Maternal Work and Infant Feeding Practices in the First 6 Months.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal work and infant feeding practices and explore the moderating impact of parental stress.

Methods: Prospective data on categorical hours worked and infant feeding practices were collected at 3 and 6 months postpartum in a prospective prenatal cohort of 95 women. Chi-square tests were used to compare change in proportion of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months and maternal work status.

Ontogeny of the Dyad: the Relationship Between Maternal and Offspring Neuroendocrine Function.

Purpose Of Review: We review ontogeny of the maternal-offspring neuroendocrine relationship in human pregnancy. We present bidirectional genetic, physiological, and behavioral influences that enhance or disrupt HPA activity and its end product cortisol at the individual level and within the dyad.

Recent Findings: Consistent evidence supports that maternal mood and caregiving behavior are associated with maternal and offspring cortisol levels.

Health services for linguistic minorities in a bilingual setting: challenges for bilingual professionals.

We explore in this qualitative research the challenges faced by bilingual health and social services professionals in a Canadian bilingual setting, as well as the strategies used to overcome them. Eight focus groups were conducted with a total of 43 bilingual Francophone professionals who offered services in French in 21 health and social service organizations in eastern Ontario, Canada. We highlight linguistic issues affecting a minority Francophone clientele, the shortage of services in French, and organizational issues within these agencies.

Research method issue: recruiting and retaining subjects in a research study.

This article considers recruitment and retention of study subjects, two vital elements of the research process. Using as an example a Canadian programme to engage older people in physical activity Philippe Voyer, Sylvie Lauzon, Johanne Collin and Sandy O'Brien Cousins describe how these twin challenges can be addressed.

Formal service practitioners' views of family caregivers' responsibilities and difficulties.

This article identifies home care practitioners' perceptions of the responsibilities, difficulties, and needs for support of caregivers. It is based on a study undertaken in Quebec with 55 practitioners and 10 administrators from 10 CLSCs located in rural, urban, and metropolitan areas. The study had a qualitative, multiple-case design and used logs recording all contact with caregivers in the space of a week, followed by semi-structured interviews.

Factorial validation of a French short-form of the Working Alliance Inventory.

Evaluation of the therapeutic alliance is crucial for understanding the therapeutic process and its results. However, few instruments are available in French. This article aims to validate a French short form of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI).

Unconventional indicators of drug dependence among elderly long-term users of benzodiazepines.

A quarter of the elderly population is prescribed benzodiazepines (BZD). This has led to growing concerns about drug dependence and the validity of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for dependence to a substance. This study aimed to understand how dependence was experienced by long-term BZD users.

Factors associated with psychotropic drug use among community-dwelling older persons: A review of empirical studies.

BACKGROUND: In the many descriptive studies on prescribed psychotropic drug use by community-dwelling older persons, several sociodemographic and other factors associated with drug use receive inconsistent support. METHOD: Empirical reports with data on at least benzodiazepine or antidepressant drug use in samples of older persons published between 1990 and 2001 (n = 32) were identified from major databases and analyzed to determine which factors are most frequently associated with psychotropic drug use in multivariate analyses. Methodological aspects were also examined.

Toward a model of quality of life for family caregivers of stroke survivors.

The important role of family caregivers in maintaining their disabled and elderly members in the community is becoming increasingly recognized. Caregiver research, for the most part, has explored burden and emotional distress as outcomes of the caregiving experience. Although there is a growing consensus among health-care researchers concerning the importance of quality of life (QoL) as an outcome, there is little research examining QoL of family caregivers.