Qualitative study of patients with venous malformations: symptom experiences and content validity of patient-reported outcome measures.

Purpose: To determine important symptoms and functional effects of venous malformations (VMs) to assess the content validity of commonly used patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures for use with VM patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional, qualitative study involved cognitive interviews with participants with VM aged ≥ 14 years. From February to June 2016, 11 participants (8 female) with a mean (± standard deviation) age of 31 ± 15 years were recruited from three clinical sites.

Are we "missing the big picture" in transitions of care? Perspectives of healthcare providers managing patients with unplanned hospitalization.

Background: Healthcare providers play a critical role in the care transitions. Therefore, efforts to improve this process should be informed by their perspectives.

Aim: The study objective was to explore the factors that negatively/positively influence care transitions following an unplanned hospitalization from the perspective of healthcare providers.

Change in Cognitive Function in the Month After Hospitalization for Acute Coronary Syndromes: Findings From TRACE-CORE (Transition, Risks, and Actions in Coronary Events-Center for Outcomes Research and Education).

Background: Cognitive function is often impaired during hospitalization, but whether this impairment resolves or persists after discharge is unknown.

Methods And Results: We enrolled (April 2011-May 2013) and interviewed during hospitalization and 1-month post-discharge 1521 nondemented acute coronary syndrome survivors enrolled in TRACE (Transitions, Risks and Actions in Coronary Events). Cognitive function was assessed using the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (range: 0-41) at both time points.

The Development of the Genital Psoriasis Sexual Frequency Questionnaire (GenPs-SFQ) to Assess the Impact of Genital Psoriasis on Sexual Health.

Introduction: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROs) exist for psoriasis but not genital psoriasis (GenPs).

Methods: This cross-sectional, qualitative study in patients with moderate-to-severe GenPs was conducted to support development of a PRO for measuring the impact of GenPs on sexual activity and to establish content validity. The impacts of GenPs were identified in a literature review.

The Development of a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Assessment of Genital Psoriasis Symptoms: The Genital Psoriasis Symptoms Scale (GPSS).

Introduction: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROs) specific for genital psoriasis (GenPs) have not been described.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, qualitative study in patients with moderate-to-severe GenPs, we sought to develop a PRO useful for GenPs symptom assessment. A literature review was performed to identify relevant psoriasis or GenPs symptoms and existing PROs that may be useful in the evaluation of symptom severity in GenPs patients.

Psychometric evaluation of a daily gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptom measure.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Heartburn Reflux Dyspepsia Questionnaire (HRDQ), a newly developed measure of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) symptoms. Specifically, the HRDQ was developed for patients, who still experience symptoms with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment.

Material And Methods: The psychometric properties of HRDQ were evaluated based on data from two clinical trials of patients with GORD with a partial response to PPIs, one from the UK and one from Denmark and Germany.

Perceiving one's heart condition to be cured following hospitalization for acute coronary syndromes: Implications for patient-provider communication.

Objective: We examined the proportion of patients perceiving their heart condition to be cured following hospitalization for ACS and identified characteristics associated with these perceptions.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adults hospitalized with ACS (N=396). Patient interviews during hospitalization and one week post-discharge provided demographic and psychosocial characteristics.

Testing item response theory invariance of the standardized Quality-of-life Disease Impact Scale (QDIS(®)) in acute coronary syndrome patients: differential functioning of items and test.

Purpose: The Quality-of-life (QOL) Disease Impact Scale (QDIS(®)) standardizes the content and scoring of QOL impact attributed to different diseases using item response theory (IRT). This study examined the IRT invariance of the QDIS-standardized IRT parameters in an independent sample.

Method: The differential functioning of items and test (DFIT) of a static short-form (QDIS-7) was examined across two independent sources: patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the TRACE-CORE study (N = 1,544) and chronically ill US adults in the QDIS standardization sample.

Psychometric evaluation of the Care Transition Measure in TRACE-CORE: do we need a better measure?

Background: The quality of transitional care is associated with important health outcomes such as rehospitalization and costs. The widely used Care Transitions Measure (CTM-15) was developed with a classic test theory approach; its short version (CTM-3) was included in the CAHPS Hospital Survey. We conducted a psychometric evaluation of both measures and explored whether item response theory (IRT) could produce a more precise measure.

Transitions, Risks, and Actions in Coronary Events--Center for Outcomes Research and Education (TRACE-CORE): design and rationale.

Background: Cardiovascular disease continues to cause significant morbidity, mortality, and impaired quality of life, with unrealized health gains from the underuse of available evidence. The Transitions, Risks, and Actions in Coronary Events Center for Outcomes Research and Education (TRACE-CORE) aims to advance the science of acute coronary syndromes by examining the determinants and outcomes of the quality of transition from hospital to community and by quantifying the impact of potentially modifiable characteristics associated with decreased quality of life, rehospitalization, and mortality.

Methods And Results: TRACE-CORE comprises a longitudinal multiracial cohort of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes, 2 research projects, and development of a nucleus of early stage investigators.

Development of an item bank and computer adaptive test for role functioning.

Objectives: Role functioning (RF) is a key component of health and well-being and an important outcome in health research. The aim of this study was to develop an item bank to measure impact of health on role functioning.

Methods: A set of different instruments including 75 newly developed items asking about the impact of health on role functioning was completed by 2,500 participants.

Assessing the factor structure of a role functioning item bank.

Purpose: Role functioning (RF) is an important part of health-related quality of life, but is hard to measure due to the wide definition of roles and fluctuations in role participation. This study aims to explore the dimensionality of a newly developed item bank assessing the impact of health on RF.

Methods: A battery of measures with skip patterns including the new RF bank was completed by 2,500 participants answering only questions on social roles relevant to them.

Health and role functioning: the use of focus groups in the development of an item bank.

Background: Role functioning is an important part of health-related quality of life. However, assessment of role functioning is complicated by the wide definition of roles and by fluctuations in role participation across the life-span. The aim of this study is to explore variations in role functioning across the lifespan using qualitative approaches, to inform the development of a role functioning item bank and to pilot test sample items from the bank.

Development and preliminary testing of a computerized adaptive assessment of chronic pain.

Unlabelled: The aim of this article is to report the development and preliminary testing of a prototype computerized adaptive test of chronic pain (CHRONIC PAIN-CAT) conducted in 2 stages: (1) evaluation of various item selection and stopping rules through real data-simulated administrations of CHRONIC PAIN-CAT; (2) a feasibility study of the actual prototype CHRONIC PAIN-CAT assessment system conducted in a pilot sample. Item calibrations developed from a US general population sample (N = 782) were used to program a pain severity and impact item bank (kappa = 45), and real data simulations were conducted to determine a CAT stopping rule. The CHRONIC PAIN-CAT was programmed on a tablet PC using QualityMetric's Dynamic Health Assessment (DYHNA) software and administered to a clinical sample of pain sufferers (n = 100).

Development and validation of transtheoretical model measures for Bulgarian adolescent non-smokers.

The goal of this study was to develop, translate, and evaluate measures for decisional balance and situational temptations for Bulgarian adolescent nonsmokers and to test the predicted relationships with stages of change. Students in the last grades of high school (15-19 years old) recruited in 12 randomly selected schools participated in the study. Data from the 369 nonsmokers (61.

Identifying cluster subtypes for the prevention of adolescent smoking acquisition.

School-based smoking prevention programs are typically identical for all students. Tailoring prevention materials to focus on individual needs with an emphasis on students at highest risk is a promising alternative. Recent prevention programs have tailored materials based on the Stages of Acquisition, an extension of the Stages of Change used to tailor smoking cessation materials effectively for adults.

Replication of subtypes for smoking cessation within the precontemplation stage of change.

The Transtheoretical Model constructs have been used in the development of effective tailored interventions for smoking cessation. Recent studies have suggested the existence of clusters within each stage of change, based on measures of the Pros, Cons and the Situational Temptations. The goal of this study is to replicate cluster subtypes within the Precontemplation stage of change in a secondary analysis of data from a sample of current smokers (N=3967).

Replication of subtypes for smoking cessation within the Preparation stage of change.

Objective: Recent cluster analyses based on the Pros and Cons and the Situational Temptations measures performed within the stages of change defined by the Transtheoretical Model have suggested the existence of distinct cluster subtypes. The goal of this study is to replicate cluster subtypes within the Preparation stage of change in a secondary analysis of data from a sample of current smokers (N=3967). Identification of stable cluster subtypes would permit the development of tailored interventions focusing on these subtypes.

Development and validation of Decisional Balance and Temptations measures for Bulgarian adolescent smokers.

The goal of this study was to develop measures for Decisional Balance and Situational Temptations for Bulgarian adolescent smokers and to test predicted theoretical relationships with Stages of Change in the same population. Consistent with previous findings for other populations, a 3-factor model for Decisional Balance (CFI = .95) and a hierarchical 4-factor model for Temptations (CFI = .

Replication of subtypes for smoking cessation within the contemplation stage of change.

Objective: Tailored interventions based on stage of change and other Transtheoretical Model constructs have been effective for promoting smoking cessation. Recent cluster analyses based on the Pros and Cons from the Decisional Balance and the Situational Temptations measures performed within the stages have suggested the existence of distinct cluster subtypes. Cluster subtypes would permit the development of tailored interventions focusing on these subtypes.