The focus of this study was to explore women’s experiences with follow-up after an abnormal mammogram, and factors that influence follow-up. Factors, including health status, found in the cancer screening and treatment literature, are necessary in identifying variables which have the potential to affect a person’s perception, and promote or deter follow-up. Protection Motivation Theory constructs utilized in this study are found in the literature to improve diagnostic health behaviors such as performing breast self-examination and complying with diagnostic tests. A non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to identify the barriers to follow-up after an abnormal mammogram by: 1) determining the noncompliance rate of follow-up mammograms among women screened at an urban hospital’s mammography mobile unit in North Texas (October 1, 2004, to September 31, 2005) who were found to need further evaluation for suspected abnormal findings; and 2) identifying factors associated with noncompliance and perceived barriers to noncompliance. The sample consisted of 262 participants, 136 (52%) women whom the hospital reported had not returned for follow-up and 126 (48%) women who were reported to have returned. A logistic regression model was performed using follow-up as the dependent variable. The variables most related to follow-up were (1) number of mammograms in the last 5 years; (2) having health insurance; (3) having problems receiving abnormal mammogram results; (4) having problems receiving or making a follow-up appointment; (5) taking off from work for the follow-up appointment; (6) not having transportation to follow-up appointment; and (7) waiting a long time to receive the follow-up appointment. Non-compliance to recommended follow-up after an abnormal mammogram is a serious public health concern, since breast cancer screening can improve breast cancer outcomes only if prompt diagnostic resolution and access to state-of-the-art care is available to all screening participants. This study adds to the literature on predictors of follow-up after an abnormal mammogram, as well as the to the health disparities literature.

At the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year, school librarians participated in a face-to-face workshop during in-service training. The workshop dealt with the process of creating a TAKS Support Plan, a plan for the library to remediate deficiencies on the TAKS at their school. At the conclusion of the workshop, school librarians were given the opportunity to participate in an eight-week online follow-up course that supported implementation of in-service themes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of online follow-up and collaboration on participant attitudes, quality of course product, and course completion in an online professional development course for librarians in 12 Texas school districts. This study used a posttest-only control group experimental design with self-selected participants. School librarians were stratified by level of service and socioeconomic school status and were randomly assigned to one of three environments. Two experimental environments were used: (a) Collaborative Follow-up and (b) Noncollaborative Follow-up and a control environment, Noncollaborative/No Follow up. The experimental environments were given additional information and support in an online course to aid the creation of their TAKS Support Plan. Results indicate that the professional development program that included online collaboration and follow-up produced more positive attitudes towards the professional development program than the professional development program with no collaboration or follow-up. Attitudes towards the online professional development experience from the two experimental environments were mildly positive with no significant difference across groups. Attitudes towards the professional development experience in the control environment were significantly less positive than the experimental environments. Logistic regression revealed that the likelihood of completion could be predicted by membership in professional development environment. The likelihood of completion by participants in the Collaborative Followup environment was significantly greater than participants in the Noncollaborative Follow-up and Noncollaborative/No Follow-up environments. No difference was found in completion rates between the other two environments. Credential proved to effect TAKS Support Plan completion. Master's degree holders in the Noncollaborative Follow-up environment and master's and bachelor's degree holders in the Noncollaborative/No Follow-up environment were less likely to complete than these levels in the Collaborative Follow-up environment.

This study examines the preparation during high school and post-secondary outcomes of students with disabilities. High school preparation consists of activities in which students participated during high school. Post-secondary outcomes relate to the current status of students following high school graduation in relation to the four major outcomes areas: (a) post-secondary education, (b) employment, (c) independent living, and (d) recreation and leisure. The target population included all students graduating from one school district in a mid-sized city in Texas. A stratified random sample of 228 students both with and without disabilities was selected. Post-secondary follow-up surveys, consisting of one survey administered prior to graduation and one survey administered six-months following graduation, were given to the participants. The response rate for the initial exit survey was 82.9% while the response rate for a post-school survey was 61.4%. Differences between groups were analyzed using loglinear analyses based upon educational setting, disability category, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. In addition, a sub-study was completed to determine the level of agreement among students and teachers on a post-secondary readiness skill inventory. The findings indicated that differences among groups did exist in terms of both high school preparation and post-secondary outcomes. In terms of high school preparation, the participation among various groups produced few results that were significantly different. Statistically significant results occurred only with respect to extracurricular activity participation by educational setting and socio-economic status. Post-secondary outcome results produced more statistically significant findings than high school preparation. The variable of educational setting produced statistically significant post-secondary outcomes in the three areas of employment, post-secondary education, and recreation and leisure. Ethnicity was the next largest determinant to influence post-secondary outcomes, and statistically significant results were found for both post-secondary education and independent living. Socio-economic status produced statistically significant results for employment outcomes. The variable of gender produced no results that reached statistical significance. The last findings provided an analysis of the agreement between students and teachers in terms of a post-secondary readiness skill inventory. Overall students and teachers demonstrated a high level of congruency in which similar responses were indicated within 95% of the items.

This study examines the preparation during high school and post-secondary outcomes of students with disabilities. High school preparation consists of activities in which students participated during high school. Post-secondary outcomes relate to the current status of students following high school graduation in relation to the four major outcomes areas: (a) post-secondary education, (b) employment, (c) independent living, and (d) recreation and leisure. The target population included all students graduating from one school district in a mid-sized city in Texas. A stratified random sample of 228 students both with and without disabilities was selected. Post-secondary follow-up surveys, consisting of one survey administered prior to graduation and one survey administered six-months following graduation, were given to the participants. The response rate for the initial exit survey was 82.9% while the response rate for a post-school survey was 61.4%. Differences between groups were analyzed using loglinear analyses based upon educational setting, disability category, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. In addition, a sub-study was completed to determine the level of agreement among students and teachers on a post-secondary readiness skill inventory. The findings indicated that differences among groups did exist in terms of both high school preparation and post-secondary outcomes. In terms of high school preparation, the participation among various groups produced few results that were significantly different. Statistically significant results occurred only with respect to extracurricular activity participation by educational setting and socio-economic status. Post-secondary outcome results produced more statistically significant findings than high school preparation. The variable of educational setting produced statistically significant post-secondary outcomes in the three areas of employment, post-secondary education, and recreation and leisure. Ethnicity was the next largest determinant to influence post-secondary outcomes, and statistically significant results were found for both post-secondary education and independent living. Socio-economic status produced statistically significant results for employment outcomes. The variable of gender produced no results that reached statistical significance. The last findings provided an analysis of the agreement between students and teachers in terms of a post-secondary readiness skill inventory. Overall students and teachers demonstrated a high level of congruency in which similar responses were indicated within 95% of the items.

Class of 2014 Abstract / Specific Aims: The objective of this study was to perform follow-up phone calls to patients after discharge to determine if it had a significant effect in lowering 30- day readmission rates. Methods: Men and women aged 18 years and older who provided informed consent participated in this prospective, pre-post study. The intervention consisted of a scripted follow-up phone call to each patient after discharge. At three to seven days post-discharge, a pharmacy student on an advanced pharmacy practice experience rotation at a teaching hospital called each patient discharged from a designated ward (Med/Surg I), which admits patients with a variety of conditions, such as liver cirrhosis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, those who are uninsured, or those who require placement after discharge. Information was collected regarding prescription filling, understanding of medication(s), concerns regarding medications, and the community pharmacy he/she used to fill the discharge medications. The specified community pharmacy was then called to verify that the patient filled discharge medications at that pharmacy. The results were compared to the readmission rate in the same ward over the same time period one year prior to implementation of the intervention. Chi-square and descriptive analysis was used and the alpha a priori is 0.05. The institutional review board approved this study. Main Results: Of the 315 people contacted, a total of 89 people completed the survey (28% response rate) and 11 of these participants were readmitted at least once. There was no statistically significant difference between the participant readmission rate and the readmission rates of the total unique admission population of Med/Surg I in 2013 (χ2 = 1.206; p = 0.272). Conclusion: Follow-up phone calls did not significantly impact 30-day readmission rates; however, a downward trend was observed in the participant group.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / As research into the treatment of cancers improves patient’s chances for survival, the number of cancer survivors continues to increase. These patients are often treated with chemotherapy and radiation regimens that can increase their risk for cancers and other complications such as heart disease later on. Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma tend to be younger than patients with other cancers. Current treatment regimens lead to cures in many Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients with many long term survivors. However, these treatments place survivors at risk for numerous complications, most importantly other cancers and heart disease. Organizations such as the American Cancer Society recommend regular screening and surveillance by a patient’s doctor to detect these potential complications. To assess the factors that affect a patient’s follow‐up care we sent a survey to 365 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivors in Arizona and asked them about their specific follow‐up care. The survivors were identified using the Arizona Cancer registry, and 49 (13.4%) responded to our survey. However, of the 365 letter invitations that were sent out, 118 were returned undeliverable leading to a corrected response rate of 19.8%. Of the respondents 93% reported they were getting follow up care. We also looked at patient satisfaction with their care as a second outcome, 34 (72.3%) of the patients stated that they were strongly satisfied with their follow‐ up care. In order to assess physician‐patient communication, we asked patients if they had received a written follow‐up care plan. Of the respondents to this question, 14 (29.7%) noted that they had received a written follow up care plan. These two outcomes were stratified to various demographic factors (age, gender, education status, etc.) to determine if any of these caused a statistically significant difference in a patient’s satisfaction or whether or not they had received a written follow‐up plan. Due to the low number of responders, no statistically significant difference was found. Future studies are needed to further determine whether or not these sorts of demographic factors play a significant role but we believe studies like this are important as cancer survivorship continues to increase.

Using the right planting spots when planting can provide a lot of advantages forthe plant more nutrients, less competition and redused risk of damage from pineweevil. In this study comparisons have been made between quality follow upsfor not approved and approved plantings made by SCA in the distrikt ofÅngermanland. Few significant differences were found but not approvedplantings had more opportunitis for improvement than approved plantings. Moreplantings vere not approved on moist sites.

No abstract in the thesis

No description available.

The current maxim concerning diagnosis and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders is that family physicians fail to appropriately respond to patients with anxiety and depression. This estimate is based upon a collection of studies that have found that accurate recognition in general practice occurred in 9% to 75% of patients with depression, and 34% to 50% of patients with anxiety. However, most studies have found that more than half of physicians accurately detected depression and anxiety in their patients.<p> This dissertation examined physicians responses (detection, treatment, and follow-up) to clinical scenarios of patients presenting with symptoms of either depression or anxiety. Furthermore, this study evaluated the associations between physicians responses and physician attributes (personal and professional), organizational setting, information/resource use, and barriers to care.<p> A cross-sectional study of Saskatchewan family physicians yielded a response rate of 49.7% (N=331/666). The results of this study revealed that most physicians provided appropriate depression and anxiety care with respect to recognition of disorders and follow-up care. Specifically, 85.4% of physicians provided an accurate tentative diagnosis of depression, and 86.3% provided an accurate tentative diagnosis of anxiety; 82.5% of physicians suggested adequate follow-up depression care while 79.4% offered adequate follow-up anxiety care. However, a notable proportion of physicians did not provide effective treatment; 65.6% of physicians recommended effective (immediate) anxiety treatment, and 55.6% recommended effective (immediate) depression treatment.<p> This study found that physicians provision of care to patients with anxiety and depression was more likely to be associated with their personal attributes, organizational setting, and information/resource use than with their professional attributes. First, neither tentative diagnosis of depression nor tentative diagnosis of anxiety was significiantly associated with any of the tested measures. Second, ineffective treatment of depression was significantly more likely among physicians who were female, educated at the undergraduate level in Canada (versus elsewhere), scored lower on anxiety attitude factor 1 (social context view of anxiety amenable to intervention), had a low patient load (< 100 patients/week), and used medical textbooks to make specific clinical decisions; ineffective treatment of anxiety was significantly more likely among physicians who had completed their undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in Canada (versus elsewhere), had a low patient load ( <100 patients/week), did not practice in a private office/clinic, and used colleagues within as well as outside their main patient care setting to update their general medical knowledge. Third, physicians were significantly more likely to provide inadequate follow-up care to the depressed patient if they were in solo practice and used drug manuals to update their general medical knowledge, and significantly more likely to provide inadequate follow-up care to the anxious patient if they (the physician) were female and did not use mental health professionals to update their general medical knowledge.<p> Results indicated that after controlling for the effects of other factors, physicians with low patient loads were three times more likely to provide ineffective treatment of depression than physicians with high patient loads. Furthermore, when holding the effects of all other factors constant, physicians who had completed postgraduate training in Canada were approximately five times more likely to provide ineffective treatment of the anxious patient than physicians who had completed their postgraduate training outside of Canada.