Analysing change in clinical trials using quasi-likelihoods

In clinical trials, investigations focus upon whether a treatment affects a measured outcome. Data often collected include pre- and post-treatment measurements on each patient and an analysis of the change in the outcome is typically performed to determine treatment efficacy. Absolute change and relative change are frequently selected as the outcome. In selecting from these two measures, the analyst makes implicit assumptions regarding the mean and variance-mean relationship of the data. Some have provided ad hoc guidelines for selecting between the two measures. We present a more rigorous means of investigating change using quasi-likelihoods. We show that both absolute change and relative change are special cases of the specified quasi-likelihood model. A cystic fibrosis example is provided.     

Building learning-centered communities through public engagement

Local education funds can effectively engage their communities to align resources, policies, and public will to provide children and youth with supportive learning environments.     

Comparison of ergonomic risk assessment outputs from Rapid Upper Limb Assessment and the Strain Index for tasks in automotive assembly plants

This paper compares the ergonomic risk assessment of a task for the upper extremities as determined by Rapid Upper Extremity Assessment (RULA) and the Strain Index (SI). The ergonomic risk to the upper extremities of 244 automotive assembly plant tasks were evaluated using RULA and SI. The outcomes of each tool were compared for each task. Results from this study provide practical insight into the methods used in each tool. This study compared only the ergonomic risk outputs from each tool; it does not pursue the question of which tool best predicts injury. The kappa score was 0.11, indicating little agreement between the outputs of the two tools. This is supported by the lack of monotonicity with a gamma score of 0.1. These results indicate that the risk assessment outcome of these two ergonomic assessment tools for the upper extremities do not agree.     

Multiple sclerosis and employment barriers: a systemic perspective on diagnosis and intervention

Although they have a recent work history, 70 to 80% of adults with multiple sclerosis are unemployed following their diagnosis. This high rate of unemployment constitutes a great loss of potential to the American economy. To help individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) return to work or retain employment, rehabilitation professionals must understand the barriers resulting in unemployment and implement interventions to reduce or remove those concerns. In this article, Hershenson's systemic model of rehabilitation counseling is presented as a diagnostic scheme for identifying barriers to employment. Counselor consultation on barrier removal via reasonable accommodation is presented as one example of a rehabilitation intervention consistent with the systemic diagnostic model.     

The Relationship among Negative Affect,Distress Tolerance,and Length of Gambling Abstinence Attempt

The present study tested the theory that negative affect and one’s ability to tolerate distress is associated with failure to quit gambling during an abstinence attempt. Specifically, 16 current pathological gamblers who had at least one sustained period of gambling abstinence lasting a minimum of 3 months (i.e., delayed relapsers) and 16 current pathological gamblers who had never remained abstinent for a period longer than 2 weeks (i.e., immediate relapsers), were assessed for baseline levels of negative affect and stress reactivity, as well as faced with a psychological (mental arithmetic) and physical (breath holding) stressor. Compared to the delayed relapsers, the immediate relapsers displayed higher levels of negative affect and stress reactivity. Immediate relapsers also were less likely to persist on the psychological stressor, suggesting that one’s ability to tolerate the initial discomfort of an abstinence attempt may play an important role in gambling treatment outcome. The current project was completed in partial completion of the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology by the first author under the direction of the second author.     

Risk Factors in Adolescence: The Case of Gambling, Videogame Playing, and the Internet

It has been noted that adolescents may be more susceptible to pathological gambling. Not only is it usually illegal, but it appears to be related to high levels of problem gambling and other delinquent activities such as illicit drug taking and alcohol abuse. This paper examines risk factors not only in adolescent gambling but also in videogame playing (which shares many similarities with gambling). There appear to be three main forms of adolescent gambling that have been widely researched. Adolescent gambling activities and general risk factors in adolescent gambling are provided. As well, the influence of technology on adolescents in the form of both videogames and the Internet are examined. It is argued that technologically advanced forms of gambling may be highly appealing to adolescents.     

Community research on older women in the Dominican Republic

This article looks at action research into the interests and needs of older women in 11 urban communities in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Since 1993, Aquelarre has been working in Santo Domingo with the goal of ending child abuse and violence against women in the home, promote good health among women, and the well-being of older women. In order to achieve these goals, an action research was conducted. Individual interviews with 70 older women, focus group sessions with 120 women, and interviews with key community members were carried out to elicit information on older women's interest and needs. The research was able to identify the major concerns among women, which are health, economic issues, education and family. Practical solutions to these problems were then developed. Throughout the research, it was noted that there was a tendency for participants to focus on the needs of their loved ones, rather than their own needs and problems.