Domestic Violence Enhanced Perinatal Home Visits: The DOVE Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) is common and has significant negative health outcomes for mothers and infants. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an IPV intervention in reducing violence among abused women in perinatal home visiting programs. Materials and Methods: This assessor-blinded multisite randomized control trial of 239 women experiencing perinatal IPV was conducted from 2006 to 2012 in U.S. urban and rural settings. The Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation Program (DOVE) intervention group (n = 124) received a structured abuse assessment and six home visitor-delivered empowerment sessions integrated into home visits. All participants were screened for IPV and referred appropriately. IPV was measured by the Conflicts Tactics Scale2 at baseline through 24 months postpartum. Results: There was a significant decrease in IPV over time (F = 114.23; p < 0.001) from baseline to 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postpartum (all p < 0.001). Additional models examining change in IPV from baseline indicated a significant treatment effect (F = 6.45; p < 0.01). Women in the DOVE treatment group reported a larger mean decrease in IPV scores from baseline compared to women in the usual care group (mean decline 40.82 vs. 35.87). All models accounted for age and maternal depression as covariates. Conclusions: The DOVE intervention was effective in decreasing IPV and is brief, thereby facilitating its incorporation within well-woman and well-child care visits, as well as home visiting programs, while satisfying recommendations set forth in the Affordable Care Act for IPV screening and brief counseling

How good are clinical severity and outcome measures for psoriasis: Quantitative evaluation in a systematic review

A large number of clinical measures of psoriasis are used in clinical trials and daily practice. These measures lack uniformity and validation. However, valid outcome and severity measures for psoriasis are a prerequisite for fully informative clinical research and evidence-based medicine. The purpose of this study was to identify all clinical measures of psoriasis severity and outcome in use and to evaluate the quality of these measures using clinimetric criteria; we identified 53 separate clinical measures, which were regrouped into 11 measures for quality analysis. No measure could be scored on all items used in the clinimetric analysis. The Lattice System Physician's Global Assessment and Physician's Global Assessment were most highly noted. We conclude that none of the psoriasis measures is adequately validated. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index is the most commonly used clinical measure in research, but it has substantial limitations such as low response distribution, no consensus on interpretability, and low responsiveness in mild disease. Nevertheless, because of its widespread use the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index permits some degree of comparison of results among clinical trials. Overall, no best instrument was identified, and different situations may call for different measures

Island Visual Artists'82 : An Exhibition Representing the Work of Island Visual Artists

Arsenault points out the diversity of Prince Edward Island artists' work. Includes brief artists' statements and biographical notes

Island Visual Artists '86 : An Exhibition Representing the Work of Island Visual Artists

Wyatt stresses the importance of art education in Prince Edward Island. Includes brief statements and biographical notes for 93 artists

Effects of fetal antiepileptic drug exposure Outcomes at age 4.5 years

OBJECTIVE: To examine outcomes at age 4.5 years and compare to earlier ages in children with fetal antiepileptic drug (AED) exposure. METHODS: The NEAD Study is an ongoing prospective observational multicenter study, which enrolled pregnant women with epilepsy on AED monotherapy (1999–2004) to determine if differential long-term neurodevelopmental effects exist across 4 commonly used AEDs (carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, or valproate). The primary outcome is IQ at 6 years of age. Planned analyses were conducted using Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID at age 2) and Differential Ability Scale (IQ at ages 3 and 4.5). RESULTS: Multivariate intent-to-treat (n = 310) and completer (n = 209) analyses of age 4.5 IQ revealed significant effects for AED group. IQ for children exposed to valproate was lower than each other AED. Adjusted means (95% confidence intervals) were carbamazepine 106 (102–109), lamotrigine 106 (102–109), phenytoin 105 (102–109), valproate 96 (91–100). IQ was negatively associated with valproate dose, but not other AEDs. Maternal IQ correlated with child IQ for children exposed to the other AEDs, but not valproate. Age 4.5 IQ correlated with age 2 BSID and age 3 IQ. Frequency of marked intellectual impairment diminished with age except for valproate (10% with IQ <70 at 4.5 years). Verbal abilities were impaired for all 4 AED groups compared to nonverbal skills. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse cognitive effects of fetal valproate exposure persist to 4.5 years and are related to performances at earlier ages. Verbal abilities may be impaired by commonly used AEDs. Additional research is needed