Development of a parent report measure for assessing the quality of life of children with cancer is described. The Pediatric Oncology Quality of Life Scale assesses physical function and role restriction, emotional distress, and reaction to current medical treatment. Reliability and validity assessments provide preliminary support for the…

The practice of requiring that children with disabilities undergo public medical examinations attended by numerous professional and student personnel is challenged. These discriminatory practices are attributed to uninformed attitudes of members of the medical establishment, and the implications for patients' quality of life are noted. (JDD)

This study evaluated 2,815 adults with developmental disabilities in 328 Illinois intermediate care and skilled nursing facilities. Only 10 percent were determined to be appropriately placed in medical settings; 27 percent were enrolled in day training programs; and many individuals recommended for alternative residential settings had medical and…

Argues for the necessity of adopting a human ecological framework for the advancement of health. Focusing on the Australian experience, highlights the difficulties in moving beyond the narrow mold of Western Medical Science to a more holistic, quality of life orientation, and suggests that the role of education at all levels of the community is…

Advances in medical technology have enabled more children who are medically fragile and technologically dependent to survive. Local school districts must determine whether a particular service is a "related service" covered by the Education for the Handicapped Act (EHA) or a "medical service" excluded under EHA. Reviews court…

A study investigated the perspectives of 31 British adults with intellectual disabilities and 104 carers on their experiences, expectations, and opinions of a primary health care project designed for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Results found that the majority of the individuals with intellectual disabilities were satisfied with the…

This paper reviews literature on the support needed by families of infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). A survey of 94 California NICUs indicated that they generally provide comprehensive services to families while infants are in the hospital, less service during the transition home, and very little support and follow-up after the…

The relationship between medical services and the education of a child with a disability is examined using a case study of a young boy with numerous disabilities. The perspectives of the parents, educators, and physicians are explained. Recommendations are given for more effective communication among families, medical professionals, and educators.…

Discusses results of a needs analysis undertaken on the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale campus to determine the language and communication problems that exist between staff of the student health program and their international patients. Results show that students and staff agree on several problem communication areas including medical…

Examines how pressures for profits are eroding the mission of academic health centers, forcing cutbacks in teaching and patient care and leading to plummeting morale among medical school professors. Reviews trends in public support for medical schools and the dangers of subordinating clinical decisions to marketplace economics. (DB)

Developed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the electronic version of "Index Medicus," Medline is the world's largest collection of published medical knowledge. Discussion includes accessing Medline (cost-free) with a Web browser, librarians as links between patients and physicians; and examples of Medline searches. (AEF)

Introduction: It has been suggested that the use of opinion leaders in the dissemination of information may be an effective method of changing clinical practice. Recent reviews on this topic, however, have found mixed results and have concluded that further research is needed to explore the circumstances that effectively utilize opinion leaders.…

Context: Rapid diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke can lead to improved patient outcomes. Hospitals in rural and frontier counties, however, face unique challenges in providing diagnostic and treatment services for acute stroke. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the availability of key diagnostic technology and programs for acute…

This article provides a review of various psychotropic agents employed for children and adolescents with externalizing disorders. With the exception of the stimulants, clinical use of psychotropic medications for children with externalizing disorders far exceeds the available empirical literature. Further, there are insufficient data pertaining to…

Social workers who are trained to attend to person-environment factors and psychosocial issues are ideally poised to implement interventions to address negative emotions and compliance barriers associated with type 2 diabetes. Research has shown the efficacy of a number of psychosocial interventions in improving compliance with diabetic treatment…