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Glucocorticoid therapy for adrenal insufficiency: nonadherence, concerns and dissatisfaction with information
Objective: Appropriate selfâmanagement of glucocorticoid therapy (GC) is crucial for patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI). We aimed to describe patientsâ selfâreported nonadherence to GC, evaluate perceived doubts about need for GC, concerns about adverse effects, and dissatisfaction with information received about GC.
Design: Crossâsectional survey.
Patients: Patients prescribed GC for AI (n = 81) from five European countries.
Measurements: Online survey including the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS), Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire© (BMQ Specific, adapted for AI) and Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale© (Prof Rob Horne; SIMS).
Results: Most patients (85·2%) reported a degree of nonadherence to GC. The most frequent types of nonadherence concerned changing the timing of GC doses, for example taking a dose later in the day than advised (37·0%). Few patients doubted their personal need for daily GC, but most reported high concerns about GC including potential weight gain (50·6%), osteoporosis (53·6%) and the continuing risk of adrenal crisis (50·6%). Dissatisfaction with information about GC was frequent, with participants particularly dissatisfied with the amount of information they had received about potential problems with GC. People who expressed dissatisfaction with information about GC, and concerns about its adverse effects were also more likely to report nonadherence (P < 0·05).
Conclusions: Nonadherence to treatment, concerns about potential adverse effects and dissatisfaction with the information provided about treatment were frequently reported by this European sample of AI patients. Many AI patients may need additional information about their GC and support to address concerns about GC and facilitate adherence
Infusing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Into Science Methods Courses Across Virginia
This article outlines the results of a collaborative study of the effects of infusing problem-based learning (PBL) into K-12 science methods courses across four universities in Virginia. Changes in pre-service teachers\u27 attitudes surrounding science teaching were measured before and after completing a science methods course in which they experienced PBL first-hand as participants, and then practiced designing their own PBL units for use in their future classrooms. The results indicate that exposure to PBL enhances pre-service teachers\u27 knowledge of inquiry methods and self-efficacy in teaching science
Using the <i>aa</i> index over the last 14 solar cycles to characterize extreme geomagnetic activity
Geomagnetic indices are routinely used to characterize space weather event intensity. The DST index is well resolved, but is only available over 5 solar cycles. The aa index extends over 14 cycles but is highly discretized with poorly resolved extremes. We parameterize extreme aa activity by the annual averaged top few % of observed values, show these are exponentially distributed and they track annual DST index minima. This gives a 14 cycle average of ~ 4% chance of at least one great (DST nT) storm and ~ 28% chance of at least one severe (DST nT) storm per year. At least one DST=â809 [â663,â955] nT event in a given year would be a 1:151 year event. Carrington event estimate DST ~ â850 nT is within the same distribution as other extreme activity seen in aa since 1868 so that its likelihood can be deduced from that of more moderate events. Events with DST âČ â1000 nT are in a distinct class, requiring special conditions
A Radial Velocity Study of CTCV J1300-3052
We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the eclipsing, short period
cataclysmic variable CTCV J1300-3052. Using absorption features from the
secondary star, we determine the radial velocity semi-amplitude of the
secondary star to be K2 = 378 \pm 6 km/s, and its projected rotational velocity
to be v sin i = 125 \pm 7 km/s. Using these parameters and Monte Carlo
techniques, we obtain masses of M1 = 0.79 \pm 0.05 MSun for the white dwarf
primary and M2 = 0.198 \pm 0.029 MSun for the M-type secondary star. These
parameters are found to be in excellent agreement with previous mass
determinations found via photometric fitting techniques, supporting the
accuracy and validity of photometric mass determinations in short period CVs.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS (24th January 2012). 10 pages, 9
figures (black and white
Perturbations in the Kerr-Newman Dilatonic Black Hole Background: Maxwell Waves, the Dilaton Background and Gravitational Lensing
In this paper we continue the analysis of our previous papers and study the
affect of the existence of a non-trivial dilaton background on the propagation
of electromagnetic waves in the Kerr-Newman dilatonic black hole space-time.
For this purpose we again employ the double expansion in both the background
electric charge and the wave parameters of the relevant quantities in the
Newman-Penrose formalism and then identify the first order at which the dilaton
background enters the Maxwell equations. We then assume that gravitational and
dilatonic waves are negligible (at that order in the charge parameter) with
respect to electromagnetic waves and argue that this condition is consistent
with the solutions already found in the previous paper. Explicit expressions
are given for the asymptotic behavior of scattered waves, and a simple physical
model is proposed in order to test the effects. An expression for the relative
intensity is obtained for Reissner-Nordstrom dilaton black holes using
geometrical optics. A comparison with the approximation of geometrical optics
for Kerr-Newman dilaton black holes shows that at the order to which the
calculations are carried out gravitational lensing of optical images cannot
probe the dilaton background.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur
HST/STIS UV Spectroscopy of Two Quiescent X-ray Novae: A0620-00 and Centaurus X-4
In 1998 we made UV spectroscopic observations with HST/STIS of A0620-00 and
Cen X-4, which are two X-ray novae (aka soft X-ray transients). These binary
systems are similar in all respects except that the former contains a black
hole and the latter contains a neutron star. A UV spectrum (1700-3100A) is
presented for the quiescent state of each system in the context of previously
published UV/optical and X-ray data. The non-stellar, continuum spectrum of
black hole A0620-00 has a prominent UV/optical peak centered at about 3500A. In
contrast the spectrum of neutron-star Cen X-4 lacks a peak and rises steadily
with frequency over the entire UV/optical band. In the optical, the two systems
are comparably luminous. However, black hole A0620-00 is about 6 times less
luminous at 1700A, and about 40 times less luminous in the X-ray band. The
broadband spectrum of A0620-00 is discussed in terms of the advection-dominated
accretion flow model.Comment: 18 pages including 4 figures; tentatively scheduled for the March 10,
2000 issue of ApJ; minor revision
Validation of the questionnaire on beliefs about medication with type 2 diabetic patients
O presente trabalho teve como objectivo validar o QuestionĂĄrio Crenças sobre a Medicação, que avalia Crenças Gerais e Crenças EspecĂficas, estudando suas propriedades psicomĂ©tricas em uma amostra de 387 pacientes diabĂ©ticos tipo 2. O estudo de validade para as Crenças Gerais revelou uma solução de um factor, com um alfa de 0,76, e para as Crenças EspecĂficas, dois factores â Necessidades e PreocupaçÔes â, com um alfa de 0,77 e 0,69 respectivamente. Quanto Ă validade de constructo, verificou-se uma relação entre as Crenças Gerais e a subescala Necessidades das Crenças EspecĂficas com AdesĂŁo Ă Medicação, avaliada pela Escala de Avaliação de AderĂȘncia MĂ©dica. O instrumento apresenta boas qualidades psicomĂ©tricas para ser utilizado em pacientes diabĂ©ticos tipo 2.The present paper focused on the validation of the Questionnaire on Beliefs about Medication, which assesses both General Beliefs and Specific Beliefs. The psychometric properties of the instrument were analyzed on a sample of 387 type 2 diabetic patients. The validity study for General Beliefs found a unifactorial solution, with an alpha of .76, and for Specific Beliefs, a two-factor solution â Necessities and Concern â, with an alpha of .77 and .69, respectively. In terms of construct validity, a relationship between General Beliefs, subscale Necessities from Specific Beliefs, and adherence to medication, as evaluated by Medical Adherence Rating Scale, was found. The instrument presents good psychometric qualities to be used in type 2 diabetic patients.Fundação para a CiĂȘncia e Tecnologia (FCT
Accretion column structure of magnetic cataclysmic variables from X-ray spectroscopy
Using Chandra HETG data we present light curves for individual spectral lines
of Mg XI and Mg XII for EX Hydrae, an intermediate-polar type cataclysmic
variable. The Mg XI light curve, folded on the white dwarf spin period, shows
two spikes that are not seen in the Mg XII or broad-band light curves.
Occultation of the accretion column by the body of the white dwarf would
produce such spikes for an angle between the rotation axis and the accretion
columns of alpha = 18 degrees and a height of the Mg XI emission above the
white dwarf surface of < 0.0004 white dwarf radii or < 4 km. The absence of
spikes in the Mg XII and broad-band light curves could then be explained if the
bulk of its emission forms at much larger height, > 0.004 white dwarf radii or
> 40 km, above the white dwarf surface, although this is not consistent with
the predictions of the standard Aizu model of the accretion column.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in the ApJ Letter
On the Rotating Charged Black String Solution
A rotating charged black string solution in the low energy effective field
theory describing five dimensional heterotic string theory is constructed. The
solution is labelled by mass, electric charge, axion charge and angular
momentum per unit length. The extremal limit of this solution is also studied.Comment: 12 pages, IMSC-93/6,(Phyzzx macro), January 199
Delays in help seeking at the onset of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic synthesis of qualitative literature
A systematic review of qualitative peer-reviewed publications was conducted to identify drivers of and barriers to help-seeking behaviour in adults with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 1058 abstracts were searched to identify relevant publications. 21 relevant publications were identified assessed for quality and subjected to analysis informed by thematic and grounded theory frameworks. Several interacting themes were identified including the early experience of symptoms in relation to disease prototypes, minimising the impact of symptoms, speaking to others, gathering information and seeking alternative treatments, and issues related to accessing health services and attitudes towards healthcare professionals. Many people suggested that they had little knowledge of RA before diagnosis, believing RA to be a mild condition that affected older people. These misperceptions made correct symptom interpretation unlikely. Normalising and ignoring symptoms led people to delay in help-seeking. However, when symptoms impacted on daily activities help was usually sought. Individual interpretations of symptoms are both drivers of and barriers to help seeking. Targeted public health interventions are required to inform symptom interpretation and reduce delays
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