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Interviewer-administered Questionnaire (interviewer-administered + questionnaire)
Selected AbstractsFactors associated with incarceration and incident human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among injection drug users participating in an HIV vaccine trial in Bangkok, Thailand, 1999,2003ADDICTION, Issue 2 2009Pravan Suntharasamai ABSTRACT Aims To determine if incarceration was associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and identify risk factors for incarceration among injection drug users (IDUs) participating in an HIV vaccine trial in Bangkok. Design The AIDSVAX B/E HIV vaccine trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A proportional hazards model was used to evaluate demographic characteristics, risk behavior and incarceration as predictors of HIV infection and generalized estimation equation logistic regression analysis to investigate demographic characteristics and risk behaviors for predictors of incarceration. Setting The trial was conducted in Bangkok Metropolitan Administration drug-treatment clinics, 1999,2003. Participants A total of 2546 HIV-uninfected IDUs enrolled in the trial. Measurements HIV testing was performed and an interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess risk behavior and incarceration at baseline and every 6 months for a total of 36 months. Findings HIV incidence was 3.4 per 100 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.0,3.9] and did not differ among vaccine and placebo recipients. In multivariable analysis, being in jail (P < 0.04), injecting (P < 0.0001), injecting daily (P < 0.0001) and sharing needles (P = 0.02) were associated with HIV infection and methadone maintenance was protective (P = 0.0006). Predictors of incarceration in multivariable analysis included: male sex (P = 0.04), younger age (P < 0.0001), less education (P = 0.001) and being in jail (P < 0.0001) or prison (P < 0.0001) before enrollment. Conclusions Among IDUs in the AIDSVAX B/E trial, incarceration in jail was associated with incident HIV infection. IDUs in Thailand remain at high risk of HIV infection and additional prevention tools are needed urgently. HIV prevention services, including methadone, should be made available to IDUs. [source] Using disease risk estimates to guide risk factor interventions: field test of a patient workbook for self-assessing coronary riskHEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 1 2002J. Michael Paterson MSc Objective,To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a patient workbook for self-assessing coronary risk. Design,Pilot study, with post-study physician and patient interviews. Setting and subjects,Twenty southern Ontario family doctors and 40 patients for whom they would have used the workbook under normal practice conditions. Interventions,The study involved convening two sequential groups of family physicians: the first (n=10) attended focus group meetings to help develop the workbook (using algorithms from the Framingham Heart Study); the second (n=20) used the workbook in practice with 40 patients. Follow-up interviews were by interviewer-administered questionnaire. Main outcome measures,Physicians' and patients' opinions of the workbook's format, content, helpfulness, feasibility, and potential for broad application, as well as patients' perceived 10-year risk of a coronary event measured before and after using the workbook. Results,It took an average of 18 minutes of physician time to use the workbook: roughly 7 minutes to introduce it to patients, and about 11 minutes to discuss the results. Assessments of the workbook were generally favourable. Most patients were able to complete it on their own (78%), felt they had learned something (80%) and were willing to recommend it to someone else (98%). Similarly, 19 of 20 physicians found it helpful and would use it in practice with an average of 18% of their patients (range: 1,80%). The workbook helped to correct misperceptions patients had about their personal risk of a coronary event over the next 10 years (pre-workbook (mean (SD) %): 35.2 (16.9) vs. post-workbook: 17.3 (13.5), P < 0.0001; estimate according to algorithm: 10.6 (7.6)). Conclusions,Given a simple tool, patients can and will assess their own risk of CHD. Such tools could help inform otherwise healthy individuals that their risk is increased, allowing them to make more informed decisions about their behaviours and treatment. [source] Validity of self-reported cardiovascular disease events in comparison to medical record adjudication and a statewide hospital morbidity database: the AusDiab studyINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009E. L. M. Barr Abstract Epidemiological studies often rely on self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD) information, but this may be inaccurate. We investigated the accuracy of self-reported CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary artery bypass surgery and coronary artery angioplasty) during the follow up of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study. Self-reported CVD events, including the date of the event and hospital admission details, were collected with an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Of the 276 self-reported CVD events, 188 (68.1%) were verified by adjudication of medical records. Furthermore, linkage to the statewide Western Australian Hospital Morbidity Database (WAHMD) showed that CVD events were unlikely to be missed, with only 0.2% of those denying any CVD event being recorded as having had an event on the WAHMD. The adjudication of medical records was as accurate as record linkage to the WAHMD for validation of self-reported CVD, but combining the results from both methods of ascertainment improved CVD event identification. [source] Prolonged seated immobility at work is a common risk factor for venous thromboembolism leading to hospital admissionINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008S. Aldington Abstract The role of seated immobility at work in the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is uncertain. In this case series, 61 patients aged <65 years with a recent admission for deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain information regarding risk factors. Prolonged seated immobility at work in the 4 weeks before the VTE event was defined as being seated at least 8 h in a 24-h period and at least 3 h at a time without getting up, at least 10 h in a 24-h period and at least 2 h at a time without getting up or at least 12 h in a 24-h period and at least 1 h at a time without getting up. The most commonly identified risk factors were family history of VTE (21 of 61, 34%), seated immobility at work (21 of 61, 34%) and a thrombophilic state (19 of 61, 31%). We conclude that prolonged seated immobility at work may represent a common and important risk factor for VTE. [source] Risk Factors for Vertebral Deformities in Men: Relationship to Number of Vertebral DeformitiesJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2000A. A. Ismail Abstract Recent epidemiological studies suggest a similar overall prevalence of vertebral deformity in men to that in women, though the influence of increasing age on the prevalence of vertebral deformity is less marked in men. However, most affected men have only a single or two vertebral deformities, which may be unrelated to osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to examine the role of risk factors, previously demonstrated to be associated with vertebral osteoporosis in females, in men with single/dual deformities compared to those with multiple deformities. Age stratified random samples of men aged 50 years and over were recruited from population registers in 30 European centers as part of the European Vertebral Osteoporosis Study (EVOS). Subjects had a lateral spinal radiograph and the presence of vertebral deformity was determined using the McCloskey algorithm. Lifestyle and other risk factor data were obtained from an interviewer-administered questionnaire. In all 6937 men with a mean age of 64.4 (SD = 8.5) years were studied of whom 738 (10.6%) subjects had one or two deformities, and 109 (1.6%) subjects had three or more deformities. There was a marked increase in the prevalence of multiple vertebral deformities with increasing age, but only a modest effect of age on the prevalence of single deformities. Associations between various risk factors for osteoporosis and vertebral deformity were analyzed separately in men with single/dual vertebral deformity from those with three or more deformities using logistic regression. After adjustment for age, there were statistically significant associations between the following risk factors and multiple deformities: previous hip fracture (odds ratio [OR] 10.5), lack of regular physical activity (OR 2.9), low body mass (OR 2.5), and previous steroid use (OR 2.3). By contrast, there were only weak associations with these same variables in males with single/dual deformities and, apart from poor self-reported general health, all of the 95% confidence intervals spanned unity. There was no difference in the reporting of very heavy levels of physical activity under the age of 50 years between men with single/dual deformities and those with multiple deformities. In conclusion, men with multiple deformities showed a similar pattern of risk factor association to those seen in women with vertebral deformity, in contrast to men with single/dual deformities. (J Bone Miner Res 2000;15:278,283) [source] Respiratory health in Turkish asbestos cement workers: The role of environmental exposureAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 8 2006brahim Akkurt MD Abstract Aim Benign and malignant pleural and lung diseases due to environmental asbestos exposure constitute an important health problem in Turkey. The country has widespread natural deposits of asbestos in rural parts of central and eastern regions. Few data exists about the respiratory health effects of occupational asbestos exposure in Turkey. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate respiratory health effects of occupational asbestos exposure and the contribution of environmental asbestos exposure. Methods Investigations included asbestos dust measurements in the workplace and application of an interviewer-administered questionnaire, a standard posteroanterior chest X-ray and spirometry. Information on birthplace of the workers was obtained in 406 workers and used to identify environmental exposure to asbestos, through a map of geographic locations with known asbestos exposure. Results Asbestos dust concentration in the ambient air of the work sites (fiber/ml) ranged between 0.2 and 0.76 (mean: 0.25, median: 0.22). Environmental exposure to asbestos was determined in 24.4% of the workers. After the adjustment for age, smoking, occupational asbestos exposure, and potential risk factors environmental asbestos exposure was associated with small irregular opacities grade ,1/0 (44.2% vs. 26.6%, P,<,0.01), FVC% (97.8 vs. 104.5, P,<,0.0001), and FEV1% (92.4 vs. 99.9, P,<,.0001). Occupational exposure to asbestos was associated with small irregular opacities grade ,1/0 (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3,3.1, per 1 unit increase in the natural logarithm of fiber/ml) and FEV1/FVC% (beta: 1.1, SEM: 0.54; P,<,0.05, per 1 unit increase in the natural logarithm of fiber/ml). Conclusions Environmental exposure to asbestos could increase the risk of asbestosis and lung function impairment in workers occupationally exposed to asbestos, independent from occupational exposure and smoking. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Original Article: Maternal sleep deprivation, sedentary lifestyle and cooking smoke: Risk factors for miscarriage: A case control studyAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Yasindu SAMARAWEERA Aims:, To determine risk factors for miscarriage. Methods:, A case control study was carried out at the gynaecological wards and antenatal clinics of the De Soysa Maternity Hospital in Sri Lanka. A case was defined as that of mothers with a confirmed diagnosis of partial or full expulsion of the fetus during the first 28 weeks of gestation. Controls comprised ante-natal clinic attendees whose period of gestation was <28 weeks and carrying a viable fetus. Two hundred and thirty cases and 504 controls were selected. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire and modified life events inventory were used to gather data. Multivariate logistic regression was applied separately for first and second trimester miscarriages and the results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and as 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results:, Sleeping ,8 h/day (OR:3.80, 95%CI:1.01,14.3) was found to be a risk factor for first trimester miscarriage controlling for the effect of period of gestation. Sleeping ,8 h/day (OR:2.04, 95%CI:1.24,3.37), standing ,3 h/day (OR:1.83, 95%CI:1.08,3.10), exposure to cooking smoke (OR:3.83, 95%CI:1.50,9.90) and physical trauma during the pregnancy (OR:43.2, 95%CI:4.55,411.4) were found to be risk factors for second trimester miscarriage controlling for the effect of period of gestation. Conclusions:, Sleep deprivation, a sedentary lifestyle, exposure to cooking smoke and physical trauma during pregnancy were risk factors for miscarriage. Most of the risk factors are therefore modifiable. [source] Prevalence of risk and protective factors for falls in the home environment in a population-based survey of young and middle-aged adult New ZealandersAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 1 2010Bridget Kool Abstract Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hazards in the home environment that may contribute to unintentional falls among young and middle-aged New Zealanders. Methods: A random sample of 352 young and middle-aged people (25-60 years) residing in Auckland was drawn from the electoral roll. The prevalence of environmental factors that may have an impact on risk of falls was investigated using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: Potential risk factors for falls were common in the study population (ladder use in the past year , 64%; inability to reach a light from bed , 21%; lack of handrails for stairs , 54%). Only 9% and 11% of baths and showers, respectively, had grab or hand rails; 42% and 56% had anti-skid mats/surfaces. Compared to those reporting no socio-economic deprivation characteristics, respondents reporting one or more such characteristics were less likely to use a ladder and have indoor stairs, but more likely to have outdoors stairs. There was no significant relationship between socio-economic status and presence of a grab/handrail or antiskid mats/surfaces in or near showers/baths. Conclusion and implications: Structural hazards that are likely to result in falls at home are common in New Zealand. The greater prevalence of some environmental risk factors for falls among the least socially deprived population may account for the inconsistent association between socio-economic deprivation and fall-related injuries reported in previous research. Information regarding the contribution of these and associated factors to the occurrence of falls can help target and reduce the risks involved. [source] Visual function tests, eye disease and symptoms of visual disability: a population-based assessmentCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, Issue 1 2000Rebecca Q Ivers MPH ABSTRACT Purpose: To examine associations between eye disease and tests of visual function with self-reported visual disability. Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study is a cross-sectional census-based survey of eye disease in two postcode areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia. Of 4433 eligible residents, 3654 (82.4%) participated. Subjects had a detailed eye examination, including tests of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, disability glare and visual field. Lens and retinal photographs were taken and graded according to standardized protocols for presence of cataract, early and late age-related maculopathy, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and other eye diseases. An interviewer-administered questionnaire included questions about perception of visual disability. Results: Scores on all tests of visual function significantly decreased with age (P < 0.0001). This decrease persisted for all tests except disability glare after excluding subjects with identifiable eye disease. The presence of one or more eye diseases was significantly associated with all (self-reported) measures of visual disability (trouble driving at night, difficulty recognizing a friend across the street, reading a newspaper or recognizing detail on television); mixed cataract (cortical and nuclear, or posterior subcapsular and nuclear) was associated with trouble driving at night and difficulty recognizing a friend across the street. A 10-letter (two-line) decrease in best corrected or presenting visual acuity was significantly associated with all self-reported measures of visual disability, as was a two-step decrease in contrast sensitivity. A five-point increase in points missing in the visual field was weakly but significantly associated with all self-reported measures of visual disability except trouble driving at night. Conclusions: Visual function declines with age. Impaired visual function was strongly, and eye disease relatively weakly associated with reports of visual disability. [source] Metalworking exposures and persistent skin symptoms in the ECRHS II and SAPALDIA 2 cohortsCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 5 2009Maria C. Mirabelli Background:, Diseases of the skin are important and often preventable conditions occurring among workers with dermal exposures to irritant and sensitizing agents. Objective:, We conducted this analysis to assess the associations between metalworking exposures and current and persistent skin symptoms among male and female participants in two population-based epidemiologic studies. Methods:, We pooled data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS II) and the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Disease in Adults 2 (SAPALDIA 2), two prospective cohort studies in Europe. Each participant completed interviewer-administered questionnaires to provide information about symptoms and exposures related to selected occupations, including metalworking, during the follow-up periods. We assessed associations between skin symptoms and the frequency of metalworking exposures among 676 ECRHS II/SAPALDIA 2 respondents. Results:, Current skin symptoms were reported by 10% of metalworkers and were associated with frequent use, defined as four or more days per week, of oil-based metalworking fluids [prevalence ratio (PR): 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25,2.49)] and organic solvent/degreasing agents (PR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.21,3.50). Conclusions:, Skin symptom prevalence is associated with increasing frequency of oil-based metalworking fluid and degreasing agent use. Our findings justify assessing strategies for reducing the frequency of metal-related exposures. [source] | ||||||||||