The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) has an ongoing program announcement to examine the evaluation and treatment of communication problems resulting from traumatic brain injuries. Areas of study may include underlying neural damage following a brain injury and the pathophysiology of the speech production deficits and language disabilities. For more information, contact Beth Ansel, Ph.D., Division of Human Communication, NIDCD, Executive Plaza South, Room 400-C, 6120 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7180, Bethesda, MD 20892; (301)402-3461.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has developed two publications for
older adults. Late Life Depression and Suicide Potential: A Physician's Guide to
Identification and Treatment is designed to assist physicians in diagnosing and
treating depression among their older patients. Approximately 5 million older Americans
suffer from serious and persistent symptoms of depression, and an additional 1 million
suffer from major depressive disorder. Alcohol Abuse Among Older People gives
helpful background information about alcoholism among older adults. Older Americans are
hospitalized more frequently for alcohol-related problems than for heart attacks. To
receive up to 50 free copies of the brochures, contact AARP, Social Outreach and Support,
Dept. ML, 601 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20049; (202)434-2277.
Cancer
What To Do If You Get Breast Cancer (ISBN 0-316-09289-4), by Lydia Komarnicky,
M.D., and Anne Rosenberg, M.D., was recently published by Little, Brown and Company. The
book gives detailed information about where to go when a woman finds a lump and where to
get a reliable and safe mammogram, and includes facts about costs, mammogram
interpretations, and other breast-imaging techniques. The authors discuss the pros and
cons to radical mastectomy and lumpectomy and the side effects and efficacy of
chemotherapy and radiation. The authors also explain where to go for help during this
troubling time. The book lists for $10.95 in paperback and $21.95 in hardcover.
Three new booklets about cancer screening are available now from Education Programs Associates (EPA). You Can Make a Difference When It Comes to Breast Cancer describes the latest American Cancer Society recommendations for effective breast self-exam; A Mammogram Saved My Life describes the benefits of mammography, especially for women over 50; and What You Should Know if Your Pap Test Is Abnormal encourages women with an abnormal Pap test to get necessary followup care. All the booklets are available in English and Spanish, are written at an elementary reading level, and include multicultural illustrations. Contact EPA, 1 West Campbell Avenue, Building D, Campbell, CA 95008; (408)374-3720.
Nutrition
The Healthy Eating Brochure Series helps people learn how easy it is to adopt
nutritious, delicious, low fat eating habits. Titles in the colorful, easy-to-read series
include Reading Food Labels, Healthy Cooking, Low-Fat Eating, Healthy Food Shopping,
The Food Pyramid, and Healthy Eating Out. Health professionals can use these
brochures as handouts during educational activities, as envelope inserts, and for
"take one" public displays. Each title is available in a pack of 50 for $17.50.
To order, contact Krames Communications, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030;
(800)333-3032.
Food and Drug Safety
The Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association (NDMA) and Reader's Digest
jointly have published a booklet on the proper use of nonprescription, over-the-counter
(OTC) medicines. Know What You're Taking: Advice for Your Family About Medicines for
Self-Care discusses prescription vs. OTC medicines, gives instructions on how to read
the label, gives advice about interactions, alerts consumers to product tampering, and
provides advice for pregnant women and nursing mothers. To receive a free copy of the
booklet, contact NDMA, 1150 Connecticut Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20036; (202)429- 9260.
Maternal and Infant Health
Effect of Corticosteroids for Fetal Maturation on Perinatal Outcomes, the product
of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Conference, discusses the
short- and long-term benefits and adverse effects of antenatal corticosteroid treatment
for the infant and mother. The influence of the type of corticosteroid, dosage, timing,
circumstances of administration, and associated therapy on treatment outcome is explored.
The consensus panel made recommendations for use of antenatal corticosteroids and
suggested research to guide clinical care. Antenatal corticosteroid therapy reduces
mortality, respiratory distress syndrome, and intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm
infants. Free copies of this statement are available from the Office of Medical
Applications of Research, NIH, Federal Building, Room 618, Bethesda, MD 20892;
(800)644-6627.
Crosscutting
The Telemedicine Handbook: Improving Health Care with Interactive Video, by Jane
Preston, M.D., describes how to provide health care to patients in remote areas, to save
money and resources, and to expand and enhance continuing education through telemedicine.
Using computer, video, and network communications services, telemedicine is in use across
the country. The author outlines the history of telemedicine, explains the technology and
equipment needed for telemedicine, discusses costs and system management, examines policy
and legal issues, rates the quality of care resulting from the use of telemedicine, and
notes how telemedicine could be used in continuing education. To order, contact
Telemedical Interactive Consultative Services, Inc., 2616-A Jefferson, Austin, TX 78703;
(214)718-5141.
Smart Supermarket Shopping with the New Food Label is a videotape designed to teach consumers how to use the new food label in planning and preparing meals. The video takes viewers on a tour of each supermarket section, comparing labels on dairy products, grains, bread, frozen foods, and snacks. The 21- minute video is available for $89.95. To order, contact Lowfat Lifeline, 234 Cass Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368; (360)385-6835.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has released a four-part series of educational videotapes and booklets designed to give patients and their families the latest medical information on heart disease, which causes more than 200,000 deaths in the United States each year. The AMA Healthy Heart Series was created for use by physicians and other health care professionals to help patients see how hearts work, how problems develop, and how risks can be minimized in their own lives. Titles in the series are Guide to Your Healthy Heart, Guide to Stop Smoking, Guide to High Blood Pressure Control, and Guide to Controlling Your Cholesterol. The set of four videotapes is available to AMA members for $268 and to nonmembers for $302; each videotape is available to AMA members for $79 and to nonmembers for $89. A starter pack of 50 16-page booklets is available to AMA members for $135 and to nonmembers for $151. Contact Milner-Fenwick, Inc., (800)432-8433.
Annual Meeting of the International
Childbirth Education Association.
Phoenix, AZ. Pat Turner, (612)854-8660.
July 20-23.
Annual Meeting of the Clinical
Immunology Society.
San Francisco, CA. Pamela Ballinger, (609)848-1000.
July 21-23.
1995 National Congress of Family
Practice Residents and Students.
Kansas City, MO. Sponsored by the American
Academy of Family Physicians; Caroline
Reniker, (800)274-2237, ext. 3230.
July 27-29.
National Medical Association Annual
Scientific Meeting. Atlanta, GA. Pat
Norman, (202)347-1895.
July 29-August 3.
Annual Meeting of the American
Psychological Association. New York,
NY. Raymond D. Fowler, (202)336-6080.
August 11-15.
8th World Congress on Pain. Vancouver,
Canada. Sponsored by the International
Association for the Study of Pain,
(604)681-2153.
August 17-22.
22nd Annual Meeting of the American
Association of Diabetes Educators and
Educational Program. Boston, MA. Mary
Beach, (800)338-3633.
August 23-27.
Annual Meeting of the Association of
State and Territorial Health Officials.
Seattle, WA. C. Beversdorf, (202)546-5400.
September 6-8.
National Primary Care Conference.
Chicago, IL. (617)861-0270.
September 13-16.
47th Annual Scientific Assembly of the
American Academy of Family Physicians.
Anaheim, CA. Mickey Schaefer, (816)333-
9700.
September 21-23.
Annual Meeting of the Association of
Mental Health Administrators. Boston,
MA. M.R. Helm, (708)480-9626.
September 30-October 3.
[ODPHP]
[Prevention Report index]