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Biomedical subjects

Bernard C K Choi

Publications and source records attributed to Bernard C K Choi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Evaluation and measurement of health-related quality of life for individuals with diabetes mellitus by Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3) system.

The Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3) is an important indicator when measuring the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and assessing the burden of disease, especially for chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the scores of HRQOL for respondents with DM to examine associations between overall HUI3 scores and eight component attributes, and various sociodemographic and lifestyle attributes, and by doing so, provide information to improve the HRQOL of individuals with diabetes. The study was based on the Canadian National Population Survey (NPHS) longitudinal data, from 1994-1995 to 2002-2003. We evaluated overall HUI3 scores and eight attributes (vision, hearing, speech, ambulation, dexterity, emotion, cognition, and pain) between respondents with and without diabetes in relation to demographic characteristics (age, sex, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status using ANCOVA[analysis of covariance]). Awareness of diabetes appeared to affect the HRQOL of older age groups more so than younger age groups (p < 0.01). Diabetes also appeared to have a greater impact on males' quality of life compared to females', and among individuals with single marital status and low socioeconomic status (p < 0.01). These findings add to what is known about cognitive representations and the self-regulation of diabetes as well as the relationships between cognitive representations of diabetes, HRQOL, and behavioral factors. In particular, results from this study suggest the need to address ways of reducing the burden of diabetes associated with health behaviours, and increasing the quality of life for the individuals with diabetes in Canada.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Multiple exposures to smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity and overweight: Prevalences according to the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.1.

The objective of this study was to calculate the prevalence of multiple exposures to four modifiable risk factors (smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity and overweight) and to establish whether there are more Canadians with multiple risk factor exposures than those with singular ones. Weighted estimates of the prevalence of mutually exclusive risk factor clusters were calculated according to the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 1.1 (2000). Confidence limits were estimated by bootstrap techniques. Findings indicate that 21.0 percent of Canadians have no risk factor exposures, 53.5 percent are physically inactive, 21.5 percent currently smoke, 44.8 percent are overweight, and 6.0 percent are high-risk drinkers. Compared to females, males are less physically inactive but more likely to smoke, have high alcohol intake and be overweight, across all age groups. At least one risk factor was present in 79.0 percent of Canadians and 39.0 percent have at least two coexistent exposures. The distribution of risk factor prevalences differed significantly by age, most peaking among those between age 35 and 64, with the exception of physical inactivity. Those who smoke and are physically inactive account for the highest proportion of the population with two or more coexistent risk factors. Canadians who are free of the four risk factors for chronic disease examined in this paper constitute the minority. Future studies are recommended to examine other risk factors, as well as interactions of multiple exposures in association with chronic disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

An international comparison of women's occupational health issues in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore: the CIDA-SEAGEP study.

BACKGROUND: An international comparison study of women's occupational health issues was carried out in 2000 for the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore. The study was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency's Southeast Asia Gender Equity Program. AIM: The objective was to compare the issues, risk factors, social determinants, and challenges in women's occupational health, according to the status of economic development as defined by the World Bank. METHOD: Data were collected through 27 key informant interviews of high-ranking government officials and senior researchers, self-administered questionnaires on country or regional statistics and 16 courtesy calls. RESULTS: Results indicated that women's occupational health problems common in these countries or regions included women's long hours of work (double workday), shift work and a caring role for family and friends. Problems reported in developing countries but not developed countries included poor access to training and protective equipment, and insufficient legislation to protect women's rights. Problems reported in developed countries but not in developing countries included obesity, smoking and not including women in health research. CONCLUSION: This paper provides insights into the changing environment in the workplace, such as increasing participation of women in the paid workforce and changes in gender differences due to the changing country economy, for improving women's occupational health.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Twelve essentials of science-based policy.

This article presents a systematic framework of 12 essentials, or basic elements, of science-based policy. The 12 essentials are grouped into three categories, or areas, as follows: 1) knowledge generation, which includes credible design, accurate data, sound analysis, and comprehensive synthesis; 2) knowledge exchange, which includes relevant content, appropriate translation, timely dissemination, and modulated release; and 3) knowledge uptake, which includes accessible information, readable message, motivated user, and rewarding outcome.

Bias↗
PubMed2005

Preliminary study on the efficacy and safety of lamivudine and interferon alpha therapy in decreasing serum HBV DNA level in HBV positive transgenic mice during pregnancy.

Previous studies reported that the HBV DNA level in maternal serum is an important risk factor for intrauterine infection. Two antiviral drugs, lamivudine (3TC) and interferon alpha (IFNalpha), are used extensively clinically to reduce maternal HBV DNA level, However, because of a lack of evidence on the efficacy and safety of these drugs during pregnancy, they are categorized as grade C which prevents their use during pregnancy. This study provides new data on the efficacy and safety of lamivudine and IFNalpha in HBV positive transgenic pregnant mice. In this study, transgenic mice with high titers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were employed to study the antiviral effects of 3TC and IFNalpha during different gestation periods. The study also examined changes in several serological HBV markers, the effects of perinatal exposure to antiviral drugs on the mother and offspring, drug efficacy in reducing the level of HBV DNA in maternal blood, and the safety to both the mother and offspring. The main conclusion of the study is that a significant decrease in HBV DNA level can be obtained after treatment with lamivudine but not with IFNalpha. No adverse effects were observed in the maternal mice and the offsprings. This finding may provide a rationale for the potential use of lamivudine for the treatment of pregnant women as a safe and effective measure to reduce the level of maternal viremia.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Heterogeneity analysis of the hepatitis B virus genome in intrauterine infection.

There are many factors leading to intrauterine infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). These factors include viral structure, HBV mutations, HBV DNA level, placenta barrier, immune status of the mother, and susceptibility of the fetus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between intrauterine infection with and HBV mutations of the genome of the virus. In this study, HBsAg-positive mothers were divided into two groups: intrauterine infection group and non-infection group according to whether the newborn infants were infected or not. The intrauterine infection group included four pairs of mother and their newborn infants infected in utero, and non-infection group included five HBsAg-positive mothers. HBV sequences from the two groups were analyzed and compared. The predominant strains in the mothers and infants from the intrauterine infection group were not completely consistent. This suggested that both HBV predominant strains and minority strains in the mothers could infect their infants through intrauterine transmission. Some HBV mutations probably related to intrauterine infection were examined and it was found that the frequencies of mutations were low in isolates of the virus of infants from the intrauterine infection group and high in the non-infection group. These results suggest that some strains of HBV from the mother may be transmitted selectively to the fetus in utero because of viral heterogeneity. The strains without screened mutations such as P21L in the pre-S1 region may infect the fetus more readily.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Can scientists and policy makers work together?

This paper addresses a fundamental question in evidence based policy making--can scientists and policy makers work together? It first provides a scenario outlining the different mentalities and imperatives of scientists and policy makers, and then discusses various issues and solutions relating to whether and how scientists and policy makers can work together. Scientists and policy makers have different goals, attitudes toward information, languages, perception of time, and career paths. Important issues affecting their working together include lack of mutual trust and respect, different views on the production and use of evidence, different accountabilities, and whether there should be a link between science and policy. The suggested solutions include providing new incentives to encourage scientists and policy makers to work together, using knowledge brokers (translational scientists), making organisational changes, defining research in a broader sense, re-defining the starting point for knowledge transfer, expanding the accountability horizon, and finally, acknowledging the complexity of policy making. It is hoped that further discussion and debate on the partnership idea, the need for incentives, recognising the incompatibility problems, the role of civil society, and other related themes will lead to new opportunities for further advancing evidence based policy and practice.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2005

Diseases of comfort: primary cause of death in the 22nd century.

CONTEXT: The world has started to feel the impact of a global chronic disease epidemic, which is putting pressure on our health care systems. If uncurbed, a new generation of "diseases of comfort" (such as those chronic diseases caused by obesity and physical inactivity) will become a major public health problem in this and the next century. OBJECTIVE: To describe the concept, causes, and prevention and control strategies of diseases of comfort. METHODS: Brokered by a senior research scientist specialised in knowledge translation, a chair, a president, and a past president of national public health associations contributed their views on the subject. RESULTS: Diseases of comfort have emerged as a price of living in a modern society. It is inevitable that these diseases will become more common and more disabling if human "progress" and civilisation continue toward better (more comfortable) living, without necessarily considering their effects on health. Modern technology must be combined with education, legislation, intersectoral action, and community involvement to create built and social environments that encourage, and make easy, walking, physical activity, and nutritious food choices, to reduce the health damaging effects of modern society for all citizens and not only the few. CONCLUSIONS: Public health needs to be more passionate about the health issues caused by human progress and adopt a health promotion stance, challenging the assumptions behind the notion of social "progress" that is giving rise to the burden of chronic disease and developing the skills to create more health promoting societies in which individual health thrives.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed2004

A catalog of biases in questionnaires.

Bias in questionnaires is an important issue in public health research. To collect the most accurate data from respondents, investigators must understand and be able to prevent or at least minimize bias in the design of their questionnaires. This paper identifies and categorizes 48 types of bias in questionnaires based on a review of the literature and offers an example of each type. The types are categorized according to three main sources of bias: the way a question is designed, the way the questionnaire as a whole is designed, and how the questionnaire is administered. This paper is intended to help investigators in public health understand the mechanism and dynamics of problems in questionnaire design and to provide a checklist for identifying potential bias in a questionnaire before it is administered.

Bias↗
PubMed2004

An international comparison of women's health issues in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore: the CIDA-SEAGEP Study.

This was an international study of women's health issues, based on an Official Study Tour in Southeast Asia (the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore) and Canada. The objectives of the study were to identify and compare current gaps in surveillance, research, and programs and policies, and to predict trends of women's health issues in developing countries based on the experience of developed countries. Key informant interviews (senior government officials, university researchers, and local experts), self-administered questionnaires, courtesy calls, and literature searches were used to collect data. The participating countries identified women's health as an important issue, especially for reproductive health (developing countries) and senior's health (developed countries). Cancer, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, diabetes, poverty, social support, caring role for family, and informing, educating, and empowering people about women's health issues were the main concerns. Based on this study, 17 recommendations were made on surveillance, research, and programs and policies. A number of forthcoming changes in women''s health patterns in developing countries were also predicted.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2004

Using Health Utility Index (HUI) for measuring the impact on health-related quality of Life (HRQL) among individuals with chronic diseases.

Quality of life is an important indicator in assessing the burden of disease, especially for chronic conditions. The Health Utilities Index (HUI) is a recently developed system for measuring the overall health status and health-related quality of life (HRQL) of individuals, clinical groups, and general populations. Using the HUI (constructed based on eight attributes: vision, hearing, speech, mobility, dexterity, cognition, emotion, and pain/discomfort) to measure the HRQL for chronic disease patients and to detect possible associations between HUI system and various chronic conditions, this study provides information to improve the management of chronic diseases. This study is of interest to data analysts, policy makers, and public health practitioners involved in descriptive clinical studies, clinical trials, program evaluation, population health planning, and assessments. Based on the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) for 2000-01, the HUI was used to measure the quality of life for individuals living with various chronic conditions (Alzheimer/other dementia, effects of stroke, urinary incontinence, arthritis/rheumatism, bowel disorder, cataracts, back problems, stomach/intestinal ulcers, emphysema/COPD, chronic bronchitis, epilepsy, heart disease, diabetes, migraine headaches, glaucoma, asthma, fibromyalgia, cancers, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, thyroid condition, and other remaining chronic diseases). Logistic Regression Model was employed to estimate the associations between the overall HUI scores and various chronic conditions. The HUI scores ranged from 0.00 (corresponding to a state close to death) to 1.00 (corresponding to perfect health); negative scores reflect health states considered worse than death. The mean HUI score by sex and age group indicated the typical quality of life for persons with various chronic conditions. Logistic Regression results showed a strong relationship between low HUI scores (< or = 0.5 and 0.06-1.0) and certain chronic conditions. Age- and sex-adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) and p values showed an effect among individuals diagnosed with each chronic disease on the overall HUI score. Results of this study showed that arthritis/rheumatism, heart disease, high blood pressure, cataracts, and diabetes had a severe impact on HRQL. Urinary incontinence, Alzheimer/other dementia, effects of stroke, cancers, thyroid condition, and back problems have a moderate impact. Food allergy, allergy other than food, asthma, migraine headaches, and other remaining chronic diseases have a relatively mild effect. It is concluded that major chronic diseases with significant health burden were associated with poor HRQL. The HUI scores facilitate the measurement and interpretation of results of health burden and the HRQL for individuals with chronic diseases and can be useful for development of strategies for the prevention and control of chronic diseases.

Adolescent↗