Poem

So far we\u27ve been focused on here and now, yet not focused on here and nowbut there and yesterday-

Psychometric properties of the FACT-G quality of life scale for family caregivers of cancer patients

Purpose This study aimed to examine psychometric properties of a caregiver version of the well-established Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale (FACT-G) after conducting focus groups and obtaining expert input. Methods We made minor wording modifications to the Patient FACT-G to enable caregivers to report how the illness affected their overall quality of life (QOL) and well-being on four subscales (physical, social, emotional, functional). We tested the acceptability, precision, factor structure, reliability and validity of the Caregiver FACT-G among partners of prostate cancer patients (N = 263) and caregivers (spouses, siblings, adult children) of patients with advanced cancer (breast, lung, colorectal, prostate) (N = 484) using data from two Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs). Results With a factor structure similar to the Patient FACT-G, Caregiver FACT-G was acceptable and precise in measuring caregiver QOL, with high inter-factor correlations and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alphas 0.81–0.91). The Caregiver FACT-G had strong convergent validity demonstrated by significant positive correlations with caregiver self-efficacy (0.25–0.63), dyadic communication (0.18–0.51), and social support (0.18–0.54) in both samples. It also had strong discriminant validity evidenced by significant inverse correlations with negative appraisal of caregiving (− 0.37 to − 0.69), uncertainty (− 0.28 to − 0.53), hopelessness (− 0.25 to − 0.60), and avoidant coping (− 0.26 to − 0.58) in both samples. Caregivers’ baseline FACT-G scores were significantly associated with their physical (0.23) and mental well-being (0.54; 4-month follow-up) and their depression (− 0.69; 3-month follow-up), indicating strong predictive validity. Conclusion This is the first study evaluating the psychometric properties of the Caregiver FACT-G. More psychometric testing is warranted, especially among caregivers of diverse sociocultural backgrounds

Health-related quality of life as a predictor of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Iraq

Summary ObjectivesTo determine how tuberculosis (TB) treatment affects the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with pulmonary TB and to identify the predictors of favourable TB treatment outcomes in Baghdad, Iraq. MethodsThe Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Tuberculosis (FACIT-TB), a new TB-specific quality of life instrument derived from the internationally recognized FACIT measurement system for the assessment of HRQL, was administered. The mean total and subscale scores of the FACIT-TB at baseline, end of the intensive phase, and end of TB treatment were compared. ResultsAfter the 2-month intensive phase, physical well-being, functional well-being, and the overall total scores were significantly increased (p<0.01). Furthermore, at completion of TB treatment, there were significant improvements in the overall HRQL as indicated by the FACIT-TB total score and all subscales, except social and economic well-being and spiritual well-being. In a direct logistic regression model, only the FACIT-TB total score made a statistically significant contribution towards predicting the likelihood that a patient would have a favourable TB treatment outcome. ConclusionsTherapeutic intervention had a positive impact on patient HRQL. We conclude that FACIT-TB is a reliable tool to monitor HRQL during the course of TB treatment.Universiti Sains Malaysia, Research University Postgraduate Research Grant Scheme (USM-RU-PRGS; grant number 1001/PFARMASI/845040)

Carnival

Jason Bredle\u27s poems approach the world like a haunted cat approaches a glacier, curious and itchy with strangeness. In Carnival, he skates paratactically between states of being: levity, heart-holes, licks of darkness, lovesickness and werewolfishness. Bredle\u27s gift as a poet is to traverse and re-traverse one looking glass in ten different moods. When he goes through it, we are taken. -Melissa Broderhttps://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/uapress_publications/1165/thumbnail.jp

Development and Psychometric Properties of a Tuberculosis-Specific Multidimensional Health-Related Quality-of-Life Measure for Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background: Various generic instruments exist to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with tuberculosis (TB), but a psychometrically sound disease-specific instrument is lacking. Objectives: The present study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate a multidimensional TB-specific HRQOL instrument relevant to the value of patients with pulmonary TB in Iraq with an eye toward cross-cultural application. Methods: The core general HRQOL questionnaire is composed of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General items. A modular approach was followed for the development of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Tuberculosis (FACIT-TB) questionnaire in which a set of items assessing quality-of-life (QOL) issues not sufficiently covered by the core Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General items, but considered to be relevant to the target population, was added. Moreover, principal-component analysis was used to determine the new subscale structure of the questionnaire. Results: In addition to the 27 items of the core questionnaire, a set of 20 items referring to disease symptoms related to the site of infection, adverse effects, and additional QOL dimensions such as fatigue, social stigma, and economic burden of the illness was included. Factor analysis demonstrated that the FACIT-TB construct comprised five domains. Conclusions: A rigorous method was applied in the development of the FACIT-TB measure to fully understand the impact of TB on patients' QOL. The instrument is psychometrically sound and portrays multiple important dimensions of HRQOL. FACIT-TB is relatively brief, is easy to administer and score, and is appropriate for use in clinical trials and practice. 2015 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).Scopu

Comparability of Interviewer-Administration Versus Self-Administration of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Tuberculosis (FACIT-TB) Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Objective To investigate the extent to which two different modes of administration (interview by a trained interviewer versus self-administration) yielded a comparable estimate of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Methods The study was conducted between September 2012 and July 2013, among consecutive patients treated for PTB at the Thoracic and Respiratory Disease Specialist Centre in Baghdad, Iraq. The mode of administration of the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-tuberculosis (FACIT-TB), a new TB-specific HRQL instrument, was recorded at baseline in 305 subjects. Results Although the FACIT-TB questionnaire was designed for self-administration, most patients in our sample (n = 193, 63.3 %) requested some help from an interviewer to fill out the questionnaire. Patients capable of self-administration were younger (38.2 ± 12.9 years vs. 43.6 ± 16.4 years, p = 0.005) and required less time to complete the questionnaire (14.6 ± 3.2 min vs. 17.2 ± 2.6 min, p 0.05). Conclusions The study demonstrates that the administration of FACIT-TB instrument using either self-administration or interviewing techniques has resulted in a comparable estimate of HRQL among patients with PTB. The FACIT-TB instrument is able to accommodate the needs of patients with diverse social, educational, and functional skills.The authors would like to thank the investigators from Thoracic and Respiratory Diseases Specialist Center Iraq for their help and support in the collection of the required data. We also greatly acknowledge the support rendered by the FACIT measurement system and FACT-G developers for granting permission to use the FACT-G and for their input during the development process of FACIT-TB. This research project was partly sponsored by a grant from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Research University, Postgraduate Research Grant Scheme (USM-RU-PRGS). All named authors meet the international committee of medical journal editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this manuscript, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval for the version to be published. JAD, SASS, and AA conceived the research idea, participated in the design of the study, and drafted the manuscript. MAH participated in the design of the study and helped in drafting the manuscript. AQB participated in the design of the study and performed statistical analysis. JMB participated in the development of the FACIT-TB instrument and revised the manuscript with important intellectual contributions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Juman Abdulelah Dujaili, Syed Azhar Syed Sulaiman, Ahmed Awaisu, Mohamed Azmi Hassali, Ali Qais Blebil, and Jason M Bredle have nothing to disclose. The study protocol, informed consent, and other relevant documents were reviewed and approved by the Research and Teaching Aids Division, Training and Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Iraq. All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (Thoracic and Respiratory Diseases Specialist Center, Ministry of Health Iraq) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964, as revised in 2013. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.Scopu

Comparability of Interviewer-Administration Versus Self-Administration of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Tuberculosis (FACIT-TB) Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

<p><b>Article full text</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>The full text of this article can be found here<b>. </b><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41030-016-0016-0">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41030-016-0016-0</a></p><p></p> <p><br></p> <p><b>Provide enhanced content for this article</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>If you are an author of this publication and would like to provide additional enhanced content for your article then please contact <a href="http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/”mailto:[email protected]”"><b>[email protected]</b></a>.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The journal offers a range of additional features designed to increase visibility and readership. All features will be thoroughly peer reviewed to ensure the content is of the highest scientific standard and all features are marked as ‘peer reviewed’ to ensure readers are aware that the content has been reviewed to the same level as the articles they are being presented alongside. Moreover, all sponsorship and disclosure information is included to provide complete transparency and adherence to good publication practices. This ensures that however the content is reached the reader has a full understanding of its origin. No fees are charged for hosting additional open access content.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Other enhanced features include, but are not limited to:</p> <p><br></p> <p>• Slide decks</p> <p>• Videos and animations</p> <p>• Audio abstracts</p> <p>• Audio slides</p

Measuring spiritual well‑being in Brazilian adolescents with chronic illness using the FACIT‑Sp‑12: age adaptation of the self‑report version, development of the parental‑report version, and validation

Spiritual well-being is a major issue in health care, but instruments for measuring this construct in adolescents are lacking. This study adapted the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being Scale (FACIT-Sp-12) for use with Brazilian adolescents with chronic diseases and developed a parental observer-rated version, using an expert panel, back-translation, and cognitive interviews with 72 participants. The psychometric properties of both versions were verified with two- and three-factor models by testing with 212 participants. The self- and parental-reported versions showed face validity, content validity, and acceptable levels of internal consistency for the overall scale and the two-factor model. The convergent validity was satisfactory for most items in both two- and three-factor models, but there was a lack of discrimination in the three-factor model using multitrait–multimethod analysis. This study presents the first instrument to assess the spiritual well-being of adolescents from their point of view and to allow their parents to serve as evaluators. However, we recommend further psychometric testing of the self- and parental-report scales to assess spiritual well-being in adolescents with chronic diseases in Brazil.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio