Validation of the Thai version of the family reported outcome measure (FROM-16)© to assess the impact of disease on the partner or family members of patients with cancer

© The Author(s). 2019Background: Cancer not only impairs a patient's physical and psychosocial functional behaviour, but also contributes to negative impact on family members' health related quality of life. Currently, there is an absence of a relevant tool in Thai with which to measure such impact. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Family Reported Outcome Measure (FROM-16) in Thai cancer patients' family members. Methods: Thai version of FROM-16 was generated by interactive forward-backward translation process following standard guidelines. This was tested for psychometric properties including reliability and validity, namely content validity, concurrent validity, known group validity, internal consistency, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Construct validity was examined by comparing the Thai FROM-16 version with the WHOQOL-BREF-THAI. Results: The internal consistency reliability was strong (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86). A Negative moderate correlation between the Thai FROM-16 and WHOQOL-BREF-THAI was observed (r = - 0.4545, p < 0.00), and known group validity was proved by a statistically significant higher score in family members with high burden of care and insufficient income. The factor analysis supported both 3-factor and 2-factor loading model with slight difference when compared with the original version. Conclusions: The Thai FROM-16 showed good reliability and validity in Thai family members of patients with cancer. A slight difference in factor analysis results compared to the original version could be due to cross-culture application.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Preparation of alginate microgels in a simple one step process via the Leeds Jet Homogenizer

Fine calcium alginate microgel particles, down to particle sizes lower than 100 nm, were produced using a Jet Homogenizer previously developed in the School of Food Science and Nutrition (University of Leeds, Leeds, UK) consisting of highly turbulent mixing of two liquid streams of sodium alginate and calcium chloride solution. The final mean particle size, d, depended on the alginate to calcium ratio. From 0.5 to 2 wt.% alginate in the presence of 1-10 and 20 mM Ca2+, d was lower than 5 μm and higher than 20 μm, respectively. However, d was not so significantly affected by the homogenization pressure above 150 bar at room temperature (20 ± 3 °C) or the volume ratio of the sodium alginate to calcium chloride solutions, within the limits 1:9 or 9:1. The particles initially exiting the homogenizer appeared to be slightly aggregated since sonication produced a further decrease in size. The particles were negatively charged (-31.7 mV ± 3.1 mV at pH 8) and inclusion of a suitable globular protein (lactoferrin but not lysozyme) of opposite charge led to a further reduction particle size and a slight decrease in particle ζ-potential. It is suggested that some degree of protein adsorption to the particle surface occurred, akin to a surfactant, which helped to control the particle size. In addition, some lactoferrin may also be incorporated inside the microgel particles during their formation, highlighting the potential of this technique to encapsulate various materials within microgel particles formed from Ca2+ cross-linked biopolymers

Incidence and risk factors of suicide reattempts within 1 year after psychiatric hospital discharge in mood disorder patients

Chidchanok Ruengorn1, Kittipong Sanichwankul2, Wirat Niwatananun3, Suwat Mahatnirunkul2, Wanida Pumpaisalchai2, Jayanton Patumanond11Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University; 2Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandBackground: The incidence and risk factors of suicide reattempts within 1 year after psychiatric hospital discharge in mood disorder patients remain uninvestigated in Thailand.Objective: To determine incidence and risk factors of suicide reattempts within 1 year after psychiatric hospital discharge in mood disorder patients.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted by reviewing medical charts at Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Mood disorder patients, diagnosed with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision codes F31.x, F32.x, and F33.x, who were admitted owing to suicide attempts between October 2006 and May 2009 were eligible. The influence of sociodemographic and clinical risk factors on suicide reattempts was investigated using Cox&amp;#39;s proportional-hazards regression analysis.Results: Of 235 eligible mood disorder patients, 36 (15.3%) reattempted suicide (median 109.5 days, range 1&amp;ndash;322), seven (3.0%) completed suicide (median 90 days, range 5&amp;ndash;185), and 192 (84.2%) neither reattempted nor completed suicide during follow-up. Of all nonfatal suicide reattempts, 14 patients (38.9%) did so within 90 days. Among suicide completers, one (14.3%) did so 5 days after discharge, and four (57.1%) did so within 90 days. The following three risk factors explained 73.3% of the probability of suicide reattempts: over two previous suicide attempts before the index admission (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07&amp;ndash;5.76), being concomitantly prescribed typical and atypical antipsychotics (adjusted HR 4.79; 95% CI 1.39&amp;ndash;16.52) and antidepressants, and taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor alone (adjusted HR 5.08; 95% CI 1.14&amp;ndash;22.75) or concomitantly with norepinephrine and/or serotonin reuptake inhibitors (adjusted HR 6.18; 95% CI 1.13&amp;ndash;33.65).Conclusion: Approximately 40% of suicide reattempts in mood disorder patients occurred within 90 days after psychiatric hospital discharge. For mood disorders and when there have been over two previous suicide attempts, prescribed antipsychotics or antidepressants may help predict suicide reattempts.Keywords: bipolar disorders, major depressive disorders, suicide attempts, suicide completion