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Biomedical subjects

D E Beaton

Publications and source records attributed to D E Beaton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Practice patterns in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis after a fragility fracture: a systematic review.

Fragility fractures are a strong indicator of underlying osteoporosis (OP). With the risk of future fracture being increased 1.5- to 9.5-fold following a fragility fracture, the diagnosis and treatment of OP in men and women with fragility fractures provides the opportunity to prevent future fragility fractures. This review describes the current status of practice in investigation and diagnosis of OP in men and women with fragility fractures, the rates and types of postfracture treatment in patients with fragility fractures and OP, interventions undertaken in this population, and the barriers to OP identification and treatment. A literature search performed in Medline, Healthstar, CINAHL, EMBASE, PreMedline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews identified 37 studies on OP diagnosis, treatment, and interventions. The studies varied in design methodology, study facilities, types of fractures, and pharmacological treatments. Some studies revealed that no patients with fragility fractures received investigation or treatment for underlying OP. Investigation of OP by bone mineral density was low: 14 of 16 studies reported investigation of less than 32% of patients. Investigation by bone mineral density resulted in high rates of OP diagnosis (35-100%), but only moderate use of calcium and vitamin D (8-62%, median 18%) and bisphosphates (0.5-38%) in patients investigated postfracture. Studies on barriers to OP identification and treatment focused on various groups of health practitioners. Barriers included the cost of therapies, time and cost of resources for diagnosis, concerns about medications, and the lack of clarity regarding the responsibility to undertake this care.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2003

Rasch analysis of the Western Ontario McMaster (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index: results from community and arthroplasty samples.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study is based on secondary analysis of Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) data from a community sample over 55 years and total hip or knee arthroplasty samples presurgery and 1-year postoperative. METHODS: The WOMAC data were evaluated by Rasch analysis. Data were considered to fit the Rasch mathematical model for the pain and physical dimensions of the WOMAC if unidimensionality was confirmed by principle component analysis of the subscale and the residuals from the Rasch analysis, infit and outfit statistics were in the range of 0.80 to 1.20; if there was no differential item functioning based on gender or hip vs. knee subjects; and, if there was stability of the item logits across the three data samples. RESULTS: A three-item pain dimension (excluding night pain and pain on standing) and a 14-item physical dimension (excluding heavy domestic duties, getting in and out of the bath and getting on and off the toilet) fit the Rasch model based on these criteria. CONCLUSION: In evaluating existing health status questionnaires using Rasch methodology, it is important to evaluate relevant patient samples and longitudinal data when the measure is intended to evaluate change in status. By these criteria, a modified WOMAC questionnaire fits the Rasch model and has interval-level scaling properties.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

"Are you better?" A qualitative study of the meaning of recovery.

PURPOSE: Research into the meaning of illness has often focused on an individual's transition into a state of being ill, for example the adoption of a sick role. The question "Are you better?" addresses the transition out of this state and is fundamental to the patient-clinician relationship, guiding decisions about treatment. However, the question assumes that all patients have the same meaning for "being better." The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of the concept of recovery (getting better) in a group of people with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: Qualitative (grounded theory) methods were used. Individual interviews were conducted with 24 workers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed and coded for content. Categories were linked, comparisons made, and a theory built about how people respond to the question "Are you better?" RESULTS: The perception of "being better" is highly contextualized in the experience of the individual. Being better is not only reflected in changes in the state of the disorder (resolution) but could be an adjustment of life to work around the disorder (readjustment) or an adaptation to living with the disorder (redefinition). The experience of the disorder can be influenced by factors such as the perceived legitimacy of the disorder, the comparators used to define health and illness, and coping styles, which in turn can influence being better. CONCLUSION: Two patients could mean very different things when saying that they are better. Some may not actually have a change in disease state as measured by symptoms, impairments, or function.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed2001

A taxonomy for responsiveness.

Responsiveness is quickly becoming a critical criterion for the selection of outcomes measures in studies of treatment effectiveness, economic appraisals, and other program evaluations. Statistical characteristics, specifically "large effect sizes," are often felt to indicate the relative worth of one instrument over another. However, debates about their meaning led the present authors to propose a taxonomy for responsiveness based on the context of the study concerned. The three axes underlying the classification system relate to: who is this being analyzed for (individuals or groups); which scores are being contrasted (over time/at one point in time); and the type of change being quantified (for example, observed change or important change). It is concluded that responsiveness should be considered a highly contextualized attribute of an instrument, rather than a static property and should be described only in that way. A questionnaire could thus be described as being "responsive to" a given category in the new taxonomy.

Classification↗
PubMed2001

Validation of a simple histological-histochemical cartilage scoring system.

In this study, we assessed the validity of a subjective histological-histochemical scoring system as compared to an automated histomorphometry program for analyzing cartilage repair tissue. In the first part of the study, we assessed the ability of the human eye to estimate the percent cartilage in a histological section. Twenty-nine rabbit periosteal explants that had been cultured in agarose transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) were selected so that the percentage of cartilage in the specimens was distributed equally from 0% to 100%. Color photomicrographs were evaluated by 5 expert observers who gave a visual estimate of the percent cartilage. There was a strong correlation between the estimated and actual percent cartilage (R(2) = 0.92, p < 0.0001) and among the observers (I.C.C. = 0.89). On average, the estimated percent cartilage was within ten percent of the actual percent measured. In the second part, we compared the data derived using a simple cartilage score with those obtained by automated image analysis. The histological slides from 159 explants cultured under various experimental conditions (14 treatment groups) in two different experiments were analyzed. The cartilage content was estimated visually and a score from 0 to 3 was assigned. A previously validated, computerized image analysis system was used to measure the actual percent cartilage. Statistical analyses revealed a good linear regression (R(2) = 0.84, p = 0.0001), and even better polynomial correlation between the actual measurement and the score (R(2) = 0.88, p = 0.0001). These data demonstrate the validity of a simple histological-histochemical subjective scoring system. A computerized automated program such as the one employed in this study is preferable due to its many advantages. However, a subjective scoring system may be appropriate to use when the funding and expertise required for a computerized image analysis program are not available.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Health care utilization and workplace interventions for neck and upper limb problems among newspaper workers.

Data on the use of various therapeutic interventions among working populations at risk for musculoskeletal disorders are rare, despite the need for such information in assessing adherence to best practices. Using the results of a cross-sectional survey of newspaper workers who reported neck and upper limb pain or discomfort (n = 309), we describe the prevalence of a wide range of clinical and workplace interventions. Information/education, exercises, and physical treatments were the most common interventions, and work changes were less prevalent. Those with more frequent, longer-duration, and/or more severe symptoms more commonly reported visits to physiotherapists and health practitioners at work and use of physical treatments, medications, and devices. The multiplicity of interventions used pose evaluation challenges for occupational health practitioners and researchers.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Looking for important change/differences in studies of responsiveness. OMERACT MCID Working Group. Outcome Measures in Rheumatology. Minimal Clinically Important Difference.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a classification system for studies of responsiveness that was designed to help organize these studies, and identify those with the potential to provide information on minimal clinically important difference (MCID). We developed a 3 dimensional cube into which studies of responsiveness can be categorized based on their evaluation of 3 attributes: 1. individual or group setting; 2. which scores are contrasted; and 3. the type of change or difference being assessed. We present and discuss examples of studies that fit into categories in the classification cube. This classification system helps to focus attention on whether the literature is able to provide information on the specific type of change a person is interested in. It reinforces that the ability of an instrument to detect a certain category of discrimination within the cube does not mean it will necessarily be responsive to another category. The cube has been shown here as a means to separate out studies that address important change. These studies can then be examined as the source of information on MCID.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2001

Minimal clinically important difference. Low back pain: outcome measures.

A proposed standard "core set" of outcome measures for low back pain includes 5 domains: back-specific function, generic health status, pain, work disability, and patient satisfaction. This paper focuses on the 2 recommended back-specific measures of function: the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We specifically address their ability to measure change. A systematic review of the literature identified a total of 78 and 71 (RDQ and ODI, respectively) articles as potentially relevant. Detailed tables are provided for each citation, with the type of back pain population studied, the type of change measured, the estimate of change, and the interval over which the change was studied. These tables should be used as a reference for sample size calculation. The responsiveness of the RDQ found in the literature ranges from 2 to 8 points on its 0 to 24 scale depending on what change is being measured. As a rough guide, Roland recommends that a change in 2-3 points on the RDQ should be considered the minimum clinically important change. Choosing any value larger than 5 in designing a clinical trial would risk underpowering the trial, since fewer patients are needed if a trial is designed on the basis of a large change score.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1999

Method for automated cartilage histomorphometry.

We have developed and tested a color-based method for automated computerized histomorphometric analysis of cartilage. Histological sections stained with safranin O from 29 rabbit periosteal agarose-cultured explants were selected with various amounts of cartilage (0-100%). Color photomicrographs of these sections were visually assessed by five expert observers who estimated the percent area occupied by cartilage and outlined (in pen) the areas they considered to be cartilage. Manual histomorphometry was performed by cutting out and weighing the outlined areas. The average area for each of the five observers ranged from 31% to 43% (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.70). The average of these values was used as a "gold standard" against which to compare the computer measurements. When point counting histomorphometry was performed on the 29 sections, the data agreed with the measurements made by the other five cartilage experts (r2 = 0.96; p < 0.0001). The analysis of cartilage is based on safranin O stain, using a custom-designed Vidas 2.1 Image Analysis Program (Zeiss). The computer-based results correlated very closely with those obtained by manual (p = 0.0001; r2 = 0.92) and point counting (r2 = 0.92; p < 0.0001) histomorphometry. The mean percentage of the sections occupied by cartilage measured in the automated mode was only 6% higher than that using the gold standard. Histological complexity had only a minor effect on the computerized values. The automated computerized image analysis system has the advantages of objectivity, accuracy, repeatability, and ease of use.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

Treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head by free vascularized fibular grafting: an analysis of surgical outcome and patient health status.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the limb-specific outcome and general health status of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head treated with vascularized fibular grafting. DESIGN: A retrospective review. SETTING: A single tertiary care centre. PATIENTS: Fifty-five consecutive patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head who underwent fibular grafting (8 bilaterally). INTERVENTION: Vascularized fibular grafting. OUTCOME MEASURES: Limb-specific scores (Harris Hip Score, St. Michael's Hospital Hip Score), general health status (Nottingham Health Profile, SF-36 health status survey) and radiographic outcome measures (Steinberg stage). RESULTS: Patients were young (mean age 34 years, range from 18 to 52 years) and 80% had advanced osteonecrosis (Steinberg stages IV and V). Fifty-nine hips were followed up for an average of 50 months (range from 24 to 117 months) after vascularized fibular grafting. Sixteen hips (27%) were converted to total hip arthroplasty (THA). To date, 73% of hips treated with vascularized fibular grafting have required no further surgery. Preoperative and postoperative Harris Hip Scores were 57.3 and 83.6 respectively (p < 0.001). As measured by patient-oriented health status questionnaires (SF-36, Nottingham Health Profile) and compared with population controls, patients had normal mental health scores and only slight decreases in physical component scores. CONCLUSIONS: Free vascularized fibular grafting for osteonecrosis of the femoral head provides satisfactory pain relief, functional improvement and general health status and halts the progression of symptomatic disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Validity of observer-based aggregate scoring systems as descriptors of elbow pain, function, and disability.

Current elbow-scoring systems are based on the observer-derived assessment of a variety of clinical and functional criteria, which are scored separately and then aggregated. The aggregate score then is assigned a categorical ranking that ranges from excellent to poor. The developers of different elbow-scoring systems have chosen different outcome criteria, assigned different weights to each criterion, and accorded different ranges of values to each categorical ranking. Five different elbow-scoring systems (the Mayo elbow-performance index and the systems of Broberg and Morrey, Ewald et al., The Hospital for Special Surgery, and Pritchard) were used to evaluate the same group of patients. The validity of the scoring systems was determined with use of visual-analog scales for the assessment of pain and function, patient and physician-derived ratings of the severity of impairment of the elbow, and two functional questionnaires completed by the patient (the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and the Modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons patient self-evaluation form). The study sample consisted of sixty-nine patients who had sought treatment at one of two tertiary referral clinics because of problems related to the elbow. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were used to compare the raw aggregate scores, and kappa statistics were used to determine the level of agreement among the categorical rankings (excellent, good, fair, and poor). Examination of the five scoring systems revealed a remarkable lack of concordance with regard to the aspects of elbow function that were assessed. Good correlation was observed when the systems were compared on the basis of raw scores (Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, 0.79 to 0.90), but only slight-to-moderate correlation was noted when the systems were compared on the basis of categorical rankings (quadratic weighted kappa coefficients, 0.18 to 0.49). Validity testing showed the system of Ewald et al. and the Mayo elbow-performance index to be the most discriminating, the system of Pritchard to be the least discriminating, and the system of The Hospital for Special Surgery and the system of Broberg and Morrey to be intermediate. The scores determined with the elbow-scoring systems demonstrated only moderate correlation with the score for function on the visual analog scale (Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, 0.44 to 0.66), whereas those derived from the functional questionnaires completed by the patient demonstrated moderate-to-good correlation with the score for function (Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, 0.72 and 0.80).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders among newspaper employees: cross-sectional survey results.

At a metropolitan newspaper office in Canada with extensive video display terminal (VDT) use, researchers carried out a survey (n = 1,007, 84% response) to establish baseline prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and to identify demographic, postural, task, and psychosocial factors associated with WMSD symptoms. One-fifth of the respondents reported moderate or worse upper limb pain recurring at least monthly or lasting more than a week over the previous year. Logistic regression showed that employees who faced frequent deadlines and high psychological demands (fast work pace and conflicting demands), had low skill discretion and social support, spent more time keyboarding, or who had their screen in a non-optimal position were more likely to report moderate to severe symptoms. Women reported significantly higher levels of symptoms than men.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Evaluating changes in health status: reliability and responsiveness of five generic health status measures in workers with musculoskeletal disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the measurement properties over time of five generic health status assessment techniques. METHODS: Five health status measures were completed on two occasions by a sample of workers with musculoskeletal disorders. They included the SF-36, Nottingham Health Profile, Health Status Section of the Ontario Health Survey (OHS), Duke Health Profile, the Sickness Impact Profile and a self-report of change in health between tests. SETTING: Subjects were accrued from a work site (within one week of injury) (n = 53), physiotherapy clinics (four weeks after injury), (n = 34), and a tertiary level rehabilitation center (more than four weeks after injury) (n = 40). ANALYSIS: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) derived from nonparametric one-way analysis of variance were used for test-retest reliability in those who had not changed (n = 49). Various responsiveness statistics were used to evaluate responsiveness in those who claimed they had a positive change in health (n = 45) and in those who would have been expected to have a positive change (n = 79). RESULTS: Of the 127 subjects recruited, 114 completed both questionnaires (89.8%). In the subjects who reported no change in health, analysis of targeted dimensions (overall scores, physical function, and pain) demonstrated acceptable to excellent test-retest reliability in all but the Duke Health Profile. In subjects with change in health, the SF-36 was the most responsive measure (moderate to large effect sizes [0.55-0.97] and standardized response means ranging between 0.81 and 1.13). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the SF-36 was the most appropriate questionnaire to measure health changes in the population studied. The selection of a health status measure must be context-specific, taking into account the purpose and population of the planned research.

Confidence Intervals↗
PubMed1996

Measuring health in injured workers: a cross-sectional comparison of five generic health status instruments in workers with musculoskeletal injuries.

The purpose of this study was to compare the measurement properties of five generic health status measures in a cross-sectional study of injured workers. One hundred twenty-seven injured workers participated in the study. Forty-seven percent had disorders of the upper limb, 12% neck and upper back, and 27% lower back (14% unspecified). All participants completed a package containing: SF-36 (Acute), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Duke Health Profile (Duke). Health status section of the Ontario Health Survey (OHS), and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). Frequency distributions were examined, correlations carried out, and the ability to discriminate between part of body and overall health state evaluated using analysis of variance. The results showed a ceiling (healthy) effect in the OHS, NHP, and SIP. Correlations were moderate to good. Upper limb subjects appeared "healthier" than low back pain subjects. The instruments were able to discriminate between health states (p < 0.05) except the OHS-Physical function (p = 0.51). Different questionnaires give a different impression of health. Clinicians and researchers should be thoughtful in their selection of outcome measures as different instruments may alter the description, intervention, and priorization of a particular disorder.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Measuring function of the shoulder. A cross-sectional comparison of five questionnaires.

Measures of both generic and disease-specific health status are being developed and used with increasing frequency for the appraisal of musculoskeletal conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare prospectively the validity of five questionnaires in the assessment of function of the shoulder. Ninety subjects who had various problems related to the shoulder agreed to enter the study. All of the subjects completed a questionnaire package that included the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, the Simple Shoulder Test, the Subjective Shoulder Rating Scale, the Modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Patient Self-Evaluation Form, and the Shoulder Severity Index as well as a measure of generic health status (the acute version of the Short Form 36 [SF-36]) and two questions that asked the patient to rate the severity of the problem and his or her over-all health. Frequency distributions were created and compared among questionnaires. Spearman rank correlations were calculated to compare the questionnaires with each other and with other assessments. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine the ability of the questionnaires to discriminate between self-rated severity of the problem and over-all health. The frequency distributions were similar among the five shoulder questionnaires, but those of the five shoulder questionnaires differed from that of the SF-36. The correlations were good (0.73 < or = r < or = 0.80) among all of the five shoulder questionnaires except the Subjective Shoulder Rating Scale; they were lower with the Subjective Shoulder Rating Scale and the physical function dimension of the SF-36 (0.12 < or = r < or = 0.60). The shoulder questionnaires discriminated between levels of severity (p < 0.0001) but not between levels of over-all health (0.10 < or = p < or = 0.86). In this concurrent comparison of measures of shoulder-specific outcome in the same subjects, the shoulder questionnaires performed similarly, both in describing function of the shoulder and in discriminating between levels of severity. The shoulder questionnaires performed differently than the SF-36, which confirms the need to use both disease-specific and generic health-status measures to evaluate patients who have a problem related to the shoulder.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Grip strength testing using the BTE work simulator and the Jamar dynamometer: a comparative study. Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment.

This study compared the results obtained from testing grip strength using the hydraulic Jamar dynamometer and the BTE Work Simulator. The grip strength of 14 adults was assessed with the Jamar at 90 degrees elbow flexion, Jamar at 45 degrees elbow flexion, and the BTE using the manufacturers recommended position. Greater strength measurements were generated with the elbow at 90 degrees rather than 45 degrees on the Jamar. The Jamar measurements at 90 degrees of elbow flexion were not significantly different from the BTE work simulator values. Intraclass correlation coefficients between the Jamar at 90 degrees and the BTE work simulator values were excellent. This study demonstrated that the results obtained from the BTE work simulator and the Jamar dynamometer are comparable. These findings validate the use of the BTE work simulator for grip strength testing.

Adult↗