RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the consequences of problem gambling can be severe, few ever seek treatment for this disorder. Problem gambling help-lines represent a crucial point of entry into the treatment system. Through brief telephone counseling, help-lines have the potential of enhancing callers' motivations to engage in longer-term treatment. We prospectively examined treatment initiation and its predictors among individuals calling a state help-line. METHODS: Participants (n = 143) were assessed shortly after their initial call and re-contacted at least two months later. RESULTS: Overall 67% of the re-contacted help-line callers had attended at least one treatment session at the time of the follow-up interview (92.7% formal treatment and 28.1% peer-support meetings). Multivariate analysis revealed that gambling-related financial difficulties and past treatment for problem gambling (but not for mental health or substance abuse) predicted treatment initiation. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Enhanced counseling focusing on motivational factors may result in better treatment engagement for some problem gamblers.
Asunto(s)
Juego de Azar/psicología , Líneas Directas , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/psicología , Consejo , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
With the rising use of principal component analysis/partial least squares (PCA/PLS) in the process analytical technology (PAT) initiative of the pharmaceutical industry, it seems appropriate to view that approach from a statistical process control (SPC) perspective. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effect of process instability (ie, state of statistical out-of-control) on use of PCA/PLS. The demonstrated differences in results should encourage PCA/PLS users to incorporate SPC as an active part of their process analytical control (PAC) toolkit to check for stability prior to drawing conclusions based on PCA/PLS analysis.
Asunto(s)
Análisis Multivariante , Análisis de Componente Principal , Distribución de Chi-Cuadrado , Simulación por Computador , Análisis de los Mínimos CuadradosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prespecified substudy of the AFFIRM study, in which no differences in survival or event rates were found in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) randomized to either rate control or rhythm control, was to test the null hypothesis that quality of life (QoL) is equal with rate- versus rhythm-control treatment strategies in AF. METHODS: Fifty-six (25%) of AFFIRM sites were randomly selected to recruit AFFIRM patients for the QoL substudy. Instruments used in the QoL assessment were (1) Perceived Health; (2) the Cantril Ladder of Life; (3) the Short Form 36 survey; (4) the QoL Index; and (5) the Symptom Checklist: Frequency and Severity. Data were collected at baseline, 2 months, 12 months, and annually; data are reported through 4 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of the AFFIRM QoL patients (n = 716) were generally similar to those of the rest of AFFIRM patients. Quality-of-life scores were similar in rate- and rhythm-control assignment groups at all time points. Quality-of-life scores were similar whether the actual rhythm was sinus or AF. Scores increased from baseline to subsequent time points similarly for both groups; these improvements were not additive over time. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life was comparable between rate- and rhythm-control treatment strategies. In addition, QoL was similar with sinus rhythm versus AF. Attempts to improve QoL by restoring sinus rhythm will usually be unsuccessful.