[Data collection and appraisal of outcome quality in the rheumatology acute hospital].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to W Kriegel.
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By application of a standardized core set of outcome measurement instruments, comparison between studies as well as meta-analyses in rehabilitation research can be facilitated. The German Society for Rheumatology has commissioned its working group on rehabilitation with the development of a proposal for such a core set of outcome measurement instruments. In a first step, dimensions for outcome measurement in rehabilitation were defined by a group of experts which represented rehabilitation hospitals, acute care hospitals, and research groups specialized in outcome measurement. The Delphi method was used in a multiple step consensus process. In a second step, instruments and procedures to operationalize the relevant dimensions were chosen. Reliability, validity, sensitivity to change, and practicability were used as criteria for selecting measurement instruments. The main intention of the proposed core set of outcome measurement instruments is to facilitate the processes of planning and carrying out rehabilitation research studies. Furthermore, the proposed instruments can be used for clinical documentation systems as well as for internal or external quality assurance programs.
This double-blind one-year study compares the long-term efficacy and safety of nimesulide with naproxen in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee or hip. Patients were randomised to nimesulide 100 mg twice daily (n = 183) or naproxen 250 mg morning, 500 mg evening (n = 187). The primary efficacy variable was change in pain intensity (WOMAC A scale) at 6 months. Nimesulide tablets showed at least equivalent efficacy to naproxen tablets in reducing pain intensity at 6 and 12 months (nimesulide -22.5% at 6 and 12 months; naproxen -22.4% at 6 months, -19.9% at 12 months; non-inferiority proven). At 6 months the investigator assessed efficacy as 'good' or 'excellent' in 59.3% of nimesulide and 56.4% of naproxen-treated patients, with corresponding values for patient assessment of 57% and 52.7%. Both treatments were well tolerated, with fewer related gastrointestinal adverse events reported with nimesulide (77 cases, 47.5%) than with naproxen (96 cases, 54.5%). This study shows nimesulide to be as effective as naproxen in the long-term treatment of OA and to be associated with fewer gastrointestinal side-effects.
OBJECTIVE: To examine prospective relations between a wide array of measures of social functioning and pain, while controlling for disease duration and activity and functional grade. METHODS: As part of a larger study on health care utilization, longitudinal data were collected from 136 Dutch and 98 German outpatients on clinical status and pain. Social data included information on sexual handicap, spouse behavior, loneliness, daily emotional support, and the maintenance of pleasurable life domains. Pain severity was assessed at baseline and 12 months later with standard measures of pain and analyzed with hierarchical regressions. RESULTS: Social measures obtained at baseline were consistently associated with pain at followup. Depression was a moderate correlate of pain in the Dutch and German samples. The regressions revealed that patient reports of negative spouse behavior (such as avoidance and critical remarks) and baseline depression predicted worse pain outcome, and this association remained significant in analyses controlling for baseline pain. The level of formal education was a weak correlate of disability, emotional support, and pain. Daily emotional support and social life domains associated with positive affect had an indirect influence on outcome. The absence of strong rather than weak social ties was the component of the loneliness construct linked to pain. These associations between social prognostic factors and pain severity, however, were mediated by psychological functioning at baseline. CONCLUSION: The social environment was found to operate on the core health outcome, pain severity, via several pathways. Social functioning may be affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression, but it also appears to form a determinant of future health outcome. Not only the status of being married but also the quality of the relationship in terms of long-term stress and emotional support may be useful prognostic factors in RA.
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Self-management is described as a pattern of patient behavior dealing with chronic disease. It encompasses self-assessment, decision making, self-care and treatment as well as documentation. The self-management behavior has to be encouraged and supported by health care professionals.
For a comprehensive model of rheumatoid arthritis treatment, we designed an arthritis manual for continuous treatment of chronic illness. One goal of introducing the manual to the patients was the improvement of communication between patient and different doctors and therapists. The first part includes of a doctor's documentation sheet and a patient calendar (6 months each) for daily self-documentation of drug compliance. The second part is a daily pain-rating scale. The 3-year evaluation of 655 patient manuals for 286 patients was analyzed to estimate the compliance in using the manual. Overall, 87% of diagnoses, 83% of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), 87% of non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs (NSAIDs) had been documented in the manual. Data indicates that the general practitioner and the rheumatologist accepted the manual form. In addition, 85% of the documented patients used the DMARDs, 74% used the daily pain score, and 43% the daily physiotherapy. Subgroup data (n = 130 RA patients) suggest additional results: 1) there was no difference in sociodemographic data between the patient manual user group and the non-user group; 2) the user group consisted of patients with higher disease activity (ARA-criteria), higher pain score, and negative mood pattern. Furthermore, the user group was more active in daily physiotherapy, ergotherapy, and balneotherapy.
In a study initiated by the German League against Rheumatism, 433 young patients with rheumatic disorders (mean age 27 years, disease duration 7.5 years, 60% female, 40% male) were questioned in 1989 for the first time to ascertain disease-related problems encountered at school or during professional training. Their self-reported diagnoses were 68.2% chronic arthritis and 23.6% Ankylosing spondylitis (definite or probable diagnosis). From 181 patients who had been affected at school age, 84.5% reported the following main problems: absence related to illness, exclusion from excursions and school-related activities. Nevertheless, a majority of the patients (60.5%) reached a qualified graduation. 25.3% of the study sample was still attending school, 50.3% were employed, 8.6% were unemployed, and 4.5% had been retired early. Only 37.7% of the Arthritis patients and 22.3% of the Spondylitis patients had sought advice and help from the labour exchange services; 26.9% of the arthritis patients and 21.9% of the Spondylitis patients assessed this advice to be helpful. Regarding vocational guidance, the patients main criticism was a lack of knowledge about rheumatic disorders. There is a demand for an adjustment of the individual physical abilities and the requirements of the respective jobs, and continuous supervision by a rheumatologist is necessary.
A prospective clinical trial in couples was done to compare effectiveness and toxicity of gold and D-penicillamine (D-Pen.) in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (r.A.). Respecting defined criteria 70 patients were put to couples according to a random list and were treated with gold or D-Pen. alternatively. Physical and laboratory indices of inflammatory activity were checked every 3 months, X-rays every 12 months. Dropouts (side effects, missing compliance, uneffectiveness) were replaced by the nextcoming fitting patient. Thirty-two of 147 totally recruited patients stopped treatment because of side effects, three because of unsatisfying efficiency. Forty-two patients shuned the necessary controls. The clinical course was better in 16 couples with gold, only in sex couples with D-Pen. Thirteen pairs showed no difference in this respect (p = 0.05). Looking to the laboratory parameters separately D-Pen. tends to be superior (p < 0.05), radiografic deterioration seems to be more seldom with gold (< 0.05). Side effects occur with both drugs in comparable frequency (15/44 with D-Pen., 17/52 with gold), but the complications with D-Pen. are more serious. Altogether this trial shows gold superior to D-Pen. in the long-term treatment of r.A.
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The influence of D-penicillamine (Pen) on the humoral primary response was studied systematically. Inbred rats are sensitized with erythrocytes of mice of one strain. Pen given at various schedules (dosage: 3 X 100 resp. 3 X 1000 mg/kg at 24 h intervals) showed no effect on antibody titer 7 days after sensitization. When Pen is given before the antigen the slope of the titer after day 7 is accelerated. Compared to experiments with alkylating drugs and antimetabolites in the same model Pen does not show immunosuppressive potency.
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