Odontological assistance to Down Syndrome patients having congenital heart malformations

In this study the authors present the frequency and types of congenital heart malformations (CHM) among Down Syndrome (DS) patients emphasizing the prevention of infectious endocarditis (IE) with appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis (ABP). Out of 390 DS patients, 312 (80%) were considered free from any CHM. 78 (20%) presented some CHM; from these 11,54% (n=9) have more than one CHM; ABP to prevent IE was recommended for 41,03% (n=32). Ventricular septal defect was the most frequent CHM (20,51%, n=16). Dentists must know about the patients’ cardiologic diagnosis before a treatment that could cause bleeding, because they have to administer antibiotics to prevent IE. Although some CHM doesn’t need ABP, according to the protocol of the American Heart Association, there are systemic conditions in DS that are relevant to the prescription of antibiotics.

Need for recovery from work and sleep-related complaints among nursing professionals

The concept of need for recovery from work (NFR) was deduced from the effort recuperation model. In this model work produces costs in terms of effort during the working day. When there is enough time and possibilities to recuperate, a worker will arrive at the next working day with no residual symptoms of previous effort. NFR evaluates work characteristics such as psychosocial demands, professional work hours or schedules. However, sleep may be an important part of the recovery process. The aim of the study was to test the association between sleep-related complaints and NFR. A cross-sectional study was carried out at three hospitals. All females nursing professionals engaged in assistance to patients were invited to participate (N=1,307). Participants answered a questionnaire that included four sleep-related complaints (insomnia, unsatisfactory sleep, sleepiness during work hours and insufficient sleep), work characteristics and NRF scale. Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that all sleep-related complaints are associated with a high need for recovery from work. Those who reported insufficient sleep showed a greater chance of high need for recovery; OR=2.730 (CI 95% 2.074-3.593). These results corroborate the hypothesis that sleep is an important aspect of the recovery process and, therefore, should be thoroughly investigated.

A descriptive study on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita evacuees participating in the Harris County Housing Authority Disaster Housing Assistance Program

Natural disasters occur in various forms such as hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, outbreaks, etc. The most unsettling aspect of a natural disaster is that it can strike at any moment. Over the past decade, our society has experienced an alarming increase of natural disasters. How to expeditiously respond and recover from natural disasters has become a precedent question for public health officials. To date, the most recent natural disaster was the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti; however the most memorable was that of Hurricane Katrina (“Haiti Earthquake”, 2010). ^ This study provides insight on the need to develop a National Disaster Response and Recovery Program which effectively responds to natural disasters. The specific aims of this paper were to (1) observe the government’s role on federal, state and local levels in assisting Hurricanes Katrina and Rita evacuees, (2) assess the prevalence of needs among Hurricanes Katrina and Rita families participating in the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) and (3) describe the level of progress towards “self sufficiency” for the DHAP families receiving case management social services. ^ Secondary data from a cross-sectional “Needs Assessment” questionnaire were analyzed. The questionnaire was administered initially and again six months later (follow-up) by H.A.U.L. case managers. The “Needs Assessment” questionnaire collected data regarding participants’ education, employment, transportation, child care, health resources, income, permanent housing and disability needs. Case managers determined the appropriate level of social services required for each family based on the data collected from the “Needs Assessment” questionnaire. ^ Secondary data provided by the H.A.U.L. were analyzed to determine the prevalence of needs among the DHAP families. In addition, differences measured between the initial and follow-up (at six months) questionnaires were analyzed to determine statistical significance between case management services provided and prevalence of needs among the DHAP families from initial to 6 months later at follow-up. The data analyzed describe the level of progress made by these families to achieve program “self sufficiency” (see Appendix A). Disaster assistance programs which first address basic human needs; then socioeconomic needs may offer an essential tool in aiding disaster affected communities quickly recover from natural disasters. ^

An evaluation of Employee Assistance Programs: An overview and case study

Methodologies for the analysis and cross-evaluations of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are necessary to indicate program weaknesses and strengths for both present and future EAP services.^ As EAPs have matured from simplistic industrial alcoholism programs to all problem-encompassing, complex programs, an aggressive group of entrepreneurs has developed. Business and industrial managements need established criteria to select the most suitable professional services for their needs, as well as the best investment value for cost containments.^ Four major EAPs were compared to determine critical areas necessary for cross evaluation. Future standardization of terminology and definitions of services will facilitate both the evaluation of a specific program and its comparison to problems or successes of other EAPs.^ Past evaluation difficulties have been caused by the lack of EAP program accreditations and professional personnel licensure requirements. The Association of Labor Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism (ALMACA) has recently set certification criteria for personnel, which will enhance the professional standards for EAPs. ^

Micronutrients and the Sahel: The Need for International Food Aid Reform

The 2012 Food Assistance Convention (FAsC) will replace the 1999 Food Aid Convention (FAC), shortly becoming the new document governing international food aid. This new convention will allow for culturally- and nutritionally-appropriate food purchases, but it lacks sufficient guidance and enforcement mechanisms to ensure the inclusion of micronutrients in food assistance. In conjunction with other United Nations-based programs, reforms focused on cooperation, measurement, and education in micronutrient interventions are recommended for the FAsC framework. These reforms stand to benefit the persistently hungry and micronutrient deficient Sahel region of Africa.

Foreign aid : questions on the Central American regional program need to be resolved : report to the Honorable Patrick Leahy, United States Senate /

"B-221422"--P. [1].

Research tables based on Characteristics of state plans for aid to families with dependent children : need, eligibility, administration in effect...

Description based on: 1980 ed.; title from cover.

Determination of need, service cost maximum study /

This report was prepared by the Illinois Dept. on Aging and has been submitted to the Illinois General Assembly as required under Public Act 95-565.

Illinois household survey on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse, 1994 : prevalence, need for treatment.

"The Illinois Household Survey is designed to assess the level of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use by Illinois adults and the need for alcohol and drug treatment ... The questionnaire was developed by the Harvard University National Technical Assistance Center for Substance Abuse Needs Assessment (NTC) as modified for use in Illinois. Funding for the study and the work of NTC was provided by the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) as part of their State Systems Development Program"--P. iii.

Firm-level productivity growth in Northern Ireland:the impact of exporting, innovation and public financial assistance

Motivated by the historically poor productivity performance of Northern Ireland firms and the longstanding productivity gap with the UK, the aim of this thesis is to examine, through the use of firm-level data, how exporting, innovation and public financial assistance impact on firm productivity growth. These particular activities are investigated due to the continued policy focus on their link to productivity growth and the theoretical claims of a direct positive relationship. In order to undertake these analyses a newly constructed dataset is used which links together cross-sectional and longitudinal data over the 1998-2008 period from the Annual Business Survey, the Manufacturing Sales and Export Survey; the Community Innovation Survey and Invest NI Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) payment data. Econometric methodologies are employed to estimate each of the relationships with regards to productivity growth, making use in particular of Heckman selection techniques and propensity score matching to take account of critical issues of endogeneity and selection bias. The results show that more productive firms self-select into exporting but there is no resulting productivity effect from starting to export; contesting the argument for learning-by-exporting. Product innovation is also found to have no impact on productivity growth over a four year period but there is evidence of a negative process innovation impact, likely to reflect temporary learning effects. Finally SFA assistance, including the amount of the payment, is found to have no short term impact on productivity growth suggesting substantial deadweight effects and/or targeting of inefficient firms. The results provide partial evidence as to why Northern Ireland has failed to narrow the productivity gap with the rest of the UK. The analyses further highlight the need for access to comprehensive firm-level data for research purposes, not least to underpin robust evidence-based policymaking.

UK prescribing practices as proxy markers of unmet need in allergic rhinitis : a retrospective observational study

Acknowledgements We thank Ruth B Murray for reviewing and editing this manuscript. We thank Joan B Soriano for his critical review and constructive comments. We thank Helga Mikkelsen and Alessandra Cifra for their assistance with manuscript editing and revision. Finally, we thank the Journal blind peer reviewers, whose suggestions and critical appraisal significantly improved our original submission. FUNDING This study was funded by Meda, Solna, Sweden. Data acquisition and analyses were funded by Meda. The study was conducted by Research in Real Life as an independent research organisation; Meda had no role in the conduct or reporting of the study.