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Alternate site testing. The old and new paradigm or the past is prologue.

This paper reviews broad themes emerging in the discussion concerning alternate site testing, including the emergence and continuing value of centralized testing, the reasons for alternate site testing, and the relative merits and negative aspects of traditional centralized testing and decentralized models. The paper attempts to identify the expectations of constituencies affected by alternate site testing (patients, physicians, nurses, administrators and managers, and pathologists and other laboratory professionals) and identifies criteria and implementation strategies for decentralized testing.

Centralized Hospital Services↗

Back pain.

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Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Outcome measurement in osteoarthritis clinical trials.

The clinical assessment of outcome in osteoarthritis (OA) clinical trials is highly dependent on the use of valid, reliable, and responsive measurement techniques. Despite several decades of clinical studies, and a half-century of development in clinical metrology, we still lack international standards of measurement for OA trials. There have, nevertheless, been several very encouraging developments. In particular, the Osteoarthritis Research Society and the 5th WHO/ILAR Task Force have discussed issues of standardization. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Lequesne Index have been proposed as important outcome measures. Finally, data have recently been published on observer variability, variance estimation, and sample size determination for OA trials.

Canada↗

[Form and readability of disaster plans].

We have evaluated the disaster contingency plans for 62 out of 69 Norwegian hospitals with surgical, acute emergency functions. Page volume varied from 2-115, mean 33 pages. Only nine hospitals had pocket size printed documents (A5). At the rest of the hospitals the plans had an A4-format and consisted of photocopied pages. Illustrations were few and of low quality. Too much text contained general information with no practical relevant instruction. Readability varied for different groups of health workers. Doctors received the best instructions for their tasks. Hospitals should seek professional assistance to edit, illustrate and produce the plans, and a certain degree of standardization of the plans should be aimed at. National health authorities should encourage the hospitals in this work.

Disaster Planning↗

An evaluation of breastfeeding promotion literature: does it really promote breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding pamphlets are being produced for new mothers by both commercial and nonprofit sources in increasing quantities. A regional lactation committee decided to evaluate these materials on the basis of accuracy, degree of positive approach to breastfeeding, readability and compliance with the WHO/UNICEF Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. Results indicate that materials produced by non-profit sources scored higher in positive approach accuracy and WHO Code compliance compared with commercial sources. Only 2 of 22 pamphlets in the sample were written within the recommended reading level of Grade 5-8. None of the materials met all of the criteria for good promotional breastfeeding literature.

Attitude to Health↗

Perception of hospital pharmacists/dispensing personnel of the essential drugs concepts (EDC) in Zimbabwe.

The perception of hospital pharmacists/dispensing personnel on the essential drugs concept in Zimbabwe was prospectively evaluated. To this end, 100 ad hoc questionnaires were mailed to the health professional cadre around the country in October 1989. 54 health centres responded and these consisted of 4 central hospitals, 3 provincial, 22 general and district, 14 rural hospitals, 7 private hospitals/clinics and 4 city polyclinics. These health centres serve an estimated population of 6 million people. Of the dispensing personnel, 22% had been trained in their respective health professions after 1983, i.e. after the introduction of the essential drug concept. 65% of the respondents had a working knowledge of the essential drugs concept. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians made up 59% of the dispensing personnel, while nurses accounted for 32%. Significantly all respondents used the Essential Drug List for Zimbabwe hand book and they thought the concept is a good one.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Risk factor analysis and serological diagnosis of HIV-1/HIV-2 infection in a Brazilian blood donor population: validation of the World Health Organization strategy for HIV testing.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative prevalence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 and to evaluate the World Health Organization testing strategy for HIV diagnosis in a low-risk population in Brazil. In addition, to assess risk factors for HIV infection. DESIGN: Sera obtained from 9885 consecutive blood donors were screened in parallel by two HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with different antigen composition and test principles (Ortho HIV-1 and Wellcozyme HIV-1/2). Samples reactive to either ELISA were submitted to a Western blot assay and to a rapid HIV-1/2 ELISA (Sero-Immuno Diagnostics). An ELISA test with specific HIV-1/HIV-2-derived synthetic peptide was used to discriminate between samples reactive on the Wellcozyme HIV-1/2 assay. Demographic and serological data were used to address risk factors for HIV infection. RESULTS: All the 28 Western blot-confirmed positive samples were reactive in both Ortho HIV-1 and Wellcozyme HIV-1/2 assays (sensitivity, 100%). The Wellcozyme HIV-1/2 specificity (99.9%) was higher than Ortho HIV-1 (99.5%). If sample reactivity to both tests was considered positive, the sensitivity and specificity of the screening would be 100%. However, further analysis with a third rapid HIV-1/2 ELISA reduced both the sensitivity and the specificity of the sequential testing strategy. Discrimination between HIV-1 and HIV-2 showed evidence for the presence of HIV-1 only. Finally, in the group aged 18-35 years, the presence of serological markers of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus infections and the elevated levels of beta 2-microglobulin were variables associated with the identification of HIV-1-seropositive blood donors. CONCLUSION: In a low-risk population, application of two high quality ELISA tests with different antigens and test principles can replace the use of the Western blot. In addition to the cost being reduced by 10-16%, a rapid diagnosis and the absence of indeterminate Western blot results confer an advantage to this strategy.

Adult↗