The purpose of this preliminary study is to develop an operational definition of the closure phase of the medical visit. A listening group developed a definition of closure by consensus based on audiotaped data from 22 office visits to physicians. The group noted new problems in closure not previously raised. Closure was defined as the final phase of the medical visit in which the doctor and pa...

A methodology has been developed to determine the relative values of surgical procedures and medical office visits on the basis of resource costs. The time taken to perform the service and the complexity of that service are the most critical variables. Inter-specialty differences in the opportunity costs of training and overhead expenses are also considered. Results indicate some important diff...

OBJECTIVES To determine the degree of consensus regarding the probabilities of outcomes associated with IP/IV and IV chemotherapy. METHODS A survey was administered to an expert panel using the Delphi method. Ten ovarian cancer experts were asked to estimate outcomes for patients receiving IP/IV or IV chemotherapy. The clinical estimates were: 1) probability of completing six cycles of chemot...

Abstract Introduction: Estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer is a subgroup of breast tumors that is more likely to respond to hormone therapy. ER-positive and ER- negative breast cancers tend to show different patterns of metastasis because of different signaling cascade and genes that are activated by estrogen response. Genetic factors can contribute to high rates of metastas...

Abstract Introduction: Estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer is a subgroup of breast tumors that is more likely to respond to hormone therapy. ER-positive and ER- negative breast cancers tend to show different patterns of metastasis because of different signaling cascade and genes that are activated by estrogen response. Genetic factors can contribute to high rates of metastas...

BACKGROUND Air pollution from vehicular traffic has been associated with respiratory diseases. In Palermo, the largest metropolitan area in Sicily, urban air pollution is mainly addressed to traffic-related pollution because of lack of industrial settlements, and the presence of a temperate climate that contribute to the limited use of domestic heating plants. This study aimed to investigate th...

BACKGROUND Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the most commonly used alternative therapy in children with asthma, especially in the Chinese community. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the government-sponsored Outpatient's Healthcare Quality Improvement (OHQI) project with integrated TCM treatment on childhood asthma. METHODS This study used the Longitudinal Health Insurance D...

Introduction: The medical needs of cancer patients are complex and increase with the disease’s progression. However, Japan’s aging population increased have produced challenges like a shortage hospital beds. Therefore, who completed chemotherapy recommended home-based care or referred to local palliative facilities, especially when treatment is no longer viable option outpatient visits become u...

The authors describe the implementation of a depression care management (DCM) program at Colorado Access, a public sector health plan, and describe the program's clinical and system outcomes for members with chronic medical conditions. High medical risk, high cost Medicaid health plan members were identified and systematically screened for depression. A total of 370 members enrolled in the DCM ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Previous studies have found that smoking cessation is associated with a short-term increase in health-care use. This may be because 'sicker' smokers are more likely to stop smoking. The current study assessed the association between smoking cessation and health-care use, adjusting for pre-cessation physical and mental health conditions. DESIGN/SETTING Data came from the AT...