Biomedical subjects

Eric M Ossiander

Publications and source records attributed to Eric M Ossiander.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A computer system for coding occupation.

BACKGROUND: Occupation information is widely used in epidemiologic studies and is collected on most death certificates and many birth certificates in the United States. Coding the massive amount of occupation information collected has been a challenge. METHODS: A simple word-matching computer program to code occupation entries from vital records was developed. The accuracy of the program was evaluated by comparing its output to codes assigned by human coders. RESULTS: In routine use in the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the computer system codes 96-97% of the occupation entries on birth and death records. It assigned the correct code on 89% (95% confidence interval (87%, 91%)) of the records it coded. CONCLUSIONS: The occupation-coding program is both efficient and accurate and can simplify the process of coding occupation entries from vital records. The system is adaptable and can be modified to use occupation classifications other than the one used by DOH.

Birth Certificates↗

PubMed2004

Driver's licenses as a source of data on height and weight.

We investigated the feasibility of using driver's license records to obtain height and weight data of individuals. First, we linked Washington State driver's license records (DOL) to the state birth files to assess how well driver's licenses can be linked to a public health database. We were able to match 78.4% of mothers and 71.7% of fathers on birth records to driver's license records. Then we assessed the accuracy of DOL height and weight data by comparing them to heights and weights measured on control women enrolled in a cancer etiology study (CES). There is a close relation between CES and DOL heights, but not a close relation between weights. Our results suggest that driver's license files are a good source of information for women's heights, but are not as good for women's weights.

Automobile Driving↗

PubMed2002

Socioeconomic and demographic disparities in treatment for carcinomas of the colon and rectum.

BACKGROUND: The current study examined the relationship between socioeconomic and demographic factors and type of treatment for carcinomas of the colon and rectum. The National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute recommend surgery followed by adjuvant chemo- and/or radiotherapy for Stage III colon and Stages II and III rectal carcinomas. METHODS: The authors linked Washington State's cancer registry and hospital discharge records and U.S. census data to assess socioeconomic and demographic factors related to treatment, controlling for clinical factors. RESULTS: Compared to colon carcinoma patients under age 65 years, patients aged 75-84 years and 85 years or older were at higher risk for a treatment plan of surgery without adjuvant therapy (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-4.7; OR = 14.1, CI = 6.3-31.4, respectively). Risk of no adjuvant therapy was more than doubled for patients in zip codes in the lowest quartile of per capita income compared to the top three quartiles (OR = 2.3, CI = 1.5-3.4) and for those with Medicare compared to private insurance (OR = 2.2, CI = 1.3-3.8). Older patients with rectal carcinoma were also at higher risk of a treatment plan that did not include adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest disparities in the provision of recommended medical procedures related to socioeconomic and demographic factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Freeway speed limits and traffic fatalities in Washington State.

BACKGROUND: In 1987 individual states in the USA were allowed to raise speed limits on rural freeways from 55 to 65 mph. Analyses of the impact of the increased speed limits on highway safety have produced conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the 1987 speed limit increase on Washington State's rural freeways affected the incidence of fatal crashes or all crashes on rural freeways, or affected average vehicle speeds or speed variance. DESIGN: An ecological study of crashes and vehicle speeds on Washington State freeways from 1974 through 1994. RESULTS: The incidence of fatal crashes more than doubled after 1987, compared with what would have been expected if there had been no speed limit increase, rate ratio 2.1 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-2.7). This resulted in an excess of 26.4 deaths per year on rural freeways in Washington State. The total crash rate did not change substantially, rate ratio 1.1 (95% CI, 1.0-1.3). Average vehicle speed increased by 5.5 mph. Speed variance was not affected by the speed limit increase. CONCLUSIONS: The speed limit increase was associated with a higher fatal crash rate and more deaths on freeways in Washington State.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Childhood lead poisoning in Washington state: A statewide survey.

Although childhood lead poisoning is an important health issue in the United States, it is not distributed evenly across the country. To estimate the prevalence of childhood lead poisoning in Washington State, the authors conducted a birth certificate follow-back survey of 1- to 2-year-old children. Interviewers visited participating families at their homes to conduct blood lead tests with a portable testing device. The estimated prevalence of lead poisoning for all 1- to 2-year-old children in the state was 0.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3-2.7); for Hispanic children in central Washington, it was 3.7% (95% CI: 1.3-10.2), and their risk of lead poisoning was significantly higher than that of all other children in the state (relative risk [RR] = 5.8, 95% CI: 1.3-24.9). Lead poisoning prevalence in Washington State children is lower than the US average and is highest among Hispanic children in central Washington.

Child, Preschool↗