This pilot study was designed to measure the effects of individually prescribed wheelchair systems on posture and reach, mobility, quality of life, and satisfaction with technology for residents of long-term care facilities. Thirty persons 60 years of age or older who resided permanently in a long-term care facility and who used seating and mobility systems for 6 hours or more each day were recruited for this project. Outcomes included timed independent mobility, forward and lateral reach, quality of life, and satisfaction with assistive technology. The study used semicrossover design with participants measured three times. Measurements were first made in the existing seating and mobility system and a second time immediately after participants were provided with individually prescribed seating and mobility systems. The final measurement was 3 months after the delivery of the individually prescribed system. Results indicated that individually fitted wheelchair systems for elderly residents of long-term care facilities are beneficial. Participants had less difficulty independently propelling their systems and increased forward reach, quality of life for social function and physical role, and satisfaction with the new wheelchair technology. Persons residing in extended care facilities benefit from receiving individually prescribed wheelchair systems. The individual systems enhance elderly persons' independent mobility, functional reach, feeling of well-being, and satisfaction with their assistive technology.

The authors present examples of programs educating psychiatry residents to work in integrated healthcare settings.

Residents' competence in psychosocial areas is important to both IM and FP program directors. However, content and time devoted to psychosocial training vary considerably both within and between program types.

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Background Primary care providers (PCP) are the entry point for public sector depression treatment for many Latino patients. However, many Latino patients do not initiate their PCPs’ recommended treatment, which likely contributes to ethnic disparities in depression treatment. This study examined factors related to Latino patients’ uptake of their PCPs’ recommendations for depression treatment. Method Ninety Latino primary care patients who received a depression treatment recommendation from their PCP participated in a telephone interview. Patients rated their working alliance with their PCPs and their PCPs’ cultural competence. They also reported their treatment preference, the type of recommendation, and their intended and actual uptake of the recommendation. Patients were contacted at two time points (Time 1: M = 14 days after PCP appointment; Time 2: M = 84 days after PCP appointment) to report their uptake status. Results At Time 1, 23% of patients had initiated uptake of the treatment recommendation, increasing to 53% at Time 2. Patients who received a medication recommendation were more likely to have followed though on the recommendation, compared to patients who received a psychotherapy recommendation. The working alliance was positively associated with intention to follow up on a treatment recommendation, and also mediated the relationship between cultural competence and intention of following up on the recommendation. Conclusion PCP’s treatment recommendation and the PCP – patient alliance play a role in Latino primary care patients intention to follow a treatment recommendation for depression. An improved understanding of this role could enhance efforts to improve depression treatment uptake.