Abstract
A recent review of the literature identified several common methodological weaknesses in studies of the effects of occupational exposures on male and female reproductive processes. This paper suggests a strategy which addresses these problems, by the use of a standard method. The potential benefits include increased measurement reliability and statistical power, together with a systematic study of expected (background) rates, confounding effects, types of exposure and selection effects. Particular advantages are the avoidance of designating a group as non-exposed with attendant problems of bias, and in the longer term the study of multiple or rare exposures.
Full text
PDF![209](https://cdn.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/blobs/0ea9/1052727/f717c0ad3a13/jepicomh00228-0001.png)
![210](https://cdn.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/blobs/0ea9/1052727/9dbbcd089290/jepicomh00228-0002.png)
![211](https://cdn.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/blobs/0ea9/1052727/dd4541cd04f3/jepicomh00228-0003.png)
![212](https://cdn.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/blobs/0ea9/1052727/6b56d9134cb3/jepicomh00228-0004.png)
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Axelsson G., Rylander R. Exposure to anaesthetic gases and spontaneous abortion: response bias in a postal questionnaire study. Int J Epidemiol. 1982 Sep;11(3):250–256. doi: 10.1093/ije/11.3.250. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Axelsson G., Rylander R. Validation of questionnaire reported miscarriage, malformation and birth weight. Int J Epidemiol. 1984 Mar;13(1):94–98. doi: 10.1093/ije/13.1.94. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cartwright A. Monitoring maternity services by postal questionnaires to mothers. Health Trends. 1987 Aug;19(3):19–20. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cavedon G., Figà-Talamanca I. Correlates of early fetal death among women working in industry. Am J Ind Med. 1987;11(5):497–504. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700110503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chavance M. Essai de correction du biais dû aux non-réponses. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 1983;31(1):39–44. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Demets D. L. Methods for combining randomized clinical trials: strengths and limitations. Stat Med. 1987 Apr-May;6(3):341–350. doi: 10.1002/sim.4780060325. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gardner M. J. Considerations in the choice of expected numbers for appropriate comparisons in occupational cohort studies. Med Lav. 1986 Jan-Feb;77(1):23–47. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Heidam L. Z., Olsen J. Self-reported data on spontaneous abortions compared with data obtained by computer linkage with the hospital registry. Scand J Soc Med. 1985;13(4):159–163. doi: 10.1177/140349488501300406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hemminki K., Axelson O., Niemi M. L., Ahlborg G. Assessment of methods and results of reproductive occupational epidemiology: spontaneous abortions and malformations in the offspring of working women. Am J Ind Med. 1983;4(1-2):293–307. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hemminki K., Kyyrönen P., Niemi M. L., Koskinen K., Sallmén M., Vainio H. Spontaneous abortions in an industrialized community in Finland. Am J Public Health. 1983 Jan;73(1):32–37. doi: 10.2105/ajph.73.1.32. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hewson D., Bennett A. Childbirth research data: medical records or women's reports? Am J Epidemiol. 1987 Mar;125(3):484–491. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114554. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Holland W. W., Ashford J. R., Colley J. R., Morgan D. C., Pearson N. J. A comparison of two respiratory symptoms questionnaires. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1966 Apr;20(2):76–96. doi: 10.1136/jech.20.2.76. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Holmberg P. C., Hernberg S. Congenital defects and occupational factors. A comparison of different methodological approaches. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1979 Dec;5(4):328–332. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2650. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Joffe M. Biases in research on reproduction and women's work. Int J Epidemiol. 1985 Mar;14(1):118–123. doi: 10.1093/ije/14.1.118. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Joffe M., Grisso J. A. Comparison of ante-natal hospital records with retrospective interviewing. J Biosoc Sci. 1985 Jan;17(1):113–119. doi: 10.1017/s0021932000015522. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lemasters G. K., Selevan S. G. Use of exposure data in occupational reproductive studies. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1984 Feb;10(1):1–6. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2367. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosenberg M. J., Feldblum P. J., Marshall E. G. Occupational influences on reproduction: a review of recent literature. J Occup Med. 1987 Jul;29(7):584–591. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Seidman D. S., Slater P. E., Ever-Hadani P., Gale R. Accuracy of mothers' recall of birthweight and gestational age. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1987 Aug;94(8):731–735. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1987.tb03717.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stengel B., Saurel-Cubizolles M. J., Kaminski M. Healthy worker effect and pregnancy: role of adverse obstetric history and social characteristics. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1987 Dec;41(4):312–320. doi: 10.1136/jech.41.4.312. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tilley B. C., Barnes A. B., Bergstralh E., Labarthe D., Noller K. L., Colton T., Adam E. A comparison of pregnancy history recall and medical records. Implications for retrospective studies. Am J Epidemiol. 1985 Feb;121(2):269–281. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113997. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Waldron I., Herold J., Dunn D., Staum R. Reciprocal effects of health and labor force participation among women: evidence from two longitudinal studies. J Occup Med. 1982 Feb;24(2):126–132. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]