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Biomedical subjects

S Quine

Publications and source records attributed to S Quine.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Prevalence of spinal cord injury: an international comparison.

Information on the prevalence of spinal cord injury is becoming more important as the life expectancy of survivors is increasing, but few prevalence studies have been published. This paper summarises the internationally available findings on prevalence, including the methodologies and data sources used. Prevalence rates ranged from 11 to 112 per 100,000 population. Methodological difficulties in comparing findings over time, country, defined population and data source are discussed, and a more standardised methodology is recommended.

Global Health↗
PubMed1994

Attitude change amongst nursing students towards Australian aborigines.

A pre-test and post-test impact evaluation design was used to determine if attendance at a workshop conducted by Australian aboriginal health personnel improved the attitudes of nursing students towards Aborigines. A three-hour workshop attended by first year nursing students comprised an introduction, video and discussion. A self-administered questionnaire, consisting of socio-demographic background questions and attitude rating scale, was used to measure students' attitudes before and after the workshop. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired t-test were used to test for significant improvement in students' total attitude scores. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine if socio-demographic variables contributed to the changes in the students' attitude scores. Complete data were collected from 246 students. Results indicate improvement in attitude scores. Socio-demographic variables did not contribute to these scores.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A cohort study of unemployment as a cause of psychological disturbance in Australian youth.

Data from the Australian Longitudinal Survey, conducted by the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training, were analysed to estimate relative risk of psychological disturbance accompanying unemployment in young people aged 15-24 years. Two cohorts were surveyed annually over 4 years during the mid-to-late-1980s; one from the general 15-24 year-old population (N = 8995), and the other selected from Commonwealth Employment Service records (N = 2403). Such large respondent numbers allowed control of confounding by exclusion to isolate employment transition groups suitable for hypothesis testing and quantification of causal relationships. Psychological morbidity was measured using binary outcomes of the 12 item psychological component of the General Health Questionnaire. Excluded from the analysis were those who: suffered from pre-existing physical health problems; were dissatisfied in their job; were self-employed; underwent marriage breakdown during the inter-survey period; had become widowed during the inter-survey period. A Bayesian probabilistic approach was used to calculate probabilities of psychologically normal respondents becoming psychologically morbid, given prior transition from employment to unemployment. Mantel-Haenszel analysis was utilised to estimate relative risks in comparison to a control group of those remaining employed, after controlling for age and gender. An overall relative risk of becoming psychologically disturbed as a consequence of becoming unemployed was estimated to be 1.51 (95% CI: 1.15-1.99). The overall relative risk of recovery from psychological disturbance upon re-employment in those with psychological disturbance was estimated to be 1.63 (95% CI: 1.08-2.48). Residual psychological effects of past unemployment experience and the effects of long-term unemployment were investigated, but found to be non-significant in this study. There was some evidence of psychological adaptation to unemployment, but this was statistically insignificant. Unemployment was a significant cause of psychological disturbance in young people who were initially employed, not suffering physical ill-health, and psychologically normal; conversely, re-employment reversed the effect.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Cost effectiveness of accelerated rehabilitation after proximal femoral fracture.

A randomised controlled trial comparing an accelerated rehabilitation program after proximal femoral fracture with conventional care and rehabilitation was conducted with 252 elderly patients treated at an Australian general hospital in 1989/1990. This paper presents a cost-effectiveness analysis of the accelerated rehabilitation program. The measure of cost was all direct costs of treatment and subsequent care (medical and non-medical) incurred during the 4 months after fracture. Effectiveness was defined as whether the patient returned to semi-independent living; or if moderately or severely disabled prior to the fracture to the premorbid level of physical independence. The cost for treatment up to 4 months after fracture was estimated at A$ 10,600 per accelerated rehabilitation patient and A$ 12,800 per conventional care patient (1990 Australian dollars, A$). Thus, accelerated rehabilitation releases resources equivalent to approximately 17% of costs for treatment per patient. When cost effectiveness is considered, the potential cost savings rise to 38% per recovered patient.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Suicide and unemployment in Australia 1907-1990.

Ever since Durkheim postulated a relationship between economic change and suicide there has been evidence of a general association between aggregate data on unemployment and the frequency of suicide. Quantitatively, however, the association has been variable and it is clear that due to differing cultural, social and individual determinants of suicide, the relationship is complex. Methodological difficulties abound with interpretation of aggregate data. Australian records for most of the present century are suitable for examining secular trends in suicide and unemployment by age group and gender to gain an indication of the extent to which both parameters may be causally related. An aggregate/ecological study was designed to incorporate quantitative and qualitative strategies. Annual age-adjusted male and female suicide rates and annual unemployment rates were derived for the period 1907-1990. Female suicide rates were generally stable throughout the period, whereas those for males demonstrated sharp fluctuations with the peaks coinciding with times of high unemployment. The association between suicide and unemployment for 15-24 year old males was comparatively high for the recent period, 1966-1990. The increasingly youthful contribution to male suicide was demonstrated by a rise in the loss of life years during 1973-1984. Despite the inability of any investigation based on aggregate data to establish an unequivocable causal relationship, no evidence was detected to suggest that relatively high population levels of unemployment were not related to the occurrence of suicide.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Stressors experienced by relatives of patients in an innovative rehabilitation program.

The social work component of this study was conducted for ethical reasons to monitor the impact on relatives of providing therapy to severely brain-injured patients on an innovative rehabilitation treatment program in an acute care hospital. The authors identify stressors experienced by the family caregivers. Findings are based on 450 interviews conducted by three research social workers during the 18-month study period with 78 family caregivers of the 37 patients. The results indicate that involvement in providing treatment was stressful, because of both the demands on the family and the unproven efficacy of the treatment. The authors recommend that a family's ability to provide treatment be clearly assessed before recruitment and that relatives' stress be monitored during their involvement. The findings emphasize the important role social workers can perform in identifying and monitoring such stress.

Brain Injuries↗
PubMed1993

Shoe concerns and foot problems of wearers of safety footwear.

In Australia workers in many industries are required to wear safety footwear (footwear incorporating a steel toe cap). An investigation of the problems reported by 321 workers (70 per cent male) employed in a broad range of work activities and required to wear safety footwear was conducted in 1990 and 1991. Respondents were interviewed by a professionally trained podiatrist using a structured questionnaire followed by a foot examination. An extremely high percentage (91 per cent) of subjects reported one or more foot problems (which were verified by the podiatrist), and most considered that the safety footwear either caused the problem or adversely affected an existing foot condition. The main shoe concerns reported were excessive heat (65 per cent of all respondents), inflexible soles (52 per cent), weight (48 per cent) and pressure from steel toe cap (47 per cent). Certain gender differences were identified. General recommendations are made.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1993

Estimation of infant mortality rates categorized by social class for an Australian population.

"This paper reports a method of deriving simultaneous confidence intervals for [Australian] infant mortality rates based on a birth sample rather than the birth population. The large sample size employed enables the use of asymptotic multivariate techniques....[The authors find that] where the population distribution of a characteristic such as social class is not known, confidence intervals can be estimated for rates based on the distribution of this characteristic in a sample of that population."

Australia↗
PubMed1992

Prevalences and perceptions of licit and illicit drugs among New South Wales secondary school students, 1989.

This paper presents findings on drug prevalences for licit and illicit drugs among New South Wales secondary school students (n = 3753) in late 1989. It also considers the accuracy of students' perceptions of the drug causing the most and fewest drug-related deaths. Data were analysed by age and gender, using logistic regression for the prevalence data. Findings indicate that licit drugs (tobacco, alcohol and analgesics) were the most frequently and widely used. Rates for illicit drugs were low, although there was some degree of experimental use of cannabis which increased amongst older males. Perceptions were found to be inaccurate in emphasising the dangers of the illicit drug heroin over those of the licit drugs tobacco and alcohol. Reasons for these findings are discussed, and more in-depth research recommended into the relationship between drug prevalences and perceptions for different age groups, and its relevance for planning drug prevention initiatives.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Changes in reported drug prevalence among New South Wales secondary school students, 1983 to 1989.

Three drug use surveys employing a standardised questionnaire format and sampling procedure were conducted on samples of New South Wales school students in 1983, 1986 and 1989. Alcohol and tobacco were the most frequently used substances across the surveys, with rates of use of illicit substances being considerably lower. Declines in the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and stimulant use were found between 1983 and 1986 and between 1986 and 1989 for both males and females. Rates of use of inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens and narcotics declined between 1983 and 1986, but remained unchanged between the 1986 and 1989 samples. Cannabis use declined significantly among females between 1983 and 1989, but not among males. Possible reasons for the general decline in drug use over the six-year period are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Socioeconomic correlates of mortality and hospital morbidity differentials by Local Government Area in Sydney 1985-1988.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude of differentials in mortality and hospital morbidity by Local Government Area (LGA) in Sydney (1985-1988), and to correlate these with LGA indicators of socioeconomic status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional group-based comparative study of mortality and hospital separations, and a group-based correlations analysis in relation to socioeconomic indicators. OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality--life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, 0- to 4-year mortality, age-standardised 15- to 64-year mortality (all-cause and various causes), sex-specific (except infant and 0- to 4-year mortality). Hospital morbidity rates--0- to 4-year hospital separations, age-standardised 15- to 64-year hospital separations (all-cause and various causes), sex-specific. STUDY FACTORS: Census-derived LGA proportions of immigrants, Aborigines, professionals, unskilled workers, unemployed persons, those with a university degree and those having no qualifications, and the composite Ross Indicator. RESULTS: Considerable differences in mortality and hospital morbidity by LGA in Sydney were found. Males had higher mortality and lower rates of hospital separation than females. LGA differentials were most obvious for adults, with little variation noted for infants or children. Most socioeconomic indicators were highly correlated with adult mortality and hospital morbidity in the expected direction, particularly indicators of low socioeconomic status. The unemployment rate, proportion Aboriginal, proportion unskilled, proportion unqualified, and the Ross Indicator were the most highly correlated variables. CONCLUSIONS: There are persistent differentials by LGA in mortality and hospital morbidity in Sydney which are strongly associated with socioeconomic status. The Ross Indicator was found to be a useful composite indicator. The high correlations of mortality and hospital morbidity with the unemployment rate raise the question of to what extent this is due to illness and premature mortality in the unemployed. Monitoring of health status differentials needs to continue if progress towards Health For All targets is to be evaluated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Social class as a risk factor for infant mortality in an Australian population.

Studies in other countries have identified social class as a risk factor for infant mortality. In Australia there is no systematic collection of population data by social class, partly due to the absence of a recognized measure. The use of occupational prestige as an indicator of social class is discussed and Australian prestige scales reviewed. In a population based study, logistic regression analysis of infant mortality in an Australian (NSW) population shows the effects of social class on infant mortality which remain when maternal age, marital status and parity are controlled.

Australia↗
PubMed1990

Problems in comparing findings on social class cross-culturally--applied to infant mortality (Australia and Britain).

This article addresses methodological problems in conducting cross-cultural comparisons of health findings analysed by social class. It then illustrates these problems by describing the difficulties faced and the methods adopted to conduct a cross-cultural comparison between Australia and Britain for infant mortality data analysed by social class. The specific findings on social class and infant mortality are reported, and the wider implications for cross-cultural research discussed.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1990

Counting heads: estimating traumatic brain injury in New South Wales.

The public health problem of head injuries contributes to considerable morbidity in the community and is the commonest cause of death in young adult Australians. However, estimating the incidence of head injury has been difficult, and has varied between countries and over time. This paper critically appraises the methodological issues contributing to head injury/brain injury incidence estimates, in particular case definition, differing data sources, and methods of case ascertainment. The most appropriate definition from a methodological service provider perspective is one which clearly distinguishes between potential and actual brain injury. The results from a study which used the most accurate methods have been extrapolated to NSW, and reduce the estimated brain injury incidence in NSW from a reported 392 to 180 per 100,000 incident cases per year. This revised estimate implies that in 1990 there will be about 10,500 new cases of traumatic brain injury, of which an estimated 400 will result in serious physical or mental disability. These estimates were originally calculated to enable the development of an appropriate level of health service provision for brain-injured persons through the NSW Brain Injury Program.

Brain Injuries↗
PubMed1989

Indicators of social class--relationship between prestige of occupation and suburb of residence.

The difficulty of measuring social class is well known. Two indicators of social class, prestige of occupation and prestige of suburb of residence, are considered here. Australian prestige scales which measure these indicators are discussed. Comparisons between the original scales and the recently updated versions indicate that in the Australian community there is general community agreement on the prestige of occupations and of suburbs which has changed little over two decades. However, there is only a weak association between the prestige of the occupation in which a person is employed and the prestige of the suburb in which that person resides. This raises queries concerning the validity of using prestige of suburb as an indicator of social class, and highlights the fact that when conducting research one indicator of social class cannot simply be substituted for another. The implications for investigation of health-related issues are discussed.

Australia↗