Adequate self-care behaviour is essential for patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to prevent complications, prolong life, and optimise quality of life. However, there were no valid ...and reliable measurements available to assess self-care behaviour among patients with LVAD. We have previously developed the 33-item LVAD self-care behaviour scale.
To evaluate psychometric properties of the 33-item LVAD self-care behaviour scale.
Data on 127 patients with a LVAD in Israel, Japan, and the USA were analysed (mean age 51±14.3, 81% male). Exploratory factor analysis extracted three factors, and 13 items were excluded from the scale. Internal consistency assessed by Cronbach's alpha was acceptable for the total scale (α = 0.80) and the three subscales: Factor 1: Monitoring (α = 0.81), Factor 2: Heart failure self-care (α = 0.67), and Factor 3: LVAD self-care (α = 0.63). The 20-item version of the LVAD self-care behaviour scale had sufficient convergent validity with another scale that assessed self-care related to the driveline of LVAD (r = 0.47, p<0.001). Test-retest reliability was adequate (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.58).
The 20-item version of the LVAD self-care behaviour scale showed adequate validity and reliability. The scale is ready for use in clinical practice and research. Additional testing might further optimise the scale.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Highlights • Poorer adherence to self-care behavior correlated with patients with lower HL. • Critical HL was an independent predictor of self-care behavior in patients with HF. • It is necessary for ...HF patients to measure the communicative and critical HL. • To improve patient skills for critically analyzing information is effective.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
This study statistically explored public perceptions of the risks and benefits of the agricultural application of gene editing to food crops using online surveys in the US (n = 2,050), Japan (n = ...1,842), and Germany (n = 1,962). US participants exhibited the most positive attitudes toward this emerging technology. Japanese participants demonstrated similar attitudes to German participants regarding risk perceptions and demonstrated closer attitudes to US participants regarding benefit perceptions. Further, US participants did not highly differentiate between gene-edited and conventionally bred foods when compared to German and Japanese participants. Presentation of information using either animal or plant illustrations did not have any impact on risk perceptions toward gene-edited crops in the three countries, but the German and Japanese people who were given information with plant illustrations showed higher perceptions of benefit than those who were given the same information but with animal illustrations. The study results empirically indicate that despite receiving the same information under the same experimental conditions, perceptions can vary among countries. Our survey and provision of contrasting information illustrations, as well as including participants from an Asian country—Japan—in addition to Americans and Germans broadens the framework of civic epistemology.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Fluid restriction has long been believed to benefit patients with heart failure by counteracting the activated renin–angiotensin aldosterone system and sympathetic nervous activity. However, its ...effectiveness remains controversial. In this paper, we summarized the current recommendations and reviewed the scientific evidence on fluid restriction in the setting of both acute decompensated heart failure and compensated heart failure. While a recent meta-analysis demonstrated the beneficial effects of fluid restriction on both all-cause mortality and hospitalization compared to usual care, several weaknesses were identified in the assessment of the methodological quality of the meta-analysis using AMSTAR 2. Further randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate the benefits of fluid restriction for both clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes in patients with heart failure.
It is more important for patients with heart failure (HF) to objectively identify their self-care status. The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) version 7.2 is a reliable and valid instrument ...comprising three scales: self-care maintenance, symptom perception, and self-care management. We aimed to translate the SCHFI v.7.2 into Japanese and test its validity and reliability.
This was a cross-sectional study. Two translators performed forward and backward translations between English and Japanese. To assess structural validity, confirmatory factor analyses were performed using the structure of the original version. To assess convergent validity, the associations between each scale and self-care self-efficacy were evaluated. To assess internal consistency, model-based internal consistency coefficients were calculated. Participants were 314 Japanese outpatients with HF (mean age: 72.8 ± 12.8 years). Regarding structural validity, all scales showed adequate model fit indices, supporting a two-factor structure with items similar to those in the original version. However, to improve the model fit indices, it was necessary to add error correlations for the self-care maintenance and symptom perception scales. Regarding convergent validity, all scales showed significant associations with self-care self-efficacy. Regarding internal consistency, the model-based internal consistency coefficients were sufficient for all scales (0.739, 0.908, and 0.783 for the self-care maintenance, symptom perception, and self-care management scales, respectively).
The Japanese version of the SCHFI v.7.2 had adequate validity and reliability. This instrument is useful for assessing self-care in Japanese HF patients. However, factors influencing self-care should be considered when interpreting results.
The primary purpose of crosslinking is to halt the progression of ectasia. We retrospectively assessed the condition of keratoconus patients who were followed-up at least twice after the initial ...examination to evaluate keratoconus progression, to identify definitive factors to predict a later need for corneal crosslinking (CXL).
The medical charts of 158 eyes of 158 keratoconus patients (112 males and 46 females; mean age, 27.8 ± 11.7 years), who were followed up at the Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine at least twice after the initial examination to evaluate keratoconus progression were retrospectively reviewed. Best-spectacle corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, steepest corneal axis on the anterior float (Ks), thinnest corneal thickness according to Pentacam® HR, and corneal endothelial cell density were assessed. Gender, age, onset age of keratoconus, history of atopic dermatitis, and Pentacam® indices were also recorded. CXL was performed when the eye showed significant keratoconus progression, an increase in the steepest keratometric value, or an increase in the spherical equivalent or cylinder power of the manifest refraction by more than 1.0 D versus the respective values 2 years prior. Predictor variables and the requirement for CXL were analyzed using logistic regression.
Fifty-eight eyes required CXL treatment. The best predictor of the requirement for CXL was patient age, followed by the Pentacam® Rmin (the minimum sagittal curvature evaluated by Pentacam®) value. The incidence of CXL was 86.4% in the < 20 years age group, with an Rmin of ≤ 5.73 mm, whereas 10.8% in the ≥ 27 years age group with an Rmin > 5.73 mm underwent treatment.
An age of < 20 years and an Rmin value of ≤ 5.73 mm predicted keratoconus progression and the requirement for CXL treatment in the near future.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
To evaluate the association between axial length and crystalline lens biometry with and without accommodation using the CASIA2 swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) system on ...the anterior segment.
Study design
Intervention study.
Methods
Individuals aged 20 to 39 years were enrolled for SS-OCT imaging at 2 separate visits within 1 week. Each eye was imaged under accommodation stimuli with different amplitudes (0 D, -1 D, -3 D, -5 D, and -7 D). The anterior and posterior lens curvature radii and lens thicknesses were measured. The participants were divided into 4 groups according to axial length.
Results
Forty-eight participants (96 eyes) were initially enrolled. All 96 eyes were included in the analyses, as they met the eligibility criteria and each had proper OCT images. The mean participant age was 25.9 ± 4.3 years, and the mean spherical error was -3.5 ± 2.5 D. The mean axial length was 25.1 ± 1.2 mm. Multivariate analysis revealed that the anterior curvature radius became flatter and the lens thickness became thicker as the axial length increased (all
P
< .01). Furthermore, axial length independently contributed to the shape of the lens after adjusting for the effects of age and accommodation stimuli.
Conclusion
Axial length was associated with lens shape after adjusting for age and accommodation stimuli. These measurements can provide a glimpse of dynamic lens biometry changes, which may help us better understand the role of lenses in various physiologic changes, including accommodation and myopia.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS) is frequently used to assess self-care behaviours in patients with heart failure. This scale has been translated into several languages. ...The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstrument (COSMIN) Risk of Bias checklist for a systematic review has recently been published. The aim of the study was to assess the methodological quality of studies reporting on psychometric evaluations of the EHFScBS using the COSMIN methodology.
To identify relevant studies, a systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and CINAHL databases in December 2019 and the search was updated in June 2020. The COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist was used to assess the methodological quality. In total, 21 relevant studies were rated. The overall methodological quality of content validity was rated as inadequate in 17 studies and a main reason of the inadequate rating was a lack of patient involvement. Structural validity was adequately addressed in 12 studies, internal consistency in seven, and eight of 11 studies reporting on construct validity and had good methodological quality.
Although the use of the EHFScBS has grown rapidly and the validity and reliability are reported to be good, the methodological quality of studies reporting on psychometric properties of the scale is not optimal. Further studies are necessary to strengthen the evidence on validity and reliability of the EHFScBS.
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