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Are the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) useful for measuring outcomes in older people's mental health services?

The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) were developed to provide a single index in order to enable the government target 'to improve significantly the health and social functioning of mentally ill people' to be quantified. They were intended to be applicable to all adults (including older people), across a wide range of settings so that services in different localities could be compared and changes both within individuals and within services could be measured. In 1999 the HoNOS65+ was launched with a modified glossary for older people. The HoNOS has been formally adopted as the preferred outcome measure for adults of working age. There has been no such formal adoption of the HoNOS65+, or any other outcome measure, for mental health services for older people. This review summarises how the HoNOS was originally developed and validated. Studies with older people, which have used both the original definitions and those developed for the HoNOS65+ are reviewed focusing on data on the reliability and validity of the HoNOS and HoNOS65+ with older people. Finally the question of whether the HoNOS or HoNOS65+ is suitable as an outcome measure in routine clinical practice in services for older people is addressed.

Aged↗

Measuring outcomes of a communication program for older people with hearing impairment using the International Outcome Inventory.

The main objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of a communication education program for older people with hearing impairment using the International Outcome Inventory--Alternative Interventions (IOI-AI) and the version for significant others (IOI-AI-SO). Ninety-six people aged 58 to 94 years participated in an interactive group education program for two hours per week for five weeks. The IOI-AI was administered at one to two weeks after the last educational session and 29 significant others also completed the IOI-AI-SO at this time. Overall, positive results were obtained using both questionnaires, and satisfaction with the program was particularly high. Findings also compared favourably to reports of outcomes for other audiological interventions (i.e., another communication training program and hearing aid fitting). Principal components analysis of the IOI-AI revealed a somewhat different factor structure than the original IOI-HA. The two versions of the IOI applied in this study are recommended as simple and effective measures of the outcomes of alternative interventions.

Aged↗

Analyzing outcome of treatment of severe head injury: a review and update on advancing the use of the Glasgow Outcome Scale.

The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), two decades after its description, remains the most widely used method of analyzing outcome in series of severely head-injured patients. This review considers limitations recognized in the use of the GOS and discusses a new approach to assessment, using a structured questionnaire-based interview. Assignments can be made to an extended eight-point scale (GOSE) as well as the original five-point approach-in each case, with a high degree of interobserver consistency. The assignments are coherent with the principles of the World Health Organization classification of impairments, disabilities, and handicaps, and their validity is supported by strong associations with the results of neuropsychological testing and assessment of general health status. The need to allow for disability existing before injury, issues concerning the time of assessment after injury, and subdivisions of the scale into "favorable" and "unfavorable" categories are discussed. It is concluded that, in its improved structured format, the Glasgow Outcome Scale should remain the primary method of assessing outcome in trials of the management of severe head injury.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗

Validation of outcomes through the analysis of the process-outcome relation: limitations.

Validation of outcomes of different levels of neonatal care through the analysis of the relationship between process and outcome of care was attempted as part of an effectiveness study and quality assurance programme. Adequacy rates and outcome measures were calculated for second- and third-level units and centres according to the babies' level of risk. Differences in adequacy rates were apparently influenced by the differential distribution of babies by care level sectors among maternity centres. The comparison of mortality rates for "treated" and "untreated" subgroups did not show higher mortality rates for the "untreated" subgroups. This finding could be related to the phenomenon of "confounding by indication". Consistency of differences in average rates of adequacy with differences in general outcomes was observed for most subgroups analysed; lack of consistency could be related to low effectiveness. Indications of low effectiveness related to secondary and more so to tertiary level technologies were observed. The study approach was found more useful for comparisons made at the level of maternity services as a whole, where "confounding by indication" does not operate than at the level of sectors.

Brazil↗

Pharmacological treatment and other predictors of treatment outcomes in previously untreated patients with schizophrenia: results from the European Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (SOHO) study.

The present study aimed to compare health outcomes and tolerability according to antipsychotic medication (olanzapine, risperidone or an oral typical antipsychotic) after 6 months of treatment in a group of 919 schizophrenic patients who had never previously been treated with antipsychotics. Demographic and clinical predictors of outcome were also identified. Data were extracted from the Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (SOHO) study, a prospective, observational study of schizophrenia treatment in 10 European countries. Patients who initiated olanzapine were more likely to have a clinical response than those in the risperidone cohort, and had a greater improvement in quality of life than patients in the risperidone or typical antipsychotic cohorts. High negative and depression symptom scores at baseline and the presence of extrapyramidal symptoms at baseline predicted a worse clinical response, whereas hostile behaviour, paid employment and substance abuse predicted a better clinical outcome. The olanzapine cohort gained more weight than patients in the risperidone cohort, but no significant difference in weight gain was observed between olanzapine and the oral typical antipsychotic cohort. The results should be interpreted conservatively due to the observational study design.

Administration, Oral↗

Late outcome of isolated tibial fractures treated by intramedullary nailing: the correlation between disease-specific and generic outcome measures.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the late morbidity of nailed isolated tibial fractures, using both a generic health score and disease-specific scores. To determine the correlation between the two types of outcome measure. DESIGN: Retrospective study, using a combination of case notes and radiographic review plus current clinical assessment. SETTING: Fracture Outcomes Research Unit in a U.K. teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty-three patients with isolated fractures of the tibial diaphysis. Follow-up time was a minimum of three years from injury (mean fifty-seven months). INTERVENTION: All patients were treated primarily by closed, reamed intramedullary nailing. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Iowa Knee and Ankle Scores, visual analogue pain scores for fracture site and knee and ankle joints, and the Short Form 36 health status questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty-four (77.1%) fractures united after the first procedure. Twenty-nine (34.9%) patients had pain around the knee at rest, fifty-nine (71.1%) had difficulty in kneeling, and thirteen (15.7%) were still experiencing some pain at their fracture site; 69% of patients had excellent results based on the Iowa scores as well as the SF-36 scores. Pain at the knee correlated with low Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scores, and fracture site pain correlated with only low Physical Component Summary score. There was a significant correlation between the disease-specific scores and the SF-36 scores, and only patients with an excellent Iowa grade had "normal" SF-36 scores. CONCLUSION: After tibial nailing, mild deficits registered by Iowa scores are associated with a significant disability and unhappiness as registered by the SF-36. According to the patient-oriented outcomes tool, 31% of late results are "unsatisfactory."

Adult↗

Prospective analysis of psychosocial outcomes in breast reconstruction: one-year postoperative results from the Michigan Breast Reconstruction Outcome Study.

In the past decade, changing attitudes toward breast reconstruction among both patients and providers have led a growing number of women to seek breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Although investigators have documented the psychological, social, emotional, and functional benefits of breast reconstruction, little research has evaluated the effects of procedure choice on these outcomes. The current study prospectively evaluated and compared psychosocial outcomes for three common options for mastectomy reconstruction: tissue expander/implant, pedicle TRAM, and free TRAM techniques. In a prospective cohort design, patients undergoing postmastectomy reconstruction for the first time with expander/implant, pedicle TRAM, or free TRAM procedures were recruited from 12 centers and 23 plastic surgeons in the United States and Canada. Before reconstruction and at 1 year after reconstruction, patients were evaluated by a battery of questionnaires consisting of both generic and condition-specific surveys. Outcomes assessed included emotional well-being, vitality, general mental health, social functioning, functional well-being, social well-being, and body image. Baseline (preoperative) scores and the change in scores (the difference between postoperative and preoperative scores) were compared across procedure types using t tests and analysis of covariance. Preoperative and 1-year postoperative surveys were obtained from 273 patients. Procedure type was reported in 250 patients, of whom 56 received implant reconstructions, 128 pedicle TRAM flaps, and 66 free TRAM flaps. A total of 161 immediate and 89 delayed reconstructions were performed. Among women receiving immediate reconstruction, significant improvements were observed in all psychosocial variables except body image. However, no significant effects of procedure type on these changes over time existed. Similarly, delayed reconstruction patients had significant increases in emotional well-being, vitality, general mental health, functional well-being, and body image. Although the choice of reconstructive technique did not significantly impact most of these outcomes, significant differences existed among procedure types for three psychosocial subscales. Patients undergoing delayed expander/implant reconstructions reported greater improvements in vitality and social well-being relative to women receiving delayed TRAM procedures. By contrast, delayed TRAM patients noted significantly greater gains in body image compared with women choosing delayed expander-implant reconstruction. The authors conclude that both immediate and delayed breast reconstructions provide substantial psychosocial benefits for mastectomy patients. Although the choice of reconstructive procedure does not seem to significantly affect improvements in psychosocial status with immediate reconstruction, our data suggest that procedure type does have a significant effect on gains in vitality and body image for women undergoing delayed reconstruction.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Structural versus outcomes measures in hospitals: a comparison of Joint Commission and Medicare outcomes scores in hospitals.

Outcomes performance measures are increasingly important in health care. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (Joint Commission) continues to rely on structure and process measures based on accepted good practice. One of the first tasks in moving to a more outcomes-oriented approach is to compare the two measurement approaches. This article compares seven non-federal general hospital performance measures derived from Medicare against Joint Commission scores. Joint Commission measures are generally not correlated with outcome measures. The few significant correlations that appear are often counterintuitive. We conclude that a potentially serious disjuncture exists between the outcomes measures and Joint Commission evaluations.

Accreditation↗

Poor outcome for neural surgery (epineurotomy or neurolysis) for carpal tunnel syndrome compared with carpal tunnel release alone: a meta-analysis of global outcomes.

A meta-analysis was performed on the results of eight studies that compared the global outcomes of patients who received carpal tunnel release with the global outcomes of patients who received carpal tunnel release and neurolysis or epineurotomy. The meta-analysis suggests that patients who received such neural surgery tended to have poorer global outcomes than those who did not (odds ratio, 0.54; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.32 to 0.90). The data are homogenous, and linear-regression analysis indicates that patient attrition did not influence the outcome of the meta-analysis. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that neural surgery is potentially harmful for most patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The possibility remains that neural surgery may be helpful in special cases, such as in the presence of marked scarring or neural adhesion, but no available evidence specifically documents the benefits and harms of surgery among such patients.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome↗

Outcome of pregnancy complicated by pre-gestational diabetes--improvement in outcomes.

UNLABELLED: Pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. We have previously reported outcomes for women with DM. To determine whether review, and discussion of the results, affected outcomes, pregnancies in women with DM from July 1998 to July 2001 were examined in a prospective cohort study. The results were then compared to the results from the previous review. METHODS: Thirty-five pregnancies were included (24 in 20 women with Type 1 DM, 11 in 11 with Type 2 DM). Type 1 women were more likely to be Caucasian (100% versus 22.2%, p < 0.0001), and had a longer duration of diabetes (13 +/- 6 versus 3 +/- 2 years, p < 0.0001). RESULTS: Pregnancy planning rates improved significantly for Type 1 DM (62.5% planned versus 18.9% in original study p = 0.01), and did not change for Type 2 DM. Caesarean section (LSCS) rate was high in the original study, particularly in Type 1 DM (77%), and was lower after review (47.6% in Type 1 DM p < 0.05 compared to original study, and 44.4% in Type2 DM, p = ns). Planning was associated with lower HbA1c before and during pregnancy (6.0 +/- 1.4% versus 8.1 +/- 1.8% (p = 0.0035), and 5.5 +/- 1 versus 6.5 +/- 1.5% (p < 0.001)), greater gestational age at delivery (38.2 versus 36.2 weeks p = 0.0318) and lower rate of LSCS (31.6% versus 72.7% (p = 0.0295)). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to continue improving pre-pregnancy planning. Extensive discussions involving a multi-disciplinary team improved planning rates and decreased the LSCS rate while maintaining outcomes.

Adult↗

A semiparametric empirical likelihood method for data from an outcome-dependent sampling scheme with a continuous outcome.

Outcome-dependent sampling (ODS) schemes can be a cost effective way to enhance study efficiency. The case-control design has been widely used in epidemiologic studies. However, when the outcome is measured on a continuous scale, dichotomizing the outcome could lead to a loss of efficiency. Recent epidemiologic studies have used ODS sampling schemes where, in addition to an overall random sample, there are also a number of supplemental samples that are collected based on a continuous outcome variable. We consider a semiparametric empirical likelihood inference procedure in which the underlying distribution of covariates is treated as a nuisance parameter and is left unspecified. The proposed estimator has asymptotic normality properties. The likelihood ratio statistic using the semiparametric empirical likelihood function has Wilks-type properties in that, under the null, it follows a chi-square distribution asymptotically and is independent of the nuisance parameters. Our simulation results indicate that, for data obtained using an ODS design, the semiparametric empirical likelihood estimator is more efficient than conditional likelihood and probability weighted pseudolikelihood estimators and that ODS designs (along with the proposed estimator) can produce more efficient estimates than simple random sample designs of the same size. We apply the proposed method to analyze a data set from the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP), an ongoing environmental epidemiologic study, to assess the relationship between maternal polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) level and children's IQ test performance.

Biometry↗

Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis (ADAD) vs. Health of Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) in clinical outcome measurement.

BACKGROUND: The Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis (ADAD) and Health of Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) are both measures of outcome for adolescent mental health services. AIMS: To compare the ADAD with HoNOSCA; to examine their clinical usefulness. METHODS: Comparison of the ADAD and HoNOSCA outcome measures of 20 adolescents attending a psychiatric day care unit. RESULTS: ADAD change was positively correlated with HoNOSCA change. HoNOSCA assesses the clinic's day-care programme more positively than the ADAD. The ADAD detects a group for which the mean score remains unchanged whereas HoNOSCA does not. CONCLUSIONS: A good convergent validity emerges between the two assessment tools. The ADAD allows an evidence-based assessment and generally enables a better subject discrimination than HoNOSCA. HoNOSCA gives a less refined evaluation but is more economic in time and possibly more sensitive to change. Both assessment tools give useful information and enabled the Day-care Unit for Adolescents to rethink the process of care and of outcome, which benefited both the institution and the patients.

Adolescent↗

A longitudinal study of orthopaedic outcomes for severe factor-VIII-deficient haemophiliacs. The Orthopaedic Outcome Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: Arthropathy is the major cause of morbidity in haemophilia. In an attempt to establish optimal therapeutic regimens for persons with haemophilia, we hypothesized that no direct relationship exists between increasing factor dosage and orthopaedic outcomes over time. DESIGN: A longitudinal uncontrolled 6 year study was carried out. Ankles, knees and elbows of patients were studied using physical and X-ray examination scores. Bleeding episodes and treatment regimens were determined. The amount of time lost from work and school, as well as days in hospital, was also monitored. SETTING: Twenty-one international haemophilia centres were used to accrue and follow patients over the 6 year period. SUBJECT: Severe (< 1%) factor VIII deficient patients under the age of 25 without inhibitors were recruited into the study. INTERVENTION: The status of the six major joints of these patients were measured annually for mobility. X-ray evaluation of these joints was carried out at the beginning and end of the study. Using a World Federation of Haemophilia joint and X-ray score, stability, progression or regression of arthropathy was evaluated. RESULTS: Physical and X-ray examination scores increased significantly with age, and the number of joint bleeds were significant in determining the delta score. Approximately 10% of patients entered with all six joints normal. Of these, 50% remained so. Year-long prophylaxis significantly reduced the rate at which joints deteriorate both on physical (P = 0.02) and X-ray examination (P = < 0.001). Patients on prophylaxis had significantly fewer days lost from work or school, as well as fewer days spent in hospital (P = < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Higher doses of factor per se do not necessarily produce improved orthopaedic outcomes. However, full time prophylaxis is likely to produce the best orthopaedic outcome. The most critical factor for a good orthopaedic outcome is the reduction of joint bleeds.

Factor VIII↗

Clinical teaching and clinical outcomes: teaching capability and its association with patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: There is little research on the impact of medical education on patient outcome. We studied whether teaching capability is associated with altered short-term patient outcomes. METHODS: We performed a multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study involving 40 clinician teachers who had attended on the general internal medicine services in hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto along with the clinical outcomes of consecutive patients treated for community-acquired pneumonia, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 4377) between 1999 and 2001. Doctors were characterised by teaching effectiveness scores (n = 677) as high-rated or low-rated according to house staff ratings. RESULTS: There was no correlation between the teaching effectiveness scores and the mean length of stay for those patients treated for community-acquired pneumonia (high-rated = 10.3 versus low-rated = 8.1 days, P = 0.058), congestive heart failure (high-rated = 10.1 versus low-rated = 9.9 days, P = 0.978), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (high-rated = 9.4 versus low-rated = 9.9 days, P = 0.419) and gastrointestinal bleeding (high-rated = 6.3 versus low-rated = 6.8 days, P = 0.741). In addition, we observed no significant correlation between teaching effectiveness scores and 7-day, 28-day and 1-year readmission rates for all pre-specified diagnoses. CONCLUSION: There is no large correlation between teaching effectiveness scores and short-term patient outcomes, suggesting that doctor teaching capabilities, as perceived by house staff, does not generally impact clinical care.

Community-Acquired Infections↗

Does routine ultrasound scanning improve outcome in pregnancy? Meta-analysis of various outcome measures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of routine ultrasound scanning in pregnancy by a meta-analysis of various outcome measures. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials evaluating the effect of routine ultrasound scanning on perinatal mortality and morbidity. Live birth rate (that is, live births per pregnancy) is included as a measure of pregnancy outcome in addition to the conventional perinatal mortality. SUBJECTS: 15,935 pregnancies (7992 in which routine ultrasound scanning was used and 7943 controls with selective scanning) from four randomised controlled trials. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perinatal mortality, live birth rate, rate of miscarriage, Apgar score < 7 at 1 minute, and number of induced labours. RESULTS: The live birth rate was identical in both screening and control groups (odds ratio = 0.99; 95% confidence interval 0.88 to 1.12) although the perinatal mortality was significantly lower in the group who had routine ultrasonography (0.64, 0.43 to 0.97). Differences in perinatal morbidity between the two groups as measured by the proportion of newborn babies with Apgar score < 7 at 1 minute were not significant (1.05; 0.93 to 1.19). CONCLUSION: Routine ultrasound scanning does not improve the outcome of pregnancy in terms of an increased number of live births or of reduced perinatal morbidity. Routine ultrasound scanning may be effective and useful as a screening for malformation. Its use for this purpose, however, should be made explicit and take into account the risk of false positive diagnosis in addition to ethical issues.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Coronary revascularisation outcome questionnaire (CROQ): development and validation of a new, patient based measure of outcome in coronary bypass surgery and angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development and scientific validation of a new patient based measure, the coronary revascularisation outcome questionnaire (CROQ), to evaluate health outcomes and quality of life before and after coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. DESIGN AND SETTING: Psychometric validation study conducted with patients from three hospitals in the UK. PATIENTS: Two independent field tests were conducted by postal survey of 714 patients before and 1329 patients after coronary revascularisation to evaluate the measurement properties of the CROQ. METHODS: Qualitative methods including patient interviews were used to develop questionnaire content. A full psychometric evaluation was performed on the survey data. RESULTS: Psychometric tests with the application of stringent criteria confirmed the acceptability (low missing data, good response rates), scaling assumptions (good item convergent and discriminant validity), reliability (good internal consistency and reproducibility), validity (good content and construct validity), and responsiveness of the CROQ. CONCLUSIONS: The CROQ is a practical and scientifically sound patient based measure of outcome developed using psychometric methods. It captures aspects of recovery not addressed in other cardiac questionnaires and has been shown to be a highly responsive instrument that will be useful in evaluating outcomes in clinical trials.

Adult↗

Functional outcome of patients with spinal cord injury: rehabilitation outcome study.

OBJECTIVE: To increase our knowledge of neurological recovery and functional outcome of patients with spinal cord injuries in order to make more successful rehabilitation programmes based on realistic goals. DESIGN: Descriptive analysis of data gathered in an information system. SETTING: Rehabilitation centre in The Netherlands with special department for patients with spinal cord injuries. SUBJECTS: Fifty-five patients with traumatic spinal cord lesions admitted to the rehabilitation centre from 1988 to 1994. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The functional improvement was presented in terms of progress in independence in nine daily activity skills. Independence was rated on a four-point scale. RESULTS: From admission to discharge, lesions in 100% of patients with tetraplegia and 96% of patients with paraplegia remained complete. Significant progress in independence was made in self-care, ambulation and bladder and bowel care. Differences were found in the extent of functional improvement between subgroups of patients with different levels and extent of lesion. Contrary to expectations based on theoretical models, patients with complete paraplegia did not achieve maximal independence in self-care. Independent walking was only attained by patients with incomplete lesions. Regarding outcome of bladder and bowel care, poor results were found, especially the independence in defaecation and toilet transfers. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provided more insight into the functional outcome of a group of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. More research is needed to evaluate the rehabilitation programmes for these patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗