The natural history of spina bifida in children pilot project : Research protocol

Background: Population-based empirical information to inform health care professionals working with children with spina bifida currently is lacking. Spina bifida is a highly complex condition that not only affects mobility but many additional aspects of life. We have developed a pilot project that focuses on a broad range of domains: Surgeries, development and learning, nutrition and physical growth, mobility and functioning, general health, and family demographics. Specifically, we will: (1) explore the feasibility of identifying and recruiting participants using different recruitment sources, (2) test a multidisciplinary module to collect the data, (3) determine the utility of different methods of retrieving the data, and (4) summarize descriptive information on living with spina bifida. Objective: The overall objective of the project was to provide information for a future multistate prospective study on the natural history of spina bifida. Methods: Families with a child 3 to 6 years of age with a diagnosis of spina bifida were eligible for enrollment. Eligible families were identified through a US population-based tracking system for birth defects and from a local spina bifida clinic. Results: This is an ongoing project with first results expected in 2013. Conclusions: This project, and the planned multistate follow-up project, will provide information both to health care professionals experienced in providing care to patients with spina bifida, and to those who have yet to work with this population. The long-term purpose of this project is to increase the knowledge about growing up with spina bifida and to guide health care practices by prospectively studying a cohort of children born with this condition

2006 California Problem Gambling Prevalence Survey

"In general, information presented on this web site, unless otherwise indicated, is considered in the public domain."The goals of the 2006 California Problem Gambling Survey were to assess the extent and impact of problem gambling among adults in California, identify the groups in the population most affected by the disorder, and provide information about the public’s knowledge of available resources for addressing gambling problems. A telephone survey of 7,121 Californians aged 18 and over was carried out between October, 2005 and April, 2006 to assess gambling behavior, gambling-related problems, and demographics as well as other correlates of gambling problems. Interviews were conducted in English, Spanish and other languages.YesCalifornia Office of Problem and Pathological Gamblin