A single-blind randomised controlled trial of the effects of a web-based decision aid on self-testing for cholesterol and diabetes. study protocol

Background: Self-tests, tests on body materials to detect medical conditions, are widely available to the general public. Self-testing does have advantages as well as disadvantages, and the debate on whether self-testing should be encouraged or rather discouraged is still ongoing. One of the concerns is whether consumers have sufficient knowledge to perform the test and interpret the results. An online decision aid (DA) with information on self-testing in general, and test specific information on cholesterol and diabetes self-testing was developed. The DA aims to provide objective information on these self-tests as well as a decision support tool to weigh the pros and cons of self-testing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the online decision aid on knowledge on self-testing, informed choice, ambivalence and psychosocial determinants. Methods/Design: A single blind randomised controlled trial in which the online decision aid 'zelftestwijzer' is compared to short, non-interactive information on self-testing in general. The entire trial will be conducted online. Participants will be selected from an existing Internet panel. Consumers who are considering doing a cholesterol or diabetes self-test in the future will be included. Outcome measures will be assessed directly after participants have viewed either the DA or the control condition. Weblog files will be used to record participants' use of the decision aid. Discussion: Self-testing does have important pros and cons, and it is important that consumers base their decision whether they want to do a self-test or not on knowledge and personal values. This study is the first to evaluate the effect of an online decision aid for self-testing

HCV-related burden of disease in Europe: a systematic assessment of incidence, prevalence, morbidity, and mortality

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease, end-stage cirrhosis, and liver cancer, but little is known about the burden of disease caused by the virus. We summarised burden of disease data presently available for Europe, compared the data to current expert estimates, and identified areas in which better data are needed. Methods Literature and international health databases were systematically searched for HCV-specific burden of disease data, including incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and liver transplantation. Data were collected for the WHO European region with emphasis on 22 countries. If HCV-specific data were unavailable, these were calculated via HCV-attributable fractions. Results HCV-specific burden of disease data for Europe are scarce. Incidence data provided by national surveillance are not fully comparable and need to be standardised. HCV prevalence data are often inconclusive. According to available data, an estimated 7.3–8.8 million people (1.1–1.3%) are infected in our 22 focus countries. HCV-specific mortality, DALY, and transplantation data are unavailable. Estimations via HCV-attributable fractions indicate that HCV caused more than 86000 deaths and 1.2 million DALYs in the WHO European region in 2002. Most of the DALYs (95%) were accumulated by patients in preventable disease stages. About one-quarter of the liver transplants performed in 25 European countries in 2004 were attributable to HCV. Conclusion Our results indicate that hepatitis C is a major health problem and highlight the importance of timely antiviral treatment. However, data on the burden of disease of hepatitis C in Europe are scarce, outdated or inconclusive, which indicates that hepatitis C is still a neglected disease in many countries. What is needed are public awareness, co-ordinated action plans, and better data. European physicians should be aware that many infections are still undetected, provide timely testing and antiviral treatment, and avoid iatrogenic transmission

Scientific assessment of the use of sugars as cigarette tobacco ingredients: A review of published and other publicly available studies

Sugars, such as sucrose or invert sugar, have been used as tobacco ingredients in American-blend cigarettes to replenish the sugars lost during curing of the Burley component of the blended tobacco in order to maintain a balanced flavor. Chemical-analytical studies of the mainstream smoke of research cigarettes with various sugar application levels revealed that most of the smoke constituents determined did not show any sugar-related changes in yields (per mg nicotine), while ten constituents were found to either increase (formaldehyde, acrolein, 2-butanone, isoprene, benzene, toluene, benzo[k]fluoranthene) or decrease (4-aminobiphenyl, N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosonornicotine) in a statistically significant manner with increasing sugar application levels. Such constituent yields were modeled into constituent uptake distributions using simulations of nicotine uptake distributions generated on the basis of published nicotine biomonitoring data, which were multiplied by the constituent/nicotine ratios determined in the current analysis. These simulations revealed extensive overlaps for the constituent uptake distributions with and without sugar application. Moreover, the differences in smoke composition did not lead to relevant changes in the activity in in vitro or in vivo assays. The potential impact of using sugars as tobacco ingredients was further assessed in an indirect manner by comparing published data from markets with predominantly American-blend or Virginia-type (no added sugars) cigarettes. No relevant difference was found between these markets for smoking prevalence, intensity, some markers of dependence, nicotine uptake, or mortality from smoking-related lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In conclusion, thorough examination of the data available suggests that the use of sugars as ingredients in cigarette tobacco does not increase the inherent risk and harm of cigarette smoking

The meaning of neutropenia and homecare needs according to caregivers of children with cancer El significado de la neutropenia y las necesidades orientación sobre el cuidado, en el domicilio, que necesitan los cuidadores de niños con cáncer Significado da neutropenia e necessidades de cuidado em domicílio para os cuidadores de crianças com câncer

This study aimed to understand the meanings caregivers attributed to the process of caring for a neutropenic child at home and know their needs for orientation related to care for these children. This descriptive study was carried out at the Pediatric Oncology Institute through semi-structured interviews, involving eleven caregivers. Data were organized according to the content analysis technique and interpreted according to Social Representations theory. Results indicate changes in the physical environment, people and human relationships, evidencing crises and transition towards stability. The following care procedures raised doubts: hyperthermia, body, food and environmental hygiene, risks of interpersonal contact and special care. The conclusion is that caregivers need technical and emotional preparedness to cope with the reported difficulties, including aggravating situations.<br>Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comprender los significados atribuidos por los cuidadores al proceso de cuidar de un niño neutropénico, en su domicilio, y conocer las necesidades de orientaciones para el cuidado de esos niños. Es un estudio descriptivo, realizado en el Instituto de Oncología Pediátrica, con once cuidadores, utilizando entrevista semiestruturada. Los datos fueron organizados según la técnica de análisis de contenido e interpretados bajo el marco teórico de las Representaciones Sociales. Los resultados indican cambios en el ambiente físico, en las personas y en las relaciones humanas, evidenciando fases de crisis y de transición para obtener la estabilidad. Los cuidados que generaron dudas fueron: hipertermia, higiene corporal, del ambiente y de los alimentos, riesgos de contacto interpersonal y cuidados especiales. Se concluye que existe necesidad de preparar técnicamente y emocionalmente a los cuidadores para el enfrentamiento de las dificultades apuntadas, incluyendo las condiciones de agravamiento.<br>Este estudo objetivou compreender os significados atribuídos pelos cuidadores ao processo de cuidar de uma criança neutropênica, em domicílio, e conhecer as necessidades de orientações para o cuidado dessas crianças. É estudo descritivo, realizado no Instituto de Oncologia Pediátrica, com onze cuidadores, utilizando entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados foram organizados segundo a técnica de análise de conteúdo e interpretados à luz das Representações Sociais. Os resultados indicam mudanças no ambiente físico, nas pessoas e nas relações humanas, evidenciando fases de crise e de transição para a estabilidade. Os cuidados que geraram dúvidas foram: hipertermia, higiene corporal, do ambiente e dos alimentos, riscos do contato interpessoal e cuidados especiais. Conclui-se que há necessidade de preparo técnico e emocional dos cuidadores para o enfrentamento das dificuldades apontadas, incluindo as condições de agravamento