Translation, validity and reliability of the pain attitudes and beliefs scale for physiotherapists in French

BACKGROUND

The Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT) questionnaire evaluates manual therapists' biomedical and biopsychosocial beliefs regarding the management of chronic low back pain. Its usage in clinical settings is an important step in the implementation of national guidelines and policies to improve patient management.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to translate the PABS-PT questionnaire into French, to adapt it culturally, and to conduct a psychometric analysis.

DESIGN

Qualitative and cross-sectional study.

METHOD

The translation process followed published guidelines with cross-cultural validation by an expert committee. We followed a forward and backward translation procedure and an expert committee, including the original author of the questionnaire and a linguistics expert ensuring good cultural adaptation, issued a finalised version. Psychometric analysis of the French version of the questionnaire was conducted among 390 French manual therapists in two phases. The first phase evaluated structural validity as well as external validity compared with the TSK and BBQ questionnaires. Then, reliability and scalability were analysed. The second phase evaluated test-retest reproducibility by sending the same questionnaire 3 months later.

RESULTS

The validity study revealed three subscales: the classic biomedical subscale and two subscales for biopsychosocial beliefs (aetiology of pain and physical activity). With 21 items in total for the PABS-PT-FR, the structural validity scores were good (BM: alpha = 0.82, H = 0.38; Physical Activity: alpha = 0.62, H = 0.32; Aetiology of Pain: alpha = 0.55, H = 0.29).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a validated tool to assess French physiotherapists' and, more generally, healthcare providers' beliefs about chronic low back pain, with a new insight into the BPS subscale internal construct.

Bordetella bronchiseptica experimental model development in pigs and efficacy evaluation of a single intramuscular injection of gamithromycin (Zactran® for Swine) against Bordetella bronchiseptica-associated respiratory disease in experimentally infected piglets

In the Bordetella bronchiseptica infection model development study, twenty-eight piglets were inoculated with B. bronchiseptica strain of either canine (10⁹  CFU/ml) or swine (10⁸ and 10⁹  CFU/ml) origin; swine origin strain at 10⁹  CFU/ml was chosen for the efficacy assessment study due to higher incidence and severity of gross and histopathological lesions compared with other strains. To assess efficacy of gamithromycin against B. bronchiseptica, forty piglets were experimentally inoculated on Day 0 and clinical signs were scored as per severity. Animals were then treated either with gamithromycin or saline on Day 3. The Global Clinical Scores in gamithromycin-treated group were consistently lower than the saline-treated control group from Day 4 onwards and were 0 and 40 in the gamithromycin-treated and saline-treated control groups, respectively, on Day 6. Severity and frequency of gross and histopathological observations were significantly lower in gamithromycin-treated animals compared with saline-treated controls. The efficacy of Zactran® for Swine at the label dose for the treatment of B. bronchiseptica-associated respiratory disease was demonstrated based on the faster reduction in clinical signs as early as 1 day post-gamithromycin treatment and based on the significant difference in the severity of macroscopic and microscopic lung lesions 10 days post-gamithromycin treatment.

An overview of osteopathy graduates' perceived preparedness at transition from educational environment to clinic environment one year after graduation: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study investigated perceived preparedness to practice, one year after graduation across osteopathic education institutions (OEIs) and explored possible differences between countries where osteopathy is regulated (Reg) and countries where it is not (Unreg).

METHODS

Two hundred forty-five graduates from 7 OEIs in 4 European countries, already assessed in a previous study, were contacted one year after their graduation to complete the survey. Survey tools included a questionnaire to assess perceived preparedness to practice: Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) questionnaire, and a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic information and practice characteristics.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-eight graduates (68.6%) completed the survey. The AAMC mean score one year after the graduation (23.19; confidence interval 22.81-23.58) was significantly higher than in the previous study (17.58; 16.90-18.26) (p < 0.001). A difference was also found between Reg (23.49; 23.03-23.95) and Unreg (22.34; 21.74-22.94) (p = 0.004). Osteopaths with a previous healthcare degree scored significantly higher on AAMC score (25.53; 24.88-26.19) than osteopaths without a previous healthcare degree (22.33; 21.97-22.69) (p < 0.001). Regulation and a previous degree were the only significant independent variables in the most predictive multivariate linear model. The model had an r² = 0.33.

CONCLUSIONS

Graduates from OEIs where osteopathy is regulated felt significantly better prepared to practice than Unreg. Systematic information searches about graduates' perception of preparedness to practice, may enable OEIs to strengthen their existing curricula to ensure their graduates are effectively prepared to practice.

Exploratory field study on the effect of Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) sow vaccination on serological, virological and reproductive parameters in a PCV2 subclinically infected sow herd

Background

This study sought to evaluate the effect of sow vaccination against Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) on reproductive parameters during two consecutive reproductive cycles. The study was performed in a PCV2 subclinical infected breeding herd (PCV2 circulation but absence of major reproductive problems). Ninety-four pregnant sows were primo-immunized with a commercial PCV2 vaccine and ninety-seven were injected with phosphate-buffered saline at 6 and 3 weeks before the first studied farrowing, and then boosted at 2 weeks before the second one. Blood samples were taken throughout the study to assess PCV2 DNA load and antibodies. At farrowing, main reproductive parameters and piglet vitality index were registered. In addition, in those litters with more than three mummified or stillborn piglets, microscopic examination and PCV2 antigen detection in foetal myocardium was done.

Results

Vaccinated sows showed significantly higher antibody levels compared to the non-vaccinated counterparts. PCV2 DNA was only detected at farrowing in 2 (4.2%) non-vaccinated sows. Vaccinated sows had 1.3 more live-born piglets per litter at the second cycle than non-vaccinated counterparts. Piglets from vaccinated sows had significantly higher (+ 12.7%) vitality score than the ones born from non-vaccinated sows. No PCV2 compatible lesions neither PCV2 antigen were detected in the tested foetal hearts.

Conclusions

The present study represents a first attempt to demonstrate that PCV2 sow vaccination may have a positive influence on prolificacy and vitality of the offspring in a subclinical infected breeding herd. However, since reproductive outcomes at farm level may be affected by a number of factors, further studies would be needed to confirm this association.

Learning Environment, Preparedness and Satisfaction in Osteopathy in Europe: The PreSS Study

Objective

1) to assess the preparedness to practice and satisfaction in learning environment amongst new graduates from European osteopathic institutions; 2) to compare the results of preparedness to practice and satisfaction in learning environment between and within countries where osteopathy is regulated and where regulation is still to be achieved; 3) to identify possible correlations between learning environment and preparedness to practice.

Method

Osteopathic education providers of full-time education located in Europe were enrolled, and their final year students were contacted to complete a survey. Measures used were: Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and a demographic questionnaire. Scores were compared across institutions using one-way ANOVA and generalised linear model.

Results

Nine European osteopathic education institutions participated in the study (4 located in Italy, 2 in the UK, 1 in France, 1 in Belgium and 1 in the Netherlands) and 243 (77%) of their final-year students completed the survey. The DREEM total score mean was 121.4 (SEM: 1.66) whilst the AAMC was 17.58 (SEM:0.35). A generalised linear model found a significant association between not-regulated countries and total score as well as subscales DREEM scores (p<0.001). Learning environment and preparedness to practice were significantly positively correlated (r=0.76; p<0.01).

Discussion

A perceived higher level of preparedness and satisfaction was found amongst students from osteopathic institutions located in countries without regulation compared to those located in countries where osteopathy is regulated; however, all institutions obtained a ‘more positive than negative’ result. Moreover, in general, cohorts with fewer than 20 students scored significantly higher compared to larger student cohorts. Finally, an overall positive correlation between students’ preparedness and satisfaction were found across all institutions recruited.

Efficacy of a new attenuated duck parvovirosis vaccine in Muscovy ducks

The efficacy of a new live attenuated parvovirosis vaccine was tested in conventional ducklings against Derzsy's disease by comparing two vaccination regimens. Ducklings were vaccinated with either one injection at 17 days of age or two injections at 1 and 17 days of age. Controls and vaccinated ducklings were challenged with a virulent Derzsy strain at 21 days of age (day 20). Weight was measured on days 20, 34 and 42/43. Surviving birds were necropsied on day 42/43. Protection rates were significantly higher in the groups vaccinated once (90 per cent, P=0.003) and twice (95 per cent, P<0.001) than in the control group (59 per cent). The bodyweight was significantly higher in both vaccinated groups than in the control group on day 34 (P=0.008 and P<0.001, respectively) and day 42/43 (P<0.001 for both groups). The growth was significantly higher in the group vaccinated twice than the group vaccinated once on day 34 (P=0.047) and day 42/43 (P=0.017). Both vaccination regimens provided a quick onset of immunity. The higher weight gain in the group vaccinated twice suggests that an early vaccination at hatchery followed by a second injection at 17 days of age is an optimal and practical schedule to prevent parvovirosis.