| time and motion studies | The observation and analysis of movements in a task with an emphasis on the amount of time required to perform the task. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| electrophysiological studies | <investigation> A special study that involves the placement of electrodes inside the heart to map the electrical characteristics of the heart. This study is carried out in a specially equipped lab and is similar to a cardiac catheterisation procedure. Electrodes are placed inside the heart via a catheter placed into a vein. The electrodes are positioned near the heart's conduction system and an electrical map of the heart can be determined. This test is often performed in those where a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia is a problem. The location and characteristics of an arrhythmia can be determined, thus guiding medical management of the problem. Patients with Wolf Parkinson White syndrome or sick sinus syndrome may have this test as part of their evaluation. Acronym: EPS (14 Mar 2000) |
| epidemiologic studies | Studies designed to examine associations, commonly, hypothesised causal relations. They are usually concerned with identifying or measuring the effects of risk factors or exposures. The common types of analytic study are case-control studies, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| evaluation studies | Studies determining the effectiveness or value of processes, personnel, and equipment, or the material on conducting such studies. For drugs and devices, clinical trials, drug evaluation, and drug screening are available. (12 Dec 1998) |
| twin studies | Methods of detecting genetic aetiology in human traits. The basic premise of twin studies is that monozygotic twins, being formed by the division of a single fertilised ovum, carry identical genes, while dizygotic twins, being formed by the fertilization of two ova by two different spermatozoa, are genetically no more similar than two siblings born after separate pregnancies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| feasibility studies | Studies to determine the advantages or disadvantages, practicability, or capability of accomplishing a projected plan, study, or project. (12 Dec 1998) |
| follow-up studies | Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| longitudinal studies | Studies in which variables relating to an individual or group of individuals are assessed over a period of time. (12 Dec 1998) |
| attitude to death | Conceptual response of the individual to the various aspects of death, which are based on his psychosocial and cultural experience. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Black Death | <disease, organism> Yersinina pestis is a gram-negative, rod-shaped, faculatively anaerobic bacterial species in the family Enterobacteriaceae. It causes bubonic plaque, which is transmitted by rodent fleas. Historically known as the Black Plague, this disease devastated Europe and Asia in the 1300s. It still exists today and is characterised by sudden high fever, chills, excessively swollen and tender lymph nodes (buboes), followed by tissue bleeding and gangrene. Other complications include pneumonia and septicaemia. (12 Nov 1997) |
| brain death | Total cessation of brain function for 24 hours as manifested by absence of spontaneous movement, absence of spontaneous respiration, and absence of all brainstem reflexes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rate, death | The number of deaths in the population divided by the average population (or the population at midyear) is the crude death rate. In 1994, for example, the crude death rate per 1,000 population was 8.8 in the united states, 7.1 in Australia, etc. A death rate can also be tabulated according to age or cause. (12 Dec 1998) |
| genetic death | Death of the bearer of a gene at any age before generating living offspring. May be compatible with good health and long life. See: genetic lethal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maternal death | Death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days after the termination of gestation, irrespective of the duration and site of pregnancy and the cause of death; two periods are recognised in the 42-day interval: period 1 includes day 1 to day 7; period 2 includes day 8 to day 42. Maternal death's are further classified as: (05 Mar 2000) |
| maternal death rate | The number of maternal deaths that occur as the direct result of the reproductive process per 100,000 live births. See: rate. See: maternal death. (05 Mar 2000) |