Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the PROMIS pain quality item bank

Purpose

The assessment of pain sensation and quality is a key component in understanding the experience of individuals with chronic pain. This study evaluated the factor structure of the patient-reported outcome measurement information system (PROMIS) pain quality item bank.

Methods

As part of the PROMIS project, we developed a pool of 37 pain quality items, based on a review of existing pain questionnaires and development of new items. A web-based survey was designed and completed by 845 members of the general population and 967 individuals with different types of chronic pain. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on a random split-half sample of the data to examine the factor structure of the 37 PROMIS pain quality items in the general population and in a chronic pain sample. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in the holdout sample.

Results

The EFA of the pain quality items resulted in comparable six-factor solutions for the general and chronic pain samples: (1) pulling/tugging pain; (2) tingling/numbness pain; (3) sharp/stabbing pain; (4) dull/aching pain; (5) pounding/pulsing pain; and (6) affective pain. The confirmatory factor analysis in the holdout sample supported this factor structure.

Conclusions

Further research is needed to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the derived scales based on their factor scores.     

Extracting timing and status descriptors for colonoscopy testing from electronic medical records

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates are low despite confirmed benefits. The authors investigated the use of natural language processing (NLP) to identify previous colonoscopy screening in electronic records from a random sample of 200 patients at least 50 years old. The authors developed algorithms to recognize temporal expressions and ‘status indicators’, such as ‘patient refused’, or ‘test scheduled’. The new methods were added to the existing KnowledgeMap concept identifier system, and the resulting system was used to parse electronic medical records (EMR) to detect completed colonoscopies. Using as the ‘gold standard’ expert physicians'' manual review of EMR notes, the system identified timing references with a recall of 0.91 and precision of 0.95, colonoscopy status indicators with a recall of 0.82 and precision of 0.95, and references to actually completed colonoscopies with recall of 0.93 and precision of 0.95. The system was superior to using colonoscopy billing codes alone. Health services researchers and clinicians may find NLP a useful adjunct to traditional methods to detect CRC screening status. Further investigations must validate extension of NLP approaches for other types of CRC screening applications.Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer found in men and women in the USA, and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths.¹ Screening for CRC is recommended for average-risk individuals aged 50 years and older.² Current screening rates, however, are suboptimal; recent national studies report that only 40–60% of eligible patients receive proper screening.^{1 3}Whereas computerized decision support tools have the potential to improve CRC screening rates, the critical challenge is to identify quickly and accurately patients in need of screening. Current methods for determining CRC screening status (patient self-report, physician report, billing data, and manual chart abstraction) are time-consuming, expensive, and often inaccurate. Studies have shown that billing data underestimated CRC screening rates.⁴ Manual chart abstraction is expensive, and references to completed CRC screening tests are often located within the text of clinic notes, making them difficult to find. An Institute of Medicine report highlighted the need for automated data collection systems that could process natural language clinical texts to address challenges such as these.⁵This study investigated the use of a natural language processing (NLP) system to detect the timing and receipt of colonoscopies, the most commonly recommended CRC screening test at many institutions, including the study institution. The authors developed new algorithms to detect the timing and status of colonoscopy references within Vanderbilt Medical Center electronic medical record (EMR) system documents. Vanderbilt''s EMR comprises an integrated longitudinal system that receives data from more than 100 diverse sources such as laboratory and radiology reports, typed and dictated notes, interdisciplinary clinician-maintained problem lists, and inter- and intra-office messaging records.     

Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Clinical Setting: The Good, the Bad, and the Practical

Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) is the latest technological breakthrough in diabetes care. Despite its limitations of lag time between sensor and blood glucose, the need for calibration, false detection of and failure to detect hypoglycemia, and mild discomfort or skin irritation reported in some users, RT-CGM is a highly beneficial tool that can be used to detect nocturnal or unrecognized hypoglycemia and glycemic variability. This, in turn, can lead to better treatment decisions, which may improve metabolic control and decrease the incidence and progression of diabetes complications. The RT-CGM devices are fairly accurate and easy to use. It is not difficult to establish a clinical RT-CGM program in the office. However, it requires persistence and an understanding of the patient''s perspective of using RT-CGM so it can be presented and taught appropriately. This article discusses the benefits and limitations of RT-CGM and establishment of a RT-CGM program in the clinical setting.     

Understanding the relationships between health outcomes in generalized anxiety disorder clinical trials

Background and Aims  

The Wilson–Cleary health outcomes model is a hypothesized pathway linking traditional clinical variables to health-related quality of life (HRQL). This study tested the application of the Wilson–Cleary model to a patient population with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) using longitudinal clinical trial data.     

Hidden caring,hidden carers? Exploring the experience of carers for people with long‐term conditions

Informal carers make a significant contribution to illness management in communities, but many struggle to access support and remain ‘hidden carers’. We aimed to explore how carers of people with common long‐term conditions (LTCs, such as coronary heart disease or kidney disease) conceptualised their caring, and whether they struggled to identify themselves with the term ‘carer’ or access for support. We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 19 informal carers of people with LTCs recruited from local support groups. Topic guides were designed to encourage participants to provide their retrospective accounts of identifying as a carer or struggling to do so. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method. The study was designed collaboratively with a patient and public involvement (PPI) partner, and we consulted with a PPI steering group of people with lived experience of caring during the study. Results showed how participants drew on comparisons with those caring for more dependent relatives in explaining their reluctance to define themselves as a carer, and resisted adopting the label due to concerns that it would threaten the identity of the cared‐for person. The data were interpreted in terms of types of ‘work’ undertaken to manage LTCs, and revealed that carers of patients with LTCs appear to primarily engage in biographical and emotional support, which may be more difficult to conceptualise as legitimate caring ‘work’. Participants indicated that health professionals may be in a unique position to validate their role as carers and encourage support seeking. The study suggests how the greater focus on self‐management of LTCs in the community must be complemented by recognition of this group as potentially ‘hidden carers’, who support the patient to minimise the impact the illness has on their lives and consequently may minimise their own caring role, with negative implications for support seeking.     

Real-life utilization of real-time continuous glucose monitoring: the complete picture

Background

Very few studies to date have analyzed the reasons why some people do not use real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) continuously, especially given its positive glycemic outcomes, or choose not to wear it at all, even after learning about its benefits.

Methods

A questionnaire was designed to assess real-life use of and issues surrounding RT-CGM. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and duration of sensor use were also obtained from the patients'' charts.

Results

Fifty-eight subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), average age 15.0 ± 4.8 years, T1DM duration 5.7 ± 3.8 years, HbA1c 8.8 ± 2.1%, 50% with RT-CGM, were included in the analysis. Hemoglobin A1c was lower with increased RT-CGM use. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring was ordered to improve control. Users liked the continuous data. The most disliked part was pain and discomfort. Occasional users described RT-CGM as annoying, a hassle, and interfering with their lives. Reasons for discontinuing RT-CGM included problematic equipment and inaccuracy (64%), intrusion in life (36%), and insurance issues (29%). Twenty-one percent of nonusers reported RT-CGM to be inconvenient or a hassle or just did not want it. Fifty-two percent of subjects continue to use RT-CGM despite reported problems.

Conclusion

Real-time continuous glucose monitoring is a beneficial tool for improving glycemic control, and many use it despite reported problems and hassles with current devices. However, this technology has not been wholeheartedly embraced by many individuals with T1DM, especially in youngsters, because of issues mentioned here. Based on the findings of this study, it is hoped that improvements will be made to RT-CGM technology so that more people with diabetes will embrace this beneficial tool.     

Validation of the PAGI-SYM and PAGI-QOL among healing and maintenance of erosive esophagitis clinical trial participants

Background and aims  

Valid instruments are needed to assess important patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in erosive esophagitis (EE).     

The characterization of small hypoattenuating renal masses on contrast-enhanced CT

PurposeTo determine if small hypoattenuating renal masses can be characterized as simple cysts or renal cell carcinomas on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).Materials and methodsWe retrospectively identified 20 small (≤1.5 cm) hypoattenuating renal masses seen on contrast enhanced CT, consisting of 14 simple cysts and six renal cell carcinomas. Three independent readers recorded subjective visual impression (five-point scale from 1=definitely fluid to 5=definitely solid), CT attenuation, border (well circumscribed or ill defined), and shape (ovoid or irregular) for each lesion.ResultsThe overall area under the receiver operator characteristic curves for subjective visual impression, CT attenuation, border, and shape were 0.97, 0.82, 0.59, and 0.55, respectively. Using dichotomized ratings (1–2=cyst and 3–5=carcinoma), subjective impression had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 79–100%, respectively, for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. Using a threshold of 50 Hounsfield Units (HU) or more, CT attenuation had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 43–64%, respectively.ConclusionSmall hypoattenuating renal masses can be characterized with reasonable accuracy by subjective impression and CT attenuation; lesions that appear solid on visual inspection or have an attenuation value of 50 HU or more are likely to be renal cell carcinoma.     

Postdiagnosis body fatness,recreational physical activity,dietary factors and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) summary of evidence grading

Based on the Global Cancer Update Programme, formally known as the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Continuous Update Project, we performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses to investigate the association of postdiagnosis body fatness, physical activity and dietary factors with breast cancer prognosis. We searched PubMed and Embase for randomised controlled trials and longitudinal observational studies from inception to 31 October 2021. We calculated summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects meta-analyses. An independent Expert Panel graded the quality of evidence according to predefined criteria. The evidence on postdiagnosis body fatness and higher all-cause mortality (RR per 5 kg/m² in body mass index: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.10), breast cancer-specific mortality (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.14) and second primary breast cancer (RR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04-1.26) was graded as strong (likelihood of causality: probable). The evidence for body fatness and breast cancer recurrence and other nonbreast cancer-related mortality was graded as limited (likelihood of causality: limited-suggestive). The evidence on recreational physical activity and lower risk of all-cause (RR per 10 metabolic equivalent of task-hour/week: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.78-0.92) and breast cancer-specific mortality (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.96) was judged as limited-suggestive. Data on dietary factors was limited, and no conclusions could be reached except for healthy dietary patterns, isoflavone and dietary fibre intake and serum 25(OH)D concentrations that were graded with limited-suggestive evidence for lower risk of the examined outcomes. Our results encourage the development of lifestyle recommendations for breast cancer patients to avoid obesity and be physically active.