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Science News for February 17, 2006


Let patients use their own terms to describe ethnicity

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that using open-ended questions to collect patient-reported data on ethnicity resulted in lower rates of missing values and unusable data compared to traditional closed-ended methods. This method also better captured the nuances of patients' self-identified ethnicities.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateFeb 17, 2006

Can science-based resource management work?

The Valles Caldera Trust employs science-based adaptive management to monitor natural resources and adjust management activities in response to changing conditions. This approach, pioneered by forest ecologist Thomas Swetnam, aims to improve the long-term sustainability of federal lands like national parks and forests.

New, expensive, widely-used drugs continue to cause liver problems, says Jefferson liver specialist

Liver injuries continue to plague the nation's drug development system, causing costly problems for pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Navarro proposes that patients speak with their physicians about their medications to detect liver injury early, as certain individuals are more likely to develop problems due to genetic makeup.

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 17, 2006

Pregnancy, not high-risk behavior, predictor of STD testing among newly homeless youth

A new study published in AIDS and Behavior found that pregnancy, rather than high-risk behavior, was the primary predictor of STD testing among newly homeless youth. The study, conducted at UCLA, surveyed 261 homeless youth aged 12-20 and found a 32% STD rate among those who had received an STD test in the past three months.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalAIDS and Behavior·DateFeb 17, 2006

Determining curriculum effectiveness

A committee presented a framework for evaluating mathematics curricula, suggesting that both comparative study and content analysis are necessary. Despite methodological weaknesses in existing studies, the committee recommends an integrated judgment involving values, theory, and empirical evidence to determine curriculum effectiveness.

Doctors develop new measures for bone disease

Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a guide for doctors to assess height loss and determine if it's related to vertebral fractures or osteoporosis. The guidelines suggest prescribing X-rays for patients who lose six centimeters in height, as this is associated with a 60% chance of vertebral fractures.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalOsteoporosis International·DateFeb 17, 2006