Recommendations for the school health physical examination in Lebanon

School health developed gradually over the years; starting with efforts to keep contagion out of schools to global programs of comprehensive services. One of its components, school medicine, covers screening examinations, record maintenance, emergency care, immunization monitoring and health counseling. This paper proposes the essential health activities to be performed during a screening school examination in Lebanon. The recommendations are based on a combination of international literature review of evidence and the existence of Lebanese epidemiological reports identifying specific problems. Vaccination record review, tuberculin testing, vision, hearing, dental and skin disorders screening procedures are proposed as essential activities of the school physical examination.     

Prevention of cervical cancer

Cervical screening in Australia is a successful public health initiative. Since the introduction of the National Cervical Screening Program in 1991, there has been a significant fall in incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer. Laboratory quality procedures are critical to ensuring optimal outcomes. Laboratory accreditation procedures are being reviewed in line with recent government recommendations. For a sustainable program, cost-containment issues need to be considered; screening interval, management of screen-detected abnormalities, and new technologies are the critical drivers of cost.     

A review of refugee medical screening in New South Wales

Public health concern in relation to refugees arriving in New South Wales is due to the high prevalence of tuberculosis, syphilis and hepatitis B infection in some refugee groups. Other infectious diseases (with the exception of malaria in the Northern Territory and Queensland) do not pose a significant threat to public health owing to their low prevalence (which may result from overseas screening and treatment) and/or low infectivity in Australian conditions. Because of overseas screening by the Commonwealth Government before the departure of the refugees, it was uncommon in 1984 for previously undetected tuberculosis to be detected when refugees were screened on arrival in Sydney (found in only one in 800 refugees who underwent screening). However, of the refugees in Sydney who had positive results of serological tests for syphilis, a substantial proportion (at times in excess of 50%) had had a negative result at the overseas screening; subsequent follow-up of those with positive serological results indicated inactive disease in almost all cases. There is a need to monitor the infectious disease prevalence and the effectiveness of overseas screening of refugees by on-arrival screening; decisions about screening procedures and the selection of particular incoming refugee groups for screening should be based on sound epidemiological and clinical analysis.     

Prevention. How much harm? How much benefit? 3. Physical, psychological and social harm.

Harm caused by preventive programs may be physical, psychological, social or, if informed consent has not been obtained, ethical. Adverse effects of preventive screening programs may occur at any of the three levels of the "screening cascade", the screening procedure itself, the investigation of abnormal results of screening tests or the treatment of detected abnormalities or diseases. The greatest harm occurs at the second and third levels. Examples of procedures that may cause physical harm are venipuncture, mammography, colonoscopy, breast biopsy, transrectal ultrasonography, prostate biopsy, weight-reducing and cholesterol-lowering diets and radical prostatectomy. The psychological and social harm of preventive programs involves anticipated discomfort or perception of adverse effects of preventive interventions; unpleasant interactions with health care workers, time required for preventive programs, excessive overall awareness of health, anxiety over the results of a screening test implications of a positive screening test, consequences of being labelled as "sick" or "at risk," psychopathologic effects induced directly by preventive programs and, in the case of a false-negative test result, false assurance of disease-free status. Since the positive predictive value of screening tests in the general population is always low, most abnormal test results are "false-positive," these engender a great deal of psychological discuss among patients.     

Screening in health fairs. A critical review of benefits, risks, and costs

Health fairs provide multiphasic screening to more than 2 million Americans each year, and the number is growing rapidly. Nearly 40 different tests are in use, commonly including the measurement of up to 30 different blood chemistry levels. This report reviews the activities in a sample of 940 health fair sites and examines the experience regarding six specific screening procedures (blood pressure, anemia, blood chemistries, glaucoma, hearing, and fecal occult blood testing). Widespread use of these and other tests raises complex issues of cost, risk, and benefit. Rates of false alarm of healthy people and false reassurance of those at risk may be high for some tests, and the benefits of detecting new disease are easily overestimated. Detailed data collection and evaluation could help health fair sponsors to identify more rational screening strategies.     

社区卫生服务企业标准系统评价应用研究：以大肠癌筛查为例

背景　在开展社区卫生服务综合标准化建设过程中,针对企业标准的系统评价是保障综合标准体系规范、有效、完整的前提与基础。如何对企业标准开展即期评价和远期评价？评价结果如何影响综合标准化建设？是需要解决的关键问题,但相关研究报道较少。目的　以大肠癌筛查为例,对社区卫生服务企业标准进行系统评价,为同行开展企业标准评价提供参考。方法　于2015年7-12月,分别组织相关评审专家对大肠癌筛查的企业标准进行文本规范性、实践契合性、系统完备性等的即期评价。于2016年1-4月,收集上海市闵行区古美社区卫生服务中心2013-2015年的社区大肠癌筛查服务量和服务成本数据,借助系统动力学方法,实现对大肠癌筛查企业标准的远期评价。结果　即期评价结果显示,居民大肠癌社区筛查服务规范所描述的内容基本与实际相符,语言表述规范。远期评价结果显示,根据该企业标准开展大肠癌筛查,参与健康教育人数、参加危险度问卷评估人数、危险度问卷评估阳性人数、两次粪便隐血试验（FOBT）参与人数、癌前期病变人数、癌症人数呈现逐年下降趋势,FOBT阳性人数、综合阳性人数、肠镜检查人数呈现出先升后降趋势,至2025年可以完成对古美街道40岁及以上居民的一轮筛查。服务成本预测结果显示,古美社区卫生服务中心平均每年在大肠癌筛查方面的社区投入在12万元左右,且社区投入随着每年筛查服务人数的下降呈下降趋势,筛查完一轮的累计社区投入约为1 638 205.19元。结论　大肠癌筛查企业标准虽符合实践但也提示筛查体系存在漏洞,由于远期评价所采用的系统动力学方法应用效力受限于信息系统的完备性,更精确的远期评价还有待信息系统完善后进一步改进。     

Declining prevalence of anemia among low-income children in the United States

To determine the anemia trends among low-income US children, hematologic measurements obtained from children aged 6 to 60 months who were enrolled in public health programs in six states that were consistently monitored by the Centers for Disease Control Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System were studied. Overall, the prevalence of anemia has declined steadily from 7.8% in 1975 to 2.9% in 1985. The prevalence of anemia declined significantly among children seen at preenrollment screening visits, as well as those seen at follow-up visits, suggesting a generalized improvement in childhood iron nutritional status in the United States, as well as a positive impact of public health programs. To ensure that the declining trend of anemia was not a function of a change in the population of children enrolled in the surveillance system, Tennessee nutrition surveillance records were further analyzed; these records were linked with birth records to obtain detailed socioeconomic status (SES) information. Even though the SES composition remained stable from 1975 to 1984, the prevalence of anemia has declined significantly within each SES group. These findings indicate a true decline in the prevalence of anemia among low-income children that is likely the result of improvements in childhood iron nutrition.     

Automated detection of substance use information from electronic health records for a pediatric population

ObjectiveSubstance use screening in adolescence is unstandardized and often documented in clinical notes, rather than in structured electronic health records (EHRs). The objective of this study was to integrate logic rules with state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning technologies to detect substance use information from both structured and unstructured EHR data.Materials and MethodsPediatric patients (10-20 years of age) with any encounter between July 1, 2012, and October 31, 2017, were included (n = 3890 patients; 19 478 encounters). EHR data were extracted at each encounter, manually reviewed for substance use (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, opiate, any use), and coded as lifetime use, current use, or family use. Logic rules mapped structured EHR indicators to screening results. A knowledge-based NLP system and a deep learning model detected substance use information from unstructured clinical narratives. System performance was evaluated using positive predictive value, sensitivity, negative predictive value, specificity, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC).ResultsThe dataset included 17 235 structured indicators and 27 141 clinical narratives. Manual review of clinical narratives captured 94.0% of positive screening results, while structured EHR data captured 22.0%. Logic rules detected screening results from structured data with 1.0 and 0.99 for sensitivity and specificity, respectively. The knowledge-based system detected substance use information from clinical narratives with 0.86, 0.79, and 0.88 for AUC, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively. The deep learning model further improved detection capacity, achieving 0.88, 0.81, and 0.85 for AUC, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively. Finally, integrating predictions from structured and unstructured data achieved high detection capacity across all cases (0.96, 0.85, and 0.87 for AUC, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively).ConclusionsIt is feasible to detect substance use screening and results among pediatric patients using logic rules, NLP, and machine learning technologies.     

Computer assisted screening: effect on the patient and his consultation

The initial impact of computer assisted preventive screening in general practice consultations has been monitored. The technology has not been found stressful by patients, and the power of the consultation to alleviate low arousal has been increased by computer use. No appreciable increase in the durations of consultation was detected, despite an average computer initiated input of two minutes eight seconds. The computer has successfully prompted preventive screening and health education with a sixfold increase in the number of potentially relevant procedures being mentioned. The actual information presented by the computer has been shown to be crucial, with the terminal's mere presence an ineffective reminder. The computer terminal was used in 65% of the consultations for which it was available, which, if sustained, represents an effective screening programme for attending patients.     

Newborn Screening Healthcare Information System Based on Service-Oriented Architecture

In this paper, we established a newborn screening system under the HL7/Web Services frameworks. We rebuilt the NTUH Newborn Screening Laboratory’s original standalone architecture, having various heterogeneous systems operating individually, and restructured it into a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), distributed platform for further integrity and enhancements of sample collections, testing, diagnoses, evaluations, treatments or follow-up services, screening database management, as well as collaboration, communication among hospitals; decision supports and improving screening accuracy over the Taiwan neonatal systems are also addressed. In addition, the new system not only integrates the newborn screening procedures among phlebotomy clinics, referral hospitals, as well as the newborn screening center in Taiwan, but also introduces new models of screening procedures for the associated, medical practitioners. Furthermore, it reduces the burden of manual operations, especially the reporting services, those were heavily dependent upon previously. The new system can accelerate the whole procedures effectively and efficiently. It improves the accuracy and the reliability of the screening by ensuring the quality control during the processing as well.     

Beyond universal precautions.

Universal precautions have gained wide acceptance in the literature and are promoted by major health care regulatory bodies as a measure to prevent nosocomial transmission of bloodborne diseases. Nevertheless, Dr. James G. Wright and associates (see pages 1089 to 1095 of this issue) provide evidence of the infrequent use of universal precautions by surgeons in Toronto. Their findings are consistent with those of similar studies and point to the limitations of any safety approach that relies on the active compliance of individuals rather than on passive, environmental controls. Successful approaches to optimizing workplace safety should first emphasize passive measures for risk abatement, including firm policies, the use of safer equipment and techniques, procedural safeguards and regular monitoring. Routine voluntary screening of patients undergoing procedures that pose a high risk of contamination may improve compliance to safety procedures by health care personnel. Further study is required.     

儿科护士职业压力、应对方式及社会支持与心理健康相关性分析

目的: 探索儿科护士职业压力、应对方式、社会支持与心理健康的关系,为儿科护士职业压力管理提供参考。方法: 采用横断面调查法,抽取某三级甲等综合医院280名儿科护士进行调查。采用一般人口学问卷、护士工作压力源量表、特质应对方式问卷、社会支持评定量表和身心健康自评量表问卷进行调查。结果: 护士工作压力均分在76.11±13.19,其中以病人护理和管理及人际关系维度得分较高。护士的心理健康水平均分在71.54±42.42。儿科护士大多都会采取积极应对方式;护士社会支持以主观支持得分最高;儿科护士职业压力、应对方式、对支持利用度与心理健康水平均有相关关系(P<0.05～P<0.01)。结论: 儿科护士存在中等程度的职业压力;职业压力、社会支持、应对方式和心理健康具有一定程度的相关性。     

Can costs of screening for hypertension and diabetes in dental care and follow-up in primary health care be predicted?

Abstract

Aim. The purpose was to assess the direct costs of screening for high blood pressure and blood glucose in dental care and of follow-up in primary health care and, based on these data, arrive at a prediction function.

Study population. All subjects coming for routine check-ups at three dental health clinics were invited to have blood pressure or blood glucose measurements; 1,623 agreed to participate. Subjects screening positive were referred to their primary health care centres for follow-up.

Methods. Information on individual screening time was registered during the screening process, and information on accountable time, costs for the screening staff, overhead costs, and analysis costs for the screening was obtained from the participating dental clinics. The corresponding items in primary care, i.e. consultation time, number of follow-up appointments, accountable time, costs for the follow-up staff, overhead costs, and analysis costs during follow-up were obtained from the primary health care centres.

Results. The total screening costs per screened subject ranged from €7.4 to €9.2 depending on subgroups, corresponding to 16.7–42.7 staff minutes. The corresponding follow-up costs were €57–€91. The total resource used for screening and follow-up per diagnosis was 563–3,137 staff minutes. There was a strong relationship between resource use and numbers needed to screen (NNS) to find one diagnosis (P < 0.0001, degree of explanation 99%).

Conclusions. Screening and follow-up costs were moderate and appear to be lower for combined screening of blood pressure and blood glucose than for separate screening. There was a strong relationship between resource use and NNS.     

中医健康状态辨识问卷的筛检效果评价

[目的]研究健康状态中医辨识问卷的筛检效果.[方法]采用流行病学筛检试验的方法进行研究.将健康体检及心理健康类型诊断量表作为金标准,从效度和信度等方面对健康状态中医辨识问卷的筛检效果进行全面评估.[结果]灵敏度为85.13％,特异度为23.58％,阳性似然比为1.1163,阴性似然比为0.6230;可靠性指标一致率为8...     

合肥市社区居民乳腺癌筛查行为及意愿的健康信念分析

目的 分析健康信念对乳腺癌筛查行为及意愿的作用. 方法 采用横断面设计和随机整群抽样的方法,对40~70岁女性进行问卷调查.结果 获得805份有效问卷,乳腺癌筛查率为18.6%,愿意筛查率为62.7%.健康信念的4个维度认知均是乳腺癌筛查行为与意愿的影响因素(P<0.05),其中患癌风险认知对乳腺癌筛查行为的影响最大(OR=3.01),癌筛好处认知对筛查意愿的影响最大(OR=3.11).结论 健康信念作为乳腺癌筛查行为及意愿的影响因素,可为未来乳腺癌筛查促进措施提供理论基础.     

History of medical screening: from concepts to action

The objective of medical screening is to identify disease in its preclinical, and therefore hopefully still curable, phase. This may have been an old quest in medicine but it became historically possible when at least four conditions were met: the availability of simple, valid and acceptable forms of tests, the discovery of effective treatments, the establishment of a theory of screening, and the wide access to health care. Five selected examples that illustrate the history of medical screening are reviewed: screening for psychiatric disorders in the United States army as it is one of the oldest screening programmes; screening for syphilis as it used one of the earliest screening tests; screening for diabetes as one of the first modern forms of mass screening; screening for cervical cancer using the Pap test as one of the greatest successes of screening; and screening for breast cancer by mammography as this offers a good opportunity to discuss the development of modern evaluation of screening programmes. The evaluation of the impact of screening on human health slowly progressed, from obvious changes in the vital statistics such as the decline in incidence of syphilis, to less obvious changes such as the decline in mortality of cancer of the uterus, to finally more subtle changes, such as the impact of mammographic screening on breast cancer mortality. Methods of evaluation had therefore to adapt, evolving from simple surveys to case-control studies and randomised trials. The history of screening is short, but very rich and mostly still to be written.     

Report on Childhood Obesity in China （2） Verification of BMI Classification Reference for Overweight and Obesity in Chinese Children and Adolescents

Objective To verify Working Group for Obesity in China （WGOC） recommended body mass index （BMI） classification reference for overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents using the data of 2002 China Nationwide Nutrition and Health Survey. Methods PediaWic metabolic syndrome （MetS） and abnormality of each risk factor for MetS were defined using the criteria for US adolescents. Definition of hyper-TC, LDL, and dyslipidemia in adults was applied as well. The average level and abnormality rate of the metabolic indicators were described by BMI percentiles and compared with general linear model analysis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to summarize the potential of BMI to discriminate between the presence and absence of the abnormality of these indicators. Results There was neither significantly increasing nor significantly decreasing trend of biochemical parameter levels in low BMI percentile range （〈65th）. Slight increasing trend from the 75th and a significant increase were found when BMI≥85th percentile. In general, the prevalence of the examined risk factors varied slightly when BMI percentile〈75th, and substantial increases were consistently seen when BMI percentile≥75th. As an indicator of hyper-TG, hypertension and MetS, the sensitivity and specificity were equal at the point of BMI〈75th percentile, and the Youden＇s index of risk factors also reached peak point before 75th percentile except for MetS. When the BMI percentile was used as the screening indicator of MetS, Youden＇s index reached peak point at 85th percentile, just the point in the ROC graph that was nearest to the upper left comer. Conclusion The BMI classification reference for overweight and obesity recommended by WGOC is rational to predict and prevent health risks in Chinese children and adolescents. Lower screening cut-off points, such as 83th percentile or 80th percentile, should not be excluded when they are considered as overweight criteria in future intervention or prevention studies.     

PBL教学法在《儿科学》教学中的初步实践

为了更好地激发医学生学习《儿科学》的兴趣，锻炼他们的临床思维能力、探索意识和实践能力，培养他们分析问题的能力，复旦大学上海医学院儿科学系自2004年2月起在2001级七年制临床医学专业床旁教学阶段实施PBL教学法，受到学生和教师的一致好评，本文就PBL教学法在《儿科学》教学的初步实践进行总结。     

Newborn screening in North Carolina: the evolution of policy and practice

Newborn screening policies in North Carolina are due to the efforts of skilled and knowledgeable state officials, clinicians, and scientists who are able to develop effective newborn screening procedures. A newborn screening that was developed in North Carolina is the first automated method for diagnosing phenylketonuria. This process was later adopted in many other states. The use of tandem mass spectrometry in newborn screening was also pioneered in North Carolina, and it is being used in an increasing number of states. Newborn screening is more than testing, however; follow-up and specialized care are essential. State-level policies should recognize the multiple links necessary to make newborn screening effective and efficient.     

健康教育对产前筛查高风险孕妇的影响

目的探讨健康教育对产前筛查高风险孕妇的影响。方法将220例产前筛查高风险产妇随机分为实验组和观察组,每组110例。实验组于产前诊断中心遗传咨询门诊进行咨询,接受一对一的专职护士的健康教育。观察组于普通产科门诊进行咨询。比较健康教育对两组高风险孕妇接受进一步产前诊断的影响。结果实验组接受健康教育后对产前诊断的接受率明显高于观察组,(P<0.05),差异具有统计学意义。结论及时的健康教育,有效的心理护理,能明显减轻产前筛查高风险孕妇的心理压力,消除孕妇的顾虑,提高产前诊断的配合度,降低先天缺陷儿的出生率。