[Reference values of the Spanish version of the SF-12v2 for the diabetic population]

Validity and reliability of the English version of the Diabetic Foot Self-Care Questionnaire: a cross-cultural adaptation

Introduction

The objective of this study was to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Diabetic Foot Self-Care Questionnaire into the English language, broadening the applicability of this patient-reported outcome measure and improving the monitoring of patients with diabetic foot disease.

Methods

The validation study into English was conducted in two phases: cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation study. Short Form-12 Version 2, EuroQoL-5D and Foot Function Index were used to analyze the criterion validity. Item response, internal consistency, standard error of measurement, minimal detectable change and construct validity were calculated in the validation phase.

Results

An English version of the questionnaire (DFSQ-UMA-En) was successfully obtained. A total of n = 193 participants were tested to confirm the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Internal consistency values ranged from very good to excellent (Cronbach's α =0.889-0.981), and reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.854-0.959). Standard error measurement value was =2.543. Criterion validity ranged from r = 0.429 to r = 0.844. For construct validity, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test was =0.752.

Conclusion

DFSQ-UMA-En is a valid and reliable tool with good readability and comprehension features. This questionnaire addresses foot self-care behaviors in patients with diabetic foot disease, standing out as essential for early diagnosis and prevention strategies in clinical and research settings.

Knowledge about Fibromyalgia in Fibromyalgia Patients and Its Relation to HRQoL and Physical Activity

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) affects 2.40% of the Spanish population. The most widespread treatment has been the combination of patient education, pain coping strategies and exercise. With regard to patient education, there are few previous studies on the efficacy of relating FM education in isolation with an improvement in FM, although there are some studies that report that health education programs could modify the perception of quality of life and improve pain. Objectives: the aim was to find out the level of knowledge about FM among patients in Extremadura, to explore the relationship between knowledge of FM and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and to analyze the relationship between knowledge of physical activity in FM and the practice of physical activity. Methods: A single-measure cross-sectional study was carried out with 121 women with a mean age of 55.06 (±9.93) years. The following questionnaires were used: Fibromyalgia Knowledge Questionnaire (FKQ); SF12v2 (Short-Form Health Survey); and EURO-QOL-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L). Results: regarding the level of knowledge of the participants about FM, it was found that 10% had a low knowledge, 49% medium and 41% high. In relation to the associations between the level of knowledge and HRQoL, a weak correlation between EQ-5D-5L and the FKQ in the domain of physical activity (r = 0.243) were found. Conclusions: it can be concluded that the level of knowledge about FM of the patients from Extremadura was medium-high and that there is a direct weak relationship between knowledge about physical activity in FM and HRQoL. However, no association was found between knowledge of physical activity in FM and the practice of physical activity.

Comparative Study between Subcutaneous and Endovascular Defibrillator Recipients Regarding Tolerance to the Implant Procedure and Perception of Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

The totally subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is a safe alternative to the conventional transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) system to prevent sudden death.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the impact of the type of ICD system and surgical technique on patients' quality of life, as well as the severity of discomfort and pain, between S-ICD and TV-ICD recipients.

METHODS

Consecutively implanted patients with an S-ICD system were matched with patients with a TV-ICD system. In addition, patients undergoing S-ICD implantation after removal of a TV-ICD due to complications were included. Quality of life (measured with the 12-item short-form health survey) and severity of pain and discomfort were evaluated. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 64 patients implanted with S-ICD or TV-ICD under local anesthesia and conscious sedation were analyzed. Patients with S-ICD and TV-ICD systems did not differ significantly in quality of life scores. S-ICD patients had a higher level of perioperative pain; no differences were found regarding severity of intraoperative pain. The magnitude of aesthetic discomfort and sleep disturbances did not differ between groups. An S-ICD was implanted in 7 additional patients after removal of a TV-ICD. All but one of these patients recommended the S-ICD system.

CONCLUSIONS

The type of ICD system and the surgical technique have negligible impact on patients' quality of life. These results suggest that conscious sedation, provided by an experienced electrophysiology team, could be considered as an alternative to general anesthesia to manage patients undergoing S-ICD implantation.

The enhancing effects of Biobran/MGN-3, an arabinoxylan rice bran, on healthy old adults' health-related quality of life: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

PURPOSE

The world's older population is growing rapidly and the need to find measures to combat age-associated decline of physical, mental, and cognitive functions and improve their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is escalating. Biobran/MGN-3, an arabinoxylan rice bran, has been previously reported to improve the quality of life in cancer patients. The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of a low dose of Biobran/MGN-3 supplementation on the HRQOL in a healthy older adult population.

METHODS

Sixty apparently healthy subjects, 40 males and 20 females, over 56 years old were recruited and blindly randomized into two group receiving either placebo or Biobran/MGN-3 (250 mg/day for 3 months). Participants did not take any vitamins or medications during the study and their health was closely monitored. HRQOL was assessed at the initiation and termination of the study using the previously validated Arabic version of SF-12v2 questionnaire.

RESULTS

For all measured HRQOL domains, there was no statistically significant difference in baseline scores between the two groups. Compared to baseline values and placebo-treated subjects, Biobran/MGN-3 supplementation significantly enhanced the levels of physical and mental component summary scores as well as role-physical, bodily pain, vitality, and social functioning subdomain scores.

CONCLUSION

These results show that Biobran/MGN-3 is a promising psychoneuroimmune modulatory agent that could improve the HRQOL in healthy old adults.

Relationship between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Health-Related Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction among Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and health-related quality of life and degree of life satisfaction among older adults.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional descriptive study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 351 people older than 60 years participated in the study.

MEASUREMENTS

The Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) was calculated to assess the degree of adherence to the MD. MD adherence was related to health-related quality of life using the Short Form Healthy Survey (SF-12) questionnaire, to life satisfaction using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and to sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle variables. Multiple logistic regression models were used to analyse this relationship.

RESULTS

Mediterranean diet adherence was related to health- related quality of life. Participants with better adherence to the MD were more physically active (p=0.01) and had better health-related quality of life (p<0.05) and lower consumption of alcoholic beverages (p=0.04). The age-adjusted model showed a significant association between the MD and mental function for both sexes and with physical function only for men. The fully adjusted model showed a direct relationship between the MD and life satisfaction of women (p>0.05) but not for that of men (p=0.31).

CONCLUSIONS

The adherence to the MD is directly associated with the self-perceived physical and mental function of both sexes and with the life satisfaction of women. Further studies in older adult populations should be performed to obtain conclusive results on the MD effect on health-related quality of life, including wellness indicators.

Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the English "Short form SF 12v2" into Bengali in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Background

To develop a culturally adapted and validated Bengali Short Form SF 12v2 among Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods

The English SF 12v2 was translated, adapted and back translated into and from Bengali, pre-tested by 60 patients. The Bengali SF 12v2 was administered twice with 14 days interval to 130 Bangladeshi RA patients. The psychometric properties of the Bengali SF 12v2 were assessed. Test-retest reliability was assessed by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and internal consistency by Cronbach’s alpha. Content validity was assessed by index for content validity (ICV) and floor and ceiling effects. To determine convergent and discriminant validity a Bengali Health Assessment Questionnaire (B-HAQ) was used. Factor analysis was done.

Results

The Bengali SF 12v2 was well accepted by the patients in the pre-test and showed good reliability. Internal consistency for both physical and mental component was satisfactory; Cronbach’s alpha was 0.9. ICC exceeded 0.9 in all domains. Spearman’s rho for all domains exceeded 0.8. The physical health component of Bengali SF 12v2 had convergent validity to the B-HAQ. Its mental health component had discriminant validity to the B-HAQ. The ICV of content validity was 1 for all items. Factor analysis revealed two factors a physical and a mental component.

Conclusions

The interviewer-administered Bengali SF 12v2 appears to be an acceptable, reliable, and valid instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in Bengali speaking RA patients. Further evaluation in the general population and in different medical conditions should be done.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12955-017-0683-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Intervention in elderly patients with multiple morbidities and multiple medications: results of the prescription and the quality of life]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of an intervention using STOPP/START criteria and the Garfinkel algorithm on prescription and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly patients with multimorbidity and prescribed multiple medications.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A before-after intervention study on 381 patients over 67 years old and prescribed multiple medications by 71 Primary Care doctors.

INTERVENTION

The doctors were trained in the STOPP / START criteria and Garfinkel algorithm. Each doctor then reviewed all the drugs of their selected patients and then made appointments with them for an initial medical consultation and clinical assessment. Treatment was modified according to the criteria and the HRQoL measured using the SF-12 questionnaire. Two months later, in a second medical consultation, a new clinical assessment was made and the HRQoL was measured. The dimensions of the HRQoL between the first and the second consultation were compared using the paired Student-t test.

RESULTS

The intervention involved the removal of a mean of 1.5 drugs per patient. The dose was modified in 4% of drugs, and 8.9% of patients were prescribed a new drug. Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), psychoactive drugs and proton pump inhibitors were the most modified. Social Function and Physical Component Summary of the HRQOL improved significantly (P<.05) after intervention.

CONCLUSION

The intervention using the Garfinkel algorithm and STOPP -START criteria improved HRQoL and reduced the number of prescribed drugs.

[Quality of life in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quality of life in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis through self-assessment and those made by the physician.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An observational and cross-sectional multicenter study in which 628 traumatologists or rheumatologists evaluated 1,849 patients with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, aged ≥ 50 years old, and representative of 49 Spanish provinces. Each researcher evaluated three patients and also completed the SF-12v2 health questionnaire. The patients completed the WOMAC and SF-12v2 questionnaires.

RESULTS

The patients were 68.5 ± 9.5 years old, 61.5% had knee osteoarthritis, 19% had hip osteoarthritis, and 19.5% in both locations. Older patients and those who had both knee and hip osteoarthritis had a poorer quality of life, according to patients and researchers. Physical health perceived by the researchers was better than patients reported (36.74 ± 8.6 and 35.21 ± 8.53; respectively, p<0.001), and the mental health score was similar between physicians and patients. Kellgren/Lawrence scale and test Timed Up & Go predict better the quality of life, assessed by WOMAC and SF-12v2 questionnaires.

DISCUSSION

This is the Spanish study on quality of life in osteoarthritis of the knee and hip of larger amplitude and number of patients.

CONCLUSION

These results could be considered as reference values of Spanish population aged ≥ 50 years with knee or hip osteoarthritis.

[Quality of life in the elderly on polymedication and with multiple morbidities]

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the values of the quality of life dimensions using the SF-12 questionnaire in the elderly on polymedication and with multiple morbidities, and identify the variables associated with it.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study on a sample of 393 patients selected from the elderly population over 67 years and who took more than 5 drugs. The SF-12 was complemented by a personal interview in the clinic or in the home of the patient. Central tendency, dispersion, and the percentiles of the 8 dimensions were calculated, as well as the SF-36 physical and mental component summary measures (PCS and MCS). All patients below the 25th percentile of the PCS and MCS were classified as patients with a deterioration. Logistic regression was used to determine the variables that were associated with the deterioration in the quality of life.

RESULTS

It is a population with high morbidity. The subjects showed very low scores on the general health scales--mean (SD): 25.7 (17.4)-; physical function -32.6 (32.1)-; and PCS: [(37.8 (25.1)]. Women had a worse quality of life than men in all the scales. Female sex, being over 80 years, frequent falls, chronic pain, cancerous disease, and depression, are variables that determine the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL).

CONCLUSION

This population has a poor HR-QoL, particularly in the physical dimensions. Chronic pain and depression, together with age and being female are variables that determine the deterioration in the HR-QoL.

Linking quality of healthcare and health-related quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes: an evaluative study in Mexican family practice

Objective

To assess the association between quality of care and health-related quality of life among type 2 diabetes patients.

Design

A cross-sectional study assessing the association between quality of care and quality of life using multiple linear regression analysis.

Setting

Family medicine clinics (FMC) (n = 39) of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Mexico City.

Participants

Type 2 diabetes patients (n = 312), older than 19 years.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Health-related quality of life was measured using the MOS Short-Form-12 (SF-12); quality of healthcare was measured as the percentage of recommended care received under each of four domains: early detection of diabetes complications, non-pharmacological treatment, pharmacological treatment and health outcomes.

Results

The average quality of life score was 41.4 points on the physical component and 47.9 points on the mental component. Assessment of the quality of care revealed deficiencies. The average percentages of recommended care received were 21.9 for health outcomes and 56.6 for early detection of diabetes complications and pharmacological treatment; for every 10 percent additional points on the pharmacological treatment component, quality of life improved by 0.4 points on the physical component (coefficient 0.04, 95% confidence intervals 0.01–0.07).

Conclusions

There was a positive association between the quality of pharmacological care and the physical component of quality of life. The quality of healthcare for type 2 diabetes patients in FMC of the IMSS in Mexico City is not optimal.

The 12-item medical outcomes study short form health survey version 2.0 (SF-12v2): a population-based validation study from Tehran, Iran

Background

The SF-12v2 is the improved version of the SF-12v1. This study aimed to validate the SF-12v2 in Iran.

Methods

A random sample of the general population aged 18 years and over living in Tehran, Iran completed the instrument. Reliability was estimated using internal consistency and validity was assessed using known-groups comparison and convergent validity. In addition the factor structure of the questionnaire was extracted by performing both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA).

Results

In all, 3685 individuals were studied (1887male and 1798 female). Internal consistency for both summary measures was satisfactory. Cronbach's α for the Physical Component Summary (PCS-12) was 0.87 and for the Mental Component Summary (MCS-12) it was 0.82. Known-groups comparison showed that the SF-12v2 discriminated well between men and women and those who differed in age and educational status (P < 0.05). Furthermore, as hypothesized the physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain and general health subscales correlated higher with the PCS-12, while the vitality, social functioning, role emotional and mental health subscales correlated higher with the MCS-12. Finally the exploratory factor analysis indicated a two-factor structure (physical and mental health) that jointly accounted for 59.9% of the variance. The confirmatory factory analysis also indicated a good fit to the data for the two-latent structure (physical and mental health).

Conclusion

Although the findings could not be generalized to the Iranian population, overall the findings suggest that the SF-12v2 is a reliable and valid measure of health related quality of life among Iranians and now could be used in future health outcome studies. However, further studies are recommended to establish its stability, responsiveness to change, and concurrent validity for this health survey in Iran.

[Population based norms of the Spanish version of the SF-12V2 for Murcia (Spain)]

OBJECTIVE

Questionnaires on perceived health provide information on health results. Reference values are needed to assess these results. Previous studies have provided Spanish population-based norms for the SF-12v1. The aim of this study was to obtain the population-based norms for the Spanish version of the SF-12v2 for Murcia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional telephone survey was carried out in 3,486 community-dwelling persons aged over 18 years old in the region of Murcia. The central tendency, dispersion and percentiles were calculated for each of the eight scales and the physical and mental summary components (PCS and MCS) of the SF-12v2. Known groups were compared to evaluate construct validity (Student's t-test and ANOVA).

RESULTS

A total of 3, 381 persons took part in the study (50.5% men). The mean age was 43.6 years in men and 46.0 in women. The mean PSC was 48.6 (± 10.6) and the mean MCS was 53.6 (± 10.7). These scores were higher (more favorable) in men, the youngest age groups, in persons with higher education and in those no chronic illnesses (p=0.000). In all the dimensions and summary components, men had better scores than women. The dimension with the worst score in both men and women was general health and the PCS.

CONCLUSIONS

These results should be considered as the population-based norms for the Spanish version of the SF-12v2 for Murcia but may also be useful to establish health aims in similar populations.