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Objective: To use individual participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA) to estimate the minimal detectable change (MDC) of the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) and to examine whether MDC may differ based on participant characteristics and study-level variables., Study Design and Setting: This was a secondary analysis of data from an IPDMA on the depression screening accuracy of the GDS. Datasets from studies published in any language were eligible for the present study if they included GDS-15 scores for participants aged 60 or older. MDC of the GDS-15 was estimated via random-effects meta-analysis using 2.77 (MDC95) and 1.41 (MDC67) standard errors of measurement (SEM). Subgroup analyses were used to evaluate differences in MDC by participant age and sex. Meta-regression was conducted to assess for differences based on study-level variables, including mean age, proportion male, proportion with major depression, and recruitment setting., Results: 5,876 participants (mean age 76 years, 40% male, 11% with major depression) from 21 studies were included. The MDC95 was 3.81 points (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.59, 4.04), and MDC67 was 1.95 (95% CI 1.83, 2.03). The difference in MDC95 was 0.26 points (95% CI 0.04, 0.48) between ≥ 80-year-olds and < 80-year-olds; MDC95 was similar for females and males (0.05, 95% CI -0.12, 0.22). The MDC95 increased by 0.29 points (95% CI 0.17, 0.41) per 10% increase in proportion of participants with major depression; mean age had a small association (0.04 points, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.09) with MDC95, but sex and recruitment setting were not significantly associated., Conclusions: The MDC95 was 3.81 points and MDC67 was 1.95 points. MDC95 increased with the proportion of participants with major depression. Results can be used to evaluate individual changes in depression symptoms and as a threshold for assessing minimal clinical important difference estimates., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Repeated induced abortion (RIA) is a challenging public health issue. Although many studies have investigated the characteristics of women who experience multiple abortions, most have focused only on limited intrapersonal variables. To frame the analysis, this study used an ecological model integrating intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental variables to explore factors associated with RIA., Methods: Single-site (Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Hubei, China) cross-sectional data were collected from 405 women between July 2015 and November 2015 using a self-administered questionnaire. Characteristics of women who experienced only one abortion were compared to those who had RIA (≥2 abortions)., Results: Among the 316 eligible women who completed the questionnaire, 110(34.8%) experienced one abortion, 206 (65.2%) experienced two or more. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed a higher odds of RIA among women who were older, reported earlier age at sexual debut and reported higher abortion frequency among close female friends. Factors appearing to protect against RIA included higher frequency of partner agreement to women's contraceptive preference., Conclusions: Adapting an ecological perspective, this study examined social and environmental factors related to RIA. Our findings emphasize the importance of developing interventions that target both women and their male partner. Group norms relating to contraceptive use also need to be addressed to improve contraceptive use and reduce the risk of repeat abortions., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)