36-Item Short Form Research Articles

A study of Filipina migrant workers’ subjective health in Hong Kong and an assessment of eight scoring methods for the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)

ObjectivesThe SF-12 version 2 is a survey instrument for collecting data on subjective health. The US-based scoring method is the recommended standard for measuring subjective health with data collected with this instrument. The inadequacy of the US-based scoring method of the SF-12 version 2 instrument for non-US populations is widely documented. However, few studies systematically assessed relative performance of alternative scoring methods against the US-based method, our main objective in this paper. Through this investigation, we also intend to shed light on Filipina migrant workers’ subjective health in Hong Kong, our case study.MethodsThis study investigates the feasibility of eight such scoring methods—six latent-variable models, the raw score index, and the US-based method—for analyzing an SF-12 version 2 instrument via a range of bootstrapped samples of varying sizes and an empirical study of the original 2017 Hong Kong Domestic Workers survey data with a set of covariates associated with Filipina migrant domestic workers’ subjective mental and physical health in Hong Kong.FindingsOur analyses favor the latent-variable factor model with the normal distribution and the identity link for analyzing the SF-12 version 2 type of data. Our empirical study of the survey data provides evidence for the beneficial effects of education, social support, and positive working conditions on migrant domestic workers’ subjective physical health and especially subjective mental health, with these two types of health analyzed jointly on the same measurement scale.ConclusionFor studying non-US populations with the SF-12 version 2 instrument, we recommend using the latent confirmatory factor analysis model that assumes a normal distribution and an identity link function for analyzing the MCS and PCS dimensions simultaneously.

Burden of caregivers of older people in Sri Lanka: an overlooked concern in the health care system

BackgroundCaring for older people has become a significant public health concern in Sri Lanka due to the growing aging population. This has placed a heavy burden on family caregivers, particularly those caring for older individuals with multiple chronic conditions. Recognizing this challenge, the present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Sinhala version of the 10-item short form of the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC-s) and assess caregiver burden and associated factors among caregivers of older people aged over 65 years with multimorbidity.MethodsThe BSFC-s was cross-culturally adapted following standard guidelines and administered to consecutively selected 178 family caregivers involved in the long-term care of older patients (aged ≥ 65 years) who were regular attendees of medical and neurology clinics at the National Hospital Galle, Sri Lanka. The validated Sinhala version of the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) was also administered simultaneously. After two weeks, 60 caregivers were re-assessed using the BSFC-s. The psychometric properties, including reliability and validity, as well as floor and ceiling effects, were evaluated. The final version of the BSFC-s was then administered to 270 informal family caregivers in the Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.ResultsThe study revealed that the internal consistency of the Sinhala version of the BSFC-s, measured by Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.90, with item-total correlations ranging from 0.38 to 0.82. The test-retest reliability, assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient, was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.99-1.00; p < 0.001). Principal component analysis revealed two factors explaining 65.8% of the cumulative variance. BSFC-s scores showed a strong negative correlation with SF-36 scores (r = -0.81, p < 0.001), indicating a good concurrent validity. Neither floor nor ceiling effects were observed. Among the 270 family caregivers, 78.1% reported a high level of burden, while 21.1% reported moderate burden. Caregiver burden was significantly associated with low educational level (p = 0.032), low monthly income (p = 0.041), and unemployment status (p < 0.001) of the caregiver.ConclusionThe Sinhala version of the BSFC-s demonstrated strong reliability and validity, making it a suitable tool for assessing caregiver burden in Sri Lanka. Most caregivers reported high levels of subjective burden, particularly those with lower socio-demographic status.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Influence of Preoperative Physical Function Scores on Outcomes After Single-level Cervical Disc Replacement.

Retrospective study. We aim to determine the influence of preoperative Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF) scores on perioperative and postoperative outcomes, the latter determined through patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and the degree of achievement rates of minimum clinically important difference (MCID) following single-level cervical disc replacement (CDR). Several studies have examined the relationship between preoperative PROMIS-PF as a prognostic factor for postoperative outcomes. Few studies have examined this relationship as it applies to CDR. Patients undergoing single-level CDR with preoperative PROMIS-PF scores were identified retrospectively using a single-surgeon database. Patients undergoing surgery for infection/fracture/malignancy were excluded. Patients were divided by mean preoperative PROMIS-PF score: lower-functioning (PROMIS-PF <40) and higher-functioning (PROMIS-PF ≥40). Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-PF), 12-item Short Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS), Visual Acuity Scale (VAS) scores for neck and arm, and Neck Disability Index scores, collected at preoperative, 6-week, 12-week, 6-month, and 1-year time points. Fifty-seven patients were included with 33 considered higher functioning. Operative times were increased in the higher-functioning group (P = 0.003). The lower-functioning cohort saw improvement in all 6-week/12-week/6-month PROMs. The higher-functioning cohort saw improvement in all PROMs except SF-12 PCS. Between groups, the higher-functioning cohort reported greater postoperative PROMIS-PF at multiple time points, preoperative SF-12 PCS, 12-week/preoperative VAS-neck, and preoperative VAS-arm (P ≤ 0.036, all). The lower-functioning group had greater preoperative/6-week Neck Disability Index (P ≤ 0.027, all) and had greater MCID achievement at 6-month SF-12 PCS/12-week VAS arm (P ≤ 0.026, all). Independent of preoperative function, both groups reported improvement in all outcomes except for SF-12 PCS in the higher-functioning cohort. Between groups, the higher-functioning cohort had significantly better outcomes; however, this significance was not seen past 12 weeks for any PROM. MCID achievement rates were significantly greater in the lower-functioning group in the SF-12 PCS and VAS arm. Patients with lower preoperative PROMIS-PF scores may experience greater rates of clinically noticeable improvements in function/arm pain postoperatively.

Development and Validation of a Brief Age-Normed Screening Tool for Subthreshold Psychosis Symptoms in Youth.

Improvements in screening tools for early subthreshold psychosis symptoms are needed to facilitate early identification and intervention efforts, especially given the challenges of rapidly differentiating age-appropriate experiences from potential early signs of emerging psychosis. Tools can be lengthy and time-consuming, impacting their utility and accessibility across clinical settings, and age-normed data are limited. To address this gap, we sought to develop and validate a brief, empirically derived, age-normed, subthreshold psychosis screening tool, for public use. Computerized adaptive test simulation was used to derive a 5-item short form with age norm equivalencies from a 12-item PRIME-Screen-Revised (PRIME-12) administered to 7053 youth (Mage = 15.8, SD = 2.7; 54% female; 33% Black). Concurrent validity was assessed (n = 758) using contemporaneous administration of the PRIME-5 and the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes. Comparability of criterion-related validity of the PRIME-5, PRIME-12, and Scale of Prodromal Symptoms (SOPS) was assessed by relating scores to psychosis-risk-relevant criteria. Finally, self-report versus assessor-administered PRIME total scores were compared (n = 131) to assess their concurrent validity. Correlations among PRIME-5, PRIME-12, and SOPS were comparable and moderate, supporting their convergent validity. The PRIME-5 also showed comparable criterion-related validity, demonstrating similar relationships with psychosis-risk indicators as the other tools. Self-reported and assessor-administered PRIME-5 were moderately correlated. Public availability of a brief, age-normed, and validated screening tool-which can be assessor or self-administered-will expedite and improve early identification of youth (age 11 and older) at risk for psychosis.

Minimum clinically important difference of 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) to assess post-surgery quality of life in knee osteoarthritis

Minimum clinically important difference of 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) to assess post-surgery quality of life in knee osteoarthritis

The relationship between health-related quality of life and academic success in nursing students: the mediating role of academic burnout and academic motivation

BackgroundThe identification of the key factors that affect academic success in nursing students, including health-related quality of life, academic burnout, and academic motivation, has been of the utmost importance to date. In this context, the present study sought to examine the relationship between health-related quality of life and academic success, with academic burnout and academic motivation mediating that relationship.MethodsThis analytical cross-sectional study included 262 eligible nursing students selected through convenience sampling from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. To evaluate health-related quality of life, academic burnout, and academic motivation, the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, the Academic Motivation Scale, and Breso’s Academic Burnout Scale were administered, respectively. The study achieved a 95% response rate. Academic success was assessed using the nursing program grade point average. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics (version 26) and Mplus (version 6.12) software, with a significance level set at 0.05.ResultsThe findings of the study indicated that although health-related quality of life did not directly affect academic success, it could potentially enhance academic success through the mediation of intrinsic motivation (B = 0.005, 95% CI = -0.01 to 0.005, p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, health-related quality of life can increase academic success through the mediation of academic burnout and intrinsic motivation (B = 0.013, 95% CI = 0.005 to 0.02, p ≤ 0.01). This indicates that academic burnout and intrinsic motivation significantly mediate the path from the health-related quality of life to academic success.ConclusionsThe study findings indicate that nursing education planners and instructors should develop and implement appropriate measures to enhance academic success in nursing students. These measures should also promote their health-related quality of life, academic motivation, and reduce academic burnout.

Rehabilitation at Home Using Mobile Health for Older Adults Hospitalized for Ischemic Heart Disease

Among older adults with ischemic heart disease, participation in traditional ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains low. While mobile health CR (mHealth-CR) provides a novel opportunity to deliver care, age-specific impairments to technology use may limit uptake, and efficacy data are currently lacking. To test whether mHealth-CR improves functional capacity in older adults. The RESILIENT phase 2, multicenter, randomized clinical trial recruited patients aged 65 years or older with ischemic heart disease (defined as a hospital visit for myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization) from 5 academic hospitals in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts between January 9, 2020, and April 22, 2024. Participants were randomized 3:1 to mHealth-CR or usual care. mHealth-CR consisted of commercially available software delivered on a tablet computer, coupled with remote monitoring and weekly exercise therapist telephone calls, delivered over a 3-month duration. As RESILIENT was a trial conducted in a routine care setting to inform decision-making, participants in both arms were also allowed to receive traditional CR at their cardiologist's discretion. The primary outcome was change from baseline to 3 months in functional capacity, measured by 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Secondary outcomes were health status (12-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-12]), residual angina, and impairment in activities of daily living. A total of 400 participants (median age, 71.0 years [range, 65.0-91.0 years]; 291 [72.8%] male) were randomized to mHealth-CR (n = 298) or usual care (n = 102) and included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Of those, 356 participants (89.0%) returned in person for 6MWD assessment at 3 months. For the primary outcome, there was no adjusted difference in 6MWD between participants receiving mHealth-CR vs usual care (15.6 m; 95% CI, -0.3 to 31.5 m; P = .06). Among subgroups, there was an improvement in 6MWD among women (36.6 m; 95% CI, 8.7-64.4 m). There were no differences in any secondary outcomes between groups (eg, adjusted difference in SF-12 physical component scores at 3 months: -1.9 points; 95% CI, -3.9 to 0.2 points). Based on inverse propensity score weighting, there was no effect of mHealth-CR on 6MWD among those who did not attend traditional CR (25.7 m; 95% CI, -8.7 to 60.2 m). In this randomized clinical trial of mHealth-CR vs usual care, mHealth-CR did not significantly increase 6MWD or result in improvements in secondary outcomes. The findings suggest the older adult population may require more age-tailored mHealth strategies to effectively improve outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03978130.

Efficacy and safety evaluation of Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa extract combination in the management of chronic lower back pain: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Chronic lower back pain (CLBP) is a major condition that leads to disability and reduced quality of life (QoL). This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a novel Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa combination (CL20192) for the treatment of CLBP. Participants with CLBP were randomised to receive either a 300 mg CL20192 capsule (n = 45) or placebo capsule (n = 45) once daily for 90 days. Efficacy was evaluated using the Descriptor Differential Scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores for pain, unpleasantness, and disability. Additionally, the 36-item short form questionnaire was used for QoL evaluation. Frequency of painkiller use, serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers (tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), and phytoconstituents (total boswellic acids and curcuminoids) were determined. Therapy satisfaction was assessed using the Physician and Patient Global Assessment Scales. All randomised participants completed the study. CL20192 supplementation significantly reduced Descriptor Differential Scale pain, unpleasantness, and Oswestry Disability Index scores compared with the placebo group (p < 0.001 for all parameters). Critical QoL scores greatly improved in the CL20192 group. Serum phytoconstituent levels were elevated in the CL20192-treated group. This group demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammatory biomarker levels (tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), confirming efficacy in abating CLBP compared with the placebo. Moreover, therapy satisfaction scores were significantly high in the CL20192-treated group, and intervention with CL20192 was well tolerated. Intervention with 300 mg CL20192 capsules, containing a novel combination of Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa extracts, effectively alleviated pain, unpleasantness, and disability in patients with CLBP compared with the placebo. This outcome was consistent with a decrease in serum inflammatory markers and improved therapy assessment scores.

Early Impact of Hip Arthroscopy on the Resolution of Symptom Burden in Athletes With Femoroacetabular Impingement

Background: Coexisting symptoms can confound outcomes after arthroscopic correction of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Symptom burden (SB) represents the cumulative load of patient-reported symptoms. Purpose: To quantify the prevalence of symptoms in athletes before and after arthroscopic correction of FAI and evaluate the impact of independent and cumulative SB resolution on outcomes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Included were 509 hips of 386 athletes (89% men; age, 26.4 ± 6.1 years) who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for FAI between 2011 and 2020. Symptom prevalence was assessed preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively using a 15-item SB survey, with the total number of symptoms reported as the SB score. Minimal clinically important difference (MCID-SB) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB-SB) thresholds according to the proportional pre- to postoperative resolution of SB were calculated, and 1- and 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)—including the modified Harris Hip Score and 36-Item Short Form Survey—were compared relative to MCID-SB and SCB-SB achievement. Multivariable stepwise regression was used to evaluate the ability of individual symptom resolution for MCID and SCB achievements on PROMs. Results: The SB score was 6 ± 2.9 preoperatively, improving to 2.8 ± 2.7 at 1 year postoperatively ( P &lt; .001). A proportional reduction in symptoms by 48.5% and 70.3% defined the MCID-SB and SCB-SB, respectively; this was achieved by 63.6% and 43.8% of the hips, respectively. Postoperatively, PROMs were superior where clinically meaningful SB resolution thresholds were achieved ( P &lt; .001). A significantly higher proportion of these cases returned to their main sport (79.4% vs 63.1% achieved MCID-SB; 83.8% vs 65.2% achieved SCB-SB) ( P &lt; .001). Odds ratios for symptoms associated with achieving the MCID on PROMs included resolution of groin pain (2.6-5.5), side hip pain (3.4), pain during (3.1) and after (2.6-3.5) activity, hamstring tightness (2.6), and limping after activity (2.6). Symptom resolution associated with achieving SCB included groin pain (3.0-3.1), pain during (3.3) and after (2.7-4.2) activity, and limping after activity (3-6.8). Conclusion: Achieving thresholds of clinically important SB resolution was associated with superior postoperative PROM scores and higher rates of return to sports for this athletic cohort. Resolution of groin pain, pain during/after activity, hamstring tightness, and limping after activity increased the odds of achieving clinically important improvement on PROMs.

Sustained quality-of-life improvements over 10years after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for isolated dystonia.

Bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of subthalamic nucleus (STN) has demonstrated efficacy for ameliorating medication-refractory isolated dystonia. Nonetheless, the paucity of evidence regarding its long-term impact on quality-of-life (QoL) necessitates further investigation. This study aimed to elucidate the longitudinal effects of chronic STN stimulation on QoL in patients suffering from isolated dystonia. We enrolled 54 subjects diagnosed with isolated dystonia who underwent STN-DBS and maintained post-operative status for over 5years. The 36-item Short Form General Health Survey (SF-36) assessed QoL, while the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) evaluated cognitive functioning. The average follow-up since implantation extended to 10.9 years. The data analysis revealed a significant enhancement in QoL following STN-DBS treatment, as Physical Component Summary (PCS), Mental Component Summary (MCS), and Global scores demonstrated substantial improvement from pre-DBS to post-DBS (p < 0.0001). The disease classifications yielded differential results; patients with generalized dystonia exhibited superior improvements in PCS (p = 0.0053) and Global scores (p = 0.0120) compared to other types. Patients aged < 36 at the time of implantation experienced greater improvements in PCS (p = 0.0109) and global scores (p = 0.0057) than older counterparts. Cognitive function, as per the MoCA scale, showed no significant difference between pre- and post-operative scores (p = 0.08). STN-DBS appears to confer enduring improvements to the QoL in dystonia patients, persisting an average of 10years or more post-surgery. These findings underscore the long-term efficacy of STN-DBS for isolated dystonia and highlight the influence of patient age and disease classification on outcomes.

Relation of Social Participation Restrictions with Worsening Quality of Life in Japanese Patients with Behçet's Disease: The 36-item Short Form Survey

Relation of Social Participation Restrictions with Worsening Quality of Life in Japanese Patients with Behçet's Disease: The 36-item Short Form Survey

Transforaminal Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy: A Novel Alternative for Management of Lumbar Disc Herniation in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Objective: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) represents an increasingly encountered condition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of the present study is to assess the progress of health-related quality of life following transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) for LDH in patients suffering from RA.Methods: Seventy-four patients, scheduled to undergo elective TELD for LDH, were prospectively enrolled in the study. Group A included 36 otherwise healthy individuals and group B 38 patients complementarily diagnosed with RA according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR (American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism) criteria. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form health survey (SF-36) was selected for the outcome assessment at baseline and postoperatively, at selected intervals at 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.Results: Group A presented statistically significantly higher scores in all SF-36 domains and all selected intervals (p&lt;0.001), except for mental health parameter. All aspects of SF-36 questionnaire significantly improved postoperatively (p&lt;0.001) and in each group independently. Nevertheless, the absolute improvement between consecutive time intervals did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with RA who undergo TELD for LDH demonstrate statistically significant improvement in their health status, as measured by SF-36 questionnaire, one year after the procedure. This improvement is comparable with normal individuals.

A novel and alternative treatment method for moderate diabetic foot ulcer: tibial periosteal distraction

ObjectiveResearchers have proposed a novel surgical treatment for moderate diabetic foot ulcer: tibial periosteal distraction (TPD) which could improve affected limb microcirculation. We aimed to describe the method and therapeutic effects of this technique.MethodsWe provided a technical guide to perform TPD surgery for the treatment of moderate diabetic foot ulcer of who had been treated in our department. The demographic information had been collected at the time of their admission. The patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation with the ulcer area, skin temperature of the medial malleolus, transcutaneous oxygen pressure of the medial malleolus, ankle brachial index, dorsalis pedis artery pulsation, 12 item short form survey quality of life scale score, and visual analogue scale.ResultsA total of 35 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in this study, including 19 males and 16 females, with an average age of 62.49 ± 10.34 years and a maximum age of 87 years. The ulcers of all patients were cured, and the average healing time of ulcers was 8.09 ± 2.28 weeks, with no associated complications. The microcirculation indexes of the affected foot were significantly improved (p < 0.05). Three cases showed new vessels regeneration in the affected limbs according to their computed tomography angiography (CTA) results.ConclusionTPD surgery technique is a simple procedure that significantly increases the efficacy and reduces the complications of moderate diabetic foot ulcer patients, which could accelerate the formation of collateral circulation.

Effect of enhanced external counterpulsation versus individual shear rate therapy on the peripheral artery functions

In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) and individual shear rate therapy (ISRT) on peripheral artery function in patients with lower extremity atherosclerotic disease (LEAD). We randomly assigned 45 LEAD patients to receive 35 sessions of 45 min of EECP (n = 15), ISRT (n = 15), or sham-control (n = 15). Flow-mediated dilation in the brachial artery (brachial-FMD); 6-min walk distance; blood flow in the popliteal, posterior tibial, anterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis arteries; and plasma levels were measured before and after the 7 weeks treatment. 36-item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36] was analyzed before, after 7 weeks, and 3-month follow-ups. EECP treatment significantly improved brachial-FMD and quality of life, increased walking distance, and increased blood flow and the diameters of the popliteal artery and posterior tibial artery (all P < 0.01). Conversely, ISRT markedly increased blood flow in the anterior tibial artery (P < 0.05). EECP and ISRT decreased the endothelin-1 and asymmetrical dimethylarginine levels in patients with LEAD (both P < 0.01). Additionally, sVCAM-1 was significantly reduced after EECP intervention (P = 0.004). Our findings demonstrate that EECP and ISRT have beneficial effects on walking distance, quality of life, flow-mediated dilation, endothelial-derived vasoactive agents, and inflammatory and oxidative stress in LEAD patients.Date of registration: 2021-06-21. Trial registration: ChiCTR2100048086.

The Chronic Headache Self-Efficacy Scale: Development and assessment of measurement properties.

To develop and assess the psychometrics of the Chronic Headache Self-Efficacy Scale (CHASE). Existing scales assess self-efficacy in coping strategies and management of symptoms and triggers but do not measure other important self-efficacy domains, such as performing daily activities and socializing in patients with chronic daily headache (CDH). The study had two phases: (i) Development of the 14-item CHASE, with items derived from patients with CDH and a multidisciplinary healthcare team; (ii) longitudinal observational study for psychometric evaluation. Participants with CDH (N = 79) completed the CHASE, Headache Management Self-Efficacy Scale (HMSE), six-item Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) at baseline, 24-72 h after baseline, and 12 weeks after baseline. The Global Rating of Change (GROC) assessed perceived change in symptoms. We assessed internal consistency, day-to-day reliability, convergent and known group discriminant validity, dimensionality, and responsiveness via minimal clinical important difference (MCID). For day-to-day reliability, the CHASE intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.68 (95% confidence interval 0.49-0.81), with standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change of 10.3% and 24%, respectively. The CHASE had two independent factors (total R2 = 54.5%) that can be combined into a single score (Cronbach's alpha internal consistency 0.88). For convergent validity, the CHASE score was related to the HIT-6, HMSE, and SF-12 (R2: 0.17-0.29, all p < 0.001). For known group discriminant validity, individuals with an active headache had a lower CHASE score than those without (mean [standard deviation] 47.7 [17.3]% vs. 57.2 [19.8]%, p < 0.001). Classification and regression tree analysis showed the MCID for meaningful positive symptom change on the GROC was a CHASE change of >8% or CHASE change of 8% with baseline CHASE >67%. The CHASE is a reliable and valid questionnaire for assessing self-efficacy in performing daily activities, socializing, managing headache symptoms and triggers, and guiding treatment plans for patients with CDH.

Evaluation of Physical and Mental Health by University Students as an Indicator of the Quality of Health-Related Academic and Professional Life

Background. Physical health and mental well-being of university students are among the quality indicators of academic and professional life.Purpose. To evaluate the physical and mental health of university students as the quality indicators of academic and professional life.Methods and materials. 582 interested adult students of Moscow universities voluntarily took part in the study. The authors evaluated their self-reports of physical and mental health as the quality indicators of academic and professional life using the J.E. Ware’s 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Chaddock scale.Results. The evaluation of physical and mental health of students revealed the following: a high-moderate level of Role-Physical Functioning, Vitality, Physical Health total score, General Health, and Mental Health; a moderate level of Role-Mental Functioning, Health-Related Quality of Life, Mental Health total score, Social Functioning, and Physical Functioning; a low-moderate level of Bodily Pain under the symptoms of COVID-19 or a psychosomatic disorder. The study demonstrated a high correlation of Role-Physical Functioning with General Health, Vitality, Mental Health, and Mental Health total score; a high correlation of General Health with Vitality and Mental Health.

Comparing Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Fusion for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis With Predominant Back Pain Versus Predominant Leg Pain Symptoms.

Retrospective review. This study aims to compare postoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in predominant back pain (PBP) versus predominant leg pain (PLP) patients following lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). Prior studies comparing PROMs in patients undergoing lumbar fusion with PBP versus PLP symptoms have included heterogeneous spinal pathology and restricted analysis to posterior fusion techniques. Demographics, perioperative characteristics, complications, and PROMs from a retrospective single-surgeon database were collected for primary, elective, and single-level lumbar fusion for DS. Preoperative/postoperative PROMs included visual analog scale (VAS)-back/leg pain (VAS-BP/VAS-LP), Oswestry disability index (ODI), 12-Item Short Form Physical and Mental Composite Score (SF-12 PCS/MCS), and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF). Preoperative VAS-BP>VAS-LP established the PBP cohort and VAS-LP>VAS-BP established the PLP cohort. The average follow-up was 23.4±2.8 months. Improvement in PROMs (ΔPROM) at 6 weeks (ΔPROM-6W) and final follow-up (ΔPROM-FF) were calculated. χ2 and the Student t test analyzed categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Postoperative PROMs, ΔPROMs, and MCID achievement rates were compared between groups with multivariate linear or logistic regression. In total, 166 patients were selected with 108 in the PBP cohort. Both cohorts saw improvements in all PROM scores over time. The PBP cohort reported significantly greater ΔPROM-6W and ΔPROM-FF for VAS-BP (P<0.003). The PLP cohort reported greater ΔPROM-6W and ΔPROM-FF for VAS-LP and ΔPROM-FF for SF-12 PCS (P<0.014). MCID achievement rates for VAS-BP were higher in the PBP cohort, and VAS-LP MCID achievement rates were higher in the PLP cohort (P<0.015). Regardless of predominant pain location, patients-reported improvements in all PROs at the final follow-up. Patients with PLP-reported greater improvement in leg pain and physical function and patients with PBP-reported greater back pain improvement.

Effect of Thai Yoga Exercise for Reducing Pain and Improve Functional Disability in Patients with Text Neck Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Text neck syndrome (TNS) is prevalent among mobile users, and exercise is a simple, non-invasive approach, for treating chronic neck pain. Research on Thai yoga (TY) exercise to relieve or reduce neck and shoulder pain in people with TNS is still limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TY exercise on health, physical function and quality of life in patients with TNS. A randomized clinical trial was conducted from April to July 2023 (TCTR20230920002, 10/2023). Seventy-eight volunteers with TNS participated in the study, performing TY exercises, while continuing their routine daily life (CON) for 6 weeks, with week 8 as a follow-up appointment. Clinical evaluation was conducted using a numerical pain-rating scale, functional disability scored by the neck disability index questionnaire (NDI), range of motion (ROM) and cervical vertebral angle, rounded shoulder angle by goniometry, and health-related quality of life (QoL) assessed by the 36-Item Short Form Survey. The results of the numerical pain-rating scale for TY group in the follow-up (6.71±0.52 weeks) were significantly different (p-value &lt; 0.001) from the baseline (4.18±0.95) while the CON group showed no change. The NDI also decreased from the baseline (5.03±1.38) in the TY group, while the CON group remained at 12.03±1.98. The data of craniovertebral angle of TY group show an increase from baseline (62.44±2.32) while CON group was 39.37±4.73. The results showed that the rounded shoulder angle of TY group decreased to the normal range. The TY group shows an increased degree from baseline. The results for the TY group demonstrated a significant increase in QoL. These findings suggest that TY exercise is effective for relieving TNS when compared with the CON group. These positive outcomes provide strong support for the use of TY as an effective intervention for treating TNS symptoms.

Different disease activity trajectories in early axial spondyloarthritis lead to significantly different long-term outcomes: a trajectory-based analysis of the DESIR cohort over 10 years

IntroductionThe study aimed to identify and describe disease activity trajectories over 10 years in patients with recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and determine their impact on long-term outcomes.MethodsThis prospective, multicentre study...

Effects of choline alfoscerate on cognitive function and quality of life in type 2 diabetes: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

This study evaluated the effects of choline alfoscerate on cognitive function and quality of life in T2DM patients with mild cognitive decrements. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited 36 individuals with T2DM and mild cognitive impairment which was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 25-28, and randomly assigned them to receive either 1200 mg/day of choline alfoscerate or a placebo. Four additional questionnaires-the 36-Item Short Form Survey, the modified Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, the Korean version of Activities of Daily Living, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-were investigated at 6 and 12 months and analysed via mixed-effects models for repeated measures. The mean age of study participants was 71.8 ± 5.3 years and 69.4% women. Six-month treatment with choline alfoscerate resulted in a non-significant increase in the MMSE score from 26.2 ± 1.3 to 26.9 ± 2.0, whereas the placebo group showed a non-significant decline from 26.6 ± 1.3 to 25.9 ± 2.3, resulting in a mean difference of +1.4 between the two groups (p = 0.059). At 12 months, the mean difference increased to +1.7 with statistical significance (p < 0.001). Physical health, as measured by the SF-36 survey, was significantly better in the choline alfoscerate group than in the placebo group. Choline alfoscerate 1200 mg once daily treatment showed marginal improvement in cognitive function in T2DM patients with mild cognitive impairment at 6 months but leading to significance at 12 months compared to placebo, suggesting its potential as an adjunct therapy for managing early cognitive decline.