Demented patients' participation in a clinical trial: factors affecting the caregivers' decision.

Clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease take place in medical centers all over the world. Patients and caregivers have to decide whether or not to agree to participate in clinical trials. This study aimed to investigate the motivation that determines the caregivers' choice. Nineteen caregivers of demented patients who consented to participate in a clinical trial in our Memory Clinic and 10 caregivers who refused to participate were interviewed. The data were gathered by a self-report questionnaire covering various aspects of the caregivers' decision-making process. Among the reasons for agreeing to participate in the clinical trial were the respondents' belief that it would improve or help to maintain the patients' condition. Most of the respondents of both groups indicated that information regarding side effects and success probability was adequately provided in advance. The primary reason for refusal was the potential side effects of the drug. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Young women with PD: a group work experience.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) prior to the age of 40 affects between 5-10% of the PD population. The psychosocial changes that patients with early PD encounter, may be more devastating and disabling than the actual motor disability. The paper describes a unique experience in groupwork with young female PD patients treated in the Movement Disorders Unit of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The paper focuses on the special issues which characterized this group's experience: stigma, body and sexual image, and personality traits.

An Israeli model of a hospital emergency information center.

The Emergency Information Center model developed by the social work department of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center is activated in cases of mass casualties following disasters. It aims to provide reliable information to help the public cope with confusion and uncertainty, and to enable the medical staff to concentrate on treating the casualties. The Information Center is comprised of several interrelated units within the hospital, and maintains contact with a range of community organizations. The article describes the structure and activities of the various units, and discusses a number of aspects relevant to personnel organization in crisis intervention.

Mass casualties: an organizational model of a hospital information center in Tel Aviv.

The article describes an organizational model of an information center, developed by the social work department of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The information center is designed to provide information when mass casualties are brought to the hospital following terrorist attacks or other catastrophes. The information center is comprised of a number of interrelated units within the hospital and is in contact with a range of organizations in the community. The structure and activities of the various units is described. The article also discusses a number of aspects relevant to personnel organization in crisis intervention.

Diamond coating of titanium alloys.

A titanium alloy was coated with a thin layer of synthetic diamond by chemical vapor deposition methods, achieving exceptional adhesion. Scientific and technological opportunities exist for the development of diamond-coated metal alloys and for a better understanding of adhesion mechanisms of hard, brittle coatings. An indentation method of wide applicability for measuring the adhesion of such coatings is discussed.