Showing papers by "James F. Fries published in 1981"
TL;DR: In ankylosing spondylitis, naproxen, indomethacin, and fenoprofen calcium were the most effective agents, and in rheumatoid arthritis, relatively little mean difference between drugs was found.
Abstract: The relative effectiveness of six nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents was studied in 33 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 32 patients with ankylosing spondylitis in a double-blind, randomized, prospective study employing a six-way multiple crossover design with six-week trials of each agent. In ankylosing spondylitis, naproxen, indomethacin, and fenoprofen calcium were the most effective agents. In rheumatoid arthritis, relatively little mean difference between drugs was found. Most of this difference could be attributed to compliance factors, which favored drugs that required only a small number of pills daily. Despite the small differences in effect, patients had strong preferences. More than 85% of patients were still taking their preferred medication after a mean follow-up period of one year. ( JAMA 1981;246:2168-2172)
83 citations
TL;DR: This study found that the book, Take Care of Yourself, was read by an unexpectedly large portion of involuntary recipients; readers were more confident about their approach to health problems; and there were major decreases in total visits and visits for upper respiratory tract infections associated with the book.
Abstract: To the Editor.— The study by Moore et al (1980;243:2317) is the first randomized, controlled study of any selfcare approach. This study found that our book,Take Care of Yourself, was read by an unexpectedly large portion of involuntary recipients (84% read some portion of the book); readers were more confident about their approach to health problems; and there were major decreases in total visits (6% and 9%) and visits for upper respiratory tract infections (17% and 11%) associated with the book. The study also has lessons for those who, like ourselves, are involved in research in this area. As a mass media intervention, a reference book is characterized by low cost per recipient and relatively low percentages of behavior change. For these reasons it is widely accepted that cost-effectiveness or cost benefit is the appropriate basis for evaluation. Moore et al state that the power of their test is
3 citations