Evaluation of recruitment strategies for prospective studies of spontaneous abortion

Article Abstract:

Potential adverse health effects from exposure to adverse environmental conditions may be identifiable by examination of the incidence of spontaneous abortion. There is very little literature on the relationship of environmental exposure to spontaneous abortion, primarily because it is difficult to get a good population base. Most studies reported have been done retrospectively, working backwards from the event, in this case the spontaneous abortion. However, it has been estimated that 92 percent of women who have spontaneous abortion are unaware the loss has occurred. The only feasible method of accurately estimating the incidence of spontaneous abortion is through prospective study. A study was conducted to determine if a large percentage of pregnancies could be determined within a population and if a representative group of women could be recruited to participate in a prospective study. Four methods of varying data collection intensity were presented to participants. Of the 200 eligible women, 104 (52 percent) agreed to participate in the study. The most intensive data collection was chosen by 74 percent of those participating in the study. Overall rates of compliance with the requirements for urine collection and questionnaire completion were 80 percent and 81 percent respectively. There were four pregnancies, the expected number for the study group. This would suggest that most of the pregnancies occurring within a given population and time frame could be ascertained using this method of survey. It may be possible to use this method to study any associations between environmental exposure and spontaneous abortion.

Miscarriage

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Male- and female-mediated reproductive effects of occupation: the use of questionnaire methods

Article Abstract:

The possibility of exposure in the work place affecting the reproductive systems of both women and men has been of increasing interest. One method to study this problem is the retrospective questionnaire. Information about the past obtained from questionnaires was used to evaluate the feasibility of surveying a specific population, defined by occupation. Because self-reports rely on a person being able to remember events up to 20 years in the past, the reliability of the data obtained must be shown. However, criticism of the validity of this method may be overstated. Being able to use a retrospective approach allows a large population to be surveyed in a relatively short period of time about many different aspects of reproduction. Because the target population is determined by the specific occupation, those areas of exposure needing to be studied can be selected. Recall of such data as birthweight, gestational age, malformations, miscarriage, time taken to conceive and other aspects of infertility seems to be accurate for up to 20 years. It is noted that in recording miscarriages, these should be limited to those confirmed both by testing and by a physician. Interviews are felt to be preferable to self-administration of the questionnaire. The design of a questionnaire should anticipate the various methodologic issues that come up in this kind of research. A proposed questionnaire is included as an appendix to the article.

Reproduction (Biology), Reproduction

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Predictive identification of hypersusceptible individuals

Article Abstract:

This is an update on research published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine, over a period of time. Genetic traits that may predispose to occupational diseases are presented. Scientific and public interest in occupational and environmental medicine have fueled dramatic advances in basic and medical genetics.

Physiological aspects, Smokers, Tobacco, Nature and nurture

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