Versión en español del software gratuito OxMaR para minimización y aleatorización de estudios clínicos

Randomized clinical trials provide the highest level of scientific evidence. The method used for randomization should make the group to which each case will be assigned unpredictable and facilitate the concealment of the randomization sequence. Centralized methods, generally implemented with computer support, are considered the safest to avoid biases. The OxMaR system, acronym for Oxford Minimization and Randomization, was published as free and open source software in 2014. It works online in a web environment and allows simple randomization and adaptive assignment through minimization. We present a Spanish version developed in collaboration with the author of the original English version. The system has been modified to work on low cost shared web servers and also to allow the concealment of the randomization sequence.     

基于语义网和SOA的医学图书馆信息服务模型设计

提出了基于语义网关联数据和本体技术的用户检索方式的转变及基于本体的学科馆员信息服务模型。该模型利用SOA技术为基于语义网的信息服务提供了开放的应用接口,通过建立基于关联数据技术的驱动引擎和知识库,使资源之间具有了语义上的可扩展的关联关系,并搭建了学科馆员平台、医学领域专家平台、学科专业用户平台,学科馆员在医学领域专家的协助下,应用本体模型为医学专业用户提供语义层面的智能化检索服务。     

E-Sexual Health: A Position Statement of the European Society for Sexual Medicine

BackgroundOpportunities and pitfalls of e-health have been described and assessed in various health domains, but in the field of sexual health, the respective literature is limited.AimThe aim of this document is to present the European Society of Sexual Medicine’s (ESSM) current position statement on e-sexual health.MethodsThis statement article is an expert opinion–based proposal that was developed under the auspices of the ESSM with input from the e-sexual health subcommittee of the ESSM Scientific Committee.OutcomesESSM statements were provided on four domains: health information for patients, e-learning for professionals, health interventions, and health research.Resultse-Sexual health is the use of information and communication technologies for sexual health including sexual health care, surveillance, education, knowledge, and research. Quality indicators have to be applied on Web pages that provide sexual health information, e-learning can increase educational opportunities for professionals, online treatment interventions can be effective but needs to be available to the public, and online health research can provide access to difficult to reach populations.Clinical ImplicationsThe ESSM acknowledges the necessity for the use of information and communication technologies to meet the sexual health needs of citizens and patients and also the professional needs of sexual healthcare providers, in an evidence-based manner.Strengths & LimitationsESSM statements on this topic were provided based on expert opinion and summarize the ESSM position in this field.ConclusionThe ESSM believes that e-sexual health can provide opportunities for the improvement of the sexual health of the population.Kirana PS, Gudeloglu A, Sansone A, et al. E-Sexual Health: A Position Statement of the European Society for Sexual Medicine. J Sex Med 2020;17;1246–1253.     

The use of multi-national web surveys for comparative analysis: Lessons from the European Web Survey on Drugs

BackgroundMost comparative drug policy analyses utilise measures of drug use, often from general population surveys (GPS). However, the limitations of GPS are well-recognised, including the small numbers of people who use illicit drugs sampled. Web surveys offer a potential solution to such issues. Therefore EMCDDA conducted a study to assess the potential for using such surveys to supplement information obtained from GPS.MethodsThe European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD) asked about use of cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine and MDMA in 14 countries from 2016 to 2018. Each participant country translated the questionnaire as necessary and devised its own sampling strategy. Individuals aged 18+, resident in the participant country, who had used one or more of the drugs covered by the survey in the past 12 months were included in the analysis. Participation was anonymous and voluntary.ResultsMore than 40,000 people completed the survey, with recruitment mostly through social media. Larger samples of users of all drug types than found in GPS were generally obtained. However, the respondent profiles differed markedly between countries, e.g. the proportion aged 18–24 ranged from 30% to 80%. The results relating to use showed both inter-country similarities and differences, e.g. mean daily amounts of cocaine used varied between countries but increases in amounts used with increased frequency of use were similar. Price data showed good external validity.ConclusionWeb surveys offer the possibility of collecting information from large numbers people who use illicit drugs quickly and cheaply and can fill important gaps in our knowledge of patterns of use, particularly by recreational users. However, they also have limitations. Standardising questionnaires and approaches to data cleaning and analysis facilitates comparisons between countries but obtaining comparable samples may be challenging. Multinational surveys need to balance standardisation of methods with responsiveness to differing country contexts; our collaborative model does this.     

FROM THE EDITORS

Abstract

Consumer empowerment through authoritative health information is a positive force in today's health care environment. As the nation's lead agency for protecting the health and safety of people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has as part of its mission the responsibility of providing credible information to enhance health decisions. CDC health communications are provided through many venues, and particularly its Web site. This article identifies CDC consumer health sites, giving particular attention to two new initiatives, the CDC Kids Page and CDC en Espãol, which have been developed for specialized consumer health audiences.     

Internet Information on Heart Disease in Men

Summary

Finding information on heart disease in men might seem as easy as logging on to a favorite search engine, finding the right category, and perusing the available links. However, in trying several prominent search engines, this turned out not to be the case. One important reason for the lack of information is that heart disease has declined 60% since 1950. Nevertheless, heart disease is still the leading killer among men. An advanced search on a search engine (heart disease as a phrase and man or men) still yields an unwieldy number of pages, about 90,000. In an effort to bridge this gap, the author examines a number of governmental, organizational, and consumer Web sites containing high-quality information on heart disease.