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S D Walter

Publications and source records attributed to S D Walter.

167 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

EPM-ROM Scale: an evaluative instrument to be used in rheumatoid arthritis trials.

Different tools are available for the measurement of functional status; however, only a few of them are based on the evaluation of the joint range of motion (ROM). This study is aimed at the design and evaluation of the measurement properties of a ROM scale to be used as an evaluative instrument in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) trials. The EPM-ROM Scale evaluates 10 distinct movements of the small and large joints. The score of each joint varies from 0 (full movement) to 3 (severe limitation) and the cut-off degrees of motion are, in general, based on the lack of ability to perform some determined activities of daily living. The test-retest characteristic of the scale was assessed by administering the scale twice, 5 days apart, to 35 RA patients. The product moment correlation was 0.775 (P less than 0.001). The cross-sectional construct validity of the scale was assessed by the concomitant scoring of the EPM-ROM Scale and the functional ability dimension of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (a reliable, valid and responsive instrument) in these patients. The product moment correlation was 0.518 (P less than 0.001). The evaluation of its longitudinal construct validity and responsiveness are now in progress.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Estimating the burden of illness in an Ontario community with untreated drinking water and sewage disposal problems.

The Hamilton-Wentworth regional health department was asked by one of its municipalities to determine whether the present water supply and sewage disposal methods used in a community without piped water and regional sewage disposal posed a threat to the health of its residents. Three approaches were used: assessments by public health inspectors of all households; bacteriological and chemical analyses of water samples; and completion of a specially designed questionnaire by residents in the target community and a control community. 89% of the 227 residences in the target community were found to have a drinking water supply that, according to the Ministry of Environment guidelines, was unsafe and/or unsatisfactory. According to on-site inspections, 32% of households had sewage disposal problems. Responses to the questionnaire revealed that the target community residents reported more symptoms associated with enteric infections due to the water supply. Two of these symptoms, diarrhea and stomach cramps, had a relative risk of 2.2 when compared to the control community (p less than 0.05). The study was successfully used by the municipality to argue for provincial funding of piped water.

Diarrhea↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Personal, home and community safety promotion with community-dwelling elderly persons: response to a public health nurse intervention.

Public health clients aged 65 years and older were randomly allocated to receive an intervention by a public health nurse during a home visit, promoting either safety behaviours or influenza immunization. Sixty-eight clients reported making a total of 103 safety changes, with almost equal proportions making changes in the safety and influenza groups (21.9% vs. 18.3%). A higher percentage of males (25.0%) than females (17.3%) reported making safety changes following the intervention. Further research should focus on the effectiveness of safety promotion strategies which are expanded to include seniors participation, policy development and community planning and design.

Activities of Daily Living↗