors were for the risk reduction behavior (interpersonal information sources use, marketer-dominated information sources use, professional information sources use, pre-purchase deliberation/observation/experience, and brand dependence). Three clusters were identified based on the motivation of outdoor activities (the affiliation/display, the health/internal informativeness and low motivation). The participation motivation for mountain climbing activities were varied. Manufacturers should increase efforts to develop products with good qualities at a reasonable cost as well as establish new marketing strategies since the risk of product performance and economic efficiency in the purchase of outdoor wear was a significant consumer perception.

HVAC system operational strategies for reduced energy consumption in buildings with intermittent occupancy: The case of mosques

Mosques are places of worship for Muslims with unique functional requirements and operational characteristics. They are partially or fully occupied for about an hour for five intermittent periods during the day. In hot climates, maintaining indoor thermal comfort requires a considerable amount of energy that can be reduced by proper operational zoning and effective HVAC operation strategies. The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of operational zoning and HVAC system intermittent operation strategies on the energy performance of mosques while thermal comfort is maintained. Energy simulation modeling is used for evaluating alternative zoning and HVAC operation strategies. Results indicate that up to 23% reduction in annual cooling energy is achieved by employing suitable HVAC operation strategy and system over-sizing, and 30% reduction is achieved by appropriate operational zoning. Comparing the cooling energy consumption of HVAC summer continuous operation of an un-insulated mosque with the consumption of the insulated mosque with properly oversized HVAC system operated for 1h during each prayer, indicated that as much as 46% of cooling energy reduction can be achieved. Furthermore, utilizing proper operational zoning and HVAC operation strategies is expected to bring about an additional significant energy reduction. Guidelines for mosque HVAC systems operation and thermal zoning are developed. These design/operation guidelines would provide a source of information for professionals to improve the thermal and energy performance of mosques. This knowledge can also contribute towards the development of future energy-related design codes for mosques.

Cancer risk and the complexity of the interactions between environmental and host factors: HENVINET interactive diagrams as simple tools for exploring and understanding the scientific evidence

BackgroundDevelopment of graphical/visual presentations of cancer etiology caused by environmental stressors is a process that requires combining the complex biological interactions between xenobiotics in living and occupational environment with genes (gene-environment interaction) and genomic and non-genomic based disease specific mechanisms in living organisms. Traditionally, presentation of causal relationships includes the statistical association between exposure to one xenobiotic and the disease corrected for the effect of potential confounders.MethodsWithin the FP6 project HENVINET, we aimed at considering together all known agents and mechanisms involved in development of selected cancer types. Selection of cancer types for causal diagrams was based on the corpus of available data and reported relative risk (RR). In constructing causal diagrams the complexity of the interactions between xenobiotics was considered a priority in the interpretation of cancer risk. Additionally, gene-environment interactions were incorporated such as polymorphisms in genes for repair and for phase I and II enzymes involved in metabolism of xenobiotics and their elimination. Information on possible age or gender susceptibility is also included. Diagrams are user friendly thanks to multistep access to information packages and the possibility of referring to related literature and a glossary of terms. Diagrams cover both chemical and physical agents (ionizing and non-ionizing radiation) and provide basic information on the strength of the association between type of exposure and cancer risk reported by human studies and supported by mechanistic studies. Causal diagrams developed within HENVINET project represent a valuable source of information for professionals working in the field of environmental health and epidemiology, and as educational material for students.IntroductionCancer risk results from a complex interaction of environmental exposures with inherited gene polymorphisms, genetic burden collected during development and non genomic capacity of response to environmental insults. In order to adopt effective preventive measures and the associated regulatory actions, a comprehensive investigation of cancer etiology is crucial. Variations and fluctuations of cancer incidence in human populations do not necessarily reflect environmental pollution policies or population distribution of polymorphisms of genes known to be associated with increased cancer risk. Tools which may be used in such a comprehensive research, including molecular biology applied to field studies, require a methodological shift from the reductionism that has been used until recently as a basic axiom in interpretation of data. The complexity of the interactions between cells, genes and the environment, i.e. the resonance of the living matter with the environment, can be synthesized by systems biology. Within the HENVINET project such philosophy was followed in order to develop interactive causal diagrams for the investigation of cancers with possible etiology in environmental exposure.ResultsCausal diagrams represent integrated knowledge and seed tool for their future development and development of similar diagrams for other environmentally related diseases such as asthma or sterility. In this paper development and application of causal diagrams for cancer are presented and discussed.

Mass media health information available to young adults in the United Kingdom: (1) Daily newspapers and magazines

Abstract Consumers are increasingly challenging community pharmacists with mass media advertisements and news items. This has the potential to produce conflict as professional judgment, editorial priorities and advertising practices are inevitably not aligned. To explore the characteristics and distribution of health information in publications read by young adults (15- to 24-year-olds) in the United Kingdom, four newspapers and 29 magazines were surveyed over an eight-week period in January/February 1997. Nine hundred health items were found in 84 newspaper issues and 80 magazine issues. Newspapers commonly included health information in the form of advertisements and news items; magazines included features and readers' letters. Descriptions of disease treatment and states were the most common subjects. Although conventional therapies were featured more often than alternative options, there was a considerable number of advertisements and features for alternative therapies, especially in newspapers. Most therapeutic areas were included, but the central nervous system was the most prevalent. One hundred and ninety-six newspaper items (40.2 per cent), and 193 magazine items (46.8 per cent) referred to a specific drug or medicine. The drug properties most often described were indication and formulation. Side effects were more likely to be included in magazine items. There was a notable lack of references to professional information sources. Community pharmacists must be aware of the characteristics of this information to help consumers to make better informed self care decisions.

Toward Exploring Stakeholder and Professional Information Sources About Cormorant Management in the Great Lakes

We aim to inform double-crested cormorant management in the Great Lakes Basin by revealing where natural resource professionals (e.g., state, provincial, federal, and tribal agency employees) and non-professional stakeholders (e.g., anglers, bird enthusiasts, and tourism interests) are exposed to, and seek out, information about cormorants. Using a snowball sampling procedure, we conducted 109 semi-structured interviews with professionals and stakeholders engaged in cormorant management in northern Lake Huron. Both professionals and stakeholders identified social networks as their greatest source of cormorant-related information. Most participants also indicated they would reach out to someone in their social network if they were seeking new information about cormorants. Our findings suggest a need to better understand how networks operate in the context of wildlife management. Given that networks were a shared information source among both professionals and stakeholders, managers may consider coordinating their future communication efforts with communities and their networks, rather than individuals, in mind.

Relationship Between Sources of Information and the Willingness of Healthcare Workers to Risk their Lives for a Patient During the Peak of A/H1N1 Pandemic in Israel§

Background: The willingness of healthcare workers to risk their lives for a patient if a fatal transformation of the virus would occur is a major concern, especially during a pandemic where the need for adequate staffing is crucial and where the public atmosphere might increase anxiety and fear of exposure. Objective: To examine the relationships between the source of information about the disease and the willingness of healthcare workers to risk their lives for a patient with a fatal A/H1N1 flu, during the winter A/H1N1 pandemic in Israel. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to healthcare workers in 21 hospitals and 40 primary clinics in Israel between November 26, 2009 and December 10, 2009 (the peak of the winter A/H1N1 flu outbreak). Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1147 healthcare workers. The most common source of information reported was television (65%), followed by speaking with colleagues and reading the Ministry of Health regulations (63%) each, internet (61%), and newspapers (51%). The least common sources of information were reading a scientific article (35%) and attending a professional lecture (31%). Willingness to risk one’s life was significantly higher in healthcare workers who reported that their source of information about the disease was reading a scientific article, Ministry of Health regulations, a professional lecture, or a colleague. Willingness was not significantly different among health care workers who reported that their source of information about the disease was television programs, a newspaper article, or general internet sites. Conclusions: Willingness to risk one’s life for a patient is directly related to professional sources of information and is not related to nonprofessional information obtained from mass media.

Sources of Agricultural Information Used by Arable Crop Farmers in Isale Osun Farm Settlement, Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State

The study ascertained the sources of agricultural information used by arable crop farmers in Isale Osun farm settlement, Osogbo local government area of Osun State. Data were collected from 80 respondents through the use of structured interview schedule and analyzed using percentages, mean scores and bivalent correlation analysis. The findings revealed that farmers received their agricultural information mostly through mediated and professional inter-personal channels/methods. The findings further showed that radio (x = 3.40) and fellow farmers (x = 3.40) were the most perceived appropriate channels for disseminating agricultural information as reported by the farmers. However, the result of the study showed that extension agents (x = 3.37), radio (x = 3.34) and television (x = 3.16) were the most reliable channels for communicating agricultural information to farmers. The results of the bivalent correlation analysis showed positive significant relationships between educational attainment and use of professional information sources; farmers’ age and use of various information sources as well as household size and use of professional mass media sources (P<0.05).However, level of illiteracy (x = 3.97), unavailability of information sources (x = 3.94), lack of access to information sources (x = 3.93) and inappropriate scheduling of programmes (x = 3.89) were the most serious problems associated with receiving information through the different communication sources. The study therefore recommended that government should assist farmers in the area by sponsoring adult education so that farmers can make best use of the different agricultural information sources effectively. It also points to the need for the provision of enabling environment for such facilities as the internet to thrive in rural areas.

Information sources used by women in Finland who use hormonal contraceptives

The aim of this study was to examine information sources used by women who use hormonal contraceptives (HCs), and how information source affected women's attitudes and perceptions in 2001 and 2007. The questionnaires were distributed from university pharmacies in 12 large cities across Finland. The data were collected with two questionnaire surveys among women who used hormonal contraceptives in 2001 and 2007. In the 2001 survey the response rate was 53% (n = 264) and in the 2007 survey 55% (n = 436). The number of respondents who considered professional information sources the most important information sources was markedly bigger in 2007 than in 2001 (P = 0.005). The most common source of information concerning the benefits of hormonal contraceptives was a physician (2001: 43%, 2007: 53%). The most common source of information concerning the risks of hormonal contraceptives was friends and relatives (43%) in 2001 and physician in 2007 (35%). Only a few percent of the respondents considered a pharmacy the most important information source both the 2001 and 2007 surveys. The importance of health care professionals as sources of information concerning hormonal contraceptives has increased. However, role of pharmacists as information source was surprisingly small. Women who use hormonal contraceptives need more information from professional sources to alleviate possible fears associated with use.

Influence Factor of Chinese Elders’ Wealth Management Behaviour: An Empirical Study

The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the influential demographic variables of elders’ wealth management behaviour. Purpose sampling for 122 older consumers (aged over 65) who participate in wealth management programme with instrument, was conducted in April 2007 in China (Taiwan area). Regression was performed for the data analysis. The results showed gender, educational background, and living location being key factors affecting elder consumers’ wealth-management behaviours, including consumers’ familiarity with financial products/services, sources of professional information, sources of word-of-mouth information, investment intention, and investment confidence. The main contributions of this not only include enhancing existing literature concerning wealth management, marketing, and elder behaviours (especially for clarifying how the controversial factors work), but unveiling elders’ behaviour tendency in such a blooming emerging market. Practical implications to bank marketers are also given.

The Effectiveness of a Multimedia Intervention on Parents’ Knowledge and Use of Vehicle Safety Systems for Children

Trauma due to road crashes is the leading cause of death and injury in Canadian children younger than 14 years, despite mandatory use of vehicle restraints since 1977. A multisite intervention study using a pretest-posttest design was conducted in four Ontario cities to test the effectiveness of an educational program on parents' knowledge of safety system use for children (0-12 years) 6 weeks following the educational intervention. The sample consisted of 418 families who reported on 732 children. Results indicated that knowledge increased significantly following the intervention. Use of professional sources of information was an important factor that is linked with increased parents' knowledge.

Health information seeking on the Internet: a double divide? Results from a representative survey in the Paris metropolitan area, France, 2005-2006.

BackgroundThe Internet is a major source of information for professionals and the general public, especially in the field of health. However, despite ever-increasing connection rates, a digital divide persists in the industrialised countries. The objective of this study was to assess the determinants involved in: 1) having or not having Internet access; and 2) using or not using the Internet to obtain health information.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of a representative random sample was conducted in the Paris metropolitan area, France, in the fall of 2005 (n = 3023).ResultsClose to 70% of the adult population had Internet access, and 49% of Internet users had previously searched for medical information. Economic and social disparities observed in online health information seeking are reinforced by the economic and social disparities in Internet access, hence a double divide. While individuals who reported having a recent health problem were less likely to have Internet access (odds ratio (OR): 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53–0.98), it is they who, when they have Internet access, are the most likely to search for health information (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.11–1.87).ConclusionIn the French context of universal health insurance, access to the Internet varies according to social and socioeconomic status and health status, and its use for health information seeking varies also with health beliefs, but not to health insurance coverage or health-care utilisation. Certain economic and social inequalities seem to impact cumulatively on Internet access and on the use of the Internet for health information seeking. It is not obvious that the Internet is a special information tool for primary prevention in people who are the furthest removed from health concerns. However, the Internet appears to be a useful complement for secondary prevention, especially for better understanding health problems or enhancing therapeutic compliance.

Doctors' learning habits: CME activities among Norwegian physicians over the last decade

BackgroundCoping with the increasing body of medical knowledge is a main challenge to all doctors. The aim of this study was to investigate self reported reading and learning habits among Norwegian doctors and their subjective ability to keep professionally updated.MethodsA cross sectional survey among a randomised sample of Norwegian doctors was undertaken in 2004 (n = 1005, response rate 71%). A similar study with many identical questions was done in 1993 (n = 1041, response rate 71%) and a comparison of the results was made.ResultsAttending courses/congresses and reading medical literature were reported to be the most important sources of professional information in 2004, just like in 1993. Less time was spent on courses/congresses in 2004 than in 1993, and more time was spent on medical reading. The internet was regarded as useful for their professional life for three out of five, mostly among the younger and least among GPs.Two out of three doctors felt that they could obtain sufficient information for keeping updated in 2004, the same proportion as in 1993. A correlation was found between subjective coping with the information and a high level of continuing medical education (CME)-activities. The information copers had a higher level of job satisfaction than non-copers.ConclusionOver the last decade Norwegian doctors spend less time on attending courses/congresses and more time on medical reading, while the level of self perceived coping with information has been unchanged. The changing pattern of professional updating may reflect a more general individualistic trend in society. The consistent finding of a correlation between reading and attending courses, subjective coping and job satisfaction gives good reasons for recommending a high level of CME-activities among doctors.