RESUMEN
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To qualitatively explore the partner relationships of older couples faced with traumatic brain injury (TBI). RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative analysis comparing individuals with TBI and a comparison group. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Twenty-one individuals were interviewed using a semi-structured format focusing on various aspects of their partner relationship. A qualitative analysis of transcripts identified general themes. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Variability of relationship experiences (relationship relatedness and persistence of the partnership) was shown across groups. Aspects of relationship commitment to the partnership were revealed. Many individuals with TBI and their partners attributed various relationship changes to ageing and age-related issues and not to the TBI. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the effects of TBI are not clearly distinguished from age-related causes for change in the partners and their relationship. Older couples' experiences may be different from those of younger couples impacted by TBI, in the areas of sexuality, inter-personal support and role functions.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/psicología , Lesiones Encefálicas/psicología , Esposos/psicología , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Comunicación , Femenino , Humanos , Relaciones Interpersonales , Entrevista Psicológica , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Conducta Sexual , Índices de Gravedad del TraumaRESUMEN
STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of abstracts of published papers presumed to contain information on chronic pain in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). OBJECTIVES: To determine to what degree papers on SCI are abstracted in such a way that they can be retrieved, and evaluated as to the paper's applicability to a reader's questions. SETTING: US--academic department of rehabilitation medicine. METHODS: 868 abstracts published in Medline were independently examined by two out of 13 screeners, who answered four questions on the subjects and nature of the paper with 'Yes', 'No' or 'insufficient information'. Frequency of ratings 'insufficient information', and screener agreement were evaluated as affected by screener and abstract/paper characteristics. RESULTS: Screeners could not determine whether the paper dealt with persons with traumatic SCI for 37% of abstracts; whether chronic pain was a topic could not be determined in 18%. Physicians were less willing than other disciplines to assign 'insufficient information'. Screener agreement was better than chance, but not at the level suggested for quality measurement. Screener discipline and task experience did not make a difference, nor did abstract length, structure, or decade of publication of the paper. CONCLUSION: Authors need to improve the quality of abstracts to make retrieval and screening of relevant papers more effective and efficient. SPONSORSHIP: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Asunto(s)
Indización y Redacción de Resúmenes , Bibliometría , Dolor , Traumatismos de la Médula Espinal , Enfermedad Crónica , Humanos , MEDLINE , Publicaciones Periódicas como AsuntoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To evaluate the degree to which published medical rehabilitation research offers evidence of reliability, validity and other clinimetric qualities of the data reported. METHOD: Descriptive study of published intervention research papers published in six US medical rehabilitation journals in 1997 and 1998. Selected characteristics of the papers and the outcome measures used were abstracted by one or two raters. RESULTS: The 171 papers identified included 651 outcome measures. Some type of data reliability information was provided for 20.1% of these measures; for validity, this was 6.9%. However, this information was based on data collected for the sample studied for only 7.7% (reliability) and 0.6% (validity). CONCLUSIONS: Most rehabilitation research falls short of standards, including the Standards promulgated by an American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Advisory Group. Authors, peer reviewers and editors need to change their practices to improve this situation.
Asunto(s)
Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud/normas , Rehabilitación , Investigación/normas , Humanos , Publicaciones Periódicas como Asunto , Reproducibilidad de los ResultadosRESUMEN
STUDY DESIGN: Comparative analysis of survey data produced in two countries. OBJECTIVES: To assess the degree to which environmental barriers impact social participation, and to identify the aspects of participation most affected. SETTING: Community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury in the USA and Turkey. METHODS: Subjects completed the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor score, the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF), and the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). Analysis of co-variance was used to analyze CHIEF and CHART differences within and between country. RESULTS: US subjects reported higher participation scores (CHART) and lower barriers (CHIEF), however, when controls for age, gender, time since injury and motor ability (FIM) were applied, country differences in reports of barriers were limited. Motor ability was the major predictor of participation, which was minimally affected by barriers. CONCLUSION: Conceptualization and measurement issues may have been the reason for the minimal support for the hypothesis that environment affects participation. Suggestions for future research are made. SPONSORSHIP: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.