Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-93). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Psychology)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2005. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-47). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis ( Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-94). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 258-283) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references.

Background: Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive eye disease and the second cause of blindness in the world. To measure the patients’ perspective in randomised controlled trials (RCTs), patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used. However, the use of PROMs in glaucoma trials is low suggesting there may be a reluctance to use PROMs. Objectives: To explore three methodological challenges of using PROMs in RCTs in glaucoma: 1) PROM selection; 2) characterising glaucoma severity; and 3) interpreting PROM scores in terms of minimal important difference (MID). Methods: Vision PROMs used in glaucoma studies were identified and content validated using a systematic review approach and categorised by a new PROM taxonomy. Existing visual field staging systems (VFSSs) based on standard automated perimetry were systematically identified and quality assessed with a new tool developed for this review using a consensus method. The performance of four high quality visual field staging systems were evaluated and referenced against an experienced ophthalmologist in a diagnostic test accuracy study. A pilot study using the social comparison approach was undertaken to test the feasibility of an anchor-based approach in determining the MID of a vision PROM in a glaucoma population. Results: Thirty-three vision PROMs were identified and categorised, according to content into impairment, disability, status and satisfaction measures. Twenty-three VFSSs were identified but evaluation of quality assessment, particularly performance, was affected by poor VFSS reporting. The diagnostic accuracy study demonstrated suboptimal performance of the four highest quality staging systems. The pilot study to determine the MID for a vision PROM found the social comparison method to be a feasible approach in a glaucoma population. Conclusion: This thesis demonstrated how to select a PROM and identified difficulties with characterising glaucoma severity. Future research needs include development of robust methods for characterising glaucoma severity and full scale evaluation of MIDs in PROMs in glaucoma.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of oral implant treatment provided at the School of Dentistry, University of Otago from 1989 to 2005. Methods: Oral implant patients (n=320) with 586 implants were identified and invited to attend for a clinical examination. Implant demographics of all the patients were extracted from the files. Implant demographics of the examined and unexamined patients were compared to assess if the examined patients were representative of the total group. One hundred and three patients with 214 implants agreed to attend for an examination. In the clinical examination full mouth plaque scores, probing depths, bleeding on probing and suppuration were measured. In addition, around implants recession and width of keratinized gingiva were also recorded. For the radiographic examination, baseline radiographs and radiographs taken at the time of examination were digitized and compared to measure the amount of bone lost or gained around implants using NIH Image J software. Results: There were equal numbers of males and females with a mean age of 46.3 � 15 years at the time of implant placement. The smoking history at the time of examination was recorded, 56% of the patients were non-smokers, 37% former smokers, and 7% were current smokers. More than half of the implants (56%) were placed in the anterior region. Based on the type of implant system, 79% were Branemark implants, 10% Straumann, 6% Southern implants and 4% were unknown. Most of the patients (64%) had implant-supported crowns, 19% had fixed denture prostheses, and 17% had implant-supported overdentures. The overall implant survival rate was 97.7% with five implants lost (2.3%) and 8 implants treated for peri-implantitis (3.8%). The mean PD around implants was 2.3mm (SD 0.6mm), mean recession was 0.5mm (SD 0.8mm) and mean attachment level of 2.8mm (SD 0.9mm). Probing depths [greater than or equal to] 4mm with BOP were recorded around implants in 8.9% of patients. The mean full mouth plaque score was 30% while mean plaque score around implants was 15.9%. The average bone loss around implants was 0.3mm (SD 0.8). Maximum bone loss observed was 2.9 mm. Conclusion: The prevalence of peri-implant inflammation and implant survival rates in this group of patients appeared comparable to that reported in the literature. The prevalence of peri-implant lesions was low in the group of patients examined.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-130).

Thesis (Ph. D. in Hearing and Speech Sciences)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2009. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.