Understanding and measuring symptoms and health status in asthma COPD overlap: content validity of the EXACT and SGRQ

Abstract Background Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap (ACO) differs from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in demographics, phenotypic characteristics and outcomes, yet the patient experience of ACO is poorly characterized. We aimed to understand and compare the patient experience of symptoms and domains of impact in ACO relative to COPD, and assess the content validity of existing patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments in ACO. Methods This US qualitative, interview study included patients who met American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society spirometric criteria for COPD. Additionally, patients with ACO demonstrated reversibility (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] increase ≥ 12% and ≥ 200 mL) to albuterol/salbutamol and an FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio < 0.7. Patients took part in concept elicitation (CE) to explore symptoms and impacts of obstructive lung disease. The Exacerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool (EXACT), St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and a daily wheeze assessment were cognitively debriefed to assess relevance and comprehensiveness. Interviews were analyzed using Atlas.Ti. Concept saturation was evaluated at the symptom level. Results Twenty patients with ACO and 10 patients with COPD were recruited. Patients from both groups indicated that shortness of breath was their most frequent and bothersome symptom. The most frequently reported symptoms in both groups were shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, mucus/phlegm, chest tightness, and tiredness, weakness or fatigue. The onset, severity, frequency and duration of symptoms were consistently described across both groups, although a higher proportion of patients with ACO experienced exacerbations versus those with COPD. Impacts on daily living, physical impacts and emotional impacts were commonly described (ACO: 90–100%, COPD: 80–100%). Concept saturation was achieved in both groups. Overall, the EXACT, SGRQ and daily wheeze assessment were well understood and relevant to most patients with ACO or COPD (50–100%) and patients generally found the assessments easy to complete. The PRO instruments adequately captured symptoms described during CE, demonstrating high content validity in ACO and COPD. Conclusions Patients with ACO and COPD experienced similar symptoms and impacts. The EXACT, SGRQ and assessment of wheeze were well understood and captured concepts relevant to patients with ACO

Public Library Music Specialist Survey, 2018

The Public Library Committee seeks to promote and encourage public librarian participation in MLA. To that end, in January 2018 the committee surveyed music specialists working in U.S. public libraries. The 10-question survey was sent via public library-focused listservs. 100 responses provide insight into the state of music specialists around the country. For example, 55% of the responding public libraries employ at least one music specialist. Specialists’ top music-related duties include collection development, reference, and programming. Most requested MLA support is for outreach and/or promotion of music materials, maintenance of music materials, and creation/expansion of music programming. What’s next? Develop strategies for engaging non-MLA members

Evaluating the Process of Online Health Information Searching: A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Consumer Perspectives

Background: The Internet is a common resource that patients and consumers use to access health-related information. Multiple practical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors influence why, when, and how people utilize this tool. Improving the delivery of health-related information necessitates a thorough understanding of users’ searching-related needs, preferences, and experiences. Although a wide body of quantitative research examining search behavior exists, qualitative approaches have been under-utilized and provide unique perspectives that may prove useful in improving the delivery of health information over the Internet. Objective: We conducted this study to gain a deeper understanding of online health-searching behavior in order to inform future developments of personalizing information searching and content delivery. Methods: We completed three focus groups with adult residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, which explored perceptions of online health information searching. Participants were recruited through flyers and classifieds advertisements posted throughout the community. We audio-recorded and transcribed all focus groups, and analyzed data using standard qualitative methods. Results: Almost all participants reported using the Internet to gather health information. They described a common experience of searching, filtering, and comparing results in order to obtain information relevant to their intended search target. Information saturation and fatigue were cited as main reasons for terminating searching. This information was often used as a resource to enhance their interactions with health care providers. Conclusions: Many participants viewed the Internet as a valuable tool for finding health information in order to support their existing health care resources. Although the Internet is a preferred source of health information, challenges persist in streamlining the search process. Content providers should continue to develop new strategies and technologies aimed at accommodating diverse populations, vocabularies, and health information needs

Additional file 1: of Understanding and measuring symptoms and health status in asthma COPD overlap: content validity of the EXACT and SGRQ

Table S1. Summary of responses from cognitive debriefing interviews. (DOC 92 kb

Comparative Analysis of Online Health Queries Originating from Personal Computers and Smart Devices on a Consumer Health Information Portal

Background: The number of people using the Internet and mobile/smart devices for health information seeking is increasing rapidly. Although the user experience for online health information seeking varies with the device used, for example, smart devices (SDs) like smartphones/tablets versus personal computers (PCs) like desktops/laptops, very few studies have investigated how online health information seeking behavior (OHISB) may differ by device. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine differences in OHISB between PCs and SDs through a comparative analysis of large-scale health search queries submitted through Web search engines from both types of devices. Methods: Using the Web analytics tool, IBM NetInsight OnDemand, and based on the type of devices used (PCs or SDs), we obtained the most frequent health search queries between June 2011 and May 2013 that were submitted on Web search engines and directed users to the Mayo Clinic’s consumer health information website. We performed analyses on “Queries with considering repetition counts (QwR)” and “Queries without considering repetition counts (QwoR)”. The dataset contains (1) 2.74 million and 3.94 million QwoR, respectively for PCs and SDs, and (2) more than 100 million QwR for both PCs and SDs. We analyzed structural properties of the queries (length of the search queries, usage of query operators and special characters in health queries), types of search queries (keyword-based, wh-questions, yes/no questions), categorization of the queries based on health categories and information mentioned in the queries (gender, age-groups, temporal references), misspellings in the health queries, and the linguistic structure of the health queries. Results: Query strings used for health information searching via PCs and SDs differ by almost 50%. The most searched health categories are “Symptoms” (1 in 3 search queries), “Causes”, and “Treatments & Drugs”. The distribution of search queries for different health categories differs with the device used for the search. Health queries tend to be longer and more specific than general search queries. Health queries from SDs are longer and have slightly fewer spelling mistakes than those from PCs. Users specify words related to women and children more often than that of men and any other age group. Most of the health queries are formulated using keywords; the second-most common are wh- and yes/no questions. Users ask more health questions using SDs than PCs. Almost all health queries have at least one noun and health queries from SDs are more descriptive than those from PCs. Conclusions: This study is a large-scale comparative analysis of health search queries to understand the effects of device type (PCs vs SDs) used on OHISB. The study indicates that the device used for online health information search plays an important role in shaping how health information searches by consumers and patients are executed

Comparative Analysis of Online Health Queries Originating from Personal Computers and Smart Devices on a Consumer Health Information Portal

Background: The number of people using the Internet and mobile/smart devices for health information seeking is increasing rapidly. Although the user experience for online health information seeking varies with the device used, for example, smart devices (SDs) like smartphones/tablets versus personal computers (PCs) like desktops/laptops, very few studies have investigated how online health information seeking behavior (OHISB) may differ by device. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine differences in OHISB between PCs and SDs through a comparative analysis of large-scale health search queries submitted through Web search engines from both types of devices. Methods: Using the Web analytics tool, IBM NetInsight OnDemand, and based on the type of devices used (PCs or SDs), we obtained the most frequent health search queries between June 2011 and May 2013 that were submitted on Web search engines and directed users to the Mayo Clinic’s consumer health information website. We performed analyses on “Queries with considering repetition counts (QwR)” and “Queries without considering repetition counts (QwoR)”. The dataset contains (1) 2.74 million and 3.94 million QwoR, respectively for PCs and SDs, and (2) more than 100 million QwR for both PCs and SDs. We analyzed structural properties of the queries (length of the search queries, usage of query operators and special characters in health queries), types of search queries (keyword-based, wh-questions, yes/no questions), categorization of the queries based on health categories and information mentioned in the queries (gender, age-groups, temporal references), misspellings in the health queries, and the linguistic structure of the health queries. Results: Query strings used for health information searching via PCs and SDs differ by almost 50%. The most searched health categories are “Symptoms” (1 in 3 search queries), “Causes”, and “Treatments & Drugs”. The distribution of search queries for different health categories differs with the device used for the search. Health queries tend to be longer and more specific than general search queries. Health queries from SDs are longer and have slightly fewer spelling mistakes than those from PCs. Users specify words related to women and children more often than that of men and any other age group. Most of the health queries are formulated using keywords; the second-most common are wh- and yes/no questions. Users ask more health questions using SDs than PCs. Almost all health queries have at least one noun and health queries from SDs are more descriptive than those from PCs. Conclusions: This study is a large-scale comparative analysis of health search queries to understand the effects of device type (PCs vs SDs) used on OHISB. The study indicates that the device used for online health information search plays an important role in shaping how health information searches by consumers and patients are executed