A five-month study found that psychosocial counseling for war refugee mothers improved their mental health and reduced trauma symptoms. The children of these mothers also experienced significant weight gain, averaging 4.4 pounds more than the control group.
Research suggests that brain asymmetry, a physical factor, can hinder language development, with children from low-income families showing weaker language mastery. Environmental factors, such as less parental involvement in homework, also play a significant role in reading skills.
A study found that teachers who used color-coded labels to organize students were more likely to create stereotypes among students. However, when teachers ignored these labels, children developed fewer intergroup biases, suggesting that social environment plays a crucial role in shaping prejudice.
A study found that children who received asthma management training also taught their parents about managing the condition, leading to improved family health behavior. The training program showed modest but notable changes in parents' self-management of their children's asthma.
A study suggests that emphasizing the risks of avoiding breast cancer screening is effective in motivating women to get screened, particularly for white and Hispanic participants. However, black participants showed no significant change in mammography rates during the study period.
A study published in Psycho-Oncology found that support groups significantly reduced anxiety among children aged 7-18 whose sibling was treated for leukemia, lymphoma, or other cancers. The five-session program enhanced feelings of control, allowing children to share experiences and emotions, and teaching them coping strategies.
A new study published in Psycho-Oncology found that people with advanced cancer are more willing to consider toxic chemotherapy regimens, even if they offer only minimal benefits. Cancer patients generally accepted both milder and riskier treatments, unlike healthy individuals and healthcare professionals.
A study found that meditation training reduced psychological distress by an average of 54% in stressed-out participants. The program also showed significant improvements in medical symptoms, bringing participants within the range of normal health and well-being.
A recent study found that short periods of moderate exercise can improve overall mood, increase vigor, and decrease fatigue. However, further improvement was not seen with longer workout sessions.
A study published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that long-term contraceptives, such as Norplant, reduced second pregnancy rates among teens. Among the participants who chose these methods, only 11% became pregnant within a year, compared to 25% of those using oral contraceptives and 38% of those not using birth control.
A study found that emotional support was a significant predictor of better cognitive function in older adults, independent of other risk factors. Unmarried participants showed better cognitive function than married ones, suggesting that the presence of a spouse may have negative effects on cognition due to care burdens.
A study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research found that primary care physicians are more likely to provide smoking counseling than psychiatrists, particularly for patients with anxiety. Smokers with psychiatric conditions are less likely to receive quitting advice, highlighting the need for increased counseling efforts.
A study found that African-American light smokers face health risks despite low cigarette consumption, highlighting the need for physician attention. Light smokers were less likely to receive quit advice and follow-up appointments than moderate and heavy smokers.
A recent study found that problem drinkers with HIV are more likely to take their medications off schedule, highlighting the importance of screening for alcohol problems among persons with HIV infection. Nearly half of problem drinkers reported taking medication off schedule during the previous week.
Research suggests that personality's role in high blood pressure may be less clear-cut than previously thought. The study found no evidence supporting the 'hypertensive personality hypothesis', contradicting previous findings that linked specific personality traits to hypertension. However, researchers speculate that personality may pl...
A study found that nearly one-third of primary care physicians do not discuss cancer screenings with their patients, citing lack of time and language barriers. The survey also revealed that many doctors would make decisions independently of patient preference, and some were less likely to discuss controversial tests like PSA measurements.
A study of over 4,500 teens found that affiliation with substance-using peers can significantly increase the likelihood of smoking and drinking. Parents also play a role in influencing teen behavior, particularly those who demonstrate high levels of regard and responsiveness to their children.
A study found that individuals with high scores for neuroticism tend to have lower immune system responses to vaccination, making them more vulnerable to disease. Stress can further weaken the immune system, exacerbating this effect.
A study of nearly 10,000 children in the UK found that obese children are at greater risk of developing asthma. The researchers discovered a significant association between weight and respiratory symptoms, with the heaviest children more likely to experience wheezing and asthma attacks.
A study of 79,839 middle-aged women found that higher consumption of fish and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was linked to a lower risk of thrombotic stroke. Women who ate fish more frequently had a significant reduction in stroke risk, with the greatest benefit seen among those who didn't take aspirin regularly.
A study by Ashish K. Jha and colleagues found that black patients in VA hospitals had lower mortality rates than white patients for six common medical diagnoses, including pneumonia, angina, and diabetes. The survival advantage was consistent across disease, age, financial status, and hospital-level subgroups.
A short, confidential questionnaire can detect adolescent experimental smoking and identify those at high risk of nicotine addiction. The survey correctly identified 92% of smokers and found that smoking frequency increases with grade level, social influences play a role in initiation.
Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke are at increased risk for asthma and wheezing, with effects strongest among youngest children. Exposure also associated with school absences and low lung function in older kids, highlighting the importance of preventing smoking exposure through home and public restrictions.
A new study suggests that discussing advance care directives with patients can enhance the patient-doctor relationship and improve visit satisfaction. More than half of patients who had such a discussion rated their primary care visits as excellent, compared to 34% of those who had not discussed advance care directives.
A one-year study of male veterans found that health-related quality of life declined and psychological distress increased over time for participants with or without psychiatric disorders. Those with psychiatric disorders were the most impaired, experiencing substantial impairments in functioning that persisted over a year.
A study of identical twins found a significant association between chronic fatigue syndrome and an increased incidence of fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers suggest that physicians should assess CFS patients for other clinical conditions, as these illnesses can compound the condition's high costs.
A study found that concerns about unknown ingredients, inconvenience, and previous side effects are major barriers to flu immunization. Addressing these concerns through outreach efforts and physician-patient interactions can increase vaccination rates in low-income populations.
A study found that children with personal exemptions from immunization are 22.2 times more likely to acquire measles and 5.9 times more likely to acquire pertussis than vaccinated children. Exemptions also increase community risk, particularly in schools with outbreaks.
Current diagnostic criteria for diabetes are based on morning measurements, but patients tested in the afternoon may have higher fasting plasma glucose levels, leading to incorrect diagnoses. The study suggests that applying current criteria to afternoon patients could miss up to half of undiagnosed cases.
A recent study found that US military members have lower physical fitness rates compared to civilians, with 37% exercising less than three times a week. However, military members who exercise tend to do so more regularly than civilians, and required physical training is an effective method for increasing overall activity levels.
A survey of over 6,700 individuals found that smoking and heavy drinking are linked to poorer food choices and increased health risks. The study suggests that targeting multiple risk factors simultaneously is crucial for effective health promotion.
Research suggests that heavy smoking by parents can lead to reduced visits to the doctor for asthma in their children. The study found a significant decrease in hospital visits when parents reported higher levels of smoking at home, particularly if the mother smoked. Age and family size also influenced visit frequency.
A study found that women with coronary heart disease who experience severe marital stress are at a higher risk of recurrent cardiac events. In contrast, work stress did not predict new coronary events for working women. The authors suggest that specific preventive measures be tailored to the needs of women with CHD.
A study found that disabled elderly women receive approximately 15.7 hours of informal home care per week, compared to 21.2 hours for men, and are more likely to rely on children for support. Married disabled women also tend to receive fewer hours of informal care from their spouses.
A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association has found that handheld cellular telephone use is not associated with an increased risk of brain cancer. Researchers conducted a case-control study from 1994 to 1998 and analyzed data on 469 participants with primary brain cancer and 422 matched controls.
A study found that young users of smokeless tobacco lack awareness of its health risks, with only 74% knowing it's harmful to their health. The survey also revealed that users often describe themselves as 'cool' and 'macho', reflecting the tobacco industry's marketing efforts.
A large US Air Force study found that early smoking onset is linked to higher nicotine dependence, particularly among European-Americans and Hispanics. This association highlights the importance of prevention strategies for these populations.
A new study found that low-cost self-help approaches, including mail and phone interventions, can help a sizable proportion of smokeless tobacco users quit. Phone counseling was particularly effective in aiding quitting, suggesting that verbal reporting of quit dates and use of oral substitutes may be key to success.
Children rated cartoon cigarette warnings significantly more believable than plain text, regardless of the message. Cartoon tobacco warning labels may be an effective way to reach children and adolescents, who are at increased risk of becoming regular smokers.
A home-based primary care intervention program by the Department of Veterans Affairs significantly improved health-related quality of life and satisfaction for patients and their caregivers. The study found that Team-Managed Home-Based Primary Care (TM/HBPC) improved HR-QoL scales, caregiver outcomes, and reduced hospital readmissions.
A study analyzing health data from nearly 3,000 patients found that obesity is associated with lower physical functioning levels and worse perceptions of health. Patients with higher BMI values were also limited in basic activities due to their weight, according to lead author David A. Katz.
A recent study found that young healthy smokers had substantially more lost work days than their non-smoking colleagues. The risk of lost work days was increased by 60% among men who smoked and by 15% among women smokers, with 14% of lost workdays among men and 3% of those among women directly linked to smoking.
A study found that family caregivers of dementia patients experience a decline in immune responses after vaccination, suggesting they may be more susceptible to illnesses like pneumonia and flu. Chronic stress is believed to play a role in this impairment.
Researchers analyzed data on over 1,200 cardiac patients and found that negative affect and hopelessness were strong predictors of survival. These symptoms were linked to a 40% increased risk of death compared to those with little negative affect.
A study of over 1,300 elderly participants found associations between early sexual abuse and increased risks of breast cancer, arthritis, and thyroid disease. The study also noted unexpected findings, such as an association between early sexual abuse and a reduced risk of hypertension.
A study published in Heart found that children born to mothers who starved during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy were three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease as adults. They also had higher blood pressure, weighed more, and a higher adverse cholesterol profile.
A community-based intervention trial showed a significant decline in high-risk drinking and alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and assaults. The study found that coordinated environmental strategies, including media advocacy and increased enforcement of drinking and driving laws, were effective in reducing these injuries.
A claims-based measurement system shows widespread underuse of necessary care among elderly Medicare beneficiaries, even among relatively well-insured populations. Underuse is more common among African Americans, residents of poverty areas, and those living in areas with a shortage of healthcare professionals.
Teenagers who smoke at least one pack of cigarettes a day are at greater risk of developing agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder in young adulthood. However, the study found no significant association between teenagers with anxiety disorders and chronic smoking as young adults.
A study found that women aged 52-69 who do not receive regular mammograms or Pap smears cite similar barriers to screening, including fears about embarrassment and inaccurate tests. The researchers recommend tailored interventions to address these misconceptions.