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Oskar Mittag

Publications and source records attributed to Oskar Mittag.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Missing data due to a 'checklist misconception-effect'.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the extent and relevance of a postulated "checklist misconception-effect" (a specific response pattern characterized by symptom-free persons not checking the "not at all"-category). METHODS: Our data is derived from a survey of blue collar workers (n = 228) who previously had filed in applications for medical rehabilitation benefits. We defined the "checklist misconception-effect" by the following response pattern: (1) at least one missing value and (2) at least one valid item response and (3) no 'not at all' responses. RESULTS: 75% of the responders had complete data, 16.2% a postulated 'checklist misconception-effect'. Substantial co-variations with socio-demographic characteristics or health status indicators could not be found. Additional imputation of missing values under the assumption of a "checklist misconception-effect" led to a reduction of missing data in the somatisation-subscale score from 12.3% to 0.4% compared to a simple manual-based calculation. Correlation with various external criteria (general health perception, level of functioning, depression) remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Ignoring the "checklist misconception-effect" would overestimate symptom load. However, the validity of this effect has still to be proven in methodological studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation with versus without a follow-up intervention rendered by telephone (Luebeck follow-up trial): overall and gender-specific effects.

The effects of a nurse-managed secondary prevention program for patients after acute cardiac events were examined. Special interest was given to gender-specific results. The design was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial involving 343 patients following 3 weeks of inpatient cardiac rehabilitation, randomly assigned to either of two study groups. Patients in the treatment group were contacted monthly by phone over 1 year. The main goals of the intervention were the reduction of behavioural coronary risk factors and enhancing quality of life. The program was conducted by specially trained nurses. The control group received written information only. Primary outcome was the Framingham risk score. Follow-up examination after 12 months was completed by 297 patients. Patients in the intervention group showed lower Framingham risk scores as compared to controls. Separate analyses by sex revealed that this was mostly due to the men in the sample. Women, on the other hand, showed a significant rise of clinically relevant anxiety/depressiveness in the control but not in the intervention group; in males there were no differences between study conditions. In conclusion, telephone counselling by specially trained nurses seems a cost-effective way to achieve a lasting reduction in cardiac risk factors and to maintain the effects of cardiac rehabilitation.

Anxiety↗
PubMed2003

[Predictive validity of a brief scale to assess subjective prognosis of work capacity (SPE Scale) in a cohort of LVA insured patients with severe back pain or functional complaints relating to internal medicine].

OBJECTIVES: Vocational (dis-)ability is a central concept in social medicine. Beside from medical factors psychological and system factors play a crucial role in determining vocational disability. The development of instruments assessing the prognosis of gainful employment is an important task in rehabilitation research. METHODS: A short scale measuring the subjective prognosis of gainful employment (SPE-scale) was administered to 481 blue collar workers suffering from severe back pain or else functional syndromes. Employment status two or three years following the assessment is known. RESULTS: 11% of the subjects have applied for early retirement; 5% actually have retired. There are statistically significant relations of SPE-scores and subjects employment status. Effect sizes of the SPE-scores equal or even outrank those of other instruments assessing vocational (dis-)ability. The positive predictive power of the scale is low, though. CONCLUSIONS: The SPE scale can be recommended for further use in (rehabilitation) research. The employment of the instrument for medical appraisal has to be viewed with more caution. The percentage of subjects at risk for early retirement is largely overestimated in case of a positive test. Instruments like the SPE-scale can assist but never replace the medical appraisal.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Questions about questions: cognitive survey of questionnaire development].

OBJECTIVES: Traditional pretests are used in the development of survey items to identify technical and comprehension problems. Cognitive processes involved in answering survey questions are not the object of this kind of test. METHODS: Cognitive survey methods were used here to test a questionnaire screening for rehabilitation needs in people suffering from back pain. Essential techniques of cognitive testing (think-aloud, probing, confidence ratings) are outlined. We applied these techniques to 20 patients suffering from either acute or chronic back pain in order to test the survey. RESULTS: The main goal, i.e., identifying problems in item formulation by means of cognitive testing, was achieved. Almost one third of the survey questions were rephrased according to the results of the study. Some of the improvements of the questionnaire are illustrated. CONCLUSIONS: The increased effort required to perform cognitive testing as compared to traditional pretesting pays off. The two methods have specific pros and cons and cannot replace one another.

Adult↗