Is uncertainty about effects a key factor influencing institutional review boards ' approval of clinical studies?
Perceived uncertainty about benefits and harms of a proposed intervention is a key driver in IRB members' approval of clinical trials. This, in turn, calls for improved standardization in the communications of information on benefits and harms in the research protocols considered by the IRBs.
Singapore's school-based scoliosis screening programme, which is implemented as part of a larger school screening and immunisation programme, is cost-effective. Cost-effectiveness may be further improved by targeting screening at high-risk groups, such as prepubertal females. More research is needed to quantify the positive health effects of scoliosis screening.