Scandinavian journal of rheumatology
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2013
Current practice and barriers to the management of sexual issues in rheumatology: results of a survey of health professionals.
To explore multidisciplinary health professionals' (HPs) management of disease-related sexual issues in patients with rheumatic diseases, including their perceptions and assessments, and identify factors that prevent HPs from addressing sexuality as a topic with patients. ⋯ Although HPs regarded sexuality as a relevant topic in rheumatic health care, they seldom raised the topic in consultations. Those with further education in sexuality addressed sexual issues more frequently and felt more comfortable. Correspondingly, the majority of respondents requested more education. Such training should be part of the basic HPs' education, as well as part of postgraduate courses.
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Mar 2012
Multicenter StudyRadiographic features of knee and hip osteoarthritis represent characteristics of an individual, in addition to severity of osteoarthritis.
To evaluate to what extent radiographic features of knees and hips that are normally related to osteoarthritis (OA) represent characteristics of an individual in addition to OA severity. ⋯ Using digital analyses of radiographic OA, strong correlations between joints within participants were found. These correlations diminished when OA became evident. This has implications for monitoring joint damage in (very) early OA with digital analyses.
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Mar 2012
Comparative StudyDifferences between questionnaire- and interview-based measures of activities of daily living (ADL) ability and their association with observed ADL ability in women with rheumatoid arthritis, knee osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia.
Although self-report based on questionnaire is the common method to obtain information about activities of daily living (ADL) ability in rheumatic diseases, little is known about the relationship between measures of ADL ability based on questionnaire, interview, and observation. The present study examined whether measures of self-reported ADL ability based on questionnaire and interview yielded different results, determined whether the magnitude of the difference varied among women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), knee osteoarthritis (OA), and fibromyalgia (FM), and investigated the relationships between self-reported and observed ADL ability. ⋯ Measures of self-reported ADL ability based on either questionnaire or interview have limited relationship to each other or to observed performance of ADL tasks.
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Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Feb 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialDoes ultrasound guidance improve the outcomes of arthrocentesis and corticosteroid injection of the knee?
The present randomized controlled trial compared arthrocentesis of the effusive knee followed by corticosteroid injection performed by the conventional anatomic landmark palpation-guided technique to the same procedure performed with ultrasound (US) needle guidance. ⋯ US-guided arthrocentesis and injection of the knee are superior to anatomic landmark palpation-guided arthrocentesis, resulting in significantly less procedural pain, improved arthrocentesis success, greater synovial fluid yield, more complete joint decompression, and improved clinical outcomes.