Thea P. M. Vliet Vlieland

Patients' utilities for cancer treatments: a study of the chained procedure for the standard gamble and time tradeoff.

Objective. Temporary health states cannot be measured in the traditional way by means of techniques such as the time tradeoff (TTO) and the standard gamble (SG), where health states are chronic and are followed by death. Chained methods have been developed to solve this problem. This study assesses the feasibility of a chained TTO and a chained SG, and the consistency and concordance between the two meth ods. Patients and methods. Seventy female early-stage breast cancer patients were interviewed. In using both chained methods, the temporary health state to be evaluated was weighed indirectly with the aid of a temporary anchor health state. The patients were asked to evaluate their actual health states, a hypothetical radiotherapy scenario, and a hypothetical chemotherapy scenario. Results. Sixty-eight patients completed the interview. The use of the anchor health state yielded some problems. A significant difference between the means of the TTO and the SG was found for the anchor health state only. For the other health states, the results were remarkably close, because the design avoided some of the bias effects in traditional measurements. Conclusion. The feasibility and the consistency of the chained procedure were satisfactory for both methods. The problems regarding the anchor health state can be solved by adapting the methods and by the use of a carefully chosen anchor health state. The chained method avoids biases present in the conventional method, and thereby the TTO and the SG may be reconciled. Moreover, there are several psychological advantages to the method, which makes it useful for diseases with uncertain prognoses. Key words: utility assessment; time tradeoff; standard gamble; breast cancer; chemotherapy; ra diotherapy. (Med Decis Making 1998;18:391-399)

Rehabilitation of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract Rehabilitation, as an adjunct to pharmacological and surgical therapies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), aims to minimize the consequences of the disease. For a systematic assessment of the consequences of disease, an appropriate definition and evaluation of the goals of therapy and interventions, and an active partnership with the patient, a structured approach to rehabilitation management is needed. Despite widespread positive clinical experience with rehabilitative interventions, the scientific evidence of their effectiveness is, in general, scanty, owing to a lack of studies with sufficient methodological quality. Further well-designed clinical studies are warranted with respect to several interventions where evidence is falling short.

Beating osteoARThritis: Development of a stepped care strategy to optimize utilization and timing of non-surgical treatment modalities for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis

Inadequacies in health care practices have been reported despite existing guidelines to manage hip or knee osteoarthritis. To facilitate guideline implementation and improve utilization of non-surgical treatment options a care strategy should be developed. This study describes the development of an evidence-based, multidisciplinary, patient-centered, stepped care strategy. A national, multidisciplinary, steering group developed the strategy in three phases: (1) consensus among steering group members (first draft); (2) written consultation of 23 representatives of patient organizations and professional associations involved in osteoarthritis care (second draft); (3) consensus of the final draft after discussion in two rounds during a conference with representatives from the different disciplines. The final stepped care strategy presents, in three tiers, the optimal order for non-surgical treatment modalities. It recommends that more advanced options should only be considered if options listed in previous steps failed to produce satisfactory results. Hence, the first step treatment options can be offered to all patients but may also be provided through self care (education, life style advice, and acetaminophen). The second step (exercise therapy, dietary therapy, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and third step treatment options (multidisciplinary care, intra-articular injections, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) can be considered for people with persisting complaints. Trough a consensus procedure, we succeeded to develop a multidisciplinary, patient-centered, stepped care strategy based on national guidelines. This strategy provides a framework for health care providers and patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis to discuss the optimal timing of the various treatment options.

Effect of self-efficacy and physical activity goal achievement on arthritis pain and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To examine physical activity and achievement of physical activity goals in relation to self‐reported pain and quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The ParkinsonNet concept: Development, implementation and initial experience†

The quality and efficiency of allied health care in Parkinsons disease (PD) must be improved. We have developed the ParkinsonNet concept: a professional regional network within the catchment area of hospitals. ParkinsonNet aims to: (1) improve PD‐specific expertise among allied health personnel, by training a selected number of therapists according to evidence‐based guidelines; (2) enhance the accuracy of referrals by neurologists; (3) boost patient volumes per therapist, by stimulating preferred referral to ParkinsonNet therapists; and (4) stimulate collaboration between therapists, neurologists, and patients. We describe the procedures for developing a ParkinsonNet network. Our initial experience with this new concept is promising, showing an increase in PD‐specific and a steady rise in the patient volume of individual therapists.

Left ventricular dysfunction assessed by speckle‐tracking strain analysis in patients with systemic sclerosis: Relationship to functional capacity and ventricular arrhythmias

OBJECTIVE Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by vascular inflammation and fibrosis. Visceral involvement, including cardiac manifestations, can lead to severe clinical complications, such as congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden death. Conventional echocardiography parameters have limited sensitivity to detect subtle myocardial dysfunction in patients with SSc. The aim of this study was to assess, using novel speckle-tracking strain analysis, the presence of myocardial dysfunction in patients with SSc, and to investigate its relationship to functional capacity and ventricular arrhythmias. METHODS A total of 104 patients with SSc (mean ± SD age 54 ± 12 years, 77% female) were included and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 24-hour electrocardiography (EKG) Holter monitoring, and transthoracic echocardiography. For comparison, 37 matched healthy control subjects were included. RESULTS The total patient population consisted of 51 patients with limited cutaneous SSc and 53 with diffuse cutaneous SSc. Peak VO(2) was a mean ± SD 91 ± 20% predicted, and 28 patients had abnormal findings (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular ectopics >100/day) on EKG Holter monitoring. Patients with SSc, as compared with controls, had impaired global longitudinal and circumferential strains (mean ± SD -18.2 ± 1.8% versus -21.3 ± 1.7% and -18.2 ± 2.3% versus -21.3 ± 2.1%, respectively; each P < 0.01), but there was no difference in the left ventricular ejection fraction between patients and controls (mean ± SD 63.5 ± 7.2% versus 64.6 ± 4.4%; P = 0.20). In patients with SSc, global longitudinal and circumferential strains each correlated with the peak VO(2) (r = -0.46 and r = -0.41, respectively; both P < 0.01), and multivariate analysis confirmed the independent association of each strain measure with the peak VO(2). Compared to SSc patients with normal results on EKG Holter monitoring, SSc patients with abnormal results showed impaired global longitudinal strains (-18.5 ± 1.5% versus -17.1 ± 2.1%; P < 0.01) and circumferential strains (-18.7 ± 2.0% versus -17.3 ± 2.5%; P = 0.01), and each strain measure was independently associated with abnormal Holter findings. CONCLUSION Speckle-tracking strain analysis can detect subtle myocardial dysfunction in patients with SSc. Importantly, decreased global longitudinal and circumferential strains are associated with lower functional capacity and rhythm disturbances in patients with SSc.

Patients with severe radiographic osteoarthritis have a better prognosis in physical functioning after hip and knee replacement: a cohort-study.

Introduction Although Total Hip and Knee Replacements (THR/TKR) improve Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) at the group level, up to 30% of patients are dissatisfied after surgery due to unfulfilled expectations. We aimed to assess whether the pre-operative radiographic severity of osteoarthritis (OA) is related to the improvement in HRQoL after THR or TKR, both at the population and individual level. Methods In this multi-center observational cohort study, HRQoL of OA patients requiring THR or TKR was measured 2 weeks before surgery and at 2–5 years follow-up, using the Short-Form 36 (SF36). Additionally, we measured patient satisfaction on a 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRSS). The radiographic severity of OA was classified according to Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) by an independent experienced musculoskeletal radiologist, blinded for the outcome. We compared the mean improvement and probability of a relevant improvement (defined as a patients change score≥Minimal Clinically Important Difference) between patients with mild OA (KL Grade 0–2) and severe OA (KL Grade 3+4), whilst adjusting for confounders. Results Severe OA patients improved more and had a higher probability of a relevant improvement in physical functioning after both THR and TKR. For TKR patients with severe OA, larger improvements were found in General Health, Vitality and the Physical Component Summary Scale. The mean NRSS was also higher in severe OA TKR patients. Discussion Patients with severe OA have a better prognosis after THR and TKR than patients with mild OA. These findings might help to prevent dissatisfaction after THR and TKR by means of patient selection or expectation management.

The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index in Rotator Cuff Disease Patients A Comprehensive Reliability and Responsiveness Validation Study

Background: The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) is an increasingly applied condition-specific outcome measure for rotator cuff (RC) conditions. However, in most WORC validation studies, only a limited number of psychometric properties are studied in indistinct patient groups. Purpose: To assess psychometric properties of the WORC according to the Scientific Advisory Committee quality criteria for health questionnaires in 3 patient groups with distinct RC conditions. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The WORC (range, 0-100; 21 items, 5 domains) was administered twice (T1, T2) in 92 patients (35 RC tears, 35 calcific tendinitis, 22 impingement). Additionally, the Constant score (CS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score (DASH) were recorded. Calcific tendinitis patients were reassessed 6 weeks after treatment with needling and lavage or a subacromial injection with corticosteroids (T3). We assessed floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, precision, construct validity, minimally detectable change, and responsiveness in the diagnostic subgroups and the total group. Results: Mean age was 55.0 ± 8.7 years, and 49 of 92 (53%) patients were female. Mean baseline WORC was 46.8 ± 20.4, CS was 63.9 ± 15.4, and DASH was 40.9 ± 18.6. Significant differences were found for the CS and DASH between RC tear patients (severe symptoms) and the other patients, but not for the WORC. There were no floor and ceiling effects. Internal consistency was high: the Cronbach alpha coefficient was .95. The intraclass correlation coefficient of .89 and standard error of measurement of 6.9 indicated high reproducibility. Pearson correlations of the WORC with the CS and DASH were .56 and –.65, respectively (both P < .001). At T3, total WORC improved significantly (mean change, 18.8; 95% confidence interval, 11.3-26.2). Correlations of the WORC change scores with CS and DASH changes were .61 and –.84, respectively (both P < .001). Effect size was 0.96, with a standardized response mean of 0.91, indicating good responsiveness. Conclusion: Applied to a variety of RC patients, the WORC had high internal consistency, moderate to good construct validity, high test-retest reliability, and good responsiveness. These findings support the use of the WORC as a condition-specific self-reported outcome measure in RC patients, but its validity in patients with severe symptoms needs further investigation.

Impact of adhesive capsulitis and economic evaluation of high-grade and low-grade mobilisation techniques

The purpose of this study was to estimate the impact of adhesive capsulitis on costs and health and to compare the cost-utility of high-grade and low-grade mobilisation techniques. In a randomised controlled trial, 92 patients with adhesive capsulitis received either high-grade mobilisation techniques or low-grade mobilisation techniques and were followed for one year. Outcome measures were quality adjusted life years (QALYs) according to the Short Form 6D (SF-6D) and societal costs estimated from cost questionnaires. Estimated costs and QALYs in both randomisation groups were similar, except for the number of treatment sessions (18.6 for high-grade mobilisation techniques versus 21.5 for low-grade mobilisation techniques), with an estimated cost difference of 105 euros in favour of high-grade mobilisation techniques (p = 0.001, 95% CI 43 euros to 158 euros). In the entire sample, the average valuation of health improved from 0.597 at baseline to 0.745 after a year. The burden due to adhesive capsulitis was estimated at 0.048 QALY and 4,521 euros per patient. About half these costs were due to absenteeism which, during the first quarter, amounted to 38% of the total working hours. In conclusion, the cost-utility analysis does not allow for an evidence-based recommendation on the preferred treatment. Based on the clinical outcome measures, high-grade mobilisation techniques are still preferred to low-grade mobilisation techniques. The estimated substantial burden, both to the patient and to society, suggests that effective early treatment of adhesive capsulitis is warranted to attempt to accelerate recovery.

Cross-cultural validation of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool in RA in 7 European countries

BackgroundThe Educational Needs Assessment Tool (the ENAT) is a 39-item patient questionnaire originally developed in the UK to assess educational needs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to assess the cross-cultural validity of the ENAT in 7 European countries.MethodsThe ENAT was translated into Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish versions by using Beatons cross-cultural adaptation process, and was completed by a convenience sample of patients with RA in each country. The generated country-specific data were assessed for construct validity and were then pooled and assessed for cross-cultural invariance using Rasch analysis.ResultsIndividual country-specific analysis showed adequate fit to the Rasch model after adjustment for local dependency within domains. When data from the different countries were pooled, the 39 items deviated significantly from Rasch models expectations (X2 = 977.055, DF = 351, p = 0.000, PSI = 0.976). Again, most items within domains were found to be locally dependent, significantly affecting the fit. Consequently each domain was treated as a unit (i.e. testlet) and the ENAT was re-analysed as a seven-testlet scale resulting into a good fit to the Rasch model (X2 = 71.909; DF = 63; p = 0.207, PSI = 0.951). A test of strict unidimensionality confirmed that all domains contributed to measuring a single construct. Cross-cultural non-invariance was discounted by splitting domains for DIF maintaining an excellent fit to the Rasch model. This allowed calibration of the ENAT into an interval scale.ConclusionThe ENAT is a simple tool, which is a valid measure of educational needs of people with RA. Adjustment for cross-cultural non-invariance is available if data from the 7 European countries are to be pooled or compared.