The Danish Health and Wellbeing Survey: Study design, response proportion and respondent characteristics

Aims: This study aimed to describe the study design and respondent characteristics (including non-response analyses) of the Danish Health and Wellbeing Surveys in 2015 and 2019 and a follow-up survey that was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Methods: The Danish Health and Wellbeing Survey is the Danish part of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). The samples in 2015 ( N=12,000) and 2019 ( N=14,000) were both based on a simple random selection of individuals aged ⩾15 years from the Danish Civil Registration System. All individuals from the sample in 2019 who were still alive and living in Denmark were reinvited for a follow-up survey in 2020 ( N=13,474). Data in all surveys were collected via self-administered questionnaires (web or paper based). The questionnaires in 2015 and 2019 included the EHIS model questionnaire as well as national questions, whereas the questionnaire in 2020 mainly focused on physical and mental health, employment and working lives, and health behaviour. Results: The overall response proportion declined slightly between 2015 (48.4%) and 2019 (47.4%) but went up to 49.8% in the follow-up survey in 2020. Unit non-response was associated with, for example, male sex, younger age, being unmarried and lower educational level but not with degree of urbanisation. In all, 5000 individuals completed the questionnaire in both 2019 and 2020. Conclusions: The results are in line with most previous research on non-response in health surveys. However, an association between degree of urbanisation and non-response has been suggested in previous studies. This association was not found in our study.

The Validation of LIAA (Linguistic Intelligence Assessment Android) Development In Elementary School

This study provides an overview of the validation results of teachers and media experts to assess the LIAA (Linguistic Intelligence Assessment Android) application, using the research and development method. This method is used to develop a product and tests its effectiveness. However, this article is just for developing and designing LIAA. The results of the study showed response proportion: 78% for the teacher's language use, 84% for ease of application, 75% for final clarity of assessment, 84% for the presentation, 72% for the average of the final assessment test. Validation from media experts to assess the appropriateness of using the LIAA application with an average of 88% (very valid category). So it is concluded that the LIAA application can be applied on a wide scale in measuring the linguistic intelligence of elementary school students.

A data-driven approach to monitoring data collection in an online panel

Longitudinal or panel surveys suffer from panel attrition which may result in biased estimates. Online panels are no exceptions to this phenomenon, but offer great possibilities in monitoring and managing the data-collection phase and response-enhancement features (such as reminders), due to real-time availability of paradata. This paper presents a data-driven approach to monitor the data-collection phase and to inform the adjustment of response-enhancement features during data collection across online panel waves, which takes into account the characteristics of an ongoing panel wave. For this purpose, we study the evolution of the daily response proportion in each wave of a probability-based online panel. Using multilevel models, we predict the data-collection evolution per wave day. In our example, the functional form of the data-collection evolution is quintic. The characteristics affecting the shape of the data-collection evolution are those of the specific wave day and not of the panel wave itself. In addition, we simulate the monitoring of the daily response proportion of one panel wave and find that the timing of sending reminders could be adjusted after 20 consecutive panel waves to keep the data-collection phase efficient. Our results demonstrate the importance of re-evaluating the characteristics of the data-collection phase, such as the timing of reminders, across the lifetime of an online panel to keep the fieldwork efficient.

The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

Vitamin D has received attention for its potential to disrupt cancer processes. However, its effect in the treatment of prostate cancer is controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with prostate cancer. In the present study, PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched up to September 2017 for trials that evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on prostate specific antigen (PSA) response, mortality, and its possible side effects in participants with prostate cancer. The DerSimonian and Laird inverse-weighted random-effects model was used to pool the effect estimates. Twenty-two studies (16 before-after and 6 randomized controlled trials) were found and included in the meta-analysis. The analysis of controlled clinical trials revealed that PSA change from baseline [weighted mean difference (WMD)=–1.66 ng/ml, 95% CI: –0.69, 0.36, p=0.543)], PSA response proportion (RP=1.18, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.45, p=0.104) and mortality rate (risk ratio (RR)=1.05, 95% CI: 0.81–1.36; p=0.713) were not significantly different between vitamin D supplementation and placebo groups. Single arm trials revealed that vitamin D supplementation had a modest effect on PSA response proportion: 19% of those enrolled had at least a 50% reduction in PSA by the end of treatment (95% CI: 7% to 31%; p=0.002). Although before-after studies showed that vitamin D increases the PSA response proportion, it does not seem that patients with prostate cancer benefit from high dose vitamin D supplementation and it should not be recommended for the treatment.

Process Evaluation of an Applied Neuroeconomics Extension Course in Consulting and Management Based on Kirkpatrick's Model

The aim of this research was to evaluate the implementation of a 5-week (15-hour) extension course in Applied Neuroeconomics, taken by 27 undergraduates (89% from economics majors and 11% members of a junior consulting firm) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and to identify their perception of the adequacy and applicability of the course content for consulting purposes. At the end of each class, students evaluated the current module by responding to a 10-item questionnaire using a 5-point scale, based on Kirkpatrick’s (1996) 4-level evaluation model: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. For data analysis, Pearson’s chi-squared test was used, and the Clopper-Pearson (Exact) method was adopted to estimate the confidence interval for the good/excellent response proportion. The results showed correlation between the extension course and the student’s perception of the adequacy and applicability of the course for all 4 levels analyzed and for all 5 modules (p < .01). Students believed that they could easily transfer the acquired knowledge to the consulting practice (p < .01). In sum, this process evaluation indicated that the Applied Neuroeconomics extension course was well-structured and provided neuroscientific content of both practical and theoretical value for students planning a career in economics and management consulting.

Contingency Learning Tracks With Stimulus-Response Proportion

We investigate the processes involved in human contingency learning using the color-word contingency learning paradigm. In this task, participants respond to the print color of neutral words. Each word is frequently presented in one color. Results show that participants respond faster and more accurately to words presented in their expected color. In Experiment 1, we observed better performance for high- relative to medium-frequency word-color pairs, and for medium- relative to low-frequency pairs. Within the medium-frequency condition, it did not matter whether the word was predictive of a currently-unpresented color, or the color was predictive of a currently-unpresented word. We conclude that a given word facilitates each potential response proportional to how often they co-occurred. In contrast, there was no evidence for costs associated with violations of high-frequency expectancies. Experiment 2 further introduced a novel word baseline condition, which also provided no evidence for competition between retrieved responses.

Outcome of patients with non-metastatic versus metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) treated with second-line hormonal therapy consisting of ketoconazole (keto) plus granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)

4626 Background: Second line hormonal manipulations are frequently used in pts with HRPC. It is unknown if these manipulations are more effective in patients without clinical metastases. The efficacy of a second-line hormonal manipulation (keto plus GM-CSF) was prospectively evaluated in a cohort of HRPC patients with and without metastases. Methods: Eligible pts had progressive HRPC by consensus criteria, no prior immunotherapy, chemotherapy or keto. Pts received keto 400 mg po tid and hydrocortisone 20 mg po qAM and 10 mg po qPM. GM-CSF 250 mcg/m2 was administered SQ on days 15–28 of each 28-day cycle. Results: Forty-two of 48 planned pts have been enrolled, 30 with clinical metastases, 12 with PSA-only disease and are evaluable for PSA response, using consensus criteria. The median age is 68 years (range: 53–84), and median PSA 23.1 ng/mL (range: 5.4–306.5). The median treatment duration is 5.1 months (range: 0.3–22+). Overall, 30 of 43 patients (69%) have experienced a ≥ 50% reduction in PSA. The PSA response proportion in the non-metastatic patients is 8/12 (66%) while the response proportion in those with metastases is 16/30 (53%, chi squared p = 0.41). Twenty-three patients have discontinued therapy after a median of three cycles. Progressive disease has occurred in 17 patients, 3 of 12 patients with non-metastatic disease and in 14 of 30 patients with metastatic disease (25% vs. 47%, chi squared p=0.20). Six patients have discontinued due to toxicity or patient choice. The primary endpoint of the study, overall time to progression, has not been reached at a median follow up of 7 months. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in response proportion and progressive disease rate in HRPC patients with and without metastatic disease treated with keto/GM-CSF. While these data require prospective confirmation in a larger group of patients, they suggest that secondary hormonal manipulations are warranted in either patient group. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Bonner Venenstudie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Phlebologie

ZusammenfassungZiel: Die Bonner Venenstudie zur Frage der Häufigkeit und Ausprägung von chronischen Venenkrankheiten in der städtischen und ländlichen deutschen Wohnbevölkerung im Alter von 18-79 Jahren fand zwischen dem 13. 11. 2000 und 15. 3. 2002 statt. Es nahmen insgesamt 3072 Probanden teil, die Response-Proportion lag insgesamt bei 59%. Ergebnisse: Eine Beinschwellung in der Anamnese trat bei jedem 6. Mann (16,2%) und bei nahezu jeder 2. Frau (42,1%) auf. Eine kurz zurückliegende ein- oder beidseitige Beinschwellung in den letzten vier Wochen gab jeder 6. Teilnehmer an. Dies entspricht 14,8% (7,9% der Männer, 20,2% der Frauen). Für Gefäßerkrankungen typische Beinbeschwerden innerhalb der letzten vier Wochen gab insgesamt jeder 2. der Probanden (56,4%) an. Bei der Beurteilung der klinischen Ausprägung gemäß der CEAP-Klassifikation fällt auf, dass lediglich 9,6% der Probanden keinerlei Venenveränderungen aufweisen. Bei 59% bestehen isoliert Teleangiektasien oder retikuläre Venen, bei 14,3% Krampfadern (C2) ohne weitere Zeichen einer chronischen venösen Insuffizienz. Auffällig ist, dass bei 13,4% ein prätibiales Ödem im Rahmen von Venenveränderungen zum Untersuchungszeitpunkt vorlag. Demgegenüber liegt die Zahl der fortgeschrittenen Zeichen der chronischen venösen Insuffizienz bei 3,3%. Die Häufigkeit des floriden oder abgeheilten Ulcus cruris lag bei 0,7%. Schlussfolgerungen: Jeder 6. Mann und jede 5. Frau hat somit chronische Veneninsuffizienz (C3–C6). Die Zahlen zeigen, dass Venenkrankheiten insgesamt nach wie vor eine hohe Prävalenz aufweisen, dass aber die schweren Ausprägungen der chronischen venösen Insuffizienz in den vergangenen 20 Jahren zurückgegangen sind.