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Background: Electronic formats of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are now routinely used in clinical research studies. When changing from a validated paper and pen to electronic administration it is necessary to establish their equivalence. This study reports on the value of Rasch analysis in this process., Methods: Three groups of US pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients participated. The first completed an electronic version of the CAMPHOR Activity Limitation scale (e-sample) and this was compared with two pen and paper administrated samples (pp1 and pp2). The three databases were combined and analysed for fit to the Rasch model. Equivalence was evaluated by differential item functioning (DIF) analyses., Results: The three datasets were matched randomly in terms of sample size (n = 147). Mean age (years) and percentage of male respondents were as follows: e-sample (51.7, 16.0 %); pp1 (50.0, 14.0 %); pp2 (55.5, 40.4 %). The combined dataset achieved fit to the Rasch model. Two items showed evidence of borderline DIF. Further analyses showed the inclusion of these items had little impact on Rasch estimates indicating the DIF identified was unimportant., Conclusions: Differences between the performance of the electronic and pen and paper administrations of the CAMPHOR Activity Limitation scale were minor. The results were successful in showing how the Rasch model can be used to determine the equivalence of alternative formats of PRO measures.

The objective of this present cross-sectional study is to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence, anxiety and defence mechanisms in patients diagnosed with glaucoma. Although the current literature unequivocally suggests increasing anxiety in chronically ill patients, there is little empirical research addressing the influence of emotional intelligence on defence mechanisms and anxiety in patients diagnosed with glaucoma. The authors proposed a set of hypotheses that aim to address precisely these issues. Fifty glaucoma patients were assessed for anxiety, emotional inteligence and defence mechanisms with the Somatic, Cognitive, Behavioral Anxiety Inventory (SCBA), the Adaptation of the Defensive Style Questionnaire (DSQ) and the Assessing Emotions Scale (AES). Data analysis reveals confirmation for a number of assumptions, as well as uncertainty for others, fact which encourages discussions for future research on people suffering from glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the use of operational research techniques to analyze the wait list for the Division of General Surgery at the Capital District Health Authority in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. A discrete event simulation model was developed to aid capacity planning decisions and to analyze the performance of the division. The analysis examined the consequences of redistributing beds between sites, and achieving standard patient lengths of stay, while contrasting them to current and additional resource options. From the results, multiple independent and combined options for stabilizing and decreasing waits for elective procedures were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a paper that explores ways in which general practitioners make sense of the changing political economy of this relationship. It explains that the interpersonal relationship between doctor and patient is fundamental to general medical practice. However, it is restructured by ideas about the patient as consumer, and as it increasingly constitutes the consultation as a point of interaction that may be intrinsically therapeutic. In particular, ways are explored in which consultation is the site of negotiated power relations between doctor and patient, and is the site of the doctor's negotiation of powerful discourses of professional and institutional identity. It develops some ideas about the relationship between doctors and patients in general practice. It focuses on the ways in which the professional rhetoric of general practice has come to be organized around a very specific view of the possibilities that arise from this relationship.

Reports the warning on the dangers of the white paper by the Northern Ireland council. Agreement on three main criticism of the white paper; Absence of improved patient care despite introduction of management of doctors; Lack of emphasis on community health in the white paper.

The article focuses on a study related to dermatoses among office workers. Thirty-six of 1213 patients with proved industrial dermatitis were office workers. The causes which were developed are--carbon paper, dyes, liquid soap, etc.