Statistical methods in cancer research

Objective: To determine the ability of measurements of bone density in women to predict later fractures. Design: Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies published between 1985 and end of 1994 with a baseline measurement of bone density in women and subsequent follow up for fractures. For comparative purposes, we also reviewed case control studies of hip fractures published between 1990 and 1994. Subjects: Eleven separate study populations with about 90000 person years of observation time and over 2000 fractures. Main outcome measures: Relative risk of fracture for a decrease in bone mineral density of one standard deviation below age adjusted mean. Results: All measuring sites had similar predictive abilities (relative risk 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.4 to 1.6)) for decrease in bone mineral density except for measurement at spine for predicting vertebral fractures (relative risk 2.3 (1.9 to 2.8)) and measurement at hip for hip fractures (2.6 (2.0 to 3.5)). These results are in accordance with results of case-control studies. Predictive ability of decrease in bone mass was roughly similar to (or, for hip or spine measurements, better than) that of a 1 SD increase in blood pressure for stroke and better than a 1 SD increase in serum cholesterol concentration for cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: Measurements of bone mineral density can predict fracture risk but cannot identify individuals who will have a fracture. We do not recommend a programme of screening menopausal women for osteoporosis by measuring bone density. Key messages Measuring bone mineral density has been suggested as a method of identifying individuals at high risk of fracture in a preventive context Our meta-analysis of prospective studies showed that all studies measuring bone density at any site had similar predictive ability for a decrease of 1 SD in bone density except for measurements at hip and spine, which have better predictive ability for fractures in hip and spine respectively Predictive ability of decrease in bone mass was roughly similar to (or, for hip or spine measurements, better than) that of a 1 SD increase in blood pressure for stroke and better than a 1 SD increase in serum cholesterol concentration for cardiovascular disease Although bone mineral density measurements can predict fracture risk, they cannot identify individuals who will have a fracture, and a screening programme for osteoporosis cannot be recommended

Meta-analysis of how well measures of bone mineral density predict occurrence of osteoporotic fractures

On death and dying

Objective—This report presents selected estimates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among U.S. adults, using data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Methods—Data for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population were collected using computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI). This report is based on 31,044 interviews of adults age 18 years and over. Statistics shown in this report were age adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. standard population. Results—Sixty-two percent of adults used some form of CAM therapy during the past 12 months when the definition of CAM therapy included prayer specifically for health reasons. When prayer specifically for health reasons was excluded from the definition, 36% of adults used some form of CAM therapy during the past 12 months. The 10 most commonly used CAM therapies during the past 12 months were use of prayer specifically for one’s own health (43.0%), prayer by others for one’s own health (24.4%), natural products (18.9%), deep breathing exercises (11.6%), participation in prayer group for one’s own health (9.6%), meditation (7.6%), chiropractic care (7.5%), yoga (5.1%), massage (5.0%), and diet-based therapies (3.5%). Use of CAM varies by sex, race, geographic region, health insurance status, use of cigarettes or alcohol, and hospitalization. CAM was most often used to treat back pain or back problems, head or chest colds, neck pain or neck problems, joint pain or stiffness, and anxiety or depression. Adults age 18 years or over who used CAM were more likely to do so because they believed that CAM combined with conventional medical treatments would help (54.9%) and/or they thought it would be interesting to try (50.1%). Most adults who have ever used CAM have used it within the past 12 months, although there is variation by CAM therapy.

/pdf/complementary-and-alternative-medicine-use-among-adults-37vlml3iz3.pdf

Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002

: The concepts of appropriate and necessary care are fundamental to the creation of an efficient and equitable health-care delivery system Evidence of inappropriate overuse and underuse of procedures has been documented even in health systems characterised by the absence of global budgets, capitation, utilisation review or the pressure of requiring a second opinion Health systems should function in such a way that inappropriate care is progressively reduced, while appropriate and especially necessary care are maintained or increased The ability to determine and identify which care is overused and which is underused is essential to this functioning To this end, the "RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method" (here given the acronym RAM) was developed by RAND and UCLA in the 198Os It has been further developed and refined in North America and, increasingly, in Europe

/pdf/the-rand-ucla-appropriateness-method-user-s-manual-3f3er7aju7.pdf

The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User's Manual

Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century

During its first year of operation (1988) the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care focused on nine areas. Additional activities will be added as need requires and resources permit. Also, preparations for 1989 projects have begun. The nine areas include: identification of technologies needing assessment, including international comparisons; review and synthesis of the value of preoperative routines; review and synthesis of the value of gastroscopy for diagnosing stomach pain; assessment of different treatment methods for back pain; assessment of the value of vascular surgery for vascular spasms in the legs; organization of a strategy conference concerning medical technology assessment in Sweden; creation of a strategy that addresses an international review of medical technology, future technologies in health care, waiting lists for medical care--the importance of medical technology, resource utilization and organizational and educational aspects of introducing new technology in health care, and costs and medical technology; translation of foreign assessment studies, with comments; national and international cooperation. SCTA has discussed the need for assessing specific technology such as bone marrow transplantation and surgical treatment of epilepsy. SCTA's Scientific Advisory Committee has additionally considered the following subjects for future projects: medical, social, and economic consequences of alternative technologies screening for prostate, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer; costs, indications, and medical benefit of surgery for varicose vains; and modern urology technologies, particularly those related to prostate care.

The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care.

Objectives: The objective of physician continuing medical education (CME) is to help them keep abreast of advances in patient care, to accept new more-beneficial care, and discontinue use of existing lower-benefit diagnostic and therapeutic interventions The goal of this review was to examine effectiveness of current CME tools and techniques in changing physician clinical practices and improving patient health outcomes Methods: Results of published systematic reviews were examined to determine the spectrum from most- to least-effective CME techniques We searched multiple databases, from 1 January 1984 to 30 October 2004, for English-language, peer-reviewed meta-analyses and other systematic reviews of CME programs that alter physician behavior and/or patient outcomes Results: Twenty-six reviews met inclusion criteria, that is, were either formal meta-analyses or other systematic reviews Interactive techniques (audit/feedback, academic detailing/outreach, and reminders) are the most effective at simultaneously changing physician care and patient outcomes Clinical practice guidelines and opinion leaders are less effective Didactic presentations and distributing printed information only have little or no beneficial effect in changing physician practice Conclusions: Even though the most-effective CME techniques have been proven, use of least-effective ones predominates Such use of ineffective CME likely reduces patient care quality and raises costs for all, the worst of both worlds

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S026646230505049X

Effects of continuing medical education on improving physician clinical care and patient health: A review of systematic reviews

Continuation of Initial Antihypertensive Medication After 1 Year of Therapy

Purpose.To provide a practical quantitative tool for appraising the quality of cost-effectiveness (CE) studies.Methods.A committee comprised of health economists selected a set of criteria for the instrument from an item pool. Data collected with a conjoint analysis survey on 120 international healt

Bernard S. Bloom

Papers

Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century

The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care.

Effects of continuing medical education on improving physician clinical care and patient health: A review of systematic reviews

Continuation of Initial Antihypertensive Medication After 1 Year of Therapy

Development and validation of a grading system for the quality of cost-effectiveness studies.