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PubMedDate not supplied

Demographic, clinical, and neurocognitive predictors of quality of life in schizophrenia patients receiving conventional neuroleptics.

We sought to evaluate demographic, clinical, and neurocognitive predictors of self-rated life quality and hospitalization in schizophrenia patients without the potentially cognition-enhancing influence of newer generation neuroleptic medication. A sample of 55 atypical neuroleptic-naive schizophrenia patients was assessed at index and 3 years later. Index neurocognitive measures included general intellectual ability (IQ), executive ability (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [WCST]), verbal memory (California Verbal Learning Test [CVLT]), and manual dexterity (Purdue Pegboard). These measures, along with demographic (age, sex, education) and clinical (symptoms, prior hospitalizations) variables, were entered into regression equations to predict life quality (Sickness Impact Profile [SIP]) at follow-up, as well as rehospitalization during the 3-year period. Stability data were also analyzed. Demographic and cognitive data predicted subjective quality of life, but not rehospitalization. Changes in memory over time rather than performance levels related to life quality at follow-up. Rehospitalization was related only to demographic data and previous hospital admissions. The findings support the predictive value of selected aspects of neurocognition in relation to a subjective outcome domain in schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Are functional and demographic senescence genetically independent?

Biogerontology has traditionally focused on demographic senescence by searching for environmental manipulations and genes that extend life span. Relatively little is known about age-specific changes in functional traits and how demographic and functional senescence are genetically (co)regulated. To determine whether functional and demographic senescence have a similar genetic basis, we measured genotypic variation in the age-related change in cold-stress resilience and age-specific mortality using ten inbred lines of Drosophila melanogaster. Cold-stress resilience was measured as the average time for a population of flies to recover from a chill coma after being placed on melting ice for 6 h. We found genotypic variation in both sexes for chill-coma resilience, for the rate at which it declines with age, for longevity, for the initial mortality rate, and for the rate at which mortality increases with age. However, there was no genotypic correlation between any of these functional and demographic parameters. These results suggest that deterioration of at least some functional traits might be genetically independent of mortality patterns. Models for the genetic basis of senescence may do well to distinguish between quality and quantity of life in terms of their genetic architectures, and the way selection acts upon these two age-related factors.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Food nutrition label use is associated with demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors and dietary intake among African Americans in North Carolina.

OBJECTIVE: Reading nutrition labels on food packages may improve food choices and enable healthful dietary practices. This report describes the prevalence of nutrition label use and its association with demographic, behavioral, and psychological factors and diet among African-American adults. DESIGN/SUBJECTS: Self-reported data from a population-based cross-sectional survey of 658 African Americans, aged 20 to 70 years, in North Carolina. An 11-page questionnaire assessed nutrition label use, fruit and vegetable consumption, total and saturated fat intakes, fat-related dietary behaviors, diet-related psychosocial factors, and demographic and behavioral characteristics. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi2 tests and logistic regression analyses examined associations of demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors with nutrition label use. Linear regression was used to estimate the variation in diet explained by label use. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 43.9+/-11.6 years, 41% were men, 37% were college graduates, and 75% were overweight/obese. Seventy-eight percent of respondents read nutrition labels when they purchased packaged foods. Nutrition label use was significantly higher among participants who were women, older, educated beyond high school, and obese (P <.05). After adjusting for demographic characteristics, the strongest psychosocial predictors of nutrition label use were healthful eating self-efficacy, strong belief in a diet-cancer relationship, and trying to lose weight. Usual/often label users had higher fruit and vegetable consumption and lower fat intakes (P <.001), and nutrition labels explained 2% to 17% of the variance in dietary intake. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition information on packaged foods appears to be a useful way to conduct point-of-purchase nutrition education among African Americans in North Carolina. Most respondents used food labels at least sometimes, but only about half usually or often did so. Efforts should be made to determine how all consumers could use nutrition labels effectively.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Demographic characteristics of endodontic practice sites in the United States.

Few studies have addressed the demographic characteristics of dental practice sites including endodontic practice sites. This study investigated the demographic characteristics of endodontic practice sites in the United States. Demographic data and endodontic practices were organized by zip codes and analyzed using discriminant analysis. The demographic characteristics associated with zip codes that contained an endodontic practice were determined versus the characteristics of zip codes that did not contain an endodontic practice. The resulting model correctly classified 93.7% of the 30,171 zip code areas based upon the presence or absence of an endodontic practice. The variables most closely associated with a zip code containing an endodontic practice included: number of dental practices (nonendodontic), population size, percent of adult population with a college degree, size of employed population, projected population growth (2005 to 2010), percent of population over 64 years old, and median housing value.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Socio-demographic factors in the prognosis of oral cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the survival rate of oral cancer patients treated in a medical center in central Taiwan and to investigate whether socio-demographic factors influence their survival. We retrospectively reviewed 1010 chart records of oral cancer patients. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model was used for investigating the relationship between socio-demographic factors and survival. The overall 5-year survival rate was 63.24%. Multivariate analysis revealed that those without religious belief tended to have higher probability of death than those who had religious belief (relative risk (RR): 2.057, p<0.001). In addition, those who were single, widow/widower or divorced/separated had a poorer prognosis than those who were married (RR: 1.528, p=0.008). Apart from clinical features, socio-demographic factors also significantly influenced the survival of oral cancer patients. Therefore, care providers should take socio-demographic issues into consideration aside from ordinary clinical health care.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Socio-demographic and clinical predictors of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder.

This article discusses the relationships between socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and Quality of Life (QOL) of individuals with schizophrenia. The client version of the Canadian version of the Wisconsin Quality of Life Index (CaW-QLI) was used with a population of 182 individuals with either schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder. Multivariate analyses of variance with Tukey post hoc tests were used to assess differences between groups defined according to socio-demographic and clinical characteristics on all sub-scale scores in addition to the global score on the CaW-QLI. Relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and QOL were found for gender, age, education, employment status and living arrangement. Differences in QOL were found between groups with different clinical characteristics, such as diagnosis, hospitalization during the last 12 months and age at first hospitalization. Using socio-demographic and clinical variables in addition to psychosocial variables appears to be promising for understanding QOL in psychotic patients. Methodological considerations for future research are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Complexity and demographic stability in population models.

This article is concerned with relating the stability of a population, as defined by the rate of decay of fluctuations induced by demographic stochasticity, with its heterogeneity in age-specific birth and death rates. We invoke the theory of large deviations to establish a fluctuation theorem: The demographic stability of a population is positively correlated with evolutionary entropy, a measure of the variability in the age of reproducing individuals in the population. This theorem is exploited to predict certain correlations between ecological constraints and evolutionary trends in demographic stability, namely, (i) bounded growth constraints--a uni-directional increase in stability, (ii) unbounded growth constraints (large population size)--a uni-directional decrease in stability, (iii) unbounded growth constraints (small population size)--random, non-directional change in stability. These principles relating ecological constraints with trends in demographic stability are shown to be far reaching generalizations of the tenets derived from classical studies of stability in an evolutionary context. These results thus provide a new conceptual framework for explaining patterns of variation in population numbers observed in natural populations.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

Statistical tests of demographic heterogeneity theories.

In this paper we develop predictions from models of life-long demographic heterogeneity. These predictions are then compared to observations of mortality in large laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster. We find that the demographic heterogeneity models either require levels of variation that far exceed what would be considered biologically plausible, or they predict a much larger number of very old individuals than we actually observe. We conclude that the demographic heterogeneity models are not reasonable explanations of demographic patterns and are weakly motivated biological models.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Association of intravenous phenytoin toxicity with demographic, clinical, and dosing parameters.

Previous studies investigating intravenous phenytoin toxicity have been largely anecdotal, and have inferred an association with older patients, cardiovascular disease, and higher doses, concentrations, and infusion rates of phenytoin. This investigation sought to elucidate both the incidence and nature of acute intravenous phenytoin toxicity in emergency department patients, and to identify any demographic, clinical, or dosing associations with toxicity, by analyzing a retrospective case series over 3 years in a municipal teaching hospital. A consecutive series of 164 patients who received intravenous phenytoin loading in the emergency department following acute seizure presentation was identified. Demographic, clinical, and dosing data were collected, and the nature of toxicity was noted. Data were then analyzed statistically for potential associations with toxicity. Eight cases of hypotension and no apnea or arrhythmias were noted in the 164 patients (4.9% incidence). Analysis of demographic, clinical, and dosing data found statistically significant associations between hypotension and both a lower phenytoin dose administered (537 mg in hypotensive patients v 787 mg in normotensive patients, P = .00046) and the presence of abnormal neurological signs at initial presentation (20% incidence when abnormal signs present v 3.5% incidence when absent, P = .026). No other associations were found between toxicity and other variables. This sample size could detect differences ranging from 4% to 11% in complication rate (hypotension) for the various demographic, clinical, and dosing parameters with a statistical power of 80%. It was concluded that the incidence of hypotension from intravenous phenytoin administration in this study population was approximately 5%, and the incidence of apnea and cardiac arrhythmia in this series was 0%. No associations with age, comorbidities, or infusion rates were found, in contrast to other studies. Association of intravenous phenytoin toxicity with lower phenytoin dose is likely related to prompt cessation of the drug once signs of toxicity occur. The possible association of toxicity with abnormal initial neurological signs has not previously been reported and may possibly define a population at risk if validated by prospective research in additional populations.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence, stability, and socio-demographic correlates of depressive symptoms in Black mothers during the first 18 months postpartum.

OBJECTIVES: The goals of this longitudinal study were to evaluate 1) the prevalence and stability of high depressive symptom levels during the first 18 months postpartum in a sample of otherwise healthy Black mothers varying in socio-economic status and 2) the relation of sociodemographic variables and level of socio-demographic risk to maternal depressive symptom levels during this time period. METHODS: Participants were 163 Black adult mothers of healthy, full-term infants. The level of mothers' depressive symptomatology was assessed at 2, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months postpartum using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Mothers provided socio-demographic information at each assessment. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The percentage of mothers with an elevated CES-D score (16 or higher) at single visits ranged from 13.5 to 14.7%, and 35.0% had at least one elevated CES-D score by 18 months postpartum. CES-D total scores were significantly correlated across each pair of visits (mean r = 0.57, all p's < 0.0001), and average CES-D scores did not change significantly over time. Single marital status, low-income status, and more negative maternal perceptions of the adequacy of income for meeting familial needs were significantly related to higher maternal CES-D scores at each assessment (all p's < 0.05). Level of socio-demographic risk, as assessed with a composite risk score derived from these variables, was significantly related to higher average CES-D scores (averaged across visits) (p < 0.0001) and to a greater frequency of elevated CES-D scores (16 or higher) during the first 18 months postpartum (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and stability of high levels of maternal depressive symptomatology during the first 18 months postpartum in this sample of Black women are consistent with those reported in prior studies of community samples of mothers unselected for race. Mothers with higher socio-demographic risk profiles had higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms at each assessment point.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The relationship between medical students' attitudes towards communication skills learning and their demographic and education-related characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: The General Medical Council (GMC) has stressed the importance of medical students' attitudes towards learning. However, few studies have explored medical students' attitudes towards communication skills learning. This study explores the relationship between the attitudes of medical students at two different schools and their demographic and education-related characteristics. METHODS: A total of 490 medical students from the Universities of Nottingham (Years 1 and 2) and Leicester (Year 1) completed the 26-item Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS) and a personal details questionnaire satisfactorily. The relationships between students' attitudes and their demographic and education-related characteristics were analysed separately for Nottingham and Leicester students using both univariate and multivariate statistics. RESULTS: The attitudes of Nottingham and Leicester medical students towards communication skills learning were significantly associated with a number of demographic and education-related characteristics. Both Nottingham and Leicester students with more positive attitudes towards communication skills learning tended to be female, tended to think their communication skills needed improving and tended not to have parents who were doctors. Both Nottingham and Leicester students with more negative attitudes towards communication skills learning tended to think their communication skills did not need improving. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that medical students' attitudes towards communication skills learning are associated with their demographic and education-related characteristics. These findings have a number of implications for educational practice and further research and these are discussed in this paper.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Experimental evaluation of the usefulness of microsatellite DNA for detecting demographic bottlenecks.

Evolutionary and conservation biologists often use molecular markers to evaluate whether populations have experienced demographic bottlenecks that resulted in a loss of genetic variation. We evaluated the utility of microsatellites for detection of recent, severe bottlenecks and compared the amounts of genetic diversity lost in bottlenecks of different sizes. In experimental mesocosms, we established replicate populations by releasing 1, 2, 4 or 8 pairs of the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Poeciliidae). Using eight polymorphic microsatellite loci, we quantified seven indices of genetic diversity or change that have been used to assess the effects of demographic bottlenecks on populations. We compared indices for the experimentally bottlenecked populations to those for the source population and examined differences between populations established with different numbers of founders. Direct count heterozygosity and the proportion of polymorphic loci were not very sensitive to genetic changes that resulted from the experimental bottlenecks. Heterozygosity excess and expected heterozygosity were useful to varying degrees in the detection of bottlenecks. Allelic diversity and temporal variance in allele frequencies were most sensitive to genetic changes that resulted from the bottlenecks, and the temporal variance method was slightly more correlated with bottleneck size than was allelic diversity. Based on comparisons to a previous study with allozymes, heterozygosity, temporal variance in allele frequencies and allelic diversity, but not proportion of polymorphic loci, appear to be more sensitive to demographic bottlenecks when quantified using microsatellites. We found that analysis of eight highly polymorphic loci was sufficient to detect a recent demographic bottleneck and to obtain an estimate of the magnitude of bottleneck severity.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Demographic and genetic estimates of effective population size (Ne) reveals genetic compensation in steelhead trout.

Estimates of effective population size (Ne) are required to predict the impacts of genetic drift and inbreeding on the evolutionary dynamics of populations. How the ratio of Ne to the number of sexually mature adults (N) varies in natural vertebrate populations has not been addressed. We examined the sensitivity of Ne/N to fluctuations of N and determined the major variables responsible for changing the ratio over a period of 17 years in a population of steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from Washington State. Demographic and genetic methods were used to estimate Ne. Genetic estimates of Ne were gained via temporal and linkage disequilibrium methods using data from eight microsatellite loci. DNA for genetic analysis was amplified from archived smolt scales. The Ne/N from 1977 to 1994, estimated using the temporal method, was 0.73 and the comprehensive demographic estimate of Ne/N over the same time period was 0.53. Demographic estimates of Ne indicated that variance in reproductive success had the most substantial impact on reducing Ne in this population, followed by fluctuations in population size. We found increased Ne/N ratios at low N, which we identified as genetic compensation. Combining the information from the demographic and genetic methods of estimating Ne allowed us to determine that a reduction in variance in reproductive success must be responsible for this compensation effect. Understanding genetic compensation in natural populations will be valuable for predicting the effects of changes in N (i.e. periods of high population density and bottlenecks) on the fitness and genetic variation of natural populations.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Apostles and Zionists: the influence of religion on demographic change in rural Zimbabwe.

Religion has acted as a brake on demographic transition in a number of historical and contemporary populations. In a study in two rural areas of Zimbabwe, we found substantial differences in recent demographic trends between Mission and Independent or "Spirit-type" churches. Birth rates are higher in some Spirit-type churches and, until recently, infant mortality was also higher. Recent increases in mortality were seen within Mission churches but not in Spirit-type churches. Missiological and ethnographic data indicate that differences in religious teaching on healthcare-seeking and sexual behaviour and differences in church regulation could explain this contrast in demographic patterns. More restrictive norms on alcohol consumption and extra-marital relationships in Spirit-type churches may limit the spread of HIV and thereby reduce its impact on mortality. These contrasting trends will influence the future religious and demographic profile of rural populations in Zimbabwe.

History, 20th Century↗
PubMed1998

Psychological distress and burnout among buddies: demographic, situational and motivational factors.

Work-related psychological distress (burnout) is a probable cause of drop-out among emotional support volunteers (buddies) who work with people living with AIDS. In addition to the emotional suffering and disruption to both the buddy and the buddied, burnout has significant cost implications for voluntary organizations in terms of training and recruitment. The aim of this study was to identify the demographic, situational and motivational factors associated with burnout among buddies with the intention of identifying individuals at risk at the recruitment stage. A cross-sectional single cohort postal questionnaire study design was used. All buddies registered with the Terrence Higgins Trust, a non-profit making organization set up in the UK to provide education about HIV/AIDS and care for people affected by the virus, were invited to participate. Psychological morbidity was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory and motivation was assessed using the Calvert Motivation Checklist. Information on the buddy relationship and the demographic details of each buddy was also collected. Of 586 questionnaires distributed, 324 (55%) were returned. More than 24% of buddies were classified as probable cases of burnout on one or more of the MBI scales but this is lower than has been reported in medical and nursing staff working with people living with AIDS. Although a number of demographic, situational and motivational factors were associated with burnout, logistic regression models were unable to identify a useful proportion of individuals at risk. It was concluded that although burnout is an important psychological factor in retaining volunteers, it was not possible to identify individuals at risk of burning out either from their self-reported motivations or from demographic factors.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2003

Demographic and lifestyle factors associated with body mass index among children and adolescents.

Cases of overweight and obesity among adults, adolescents, and children are escalating in the United States. Using data from the Continuing Survey of Food Intake for Individuals (CSFII) 1994-1996 and 1998, and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES), we developed multivariate regression models to examine the association between demographic and lifestyle variables (gender, race/ethnicity, age, family income, diet, and television viewing) and the body mass index (BMI) of children aged 6-11 years, and adolescents aged 12-19 years for CSFII and aged 12-16 years for NHANES. In the children's model, the statistically significant demographic predictors of BMI were age, race, gender, and family income. Among adolescents, the demographic predictors were age, race, and gender. Among the lifestyle variables, dietary factors were not associated with BMI in children. On the contrary, carbohydrates (less added sugars) had a statistically significant inverse relationship to BMI among adolescents. In both children and adolescents, television viewing was markedly associated with BMI, and participation in team sports was negatively associated with BMI. The overall process by which overweight develops is complex, and our four models explained only a small portion of total variance of BMI. The CSFII models explained 8.5% of the variance for children and 11.4% of the variance for adolescents. The NHANES models explained 8.8% of the variance for children and 12.5% of the variance for adolescents. Demographic variables accounted for roughly one-half of the explained variance for both children and adolescents. The rest of the explained variance was accounted for by television viewing, diet, and family income.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Employment participation following spinal cord injury: relation to selected participant demographic, injury and psychological characteristics.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between selected demographic, injury and psychological characteristics and the extent of employment undertaken following spinal cord injury (SCI). METHOD: Data were collected from 289 persons with SCI who found employment post-injury. A survey was administered to patients of a specialist spinal cord injury unit located in South-Eastern Australia. A variety of demographic, injury and psychological variables were assessed for their relationship to the extent of employment undertaken following SCI. Extent of employment, was defined as time spent employed as a proportion of the time available for employment, and is hereafter referred to as "workrate." RESULTS: On average, participants reported having been employed for almost two-thirds of their available time. Study variables explained 22% (18% adjusted) of the variance in post-injury workrate. Individually, demographic and psychological variables, but not injury variables, were found to relate to the outcome measure. CONCLUSION: Using a novel measure of employment outcome, this study yielded findings consistent with other research using alternate employment measures. Results suggest that demographic and psychological variables are more related to this measure of employment participation than are injury variables. The addition of environmental variables may allow for the explanation of more variance in outcome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attribute and Demographic Study (LEADS): an interim report.

OBJECTIVES: This ten-year longitudinal study examines various attributes and demographic characteristics of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics to identify factors that influence their careers, to identify trends in emergency medical services (EMS), and to provide data on why individuals report leaving the EMS career field. METHODS: A 46-item core survey and a 16-item cross-sectional survey were administered to EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics who were randomly selected and placed in cohort groups stratified by duration of continuous registration at each level and by race. The core survey focused on five broad areas of attributes and demographics, including general, professional, educational, personal, and financial. Case weights were calculated for respondents in each stratum, reflecting the individual's probability of selection. These case weights were adjusted, within strata, for nonresponse. The survey will be administered annually. The cross-sectional survey focused on EMS education. RESULTS: This interim report is descriptive of the overall responses of EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics to core survey items. The demographic characteristics of EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics are described as well as a description of their work activities, working conditions, and job satisfaction CONCLUSIONS: The initial EMT and paramedic attribute and demographic data have been collected, analyzed, and reported. The longitudinal nature of this study requires further data collection and analysis to accurately present trends in EMS, as well as correlations and associations between identified attributes and other factors that influence the careers of EMTs and paramedics. Further reports of the findings will be necessary.

Adult↗