Satisfaction with mental health community services among patients' relatives / Satisfação com serviços comunitários de saúde mental entre os familiares dos pacientes

ABSTRACT: Objective: This study aims to assess the satisfaction of family members of patients of mental health community services through a tested, validated and previously applied scale in order to allow comparison of results. Methods: The results were obtained by applying the scale SATIS-BR to 1242 relatives of patients of 40 mental health community services in Brazil. The average scores of the three subscales of the SATIS-BR scale were compared using the Wilcoxon test. To measure statistical significance for each item of the scale, the Friedman test was applied, considering significant p-value < 0.05. Results: The average overall satisfaction score was 4.35 with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.44, with a range varying from 1 to 5. The subscale with the highest score refers to the "Results of Treatment", what presents scores of 4.54 with SD of 0.66. As for the other subscales, which refer to "Reception and Staff Competence" and "Service Privacy and Confidentiality" had scores of 4.25 (SD: 0.51) and 4.17 (SD: 0.51). Conclusion: The high level of satisfaction with the service among families of patients highlights the potential of these services and their contribution to the advance of a model of mental health community care, as it seems to be the global trend. The different results between the scales further suggest that the family distinguishes different aspects of the service and evaluates separately, providing a good reference for evaluation studies.

RESUMO: Objetivo: Este estudo objetivou avaliar a satisfação dos familiares de pacientes de serviços comunitários de saúde mental através de uma escala testada, validada e aplicada anteriormente, a fim de permitir a comparação de resultados. Métodos: Os resultados foram obtidos através da aplicação da escala SATIS-BR em 1242 familiares de pacientes de 40 serviços comunitários de saúde mental no Brasil. Os escores médios das três subescalas da escala SATIS-BR foram comparados pelo teste de Wilcoxon. Para medir a significância estatística para cada item da escala, o teste de Friedman foi aplicado, considerando-se como significância valor de p < 0,05. Resultados: A pontuação satisfação global média foi de 4,35, com desvio padrão (DP) de 0,44, em uma escala que varia de 1 a 5. A subescala com maior pontuação se refere aos "Resultados do Tratamento", que apresentou escore de 4,54 com DP de 0,66 . Quanto as outras subescalas, que se referem a "Recepção e Competência da Equipe" e "Privacidade e Confidencialidade do Serviço" as pontuações foram de 4,25 (DP: 0,51) e 4,17 (DP: 0,51) respectivamente. Conclusão: O elevado nível de satisfação com o serviço entre os familiares dos pacientes destaca o potencial desses serviços e a sua contribuição para o avanço de um modelo comunitário de atenção à saúde mental. Os resultados diferentes entre as escalas sugerem ainda que o familiar distingue os diversos aspectos do serviço e os avalia separadamente, constituindo uma boa referência para estudos de avaliação.

'Who's actually gonna read this?' An evaluation of staff experiences of the value of information contained in written care plans in supporting care in three different dementia care settings.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: A written plan is designed to improve communication and co-ordinate care between mental health inpatient wards and community settings. Reports of care plan quality issues and staff and service user dissatisfaction with healthcare bureaucracy have focused on working age mental health or general hospital settings. Little is known about mental health staff perspectives on the value of written care plans in supporting dementia care. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Competing demands on staff time and resources to meet administrative standards for care plans caused a tension with their own professional priorities for supporting care. Mental health staff face difficulties using electronic records alongside other systems of information sharing. Further exploration is needed of the gap between frontline staff values and those of the local organization and managers when supporting good dementia care. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Frontline staff should be involved in designing new information systems including care plans. Care plan documentation needs to be refocused to ensure it is effective in enabling staff to communicate amongst themselves and with others to support people with dementia. Practice-based mentors could be deployed to strengthen good practice in effective information sharing. ABSTRACT: Background Reports of increased healthcare bureaucracy and concerns over care plan quality have emerged from research and surveys into staff and service user experiences. Little is known of mental health staff perspectives on the value of written care plans in supporting dementia care. Aim To investigate the experiences and views of staff in relation to care planning in dementia services in one National Health Service (NHS) provider Trust in England. Method Grounded Theory methodology was used. A purposive sample of 11 multidisciplinary staff were interviewed across three sites in one NHS Trust. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed using the constant comparative method. Findings Five themes were identified and are explored in detail below: (1) Repetition; (2) the impact of electronic records on practice; (3) ambivalence about the value of paperwork; (4) time conflicts; and (5) alternative sources of information to plan care. Discussion Participants perceived that written care plans did not help staff with good practice in planning care or to support dementia care generally. Staff were frustrated by repetitive documentation, inflexible electronic records and conflicting demands on their time. Implications for practice Frontline staff should be involved in designing new information systems including care plans.

Fatores associados à percepção de melhora por usuários de Centros de Atenção Psicossocial do Sul do Brasil / Factors associated with perception of improvement by users of Centers for Psychosocial Care in the South of Brazil / Factores asociados a la percepción de mejora por parte de usuarios de Centros de Atención Psicosocial del sur de Brasil

Este estudo objetivou investigar os fatores associados à melhora percebida pelos usuários de Centros de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS). Estudo transversal, realizado com 1.493 usuários de CAPS do Sul do Brasil. A melhora percebida pelos participantes foi avaliada pela Escala de Mudança Percebida - Pacientes (EMP-Pacientes). Para investigação dos fatores associados, muniu-se de uma regressão logística guiada por um modelo hierárquico que considerou como associação um valor de p < 0,05. Os fatores associados ao desfecho foram: estado de alocação do CAPS, possuir trabalho remunerado, diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, menor idade quando diagnosticado, maior tempo de frequência no serviço, facilidade de acesso e envolvimento na avaliação. Entre os fatores que efetivamente tencionam melhora nos usuários, destacam-se aqueles referentes às características da doença e os aspectos relativos aos serviços quanto à execução das políticas de saúde mental e quanto à organização deles.

This study aimed to investigate factors associated with perceived improvement among users of Centers for Psychosocial Care. This was a cross-sectional study of 1,493 users of Centers for Psychosocial Care in the South of Brazil. Users' perceived improvement was assessed by Perceived Change Scale - Patients (PCS-Patients). Associated factors were investigated using logistic regression guided by a hierarchical model, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Factors associated with the outcome were: state where the Center for Psychosocial Care was located, paid work, diagnosis of schizophrenia, age at diagnosis < 18 years, longer time attending the center, ease of access, and involvement in the evaluation. The factors that actually involve improvement in users include those pertaining to characteristics of the illness and aspects related to services in the implementation of mental health policies and their organization.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar los factores asociados a la mejora percibida por los usuarios de Centros de Atención Psicosocial. Estudio transversal, realizado con 1.493 usuarios de Centros de Atención Psicosocial del sur de Brasil. La mejora percibida por los participantes se evaluó mediante la Escala de Cambios Percibidos - Pacientes (EMP-Pacientes, por sus siglas en portugués). Para la investigación de los factores asociados, se hizo uso de una regresión logística guiada por un modelo jerárquico que consideró como asociación un valor de p < 0,05. Los factores asociados al desenlace fueron: estado de asignación del Centro de Atención Psicosocial, tener trabajo remunerado, diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, menor de edad cuando se es diagnosticado, mayor tiempo de frecuencia en el servicio, facilidad de acceso y participación en la evaluación. Entre los factores que efectivamente prevén mejora en los usuarios, se destacan aquellos referentes a las características de la enfermedad y los aspectos relativos a los servicios, en cuanto a la ejecución de las políticas de salud mental y respecto a la organización de los mismos.

Propuesta para abordar los problemas de salud mental detectados en el proceso diagnóstico de la Delegación Presidencial para la reconstrucción tras el terremoto del 27 de febrero de 2010 / Proposal to address the mental health problems detected after the February 27, 2010 earthquake

One of the most important topics mentioned by people from places affected by the February 27th, 2010 earthquake to the Presidential Delegation for the Reconstruction, was the urgent need of mental health care. Given the enormous individual and social burden of mental health sequelae after disasters, its treatment becomes a critical issue. In this article, we propose several actions to be implemented in Chile in the context of the process of recovery and reconstruction, including optimization of social communication and media response to disasters; designing and deployment of a national strategy for volunteer service; training of primary care staff in screening and initial management of post-traumatic stress reactions; and training, continuous education and clinical supervision of a critical number of therapists in evidence-based therapies for conditions specifically related to stress.

Using a supportive care framework to understand and improve palliative care among cancer patients in Africa.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer incidence and mortality are increasing in Africa, which is leading to greater demands for palliative care. There has been little progress in terms of research, pain management, and policies related to palliative care. Palliative care in Africa is scarce and scattered, with most African nations lacking the basic services. To address these needs, a guiding framework that identifies care needs and directs palliative care services could be utilized. Therefore, using the supportive care framework developed by Fitch (Fitch, 2009), we here review the literature on palliative care for patients diagnosed with cancer in Africa and make recommendations for improvement. METHOD: The PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Medline databases were searched. Some 25 English articles on research from African countries published between 2004 and 2014 were selected and reviewed. The reviewed literature was analyzed and presented using the domains of the supportive care framework. RESULTS: Palliative care patients with cancer in Africa, their families, and caregivers experience increasing psychological, physical, social, spiritual, emotional, informational, and practical needs. Care needs are often inadequately addressed because of a lack of awareness as well as deficient and scattered palliative care services and resources. In addition, there is sparse research, education, and policies that address the dire situation in palliative care. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Our review findings add to the existing body of knowledge demonstrating that palliative care patients with cancer in Africa experience disturbing care needs in all domains of the supportive care framework. To better assess and address these needs, holistic palliative care that is multidomain and multi-professional could be utilized. This approach needs to be individualized and to offer better access to services and information. In addition, research, education, and policies around palliative care for cancer patients in Africa could be more comprehensive if they were based on the domains of the supportive care framework.

'Talking a different language': an exploration of the influence of organizational cultures and working practices on transition from child to adult mental health services.

BACKGROUND: Organizational culture is manifest in patterns of behaviour underpinned by beliefs, values, attitudes and assumptions, which can influence working practices. Cultural factors and working practices have been suggested to influence the transition of young people moving from child to adult mental health services. Failure to manage and integrate transitional care effectively can lead to young people losing contact with health and social care systems, resulting in adverse effects on health, well-being and potential. METHODS: The study aim was to identify the organisational factors which facilitate or impede transition of young people from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS) from the perspective of health professionals and representatives of voluntary organisations. Specific objectives were (i) to explore organizational cultures, structures, processes and resources which influence transition from child to adult mental health services; (ii) identify factors which constitute barriers and facilitators to transition and continuity of care and (iii) make recommendations for service improvements. Within an exploratory, qualitative design thirty four semi-structured interviews were conducted with health and social care professionals working in CAMHS and AMHS in four NHS Mental Health Trusts and four voluntary organizations, in England. RESULTS: A cultural divide appears to exist between CAMHS and AMHS, characterized by different beliefs, attitudes, mutual misperceptions and a lack of understanding of different service structures. This is exacerbated by working practices relating to communication and information transfer which could impact negatively on transition, relational, informational and cross boundary continuity of care. There is also evidence of a cultural shift, with some positive approaches to collaborative working across services and agencies, involving joint posts, parallel working, shared clinics and joint meetings. CONCLUSIONS: Cultural factors embodied in mutual misperceptions, attitudes, beliefs exist between CAMHS and AMHS. Working practices can exert either positive or negative effects on transition and continuity of care. Implementation of shared education and training, standardised approaches to record keeping and information transfer, supported by compatible IT resources are recommended, alongside management strategies which evaluate the achievement of outcomes related to transition and continuity of care.

Dementia knowledge transfer project in a rural area.

INTRODUCTION: Rural Scotland has an ageing population. There has been an increase in the number of people with dementia and as the proportion of people aged over 75 years continues to rise, this will increase still further. The Scottish Government has produced a dementia strategy and implementing this will be a challenge for rural Scotland. METHODS: Transferring academic knowledge into practice is challenging. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership was formed between NHS Highland and the University of Stirling. A literature review was undertaken of the rural dementia literature; local services were surveyed and described; and interviews were undertaken with people with dementia and carers. Work was conducted on training, diagnostic service provision and local policy. Throughout the project, a collaborative approach was used, which aimed at the joint production of knowledge. RESULTS: Involving University staff in local service development had a substantial impact. Reviewing existing research knowledge and setting it in the context of local services, and of experience of service use, allowed the relevant priorities to be identified. As well as identifying training needs and providing training, the work influenced local decisions on diagnostic service design and standards, and on policy. CONCLUSION: This embedded engagement model appeared to produce more rapid change than traditional models of use of academic knowledge.

Challenges to screening and evaluation of memory impairment among Hispanic elders in a primary care safety net facility.

OBJECTIVE: Implement a memory impairment screening procedure for elderly Hispanic primary care patients, and analyze its yield and challenges to further triage and diagnostic evaluation. METHODS: Three hundred twenty nine Hispanic patients aged ≥60 years or proxy informants were enrolled from outpatient primary care clinics at an urban safety-net medical center. Patients were screened for memory impairment using the WHO-UCLA AVLT; for those without consent capacity, proxies were given the IQCODE. Bilingual research assistants conducted in-person or telephone screening. Age, gender, education, comorbidities, acculturation, overall health, access to care, and memory concerns were assessed as potential predictors of memory impairment. Based on identified implementation challenges, a multi-disciplinary stakeholder committee proposed revised approaches to increase diagnostic evaluation and sustainability. RESULTS: Of 677 eligible patients approached, 329 (49%) were screened, and 77 (23%) met criteria for memory impairment using the WHO-UCLA AVLT (N=60) or the IQCODE (N=17). Only male gender and higher comorbidity uniquely predicted memory impairment (ps<0.05). Few screen-positive patients declined further triage and evaluation, but a substantial proportion could not be subsequently contacted. Challenges to implementing a memory screening program included staff time and adequate clinic space for in-person screening; challenges to follow-up of positive screening results included inability to contact patients and lack of primary care continuity to facilitate further triage and referral. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-fourth of primary care Hispanic elders screened as memory-impaired, but few factors predicted positive screening. Stakeholder-guided adaptations are needed-particularly in resource-constrained settings-to overcome challenges to further diagnostic evaluation and referral.

Impact of a nurse-led intervention to improve screening for cardiovascular risk factors in people with severe mental illnesses. Phase-two cluster randomised feasibility trial of community mental health teams.

BACKGROUND: People with severe mental illnesses (SMI) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Clinical guidelines recommend regular screening for CVD risk factors. We evaluated a nurse led intervention to improve screening rates across the primary-secondary care interface. METHODS: Six community mental health teams (CMHTs) were randomised to receive either the nurse led intervention plus education pack (n = 3) or education pack only (n = 3). Intervention (6 months): The nurse promoted CVD screening in primary care and then in CMHTs. Patients who remained unscreened were offered screening by the nurse. After the intervention participants with SMI were recruited from each CMHT to collect outcome data. MAIN OUTCOME: Numbers screened during the six months, confirmed in General Practice notes. RESULTS: All six CMHTs approached agreed to randomisation. 121 people with SMI participated in outcome interviews during two waves of recruitment (intervention arm n = 59, control arm n = 62). Participants from both arms of the trial had similar demographic profiles and rates of previous CVD screening in the previous year, with less than 20% having been screened for each risk factor. After the trial, CVD screening had increased in both arms but participants from the intervention arm were significantly more likely to have received screening for blood pressure (96% vs 68%; adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) 13.6; 95% CI: 3.5-38.4), cholesterol (66.7% vs 26.9%, OR 6.1; 3.2-11.5), glucose (66.7% vs 36.5% OR 4.4; 2.7-7.1), BMI (92.5% vs 65.2% OR 6.5; 2.1-19.6), and smoking status (88.2% vs 57.8% OR 5.5; 3.2-9.5) and have a 10 year CVD risk score calculated (38.2% vs 10.9%) OR 5.2 1.8-15.3). Within the intervention arm approximately half the screening was performed in general practice and half by the trial nurse. CONCLUSIONS: The nurse-led intervention was superior, resulting in an absolute increase of approximately 30% more people with SMI receiving screening for each CVD risk factor. The feasibility of the trial was confirmed in terms of CMHT recruitment and the intervention, but the response rate for outcome collection was disappointing; possibly a result of the cluster design. The trial was not large or long enough to detect changes in risk factors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Registration Number (ISRCTRN) 58625025.

Evaluation of a community-based mental health drug and alcohol nurse in the care of people living with HIV/AIDS.

There is a growing need for advanced practice mental health and drug and alcohol nursing roles in the care of people living with HIV/AIDS; however, limited publications address these domains. This study evaluated a community-based mental health drug and alcohol nurse role caring for people living with HIV/AIDS (Mental Health D&A Nurse) in a large not-for-profit district nursing organization providing care to people living with HIV/AIDS in an Australian city. Outcomes from a client assessment and 6-8-week follow-up by the Mental Health D&A Nurse are presented as captured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS 21), Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HONOS) and WHOQoL BREF. Mean scores and caseness were analysed, and significant differences were found on the 'impairment' and 'social problems' subscales of the HONOS. Results of semi-structured interviews with clients describe effective and supportive mental health care and health-promoting education following visits by the Mental Health D&A Nurse. These positive findings support continuing implementation of the role within this community setting and indicate that even greater benefits will ensue as the role develops further. Findings are of interest to clinicians and policy makers seeking to implement similar roles in community-based HIV/AIDS care.

Screening for the metabolic syndrome in community psychiatric patients prescribed antipsychotics: a quality improvement programme.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate a quality improvement programme designed to increase screening for the metabolic syndrome in community psychiatric patients prescribed antipsychotics. METHOD: Baseline audit against evidence-based standards, followed by provision of benchmarked data and a range of change interventions, with re-audit 1 year later. RESULTS: At baseline, 48 assertive outreach teams across the UK submitted data on screening over the previous year for 1966 patients. At re-audit, 35 of the teams submitted data for 1516 patients. Screening for all four aspects of the metabolic syndrome (measuring blood pressure, obesity, blood glucose and plasma lipids) had increased significantly by re-audit. Clinical variables increasing the likelihood of full screening were clozapine treatment and a known diagnosis of diabetes or dyslipidaemia. CONCLUSION: The programme's success may be partly attributed to the use of a widely-accepted audit standard, and bespoke change interventions that directly addressed barriers to screening identified by the participating clinical teams.

Substance abuse treatment providers' beliefs and objections regarding contingency management: implications for dissemination.

Contingency management (CM) interventions are among the most effective methods for initiating drug abstinence, but they infrequently have been adopted by community drug and alcohol treatment programs. The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence of specific beliefs that community treatment providers hold regarding contingency management interventions. We surveyed 383 treatment providers from three geographical areas of the United States regarding moral or ethical objections, negative side effects, practicality, limitations and positive opinions regarding tangible and social CM interventions. Results indicate that positive beliefs were surprisingly prevalent, with providers agreeing with an average of 67% of the positive statements regarding CM using tangible incentives and 54% indicating that they would be in favor of adding a tangible CM intervention to their treatment program. The most prevalent objections to incentive programs were that they cost too much, fail to address the underlying problems of addiction, and do not address multiple behaviors. Social incentives were viewed more favorably than tangible incentives and both were viewed more positively by providers who were supervisors, had advanced degrees, had more addictions experience, and had previous experience with tangible incentives. These findings have implications for improving the dissemination of this empirically-supported treatment.

A enfermagem e o cuidar na área de saúde mental: [revisão] / Nursing and caring for in the area of mental health: [revision] / La Enfermería en el cuidar en el área de la salud mental: [revisión]

Este trabalho descreve os aspectos político-sociais que envolveram a reforma da assistência psiquiátrica, enfocando o processo de desinstitucionalização e a importância da enfermagem além de constituinte da equipe interdisciplinar. Objetiva analisar o processo de assistência de enfermagem ao doente mental em serviços externos ao hospital. Constitui-se de revisão bibliográfica em periódicos nacionais no período de 1999 a 2001. As autoras discutem sobre o comprometimento dos trabalhadores na área de saúde mental, com a "desconstrução"/construção a cerca do cuidado, fazendo-se necessária uma abordagem humanizada por meio do relacionamento interpessoal de pacientes, enfermeiros e as equipes responsáveis pela assistência ao doente mental.

This study describes the sociopolitical aspects that involved the psychiatric assistance reform, focusing the deinstitutionalization process and the importance of nursing beyond a component of the interdisciplinary team. It aims to analyze the process of nursing assistance to the mentally sick in services outside the hospital. It is a bibliographical review of national periodicals from 1999 to 2001. The authors discuss workers' engagement in the area of mental health, with the "deconstruction"/construction about care, making necessary a humanized approach by way of the interpersonal relationship of patients, nurses and the teams responsible for giving assistance to the mentally sick.

Este trabajo describe los aspectos político-sociales que involucraron la reforma de la asistencia psiquiátrica, enfocando el proceso de desinstitucionalización y la importancia de la enfermería además de constituyente del equipo interdisciplinar. Objetiva analizar el proceso de asistencia de enfermería al enfermo mental en servicios externos al hospital. Se constituye de revisión bibliográfica en periódicos nacionales en el período de 1999 a 2001. Las autoras discuten sobre el compromiso de los trabajadores en el área de salud mental, con la "desconstrucción"/construcción acerca del cuidado, haciéndose necesario un abordaje humanizado por medio de la relación interpersonal de pacientes, enfermeros y los equipos responsables por la asistencia al enfermo mental.

Analysis of the forms, functions and facilitation of social support in one English county: a way for professionals to improve the quality of health care.

Voluntary organisations are an integral part of community care, and the available research indicates the value of their social support role. However, surprisingly little is known about the forms and functions of this support, or the links to the formal support provided by the National Health Service (NHS), so hampering quality improvements. Therefore, a small sample of voluntary service organisations in one English county participated in a pilot study. This involved the staff and users of these organisations, and a geographically linked sample of NHS mental health professionals. Interview data indicated that the voluntary sector users and staff held similarly positive views of the appropriately varied forms and functions of the provided social support, and all participants held unusually similar and positive views of their links, although areas for improvement were suggested by both groups (e.g. links to GPs).

A window of opportunity for the transformation of national mental health policy in Turkey following two major earthquakes.

Striking at the nation's highly populated industrial heartlands, two massive earthquakes in 1999 killed over 25,000 people in Turkey. The economic cost and the humanitarian magnitude of the disaster were unprecedented in the country's history. The crisis also underscored a major flaw in the organization of mental health services in the provinces that were left out of the 1961 reforms that aimed to make basic health services available nationwide. In describing the chronology of the earthquakes and the ensuing national and international response, this article explains how the public and governmental experience of the earthquakes has created a window of opportunity, and perhaps the political will, for significant reform. There is an urgent need to integrate mental health and general health services, and to strengthen mental health services in the country's 81 disparate provinces. As Turkey continues her rapid transformation in terms of greater urbanization, higher levels of public education, and economic and constitutional reforms associated with its projected entry into the European Union, there have also been growing demands for better, and more equitably distributed, health care. A legacy of the earthquakes is that they exposed the need for Turkey to create a coherent, clearly articulated national mental health policy.

Promoting science-based prevention in communities.

In the past decade, prevention science has emerged as a discipline built on the integration of life course development research, community epidemiology, and preventive intervention trials [Am. Psychol. 48 (1993) 1013; Am. J. Community Psychol. 27 (1999) 463; Kellam, S. G., & Rebok, G. W. (1992). Building developmental and etiological theory through epidemiologically based preventive intervention trials. In J. McCord & R. E. Tremblay (Eds.), Preventing antisocial behavior: interventions from birth through adolescence (pp. 162-195). New York: Guilford Press.]. Prevention science is based on the premise that empirically verifiable precursors (risk and protective factors) predict the likelihood of undesired health outcomes including substance abuse and dependence. Prevention science postulates that negative health outcomes like alcohol abuse and dependence can be prevented by reducing or eliminating risk factors and enhancing protective factors in individuals and their environments during the course of development. A growing number of interventions have been found to be effective in preventing adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and other drug abuse, delinquency, violence, and related health risk behaviors by reducing risk and enhancing protection. During the same decade, comprehensive community-based interventions to prevent adolescent health and behavior problems have been widely implemented in the U.S. with federal and foundation support. Despite the advances in the science base for effective preventive interventions and the investments in community-wide preventive interventions, many communities continue to invest in prevention strategies with limited evidence of effectiveness [Am. J. Public Health 84 (1994) 1394; J. Res. Crime Delinq. 39 (2002) 3; J. Community Psychol. 28 (2000) 237; J. Community Psychol. 28 (2000) 237; J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 67 (1999) 590; Eval. Program Plann. 20 (1997) 367.]. Translating prevention science into community prevention systems has emerged as a priority for prevention research [J. Community Psychol. 28 (2000) 363; J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 28 (1995) 479.]. The Communities That Care (CTC) prevention operating system is a field-tested strategy for activating communities to use prevention science to plan and implement community prevention systems. CTC provides tools that assist communities to use local data on risk and protective factors to identify elevated risks and depressed protective factors in geographic areas where levels of risk are high and levels of protection are low and then to implement tested, effective preventive interventions that reduce the identified risks and enhance protection in these [Developmental Research and Programs. (1997). Communities That Care: a comprehensive prevention program. Seattle, WA: Author; Developmental Research and Programs. (2000a). Communities That Care: a comprehensive prevention program. Seattle: Author; Hawkins, J. D., Catalano, R. F., et al. (1992). Communities That Care: action for drug abuse prevention (1st ed.). A joint publication of the Jossey-Bass social and behavioral science series and the Jossey-Bass education series. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass]. The CTC system is widely implemented, and process evaluations of CTC suggest that it can assist communities to develop more effective prevention systems. This paper describes the background and use of the CTC operating system and results of evaluations of implementation of the system.

Generalizability of findings from a chewing tobacco cessation clinical trial.

This study examined selection bias by comparing characteristics of a general population sample of tobacco chewers, participants in a chewing tobacco cessation trial, and non-participants in the trial. A population-based sample of chewers (n = 155) was surveyed by telephone to assess demographics, tobacco-use patterns, and quitting history. Six months later, chewers from this same population were recruited for a cessation trial (n = 401 participants and 68 non-participants). Trial participants differed little from general population chewers on demographics, but they used more chew and were more dependent on nicotine. They were more likely to have tried to quit, received advice to quit and experienced tobacco-related health problems. Trial non-participants were virtually identical to participants on demographic and tobacco use measures. The findings suggest that clinically tested treatments are generalizable beyond the research setting, because trial participants are demographically representative of the general population of chewing tobacco users, are not biased toward light users, and are representative of those chewers most likely to seek out community-based cessation services outside the trial context.

Outcome of first contact schizophrenia in Jamaica

Several previous studies have identified high incidence rates, high relapse rates and poor short-term outcome for schizophrenia in African-Caribbeans in the United Kingdom (UK). Studies in the Caribbean have found the incidence of schizophrenia to be within worldwide levels, and one-year outcome to be much lower than that reported for African Caribbean patients in the UK. First contact patients with schizophrenia identified prospectively by the Present Status Examination were followed prospectively for one year. The main outcome measures which were collected from case notes included: clinical status and medication usage at contact with clinical service, employment status, outpatient clinic compliance, relapse rate and in-patient hospital status, after 12 months. Three hundred and seventeen patients between ages 15 and 55 years who had made first contact with the psychiatric service in Jamaica in 1992 received a computer diagnostic programme for the present status examination (CATEGO) diagnosis of schizophrenia. The majority 197 (62) were treated at home, and 120 (38) were admitted to hospital for treatment. Two hundred and sixty-four (83) were still being seen after one year. The relapse rate was 13 (41 patients), higher for admissions (24, 20) than for those treated at home (17, 9; p < 0.001). The relapse rate was higher for patients brought into care by the police and mental health officers (p < 0.005). One hundred and thirty-five (43) were in gainful employment within the 12-month period of follow-up, contrasted with the 40 unemployment rate for the 2.4 million population of the island (chi square = 39.322, p < 0.001). There was a self-reported use of medication in 213 (67) patients, with 142 (45) on monthly intramuscular depot medication. The low relapse rates and good outcome measures after 12 months of first service contact with schizophrenia are related to high levels of gainful employment and good intramuscular medication compliance. The favourable short-term outcome in Jamaica does not correspond to the high relapse rate for this condition found in African Caribbeans in the UK.

A pilot program of improved methods for community-based screening for dementia.

The authors examined the effectiveness of a voluntary memory impairment-screening program for community-dwelling older persons, assessing three factors: appropriateness of screening instrument, reliability of complaints of cognitive difficulties, and adherence to screening recommendations. Two cognitive screening instruments, the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and the Seven-Minute Screen (7MS) were compared in 59 participants. Twenty-nine percent showed signs of impairment on the 7MS. Results suggested that the 7MS and the MMSE may have different sensitivities and specificities for the detection of early dementia. Failure on the 7MS was not predicted by cognitive or functional complaints. The study identified and addressed factors affecting compliance with screening recommendations.