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Selected AbstractsNational and Regional Prevalence of Self-reported Epilepsy in CanadaEPILEPSIA, Issue 12 2004José F. Tellez-Zenteno Summary:,Purpose: To assess the point prevalence of self-described epilepsy in the general population nationally, provincially, and in different groups of interest. Methods: We analyzed data from two national health surveys, the National Population Health Survey (NPHS, N = 49,000) and the Community Health Survey (CHS, N = 130,882). Both surveys captured sociodemographic information, as well as age, sex, education, ethnicity, household income, and labor force status of participants. Epilepsy was ascertained with only one question in both surveys. "Do you have epilepsy diagnosed by a health professional?" (NPHS) and "Do you have epilepsy?" (CHS). Prevalences were age-adjusted by using national standard populations at the time of each survey. Exact 95% confidence intervals were obtained. Results: In the NPHS, 241 of 49,026 subjects described themselves as having been diagnosed with epilepsy, yielding a weighted point prevalence of 5.2 per 1,000 [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.9,5.4]. In the CHS, 835 of 130,822 subjects described themselves as having epilepsy, yielding a weighted point prevalence of 5.6 per 1,000 (95% CI, 5.1,6.0). Trends in differences in prevalence among some Canadian provinces were observed. Prevalence was statistically significantly higher in groups with the lowest educational level, lowest income, and in those unemployed in the previous year. Prevalence also was higher in nonimmigrants than in immigrants. Conclusions: The overall and group-specific results are in keeping with those obtained in other developed countries by using different ascertainment methods. We discuss methodologic aspects related to the ascertainment of epilepsy in both surveys, and to the validity and implications of our findings. [source] Prevalence of Xerostomia in Population-based Samples: A Systematic ReviewJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2006M.F. Orellana DDS Abstract The consequences of xerostomia on oral health have been studied for decades; however, the actual prevalence of this disorder on the general population remains controversial. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of xerostomia in population-based samples. Electronic databases were screened for relevant articles and reference lists of pertinent articles were also hand-searched. Thirteen articles meeting the final inclusion criteria were identified. Based on the definition of xerostomia used in this review, only publications including a subjective diagnosis of the disorder were included. All of the self-repotted diagnoses were achieved through a questionnaire either by mail, telephone, interview or self-administered by the patient. There was a variation across papers regarding number and content of the questions as well as guidelines for the diagnosis of xerostomia (i.e. answer yes to one or more than one question). The prevalence of xerostomia in the selected articles ranged from 0.9% to 64.8%. The majority of these studies were performed in Scandinavia. In 9 of the articles, the studied samples were 50 years and older. None of the studies evaluated the prevalence xerostomia among individuals younger than 18 years. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that there is a need for population-based studies on prevalence of xerostomia in regions other than Scandinavia. A standardized protocol to diagnose xerostomia needs to be developed. Patient-perceived treatment needs and impact on quality of life should be included to have a complete picture of public health implications of the disease. [source] Questionnaire survey on the understanding of epilepsy among non-medical personsPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2008Akihisa Okumura Abstract Background: A questionnaire survey was conducted on the understanding of epilepsy and febrile seizures in preschool teachers, public health nurses, and parents or caregivers of children with epilepsy. Methods: The survey was performed in three different sites at different dates. The participants were 16 preschool teachers, 25 public health nurses, and 34 parents or caregivers of children with epilepsy. Results: Seventy-seven percent of the participants thought that epilepsy was not always untreatable. Sixty-seven percent of the participants thought that epilepsy was not a hereditary disease. Sixty-one percent of the participants considered that repetitive seizures cause brain damage, and 93% of them thought that patients with epilepsy must be treated. Seventy-six percent of the participants thought that febrile seizures evolve into epilepsy if left untreated. Seventy-seven percent of the participants considered that vaccination can be performed in patients with epilepsy or febrile seizures, and 89% of them thought that swimming should not be forbidden in patients with epilepsy or febrile seizures. There was no significant difference in the answers with regard to the positions of the participants except in one question. Conclusions: The present questionnaire survey provided some information on the understanding of epilepsy among non-medical persons. A nationwide public survey is needed to clarify the problems in the public understanding of epilepsy. [source] Fear of recurrence in long-term testicular cancer survivorsPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Tone Skaali Abstract Objective: To explore fear of recurrence (FoR) in long-term testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) since FoR hardly has been examined in TCSs. Methods: In a cross-sectional questionnaire study, 1336 TCSs at a mean of 11.4 years (SD 4.2) after diagnosis gave information about their medical and social situation, and completed measures on mental distress, fatigue, quality of life, coping, self-esteem and neuroticism. FoR during the last week was explored with one question, with the response categories rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Nine percent of the TCSs had a structured psychiatric interview. Results: Twenty-four percent of the TCSs reported ,quite a bit' FoR and 7% reported ,very much' FoR during the last week. The FoR question showed moderate correlations (0.22,0.51) with established psychological measures. The level of FoR was significantly positively correlated with mental distress, fatigue and neuroticism and significantly negatively correlated with quality of life, self-esteem and coping. In univariate analyses, neurotoxic side effects and somatic symptoms, but not treatment modality, were significantly associated with level of FoR. In a multivariate analysis, a medium educational level, increasing levels of traumatic cancer-related stress symptoms and of neuroticism were significantly associated with rising FoR. Among those who had a psychiatric interview, the presence of at least one current mental disorder was significantly associated with FoR. Conclusions: High levels of FoR in long-term TCSs are not uncommon. Levels of mental and somatic problems are associated with the levels of FoR. Clinical consequences of these findings for TCSs are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||