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C R Parsons

Publications and source records attributed to C R Parsons.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Outcomes of a natural rubber latex control program in an Ontario teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Allergy to natural rubber latex (NRL) has been frequently reported in health care workers. However, there is little published evidence of the outcome of hospital intervention programs to reduce exposure and detect cases of sensitization early. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the effects of intervention to reduce NRL allergy in an Ontario teaching hospital with approximately 8000 employees. METHODS: A retrospective review assessed annual numbers of employees visiting the occupational health clinic, allergy clinic, or both for manifestations of NRL allergy compared with the timing of introduction of intervention strategies, such as worker education, voluntary medical surveillance, and hospital conversion to low-protein, powder-free NRL gloves. RESULTS: The number of workers identified with NRL allergy rose annually, from 1 in 1988 to 6 in 1993. When worker education and voluntary medical surveillance were introduced in 1994, a further 25 workers were identified. Nonsterile gloves were changed to low-protein, powder-free NRL gloves in 1995: Diagnoses fell to 8 workers that year, and 2 of the 3 nurses who had been off work because of asthma-anaphylaxis were able to return to work with personal avoidance of NRL products. With a change to lower protein, powder-free NRL sterile gloves in 1997, allergy diagnoses fell to 3, and only 1 new case was identified subsequently up to May 1999. No increased glove costs were incurred as a result of consolidated glove purchases. CONCLUSIONS: This program to reduce NRL allergy in employees was effectively achieved without additional glove costs while reducing expenses from time off work and workers' compensation claims.

Gloves, Protective↗
PubMed1991

The time interval between death and next-of-kin contact and its effects on response rates and data quality.

The relation of the interval of time between death and next-of-kin contact to outcome variables including response rates and data quality was examined in a nationally representative sample of 17,713 deaths of persons 25 years of age or older that occurred in the United States in 1986. For most of the outcome variables examined, the length of time had little effect, although there was a small decrease in the response rate and a small increase in the refusal rate for contact 40 or more weeks after death. The small decrease in the response rate and small increase in the refusal rate for the longest interval examined held for most decedent background characteristics examined (age, race, cause of death, and type of informant.) Authorizations to contact health care facilities signed by the respondents decreased slightly as the interval increased. The rate of returned mailed questionnaires passing quality and consistency edits increased slightly with time since death. Substantive responses (versus blanks, don't knows, etc.) decreased as time since death increased. Certain questions such as those on income and birth control pill use showed a decrease in response with time since death. Overall, the effects of longer time intervals between death and next-of-kin contact were less than expected on response rates and data quality, although our findings may reflect the high overall response rate, 90.5%, leaving little opportunity for significant areas of nonresponse.

Adult↗