Journal of clinical epidemiology
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Multicenter Study
Local and national electronic databases in Norway demonstrate a varying degree of validity.
The aim of the present study was to examine the validity of local and national electronic databases using medical records as gold Standard. ⋯ The present findings question the validity of electronic databases and thus have implications for epidemiologic studies.
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Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common unrelieved symptoms experienced by patients. CRF is underrecognized and undertreated due to a lack of clinically sensitive instruments that integrate easily into clinics. Modern computerized adaptive testing (CAT) can overcome these obstacles by enabling precise assessment of fatigue without requiring the administration of a large number of questions. A working item bank is essential for development of a CAT platform. The present report describes the building of an operational item bank for use in clinical settings with the ultimate goal of improving CRF identification and treatment. ⋯ The final bank includes 72 items. These 72 unidimensional items explained 57.5% of the variance, based on factor analysis results. Excellent internal consistency (alpha=0.99) and acceptable item-total correlation were found (range: 0.51-0.85). The 72 items covered a reasonable range of the fatigue continuum. No significant ceiling effects, floor effects, or gaps were found. A sample short form was created for demonstration purposes. The resulting bank is amenable to the development of a CAT platform.
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Walking impairment is a common manifestation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In this study we present evidence for the validity of our Spanish translation of the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ). ⋯ The WIQ scores correlated well with SF-36 components for both English- and Spanish-speaking patients. Our findings suggested that our translation process did not limit our ability to capture good-quality data. Further research is needed to determine what specific items in the WIQ or the SF-36 questionnaire warrant restructuring to increase their validity for use in diverse populations.
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To examine if commonly recommended assumptions for multivariable logistic regression are addressed in two major epidemiological journals. ⋯ Articles reviewed frequently did not report commonly recommended assumptions for using multivariable logistic regression.
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To evaluate the measurement properties of asthma severity scores for use in preschool children. ⋯ Most asthma severity scales for use in preschool children have been informally developed. Recently developed scores (CAS, PRAM) have more rigorously evaluated their measurement properties. Research is needed to directly compare the asthma severity scores developed for use in preschool children.