Testing of a Web-Based Program to Facilitate Parental Smoking Cessation Readiness in Primary Care

Objective: To test the efficacy of a self-administered web-based computer intervention designed to facilitate readiness to alter tobacco use or secondhand smoke exposure among parents of children visiting a pediatric primary care clinic. The computer program included an assessment of the participant’s smoking behavior and personalized feedback. Methods: Self-identified smoking parents of children presenting to a general pediatric outpatient clinic completed measures of motivation and readiness to cease smoking. Participants were then randomly assigned to complete the computer program or receive treatment as usual. One month after completing the intervention, participants were contacted either in person or by phone to complete measures of motivational readiness to engage in smoking cessation. Results: Compared to treatment-as-usual parents, intervention parents reported increased readiness to change their smoking at follow-up. This effect appeared to strengthen, favoring the intervention condition, when analyses included only those participants who identified at baseline that they were contemplating quitting smoking in the next 6 months. Conclusions: Results of this small study supported the integration of a brief computerized tobacco intervention in the pediatric primary care setting and provided some evidence for efficacy. Brief, self-administered, and computer-based interventions such as this can be disseminated and deployed at relatively little cost or burden to existing practices, which makes small effects more meaningful and justifiable. Future investigations should investigate this intervention with larger samples and with expanded measures of parent smoking behavior

LOS CONFLICTOS INTERPERSONALES EN GUATEMALA: METODOLOGIA Y PERSPECTIVAS

Los conflictos interpersonales, o problemas de convivencia, ocurren en cualquier sociedad y pueden ser constructivos o destructivos. Sin embargo, varÌan los tipos de conflictos y sus causas especÌficas. Una comprensiÛn m·s profunda de los conflictos interpersonales permite una transformaciÛn de los factores y din·micas claves para el bien de la sociedad. Esta investigaciÛncualitativa utiliza entrevistas semi-estructuradas para revelar las perspectivas de una pequeÒa muestra de varias comunidades en Guatemala. Las respuestas m·s comunes incluyen temas de problemas intrafamiliares, violencia y comunicaciÛn. Los participantesidentificaron una amplia gama de causas de estos conflictos interpersonales en sus comunidades, las cuales representan una importante contribuciÛn para aquellos que desean promover la paz en la familia y la comunidad

Postpartum depression screening in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: program development, implementation, and lessons learned

Objective The aims of this project were to describe the development of a postpartum depression screening program for mothers of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and assess the implementation of the screening program. Methods Screening began at 14 days postpartum and was implemented as part of routine medical care. A nurse coordinator facilitated communication with mothers for increasing screen completion, review of critical self-harm items, and making mental health referrals. During the 18-month study period, 385 out of 793 eligible mothers completed the screen. Results Approximately 36% of mothers had a positive screen that resulted in a mental health referral and an additional 30% of mothers had screening results indicating significant symptoms

Inter Organizational Practice Committee Recommendations/Guidance for Teleneuropsychology in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic†.

ObjectiveThe Inter Organizational Practice Committee convened a workgroup to provide rapid guidance about teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodA collaborative panel of experts from major professional organizations developed provisional guidance for neuropsychological practice during the pandemic. The stakeholders included the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology/American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Division 40 of the American Psychological Association, the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology, and the American Psychological Association Services, Inc. The group reviewed literature; collated federal, regional, and state regulations and information from insurers; and surveyed practitioners to identify best practices.ResultsLiterature indicates that TeleNP may offer reliable and valid assessments, but clinicians need to consider limitations, develop new informed consent procedures, report modifications of standard procedures, and state limitations to diagnostic conclusions and recommendations. Specific limitations affect TeleNP assessments of older adults, younger children, individuals with limited access to technology, and individuals with other individual, cultural, and/or linguistic differences. TeleNP may be contraindicated or infeasible given specific patient characteristics, circumstances, and referral questions. Considerations for billing TeleNP services are offered with reservations that clinicians must verify procedures independently. Guidance about technical issues and "tips" for TeleNP procedures are provided.ConclusionThis document provides provisional guidance with links to resources and established guidelines for telepsychology. Specific recommendations extend these practices to TeleNP. These recommendations may be revised as circumstances evolve, with updates posted continuously at IOPC.online

InterOrganizational practice committee recommendations/guidance for teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: The Inter Organizational Practice Committee (IOPC) convened a workgroup to provide rapid guidance about teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Method: A collaborative panel of experts from major professional organizations developed provisional guidance for neuropsychological practice during the pandemic. The stakeholders included the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology/American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Division 40 of the American Psychological Association, the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology, and the American Psychological Association Services, Inc. The group reviewed literature, collated federal, regional and state regulations and information from insurers, and surveyed practitioners to identify best practices.Results: Literature indicates that TeleNP may offer reliable and valid assessments, but clinicians need to consider limitations, develop new informed consent procedures, report modifications of standard procedures, and state limitations to diagnostic conclusions and recommendations. Specific limitations affect TeleNP assessments of older adults, younger children, individuals with limited access to technology, and individuals with other individual, cultural, and/or linguistic differences. TeleNP may be contraindicated or infeasible given specific patient characteristics, circumstances, and referral questions. Considerations for billing TeleNP services are offered with reservations that clinicians must verify procedures independently. Guidance about technical issues and "tips" for TeleNP procedures are provided.Conclusion: This document provides provisional guidance with links to resources and established guidelines for telepsychology. Specific recommendations extend these practices to TeleNP. These recommendations may be revised as circumstances evolve, with updates posted continuously at OPC.online