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PubMed2006

Low risk is associated with poorer quality of life than high risk following acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity after acute coronary syndromes includes both physical and mental disorders affecting quality of life. The aim of this investigation was to study quality of life at a 3-month follow-up in patients with acute coronary syndrome, with the main objective of exploring whether unstable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction (MI) patients differ in this respect. METHODS: This investigation was part of a prospective risk stratification study of consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome of whom 814 below the age of 75 years (278 diagnosed with unstable angina pectoris and 536 with myocardial infarction) accepted an invitation to a follow-up visit 3 months after discharge. At follow-up, the patients completed the Cardiac Health Profile, a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire, designed to evaluate perceived cognitive, emotional, social and physical function. RESULTS: Quality of life was mainly influenced by patient characteristics and previous history. The Cardiac Health Profile scores in unstable angina pectoris patients were significantly higher (i.e. poorer quality of life) than myocardial infarction patients at the 3-month visit (34, 22, 50; median, 25th, 75th percentile and 30, 19, 44; median, 25th, 75th percentile, respectively, P=0.006). The adjusted odds ratio for a poorer quality of life in unstable angina pectoris patients in relation to myocardial infarction patients was 1.39 (95% confidence interval 1.03, 1.87; P=0.03). The highest Cardiac Health Profile scores were seen in the unstable angina pectoris patients without electrocardiogram signs of ongoing ischemia and/or elevated markers of myocardial necrosis. CONCLUSION: Patients with unstable angina pectoris, especially of the low-risk type, and therefore treated accordingly, are more likely to experience poorer quality of life following an acute hospitalization than patients with other types of acute coronary syndrome. Once myocardial infarction or high-risk unstable angina pectoris has been ruled out, these patients still require a careful and systematic follow-up.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

[Reliability and validity of Turkish form of Endicott Work Productivity Scale].

OBJECTIVE: The Endicott Work Productivity Scale (EWPS) is a brief self-report questionnaire designed to enable investigators to obtain a sensitive measure of work productivity. The purpose of the study was to investigate reliability and validity of the Turkish form of EWPS. METHOD: The study was performed with two separate groups; a patient group (n=74) and a community sample (n=107). Through the adaptation process the original form was translated into Turkish, and translated back into English. Statistical tests about construct validity, the concurrent validity, the test re-test reliability and internal consistency were performed. RESULTS: The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) was >.90 for both groups. The correlations of the individual items with the EWPS total scores ranged between.32 and.75. EWPS and HAM-D scores of the patient group was positively correlated (r =.52 and r =.62). The CGI scores correlation was.64 and SF-36 social functioning subscale was correlated negatively (r= -.43). The correlations of the test-retest scores of EWPS were.76. There was a significant mean difference between the total scores of patient and the community groups. CONCLUSION: The Turkish form of EWPS was found to be valid and reliable. The findings concerning the reliability and the validity of the EWPS indicate that this instrument can be used in the studies that will be conducted in Turkey.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed2004

Dietary estimated intake of intense sweeteners by Italian teenagers. Present levels and projections derived from the INRAN-RM-2001 food survey.

In a previous study, Italian female teenagers regular consumers of sugar free soft drinks and table-top sweeteners were suggested to have a higher intake of intense sweeteners than other teenagers. A food frequency questionnaire designed to identify adolescents who were high consumers of these food products was filled in by a randomly extracted sample of teenagers (n=3982) living in the District of Rome (Italy) in year 2000. A consumer survey was then carried out in a randomly extracted sub-sample of males and females and in all females who reported high consumption of sugar-free soft drinks and/or table-top sweeteners. A total of 362 subjects participated in a detailed food survey by recording, at brand level, all foods and beverages ingested over 12 days. For each sugar-free product, producers provided the concentration of intense sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K and cyclamate). No intake in excess of the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) was observed. Also medicines and supplements were taken into account and these did not result in a large impact on chronic exposure to intense sweeteners. The intake levels did not exceed the ADI even under a worst case scenario which was performed to take into consideration a hypothetical future substitution of all regular food products with their sugar-free version. It can be concluded that, with the observed current consumption patterns and occurrence levels, the risk of an excessive intake of intense sweeteners by Italian teenagers is extremely low.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The weight control practices of 15 year old New Zealanders.

More than 800 15 year old members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development study cohort completed a questionnaire designed to provide descriptive data concerning the weight control behaviours of this sample of New Zealand adolescents. The results showed that approximately 75% of the adolescents were within acceptable body mass index ranges. However 68% of the girls (but only 19% of the boys) wanted to weigh less than their present weight. Generally, girls were more concerned about their body weight than boys: 26% of girls weighed themselves fortnightly or more often, compared with 12% of boys; 45% of girls reported that they were trying to lose weight at present, compared with 9.5% of boys. The main methods of weight reduction included weight reduction diets (21% of girls, 4% of boys in the previous year); exercise such as jogging, walking, swimming and cycling (60% of girls, 34% of boys); and participation in dieting and fitness clubs (35% of girls, 16% of boys). In addition, 20% of girls reported using techniques such as slimming tablets (3%), cigarette smoking (5%) and self-induced vomiting (5%) to control weight. The results show that weight control is a major preoccupation of many girls and some boys. Results are discussed in relation to differential social influences on the sexes, and health consequences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Fatigue and its association with sociodemographic variables among multiple sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between fatigue, sociodemographic and clinical variables in a population of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). RATIONALE: There is a need to identify empirical relationships with possible antecedents of fatigue among patients with MS. METHODS: A mailed questionnaire designed to survey sociodemographic variables and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was mailed to 502 individuals from the population of patients with definite MS in the city of Oslo. A total of 368 (73%) responded. Clinical data were collected from the Oslo City MS-Registry. RESULTS: The prevalence of fatigue in this population was 60.1%. The FSS score showed a negative correlation with education (r = -0.15, P < 0.01) and a positive correlation with age (r = 0.20, P < 0.001) and time since disease onset (r = 0.11, P < 0.05). When controlled for gender, level of education and time since disease onset, the data showed a positive relationship between fatigue and age (P < 0.001) among patients with primary progressive (PP) disease. This relationship between age and fatigue was not found among patients with relapsing-remitting/secondary progressive (RR/SP) disease. CONCLUSION: The negative relationship between level of formal education (FE) and fatigue among individuals with RR/SP disease suggests that behavioral factors may be among the antecedents of fatigue in this patient group. In contrast to normative data from the general population, our findings revealed no differences in fatigue related to gender Thus, this study supports the hypothesis that there are disease-specific antecedents of fatigue among patients with MS.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of asthma among Qatari schoolchildren: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, Qatar.

The aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases among schoolchildren aged 6-14 years in the State of Qatar, based on a questionnaire designed by the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC). A cross-sectional study of 3,283 school children living in both urban and rural areas (average age, 9.03 +/- 1.99 years; 52.3% boys and 47.7% girls) was conducted between February 2003-February 2004. The population sample had a high prevalence of diagnosed asthma (19.8%), allergic rhinitis (30.5%), eczema (22.5%), and chest infection (11.9%). The frequency of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema among parents reflected the same pattern as seen in their children. Overall, males had more asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chest infections than females. In general, the prevalence rate of asthma and allergic rhinitis decreased with age. The prevalence rate of asthma was significantly higher in mothers (11.8%) than in fathers (9.0%), but the frequency of allergic rhinitis symptoms was comparable (mothers, 18.5%; fathers, 17.5%). The prevalence rate of asthma (19.8%) in Qatari schoolchildren is very close to that in the neighboring Gulf country, Oman (20.7%), and higher than in some developing countries. Genetic factors related to the high rates of consanguinity may play an important role in the high prevalence rates noted in the Qatari population, but changes in lifestyle and environmental factors cannot be discounted as possible causes of the high prevalence noted in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Using genetic admixture to explain racial differences in insulin-related phenotypes.

Documented differences in measures of insulin secretion and action between African Americans and European Americans may be due to either genetic or environmental factors. This study used genetic admixture (ADM), determined from approximately 20 ancestry informative markers, and a questionnaire designed to assess socioeconomic status (SES) to examine potential genetic and environmental contributions to minimal model-derived measures of insulin sensitivity (S(I)), fasting insulin, and the acute insulin response to glucose (AIR(g)) in 125 children residing in Birmingham, Alabama. The study was longitudinal in design and yielded multiple outcome measures on each subject. Mixed models analysis was used to determine if ADM and SES were independently related to S(I), fasting insulin, and AIR(g) after adjusting for confounding factors (pubertal status, adiposity, age) and for repeated testing of individuals. In this cohort, African ADM ranged from 0% (individuals with no markers reflecting African ancestry) to 100% (individuals with all 20 markers reflecting African ancestry). Results indicated that ADM was independently related to S(I) (P < 0.001) and fasting insulin (P < 0.01), with individuals having greater African ADM having a lower S(I) and a higher fasting insulin concentration. Both ADM (P < 0.001) and SES (P < 0.05) were independently related to AIR(g); children with greater African ADM or lower SES had a higher AIR(g), even after adjusting for S(I). These observations suggest that use of ADM can replace assignment of individuals to categorical racial groups; that lower S(I) and higher fasting insulin among African Americans compared with European Americans may have a genetic basis; and that higher AIR(g) among African Americans may be due to both genetic factors and to environmental factors that remain to be identified.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1995

Occupational risk of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections among funeral service practitioners in Maryland.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of exposure and infection with bloodborne pathogens, a seroepidemiologic survey was conducted among funeral service practitioners (FSPs) in Maryland. METHOD: Of 262 members of the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, 130 (49%) volunteered to participate in the study. In addition to a brief questionnaire, designed to assess both occupational and non-occupational risk factors for bloodborne pathogen infection, participants were screened for markers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and past hepatitis B virus (HBV). Titers for antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) also were examined and compared with history of hepatitis B vaccination. RESULTS: Seroprevalence for HIV, HBV, and HCV infection was 0.8%, 4.6%, and 0%, respectively. Nearly 19% of participants reported at least one bloodborne exposure in the past 6 months. The one HIV infection and all but two of the HBV infections were correlated with well-established non-occupational risk behaviors. Disposable gloves were worn by 96%, and eating, drinking, or smoking during embalming were infrequent. Sixty-one percent of FSPs reported having received one or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine at some time in the past. Of those who reported having received all three doses of vaccine, 67% had adequate titers to hepatitis B surface antibody, the marker of protection related to vaccination. CONCLUSION: Compared with prior studies of FSPs, this study found a low rate of occupational exposures and a high rate of hepatitis B vaccination, suggesting improved compliance with recommendations for preventing transmission of bloodborne pathogens in the workplace.

Funeral Rites↗
PubMed1999

Attitudes toward psychiatry as a prospective career among students entering medical school.

OBJECTIVE: The number of U.S. medical graduates choosing careers in psychiatry is in decline. In order to determine whether this disinclination toward psychiatry occurs before versus during medical school, this study surveyed medical students at the start of their freshman year. METHOD: Within the first 2 weeks of medical training, 223 freshman medical students from three Southwestern medical schools were surveyed with a questionnaire designed to assess their perceptions of careers in various specialties. RESULTS: Responses suggest that new medical students most strongly value aspects of doctoring that seem to comport well with the actual practice of psychiatry: desire for interpersonal contact, helping patients, attractive lifestyle, and challenging work. However, these students begin their medical training viewing a career in psychiatry as distinctly and consistently less attractive than other specialties surveyed. More than one-quarter of the new medical students had already definitively ruled out a career in psychiatry. New medical students rated psychiatry significantly lower than each of the other specialties in regard to the degree to which it was a satisfying job, financially rewarding, enjoyable work, prestigious, helpful to patients, dealing with an interesting subject matter, intellectually challenging, drawing on all aspects of medical training, based on a reliable scientific foundation, expected to have a bright and interesting future, and a rapidly advancing field of understanding and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Contrasting these results with previous studies suggests that an erosion has occurred over the past two decades in the attitudes that new medical students hold toward psychiatry. The authors suggest that some of the negative attitudes are based on objectifiably false beliefs that should be actively targeted for remediation within the medical school curriculum.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Fish consumption and self-reported physical and mental health status.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether self-reported mental health status, measured using the SF-36 questionnaire, was associated with fish consumption, assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire. DESIGN: The cross-national data were collected in the 1996/97 New Zealand Health Survey and 1997 Nutrition Survey, which were conducted using the same sampling frame. Survey respondents were categorised into those who consumed no fish of any kind and those who consumed some kind of fish, at any frequency. Data were adjusted for age, household income, eating patterns, alcohol use and smoking. Other demographic variables and potential confounding nutrients were included in the preliminary analyses but were not found to have a significant relationship with fish consumption. SUBJECTS: Data from a nationally representative sample of 4644 New Zealand adults aged 15 years and over were used in this analysis. RESULTS: Fish consumption was significantly associated with higher self-reported mental health status, even after adjustment for possible confounders. Differences between the mean scores for fish eaters and those who never eat fish were 8.2 for the Mental Health scale and 7.5 for the Mental Component score. Conversely, the association between fish consumption and physical functioning was in the opposite direction. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first cross-sectional survey to demonstrate a significant relationship between fish intake and higher self-reported mental health status, therefore offering indirect support for the hypothesis that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may act as mood stabilisers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Selection of medical students according to their moral orientation.

INTRODUCTION: Consideration has been given to the use of tests of moral reasoning in the selection procedure for medical students. We argue that moral orientation, rather than moral reasoning, might be more efficacious in minimising the likelihood of inappropriate ethical behaviour in medicine. A conceptualisation and measure of moral orientation are presented, together with findings from 11 samples of medical school applicants and students. AIM: To provide empirical evidence for the reliability and validity of a measure of moral orientation and to explore gender, age, cultural and educational influences on moral orientation. METHODS: A questionnaire designed to measure a libertarian-dual-communitarian dimension of moral orientation was completed by 7864 medical school applicants and students in Australia, Israel, Fiji, New Zealand, Scotland and England and by 84 Australian psychology students between 1997 and 2001. RESULTS: Older respondents produced marginally higher (more communitarian) moral orientation scores, as did women compared to men. Minor but significant (P <0.05) cultural differences were found. The Israeli samples produced higher mean moral orientation scores, while the Australian psychology student sample produced a lower (more libertarian) mean score relative to all other samples. No significant change in moral orientation score was observed after 1 year in a sample of Australian medical school students (n=59), although some differences observed between 5 cohorts of Australian medical students (Years 1-5; n=234) did reach significance. Moral orientation scores were found to be significantly correlated with a number of personality measures, providing evidence of construct validity. In all samples moral orientation significantly predicted the moral decisions made in response to the hypothetical dilemmas embedded in the measurement instrument. Discussion The results provide support for the conceptualisation of a libertarian-dual-communitarian dimension of moral orientation and demonstrate the psychometric properties of the measurement instrument. A number of questions concerning the use of such tests in selection procedures are considered.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMed1977

Pediatricians' attitudes affecting decision-making in defective newborns.

A questionnaire designed to identify the factors that influence the resolution of ethical dilemmas was returned by 230 (57% of the total) Massachusetts pediatricians. The decision to recommend surgery for an infant with Down's syndrome with duodenal atresia when the parents had refused surgery was influenced by religious affiliation (P less than .01), religious activity (P less than .04), and sex (P=.05). Of those favoring surgery, 40.2% would pursue a court order. The decision to recommend surgery for an infant with severe meningomyelocele when the parents' position was not stated was influenced by age (P less than .01), religious activity (P less than .02), and specialization (P less than .008). When the parents' wishes were expressed, the majority of the pediatricians modified their decision in accord with these wishes. In response to general ethical questions, 79.6% of all pediatricians thought that parents should have the right to withold consent for surgery. Equal numbers thought that psychosocial reasons justified witholding lifesaving procedures. Among a variety of factors, they thought that willingness of the parents to care for the child would influence the decision to take heroic measures. There were 90.4% who thought that ethics should be part of medical education; 55.7% indicated this need throughout their careers.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A study of the prevalence of acute respiratory disorders among workers in the textile industry.

An epidemiological study of 774 workers in seven eastern France cotton textile factories was conducted to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory disorders. From nine non-textile companies, 464 workers, stratified as to sex, age and tobacco consumption participated in the study as a control population. A questionnaire designed to elicit the respiratory symptoms (in particular the Monday tightness characterizing byssinosis) was administered to the 1238 workers. Peak-expiratory-flow (PEF) measurement was made for each subject, exposed and non-exposed, before the start of the shift on the day of the worker's return to work and repeated at the end of the shift. The PEF's variations during the workshift were studied. Present Monday tightness was mentioned by 48 cotton exposed workers (6.2%) and by 9 non-exposed (1.9%) (P less than 0.001). A 10% decrease in PEF during the shift was present in 63 cotton exposed workers (8.1%) and in 10 non-exposed (2.1%) (P less than 0.001). For the exposed population, Monday tightness was analysed using multiple logistic regression, showing an absence of a link with smoking, an increased occurrence after 20 years of exposure (OR = 7.3) and a link with current job (more frequent among those with the dustiest jobs) (OR = 4.9). The multiple logistic analysis of a 10% decrease in PEF showed effects of smoking habits (OR = 1.86). It also showed a link with "highly polluted job" history (OR = 2.7), but especially with present job (OR = 3.4). The absence of a constant link between Monday tightness and drop of the PEF was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Bilineal transmission in Tourette syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency and pattern of bilineal transmission in families of patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) compared with normal control subjects. METHODS: The study population consisted of two groups: 1) consecutive patients with TS with both parents (51 family sets; 153 individuals), and 2) normal control subjects randomly selected from public schools (20 family sets; 60 individuals). All patients with TS, normal control subjects, and their parents were evaluated for evidence of TS and associated features. Structured interviews and detailed questionnaires designed to assess tics, obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCB), and attention deficit disorder (ADD) were administered to all people in both groups. RESULTS: In addition to tics, 43 (84.3%) patients with TS had ADD, 33 (64.7%) had OCB, and 31 (60.8%) had both ADD and OCB. In 42 (82.4%) of the 51 patients, at least one parent exhibited features of TS; unilineal transmission (only one parent with tics, OCB, or ADD) was present in 29 (56.9%) TS families and an additional 13 (25.5%) TS families manifested evidence of bilineal transmission (both parents affected). More fathers than mothers of patients with TS had tics (31.4% versus 15.7%), whereas more mothers had OCB than did fathers (33.3% versus 15.7%). Features of ADD were equally distributed among fathers (35.3%) and mothers (33.3%) of patients with TS. Eight of 1,142 (0.7%) children in the general school population had some evidence of TS. One of 40 parents of the normal control subjects (2.5%) had symptoms of ADD, but none of the parents of normal control subjects manifested any features of TS or OCB. CONCLUSIONS: This study found evidence for bilineal transmission in one fourth of TS families. Features of the TS spectrum were rare in normal control families. Evidence of tics, OCB, and ADD should be investigated in both parents of patients with TS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Opinions of pharmacy, medicine, and pharmaceutical industry leaders about hypothetical therapeutic-interchange legislation.

The beliefs of representatives of organized pharmacy and medicine and the pharmaceutical industry about the effect of hypothetical therapeutic-interchange legislation on various health-care issues were studied. Questionnaires designed to gauge respondents' beliefs about the impact of two hypothetical bills (A and B) concerning selection of therapeutic alternates by pharmacists were mailed to the directors of 307 organizations in April 1986. Bill A would permit pharmacists in any setting to select therapeutic alternates. Bill B would permit therapeutic interchange by pharmacists within organized health-care settings in accordance with guidelines approved by physicians. Issues addressed included the efficient delivery of health care, professional liability, interprofessional and pharmacist-patient relationships, and competition and profitability in the pharmaceutical industry. The response rate was 63% (194 usable responses). Bill A received some support from representatives of state pharmaceutical associations only. However, bill B was supported by respondents from state pharmaceutical associations, state hospital pharmacy societies, boards of pharmacy, and generic manufacturers. Respondents from medical associations and member companies of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PMA) were concerned about the impact of the hypothetical bills on the quality of drug therapy and the efficiency of health-care delivery. Respondents from medical associations also were concerned about the impact of the bills on physician liability. The responses from the medical associations and the PMA-member companies suggest that a program should be developed to educate physicians about the process used by pharmacists and physicians to develop guidelines for therapeutic interchange in various practice settings.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2001

Family functioning in subjects with pseudoseizures and epilepsy.

The purpose of this study was to identify differences in family functioning between subjects with pseudoseizures and their families, and control subjects with epilepsy. Thirty-one adult subjects with pseudoseizures and 31 controls with intractable epilepsy, whose diagnoses were confirmed using video-EEG, were recruited from the epilepsy unit of a tertiary care hospital over a 4-year period. Each study participant and their first-degree adult family members completed two standardized questionnaires designed to measure family functioning: the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) and the Beavers Self-Report Family Inventory (SFI). Individuals with pseudoseizures, when compared with epileptic subjects, exhibited significantly elevated scores in three scales of the FAD and in one scale of the SFI, indicating greater psychopathology within the family, as perceived by the individual. Statistically significant differences with the FAD were on measures of affective involvement (p = .044), communication (p = .004), and general functioning (p = .013). The SFI revealed significantly greater difficulty with conflict (p = .050). No differences were noted between subjects with both pseudoseizures and epilepsy and subjects with pseudoseizures alone. In comparison with the families of the epileptic group, the families of subjects with pseudoseizures displayed statistically significant elevations in their responses on the roles scale (p = .003) of the FAD. The responses of the family members did not differ in regard to the role they assumed within the family unit (i.e., spouse, parent). In summary, individuals with pseudoseizures view their families as being more dysfunctional, particularly in the area of communication, whereas their family members perceived difficulties in defining roles. This suggests that family education and interventions focusing on these areas, may be an important aspect of the treatment of patients with pseudoseizures.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[How patients react when glaucoma is diagnosed?].

PURPOSE: Evaluate the psychological consequences of announcing the diagnosis of glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred patients completed a 20-item questionnaire designed to analyze the context in which glaucoma was discovered and the patients' reaction to this diagnosis. Behavioral modification in patients and their families are specified as well as their perception of the information received. COMMENTS: Most patients had open-angle glaucoma and showed either an anxious or a passive reaction to the announcement of the diagnosis. Severe anxiety led to prescription of minor tranquilizers or antidepressants in 11% of cases. Nearly half of the patients declared that they had modified their behavior after receiving the diagnosis, indicating a need to play an active role in disease management. A large majority of the patients were conscious of the risk of blindness related to glaucoma; however, they did not feel ill but rather handicapped . Most were dissatisfied with the information provided by their doctor and sought other sources of information. CONCLUSION: Announcing a diagnosis of glaucoma is a decisive step in the physician-patient relationship, known to be important in future treatment compliance. Better adapted information with regular reevaluation of the need for additional information is necessary. The psychological impact should be evaluated regularly in order to promote an active role on the part of the patient and avoid a decline in quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

The VF-14. An index of functional impairment in patients with cataract.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development and the performance of a brief questionnaire designed to measure functional impairment caused by cataract (the VF-14). DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. Patients were recruited between July 15 and December 15, 1991. SETTING: Patients were recruited from the practices of 70 ophthalmologists, located in Columbus, Ohio (N = 21), St Louis, Mo (N = 26), and Houston, Tex (N = 23). PATIENTS: Seven hundred sixty-six patients undergoing cataract surgery for the first time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative best corrected visual acuity in each eye; scores on the VF-14, a new index of functional impairment in patients with cataract; patient reports of overall trouble and satisfaction with their vision; and scores on the Sickness Impact Profile, a measure of general health status. RESULTS: The VF-14 has high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .85) and correlates more strongly with the overall self-rating of the amount of trouble and satisfaction patients have with their vision than do several measures of visual acuity or the Sickness Impact Profile score. The VF-14 score is moderately correlated with visual acuity in the better eye. CONCLUSIONS: The VF-14 is a reliable and valid measure of functional impairment caused by cataract and provides information not conveyed by visual acuity or a general measure of health status.

Cataract↗