The effects of baby bath and massage by fathers on the family system: The sunraysia australia intervention project

Instruction in baby massage and the Burleigh Relaxation Bath technique was given to one-half of our sample of 32 couples who had just had their first child. This brief intervention, given at 4 weeks post-partum, led to beneficial behavioural and psychological effects for the family system when assessed at 12 weeks postpartum. Depression and marital satisfaction were assessed with mothers and fathers at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after the birth of their child, and self-esteem was measured at 12 weeks only. The mothers and fathers who were shown baby bathing and massage techniques showed higher degrees of marital satisfaction and self-esteem, as well as lower levels of depression at 12 weeks post-partum, than parents who did not receive instruction. It seems likely that brief interventions which educate new parents concerning functional techniques of baby care may favourably affect their feelings of competence and be of benefit to the entire family system.     

Melodies in caregivers' speech: A species-specific guidance towards language

The author reports on a series of integrated studies on melodic contours in infant-directed (ID) speech. ID melodies in speech are taken as an instructive example of intuitive parenting in order to review current evidence on its forms, functions and determinants. The forms and functions of melodic prototypes are compared in terms of universal properties and individual and/or cultural variability across samples of German, Chinese and American mothers, and German mothers and fathers with their 2- and 3-month-old infants. Microanalyses of interactional contexts show that forms and functions of ID melodies are intimately related to typical dimensions of intuitive caregiving–arousing/soothing, turnyielding/turn-closing, approving/disapproving. The communicative functions of ID melodies as both categorical and graded signals are discussed with respect to the current knowledge on infant responses to ID speech and on early speech perception. According to a comprehensive longitudinal study of ID speech in relation to stages of infant vocalization, ID speech results from fine-tuned adjustments in various prosodic and linguistic features to developmental changes in infants' perceptual and vocal competence. ID melodies evidently have the potential to draw infant attention to caregivers' speech, to regulate arousal and affect in infants, to provide models for imitation, to guide infants in practising communicative subroutines and to mediate linguistic information. Current evidence suggests that the melodies in caregivers' speech provide a species-specific guidance towards language acquisition.     

叠音品牌名称对消费者知觉和态度的影响

品牌名称是重要的品牌资产, 在传递品牌价值、构建品牌形象和凸显品牌特征的过程中起到关键作用。以往研究发现, 品牌名称的语义特征和语音特征(元音、辅音)都会对消费者知觉和态度产生影响, 但少有研究考察叠音这种语音结构特征的作用。从婴儿图式的角度, 考察叠音品牌名称对消费者知觉和态度的影响, 并检验其作用机制和边界。具体内容包括：(1)考察叠音品牌名称对消费者品牌知觉(物理特征知觉、心理特征知觉)及其消费者态度的影响及其作用机制。(2)检验内部语音特征和外部线索特征在叠音品牌名称与消费者知觉之间的调节作用。(3)检验产品类型特征和消费者特征在叠音品牌名称和消费者态度之间的调节作用。     

Keys to the development of the role of grandparents in current Spanish society / Claves para el desarrollo del rol de abuelo y abuela en la sociedad española actual

Abstract

Current demographic changes and work-family reconciliation difficulties in Spain have resulted in an increase in the arrangement of grandparents caring for their grandchildren. However, in order to ensure that the relationship between both generations is a privileged interaction that promotes successful ageing, furthering our knowledge of the challenges that this field of study faces is necessary. On this basis, the purpose of this article is to review the theories regarding this family relationship, which, together with the empirical research into this area, comprise the basis of a three-pronged proposal that includes the keys or challenges to studying the role of grandparents: (1) the heterogeneity and multidimensionality in the study of this role; (2) the complex interaction of positive and negative aspects that produce significant ambivalence in grandparents as a reaction to their experiences in this role; and (3) the influence of the baby boom generation grandparents’ new characteristics.     

A comparison of computer and questionnaire methods of history-taking in a genito-urinary clinic

Abstract

Information on the medical history and symptomatology of 69 patients presenting at a genito-urinary (GU) clinic was obtained either by a computerized interview or a paper questionnaire and the results compared. A comparison was also made between these methods and notes taken during a standard physician interview. Significantly more symptoms were elicited by the computer than the paper questionnaire. Both methods also elicited significantly more symptoms than were recorded by the physician. The patients reported having previously attended a GU clinic more often to the computer than to the physician whereas the questionnaire was no different from the physician. The results indicate that computers can be used satisfactorily to facilitate medical history- taking in GU clinics and may result in a more complete profile of symptoms than either written questionnaire or physician interview.     

Health psychology and uptake of preventive health services: A review of 30 years' research on cervical screening

Abstract

A review of thirty years' research in cervical screening was conducted to assess the role of social and psychological factors in screening utilisation. The role of age, social class, attitudes towards and beliefs about screening as well as social influence and personality variables are considered. A reanalysis of reasons for non-attendance following an invitation for screening from ten previous studies is presented and the importance of theoretical accounts of service utilisation in this area are assessed. Research findings show significant associations for both demographic and psychological factors though poor operationalisations and statistical analyses in previous research make difficult the assessment of their importance as additive, interactive or mediational variables. The significance of service provision issues in terms of both providers' behaviour and the flexibility of delivery is highlighted. The need for further research using a theoretical framework which can unify demographic, psychological and service provision variables is identified.     

Observing videos of a baby crying or smiling induces similar,but not identical,electroencephalographic responses in biological and adoptive mothers

It is well-known that adoptive mothers respond to cues from their babies in similar ways to biological mothers, and that cortical processing is critical for adequate motive–emotional maternal responses. This study used electroencephalographic activity (EEG) to characterize prefrontal, parietal and temporal functioning in biological mothers (BM), adoptive mothers (AM), and non-mothers (NM), while viewing videos of a baby smiling or crying. The BM presented higher absolute power (AP) in the delta and theta bands (associated with pleasant, positive emotional experiences) in the frontal and parietal areas under all conditions. In response to the smiling video, both types of mothers presented a lower AP in alpha1 in the three cortices (indicative of increased attention) and, mainly in temporal areas, a higher AP in the fast frequencies (beta and gamma, reflecting increased alertness to sensory stimuli and cognitive processing). This EEG pattern in the BM and AM could reflect the greater attention and, probably, the positive mood caused by the smiling video, showing that both are sensitive to these pleasant stimuli. When viewing the video of a baby crying, the AM had higher AP in the fast frequencies (temporal and parietal areas), indicating that they were more reactive to this unpleasant video, while the NM presented only a lower AP in alpha1 in all cortices, a finding that could be associated with the general activation induced by these unpleasant stimuli as a consequence of their lack of maternal experience. These findings should help improve our understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in the processing of sensorial stimuli that establish affective-emotional links during motherhood.     

实现医学整合,满足门诊患者新需求——“一站式”多学科综合门诊

为了在门诊落实"一切以病人为中心"的服务理念,通过调查、了解病人的需求,改变传统的就医模式,将多学科整合,推出创新的"一站式"多学科综合门诊。改善了就诊流程,简化了就诊手续,对疑难杂症提供全方位、多学科综合诊疗,同时缩短患者就诊等候时间和多次往返各门诊的不便,减少就诊环节,实现医学整合,满足患者需求。     

医院药师应提供全方位药学服务

药品是一种特殊商品,直接关系到广大人民群众生命健康。近年来,随着我国医疗体制改革的深入进行,人们健康意识和法律意识得到了普遍提高。为了更好地体现以“病人为中心”的服务理念,提高患者用药的安全性和有效性,提高患者的生活质量,需要我们医院药师不断实践与探索,为临床提供全方位的药学服务。     

临床决策与疾病发展的“度”

临床决策是十分复杂的专业劳动,良好而科学的临床决策取决于众多因素,包括医师的临床经验、知识水平、医师的爱心与责任心、患者病情的复杂性、医疗水平与条件、患者及家属的条件与配合程度等等,辩证法的“度”在临床的良好应用会帮助医师准确地把握病情,给予更加适度治疗;真正的个体化临床决策必须由医师与患者及家属的密切配合才能实现。