Validity of two common asthma-specific quality of life questionnaires: Juniper mini asthma quality of life questionnaire and Sydney asthma quality of life questionnaire

Background This study explored the psychometric properties (internal consistency, construct validity, discriminative ability) of the Juniper Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini AQLQ-J) and the Sydney Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-S). Methods One hundred fourty-six adults (18-45 years) with asthma requiring regular inhaled corticosteroids were recruited to a trial of written emotional disclosure. Correlational analyses were performed to understand the relationship of the two measures with each other, with symptoms, lung function, asthma control, asthma bother and generic quality of life. Median quality of life scores were compared according to gender, health care usage and levels of asthma severity. Results AQLQ-J and AQLQ-S total scores correlated strongly with each other (rho = -0.80) and moderately with the EuroQol Current Health Status Scale (AQLQ-J: rho = 0.35; AQLQ-S: rho = -0.40). Domain score correlations between AQLQ-J and AQLQ-S were mostly moderate (0.5 < rho < 0.8). Both QoL measures were significantly correlated with symptom score. Correlations with the symptom score asthma module (AQLQ-J: rho = -0.69; AQLQ-S: rho = 0.50) were stronger compared with the total symptom score and the symptom score rhinitis module (AQLQ-J: rho = -0.41; AQLQ-M: rho =0.31). Neither QoL measure was significantly correlated with FEV1 % predicted at the total or the domain level. Total scores of both measures were significantly correlated with subjective asthma control (AQLQ-J: rho = 0.68; AQLQ-S: rho = -0.61) and asthma bother (AQLQ-J: rho = -0.73; AQLQ-M: rho = 0.73). Conclusions This study provides further evidence for the validity of the AQLQ-J and the AQLQ-S in a British population of adult patients with asthma managed in primary care. Correlations with lung function parameters were weak or absent. Correlations with generic quality of life were moderate, those with asthma symptoms, asthma control and asthma bother were strong. Both measures are able to discriminate between levels of asthma severity

Effect of sample preparation on the thermal degradation of metal-added biomass

The present study investigates the effect of different sample preparation methods on the pyrolysis behaviour of metal-added biomass; Willow samples were compared in the presence of two salts of zinc and lead containing sulphate and nitrate anions which were added to the wood samples with three different techniques as dry-mixing, impregnation and ion-exchange. The effect of acid and water wash as common demineralisation pre-treatments were also analysed to evaluate their roles in the thermal degradation of the biomass. Results from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (Py-MS) measurements indicated that these pre-treatments change the matrix and the physical-chemical properties of wood. Results suggested that these structural changes increase the thermal stability of cellulose during pyrolysis. Sample preparation was also found to be a crucial factor during pyrolysis; different anions of metal salts changed the weight loss rate curves of wood material, which indicates changes in the primary degradation process of the biomass. Results also showed that dry-mixing, impregnation or ion-exchange influence the thermal behaviour of wood in different ways when a chosen metal salt was and added to the wood material

A comparative study on the pyrolysis of metal- and ash-enriched wood and the combustion properties of the gained char

This study aims to investigate the pyrolysis behaviour of metal-contaminated wood and the combustion properties of char derived from wood pyrolysis. Seven metals (Na, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd, Pb and Fe(III)) were introduced to willow in cation form by ion-exchange and the thermal behaviour of demineralised samples and samples with additional ash were also investigated. The results show that the char yield increased from 21% to 24-28% and levoglucosan yield in vapour phase decreased from 88% to 62-29% after the addition of inorganic compounds, even though the metal binding capacity of wood varied from one metal ion to another. While char yield seems to be effected mainly by the concentration of the metal ions, levoglucosan yield was more dependent on the ionic species especially when sodium ions were present. When combustion experiments were carried out with char made of the metal enriched wood, two consecutive steps were observed, both effected by the presence of inorganic compounds. The first step was identified as the release and combustion of volatiles, while the second peak of the burning profile is the actual combustion of the fixed carbon. The burnout temperatures, estimated ignition indices and the conversion indicate that the type and not the amount of metal ions were the determining factors during the second step of combustion

Measurement properties of quality-of-life outcome measures for children and adults with eczema: an updated systematic review

Objective The aim of this updated systematic review was to systematically assess the measurement properties of previously discussed and new quality‐of‐life patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) in children and adults with eczema using the new COSMIN guideline. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE. Eligible studies reported on measurement properties of quality‐of‐life PROMs for children and adults with eczema. The methodological quality of selected already known PROMs and new evidence identified through the literature search was assessed with the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist. The adequacy of included PROMs was judged with updated quality criteria, and the quality of evidence of the summarized results was graded. Finally, PROMs were placed in a recommendation category (A‐C). Results In total, 133 measurement properties of nine different PROMs were assessed. No PROM could be placed in category A due to a lack of validation studies. Only the DLQI fulfilled the criteria for category C and therefore should not be recommended for use. All other PROMs were placed in category B, that is, they still have the opportunity to be recommended, but need further validation. Conclusions Currently, no PROM for quality of life can be recommended for use in children and adults with eczema. Further validation is needed. The DLQI cannot be recommended for future use

Validation of the German Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging (DIVA) Questionnaire in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women.

BACKGROUND The Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging (DIVA) questionnaire is a validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) capturing the impacts of vaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women. AIM We aimed to psychometrically validate the German version of the DIVA questionnaire. METHODS Data was collected online and by paper-pencil. We ran confirmatory factor analyses to confirm the a priori four-factor structure of the DIVA. Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha. Correlations with other outcome measures such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), the SF-12 SOEP (socio-economic panel) version and self-created anchor questions were calculated regarding convergent validity. Known groups regarding age, home country and disease severity were analyzed. Test-retest reliability after 1 week and responsiveness after 4 weeks were only descriptively assessed due to low sample sizes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The DIVA questionnaire, the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS II), the PHQ-4 and the SF-12 SOEP version were the main outcome measures. RESULTS 185 postmenopausal women reporting vaginal complaints participated in the survey. The mode of administration did not influence the severity of vaginal symptoms. The four-factor structure of the DIVA could be confirmed and the model fit indicated sufficient structural validity. Furthermore, strong internal consistency in all of the DIVA domains was found. Regarding convergent validity, no hypothesis has failed completely. The results regarding known-groups validity were mostly in line with our a priori hypotheses. Descriptive evidence for sufficient test-retest reliability and responsiveness was given, however, the sample size for the assessment of those two measurement properties was low. CONCLUSION This study supports the excellent structural validity, internal consistency and construct validity of the German version of the DIVA questionnaire. It can be recommended for the assessment of the impacts of vaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women in future clinical GSM trials. Gabes M, Stute P, Apfelbacher C. Validation of the German Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging (DIVA) Questionnaire in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women. Sex Med 2021;9:100382

Measurement properties of quality of life measurement instruments for infants, children and adolescents with eczema: protocol for a systematic review

Background: Eczema is a common chronic or chronically relapsing skin disease that has a substantial impact on quality of life (QoL). By means of a consensus-based process, the Harmonising Outcome Measures in Eczema (HOME) initiative has identified QoL as one of the four core outcome domains to be assessed in all eczema trials. Few measurement instruments exist to measure QoL in infants and children with eczema, but there is a great variability in both content and quality (for example, reliability and validity) of the instruments used, and it is not always clear if the best instrument is being used. Therefore, the aim of the proposed research is a comprehensive systematic assessment of the measurement properties of the existing measurement instruments that were developed and/or validated for the measurement of patient-reported QoL in infants and children with eczema. Methods/Design: This study is a systematic review of the measurement properties of patient-reported measures of QoL developed and/or validated for infants and children with eczema. Medline via PubMed and EMBASE will be searched using a selection of relevant search terms. Eligible studies will be primary empirical studies evaluating, describing, or comparing measurement properties of QoL instruments for infants and children with eczema. Eligibility assessment and data abstraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. Evidence tables will be generated for study characteristics, instrument characteristics, measurement properties, and interpretability. The adequacy of the measurement properties will be assessed using predefined criteria. Methodological quality of studies will be assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. A best evidence synthesis will be undertaken if more than one study has investigated a particular measurement property. Discussion: The proposed systematic review will produce a comprehensive assessment of measurement properties of existing QoL instruments in infants and children with eczema. We aim to identify one best currently available instrument to measure QoL in infants and/or children with eczema

Validity of three asthma-specific quality of life questionnaires: the patients’ perspective

Objectives: It is not known which of the many asthma-specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaires best capture the lived experience of people with asthma. The objective of this study was to explore patients' views of three commonly used asthma-specific QoL questionnaires. Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Setting: Primary and secondary care in Brighton and Hove, UK. Participants: 30 adult people with a physician-diagnosis of asthma who were asked to complete the Juniper Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-J), the Sydney Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-S) and the Living with Asthma Questionnaire (LWAQ) to elicit their views on the content validity of these. Results: Thematic content analysis revealed a lack of congruence between the concerns of people with asthma and the questionnaire content in terms of missing (eg, allergies) and irrelevant (eg, smoky restaurants) content. The AQLQ-J was perceived as a ‘narrow’, ‘medical’ questionnaire focused on symptoms, the environment and functional ability. In contrast, the LWAQ and the AQLQ-S were perceived to be ‘non-medical’. The LWAQ was described as a ‘test’ and as a wide-ranging, embracing and holistic questionnaire. Its strong emotional focus was irritating to some. The AQLQ-S was described as a simple, quick and easy questionnaire, although there was a perception that it was lacking in depth. Conclusions: Patient interviews highlighted strengths and shortcomings in the content validity of these three asthma-specific questionnaires. For patients, the AQLQ-S content seemed to be the most pertinent in its adequacy of coverage of medical, social and emotional aspects of health-related QoL in asthma