Attrition and bias in the MRC cognitive function and ageing study: an epidemiological investigation

BACKGROUND: Any hypothesis in longitudinal studies may be affected by attrition and poor response rates. The MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing study (MRC CFAS) is a population based longitudinal study in five centres with identical methodology in England and Wales each recruiting approximately 2,500 individuals. This paper aims to identify potential biases in the two-year follow-up interviews. METHODS: Initial non-response: Those not in the baseline interviews were compared in terms of mortality to those who were in the baseline interviews at the time of the second wave interviews (1993–1996). Longitudinal attrition: Logistic regression analysis was used to examine baseline differences between individuals who took part in the two-year longitudinal wave compared with those who did not. RESULTS: Initial non-response: Individuals who moved away after sampling but before baseline interview were 1.8 times more likely to die by two years (95% Confidence interval(CI) 1.3–2.4) compared to respondents, after adjusting for age. The refusers had a slightly higher, but similar mortality pattern to responders (Odds ratio 1.2, 95%CI 1.1–1.4). Longitudinal attrition: Predictors for drop out due to death were being older, male, having impaired activities of daily living, poor self-perceived health, poor cognitive ability and smoking. Similarly individuals who refused were more likely to have poor cognitive ability, but had less years of full-time education and were more often living in their own home though less likely to be living alone. There was a higher refusal rate in the rural centres. Individuals who moved away or were uncontactable were more likely to be single, smokers, demented or depressed and were less likely to have moved if in warden-controlled accommodation at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal estimation of factors mentioned above could be biased, particularly cognitive ability and estimates of movements from own home to residential homes. However, these differences could also affect other investigations, particularly the estimates of incidence and longitudinal effects of health and psychiatric diseases, where the factors shown here to be associated with attrition are risk factors for the diseases. All longitudinal studies should investigate attrition and this may help with aspects of design and with the analysis of specific hypotheses

Increasing boys' and girls' intention to avoid teenage pregnancy: a cluster randomised control feasibility trial of an interactive video drama based intervention in post-primary schools in Northern Ireland

Background: Adolescent men have a vital yet neglected role in reducing unintended teenage pregnancy (UTP). There is a need for gender-sensitive educational interventions. Objectives: To determine the value and feasibility of conducting an effectiveness trial of the If I Were Jack Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) intervention in a convenience quota sample of post-primary schools in Northern Ireland. Secondary objectives were to assess acceptability to schools, pupils (male/female, aged 14–15 years) and parents/guardians; to identify optimal delivery structures and systems; to establish participation rates and reach, including equality of engagement of different socioeconomic and religious types; to assess trial recruitment and retention rates; to assess variation in normal RSE practice; to refine survey instruments; to assess differences in outcomes for male and female pupils; to identify potential effect sizes that might be detected in an effectiveness trial and estimate appropriate sample size for that trial; and to identify costs of delivery and pilot methods for assessing cost-effectiveness. Design: Cluster randomised Phase II feasibility trial with an embedded process and economic evaluation. Intervention: A teacher-delivered classroom-based RSE resource – an interactive video drama (IVD) with classroom materials, teacher training and an information session for parents – to immerse young people in a hypothetical scenario of Jack, a teenager whose girlfriend is unintentionally pregnant. It addresses gender inequalities in RSE by focusing on young men and is designed to increase intentions to avoid UTP by encouraging young people to delay sexual intercourse and to use contraception consistently in sexual relationships. Main outcome measures: Abstinence from sexual intercourse (delaying initiation of sex or returning to abstinence) or avoidance of unprotected sexual intercourse (consistent correct use of contraception). Secondary outcomes included Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills and Intentions. Results: The intervention proved acceptable to schools, pupils and parents, as evidenced through positive process evaluation. One minor refinement to the parental component was required, namely the replacement of the teacher-led face-to-face information session for parents by online videos designed to deliver the intervention to parents/guardians into their home. School recruitment was successful (target 25%, achieved 38%). No school dropped out. Pupil retention was successful (target 85%, achieved 93%). The between-group difference in incidence of unprotected sex of 1.3% (95% confidence interval 0.55% to 2.2%) by 9 months demonstrated an effect size consistent with those reported to have had meaningful impact on UTP rates (resulting in an achievable sample size of 66 schools at Phase III). Survey instruments showed high acceptability and reliability of measures (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.5–0.7). Economic evaluation at Phase III is feasible because it was possible to (1) identify costs of delivering If I Were Jack (mean cost per pupil, including training of teachers, was calculated as £13.66); and (2) develop a framework for assessing cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: Trial methods were appropriate, and recruitment and retention of schools and pupils was satisfactory, successfully demonstrating all criteria for progression to a main trial. The perceived value of culture- and gender-sensitive public health interventions has been highlighted. Future work: Progression to a Phase III effectiveness trial. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN99459996. Funding: This project was funded by the NIHR Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 5, No. 1. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information

The JWST Galactic Center Survey -- A White Paper

The inner hundred parsecs of the Milky Way hosts the nearest supermassive black hole, largest reservoir of dense gas, greatest stellar density, hundreds of massive main and post main sequence stars, and the highest volume density of supernovae in the Galaxy. As the nearest environment in which it is possible to simultaneously observe many of the extreme processes shaping the Universe, it is one of the most well-studied regions in astrophysics. Due to its proximity, we can study the center of our Galaxy on scales down to a few hundred AU, a hundred times better than in similar Local Group galaxies and thousands of times better than in the nearest active galaxies. The Galactic Center (GC) is therefore of outstanding astrophysical interest. However, in spite of intense observational work over the past decades, there are still fundamental things unknown about the GC. JWST has the unique capability to provide us with the necessary, game-changing data. In this White Paper, we advocate for a JWST NIRCam survey that aims at solving central questions, that we have identified as a community: i) the 3D structure and kinematics of gas and stars; ii) ancient star formation and its relation with the overall history of the Milky Way, as well as recent star formation and its implications for the overall energetics of our galaxy's nucleus; and iii) the (non-)universality of star formation and the stellar initial mass function. We advocate for a large-area, multi-epoch, multi-wavelength NIRCam survey of the inner 100\,pc of the Galaxy in the form of a Treasury GO JWST Large Program that is open to the community. We describe how this survey will derive the physical and kinematic properties of ~10,000,000 stars, how this will solve the key unknowns and provide a valuable resource for the community with long-lasting legacy value

Arqueologia e genealogia como opções metodológicas de pesquisa na enfermagem

Este artigo parte da contextualização histórica sobre o desenvolvimento da pesquisa em enfermagem, apresenta as categorias/linhas de interesse que subjazem o conhecimento humano aplicado nas Teses de Doutorado em Enfermagem no Brasil, aponta os métodos arqueológico e genealógico proposto por Michel Foucault e sua possibilidade de problematizar o cotidiano da enfermagem seja no âmbito Institucional, das Políticas Públicas, Reforma Sanitária e Formação Profissional, na tentativa de entender que estratégias, lutas, saberes e práticas têm influenciado a construção dos sujeitos

Atuação fonoaudiológica na estimulação precoce da sucção não-nutritiva em recém-nascidos pré-termo Action of speech therapy on early stimulation of non-nutritive sucking in preterm newborns

TEMA: estimulação precoce da sucção não-nutritiva em recém-nascidos pré-termo. PROCEDIMENTOS: análise detalhada de três prontuários de recém-nascidos pré-termos com idade gestacional de 33 semanas que apresentavam apenas dificuldade na sucção, sem patologias associadas. Na análise dos prontuários foram levantados os seguintes dados para comparação: peso ao nascer, total de dias no alto risco, total de dias no médio risco, tônus, peso/ganho, tempo de intervenção fonoaudiológica e alta hospitalar. Os bebês foram atendidos na UTI do Hospital Regional de Taguatinga, em Brasília/DF. RESULTADOS: o primeiro recém-nascido (RN1) passou 19 dias no alto risco, o RN2 passou três dias e o RN3 quatro dias. A estimulação da sucção do RN1 foi mais tardia, pela longa permanência no alto risco, na qual não há a atuação fonoaudiológica. O RN1 teve maior dificuldade para desenvolver seu reflexo de sucção e recebeu alta com auxílio do banco de leite. Os RN2 e RN3 receberam alta realizando sucção eficaz no seio materno sem nenhuma recomendação. CONCLUSÃO: os dados obtidos nessa pesquisa apontam para a eficácia da intervenção fonoaudiológica com relação à estimulação precoce da sucção em recém-nascido pré-termo, estando relacionada com a alta hospitalar e o desenvolvimento global do bebê. A estimulação precoce da fonoaudiologia nos recém-nascidos pré-termos é fundamental para uma alimentação no seio materno eficaz, prazerosa e funcional. Além de proporcionar maior vínculo entre mãe e bebê ainda no âmbito hospitalar, a atuação da fonoaudiologia pode favorecer a diminuição do tempo de internação.<br>BACKGROUND: early stimulation of non-nutritive sucking in preterm newborns. PROCEDURES: review of three charts of preterm newborn infants with gestational age of 33 weeks who had difficulty only in sucking, without associated pathologies. In the analysis of the records, the following data were collected for comparison: birth weight, total days in high-risk, total days in medium risk, tonus, weight-gain, length of speech therapy intervention and hospital discharge. The babies were treated in the ICU of Hospital Regional de Taguatinga in Brasilia / DF. RESULTS: the first newborn (RN1) spent 19 days in high risk, the RN2 spent three days and RN3, four days. The stimulation sucking of RN1 was delayed, because of the several days in high risk, where there is no speech therapy activity. It was difficult for the RN1 to develop its suction reflex and RN1 was discharged with the aid of bank milk. RN2 and RN3 were discharged performing effective suction at mother breast without any recommendation. CONCLUSION: data obtained in this study point out to the effectiveness of speech therapy intervention with respect to early stimulation of sucking in preterm newborn, being related to hospital discharge and to overall development of the newborn. The early stimulation of speech therapy in preterm newborn infants is a key-factor for an effective, pleasant and functional feed in the maternal breast. Besides providing a greater link between mother and baby while in hospital, speech therapy may promote time reduction a for hospital discharge

Impact of water renewal on the residual effect of larvicides in the control of Aedes aegypti

This study was carried out to evaluate the residual effect of three larvicides under laboratory conditions for 100 days in Aedes aegypti. The larval mortality rate was measured without water renewal or with daily water renewal (80%). With temephos, there was 100% mortality in both groups until the 70th day. In the Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti)-WDG test, there was no difference during the first 20 days. With Bti-G, without water renewal, mortality was sustained above 90% for up to 35 days. The second experiment (with water renewal) reduced the mortality to below 90% after the first 20 days. When renewed water was provided, the residual effect was significantly lower for all larvicides