ABSTRACT
It has been suggested that the summary index of the Lorenz curve and the Gini index should be used to characterize the exposure-disease association, rather than relative and attributable risks. Nevertheless, the sampling behavior of the Gini index in epidemiological settings, and the relationship between the Lorenz curve and the usual indices of risk, need to be more deeply understood. The aim of this paper was to estimate the odds and to predict the probability of a driver responsible for a Road Traffic Crash [RTC] and road traffic injury on the selected risk factors. And further to assess how these risk factors vary by gender and visualize the exposure of risk factors by applying the Lorenz curve and the Gini index. This is a prospective case-control study which included 217 cases and 217 control drivers. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect demographic information like age, gender, marital status, occupation, residential area, housing conditions, driving experience, type of car, frequency of seatbelt usage, excessive speed and other violations. The Lorenz curve and the associated Gini index are applied for characterizing and testing road traffic injuries stratified by gender. We also showed that the Gini index can itself be interpreted as a probability related to temporal clustering. In conclusion, with the increasing demand for computer technology the proposed method is well-suited for analyzing RTC data. Furthermore, the Lorenz curve and the Gini index can complement the information provided by relative and attributable risks
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Case-Control Studies , Risk Factors , SafetyABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to determine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with dissociative disorders among psychiatric patients in the population of the United Arab Emirates. Six hundred inpatients with dissociative disorders were approached during the period 1997-2003, and 468 agreed to participate in the study. These patients were recruited from Al-Ain and Tawam Teaching Hospitals and Al-Jahili Primary Health Care Centers in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. The study is based on a questionnaire that included sociodemographic and clinical variables. Dissociative disorders were diagnosed according to the classification set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-IV] and the International Classification of Diseases [ICD-10] of the World Health Organization. Of the 468 patients studied, the majority [67.9%] were young, under the age of 25 years; 55% were UAE nationals, 59.4% female and 40.6% male. Disorganized movement was significantly lower among females [34.2%] than males [44.2%, p < 0.03]. Disapproving of the key relative behaviour was higher in females [24.1%] compared to males [13.2%]; comorbid anxiety was higher in females [37.4%] vs. males [25.3%]. Disturbed relationships were more common in females [40.3%] while precipitating factors, such as intolerable stressful events, were significantly higher in males [42.6%, p < 0.01]. Furthermore, males [20.5%] had a significantly higher history of similar episodes and other psychiatric illnesses [7.5%] than females. Finally, females [41%] showed more statistically significant improvements compared to males [29.5%, p < 0.001]. Patients under 25 years of age suffered more from dissociative disorders with no correlation to educational level as a predisposing factor. The most common symptoms were fits or unorganized movements