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Objective. A comprehensive electronic self-report assessment, called PainCAS1® (Clinical Assessment System), was developed and implemented in three clinics. PainCAS captures demographic information, pain assessment, quality-of-life variables, and contains validated, electronic versions of screeners for risk of aberrant opioid-related behaviors (the SOAPP and COMM). This investigation sought to determine the impact of PainCAS on documentation of pain and opioid risk evaluations. Exploratory hypotheses examined changes in the content of the patient-provider interaction and any impact on outcome. Methods. In study 1, chart reviews were conducted between pain patients who completed the electronic program (N = 89) and controls who represented standard of care (N = 120). In study 2, two groups of chronic pain patients (treatment-as-usual Control condition = 75, PainCAS Experimental condition = 72) were interviewed after completing their index clinic visit and completed mailed questionnaires 3 months later. Results. Results revealed significantly more key, pain-relevant chart elements documented in charts of patients who completed the PainCAS than those using a traditional paper questionnaire (Study 1; <0.001). In Study 2, the Experimental group reported more discussion about legal issues, substance use history, and medication safety compared with the Control group (p<0.05). Satisfaction questionnaire responses supported provider and patient perceived benefit from using PainCAS. However, as expected, no differences were found between conditions on outcome measures of pain, mood, and function. Conclusions. Results indicate that use of the PainCAS electronic pain assessment improves documentation of chart elements in clinic notes and is associated with increased discussion of key, painrelevant topics during the clinical visit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study examined the influence of parental marital status, parent-child sexual communication, parent-child closeness on the HIV-related knowledge, safer-sex intentions, and behaviors of late adolescent urban African American males. Design The study employed a cross-sectional design with retrospective recall of salient parental influences and behaviors. Methods Data were collected via paper-and-pencil questionnaire from 134 late adolescent African American males, 18 to 22 years of age, recruited from urban communities in and around Boston, Massachusetts. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations, paired t tests, and regression modeling. Findings Young men reported greater amounts of sexual communication with mothers than fathers ( p < .001). Parent-child closeness was positively correlated with amount of parent-child sexual communication with both mothers and fathers ( p < .001 for both). Parent-child closeness was, in turn, associated with greater condom use self-efficacy ( p < .01), less permissive sexual attitudes ( p < .001), fewer sexual partners ( p < .01), and less unprotected sex ( p < .01). Greater amounts of parent-child sexual communication were associated with fewer sexual risk behaviors, more consistent condom use, and greater intentions to use condoms in the future. There was evidence that parental influences on sexual risk behaviors and condom use intentions were mediated through young men's condom use self-efficacy, attitudes, and beliefs. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of the parent-child relationship and the role of parent-child communication between parents and sons. Further studies are needed to better understand the nature of father-son communication and develop strategies to help parents communicate effectively with sons. Clinical Relevance Evidence has shown that African American adolescent males are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. Understanding the sexual risk communication between African American adolescent males and their parents is important to developing strategies in reducing sexual risk behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Findings on counselor perceptions of Internet use in vocational rehabilitation (VR) and the decision-making process are presented in this paper, as well as findings on the types of Internet applications counselors used, and the types of rehabilitation activities they conducted online. Findings are based on a 2009 survey of 399 counselors at four state VR agencies. Most counselors reported that the Internet is compatible with the rehabilitation process and philosophy, allows relationship-building, and fits their work style. Counselor technology use was mostly limited to e-mail and websites. Counselors mostly used the Internet to look up information, identify resources, and communicate with customers. Implications and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]