Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2013
Conceptual foundation for measures of physical function and behavioral health function for Social Security work disability evaluation.
Physical and mental impairments represent the 2 largest health condition categories for which workers receive Social Security disability benefits. Comprehensive assessment of physical and mental impairments should include aspects beyond medical conditions such as a person's underlying capabilities as well as activity demands relevant to the context of work. The objective of this article is to describe the initial conceptual stages of developing new measurement instruments of behavioral health and physical functioning relevant for Social Security work disability evaluation purposes. ⋯ The content model describing physical functioning includes 3 domains: (1) changing and maintaining body position, (2) whole-body mobility, and (3) carrying, moving, and handling objects. These content models informed subsequent measurement properties including item development and measurement scale construction, and provided conceptual coherence guiding future empirical inquiry. The proposed measurement approaches show promise to comprehensively and systematically assess physical and behavioral health functioning relevant to work.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2013
Review Meta AnalysisPostural control and fear of falling assessment in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review of instruments, international classification of functioning, disability and health linkage, and measurement properties.
To systematically review the instruments used to assess postural control and fear of falling in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to synthesize and evaluate their breadth of content and measurement properties. ⋯ Different instruments with heterogeneous content have been used to assess postural control and fear of falling outcomes. Standardized assessment methods and best evidence on measurement properties is required in the COPD literature.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2013
Development of a self-report physical function instrument for disability assessment: item pool construction and factor analysis.
To build a comprehensive item pool representing work-relevant physical functioning and to test the factor structure of the item pool. These developmental steps represent initial outcomes of a broader project to develop instruments for the assessment of function within the context of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability programs. ⋯ The factor structure of the physical function item pool closely resembled the hypothesized content model. The 4 scales relevant to work activities offer promise for providing reliable information about claimant physical functioning relevant to work disability.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2013
Multicenter StudyImpact of blood pressure dysregulation on health-related quality of life in persons with spinal cord injury: development of a conceptual model.
To identify medically relevant aspects of blood pressure dysregulation (BPD) related to quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to propose an integrated conceptual framework based on input from both individuals with SCI and their clinical providers. This framework will serve as a guide for the development of a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure specifically related to BPD. ⋯ These results suggest that BPD uniquely and adversely impacts HRQOL in persons with SCI. While both individuals with SCI and their providers highlighted the relevant symptoms of BPD, the SCI providers offered additional detailed information regarding the precipitators/causes and what can be done to prevent/treat BPD. Further, the results suggest that persons with SCI are aware of how BPD impacts their HRQOL and are able to distinguish between subtle signs and symptoms. These findings exemplify the need for a validated and sensitive clinical measurement tool that can assess the extent to which BPD impacts HRQOL in patients with SCI.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2013
Development and assessment of a community follow-up questionnaire for the Rick Hansen spinal cord injury registry.
To develop a comprehensive community follow-up questionnaire for participants enrolled in the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR). ⋯ The RHSCIR CFQ-V2.0 is a comprehensive community follow-up questionnaire that aligns to the ICF. Initial study results suggest that it covers all relevant aspects of community living, and the measurement properties are promising.