The measurement of burnout among physicians is important because physician well‐being has the potential to affect workforce stability and quality of care. In this study, a single‐item measure of burnout was validated against the sub‐scales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment). Survey items included the 22‐item Maslach Burnout Inventory, a single‐item measure of burnout, and other questions regarding demographics, practice characteristics, and occupational satisfaction. The surveys were mailed to Texas Tech University School of Medicine Alumni classes of 1980–1989. The response rate was 43 per cent (n = 307). Pearson correlation coefficients and ANOVA were used to determine the association between the Maslach Burnout Inventory scores and the single‐item burnout question. The single‐item was correlated at r = 0.64 (p < 0.0001) with emotional exhaustion and the ANOVA yielded an R2 of 0.5 (p < 0.0001). Hence, in surveys of physicians where emotional exhaustion is the primary sub‐scale of interest, a single‐item measure of burnout may be used as an alternative to the Maslach Burnout Inventory in order to abbreviate survey material and potentially increase response rates among physicians. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study identified characteristics ofpatients who missed their intake appointments at a university psychiatric outpatient clinic for persons with serious mental illness after referral from a state agency. Of the 313 patients whose charts were reviewed, 113 (36 percent) missed their appointment. Demographic characteristics, DSM-IV diagnoses, clinician rating scales, and psychopharmacological therapy were compared between attenders and nonattenders. Five predictors of nonattendance were significant: being younger, being Hispanic, having a poor family support system, not taking psychotropic medications, and having health insurance. Persons at greater risk of missing their intake appointment may be prospectively identified and targeted for measures to improve compliance.

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BackgroundObesity is an important public health problem. However, the effects of alcohol use on the risk for obesity have not been thoroughly explored. This study focuses on how frequency of alcohol use is related to the risk of obesity in a community medicine clinic population.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional survey to test the hypothesis that obesity (BMI > 30) is associated with alcohol use. The convenience sample was drawn from three clinics that primarily serve low-income populations. Independent variables included frequency of alcohol use, frequency of binge drinking, demographic characteristics, health behaviors and health status.ResultsIn comparison to non-drinkers, people who consumed alcohol 3 or more days per month had lower odds of being obese (Adjusted Odds Ratio = .49, p < .04). As expected, there was a significant association between watching eight or more hours of television per day and obesity (AOR = 2.34, p < .01).ConclusionMore frequent drinking and less television time are independently associated with reduced odds of obesity in this sample of community medicine patients. Additional research is needed to isolate casual mechanisms.

A retrospective review of medical records of 158 patients who were discharged from a university-affiliated psychiatric hospital in the Midwest found that 29 patients (18 percent) did not attend their scheduled follow-up appointment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients who were white, who lived in an urban county, and whose scheduled appointment was within two weeks of discharge were significantly more likely to attend their follow-up appointment. The study showed that patients who have an elevated risk of missing their follow-up appointment after hospital discharge can be prospectively identified. This information can be used to develop strategies for improving the likelihood that at-risk patients will receive follow-up care.

Sixty-seven residents of a rural Midwestern state were surveyed by telephone to determine which factors influence their willingness to receive mental health services through live, two-way audio and video transmission. Two-thirds of the survey respondents were willing to participate in telepsychiatry. Many expressed reluctance, however. They were concerned about maintaining confidentiality, and they perceived telepsychiatry as impersonal. Medicare enrollees and older survey respondents were less willing than younger respondents to endorse the use of telemedicine.

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Relationships between service satisfaction, life satisfaction, and self-reported mental health status were examined for Iowa Medicaid mental health service recipients. Of the 16,579 persons who received services in 1993, a mail-out survey was sent to 2,520 persons and returned by 815 (32.3 percent). Persons with schizophrenia reported greater service satisfaction and life satisfaction than persons with other diagnoses, and their ratings of their mental health were higher. A relationship between service satisfaction and current life satisfaction was observed for persons with schizophrenia, affective disorder and adjustment disorder, but not for persons with anxiety disorder.