Applying item response theory to enhance health outcomes assessment

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an accepted outcome measure in patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Yet, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the determinants. In this paper we test the hypothesis that it is associated with personality traits while controlling for mental disorders. Methods A large sample of outpatients (n=640) with mood and anxiety disorders was studied. The empirically supported five factor model of normal personality traits was assessed using the NEO-FFI and includes: neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Mental disorders were assessed with the CIDI, and HRQL with the SF-36. Results Regression analyses revealed that the NEO-FFI scores, with the exception of conscientiousness, were significantly associated with SF-36 subscales and summary scores, independently from the mental disorders. The percentage of explained variance due to the personality traits was highest for the subscales Vitality (10.0%), Mental Health (13.3%) and the Mental Health Summary Score (9.5%). Furthermore, specific personality traits were related to specific SF-36 subscales. Conclusions A low HRQL of patients with mood or anxiety disorders is not only determined by the disease or the current health but is also shaped by personality traits that are relatively stable throughout an individual's life time.     

The kappa statistic for establishing interrater reliability in the secondary analysis of qualitative clinical data.

Analysis of extant clinical records is receiving increased emphasis in nursing investigations. Appropriate use of this approach to patient research requires careful attention to data management, including assessment of reliability. Percent agreement, phi, and Kappa all serve as estimates of interrater reliability in the analysis of data. Kappa has particular merit as a measure of interrater reliability; it also has some peculiar problems in implementation and interpretation. The nature and computation of Kappa and its application in analysis of clinical data are discussed.     

Acute quadriplegic myopathy: a complication of treatment with steroids, nondepolarizing blocking agents, or both.

We studied two patients who were given high-dose intravenous steroid therapy and were intubated for status asthmaticus. Both became quadriplegic and wasted within 2 weeks. EMG had myopathic abnormalities. Muscle biopsy revealed severe atrophy of most muscle fibers, with disorganization of myofibrils and selective loss of thick (myosin) filaments. Immunohistologic stains for myosin isoforms confirmed the decrease or absence of this protein. Both patients clinically improved over several months.     

The functioning and well-being of depressed patients. Results from the Medical Outcomes Study

We describe the functioning and well-being of patients with depression, relative to patients with chronic medical conditions or no chronic conditions. Data are from 11,242 outpatients in three health care provision systems in three US sites. Patients with either current depressive disorder or depressive symptoms in the absence of disorder tended to have worse physical, social, and role functioning, worse perceived current health, and greater bodily pain than did patients with no chronic conditions. The poor functioning uniquely associated with depressive symptoms, with or without depressive disorder, was comparable with or worse than that uniquely associated with eight major chronic medical conditions. For example, the unique association of days in bed with depressive symptoms was significantly greater than the comparable association with hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis. Depression and chronic medical conditions had unique and additive effects on patient functioning.     

Evaluation and audit in a paediatric disability service

Parental and professional responses to questionnaires evaluating a paediatric disability service are reported and the viability of auditing structural, process, and outcome aspects of clinical practice are discussed. Expectations of waiting time to first appointment (met for only 52% of consumers) illustrate structural issues. Process issues are reflected in consumer reactions to outreach work (for example, 94% of parents and 84% of professionals found this supportive). Outcome measures such as consumer satisfaction with the service (76% of consumers reported being 'very satisfied' and 20% 'fairly satisfied') suggest that service aims are being met. Good concurrence of service aims with consumer needs is indicated by parental reasons for referral (for example, 75% for diagnostic help, 73% for a better understanding of the disorder, 88% for practical help), referrers' reasons (for example, 55% for a second diagnostic opinion, 45% due to lack of local expertise), and reports from most other professionals involved with the case that a similar service was not provided locally.