Quota Selection Research Articles

No difference in hypertension prevalence in smokers, former smokers and non-smokers after adjusting for body mass index and age: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic, 2010.

BackgroundSeveral hypotheses suggest a temporary increase in blood pressure following smoking cessation. This may be the result of endocrine changes (e.g. alteration in adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in post-cessation period) and/or post-cessation weight gain. Our aim was to identify factors that may be associated with the diagnosis of hypertension after quitting smoking.MethodsIn 2010, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in a sample of 2065 Czech adults, chosen by quota selection and representative according to age, gender, education, region of residence and the size of settlement, aged 18 to 94 years. We examined the association between age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, and education with the hypertension diagnosis in their personal history. Data were compiled and weighed by age categories. Statistical significance was measured by Pearson Chi-square test at the level of significance 95 %.ResultsDiagnosis of hypertension was reported in 461 (22 %) subjects, with no difference by gender. Based on univariate analysis, former smokers were more likely than non-smokers to be diagnosed for hypertension (OR 1.450 (1.110-1.900), p = 0.006). However, after adjusting for body mass index and age, the occurrence of hypertension diagnosis did not differ among non-smokers, smokers and former smokers (OR 0.760 for smokers, p = 0.082 and OR 1.020 for former smokers, p = 0.915).ConclusionWe did not find any differences in hypertension diagnosis prevalence according to smoking status.

Fatigue and sleep disturbances as common problems in life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

This paper deals with the problems of fatigue and sleep difficulties as a normal part of the life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory and systemic disorder which can cause the ill many other difficulties than just the primary infliction of motoric apparatus. Common problems for those suffering from this disease are fatigue and sleep disturbances, which are considered to be very exhausting problems for the ill. This paper uses part of the results gained from a research project conducted by the Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Number 120/2012/S “Reflection of Quality of Life in Nursing”. The research survey in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has been accomplished by means of two standardized questionnaires WHOQOL-100 (The World Health Organization Quality of Life) and HAQ (Health Assessment Questionnaire). This paper mentions only the selected results gained pursuant to the WHOQOL-100 questionnaire. The research file was formed using 50 men and 150 women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis across the entire Czech Republic. The selection of respondents was achieved pursuant to the quota selection, whereas two quotas were determined – “presence of diagnosis rheumatoid arthritis” and “gender”. The data collection occurred between January and May 2013. The acquired results were then processed using the statistical programmes SASD and SPSS. Pursuant to our survey, a degree of fatigue was experienced by 94% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and only 29.5% have expressed satisfaction with the amount of energy needed for daily life. In the sphere of sleep and rest, various intensive problems were mentioned by 78% of respondents. An interesting finding here is the fact that men feel a higher quality of life in the sphere of sleep than women do. These problems should be considered in care of the ill with rheumatoid arthritis because these problems markedly decrease the quality of life for all of the ill.

Determinants of the Quota Selection Inequality Phenomenon: Clarification of the Basis for Gillett's (1991) Findings

Gillett showed that under quota selection, the expected mean test scores of minority selectees are always lower than those of majority selectees, even though the scores come from populations with identical distributions. Although Gillett reported levels of expected mean score differences between two quota-selected samples, he provided no information about the standard errors of these mean differences. In addition, he failed to provide a clear explanation of the basis for the inequality of the means. Therefore, the present study examined (a) the standard errors of the quota-selected sample means and (b) the sampling distributions of these means using a Monte Carlo simulation. The overall purpose was to clarify the basis for the expected differences between the mean scores of majority and minority selectees. Results showed that the quota selection inequality results from differences in sampling error between the quota-selected samples that are attributable to the relative sizes of the majority and minority samples.

Access and Equity: A Case Analysis of Local Implementation under the Higher Education Equity Programme

ABSTRACT The Access and Equity Programme at the University of Southern Queensland is an example of a program supported by the Commonwealth Government's Higher Education Equity Programme. The characteristics of this program are discussed in terms of its context, focus and rationale, structure and components, and outcomes. The program is seen to be successful in fulfilling the aim of such programs to promote greater access to higher education from disadvantaged groups. However, it is also concluded that: the required focus on defined target groups can itself be inequitable by ignoring cases of individual disadvantage; the need for quota selection leaves the least capable without any support for their aspirations; and the almost exclusive concentration on prerequisite academic knowledge leaves some without sufficient awareness and adaptability to cope with the demands of higher education.