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Evaluation Scale (evaluation + scale)
Selected AbstractsOnset of Depression in Elderly Persons After Hip Fracture: Implications for Prevention and Early Intervention of Late-Life DepressionJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 1 2007Eric J. Lenze MD OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors of onset of major depressive disorder (MDD) and of depressive symptoms in subjects who suffered a hip fracture. DESIGN: Prospective naturalistic study. SETTING: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center,Shadyside, a large urban hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty-six elderly patients who received surgical fixation for hip fracture and who were not experiencing a major depressive episode at the time of the fracture; severely cognitively impaired persons were excluded. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were evaluated at the time of hospital discharge using a battery of clinical measures (including apathy measured using the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), delirium, cognitive measures, social support, and disability level). Depression was assessed at the end of the surgical stay, 2 weeks later, and then monthly for 6 months, using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D) to evaluate symptomatology and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders to evaluate diagnosis of MDD. RESULTS: Eighteen of 126 subjects (14.3%) developed MDD after hip fracture. Of these, 11 developed MDD by the end of the hospitalization, and seven developed MDD between 2 and 10 weeks later. Logistic regression showed that baseline apathy score, as measured using the AES, was the only clinical measure associated with the development of MDD (odds ratio=1.09, 95% confidence interval=1.03,1.16, P=.003); 46.2% of those with high AES scores developed MDD, versus 10.9% of those with lower scores. In contrast, cognitive variables, delirium, disability after hip fracture, and other factors related to the fracture (e.g., fracture type) were not associated with MDD. A repeated-measures analysis with Ham-D over time as a dependent variable generally confirmed these findings; depressive symptoms were highest immediately after the fracture, and apathy and delirium scores were associated with higher depressive symptom levels. CONCLUSION: The onset of MDD is common after hip fracture, and the greatest period of risk is immediately after the fracture. Individuals with clinical evidence of apathy are at high risk for developing MDD, and evaluation and close follow-up of such individuals is warranted. However, further research is needed to examine other candidate variables (e.g., clinical measures or biomarkers) to model adequately the risk for MDD after hip fracture and other disabling medical events. [source] The Lille Apathy Rating Scale: Validation of a caregiver-based versionMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 6 2008Kathy Dujardin PhD Abstract Apathy is reported in 16.5% to 70% of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Our recently developed Lille Apathy Rating Scale (LARS) has been specifically validated for patient-based assessment of apathy in PD. The aim of the present study was to validate a caregiver-based version of the LARS. Sixty consecutive PD patients and their respective caregivers participated in the study. An informant-based version of the LARS (LARS-i) was developed to rate apathy via a caregiver-based structured interview. Apathy was also assessed in a patient-based interview using the LARS and the informant- and clinician-rated versions of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES). Cronbach's alpha and standardized alpha coefficients were 0.872 and 0.877, respectively, and the split-half reliability was 0.901 (revealing good internal consistency). The test-retest and inter-rater reliability values were 0.960 and 0.996, respectively. Criterion-related validity (according to an independent, expert diagnosis) was good. Scores on the LARS and the LARS-i were highly correlated. However, apathy was rated significantly more severely by the caregiver than by the patient. This difference was significantly higher for demented than nondemented PD patients. The LARS-i was seen to have excellent psychometric properties and appears to be valid for use in PD with respect to the patient-based LARS and the informant- and clinician-rated versions of the AES. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society [source] Systematic evaluation of rating scales for impairment and disability in Parkinson's diseaseMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 5 2002Claudia Ramaker MD Abstract We assessed the clinometric characteristics of rating scales used for the evaluation of motor impairment and disability of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), conducting a systematic review of PD rating scales published from 1960 to the present. Thirty studies describing clinometrics of 11 rating scales used for PD were identified. Outcome measures included validity (including factor structure), reliability (internal consistency, inter-rater, and intrarater) and responsiveness. We traced three impairment scales (Webster, Columbia University Rating Scale [CURS] and Parkinson's Disease Impairment Scale), four disability scales (Schwab and England, Northwestern University Disability Scale [NUDS], Intermediate Scale for Assessment of PD, and Extensive Disability Scale), and four scales evaluating both impairment and disability (New York University, University of California Los Angeles, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS], and Short Parkinson Evaluation Scale). The scales showed large differences in the extent of representation of items related to signs considered responsive to dopaminergic treatment or to those signs that appear late in the disease course and lack responsiveness to treatment. Regardless of the scale, there was a conspicuous lack of consistency concerning inter-rater reliability of bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity. Overall disability items displayed moderate to good inter-rater reliability. The available evidence shows that CURS, NUDS, and UPDRS have moderate to good reliability and validity. In contrast to their widespread clinical use for assessment of impairment and disability in PD, the majority of the rating scales have either not been subjected to an extensive clinometric evaluation or have demonstrated clinometric shortcomings. The CURS, NUDS, and UPDRS are the most evaluated, valid, and reliable scales currently available. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society [source] What can dropouts teach us about retention in eating disorder treatment studies?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 7 2007Renee Rienecke Hoste PhD Abstract Objective: To describe strategies used to retain adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN) in a randomized clinical trial, and to compare treatment completers and dropouts on baseline demographic and symptom severity information. Method: Adolescents with BN (N = 80) completed a demographic questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Examination, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, and Beck Depression Inventory prior to beginning treatment. Results: Several strategies were used to promote treatment retention (e.g., encouraging parental involvement in treatment, prompt rescheduling of cancelled appointments). Six participants (7.50%) voluntarily dropped out of treatment and three additional participants (3.75%) were asked to terminate treatment for medical/psychiatric reasons. Compared with treatment completers, noncompleters reported significantly longer duration of illness (p < .01). Sixty-two percent of treatment completers and only 22% of dropouts were from intact families. Conclusion: Examining factors related to retention in adolescent treatment trials is important, and could be utilized to improve retention in adult studies where drop out rates are higher. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Comparative investigation of two rotary nickel,titanium instruments: ProTaper versus RaCe.INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004Part 2. Abstract Aim, To determine the cleaning effectiveness and shaping ability of ProTaper and RaCe nickel,titanium rotary instruments during the preparation of curved root canals in extracted human teeth. Methodology, A total of 48 root canals of mandibular and maxillary molars with curvatures ranging between 25° and 35° were divided into two groups of 24 canals each. Based on radiographs taken prior to instrumentation with the initial instrument inserted into the canal, the groups were balanced with respect to the angle and the radius of canal curvature. Canals were prepared using a crown-down preparation technique. After each instrument, the root canals were flushed with a 2.5% NaOCl solution and at the end of instrumentation with NaCl. Using pre- and post-instrumentation radiographs, straightening of the canal curvatures was determined with a computer image analysis program. After splitting the roots longitudinally, the amount of debris and smear layer was quantified on the basis of a numerical evaluation scale, using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The data established for scoring the debris and the smear layer were separately recorded and analysed statistically using the Wilcoxon test. Results, Two ProTaper and three RaCe instruments fractured; there was no significant difference between instrument types (P > 0.05). Completely clean root canals were never observed. For debris removal, RaCe files achieved significantly better results (P < 0.001) than ProTaper instruments. The results for remaining smear layer were similar and not significantly different (P > 0.05). RaCe instruments maintained the original canal curvature significantly better (P < 0.05) than ProTaper instruments. No significant differences were detected between the instruments (P > 0.05) for the time taken to prepare the canals. Conclusions, Under the conditions of this study, RaCe instruments resulted in relatively good cleaning and maintained the original curvature significantly better than ProTaper did. [source] Sensory Acceptability of Foods Containing Australian Sweet Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) FlourJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2004R.S. Hall ABSTRACT: Foods containing Australian sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) flour (ASLF) were assessed by consumer panelists (n= 54) in comparison to wheat flour (control) and defatted soy flour (DFSF) products. All ASLF products were rated in the acceptable half of the evaluation scale. General acceptability of ASLF chocolate chip cookies and breakfast bars was rated similarly to the control and DFSF variants (P > 0.05). ASLF pasta was rated lower than control but higher than DFSF pasta (P < 0.05), whereas ASLF addition reduced the general acceptability of muffins and bread (P < 0.05) compared with the other variants. Some ASLF products appeared palatable whereas ASLF incorporation rate in others requires reduction. [source] Resources and coping with stressful eventsJOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 6 2009Gil Luria This longitudinal, quasi-field experiment tested whether perceived stress and increase in perceived stress are related to the resources of the individual, namely, personality (core self evaluation scale (CSES)), physical fitness, social support (acceptance and/or rejection by peers), and cognitive abilities. Perceived stress scale (PSS) was administered at two points in time to participants in a two-day selection process for a military unit, whose stressful environment formed the manipulation in this study. Baseline PSS was obtained from soldiers before the selection activity, when threatened with resource loss. PSS was next administered during the selection activity, when individuals had to cope with actual loss of resources and difficulty in regaining them. As expected, participants perceived more stress during the selection activity. Participants with higher CSES, higher cognitive abilities and higher levels of social support perceived lower stress levels prior to the activity. The increase in stress level was lower for participants with better fitness levels, but greater for participants rejected by their peers. Exploratory analysis of resource overlap was conducted and revealed a contribution of few key resources to coping, even in the presence of other resources. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Empathic understanding: Constructing an evaluation scale from the microcounseling approachNURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 1 2000Hiroko Nagano RN Abstract The Empathic Understanding Scale measures the depth of the nurse,patient relationship. As a nurse cares for a patient it is necessary to first establish a relationship. The author identified empathic understanding as the key concept for this study. The primary theme was to develop a scale to measure the nurse's level of empathic understanding of the patient. The purpose of the study was to examine a 23-item questionnaire using the microcounseling model to prove whether empathy is an effective tool in establishing a nurse,patient relationship. Using these results, factors were extracted to measure the level of the nurse's empathic understanding of the patient. Eighteen subjects participated in the pilot study: eight nurses employed by the psychiatric ward of one of Shizuoka's prefectural hospitals, Yoshinso, and 10 students learning to be public health workers. All 18 subjects verbally agreed to participate in the study. Data collection was through experimental interviews according to microtraining models and through questionnaires comprising four elements: moral, emotional, cognitive and communication action. The results were analyzed by principle factor analysis, two-way analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis of variance. Analysis resulted in four factors being extracted. Using the Emotional Empathy Scale for comparison, the content validity of those factors was confirmed. In the second study, these four factors were used as an evaluation instrument in the form of a list of 20 items of evaluation. Measurements were derived by evaluating the 327 nursing students who were the subjects for this study. The subjects performed pseudo-counseling role plays based on the microcounseling method. Five evaluators studied the counselor's behavior and attitude by observing the interaction between the client and counselor roles as the subjects performed role plays. A Likert scale was used to collect data and the data were analyzed by principle factor analysis. The Empathic Understanding Scale consists of four factors: ,acceptance attitude', ,cognitive awareness attitude', ,reflective attitude regarding emotions and meaning' and ,verbalization prompting attitude'. These four factor structure groups that were extracted were found to be the same in both the pilot study and the second study. In the second study, however, a more valid and reliable Empathic Understanding Scale was established. [source] The Effects of Brain Natriuretic Peptide on Scar Formation in Incisional Rat WoundsACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 10 2008Breena R. Taira MD Abstract Background:, Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a peptide that reduces scar formation in the heart by blocking transforming growth factor-, (TGF-,). Although TGF-, is known to play a role in scar formation in the myocardium, little is known about the effects of BNP on cutaneous wound healing. Objectives:, The objective was to determine if the administration of BNP in healing cutaneous wounds reduces the amount of scarring. Methods:, This was a laboratory investigation using 40 wild-strain rats. Three full-thickness 1-cm incisional wounds were created on each animal and randomized to intradermal BNP, saline, or no treatment. Wounds were excised at 3, 7, 14, 31, and 60 days and examined histologically for scar surface area and collagen architecture. Those wounds excised at 30 days were subjected to a measure of tensile strength and those excised at 60 days were evaluated prior to excision for cosmesis using a scar evaluation scale. The proportion of wounds healing without visually apparent scar was the main outcome. Groups were compared with Fisher's exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results:, Wounds treated with BNP were more likely to heal without an apparent scar when compared to those treated with saline or control (37.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.03). There were no between-group differences in the surface area of the scars or the collagen architecture. Incisional tensile strength was also similar across treatments. Conclusions:, Treatment of rat incisions with BNP reduced the number of visually apparent scars but did not affect the histologic appearance of the scars or the incisional tensile strength. [source] | ||||||||||