Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive form of interstitial lung disease characterized by inflammation and abnormal tissue repair ultimately leading to decreased pulmonary function and death. Risk factors for IPF are largely unknown and medical treatment offers a poor prognosis due to the lack of effective treatment options. Survival outcomes were analyzed for a cohort of 331 patients. The median age at clinical evaluation for IPF was 69 years. Subjects survived an average of 21.82 months after diagnosis, with a higher survival in females than in males. Males had a risk 2.85 times higher than females of death. Subjects older than 69 years of age had a relative risk of dying of 1.6 in comparison to subjects younger than 69 years. Predictors of survival after lung transplant were also analyzed in a cohort of 990 lung transplanted patients. The overall survival was 41.6%, (41.5 % in males, and 41.8 % in females), the average length of the follow up was 45.84 plus or minus 51.98 months (range 0 to 282.47 months). Females tend to live longer than males: 50.75 plus or minus 55.41 months versus 40.64 plus or minus 47.60 months, respectively. Males had a risk of dying during the follow up that was 1.18 (95% CI 1.01-1.40) relative to females, after adjusting for ethnicity, age, smoking status, diagnosis and donor characteristics. Females who had at least one full term pregnancy during their life had better survival rates than females who had no full term pregnancies. Our results of a better survival after lung transplant in females (particularly females with at least one pregnancy) support the hypothesis of a hormonal contribution to survival and of the development of immunotolerance after pregnancy. The public health significance includes the use of the current study as a model in understanding the role of immunity in cancer development. The age-adjusted incidence rate is 555.8 per 100,000 men and 411.3 per 100,000 women per year (2000-2004), and the combined lifetime risk of cancer is approximately 1 in 2. Thus, any further understanding of cancer causes would be worthwhile in cancer prevention and treatment efforts.

BACKGROUND: Occupational epidemiology plays an important role in public health by describing and analyzing environmental and occupational hazards affecting workers, and sometimes the general public. Since the results of occupational epidemiology serve as the background for public policy making as well as individual worker and employer decisions, the accuracy of these studies is quite important. No previous studies have attempted to describe the occupational epidemiology literature. METHODS: This study examines author affiliation, funding source, outcome, and topic in two major occupational health journals published in the United States in order to describe the literature over the past three decades and to find associations between the stated variables. RESULTS: Associations between U.S. industry funded or U.S. industry authored studies and outcome were observed, with an increase in negative outcome (pro-industry) studies as compared to U.S. federally funded or U.S. university authored studies. An overall increase in international sponsoring and performance of occupational epidemiology has also been observed over the past three decades. CONCLUSIONS: The published occupational epidemiology literature in two U.S. journals demonstrated associations between funding source and outcome as well as author affiliation and outcome. Further research is recommended to follow up on the findings of this study.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2002. / Field problem. Includes bibliographical references.

<p> This study meta-analyzed IRT item discrimination parameter estimates and CFA item loadings to explore the methodological effect of negatively-worded items in personality measures. We found three important moderators that determined whether the negatively-worded item effect affected a scale. The first moderator was the manner in which the scale was defined. We found a strong negatively-worded item effect for <i>Neuroticism</i> but not for <i>Emotional Stability</i>. The personality scale was also a moderator, with a negatively-worded item effect being observed for <i>Agreeableness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, </i> and <i>Openness</i> but a positively-worded item effect for <i>Emotional Stability</i> and <i>Conscientiousness</i>. Third, low-motivation samples tended to produce a larger negatively-worded item effect. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between personality and non-personality inventories regarding the negatively-worded item effect. Finally, item negation did not produce the expected effect. Practical implications and limitations of the study are discussed.</p>

<p> The frame of mind with which one approaches work-life challenges can impact the decisions made, the roles a person invests in, and satisfaction with one&rsquo;s decisions. The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to review and compare the three traditional work-life frames of conflict, enrichment, and balance; 2) to introduce a new frame for work-life management, proactive reflection or &ldquo;proflection,&rdquo; and; 3) to test whether approaching work-life management with a particular frame differentially affects an individual&rsquo;s work-life satisfaction when presented with a scenario with multiple role demands. It was hypothesized that enrichment, balance, and proflection frames will lead to significantly more positive work-life satisfaction, whereas a conflict frame will lead to significantly lower satisfaction, compared to a control condition. Data were collected from 171 participants via a survey on MechanicalTurk (48.2% male, 51.8% female; age M = 35.40 [SD = 12.46]). Participants were randomly assigned to the four framing and control conditions and asked to indicate how they would respond to a challenging scenario with multiple role demands. They were then directed to rate their satisfaction with each role based on their choices, satisfaction with the extent to which interacting roles helped or hurt each other, and satisfaction with roles in their own personal lives. Multiple regression analyses indicated that framing approach was significantly related to scenario role satisfaction (R2 = .072, p = .014, 95% CI [.0002, .143]), role interaction satisfaction (R2 = .056, p = .047, 95% CI [.001, .111]), and was unrelated to personal life role satisfaction (R2 = .01, p = .824). The balance frame led to significantly lower satisfaction than the control condition for scenario role satisfaction (&beta; = -.36, p = .01, 95% CI [-.645, -.082]) and role interaction satisfaction (&beta; = -.41, p = .01, 95% CI [-.706, -.119]). This study draws attention to the importance of being able to choose one&rsquo;s framing approach for intentional and strategic work-life management, as well as the negative effects of balance that are contrary to prior research.</p>

<p> Objective: This retrospective study sought to identify the functional limitations in occupations, body functions, and performance skills, during periods of increased symptoms (waxing periods) and periods of decreased symptoms (waning periods) in children with Tourette syndrome (TS). Additionally, relevant demographic and health factors and frequency of occupational therapy intervention were explored. </p><p> Method: Parents of 32 children with TS under the age of 18 participated in an online survey based on the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process &ndash; Third Edition. </p><p> Results: The children with TS experienced difficulty in functional performance of all occupations, body functions, and performance skills to varying degrees during a waxing period, with the majority experiencing difficulty in sleep, rest, handwriting, participating in organized activities, all mental functions, tactile (touch) perception, and ability to suppress tics.. Demographic and health factors predicting functional limitations in theses areas were age, gender, and the comorbid symptoms of anxiety disorders and sensory processing disorder. Fewer than one-third of the children had ever received occupational therapy intervention. </p><p> Conclusion: These results suggest a strong role for occupational therapy during evaluation and intervention for children with TS. The findings could be used to guide occupational therapy practice and provide basic knowledge for parents and other related professionals to support the daily functioning of these children. Future research exploring the effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention including those aimed at sensory processing, tic management, and anxiety symptom reduction is needed.</p>

Results from assessment on the SIPT and sensory profile were discussed with reference to earlier studies and available literature on long term effects of childhood cancer treatment and literature on sensory processing disorders. SIPT SD scores in domains of function, as determined by the grouping of SIPT tests were discussed. The scores obtained by members of the study population receiving chemotherapy documented in previous studies and the literature review was discussed in each domain of function. The prevalence of members of the study population in each SIPT diagnostic group was discussed, with the most prevalent disorders being visuo- and somatodyspraxia and generalised sensory integrative disorder. No conclusive results were obtained in analysis of scores in partial patterns of sensory processing disorders. Behavioural observations made in testing were indicative of difficulties with modulation of sensory information, specifically in the tactile sense, and inability to cope with demands of testing. Clinical observations made indicate inadequate vestibular and proprioceptive processing, and the possible functional implication of this is discussed. The hand function, bilateral hand skill test performance and observations made in the behaviour and test scores of members of the study population receiving chemotherapy through peripheral lines is discussed.

The aim of this study was to investigate the job satisfaction status of occupational therapists in the Public Health Sector (PHS) of the Free State (FS). For the purpose of this study, job satisfaction referred to the occupational therapistâs perception of the fulfillment and gratification experienced while doing their work within the context of the PHS. A scientific inquiry was instigated to assess and address the job satisfaction of occupational therapists in the PHS of which the researcher, at the time of the study, was part. Employees of the PHS at that time seemed to suffer from low morale and the frequency with which occupational therapists became disillusioned with either the profession or the PHS was worrisome. The investigation was conducted by making use of multiple research methods namely questionnaires for the quantitative typical descriptive study design and semi-structured interviews for the qualitative phenomenological study design. Electronic self-administrative questionnaires were distributed to all the occupational therapists in the service of the Free State Department of Health in November 2008. Thirty-five (n=35) questionnaires were used for the analysis of quantitative data. In augmentation to this base-line data gathered, semistructured interviews with an opening question and an interview schedule were conducted among fifteen occupational therapists practicing in the PHS of the FS between November and December 2008. The thirty-five respondents in the quantitative investigation, as well as the sixteen participants in the semi-structured interviews, represented a largely homogenous group of white, Afrikaans-speaking females on senior, chief and assistant manager level. Community service occupational therapists who had already completed at least six monthsâ tenure were also included. Only occupational therapists directly involved in clinical services were eligible to participate in the study. The results of the study showed that the occupational therapists in the PHS of the FS experienced low levels of job satisfaction. This was found to be in contrast with most other studies conducted on the job satisfaction of occupational therapists in other parts of the world. This disparity was clarified when the contextual factors of the PHS such as; inadequate resources, excessive red-tape, poor management and an undesirable working environment were configured. The results and findings showed that the afore-mentioned facets were sources of dissatisfaction for the participants and consequently increased their job dissatisfaction. More so however, the main causes of the occupational therapists dissatisfaction were; the low status of occupational therapy as a profession and poor salary. Inadequate career-paths and disillusionment with the current performance appraisal system of the PHS added to further dissatisfaction for the participants in this study. The main source of the occupational therapistsâ satisfaction with the job was that of âworking with people, making a difference and experiencing success with clientsâ. Secondary facets of satisfaction were the relationships colleagues had with each other, inherent characteristics of the profession such as autonomy, creativity, diversity and to a lesser degree some advantages to working in the PHS such as fringe benefits and job/income security. In conclusion it was found that the job satisfaction status of the occupational therapists in the PHS of the FS was low. This was mainly due to the influence of contextual factors and not with regards to profession itself. As was the last objective of the study, extensive recommendations were made to redress the balance between job satisfaction and dissatisfaction for this population.