University of Western Ontario
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PROVIDER: EGAO00000001226 | EGA |
REPOSITORIES: EGA
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Project description:This study proposed and evaluated a guideline for outcome evaluation for infants and children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids. The University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP) was developed following a critical review of pediatric outcome evaluation tools and was systematically examined by the Network of Pediatric Audiologists of Canada. It consists of tools to gather clinical process outcomes as well as functional caregiver reports. The UWO PedAMP was administered to a clinical population of infants and children with hearing aids. Sixty-eight children were administered the functional outcome evaluation tools (i.e., caregiver reports) a total of 133 times. Clinical process outcomes of hearing aid verification (e.g., real-ear-to-coupler difference) revealed typical aided audibility (e.g., Speech Intelligibility Index). Results for the LittlEARS(®) questionnaire revealed that typically developing children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids are meeting auditory development milestones. Children with mild to moderate comorbidities displayed typical auditory development during the 1st year of life after which development began to decline. Children with complex factors related to hearing aid use had lower scores on the LittlEARS, but auditory development was in parallel to norms. Parents' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance (PEACH) results indicated no age effect on scoring for children above 2 years of age; however, the effect of degree of hearing loss was significant. This work provides clinicians with a systematic, evidence-based outcome evaluation protocol to implement as part of a complete pediatric hearing aid fitting.
| S-EPMC4040831 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Organisation EGAO00000000941
| EGAO00000000941 | EGA
Project description:Background and objectives: Objective, accurate, and intuitive evaluation of knee joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is important. This study aimed to clarify the gait characteristics of patients with bilateral KOA and their correlation with Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Materials and Methods: 20 patients with bilateral KOA and 20 conditionally matched healthy individuals were enrolled in the experimental and control groups, respectively. Footscan and CODA motion gait analysis systems were used to analyse the gait parameters. Gait spatiotemporal parameters and knee joint motion parameters were collected. Weight-bearing balance and walking stability were assessed using discrete trends of relevant gait indicators. Patients in the experimental group were evaluated using WOMAC. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed on the gait data and WOMAC score data of the experimental group. Results: Velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.01). Step time and gait cycle were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group (p < 0.01). Total stance and double-stance times of the experimental group were significantly greater than those of the control group (p < 0.01), whereas the single-stance time was shorter than that of the control group (p < 0.01). The range of motion and maximum flexion angle in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.01), and the minimum angle of knee extension was greater than that in the control group (p < 0.01). The discrete trend of weight-bearing balance and walking stability gait index in the experimental group was greater than that in the control group. The WOMAC score and gait analysis were significantly correlated (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The gait function of patients with KOA is significantly worse than that of normal people. The WOMAC scale and gait analysis can be used to assess KOA severity from different perspectives with good consistency.
| S-EPMC9610794 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Organisation EGAO00000001145
| EGAO00000001145 | EGA
Project description:Organisation EGAO00000000906
| EGAO00000000906 | EGA
Project description:BackgroundThe Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) is a self-report questionnaire developed specifically to evaluate disability in persons with pathology of the rotator cuff of the shoulder. The authors created items in 5 categories based on a model of quality of life, but never validated this structure. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the original 5-domain model of the WORC by performing factor analysis.MethodsThree hundred twenty nine subjects (age, mean: 52, SD: 12) were tested prior to undergoing surgery for rotator cuff pathologies. They completed the WORC, a self-report questionnaire, which has 21 items on the effect of the rotator cuff problem on symptoms, activities and emotions. Statistical calculations included correlations between items, Cronbach's alpha of the total scale and subscales, and principal component factor analysis with oblique rotation.ResultsCorrelations ranged from .09 to .70 between all the items, from .29 to .70 between items within a subscale, and from .53 to .72 between subscale scores. Cronbach's alpha was .93 for the total scale, and .72 to .82 for the subscales. The factor analysis produced 3 factors that explained 57% of the variance. The first factor included symptoms and emotional items, the second included strength items and the third included daily activities.ConclusionThe results of this study did not support the 5-domain model of the WORC.
| S-EPMC1112598 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCommon enteric pathogens that cause gastrointestinal illness are transmitted to humans through food, water or direct contact. This poses a significant concern to public health as enteric pathogens can cause disease in a large number of people, and cost a substantial amount to treat and prevent. In order to gain a better understanding of the occurrence of enteric disease in Ontario, this study explored public health professionals' perceptions of major contributing factors for common enteric pathogens.MethodsA case study was conducted as part of a two week training workshop in Participatory Epidemiology held at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, in May 2013. Eight semi-structured interviews and four focus groups were conducted with representatives from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the University of Guelph, and three health regions in Southern Ontario. Written notes and pictures captured the qualitative information provided. Results were then analyzed using the mixed methods techniques of triangulation, convergence, and paradox.ResultsA total of fifty factors that contribute to enteric disease were identified across all interviews and focus groups. These contributing factors were grouped into key themes (travel, food handling, industry (farm-to-fork), water, geography, demographics, and behaviours) and were categorized as either a risk factor or susceptibility factor. Informants emphasized the complex relationships between the identified factors, and highlighted why these complexities make it difficult to determine where and how a person most likely acquired an enteric pathogen. Workshop participants observed differences in the type and quality of information collected during interviews and focus groups; we hypothesize that this may be attributed to the dynamics between group members (i.e. focus group discussions) as opposed to one-on-one interviews.ConclusionsThe information gathered will serve as a starting point to further explore contributing factors for common enteric pathogens. The identified complexities would be best explored by conducting additional surveillance, as well as interviews and focus groups with a more diverse group of stakeholders. This type of qualitative study can enhance knowledge of enteric pathogen surveillance and contribute to the development of resources and initiatives to holistically address the occurrence of gastrointestinal illness.
| S-EPMC4032165 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The WORC is a quality of life questionnaire designed for patients with disorders of the rotator cuff, originally developed in English. The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the WORC for use in the Dutch population and to evaluate reliability, agreement and floor and ceiling effects of this Dutch version in a population of patients with rotator cuff disease.Reliability was tested by measuring the Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for test-retest reliability. Agreement was measured using the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM(agreement)); and the smallest detectable change (SDC) was calculated based on the SEM. Pearson Correlations Coefficients were used to comparing the WORC with the RAND-36, the Constant Score and 11-point shoulder hindrance scale.Fifty-seven patients entered into this study of whom 50 were available for test-retest validation. The internal consistency of the Dutch WORC tested by Cronbach's alpha was 0.95 for the total questionnaire. The ICC for the WORC is 0.91 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.85-0.95. Standard Error of Measurement was 6.0 points with a Smallest Detectable Change of 16.7 points on a 0-100 scale. Pearson Correlations Coefficients showed a significant positive correlation between the Dutch WORC and Constant Score (r = 0.60) and a strong reversed correlation with the shoulder hindrance scale (r = -0.75).The Dutch WORC seems to be a reliable health-related quality of life questionnaire for patients with rotator cuff disorders.NCT01532492.
| S-EPMC3880030 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a widely used patient reported outcome in osteoarthritis. An important, but frequently overlooked, aspect of validating health outcome measures is to establish if items exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). That is, if respondents have the same underlying level of an attribute, does the item give the same score in different subgroups or is it biased towards one subgroup or another. The aim of the study was to explore DIF in the Likert format WOMAC for the first time in a UK osteoarthritis population with respect to demographic, social, clinical and psychological factors.MethodsThe sample comprised a community sample of 763 people with osteoarthritis who participated in the Somerset and Avon Survey of Health. The WOMAC was explored for DIF by gender, age, social deprivation, social class, employment status, distress, body mass index and clinical factors. Ordinal regression models were used to identify DIF items.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, two items were identified for the physical functioning subscale as having DIF with age identified as the DIF factor for 2 items, gender for 1 item and body mass index for 1 item. For the WOMAC pain subscale, for people with hip osteoarthritis one item was identified with age-related DIF. The impact of the DIF items rarely had a significant effect on the conclusions of group comparisons.ConclusionsOverall, the WOMAC performed well with only a small number of DIF items identified. However, as DIF items were identified in for the WOMAC physical functioning subscale it would be advisable to analyse data taking into account the possible impact of the DIF items when weight, gender or especially age effects, are the focus of interest in UK-based osteoarthritis studies. Similarly for the WOMAC pain subscale in people with hip osteoarthritis it would be worthwhile to analyse data taking into account the possible impact of the DIF item when age comparisons are of primary interest.
| S-EPMC3582585 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index (WOSI) is a questionnaire designed to measure health-related quality of life in patients with shoulder instability. The aim of the current study was to translate the WOSI into Hebrew and assess its psychometric properties.MethodsThe WOSI was translated into Hebrew according to World Health Organization guidelines. Twenty-five patients completed the WOSI and the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire 2 weeks and 2 months after surgical shoulder stabilization. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α), criterion validity (Pearson's correlation coefficient with DASH), responsiveness, and floor and ceiling effects were assessed.ResultsCronbach's α was 0.88-0.95 for total WOSI (range 0.68-0.95 for different sections). Strong correlation with DASH score (r = 0.76-0.84) indicated good criterion validity. Changes between baseline and follow-up for WOSI and DASH scores were moderately correlated (r = 0.68), suggesting moderate responsiveness. Some items demonstrated floor and ceiling effects, especially at baseline, but no floor or ceiling effects were observed for total WOSI or for the WOSI sections.ConclusionsThe results of the current study demonstrate that the Hebrew version of the WOSI is a valid instrument that can be used to assess disability in patients with shoulder instability. Additional studies are warranted to assess its psychometric properties among various subpopulations.Trial registrationThe study was pre-registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov website, registration number NCT02978365 .
| S-EPMC6670116 | biostudies-literature