the nature and frequency of medicare/medicaid fraud and neutralization techniques among speech,occupational, and physical therapists

ABSTRACT

The current study examines the nature and frequency of Medicare/Medicaid fraud and the techniques of neutralization utilized by a purposeful sample of speech, occupational, and physical therapists working within the context of hospitals, nursing homes, and with home health agencies, in a southern state. Participant observations, surveys, and in-depth interviews were utilized to obtain data for this study. We identified two main fraudulent practices, cutting sessions short while charging for the entire session and charging individual session rates for group therapy sessions. We also identified three techniques of neutralization utilized by the therapists in our study, including: (1) everyone else does it, (2) denial of responsibility, and (3) denial of injury. The implications of our findings are discussed.     

The effect of chronic caffeine consumption on urinary incontinence in psychogeriatric inpatients

Abstract

Urinary incontinence is a common problem in psychiatric settings, particularly among psychogeriatric patients. In view of the known diuretic action of caffeine, the present study assessed the effect of tea and coffee consumption on level of incontinence in selected psychogeriatric inpatients. A total of 14 patients participated in the study which employed a combined “withdrawal” and “multiple-baseline across subjects” design to examine the effect of alternating phases of caffeine exposure and abstinence on frequency of daytime and nighttime incontinence. Incontinence levels were significantly reduced during periods of caffeine abstinence relative to periods of chronic caffeine exposure. The hypothesis that observed reductions in incontinence may have been due to accompanying reductions in fluid intake was examined but not supported.     

Implicit and explicit processes in a second-language learning task

Abstract

Two experiments examined the learning of a set of Greek pronunciation rules through explicit and implicit modes of rule presentation. Experiment 1 compared the effectiveness of implicit and explicit modes of presentation in two modalities, visual and auditory. Subjects in the explicit or rule group were presented with the rule set, and those in the implicit or natural group were shown a set of Greek words, composed of letters from the rule set, linked to their pronunciations. Subjects learned the Greek words to criterion and were then given a series of tests which aimed to tap different types of knowledge. The results showed an advantage of explicit study of the rules. In addition, an interaction was found between mode of presentation and modality. Explicit instruction was more effective in the visual than in the auditory modality, whereas there was no modality effect for implicit instruction. Experiment 2 examined a possible reason for the advantage of the rule groups by comparing different combinations of explicit and implicit presentation in the study and learning phases. The results suggested that explicit presentation of the rules is only beneficial when it is followed by practice at applying them.     

Gender Differences in the Construct Validity of the Silencing the Self Scale

Gender differences in the construct validity of Jack's (1991) Silencing the Self Scale (STSS) were assessed using 187 female and 169 male undergraduates. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed gender differences in the scale's latent structure and at best provided only limited support for the validity of the scale's four subscales for women. Among men, the studies exposed a weakness in the scale's construct validity and provided insights into possible alternative interpretations made by men when responding to the scale's items. Convergent and discriminant validity of the scale were assessed by correlating it with measures of neuroticism and attachment. Whereas the construct validity of the STSS for use with women was supported, evidence was weaker for men. For men, data suggest that the STSS, in part, taps a motive to avoid intimacy and relationship situations that limit one's sense of independence and autonomy, a construct incongruous with Jack's notion of self-silencing.     

A Comparative Study of Pediatric Nurses' Attitudes toward Death*

ABSTRACT: The present study reports the results of a 24-item questionnaire intended to measure attitudes toward death and the care of dying patients of 47 professional and 10 nonprofessional pediatric nurses from three hospitals in the West and Midwest. There were no statistically significant differences among the nurses based on education, background, or previous clinical experience. The significant differences related mainly to the type of ward (benign, acute, or terminal) on which the nurses were working. Implications for nursing education and nursing service are discussed.     

Improvements to Suicide Prevention Training for Prison Staff in England and Wales

Suicide prevention training for the prison service in England and Wales has been criticized. STORM is a package emphasizing the practice and review of interactions with suicidal persons and was evaluated in a pilot study for use in prisons. Trainees completed questionnaires immediately before and after training and at 6 to 8 months follow‐up. Training significantly improved attitudes, knowledge, and confidence, and improvements were maintained at follow‐up. Satisfaction with training was very high. STORM was successfully adapted for prison settings, and showed good effects among staff trained. It should be provided to the wider prison estate, with regular refresher training.