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PubMed1997

Active vs. passive methods of recruiting ethnic minority women to a health promotion program.

Ethnic minority women have been underrepresented in health promotion research. There is a need to develop effective methods of recruiting ethnic minority women to health promotion programs and research studies. This article evaluates several methods for recruiting ethnic minority women to a study of a telephone and mail intervention encouraging participation in a home-based walking program. One hundred twenty-six sedentary ethnic minority women between the ages of 25 and 55 were recruited using two types of approaches. Number of participants screened, number enrolled, and recruitment efficiency (ratio of number recruited/number screened) were assessed. "Active" recruitment, contacting targeted individuals in person, by phone, or by mail, yielded 236 screened and 29 recruited with a recruitment efficiency of 11%. "Passive" recruitment, informing the community through public notices and waiting for volunteers to call, yielded 151 screened and 97 recruited with a recruitment efficiency of 64%. Those recruited by active or passive methods did not differ by demographic characteristics, baseline psychosocial variables, or dropout rates. Passive recruits walked significantly more at five-month follow-up than active recruits. Passive recruitment may be more economical at the cost of potentially biased samples.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Dropping out of treatment for obesity.

This study compared the pre-treatment characteristics of participants in three weight reduction programmes who either completed treatment or dropped out. The three programmes each lasted for 16 weeks, selected subjects on the same criteria, and offered the same dietary advice. The first two programmes were run by the same psychologist in the same community setting. In each study a different set of characteristics significantly separated completers from dropouts, and discriminant function analysis assessed how well this separation was achieved. The discriminant function from the first study correctly identified 75% of the subjects on which it was based. When applied to the second study it correctly identified 64% of subjects, showing limited generalisability. There were also significant differences between early dropouts and late drop-outs, but the nature of these varied between studies. In discussing the implications of these results it was argued that further research might more fruitfully focus on psychological processes involved in drop-out rather than continue to search for correlates of drop-out.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Long-term treatment of alcoholic liver disease with propylthiouracil. Part 2: Influence of drop-out rates and of continued alcohol consumption in a clinical trial.

Although propylthiouracil has previously been shown to reduce the risk of mortality in alcoholic liver disease by 60%, generalized use of propylthiouracil for this condition has not occurred. Additional data are therefore presented on four aspects to provide a better assessment of its therapeutic effectiveness. First, the characteristics and the prognosis of dropouts were virtually identical in both the drug and placebo groups. Also the methodology and analysis employed, were designed to control for dropouts, thus providing an accurate interpretation of the outcome. Secondly, since 97% of the patients continued to drink, abstinence was not a precondition for the beneficial effect of propylthiouracil. However, the beneficial effect was observed most clearly in those patients who continued to drink at lower levels, whereas lower level drinking per se did not afford protection in placebo patients. Thirdly, serious side effects or clinical hypothyroidism occurred extremely rarely in these patients, many of whom have now received propylthiouracil for over 4 years. Fourthly, we discuss why the outcome in long-term clinical trials in alcoholic liver disease cannot be compared with effects observed in clinical trials lasting only a few weeks. Journal of Hepatology.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2005

Periocular petrolatum.

PURPOSE: This report describes the clinical and histopathologic features and discusses the diagnostic difficulties and management of periocular deposition of petrolatum-based materials. METHODS: Excision of orbital and eyelid tissue, tissue processing, and histopathologic examination was performed in patients with deposition of petroleum-based products. Transmission electron microscopy was performed in 3 cases. RESULTS: Between 1983 and 2003, 11 patients were diagnosed with periocular petrolatum deposition, based on clinical history and the characteristic histopathologic features of polymorphic dropout spaces, and varied from a noninflammatory lesion (paraffinoma) to those with an associated granulomatous inflammatory reaction. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of petrolatum deposition can be challenging due to the range of symptoms and variable delay in presentation. Petrolatum products should be avoided during surgery and used judiciously in the postoperative period. To avoid confusion with nonspecific cases of lipogranulomatous inflammation, the terms "ointment granuloma" or "orbital paraffinoma" should be used to refer to patients presenting with orbital/eyelid lesions caused by ointment use.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Abnormal vessel patterns in phototoxic rat retinopathy studied by vascular replicas.

Permeability abnormalities of vessels in rat phototoxic retinopathy have been described for sodium fluorescein and the fluoresceinated dextrans. Since fenestrated vessels within the pigment epithelium (RPE-vessels) had connections to retinal capillaries but not to choroidal vessels, it was presumed that the continuous retinal vessels became fenestrated when located in the abnormal environment of the pigment epithelial cell. It was necessary to rule out a choroidal origin of these unusual RPE-vessels, since they may be a model for other vasculopathies. Vascular cast replicas of whole retinal and choroidal vessel beds from rats with advanced phototoxic retinopathy were studied by scanning electron microscopy. No connection between the retinal and choroidal vasculature was found. Retinal vessels entering the pigment epithelium formed medusa-like coils in local areas. Marked capillary dropout and vessel tortuosity were characteristic. The choroidal capillary bed was normal. This model is appropriate for study of the plasticity of retinal capillaries as seen in diabetic retinopathy and senile macular degeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Characteristics of latino men who have sex with men on the internet who complete and drop out of an internet-based sexual behavior survey.

To identify biases and threats to validity of Internet survey data collection on HIV-related risk behaviors, we studied 1,546 Latino men who have sex with men on the Internet recruited through banner impressions on a leading national gay Internet site. The study could be completed in English or Spanish. Of those commencing, 33.6% dropped out before completing the 450-field questionnaire. None of the linguistic variables (level of use of Spanish or English) predicted dropout. However, dropouts were more likely to identify as Puerto Rican or Black, to reject the $20 compensation or offer it to a charity, to not have met men for sex on the Internet, to identify as bisexual or heterosexual, and to use Web sites or personal ads for contact and to use the Internet less at home than those who completed the study. Men in seroconcordant monogamous relationships and those who had not met a man for sex on the Internet were also more likely to drop out. These data suggest that there are no linguistic and few demographic and Internet use variables that are associated with dropout. Issues of compensation and respondent characteristics that make it likely that there will be a large number of inapplicable data fields in the questionnaire appear to be significant predictors of dropout. Although there were many data missing, the dropouts did not appear to be at greater HIV-associated risk than the completers. The fact that there appear to be few systematic demographic or Internet use biases in dropouts suggests that the completers do not represent a seriously skewed sample of those Latinos who commence the Internet survey.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

Delinquency and social changes in United Arab Emirates: a comparison study between delinquent males and females on the family functioning questionnaire.

The purpose of this study was to specify descriptive elements of juvenile delinquents in United Arab Emirates (UAE); a comparison between male and female young offenders was also conducted using the Family Functioning Questionnaire (FFQ). The results revealed that some of the characteristics of young offenders were: school dropouts, had parents with no or some elementary education, lived in the city, and came from low income families. The statistical analysis revealed that there were significant differences between males and females on the FFQ subscales. That is, there was a differential treatment of male and female delinquents in the UAE society. Suggestions, implications and limitations for the potential use of the results reported in this study are also discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Barrier contraception in the teenager: a comparison of four methods in adolescent girls.

The use-effectiveness and continuation rates of 4 methods of contraception were studied during a 2 year follow-up period in a group of 405 teenage girls. Results were compared in 2 groups of adolescents, 1 of highly motivated, high socioeconomic status girls (A) and 1 of poorly motivated, low socioeconomic status adolescent clinic patients (B). The method of contraception was selected by the girls, who were instructed in their proper use. Results showed good rates of continuation among girls of the 1st group as compared to those of the 2nd group. Pregnancy rates after 24 months of use, as calculated by Pearl's formula, was 3.6 and 5.4 respectively with the use of a condom, and 5.8 and 10.8 when the diaphragm was used. When using vaginal foam alone, the rates were 4.2 and 12.3 and with the rhythm method, 8.5 and 13.1. The foam-alone method was unpopular in both groups. No serious side effects or complications were recorded. The study demostrated a reasonable acceptability and use-effectiveness for barrier contraceptives. It is suggested that these harmless and complication-free methods, especially the condom and diaphragm, may be reasonable alternatives for the more modern methods in teens of all socioeconomic strata; an effort must be made to educate and instruct the poorly motivated and encourage them to present themselves for regular follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Prolonged exposure in patients with chronic PTSD: predictors of treatment outcome and dropout.

The present study investigated predictors of treatment outcome and dropout in two samples of PTSD-patients with mixed traumas treated using prolonged imaginal exposure. Possible predictors were analysed in both samples separately, in order to replicate in one sample findings found in the other. The only stable finding across the two groups was that patients who showed more PTSD-symptoms at pre-treatment, showed more PTSD-symptoms at post-treatment and follow-up. Indications were found that benzodiazepine use was related to both treatment outcome and dropout, and alcohol use to dropout. Demographic variables, depression and general anxiety, personality, trauma characteristics, feelings of anger, guilt, and shame and nonspecific variables regarding therapy were not related to either treatment outcome or dropout, disconfirming generally held beliefs about these factors as contra-indications for exposure therapy. It is concluded that it is difficult to use pre-treatment variables as a powerful and reliable tool for predicting treatment outcome or dropout. Clinically seen, it is therefore argued that exclusion of PTSD-patients from prolonged exposure treatment on the basis of pre-treatment characteristics is not justified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Attrition in a longitudinal study of an aged population.

This report focuses upon attrition in longitudinal studies of older persons using a Florida survey as an illustration. In 1959 interviews were completed with a probability sample (N = 2544) of older noninstutionalized residents (age 65+) of a retirement community. Data were collected on health status, health practices, social factors, and activities. Nine years later a follow-up study of the same sample was undertaken. In this report 1959 data for 2497 of these persons are analyzed by results of the 1968 effort (reinterviewed, lost to follow-up, or deceased). About one third of this highly migratory sample could not be located in 1968; death certificates were located for another one third; and the remaining one third was reinterviewed. Social characteristics, housing arrangements, activities, and chronic conditions of the three subpopulations are compared. Persons reinterviewed were found to differ from dropouts in age, sex, type of dwelling unit, activity patterns, and prevalence of chronic conditions. No significant differences were found in educational level, household composition, usual occupation, and retirement status (when controlled for sex).

Aged↗
PubMed1999

A comparative study of cocaine-treatment completers and dropouts.

This study compared matched groups of completers and dropouts from residential treatment for cocaine abuse on a range of outcome measures, including cocaine and alcohol use, stress, coping, and social support characteristics. The most striking finding of this study was that treatment dropouts differed from treatment completers on only 2 of 14 dependent measures reflecting substance use, stress, coping, and social support characteristics during two 3-month follow-up periods. Both dropouts and completers demonstrated large decreases in cocaine and alcohol use from pretreatment to the first follow-up period. Completers and dropouts did not differ in level of substance use during either follow-up period.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

Treatment attrition during group therapy for social phobia.

Psychological group treatments, such as behavioral or cognitive-behavioral therapy, are generally effective interventions for social phobia. However, a substantial number of individuals discontinue these treatments prematurely. Participant attrition can threaten the validity of treatment outcome studies if attrition during therapy does not occur randomly. In order to examine this issue, we studied 133 individuals with a principal diagnosis of social phobia who initiated a 12-week behavioral or cognitive-behavioral group treatment for social phobia. Thirty-four participants discontinued therapy prematurely. These dropouts were compared to treatment completers in demographic characteristics, Axis I and II psychopathology, and their attitude toward treatment. The results only showed a small difference between treatment completers and dropouts in their attitude toward treatment: dropouts rated the treatment rationale as less logical than completers at the beginning of treatment. No other differences between dropouts and completers were observed. Therefore, dropouts are unlikely to present a serious threat to the external validity of treatment outcome studies for social phobia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Predicting longer-term outcomes following psychological treatment for hypnotic-dependent chronic insomnia.

OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors of treatment adherence, patient dropout, and treatment response among long-term hypnotic users recruited into a randomized controlled trial of psychological treatment for insomnia. METHODS: Of 108 treatment and 101 control patients initially recruited, 37 treatment group patients (34.3%) failed to complete all 6 sessions (i.e., were nonadherent), while across both groups 61 (29.2%) patients failed to return postal assessments at 3-month follow-up (i.e., dropped out). Relationships between baseline characteristics and adherence (adherent vs. nonadherent) and attrition (dropout vs. nondropout) were examined in discriminant models. Relationships between baseline characteristics and treatment response (sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and hypnotic drug use) were examined in a series of multiple regression models. RESULTS: Adherent patients showed a significantly greater severity of pretreatment sleep disturbance, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Dropout at 3 months was associated with significantly lower perceived health status at baseline. In the regression models, lower Cure/Control subscale scores from the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) predicted greater posttreatment improvements in sleep efficiency and PSQI scores, while lower baseline anxiety scores predicted a posttreatment increase in hypnotic-free nights/week. CONCLUSION: In routine clinical practice settings, higher anxiety and a less positive attitude towards symptom control were associated with poorer treatment response. Adherence and attrition show a different pattern of associations, with greater need (as indexed by insomnia severity) predicting higher levels of service uptake and poorer general health predicting a higher likelihood of dropout.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Ethnic populations: community mental health services ten years later.

In a replication of a series of studies conducted by Sue and colleagues in the mid-1970s, demographic and service data were retrieved for the Seattle-King County area from the Washington Mental Health Information System. Caucasian clients were compared against Asian, black, Hispanic, and Native American client groups, and, where possible, against the findings reported earlier by Sue. These clients were compared in terms of basic demographic characteristics, characteristics of staff providing the services, dropout rates, and average number of services received. The most notable findings are (a) that failure-to-return rates are dramatically lower for the current sample than for Sue's and not greatly different for minorities than for Caucasians, (b) that variability in failure-to-return rates is most strongly related to level of functioning and not related to minority status, and (c) that although Asian Americans still average fewer services than Caucasians (other minorities do not differ significantly), the mean number of services had increased substantially for all groups but more for minorities than for Caucasians.

Adult↗