AnneMarie Depoorter

Awareness among community-dwelling elderly of assistive devices for mobility and self-care and attitudes towards their use

The researchers conducted a survey by personal interview of elderly people (75 +years) receiving home nursing (N= 117) in Belgium to investigate the extent of their awareness and perceptions of the existing supply of assistive devices for mobility and selfcare (ADs). A new scale has been developed to measure the possession and the awareness of ADs, the Assistive Devices Awareness Scale. The researchers identified important gaps regarding the awareness of ADs, despite their widespread usefulness and their commercial availability. Even persons with specific disabilities were not necessarily aware of the ADs available to assist with their particular problems. Nevertheless, the elderly persons presented positive attitudes regarding the possibility of using devices as a partial substitute for care and advocated participation in financing the purchase of ADs. Opinions regarding the effect of using ADs on feelings of loneliness differed quite extensively. Most people who were receiving home nursing already possessed ADs. These elderly people perceived mainly positive consequences from using the ADs they already possessed. Linear forward regression analysis revealed that for the elderly clients of home nursing services, the possession of devices is correlated with the extent to which there is a growing need for care, people are aware of the existing devices and people perceive the consequences of using ADs as positive. Implications for future research are discussed.

Development of a new masters program for occupational physicians in Flanders

Abstract Background: discussions with occupational physicians and a postal survey identified the shortcomings of previous programs, mainly found in the fields of occupational hygiene, ergonomics, environmental health and management. Objectives of the new program: basic knowledge (see content), the development of problem solving skills, scientific and social attitudes. Content: first year: occupational health practice, occupational hygiene, epidemiology, work physiology, toxicokinetics and dynamics and in service training (4 weeks). Second year: occupational pathology, environmental health, ergonomics, social legislation, safety, management and in service training (4 weeks). The total study load is estimated at about 1600 hours per year. Methods: interactivity is stimulated by the introduction of interdisciplinary seminars, project work in groups and Socratic dialogue. The objectives, contents and teaching and student-evaluation methods of the separate items were defined before selecting teachers. Finality of the program: a masters title sufficient to practice occupational medicine in Belgium. A subsequent postacademic training of 2 years, while at work, will be required for the title of specialist in occupational medicine, valid at European Union (EU) level. It will include preparing and publically defending a thesis. Statement: The collaboration of ex-students working in the field is essential in the development and quality assessment of adequate teaching programs.

Use of pharmaceuticals in industrial workers - possible implications for epidemiological studies

SummaryA total of 129 workers exposed to carbon disulphide (CS2) and 81 non-exposed controls were asked about their current use of pharmaceuticals, using a self-administered questionnaire. In all, 31% of the exposed and 19.8% of the non-exposed used some medicine (P = 0.08). The average number of pharmaceuticals per subject amounted to 0.71 in the exposed vs. 0.36 in the non-exposed (P = 0.049). Predominant types of medicines used were analgesics (12.4% in the exposed vs. 8.6% in the non-exposed,P = 0.50) and sedatives/hypnotics (10.1% in the exposed vs. 4.9% in the non-exposed,P = 0.21). The pharmaceuticals consumed can cause numerous (side) effects that are similar to the toxic effects of CS2. To take into account these possibly confounding agents, a classification system for possible (side) effects of pharmaceuticals was developed, taking the dose into account. According to this method, many (side) effects of pharmaceuticals that could occur were recorded with higher frequency and intensity in the exposed subjects. Potential (side) effects that occurred significantly more frequently in the exposed than in the non-exposed were: tiredness, sedation, dizziness (20.9% vs. 4.9%,P = 0.001), excitation, anxiety (10.9% vs. 2.5%,P = 0.03), vision disturbances (7.0% vs. 0%,P = 0.01), and erection decrease (5.4% vs. 0%,P = 0.045). The implications of these findings for epidemiological studies are discussed.

Post-myocardial Infarction. Psychological Problems: A Behavioral Approach

This is a preliminary clinical report on an evaluation experiment of MI patients with special references to the implications for therapy and research.