Treatment outcomes among rural and urban patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a prospective cohort study.

Study Objectives: To determine whether adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in adults with uncomplicated obstructive sleep apnea differs by rural vs urban residential address.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we recruited adults who initiated CPAP for uncomplicated obstructive sleep apnea that was diagnosed by a physician using sleep specialist-interpreted diagnostic testing. Participants were classified as urban (community size > 100,000) or rural (community size < 100,000) by translating residential postal code into geographic census area.

An evaluation of rural-urban disparities in treatment outcomes for obstructive sleep apnoea: study protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common and treatable chronic condition that is associated with significant morbidity and economic cost. Geography is increasingly being recognised as a barrier to diagnosis and treatment of many chronic diseases; however, no study to date has investigated the impact of place of residence on health outcomes in OSA.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine whether treatment outcomes for patients initiating continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for OSA differ between those who live in urban rural settings.

Does socio-economic status or having a chronic condition affect whether family physicians accept a new patient? A Nova Scotia population study.

Objectives: To determine whether socio-economic status (SES) and presence of a chronic condition are associated with the response a prospective patient receives when seeking a family physician (FP).

Methods: Scripted telephone calls (indicating higher or lower SES and presence or absence of a chronic condition) were made to all 327 FP offices in Nova Scotia (NS) requesting an appointment. The main outcome measures were the responses to callers seeking a FP: being accepted for an appointment or being offered further assistance if not accepted (e.

'Meet and greet' intake appointments in primary care: a new pattern of patient intakes?

Background: Family physicians (FPs) are expected to take on new patients fairly and equitably and to not discriminate based on medical or social history. 'Meet and greet' appointments are initial meetings between physicians and prospective patients to establish fit between patient needs and provider scope of practice. The public often views these appointments as discriminatory; however, there is no empirical evidence regarding their prevalence or outcomes.

How reliable are "reputable sources" for medical information on the Internet? The case of hormonal therapy to treat prostate cancer.

Objectives: Prostate cancer patients, as well as their caregivers and healthcare providers, often search the Internet for information about treatment options. We aimed to assess how accurate and up-to-date information about prostate cancer treatments is on websites owned and managed by health-related organizations that most patients and health care providers would consider to be the most trustworthy, based on the reputations of the site providers.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 43 noncommercial and easily found websites that offered extensive information on treatment options for prostate cancer patients.

Knowledge of reproductive system cancers, their treatments and side effects.

We explored, via an online questionnaire, knowledge of breast and reproductive system cancers in patients and non-patients who access the internet for information on these diseases. We compared that knowledge to the attention the diseases have received in medical research and on the Internet. Data were collected from 690 respondents (37 % male, 63 % female) about their knowledge of prevalence, lethality, treatments and side effects of testicular, prostate, breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers.

Hand clasping, arm folding, and handedness: relationships and strengths of preference.

We investigated via a survey the relationship between hand clasping, arm folding, and handedness. We aimed to provide new data on degree of preference for each of these lateralities. We also examined the relative importance of thumb position versus interdigitisation of the fingers in determining one's comfort in a hand-clasping position.