Journal of IiME Volume 4 Issue 1 www.investinme.org An Effort to Influence Medical Textbook Writers Leonard A. Jason, Nicole Porter, Nicolette Walano, Ilana Barach, Morgan Morello, Erin Paavola - DePaul University Abstract A recent study found that coverage of CFS was severely lacking in medical textbooks with a representation rate of less than .01% (Jason, Paavola, Porter, & Morello, 2010). The current study consisted of sending letters to editors that contained the findings from Jason et al.’s original study pertaining to the lack of quality information in medical texts on CFS. Twelve editors replied to our letter, and five (42%) had positive remarks, stating that the information was helpful and would be included in new editions of texts. We determined whether editor responses to the information sent differed as a function of theoretical orientation of their section on CFS. Those who could not be classified because they had too little information or no CFS information responded the most. This study suggested that it is possible to take proactive stances in attempting to inform editors about the issues related to the quantity and quality of information concerning chronic fatigue syndrome in medical textbooks. An Effort to Influence Medical Textbook Writers Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex illness (Fukuda et al., 1994; Jason & Richman, 2007), which can have devastating consequences in functional, employment and relationship areas (Jason, Fennell et al., 2003). Patients suffering from CFS are more functionally impaired than those suffering from type II diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and endstage renal disease (Anderson & Ferrans, 1997; Buchwald, Pearlman, Umali, Schmaling, & Katon, 1996). Although all patients do not demonstrate the same medical abnormalities, some evidence points to immune dysfunction (Patarca-Montero, 2002; Lorusso et al., 2008), HPA malfunction (Scott & Dinan, 1999), and reduction in gray matter in the brain (De Lange et al., 2004). In addition, physician minimization of physical symptoms frequently occurs (Green, Romei et al., Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) Professor Leonard Jason PhD Professor of Clin. & Community Psychology, Director, Center for Community Research, DePaul University, Chicago Dr. Leonard Jason, Ph.D., is among the most prolific of all CFIDS researchers. For more than a decade, Dr. Jason and his team at DePaul University’s Centre for Community Research have worked to define the scope and impact of CFS/ME worldwide. Professor Jason presented at the IiME International ME/CFS Conference 2008 in London. Author Notes Address correspondence to Leonard A. Jason, Ph.D., Professor, DePaul University, Center for Community Research, 990 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, Il. Ljason@depaul.edu 1999). Patients with CFS tend to report a very low level of satisfaction with conventional medical healthcare. Twemlow, Bradshaw et al. (1997) found that 66% of patients with CFS reported that treatment with their physicians made their illness worse. According to Anderson and Ferrans (1997), 77% reported negative interactions with their healthcare provider. Dissatisfaction of CFS Page 13/56
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