The counselling self-estimate inventory (COSE): Does it work in Chinese counsellors?

Counselling self-efficacy is an important construct for research and evaluation in counsellors' competencies and training effectiveness. Larson et al. developed the Counselling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE) for counsellors in America and examined its factor structure using exploratory factor analysis. They recommended a five-factor model (microskills, counselling process, difficult client behaviour, cultural competence, and awareness of values) and the use of the COSE for future research. However, little research has investigated the validity of the COSE in the context of counselling Chinese students in schools. In the present study, the factor structure of responses to the Chinese version of the Counselling Self-Estimate Inventory in a sample of 578 Hong Kong secondary school guidance teachers was examined using the EQS approach to confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed that while a five-factor model was fairly able to fit the data, the deletion of items related to the awareness of values factor yielded a better fitting model. The discussion of potential uses and limitations of the C-COSE in the context of preparing and supervising school guidance personnel in student counselling is relevant to counselling psychologists and researchers in Hong Kong and other parts of the world.postprin

Impaired vasoreactivity in bodybuilders using androgenic anabolic steroids

Background Anabolic androgenic steroids are used by some bodybuilders to enhance performance. While the cardiovascular implications of supraphysiological androgen levels requires further clarification, use is associated with sudden death, left ventricular hypertrophy, thrombo-embolism and cerebro-vascular events. Materials and methods To further understand the effect of androgenic anabolic steroid abuse on vascular function, this study assessed vascular stiffness (pulse-wave analysis) and cardiovascular risk factors in 28 male, bodybuilding subjects, of whom ten were actively receiving anabolic agents (group A; 26·4 ± 7·2 years) and eight had undergone a 3-month ‘wash-out’ period (group B; 32·1 ± 7·1 years). The remaining ten bodybuilding subjects (group C; 24·4 ± 4·4 years) denied any past use of anabolic steroids or other performance enhancing drugs. Comparisons were made with ten sedentary male controls (group D, 29·3 ± 4·7 years). Results Endothelial independent dilatation in response to glycerol trinitrate was significantly impaired in the group currently using anabolic steroids (group A) compared with the other three groups [A (5·63 ± 3·24%) versus; B (11·10 ± 4·91%), C (17·88 ± 9·2%) and D (14·46 ± 3·9%), P < 0·0005, respectively], whereas no significant differences in endothelial-dependant dilatation were detected between the groups [A (5·0 ± 3·0%), B (7·4 ± 3·4%), C (9·6 ± 4·5%) and D (8·2 ± 3·3%), P < 0·059, respectively]. Conclusions Previous studies described a decline in vascular reactivity occurring in bodybuilding subjects which is independent of anabolic steroid use and may result from smooth muscle hypertrophy with increased vascular stiffness. This study revealed impaired vascular reactivity associated with anabolic agents and that improvement in vascular function may occur following their discontinuation

The German Cardiovascular Prevention Study (GCP): Social gradient in the utilization of drugs with a potentially addictive character

Breckenkamp J, Laaser U. The German Cardiovascular Prevention Study (GCP): Social gradient in the utilization of drugs with a potentially addictive character. MEDIZINISCHE KLINIK. 1999;94(6):306-313.Background: Not only prescription but also turnover of medicines are well established by documentary evidence. However, there is a lack of information regarding the usage of drugs in different social classes. Materials and Methods: Within the scope of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study (GCP), a cross-sectional community-based multicenter intervention study, (t(0) = 1984/.5, t(1) = 1988 nd t(2) = 1991/2) the usage of drugs was examined. Four groups of drugs with a potentially addictive character (analgesics, sedatives, sleeping drugs, psychotropics) were analysed with regard to socioeconomic differences in consumption. Results: A gradient was found for all analyzed groups of drugs. The data analysis of th 3 pooled surveys (t(0), t(1), t(2)) regarding analgesics yields an OR of 1.67 (95%-CI: 1.41 to 1.98) for the middle class (mc) and 2.33 (95%-CI: 1.95 to 2.80) for the lower class (lc) (reference being the upper class). For psychotropics the values are OR = 1.40 (95%- CI: 1.12 to 1.75) (mc) and OR = 2.01 (95%-CI: 1.58 to 2.55) (lc), for sleeping drugs OR = 1.31 (95%-CI: 1.05 to 1.65) (mc) and OR = 1.54 (95%-CI: 1.37 to 1.96) (lc) and for sedatives OR = 1.40 (95%-CI: 1.19 to 1.64) (mc) and OR 1.94 (95%-CI: 1.63 to 2.30) (lc). Conclusion: Considering possible indicators of different drug utilization (age, sex, occupation, individual health, last medical care, mental disstress) the gradient was diminished but - especially for the lower class - remained at significant OR's between 1.37 and 1.65