Preferred reporting items for studies mapping onto preference-based outcome measures: The MAPS statement

'Mapping' onto generic preference-based outcome measures is increasingly being used as a means of generating health utilities for use within health economic evaluations. Despite publication of technical guides for the conduct of mapping research, guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. The MAPS (MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards) statement is a new checklist, which aims to promote complete and transparent reporting of mapping studies. The primary audiences for the MAPS statement are researchers reporting mapping studies, the funders of the research, and peer reviewers and editors involved in assessing mapping studies for publication. A de novo list of 29 candidate reporting items and accompanying explanations was created by a working group comprised of six health economists and one Delphi methodologist. Following a two-round, modified Delphi survey with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies and the biomedical journal editorial community, a final set of 23 items deemed essential for transparent reporting, and accompanying explanations, was developed. The items are contained in a user friendly 23 item checklist. They are presented numerically and categorised within six sections, namely: (i) title and abstract; (ii) introduction; (iii) methods; (iv) results; (v) discussion; and (vi) other. The MAPS statement is best applied in conjunction with the accompanying MAPS explanation and elaboration document. It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will improve the clarity, transparency and completeness of reporting of mapping studies. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the MAPS statement is being co-published by eight health economics and quality of life journals, and broader endorsement is encouraged. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in five years' time. This statement was published jointly in Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, Journal of Medical Economics, Medical Decision Making, PharmacoEconomics, and Quality of Life Research

Contratransferência no atendimento inicial de vítimas de violência sexual e urbana: uma pesquisa qualitativa/quantitativa Countertransference in the initial care of victims of sexual and urban violence: a qualitative-quantitative research

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a contratransferência dos terapeutas durante o atendimento inicial de pacientes mulheres vítimas de violência sexual e urbana, investigando a influência do gênero do terapeuta e da natureza e momento do trauma. MÉTODO: A amostra foi composta por 36 relatos redigidos por médicos residentes de psiquiatria do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, oriundos do atendimento de 36 pacientes. Este estudo utilizou métodos qualitativos e quantitativos para a análise dos seus dados. Os relatos foram classificados em seis grupos, conforme o gênero do terapeuta e a natureza do trauma. Foi realizada a análise de conteúdo dos relatos. Associou-se uma análise estatística dos dados. RESULTADOS: Houve predomínio de sentimentos de aproximação nos terapeutas de ambos os sexos no atendimento de vítimas de violência sexual. Entre terapeutas mulheres, a natureza do trauma (sexual ou urbano) não influenciou os padrões contratransferenciais (p = 0,7). Entre os terapeutas homens, ao contrário, a natureza do trauma influenciou de forma significativa (p = 0,044) o padrão contratransferencial, havendo um número elevado de sentimentos de distanciamento nos relatos de atendimentos de vítimas de violência urbana. CONCLUSÕES: Houve um predomínio de sentimentos de aproximação dos terapeutas de ambos os sexos no atendimento inicial de pacientes vítimas de violência sexual. Foi observado um predomínio de sentimentos de distanciamento nos terapeutas homens que atenderam vítimas de violência urbana. Mais estudos são necessários para uma melhor compreensão das relações terapêuticas nos atendimentos de vítimas de trauma psíquico.<br>OBJECTIVE: To assess therapists' countertransference during initial care of female victims of sexual and urban violence with the aim of investigating influence of therapist's gender, type and moment of trauma. METHODS: The sample comprised 36 reports written by psychiatry residents at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre based on the care provided to 36 patients. This study used qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis. Reports were classified into six groups according to therapist's gender and type of trauma. A content analysis and a statistical analysis of the data were performed. RESULTS: Therapists of both genders presented a prevalence of feelings of closeness when providing care to victims of sexual violence. Among female therapists, type of trauma (sexual or urban) did not have an influence on countertransference patterns (p = 0,7). On the other hand, among male therapists, type of trauma had a significant influence (p = 0,044) on countertransference, with a high rate of feelings of distance in reports of care provided to victims of urban violence. CONCLUSIONS: Therapists of both genders presented a prevalence of feelings of closeness when providing initial care to patients victims of sexual violence. Male therapists who provided care to victims of urban violence presented a prevalence of feelings of distance. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of therapeutic relationships in the care of victims of psychic trauma

The MAPS reporting statement for studies mapping onto generic preference-based outcome measures: Explanation and elaboration

Background: The process of “mapping” is increasingly being used to predict health utilities, for application within health economic evaluations, using data on other indicators or measures of health. Guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. Objective: The overall objective of this research was to develop a checklist of essential items, which authors should consider when reporting mapping studies. The MAPS (MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards) statement is a checklist, which aims to promote complete and transparent reporting by researchers. This paper provides a detailed explanation and elaboration of the items contained within the MAPS statement. Methods: In the absence of previously published reporting checklists or reporting guidance documents, a de novo list of reporting items and accompanying explanations was created. A two-round, modified Delphi survey, with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies and the biomedical journal editorial community, was used to identify a list of essential reporting items from this larger list. Results: From the initial de novo list of 29 candidate items, a set of 23 essential reporting items was developed. The items are presented numerically and categorised within six sections, namely, (i) title and abstract, (ii) introduction, (iii) methods, (iv) results, (v) discussion and (vi) other. For each item, we summarise the recommendation, illustrate it using an exemplar of good reporting practice identified from the published literature, and provide a detailed explanation to accompany the recommendation. Conclusions: It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will promote clarity, transparency and completeness of reporting of mapping studies. It is targeted at researchers developing mapping algorithms, peer reviewers and editors involved in the manuscript review process for mapping studies, and the funders of the research. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in 5 years’ time

Respiratory diseases and Helicobacter pylori infection: Is there a link?

Recent studies suggest an epidemiological association between Helicobacter pylori infection and several extragastroduodenal pathologies, including cardiovascular, rheumatic, skin and liver diseases. The observed associations might be explained by a role of H. pylori infection in the pathogenesis of certain extradigestive disorders, as a variety of inflammatory mediators are activated by H. pylori infection. The present review summarizes the current literature, including our own studies, concerning the association between respiratory diseases and H. pylori infection. A small number of epidemiological and serologic case-control studies suggest that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have an increased seroprevalence of H. pylori. A frequent coexistence of bronchiectasis and H. pylori infection has also been found. Moreover, recent studies have shown an increased prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and in those with lung cancer. On the other hand, bronchial asthma does not seem to be related to H. pylori infection. At present, there is no definite proof of a causal relationship between H. pylori and respiratory diseases. The primary evidence rests on case-control studies, concerning relatively small numbers of patients. Future studies should be large enough for moderate-sized effects to be assessed or registered reliably. The activation of inflammatory mediators by H. pylori infection might be the pathogenetic mechanism underlying the observed associations. Therefore, the role of genetic predisposition of the infected host, the presence of strain-specific virulence factors and the serum concentration of proinflammatory markers in H. pylori-infected patients with respiratory diseases need further eva luation. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG