Arthritis care and research : the official journal of the Arthritis Health Professions Association
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To evaluate the daily experience of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in an ecologically valid manner; Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) was employed. Diurnal cycles and within-day variation of self-reported pain and fatigue were examined as were relationships between pain, fatigue, daily stressful events, and sleep. ⋯ The use of EMA deepens our understanding of the pain and fatigue experienced by RA patients. This method may help identify subgroups of patients who are highly "psychoreactive" to environmental stimuli and/or who have diurnal patterns to their symptoms. It may also be used to improve existing instruments.
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To compare patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who have and do not have back pain, and evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of back pain among knee OA patients. ⋯ Back pain is prevalent among OA clinic patients, more common than in rheumatoid arthritis or population studies, is linked to body mass index, and is associated with clinically significant increases in pain and other measures of clinical distress.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Spouse-assisted coping skills training in the management of osteoarthritic knee pain.
To evaluate the effects of a spouse-assisted pain-coping skills training intervention on pain, psychological disability, physical disability, pain-coping, and pain behavior in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees. ⋯ These findings suggest that spouse-assisted CST has potential as a method for reducing pain and disability in OA patients.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Lack of correlation between the mean tender point score and self-reported pain in fibromyalgia.
To study the validity and nature of self-assessed symptoms among patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and to compare our data with findings reported in the US. To determine whether tender point scores correlate with self-reported pain and other symptoms and to study the influence of disease duration. ⋯ The use of a self-report questionnaire for patients with FMS is feasible and appears to be valid. Tender point scores and self-reported pain represent very different aspects of pain in FMS.
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To determine total blood loss and transfusion requirements during primary total hip replacement (THR) surgery; and, to identify predictors of increased blood loss. ⋯ Preoperative characteristics can help determine which patients should donate either more or less than the customary 2 units of blood.