Disability and rehabilitation
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The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a sub-maximal exercise test measuring the distance that a patient can walk quickly in a period of 6 minutes (6MWD). The objectives of this systematic review are to evaluate the 6MWT's suitability for measuring the impact of an intervention, to compare the 6MWD walked by patients with schizophrenia with data for the general population or matched controls, to identify the determinants of 6MWD and to examine the measurement properties and quality procedures of the 6MWT. ⋯ The Six-Minute Walk Test reliably assesses the functional exercise capacity in patients with schizophrenia. The impact of therapeutic interventions on patients, as measured by the 6MWT, cannot be confirmed. Clinicians should take into account overweight, antipsychotic medication use and the physical self-perception when considering the functional exercise capacity in schizophrenia. Clinicians should follow International standards such as these of the American Thoracic Society when using the Six-Minute Walk Test in patients with severe mental illnesses.
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The aims of this review were (1) to provide insight into the natural course of upper-extremity (UE) impairments and UE activity limitations associated with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD), and (2) to provide an overview of outcome measures used to evaluate UE function and activity in patients with FSHD and LGMD. ⋯ There is a need for specific outcome measures on the level of UE activity. Both the level of capacity and performance should be assessed. Possible outcome measures include 3D motion analysis to assess UE function, questionnaires like the Abilhand to assess UE capacity and accelerometry to assess performance of UE activities in daily life.
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Comparative Study
The performance quality rating scale (PQRS): reliability, convergent validity, and internal responsiveness for two scoring systems.
The performance quality rating scale (PQRS) is an observational measure of performance quality of client-selected, personally meaningful activities. It has been used inconsistently with different scoring systems, and there have been no formal publications on its psychometric properties. The purpose of this study was to test and compare the psychometric properties of two PQRS scoring systems in two populations. ⋯ Both scoring systems have demonstrated they are reliable and have good internal responsiveness. The PQRS-OD demonstrated greater consistency across raters and is more sensitive to clinically important change than the PQRS-G and should be used when greater accuracy is required. Further exploration of validity with actual rather than perceived performance measures is required.
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Multicenter Study
The experience of acute burns of the hand - patients perspectives.
This study endeavoured to explore the experiences of adult patients with acute burns of the hand in order to gain insight and understanding the effects of the burn injury on their participation in rehabilitation. ⋯ This study showed that a holistic approach, in which the physical, psychosocial and emotional needs of the individual were addressed, was paramount to the patients' experience of therapy, recovery and future outlook. It emphasised the need for early psychological intervention and the value of providing an understanding and empathetic approach in addressing the needs and expectations of the patient.
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Multicenter Study
Dilemmas of participation in everyday life in early rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative interview study (The Swedish TIRA Project).
To explore the experiences of today's patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with respect to dilemmas of everyday life, especially regarding patterns of participation restrictions in valued life activities. ⋯ Participation restrictions in today's RA patients are complex. Our results underline that the health care needs to be aware of the patients' own preferences and goals to support the early multi-professional interventions in clinical practice. Implications of Rehabilitation Today's rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients experience participation restrictions in activities not included in International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core set for RA or in traditionally questionnaires with predefined activities. The health care need to be aware of the patients' own preferences and goals to meet the individual needs and optimize the rehabilitation in early RA in clinical practice.