Emergency department-initiated tobacco dependence treatment.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of a fax referral program to increase enrollment in tobacco dependence treatment in emergency department (ED) patients.

Methods: The control group received quit advice and printed information; the intervention group also received a faxed referral that generated telephone contacts.

Results: Treatment enrollment was higher in the intervention group (13.

Physician risk attitudes and hospitalization of infants with bronchiolitis.

Objectives: To determine whether the risk attitudes of pediatric emergency physicians are related to the likelihood that otherwise healthy infants with bronchiolitis will be admitted for inpatient care.

Methods: Risk aversion and discomfort with diagnostic uncertainty were assessed among 46 pediatric emergency physicians from three hospitals participating in the Child Health Accountability Initiative. Study physicians managed 397 otherwise healthy infants ages 0 to 12 months presenting to their hospital emergency departments with bronchiolitis.

Knowledge versus practice: the necessity of education for successful guideline implementation.

This study assessed physicians' familiarity with a practice guideline for bronchiolitis, evaluated attitudes regarding guidelines, determined preference of educational materials for guideline accessibility and examined the relationship between guideline familiarity and attitudes with clinical practice behaviors. Six months following guideline implementation, surveys were distributed to eligible physicians. The response rate was 68%.

Parental emotional and time costs predict compliance with respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis.

Background: Two agents are effective in preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization in premature infants: RSV immune globulin (RSV-IG) and palivizumab. RSV-IG is associated with greater parental emotional and time costs, which may account for the more limited adherence to recommended monthly treatment with this agent.

Objectives: To compare the emotional distress and time costs associated with RSV-IG and palivizumab treatments and to determine the influence of these costs on treatment adherence.