Cocaine Alternative Treatment Study (CATS), 1996-1999

Investigators: Arthur Margolin, Herbert D. Kleber, S. Kelly Avants, Janet Konefal, Frank Gawin, Elena Stark, James Sorensen, Eleanor Midkiff, Elizabeth Wells, T. Ron Jackson, Milton Bullock, Patricia D. Culliton, Sharon Boles, & Roger Vaughan

The study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture as a treatment for cocaine addiction. The study was a randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial that lasted 8 weeks. The Cocaine Alternative Treatment Study (CATS), was conducted between 1996 and 1999 at six community-based clinics (3 hospital-affiliated clinics, 3 methadone maintenance programs) in the U.S. Treatments were offered 5 times a week for 8 weeks. Drug counseling sessions were offered alongside treatment sessions for patients in each treatment group. Patients were assessed at a screening interview, an intake interview, at each of the 40 treatment sessions offered, at a post-treatment assessment, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.

Efficacy of a Standardized Acupuncture Regimen and Amitriptyline Compared with Placebo as a Treatment for Pain Caused by Peripheral Neuropathy in HIV-Infected Patients, 1993-1997

Investigators: Judith Shlay, Bob Flaws, Kathryn Chaloner, Jeffrey Cohen, David Cohn, Marjorie Dehlinger, Shauna Hillman, Mitchell Max, Carol Mesard, Jill Ramser, Patricia Reichelderfer, Jack Rouff, Catherine Salveson, James Sampson, Victoria Taylor

The Efficacy of a Standardized Acupuncture Regimen and Amitriptyline Compared with Placebo as a Treatment for Pain Caused by Peripheral Neuropathy in HIV-Infected Patients was conducted between 1993 and 1997 at 11 units of the Terry Beirn Community Programs for the Clinical Research on AIDS. The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a standardized acupuncture regime and amitriptyline hydrochloride for relief of pain due to HIV-related peripheral neuropathy. 250 HIV-infected patients with lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were randomly assigned to receive either amitriptyline or placebo capsules (once a day) and either acupuncture or needles placed in control points (once or twice a week). The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial that lasted 14 weeks.

Evaluation of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Moxibustion on Acupuncture Point Zhiyin (67 UB) for Correction of Abnormal Presentation, 1995-1996

Investigators: Francesco Cardini, Huang Weixin

The Evaluation of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Moxibustion on Acupuncture Point Zhiyin (67 UB) for Correction of Abnormal Presentation was conducted between 1995 and 1996 at two women’s hospitals in the Jiangxi Province of the People’s Republic of China. The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion (burning herbs to stimulate acupuncture points) on acupuncture point Zhiyin (beside the outer corner of the fifth toenail) as a means of promoting inversion of fetuses in breech presentation, by way of increasing fetal activity. The study involved 260 women, pregnant for the first time, in the 33rd week of gestation, and with breech presentation, diagnosed by ultrasound. The pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive either one or two 30-minute moxibustion sessions per day or to receive routine care. The study was a randomized, controlled, open clinical trial that lasted two weeks. All patients were evaluated at baseline, during examinations in the 35th week, and during an after-birth appointment. Patients receiving moxibustion were also evaluated during examinations in the 34th week and if breech presentation persisted, moxibustion was administered for another week. In addition, patients monitored active fetal movements during their duration in the trial.

Harvard School of Public Health/Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Dietary Supplements Survey, 1999

Investigators: Robert J. Blendon, Catherine M. DesRoches, John M. Benson, Mollyann Brodie, & Drew E. Altman

The Harvard School of Public Health/Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Dietary Supplements Survey, 1999 was a nationally representative, public opinion telephone survey of U.S. adults. The purpose of the study was to examine the characteristics of dietary supplement users, attitudes about dietary supplements, attitudes towards government regulation of supplements, and to examine differences in attitudes between users and nonusers of dietary supplements.

Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (Hispanic EPESE), Waves I-IV, 1993-2001

Investigators: Kyriakos S. Markides & Laura A. Ray

The Hispanic EPESE is a longitudinal study aimed at obtaining a representative sample of community-dwelling Mexican American elderly residing in the five Southwestern states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and California. The primary purpose of the study was to provide estimates of the prevalence of key physical health conditions, mental health conditions, and functional impairments in older Mexican Americans and compare this prevalence with that in other populations. Trained interviewers collected data on major chronic conditions, functional disabilities, mental health, family relations, migration history, access to health services, and related variables through personal household interviews with the subjects. The baseline interviews were conducted in 1993 and 1994; follow-up interviews of the same subjects were conducted at two (1995-1996), five (1998-1999), seven (2000-2001) and ten (2004-2005) years. In addition, the investigators wanted to study predictors and correlates of these health outcomes cross-sectionally. A two- year follow-up was requested in order to examine predictors of mortality, changes in health outcomes, institutionalization and other changes in living arrangements, and changes in life situations and quality of life.

John F. Kennedy School of Government/Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation/National Public Radio Health News Interest Index: Social Security/Vitamins, 1999

Investigators: Robert J. Blendon, Catherine M. DesRoches, John M. Benson, Mollyann Brodie, & Drew E. Altman

The John F. Kennedy School of Government/Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation/National Public Radio Health News Interest Index: Social Security/Vitamins, 1999 was a nationally representative, public opinion telephone survey of U.S. adults. The purpose of the study was to examine the characteristics of dietary supplement users, attitudes about dietary supplements, attitudes towards government regulation of supplements, and to examine differences in attitudes between users and nonusers of dietary supplements. Data was collected from 1,208 U.S. adults, age 18 or older, between February 19 and 25, 1999.

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 1996

Investigators: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

The 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) is a nationally representative panel survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey was designed to provide nationally representative estimates of health care use, expenditures, sources of payments, and insurance coverage for this population. Begun in 1996, MEPS is an ongoing survey, administered to a new panel each year. MEPS comprises four component surveys: the Household Component, the Medical Provider Component, the Insurance Component, and the Nursing Home Component. The Household Component is the core survey and the 1996 Household Component yields comprehensive data that provide national estimates of the level and distribution of health care use and expenditures for calendar year 1996. The Household Component survey collects detailed data on demographic characteristics, health conditions, health status, use of medical care services, charges and payments, access to care, satisfaction with care, health insurance coverage, income, and employment. MEPS is valuable in its ability to link medical expenditures and health insurance data to survey respondents' demographic, employment, economic, health status, utilization of health services, and other characteristics.

National Health Interview Survey, Sample Adults, 2000

Investigators: National Center for Health Statistics

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a multi-purpose health survey conducted annually by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and is the principal source of information on the health of the civilian, noninstitutionalized, household population of the United States. The NHIS has been conducted continuously since its beginning in 1957. The main objective of the NHIS is to monitor the health of the United States population through the collection and analysis of data on a broad range of health topics. A major strength of this survey lies in the ability to display these health characteristics by many demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. NHIS data are used widely throughout the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to monitor trends in illness and disability and to track progress toward achieving national health objectives. The data are also used by the public health research community for epidemiologic and policy analysis of such timely issues as characterizing those with various health problems, determining barriers to accessing and using appropriate health care, and evaluating Federal health programs. The data set archived by Sociometrics contains data from three components or modules of the 2000 NHIS: the family core, the sample adult core, and the cancer control module. The family core component collects information on everyone in the respondent's family, including information on household composition and socio-demographic characteristics, basic indicators of health status, activity limitations, injuries, health insurance coverage, and access to and utilization of health care services. Within each family in the NHIS, one sample adult is randomly selected, and is administered the sample adult core questionnaire. For each sample adult, extensive information is collected on health status, conditions, disability, health care services, and behavior. In addition, sample adults were administered the cancer control module, which focused on cancer risk factors and behaviors and collected information on Hispanic acculturation, diet and nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, cancer screening, genetic testing, and family history.

National Health Interview Survey, Sample Adults, 2002

Investigators: National Center for Health Statistics

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a multi-purpose health survey conducted annually by the National Center for Health Statistics and is the principal source of information on the health of the civilian, noninstitutionalized, household population of the United States. The main objective of the NHIS is to monitor the health of the United States population through the collection and analysis of data on a broad range of health topics. NHIS data are used widely throughout the Department of Health and Human Services to monitor trends in illness and disability and to track progress toward achieving national health objectives. The data are also used by the public health research community for epidemiologic and policy analysis of such issues as characterizing those with various health problems, determining barriers to accessing and using appropriate health care, and evaluating Federal health programs. For each sample adult, extensive information is collected on health status, conditions, disability, health care services, and behavior. A unique feature of the 2002 NHIS is the Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative Medicine Supplement, which collected information from sample adults on their use of 17 non-conventional health care practices.

National Survey of Self-Care and Aging (NSSCA), 1990-1994

Investigators: Gordon H. DeFriese, Jean E. Kincade Norburn

The National Survey of Self-Care and Aging (NSSCA) is a population-based, national longitudinal survey of noninstitutionalized Medicare beneficiaries. It employed a multistage stratified random sample design to represent the population of Medicare beneficiaries in the contiguous United States who were not institutionalized (residing in a nursing home, rest home, or other full-care facility) and who were at least 65 years of age in 1990. The survey was conducted in two waves. The baseline survey was an in-person survey and was conducted between 1990 and 1991. The follow-up survey was a telephone survey and was conducted in 1994. The objective of the baseline survey was to develop a national database on self-care behaviors practiced by noninstitutional elderly adults. The objective of the followup survey was to continue examination of the health status and self-care practices of individuals who were interviewed at baseline. Data from the baseline survey and follow-up survey have been merged into one dataset. The resulting dataset contains 1,234 variables collected from 3,485 respondents.