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Biomedical subjects

W E Waters

Publications and source records attributed to W E Waters.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Headache and school absence.

The amount of time missed from school in two small town school populations was estimated by measuring absence from school and attendance at sickbay, and stated causes were analysed. School absence related to headache (expressed as percentage of pupil days missed out of possible pupil days, during two 12 week periods) in children aged 5 to 14 years, was 0.05%. This represented approximately 1% of all school absence, and was recorded (usually only once) in 3.7% of children. The duration of absence was one day or less on 85% of occasions. This low absence rate was in contrast with the high prevalence of headache reported by children aged 9 to 14 of between 76 and 94% according to age and sex. Attendance at school sick bay because of headache was recorded in 3.6% of children aged 5 to 19 (only 0.5% then left school early because of headache) in one 12 week period. It is concluded that although headache prevalence is high in the age groups studied, it is not a prominent cause of time missed from school.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1985

A useless raffle.

A mailed questionnaire was sent to 2712 subjects asking about respiratory symptoms, and a raffle for three prizes of 50 pounds, 30 pounds, and 20 pounds was organised. The response rate in the 1762 who were told about the raffle was no higher than for 950 subjects who served as controls.

Awards and Prizes↗
PubMed1984

Chest pain in women: a study of prevalence and mortality follow up in south Wales.

The London School of Hygiene cardiovascular questionnaire was administered by interviewers in a community survey of 1428 women aged 45-74 living in the Rhondda Fach in south Wales. The results were analysed after a 12 year follow up for mortality. The prevalence of angina was similar to that of a Swiss population, where the method of administration of the questionnaire was similar. The risk of dying associated with angina was some 50% higher than that for women without angina, significant at the 5% level. The risk was greatest for women aged 45-54 when angina accounted for some 15% of deaths in the follow up period. Grade 2 angina was associated with a higher mortality from coronary heart disease, with more than double the risk. The overall risk of dying associated with angina did not appear to decline with time.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Teaching epidemiology to the medical student.

The time allocated to epidemiology in the medical curriculum of most medical schools has increased and its importance has gained more general acceptance. The reason "Why?" epidemiology should be taught is perhaps best given by the World Health Organisation's report that epidemiology should aim to influence the future doctor's attitude to the problems of health and disease in the community by making the student more aware of the scientific approach to those problems. The question "How?" epidemiology should be taught is more difficult and there is evidence, at least from the United Kingdom, that the subject is regarded as both dull and the least difficult of sixteen subjects investigated. The question of whether epidemiology should be taught as a separate discipline or integrated into the curriculum is perhaps best answered by saying both should be done. The methods of instruction vary and a combination of methods is desirable in any course. The relations between epidemiology and other subjects and the place of epidemiology in formal examinations, varies greatly between medical schools. The ideal solutions to these and other problems still lie in the future.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMed1983

Migraine, headache, and survival in women.

A population study of 1310 women aged 45-64 years determined the prevalence of headache and migraine in the preceding year. To investigate the hypothesis that women with migraine had a higher mortality rate, these women were followed up nearly 12 years later. Unexpectedly, the mortality was found to be higher in women without headaches. Women with headaches and migraine had a relative risk of dying of 0.72 (95% confidence interval 0.52-1.00) compared with those without headaches.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Prescription information leaflets: a pilot study in general practice.

Leaflets containing information about medicines were issued to 56 patients prescribed penicillins and 43 patients prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The patients were interviewed between four and 10 days later and their responses compared with those of 65 patients prescribed penicillin and 33 prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs who did not receive a leaflet. Patients who received a leaflet were more likely to be completely satisfied with their treatment and with the information they had been given. They were also more likely to know the name of their medicine and much more aware of potential unwanted effects. Although there was no evidence that knowledge increased the incidence of adverse effects, when these did occur they were more likely to be recognised as being due to the medicine. Further studies of other leaflets are warranted, including leaflets for drugs that are taken long term.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1983

Attitudes to research ethical committees.

A questionnaire on the attitudes towards the functions of research ethical committees was sent to members of selected research ethical committees in Wessex and some controls. Almost all respondents felt there was a need for ethical review of research projects; 42 per cent thought there was a need for some training before joining a committee; 67 per cent thought the system could be improved and 47 per cent thought that monitoring or follow-up procedures should be adopted. Ethical committees were thought to be purely advisory, as opposed to mandatory, by 33 per cent, and 63 per cent thought they should restrict their review to ethical problems as opposed to scientific or design problems. Views about the function of non-medical members ranged from 'none at all' to 'very important'. Of the 10 controls who were asked whether they would become a member of an ethical committee if asked, seven said that on balance they would and the reasons stated varied from the view that it was a 'very important committee' to the feeling that it was 'a necessary but irksome job'.

Attitude↗
PubMed1982

Development of an ethical committee and its effect on research design.

The proportion of research protocols needing modification or given only conditional approval for the Southampton ethical committee increased from 10% in 1971 to 25% in 1975; from 1976 to 1981 36.4% of submissions were referred. The commonest areas needing modification changed gradually from unsatisfactory choice of subjects to inadequate explanation to subjects. Possibility of discomfort, inconvenience, or harm was not mentioned in any protocol in 1971, but was mentioned in 35 in 1975 and 42 in 1979. 76% of projects submitted in 1971, and 71% in 1975 were published in scientific journals. The proportion of projects abandoned increased from 3% in 1971 to 14% in 1975; 16% of projects submitted in 1979 have already been abandoned.

Confidentiality↗