Yeşim Akyol

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) in community-dwelling older persons.

The FES-I is a questionnaire which was developed to assess fear of falling. The aim of this study was to evaluate validity and reliability of a Turkish language version of the FES-I in Turkish older people. The study sample included 70 volunteers with an age range of 65-81. To assess the test-retest reliability of the Turkish FES-I, questionnaire was applied again 10-15 days after the first interview (interclass correlation: ICC). FES-I was compared with The Modified Barthel Index (MBI), the timed up and go test (TUG), and The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for construct validity. Cronbachs alpha (α) was used to evaluate the internal consistency. The internal structure of the FES-I was examined by factor analysis. ROC plots were used to define cut-point for the FES-I scales. Cronbachs α of the Turkish FES-I was 0.94 and the individual item ICC ranged from 0.97 to 0.99. The Turkish FES-I total scores were correlated with TUG positively, and MBI, and BBS negatively. The cut-off score to differentiate between persons with fear of falling and persons without fear of falling was 24 points. It was found that the Turkish version of the FES-I was a reliable and valid measure of fear of falling in Turkish older people.

Functional disability of children with spina bifida: Its impact on parents’ psychological status and family functioning

Objective: To evaluate the impact of functional disability of Turkish children with spina bifida (SB) on parents’ psychological status and family functioning. Methods: Fifty-four children with SB and parents were included. The Functional Measure for Children (WeeFIM), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Family Assessment Device (FAD) were used. Results: Mothers’ BDI scores were significantly higher than fathers’ (p < 0.001). No significant effects of the knowledge of having children with SB before birth and the number of children in families on BDI scores and FAD sub-scores were found (p > 0.05). According to multiple regression analysis; significant correlations with fathers’ BDI were problem-solving (p = 0.012) and general functioning (p = 0.037) and with mothers’ BDI was roles (p = 0.018). Only childrens age was found to be an influential variable on WeeFIM scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Spina bifida healthcare should include psychological support to parents of these children and this support should be independent from disability level of children.

Quality of Life in Patients with Lower Limb Amputation: Does It Affect Post-amputation Pain, Functional Status, Emotional Status and Perception of Body Image?

Abstract Objective: Comparison of quality of life [QOL] and emotional status in male patients with traumatic lower limb amputation [LLA] and controls and evaluation of the relationship between these outcomes and post-amputation pain, functional status and perception of body image. Methods: Thirty male patients aged between 20 and 45 years, with traumatic LLA and 30 healthy normal controls were enrolled. The Nottingham Health Profile [NHP], Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], Beck Anxiety Inventory [BAI], visual analog scale [VAS], Locomotor Capabilities Index [LCI] and Amputee Body Image Scale [ABIS] were used. Results: There were significantly higher NHP, BDI and BAI scores in patients with LLA than control subjects [p < 0.05]. In patients with LLA, all subgroups of NHP were positively correlated with BDI, BAI and ABIS scores [p < 0.05]. The NHP energy and physical disability subgroups scores were negatively correlated with LCI scores. The positive correlation was found between the NHP pain subgroup score and post-amputation pain VAS score [p < 0.05]. There was no correlation between NHP scores and age and time since amputation [p > 0.05]. The positive correlation was found between BDI, BAI and ABIS score [p < 0.05]. Conclusion: It was found that QOL and emotional status deteriorated in male patients with LLA. According to the results of this study, depression, anxiety and body image disturbances may be the determinants of QOL. Having lower functional status were higher post-amputation pain were associated with the poor QOL for some domain. Emotional status of LLA patients may be linked to perception of body image.

Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) enthesitis index in turkish patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Relationship with disease activity and quality of life

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) enthesitis index and disease activity and health‐related quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

The Relationship of Fibromyalgia Syndrome with Neuropathic Pain, Quality of Life and Emotional Status in Male Traumatic Lower Limb Amputees

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] in male traumatic lower limb amputees [LLAs] and to determine the relationship between FMS clinical findings and neuropathic pain [NeP], quality of life [QOL], and emotional status in LLAs with FMS. Methods Thirty male traumatic LLAs were enrolled. Twelve LLAs [40 percent] included in the study were diagnosed with FMS [Group 1]. Group 2 [n = 18] included patients without FMS. The FMS-related measurements [Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire [FIQ], myalgic scoring, number of tender points, widespread pain, the presence of accompanying symptoms of FMS], NeP-related measurements [Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs [LANSS] scale, the presence and severity of phantom–residual limb pain], QOL [Nottingham Health Profile [NHP]], emotional status [Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], and Beck Anxiety Inventory [BAI]] were gathered using standardized measures. Results While there were significant differences between the groups in FMS-related measurements, NHP, BDI, and BAI scores [P < 0.05], there were no significant differences between the groups in NeP-related measurements [P > 0.05]. The FIQ score was positively correlated with NHP-QOL domains and BAI scores in LLAs with FMS [P < 0.05]. No correlation was found between other FMS-related measurements and demographics, the LANSS scale, postamputation pain visual analog scale, BDI, BAI, or NHP scores in LLAs with FMS [P > 0.05]. Conclusion In the current study, QOL and emotional status are impaired in male traumatic LLAs with FMS than those without. More severe FMS leads to less QOL and more anxiety. There is no relationship between FMS-related measurements and NeP-related measurements in LLAs with FMS.

Assessment of balance performance and fear of falling in acromegalic patients: A comparative study

Background: Acromegaly may lead to balance disturbances and fear of falling due to changes in body composition and co-morbidities. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate balance and fear of falling in acromegalic patients and their relation with disease characteristics. Materials and methods: Forty-eight acromegalic patients and 41 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled in the study. The median ages of the patients and controls were 48 (25–75) and 50 (25–67) yr, respectively. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and one-leg stance test (OLST) were used to compare dynamic and static balance respectively, 50 meters walking test was used to compare functional capacity and falls efficacy scale-international (FES-I) was used to compare fear of falling between the groups. Results: Balance tests (BBS and 50 meter walking test) and fear of falling (FES-I) were significantly disturbed in patients compared with controls. There was no significant difference in OLST. BBS and OLST were negatively and FES-I was positively correlated with age. FES-I was negatively correlated with BBS and OLST was positively correlated with 50 meters walking test. Only OLST was negatively correlated with disease duration. Logistic regression analysis revealed that balance was not affected by the presence of co-morbidities, postoperative vision loss and disease control. Conclusions: This is the first study showing that balance is disturbed in acromegalic patients. This disturbance is not related to disease control and co-morbidities but somewhat to disease duration.