OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Tagalog version of the PsAQoL to assess its reliability and consistency.

METHODS

This is a prospective validation study involving 47 patients with PsA from June to August 2023. The
psychometric properties tested were internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficients), test-retest reliability, convergent validity (Spearman’s rank correlation), and known group validity (Mann-Whitney U Test or Kruskal- Wallis One-Way Analysis of Variance).

RESULTS

The PsAQoL on both week 0 and week 2 had Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.926 indicating high
internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was 0.929, which demonstrates excellent reliability and low level of random measurement error. The PsAQoL scores highly correlated with the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (r=0.754, pCONCLUSION

The Tagalog version of the PsAQoL demonstrates excellent psychometric properties and is recommended for monitoring of Tagalog-speaking patients with psoriatic arthritis in healthcare settings.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult: 19-24 Yrs Old ; Adult: 25-44 Yrs Old ; Middle Aged: 45-64 Yrs Old ; Aged: 65-79 Yrs Old ; Analysis Of Variance ; Aptitude ; Health ; Index ; Patients ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility Of Results ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Validation Study

BACKGROUND

Hand grip strength (HGS) is a tool to measure muscle strength, which is an important component in sarcopenia and frailty. Grip strength (GS) in midlife can predict physical disability in senior years and help evaluate a patient's overall health.

OBJECTIVES

The general purpose of this study is to validate the HGS using an aneroid sphygmomanometer and Jamar dynamometer as a diagnostic tool for sarcpenia. The specific aims of this study are (a) to determine the concurrent criterion validity, (b) to determine the reliability, and (c) to measure the inter-rater agreement of the aneroid sphygmomanometer against the Jamar dynamometer in measuring HGS.

METHODS

This prospective validation study measures HGS using an aneroid sphygmomanometer and Jamar dynamometer obtained from seventy participants 50 years old and above. Statistical methods used in data analysis include Spearman Rho, univariate linear regression analyses, intra-class correlation, inter-rater reliability, intra-rater reliability, Bland-Altman plots, and Lin’s concordance.

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation of HGS with the Jamar dynamometer and aneroid sphygmomanometer regardless of the rater [Spearman Rho (rs=0.762 to 0.778, p=0.001)]. Jamar GS is comparable to GS using a sphygmomanometer with the formula of [Jamar = 0.54 x sphygmomanometer (mmHg) - 45.12].

CONCLUSION

Aneroid sphygmomanometer can be used as an option to measure GS and has a valid value to predict the Jamar GS value. Hence, it can be an alternate tool for diagnosing sarcopenia.

Human ; Validation Study ; Grip Strength ; Hand Strength ; Sarcopenia

Objective: Musculoskeletal ultrasound has gained recognition in early identification of crystal deposits in the joints and soft tissues. This study aims to validate the sonographic features of 1st metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJs) in gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH). Methods Patients with gout (n=20) and AH (n=16) underwent a gray-scale ultrasound assessment of both 1st MTPJs on 3 positions (dorsal, medial, plantar) in longitudinal view. The static images were read by 2 blinded trained sonologists for the presence of double contour sign (DCS), erosions, and tophi.
Gout ; Validation Study

Background: In 2009, the World Health Organization revised the Dengue Fever guidelines to more accurately identify patients at risk of developing severe dengue. Despite these guidelines, early diagnosis of severe dengue remains challenging for clinicians. Several scoring systems have been developed to identify patients at highest risk for severe dengue however; these studies have a study population limited to children and did not include adult patients. Objective: The purpose of this study is to validate the Simple Clinical Risk Score in predicting who will develop severe Dengue among adult patients with Dengue fever. Methods: This is a prospective cohort, single-center, observational study conducted at Silliman University Medical Center from August 2019 to August 2020. A total of 481 laboratory confirmed dengue patients were included and categorized into two models based on the day of illness. Each model used a clinical risk score of 1 point as a cut-off for predicting severe Dengue. Validation was done using the risk-odds ratio and substantiated by the odds ratio, signifying that there is more likely greater association between dengue patients to develop severe dengue. Results: In model 1, a total of 339 patients were analyzed with 6 patients who achieved a score of 1 developed severe Dengue. In model 2, a total of 142 patients were analyzed and 3 patients who achieved a score of 1 developed severe dengue. Conclusion The simple clinical risk score can assist clinicians in deciding and stratifying dengue patients who need hospitalization not only in resource-limited areas but also during this height of the pandemic. While the findings had a lesser number of participants, it still remained context-specific and is able to demonstrate a predictive ability for severe disease, thereby optimizing informed decisions for hospital admissions in settings with limited laboratory resources.
Validation Study

Objective: This study aims to determine the convergent and discriminant validity and internal consistent reliability of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Tagalog among adult Filipinos with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methodology: 104 adult Filipinos with DTC at various disease stages self-administered the EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3 Tagalog and Short Form-36 (SF-36) version 2 Tagalog. Concurrent validity between conceptually-related scales from both tools was determined. Convergent and discriminant validity of multi-item scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 Tagalog were assessed by Spearman’s correlation. Cronbach's α was computed. Results: The EORTC QLQ-C30 Tagalog showed moderate correlation with similar scales in the SF-36 Tagalog particulary for physical, role and social functioning, pain, and global health (r=0.42-0.48, p<0.001). It showed satisfactory item-domain convergent and discriminant validity for all scales except pain, fatigue, physical and cognitive functioning. Internal consistent reliability was good with cronbachs α ranging from 0.77 to 0.88 for global health, emotional and role functioning and symptom scale of nausea/vomiting. Conclusion The EORTC QLQ-C30 Tagalog had acceptable convergent and discriminant validity and internal consistent reliability for the scales of global health, role, social and emotional functioning and nausea/vomiting when applied among adult Filipinos with DTC.
Thyroid Neoplasms ; Quality of Life ; Validation Study