Advances in Statistical Methods for Substance Abuse Prevention Research

The paper describes advances in statistical methods for prevention research with a particular focus on substance abuse prevention. Standard analysis methods are extended to the typical research designs and characteristics of the data collected in prevention research. Prevention research often includes longitudinal measurement, clustering of data in units such as schools or clinics, missing data, and categorical as well as continuous outcome variables. Statistical methods to handle these features of prevention data are outlined. Developments in mediation, moderation, and implementation analysis allow for the extraction of more detailed information from a prevention study. Advancements in the interpretation of prevention research results include more widespread calculation of effect size and statistical power, the use of confidence intervals as well as hypothesis testing, detailed causal analysis of research findings, and meta-analysis. The increased availability of statistical software has contributed greatly to the use of new methods in prevention research. It is likely that the Internet will continue to stimulate the development and application of new methods.     

Measurement of diet in a large national survey: comparison of computerized and manual coding of records in household measures

A diary method using household measures was employed to obtain dietary records in a large national prospective survey and a computer program, DIDO (Diet In Data Out), was designed for direct entry of the diaries. The accuracy of this computerized coding system was examined alongside that of the manual coding used for a similar diary in a previous wave, 7 years earlier, of the same survey. Accuracy was assessed by analysis of the errors in the coded and checked records by stringent re-checking of nominal 2% random subsamples of the diet diaries coded by each method. The mean time to code and check each of the 2086 7-day records in the whole survey using DIDO was 58 minutes (SD 30) compared with reported results of 1–4 hours for manual methods. The mean error rate of computerized coding and checking with DIDO was 2.3% (SD 2.1; range 0–8.9) per diary in the subsample. Correcting these mistakes made insignificant changes to the calculated mean energy and nutrient intakes for the subsample. The percentage of individuals changing to an adjacent third of nutrient distribution after correcting unambiguous errors ranged from none (for alcohol) to 11% (for carbohydrate and calcium intake). The mean error rate on a similar subsample of diaries from the earlier survey which had been coded manually was significantly higher at 5.9% (SD 4.1; range 0–17) per diary. Emphasis is laid on the importance, in coding, of dealing with ambiguities in the subjects' records, since this can affect the accuracy and the precision of the nutrient results obtained. We conclude that the DIDO coding method has the advantages of greater accuracy, speed, consistency and efficient data handling, and affords greater data accessibility for checking, compared with manual systems.     

Surgical management for mentosternal contractures by flap procedures

Mentosternal contractures still represent a surgical challenge due to their prominent position. They require early operative treatment for both function and aesthetic reasons. Careful clinical examination of scar position and traction forces, both at rest and when functioning, in addition to proper evaluation of the surrounding soft tissue are mandatory for precise preoperative planning of the required reconstruction. In general, the technically most feasible operation is favored if the functional and aesthetic results are good and postoperative risk for recurrence is low. Between 1987 and 1994, 21 patients with cervical, mentosternal, and mentothoracic contractures were operated upon. Eight patients were reconstructed with local flaps and 13 with microvascular free flaps.     

慢性病信息系统的指标及其收集方法的研究

目的 探讨我国目前慢性病监测系统应监测的指标、指标的收集方法。方法 DELPHI专家咨询法。结果 目前社区慢性病综合防治信息系统包括的指标有六方面内容，按照平均重要程度等级和排位的结果是死亡监测、发病或患病监测、危险因素监测、社区环境监测、疾病管理与卫生经济监测；指标的收集渠道应统一协调卫生系统的各个部门，包括医院、社区和各级疾病预防控制机构(CDC)以及公安和民政等部门；指标的收集方式主要依靠常规报告，部分指标通过流行病学调查来获得；监测指标的用途主要用于探测慢性病流行趋势和引起的疾病负担、确定防治重点、评价慢性病干预效果，以便更有效的防治慢性病；如何确保监测资料的质量和政府提供必须的费用是监测中比较普遍存在的问题。结论 死亡监测、发病或患病监测、行为危险因素监测应是慢性病综合防治信息系统应首选的内容。     

中药饮片加工炮炙在临床中的意义

本文简述了中药炮炙的根据、原理、方法以及各种不同辅料和炮炙方法对饮片药性与作用的影响。说明不同的炮炙方法可以直接影响和改变中药的药性和作用,影响到临床疗效,因此,必须重视中药饮片的炮炙工作。以确保临床安全有效的用药。     

Effect of different questionnaire formats on reporting of occupational exposures

During an exposure monitoring study, 78 saw maintenance tradesmen were randomly assigned to be interviewed about their exposures using one of two questionnaire formats: open-ended and partly prompted questions about five categories of materials; and detailed prompting about 75 agents. The more open-ended questionnaire elicited fewer exposure responses overall, but more responses about agents not included on the detailed questionnaire. Composite materials and trade name products were more frequently cited as exposures than individual metals or compounds. Validity of responses was ascertained using air measurements (individual metals) or observations of the employees (composite materials). Sums of sensitivities and specificities were very low (near 1.0) for most of the metals for both types of questionnaire. For composite materials, validity improved substantially. Sensitivities with the partly prompted format (0.44–0.85) were always lower than with detailed prompting (0.80–1.00). Specificities were usually, but not always, higher with partial prompting (0.66–0.92) than with detailed prompting (0.18–0.86). Selection of questionnaire format for an epidemiologic study would depend on the likely prevalence of exposure in controls and the effects of trade-offs in sensitivity and specificity.     

Clinical problem-solving using video simulation: an investigation

This paper examines the use of videotape simulation as a research method for the exploration of clinical problem-solving, the challenges posed and the strategies employed to overcome the difficulties encountered are discussed. The simulation forms part of a larger comparative study of outcomes of pre-registration nurse education programmes, commissioned by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.     

益气养阴清热法合化疗治疗急性髓细胞白血病

目的 :探讨益气养阴清热法为基本治法配合化疗治疗急性髓细胞白血病的临床疗效。方法 :用黄芪、太子参、白术、生地、黄精、天门冬、麦门冬、白花蛇舌草、半枝莲、小蓟、蒲公英、甘草组方。配合 DA、HA、IA等联合化疗方案。部分 M3 患者应用维甲酸、亚砷酸治疗。部分患者静脉滴注榄香稀乳、参脉、丹参等辅助治疗。结果 :1 5 6例完全缓解 1 1 3例 ,完全缓解率 72 .4% ;部分缓解 2 0例 ,部分缓解率 1 2 .8% ;总缓解率 85 .3% ;3年生存率 37.2 % ,5年生存率 2 2 .1 %。 32例老年患者完全缓解率 43.8% ,明显低于其他年龄段 ( P<0 .0 1 )。应用维甲酸治疗的 1 8例 M3 完全缓解 1 5例 ,完全缓解率 83.3%。亚砷酸治疗 3例完全缓解 2例。结论 :益气养阴清热法作为中医的基本治法治疗急性髓细胞白血病符合临床实际。中西医结合治疗急性髓细胞白血病缓解率高 ,患者易于接受 ,有比较高的实用价值。其中提示老年患者治疗比较困难。