Titersteigerung und Stabilisierung des Rubellavirus-Hämagglutinins durch Harnstoff

Ohne ZusammenfassungDie Arbeit wurde von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (Unit Medizinische Virologie und Kommission für teratologische Fragen) gefördert.Die Autoren möchten FräuleinSigrid Bonk und FräuleinRenate Lecke für ihre umsichtige technische Mitarbeit herzlich danken.     

Letter to the editor

Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy -     

The Geriatric Depression Scale and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. A validity study

The study is a validation study of two psychogeriatric depression rating scales, The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD). The sensitivity and specificity, and the convergent and criterion validity of the two scales as well as the inter-rater reliability of the CSDD are reported. Two independent clinicians using the ICD-10 for depression and dementia, the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), the Hamilton Depression rating scale 17-items and the Mini-Mental-State Examination (MMSE), interviewed each patient or control subject. One hundred forty-five persons of 65 years or more of age were included, 73 were depressed only, 36 depressed and demented; 36 persons were control subjects, 11 of these were demented. The inter-rater reliabilities were high or very high equalling perfect correlation. There was very high convergent validity between the screening tools and the severity scales; the shorter versions of the GDS (15-, 10- or four-item version) had lower though still almost perfect correlations. The criterion validity in the total population showed the CSDD as the better scale with sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 97% with a cut-off value of ≥6. The GDS versions had sensitivities and specificities ranging from 82% to 90% and 75% to 94% respectively with cut-off values ≥9, 4, 3 and 1. The CSDD retained its validity and specificity as a screening tool for depression in a population of demented, while the GDS versions all diminished in validity. The GDS and the CSDD are both valid screening tools for depression in the elderly; however, the CSDD alone seems to be equally valid in populations of demented and non-demented.     

Der BGF-Monitor

Background

Surveys on employee health are of significant importance in order to develop target group specific interventions in operational health management. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychometric quality of a screening questionnaire on employee health and to identify and assess the factorial structure of the questionnaire.

Materials and methods

The screening questionnaire was answered by 1855 employees from nine companies. Internal consistency was tested by Cronbach’s alpha (α) using the split-half method. Discriminatory power (part-whole correction) of the items and item severity were assessed for the 25 items. An exploratory factor analysis as well as comparative confirmatory factor analysis was computed and model fitting was assessed (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation, RMSEA; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual, SRMR).

Results

The questionnaire (Cronbach’s α 0.948) and the scales (Cronbach’s α 0.802–0.912) had good reliabilities. Discriminatory power (part-whole correction) and item severity of the 25 items was good. The exploratory factor analysis identified a four-factor model that was confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis. Model fit showed a RMSEA of 0.081 and SRMR of 0.067.

Conclusions

As the results indicated good psychometric properties, the BGF Monitor was verified as a short and reliable instrument applicable to research and practice in operational health management. The reliability of the instrument was good and the items showed good discriminatory power as well as a well-balanced item severity. The model structure showed a reasonably close fit.

     

Dimensionality of the Knee Numeric‐Entity Evaluation Score (KNEES‐ACL): A condition‐specific questionnaire

The benefit of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has been questioned based on patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs). Valid interpretation of such results requires confirmation of the psychometric properties of the PROM. Rasch analysis is the gold standard for validation of PROMs, yet PROMs used for ACL reconstruction have not been validated using Rasch analysis. We used Rasch analysis to investigate the psychometric properties of the Knee Numeric‐Entity Evaluation Score (KNEES‐ACL), a newly developed PROM for patients treated for ACL deficiency. Two‐hundred forty‐two patients pre‐ and post‐ACL reconstruction completed the pilot PROM. Rasch models were used to assess the psychometric properties (e.g., unidimensionality, local response dependency, and differential item functioning). Forty‐one items distributed across seven unidimensional constructs measuring impairment, functional limitations, and psychosocial consequences were confirmed to fit Rasch models. Fourteen items were removed because of statistical lack of fit and inadequate face validity. Local response dependency and differential item functioning were identified and adjusted. The KNEES‐ACL is the first Rasch‐validated condition‐specific PROM constructed for patients with ACL deficiency and patients with ACL reconstruction. Thus, this instrument can be used for within‐ and between‐group comparisons.