Step-wedge cluster-randomised community-based trials: An application to the study of the impact of community health insurance

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.BACKGROUND: We describe a step-wedge cluster-randomised community-based trial which has been conducted since 2003 to accompany the implementation of a community health insurance (CHI) scheme in West Africa. The trial aims at overcoming the paucity of evidence-based information on the impact of CHI. Impact is defined in terms of changes in health service utilisation and household protection against the cost of illness. Our exclusive focus on the description and discussion of the methods is justified by the fact that the study relies on a methodology previously applied in the field of disease control, but never in the field of health financing. METHODS: First, we clarify how clusters were defined both in respect of statistical considerations and of local geographical and socio-cultural concerns. Second, we illustrate how households within clusters were sampled. Third, we expound the data collection process and the survey instruments. Finally, we outline the statistical tools to be applied to estimate the impact of CHI. CONCLUSION: We discuss all design choices both in relation to methodological considerations and to specific ethical and organisational concerns faced in the field. On the basis of the appraisal of our experience, we postulate that conducting relatively sophisticated trials (such as our step-wedge cluster-randomised community-based trial) aimed at generating sound public health evidence, is both feasible and valuable also in low income settings. Our work shows that if accurately designed in conjunction with local health authorities, such trials have the potential to generate sound scientific evidence and do not hinder, but at times even facilitate, the implementation of complex health interventions such as CHI

Factors affecting the UV-Transparency of Molecular Sieves

The optical properties in the UV-region of several types of molecular sieves were studied. The initial onset of absorption around 280 nm which was observed for basically all samles synthesized without special precautions is not due to an early onset of band gap absorption, but might be correlated to the crystal size as well as structural defects within the crystals, e.g. E'-center or peroxy-radical. Using template free synthesis procedures which lead to small crystals containing few defect sites, we were able to synthesize molevular sieves which were almost completely transparent down to 200 nm. Such crystals can become very important in the development of technical luminophores

Determination of Zinc in Amniotic Fluid in Normal and High Risk Pregnancies

Peer Reviewe

Lumineszenzzentren in Polymermatrizes Schlussbericht

Luminescent polymers have been manufactured with polysiloxanes and polyetherurethanes, doped with luminescent rare earth complexes, such as Europium(1-(2-thenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoropentane-1,3-dion) (Eu(ttfa)3phen) as well as Tb complexes. Luminescent, translucent and red- or green-light emitting polymers could be obtained, which might be applicated for optical coatings, sensors and advertising media.SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F04B938 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung, Berlin (Germany)DEGerman