The slow pace of interactive video telemedicine adoption: the perspective of telemedicine program administrators on physician participation.

We conducted semistructured interviews with telemedicine program administrators as part of a national survey of physicians and managers regarding attitudes toward, and knowledge of, telemedicine. Telemedicine administrators were interviewed regarding factors affecting physician adoption of interactive video (IAV) telemedicine. The seven networks with which these managers were affiliated represented "traditional" telemedicine programs, primarily providing specialty teleconsultation via IAV.

Specialist physicians' knowledge and beliefs about telemedicine: a comparison of users and nonusers of the technology.

Telemedicine as a technology has been available for nearly 50 years, but its diffusion has been slower than many had anticipated. Even efforts to reimburse providers for interactive video (IAV) telemedicine services have had a limited effect on rates of participation. The resulting low volume of services provided (and consequent paucity of research subjects) makes the phenomenon difficult to study.

Diabetes, minor depression and health care utilization and expenditures: a retrospective database study.

Background: To estimate the prevalence of minor depression among US adults with diabetes, health care resource utilization, and expenditures by people with diabetes with and without minor depression.

Methods: Among adult 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey respondents, diabetes was identified by diagnosis code and self-report. Depression was identified by diagnosis code plus > or = one antidepressant prescription.

Barriers to quality care for dying patients in rural communities.

Context: Barriers to providing optimal palliative care in rural communities are not well understood.

Purpose: To identify health care personnel's perceptions of the care provided to dying patients in rural Kansas and Colorado and to identify barriers to providing optimal care.

Methods: An anonymous self-administered survey was sent to health care personnel throughout 2 rural practice-based research networks.

The effect of FDA approval of a generic competitor to OxyContin (oxycodone HCl controlled-release) tablets on the abuse of oxycodone.

Controversy exists concerning whether abuse of oxycodone will increase after the introduction of generic controlled-release (CR) oxycodone. We evaluated the effect of FDA approval of generic CR oxycodone on the misuse/abuse of oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone and morphine utilizing data from eight poison control centers (PCC). PCC intentional exposure (IE) reason codes were used as measures of abuse.

Antidepressant treatment improves adherence to antiretroviral therapy among depressed HIV-infected patients.

Background: Antiretroviral regimens for HIV-infected patients require strict adherence. Untreated depression has been associated with medication nonadherence. We proposed to evaluate the effect of antidepressant treatment (ADT) on antiretroviral adherence.