Specific Appliance Research Articles

Reliability Testing of Triacs

A laboratory testing program which was conducted on triacs used in a prototype all-solid-state household dishwasher is described. This testing program was deemed necessary after an inordinately high number of failures of the triacs were encountered in field testing, even though the triacs were being operated well within their published specifications. The operation of triacs, the specific appliance application, and a comparative triac testing plan are described. The test results which led to the selection of a triac which met the high-reliability criteria are given, as well as some specific recommendations for the use of triacs in appliance applications.

Ostomy Patient Care Program

The ostomate is often a forgotten patient with regards to proper psychological and emotional preparation for his surgery and proper continuing care of his ostomy. The pharmacist can play an important role in aiding the ostomy patient, especially in providing him adequate appliances and ostomy-care information. The development and implementation of the ostomy program of the N. C. Memorial Hospital Pharmacy is presented in detail. A brief explanation of why ostomy surgery is necessary, of the various types of ostomies and of the various appliances utilized is also presented. The following services of the program are described: Use of a patient profile card in order to have on record the patient's specific appliance and replacement parts; Fitting the new ostomate with the proper appliance and instructing him on its proper use; Interviewing patient on return clinic visits to determine if the patient is having ostomy-related problems or needs any replacement parts for his appliance; Providing patient's appliance needs through the mail or through communication with the patient's local community or hospital pharmacist, and Conducting a presurgical consultation with the future ostomate to briefly explain appliances and how their use will affect his life, plus answer questions which may be making him apprehensive.

An Analysis of Consistency of Response in Household Surveys

Abstract In obtaining data through household surveys, one of the primary concerns is the ability of respondents to recall certain facts. Data relating to a specific household appliance collected from identical households on identical questions in two national surveys made approximately one year apart form the basis for the present analysis of consistency of response. Although there is no method of checking the accuracy of the responses, the effects of differing responses are examined.