Biomedical subjects

Jenny Strong

Publications and source records attributed to Jenny Strong.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

The measurement of attitudes towards and beliefs about pain.

This study compared the psychometric properties of two scales designed to measure attitudes towards and beliefs about pain. The Survey of Pain Attitudes (Revised) SOPA(R) (Jensen and Karoly 1987) and the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory (PBPI) (Williams and Thorn 1989) were examined in terms of internal consistency, discriminant validity, factor structure, construct validity and sensitivity to age and gender effects. Results provided strong support for the SOPA(R) as a useful measurement tool for use with patients with chronic low back pain. Further work is suggested for the PBPI, as the reported factor structure was not replicated. Discussion centered around the possible reasons for this finding, with issues such as the possible orientation of different treatment facilities, the possible differences in attitudes between patients with different types of pain, and the possible influence of length of years in pain or the receipt of workers compensation payments being considered.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Functional capacity evaluation as a performance measure: evidence for a new approach for clients with chronic back pain.

OBJECTIVES: To report the research and development of a new approach to Functional Capacity Evaluation, the Gibson Approach to Functional Capacity Evaluation (GAPP FCE) for chronic back pain clients. METHODS: Four studies, including pilot and feasibility testing, expert review, and preliminary interrater reliability examination, are described here. Participants included 7 healthy young adults and 19 rehabilitation clients with back pain who underwent assessment using the GAPP FCE. Thirteen therapists were trained in the approach and were silently observed administering the Functional Capacity Evaluations by at least 1 other trained therapists or the first investigator or both. An expert review using 5 expert occupational therapists was also conducted. RESULTS: Study 1, the pilot with healthy individuals, indicated that the GAPP FCE was a feasible approach with good utility. Study 2, a pilot using 2 trained therapists assessing 5 back pain clients, supported the clinical feasibility of the approach. The expert review in Study 3 found support for GAPP FCE. Study 4, a trial of the approach with 14 rehabilitation clients, found support for the interrater reliability of recommendations for return to work based on performance in the GAPP FCE. DISCUSSION: The evidence thus far available supports the GAPP FCE as an approach that provides a sound method for evaluating the performance of the physical demands of work with clients with chronic back pain. The tool has been shown to have good face and content validity, to meet acceptable test standards, and to have reasonable interrater reliability. Further research is occurring to look at a larger interrater reliability study, to further examine content validity, and to examine predictive validity.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Self-report and pain behavior among patients with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between pain behaviors and self-report of pain and disability in patients with chronic pain. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (59% women), aged 19 to 79 years, admitted to a Multidisciplinary Pain Center with chronic noncancer pain, were assessed on the following: 1) pain intensity using a 0 to 10 Numerical Graphic Rating Scale; 2) the Pain Disability Index; 3) the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire; 4) a 10-minute videotaped session involving sitting, standing, walking, and reclining, after which pain behaviors were coded using a standardized observational protocol. RESULTS: Interrelationships among pain intensity, pain disability, self-efficacy, and pain behavior were tested using the Pearson product-moment correlations. Significant relationships were found between pain behavior frequencies and self-reported pain intensity (r = 0.29, P < 0.05), self-reported pain disability (r = 0.54, P < 0.0005), and reported self-efficacy (r = -0.42, P < 0.005). Multiple regression analyses were performed to further investigate these interrelationships. Only the Pain Disability Index score was found to make a significant unique contribution (semipartial correlation of 15%, P < 0.008) to the prediction of total pain behavior score. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that pain behavior observation is a valid and reliable assessment tool for use with a heterogeneous chronic pain population. Significant associations were found between pain behaviors and self-report measures of pain intensity, pain disability, and self-efficacy; pain intensity scores displayed a weak relationship; and pain disability scores the strongest relationship with pain behavior. Viewed with previous research, the results of this study indicate the value of a multimodal, cognitive-behavioral approach to assessing patients with chronic pain.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Introducing OTseeker (Occupational Therapy Systematic Evaluation of Evidence): a new evidence database for occupational therapists.

This clinical scenario illustrates how OTseeker can be used by occupational therapists to locate research that may inform clinical decisions. Beyond the clinical arena, this database also has potential to greatly enhance the ability of researchers to perform systematic reviews of RCTs and eventually, development of clinical guidelines. In conclusion, OTseeker is a new Web-based database that provides fast access to evidence of therapeutic effectiveness for clinicians, academics, and students, as well as consumers and providers of occupational therapy services. OTseeker will be able to be used by clinicians to guide dinical practice, by researchers to perform systematic reviews of RCTs, by students, and by consortiums of stakeholders to develop evidence-based guidelines for occupational therapy practice.

Databases, Bibliographic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Searches and content of the OTseeker database: informing research priorities.

BACKGROUND: A strategic and prioritized approach to occupational therapy research is needed, particularly given the limited research funding available. Comparing occupational therapists' information needs with the research evidence available can potentially inform research debate within the profession. This study aimed to identify research topics most often sought by users of the OTseeker database and to compare these with the quantity of topics available in the database. METHOD: A random sample of keyword search terms submitted to OTseeker (n= 4,500) was coded according to diagnostic and intervention categories, and compared with the amount of research contained in OTseeker in 2004. RESULTS: Most frequently sought topics were relevant to the diagnostic categories of pediatric conditions (19%), neurology and neuromuscular disorders (17%), and mental health (17%). Most frequently sought intervention topics included modes of service delivery, sensory interventions, and physical modalities. Although many frequently sought topics had a correspondingly high volume of research in OTseeker, a few areas had very little content (e.g., fine motor skill acquisition, autistic spectrum disorder). This information is offered to inform discussions about research priorities and resource allocation for research within occupational therapy.

Biomedical Research↗