Rehab Centers: The Work Instability Scale Predicts Absenteeism in People With Gout and Suggests a Higher Risk for Those in Manual Occupations.
The Work Instability Scale Predicts Absenteeism in People With Gout and Suggests a Higher Risk for Those in Manual Occupations.
Filed under: Rehab Centers
J Clin Rheumatol. 2012 Nov 26;
Taylor WJ, House M, Horne A, McQueen FM, Dalbeth N
BACKGROUND: Gout occurs in working-age people and may be associated with significant work disability. There are no longitudinal studies to examine risk factors for work disability in people with gout. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the Work Instability Scale (WIS) in patients with gout and to see if baseline WIS scores predicted future work absences. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal, cohort study with patients who had gout for less than 10 years. Sick leave over the previous 3 months was recorded by patient recall at baseline and at 12 months. Self-report health status measures and disease characteristics including C-reactive protein and serum urate were measured at baseline. Work Instability Scale scores were fitted to a Rasch model, and nonparametric statistics were used to determine associations between disease features or future sick leave and WIS scores. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six participants were recruited, and follow-up information was available for 133 (76%). The WIS instrument showed satisfactory internal, construct, and predictive validity. Participants in nonmanual occupations had lower (better) WIS scores (median, 0 vs. 5.5; P < 0.001). Only 7% of working participants reported any sick leave in the 3 months before the 12-month follow-up. Work Instability Scale scores were associated with future sick leave: a cutoff of 4.5 was found to have the best combined sensitivity (88%) and specificity (72%) for predicting at least 1 day of sick leave. CONCLUSIONS: The WIS instrument can identify people with gout who have a higher risk of future work disability and might be a useful guide to targeted vocational counseling or job modification, especially in people in manual occupations. However, further research is required to confirm these findings and to refine the instrument for optimal performance in this population. HubMed – rehab
Health-related quality of life after serious occupational injury in Egyptian workers: a cross-sectional study.
Filed under: Rehab Centers
BMJ Open. 2012; 2(6):
Salah Eldin W, Hirshon JM, Smith GS, Kamal AA, Abou-El-Fetouh A, El-Setouhy M
Occupational injuries can have severe socioeconomic consequences; however, little research has examined the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of workers following occupational injuries, especially in developing countries. This study was to employ the European Quality of Life Five Dimensions (EQ-5D) tool to measure HRQoL 6 months following serious occupational injury sustained by insured workers in the East Delta Region of Egypt.This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2008 among workers injured severely enough to be off work for at least 6 months after an occupational injury.The Nile Insurance Hospital in Qalyubia, Egypt.Adult workers returning for follow-up evaluation after being given 6 months off work by a physician for an occupational injury.The workers described their health and quality of life using the EQ-5D instrument.Most study participants were male (n=118 (90%)), with mean age of 41.5 years. Fractures were the most common type of injury (n=96 (73%)), mostly involving the lower limbs (n=70 (53%)). Participants identified persistent problems related to mobility (n=78 (60%)), self-care (n=69 (53%)), performing usual activities (n=109 (83%)), pain/discomfort (n=119 (91%)) and anxiety/depression (n=51 (40%)). The perceived HRQoL estimated by the mean (±SD) visual analogue scale (VAS) score among injured workers was 61.6±17.9. Multivariate linear regression showed an association between poor VAS score and amputations, mobility limitation, self-care problems, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.Some people with occupational injuries experience significant problems such as pain/discomfort, functional limitations and anxiety/depression, long after the injury. Improvement in pain management strategies and physical and psychological rehabilitation may improve their health-related quality of life.
HubMed – rehab
Quality-of-Life Outcomes After Bone-Anchored Hearing Device Surgery in Children With Single-Sided Sensorineural Deafness.
Filed under: Rehab Centers
Otol Neurotol. 2012 Nov 21;
Doshi J, Banga R, Child A, Lawrence R, Reid A, Proops D, McDermott AL
OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in a series of children with single-sided sensorineural deafness where a bone-anchored hearing device (BAHD) was used for auditory rehabilitation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS: Eight children (4 boys and 4 girls) who had BAHD surgery for single-sided sensorineural deafness between 2007 and 2010. INTERVENTION(S): Bone-anchored hearing device was used for auditory rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Glasgow Children’s Benefit Inventory (GCBI), Single-sided Deafness (SSD) Questionnaire and change in health benefit scores (visual analogue scale). RESULTS: All but one of the children showed a positive GCBI score; the child that reported a negative score was becuse of low self confidence and self-esteem issues secondary to bullying at school. The results of the SSD questionnaire were generally positive with a mean satisfaction score of the BAHD as 9/10. All the children had an improvement in heath benefit. CONCLUSION: Our findings add further evidence to support patient perceived benefit of a BAHD in single sided sensorineural deafness in the paediatric population.
HubMed – rehab
More Rehab Centers Information…