Comparison of two methods to measure macular pigment optical density in healthy subjects.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare macular pigment optical density (MPOD) measurements obtained using the modified Heidelberg Retina Angiograph (HRA) and the Visucam 200. METHODS: Healthy young subjects were included in this prospective study. MPOD was measured with the modified HRA at 0° and 0.5°, 1°, 2°, and 6° eccentricities from the fovea. The parameters obtained with the Visucam 200 (maximum, mean, area, and volume) were recorded the same day on the same subjects. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the agreement between the two devices. The repeatability and the reproducibility of each method were also assessed. RESULTS: Sixty-seven subjects were included whose median (interquartile ratio) age was 25 years (range, 23-30 years). The MPODs as measured with the modified HRA were higher than those measured with the Visucam 200 (P < 0.0001). The ICCs were low, ranging from 0.020 to 0.188. The correlation coefficients between the two methods were very low and ranged from 0.05 to 0.22. Repeatability and reproducibility were good with both methods, with ICCs ranging from 0.697 to 0.923. CONCLUSIONS: Agreement between the modified HRA and the Visucam in measuring MPOD was rather low. These results suggest that the two methods are not interchangeable. Before using the Visucam 200 in clinical and research setting, further evaluation seems mandatory (http://ansm.sante.fr/ number, 2009-A00448-49).

Parents' perceptions of the quality of pediatric and perinatal end-of-life care.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the quality of care provided before, at the time of, and following the death of an infant, child, or adolescent from the perspective of the parent, using a newly developed survey. SAMPLE AND METHODS: Parents were asked to participate in this study if they experienced a stillbirth or death of an infant/child/youth between 12 and 24 months prior to the beginning of the study. Thirty-eight families completed the survey with one of the researchers over the telephone or in person. Survey questions asked parents to report on the care received rather than rate how satisfied they were with care. RESULTS: Parents were reluctant to report negative occurrences in care they received, yet, when questioned further, nearly every parent could relate a particular event or person who had a negative impact on their experience. Parents identified communication between health professionals, relationships with health professionals, care at the time of death, and bereavement follow-up as problematic areas. CONCLUSION: There is room for improvement in the end-of-life care provided to infants, children and youth, and their families.