Validation of a French-language version of the health education impact Questionnaire (heiQ) among chronic disease patients seen in primary care : a cross-sectional study

Background The Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) allows for the evaluation of the effects of education interventions provided to patients with chronic diseases. This study describes the process for the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the heiQ into French (heiQ-Fv). Methods We undertook a systematic translation process followed by a validation study based on the secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from a longitudinal study. Participants in the validation study were adult patients from primary care clinics in Quebec, Canada, with one or more of the following diseases: diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease; or one or more risk factors for these diseases. Main outcomes of the study were the French version of the heiQ-Fv and the validation analyses that included internal consistency, test-retest reliability, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and concomitant validity. Results The validation analysis was conducted on results from 332 participants. Cronbach’s alphas (internal consistency) for seven domains of the heiQ-Fv varied from 0.80 to 0.89; one domain scored 0.69. The test-retest analysis (n = 50) yielded intra-class correlation coefficients from 0.66 to 0.86. The CFA of the eight heiQ domains with the hypothesis of no correlation between the domains yielded a model that did not exhibit acceptable fit values. A model with the hypothesis of all domains correlated exhibited acceptable fit values (scaled chi-square = 1210.15, degrees of freedom = 712, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.98; RMSEA = 0.06; SRMR = 0.065). Results show a moderate correlation (concomitant validity) between five domains of the heiQ-Fv and the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Diseases. We also found a moderate to strong correlation between the Emotional Wellbeing domain of the heiQ and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) (r = 0.61; 95 % CI: 0.52 –0.69, p < 0.01). Conclusions The heiQ was translated into French using a rigorous translation process; the French-language version showed good psychometric properties. Health professionals and researchers in primary care settings may use the heiQ-FV to evaluate the impact of educational programs on patients with chronic diseases

Key factors of case management interventions for frequent users of healthcare services : a thematic analysis review

Objective : The aim of this paper was to identify the key factors of case management (CM) interventions among frequent users of healthcare services found in empirical studies of effectiveness. Design : Thematic analysis review of CM studies. Methods : We built on a previously published review that aimed to report the effectiveness of CM interventions for frequent users of healthcare services, using the Medline, Scopus and CINAHL databases covering the January 2004–December 2015 period, then updated to July 2017, with the keywords ‘CM’ and ‘frequent use’. We extracted factors of successful (n=7) and unsuccessful (n=6) CM interventions and conducted a mixed thematic analysis to synthesise findings. Chaudoir’s implementation of health innovations framework was used to organise results into four broad levels of factors: (1) ,environmental/organisational level, (2) practitioner level, (3) patient level and (4) programme level. Results : Access to, and close partnerships with, healthcare providers and community services resources were key factors of successful CM interventions that should target patients with the greatest needs and promote frequent contacts with the healthcare team. The selection and training of the case manager was also an important factor to foster patient engagement in CM. Coordination of care, self-management support and assistance with care navigation were key CM activities. The main issues reported by unsuccessful CM interventions were problems with case finding or lack of care integration. Conclusions : CM interventions for frequent users of healthcare services should ensure adequate case finding processes, rigorous selection and training of the case manager, sufficient intensity of the intervention, as well as good care integration among all partners. Other studies could further evaluate the influence of contextual factors on intervention impacts

Qualités métrologiques du Cumulative illness rating scale dans un contexte de médecine familiale

Objectif : Aucune échelle de mesure n'est utilisée en médecine familiale pour mesurer le fardeau clinique que représente la présence simultanée de plusieurs problèmes médicaux chez un même patient (multimorbidité). Le but de cette étude était de valider un outil qui permette une évaluation fiable de la multimorbidité. Les objectifs spécifiques étaient de vérifier les fidélités inter juges et intrajuge du Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) complété par des infirmières en révisant le dossier médical (CIRS-INF/D) et de comparer la fidélité inter-juges du CIRS-INF/D à celle du CIRS complété par des infirmières lors d'une entrevue clinique (CIRS-INF/C) dans un contexte de médecine familiale ambulatoire ainsi que de documenter la validité concomitante de ces deux formes de CIRS complétées par des infirmières. Conclusion . Cette étude indique que des infirmières formées peuvent coter adéquatement le CIRS en révisant le dossier médical dans un contexte de médecine de famille. En effet, le CIRS-INF/D présente une fidélité inter-juges adéquate et comparable à celle du CIRS-INF/C, ainsi qu'une bonne fidélité intrajuge à 2 mois. La validité concomitante du CIRS complété par des infirmières est adéquate. Le CIRS-INF/D apparaît donc comme un instrument fiable et valide dans un contexte de première ligne.--Résumé abrégé par UMI

Perceived conflict in the couple and chronic illness management: Preliminary analyses from the Quebec Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The quality of the relationship with the spouse/partner appears crucial among patients with multiple chronic conditions where illness management is complex and multifaceted. This study draws on data from the Quebec Health Survey (QHS) to examine, among patients with one or more chronic conditions, the relation between marital status, the perceived conflict with the spouse/partner, and what the patients do to manage their illness as well as how they perceive their health. METHODS: Data from the QHS 1998 were used. The sample included 7547 coupled adults who had one or more chronic health problems lasting more than 6 months. Independent variables included marital status, perceived conflict with the spouse/partner, and the number of chronic conditions. Illness management was defined broadly as a measure of the patient's efforts at self-care and an illness status indicator, including visits to the generalist and the specialist, the use of telephone health line in the last 12 months, self-rated general health, mental health, and a measure of psychological distress. Linkages between the independent variables and illness management were assessed for males and females separately with logistic regressions, while accounting for the survey sampling design and household clustering. RESULTS: Female patients who did not live with their partner and had never been married were more likely to report a negative perception of their general health and a higher psychological distress than those who were married. Perceived conflict with the partner was linked to a negative perception of mental health and a higher psychological distress among both men and women. Compared to patients with only one chronic condition, males who reported more than one chronic condition were more likely to have consulted a generalist prior to the survey and used the telephone health line, whereas females were more likely to have consulted a specialist. Both males and females with more than one chronic condition were more likely to have a negative perception of their general health and mental health. CONCLUSION: The study provides a useful preliminary measure of the importance of living arrangements and the quality of the couple relationship in chronic illness management broadly conceived as a measure of the patient's efforts at self-care and an illness status indicator. Results of this study prod us to examine more closely, within longitudinal designs, the influence of living arrangements and the presence of conflict in the couple on chronic illness management as well as the modifying effect of gender on these associations

Comorbidity and glycemia control among patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care

Reports on the relationship between comorbidity and glycemia control in diabetic patients are conflicting and the method of measuring comorbidity varies widely among studies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between diabetes control and comorbidity, taking into account all comorbidities and their severity, in a primary care setting. We performed a retrospective descriptive study based on chart review of 96 randomly selected type 2 diabetic patients. Comorbidity was measured with the cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS), an exhaustive comorbidity index. Diabetes was considered as controlled if the mean value of two measurements of glycosylated hemoglobin A (HbA1c) was less than 7%. Taking diabetes control as the dependent variable, its relationship with the CIRS score, age, sex, diabetes duration, and diabetes-related complications was explored. Diabetes control was not significantly related with the CIRS score, age, sex or diabetes severity. Diabetes duration was the only variable significantly related to diabetes control. Our study suggests that comorbidity measured with the CIRS in patients with type 2 diabetes is not a factor that prevents the achievement of a good glycemia control

Evaluating complex interventions in real context: Logic analysis of a case management program for frequent users of healthcare services

Case management programs for frequent users of healthcare services are complex interventions which implementation and application are challenging to evaluate. The aim of this article was to conduct a logic analysis to evaluate a case management program for frequent users of healthcare services. The study proceeded in three phases: 1) establishing causal links between the program’s components by the construction of a logic model, 2) developing an integrated framework from a realistic synthesis, and 3) making a new reading of the case management program in regard of the integrated framework. The study demonstrated, on one hand, strengths and weaknesses of the actual case management program, and, on the other hand, how logic analysis can create a constructive dialogue between theory and practice. The evaluative process with decision-makers, clinicians and patients has helped to make connexions between theory, practice, experience and services organization