Postmarketing surveillance study of permethrin creme rinse.

BACKGROUND: An observational, epidemiological study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of permethrin 1% creme rinse (Nix) for treatment of head lice infestations. METHODS: Thirty-seven local public health departments enrolled a total of 38,160 patients for 47,578 treatments with permethrin or other pediculicides from September 1, 1986, through January 31, 1988. Follow-up safety information was collected between 7 and 14 days following treatment via return visit or telephone contact. RESULTS: One hundred three adverse events were reported among 41,955 evaluable treatments. The rates of reported adverse events were 2.2 per 1000 treatments among permethrin treatments, 3.4 per 1000 treatments among lindane treatments, and 1.5 per 1000 treatments among other over-the-counter treatments. No serious, unexpected adverse events were detected in the 18,950 patients treated with permethrin. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the safety profile of permethrin in conditions of general use, as seen in clinical trials. Postmarketing safety monitoring in public health departments of drugs used to treat public health conditions was shown to be feasible.

Pathways to the future. Florida's response to the geriatric imperative.

Unprecedented elderly population growth in North America raises critical policy issues at all levels of society and government. These issues have become substantial matters of public concern in Florida within the past decade as the state confronts the geriatric imperative ahead of the rest of the continent. To deal more effectively with this challenge and opportunity, innovative executive and legislative intent has recently been expressed and coordinated by the state's Committee on Aging. This article reviews key aspects of Florida's large and growing elderly population and presents policy recommendations and strategies for pathways to the future in Florida.

Research methods workshop for health professionals in Sierra Leone: an international collaborative project.

In 1979 a research methods seminar for health professionals in Sierra Leone was conducted as part of an international medical education collaborative project between Sierra Leone, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community. The aim of the seminar was to promote research and inquiry into national health problems. Planning and administration was conducted by Sierra Leone with Canada providing teaching materials and four tutors. Twenty-seven participants attended the seminar. Participants prepared research protocols prior to the seminar which they developed and refined during the 7 days of the workshop. Using a problem-based method Sierra Leonean health problems were used as the focus to teach epidemiological and biostatistical methods. The seminar was evaluated on the basis of a number of parameters. There was 89% attendance at the nineteen sessions. Twenty-one of the twenty-seven participants presented protocols at the final evaluation session. Self-evaluation of protocols showed improvement in most aspects but particularly in research design, methods of data gathering, analysis and ethical aspects. An opinion survey of participants showed the seminar to be viewed positively. Twelve months later six participants had submitted their protocols for funding of whom four were successful. A further seminar has been conducted in which Sierra Leoneans participated as co-tutors. This seminar format has been presented as an effective means of providing professional assistance from one country to another.