Preventive medicine
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Estimates of adherence to mammography screening guidelines vary, in part, due to lack of consensus on defining adherence. This study estimated adherence to repeat (two successive on-time screenings) and regular screening (three or more successive screenings) and evaluated the impact of varying operational definitions and evaluation periods. ⋯ Estimates of adherence to screening guidelines varied by the operational definition of "success" and time period of evaluation. Consensus in definitions and terminology is needed to compare evaluations.
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Preventive medicine · Oct 2007
Smoke load/cancer death rate associations in Korea females, 1985-2004.
Korea female death rates from many cancers have risen rapidly since 1985. The sources of those cancer death epidemics are unclear but may be related to rising cumulative tobacco smoke damage (smoke load). We assessed Korea female smoke load/cancer death rate associations from 1985 to 2004. ⋯ Smoke load, probably from tobacco given the epidemic time course, may cause a large cancer death burden in Korea females despite their very low self-reported prevalence of smoking.
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Preventive medicine · Oct 2007
ReviewThe Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies.
Much biomedical research is observational. The reporting of such research is often inadequate, which hampers the assessment of its strengths and weaknesses and of a study's generalisability. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Initiative developed recommendations on what should be included in an accurate and complete report of an observational study. ⋯ The workshop and the subsequent iterative process of consultation and revision resulted in a checklist of 22 items (the STROBE Statement) that relate to the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections of articles. 18 items are common to all three study designs and four are specific for cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies. A detailed Explanation and Elaboration document is published separately and is freely available on the websites of PLoS Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology. We hope that the STROBE Statement will contribute to improving the quality of reporting of observational studies.
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Preventive medicine · Oct 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPreference-based electronic decision aid to promote colorectal cancer screening: results of a randomized controlled trial.
Despite the burden of colorectal cancer and improved health care outcomes with early detection and treatment, screening rates among eligible adults are low. We previously developed through a series of studies an interactive electronic tool, Colorectal Web, to promote colorectal cancer screening. ⋯ Colorectal Web is more effective than a standard colorectal cancer Web site at prompting previously unscreened individuals to choose a preferred colorectal cancer screening test and to be screened for colorectal cancer.
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Preventive medicine · Oct 2007
Meta AnalysisTailored interventions to promote mammography screening: a meta-analytic review.
To evaluate the effectiveness of tailored interventions, designed to reach one specific person based on her unique characteristics, for promoting mammography use. ⋯ Tailored interventions, particularly those that employ the Health Belief Model and use a physician recommendation, are effective in promoting mammography screening. Future investigations should strive to use more standardized definitions of tailoring and assessments of mammography outcomes.