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Risk factors for pediatric asthma emergency visits. Milwaukee Childhood Asthma Project Team.

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visits. A cross-sectional sample of 307 families (24%) responded to a mailed survey. Respondents were similar to the target population of 2487 children with asthma. Thirty-seven percent of respondents had two or more asthma ED visits in the past year. Asthma ED use was associated with persistent asthma symptoms, parents without high school diplomas, age under 4 years, African-American race/ethnicity, use of written care plans, and use of spacers at school. The latter two variables were associated with severe asthma. High-risk children can be targeted for office-based medical care.

Adolescent↗

[Changes of both knowledge levels and health-related behaviors of preventing cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases in population after intervention].

Comprehensive intervention measures for preventing cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases of community population were carried out in Beijing, Shanghai and Changsha urban areas, and then was evaluated to its effects on knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) levels and health-related behaviors of population by quasi-trial designation. Results showed that the net KAB leveling were separately 9.89 in 1995, 4.74 in 1997 and 10.66 in 2000 in comparison with base investigation, and statistically significant difference was found. Of 6 health-related behaviors, caring to health knowledge, being influenced by health knowledge and exercising were significantly influenced, next controlling salt consumption. No change of smoking and alcohol drinking was found. Among different target population, these changes among women were higher than man as well as at home or retired than at work, and hypertension than normtension. As aging and education time decreasing, both absolute and relative effects of health education were better. It suggests that comprehensive intervention with health education as its main measure promote KAB levels and transfer health-related behaviors of population. It is great important to preventing cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases of community population.

Adult↗

Issues in Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Asian Pacific Area.

While the guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (FOBT) has been found to be effective for population screening for colorectal cancer, immunochemical FOBT (IFOBT) deserves attention as offering superior sensitivity, usually with no major loss of specificity. A great deal of interest has been concentrated on sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy as alternatives but medical capacity is a major problem with these approaches, which have yet to be validated for general employment. Other major problems which have still to be overcome with regard to colorectal screening are physician and target population compliance with recommendations as well as ensuring that positives undergo appropriate diagnostic investigations. The APJCP/APOCP has an important role to play in their future solution.

Journal Article↗

Analysis of nonparticipation in the SSI program.

This article addresses a range of questions about participation and nonparticipation in the supplemental security income (SSI) program with data collected by the Survey of Low-Income Aged and Disabled (SLIAD) during 1973 and 1974: (1) Can SSI's relatively modest growth be attributed to initial overestimates of the eligible population or to low rates of participation among eligibles? (2) If the latter, what factors inhibited program participation? (3) What is the relation between program participation in SSI's initial years and at the present time? (4) If the factors that initially inhibited participation have not significantly changed, what are the present implications for program policy? The first section of this article discusses the size and composition of the program's target population. Various estimates of the eligible SSI population are compared with microsimulation estimates based on SLIAD. The second section presents the theoretical and empirical framework used to analyze the factors associated with nonparticipation in SSI. The theory of nonparticipation, developed in the context of the "alternative income hypothesis," is presented in a series of propositions used to empirically verify the theory. The third section discusses the factors related to participation in the SSI program during and after the phase-in period. Subsequent response to SSI is presented in a discussion of outreach efforts and trends in program applications and program enrollments. The final section discusses the implications of the existence of an eligible nonparticipant population and what, if any, changes could be made to increase program involvement.

Aged↗

A cost-effectiveness analysis of cervical cancer screening: health policy implications.

This paper presents a framework for comparison of screening programme designs, based on efficiency and cost effectiveness criteria. The design parameters, such as choice of screening interval, which population segments to screen and expected participation rates in the selected population segments, are varied simultaneously. The costs and effects for a range of existing and hypothetical screening programmes against cervical cancer are estimated, using a mathematical simulation model. On the basis of these estimates average costs per life year and marginal costs per life year are calculated for a range of programmes. These calculations result in the definition of a range of inefficient programmes. Moreover, it is illustrated that the cost effectiveness of the efficient screening programmes decreases at an increasing rate as programmes are intensified either by way of shortening the screening interval or extending the target population segment to encompass the very young and/or the very old. The conclusion of this paper is that one should probably not extend screening programmes against cervical cancer beyond screening women in the age group 25-59 years every 4 years. In addition, increasing the participation rate of this group is a more cost effective way of increasing the number of life years gained, rather than extending the target group or decreasing the screening interval.

Adult↗

[Prescriptions and children].

Because of a lack in drug evaluation in children, they receive many off license drugs prescription, which means drugs prescribed in an indication, dosage, formulation or age different from the license terms. However, drug evaluation is crucial in paediatrics population because of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics modifications throughout organism development, which make usually wrong any extrapolation to children of data obtained in adults. Drug safety is generally better in infants except in newborns who are at a particularly high drug-related risk because of high frequency of off license drug use, many drugs association and drugs metabolism immaturity. The lack of evaluation in children, the fact that children are the unique target population of some drugs or the maturation phenomena explain some adverse effects more specific in children. The more the children are young, the more they are exposed to medication or drug utilization errors. Physician must take what the SPC, as found in the Vidal dictionary, mentions about children into account while prescribing. Drugs with a paediatric license must be preferred overall, however it should be kept in mind that a paediatric license means only that the drug is active in the indication of the license but it doesn't position it regarding other therapeutic alternatives. Off labeling prescription should be based on a supposed benefit, which had to be justified if a severe side effect occurred.

Child↗

Passive consent for clinical research in the age of HIPAA.

BACKGROUND: Federal laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, intended primarily to protect individuals, have been described as significant barriers to the use of clinical registries and other population-based tools for health care research. Although these regulations allow for the waiver or alteration of usual consent procedures when the research meets certain specific criteria, waivers and alterations are rarely used in health care research. METHODS: The Vermont Diabetes Information System is a multistate randomized trial of a quality improvement intervention that uses a novel alteration of informed consent to help ensure that the study sample is representative of the target population. Patients are notified by mail that they are eligible for the study and that they may opt out of the study, if they desire, by calling a toll-free number. RESULTS: Seven thousand five hundred and fifty-eight patients were invited to participate. Two hundred and ten (2.8%) opted out. Three patients (0.04%) filed complaints, all of which were addressed satisfactorily. CONCLUSIONS: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and other federal regulations raise challenges to the use of clinical registries in research, but modifications to the consent process, including passive consent methods, are useful tools to overcome these challenges. It is possible to recruit a broad and representative population under current law while maintaining appropriate protections for research subjects.

Diabetes Mellitus↗

[Sickness risk coverage of the poor and low income population].

Among regimes of sickness risk coverage, those who are managed by the government to the profit of the poor and low income population offer advantages in nature, in the form of total exempt from payment or a strong subsidy of care in public sanitary structures of the ministry of public health. These two regimes, known as "Gratuitous Medical Assistance", existed under other names since the 1950's and has undergone various modifications that had all for objective to adapt the benefit of the gratuitous of care to the economic conditions and financial of the targeted population.

Health Care Reform↗

Estimating the point accuracy of population registers using capture-recapture methods in Scotland.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the point accuracy of adult registration on the community health index (CHI) by comparing it with the electoral register (ER) and the community charge register (CCR). DESIGN: Survey of overlapping samples from three registers to ascertain whether respondents were living at the addresses given on the registers, analysed by capture-recapture methods. SETTING: Aberdeen North and South parliamentary constituencies. PARTICIPANTS: Random samples of adult registrants aged at least 18 years from the CHI (n = 1000), ER (n = 998), and CCR (n = 956). MAIN RESULTS: Estimated sensitivities (the proportions of the target population registered at the address where they live) were: CHI--84.6% (95% confidence limits 82.4%, 86.7%); ER--90.0% (87.5%, 92.5%), and CCR--87.7% (85.3%, 90.3%). Positive predictive values (the proportions of registrants who were living at their stated addresses) were: CHI--84.6% (82.2%, 87.0%); ER--94.0% (90.9%, 97.1%), and CCR--93.7% (91.7%, 95.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The CHI assessed in this study was significantly less sensitive and predictive than the corresponding ER and CCR. Capture-recapture methods are effective in assessing the accuracy of population registers.

Adult↗

[Patterns of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in ambulatory care].

The aim of this study was to discuss the patterns of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in general population. We identified NSAID's users from the French Health Insurance System claims database covering more of the population in the Midi-Pyrenees area (southwest of France), if they have received at least one NSAID in June 2003. We discussed this population according to the NSAID used, to their demographic characteristics and to other drugs delivered in the period. Our study shows different patterns of use according to each NSAID. For example, users of ibuprofen or tiaprofenic acid were younger and less frequently exposed to "gastroprotective" drugs, users of coxibs were older and more frequently exposed to drugs increasing the risk of bleeding. This study confirms the wide use of NSAIDs and describes their target population. It underlines the interest of Health Insurance System Database for better knowledge of drug use in ambulatory care in France.

Adult↗

Genetic counseling for thalassemia in Thailand: problems and solutions.

Thalassemia, a hereditary anemia, has been a major public health problem in Thailand and Southeast Asia for decades, yet the prevalence of thalassemia in Thailand is not decreasing due to lack of awareness of this disease in Thai population, which implied that genetic counseling was a failure. We determined the problems and obstacles in thalassemia counseling in Thailand and proposed the possible solutions in order to deliver genetic counseling and services to the communities more efficiently. A survey in thalassemia services was carried out in 12 hospitals; 9 in Bangkok, 3 in the North, Northeast, and South of Thailand respectively, by using questionnaire designed to assess the healthcare system, characteristics of target population, methods of genetic counseling, knowledge and attitudes of counselors, thalassemia support group, and researches in thalassemia, in a cross-sectional descriptive research design. The main problems in genetic counseling for thalassemia in Thailand are the followings; thalassemia problems not visible to the administrators, unorganized teamwork and services, lack of knowledge and inadequate numbers of counselors, lack of thalassemia support group, and inadequate researches in thalassemia prevention and control. The possible solutions are proposed. This study has pointed out the unseen problems and obstacles, along with the solutions in genetic counseling, given correctly, will help create awareness of thalassemia impact on health and socioeconomics in the Thai population. Thus, genetic counseling, with well-established guidelines, is a critical component for the success of prevention and control of thalassemia in Thailand.

Adolescent↗

[Life style: instrument in health promotion programs].

Non communicable diseases are increasing in third world countries, including Chile. Life style is one of the principal factors influencing this increase. Therefore programs and health strategies to modify the population life styles are needed. The programs developed to change life styles depend on the medical sociocultural scenery and the concept becomes outstanding when disease prevention is replaced by health promotion. The requirements for the application of the concept of life style in health promotion plans and fostering of healthy life styles are: 1) Training in behavioral epidemiology. 2) Election of a biopsychosocial concept of life style. 3) Identify the predominant scenery and target population. 4) Choose the appropriate educational methodologies to change behaviors. 5) Formalize strategies according to the boundaries where the program is applied. 6) Specify the qualifying requisites of the change agents, health promoters and program operators.

Health Behavior↗

Better comparisons of antiepileptic drugs: what measures of efficacy?

With the licensing of new antiepileptic drugs there is an obvious need for the determination of the comparative efficacy, tolerability and overall effectiveness against standard (existing) antiepileptic drugs. Such data can only be determined within the context of well-designed randomised clinical trials (RCTs). Such comparative monotherapy studies may form a part of phase III drug development programmes for a new antiepileptic drug. They may be commenced once there is satisfactory evidence for efficacy and safety derived from placebo-controlled add-on studies in more refractory populations of patients. In this manuscript definitions of outcomes such as effectiveness, efficacy, and tolerability are given. Health-related quality of life measures are presented, and it can be argued that such measures should be a primary outcome variable. However, there is little evidence that any quality of life measures have sufficient validity and sensitivity to be a useful tool in the comparison of drug treatments for epilepsy. Different populations can be studied in 'withdrawal to monotherapy' designs. In such studies patients poorly controlled on their existing therapy are randomised to receive different monotherapy regimes with withdrawal of their existing antiepileptic drugs. This clinical trial design has not been used in genuine comparisons between antiepileptic drugs and the efficiency of this approach has yet to be determined. Experience from studies comparing monotherapy would suggest that differences in efficacy between antiepileptic drugs in the target populations may be difficult to detect. Differences likely exist between the incidence and profile of adverse effects between different drugs. The main benefit of new antiepileptic drugs may be in reducing the incidence and severity of adverse reactions compared to older drugs and in doing so they may prove to be more effective.

Anticonvulsants↗

An ecological approach to the prevention of injuries due to drinking and driving.

Among the many alcohol-related public health concerns, motor vehicle crashes account for nearly one-third of all deaths attributable to alcohol. Adolescents and young adults, particularly males, are important target populations for intervention efforts. Taking an ecological perspective of individuals within their social and physical environments, a diagnostic framework is employed in reviewing the literature on factors associated with drinking and driving injuries and on interventions to prevent injuries due to drinking and driving. Intervention planning is conceptualized according to a multilevel intervention framework, which consists of four phases: (1) health goals selection, (2) intervention planning, (3) intervention, and (4) evaluation. Possible intervention objectives, targets of the intervention actions, intervention approaches, and evaluation criteria are identified and discussed for three societal levels and four practice settings.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Community surveillance for coronary heart disease: the Framingham Cardiovascular Disease survey. Comparisons with the Framingham Heart Study and previous short-term studies.

It appears likely that intervention trials on a community scale against one or more coronary heart disease risk factors will begin in the near future. Prerequisite to the evaluation of the effectiveness of these trials is the accurate determination of coronary heart disease incidence rates. The Framingham Cardiovascular Disease Survey was undertaken to test the hypothesis that a short-term surveillance study of a defined population can generate accurate incidence rates for at least some categories of cardiovascular disease and that these rates are comparable with those obtained by longitudinal survey of the same population. In conjunction with the 1970 U.S. census, a 1 year survey was made of all new coronary heart disease events occurring in the town of Framingham, Mass. Surveillance was performed by several methods that were intentionally overlapping. During the study period, 244 coronary heart disease events occurred. Despite the relatively small size of the population, many of the well established epidemiologic characteristics of this disease were evident. The rates obtained by the cardiovascular disease survey were comparable with those obtained by the Framingham Heart Study, for the harder end points of myocardial infarction and death from coronary heart disease, but much smaller for the softer end point of angina pectoris, especially in women. These data and those from similar studies indicate that periodic short-term surveillance studies of target populations of major intervention programs can provide an economic method of generating incidence data for the evaluation of the impact of such programs on myocardial infarction and death from coronary heart disease.

Age Factors↗

Optimizing delivery of inhaled corticosteroids: matching drugs with devices.

Over the past decade, the therapeutic options for delivering inhaled corticosteroids have greatly increased as newer compounds, formulations, and delivery systems have been developed. In the present article, some of the controversies surrounding inhaled steroid delivery systems will be reviewed, concentrating on differences in systemic bioavailability and emphasizing the need to match delivery systems with particular drugs and target populations. The strategies employed to minimize systemic exposure due to absorption of steroid from the gastrointestinal tract include increasing the first pass metabolism of the drug, the use of holding chambers with pressurized metered dose inhalers, and reformulation to create smaller, more respirable, particles. However, because the drugs and devices are not interchangeable, comparisons of the devices based on clinical studies will be confounded by differences in the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of the drugs. In addition to the interaction of drugs and devices, the needs of different patient populations should influence design of delivery systems. For example, patients without airflow obstruction may have greater systemic exposure compared to those with obstruction, while young children need different delivery systems from adults. In conclusion, no delivery system can be considered to be intrinsically superior to all others. The delivery system should be judged instead by its ability to optimize the pharmacokinetic properties of the drug, most notably oral bioavailability, and by its suitability for the target subpopulation of asthmatics.

Administration, Inhalation↗

The Aberdeen Children of the 1950s cohort study: background, methods and follow-up information on a new resource for the study of life course and intergenerational influences on health.

In this paper we introduce and describe in detail an addition to the UK's population-based resources for the investigation of biological and social influences on health across the life course and between generations: the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study. We also provide an account of postwar Aberdeen when study members were growing up, report on findings of analyses of data from the original survey on which this study is based and its follow-up, assess the strengths and limitations of the study, and outline current and future research directions. This cohort comprises individuals born in Aberdeen, Scotland (UK) between 1950 and 1956, and is derived from 15 thousand subjects who took part in the Aberdeen Child Development Survey, a cross-sectional study of 'mental subnormality' (learning disability) in a population of all children who were attending Aberdeen primary schools in December 1962. Data collection included information on birthweight, gestational age, childhood height and weight, tests of cognition and behavioural disorder, and a range of multilevel socio-economic indicators. In 1998 we began the process of revitalising this cohort (now termed the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study). We have been successful in ascertaining the current vital status and whereabouts of 98.5% of a target population of 12 150 subjects (6276 males, 5874 females) with full baseline data. The large majority (81%) of study participants still reside in Scotland and many (73%) have remained in the Grampian region which incorporates Aberdeen. At the present time, a total of almost 500 subjects are known to have died. Linkages to hospital admissions and other health endpoints captured through the Scottish Morbidity Records system have been completed. This includes an intergenerational linkage to approximately eight thousand deliveries in Scotland occurring to female members of the study population. A postal questionnaire to all traced surviving cohort members has also been distributed.

Child↗

Respiratory symptoms in Lancashire textile weavers.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate a large population of cotton textile weavers for reported respiratory symptoms relative to occupational factors, smoking, and exposure to dust. Cotton processing is known to produce a respiratory disease known as byssinosis particularly in the early processes of cotton spinning. Relatively little is known about the respiratory health of the cotton weavers who produce cloth from spun cotton. By the time cotton is woven many of the original contaminants have been removed. METHODS: 1295 operatives from a target population of 1428 were given an interviewer led respiratory questionnaire. The presence of upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms were sought and the work relatedness of these symptoms determined by a stem questionnaire design. Also occupational and demographic details were obtained and spirometry and personal dust sampling performed. RESULTS: Byssinosis was present in only four people (0.3%). Chronic bronchitis had a moderate overall prevalence of about 6% and was related predominantly to smoking. There were several other work related respiratory symptoms (persistent cough 3.9%, chronic production of phlegm 3.6%, chest tightness 4.8%, wheezing 5.4%, and breathlessness 2.3%). All of these were predicted predominantly by smoking (either past or present), with no consistent independent effect of exposure to dust. Work related eye and nasal symptoms were more common (10.4% and 16.9% respectively). CONCLUSION: Byssinosis is a rare respiratory symptom in cotton weaving. Other work related respiratory symptoms were reported but their presence was predominantly related to smoking with no consistent effects of exposure to dust.

Adult↗