No abstract

There is increasing evidence that a chronic care model may be effective when treating substance use disorders. In 1996, the Betty Ford Center (BFC) began implementing a telephone-based continuing care intervention now called Focused Continuing Care (FCC) to assist and support patients in their transition from residential treatment to longer-term recovery in the "real world". This article reports on patient utilization and outcomes of FCC. FCC staff placed clinically directed telephone calls to patients (N=4094) throughout the first year after discharge. During each call, a short survey was administered to gauge patient recovery and guide the session. Patients completed an average of 5.5 (40%) of 14 scheduled calls, 58% completed 5 or more calls, and 85% were participating in FCC two months post-discharge or later. There was preliminary evidence that greater participation in FCC yielded more positive outcomes and that early post-discharge behaviors predict subsequent outcomes. FCC appears to be a feasible therapeutic option. Efforts to revise FCC to enhance its clinical and administrative value are described.

Background: Transgender individuals experience considerable prejudice and bias, creating barriers to health care. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a virtual patient simulation scenario of caring for a transgender adult on nursing students' attitudes and beliefs about transgender people. Methods: A validated 29-item instrument developed to assess an individual's view of transgender identity was administered in a pre-/posttest nonequivalent-groups design to junior-and senior-level nursing students. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the control and treatment groups for the subscale human value. Conclusions: Findings support experiential learning in nursing as an effective tool in teaching cultural competence and sensitivity when caring for transgender patients. Attitudes and beliefs of senior nursing students and junior nursing students toward transgender individuals differed, with senior students being more receptive.