Studying Populations of Online Communities

2019 ◽  
pp. 173-193
Author(s):  
Benjamin Mako Hill ◽  
Aaron Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Online Communities ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
Diffusion Processes ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Large Majority ◽  
Community Processes ◽  
Published Research

While the large majority of published research on online communities consists of analyses conducted entirely within individual communities, this chapter argues for a population-based approach, in which researchers study groups of similar communities. For example, although there have been thousands of papers published about Wikipedia, a population-based approach might compare all wikis on a particular topic. Using examples from published empirical studies, the chapter describes five key benefits of this approach. First, it argues that population-level research increases the generalizability of findings. Next, it describes four processes and dynamics that are only possible to study using populations: community-level variables, information diffusion processes across communities, ecological dynamics, and multilevel community processes. The chapter concludes with a discussion of a series of limitations and challenges.

Using population-level incidence of hepatitis C virus and immigration status for data-driven screening policies: a case study in Israel

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Leventer-Roberts ◽  
Noa Dagan ◽  
Jenna M Berent ◽  
Ilan Brufman ◽  
Moshe Hoshen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
New Diagnosis ◽  
Incident Cases

Abstract Background Most studies estimate hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease prevalence from convenience samples. Consequently, screening policies may not include those at the highest risk for a new diagnosis. Methods Clalit Health Services members aged 25–74 as of 31 December 2009 were included in the study. Rates of testing and new diagnoses of HCV were calculated, and potential risk groups were examined. Results Of the 2 029 501 included members, those aged 45–54 and immigrants had lower rates of testing (12.5% and 15.6%, respectively), higher rates of testing positive (0.8% and 1.1%, respectively), as well as the highest rates of testing positive among tested (6.1% and 6.9%, respectively). Discussion In this population-level study, groups more likely to test positive for HCV also had lower rates of testing. Policy makers and clinicians worldwide should consider creating screening policies using on population-based data to maximize the ability to detect and treat incident cases.

scholarly journals Prevalence and predictors of persistent HIV viremia and viral rebound following universal test and treat: a population-based study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kate Grabowski ◽  
Eshan U Patel ◽  
Gertrude Nakigozi ◽  
Victor Ssempijja ◽  
Robert Ssekubugu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Level ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Viral Rebound ◽  
Hiv Viral Load ◽  
Test And Treat ◽  
Universal Test ◽  
Persistent Viremia ◽  
Universal Test And Treat

Abstract Background There are limited data on individual HIV viral load (VL) trajectories at the population-level following the introduction of universal test and treat (UTT) in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods HIV VLs were assessed among HIV-positive participants at three population-based surveys in four Ugandan fishing communities surveyed between November 2011 and August 2017. The unit of analysis was a visit-pair (two consecutive person-visits), which were categorized as exhibiting durable VL suppression, new/renewed suppression, viral rebound, or persistent viremia. Adjusted relative risks (adjRRs) and 95%CIs of persistent viremia were estimated using multivariate Poisson regression. Results There were 1,346 HIV-positive participants (n=1,883 visit-pairs). The population-level prevalence of durable VL suppression increased from 29.7% to 67.9% during UTT rollout, viral rebound declined from 4.4% to 2.7%, and persistent viremia declined from 20.7% to 13.3%. Younger age (15-29 vs. 40-49 years, adjRR=1.80 [95%CI=1.19-2.71]), male sex (adjRR=2.09 [95%CI=1.47-2.95]), never being married (vs. currently married; adjRR=1.88 [95%CI=1.34-2.62]), and recent migration to the community (vs. long-term resident; adjRR=1.91 [95%CI=1.34-2.73]) were factors associated with persistent viremia. Conclusions Despite increases in durable VL suppression during roll-out of UTT in hyperendemic communities, a substantial fraction of the population, whose risk profile tended to be younger, male, and mobile, remained persistently viremic.

A population-based analysis in 375,233 cases of heart failure stages A, B and C. Real world epidemiology of prevalence and temporal trends in South-European populations

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Jimenez ◽  
M Cainzos-Achirica ◽  
D Monterde ◽  
L Garcia-Eroles ◽  
C Enjuanes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Funding Source ◽  
Private Company ◽  
Healthcare Database ◽  
Evolutionary Changes

Abstract Background Prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) and predisposing conditions has described previously. Most of these studies evaluated centre-European or north-American populations. However, the prevalence and evolutionary changes of Heart Failure stages A, B and C has not been fully elucidated in Mediterranean cohorts. Purpose To estimate the prevalence of CHF (HF Stage C) and four additional key chronic cardiovascular, metabolic and renal conditions predisposing to the development of CHF (HF Stages A and B) at a population level in a south-European healthcare area. We analysed the evolutionary changes in the prevalence in these five conditions. Methods In a healthcare area of 1,3Millions inhabitants, we extracted health related information of all individuals ≥55 years old. We analysed data of 375,233 individuals included in the population-based healthcare database of a public Institute of Health between 2015 and 2017. The conditions of interest were CHF, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes mellitus (DM), ischemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertension (HTN). Results The prevalence of chronic conditions was high, particularly of HTN (48.2–48.9%) and DM individuals (14.6–14.8%). The other conditions were less frequent, with prevalence around 2–4% for IHD, 5–9% for CKD and 2–4% for CHF (Table). However, the less frequent conditions had a striking upward trend with over 1,500 new prevalent cases per year between 2015 and 2017 for CHF (45% relative increase), more than 2,500 new prevalent cases for IHD (67% relative increase) and more than 4,000 new prevalent cases per year for CKD (44% relative increase). Conclusion In this south European cohort, there were a high prevalence of HTN and DM as risk factors and a significant trend of increasing prevalence in high cost chronic conditions such as CHF, IHD and CKD. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): The present study was funded by an unrestricted research grant from Vifor Pharma.

scholarly journals Modeling Hearing Loss Progression and Asymmetry in the Older Old: A National Population-Based Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 214-215
Author(s):  
Rahul Sharma ◽  
Anil Lalwani ◽  
Justin Golub
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Population Based ◽  
National Database ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Pure Tone Average ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Public Datasets

Abstract The progression and asymmetry of age-related hearing loss has not been well characterized in those 80 years of age and older because public datasets mask upper extremes of age to protect anonymity. We aimed to model the progression and asymmetry of hearing loss in the older old using a representative, national database. This was a cross-sectional, multicentered US epidemiologic analysis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) 2005-2006, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012 cycles. Subjects included non-institutionalized, civilian adults 80 years and older (n=621). Federal security clearance was granted to access publicly-restricted age data. Outcome measures included pure-tone average air conduction thresholds and the 4-frequency pure tone average (PTA). 621 subjects were 80 years old or older (mean=84.2 years, range=80-104 years), representing 10,600,197 Americans. Hearing loss exhibited constant acceleration across the adult lifespan at a rate of 0.0052 dB/year2 (95% CI = 0.0049, 0.0055). Compounded over a lifetime, the velocity of hearing loss would increase five-fold, from 0.2 dB loss/year at age 20 to 1 dB loss/year at age 100. This model predicted mean PTA within 2 dB of accuracy for most ages between 20 and 100 years. There was no change in the asymmetry of hearing loss with increasing age over 80 years (linear regression coefficient of asymmetry over age=0.07 (95% CI=-0.01, 0.24). In conclusion, hearing loss steadily and predictably accelerates across the adult lifespan to at least age 100, becoming near-universal. These population-level statistics will guide treatment and policy recommendations for hearing health in the older old.

Long-term use of vitamin K antagonists and incidence of cancer: a population-based study

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 117 (5) ◽  
pp. 1707-1709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vittorio Pengo ◽  
Franco Noventa ◽  
Gentian Denas ◽  
Martino F. Pengo ◽  
Umberto Gallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Hazard Ratio ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Incidence Of Cancer ◽  
Overall Mortality

Abstract Whether long-term use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) might affect the incidence of cancer is a longstanding hypothesis. We conducted a population-based study including all cancer- and thromboembolism-free patients of our health area; study groups were defined according to chronic anticoagulant use to VKA-exposed and control groups. Cancer incidence and cancer-related and overall mortality was assessed in both groups. 76 008 patients (3231 VKA-exposed and 72 777 control subjects) were followed-up for 8.2 (± 3.2) years. After adjusting for age, sex, and time-to-event, the hazard ratio of newly diagnosed cancer in the exposed group was 0.88 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.80-0.98; P < .015). VKA-exposed patients were less likely to develop prostate cancer, 0.69 (95% CI 0.50-0.97; P = .008). The adjusted hazard ratio for cancer-related and overall mortality was 1.07 (95% CI 0.92-1.24) and 1.12 (95% CI 1.05-1.19), respectively. These results support the hypothesis that anticoagulation might have a protective effect on cancer development, especially prostate cancer.

Is lodging research suffering from methods bias? An assessment of published research during 1990-2016

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faizan Ali ◽  
Mehmet Ali Koseoglu ◽  
Fevzi Okumus ◽  
Eka Diraksa Putra ◽  
Mehmet Yildiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism ◽  
Method Bias ◽  
Published Research

Purpose The study aims to investigate if lodging research suffers from a method bias by comprehensively reviewing the research methodology used in lodging related research articles. Design/methodology/approach In all, 2,647 published papers in 16 leading hospitality and tourism published between 1990 and 2016 are analyzed using bibliometric technique. Findings In all, 69% of the empirical studies in lodging research across 26 years period used quantitative methods, with an increasing reliance on regression-based analysis and structural equation modeling, a disturbing plunging trend in methods diversity. Findings also suggest an increasing trend of using secondary data. Research limitations/implications Based on the findings of this study, theoretical and practical implications for hospitality and tourism researchers are provided. Originality/value This is the first study that reviewed a large corpus of published research (2,647 papers in 16 hospitality and tourism journals from the last 27 years) to highlight (a) methodology used, (b) methods employed and (c) data collection and analysis procedures.

Retinopathy of Prematurity: A New Epidemic?

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 486-492
Author(s):  
Donna L. Gibson ◽  
Samuel B. Sheps ◽  
Martin T. Schechter ◽  
Sandra Wiggins ◽  
Andrew Q. McCormick
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Standardized Incidence Ratio ◽  
Canadian Province ◽  
Annual Population ◽  
Diagnostic Changes ◽  
Increases In Risk

This study provides the first empiric evidence for the existence of a new epidemic of retinopathy of prematurity-induced blindness. Data from a population-based register of handicapping conditions in the Canadian province of British Columbia, and a birth weight-specific census of live-born infants in British Columbia, were used to determine annual, population-level incidences of retinopathy of prematurity-induced blindness during 1952 to 1983. Changes in incidence since the end of the original epidemic (1954) were determined by subdividing the 29-year period (1955 to 1983) into two intervals (1955 to 1964 and 1965 to 1983). Standardized incidence ratio analyses revealed a marginally significant increase in the overall incidence of retinopathy of prematurity-induced blindness in the later as compared with the earlier period. Infants weighing 750 to 999 g at birth had a significantly increased standardized incidence ratio of 3.07 (95% confidence interval 1.26, 11.06). No increases in risk were observed in heavier or lighter weight infants. Because ascertainment and diagnostic changes do not explain the weight-specific increases in incidence, these results provide the first population-level evidence for a new epidemic.

Physician-related predictors of referral for multidisciplinary paediatric obesity management: a population-based study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole D Gehring ◽  
Maryam Kebbe ◽  
Sarah Rathwell ◽  
Arnaldo Perez ◽  
Chenhui Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Obesity Management ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Physician Characteristics ◽  
Paediatric Obesity ◽  
Multivariable Regression

Abstract Background It is recommended that primary care-based physicians refer children with overweight and obesity to multidisciplinary paediatric obesity management, which can help to improve weight and health. Objective To determine predictors of referral to multidisciplinary paediatric obesity management. Methods This retrospective, population-level study included physicians who could refer 2–17 years old with a body mass index ≥85th percentile to one of three multidisciplinary paediatric obesity management clinics in Alberta, Canada. Physician demographic and procedural data were obtained from Practitioner Claims and Provider Registry maintained by Alberta Health from January 2014 to December 2017. Physician characteristics were compared based on whether they did or did not refer children for obesity management. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models analysed associations between physician characteristics and referral making. Results Of the 3863 physicians (3468 family physicians, 395 paediatricians; 56% male; 49.3 ± 12.2 years old; 22.3 ± 12.6 years since graduation) practicing during the study period, 1358 (35.2%) referred at least one child for multidisciplinary paediatric obesity management. Multivariable regression revealed that female physicians (versus males) [odds ratio (OR): 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46–1.93; P &lt; 0.0001], paediatricians (versus family physicians) (OR: 4.89, 95% CI: 3.85–6.21; P &lt; 0.0001) and urban-based physicians (versus non-urban-based physicians) (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.79–2.65; P &lt; 0.0001) were more likely to refer children for multidisciplinary paediatric obesity management. Conclusions Approximately one-third of family physicians and paediatricians referred children for multidisciplinary paediatric obesity management. Strategies are needed to improve referral practices for managing paediatric obesity, especially among male physicians, family physicians and non-urban-based physicians as they were less likely to refer children.

scholarly journals Publication Anxiety, Quality, and Journal Rankings: Researcher Views

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darryl Coulthard ◽  
Susan Keller
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Journal Ranking ◽  
Journal Rankings ◽  
Ranking Systems ◽  
Published Research

Journal ranking systems are increasingly used to measure research performance of academics and universities. A growing number of academic commentators have voiced concerns of possible undesirable outcomes such as increased publication anxiety and an increase in safe and conforming research, but there have been few empirical studies on the possible effects. To address this gap, we surveyed Information Systems (IS) academics who published in one of three key IS conferences in 2013, to gather their views of the effects of journal ranking systems. Overall, we found that the concerns in the literature were strongly reflected in the views of those surveyed. Academics believe the system has greatly increased their publication anxiety. While most believed that the quality of published research had improved, researchers believe the ranking systems inhibit innovative, risky research, and encourages safe, conforming, mainstream research.

Intimate Partner Relationships and Health

2018 ◽  
pp. 128-142
Author(s):  
Deborah Carr ◽  
Dawne M. Mouzon
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Intimate Partner Relationships ◽  
Marriage And Health

The linkages between intimate relationships and superior physical and mental health are well documented. Contemporary scholars explore under what conditions, for which outcomes, for whom, and through which pathways marriage and other intimate partnerships affect health. The chapter summarizes conceptual frameworks for understanding marriage and health, and contemporary empirical studies yielding four main discoveries: Relationship status is powerfully linked to health in cross-sectional studies, yet weaker associations are found in longitudinal studies that account for social selection; the protective effects of romantic partnerships vary based on characteristics of the union; the marriage–health nexus varies based on gender, race, and age; and (d) integrative science approaches have advanced understanding of the pathways linking social relationships to health. The review draws on population-based longitudinal studies, notably the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Implications of contemporary research on marriage and health for policy and practice are highlighted.

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