Background. The randomized controlled clinical trial is currently the most scientific method for evaluating the effect of medical interventions. The sample size of a trial is crucial for reliably estimating the effect. However, many clinical trials may not be sufficiently large in size to detect the effect of interventions assessed. Previous studies of the statistical power, a relative measure of the largeness of a study, were normally small, mainly examined trials with a statistically insignificant result and were flawed because of the biased or purely hypothetical estimate of the effect for the computation of the power. By using meta-analysis, we conducted this study with improved methods for estimating the power and included a larger number of trials. / Findings. A total of 2,923,912 patients from 2,872 clinical trials from 466 systematic reviews were included in the analyses of this thesis. Of the 466 systematic reviews, 24% (113) were identified from the five journals and the remaining 76% (353) were from the Cochrane Library. 1,000 trials and 1,583,204 patients were obtained from 113 systematic reviews identified in the journals, in which 13.7% (95% C.I.: 11.6%, 15.8%) of trials had a sufficient power and the overall power was 34.0% (95% C.I.: 33.7%, 34.3%). 1,872 trials and 1,340,708 patients were obtained from 353 systematic reviews identified in the Cochrane Library, in which 16.7% (95% C.I.: 15.0%, 18.4%) of trials had a sufficient power and the overall power was 37.8% (95% C.I.: 37.6%, 38.0%). (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Methods. We identified trials from systematic reviews of clinical trials with binary outcomes published in five medical journals and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. We analyzed the power of trials with a significant result as well as those with an insignificant result. In estimating the power, we used the combined odds ratio of the meta-analysis as the estimate of the effect for trials from systematic reviews with a statistically significant result and a relative risk reduction of 25% for trials from systematic reviews with a statistically insignificant result. In addition to use of the conventional method to estimate the power, we also developed a new "counting method" that does not need any assumption about the effect. Furthermore, the power is also expressed as a relative and absolute difference between the number of subjects required for a power of 80% and that actually recruited by the trials. / Tsoi Kam Fai. / "July 2005." / Adviser: Jin Ling Tang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: B, page: 0161. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-113). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Objetivos: a) Estimar a prevalência da violência por parceiro íntimo (VPI) na gestação e verificar sua associação com fatores sócio-demográficos, de saúde reprodutiva, sexual e mental entre usuárias de serviços públicos de saúde da Grande São Paulo; b) Identificar aspectos da vulnerabilidade individual e contextual relacionados à violência. Metodologia: a) entrevistas estruturadas (questionário) com 1922 usuárias, entre 15 e 49 anos, em 14 serviços públicos de saúde; b) 3 grupos focais com gestantes e c) 4 entrevistas em profundidade com mulheres que sofreram VPI na gestação. Resultados: 20% (IC95% 18,2 a 21,8) referem algum episódio de VPI na gestação. Em análise multivariada, observou-se que diversos fatores estão associados à VPI na gestação. As usuárias que referem VPI na gestação apresentam padrão mais grave e freqüente de VPI na vida. Este fenômeno relaciona-se com desproteção na família de origem; gravidez indesejada; mudanças no corpo e na libido da mulher. Conclusão: A alta prevalência de VPI na gestação sugere que esta questão deve ser vista como importante problema de saúde pública / Objectives: a) To examine de prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and its association with demographics and reproductive, sexual and mental health factors among public health care users in São Paulo, Brazil; b) To identify individual and contextual vulnerability to VPI during pregnancy. Methodology: a) interview with 1922 users, aged from 15 to 49, of 14 public health services; b) 3 focal groups with pregnant women c) 4 interviews with women abused during pregnancy. Results: 20% (IC95% 18,2 a 21,8) reported IPV during pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression indicated that several factors are associated with VPI during pregnancy. Women who referred IPV during pregnancy were significantly more likely to have severe and frequent pattern of IPV during their lives. This event is related to unsafe family context, unintended pregnancy, changes on women body and libido. Conclusion: High prevalence rates for IPV during pregnancy points out that this issue should be regarded as a major public health problem

O presente estudo teve por objetivo investigar as práticas e as representações ligadas à vida reprodutiva entre jovens universitários da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), especialmente aquelas dirigidas à contracepção e à prevenção de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, no âmbito das relações heterossexuais.A pesquisa foi dividida em duas fases. Na primeira, foi elaborada uma amostra representativa dos estudantes matriculados em cursos de graduação da USP, na Cidade de São Paulo, no ano de 2000, e foram entrevistados 952 alunos e alunas com idade entre 17 e 24 anos. Na segunda, foram gravadas entrevistas em profundidade com 33 estudantes que se ofereceram voluntariamente para continuar participando da pesquisa. O uso do condom é freqüente entre os estudantes universitários, principalmente na primeira relação sexual. No entanto, o uso desse método apresenta descontinuidades. Além da primeira relação sexual, o condom é usado especialmente nas relações casuais e no início dos relacionamentos sexuais com um parceiro ou uma parceira novos. Os jovens negligenciam o condom no contexto do namoro, tendendo a substituí-lo pela pílula. A contracepção é cercada por descuidos, erros e esquecimentos e os estudantes mencionam que utilizam métodos de baixa eficácia, como o coito interrompido e a abstinência periódica para regular a fecundidade. Os estudantes manifestam um forte desejo de adiar a fecundidade, mas o uso inadequado de métodos contraceptivos e o recurso aos métodos de baixa eficácia podem levar a uma gestação não planejada. 77% do total de entrevistados afirmou que gostaria de ter até dois filhos e a idade ideal para ter o primeiro filho seria próxima aos 30 anos. Somente 4% dos entrevistados e entrevistadas referiram ter passado por uma gestação. Apesar do pequeno número de gestações referidas, o aborto provocado foi a forma de finalização de uma alta proporção dessas gestações. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que uma complexa rede de representações simbólicas subsidia as condutas diante da contracepção e da saúde reprodutiva. Essas representações constróem o sentido da sexualidade, classificando-a, definindo regras e obrigações segundo cada situação e orientando práticas. Questões de gênero pontuam os discursos sobre os temas tratados. As diferentes concepções sobre o "ficar" e o namorar, a opção pelo método contraceptivo, as representações sobre as responsabilidades do homem e da mulher frente à contracepção e, especialmente, os discursos sobre o aborto revelam a importância que os diferenciais de gênero assumem perante a construção do sentido da sexualidade e da vida reprodutiva. Questões de gênero também marcam a busca de orientação médica, no âmbito da saúde reprodutiva. A consulta médica é restrita ao grupo das mulheres e o método mais indicado é a pílula, embora trate-se de jovens mulheres solteiras que estão iniciando a sua vida sexual. Observa-se, por sua vez, que os homens jovens estão totalmente alijados do sistema de saúde, ainda que se trate de um grupo com alta escolaridade que recorre à medicina privada. O estudo indica que os diferenciais de gênero estão presentes desde o processo de rotulações e significações que dão sentido a vivência da sexualidade e da regulação da fecundidade até o âmbito das políticas públicas voltadas para a saúde reprodutiva dos jovens, revelando uma importante lacuna nos serviços de saúde que necessita ser contemplada por políticas públicas capazes de promover a eqüidade de gênero na atenção à saúde reprodutiva e de incluir os jovens do sexo masculino nos serviços de saúde. / The present study aimed at investigating the practices and representations linked to the reproductive life of university youths from the Universidade São Paulo (USP) especially those geared at contraception and prevention of STD’s in the scope of heterosexual relations. The project was divided into two phases. In the first a representative sample of 952 male and female students between 17 and 24 years old enrolled in under-graduate courses at USP in the city of São Paulo in 2000 was elaborated. In the second phase in-depth-interviews with 33 students that volunteered to continue take part of the research were recorded. The use of condom is frequent among university students mainly at the first sexual intercourse. However, this method presents discontinuity. Beyond the first sexual intercourse it is used especially in the casual relationships and in the beginning of new sexual relationships with a new partner. Youth neglect the condom in the dating context tending to replace it for the pill. Contraception is surrounded by carelessness, mistakes and neglect and the students mention the use of low efficacy methods such as interrupted copulation and periodic abstinence for fertility control. The students revealed strong will to delay fertility but the inadequate use of contraceptive methods and use of low efficacy methods may lead to an unplanned pregnancy. 77% of the interviewees state that they would like to have up to two children and that the ideal age for the first child would around 30. Only 4% of the interviewees referred having had a gestation. Despite the small number of pregnancies referred the provoked abortion represented a high proportion of pregnancy termination. The results of the survey indicate that a complex network of symbolic representations accounts for the conducts in terms of contraception and reproductive health. These representations construct the sense of sexuality, classifying it, defining rules and obligations according to each situation and guiding practices. Gender issues mark the discourses on the themes discussed. The different conceptions about noncommitted dating and dating proper, the option for the contraceptive method, representations on the male and female responsibilities with reference to contraception and especially the discourses on abortion reveal the importance the gender differentials possess in face of the construction of meaning of sexuality and reproductive life. Gender issues influence the search for medical guidance in the context of reproductive health. Medical consultation is restricted to the female group and the most prescribed contraceptive method is the pill in spite of the fact that they are young single women in the beginning of their sexual life. On the other hand it was observed that young men are totally cast out of the health system notwithstanding the fact that this is a group with high level education with access to private medicine. The study indicates that the gender differentials are present from the process of labeling and signification that attribute meaning to the experiencing of sexuality and the regulation of fertility to the scope of public policies capable of promoting gender equity in the attention to reproductive health of youth. That reveals an important gap in the health services that must be addressed by gender equity promoting public policies that also inscribe male youth in the health services.

Zhang, Ji. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-104). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1. --- Introduction of genetic association studies --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1. --- Application of genetic association studies in complex diseases --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2. --- Application of genetic association studies in type-2 diabetes --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2. --- Study design of genetic association studies --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3. --- Overview of statistical approaches in association studies --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.1. --- Preliminary analyses --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.1.1. --- HardýؤWeinberg equilibrium testing --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.1.2. --- Inference of missing genotype data --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.1.3. --- SNP tagging --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- Single-point and multipoint tests for association --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4. --- Other relevant methods employed in this study --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) with further classification by K-means clustering --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- Random forests --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5. --- Main objectives of this study --- p.31 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- Materials and methods / Chapter 2.1. --- Study cohort --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2. --- Study design --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Construction of sample sets for each stage using SOM and K-means clustering --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Stage 1 analysis by random forests --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Stage 2 analysis by chi-square test --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.4. --- Two-stage genetic association study by chi-square test --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.5. --- Comparison of results: random forests plus chi-square test versus chi-square test --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.6. --- Validation of results in the whole sample set by allelic chi-square test --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.7. --- Extensions of the study: cumulative effects of candidate SNPs on risk of type-2 diabetes --- p.45 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- Results / Chapter 3.1. --- Effects of sample classification by SOM and K-means clustering --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2. --- Genetic associations in stage 1 --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3. --- Genetic associations in stage 2 and validation of results --- p.69 / Chapter 3.4. --- Cumulative effects of candidate SNPs on risk of type-2 diabetes --- p.76 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- Discussion / Chapter 4.1. --- Overall strategy --- p.81 / Chapter 4.1.1. --- Effects of SOM and K-means clustering --- p.82 / Chapter 4.1.2. --- Effects of random forests in the first stage of association study --- p.83 / Chapter 4.1.3. --- Comparison of our method with traditional chi-square test --- p.84 / Chapter 4.1.4. --- Joint effects of candidate SNPs selected by the hybrid method --- p.86 / Chapter 4.2. --- Biological significance of candidate SNPs --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.1. --- Gene CDKAL1 --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.2. --- Gene KIAA1305 --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.3. --- Gene DACH1 --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.4. --- Gene FUCA1 --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.5. --- Gene KCNQ1 --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.6. --- Gene SLC27A1 --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3. --- Limits and improvement of this study --- p.96 / Chapter 4.4. --- Conclusion --- p.99 / REFERENCES --- p.100

Objetivos: a) Estimar a prevalência da violência por parceiro íntimo (VPI) na gestação e verificar sua associação com fatores sócio-demográficos, de saúde reprodutiva, sexual e mental entre usuárias de serviços públicos de saúde da Grande São Paulo; b) Identificar aspectos da vulnerabilidade individual e contextual relacionados à violência. Metodologia: a) entrevistas estruturadas (questionário) com 1922 usuárias, entre 15 e 49 anos, em 14 serviços públicos de saúde; b) 3 grupos focais com gestantes e c) 4 entrevistas em profundidade com mulheres que sofreram VPI na gestação. Resultados: 20% (IC95% 18,2 a 21,8) referem algum episódio de VPI na gestação. Em análise multivariada, observou-se que diversos fatores estão associados à VPI na gestação. As usuárias que referem VPI na gestação apresentam padrão mais grave e freqüente de VPI na vida. Este fenômeno relaciona-se com desproteção na família de origem; gravidez indesejada; mudanças no corpo e na libido da mulher. Conclusão: A alta prevalência de VPI na gestação sugere que esta questão deve ser vista como importante problema de saúde pública / Objectives: a) To examine de prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and its association with demographics and reproductive, sexual and mental health factors among public health care users in São Paulo, Brazil; b) To identify individual and contextual vulnerability to VPI during pregnancy. Methodology: a) interview with 1922 users, aged from 15 to 49, of 14 public health services; b) 3 focal groups with pregnant women c) 4 interviews with women abused during pregnancy. Results: 20% (IC95% 18,2 a 21,8) reported IPV during pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression indicated that several factors are associated with VPI during pregnancy. Women who referred IPV during pregnancy were significantly more likely to have severe and frequent pattern of IPV during their lives. This event is related to unsafe family context, unintended pregnancy, changes on women body and libido. Conclusion: High prevalence rates for IPV during pregnancy points out that this issue should be regarded as a major public health problem

Noventa e três professores de educação física (PrEF) de 5a a 8a séries da rede pública (44) e da rede particular de ensino (49) foram solicitados a responder um questionário de 54 itens, para estabelecer o nível de conhecimento sobre asma e seu manuseio, exercício e suas atitudes em relação à asma e suas crises. Os questionários foram preenchidos durante o horário escolar sem nenhuma consulta e houve um alto índice de resposta dos professores das escolas públicas (86%) e das escolas particulares (69%). Nossos resultados mostram que os PrEF das escolas públicas e particulares apresentaram conhecimento regular sobre asma (60%) e exercício (66,6%), entretanto o conhecimento sobre os medicamentos para asma foi limitado (44%). Não foi observada diferença no conhecimento sobre asma entre PrEF de escolas públicas e particulares. Embora metade dos professores apresentasse experiência prévia em asma (pessoal, 13,8%; familiar, 39%), o nível de conhecimento foi similar quando comparado com aqueles que não tinham experiência prévia sobre a doença. A maioria dos professores também relatou a necessidade de informações sobre a asma, preferencialmente por meio de aula expositiva com médicos ou treinamento prático. Nossos resultados sugerem que os professores de educação física da rede pública e particular de ensino necessitam de maiores informações sobre asma, independente de apresentarem uma experiência prévia sobre a doença. Além disto, foi observado que o menor conhecimento sobre o assunto foi relativo aos medicamentos utilizados pelos asmáticos / Ninety-three teachers of physical education (TPE) from public (44) and private (49) elementary schools in Sao Paulo were asked to respond a 54-item questionnaire about general asthma knowledge, exercise, medication and teacher\'s attitude toward asthma attack. Questionnaires were answered during school time without any consulting and there was a high response rate from public (86%) and private (69%) school teachers. Our results showed that TPE from public and private schools presented a regular knowledge about asthma (60%) and exercise (66.6%), nevertheless, they showed a low knowledge about asthma medication (44%). We did not observe any difference on asthma knowledge between TPE from public and private schools. Although half of the teachers presented previous asthma experience (personal, 13.8%; family, 39%), they had similar knowledge compared to teachers without previous asthma experience. Most teachers also related necessity of information on asthma through expositive classes with physicians or practical training. Our results showed that teachers of physical education from public and private schools in Brazil require information on asthma independent on previous experience on asthma. Besides, these teachers presented lower knowledge on asthma medication

Esse estudo teve como objetivo propor e avaliar a eficácia de um Programa Fonoaudiológico para Formação de Locutores de Rádio (PFFLR), aplicado aos alunos de um Curso Profissionalizante de Radialista – Setor Locução. O Programa Fonoaudiológico para Formação de Locutores de Rádio foi estruturado em 7 módulos com duração de 7 aulas semanais. Esse Programa foi fundamentado na estimulação de 11 aspectos, os quais foram trabalhados seqüencialmente. Os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos, pareados quanto ao sexo e idade. O grupo de pesquisa foi constituído por 35 adultos, alunos do curso de locução e o grupo controle por 35 adultos, que espontaneamente se disponibilizaram a participar da pesquisa. Foram realizadas três análises, sendo: análise objetiva da voz, através da extração da freqüência fundamental, análise perceptivo-auditiva do uso vocal e análise objetiva da velocidade de fala na leitura. Os resultados indicaram que os grupos diferenciaram-se quanto ao uso vocal e à velocidade de fala na leitura. Em relação à análise do uso vocal, os grupos diferenciaram-se para os parâmetros de qualidade vocal, loudness, ressonância, coordenação pneumofonoarticulatória, articulação, modulação e ritmo de leitura. Quanto à análise da velocidade de fala, os grupos diferenciaram-se tanto para o número de palavras/minuto como de sílabas/minuto. Em relação à análise objetiva da voz, para o grupo de pesquisa houve diferenças entre o pré e pós-aplicação do PFFLR, com redução da freqüência fundamental. Os resultados indicam que o PFFLR foi eficaz na sua proposta, e os parâmetros onde houve melhoras são aqueles específicos para a boa locução. / The purpose of the present study was to propose and evaluate the effectiveness of the Speech Pathology Program for the preparation of radio speakers, with was used with students of the professional course for broadcaster-radio speakers. The speech pathology program for the preparation of radio speakers was structured 7 modules with the duration for 7 weekly lectures. The program was based on the simulation of 11 aspects, wich were presented in a sequential mode. The participants were divided in 2 groups and paired accvornding to age and gender. The research group consisted of 35 adults, stuidents of the radio sp[eakers course, and the control consisted of 35 adults who volunteerd to take part in the research. Three of analysis were mode: (1) na objective analysis of voice through the extraction of the fundamental frequency; (2) a perpective-auditory analyses of the vocal use; and (3) na objetive analysis of the speech rate during reading. The results indicated that the groups differed from each other in relation to the vocal use the speech rate during. Regarding the vocal use, the groups were differnt for tha parameters the vocal quality, loudness, resonance, coordination between breathing ans speaking, articulation, modulation and reading rhythm. Regarding the analysis of the speech rate, the groups were different for the number of words and syllabes per minute. As for the objetive analysis of voice, the research group presented in their pre and post program application perfomances, with the reduction of the fundamental frequency. The results indicate that the speech pathology program for the preparation of radio speakers was effective in the proposition. The parameters in wich improvements were observed are those specific for a good locution.

Com o objetivo de analisar a influência do fenômeno de congelamento e o tempo de criopreservação sobre as propriedades biomecânicas de tendões, os autores estudaram 40 tendões de Aquiles obtidos de 20 cadáveres humanos. De cada cadáver foram retirados dois tendões, sendo que um foi testado a fresco e o contralateral congelado a - 85o C, durante um período de seis ou 12 semanas. Os corpos de prova foram submetidos a ensaios de tração, com análise de suas propriedades biomecânicas. Os resultados foram comparados estatisticamente pelo método de "t-student", com índice de significância de 0,05, não havendo diferença significativa entre os grupos "congelado" e "a fresco" / For the purpose of analyzing the influence of the freezing phenomenon and cryopreservation time over the biomechanical properties of tendons, the authors studied 40 Achilles tendons from 20 human cadavers. Each cadaver had two tendons removed, one of which was tested whilst fresh and its contralateral whilst frozen at - 85o C, for a period of six or 12 weeks. The trial items were submitted to tensile testing in order to analyze their biomechanical properties. The results were compared statistically using the T-Student method, with a significance ratio of 0.05, there being no significant difference between the 'frozen' group and the 'fresh' group

No desenvolvimento cardíaco infantil, a mudança na dinâmica vetorial do miocárdio influencia os parâmetros de normalidade, especialmente nos primeiros dias de vida. Estes limites são idade-dependentes, o que torna a análise do eletrocardiograma (ECG) potencialmente mais difícil em crianças que em adultos. Para facilitar esta tarefa, desenvolvemos um sistema interpretativo computadorizado para análise segmentar no ECG pediátrico. Para validar esta ferramenta, 15 cardiologistas pediátricos foram randomicamente distribuídos em três diferentes grupos, segundo abordagem quali-quantitativa, aqui definidas como avaliação livre (AL), dirigida (AD) e automatizada (AA), na análise de 20 ECGs pediátricos, distribuídos em uma proporção mínima de 35% para exames anormais, com 16 segmentos estudados em cada ECG. Na AL, o cardiologista foi solicitado a responder se o segmento em análise estava normal ou não, com liberdade para medir cada segmento antes de responder. Na AD, a mesma pergunta foi formulada, porém com a imposição de uma aferição prévia do segmento em análise. Consultar a tabela de normalidade foi permitida em ambas situações. Na AA, apenas a aferição foi solicitada e o resultado submetido a um software de interpretação segmentar para ECG pediátrico, com a tabela de normalidade em seu banco de dados. As respostas foram comparadas às análises de dois cardiologistas controle e os resultados conflitantes foram considerados discordantes. Foram observadas discordâncias em 11,6%, 10,7% e 6,2% nas AL, AD e AA, respectivamente. O viés de interpretação foi reduzido em 45% (p<0,0001) com o uso da AA. Observou-se maior benefício com a AA nos estudos das ondas Q em avF e em V6 e R em V1. Em análises não automatizadas, a aferição precedente não mudou a avaliação segmentar do ECG. Concluindo, a AA reduziu significativamente o viés interpretativo em análises não automatizadas, a aferição precedente não mudou a interpretação do ECG e o uso deste software permitiu reduzir o erro de análise segmentar em 45%. / During the cardiac development of children, changes in the vectorial dynamics of the myocardium influence upon normality standards, especially during the first days in life. These are age-dependent limits that make the analysis of EKG of children potentially harder than that of adults. Aiming to make this task easier, we designed a computerized interpretation system for segmental analysis of pediatric EKGs. In order to validate this tool, 15 pediatric cardiologists were randomly allocated to three different groups according to qualitative-quantitative evaluation methods herein defined as free (FE), guided (GE) and automatized (AE) evaluation, for the purpose of analyzing 20 pediatric EKG tracings distributed in a proportion of at least 35% abnormal examinations, with 16 segments being studied in each EKG tracing. In FE, cardiologists were asked to answer whether the segment was normal or not, with freedom to measure each segment before giving their answer. In GE, the same question was made, however they were requested to measure the segment before answering. In both situations they were allowed to refer to a table of normality standards. In AE, only the measurement was asked, and the result was then entered into the software for segmental interpretation of pediatric EKGs, whose database included the table of normality standards. Answers were all compared with those given by two control cardiologists. Discordant results were seen in 11.6%, 10.7% and 6.2% of FE, GE and AE, respectively. Interpretation bias was reduced by 45% (p<0.0001) with the use of AE. In the not automatized types of analyses, previous measurement of segments did not alter the segmental evaluation of EKGs . In conclusion, the automatized evaluation significantly reduced interpretation bias, previous measurement did not change the EKG interpretation with the other not automatized methods and the use of this software allowed to reduce the error of segmental analysis in 45%.

Yes / The frequency of visits to Emergency Departments (ED) varies greatly between populations. This may reflect variation in patient behaviour, need, accessibility, and service configuration as well as the complex interactions between these factors. This study investigates the relationship between distance, socio-economic deprivation, and proximity to an alternative care setting (a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU)), with particular attention to the interaction between distance and deprivation. It is set in a population of approximately 5.4 million living in central England, which is highly heterogeneous in terms of ethnicity, socio-economics, and distance to hospital. The study data set captured 1,413,363 ED visits made by residents of the region to National Health Service (NHS) hospitals during the financial year 2007/8. Our units of analysis were small units of census geography having an average population of 1,545. Separate regression models were made for children and adults. For each additional kilometre of distance from a hospital, predicted child attendances fell by 2.2% (1.7%-2.6% p<0.001) and predicted adult attendances fell by 1.5% (1.2% -1.8%, p<0.001). Compared to the least deprived quintile, attendances in the most deprived quintile more than doubled for children (incident rate ratio (IRR) = 2.19, (1.90-2.54, p<0.001)) and adults (IRR 2.26, (2.01-2.55, p<0.001)). Proximity of an MIU was significant and both adult and child attendances were greater in populations who lived further away from them, suggesting that MIUs may reduce ED demand. The interaction between distance and deprivation was significant. Attendance in deprived neighbourhoods reduces with distance to a greater degree than in less deprived ones for both adults and children. In conclusion, ED use is related to both deprivation and distance, but the effect of distance is modified by deprivation.