Risk curves are a promising methodology for examining the relationship between gambling participation and risk of harm. The development of low-risk gambling limits based on risk curve analysis appears to be feasible.

The combined outcome measure and VAS showed no difference between radiofrequency and sham, though in both groups, significant VAS improvement occurred. The global perceived effect was in favor of radiofrequency. In selected patients, radiofrequency facet joint denervation appears to be more effective than sham treatment.

No abstract

A set of low-risk gambling limits were recently produced using Canadian epidemiological data on the intensity of gambling behavior and related consequences (Currie et al. Addiction 101:570-580, 2006). The empirically derived limits (gambling no more than two to three times per month, spending no more than $501-$100o CAN per year or no more than 1% of gross income spent on gambling) accurately predicted risk of gambling-related harm after controlling for other risk factors. The present study sought to replicate these limits on data collected in three independently conducted Canadian provincial gambling surveys. Dose-response curves and logistic regression analyses were applied to gambling prevalence data collected in surveys conducted in 2001-2002 within the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario (combined sample N = 7,675). A comparable dose-response relationship between gambling intensity and risk of harm was found in each province. The optimal thresholds for defining an upper limit of low-risk gambling were similar across the three provinces despite variations in the availability and organization of legalized gambling opportunities within each region. These results provide additional evidence supporting the validity of the low-risk gambling limits. Quantitative limits could be used to augment existing responsible gambling guidelines.

The present study sought to (1) obtain expert opinion on the importance of low-risk limits for the field of gambling; and (2) establish the face validity for a tentative set of low-risk limits empirically derived from a recent analysis of population data on gambling . Gambling experts (171 researchers, clinicians and policy-makers in Canada and the United States) completed an online or paper survey to assess their support for the concept of low-risk gambling limits, their opinions of existing responsible gambling guidelines and the face validity of tentative low-risk limits for gambling frequency, dollars spent, percentage of gross income spent on gambling and duration per session. The majority of those surveyed endorsed the need for low-risk limits and rated the limits as being face valid. Concerns voiced pertaining to their dissemination to the public included the potential for creating a false sense of security among gamblers, encouraging people to gamble and difficulties in applying the limits across different forms of gambling.

Minimally invasive treatment for CLBP leads to significant pain reduction, including potential placebo effects. However, psychologically vulnerable patients, characterized by, among others, reduced life control, disturbed mood, negative self-efficacy, catastrophizing, high anxiety levels, inadequacy, and poor mental health, tend not to respond to this treatment. Patients characterized by a.o. reduced pain and interference levels, positive expectations, and reasonable physical and social functioning, react more favorably. From both a clinical and a financial perspective, psychosocial evaluation and selection of patients seems appropriate, before applying minimally invasive procedures for CLBP.

In patients prescribed long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), compliance is often poor. Both patient- and treatment-related factors seem to be involved. As a base for improvements in LTOT, the characteristics and complaints of LTOT patients were investigated. A survey was set up in a random sample of clients of the largest oxygen company in the Netherlands. Patients were selected if they were > or = 18 years old, had a phone and if they had had oxygen equipment for > or = 6 months. All patients were visited at home by a medical student. Data are presented for a total of 528 patients (response rate 62%). The typical LTOT patient was a 70-year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who had had oxygen equipment for 3.5 years and who used oxygen cylinders and nasal cannulae for 13 h day-1. Twenty percent of the patients still smoked. Although LTOT was prescribed in 80% of the patients by a chest physician, prescription was often inadequate. Only 33% of the patients were informed adequately about the therapy. Twenty percent of the patients used oxygen for fewer hours per day than prescribed. Non-compliant patients were mainly men (P = 0.006) and more often ashamed of their therapy (P = 0.023) than compliant patients. The blood oxygen level was monitored regularly in 73% of the patients. Most complaints concerned the oxygen equipment, especially the concentrator. The single most important complaint had to do with restricted autonomy. Only 19% of the patients had no complaints at all. It is concluded that LTOT should be improved with regard to the education, motivation and monitoring of patients. The prescribing physician needs to be included in an education programme. Given the numerous problems these patients experience, LTOT should be improved in particular with regard to equipment convenience.

Most states and territories in Australia have adopted the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index as the standard measure of problem gambling in their prevalence studies and research programs. However, notwithstanding this attempted standardisation, differences in sampling and recruitment methodologies and in some cases the modification of the scoring methods used in the PGSI have lead to substantial difficulties in comparison of the prevalence rates obtained in different studies. This paper focuses on how these two actions may significantly underestimate the true prevalence percent of problem gambling in Australian studies of the prevalence of problem gambling. It is recommended that the original and validated version of the PGSI is used in future Australian prevalence studies and that prevalence in community studies is studied across the whole community not arbitrarily restricted subsamples. The adoption of valid scoring methods and unbiased sampling procedures will lead to more accurate and comparable prevalence studies.