Cultivating a demand for clean cookstoves
Science (2011), with Jill C. Baumgartner
In their policy forum “a major environmental cause of death” (14 October, p. 180), W. J. Martin II and colleagues... more In their policy forum “a major environmental cause of death” (14 October, p. 180), W. J. Martin II and colleagues highlight the need to stimulate market demand for clean cookstoves because “a stove purchased by the consumer is inherently more valued than one that is received without charge.” This widely held view has been challenged, however, by evidence from recent randomized controlled trials studying other preventative health products.
Traditional acupuncture for people with medically unexplained symptoms: a longitudinal qualitative study of patients experiences
Charlotte Paterson
Sue Rugg
Nicky Britten,
Jackie Bridges
Peter Griffiths
Background
People with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are helped by interventions that... more
Background
People with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are helped by interventions that combine physical and psychological explanations and treatment. Traditional acupuncture may offer such a perspective, but its use for these patients has not been investigated.
Aim
To ascertain how patients with MUPS perceive and experience five-element acupuncture treatment.
Design and setting
A longitudinal qualitative interview study, nested in a randomised controlled trial was carried out in four general practices in socioeconomically diverse areas of London.
Method
A purposive sample of 20 trial participants was interviewed twice, at the start and the end of 6 months of acupuncture treatment. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed, coded, and analysed thematically, summarising both across-case as themes and within-case individual vignettes.
Results
Acupuncture, initially accepted as `just another referral' — one like many others that had been tried and proved unsuccessful — was valued for the amount of time allotted with a caring practitioner who listened and responded, as well as for the interactive and holistic nature of the sessions. These attributes encouraged many patients to take an active role in their treatment, including making cognitive or behavioural lifestyle changes. Interviewees cited a wide range of changes in their health that spanned physical, psychological, and social dimensions. These were largely positive and included an increase in physical and/or mental energy, as well as feelings of greater personal control, calmness, and relaxation. Three interviewees reported worsening health but did not ascribe this to acupuncture.
Conclusion
Many patients who were treated with five-element acupuncture perceived a range of positive effects and appeared to take on a more active role in consultations and self-care.
The Greasemonkey Firefox Add-On for Altering Display of Data in a Web-Based Electronic Medical Record
McCoy AB, Peterson JF. The Greasemonkey Firefox Add-On for Altering Display of Data in a Web-Based Electronic Medical Record. AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2011.
Outcomes assessment for intervention studies requires blinding of reviewers to prevent bias. We used Mozilla Firefox... more Outcomes assessment for intervention studies requires blinding of reviewers to prevent bias. We used Mozilla Firefox and the Greasemonkey Add-on to remove notes generated for intervention patients during a randomized controlled trial to ensure blinding during electronic chart review. Similar methods could be employed with other web-based electronic medical records.