[A proposal for monitoring smoking prevention programs with the use of indicators].

Health administrators are aware that the adoption of prevention programs of proven efficacy does not, by itself, guarantee good results as several factors can reduce effectiveness in a specific contest. Outcome evaluation and performance monitoring is thus growing, also with the aim of a more efficient resource use. On these premises, we describe a proposal for performance monitoring of smoking prevention programs, developed from literature and original data from the authors.

[Results of a controlled randomized study on prevention of smoking habit in adolescents].

We describe the results of a randomized controlled study on the efficacy of a smoking prevention program based on behavioral methods (Waterloo Smoking Prevention Program 1, adapted). 792 children of 12-13 years of age from the Health District of Rozzano (MI) were the study base. The program was delivered directly by voluntary teachers during school classes.

[An operating model for assessing the practical efficacy of screening tests: the case of amblyopia].

Standard for assessing the efficacy of screening programs are at present well-established. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of screening programs can reduced by several factors in real world conditions. The aim of this work is to check the feasibility of an operational model for the practical evaluation of the effectiveness of screening programs.

Effectiveness of nonsurgical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis. Overview of available evidence.

To define further the effectiveness of nonsurgical therapy for idiopathic scoliosis, predefined criteria were established for selection and data retrieval from studies of therapy and natural history, and the results were synthesized quantitatively. Only studies of patients with no more than a 50 degree Cobb angle scoliosis were considered. Twenty-four reports were eligible.

Critical review of the quality and development of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and their influence on the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Trials on chemotherapy of advanced ovarian cancer published between 1975-88 were systematically reviewed for quality (according to the method of Chalmers) and consistency of tested hypotheses with a view to a meta-analysis of all published studies in the field. Median overall, internal and external validity scores were 47%, 43% and 53%, respectively. No association was found between scores and key features of trials, such as percentage studies with significant results in response or survival or percentage studies with high or low follow-up retention (withdrawal rates less than or greater than or equal to 15%).