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Introduction: The increase in telemedicine in the mental health field has led to psychometric instruments changing from paper-and-pencil administration to an electronic format. A study is performed to determine if both formats are equivalent for well-known questionnaires such as GHQ-12, WHO-5, and PHQ-9., Material and Methods: Forty-seven volunteers completed GHQ-12, WHO-5 and PHQ-9 questionnaires in paper-and-pencil format, and in the following 24h they completed their electronic versions via the web site www.memind.net. An electronic-Likert format was used by 24 participants, and 23 used an electronic-slider format. Internal consistency was measured by α-Cronbach index and omega coefficient, and test-retest was measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Agreement between individual items was compared using Weighted Kappa coefficients, and dimensional structure between formats using the Comparative Fit Index (CFI)., Results: Internal consistency was higher than 0.8 for GHQ-12 and WHO-5. The ICC ranged between 0.655 for PHQ-9 paper-and-pencil/electronic-slider and 0.901 for GHQ-12 paper-and-pencil/electronic- slider. Agreement for individual items in paper-and-pencil and electronic-Likert versions was variable, ranging from low agreement in PHQ-1 (weighted κ=0.143; P=.384) to high agreement in PHQ-5 (weighted κ=0.769; P=.000). The CFI results showed an adequate equivalence between formats., Conclusions: Except for the PHQ-9 electronic-Likert, questionnaires keep their structure in electronic formats. Discrepancies were found in items agreement. This study supports previous works indicating that the change from paper-and-pencil to electronic formats is not an immediate process, and needs a proper adaptation., (Copyright © 2017 SEP y SEPB. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We evaluated the feasibility of electronic data capture of self-administered patient questionnaires using a Tablet PC for integration in routine patient management; we also compared these data with results received from corresponding paper-pencil versions., Methods: Standardised patient questionnaires (FFbH/HAQ, BASDAI, SF-36) were implemented in our documentation software. 153 outpatients (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, spondyloarthritis) completed sets of questionnaires as paper-pencil and electronic versions using a Tablet PC. The quality and validity of data obtained using a Tablet PC and the capability of disabled patients to handle it were assigned; patients' experiences, preferences and computer/internet use were also assessed., Results: Scores obtained by direct data entry on the Tablet PC did not differ from the scores obtained by the paper-pencil questionnaires in the complete group and disease subgroups. No major difficulties using the Tablet PC occurred. 62.1% preferred remote data entry in the future. Seven (4.6%) patients felt uncomfortable with the Tablet PC due to their rheumatic disease., Conclusions: Self-administered questionnaires via Tablet PC are a facile and capable option in patients with rheumatic diseases to monitor disease activity, efficacy and safety assessments continuously. Tablet PC applications offers directly available data for clinical decision-making improves quality of care by effective patient monitoring, and contributes to patients' empowerment.

Scoring systems to recognise the most ill patients, or those at risk of deterioration, are increasingly utilised in hospitals that look after paediatric inpatients. There have been efforts to implement these systems in emergency and urgent care settings, but they have yet unproven value. This is because the child or young person presenting acutely is a different cohort than the 'treated' ward-based group. The majority of children presenting to emergency and urgent care settings are discharged home, and so, scoring systems need to recognise the most unwell but also assist in safe and appropriate discharge as well as highlighting those patients in need of more senior review. This article explores this conundrum, suggesting how cognitive factors have a role to play, and how scoring systems can have wider effects than just individual patient care., (© 2016 The Author. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2016 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).)

Objectives: To develop a paper-and-pencil semi-adaptive test for 5 domains of health-related quality of life (PAT-5D-QOL) based on item response theory (IRT)., Methods: The questionnaire uses items from previously developed item banks for 5 domains: (1) walking, (2) handling objects, (3) daily activities, (4) pain or discomfort, and (5) feelings. For each domain, respondents are initially classified into 4 functional levels. Depending on the level, they are instructed to respond to a different set of 5 additional questions. IRT scores for each domain and overall health utility scores are obtained using a simple spreadsheet. The questions were selected using psychometric and conceptual criteria. The format of the questionnaire was developed through focus groups and cognitive interviews. Feasibility was tested in two population surveys. A simulation study was conducted to compare PAT-5D-QOL with a computerized adaptive test (CAT-5D-QOL) and a fixed questionnaire, developed from the same item banks, in terms of accuracy, bias, precision, and ceiling and floor effects., Results: Close to 90 % of the participants in feasibility studies followed the skip instructions properly. In a simulation study, scores on PAT-5D-QOL for all domains tended to be more accurate, more precise, less biased, and less affected by a ceiling effect than scores on a fixed IRT-based questionnaire of the same length. PAT-5D-QOL was slightly inferior to a fully adaptive instrument., Conclusions: PAT-5D-QOL is a novel, semi-adaptive, IRT-based measure of health-related quality of life with a broad range of potential applications.

Background: The number of people surviving colorectal cancer has doubled in recent years. While much of the literature suggests that most people return to near pre-diagnosis status following surgery for colorectal cancer, this literature has largely focused on physical side effects. Longitudinal studies in colorectal cancer have either been small scale or taken a narrow focus on recovery after surgery. There is a need for a comprehensive, long-term study exploring all aspects of health and wellbeing in colorectal cancer patients. The aim of this study is to establish the natural history of health and wellbeing in people who have been treated for colorectal cancer. People have different dispositions, supports and resources, likely resulting in individual differences in restoration of health and wellbeing. The protocol described in this paper is of a study which will identify who is most at risk of problems, assess how quickly people return to a state of subjective health and wellbeing, and will measure factors which influence the course of recovery., Methods/design: This is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study following 1000 people with colorectal cancer over a period of two years, recruiting from 30 NHS cancer treatment centres across the UK. Questionnaires will be administered prior to surgery, and 3, 9, 15 and 24 months after surgery, with the potential to return to this cohort to explore on-going issues related to recovery after cancer., Discussion: Outcomes will help inform health care providers about what helps or hinders rapid and effective recovery from cancer, and identify areas for intervention development to aid this process. Once established the cohort can be followed up for longer periods and be approached to participate in related projects as appropriate and subject to funding.

New models of interprofessional working are continuously being proposed to address the burgeoning health and social care needs of older people with complex and long-term health conditions. Evaluations of the effectiveness of these models tend to focus on process measures rather than outcomes for the older person. This discussion paper argues that the concept of frailty, and measures based on it, may provide a more user-centred tool for the evaluation of interprofessional services - a tool that cuts across unidisciplinary preoccupations and definitions of effectiveness. Numerous frailty scales have been developed for case identification and stratification of risk of adverse outcomes. We suggest that they may also be particularly suitable for evaluating the effectiveness of interprofessional working with community-dwelling older people. Several exemplars of frailty scales that might serve this purpose are identified, and their potential contributions and limitations are discussed. Further work is required to establish which is the most suitable scales for this application. The development of an appropriate frailty scale could provide an opportunity for interprofessional debate about the forms of care and treatment that should be prioritised to improve the health and well-being of this population.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to present the specific public health indicators recently developed by EUROCAT that aim to summarize important aspects of the public health impact of congenital anomalies in a few quantitative measures., Methods: The six indicators are: (1) congenital anomaly perinatal mortality, (2) congenital anomaly prenatal diagnosis prevalence, (3) congenital anomaly termination of pregnancy, (4) Down syndrome livebirth prevalence, (5) congenital anomaly pediatric surgery, and (6) neural tube defects (NTD) total prevalence. Data presented for this report pertained to all cases (livebirths, fetal deaths, or stillbirths after 20 weeks of gestation and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly [TOPFA]) of congenital anomaly from 27 full member registries of EUROCAT that could provide data for at least 3 years during the period 2004 to 2008. Prevalence of anomalies, prenatal diagnosis, TOPFA, pediatric surgery, and perinatal mortality were calculated per 1000 births., Results: The overall perinatal mortality was approximately 1.0 per 1000 births for EUROCAT registries with almost half due to fetal and the other half due to first week deaths. There were wide variations in perinatal mortality across the registries with the highest rates observed in Dublin and Malta, registries in countries where TOPFA are illegal, and in Ukraine. The overall perinatal mortality across EUROCAT registries slightly decreased between 2004 and 2008 due to a decrease in first week deaths. The prevalence of TOPFA was fairly stable at about 4 per 1000 births. There were variations in livebirth prevalence of cases typically requiring surgery across the registries; however, for most registries this prevalence was between 3 and 5 per 1000 births. Prevalence of NTD decreased by about 10% from 1.05 in 2004 to 0.94 per 1000 in 2008., Conclusion: It is hoped that by publishing the data on EUROCAT indicators, the public health importance of congenital anomalies can be clearly summarized to policy makers, the need for accurate data from registries emphasized, the need for primary prevention and treatment services highlighted, and the impact of current services measured., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate differences in responses related to (mental) health and behavior between two methods of data collection: web-based (web) and paper-and-pencil (p&p)., Study Design: Within each participating school all third-grade classes (mainly 14-15-year-old pupils) were randomly assigned to either the Internet condition (n=271) or the paper-and-pencil condition (n=261)., Principal Findings: Significant but small differences were found for the strengths and difficulties subscales "emotional symptoms" (p&p>web) and "prosocial behavior" (p&p>web), and carrying a weapon (web>p&p). Perceived level of privacy and confidentiality did not differ between the two modes., Conclusions: The findings suggest that in a controlled school setting, web-based administration of health indicators yields almost the same results as paper-and-pencil administration. To generalize these findings, we recommend repeated studies in other populations and settings., (© Health Research and Educational Trust.)

Aims: In this study we evaluated indicators of the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Child Health Questionnaire-Child Form (CHQ-CF). We compared the results in a subgroup of adolescents who completed the standard paper version of the CHQ-CF with the results in another subgroup of adolescents who completed an internet version, i.e., an online, web-based CHQ-CF questionnaire., Methods: Under supervision at school, 1,071 adolescents were randomized to complete the CHQ-CF and items on chronic conditions by a paper questionnaire or by an internet administered questionnaire., Results: The participation rate was 87%; age range 13-17 years. The internet administration resulted in fewer missing answers. All but one multi-item scale showed internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.70). All scales clearly discriminated between adolescents with no, a few, or many self-reported chronic conditions. The paper administration resulted in statistically significant, higher scores on 4 of 10 CHQ-CF scales compared with the internet administration (P < 0.05), but Cohen's effect sizes d were

Objective: The patient perspective workshops at the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials have included daily measures of health status (patient diary) and use of electronic tools for data collection in the research agenda. The objective of this study was to compare daily and weekly registrations of self-reported health status measures between personal digital assistant (PDA) and paper-pencil (PP) format regarding scores, variation, and feasibility., Methods: Thirty-eight patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis recorded their health status during 84 days in a repeated crossover design, using PDA or PP format during four 21-day periods. Visual analog scales (VAS) for pain, fatigue, and global disease and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index were scored daily; the Short Form 36 and Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire were scored weekly., Results: The average scores and measures of variation of the 4 daily health status measures over 21 days did not differ significantly between PDA and PP formats in either of the 2 crossover periods. The values for the average range between the maximum and minimum values for daily measures were similar between the 2 formats, but showed considerable variation (e.g., range for pain VAS was 19-28 mm over each 21-day period). The time to complete the instruments was similar between the 2 formats. Missing daily data entries were generally low for both periods and somewhat higher for PDA. The majority of patients (82.9%) preferred using PDA., Conclusion: Daily assessments with PDA may be efficiently used for frequent data collection because this format performs similarly to the traditional PP format.

Chevron Texaco's Health and Medical Services Department made the decision to use existing technology and transition from a paper health risk appraisal (HRA) to an online questionnaire. A cross-functional team was formed and a year was spent researching online tools to find a vendor who could supply a product best suited to Chevron Texaco's employee workforce. The purpose of this article is to describe the evolution of a paper-based HRA to an online tool as well as describe the project scope and strategy that a team of employees used in selecting the vendor. The article also describes implementation successes, challenges, and lessons learned in using the online tool with an industrial workforce. The strategy that was followed in deploying the Web site along with initial participation rates for this group of industrial employees are described.

Background: Patients may be asked to register a symptom daily in clinical trials. A problem associated with this kind of registration is that patients do not always fill in the diary at the appropriate time. As there is evidence showing that memory is unreliable, this undermines the entire purpose of collecting daily data on paper diaries. We aimed to compare accuracy, autocorrelations of consecutive entries, and responsiveness in paper diaries (P-Diaries) with electronic diaries (E-Diaries) and telephone diaries (T-Diaries)., Methods: In a multi-centre, open, and parallel trial, 177 patients were allocated at random to P-Diaries, E-Diaries, or T-Diaries for the registration of symptoms through 4 weeks of treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). The primary outcome measure was the diaries., Findings: The proportion of patients completing all morning and all evening entries on time was low for both E-Diary and T-Diary groups. By accepting entries that were done half a day late, the proportion was increased to 19/57 (33%) for the E-Diary group, and to 9/61 (15%) for the T-Diary group. For P-Diary, where no control for time registration and entries was adapted, 37/59 (63%) of the patients completed all morning and all evening entries. A significant higher autocorrelation in P-Diaries was also found. Responsiveness was similar regardless of method of data capture., Interpretation: The results are consistent with the suggestion that data in the P-Diaries are not filled in at the appropriate time. Use of E-Diaries or T-Diaries improves quality and is recommended in future clinical trials.

Because of its sound psychometric properties the SF-36 General Health Questionnaire is used throughout the world, yet it is difficult to analyse and score. Using a newly developed software package, onto which any questionnaire can be loaded, we developed an electronic version of the SF-36 General Health Questionnaire. The purpose of this study is test the effect of the electronic mode of administration on the measurement properties of the SF-36. In a randomised cross-over design study 79 healthy individuals and 36 chronic pain patients completed both electronic and paper versions of the SF-36. Seventy-one percent preferred the electronic SF-36, 7% stated no preference, and 22% preferred the paper version. Completion time for the electronic SF-36 was slightly less, and there were no missing or problematical responses, whereas 44% of participants had at least one missing or problematical response in the paper version. Data entry and auditing time was 8 hours. There was less than 4% inter-version difference for any of the SF-36 sub-scales. The electronic SF-36 was well accepted and slightly quicker to complete than the paper version. We conclude that the electronic SF-36 is equivalent in performance and more effective than the paper version.

This study assessed the trends in the health status of Bahraini women from the early 1980s to the mid 1990s through review of census data and health data. Sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive health, mortality, morbidity and lifestyle patterns were studied. The implications of the data and measures needed to be taken to further improve the health and health care services of women are discussed.

The First 1000 Days (the period from conception to a child's second birthday) is an important developmental period. However, little is known about experiences of parents with refugee and migrant backgrounds during this period. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Publications were identified through searches of the Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus databases, critically appraised, and synthesised using thematic analysis. A total of 35 papers met inclusion criteria. Depressive symptomatology was consistently higher than global averages, however maternal depression conceptualisations differed across studies. Several papers reported changes in relationship dynamics as a result of having a baby post-migration. Consistent relationships were found between social and health support and wellbeing. Conceptualisations of wellbeing may differ among migrant families. Limited understanding of health services and relationships with health providers may impede help-seeking. Several research gaps were identified, particularly in relation to the wellbeing of fathers, and of parents of children over 12 months old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There was made the characterization of the health risk for workers' of pulp and paper industry, under the simultaneous effects of chemicals in the residential and working area. The main adverse effect of chemicals that pollute the air and work environment is related with the impact on the respiratory system. Under the successive exposure (ambient air--air in the workplace) in the adult population working at the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, the risk of occurrence of respiratory diseases (HI = 18.5) and individual carcinogenic risk (CR = 9.7 x 10(-3)) have been rated as high and constitute 86-99% of the total risk.

In the ongoing expansion of medical systems toward prevention and health promotion, primary care is increasingly recognized as a key vehicle and agent. In order to establish a comprehensive health dialogue in the population, there is a need for innovative instruments corresponding to the information and linked media revolution that this shift is a part of. Based upon the experiences of the Department of Preventive Medicine in Malmö, Sweden, a self-mediated, interactive health testing and promotion instrument called "healthometer" has been developed and tested for feasibility. The instrument uses a special variety of a quintile-distributed visual analog scale with the thermometer as reference and allows: (a) easy summation and averaging of single or different aggregates of the test items as a "wellness" profile and score with emphasis upon the positive aspects of health, and (b) recognition against this on the whole favorable background of the weak points motivating further action. The instrument, which can be distributed on paper or electronic medium, supports participation and insight in the initial stages of a directed individual health program for the continuation of which the utilization of professional counsel is stimulated.

As obesity and physical inactivity rates continue to rise in the United States, Kentucky ranks third in childhood obesity rates (10‐17 year olds) and 50th in physical inactivity. The public school environment is a logical place to examine practices and closely discern how time is spent. Federal legislation over the past 50 years has largely dictated the emphasis and priority of our public education system and how schools are funded and assessed. Recently, new federal legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, moved more power, flexibility, and accountability to the states allowing for additional funding opportunities surrounding not just reading and mathematics standardized test scores. Kentucky made promising steps toward including a well‐rounded education in their accountability plan, however; ultimately removed those measures in their revised submission to the US Education Department. We must reexamine our current priorities and policies based on evidence‐based best practices regarding health, physical activity, and academic achievement. This report outlines history, issues, and policy solutions which will move Kentucky's youth toward better opportunities for quality physical activity in our public schools within our current resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Mothers who have children removed from their care often have complex needs. These women have poor health outcomes and are dying earlier than their peers from preventable and amenable causes. Yet there is little known about how health care services might mitigate these risks. This study aimed to listen to the voices of women who had children removed from their care to understand their experiences of health and healthcare. Methods We used a narrative approach to collect and analyse interview data with six mothers who had experienced child removal in England. Each participant was asked to reflect on their life and main health challenges. Results Three narrative subplots were developed to consolidate experiences of unmet health need: (i) 'on paper you're normal': narratives of complex need, (ii) 'in my family, everyone had issues': narratives of whole family need and (iii) 'I'm still mummy, no matter where they are': narratives of maternal identity and health. Conclusions Findings highlight limitations within current systems of support, including a culture of distrust and women falling between the gaps of services. Women's narratives illustrate opportunities for health intervention, especially immediately following child removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed and validated a composite healthy ageing score (HAS) to address the absence of a definitive composite score comprising multiple health domains that measure healthy ageing in epidemiology. The HAS is developed from 13 health domains reported to influence healthy ageing. Data to measure these domains was extracted from the 45 and Up Study baseline. We applied best practices for scale validation and development. Physical functioning, cognitive function, mental health, sleep, quality of life, balance, social connections and overall health were retained. Functional capacity and resilience were uncovered as underlying latent structures. The HAS ranges from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating a better health profile. This research contributes a comprehensive measuring tool, HAS, It enables examination and comparison of individual or collective health profiles and the investigation of the factors that influence their chances of living healthy for longer., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Race and ethnicity along with social determinants of health have been identified as risk factors for COVID-19. The purpose of this clinical paper is to provide an overview of the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA), present COVID-19 epidemiological data on five racial–ethnic groups, identify culturally congruent health care strategies for each group, and provide directions for practice and research. Method : NCEMNA collaborated to provide a clinical paper that addresses information about COVID-19 and culturally congruent health care in five racial–ethnic groups. Results : Every organization presented common themes across the different groups and unique perspectives that each group is faced with during this challenge. Discussion : This article provides an introduction to the issues that minority groups are facing. It is imperative that data are collected to determine the extent of the impact of COVID-19 in diverse communities in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social support services such as day care centres are important in post-diagnostic dementia care to enable people living with dementia stay at home for longer. Little research has addressed potential inequalities in access, with no research on variations before and since COVID-19. The aim of this study was to explore inequalities in social support service usage before and since the pandemic. Methods: Unpaid carers and people living with dementia were interviewed over the phone about their experiences of accessing social support services before and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Transcripts were analysed for key themes using inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Results: Fifty participants (42 unpaid carers; eight people living with dementia) were interviewed, and five themes identified: (1) Service issues; (2) Access issues; (3) Relying on own initiative; (4) New inequalities due to COVID-19; and (5) Missing out on the benefits of support services. Participants reported transport, finances, and location as factors reducing their ability to access support service pre-COVID, with inequalities remaining and at times exacerbated since. Carers and people living with dementia also reported struggling with accessing basic necessities during COVID, including food and medicines. Conclusions: Considering the benefits of accessing support services, resourced procedures and facilities are needed to maintain access to support services with more accessible remote support provision, enabling people from all backgrounds to access the care they need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main aim of emergency medical services (EMS) should be to provide universal emergency medical care which is EMS system available to all those who need it. Most of the developed countries have an integrated EMS system that is accessible by a single dial number in the whole country. Nepal does not have a proper EMS system. We conducted a literature review regarding methods of developing an integrated EMS system in Nepal. Result: The fragmented system, high demand–low supply, inequity with the service, and inadequately trained responders are major problems associated with EMS in Nepal. Nepal too should develop an integrated single dial number EMS system to meet the current demand of EMS. Having a paramedic in ambulances as the first responders will prevent chaos and save critical time. Funding models have to be considered while developing an EMS considering the capital as well as operational cost. Conclusion: Nepal can develop a public private partnership model of EMS where capital cost is provided by the government and operational cost by other methods. Community-based insurance system looks more feasible in a country like Nepal for generating operational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desert cities are special type of places that need extra environmental care and additional health planning during the process of growth and development. Special considerations and regards ought to be paid to health-related projects like building hospitals, primary health care (PHC) centers, emergency services, sanitation facilities, etc. In a country like Saudi Arabia, where deserts form a large part of the available biome, selecting which cities and places to focus on during health-related project development can be a difficult process, lacking proper ways of classifying and comparing the general health status of the population. While there are established indices to calculate other health-related qualities, like the Air Quality Health Index, there is no general health quality index. The article presented herein advocates an appropriate formula for a health quality index, HQI, as a tool for quantifying health quality for any given desert community. HQI is intended to offer a unique number, which expresses overall health quality at a certain desert locality, at a specified period of time, which is based on several quality parameters and health indicators. The objective of HQI is to turn complex health quality data into flat, simple information that is understandable and usable by health authorities, the public and desert community members. HQI depicts the composite influence of different public health quality parameters and communicates health quality information to the general public and legislative decision makers. It is intended to represent a reliable picture of the overall health quality within a particular community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This descriptive paper aims to describe the design and implementation of a community engaged primary healthcare strategy in rural Australia, the Primary Healthcare Registered Nurse: Schools-Based strategy. This strategy seeks to address the health, education and social inequities confronting children and adolescents through community engaged service provision and nursing practice. Background: There have been increasing calls for primary healthcare approaches to address rural health inequities, including contextualised healthcare, enhanced healthcare access, community engagement in needs and solutions identification and local-level collaborations. However, rural healthcare can be poorly aligned to community contexts and needs and be firmly entrenched in health systems, marginalising community participation. Methods: This strategy has been designed to enhance nursing service and practice responsiveness to the rural context, primary healthcare principles, and community experiences and expectations of healthcare. The strategy is underpinned by a cross-sector collaboration between a local health district, school education and a university department of rural health. A research framework is being developed to explore strategy impacts for service recipients, cross-sector systems, and the establishment and maintenance of a primary healthcare nursing workforce. Findings: Although in the early stages of implementation, key learnings have been acquired and strategic, relationship, resource and workforce gains achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before organizing mixed-mode data collection for the self-administered questionnaire of the Belgian Health Interview Survey, measurement effects between the paper-and-pencil and the web-based questionnaire were evaluated. A two-period cross-over study was organized with a sample of 149 employees of two Belgian research institutes (age range 22–62 years, 72% female). Measurement agreement was assessed for a diverse range of health indicators related to general health, mental and psychosocial health, health behaviors and prevention with kappa coefficients and intraclass correlation (ICC). The quality of the data collected by both modes was evaluated by quantifying the missing, ‘don’t know’ and inconsistent values and data entry mistakes. Good to very good agreement was found for all categorical indicators with kappa coefficients superior to 0.60, except for two mental and psychosocial health indicators namely the presence of a sleeping disorder and of a depressive disorder (kappa≥0.50). For the continuous indicators high to acceptable agreement was observed with ICC superior to 0.70. Inconsistent answers and data-entry mistakes were only occurring in the paper-and-pencil mode. There were no less missing values in the web-based mode compared to the paper-and-pencil mode. The study supports the idea that web-based modes provide, in general, equal responses to paper-and-pencil modes. However, health indicators based upon factual and objective items tend to have higher measurement agreement than indicators requiring an assessment of personal subjective feelings. A web-based mode greatly facilitates the data-entry process and guides the completing of a questionnaire. However, item non-response was not positively affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces the papers that won the "Stress and Health" Top Papers Award 2021, including "Work From Home Today for a Better Tomorrow! How Working From Home Influences Work-Family Conflict and Employees' Start of the Next Workday," "Midlife Family Financial Strain, Sense of Control and Pain in Later Years: An Investigation of Rural Husbands and Wives," and "Effectiveness of a Low-dose Mindfulness-based Intervention for Alleviating Distress in Young Unemployed Adults."

Background: Teachers form a large and essential workforce globally. Their wellbeing impacts personal health-related outcomes with flow on effects for the health, and wellbeing of their students. However, food and nutrition (FN) interventions that include teachers, typically neglect the impact of personal FN factors on a teachers' ability to achieve optimal nutrition-related health and wellbeing, and successfully fulfil their professional FN roles as health promoters, gate keepers, educators', and role models. The aim of this review was to scope FN constructs that have been studied internationally regarding teacher FN-related health and wellbeing. Methods: Six databases were searched, and papers extracted in June/July 2021. Eligibility criteria guided by the population, concept, context mnemonic included studies published after 2000, in English language, with an aspect of personal FN-related health and wellbeing, among in-service (practising) and pre-service (training), primary, and secondary teachers. Screening studies for inclusion was completed by two independent researchers with data extraction piloted with the same reviewers and completed by lead author, along with complete descriptive and thematic analysis. Results: Ten thousand six hundred seventy-seven unique articles were identified with 368 eligible for full text review and 105 included in final extraction and analysis. Sixty-nine descriptive studies were included, followed by 35 intervention studies, with the main data collection method used to assess both personal and professional FN constructs being questionnaires (n = 99 papers), with nutrition knowledge and dietary assessment among the most commonly assessed. Conclusion: FN constructs are used within interventions and studies that include teachers, with diversity in constructs included and how these terms are defined. The evidence from this scoping review can be used to inform data collection and evaluation in future epidemiological and interventional research that addresses teacher FN-related health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Following years of sustained pressure on the UK health service, there is recognition amongst health professionals and stakeholders that current models of healthcare are likely to be inadequate going forward. Therefore, a fundamental review of existing social models of healthcare is needed to ascertain current thinking in this area, and whether there is a need to change perspective on current thinking. Method Through a systematic research review, this paper seeks to address how previous literature has conceptualized a social model of healthcare and, how implementation of the models has been evaluated. Analysis and data were extracted from 222 publications and explored the country of origin, methodological approach, and the health and social care contexts which they were set. Results The publications predominantly drawn from the USA, UK, Australia, Canada and Europe identified five themes namely: the lack of a clear and unified definition of a social model of health and wellbeing; the need to understand context; the need for cultural change; improved integration and collaboration towards a holistic and person-centred approach; measuring and evaluating the performance of a social model of health. Conclusion The review identified a need for a clear definition of a social model of health and wellbeing. Furthermore, consideration is needed on how a model integrates with current models and whether it will act as a descriptive framework or, will be developed into an operational model. The review highlights the importance of engagement with users and partner organizations in the co-creation of a model of healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The present study aimed to review the changes in anthropometric dimensions around the world during the last 30 years. Methods. The search for this study was conducted in four databases with related keywords. Papers from 1990 to 2021 were reviewed and 4139 articles were identified, with 505 related titles. Of these, 187 articles met the eligibility criteria, and their whole text was examined; 132 articles were then included for the final review. Results. The reviewed studies showed that a large number of anthropometric dimensions of the human body have become larger than in the past, such as height. Although the increasing trend of anthropometric dimensions in the past has been faster than in recent years, decreasing changes have also been seen in some anthropometric dimensions, such as the human jaw, face width and head width. It should be noted that the main reasons for the changes mentioned in the studies are economics and family income, social conditions, health and nutrition. Conclusion. Since the process of changes in anthropometric dimensions is not always the same, anthropometric data should be updated regularly, and work environments and equipment should be reviewed or redesigned according to the new anthropometric data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is a heterogeneous process. Most newly diagnosed cancers occur in older adults, and it is important to understand a patient's underlying health status when making treatment decisions. A geriatric assessment provides a detailed evaluation of medical, psychosocial, and functional problems in older patients with cancer. Specifically, it can identify areas of vulnerability, predict survival and toxicity, assist in clinical treatment decisions, and guide interventions in routine oncology practice; however, the uptake is hampered by limitations in both time and resources, as well as by a lack of expert interpretation. In this review, we describe the utility of geriatric assessment by using an illustrative case and provide a practical approach to geriatric assessment in oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Historical socio-political processes have produced gross inequity of health resource for Aboriginal Australians and New Zealand Māori. Objectives: This paper argues that socio-political factors resulting from the entrenchment of colonialism have produced significant personal and structural barriers to the utilisation of healthcare services and directly impact the health status of these two vulnerable groups. Design: Discussion Paper. Conclusions: Understanding the actual barriers preventing the utilisation of healthcare facilities, as perceived by Indigenous people, is essential in reducing the gross disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous morbidity and mortality in Australia and New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiplex assays detect the presence of more than one analyte in a sample. For diagnostic applications, multiplexed tests save healthcare providers time and resources by performing many assays in parallel, minimizing the amount of sample needed and improving the quality of information acquired regarding the health status of a patient. These advantages are of particular importance for those diseases that present with general, overlapping symptoms, which makes presumptive treatments inaccurate and may put the patient at risk. For example, malaria and dengue fever are febrile illnesses transmitted through mosquito bites, and these common features make it difficult to obtain an accurate diagnosis by symptoms alone. In this manuscript, we describe the development of a multiplexed, patterned paper immunoassay for the detection of biomarkers of malaria and dengue fever: malaria HRP2, malaria pLDH, and dengue NS1 type 2. In areas coendemic for malaria and dengue fever, this assay could be used as a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic to determine the cause of a fever of unknown origin. The reagents required for each paper-based immunoassay are separated spatially within a three-dimensional device architecture, which allows the experimental conditions to be adjusted independently for each assay. We demonstrate the analytical performances of paper-based assays for each biomarker and we show that there is no significant difference in performance between the multiplexed immunoassay and those immunoassays performed in singleplex. Additionally, we spiked individual analytes into lysed human blood to demonstrate specificity in a clinically relevant sample matrix. Our results suggest multiplex paper-based devices can be an essential component of diagnostic assays used at the point-of-care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A person‐centred approach in the context of health services delivery implies a biopsychosocial model focusing on all factors that influence the person's health and functioning. Those wishing to monitor change should consider this perspective when they develop and use guidelines to stimulate active consideration of the person's needs, preferences and participation in goal setting, intervention selection and the use of appropriate outcome measures. Objective: To develop a position paper that promotes a person‐centred approach in guideline development and implementation. Design, setting and participants: We used three narrative discussion formats to collect data for achieving consensus: a nominal group technique for the Allied Health Steering Group, an Internet discussion board and a workshop at the annual G‐I‐N conference. We analysed the data for relevant themes to draft recommendations. Results: We built the position paper on the values of the biopsychosocial model. Four key themes for enhancing a person‐centred approach in clinical guidelines emerged: (i) use a joint definition of health‐related quality of life as an essential component of intervention goals, (ii) incorporate the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a framework for considering all domains related to health, (iii) adopt a shared decision‐making method, and (iv) incorporate patient‐reported health outcome measures. The position statement includes 14 recommendations for guideline developers, implementers and users. Conclusion: This position paper describes essential elements for incorporating a person‐centred approach in clinical guidelines. The consensus process provided information about barriers and facilitators that might help us develop strategies for implementing person‐centred care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health and well-being of social workers are attracting attention from researchers, organisations and the profession itself. Since the 1990s, there has been research examining the health and well-being of social workers in relation to working conditions and occupational stress. However, there is a dearth of literature indicating the evaluation and application of effective strategies for work-related stress reduction, particularly within the social work profession. Identifying effective and feasible interventions to reduce occupational stress is prudent to improving not only service delivery, but simultaneously also the wellness of practitioners. Healthy social workers are likely to be more effective and productive. Mindfulness intervention studies across a multitude of groups have yielded positive effects, including the alleviation of mental health difficulties for numerous populations. However, the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions with social workers is yet to be determined. A scoping review was conducted to assess the availability and scientific rigour of mindfulness-based interventions, and their applicability to social workers. This conceptual paper considers the evidence and the feasibility of applying mindfulness training to address the stress, coping efforts and subsequent health outcomes of social workers, through the theoretical lens of the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a recommendation to include preeclampsia as an indicator for improving maternal health and reducing the rate of child mortality in response to a call for papers from the World Health Organization (WHO) related to the post-2015 development agenda measurement of progress towards health goals. It explores the etiology of preeclampsia and the role of seminal priming in sustaining a healthy pregnancy by repeated deposits of seminal fluid on sexual intercourse with the same man.

Aims A discussion on the case for nurse-led community delivery of health and social care interventions to ex-offenders. Background Ex-offenders re-enter their communities with limited pre-release preparation for the continuity of access to health care once outside prison. Once released, these individuals become hard to reach, do not consider health a priority and consequently use services to address their health and social care needs in a crisis-led way. Nevertheless, how nurses can best support these health-excluded group of individuals in the community remains vague and requires discussion. Design Discussion paper. Data sources Several databases were searched for papers published in English from 1990-2012 using the Population, Intervention and Outcome framework to help structure search. Discussion It is argued that current dominant discourses around equity of care are contradicted in the provision of health and social care services to ex-offenders in the community. Effective engagement with community interventions may be achieved if ex-offenders maintain contact with frontline providers who can support both their structural and health needs. Implication for nursing Nurses are uniquely positioned to initiate and sustain contact with ex-offenders, intervening at points of greatest need in the community to address the socially significant health and social care issues that plague them. Conclusion The use of nurses in the provision of health and social care interventions to ex-offenders is a strategy, which could increase equity in access to health care, reduce reoffending and improve both the health and life chances of these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) is validated for measuring fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, 10 of 13 FACIT-F items are identified as relevant to patients with RA. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) uses an item response theory-calibrated T score metric. The PROMIS Fatigue item bank includes the FACIT-F items, enabling score conversion. The performance of converted PROMIS Fatigue scores has not been evaluated in RA populations or clinical trials. Our objective was to assess the performance of converted PROMIS Fatigue scores in 2 RA clinical trials of baricitinib., Methods: Crosswalk tables and pattern-scoring methods converted FACIT-F scores to PROMIS Fatigue for both the 13-item FACIT-F and the 10-item RA-optimized FACIT-F instrument, in 2 RA clinical trials evaluating baricitinib, RA-BEAM, and RA-BEACON. RA-BEAM patients had an inadequate response to methotrexate. RA-BEACON patients had an inadequate response or intolerance to ≥1 tumor necrosis factor inhibitor. Baricitinib was compared to all treatment arms via analysis of covariance on PROMIS Fatigue score conversions., Results: Baseline FACIT-F-derived PROMIS Fatigue scores reflected severe fatigue across treatment groups and were similar using different scoring methods. At week 24 in both studies, baricitinib was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in PROMIS Fatigue scores. PROMIS Fatigue scores were consistent for conversion methods and for the 13-item or 10-item FACIT-F., Conclusion: All 4 conversion methods showed differentiation of active treatment compared with placebo from week 12, supporting the use of the PROMIS Fatigue and converting the 10-item FACIT-F to assess fatigue and demonstrate treatment benefit in RA clinical trials on a standardized metric., (© 2020, American College of Rheumatology.)

Background During the first epidemic wave, COVID-19 surveillance focused on quantifying the magnitude and the escalation of a growing global health crisis. The scientific community first assessed risk through basic indicators, such as the number of cases or rates of new cases and deaths, and later began using other direct impact indicators to conduct more detailed analyses. We aimed at synthesizing the scientific community's contribution to assessing the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population health through indicators reported in research papers. Methods We conducted a rapid scoping review to identify and describe health indicators included in articles published between January 2020 and June 2021, using one strategy to search PubMed, EMBASE and WHO COVID-19 databases. Sixteen experts from European public health institutions screened papers and retrieved indicator characteristics. We also asked in an online survey how the health indicators were added to and used in policy documents in Europe. Results After reviewing 3891 records, we selected a final sample of 67 articles and 233 indicators. We identified 52 (22.3%) morbidity indicators from 33 articles, 105 severity indicators (45.1%, 27 articles) and 68 mortality indicators (29.2%, 51). Respondents from 22 countries completed 31 questionnaires, and the majority reported morbidity indicators (29, 93.5%), followed by mortality indicators (26, 83.9%). Conclusions The indicators collated here might be useful to assess the impact of future pandemics. Therefore, their measurement should be standardized to allow for comparisons between settings, countries and different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health status questionnaires are important, especially with the growing interest in outcome studies. However, these questionnaires continue to be administered in their original paper format. We hypothesized that total hip arthroplasty outcome data derived with computer-based questionnaires do not differ significantly from those derived with established paper-based formats. Methods: From January 2006 to January 2007, the clinic schedules of four attending arthroplasty surgeons were screened weekly to identify patients who could potentially be included in the study. Charts were reviewed for subjects who were scheduled for or had received primary total hip arthroplasty. Patients were recruited during their office visit or when they attended a preoperative educational class, and five health status questionnaires (the Harris hip score, WOMAC [Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index], SF-36 [Short Form-36], EQ-5D [EuroQol-5D], and UCLA [University of California at Los Angeles] activity score) were administered in three formats: paper, touch screen, and web-based. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Pearson correlations were used to compare the questionnaire modes for the Harris hip score (normally distributed data), and the Friedman test and Spearman correlations were used to compare the modes for the other health status scores (non-normally distributed data). The study was designed with 90% power for detecting 10% differences between modes in the entire series of sixty-one patients and with 82% and 87% power in preoperative and postoperative subgroups, respectively. Results: The mean age was sixty-three years, with thirty-seven male and twenty-four female patients in the study. Forty- seven hips (77%) had osteoarthritis as the primary diagnosis. No significant differences were detected, for any of the five health outcome systems, among the paper, touch screen, and web-based modes, and there were highly significant correlations among all questionnaire modes in the entire series of patients and in the preoperative and postoperative subgroups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The scores obtained with the paper, touch screen, and web-based modes of the five questionnaires demonstrated excellent agreement. Thus, touch screen and web-based formats can be used to collect and track patient outcome data. Use of electronic formats of these questionnaires will facilitate a more efficient and reliable data collection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HaNDLE-on-QoL (Head And Neck Database Listing Evidence on QoL) is a searchable database that comprises abstracts of papers that have used questionnaires to report on quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer of the head and neck. It can be searched by title, first author, year of publication, words used in the abstract, site of cancer, study design, and questionnaires used. The aim of this paper was to summarise its contents. In May 2017 we searched the website using the criteria above. It contained 1498 papers (including 149 reviews), and the number is increasing each year. Most studies concerned a combination of subsites in the head and neck (n = 871); 180 focused specifically on oral sites, and 109 on the larynx. The commonest topics were swallowing (n = 353), speech (n = 299), pain (n = 292), emotions (n = 226), and depression (n = 193). Nearly all the papers concerned function or predictors of health-related QoL (HRQoL), but 98 were clinical or randomised controlled trials. The site included over 250 questionnaires of which the most common were the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer C30 (EORTC-C30, n = 369), the EORTC-head and neck 35 (EORTC H&N35, n = 353), and the University of Washington Quality of Life (UWQoL) (n = 276). HaNDLE-on-QoL highlights the complexity of QoL after treatment and the diversity and range of the studies. It is a useful point of reference for those involved in clinical practice or research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on 18 to 65 years aged patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who were referred for 4 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, with an expanded disability status scale score. It mentions the treatment group received immediate admission for multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation; and also mentions multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation had small and inconsistent effects on parameters of health-related quality of life in people with MS at 6 months.

The paper tries to find out the working mechanism of birth of one of the nowadays most used scientometric indicators, the Hirsch-index. The effort spent deals with the human feeling called frustration. It is shown how the frustration of a physicist became the basis of an invention of an indicator considered worldwide the best for evaluating the scientific performance of individual researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increasing recognition of the importance of mental and substance use disorders (MESUDS) for population health and health systems and the potential value of systems-based performance indicators in addressing this issue, we aimed to describe the development and content of key performance indicators (KPIs) for MESUDS. Publications were identified through official websites, Google searches and PubMed. Following “PRISMA” guidelines, 25 studies were kept for qualitative synthesis and six for quantitative analysis. We describe their use in practice by comparing their application across a range of public and mixed healthcare systems. Currently, the KPI development for MESUDS adopts several methodologies, including expert opinion, literature review, stakeholder consultation, and the structured consensus method. The rationales provided for selection of particular KPIs vary greatly between systems. Systems exhibit different levels of KPI adaptability, which is reflective of dynamic changes in evidence-based practices. We noted bias in the level of KPI assessment toward system/health plan evaluation followed by program/service evaluation. Similarly, there is a large skew toward KPIs that reflect evaluation of processes. Collection of data in all systems is nearly exclusively reliant on electronic administrative/medical data. Experiences from these systems are synthesized into methodological recommendations and considerations for further research and clinical practice are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]