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We propose using appropriate-use criteria (AUC) as the methodology of choice for formulating and disseminating evidence-based medicine guidelines in sports medicine and arthroscopy. AUC provide a structured process for integrating findings from the scientific literature with clinical judgment to produce explicit criteria for determining the appropriateness of specific treatments. The use of AUC will enable surgeons to treat patients in a more consistent manner based on expert clinical consensus and evidence-based medicine. This methodology also will ensure that guidelines represent all stakeholders and available evidence., (Copyright © 2013 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Chronic plaque psoriasis has a profound impact on patient quality of life (QOL), including adverse psychosocial effects, impaired daily activities, anxiety, and depression., Objective: To assess health-related QOL in a randomized phase II trial of alefacept (human LFA-3/IgG(1) fusion protein), a selective immunomodulator for psoriasis., Study Design: Multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial., Methods: 229 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis were randomized to alefacept (0.025, 0.075, or 0.150 mg/kg) or placebo by 30-second intravenous bolus once weekly for 12 weeks and followed for 12 additional weeks. Patients completed a general (SF-36) Health Survey) and dermatology-specific (Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI] and Dermatology Quality Of Life Scales [DQOLS]) QOL surveys at each study visit., Results: Patients treated with alefacept had significantly greater improvements on dermatology-specific QOL scales compared with patients receiving placebo (p < 0.05). Patients who achieved a >or=50% or a >or=75% reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) reported similar improvement in QOL, which was significantly greater than that of other patients., Conclusions: The clinical effect of alefacept on psoriasis is associated with an improvement in patients' QOL. Among patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, an improvement in PASI of 50% or more is associated with better QOL scores.

Multiple sclerosis is a disabling disease that, until recently, had few effective treatment options. With the advent of new medical technologies to treat multiple sclerosis has come the need to assess the long-term clinical, economic and quality of life trade-offs associated with these treatments to inform medical decision-making, as well as equitable resource allocation. Assessing these trade-offs in multiple sclerosis is particularly challenging. Therefore, considering an appropriate evaluation strategy prior to initiating a health outcomes study in multiple sclerosis is essential. This review presents an overview of multiple sclerosis, the challenges facing researchers and offers strategies and a framework for assessing economic and quality of life outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Available coronary artery disease (CAD)-specific health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) measures are not ideally suited for routine clinical practice. We report development of a valid and reliable CAD-specific short-form measure., Hypothesis: The Integrated Therapeutics Group (ITG) CAD-specific short-form HRQL measure is reliable and valid for assessing the health status of patients with CAD., Methods: In all, 409 patients (mean age 62.4 years) completed the 24-item CAD-specific HRQL questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to identify the scaling of the 24 CAD-specific items. Analysis of variance was used to reduce the number of items within each scale, and reliability (Cronbach's alpha), discriminant validity, and ceiling and floor effects of short-form scales were evaluated. Short-form scales were compared with the longer scales using relative validity coefficients. The CAD severity was assessed using New York Heart Association criteria, physician assessment, electrocardiogram results, the number of myocardial infarctions, and the number of CAD-specific medications. Clinical validity of short-form scales was then assessed based on their ability to discriminate across severity levels of these clinical criteria., Results: Four scales were identified: Extent of Chest Pain, Functioning and Well-Being, Activities Level-Physical, and Activities Level-Social. The 24-item questionnaire was reduced to a 13-item short form, with reliability exceeding 0.70 for all four scales. Relative validity estimates comparing short-form to original scales ranged from 0.68 to 2.58. Mean scores varied significantly (p < 0.05) by clinical severity, supporting the discriminant validity of the ITG CAD short-form scales., Conclusions: The ITG CAD short form (used alone or with a general HRQL measure) is valid and practical for assessing patients with CAD.