One-year Recall Research Articles

Retrospective information on health status and its application for population health measures

Healthy life expectancies are almost always calculated by using health data from cross-sectional surveys. This type of calculation is done partly because data from longitudinal surveys are not always available, and when they are available, they are collected at intervals that are longer than one year. In such cases, collecting health information retrospectively for the years skipped by the survey is useful. The main purpose of this paper is to show how retrospective health information can be used to estimate life expectancies in different health states. Healthy life expectancies are estimated with and without using data on retrospective health information, and the corresponding estimates are compared. The two sets of estimates are similar. We conclude that retrospectively assessed health information based on a one-year recall period can be used to estimate years of life in various health states and that estimates based on such information will closely approximate estimates based on concurrent health information.

A clinical evaluation of a self-etching primer and a giomer restorative material: Results at eight years

The authors evaluated the performance of a giomer restorative material (Beautifil, Shofu, Kyoto, Japan) with a self-etching primer (FL-Bond, Shofu) for posterior restorations. Two clinicians placed 26 Class I restorations and 35 Class II restorations in 31 patients ranging in age from 21 to 62 years (mean age, 34 years). Inclusion criteria required patients to have molar-supported permanent dentition free of any edentulous spaces and no clinically significant occlusal interference, as well as one or more permanent molars or premolars requiring new or replacement Class I or II restorations. Two of the authors examined the restorations using modified U.S. Public Health Service/Ryge criteria for color match, marginal adaptation, anatomy, surface roughness, marginal staining, interfacial staining, proximal and occlusal contacts, secondary caries, postoperative sensitivity and luster. The two authors examined all restorations at the one-year recall visit, 58 at the two-year visit, 47 at the three-year visit, 39 at the four-year visit and 41 at the eight-year visit (16 Class I and 25 Class II restorations). During the eight-year period, they detected no changes with respect to surface roughness, postoperative sensitivity or secondary caries. The majority of changes recorded were for marginal adaptation at occlusal (29 percent) and proximal (16 percent) surfaces and marginal staining at occlusal (15 percent) and proximal (32 percent) surfaces. The McNemar test showed significant changes between baseline and the eight-year evaluation only for marginal adaptation at occlusal surfaces (P = .0047) and marginal staining at proximal surfaces (P = .04). None of the restorations failed. Most of the restorations maintained good quality during the observation period. Beautiful restorative material and FL-Bond bonding system, when placed in Class I and II preparations, achieved clinically acceptable results after eight years of service.

Lymphoedema management knowledge and practices among patients attending filariasis morbidity control clinics in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka

BackgroundLittle information is available on methods of treatment practiced by patients affected by filarial lymphoedema in Sri Lanka. The frequency and duration of acute dematolymphangioadenitis (ADLA) attacks in these patients remain unclear. This study reports the knowledge, practices and perceptions regarding lymphoedema management and the burden of ADLA attacks among patients with lymphoedema.MethodsA semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess morbidity alleviation knowledge, practices and perceptions. The burden of ADLA attacks was assessed using one-year recall data.Results66 patients (22 males, 44 females) with mean age 51.18 years (SD ± 13.9) were studied. Approximately two thirds of the patients were aware of the importance of skin and nail hygiene, limb elevation and use of footwear. Washing was practiced on a daily and twice daily basis by 40.9% and 48.5% respectively. However, limb elevation, exercise and use of footwear were practiced only by 21–42.4% (while seated and lying down), 6% and 34.8% respectively. The majority of patients considered regular intake of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) important. Approximately two thirds (65.2%) had received health education from filariasis clinics. Among patients who sought private care (n = 48) the average cost of treatment for an ADLA attack was Rs. 737.91. Only 18.2% had feelings of isolation and reported community reactions ranging from sympathy to fear and ridicule.ConclusionsFilariasis morbidity control clinics play an essential role in the dissemination of morbidity control knowledge. Referral of lymphoedema patients to morbidity control clinics is recommended.

Two-year clinical evaluation of a packable resin-based composite

Packable resin-based composites were introduced in 1998, but few clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate them. The authors conducted a clinical study to determine the two-year performance of SureFil (Dentsply DeTrey GmbH, Konstanz, Germany) packable posterior resin-based composite in Class I and II restorations. An operator (L.S.T.) restored 55 cavities in 36 patients (16 Class I restorations and 39 Class II restorations). After cavity preparation, she etched the enamel with 34 percent phosphoric acid, applied Prime & Bond NT (Dentsply DeTrey GmbH) to dentin and etched enamel for 20 seconds and then cured it for 20 seconds. She restored the cavity using 3- to 5-millimeter increments of SureFil. Independent examiners assessed the restorations after placement and at six months, one year and two years for color matching, marginal discoloration, marginal adaptation, secondary caries, surface texture, anatomical form and postoperative sensitivity, using the Ryge criteria. The authors assessed the changes in the parameters during the two-year period using a software program with Friedman test analysis with a Bonferroni adjustment at significant level of P = .05. At baseline, 31 restorations were graded as Bravo for color match. At the six-month and one-year recall periods (n = 55), 53 restorations remained unchanged. Two restorations from the same patient fell out after one month. After two years (n = 50), there were five Bravos for surface staining and three for marginal adaptation (P < .05). After two years of clinical service, SureFil packable resin-based composite had a success rate of 96 percent, and the authors considered it successful in Class I and II restorations. SureFil packable resin-based composite can be successful in clinical situations with limited-sized cavities and proper application of restorative techniques.

How Reliable Are Maternal Reports of Their Children's Psychopathology? One-Year Recall of Psychiatric Diagnoses of ADHD Children

Although childhood psychiatric diagnoses often rely on maternal reports, little is known about their long-term reliability and diagnostic accuracy. Thus, the authors sought to examine these psychometric features in a cohort of ADHD and control children. The sample consisted of 140 referred children with ADHD and 120 normal controls. The authors compared childhood diagnoses based on maternal reports of their children's psychopathology at this baseline assessment with those collected 1 year later. Both reliability and accuracy were excellent for ADHD. Reliability and specificity were also excellent for conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, major depression, bipolar disorder, separation anxiety, and multiple anxiety disorders. Reliability and sensitivity were relatively low for simple phobia, social phobia, agoraphobia, and overanxious disorder. With some exceptions, maternal reports of their children's psychopathology provided a reliable and accurate means of assessment. Generally, maternally derived diagnoses were less accurate for internalizing compared with externalizing disorders. However, specificity was high for all diagnoses, suggesting that mothers were not biased to report symptoms that had not occurred.

The Bush Harvest in Pinehouse, Saskatchewan, Canada

Hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering provide an important source of food and fuel for the Cree-speaking Metis of Pinehouse on the Churchill River in northern Saskatchewan. This paper reports the findings of a harvest survey based on one-year recall. The village's total harvest of fish, mammals, birds, berries, and fuelwood is documented by species from April 1983 through March 1984. Virtually all 145 adult male residents were interviewed. Respondents reported their harvest in units of their choice such as fish tub and truckload of fuelwood. Studies based on participant observation, monitoring programs involving short recall periods of a few days, and empirical measurement were done to determine conversion factors. These were used to translate harvesters' reporting units into numbers of animals by species (cords for fuelwood), and then to whole and edible weights. The total harvest was 84.5 tonnes of edible meat or 0.342 kg per day for each of the 676 residents. Three tonnes of berries and 682 cords of fuelwood were harvested. The village's gross income for the survey period is assessed and a dollar value assigned to the harvest. The bush harvest (income-in-kind and commodities) accounted for one-third of total village income, which contradicts the prevalent stereotype that resources from the land do not significantly contribute to the Pinehouse economy.Key words: native harvest survey, northern Saskatchewan M&eacute;tis, subsistence harvests, domestic fisheries, subarctic village economy

Population growth, fertility, mortality and migration in drought prone areas in Ethiopia

To assess the population dynamics of drought-prone communities, we investigated 605 households in the pastoralist Boran community of Dubluk and in the agricultural community of Elka, both located in southern Ethiopia. The age and sex composition of the population as well as records of births, deaths and patterns of migration were observed for 2 consecutive years. Repeated surveys of the same households revealed much higher rates for deaths and births than did cross-sectional surveys with a one-year recall period. Indirect mortality estimates showed that the under 5 years mortality rates (per 1000 births) were 135 in Dubluk and 219 in Elka. Highest crude death rates were observed in Elka during periods of meningitis and malaria epidemics. During the period of observation, death rates fluctuated to a greater extent than birth rates. Both communities had very high rates of natural increase: in Dubluk 39·0 1000 and in Elka 37·1 1000 . In Dubluk, this rate was far higher than any previously recorded and may have indicated that fertility regulating mechanisms, traditionally inherent in the pastoralist social organization, had become weaker as part of cultural changes. Dubluk represented a semi-nomadic society with a moderately high mobility pattern. Peak periods of migration coincided with times of food scarcity in Elka.

Accuracy of Answers Obtained Using a One-Year Recall Period Compared to a Series of Fortnightly Recalls

In a study to examine factors influencing transmission of hepatitis B virus, a comparison has been made between answers obtained about events occurring over a one-year period and the summation of the results from fortnightly questionnaires administered over the same period. Complete data were available for 532 children and the results showed that for an estimate of rates within the population, the results from both methods were similar. At the individual level, however, the differences between the one-year recall and fortnightly questions were large. Thus it appears that for population estimates longer recall periods may be satisfactory, but in any study requiring accurate data at the individual level shorter recall periods are required.

The incidence of failure following single-visit endodontic therapy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of failure following single-visit endodontic therapy. The study involved 1,140 teeth in 918 patients. One-year recall evaluations were performed on 925 or 81.8% of the teeth. The endodontic failure rate was found to be 5.2%. No significant difference was found between the tooth groups (anterior and posterior, maxillary and mandibular); however, significant differences were found among the problem code groups (teeth with pulpal pathosis, teeth with periapical extension of pulpal disease, endodontic periapical extension of pulpal disease, endodontic retreatments, and intentional devitalization cases). Also, the incidence of failure was higher in those teeth with periapical extension of pulpal disease which had no prior access opening.

An endodontic-orthodontic technique for esthetic stabilization of externally resorbed teeth

Previous studies reveal that external root resorption is often coincident with orthodontic therapy. Some investigators have reported that root resorption ceases when orthodontic therapy is terminated. However, this is not always the case. The purpose of this article is to present an 11-year history of an unusual case in which root-resorptive processes continued for 3 years after orthodontic treatment had been discontinued. The article also describes and discusses a combined endodontic-orthodontic approach to halt external root resorption and stabilize mobile maxillary anterior teeth. Calcium hydroxide therapy was instituted to inhibit inflammatory apical root resorption. A rectangular orthodontic wire was adapted and inserted intracoronally to splint the teeth esthetically. The advantages and disadvantages of this intracoronal splinting technique are compared with other extracoronal splinting methods. Examination of one-year recall radiographs suggested continued inhibition of the root resorption. Masticatory function was restored for the patient. Considerations for monitoring patients with this problem are discussed.

Reversible pulpitis with etiology of bruxism

A case history is described in which the patient had moderate pulpalgia in the maxillary anterior teeth. A diagnosis of occlusal trauma caused by the protrusive bruxism was made. Treatment consisted of giving the patient information about the cause of the trauma and constructing a night guard-type splint. At the one-year recall, the patient was asymptomatic and the teeth responded normally to clinical tests. A case history is described in which the patient had moderate pulpalgia in the maxillary anterior teeth. A diagnosis of occlusal trauma caused by the protrusive bruxism was made. Treatment consisted of giving the patient information about the cause of the trauma and constructing a night guard-type splint. At the one-year recall, the patient was asymptomatic and the teeth responded normally to clinical tests.