Therapeutic Outcome of Endocrine Disorders: Efficacy, Innovation and Quality of Life

by Brian Stabler (Editor), Barry B. Bercu (Editor)

Overview

Changes in the allocation of healthcare resources have raised issues related to the efficacy and outcomes of medical therapy and how such factors may be measured. The questions associated with the quality of life and functional capability of patients with chronic health conditions have been of special interest. Endocrine disorders have the potential for disrupting the general health and well-being of affected individuals and their families; thus they warrant serious attention. This symposium was convened in November 1997 at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to bring together medical, behavioral, and social scientists. The meeting fostered the presentation and discussion of the most current clinical research on the effects of various therapies on a wide range of endocrine disorders from diabetes to adrenal insufficiency and growth hormone deficiency. The participants, all noted national and international experts in their fields, focused their attention on both the biomedical value and effectiveness of treatment, as well as on the impact such treatments have on psychological states such as mood and cognition. Many presentations specifically emphasized the quality of life (QOL) indicators that now regu­ larly appear in many research prools and reports. The pioneering work of two clinical researchers was a major highlight of the meeting and an Award of Recognition was presented to Robert Blizzard, M. D. , and John Money, Ph. D. , for their innovative and insightful work in pediatric endocrinology and psychosexual development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387989624
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	03/28/2000
Series:	Serono Symposia USA Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	286
Product dimensions:	62.50(w) x 92.50(h) x 7.50(d)

About the Author

Stabler, Brian, PhD (Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill); Bercu, Barry B., MD (Univ of South Florida)

Table of Contents

1. Outcome Research in Pediatric Psychoendocrinology and Sexology.- I. Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency: Efficacy, Innovation and Quality of Life.- 2. Growth Hormone Replacement in Adults: The First 10 Years.- 3. Quality of Life in Children and Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency.- 4. Treatment of Childhood Growth Hormone Deficiency: Efficacy and Innovation.- 5. Quality of Life Among Adults with Childhood Onset Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Comparison with Siblings.- 6. Quality of Life in Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency Diagnosed During Childhood (An Invited Contribution).- II. Treatment of Turner Syndrome: Efficacy, Innovation and Quality of Life.- 7. The Impact of Growth Hormone Therapy on Turner Syndrome.- 8. Phenotype-Karyotype Relationships in Turner Syndrome.- 9. Standards of Care Needed to Optimize Outcomes for Turner Syndrome.- III. Treatment of Short, Non-Growth Hormone Deficiency: Efficacy, Innovation and Quality of Life.- 10. The Non-Growth Hormone-Deficient Child: Does Therapy with Growth Hormone Produce Benefit?.- 11. Impact of Short Stature on Quality of Life: Where Is the Evidence?.- 12. Mediators of Psychological Adjustment in Children and Adolescents with Short Stature (An Invited Contribution).- 13. Turner Syndrome: Psychological Functioning Rated Parents and by the Girls Themselves (An Invited Contribution).- IV. Treatment of Diabetes: Efficacy, Innovation and Quality of Life.- 14. Evaluating Quality of Life in Diabetes: Methods and Findings.- 15. Effective Utilization of Self-Monitored Blood Glucose Data: Cognitive and Behavioral Prerequisites.- 16. Influence of Type 1 Diabetes on Childhood Growth and Development.- 17. Glycosylated Hemoglobin: A Myopic View of Diabetes Care?.- V. Treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Efficacy, Innovation and Quality of Life.- 18. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency (Salt-Losing Form and Simple Virilizing Form): Long-Term Results of Treatment.- 19. Psychological Outcome in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.- 20. Psychosexual Quality of Life in Adult Intersexuality: The Example of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) (An Invited Contribution).- 21. Male Fertility in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (An Invited Contribution).- VI. Treatment of Congenital Hypothyroidism: Efficacy, Innovation and Quality of Life.- 22. Growth and Development of Hypothyroid Infants.- 23. Neurobehavioral Consequences of Congenital Hypothyroidism Identified by Newborn Screening.- Author Index.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Varman T. Samuel, MD (University of Chicago Medical Center)
Description: This text is a report of papers presented at a 1997 symposium. The 23 chapters represent individual presentations at the symposium.
Purpose: The focus is on a variety of quality of life outcomes in patients with a variety of endocrine disorders. The editors point out that the number of studies examining these issues is limited and that more research is required. Their purpose in publishing this text is to help disseminate available information to clinicians and researchers.
Audience: The contributors are experts in their respective fields and the papers presented are summaries of their past and current research. The resultant text is likely a good reference for any library or for the collection of investigators in similar fields. However, I doubt whether many practicing clinicians or other investigators would derive much useful information. It is primarily a report of research, and little is offered in the way of practical guidelines in optimizing the outcomes of studies.
Features: Many chapter contributors examine quality of life measures in patients who are receiving a variety of endocrine treatments. Others examine the outcome of growth hormone therapy in diverse patients populations. There are also sections on various perspectives of therapy in Turner's Syndrome patients, the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus, and those with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. One difficulty in interpreting these results is that many of the outcomes are not readily quantified. The investigators rely on a variety of questionnaires and other measurements as opposed to harder outcomes (e.g., morbidity and mortality).
Assessment: The editors of this work attempt to address some interesting and important aspects of the treatments many of us prescribe. However, it appears that this work is still very much in its infancy. They provide an interesting survey of the research done, but do not provide any definite conclusions. Hopefully, over the forthcoming years, subsequent editions will be published that to help us determine how much we are helping our patients.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody

This text is a report of papers presented at a 1997 symposium. The 23 chapters represent individual presentations at the symposium. The focus is on a variety of quality of life outcomes in patients with a variety of endocrine disorders. The editors point out that the number of studies examining these issues is limited and that more research is required. Their purpose in publishing this text is to help disseminate available information to clinicians and researchers. The contributors are experts in their respective fields and the papers presented are summaries of their past and current research. The resultant text is likely a good reference for any library or for the collection of investigators in similar fields. However, I doubt whether many practicing clinicians or other investigators would derive much useful information. It is primarily a report of research, and little is offered in the way of practical guidelines in optimizing the outcomes of studies. Many chapter contributors examine quality of life measures in patients who are receiving a variety of endocrine treatments. Others examine the outcome of growth hormone therapy in diverse patients populations. There are also sections on various perspectives of therapy in Turner's Syndrome patients, the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus, and those with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. One difficulty in interpreting these results is that many of the outcomes are not readily quantified. The investigators rely on a variety of questionnaires and other measurements as opposed to harder outcomes (e.g., morbidity and mortality). The editors of this work attempt to address some interesting and important aspects of thetreatments many of us prescribe. However, it appears that this work is still very much in its infancy. They provide an interesting survey of the research done, but do not provide any definite conclusions. Hopefully, over the forthcoming years, subsequent editions will be published that to help us determine how much we are helping our patients.

Varman T. Samuel