Should race and gender be taken into account in both medical research and clinical practice: Point‐counterpoint

Background: Lumbar lordosis is an essential postural element that has gained the interest of both clinicians and researchers for several years. It is the inward curvature made by the wedging of the vertebrae of the lumbar spine. Since there is paucity of data on the lumbar lordosis in the Lebanese population, most of the data used in clinical practice to classify hypo- and hyper-lordosis are based on studies from other races. Aim: To identify the normal LSA in a Lebanese population, then see if there is a difference between the races, and determine if this angle is affected by the gender or age. Methods: A retrospective study established to measure lumbar lordosis using LSA technique. Lateral supine lumbosacral radiographs of 128 Lebanese subjects, aged between 19 and 84 years, were analyzed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The mean value (SD) of LSA was 38.980 ( + 9.90) with a min 15.70 and max 64.20. A significant difference was found between LSA and gender. However, there was no significant variation between this angle and age. Conclusion: The mean value of this angle 38.980 ( + 9.90) may form a reference for the Lebanese population. The study demonstrated that lumbar lordosis is affected by race and gender, with females having a greater LSA than males. Whereas, the latter wasn’t affected by age.

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Referral Patterns for Youths Identified at Risk for Suicide by Trained Gatekeepers

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000114 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 113-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Michael S. Rodi ◽

Lucas Godoy Garraza ◽

Christine Walrath ◽

Robert L. Stephens ◽

D. Susanne Condron ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Suicide Prevention ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Service Access ◽

Referral Patterns ◽

Race And Gender ◽

Lee Smith ◽

Prevention Behavior ◽

Key Variables ◽

And Gender ◽

To Receive

Background: In order to better understand the posttraining suicide prevention behavior of gatekeeper trainees, the present article examines the referral and service receipt patterns among gatekeeper-identified youths. Methods: Data for this study were drawn from 26 Garrett Lee Smith grantees funded between October 2005 and October 2009 who submitted data about the number, characteristics, and service access of identified youths. Results: The demographic characteristics of identified youths are not related to referral type or receipt. Furthermore, referral setting does not seem to be predictive of the type of referral. Demographic as well as other (nonrisk) characteristics of the youths are not key variables in determining identification or service receipt. Limitations: These data are not necessarily representative of all youths identified by gatekeepers represented in the dataset. The prevalence of risk among all members of the communities from which these data are drawn is unknown. Furthermore, these data likely disproportionately represent gatekeepers associated with systems that effectively track gatekeepers and youths. Conclusions: Gatekeepers appear to be identifying youth across settings, and those youths are being referred for services without regard for race and gender or the settings in which they are identified. Furthermore, youths that may be at highest risk may be more likely to receive those services.

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