PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

James G Wright

Publications and source records attributed to James G Wright.

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.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Is self-reported improvement in osteoarthritis pain and disability reflected in objective measures?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if self-reported improvements in pain and function correlate with improvement in objective measures of disease in osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Individuals with disabling hip/knee OA were assessed 7 years apart by questionnaire [sociodemographics, body mass index, and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores] and physical [range of motion (ROM), disease activity based on joint stress pain, erythema, warmth, effusion] and radiographic examination of the hips and knees (Kellgren-Lawrence grade). Changes over time were expressed as improved, unchanged, or worse based on a priori criteria. RESULTS: Of 69 eligible patients, 43 (64%) with a mean age of 76.3 years participated; 77% were female. For WOMAC scores, 25% and 19% reported improved pain and function, respectively. For joint ROM, disease activity, and radiographic grade, 0% to 30% of participants were improved. However, improvements in WOMAC scores were not associated with improvements in any of the other measures (r < 0.24 for all). CONCLUSION: One-quarter of participants reported significant improvements in WOMAC pain and disability after 7 years' followup. However, these improvements were not associated with similar improvements in joint ROM, disease activity, or radiographic grade. Greater understanding of the determinants of self-reported improvements in arthritis status, in particular the role of adaptation, is warranted.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Parents' and patients' perceptions of postoperative appearance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional evaluation of patients after surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). OBJECTIVES: To determine the agreement between patients' and parents' perceptions of the patient's postoperative appearance and to compare those perceptions with physical and radiographic measures of deformity. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Improving cosmesis is an important aim of surgery. Patients' appearances may influence their evaluation of its outcome. METHODS: Physical and radiographic data were collected 2 years after surgery for 128 patients with AIS. Patients and parents independently rated shoulder blades, shoulders, waist, and overall appearance. Additionally, patients completed the Quality of Life Profile for Spinal Disorders (QLPSD). Agreement was evaluated with the weighted kappa statistic ranging between 0 and 1 where higher values indicate better agreement. RESULTS: Fair to moderate agreement was found between patient and parent ratings of the patient's shoulder blades (kappa = 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.48), shoulders (kappa = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.26-0.50), waist (kappa = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.25-0.55), and overall appearance (kappa = 0.22; 95% CI, 0.04-0.40). Patients rated the appearance of their waist (P = 0.013) and overall appearance (P = 0.039) significantly worse than their parents. Patients' perceptions of their overall appearance had higher correlations with the body image subscale score (r = 0.45, P = 0.000) and the total quality of life score on the QLPSD (r = 0.37, P = 0.000) than did parents' perceptions of those same measures (r = 0.21, P = 0.025; and r = 0.08, P = 0.369, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Radiographic and physical measures of deformity do not correlate well with patients' and parents' perceptions of appearance. Patients and parents do not strongly agree on the cosmetic outcome of AIS surgery. Therefore, given that the adolescents themselves undergo the surgery, patients' assessments of their deformity, rather than radiographic measures or parents' assessments, should play a major role in the evaluation of surgical success.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Development of pediatric comorbidity prediction model.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a comorbidity model for children that can be used with hospital discharge administrative databases. DESIGN: Retrospective study using administrative data obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database and the Deaths File to develop a logistic regression model. Hosmer-Lemeshow chi2 test was used to examine model fit. The C statistic was used to assess model discrimination. Bootstrapping was used to determine the stability of regression coefficients. SETTING: We used linked administrative databases to compile 339,077 hospital discharge abstracts from April 1, 1991, through March 31, 2002. PARTICIPANTS: Children between ages 1 and 14 years in Ontario, Canada. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Death within 1 year of hospital discharge. RESULTS: The 27-variable pediatric comorbidity model predicted 1-year mortality with a C statistic of 0.83 in the Ontario data set from which it was derived. The presence of brain cancer (odds ratio, 76.38 [95% confidence interval, 53.40-109.27]) at hospital admission was the strongest predictor, followed by diabetes insipidus (odds ratio, 39.23 [95% confidence interval, 20.75-74.17]). CONCLUSION: Using clinical judgment and empirical modeling strategies, we were able to identify 27 diagnoses highly predictive of death for children between 1 and 14 years of age within 1 year of hospital discharge.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Variations in diagnostic criteria for carpal tunnel syndrome among Ontario specialists.

BACKGROUND: Variations in diagnostic criteria for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) may result in differing reports of disease prevalence, errors in diagnosis, and variable results of treatment. The objective of this study was to determine how consistent specialists are in their ratings of the importance of clinical criteria for the diagnosis of CTS. METHODS: Three hundred specialist physicians and surgeons received a questionnaire containing 57 clinical criteria for the diagnosis of CTS. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to rate the importance of each criterion in the diagnosis of CTS. RESULTS: The overall consistency both across and within specialties was poor (intraclass correlation coefficient across specialties (ICC) = 0.28; ICC range within specialties 0.27-0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Specialists are relatively inconsistent in the importance they assign to clinical criteria for the diagnosis of CTS. This inconsistency may be an important source of variation in the reported prevalence and treatment of CTS.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome↗
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.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Determining the reliability of the Graf classification for hip dysplasia.

We sought to establish the levels of interrater reliability and intrarater reliability of the Graf classification among orthopaedic surgeons in their final training year and who learned the method by instructed teaching or self study. Using standard teaching material developed by Graf, two groups of senior orthopaedic residents at the same training level received structured teaching sessions (Group A, n = 2) or performed self study (Group B, n = 2). Interrater reliability and intrarater reliability were determined (Cohen's weighted kappa). Proportions of correctly rated sonograms were compared between groups, implications of misclassifications were analyzed, and sensitivity analyses were performed. Interrater reliability was 0.59 (95% CI = 0.32-0.85) for Group A, and 0.47 (95% CI = 0.14-0.79) for Group B. Intrarater reliability showed an overall kappa of 0.57 (95% CI = 0.35-0.78) in Group A, and 0.47 (95% CI = 0.19-0.75) in Group B. The proportion of correctly rated sonograms between groups was similar in the original dataset and in the sensitivity analysis. Misclassifications influencing treatment were infrequent; one patient would have received unwarranted treatment and three patients would not have received warranted treatment. The Graf classification showed moderate reliability. Using self study, it can be learned almost, but not quite as effectively as by a structured program.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2006

Assessment of long-term physical function in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients: comparison of the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the Functional Comorbidity Index.

OBJECTIVE: It is often important to adjust for the effect of comorbid diseases on patient outcomes. This study compares the association between physical function in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients with scores on two comorbidity indices, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, designed to predict mortality, and the Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI), which was designed to predict physical function. DESIGN: This is a prospective, longitudinal, observational study. A total of 73 survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome were contacted at 3, 6, and 12 mos. Patient comorbidity was evaluated with the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the FCI. Physical function was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Function Subscale and the Physical Component Subscale scores. RESULT: Mean FCI and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores correlated fairly strongly (Spearman rho = 0.62, P < 0.001). FCI, but not the Charlson Comorbidity Index, scores correlated with the Physical Function Subscale and Physical Component Subscale scores. After controlling for other potentially confounding variables such as age and severity of illness through regression analysis, the FCI score was still significantly associated with both Physical Function Subscale and Physical Component Subscale scores. CONCLUSIONS: The FCI is a better method of measuring comorbidity with physical function as the outcome. This study illustrates the importance of choosing the most appropriate comorbidity index for the outcome of interest.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Factors predicting the outcome of primary clubfoot surgery.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the rate of further surgery, the functional outcome and the factors associated with outcome after primary clubfoot surgery. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study of a cohort of all children who were less than 2 years of age at the time of surgery for idiopathic clubfoot deformity at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont., a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Of the 91 families who could be contacted, 63 agreed to return. The children's charts were reviewed, and their feet were given a Functional Rating System (FRS) score. RESULTS: Of the original operated population (n = 126), 75% were male and 41% had bilateral clubfoot. The average age at the time of surgery was 8 months, and the mean follow-up was 80.6 months. Further surgery was performed in 19% of cases. The mean FRS outcome score was 79. On average, the FRS score increased by 1.9 points as age at the time of surgery increased by 1 month. Only the presurgical talocalcaneal index was associated with the need for further surgery. CONCLUSION: The need for further surgery was 19% overall. Children who had surgery closer to 12 months of age had better functional results. Therefore, surgery should probably be performed in the second, rather than the first, 6 months of life.

Child↗
PubMed2005

Construction and validation of the scoliosis quality of life index in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cross-sectional design was used to evaluate the Scoliosis Quality of Life Index (SQLI). SQLI is a 22-item self-reporting health-related quality-of-life questionnaire for idiopathic scoliosis patients. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the psychometric qualities of SQLI. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: SQLI, a modification of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire, is intended to be more applicable to patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) between 10 and 18 years of age. METHODS: Eighty-four subjects with a mean age of 14.9 years participated. We determined reliability, validity, distribution of scores, and clinical utility of SQLI in a hospital setting. Seventy patients were AIS patients (16 postsurgical, 30 braced, 24 unbraced) with a mean Cobb angle of 30.7 degrees, and 14 patients were sibling controls. RESULTS: Reliability: Intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability of the global index was very good (ICC 2,1 = 0.80); Spearman's rho correlations between items and domains was 0.39 to 0.89 and between domains and global index was 0.55 to 0.78; Cronbach's alpha scores were more than 0.80 (0.82-0.89). VALIDITY: construct validity was established by correlations between SQLI's global index and Quality of Life Profile for Spine Deformities (QLPSD) global index (Spearman's rho, 0.79) and between SQLI domains and QLPSD domains (0.46-0.81); discriminate validity was established by SQLI's global index successfully partitioned controls and AIS subjects (Kruskal-Wallis test, P = 0.0013). Time required by the patient averaged 2.5 minutes per administration. CONCLUSIONS: SQLI is reliable and valid and demonstrates satisfactory distribution of scores. SQLI is a promising instrument in the assessment of AIS patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The development of a comorbidity index with physical function as the outcome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Physical function is an important measure of success of many medical and surgical interventions. Ability to adjust for comorbid disease is essential in health services research and epidemiologic studies. Current indices have primarily been developed with mortality as the outcome, and are not sensitive enough when the outcome is physical function. The objective of this study was to develop a self-administered Functional Comorbidity Index with physical function as the outcome. METHODS: The index was developed using two databases: a cross-sectional, simple random sample of 9,423 Canadian adults and a sample of 28,349 US adults seeking treatment for spine ailments. The primary outcome measure was the SF-36 physical function (PF) subscale. RESULTS: The Functional Comorbidity Index, an 18-item list of diagnoses, showed stronger association with physical function (model R(2) = 0.29) compared with the Charlson (model R(2) = 0.18), and Kaplan-Feinstein (model R(2) = 0.07) indices. The Functional Comorbidity Index correctly classified patients into high and low function, in 77% of cases. CONCLUSION: This new index contains diagnoses such as arthritis not found on indices used to predict mortality, and the FCI explained more variance in PF scores compared to indices designed to predict mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Development of the QuickDASH: comparison of three item-reduction approaches.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to develop a short, reliable, and valid measure of physical function and symptoms related to upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders by shortening the full, thirty-item DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) Outcome Measure. METHODS: Three item-reduction techniques were used on the cross-sectional field-testing data derived from a study of 407 patients with various upper-limb conditions. These techniques were the concept-retention method, the equidiscriminative item-total correlation, and the item response theory (Rasch modeling). Three eleven-item scales were created. Data from a longitudinal cohort study in which the DASH questionnaire was administered to 200 patients with shoulder and wrist/hand disorders were then used to assess the reliability (Cronbach alpha and test-retest reliability) and validity (cross-sectional and longitudinal construct) of the three scales. Results were compared with those derived with the full DASH. RESULTS: The three versions were comparable with regard to their measurement properties. All had a Cronbach alpha of > or = 0.92 and an intraclass correlation coefficient of > or = 0.94. Evidence of construct validity was established (r > or = 0.64 with single-item indices of pain and function). The concept-retention method, the most subjective of the approaches to item reduction, ranked highest in terms of its similarity to the original DASH. CONCLUSIONS: The concept-retention version is named the QuickDASH. It contains eleven items and is similar with regard to scores and properties to the full DASH. A comparison of item-reduction approaches suggested that the retention of clinically sensible and important content produced a comparable, if not slightly better, instrument than did more statistically driven approaches.

Arm↗