Consumer Connections
ISSN 1535-7821 Vol. 28 No. 1 2012
News
Book Reviews
- A Picture’s Worth: PECS and Other Visual Communication Strategies in Autism, 2nd ed.
- Finding Your Way: A Medial Ethics Handbook for Patients and Families
- Life’s Little Emergencies: A Handbook for Active Independent Seniors and Caregivers
- Pay Attention, Emily Brown!
- The Girls’ Guide to Growing Up: Choices & Changes in the Tween Years
- Now What? A Patient's Guide to Recovery after Mastectomy
- The Whole Foot Book: A Complete Program for Taking Care of Your Feet
- Down Syndrome Parenting 101: Must-Have Advice for Making Your Life Easier
- Finding Balance: Healing from a Decade of Vestibular Disorders
- Scared Sick: The Role of Childhood Trauma In Adult Disease
- Home Accessibility: 300 tips for making life easier
- Basic Training For Dummies
- Colon & Rectal Cancer: From Diagnosis to Treatment, 2nd ed.
- Dr. Joe’s Health Lab: 164 Fascinating Insights into the Science of Medicine, Nutrition and Well-Being
- Lung Cancer: A Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment
- The Inner Pulse: Unlocking the Secret Code of Sickness and Health
- Creating Your Perfect Family Size: How to Make an Informed Decision About Having a Baby
- What Nurses Know . . . Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- The Sjogren’s Book
- Jumpstarting Communication Skills in Children with Autism: A Parents' Guide to Applied Verbal Behavior.
Publication Information
News
CAPHIS at MLA 2012 in Seattle
So much is going on at MLA in May, we hope that you can come! Programming includes the session we are sponsoring on Monday, May 21st, from 2-3:30pm in Room 612 titled “Consumer Health Outreach: Taking the Consumer Health Library out of the Library”. We are also co-sponsoring “Patient Advocacy: Meaningful User Needs Assessment” on Monday, May 21st from 10:30-12:00 in Room 619/620.
If you are coming to MLA, please plan to attend the CAPHIS business meeting. It will be Tuesday, May 22 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm in Room 612. One of the items for discussion is the CAPHIS awards program. Refreshments will be served and please make sure to check the program for any room changes.
Book Reviews
Carroll, Linda. The Concussion Crisis: Anatomy of a Silent Epidemic. Simon & Shuster. 2011. 299p. ISBN 0978-1-4516-2722-0. $26.00.
The Concussion Crisis is an alarm bell for parents, coaches and medical personnel to face the denial that exists regarding high school, college and professional sports’ “concussion culture.” The authors, Carroll, a health writer, and Rosner, a sports writer, tell the story of brain trauma through the experiences of both famous sports figures and unknown individuals who have been injured by repeated head blows. All of these players shared the love of their sport, from boxing to football to soccer, as well as the passion of winners, to continue pushing themselves through the unrecognized symptoms of brain injury. Some of the sports figures highlighted in the book were eventually affected enough with brain trauma-induced depression, that they took their own lives. Mood swings, short-term memory loss, a shuffled walk and eventual dementia had taken over the previously bright and agile people as their brains were repeatedly injured without time to heal and without ending their involvement with sports when they were strongly cautioned by their physicians to do so.
The authors chronicle the changes in the regulations in the National Football League. In 2010 there was an effort to institute a no head contact recommendation in the National Hockey League. These proposed changes in professional sports leagues, though not completely in place to date, have begun to erode the idea that a concussion is a tolerable injury at any age level. This is a book for every library, but certainly for consumer health libraries.
Reviewed by: Jackie Davis, Sharp Memorial Community Health Library, San Diego, CABondy, Andy and Frost, Lori. A Picture’s Worth: PECS and Other Visual Communication Strategies in Autism, 2nd ed. Woodbine, 2011. 143 p. index. ISBN 978-1-60613-015-5. $19.95.
In this new edition, Bondy and Frost have incorporated the latest theories and research on autism and communication. Being co-developers of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), they are positioned to share their knowledge and experience. Each chapter begins with a case study or vignette. They explain the importance of communication, how children learn to communicate, and how unwanted behavior results when communication fails. This is when a method of non-speech or alternative communication is vital. While these methods may be low-tech symbols, gestures or photos, or involve something more high-tech, the important thing is to find the system that works best to enable communication.
PECS is described in detail—what it is, who will benefit from it, how to use it, the steps involved, and even how to use it with siblings. They support the continued use of PECS, even after some speech is learned. Mention is also given to the use of apps, iPads and Ipod touch devices. Because the book is written in an easy, conversational tone, it is well suited for parents as well as health professionals and teachers. Chapter summaries are included and other sources are cited throughout for further reading.
Reviewed by: Nancy O’Brien, Iowa Health – Des Moines, Des Moines, IA
Bramstedt, Katrina A. with Jonsen, Albert R. Finding Your Way: A Medial Ethics Handbook for Patients and Families. Hilton Publishing Company, 2011. 121p, Glossary. ISBN 978-0-9841447-3-0. $14.95
Katrina Bramstedt is an experienced clinical ethicist who focuses in transplant, organ donation, medical devices, and end of life care and has participated in over 800 ethics consults. Co-author Albert Jonsen, a pioneer in the field of Bioethics, is well known for being one of the developers of the four-box methodology (four headings) for ethics consults and a leader in contemporary ethics principles. They have teamed up to create a rich resource that is unusual in that it is written for the patient since most bioethics handbooks are written from the health care provider’s point of view.
Designed to help readers think about serious decisions before they arise, the book’s chapters each cover a medical situation with ethical overtones. In plain language designed for the lay person, the book would be a welcome addition to health care providers’ reading lists to better understand the patient’s perspective as well. Medical ethics is defined and ethics consultation is explained, including the historical perspective. Religious beliefs and how they intersect with medical ethics are discussed.
The four headings used to organize the information in an ethics consult are explained: Medical Indications, Patient Preferences, Quality of Life, and Contextual Features.
The role of hospital ethics committees and clinical ethicists is discussed, including how an ethics consult works and under what circumstances one would be called for (accredited hospitals in the United States are required by the Joint Commission to have a mechanism by which to resolve ethical issues). Each chapter uses a realistic fictional case to present an idea, and encourages readers to think about the issues and have discussions with loved ones.
Reviewed by: Patricia Devine, MLS, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific NW Region, Seattle, WA.
Brouhard, Rod. Life’s Little Emergencies: A Handbook for Active Independent Seniors and Caregivers. Demos Medical Publishing, 2012. 217p. ISBN 978-1-936303-15-1. $16.95.
This unique handbook provides seniors and their caregivers with the information needed to effectively respond to health concerns. More than a first aid book, it provides information specific to the health concerns and life experiences of many seniors. For example, when discussing emergency services, the author addresses how cell phones work and the pitfalls of calling 911 from a cell phone. The author provides background information on how to call and make the best use of 911 emergency services, how to safely store medications, how to prepare for and live through natural disasters at home, and more. The core of the book details specific illnesses and injuries, their causes and symptoms, how to treat them, and when to seek help. This portion of the book can be read in advance, but is written as a reference resource to be used when health concerns arise.
The author has experience as an EMS educator and first aid author for about.com in addition to more than 20 years of experience responding to 911 calls as a paramedic and fire fighter. He writes at a middle school reading level and in a casual style that includes slang and anecdotes from his own life. Given the target audience for the book, the font size could justifiably be larger.
Life’s Little Emergencies provides accessible and relevant information on an important topic that has not been widely covered. This handbook would be a beneficial addition to many consumer health collections.
Reviewed by: Catherine Young, Reference Librarian, Medical Library, Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Burton, Linda. Pay Attention, Emily Brown! Woodbine House, Inc., 2011. Unpaged. ISBN 978-1-60613-027-8. $16.95.
Burton’s picture book is about a child with attention challenges. The story is told through pictures more than words and the illustrations are very bright and colorful with color covering the entire page on almost every page. The text never identifies exactly what developmental disability the main character, little red haired Emily, is experiencing. It’s clear she has challenges with focusing. The storyteller is attempting to get Emily’s attention throughout the book by describing all of the things Emily is doing besides paying attention. This book sends the message to children that they are loved just the way they are despite their differences. Burton has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Family Circle and Reader’s Digest on the topics of family and education. She has first-hand experience fostering, adopting, and working with her own biological children who have attention/behavioral deficits. She believes the best way to address these children is with humor, love, and acceptance.
Reviewed by: Judy Griggs, Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron, Ohio
Couwenhoven, Terri M.S. . The Girls’ Guide to Growing Up: Choices & Changes in the Tween Years. Woodbine House, 2012. 62p. Index. ISBN 978-1-60613-026-1. $16.95.
The Girls’ Guide to Growing Up: Choices & Changes in the Tween Years is for special needs girls (ages 8 -14) and their caregivers. The author, Terri Couwenhoven, M.S. is a teacher who educates people with intellectual disabilities and their families about puberty and sexuality issues. The book is written at a 3rd grade level. Illustrations are simple line drawings, cartoons and black and white photography. Chapters explain how to handle crushes, flirting, and body and emotional changes. Other topics covered are correct public and private behaviors for preteen girls and personal safety. A simple quiz is included to help the adult and preteen go over the material covered in the book. Although written to help special needs girls understand the changes that occur during puberty, it would be useful for any girl aged 8-14. Similar topics are covered in the “What’s Happening to My Body?” Book for Girls, but the discussion is more direct in this book. It would be a good addition to any consumer health library or public library.
Reviewed by: Patricia C. Supnick, MLIS. Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI.
Curran Baker, Amy. Now What? A Patient's Guide to Recovery after Mastectomy. Demos Health, 2012. 193p., index. ISBN 978-1-936303-25-0. $16.95.
What do you get when you combine three sisters – an occupational therapist, a registered nurse and a nurse practitioner - two of whom have had a mastectomy? The result is an immensely helpful, supportive, realistic and comprehensive book about how to prepare for and what to expect after mastectomy.
The book begins with overviews of the types of available surgeries and reconstructions, and the pros and cons of each. The authors and other mastectomy “veterans” and “previvors” share their personal stories and tips for patients before, during and after surgery. Things people don’t normally think of like buying a few quarts of milk rather than a heavy gallon for your return home, or arranging for someone to walk your dog until you are able to hold a leash again, are the types of details that really help patients have an easier and less stressful recovery. Curran Baker’s writing is honest, clear, empathetic and personable; she covers the full spectrum of experiences on topics like drain management and pain, since every patient is unique. Photographs and illustrations accompany how-to sections, and difficult words and phrases are italicized and defined in a glossary. The author recommends specific products that patients had good experiences with (like clothes and pillows), a subject-based resource list includes books and websites, and research is cited in endnotes. Appendices include easy-to-use charts for home and follow-up appointments, such as a medication/activity log. Now What? is an invaluable resource for the breast cancer patient who wants to be prepared and empowered.
Reviewed by: Cara Marcus, Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA
Fink, Brett Ryan & Mizel, Mark Stuart. The Whole Foot Book: A Complete Program for Taking Care of Your Feet. Demos Health, 2012. 326 p. index. ISBN 1936303248. $16.95.
From how to choose the right professional for foot problems, to in-depth information on each anatomical section of the foot, to what exercises can improve your foot health, to caring for a cast, this book almost truly is a complete guide. Filled with both detailed yet concise information on almost anything related to feet in general, including detailed photos, diagrams, personal stories and highlighted sections of importance, it is suitable for those who want research based information, in an easy to understand format. The detail, both through anatomical renditions, coverage and special issues of each part of your feet is what makes this stand out from similar books. Comparable to similar titles, this guide covers basic issues, risks and benefits of foot surgery, and nail and dermatological issues. The authors also discuss foot problems for special populations – though issues of specific sports are detailed more fully in Copeland’s The Good Foot Book: A Guide for Men, Women, Children, Athletes, Seniors – Everyone, and special issues for women’s feet are detailed in Bowman’s Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science of Healthy Feet. Most chapters conclude with references, there is also a glossary and index included. Mizel, a foot and ankle specialist, and Fink, an orthopedic surgeon, have been practicing and writing extensively in clinical journals about foot and ankle issues for over a combined total of three decades. They bring their wealth of clinical experience and stories of some of their patients to this well rounded resource. Suggested for all public libraries and large consumer health libraries.
Reviewed by: Amy Six-Means, MLIS. Hanesbrands Health Learning Center, Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC.
Hale, Natalie. Down Syndrome Parenting 101: Must-Have Advice for Making Your Life Easier. Woodbine House.2011.240 p. ISBN 978-1-60613-020-9. $19.95
Although she is not a medical professional, Natalie Hale is the mother of an adult son with Down syndrome. She teaches children with Down syndrome to read and founded Special Reads for Special Needs in 2000. She specializes in creating emergent readers that place the text separately from the illustrations to focus the child’s attention on reading the words. She uses her expertise in working with Down syndrome children and their parents to create a workable format for the book. The chapters are short and can be read sequentially or individually. She uses highlighted boxes to emphasize resources and explain terms within each chapter, eliminating the need to consult a separate index or glossary. Hale states that parents of Down syndrome children have no time to read, so the format fits with their hectic lifestyle. She offers encouragement and support for parents and also prompts them to look beyond the Down syndrome diagnosis when other symptoms arise. The collection of anecdotes from parents and the information presented would be useful for parents of mentally challenged children, not limited to Down syndrome. The book had a starred review in Library Journal Express and is highly recommended. The author is a featured speaker at the National Down Syndrome Congress and the National Association for Down Syndrome.
Reviewed by: Cynthia L. Butcher, MLS, MeadWestvaco Family Resource Center, The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio.
Hickey, Sue. Finding Balance: Healing from a Decade of Vestibular Disorders. DemosHealth, 2011. 224 p. index. ISBN: 9781936303144. $19.95.
Sue Hickey is a retired business executive who has been diagnosed with several vestibular disorders, including perilymph fistula, endolymphatic hydrops, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and mal de debarquement. In this memoir she details her experiences with locating health care providers for diagnosis and treatment of these disorders and the very considerable impact they had and continue to have on her life.
Finding Balance is organized chronologically and includes numerous helpful passages from the journals Hickey keeps, a practice she started many years before her vestibular conditions began. She chronicles her symptoms, the testing and evaluation procedures she experiences, and her search for health care providers to assist her in dealing with these conditions. She discusses both the medical and complementary/alternative treatments she chooses in her journey to get well. Hickey also expresses her feelings about the ways in which these conditions affect her relationships and social activities, and the decisions that she makes to balance her life once she realizes that these conditions will be life-long.
Many patients find learning about the experiences of others with the same conditions to be very helpful and this memoir will more than satisfy this need. However, Hickey provides only brief summaries of each condition as she first learns about them; readers wishing to learn more about the specific conditions being discussed will need to supplement the information found in this book. The MedlinePlus ‘Dizziness and Vertigo’ page provides links to two helpful consumer health websites, those of the American Hearing Research Foundation and the Vestibular Disorders Association. Sue Hickey serves on the Board of Directors of the latter organization. There are few consumer health books on vestibular disorders; Finding Balance will be a valuable addition to consumer health libraries that include memoirs in their collections.
Reviewed by: Deborah Magnan, Samuel and Sandra Hekemian Medical Library, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ
Karr-Morse, Robin with Wiley, Meredith S. Scared Sick: The Role of Childhood Trauma In Adult Disease. Basic Books, 2012. 288p., index. ISBN 13-978-0-465-01354-8. $ 26.99.
In the book Scared Sick, authors Karr-Morse and Wiley continue investigating a connection between childhood events and adult issues. Ghosts from the Nursery: Tracing the Roots of Violence, an earlier book by these same authors, looked at how abuse and violence in childhood can contribute to another generation of troubled youth. In this thought provoking book, the authors discuss a possible link between stress and fear during infancy and the consequences on adult health. The authors discuss how emotionally charged episodes that happen either during the in-utero timeframe or during the first two years of life can affect how the central nervous system, endocrine or immune systems are wired. This miswiring might be the set up for development of illness later in life. The authors speculate on the growing numbers of people in our country with health issues such as fibromyalgia, gastro-esophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome and mitral valve prolapsed as possible evidence of this.
The authors quote many notable experts in this area, including Dr. Bruce Perry, author of The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog. The reading is stimulating and even encourages one to ponder how little we know about brain development during those critical times of prenatal and early childhood. It would make an interesting addition to a consumer health library.
Reviewed by: Monique McCollum RN, MPH Patient Education Coordinator, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado
Peterman Schwarz, Shelley. Home Accessibility: 300 tips for making life easier. Demos Health, 2012. 139p. index. ISBN 978-1-936303-22-9. $16.95.
Author Shelley Peterman Schwarz clearly presents information for practical home accessibility solutions in her new book. Schwarz was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than 30 years ago and has used a three-wheeled scooter-style wheelchair for more than 25 years. She has authored hundreds of articles and has a series of Tips for Making Life Easier™ books. Her personal experiences are shared throughout the book and relate well to the reader.
The book is well organized by presenting an overall design idea for each area of a house from the outside entrances to a home office. The text is simple, clear and to the point. There are some overlapping suggestions from room to room as some products can serve multiple purposes in a home. The author encourages the reader to consult with their local Independent Living Center or library for product research and to approach religious or civic organization if funding needs arise. Accessibility guidelines are highlighted at the beginning of each room chapter followed up with lists of resources and products at the end of the chapter. After each suggested tip there is a practical explanation for the product which made the tip more meaningful. Encouraging Universal Design principles throughout the book are especially useful for individuals who are preparing now for an accessible future in their home.
Reviewed by Christine Willis, MLIS, Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA.
Powers, Rod. Basic Training For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2011. 368 p. Index. ISBN 978-0470881231.
Powers, a 23 year veteran of the military, 11 of which was spent as a First Sergeant, who then retired to write about and prepare others for careers in the military writes a well written manual for any interested in entering the military through enlisting. With a style that is both easily readable and densely informative, he manages to entertain while educating readers on all one needs to know before enlisting. He thoroughly covers both the general information all branches have in common, and specific details pertinent to each. Even the table of contents is a thoroughly detailed account of what to expect from the basics to equipment, weapons training, military law, and arriving at the base. Parts I-III cover these areas while Part IV discusses the differences between military branches. Part V covers graduation and beyond and things wrap up in typical Dummies style with Parts of Ten. Essentials of what to do and NOT for each chapter are highlighted to truly stand out, and there is an interesting section called “Games Instructors like to play” which is highly informative. Two appendices at the close cover punitive articles and the histories of enlisted military for the five branches. A surprisingly entertaining read for any interested in enlisting, or even curious about it. Recommended for all public libraries, but not necessarily suitable for consumer health libraries unless there is a large enough collection or need.
Reviewed by: Amy Six-Means, MLIS. Hanesbrands Health Learning Center, Forsyth Medical Center. Winston-Salem, NC.
Ruggieri, Paul MD and Addison R. Tolentino, MD. Colon & Rectal Cancer: From Diagnosis to Treatment, 2nd ed. Addicus Books, 2012. 160p. index. ISBN 978-1-886039-05-6. $19.95.
Written in an accessible and reassuring manner, readers will easily find answers to important questions in this book about colon and rectal cancer. Beginning with an overview, it logically follows a journey from symptoms and screenings through treatment. Sidebars and line illustrations help to clarify key points throughout. Appendixes include the TNM classification, additional resources and a glossary. This is a fully updated second edition that has the latest treatment protocols and chemotherapy drugs included with the expected side effects.
The authors have years of experience treating patients with colorectal cancer and their concern for the emotional and physical well-being of those coping with a diagnosis is evident. Paul Ruggieri, MD, is a surgeon, a fellow in the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons. He is the coauthor of A Simple Guide to Thyroid Disorders and The Surgery Handbook—A Guide to Understanding Your Operation. Addison R. Tolentino, MD, is a medical oncologist. He is board-certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine. This book is highly recommended for consumer health collections and will be a helpful reference for patients, families and caregivers.
Reviewed by Valerie Sherman, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Akron OH
Schwarcz, Joe. Dr. Joe’s Health Lab: 164 Fascinating Insights into the Science of Medicine, Nutrition and Well-Being. Doubleday Canada, 2011). 294 p. index. ISBN 978-0-385-67I56-9
This is an appealing if quirky book about the science of medicine, nutrition, and well-being. Organized into fourteen chapters, the book covers a wide range of health-related topics, including health and beauty, supplements, longevity, health hazards, farming, and healthy eating and drinking. Each chapter is set up in a question-and-answer format. The author draws from the disciplines of chemistry, physics, medicine, alternative medicine, even history, to present his anecdotal answers. He often refers to published research, but no sources are provided. While most of the questions in this book are beyond the “Trivial Pursuit” variety, the author is able to interpret the complex science behind common myths, wives’ tales, and rumors, and presents his explanations in an accessible manner, using concise, uncomplicated language. This book would be a welcome addition to any consumer health or complementary and alternative medicine collection, and would also be appropriate for public libraries and general readers.
Joe Schwarcz is director of McGill University’s Office of Science and Society, where he teaches courses on nutrition and the applications of chemistry to everyday life. He is the recipient of many awards, gives numerous public lectures on science and chemistry, hosts a weekly radio show in Canada, and writes a weekly column for the Montreal Gazette. He is the author of the bestsellers Brain Fuel and An Apple a Day.
Reviewed by: Margaret A. Havran, MLIS, University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences, 2011; Pittsburgh, PA.
Scott, Walter J. Lung Cancer: A Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment. Addicus Books. 2012. 110 p index. ISBN:978-1-886039-09-4. $9.95.
In this second edition, Scott, Chief of the Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery at Fox Chase Cancer Center, delivers a must have resource for lung cancer patients and their family members. The author describes in his introduction that his reason for writing the book is to take away the fear of the unknown and to answer pressing questions that patients reading the book may have about lung cancer.
Chapter 1 begins with an overview of how lung cancer develops and provides patients with a background knowledge of the condition. He follows with an overview of symptoms and diagnostic tools, succinctly describing each. The author provides a detailed but easy to read explanation of lung cancer staging. An overview of the treatment methods for each cancer stage is explained. Types of treatment including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are each described. For patients interested in or wanting to learn more about clinical trials, the author provides an overview of clinical trials, how they work, and the trial types and phases.
The book contains suggestions for dealing with the emotions of fear, anger, and anxiety which often accompany of diagnosis of lung cancer. Additionally, the author emphasizes that it is not too late to stop smoking and provides some tips on how smokers can quit. An appendix containing the TNM classification system, resources for finding additional information, glossary of terms, and an index are included.
Overall, this book is highly recommended, particularly for those newly diagnosed with lung cancer. The resource is easy to read and medical terms are defined. The black and white illustrations accompanying the medical content are useful and aid in understanding the material. Lung Cancer: A Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment is highly recommended for public libraries and consumer health collections.
Reviewed by: Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Center, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, VCU Libraries. Richmond, VA.
Siegel, Marc. The Inner Pulse: Unlocking the Secret Code of Sickness and Health. Wiley, 2011. 231 p. index. ISBN 978-0-470-26039-5. $25.95
Physicians learn about healing and recovery while in medical school, yet not in the way that Marc Siegel presents it in this book. Siegel, himself a physician, emphasizes the importance of understanding the emotional element of illness and recovery in health care. The concepts he discusses in the introductory sections of the book offer readers a new way of thinking about their role in their care, which is a sense of their own inner pulse – a person’s own sense of if he or she will or will not recover. The title and introductory section lead a reader to believe that the book will be about how physicians can utilize their patients’ inner pulses by doing one thing: listening. However, Siegel instead weaves the concept of inner pulse in with his own medical memoir. The stories he shares show how he came to learn to listen to patients, especially when a recovery or continued sickness was unexplainable.
The stories, his own and those of his patients, are interesting, but the book isn’t fully satisfying. A physician reading the book would likely want guidance on how to start to encourage patients to share their sense of wellness, while non-physicians would likely want some tips on how they can learn to listen to their inner pulse. Siegel is effective at providing information that encourages his fellow health-care providers as well as general readers (potential patients) to think about their health and well being in a new way. Siegel’s message is empowering, yet the power is lost when he doesn’t enable readers to take the message any further.
Reviewed by: Kate Roberts Edenborg, Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul, MN.
Singer, Alan M. Creating Your Perfect Family Size: How to Make an Informed Decision About Having a Baby. Jossey-Bass, 2011. 180p. ISBN: 978-0-470-90031-4. $16.95.
This book fills a gap in the popular literature of parenting by expanding on topics that many parenting books only briefly mention: ideal family size and spacing of children. While there are a growing number of books on the market aimed at readers who are deciding whether or not to have children for the first time, this book is not recommended for them, as it assumes that the reader has already made the decision to have children.
Singer, who holds a Masters in Social Work and a PhD in Social Policy and Administration, is a marriage and family counselor. His practice focuses on couples dealing with some of the same topics addressed in this book. Singer draws on the research literature of psychology, economics, and demography, but he writes in a style that is appropriate for a general audience.
The book is divided into 5 chapters and includes appendices for self-assessment quizzes, selected resources, and a bibliography. Each chapter focuses on a different area of decision-making (e.g., How many children can your relationship hold? Small, moderate, large…what’s your ideal family size?). In addition, each chapter has a corresponding self-assessment quiz which gives readers insight into topics related to family size and spacing (health, financial resources, and family traditions).
Singer writes from a point-of-view grounded in marriage and family therapy. For that reason, this book is very relevant for both women and men and is highly recommended for readers of both genders seeking advice about ideal family size.
Reviewed by: Amber Burtis, MLIS, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL
Steefel, Lorraine. What Nurses Know . . . Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Demos Health, 2012. 173 p., appendices, index. ISBN: 9781932603873. $16.95.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disorder with an unknown cause, no specific diagnostic tests and no known cure. This book provides a realistic and practical overview of CFS for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (PWCFS) and those who care for and about them. The author, Lorraine Steefel, RN, MSN, DNP, CTN-A, is an adjunct assistant professor of nursing at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the parent of a woman who was initially diagnosed with CFS when she was 12 years old. Steefel offers a positive and hopeful approach that demonstrates that while CFS is a challenging illness, it can be managed.
Steefel has been active in various CFS support and advocacy groups and throughout the book she incorporates useful statements from PWCFS describing their experiences. She provides helpful chapters describing CFS, its symptoms, obtaining a diagnosis, and forming a health care team with multiple practitioners who will help PWCFS manage their condition. Particularly helpful are chapters that provide suggestions about managing fatigue, the use of alternative and integrative therapies, and living with chronic illness. The author asserts that PWCFS need an individualized treatment plan to manage their condition and provides many, many helpful suggestions that PWCFS can use to develop their own treatment plan.
There are several helpful appendices, including a glossary, a bibliography, a listing of resources, and an index. Steefel has written a valuable book that is highly recommended for most consumer health libraries.
Reviewed by: Deborah Magnan, Samuel and Sandra Hekemian Medical Library, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ.
Wallace, Daniel J., MD. The Sjogren’s Book. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0-19-973722-2 393pp. $35.00.
Edited by a physician with individual chapters written by physician specialists from across the US, the book is published and supported by efforts of the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation. A former edition was completed in 2005 by the same editor. Although the writing is not focused at the consumer level, many patients and family members may find that specific chapters would meet their needs to review current management strategies and support systems which can be utilized.
The chapters are divided into specific sections including introduction and definitions, pathophysiology (pathogenesis, genetics, immunological issues, exocrine dysfunction) and parts of the body that can be affected (nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, lymphoma, eyes, and salivary glands) and specific management strategies (dry mouth and eyes, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain). Especially helpful to patients and family members is the section on quality of life issues including emotional responses, mind-body interactions, and ways to deal more effectively with problems related to sexual activity, sleep, and issues related to surgery and vaccinations.
A comprehensive guide for organizations, support groups and printed materials on Sjogren’s syndrome was added to the book along with contact numbers and a grouping of select books on Sjogren’s syndrome. Depending on the needs of patients and family members, other more focused consumer health books are A Body Out of Balance: Understanding and Treating Sjogren’s Syndrome by Fremes and Carteron (2003) and the Sjogren Syndrome Survival Guide by Rumpf and Hammitt (2003) and the Third Edition of Wallace’s book on The New Sjogren’s Syndrome published in 2005 which is specifically for consumers.
Reviewed by: Carol Ann Attwood, MLS, AHIP, CHIS, MPH, RN,C, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ.
Weiss, Mary Jane and Demiri, Valbona. Jumpstarting Communication Skills in Children with Autism: A Parents' Guide to Applied Verbal Behavior. Woodbine House, 2011. 207 p. index. ISBN 978-1-890627-70-6. $21.95.
Impaired communication is a defining feature of autism. Communication problems can severely hamper development and social skills. They also cause frustration in both children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents. This book provides practical, research-based ways to help young children with ASD improve their communication skills. Combining their 45 years of experience using the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) approach, the authors offer hope and help to parents of autistic children. Parents will benefit from the clear overview of the ABA approach, the discussion of common speech/language problems of autistic children, and the explanation of Skinner's Verbal Behavior classification system. Complex concepts and in-depth research are summarized in an easy-to-understand style.
The authors focus on the Applied Verbal Behavior (AVB) method for improving communication skills, but they also include other methods, including PECS, sign language, video modeling, scripts, and Social Stories. Abstract information is interwoven with real-life examples of children the authors have known. The case examples reveal why certain methods work better for certain children on the spectrum. The chapters on perseverative speech, like humming, screeching, repetitive speech, and echolalia provide concrete ways to change these distracting behaviors that often are simply ignored. Other special features include a chapter on fluency and a section devoted to the communication problems that arise between autistic children and their siblings. The reliable information, the reassuring tone, and the creative and practical examples make this book an invaluable resource for parents of autistic children and the professionals who work with them.
Reviewed by: Judy Hansen, Family Resource Center-St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO
Publication Information
Statement
Consumer Connections (ISSN 1535-7821) is the newsletter of the Consumer and Patient Information Section of the Medical Library Association. It is published on the CAPHIS website quarterly. Notification of publication is sent via the CAPHIS listserv. CAPHIS is the largest section of the Medical Library Association.
Newsletter articles and book reviews are copyrighted; please contact the editor for reprint permission.
Submissions
Please submit items for Consumer Connections during the third quarter for publication in the following quarter.
Submit by this newsletter |
For publication newsletter issue |
|---|---|
| March | April-June |
| June | July-September |
| September | October-December |
| December | January-March |
Please send submissions in electronic format to the editor:
Nikki Dettmar
e-mail: snydern@u.washington.edu
Telephone: (206)543-3409
Advertising
See Advertising Rate Sheet