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The aim of this study was to assess the homogeneity of items, reliability as a metric indicator of global quality (internal consistency and temporal stability), and the exploratory factor structure of the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) in a sample of 2,010 Spanish adolescents. Mean age was 15.9 yr. (range 14-19, SD=2.1). The test was administered twice with 20 days between responses. Answers were scored on a Likert-type scale. The internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities obtained were .93 and .94. In exploratory factor analysis, four factors explained 52.7% of the variance. These results indicated that the GHQ-28 is a psychometrically sound mental health measure in Spanish adolescents. DOI 10.2466/06.08.13.PR0.107.4.120-126

OBJECTIVE: To determine the survey-related experiential and attitudinal correlates of future health-related survey participation. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: From July 21, 2005, through October 25, 2005, we conducted a mixed-mode mail [...]

Varying measures of sexual orientation are used in women's health research. As they incorporate different dimensions, definitions, and categorical groupings, the comparability of results obtained across studies using different measures remains unknown. We examined the comparability of results using data from the U.S. 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (n = 6,356). Women were classified according to sexual orientation identity, sex of sex partners in the past year, and sex of sex partners over the lifetime. Associations with six health outcomes were compared across sexual orientation schemes. Associations differed in magnitude and statistical significance, even producing conflicting results. Our analyses resulted in a series of methodological recommendations for research on sexual minority women. Data on both behavioral and identity measures should be gathered in health research; identity groups should not be combined for analysis; and researchers should carefully consider which classification scheme(s) to use based on the theoretical basis for the study and the implications for informing interventions. KEYWORDS. Homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, methodology, sexual orientation, measurement, survey design

Background. The aim of this article is to investigate the extrinsic goals hypothesis in time tradeoff (TTO). The extrinsic goal of interest here is seeing children through to maturity. In [...]

This article seeks to establish whether China, like most other countries, experienced an influenza outbreak in 1918-19 and to gauge its extent and severity. It evaluates the suggestion that the [...]

Objectives. Telephone survey data are widely used to describe population health, but some fear that people with disabilities cannot participate. We tested the hypothesis that a telephone survey would underrepresent adults with disabilities, and that the adults with disabilities who responded would report lower prevalences of sensory, mental, self-care, and multiple limitations than those observed in people with disabilities in the general population. Methods. We compared characteristics of adults with disabilities identified by the 2001 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) to Washington adults with disabilities in the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS), to 2 BRFSS Disability Supplements, and to the Washington State Population Survey. All except the C2SS are telephone surveys. Results. Contrary to expectations, post hoc analyses of all telephone surveys found significantly higher prevalence of disability in the Washington adult population than did the C2SS. The hypothesis of more sensory, mental, and self-care limitation in telephone disability samples was supported in only 2 of 11 instances in which a disability sample was asked about 1 of these limitations. Findings were not explained by differences in disability definition or type of informant. Conclusions. These results suggest that population telephone surveys do not underrepresent adults with disabilities. The counterintuitive finding of their higher survey participation raises further questions.

Code Number: is03031 ABSTRACT Background: Literature on benign breast disorders and diseases in India is scanty. Mastalgia which is the most common problem seen in the West, finds little mention [...]

Objectives. Estimates of group differences in functional disability may be biased if items exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). For a given item, DIF exists if persons in different groups do not have the same probability of responding, given their level of disability. This study examines the extent to which DIF affects estimates of age and gender group differences in disability severity among adults with some functional disability. Methods. Data came from the 1994/1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement. Analyses focused on 5,750 adult respondents who received help or supervision with at least one of 11 activities of daily living/ instrumental activities of daily living tasks. We estimated gender and age group (18-39, 40-69, and 70+) differences in disability, using multiple-indicator/ multiple-cause models, which treat functional disability as a latent trait. Results. Nine items manifested significant DIF by age or gender; DIF was especially large for 'shopping' and money management.' Without adjusting for DIF, middle-aged persons were less disabled than elderly men, and women were less disabled than men among nonelderly persons. After adjusting for DIF, middle-aged persons did not differ from elderly persons, and gender differences within age groups were not significant. Discussion, Comparisons of disability across sociodemographic groups need to take DIF into account. Future research should examine the causes of DIF and develop alternative question wordings that reduce DIF effects.

Background. This study surveyed opinions and self-reported practices of physicians involved in the care of elderly individuals regarding geriatric hypertension management and included a national random sample (n = 1060) of health care professionals in the United States. Methods. This is a cross-sectional self-conducted survey using a questionnaire developed to assess the opinions related to blood pressure (BP) and aging, BP selection, BP target, lifestyle modifications, and first-line drug choice. We also tested the impact of the patient's age on the respondents' answers. A national random sample (n = 1060) of health care professionals in the United States was selected. Results. We received 412 (39%) questionnaires. Thirty-five percent considered that the increase in BP with age is a normal process of aging, and 25% considered treating hypertension in an 85-year-old patient to have more risks than benefits. Sixty-nine percent considered systolic blood pressure to be the most important pressure. Respondents were more likely to start antihypertensive therapy at a lower BP and target a lower BP in 65-year-old patients compared with 85-year-old patients (p < .001). Respondents were more likely to recommend lifestyle modifications in 65-year-old patients compared with 85-year-old patients (p < .001). Only 13-17% recommend higher potassium consumption, Diuretics (p = .032) and beta-blockers (p = .005), but not other antihypertensives, are less likely to be used as first-line drugs by respondents in the very old. Conclusions. Health care professionals' understanding of BP changes with aging, BP selection and BP target levels, lifestyle modification counseling (especially concerning potassium consumption), and drug selection deviates in some aspects from the national recommendations especially in the very old. Improving these opinions could have a significant impact on the control rates of geriatric hypertension.

Standardised health status questionnaires are widely used to obtain subjective assessments of health. However, little research has investigated the meaning of the data they produce. Statistical tests will highlight some problems with the structure and wording of a questionnaire but they cannot shed any light on the way in which respondents interpret questions or their intended meaning when they select a response. Various qualitative techniques are being used within disciplines such as sociology and psychology to test both the language of survey instruments and the cognitive bases of surveys. This paper outlines some of these methods and reports findings from a qualitative research study in the UK with a widely used questionnaire- the Short-Form 36 Health Status Questionnaire. The value of including in-depth, qualitative validation techniques in the development and testing of surveys used to collect subjective assessments of health is clearly demonstrated by the findings of the study. Keywords: Subjective health measurement; Qualitative methods; SF-36

Objective: To develop a client-generated outcome measure for use in community nursing. Method: Participants for the study were identified from the case load of community health nurses, from a nursing home service and from residents of a retirement village. All participants had a diagnosis of venous leg ulcer (VLU) and/or type 2 diabetes. Preliminary development of the measure involved focus groups of community clients and health professionals, and pilot testing of an existing quality of life (QoL) measure, the Patient-Generated Index. The resulting Client-Generated Index was tested for reliability and validity. Results: The Pearson's correlation coefficient between administration of the CGI at T1 and T2 was 0.526 (n = 51; p = 0.0001). The CGI correlated significantly with four of eight dimensions of the SF-36, and with pain as a clinical marker for VLU r = 0.54 (p = 0.001). Overall, participants with VLU reported a lower QoL (mean CGI score 2.8) compared to those with diabetes (mean CGI score 4.1). Conclusions: The CGI was developed to measure outcomes in community health settings. Some measures of its reliability and validity are demonstrated and further research is needed to validate the instrument using other client groups. Implications: If routine assessment and evaluation is to contribute to measures of outcome, the instruments need to be concise and acceptable to health care providers. The CGI has all these properties.

Introduction Visual analogue scales (VAS) are widely used in human clinical and psychological research to assess subjective states. They consist of 10 cm lines, the ends of which are marked [...]