Attitudes to cosmetic surgery among ethnic minority groups in Britain: Cultural mistrust,adherence to traditional cultural values,and ethnic identity salience as protective factors

Previous work has suggested that ethnic minority women have more negative attitudes to cosmetic surgery than British Whites, but reasons for this are not fully understood. To overcome this dearth in the literature, the present study asked 250 British Asian and 250 African Caribbean university students to complete measures of attitudes to cosmetic surgery, cultural mistrust, adherence to traditional cultural values, ethnic identity salience, self‐esteem, and demographics. Preliminary analyses showed that there were significant between‐group differences only on cultural mistrust and self‐esteem, although effect sizes were small (d values = .21–.37). Further analyses showed that more negative attitudes to cosmetic surgery were associated with greater cultural mistrust, stronger adherence to traditional values, and stronger ethnic identity salience, although these relationships were weaker for African Caribbean women than for British Asians. These results are discussed in relation to perceptions of cosmetic surgery among ethnic minority women.     

Making the body (w)hole: A semiotic exploration of body modifications

Abstract

Cultural norms of attraction are dynamic and fluid, and are psychologically intertwined with acts of corporeal modification that use the body as signifier. These norms are expressed in various ways by individuals, but can be seen most plainly when they are worn on the body, such as with body piercing and tattooing. An intertextual understanding of how body modifications play a role in the integration of psyche and soma appears to motivate understanding of how individual choices are reflections of cultural mores. Psychodynamic and semiotic processes from case examples are provided to illustrate how individuals may move between affect and expressiveness as well as how reading the body as text can generate new understandings of an individual's decision to modify, thus allowing clinicians to better work with their modified clients.     

Care of the Patient Undergoing Sex Reassignment Surgery

SUMMARY

Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) has proven to be an effective intervention for the patient with gender dysphoria. As with any surgery, the quality of care provided before, during, and after SRS has a significant impact on patient outcomes. This article is intended to help primary care providers who are already familiar with routine transgender care to understand the specialized processes involved in SRS. Topics include guidelines for the recommendation of SRS, feminizing and masculinizing surgical procedures, suggested timelines for various interventions, expected course and recovery, risks and complications, and revisional surgery that may be required.     

Beauty and the burn: tanning and other appearance-altering attitudes and behaviors

Tanning is often prompted by appearance concerns, yet little is known about associations between tanning and other appearance-altering behaviors. In the current study, we examined potential correlates of indoor and outdoor tanning that, like tanning, may enhance appearance but present health risks. College students (N = 284; Mage = 20.14, SD = 3.39) completed a survey. The main outcome measures were indoor tanning and outdoor sunbathing. Participants also answered questions pertaining to piercings and tattoos, healthy and unhealthy dieting behaviors, cigarette smoking, and interest in cosmetic surgery and enhancements. Results indicate that indoor tanners were more likely to have piercings, tattoos, to engage in healthy dieting behaviors, and to express interest in cosmetic enhancements. Outdoor sunbathers were more interested in cosmetic enhancements than non-outdoor sunbathers, and female outdoor sunbathers reported more unhealthy dieting behaviors than male outdoor sunbathers. These findings provide evidence for college students’ engagement in a constellation of appearance-oriented risk behaviors.     

Prospective correlates of early (30 day) readmissions on a Cardiothoracic Surgery Service

Known to vary widely among hospitals for unclear reasons, early readmissions are associated with higher mortality and are suspected to frequently be due to inadequate discharge preparation/planning. It has been previously documented that the strongest and most consistent predictor of early readmissions in CHF patients is chronic cognitive impairment, and compensatory assistance with adherence on discharge improves early readmission rates. Prospective observational study. The present investigation examined multiple putative perioperative predictors of early readmission in a hospitalized Cardiothoracic Surgery Service. A subtest of the Mini-Cog, Short Term Memory, was the strongestunivariate predictor of early readmissions (p < .001), but the overall Mini-Cog (p = .024), Age (p = .045), Number of Admissions over the Preceding Year (p = .036), an Anxiety Scale (p = .035), Years of Education (p = .055) and a Depression Scale (p = .056) also demonstrated covariation. In a Logistic Regression, only Short Term Memory survived as a predictor variable (p = .007), correctly classifying 76% of patients. Chronic cognitive impairment is a predictor of early readmissions in Cardiothoracic patients. A brief bedside exam interpreted in medical context may permit identification of patients requiring familial assistance for adherence on discharge.     

心理辅导室的建立与小儿外科

手术是小儿外科的主要治疗手段,又是一个创伤过程,同时也是一个心理应激过程,对于患儿来说这种应激会使其产生恐惧心理。同时小儿外科工作具有双重性,不仅要为患儿服务同时还需满足家长不同层次的心理需求。所以有必要在小儿外科科室内建立一个系统的心理辅导机构即心理辅导室来做好家长及患儿的心理疏导。     

不同手术方式对早期肺癌患者凝血功能的影响

为了研究不同手术方式对早期肺癌患者凝血功能的影响,选取早期肺癌患者51例分为常规开胸组和电视胸腔镜手术(VATS)组。观察患者手术前后凝血指标的变化及临床表现。结果显示术前开胸组和VATS组患者各指标无差别。术后两组患者都出现凝血酶原时间(PT)延长,活化的部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)缩短,纤维蛋白原(Fib)、D二聚体(D-D)升高,血小板计数(PLT)术后第3天降低而术后第7天升高。术后开胸组较VATS组患者术后第1、3天Fib、D-D升高。开胸组出现1例肺血栓栓塞症(PTE)。就此得出结论VATS组和常规开胸组患者术后都处于高血凝状态,但开胸组患者术后早期更易出现血栓栓塞。     

我国整形美容外科及医学美容技术发展的辩证思考

整形美容事业的飞速发展带来了一些问题。回顾历史,整形美容外科及医学美容技术的发展是在实践、认识,再实践、再认识的过程中不断发展的;但发展过快并非好事,作为整形美容外科医生,在工作当中必须坚持一切从实际出发,辩证地认识问题,解决问题,使整形美容外科及医学美容技术保持良好的发展势头,更好地为患者服务。     

对外科急腹症诊疗中伦理学矛盾的探讨

由于外科急腹症的特殊性,产生了与其他科室不同的伦理学矛盾。本文探讨了急腹症诊疗中存在的伦理学矛盾和相应对策。在急腹症诊疗过程中,要重视伦理学矛盾产生的原因,完善急腹症诊疗中存在的流程问题,自觉实践医学伦理学的知情同意原则,有助于化解医患矛盾,减少医疗纠纷;同时也要减轻医生工作压力,加强团队合作精神。     

外科手术患者的血糖管理

随着糖尿病患患者数的迅速增加,需要接受外科手术治疗的糖尿病患者也越来越多。糖尿病患者的血糖控制与外科手术相互影响,一方面,手术应激可进一步加重糖尿病患者的糖代谢紊乱;另一方面,合并糖尿病使患者发生围手术期并发症甚至死亡的风险大大增加。因此,对糖尿病患者进行完整的术前评估,良好的术前、术中、术后血糖管理是糖尿病患者手术顺利进行、平稳渡过围手术期、改善预后的重要保证。