scholarly journals Adjustment for survey non-participation using record linkage and multiple imputation: A validity assessment exercise using the Health 2000 survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110313
Author(s):  
Megan A. Mcminn ◽  
Pekka Martikainen ◽  
Tommi Härkänen ◽  
Hanna Tolonen ◽  
Joonas Pitkänen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Record Linkage ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Validity Assessment ◽  
Participation Bias ◽  
Related Hospitalisation ◽  
Survey Sample ◽  
Relative Differences

Aims: It is becoming increasingly possible to obtain additional information about health survey participants, though not usually non-participants, via record linkage. We aimed to assess the validity of an assumption underpinning a method developed to mitigate non-participation bias. We use a survey in Finland where it is possible to link both participants and non-participants to administrative registers. Survey-derived alcohol consumption is used as the exemplar outcome. Methods: Data on participants (85.5%) and true non-participants of the Finnish Health 2000 survey (invited survey sample N=7167 aged 30-79 years) and a contemporaneous register-based population sample ( N=496,079) were individually linked to alcohol-related hospitalisation and death records. Applying the methodology to create synthetic observations on non-participants, we created ‘inferred samples’ (participants and inferred non-participants). Relative differences (RDs) between the inferred sample and the invited survey sample were estimated overall and by education. Five per cent limits were used to define acceptable RDs. Results: Average weekly consumption estimates for men were 129 g and 131 g of alcohol in inferred and invited survey samples, respectively (RD –1.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI) –2.2 to –0.04%) and 35 g for women in both samples (RD –1.1%; 95% CI –2.4 to –0.8%). Estimates for men with secondary levels of education had the greatest RD (–2.4%; 95% CI –3.7 to –1.1%). Conclusions: The sufficiently small RDs between inferred and invited survey samples support the assumption validity and use of our methodology for adjusting for non-participation. However, the presence of some significant differences means caution is required.

Examining Transnational Student Mental Health Responses to COVID-19 During the Transition to Remote Learning: A Longitudinal Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Leticia Salazar Preciado ◽  
Sally Haack ◽  
Luis Renee González Lucano ◽  
Ricardo Javier Díaz Domínguez ◽  
Inbal Mazar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Health Science Students ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Survey Sample ◽  
Remote Learning

BACKGROUND COVID-19 represents a major global health crisis and has resulted in drastic changes to daily life. While even prior to the start of the pandemic college students had a high prevalence of mental health conditions, this group is even more at risk during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE To investigate the emotional impact of quarantine and transition to remote learning on health science students from two countries, regarding anxiety prevalence, mental wellbeing and coping behaviors during the first month of the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS A total of 28 students from Tecnologico de Monterrey (TEC) in Guadalajara, Mexico and 19 students from Drake University (Drake) in Iowa, United States participated in the study. All students were studying health sciences, including degree programs such as medicine, pharmacy, and nutrition and wellness. This longitudinal study assessed students’ immediate psychological response during the COVID-19 pandemic by using an anonymous online questionnaire administered in April and again in May 2020. The survey was created to assess anxiety levels, coping mechanisms, and changes in daily habits. Demographics such as gender, age, non-academic working, living arrangements, household size, and number of roommates/co-habitants were also collected. RESULTS The April survey sample included 47 students and the May survey sample included 41 students. At least 50% of respondents were females, 20 to 21 years of age. The April survey results showed that more TEC students rated their food intake as higher than before the pandemic when compared to Drake students (p=0.032). Alcohol consumption reportedly stayed the same for Drake students and was lower for TEC students (p=0.004). The May survey results showed a statistically significant difference only for the alcohol consumption (p<0.001). Sleep time between April and May in TEC students showed a significant statistical difference, with students reporting less sleep time in May (p=0.016). The analysis for the level of anxiety according to the Beck Anxiety Inventory showed no statistically significant differences, neither when comparing between intra (TEC p=0.189 and Drake p=0.879) and inter group survey times (TEC vs Drake in April p=0.919 and TEC vs Drake in May p=0.305). The most common physical symptoms reported by students during both study periods were: feeling hot, nervous, fear of losing control, inability to relax, and fear of the worst happening. CONCLUSIONS There is growing concern surrounding the mental health status and needs of health science students during the pandemic. It is important to monitor changes in students’ mental health in response to the pandemic and to create interventions that target students appropriately.

scholarly journals How do you measure up? Methods to assess linkage quality

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Ferrante ◽  
James Boyd ◽  
Sean Randall ◽  
Adrian Brown ◽  
James Semmens
Keyword(s):  
Record Linkage ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Linkage Quality ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Quality Process

ABSTRACT ObjectivesRecord linkage is a powerful technique which transforms discrete episode data into longitudinal person-based records. These records enable the construction and analysis of complex pathways of health and disease progression, and service use. Achieving high linkage quality is essential for ensuring the quality and integrity of research based on linked data. The methods used to assess linkage quality will depend on the volume and characteristics of the datasets involved, the processes used for linkage and the additional information available for quality assessment. This paper proposes and evaluates two methods to routinely assess linkage quality. ApproachLinkage units currently use a range of methods to measure, monitor and improve linkage quality; however, no common approach or standards exist. There is an urgent need to develop “best practices” in evaluating, reporting and benchmarking linkage quality. In assessing linkage quality, of primary interest is in knowing the number of true matches and non-matches identified as links and non-links. Any misclassification of matches within these groups introduces linkage errors. We present efforts to develop sharable methods to measure linkage quality in Australia. This includes a sampling-based method to estimate both precision (accuracy) and recall (sensitivity) following record linkage and a benchmarking method - a transparent and transportable methodology to benchmark the quality of linkages across different operational environments. ResultsThe sampling-based method achieved estimates of linkage quality that were very close to actual linkage quality metrics. This method presents as a feasible means of accurately estimating matching quality and refining linkages in population level linkage studies. The benchmarking method provides a systematic approach to estimating linkage quality with a set of open and shareable datasets and a set of well-defined, established performance metrics. The method provides an opportunity to benchmark the linkage quality of different record linkage operations. Both methods have the potential to assess the inter-rater reliability of clerical reviews. ConclusionsBoth methods produce reliable estimates of linkage quality enabling the exchange of information within and between linkage communities. It is important that researchers can assess risk in studies using record linkage techniques. Understanding the impact of linkage quality on research outputs highlights a need for standard methods to routinely measure linkage quality. These two methods provide a good start to the quality process, but it is important to identify standards and good practices in all parts of the linkage process (pre-processing, standardising activities, linkage, grouping and extracting).

Abstract TP437: Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis is Associated With Cognitive Impairment in a Chinese Community Population

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaokun Jia ◽  
Xingquan Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Color Doppler ◽  
Chinese Community ◽  
Current Smoking ◽  
Community Population ◽  
Language Abstraction

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of aCAS on cognitive functioning in a Chinese community population who were over 40 year-old and to find the domains of cognitive impairment which were mainly affected. Methods: Information was collected on the presence of CAS, which was assessed by Color Doppler Ultrasound, from the Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities Community study, and cognitive functioning was assessed by the score of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationships between aCAS and cognitive impairment. Results: A total of 812 (61.2% men, 55% of 40-60y) patients were included in this study. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the associations between the aCAS and cognitive impairment remained significant [odds ratio(OR)(95% confidence interval, 95%CI)=1.812(1.049-3.127)]. Also, there were significant relationships between the aCAS and the domains of cognitive function like attention, language, abstraction and recall [OR(95%CI) 2.740(1.494-5.023), 2.005(1.184-3.396), 2.841(1.594-5.065), 4.674(2.478-8.818) respectively, P < 0.05). In addition, there were no interaction effects of age and other possible risk factors on the association. Conclusion: In the over 40 year-old Chinese community population, aCAS was an independent indicator of cognitive impairment, especially affecting the function of attention, language, abstraction and recall. Table 1 Baseline demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors between groups with/without cognitive impairment Values are median (interquartile range) or number (percent). Table 2 Unadjusted and Multivariate-adjusted OR (95% CI) for total and subtests of MoCA, according to groups with vs. without CAS. *P<0.05;**P<0.001 OR: odd ratio; CI: confidence interval Model 1: adjusted for age and gender. Model 2: adjusted for age, gender, BMI, education, current smoking and alcohol consumption. Model 3:adjusted for age, gender, BMI, education, current smoking, alcohol consumption hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hs-CRP and Hcy.

Factors Associated with Pathological Dissociation in the General Population

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Päivi Maaranen ◽  
Antti Tanskanen ◽  
Kirsi Honkalampi ◽  
Kaisa Haatainen ◽  
Jukka Hintikka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
General Population ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Dissociative Experiences Scale ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Dissociative Experiences ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Prospective Study Design ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of pathological dissociation in the general population, and the relationship between pathological dissociation and sociodemographic and several psychiatric variables. Method: The stratified population sample consisted of 2001 subjects. The study questionnaires included the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Dissociative Experiences Scale-Taxon, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and sociodemographic background. Results: The prevalence of pathological dissociation (DES-T ≥ 20) was 3.4% in the general population and did not differ significantly between genders. Men scored higher than women in the amnesia subscale, and women in the absorption and imaginative involvement subscale. The relationship between pathological dissociation, alexithymia, depression and suicidality was strong. The likelihood of pathological dissociation was nearly nine-fold higher among depressive subjects, more than seven-fold higher among alexithymic subjects, and more than four-fold higher among suicidal subjects than among the others. Frequent alcohol consumption also associated significantly with pathological dissociation. Conclusions: A significant relationship between pathological dissociation, depression, alexithymia, and suicidality was found in the general population. The importance of these factors should be examined in a prospective study design to determine causality.

scholarly journals Adjustment for survey non-representativeness using record-linkage: refined estimates of alcohol consumption by deprivation in Scotland

Addiction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 112 (7) ◽  
pp. 1270-1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Gorman ◽  
Alastair H. Leyland ◽  
Gerry McCartney ◽  
Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi ◽  
Lisa Rutherford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Record Linkage

scholarly journals Convergent Validity of the Fitbit Charge 2 to Measure Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in Overweight and Obese Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Joanne A. McVeigh ◽  
Jennifer Ellis ◽  
Caitlin Ross ◽  
Kim Tang ◽  
Phoebe Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Relative Differences

Activity trackers provide real-time sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) data enabling feedback to support behavior change. The validity of activity trackers in an obese population in a free-living environment is largely unknown. This study determined the convergent validity of the Fitbit Charge 2 in measuring SB and PA in overweight adults. The participants (n = 59; M ± SD: age = 48 ± 11 years; body mass index = 34 ± 4 kg/m2) concurrently wore a Charge 2 and ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer for 8 days. The same waking wear periods were analyzed, and standard cut points for GT3X+ and proprietary algorithms for the Charge 2, together with a daily step count, were used. Associations between outputs, mean difference (MD) and limits of agreement (LOA), and relative differences were assessed. There was substantial association between devices (intraclass correlation coefficients from .504, 95% confidence interval [.287, .672] for SB, to .925, 95% confidence interval [.877, .955] for step count). In comparison to the GT3X+, the Charge 2 overestimated SB (MD = 37, LOA = −129 to 204 min/day), moderate to vigorous PA (MD = 15, LOA = −49 to 79 min/day), and steps (MD = 1,813, LOA = −1,066 to 4,691 steps/day), and underestimated light PA (MD = −32, LOA = −123 to 58 min/day). The Charge 2 may be a useful tool for self-monitoring of SB and PA in an overweight population, as mostly good agreement was demonstrated with the GT3X+. However, there were mean and relative differences, and the implications of these need to be considered for overweight adult populations who are already at risk of being highly sedentary and insufficiently active.

Outcome in biopsy-proven Lupus nephritis: Evaluation of biopsies from the Norwegian Kidney Biopsy Registry

Lupus ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 881-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
G E Norby ◽  
G Mjøen ◽  
R Bjørneklett ◽  
B E Vikse ◽  
H Holdaas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Lupus Nephritis ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Class Iv

Objective To evaluate long-term mortality and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a cohort of Norwegian patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis (LN). Methods Renal biopsies were obtained from 178 patients with LN from 1988 until 2007. Mortality rate and death causes were provided by Statistics Norway and ESRD data were provided by the Norwegian Renal Registry. Risk factors for all-cause mortality were evaluated by Cox regression. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was compared to observed deaths in a matched general population sample. Results Mean age was 37.6 (±14.4) years, and median time of follow-up was 8.5 years (0–26.2). Thirty-six patients (20.2%) died during follow-up. The SMR for all-cause mortality was 5.6 (Confidence interval [CI] 3.7–7.5). In an adjusted multivariate analysis proliferative glomerulonephritis (LN class IV) was independently associated with all-cause mortality; hazard ratio (HR) 2.6 (Confidence interval [CI] 1.2–5.7 p = 0.017). Main causes of death were infections (47.2%) and cardiovascular events 8 (22.2%). Thirty-six patients (20.2%) reached ESRD. Conclusions Biopsy-proven LN is associated with increased mortality compared to the general population. LN class IV is associated with all-cause mortality. Infections and cardiovascular events were the most common causes of death. Patients with LN have a high incidence of ESRD.

scholarly journals Alcohol consumption and self-rated health among older people: population-based study in Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 756-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Lindström ◽  
Charlotta Hellström ◽  
Bo Simonsson ◽  
Anu Molarius
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Older People ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Lower Probability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Random Population Sample

Abstract Objective To analyse alcohol consumption and its association with self-rated health among a representative sample of older people in mid-Sweden. Background Over the past decades, alcohol consumption has increased in the older population in Sweden, but few studies have investigated the association between alcohol consumption and self-rated health in this group. The aim was therefore to investigate alcohol consumption and self-rated health among older Swedes. Methods The study is based on a cross-sectional study of 11,716 men and women, 65 years and over, answering a survey questionnaire sent to a random population sample in mid-Sweden in 2012. We assessed alcohol consumption with AUDIT-C and its association with self-rated health using logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, economic situation, educational level, BMI, physical activity, social support and medication use. Results Men (83%) were more prone to drink alcohol compared to women (71%). The prevalence of risk drinking was about 2% for both genders. Alcohol consumption declined with age. Moderate consumption of alcohol was associated with lower probability of poor self-rated health compared to non-drinking with an adjusted odds ratio 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.54-0.76) for men and 0.68 (0.59-0.79) for women. Conclusion Since the study was cross-sectional the direction of the association could not be determined, and the results should not be interpreted as an argument for promoting alcohol consumption among older people.

scholarly journals Effect of vaccination on transmission of COVID-19: an observational study in healthcare workers and their households

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anoop Shah ◽  
Ciara Gribben ◽  
Jennifer Bishop ◽  
Peter Hanlon ◽  
David Caldwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Record Linkage ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Linkage Study ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Household Members

Background: The effect of vaccination for COVID-19 on onward transmission is unknown. Methods: A national record linkage study determined documented COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in unvaccinated household members of vaccinated and unvaccinated healthcare workers from 8th December 2020 to 3rd March 2021. The primary endpoint was COVID-19 >= 14 days following the first dose. Results: The cohort comprised of 194,362 household members (mean age 31.1 years) and 144,525 healthcare workers (mean age 44.4 years). 113,253 (78.3%) of healthcare workers received at least one dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and 36,227 (25.1%) received a second dose. Household members of vaccinated healthcare workers had a lower risk of COVID-19 case compared to household members of unvaccinated healthcare worker (rate per 100 person-years 9.40 versus 5.93; HR 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63-0.78). The effect size for COVID-19 hospitalization was similar, with the confidence interval crossing the null (HR 0.77 [0.53-1.10]). The rate per 100 person years was lower in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated healthcare workers for documented (20.13 versus 8.51; HR 0.45 [0.42-0.49]) and hospitalized COVID-19 (0.97 versus 0.14; HR 0.16 [0.09-0.27]). Compared to the period before the first dose, the risk of documented COVID-19 case was lower at >= 14 days after the second dose for household members (HR 0.46 [0.30-0.70]) and healthcare workers (HR 0.08 [0.04-0.17]). Conclusion: Vaccination of health care workers was associated with a substantial reduction in COVID-19 cases in household contacts consistent with an effect of vaccination on transmission.

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