Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · May 2009
Translation and validation of the Persian version of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2-Short Form (AIMS2-SF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of the Arthritis Measurement Scales 2-Short Form (AIMS2-SF). The translation and cultural adaptation of the original questionnaire was carried out in accordance with published guidelines. Three hundred and fifty consecutive Persian-speaking patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were asked to complete the AIMS2-SF, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and four visual analog scales (VAS) for pain, joint stiffness, and patient's and physician's global assessment to test convergent validity. ⋯ The Persian AIMS2-SF scales showed excellent test-retest reliability with Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ranging from 0.83-0.93 (p < 0.01). The results of the present study showed that the Persian AIMS2-SF has reasonably good convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability in patients with RA. It can now be applied in clinical settings and future outcome studies in Iran.
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Clinical rheumatology · May 2009
Comparative StudyIncreased frequencies of hysterectomy and early menopause in fibromyalgia patients: a comparative study.
The objective was to determine the relationship between symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) and early menopause and hysterectomy. We included 115 postmenopausal patients with FM (mean age 54.6 +/- 7.6) and 67 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (mean age 55.5 +/- 9) into our study. All patients were questioned about the severity of their symptoms of FM, anxiety, and depression by using a visual analog scale and FM impact questionnaire. ⋯ When the clinical features of FM patients whose symptoms started within the first menopausal year were compared to other FM patients; it was observed that the frequency of early menopause was higher in the former group (p = 0.048). Duke anxiety and depression score was higher in patients with hysterectomy whose FM symptoms started within the first year of post-hysterectomy than other FM patients (9.1 +/- 2.7 vs. 6.7 +/- 2.7, p = 0.022). Early menopause and hysterectomy may be one of the factors contributing to the development of FM.
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Clinical rheumatology · May 2009
Perceived barriers to paracetamol (acetaminophen) prescribing, especially following rofecoxib withdrawal from the market.
Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (COX-2) inhibitors were publicly subsidized in Australia for osteoarthritis. However, guidelines still recommended paracetamol as first choice therapy. When rofecoxib was withdrawn in 2004, paracetamol should have been offered as replacement. ⋯ Consumers did not remember being given the choice to use paracetamol as regular treatment for chronic pain. Pharmacists and doctors did not appear to be discussing options for pain control well with consumers and had mismatched perceptions with consumers about paracetamol. An educational intervention to encourage more rational use of paracetamol is now being planned to provide consumers with more knowledge about paracetamol effective use.