The screening tests utilized are effective in uncovering unsuspected early cardiovascular disease in which targeted treatment could be effective in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events in susceptible individuals. Documentation of the sensitivity and specificity of this approach requires longitudinal study.

A number of states and countries have begun to encourage formation of flexible manufacturing networks among small manufacturing and other firms to respond effectively to local economic crises or to enable smaller firms to compete more effectively in the global economy. A variety of strategic approaches have been employed, including funding organizations with a mandate to organize and support networks, and offering challenge grants to groups of firms to interest them in experimenting with a new organizational approach. This article examines several experiments with network stimulation among rural manufacturing firms in Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington, including results from surveys and other evaluation studies. No clearly superior strategic approach to network stimulation emerges from this review, but preliminary evaluation results suggest that the most productive approach may involve combining the capacity-building, soft network strategy with efforts to build collaborative manufacturing structures aimed at concrete, bottom-line business results.

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Respite care services provided by foster parents to 68 children with severe handicaps between 1976 and 1979 were systematically studied to determine parent satisfaction. A variety of rest options were made available to the parents of handicapped children for purposes of revitalizing themselves to deal with their child's daily needs. The respite options included short periods of time varying from 2 to 15 consecutive days, i. e., taking a much needed vacation, a week‐edn or two a month off, a few days off during the week, or time away from the child due to an emergency. Consumer satisfaction was measured by survey questionnaires developed specifically for respite care and mailed to parents of handicapped children who had used the service. Results indicated that consumer opinion acquired via the follow‐up questionnaire method was extremely positive, A most important consideration was to collect data on scheduled intervals about children subsequently receiving care from the same program to determine whether ratings increased or decreased. By focusing on specific respite care activities over time, it was possible to align optimum versus actual satisfaction. Through an analysis of observer variance, the modification of documented weaknesses can decrease the difference between optimum and actual consumer satisfaction levels.

After examining policies and proposals designed to achieve cost-effective pollution abatement, the authors argue that design of economically elegant solutions to pollution control problems needs implementation analysis if the policies are to be successfully carried out. They review some institutional obstacles to implementation and conclude that these impediments should not prevent adoption. Copyright 1982 by The Policy Studies Organization.