David Wilson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by David Wilson

Research paper thumbnail of Difficulties Identifying and Targeting COPD and Population-Attributable Risk of Smoking for COPD *

CHEST Journal, 2005

Respiratory public health interventions depend on accurate identification of the target group, ye... more Respiratory public health interventions depend on accurate identification of the target group, yet this may vary depending on the diagnostic criteria used. We therefore compared the relative performance of various international criteria in identifying COPD cases. The burden of COPD due to smoking can only be determined from population-attributable risk (PAR) studies. These studies, lacking in the COPD literature, are necessary research in support of public health initiatives for COPD. In this representative population study, we also assessed the PAR for current and ex-smokers. A representative biomedical population sample of 2,501 South Australians aged > or = 18 years (The Northwest Adelaide Health [Cohort] Study). COPD diagnosis and severity were determined according to various FEV1/FVC and FEV1 percentage of predicted criteria recommended by international respiratory authorities. Demographic, health behavior, and quality-of-life data were obtained by telephone interview and self-completed questionnaire. Northwest Adelaide. The PAR of smoking (smokers and ex-smokers) for COPD ranged from 51 to 70% depending on the diagnostic respiratory criteria used. COPD prevalence varied depending on the criteria used: American Thoracic Society, 5.4%; British Thoracic Society, 3.5%; European Respiratory Society (ERS), 5.0%; Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, 5.4%. There was also substantial disagreement in the cases identified. An alternative approach using ERS reference values one residual SD from the mean produced a COPD prevalence estimate of 6.9%, with improved level of agreement with the established respiratory criteria suggesting their potential as screening criteria. The COPD risks associated with smoking and ex-smoking history were quantifiable using PAR, but PAR also suggests other, yet unquantified, risks. Targeting COPD cases for public health interventions is difficult given the range of spirometry criteria and the associated high level of underdiagnosis.

Research paper thumbnail of A South Australian Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak investigation using a database to select controls

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1998

Research paper thumbnail of Random digit dialling and Electronic White Pages samples compared: demographic profiles and health estimates

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1999

Objective: To compare the methodologies of and health estimates derived from two telephone househ... more Objective: To compare the methodologies of and health estimates derived from two telephone household survey methods. In particular, to establish if White Pages telephone listings provide a relatively unbiased sampling frame for population health surveys. Method: In South Australia in 1998, a health survey questionnaire was administered by telephone to two randomly selected population samples. The first method used EWP (Electronic White Pages, n=6,012), which contains all listed residential telephone numbers as the sampling frame. The results were compared to a RDD (random digit dialling, n=3,080) sample where all listed and unlisted telephone numbers were included in the sampling frame. Demographic variables and health estimates were compared between the surveys, and then compared to a 'gold standard' door-to-door household survey conducted concurrently. Resu/ts:The response rate for EWP (83.8%) exceeded that of RDD (65.4%). More than four times as many calls were required per completed interview in RDD. Demographic profiles and health estimates were substantially similar. Conclusions: EWP requires fewer telephone calls and enables approach letters establishing the bona fides of the survey to be sent to each selected address before calling, increasing the response rate. RDD is a more inclusive sampling frame but also includes nonconnected and business numbers, and offers no significant advantages in providing health estimates. Implications: There are substantial methodological and cost advantages in using EWP over RDD as the sampling frame for population health surveys, without introducing significant bias into health estimates.

Research paper thumbnail of Differences in health estimates using telephone and door-to-door survey methods-a hypothetical exercise

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1998

Research paper thumbnail of Mental health status of the South Australian population

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Reliability of self-reported behavioural health risk factors in a South Australian telephone survey

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of The Second Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) Forum: The state of play of CATI survey methods in Australia

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of How valid are self-reported height and weight? A comparison between CATI self-report and clinic measurements using a large cohort study

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2006

To examine the relationship between self-reported and clinical measurements for height and weight... more To examine the relationship between self-reported and clinical measurements for height and weight in adults aged 18 years and over and to determine the bias associated with using household telephone surveys. A representative population sample of adults aged 18 years and over living in the north-west region of Adelaide (n = 1,537) were recruited to the biomedical cohort study in 2002/03. A computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) system was used to collect self-reported height and weight. Clinical measures were obtained when the cohort study participants attended a clinic for biomedical tests. Adults over-estimated their height (by 1.4 cm) and under-estimated their weight (by 1.7 kg). Using the self-report figures the prevalence of overweight/ obese was 56.0% but this prevalence estimate increased to 65.3% when clinical measurements were used. The discrepancy in self-reported height and weight is partly explained by 1) a rounding effect (rounding height and weight to the nearest 0 or 5) and 2) older persons (65+ years) considerably over-estimating their height. Self-report is important in monitoring overweight and obesity; however, it must be recognised that prevalence estimates obtained are likely to understate the problem. The public health focus on obesity is warranted, but self-report estimates, commonly used to highlight the obesity epidemic, are likely to be underestimations. Self-report would be a more reliable measure if people did not round their measurements and if older persons more accurately knew their height.

Research paper thumbnail of Hearing Impairment in an Australian Population

Research paper thumbnail of Tipping the obesity problem: Silliness, silos, and sense

Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Gender differences in asthma prevalence: Variations with socioeconomic disadvantage

Respirology, 2010

Socioeconomic inequalities in health have been shown to vary for different diseases and by gender... more Socioeconomic inequalities in health have been shown to vary for different diseases and by gender. This study aimed to examine gender differences in associations between asthma and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Research paper thumbnail of Do people with risky behaviours participate in biomedical cohort studies?

BMC public health, 2006

Analysis was undertaken on data from randomly selected participants of a bio-medical cohort study... more Analysis was undertaken on data from randomly selected participants of a bio-medical cohort study to assess representativeness. The research hypotheses was that there was no difference in participation and non-participations in terms of health-related indicators (smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, physical activity, blood pressure and cholesterol readings and overall health status) and selected socio-demographics (age, sex, area of residence, education level, marital status and work status).

Research paper thumbnail of Cholesterol-lowering therapy and the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: a population study

Australian Health Review, 2009

The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expanded the criteria for eligibility for sub... more The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expanded the criteria for eligibility for subsidised lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in 2006. The aim of this study was to determine the use of LLT in a representative Australian population in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and the effectiveness of the therapy in meeting target levels.

Research paper thumbnail of Difficulties Identifying and Targeting COPD and Population-Attributable Risk of Smoking for COPD *

CHEST Journal, 2005

Respiratory public health interventions depend on accurate identification of the target group, ye... more Respiratory public health interventions depend on accurate identification of the target group, yet this may vary depending on the diagnostic criteria used. We therefore compared the relative performance of various international criteria in identifying COPD cases. The burden of COPD due to smoking can only be determined from population-attributable risk (PAR) studies. These studies, lacking in the COPD literature, are necessary research in support of public health initiatives for COPD. In this representative population study, we also assessed the PAR for current and ex-smokers. A representative biomedical population sample of 2,501 South Australians aged > or = 18 years (The Northwest Adelaide Health [Cohort] Study). COPD diagnosis and severity were determined according to various FEV1/FVC and FEV1 percentage of predicted criteria recommended by international respiratory authorities. Demographic, health behavior, and quality-of-life data were obtained by telephone interview and self-completed questionnaire. Northwest Adelaide. The PAR of smoking (smokers and ex-smokers) for COPD ranged from 51 to 70% depending on the diagnostic respiratory criteria used. COPD prevalence varied depending on the criteria used: American Thoracic Society, 5.4%; British Thoracic Society, 3.5%; European Respiratory Society (ERS), 5.0%; Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, 5.4%. There was also substantial disagreement in the cases identified. An alternative approach using ERS reference values one residual SD from the mean produced a COPD prevalence estimate of 6.9%, with improved level of agreement with the established respiratory criteria suggesting their potential as screening criteria. The COPD risks associated with smoking and ex-smoking history were quantifiable using PAR, but PAR also suggests other, yet unquantified, risks. Targeting COPD cases for public health interventions is difficult given the range of spirometry criteria and the associated high level of underdiagnosis.

Research paper thumbnail of A South Australian Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak investigation using a database to select controls

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1998

Research paper thumbnail of Random digit dialling and Electronic White Pages samples compared: demographic profiles and health estimates

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1999

Objective: To compare the methodologies of and health estimates derived from two telephone househ... more Objective: To compare the methodologies of and health estimates derived from two telephone household survey methods. In particular, to establish if White Pages telephone listings provide a relatively unbiased sampling frame for population health surveys. Method: In South Australia in 1998, a health survey questionnaire was administered by telephone to two randomly selected population samples. The first method used EWP (Electronic White Pages, n=6,012), which contains all listed residential telephone numbers as the sampling frame. The results were compared to a RDD (random digit dialling, n=3,080) sample where all listed and unlisted telephone numbers were included in the sampling frame. Demographic variables and health estimates were compared between the surveys, and then compared to a 'gold standard' door-to-door household survey conducted concurrently. Resu/ts:The response rate for EWP (83.8%) exceeded that of RDD (65.4%). More than four times as many calls were required per completed interview in RDD. Demographic profiles and health estimates were substantially similar. Conclusions: EWP requires fewer telephone calls and enables approach letters establishing the bona fides of the survey to be sent to each selected address before calling, increasing the response rate. RDD is a more inclusive sampling frame but also includes nonconnected and business numbers, and offers no significant advantages in providing health estimates. Implications: There are substantial methodological and cost advantages in using EWP over RDD as the sampling frame for population health surveys, without introducing significant bias into health estimates.

Research paper thumbnail of Differences in health estimates using telephone and door-to-door survey methods-a hypothetical exercise

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1998

Research paper thumbnail of Mental health status of the South Australian population

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Reliability of self-reported behavioural health risk factors in a South Australian telephone survey

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of The Second Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) Forum: The state of play of CATI survey methods in Australia

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of How valid are self-reported height and weight? A comparison between CATI self-report and clinic measurements using a large cohort study

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2006

To examine the relationship between self-reported and clinical measurements for height and weight... more To examine the relationship between self-reported and clinical measurements for height and weight in adults aged 18 years and over and to determine the bias associated with using household telephone surveys. A representative population sample of adults aged 18 years and over living in the north-west region of Adelaide (n = 1,537) were recruited to the biomedical cohort study in 2002/03. A computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) system was used to collect self-reported height and weight. Clinical measures were obtained when the cohort study participants attended a clinic for biomedical tests. Adults over-estimated their height (by 1.4 cm) and under-estimated their weight (by 1.7 kg). Using the self-report figures the prevalence of overweight/ obese was 56.0% but this prevalence estimate increased to 65.3% when clinical measurements were used. The discrepancy in self-reported height and weight is partly explained by 1) a rounding effect (rounding height and weight to the nearest 0 or 5) and 2) older persons (65+ years) considerably over-estimating their height. Self-report is important in monitoring overweight and obesity; however, it must be recognised that prevalence estimates obtained are likely to understate the problem. The public health focus on obesity is warranted, but self-report estimates, commonly used to highlight the obesity epidemic, are likely to be underestimations. Self-report would be a more reliable measure if people did not round their measurements and if older persons more accurately knew their height.

Research paper thumbnail of Hearing Impairment in an Australian Population

Research paper thumbnail of Tipping the obesity problem: Silliness, silos, and sense

Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Gender differences in asthma prevalence: Variations with socioeconomic disadvantage

Respirology, 2010

Socioeconomic inequalities in health have been shown to vary for different diseases and by gender... more Socioeconomic inequalities in health have been shown to vary for different diseases and by gender. This study aimed to examine gender differences in associations between asthma and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Research paper thumbnail of Do people with risky behaviours participate in biomedical cohort studies?

BMC public health, 2006

Analysis was undertaken on data from randomly selected participants of a bio-medical cohort study... more Analysis was undertaken on data from randomly selected participants of a bio-medical cohort study to assess representativeness. The research hypotheses was that there was no difference in participation and non-participations in terms of health-related indicators (smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, physical activity, blood pressure and cholesterol readings and overall health status) and selected socio-demographics (age, sex, area of residence, education level, marital status and work status).

Research paper thumbnail of Cholesterol-lowering therapy and the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: a population study

Australian Health Review, 2009

The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expanded the criteria for eligibility for sub... more The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expanded the criteria for eligibility for subsidised lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in 2006. The aim of this study was to determine the use of LLT in a representative Australian population in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and the effectiveness of the therapy in meeting target levels.