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Effective Screening Tool (effective + screening_tool)
Selected AbstractsScreening for osteoporosis in anorexia nervosa: Prevalence and predictors of reduced bone mineral densityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 3 2008Anthony P. Winston MRCPsych Abstract Objective: Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) in anorexia nervosa (AN) can be detected easily by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This study was designed to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in AN, identify predictors, and determine the diagnostic yield of screening with DXA. Method: DXA was used to screen 59 unselected adult patients with a history of AN. Results: Osteoporosis was identified in 18 patients (31%) and osteopenia in 30 (51%). The spine had a lower mean T -score than either the hip or femur. BMI significantly predicted T -score (p = 0.0006) and the odds of having osteoporosis (p = 0.0188). There was a significant association between use of oestrogens and the presence of osteoporosis or osteopenia (p = 0.0491). There was no significant association between duration of AN and T -score. A duration of AN of less than 1 year was found in 12% of those with osteoporosis. Conclusion: BMI is a strong predictor of BMD in AN. DXA is an effective screening tool and should probably be offered routinely. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord, 2008 [source] A narrative review of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and implications for its use in an alcohol-dependent populationJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2010A. MCPHERSON rn ba(hons) bsc Accessible summary ,,The findings from the present study reveal that the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring depression in a variety of populations. This realization should enable nurses and other health professionals to utilize the tool with added confidence and assurance. ,,The main finding was that the BDI would probably be a reliable and valid screening tool in an alcohol-dependent population. This conclusion appears to echo the relationship that alcohol consumption generally has with depression. This finding is important to those practitioners using the BDI in this population in that it provides further evidence to enhance their practical experience. Abstract A psychometric evaluation of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was carried out on contemporary studies to ascertain its suitability for use in an alcohol-dependent population. Three criteria were used for this: factor analysis, test,retest reliability and internal consistency reliability. Factor analysis revealed that its structure is consistent with either two or three factor models, depending on the population. Test,retest results concluded that the correlation coefficient remained above the recommended threshold and internal consistency reliability highlighted alpha coefficient results consistently above suggested scores, leading to the conclusion that the BDI is probably an effective screening tool in an alcohol-dependent population. [source] The nuchal translucency and the fetal heart: a literature reviewPRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 8 2009S. A. Clur Abstract In this overview the current knowledge of the relationship between an increased nuchal translucency (NT) measurement and fetal heart structure and function in chromosomally normal fetuses is reviewed. Relevant pathophysiological theories behind the increased NT are discussed. Fetuses with an increased NT have an increased risk for congenital heart disease (CHD) with no particular bias for one form of CHD over another. This risk increases with increasing NT measurement. Although the NT measurement is only a modestly effective screening tool for all CHD when used alone, it may indeed be effective in identifying specific CHD "likely to benefit" from prenatal diagnosis. The combination of an increased NT, tricuspid regurgitation and an abnormal ductus venosus (DV) Doppler flow profile, is a strong marker for CHD. A fetal echocardiogram should be performed at 20 weeks' gestation in fetuses with an NT , 95th percentile but < 99th percentile. When the NT measurement is , 99th percentile, or when tricuspid regurgitation and/or an abnormal DV flow pattern is found along with the increased NT, an earlier echocardiogram is indicated, followed by a repeat scan at around 20 weeks' gestation. The resultant increased demand for early fetal echocardiography and sonographers with this special expertise needs to be planned and provided for. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] HbA1c as a screening tool for detection of Type 2 diabetes: a systematic reviewDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 4 2007C. M. Bennett Abstract Aim To assess the validity of glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) as a screening tool for early detection of Type 2 diabetes. Methods Systematic review of primary cross-sectional studies of the accuracy of HbA1c for the detection of Type 2 diabetes using the oral glucose tolerance test as the reference standard and fasting plasma glucose as a comparison. Results Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. At certain cut-off points, HbA1c has slightly lower sensitivity than fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in detecting diabetes, but slightly higher specificity. For HbA1c at a Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and UK Prospective Diabetes Study comparable cut-off point of , 6.1%, the sensitivity ranged from 78 to 81% and specificity 79 to 84%. For FPG at a cut-off point of , 6.1 mmol/l, the sensitivity ranged from 48 to 64% and specificity from 94 to 98%. Both HbA1c and FPG have low sensitivity for the detection of impaired glucose tolerance (around 50%). Conclusions HbA1c and FPG are equally effective screening tools for the detection of Type 2 diabetes. The HbA1c cut-off point of > 6.1% was the recommended optimum cut-off point for HbA1c in most reviewed studies; however, there is an argument for population-specific cut-off points as optimum cut-offs vary by ethnic group, age, gender and population prevalence of diabetes. Previous studies have demonstrated that HbA1c has less intra-individual variation and better predicts both micro- and macrovascular complications. Although the current cost of HbA1c is higher than FPG, the additional benefits in predicting costly preventable clinical complications may make this a cost-effective choice. [source] | ||||||||||