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The Expert Panel Report (EPR-3) (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute & National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, 2007) recommends asthma self-management education along with ambulatory care. Despite the need for education, barriers to attending in-person classes often exist. The primary purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of a novel education format for caregivers (live webinar) on asthma control in preschoolers. Additional aims included determining satisfaction with webinar learning, and impact on emergency visits and hospitalizations. A one-group prospective cohort design with repeated measures was used. Caregivers of preschool children with asthma from a large pediatric pulmonology clinic (N = 30) participated in a single onehour live asthma education webinar. Asthma control was measured using the Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids (TRACK) prior to the webinar, one month, and three months following. Demographic, webinar satisfaction, and emergency care/hospitalization questionnaires were also administered. Statistically significant increases in TRACK scores over three points in time (n = 21), indicated improved asthma control (F = 5,128, p = 0.01). More than 84% found the webinar convenient, helpful, and would recommend to others. Emergency visits (<60%) and hospitalizations (<70%) remained consistent with the study site's historically low emergency and hospitalization rates. Innovative methods of teaching are crucial skills for health care providers to keep patient education interesting and accessible. These research findings suggest that live webinar asthma education is an effective method of teaching and results in improved asthma control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-sectional survey. Multifactorial risk factor screening and treatment is needed for subsequent falls/osteoporotic fractures prevention (SFOFP), given the elevated risk among patients with distal radius fracture (DRF). The primary objective was to describe hand therapists' knowledge and clinical practice patterns for assessment, treatment, referral, and education with respect to SFOFP for patients with DRF older than 45 years. Secondary objective was to explore therapist's preferences in content and delivery of knowledge translation tools that would support implementation of SFOFP. A cross-sectional multinational (Canada, the United States, and India) survey was conducted among 272 therapists from August to October 2014. Completed surveys were analyzed descriptively. Surveys were completed by 157 therapists. Most respondents were from the United States (59%), certified hand therapists (54%), and females (87%). Although 65%-90% believed that they had knowledge about SFOFP assessment, treatment, and referral options, 55% did not include it in their routine practice for patients with DRF. Most assessed medication history (82%) and never used a Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (90%) or lower extremity muscle strength testing (54%) to identify those at risk of secondary fractures. With respect to treatment, approximately 33% always used upper extremity muscle strengthening exercises. Most reported rarely (sometimes to never) using balance (79%), lower extremity muscle strengthening (85%), bone strengthening (54%), or community-based physical activity (72%) programs. Similarly, when surveyed about patient education, therapists rarely (sometimes to never) advised patients about web-based resources (94%), regular vision testing (92%), diet for good bone health (87%), bone density evaluation (86%), footwear correction (73%), and hazard identification (67%). Most hand therapists were interested to receive more information on SFOFP for patients with DRF. Nearly one-half preferred to have Web sites for patients, and two-fifth were in favor of pamphlets for patients. Current practice patterns reveal care gaps and limited implementation with respect to SFOFP for patients with DRF. Future research should focus on web-based educational/knowledge translation strategies to promote implementation of multifactorial fall risk screening and hand therapist's engagement in SFOFP for patients with DRF. • This study addresses a relatively new domain in hand therapy research and clinical practice. The study provided a description of therapist's current knowledge, practice patterns, and revealed areas with existing care gaps regarding subsequent falls/osteoporotic fractures prevention for patients with distal radius fracture (DRF). • Nearly 75% of therapists missed the opportunity to screen patients with DRF for risk of subsequent falls and osteoporotic fractures. • The survey demonstrated the need for web-based knowledge translation strategies to promote patient and therapist engagement in SFOFP after DRF. • Our study results might be useful in the planning of continuing education courses on preventive holistic care in hand therapy and the development of other knowledge translation strategies that will further broaden the scope of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skilled support personnel responding to national disasters are at great risk to develop physical and mental health problems that can cause short- and long-term disability and prove to be fatal. Health issues endured by these workers can be attributed to a lack of pre-deployment training. Costs accrued for health care from hazardous exposures in disaster zones continues to increase as symptoms manifest years after the event. Illnesses could be prevented if workers received comprehensive training prior to deployment at the site. Pre-deployment occupational safety and health training is critical to protect the well-being of disaster site workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Population-based estimates of the prevalence of disease-associated mutations, such as hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutations, are needed to determine the usefulness of genetic screening.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of the HFE mutations C282Y and H63D in the US population.Design: Cross-sectional population-based study of samples in the DNA bank from phase 2 of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 1992 to 1994.Setting and Participants: Genotyped samples of cells from a total of 5171 participants, cross-classified by sex, age, and race/ethnicity in the analysis.Main Outcome Measures: Estimates of the prevalence of C282Y and H63D mutations.Results: The prevalence of C282Y homozygosity is estimated to be 0.26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12%-0.49%); 1.89% (95% CI, 1.48%-2.43%) for H63D homozygosity; and 1.97% (95% CI, 1.54%-2.49%) for compound heterozygosity. The prevalence estimates for C282Y heterozygosity (C282Y/wild type) are 9.54% among non-Hispanic whites, 2.33% among non-Hispanic blacks, and 2.75% among Mexican-Americans. The prevalence estimates of the C282Y mutation in the US population are 5.4% (95% CI, 4.7%-6.2%) and 13.5% (95% CI, 12.5%-14.8%) for the H63D mutation.Conclusions: Estimates of prevalence of HFE mutations are within the expected range for non-Hispanic whites and blacks but the estimated prevalence of the C282Y mutation among Mexican-Americans is less than expected. Mutation data now need to be linked to clinically relevant indices, such as transferrin saturation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) for management of hip injuries and fractures.

The article describes the results of a study on the effectiveness of wrist guards in reducing wrist injuries among snowboarders and on whether wrist guards result in other injuries. Data sources were collected from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Sport Discus, PubMed and from the conference proceedings of the American Society for Testing and Materials Ski Trauma and Safety Series and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. The researchers found that the risk of wrist injury in snowboarders was substantially reduced by wearing wrist guards without an increased risk of other injuries.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Brain abnormality in schizophrenia. A systematic and quantitative review of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging studies," by S. M. Lawrie and S. S. Abukmeil.