National Family Opinion Research Articles

The status of asthma control in the U.S. adult population.

Treatment guidelines recognize the importance of achieving and maintaining asthma control. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of asthma control in a representative U.S. population. A survey regarding asthma and associated symptoms was sent to a representative national sample of 134,401 households managed by the National Family Opinion WorldGroup from May to July 2007. Subjects >or=18 years with current asthma were identified and completed the Asthma Control Test (ACT), a brief validated self-administered survey that assesses asthma control. Subjects with an ACT score of >19 have been defined as having well-controlled asthma (WCA) and those with a score of <or=19 were defined as having not well-controlled asthma (NWCA). The prevalence of WCA was identified for the total population as well as subjects who currently were only using albuterol to control asthma symptoms. In addition, the frequency of past asthma exacerbations was studied and correlated with ACT. Surveys were returned by 81,505 households (61% return rate). A total of 10,139 adults self-reported having asthma and completed the ACT. Forty-one percent of these had NWCA and 39% of the subjects using albuterol as the only asthma medication had NWCA. Fifty-eight percent of subjects with NWCA in the total population had an asthma-related exacerbation (asthma-related oral corticosteroid use, emergency department, or hospitalization) in the previous year compared with 24% of subjects with WCA. This large representative national asthma sample using a validated asthma control instrument identified >40% of subjects with NWCA. In addition, subjects using albuterol monotherapy, who would be expected to have mild asthma and thus be well controlled, had a similar high prevalence of NWCA.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in community dwelling men: a cross sectional nationwide epidemiological survey

Epidemiological studies on urinary incontinence (UI) in adult men of all ages are scarce. We aim to describe the UI phenomenon among community dwelling adult males in the United States (US). We analyzed data from male respondents to a 14-item mailed UI symptoms questionnaire to the National Family Opinion (NFO) World Group Panel of 45,000 households matching the US 2000 census population on five key demographic elements. A total of 29,903 households responded, of which 21,590 were male heads of household (mean age 50 +/-15.2 years old). A total of 2,059 men (12.7%) reported symptoms of UI during the last 30 days. Symptoms of urge urinary incontinence (UUI), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) symptoms, and other types of urinary incontinence (OUI) symptoms, were reported by 44.6%, 24.5%, 18.8%, and 12.3%, respectively. Among those with UI symptoms, the proportion of UUI and MUI symptoms increases with age while SUI symptoms decrease as age increases. Of those with UI symptoms, 44% consulted a physician of whom 57% did so within 6 months of the onset of symptoms. Treatments reported included absorbent pads (48%), prescription medication (30%), surgical procedure (18%), and intermittent catheterization (4%). Almost 1 in 10 males reported symptoms of UI. The UI prevalence rate increases with age and UUI symptoms is the most prevalent type reported. Less than half of men with UI symptoms sought professional help and half of them did so within 6 months of onset of UI symptoms.

A Risk Analysis Model of the Relationship Between Beverage Consumption from School Vending Machines and Risk of Adolescent Overweight

Risk analysis is a widely used tool to understand problems in food safety policy, but it is seldom applied to nutrition policy. We propose that risk analysis be applied more often to inform debates on nutrition policy, and we conduct a risk assessment of the relationship of regular carbonated soft drink (RCSD) consumption in schools and body mass index (BMI) as a case study. Data for RCSD consumption in schools were drawn from three data sets: the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals 1994-1996, 1998 (CSFII), the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000 (NHANES), and the National Family Opinion (NFO) WorldGroup Share of Intake Panel (SIP) study. We used the largest relationship between RCSD and BMI that was published by prospective observational studies to characterize the maximum plausible relationship in our study. Consumption of RCSD in schools was low in all three data sets, ranging from 15 g/day in NFO-SIP to 60 g/day in NHANES. There was no relationship between RCSD consumption from all sources and BMI in either the CSFII or the NHANES data. The risk assessment showed no impact on BMI by removing RCSD consumption in school. These findings suggest that focusing adolescent overweight prevention programs on RCSD in schools will not have a significant impact on BMI.

Prevalence, management and impact of urinary incontinence in the workplace

The few prior studies of urinary symptoms in the workplace have been small investigations of women in specific occupations (e.g. nursing) or industries (e.g. pottery manufacture). In this study, the aims were to describe the prevalence, management and impact of urinary incontinence for a large cross-section of employed women in the USA. Five-page questionnaires were mailed to 5130 American households selected from the National Family Opinion survey panel during the spring of 2004. Usable questionnaires were returned by 3364 women in the target age range of 18-60 years. About 37% of the 2326 employed respondents reported urine loss during the last 30 days. The most common strategies for managing incontinence at work included frequent bathroom breaks and wearing pads. The use of urine control methods increased with the severity of urine loss. The effect of incontinence on workplace activities also increased with the severity of urine loss: 88% of employed women with the most severe symptoms reported at least some negative impact on concentration, performance of physical activities, self-confidence or the ability to complete tasks without interruption. Urinary incontinence is prevalent among employed women. Those who experience severe symptoms report that it has a negative effect on aspects of work. Programs on the prevalence and impact of urinary incontinence would help educate both employers and employees, and may lead to the development of better management techniques in the workplace.

Is Urinary Incontinence a Barrier to Exercise in Women?

To describe the prevalence of urinary incontinence during exercise in women, estimate whether exercise intensity is related to leakage severity, and report women's assessments of incontinence as a barrier to exercise. Questionnaires were mailed to 5,130 women aged 18-60 years drawn from National Family Opinion research panels. Physical activity levels were assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Urinary incontinence, defined as involuntary leakage in the last 30 days, was assessed with the Sandvik Severity Index and a global measure of bother. Prevalence estimates were adjusted via post-stratification weighting. A total of 3,364 eligible women responded (68%), of whom 34.6% were insufficiently active (95% confidence interval [CI] 32.7-36.5%), 29.7% were sufficiently active (95% CI 27.9-31.5%), and 35.7% were highly active (95% CI 33.8-37.6%). Urinary incontinence prevalence was 34.3% (95% CI 32.5-36.1%). One in seven women experienced urinary leakage during physical activity; this was more common among highly active (15.9%) than less active women (11.8%) (P = .01). After adjusting for age, comorbidities, education, and race, women with very severe incontinence were 2.64 times (95% CI 1.25-5.55) more likely to be insufficiently active than continent women. Incontinence was a moderate or substantial barrier to exercise for 9.8% (95% CI 8.8-10.9%) of women. Of incontinent women, the proportion for whom incontinence was a moderate or substantial barrier to exercise increased with each severity category: 9.2%, slight; 37.8%, moderate; 64.6%, severe; and 85.3%, very severe (P < .01). Urinary incontinence is perceived as a barrier to exercise, particularly by women with more severe leakage.

Teen internet mavens: influence in family decision making

The Internet is changing the nature of the family decision-making process. With its ability to provide easily accessible information and purchase options, the Internet has potentially altered the decision-making roles of family members based on their interest in and expertise with the Internet. Similar in conceptualization to the market maven, the authors hypothesize the existence of an Internet maven—an individual who is relied upon more for providing information from the virtual marketplace. These teen Internet mavens are hypothesized to enjoy net surfing and to have greater relative influence in the family decision-making process than their nonmaven counterparts. Survey data from a National Family Opinion (NFO) sample of matched pairs of parents and teens supported these hypotheses.

Migraine medication attributes important for patient compliance: concerns about side effects may delay treatment.

To determine the level of concern among migraineurs about migraine prescription medication tolerability and adverse effects and the impact of these concerns on their self-management of migraine. Self-completion questionnaires were mailed from the National Family Opinion household panel to a prequalified sample of 4000 adults (aged 18 years or older) who reported severe headache and migraine. Those who met the International Headache Society symptom criteria for migraine and reported use of prescription medication to treat their migraines were included in the descriptive analysis. A total of 2444 (61%) sufferers of severe headache/migraine returned a completed survey, and 56% of these (n = 1160) met the target criteria for the study. Of those meeting the criteria, pain relief and speed of onset were important product attributes for 75% to 77% of sufferers, and the absence of adverse effects was important to over 40%. Two-thirds of sufferers specifically had delayed or avoided taking a current prescription medication because of concerns about adverse effects. These concerns led to a delay in taking medication in 37% of treated migraine episodes and to medication avoidance in 44% of untreated attacks during the previous 6 months, resulting in more intensive and longer duration of pain, the need to rest and cancel social activities, and suboptimal performance. Almost 8 of 10 (79%) sufferers showed an interest in trying a novel product with similar efficacy but fewer adverse effects than other prescription migraine medications. Adverse effects are an important factor in migraine management, and concern about adverse effects significantly affected patient compliance.

Targeting Financial Influential by Means of the Decision-Making Process

ABSTRACT This study empirically examines the pre-purchase behavior of financial opinion leaders. Respondent information for the study was obtained from National Family Opinion Research, Inc. panel members who had recently moved and faced decisions concerning a new financial services provider. A multivariate nominal analysis model was developed which significantly predicted interpersonal communication group categories with independent variables representing the stages of consumer decision-making. Results indicate that problem recognition, search, and choice stages are important areas of differences across the interpersonal categories. Findings also suggest the existence of different patterns in the overall decision process for opinion leaders versus nonopinion leaders. Strategic implications of the study for financial institutions are discussed.

U. S. Householder survey of functional gastrointestinal disorders

Our objective was to obtain national data of the estimated prevalence, sociodemographic relationships, and health impact of persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders. We surveyed a stratified probability random sample of U.S. householders selected from a data base of a national market firm (National Family Opinion, Inc.). Questions were asked about bowel symptoms, sociodemographic associations, work absenteeism, and physician visits. The sampling frame was constructed to be demographically similar to the U.S. householder population based on geographic region, age of householder, population density, household income, and household size. Of 8250 mailings, 5430 were returned suitable for analysis (66% response). The survey assessed the prevalence of 20 functional gastrointestinal syndromes based on fulfillment of multinational diagnostic (Rome) criteria. Additional variables studied included: demographic status, work absenteeism, health care use, employment status, family income, geographic area of residence, population density, and number of persons in household. For this sample, 69% reported having at least one of 20 functional gastrointestinal syndromes in the previous three months. The symptoms were attributed to four major anatomic regions: esophageal (42%), gastroduodenal (26%), bowel (44%), and anorectal (26%), with considerable overlap. Females reported greater frequencies of globus, functional dysphagia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation, functional abdominal pain, functional biliary pain and dyschezia; males reported greater frequencies of aerophagia and functional bloating. Symptom reporting, except for incontinence, declines with age, and low income is associated with greater symptom reporting. The rate of work/school absenteeism and physician visits is increased for those having a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Furthermore, the greatest rates are associated with those having gross fecal incontinence and certain more painful functional gastrointestinal disorders such as chronic abdominal pain, biliary pain, functional dyspepsia and IBS. Preliminary information on the prevalence, socio-demographic features and health impact is provided for persons who fulfill diagnostic criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders.