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Biomedical subjects

B Arroll

Publications and source records attributed to B Arroll.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cervical screening: what do Auckland general practitioners do?

AIMS: To assess the frequency of cervical screening; average age of screened women and adequacy of decontamination practices of vaginal specula by Auckland general practitioners. METHODS: A random sample of 96 Auckland general practitioners completed a questionnaire at the time of consultation describing the screening history and decontamination practices for vaginal specula from five consecutive patients having a cervical smear test. RESULTS: Of the 96 doctors 68 completed the questionnaire for the five consecutive patients. The majority of women were aged below 50 years and the median time since the last smear for women with a previously normal smear was 18 months. Although the majority of doctors adhered to Health Department guidelines for decontamination, deviations occurred by: reusing plastic specula; using only disinfection as a means of decontamination and not boiling specula for 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of women being screened are young and there is a high level of very frequent screening in women with previously normal smears. Closer adherence to the 1991 cervical screening recommendations and Health Department guidelines for decontamination of vaginal specula is required for some Auckland general practitioners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Screening for cervical cancer: attitudes and policies among Auckland general practitioners.

OBJECTS: to survey Auckland general practitioners and evaluate their attitudes and policies toward screening for cervical cancer. METHODS: an interviewer administered questionnaire asking questions based mainly on the recommendations of the 1985 Working Party on screening for cervical cancer and on some issues resulting from the Cartwright Inquiry. RESULTS: the response rate was 96% of the 100 general practitioners approached. The mean screening interval was 24.1 months. Eighty-eight percent of Auckland general practitioners used a recall system for cervical cancer screening. Doctors more likely to report adherence to the recommendations of the Working Party on screening for cervical cancer were: members and associates of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners; doctors with less than 15 years experience; female doctors; doctors with a diploma of obstetrics and doctors in group practices. CONCLUSIONS: the majority of Auckland general practitioners adhere to the recommendations of the 1985 Working Party on screening for cervical cancer although there is some evidence of overscreening. Areas for improvement include the need for more general practitioners to have a recall system and the need to increase the rate of referral for women with two consecutive smears showing mild dysplasia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Does physical activity lower blood pressure: a critical review of the clinical trials.

This review critically appraises 22 recent articles of trials of physical activity, as a means of reducing blood pressure. The quality of the literature remains poor and of the 13 controlled trials of habitual activity only one did not have a major design fault. Overall, blood pressure was reduced by physical activity in both hypertensive and normotensive persons. This effect was independent of weight loss and in some studies blood pressure reduction occurred in the presence of weight gain. The average reduction in the better designed studies was approximately 6-7 mmHg for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure which compares favourably with studies of pharmacological treatment. The better designed studies reported smaller reductions than studies with poorer design. All activities, including circuit weight training, lowered blood pressure and daily activity produced greater blood pressure reduction than when performed three times per week. It is concluded that physical activity has an independent capacity to lower blood pressure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The Auckland diet: results from a seven day food diary.

Dietary intakes of 113 men and women aged 50-66 years, sampled from the Auckland electoral roll, were measured by a prospective seven day dietary diary. The mean intakes of percentage of energy due to fat and saturated fat were 32% and 16% in men and 34% and 15% in women. Compared with earlier New Zealand dietary studies, which used different methods, there has been an apparent decrease in both the absolute amount and proportion of cholesterol and saturated fat. The absolute and relative amount of protein consumed appears to have remained stable while carbohydrate intake has increased. In comparison with current guidelines for dietary fat intake there remains a need for further improvement in the typical New Zealand adult diet.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Validation of a three-month physical activity recall questionnaire with a seven-day food intake and physical activity diary.

We assessed the validity of a three-month physical activity questionnaire. The validation instrument was a seven-day self-report diary of physical activity and food intake, given to 113 randomly selected persons. We obtained Spearman correlations of 0.60, 0.48, and 0.91 and kappa scores of 0.36, 0.23, and 0.62 from the physical activity recall and diary for moderate, vigorous, and total activity. We conclude that the three-month recall questionnaire reasonably reflects activity in this community-based sample.

Diet↗
PubMed1991

Potential misclassification in studies of physical activity.

Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, although debate still occurs over the level of intensity required for cardioprotection. The use in epidemiological studies of the arbitrarily defined categories of light, moderate, and hard, as proxy measures of relative intensity has administrative merit but risks potential misclassification, particularly in women and the elderly. This potential misclassification is the result of the inappropriate categorizing of activity based upon absolute intensity values regardless of age or gender. Coronary heart disease is more common in the elderly and recent activity more important than remote for cardiac benefit. It is thus essential to resolve the issue of the level(s) of exercise intensity needed to provide health benefits. Only when this information is available will it be possible to give rational and safe public health advice.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The assessment of diagnostic tests: a comparison of medical literature in 1982 and 1985.

To determine whether improvements have occurred since a survey of the 1982 literature assessing diagnostic tests, the authors evaluated all English-language articles that assessed clinical diagnostic tests in abridged Index Medicus journals in 1985, and that had the terms sensitivity and specificity in the title, abstract, or key words. The 89 articles were assessed against seven methodologic criteria, including use of a well-defined "gold standard," clearly defined test interpretation, blinding, clear data presentation, correct use of sensitivity and specificity, calculation of predictive values, and consideration of prevalence. In comparisons of 1985 vs. 1982 articles, there were significant improvements in five of the seven criteria. For example, the proportion of articles using a well-defined "gold standard" rose from 68% to 88%. Overall, the frequency of papers demonstrating five or more of the seven criteria increased from 26% to 47%. However, predictive values were discussed in only 54% of the articles without, necessarily, consideration of the influence of prevalence as well. This study raises the concern that while the concepts of sensitivity and specificity are now accepted, predictive values remain less well understood. Although there has been an improvement in the assessment of diagnostic tests in published research, attention to accepted methodologic standards is still needed on the part of researchers, reviewers, and editors.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measurement of 42K concentration in the mucosal portion of the intestine without tissue samples: an approach to the measurement of mucosal blood flow in the dog.

1. The concentration of 42K within the jejunal mucosa was measured by intraluminal miniatrue Geiger-Müller tubes shieleded with platinum foil. 2. Isotope concentration measured by tissue assay of jejunal mucosa gave similar results to that obtained by the Geiger-Müller tubes. 3. Isotope measurement by shielded Geiger-Müller tubes obviates the need for tissue samples and permits repeat measurement in the same animal. This should find physiological application in measuring the mucosal portion of total intestinal blood flow by the indicator fractionation technique.

Animals↗