Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a shorter version of the 33-item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33) that could be easily used in routine clinical practice to ...measure both health-related quality of life and changes after treatment in young, active patients with hip disorders. Methods A development dataset (104 patients) was explored with forward-selection linear regression analysis to choose a reduced item set for the new scale. This was tested in a validation dataset (1,833 patients) and responsiveness subset (80 patients) to measure agreement between the shorter and longer versions and to test the sensitivity of the shorter instrument to change after treatment. Results Twelve items were chosen for a short version of the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12). The iHOT-12 showed excellent agreement with the long version (iHOT-33). It captured 95.9% (95% confidence interval, 95.0% to 96.8%) of the variation of the iHOT-33 and showed equivalent sensitivity to change with a standardized effect size of 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.67 to 1.28). Conclusions A short version of the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12) has been developed. It has very similar characteristics to the original rigorously validated 33-item questionnaire, losing very little information despite being only one-third the length. It is valid, reliable, and responsive to change. We suggest that it be used for initial assessment and postoperative follow-up in routine clinical practice.
Ice. Methedrine. Crank. Crystal. Whatever its guise, the social and political contexts of methamphetamine share a certain uniqueness. Nicholas Parsons chronicles the history and mythology of ...methamphetamine in the United States from the 1940s--when it was hailed as a wonder drug--to the present. In an intriguing analysis, he also makes an important contribution to our understanding of the social construction of social problems.
Background:
Rotator cuff tears are the most common tendon injury in the adult population, resulting in substantial morbidity. The optimum management for these patients is not known.
Purpose:
To ...assess the overall treatment response to all interventions in full-thickness rotator cuff tears among patients enrolled in randomized clinical trials.
Study Design:
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods:
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from a systematic search of Medline, Embase, CINHAL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Patients were aged ≥18 years with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. The primary outcome measure was change in Constant shoulder score from baseline to 52 weeks. A meta-analysis to assess treatment response was calculated via the standardized mean change in scores.
Results:
A total of 57 RCTs were included. The pooled standardized mean change as compared with baseline was 1.42 (95% CI, 0.80-2.04) at 3 months, 2.73 (95% CI, 1.06-4.40) at 6 months, and 3.18 (95% CI, 1.64-4.71) at 12 months. Graphic plots of treatment response demonstrated a sustained improvement in outcomes in nonoperative trial arms and all operative subgroup arms.
Conclusion:
Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears demonstrated a consistent pattern of improvement in Constant score with nonoperative and operative care. The natural history of patients with rotator cuff tears included in RCTs is to improve over time, whether treated operatively or nonoperatively.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop a self-administered evaluative tool to measure health-related quality of life in young, active patients with hip disorders. Methods This outcome ...measure was developed for active patients (aged 18 to 60 years, Tegner activity level ≥4) presenting with a variety of symptomatic hip conditions. This multicenter study recruited patients from international hip arthroscopy and arthroplasty surgeon practices. The outcome was created using a process of item generation (51 patients), item reduction (150 patients), and pretesting (31 patients). The questionnaire was tested for test-retest reliability (123 patients); face, content, and construct validity (51 patients); and responsiveness over a 6-month period in post-arthroscopy patients (27 patients). Results Initially, 146 items were identified. This number was reduced to 60 through item reduction, and the items were categorized into 4 domains: (1) symptoms and functional limitations; (2) sports and recreational physical activities; (3) job-related concerns; and (4) social, emotional, and lifestyle concerns. The items were then formatted using a visual analog scale. Test-retest reliability showed Pearson correlations greater than 0.80 for 33 of the 60 questions. The intraclass correlation statistic was 0.78, and the Cronbach α was .99. Face validity and content validity were ensured during development, and construct validity was shown with a correlation of 0.81 to the Non-Arthritic Hip Score. Responsiveness was shown with a paired t test ( P ≤ .01), effect size of 2.0, standardized response mean of 1.7, responsiveness ratio of 6.7, and minimal clinically important difference of 6 points. Conclusions We have developed a new quality-of-life patient-reported outcome measure, the 33-item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33). This questionnaire uses a visual analog scale response format designed for computer self-administration by young, active patients with hip pathology. Its development has followed the most rigorous methodology involving a very large number of patients. The iHOT-33 has been shown to be reliable; shows face, content, and construct validity; and is highly responsive to clinical change. In our opinion the iHOT-33 can be used as a primary outcome measure for prospective patient evaluation and randomized clinical trials.
Our knowledge of the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is uncertain. Recent studies reported an increase in prevalence. However, they excluded a high proportion of ...ambiguous cases from general practice. Estimates are needed to inform health care providers who plan the provision of services for IBD patients. We aimed to estimate the IBD incidence and prevalence in UK general practice.
We undertook a retrospective cohort study of routine electronic health records from the IQVIA Medical Research Database covering 14 million patients. Adult patients from 2006 to 2016 were included. IBD was defined as an IBD related Read code or record of IBD specific medication. Annual incidence and 12-month period prevalence were calculated.
The prevalence of IBD increased between 2006 and 2016 from 106.2 (95% CI 105.2-107.3) to 142.1 (95% CI 140.7-143.5) IBD cases per 10,000 patients which is a 33.8% increase. Incidence varied across the years. The incidence across the full study period was 69.5 (95% CI 68.6-70.4) per 100,000 person years.
In this large study we found higher estimates of IBD incidence and prevalence than previously reported. Estimates are highly dependent on definitions of disease and previously may have been underestimated.
Local-level analysis of ethnic inequalities in health is lacking, prohibiting a comprehensive understanding of the health needs of local populations and the design of effective health services. ...Knowledge of ethnic disparities in child weight status is particularly limited by overlooking both the heterogeneity within ethnic groupings; and the complex ecological contexts in which obesity arises. This study aimed to establish whether there was variation in childhood BMI across ethnic groups in Coventry, and the influence of individual, school and neighbourhood contexts, using routinely collected local data.
National Child Measurement Programme data were compiled for the period 2007/8-2014/15 and combined with routinely collected local data reflecting school performance and demographics, and school and neighbourhood physical environments. Multi-level modelling using Monte Carlo Markov Chain methods was used to account for the clustering of children within schools and neighbourhoods. Ethnic group differences in BMI z-score (zBMI) were explored at 4-5 years and 10-11 years for girls and boys alongside individual, school and neighbourhood covariates.
At age 4-5 years (n = 28,407), ethnic group differences were similar for boys and girls, with children from South Asian, White other, Chinese and 'any other' ethnic groups having a significantly lower zBMI, and Black African children having a higher zBMI, versus White British (WB) children. Patterns differed considerably at age 10-11 years (n = 25,763) with marked sex differences. Boys from White other, Bangladeshi and Black African groups had a significantly higher zBMI than WB boys. For girls, only children from Black ethnic groups showed a significantly higher zBMI. Area-level deprivation was the only important school or neighbourhood covariate, but its inclusion did not explain ethnic group differences in child zBMI.
This analysis contributes to the existing literature by identifying nuanced patterns of ethnic disparities in childhood adiposity in Coventry, supporting the targeting of early obesity prevention for children from Black African groups, as well as girls from Black Caribbean and Black other ethnic backgrounds; and boys from Bangladeshi and White other ethnic backgrounds. It also demonstrates the utility of exploring routinely collected local data sets in building a comprehensive understanding of local population needs.
•We introduce a novel multimodal MRI graph metric termed “SC-FC Bandwidth”.•Most FC nodes are mediated by indirect SC.•Nodes with higher SC-FC Bandwidth tend to be closer, and highly ...synchronous.•High bandwidth SC-FC triangles predominate the somatomotor network.•High-bandwidth SC-FC quads predominate the default mode network.
The human brain is a complex network that seamlessly manifests behaviour and cognition. This network comprises neurons that directly, or indirectly mediate communication between brain regions. Here, we show how multilayer/multiplex network analysis provides a suitable framework to uncover the throughput of structural connectivity (SC) to mediate information transfer—giving rise to functional connectivity (FC).
We implemented a novel method to reconcile SC and FC using diffusion and resting-state functional MRI connectivity data from 484 subjects (272 females, 212 males; age = 29.15 ± 3.47) from the Human Connectome Project. First, we counted the number of direct and indirect structural paths that mediate FC. FC nodes with indirect SC paths were then weighted according to their least restrictive SC path. We refer to this as SC-FC Bandwidth. We then mapped paths with the highest SC-FC Bandwidth across 7 canonical resting-state networks.
We found that most pairs of FC nodes were connected by SC paths of length two and three (SC paths of length >5 were virtually non-existent). Direct SC-FC connections accounted for only 10% of all SC-FC connections. The majority of FC nodes without a direct SC path were mediated by a proportion of two (44%) or three SC path lengths (39%). Only a small proportion of FC nodes were mediated by SC path lengths of four (5%). We found high-bandwidth direct SC-FC connections show dense intra- and sparse inter-network connectivity, with a bilateral, anteroposterior distribution. High bandwidth SC-FC triangles have a right superomedial distribution within the somatomotor network. High-bandwidth SC-FC quads have a superoposterior distribution within the default mode network.
Our method allows the measurement of indirect SC-FC using undirected, weighted graphs derived from multimodal MRI data in order to map the location and throughput of SC to mediate FC. An extension of this work may be to explore how SC-FC Bandwidth changes over time, relates to cognition/behavior, and if this measure reflects a marker of neurological injury or psychiatric disorders.
ObjectiveTo compare the medium-term clinical effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty and resurfacing arthroplasty.DesignSingle centre, two-arm, parallel group, assessor blinded, randomised controlled ...trial with 1:1 treatment allocation.SettingA large teaching hospital in England.Participants122 patients older than 18 years with severe arthritis of the hip joint, suitable for resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip. Patients were excluded if they were considered to be unable to adhere to trial procedures or complete questionnaires.InterventionsTotal hip arthroplasty (replacement of entire femoral head and neck); hip resurfacing arthroplasty (replacement of the articular surface of femoral head only, femoral neck remains intact). Both procedures replaced the articular surface of the acetabulum.OutcomesThe outcome measures were hip function assessed using the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and health-related quality of life assessed using the EuroQol (EQ-5D). Patients were followed up annually for a minimum of 5 years. Outcome data were modelled using the generalised estimating equation methodology to explore temporal variations during follow-up.Results60 patients were randomly assigned to hip resurfacing arthroplasty and 62 to total hip arthroplasty. 95 (78%) of the 122 original study participants provided data at 5 years. There was a small decrease in both hip functions and quality of life in both groups of patients each year during the 5-year follow-up period. However, there was no evidence of a significant difference between treatments group in the OHS (P=0.333) or the EQ-5D (P=0.501).ConclusionsWe previously reported no difference in outcome in the first year after surgery. The current medium-term results also show no evidence of a difference in hip function or health-related quality of life in the 5 years following a total hip arthroplasty versus resurfacing arthroplasty.Trial registration numberISRCTN33354155. UKCRN 4093.
Employment within social firms in the UK is under-developed and under-researched, but a potentially beneficial route to vocational rehabilitation for people with mental health problems. This study ...explores the views and experiences of employees with mental ill-health, managers of social firms and mental health clinicians, in order to understand the potential value of social firms for the vocational rehabilitation, employment and well-being of people with mental health problems.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 employees with mental health problems in 11 social firms in England. A focus group and individual interviews were conducted with 12 managers of social firms. Two focus groups were held with 16 mental health clinicians. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Most employees expressed very positive views about working in a social firm. In responses from both employees and social firm managers, an overarching theme regarding the supportive ethos of social firms encompassed several related features: openness about mental health issues; peer, team and management support; flexibility; and support to progress and develop skills over time. Managers identified benefits of employing people with mental health problems who were sufficiently recovered. Knowledge of social firms within clinician focus groups was very limited, although clinicians thought they could be a welcome additional vocational resource.
High levels of job satisfaction among social firm employees may be explained by the supportive ethos of these working environments. Social firms have potential to be a helpful addition to the range of vocational pathways available for people with mental ill-health. Further mixed methods investigations of experiences and outcomes in order to understand who engages with and benefits from this form of vocational rehabilitation would be valuable in informing decisions about scaling up the model.
The aim of this study was to establish and validate the measurement properties of the Disability Rating Index (DRI) in a population of adults undergoing hip replacement.
One hundred and twenty-six ...adults participating in a randomized controlled trial completed the Oxford Hip Score, Harris Hip Score, DRI and EuroQol Group-Five Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaires at four time points. The structural validity of the DRI was assessed using principal component analysis. Cronbach's α was used to determine the internal consistency and scale reliability was also assessed. Correlation between the DRI and the other functional and health-related quality of life scales was used to check criterion validity. DRI responsiveness was estimated and the interpretability of the scale was also assessed by checking for edge effects.
Results of analyses showed that the DRI was internally consistent (Cronbach's α = 0.92), had good association with both function-specific and general health-related quality of life scores and was sensitive to change (smallest detectable change = 2.7). No evidence of edge effects was found. Furthermore, structural assessment of the DRI revealed two novel subscales representing simple tasks and difficult tasks.
The DRI is structurally valid, responsive and concurs with functional assessment in adults undergoing hip replacement.
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