Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Nursing Homes: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study in Residents and Caregivers.

Objective: Some nursing homes for the elderly in Germany integrate complex complementary and integrative medicine interventions in the form of hydrotherapy, herbal and mind-body therapies, physical activities, and healthy eating, known as Kneipp therapy (KT), in care. This pilot study explored health- and work-related characteristics and acceptance of KT amongst residents and caregivers.

Methods: Within a mixed-methods cross-sectional study in nursing homes who had integrated KT, we assessed work ability, psychosocial burden at work and health-related quality of life of caregivers, as well as a broad selection of health-related data of residents by questionnaires and assessments.

Complementary medicine in nursing homes--results of a mixed methods pilot study.

Background: 'Kneipp Therapy' (KT) is a form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) that includes a combination of hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, mind-body medicine, physical activities, and healthy eating. Since 2007, some nursing homes for older adults in Germany began to integrate CAM in the form of KT in care. The study investigated how KT is used in daily routine care and explored the health status of residents and caregivers involved in KT.

Impact of cross-calibration methods on the interpretation of a treatment comparison study using 2 depression scales.

Background: Many questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms are available. Most of these questionnaires are constructed based on classical test theory, making comparisons of individual scores difficult. Item response theory (IRT) allows the comparison of scores from different instruments.

[Retest-reliability and sensitivity to change of the ICD-10-Symptom-Rating (ISR) in different samples].

Assessment of the retest-reliability and sensitivity to change of the ICD-10-Symptom-Rating (ISR) is provided. The ISR was filled out repeatedly by a non-clinical as well as different samples of psychosomatic patients. Between the two measurements either no or an integrated psychosomatic treatment took place.

[Factor structure and psychometric properties of the ICD-10-Symptom-Rating (ISR) in samples of psychosomatic patients].

The ICD-10-Symptom-Rating (ISR) is a self-rating questionnaire for patients. According to its conceptualization, the instrument was developed to closely represent the syndrome structure of the ICD-10 while assessing the extent of psychological distress an individual suffers from. The results of different factor analyses testing the postulated syndrome structure as well as item and scale characteristics are reported here.