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Generic Measure (generic + measure)
Selected AbstractsHealth-related quality of life in patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome and Xerostomia: a comparative studyGERODONTOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Jocelyne Rostron Abstract Objective: To compare the health status of groups of Primary Sjögren's and Xerostomia patients, using the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 (SF-36). The SF-36 is a generic measure, divided into eight domains, used in the assessment of health-related quality of life. Patients and methods: The SF-36 was given to 2 groups: Group 1 comprised 43 patients diagnosed with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (1SS) and an unstimulated whole salivary flow rate (UFR) of <0.1 ml/min). Group 2 (n = 40) reported Xerosiomia but had an UFR >0.2 ml/min. Sub groups of patients in Groups 1 and 2 were compared with community normative data, for the SF-36 Results: There were trends to suggest lower SF36 scores for 1SS patients but there were no significant differences between the mean domain scores of Groups 1 and 2. 1SS and Xerostomia patients registered lower mean scores across all 8 domains, compared with normative community data. Conclusion: The SF-36 was unable to detect significant differences between subjects with 1SS and Xerostomia but a larger sample size is required to confirm these findings. The results of this limited study suggest that a disease-specific measure is required to assess the impact 1SS on health-related Quality of life (QOL). [source] A preference-based index for the SF-12HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 6 2006D. Stratmann-Schoene Abstract Background: The SF-12 is a widely used generic measure of subjective health. As the scoring algorithms of the SF-12 do not include preference values, different approaches to assign a preference-based index are available that should be tested regarding their feasibility and validity. Objectives: To develop a concept for a preference-based index for the SF-12 on the basis of multi-attribute decision analysis and to perform initial tests of its feasibility and validity in an empirical study. Methods: A multi-attribute preference function for the SF-12 was developed, estimated and tested for validity. Two mail surveys (n = 100, 200) and an interview (n = 72) were conducted with women who had an operation for breast cancer. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and standard gamble (SG) measures elicited preference-based valuations. Results: Eight attributes were identified in the SF-12. Validity tests showed an average difference of 8 VAS score points between directly measured and predicted values for given health states. Conclusion: The initial results show that this approach might allow the direct assignment of a preference-based valuation to the SF-12. The quality of the psychometric features of the multi-attribute value function is encouraging. Future studies should test this concept more extensively, especially by determining parameters for a representative sample of the general population and by comparing performance with other approaches to value the SF-12. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Using the cardiac depression scale in men recovering from coronary artery bypass surgeryJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 11 2009Kathryn M King Aims., To examine the utility and validate the use of the Cardiac Depression Scale in patients who had first-time coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Background., The Beck Depression Inventory, though frequently used, may not be sufficiently sensitive for use in cardiac patients. The Cardiac Depression Scale has been shown to identify the range of depression in medical cardiac patients. Design., Survey. Methods., The Beck Depression Inventory and Cardiac Depression Scale were administered to 120 men at hospital discharge, as well as six, 12 and 36 weeks postoperatively. Cronbach's , scores were calculated for the measures at each point. Changes in scores over time were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Associations between the measures scores were calculated using Pearson product,moment correlations. Agreement between the measures' dichotomised scores (depression/no depression) was examined using Cohen's Kappa statistic. Results., Internal consistency was similar for the Beck Depression Inventory (0·793,0·904) and Cardiac Depression Scale (0·859,0·910). Depression scores decreased over time with the Beck Depression Inventory [F(2·50, 175·29) = 22·27, p < 0·001] and Cardiac Depression Scale [F(2·68, 190·37) = 13·18, p < 0·001]. The measures had similar power [Cohen's f = 0·65 (Beck Depression Inventory) and 0·43 (Cardiac Depression Scale)] to reveal changes over time. The continuous scores were highly correlated at each point [0·737 (p < 0·001),0·819 (p < 0·001)]. However, when dichotomised scores were compared, the chance corrected level of agreement was less impressive [0·198 (p = 0·014),0·381 (p < 0·001)]. Conclusions., The Cardiac Depression Scale may have utility for use with surgical cardiac patients. However, continued examination of this measure of depression is warranted. Relevance to clinical practice., Given the prevalence of depression and its negative impact on coronary artery disease, it is important to identify even mild depression in cardiac patients. Using a measure of depression specifically for cardiac patients, rather than a generic measure, may best accomplish this goal. [source] Self-rated health status in spinocerebellar ataxia,Results from a European multicenter study,MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 5 2010Tanja Schmitz-Hübsch MD Abstract Patient-based measures of subjective health status are increasingly used as outcome measures in interventional trials. We aimed to determine the variability and predictors of subjective health ratings in a possible target group for future interventions: the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). A consecutive sample of 526 patients with otherwise unexplained progressive ataxia and genetic diagnoses of SCA1 (117), SCA2 (163), SCA3 (139), and SCA6 (107) were enrolled at 18 European referral centers. Subjective health status was assessed with a generic measure of health related quality of life, the EQ-5D (Euroqol) questionnaire. In addition, we performed a neurological examination and a screening questionnaire for affective disorders (patient health questionnaire). Patient-reported health status was compromised in patients of all genotypes (EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) mean 61.45 ± 20.8). Specifically, problems were reported in the dimensions of mobility (86.9% of patients), usual activities (68%), pain/discomfort (49.4%), depression/anxiety (46.4%), and self care (38.2%). Multivariate analysis revealed three independent predictors of subjective health status: ataxia severity, extent of noncerebellar involvement, and the presence of depressive syndrome. This model explained 30.5% of EQ-VAS variance in the whole sample and might be extrapolated to other SCA genotypes. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society [source] Measuring Quality of Life in Stroke Subjects Receiving an Implanted Neural Prosthesis for Drop FootARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 5 2010Anke I. Kottink Abstract The aim was to determine if the treatment of a drop foot by means of an implantable two-channel peroneal nerve stimulator improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL). All subjects were measured at baseline and after a follow-up period of 12 and 26 weeks. Twenty-nine stroke survivors with chronic hemiplegia with drop foot who fulfilled the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the present randomized controlled trial. The intervention group received an implantable two-channel peroneal nerve stimulator for correction of their drop foot. The control group continued using their conventional walking device, consisting of an ankle-foot orthosis, orthopedic shoes, or no device. HRQoL was assessed in two different ways: (i) by taking descriptive measures, that is, the Short Form-36 (SF-36; generic measure) and the Disability Impact Profile (DIP; specific measure); and (ii) by obtaining preference-based utilities both measured with the time trade-off (direct way) and by calculating them from the EuroQol (EQ-5D) and SF-36. A significant positive effect of the implantable device was found on the physical functioning domain, the general health domain, and the physical component summary score of the SF-36. For the DIP, a significant improvement was found on the domains mobility, self-care, and psychological status in the intervention group. Regarding the preference-based utility measures, a significant effect was found for the utility index calculated from the EQ-5D. The implantable two-channel peroneal nerve stimulator seems to be efficient to improve HRQoL, mainly the domains related to physical functioning. A relation was present between the utility indexes calculated from the EQ-5D and SF-36. [source] Cost-effectiveness and quality-of-life analysis of physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical services,BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 11 2009A. N. Ringburg Background: The long-term health outcomes and costs of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) assistance remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of HEMS assistance compared with emergency medical services (EMS). Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed at a level I trauma centre. Quality-of-life measurements were obtained at 2 years after trauma, using the EuroQol,Five Dimensions (EQ-5D) as generic measure to determine health status. Health outcomes and costs were combined into costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Results: The study population receiving HEMS assistance was more severely injured than that receiving EMS assistance only. Over the 4-year study interval, HEMS assistance saved a total of 29 additional lives. No statistically significant differences in quality of life were found between assistance with HEMS or with EMS. Two years after trauma the mean EQ-5D utility score was 0·70 versus 0·71 respectively. The incremental cost,effectiveness ratio for HEMS versus EMS was ,28 327 per QALY. The sensitivity analysis showed a cost-effectiveness ratio between ,16 000 and ,62 000. Conclusion: In the Netherlands, the costs of HEMS assistance per QALY remain below the acceptance threshold. HEMS should therefore be considered as cost effective. Copyright © 2009 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Quality of life measurement in paediatric and adolescent populations with HIV: a review of the literatureCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2009P. A. Garvie Abstract Purpose To review the quality and utility of currently available self-report generic quality of life (QOL) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures for use with children and adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus and/or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Methods Literature searches were conducted to identify QOL and HRQOL measures developed for, adapted for, or otherwise used with paediatric and adolescent populations with HIV/AIDS. The quality of measures (i.e. item generation techniques, instrument properties including reliability, validity and responsiveness) were compared and critically evaluated. Results Nineteen QOL/HRQOL measures were identified. Item content was generated from the respondent (adult) population in only eight (42%) measures. Seventeen (90%) measures reported internal reliability in the accepted range between 0.70 and 0.90 and four (21%) reported reproducibility statistics in this range. Although validity was reported for 19 (100%) measures, only six (32%) showed evidence for three or more properties, with construct validity being the most commonly reported aspect. The authors of eight (42%) measures reported evidence for responsiveness. Conclusions While almost all measures reviewed demonstrated adequate psychometric properties, only one-third demonstrated all aspects of validity, and less than half demonstrated responsiveness. None included paediatric or adolescent populations with HIV/AIDS in their development, neglecting to obtain input from target respondents in item generation to determine what health-related and daily functioning factors are of importance to them. Despite noted limitations, the AUQUEI or the SWED-QUAL appear the best currently available generic measure, and the MQOL-HIV the preferred disease-specific measure, at least for use with older adolescents/young adults. [source] The value of the PedsQLTM in assessing quality of life in survivors of childhood cancerCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2003C. Eiser Abstract Aims To determine differences in ratings of quality of life (QOL) depending on respondent (mother or child) and implications for the validity of measures of QOL, and interpretation of scores. Method Forty-five survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and 23 survivors of central nervous system (CNS) tumours and their mothers completed a generic measure of QOL: the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory TM Version 4.0 (PedsQLTM4.0; Varni et al., 2001). Results Although correlations between mother and survivor ratings were largely moderate to good, further analyses showed that mothers reported QOL to be worse than survivors. Both mothers and survivors rated physical health worse than psychological health, and survivors of a CNS tumour had poorer QOL than survivors of ALL. Although survivors of ALL reported reasonably good physical health, their psychosocial health was more adversely affected. Conclusions Implications for further use of the PedsQLTM 4.0 in the clinical or research context are discussed. Incidental findings highlight some limitations of the PedsQLTM4.0 for work with this population. [source] Health-related quality of life and eating disorders: A review and updateINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 2 2009Scott G. Engel PhD Abstract Objective: The aim of this article is to provide a narrative review of empirical studies related to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and eating disorders and to report recent changes in the measurement of HRQOL in eating disorders. Method: Twenty-five articles of central importance to the topic were identified in a systematic search of six databases. All articles were selected based on a consensus relevancy rating process. Key themes were extracted from the articles and validated by all authors. Results: We identify six themes in the extant empirical literature. Discussion: We discuss these six themes and review them in light of the fact that they are identified in studies using only generic measures of HRQOL. Four recently developed disease-specific HRQOL measures specific to patients with eating disorder are discussed. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009 [source] Developing a questionnaire to measure nurses' attitudes towards hospitalized older peopleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OLDER PEOPLE NURSING, Issue 2 2007Dip N. (C.T) Dip., Ella McLafferty PhD A number of studies have used generic measures to evaluate nurses' attitudes toward hospitalized older people. Those measures do not consider the context in which nurses meet older people and the influence that this may have on nurses' attitudes. The aims and objectives of the study were to develop a questionnaire from focus group data to evaluate nurses' attitudes towards hospitalized older people. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the questionnaire the design included a qualitative and quantitative phase. The method used for the qualitative phase was focus group interviews with the intention of identifying the phenomena that may indicate nurses' attitudes towards older people. The quantitative phase included the development and psychometric testing of an attitudinal questionnaire. Samples for the qualitative phase included Registered Nurses from the care of older people setting; Registered Nurses from the acute setting; nursing students and nurse teachers. The sample for the quantitative phase included nursing students (numbering 355). Ten themes were identified through thematic analysis. Eighty items were extrapolated from the qualitative analysis and used to formulate a questionnaire which was then distributed to the nursing students. On analysis, the reliability was 0.78. Further analysis using Principal Components Analysis (P.C.A.) with orthogonal rotation indicated that 45 items loaded on to eight factors. Results of the quantitative analysis indicated that there was a strong correlation between the thematic analysis and the P.C.A. The results would suggest that there may be important and relevant domains that are worthy of further study into nurses' attitudes towards older people. If the domains identified are useful for identifying negative attitudes towards older people, then strategies can be implemented to try and reduce negative attitudes in clinical practice. [source] Multi-item outcome measures for lateral ligament injury of the ankle: a structured reviewJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2004K.L. Haywood BSc(Hons) DPhil MCSP Abstract Objective, To identify and review evidence relating to the measurement properties of published multi-item outcome measures for the conservative management of lateral ligament injuries of the ankle. Methods, Systematic literature searches were used to identify measures, which were then assessed against pre-defined criteria relating to development, item content, reliability, validity and responsiveness. Results, Seven disease-specific measures of ankle status [Ankle Joint Functional Assessment Tool, Clinical Trauma Severity Score, Composite Inversion Injury Scale, Kaikkonen Functional Scale (KFS), Karlsson Ankle Function Score (KAFS), Olerud and Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), and the Point System] and two generic measures of health (McGill Pain Questionnaire, Sickness Impact Profile) met the review inclusion criteria. While all measures had been used in acute injuries, only two had also been applied during later stages of recovery (>6 months). The studies covered a comprehensive range of graded ligament injuries. Expert opinion dominated item generation for all measures. All measures lack evidence of test-retest or internal consistency reliability in patients with ankle sprain. Several measures were assessed for validity through comparison with other measures, but there was limited evidence of construct validity and no formal assessment of responsiveness for any measure. Conclusion, The disappointing lack of evidence for measurement properties suggests that any measure should be used with caution until appropriate evidence is provided. On the basis of limited evidence, the KFS offers the most promising approach to a combined clinician- and patient-assessment of ankle function, and the KAFS or OMAS if a patient-assessed evaluation of function is required. [source] The Red Queen and the environment: reconciling public regulation and business strategyBUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 6 2007Villy Søgaard Abstract Until the late 1980s, environmental regulation in Denmark was often carried out in an intensely politicized and confrontational climate marked by strong tensions between authorities and polluting firms. In recent years, however, the general spirit of regulation seems to have improved significantly. During this same period, ,generic' measures such as general discharge limits have been supplemented with more specific demands, tailored for individual companies. The present paper presents a case study based on the environmental regulation of TripleNine, a West Jutland fishmeal factory. In response to major changes in its market and regulatory environment, the firm has revised its general strategy and taken a more pro-active stance on environmental issues, pursuing a policy of active co-operation with local environmental authorities. Informed by this and other case studies, a theoretical model is developed to account for the incorporation of ecological concerns into firms' general business strategy. Against the background of this model, the paper addresses the long-term possibilities of reconciling business strategy and public regulation in the future. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] | |||||||||||||