Biomedical subjects

Elizabeth M Badley

Publications and source records attributed to Elizabeth M Badley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

"What do you expect? You're just getting older": A comparison of perceived osteoarthritis-related and aging-related health experiences in middle- and older-age adults.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the health experiences of middle- and older-age adults with moderate osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms with experiences of individuals with no chronic health conditions. Similarities and differences in health changes, the meaning of these changes, and their impact were examined. METHODS: Sixteen focus groups (10 OA, 6 control) were conducted with 53 women and 37 men (age 39-88 years). OA participants were recruited from practitioners' offices and The Arthritis Society, Ontario Division. Additional OA participants and controls were recruited from community centers and newspaper advertisements. All participants were asked about changes in health, the impact of these changes, and self-management strategies. Participants also completed standardized measures including demographic information; the Short Form 36; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index; and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. RESULTS: Differences in the depth, breadth, and meaning of symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and fatigue were reported with little overlap between OA and control groups. OA was often seen as part of a normal aging process requiring acceptance, not treatment. However, younger OA participants reported more distress and frustration managing the disease. OA participants reported an impact of their health on work, leisure, social activities, and relationships that was described as upsetting compared with controls. CONCLUSION: This study illuminates personal and social factors associated with OA by comparing health experiences of individuals with OA and controls. It highlights directions for future research that can improve our understanding of the needs of individuals with OA and can help link individuals' health status to the broader framework of their lives.

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PubMed2006

Descriptive epidemiology of osteoarthritis in British Columbia, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent and often disabling disease. Data on the incidence of OA in the general population are limited. Our objectives were (1) to estimate OA prevalence and incidence rates by age and sex in a geographically defined population of 4 million people [British Columbia (BC), Canada] using an administrative database; and (2) to determine the effects of different administrative definitions of OA and observation (run-in) time on such estimates. METHODS: We used data on all visits to health professionals and hospital admissions covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP) of BC for the fiscal years 1991-92 through 2000-01. OA was defined based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, diagnostic codes required for administrative purposes. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of OA in 2001 was 10.8%: 8.9% in men and 12.6% in women. Prevalence was higher in women in all age groups. By age 70-74 years, about one-third of men and 40% of women had OA. Incidence rates in 2000-01 were 11.7 per 1000 person-years in the total population, 10.0 in men and 13.4 in women. Rates increased linearly with age between 50 and 80 years. Both prevalence and incidence depended strongly on the definition of OA and the run-in period. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of physician-diagnosed OA in BC was slightly lower than self-reported prevalence of arthritis in population surveys. Routinely collected administrative data could be a valuable source of information for OA surveillance, but more research is needed on the validity of OA diagnosis in administrative databases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Assessment of health-related quality of life in arthritis: conceptualization and development of five item banks using item response theory.

BACKGROUND: Modern psychometric methods based on item response theory (IRT) can be used to develop adaptive measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL). Adaptive assessment requires an item bank for each domain of HRQL. The purpose of this study was to develop item banks for five domains of HRQL relevant to arthritis. METHODS: About 1,400 items were drawn from published questionnaires or developed from focus groups and individual interviews and classified into 19 domains of HRQL. We selected the following 5 domains relevant to arthritis and related conditions: Daily Activities, Walking, Handling Objects, Pain or Discomfort, and Feelings. Based on conceptual criteria and pilot testing, 219 items were selected for further testing. A questionnaire was mailed to patients from two hospital-based clinics and a stratified random community sample. Dimensionality of the domains was assessed through factor analysis. Items were analyzed with the Generalized Partial Credit Model as implemented in Parscale. We used graphical methods and a chi-square test to assess item fit. Differential item functioning was investigated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 888 individuals with arthritis. The five domains were sufficiently unidimensional for an IRT-based analysis. Thirty-one items were deleted due to lack of fit or differential item functioning. Daily Activities had the narrowest range for the item location parameter (-2.24 to 0.55) and Handling Objects had the widest range (-1.70 to 2.27). The mean (median) slope parameter for the items ranged from 1.15 (1.07) in Feelings to 1.73 (1.75) in Walking. The final item banks are comprised of 31-45 items each. CONCLUSION: We have developed IRT-based item banks to measure HRQL in 5 domains relevant to arthritis. The items in the final item banks provide adequate psychometric information for a wide range of functional levels in each domain.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2006

Reexamining the arthritis-employment interface: perceptions of arthritis-work spillover among employed adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine employed individuals' perceptions of arthritis-work spillover (AWS), the reciprocal influence of arthritis on work and work on arthritis, and the demographic, illness, and work context factors associated with AWS. METHODS: The study group comprised 492 employed individuals with osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis. Participants completed an interview-administered, structured questionnaire assessing AWS, demographic (e.g., age, sex), illness (e.g., disease type, pain, activity limitations), and work context (e.g., workplace control, hours of work) variables. Principal components analysis, reliability analysis, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A single factor solution emerged for AWS. The scale had an internal reliability of 0.88. Respondents were more likely to report that work interfered with caring for their arthritis than they were to report that their disease affected their work performance. Younger respondents, those with more fatigue and workplace activity limitations, and those working in trades and transportation reported more AWS. Individuals with more control over their work schedules reported less AWS. CONCLUSION: The results of this study extend research on arthritis by reexamining the interface between arthritis and employment. This study introduces a new measure of AWS that enhances the range of tools available to researchers and clinicians examining the impact of arthritis in individuals' lives.

Arthritis↗

PubMed2006

Exploring the role of contextual factors in disability models.

PURPOSE: The objective of this paper is to define and categorize the types of relationships that contextual factors have within models of disability according to the WHO International Classification of Disability, Functioning, and Health (ICF) conceptual scheme. METHOD: A conceptual analysis building on the disability literature specifies the causal relationships for contextual factors in relation to the association between activity limitation and participation using a person with arthritis as an example. RESULTS: From a statistical point of view, in relation to disability process, contextual factors can act as an independent factor, confounding factor, moderating factor, and mediating factor. How the role of a particular contextual factor is specified depends on the researcher's hypothesized disability framework and research goals. Moderating and mediating contextual factors are of particular importance in disability model specification. Various sub-types of moderating contextual factors are also identified. CONCLUSION: This paper provides a framework for the conceptualization of contextual factors in the examination of disability models. This framework has implications in constructing conceptual models as well as for setting up analytical plans. In light of the increasing awareness and application of the ICF model, we intend this work to stimulate additional discussion on this topic.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2006

A prospective population-based study of the predictors of undergoing total joint arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To examine prospectively the predictors of time to total joint arthroplasty (TJA). METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study with a median followup time of 6.1 years. We included participants from an existing population-based cohort of 2,128 individuals, ages 55 years and older with disabling hip and/or knee arthritis and no prior TJA, from 2 regions of Ontario, Canada, 1 urban with low TJA rates and 1 rural with high rates. The main outcome measure was the occurrence of a TJA based on procedure codes in the hospital discharge abstract database. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean age of the patients was 71.5 years, 67.9% had a high school education or higher, 73.4% were women, the mean arthritis severity (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]) score was 41.1 (maximum possible score 100), and 20.0% were willing to consider TJA. Greater probability of undergoing TJA was associated with higher (worse) baseline WOMAC scores (hazard ratio [HR] 1.22 per 10-unit increase, P < 0.001), age (compared with age or=82 years; P < 0.05 for all), better health (HR 1.14 per 10-unit increase in Short Form 36 general health survey score, P < 0.001), and willingness to consider TJA (HR 4.92, P < 0.001). When willingness was excluded from the model, education level, but not sex or income, became a significant predictor of TJA receipt. CONCLUSION: Willingness to consider TJA was the strongest predictor of the time to first TJA. Given that previous research indicates that willingness is largely explained by perceptions of the indications for and risks associated with TJA and not disease severity, this finding supports the need for population education about arthritis treatments, including TJA.

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PubMed2006

Ambulatory physician care for musculoskeletal disorders in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To examine patterns of ambulatory physician visits for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in Canada. METHODS: Physician claims data from 7 provinces were analyzed for ambulatory visits made by adults age >or= 15 years to primary care physicians and specialists (all medical specialists, rheumatologists, internists, all surgical specialists, orthopedic surgeons) for MSD (arthritis and related conditions, bone disorders, back disorders, ill defined symptoms) during fiscal year 1998-99. Person-visit rates and total and mean number of visits to all physicians for MSD were calculated by condition group. The percentages of patients with MSD seeing physicians of different specialties were also calculated. Provincial data were combined to calculate national estimates. RESULTS: Over 15.5 million physician visits were made for MSD during 1998-99. About 24% of Canadians made at least one physician visit for MSD: 16% for arthritis and related conditions, 2% for bone disorders, 7% for back disorders, and 6% for ill defined symptoms. Person-visit rates for MSD varied by province, were highest among older Canadians, and were greater for women than men. Primary care physicians were commonly seen, particularly for back disorders. Consultation with surgical and medical specialists was less common and varied by province and by condition. CONCLUSION: MSD place a significant burden on Canada's ambulatory healthcare system. As the population ages, there will be an escalating demand for care. Careful planning will be required to ensure that those affected have access to the care they require. A limitation in using administrative data to examine health service utilization is that MSD diagnostic codes require validation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Revisiting arthritis prevalence projections--it's more than just the aging of the population.

OBJECTIVE: Data for successive population surveys show there is a sustained increase in the prevalence of arthritis, surpassing projected estimates. We examined whether the often-made assumption of stability in age/sex-specific arthritis point-prevalence estimates when estimating future burden is upheld; we used nearly a decade of survey data, and computed new projections for arthritis prevalence in Canada, taking into account past changes in age/sex-specific prevalence estimates and anticipated changes in the age/sex structure of the population. The prevalence from 1994 to 2003, overall and by age and sex, was documented. METHODS: Analyses were based on persons aged 15+ years from 3 cycles of the National Population Health Survey (1994-99; n > 14,000) and 2 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2000-03; n > 130,000). Two projection scenarios were adopted to estimate future burden. RESULTS: Stability in age/sex point-prevalence estimates was not observed. From 1994 to 2003, absolute and relative increases were greatest in the older age groups (55+ yrs) and younger age groups (25-54 yrs), respectively. By 2021, we anticipate the prevalence of arthritis in Canada will have increased to between 21% and 26%. Overall, the prevalence increased from 13.4% to 17.6% from 1994 to 2003, an increase of nearly 50% in the number of Canadians reporting arthritis. CONCLUSION: The assumption of stable age/sex prevalence estimates over time does not hold in Canada. Past projections have underestimated future burden; past trends need to be considered.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Does everybody need a team?

Multidisciplinary team care, defined as care provided by a group of health professionals from various disciplines, has been widely used in arthritis management since the 1950s. Its effectiveness in comparison with regular outpatient care has mainly been established in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have shown that similar outcomes can be achieved in patients with RA at lower costs using care provided by a clinical nurse specialist. These latter findings suggest that the active components of the multidisciplinary team care model may not be related to the number or professional backgrounds of the health professionals involved, nor with their physical proximity, but rather to the provider's skills in rheumatology and the coordination of services. Because many patients with arthritis have healthcare needs that are not met through treatment by the rheumatologist alone and since traditional multidisciplinary team care in many countries is unavailable or may be undesirable in specific situations, the development and evaluation of alternative, comprehensive models of care delivery is recommended.

Arthritis↗

PubMed2006

Current topics on models of care in the management of inflammatory arthritis.

While there is strong evidence supporting a multidisciplinary team approach in arthritis management, access and use are hindered by limited human and financial resources. To safeguard the provision of comprehensive care throughout the disease trajectory, alternative care models are being developed. Three promising arthritis care models include the use of information technology and telemedicine, patient initiated care, and extended roles of health professionals. Future research projects should focus on: (1) the cost-effectiveness of information technology for exchange of patient-based data and education and management support; (2) the characteristics and needs of patients who can versus those who cannot self-manage; (3) strategies to improve access to care for patients with early arthritis, such as extending roles of health professionals to include triage; and (4) further structuring and standardizing rheumatology training of nursing and allied health professionals.

Arthritis↗

PubMed2005

Pain as a mediator of sleep problems in arthritis and other chronic conditions.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between arthritis and insomnia symptoms and unrefreshing sleep, as well as the role of pain as a mediator of these relationships. METHODS: Analyses were conducted on the cross-sectional, nationally representative, weighted sample of adults > or =18 years of age (n = 118,336) in the 2000/2001 Canadian Community Health Survey. Four logistic regression models were estimated for each sleep problem (model 1: arthritis only; model 2: model 1 + sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and other chronic conditions; model 3: model 2 + mental health [stress, depression]; and model 4: model 3 + pain). Mediation by pain was quantified by the percentage change in the effect of arthritis on a particular sleep problem by comparing models 3 and 4. RESULTS: The prevalence of insomnia symptoms and unrefreshing sleep in persons with arthritis was 24.8% and 11.9%, respectively. These estimates are twice as high as those for persons without arthritis. In multivariate regression analyses, the addition of pain decreased the effect of arthritis by 53% (insomnia symptoms) and 64% (unrefreshing sleep). The effect of arthritis was still statistically significant in these models, suggesting that pain is a partial mediator of these relationships. CONCLUSION: Insomnia symptoms and unrefreshing sleep affect a considerable proportion of individuals with arthritis. Pain mediates a substantial amount of the relationship between arthritis and sleep problems. Better pain management could significantly improve sleep in individuals with arthritis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Arthritis onset and worsening self-rated health: a longitudinal evaluation of the role of pain and activity limitations.

OBJECTIVE: To longitudinally explore the hypothesized role of worsening pain and development of activity limitations as mediators in the relationship between arthritis onset and worsening self-rated health (SRH). METHODS: Data was obtained from the 1998/1999 and 2000/2001 cycles of the population-based Canadian longitudinal National Population Health Survey (n = 10,859; ages > or = 18; response rate: time 1 = 81.6%, time 2 = 89.2%). Respondents were asked about chronic conditions, pain, activity limitations, and self-perceived health; change over time was assessed. Change in effect of arthritis onset on worsening SRH upon considering potential mediators was assessed through multivariate logistic regression, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and onset of other conditions. RESULTS: Worsening pain fully explained the effect of arthritis onset on worsening SRH; a portion of the effect of worsening pain was mediated by the development of activity limitation. Residual direct effect of arthritis onset was statistically insignificant. Worsening pain and development of activity limitations also mediated a portion of the effects of onset of other chronic conditions but to a lesser extent than arthritis onset. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to examine these relationships longitudinally. Identifying the role of mediators is necessary if target areas of prevention and/or management are sought, either at the individual or population level. Our results indicate that the development of arthritis has a significant impact on worsening SRH. Pain and development of activity limitations fully account for the relationship between arthritis onset and worsening SRH. High priority should be placed on prevention and management strategies for pain among people with arthritis.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

Physical therapy services for older adults with at least moderately severe hip or knee arthritis in 2 Ontario counties.

OBJECTIVE: Physical therapy (PT) is a recommended treatment for the management of arthritis. We investigated factors related to referral to PT services in people with hip or knee arthritis and describe characteristics of treatment received. METHODS: As part of a longitudinal study of the population aged > or = 55 years with at least moderately severe hip or knee arthritis in 2 Ontario counties (n = 1350), participants were surveyed in the third year of followup about use of PT. Participants were categorized as to whether they had total joint replacement surgery in the past year (TJR group, n = 52) or did not (non-TJR group, n = 1298). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify determinants of referral to PT considering sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidity, use of prescribed arthritis medication, and arthritis severity (WOMAC summary score). RESULTS: Overall, 18.7% of the cohort was referred to PT in the past year: 65.4% of the TJR group and 16.8% of the non-TJR group. The only significant predictor of PT in the TJR group was current use of prescribed arthritis medication. Greater arthritis severity, current use of prescribed arthritis medication, and greater comorbidity were significant independent predictors of referral to PT for the non-TJR group in multivariate logistic regression. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan paid for the majority of PT received. CONCLUSION: Low rates of referral to PT in the previous year suggest possible underutilization. Further research is needed to examine patterns of use of PT throughout the course of the arthritis disease process and to examine barriers to PT access.

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PubMed2005

Getting a Grip on Arthritis: an educational intervention for the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a community-based educational intervention designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis in primary care. METHODS: The educational intervention, entitled "Getting a Grip on Arthritis", consisted of a 2-day workshop and followup reinforcement activities for healthcare providers (providers) and was supported by a toolkit of written materials for providers and clients. The content of the intervention was designed around 10 arthritis best practices derived from published arthritis guidelines. Five community health centers (CHC) participated as intervention sites and 2 as control sites. Intervention impact was determined through a mailed survey to clients with arthritis. Primary outcome analysis compared responses to questions about arthritis best practices between intervention and control sites at baseline and followup. RESULTS: The workshop was attended by 21 multidisciplinary providers from intervention CHC. At baseline, 423 of 624 eligible and consenting clients completed the survey and 376 of 593 completed the followup survey. At followup clients in the intervention group reported significantly higher referrals to The Arthritis Society therapy program, and were more often provided information on type of arthritis, medications and their side effects, disease management strategies, and arthritis community resources. CONCLUSION: This demonstration project is one of the first to show changes in the management of arthritis in a primary care setting. This project has recently received funding from Health Canada's Primary Health Care Transition Fund for implementation across Canada and is expected to provide a template for use in other chronic diseases.

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PubMed2005

Arthritis in Canada: what do we know and what should we know?

Doctors' visits for inflammatory arthritis reportedly represent only 6% of the overall visit rates for all arthritis and related conditions (163 per 1000), with about 40% of these patients seeing a specialist. Data from provincial drug plan databases show that although the proportion of the population aged 65 years and older with prescriptions for disease modifying antirheumatic drugs increased to 1% in 2000, this is only half the expected prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in this age group. There are large provincial variations. Despite data on the efficacy and importance of treatment of early inflammatory arthritis, research is lacking on: the experience of arthritis, decision-making about seeking medical care, and factors affecting access to, and payment for, treatment, including drugs and rehabilitation; primary care decision-making about referral and treatment; organizational aspects of specialist care and access to drugs; and new ways of delivering services to reach patients in underserviced or remote areas. Monitoring the population impact of arthritis, including economic costs, is a priority for research, as are epidemiological studies on risk factors.

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PubMed2004

Managing arthritis and employment: making arthritis-related work changes as a means of adaptation.

OBJECTIVE: To understand arthritis-related workplace changes, including occasional work loss and changes to the type and hours of work, and the factors associated with them using theories of adaptation and behavior change as a framework. METHODS: Participants were 492 employed individuals with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. They completed an interview-administered, structured questionnaire assessing demographic, workplace, and psychosocial variables, as well as such work transitions as changes to the hours, type, and nature of work. Hypotheses were examined using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Seventy percent of respondents made at least 1 work change. Younger participants and those with greater workplace activity limitations reported more changes. Work changes were associated with greater depression. A hypothesized 3-way interaction among people's perceptions of their capacity, their future job expectations, and whether they had told their employer about their arthritis was significant. CONCLUSION: This study extends arthritis employment research by examining a range of work changes. It highlights the dynamic interplay among arthritis, workplace, and psychosocial variables to understand adaptation to arthritis disability.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed2004

The Impact of Arthritis on Canadian Women.

HEALTH ISSUE: Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in Canada and a leading cause of long-term disability, pain, and increased health care utilization. It is also a far more prevalent condition among women than men. Information was obtained primarily from the 1998-99 National Population Health Survey and the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry. KEY FINDINGS: In 1998, the overall prevalence of self-reported arthritis or rheumatism in Canadian women was 20.0%. This rate increased to 55.6% among women over 75 years of age. Compared to women with chronic conditions, women with arthritis were more likely to experience long-term disability; report worse health; experience more pain; be dependent upon others and consult general practitioners, specialists, and physiotherapists more frequently. While men and women with arthritis under-utilize total joint replacement surgery, the degree of under-use was over three times greater for women. DATA GAPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: There is a lack of detailed information on the use of health care services by women with arthritis. There are also no systematic data available on the prescribing of medications, access to services such as assistive devices or exercise programs, or use of community support, self-management strategies, or rehabilitation services. The burden of arthritis both on women and on society is expected to increase as the population ages. A comprehensive health strategy to reduce the impact of arthritis is required to ensure that health and support services are available in a timely manner and provided in such a way to meet the needs of Canadian women.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Perceptions of, and willingness to consider, total joint arthroplasty in a population-based cohort of individuals with disabling hip and knee arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine perceptions of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and how they relate to willingness to consider TJA. METHODS: A population-based survey in Oxford County, Ontario, Canada identified 1,735 subjects > or =55 years with disabling hip or knee arthritis; 435 English-speaking respondents with no prior TJA and not on a TJA waiting list were invited to participate, and 379 (37.1%) agreed. We assessed demographics; comorbidity; evaluated and perceived arthritis severity; perceived risks, benefits, indications for, and knowledge of TJA; preferred decision-making style; self efficacy; and willingness to consider TJA by questionnaire. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 67.6 years; 33.5% were willing (definitely or probably) to consider TJA as a treatment option. Willingness was independently associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] <75 versus > or =75 years 2.42, P = 0.01); worse perceived arthritis severity (OR per unit increase 1.30, P < 0.001); perceiving TJA as appropriate for moderate, controlled joint pain (OR 3.29, P = 0.004); walking limited to <1 block (OR 1.99, P = 0.015); the risk of revision as acceptable (OR 3.73, P < 0.001); and friends as an important health information source (OR 2.49, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Participants overestimated the pain and disability needed to warrant TJA. These misperceptions were strongly associated with unwillingness to consider TJA and should be addressed at a population level.

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