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Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons... Jan 2013Questionnaires are a very useful survey tool that allow large populations to be assessed with relative ease. Despite a widespread perception that surveys are easy to... (Review)
Review
Questionnaires are a very useful survey tool that allow large populations to be assessed with relative ease. Despite a widespread perception that surveys are easy to conduct, in order to yield meaningful results, a survey needs extensive planning, time and effort. In this article, we aim to cover the main aspects of designing, implementing and analysing a survey as well as focusing on techniques that would improve response rates.
Topics: Health Surveys; Humans; Internet; Postal Service; Research Design; Surveys and Questionnaires; Telephone
PubMed: 23317709
DOI: 10.1308/003588413X13511609956372 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) May 1993To gain population norms for the short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF36) in a large community sample and to explore the questionnaire's internal consistency and...
OBJECTIVES
To gain population norms for the short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF36) in a large community sample and to explore the questionnaire's internal consistency and validity.
DESIGN
Postal survey by using a booklet containing the SF36 and several other items concerned with lifestyles and illness.
SETTING
The sample was drawn from computerised registers of the family health services authorities for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, and Oxfordshire.
SAMPLE
13,042 randomly selected subjects aged 18-64 years.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Scores for the eight health dimensions of the SF36.
RESULTS
The survey achieved a response rate of 72% (n = 9332). Internal consistency of the different dimensions of the questionnaire was high. Normative data broken down by age, sex, and social class were consistent with those from previous studies.
CONCLUSIONS
The SF36 is a potentially valuable tool in medical research. The normative data provided here may further facilitate its validation and use.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; England; Female; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Postal Service; Random Allocation; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 8518639
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.306.6890.1437 -
Journal of General Internal Medicine Dec 2020
Topics: Humans; Postal Service; Public Health; United States
PubMed: 33009657
DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-06275-2 -
Journal of Managed Care & Specialty... Jun 2019The study referred to in this letter received no outside funding but was sponsored by Humana through regular employment activities by Schwab, Racsa, and Worley, who are...
The study referred to in this letter received no outside funding but was sponsored by Humana through regular employment activities by Schwab, Racsa, and Worley, who are employed by Humana Healthcare Research (formerly Comprehensive Health Insights). The study found benefits related to using mail-order versus community pharmacies for dispensing antihyperglycemic agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Humana owns mail-order pharmacies under the Humana Pharmacy subsidiary. Mourer and Meah are paid employees of Humana Pharmacy Solutions. Rascati is employed by the University of Texas College of Pharmacy at Austin.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacies; Postal Service
PubMed: 31134858
DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2019.25.6.725 -
Tobacco Control Sep 2022Little is known regarding how oral nicotine products (eg, nicotine pouches, lozenges) are marketed to consumers, including whether potential implicit reduced harm claims...
BACKGROUND
Little is known regarding how oral nicotine products (eg, nicotine pouches, lozenges) are marketed to consumers, including whether potential implicit reduced harm claims are used. In the current study, we explored the marketing claims present in a sample of direct-mail oral nicotine advertisements sent to US consumers (March 2018-August 2020).
METHODS
Direct-mail ads (n=50) were acquired from Mintel and dual-coded for the following claims: alternative to other tobacco products, ability to use anywhere, spit-free, smoke-free and product does not contain tobacco leaf. We merged the coded data with Mintel's volume estimate (number of mail pieces sent to consumers) and calculated the proportion of oral nicotine advertisements containing claims by category.
RESULTS
Of the 38 million pieces of oral nicotine direct-mail sent to US consumers, most featured claims that the product could be used anywhere (84%, 31.8 million pieces); was an alternative to other tobacco products (69%, 26.1 million pieces); and did not contain tobacco leaf (eg, 'tobacco leaf-free', 'simple' approach of extracting nicotine from tobacco; 55%, 20.7 million pieces). A slightly smaller proportion contained claims that oral nicotine was 'spit-free' (52%, 19.8 million pieces) or 'smoke-free' (31%, 11.7 million pieces).
CONCLUSION
Our results provide an early indication of marketing claims used to promote oral nicotine. The strategies documented, particularly the use of language to highlight oral nicotine is tobacco-free, may covey these products as lower-risk to consumers despite the lack of evidence or proper federal authorisation that oral nicotine products are a . Future research is needed to examine consumer perceptions of such claims.
Topics: Advertising; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Humans; Marketing; Nicotine; Postal Service; Nicotiana; Tobacco Industry; Tobacco Products
PubMed: 33958422
DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056446 -
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer... 2016To reduce tobacco use and related harm in Korea, telephone based cessation services (Quitlines) began full operation to provide regular behavioral counseling for smoking... (Review)
Review
To reduce tobacco use and related harm in Korea, telephone based cessation services (Quitlines) began full operation to provide regular behavioral counseling for smoking cessation in 2006. After registration in the cessation program, at least 21 calls per year are given to each client to help quit and encourage maintenance. Tailored programs for males, females, and adolescent smokers have been offered taking into account smokers' characteristics and smoking behavior. Mailing self-help quit packs and e-mail and SMS services are allowable as additional services.A total of 23,201 smokers were registered on the Quitline program from 2006 to 2014. In 2014, an average of 13,343 calls per month have been received by 28 coaches, the 1 year abstinence rate of clients is 26%, and clients' satisfaction rate is 81.6%. After introduction of the call system in 2007, client convenience and effective operations have been achieved with high technology support of a computer-based telephone system. Systematic education and evaluation programs for quit coaches have contributed to quality assurance of the services. Currently, research into development of new programs and evaluation of Quitline performance is being undertaken. A Comprehensive Multi-channel Cessation Center (CMCC) has been suggested and is now planned as a next step in the national program for smoking cessation.
Topics: Counseling; Humans; Patient Satisfaction; Postal Service; Republic of Korea; Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Telephone; Tobacco Use Disorder
PubMed: 27108747
DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2016.17.s2.1 -
Global Journal of Health Science Sep 2015Previous suicide attempt is the most important predictor of death by suicide. Thus preventive interventions after attempting to suicide is essential to prevent... (Review)
Review
Previous suicide attempt is the most important predictor of death by suicide. Thus preventive interventions after attempting to suicide is essential to prevent reattempts. This paper attempts to determine whether phone preventive interventions or other vehicles (postal cards, email and case management) are effective in reattempt prevention and health promotion after discharge by providing an overview of studies on suicide reattempts. The research investigated in this review conducted from 1995 to 2014. A total of 26 cases related to the aim of this research were derived from 36 English articles with the aforementioned keywords Research shows that providing comprehensive aids, social support, and follow-up after discharge can significantly prevent suicide reattempts. Several studies showed that follow-up support (phone calls, crisis cards, mails, postal cards.) after discharge can significantly decrease the risk of suicide. More randomized controlled trials (RCT) are required to determine what factors of follow-up are more effective than other methods.
Topics: Case Management; Electronic Mail; Humans; Postal Service; Social Support; Suicide, Attempted; Telephone; Suicide Prevention
PubMed: 26652085
DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v8n5p145 -
The Oncologist Aug 2019A moving story about the nature of the doctor‐patient relationship, this narrative describes a letter of gratitude from a breast cancer patient, written shortly before...
A moving story about the nature of the doctor‐patient relationship, this narrative describes a letter of gratitude from a breast cancer patient, written shortly before her death.
Topics: Adult; Attitude to Death; Breast Neoplasms; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans; Physician-Patient Relations; Postal Service
PubMed: 30910866
DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0042 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022Despite the important role of testing as a measure against the COVID-19 pandemic, user perspectives on SARS-CoV-2 tests remain scarce, inhibiting an improvement of...
BACKGROUND
Despite the important role of testing as a measure against the COVID-19 pandemic, user perspectives on SARS-CoV-2 tests remain scarce, inhibiting an improvement of testing approaches. As the world enters the third year of the pandemic, more nuanced perspectives of testing, and opportunities to expand testing in a feasible and affordable manner merit consideration.
METHODS
Conducted amid the second pandemic wave (late 2020-early 2021) during and after a multi-arm trial evaluating SARS-CoV-2 surveillance strategies in the federal state Baden-Württemberg, Germany, this qualitative sub-study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of how test users and test rejectors perceived mail-in SARS-CoV-2 gargle tests. We conducted 67 semi-structured in-depth interviews (mean duration: 60 min) telephone or video call. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively using thematic analysis. The guided the findings' presentation.
RESULTS
Respondents generally described gargle sampling as simple and comfortable. However, individual perceptions of the testing method and its feasibility varied widely from disgusting and complicated to simple and brilliant. Self-sampling was appreciated for lowering infection risks during testing, but also considered more complex. Gargle-sampling increased participants' self-efficacy to sample correctly. Communication (first contact, quantity and content of information, reminders, support system) and trust (in the study, its institutional affiliation and test method) decisively influenced the intervention's acceptability.
CONCLUSION
User-driven insights on how to streamline testing include: consider communication, first impressions of tests and information as key for successful mail-in testing; pay attention to the role of mutual trust between those taking and administering tests; implement gargle self-sampling as a pleasant alternative to swab testing; offer multiple test methods to increase test up-take.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Emotions; Pandemics; Postal Service; SARS-CoV-2; Implementation Science; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 36684995
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1024525 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jan 2023
Topics: Animals; Viral Envelope; Postal Service; Zoonoses
PubMed: 36623201
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2219962120