American journal of public health
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Suicidal ideation and attempts were examined in a population of chemically dependent adolescents, a group at high risk of self-destructive behavior. ⋯ The probability of a suicide attempt increases when thoughts of suicide coincide with morbid ideation of extended duration, suggesting that risk assessment should be based on duration as well as presence of morbid thoughts. Substance abuse treatment requires an assessment of suicidal potential and counseling for those whose potential is high, with special attention to males exposed to abuse.
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President Clinton recently announced his reform plan for health care in the United States. The United Kingdom, along with other countries, has already enacted reforms in an effort to overcome the basic problem of having insufficient funds to provide a health service to meet modern demands. This paper briefly describes the recent health reforms in the United Kingdom and highlights some lessons for the United States, which include the need to choose procedures that should be universally provided. Health reforms that involve some fundamental restructuring need to be evaluated everywhere and agreed to by the staff in advance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Is cardiopulmonary resuscitation training deleterious for family members of cardiac patients?
The purpose of the study was to determine the attitudes toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and subsequent CPR use of 172 CPR-trained family members of cardiac patients. The majority (88.9%) reported positive attitudes. ⋯ One hundred and forty-one (81.9%) said that they would perform CPR if required to do so. Family members do not feel unduly burdened by learning CPR, and CPR training should be recommended to families of patients at risk for sudden cardiac death.