Psychometric Testing of the CHAMPS Questionnaire in French Canadians with COPD.

Physical activity is an important health behaviour in reducing morbidity and mortality in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Accurate measurement of the characteristics of physical activity is essential to understanding the impact of COPD on physical activity. In a previous article, we reported on the cross-cultural adaptation of the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire to produce a Canadian French version.

Facilitated interprofessional implementation of a physical rehabilitation guideline for stroke in inpatient settings: process evaluation of a cluster randomized trial.

Background: The Stroke Canada Optimization of Rehabilitation by Evidence-Implementation Trial (SCORE-IT) showed that a facilitated knowledge translation (KT) approach to implementing a stroke rehabilitation guideline was more likely than passive strategies to improve functional walking capacity, but not gross manual dexterity, among patients in rehabilitation hospitals. This paper presents the results of a planned process evaluation designed to assess whether the type and number of recommended treatments implemented by stroke teams in each group would help to explain the results related to patient outcomes.

Methods: As part of a cluster randomized trial, 20 rehabilitation units were stratified by language and allocated to a facilitated or passive KT intervention group.

Perspectives of health care professionals on the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of a stroke rehabilitation guidelines cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: The Stroke Canada Optimization of Rehabilitation by Evidence Implementation Trial (SCORE-IT) was a cluster randomized controlled trial that evaluated two knowledge translation (KT) interventions for the promotion of the uptake of best practice recommendations for interventions targeting upper and lower extremity function, postural control, and mobility. Twenty rehabilitation centers across Canada were randomly assigned to either the facilitated or passive KT intervention. The objective of the current study was to understand the factors influencing the implementation of the recommended treatments and KT interventions from the perspective of nurses, occupational therapists and physical therapists, and clinical managers following completion of the trial.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the CHAMPS Questionnaire in French Canadians with COPD.

Physical activity is difficult to measure in individuals with COPD. The Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire demonstrated strong clinometric properties when used with the elderly and with those affected by chronic disease. Study objectives were to translate, culturally adapt the CHAMPS into French, and reexamine its test-retest reliability and construct validity in French and English Canadians with COPD.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric properties of the German version of the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score.

Study Design: Clinical measurement.

Objectives: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) from English into German, and to study its psychometric properties in patients after hip surgery.

Background: There is no specific hip questionnaire in German that not only measures symptoms and function but also contains items about hip-related quality of life.

Does occupational therapy play a role for communication in children with autism spectrum disorders?

This study investigates occupational therapy for early communication in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The research explored the role of occupational therapists in supporting children with ASD to become better communicators by considering their inter-professional collaboration with speech-language pathologists. Convenience samples of 21 clinical occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists were recruited to participate in semi-structured audio-recorded focus groups, using a qualitative design.

Modeling health-related quality of life in people recovering from stroke.

Background: The Wilson-Cleary (W-C) model of health-related quality of life (HRQL) has not been tested in stroke, and a better understanding of the components of HRQL during recovery would lead to a more integrated and person-centered approach to health management and outcome optimization for this vulnerable population.

Objective: To enhance our understanding for how QOL emerges from the sequelae of stroke during the recovery period, the aim was to empirically test a biopsychosocial conceptual model of HRQL for people recovering from stroke.

Methods: We present a multi-site longitudinal study of an inception cohort of 678 persons recruited at stroke onset and studied at key intervals over the first post-stroke year.

Health-related quality of life in children with high-functioning autism.

The health-related quality of life of school-aged children with high-functioning autism is poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to compare the health-related quality of life of children with high-functioning autism to that of typically developing peers and to compare child-self and parent-proxy reports of health-related quality of life of children. A cross-sectional study of children with high-functioning autism (n = 30) and peers (n = 31) was conducted using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.

Children's assessment of participation and enjoyment/preference for activities of children: psychometric properties in a population with high-functioning autism.

The psychometric properties of assessments must be established for specific populations. The psychometric properties of the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment/Preference for Activities of Children have been studied only in a sample of children with physical disability. We conducted a study to determine the appropriateness of drawing inferences from this assessment for children with high-functioning autism (HFA).

Validation of a new questionnaire with generic and disease-specific qualities: the McGill COPD Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Background: A validated health-related quality of life questionnaire in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with advantages of both generic- and disease-specific questionnaires is needed to capture patients' perspectives of severity and impact of the disease. The McGill COPD questionnaire was created to include these advantages in English and French. It assesses three domains: symptoms, physical function and feelings with 29 items (12 from the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey with 17 from the previously developed COPD-specific module).

Recreational participation of children with High Functioning Autism.

The recreation of children with High Functioning Autism (HFA) is not well understood. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the recreational engagement of children with HFA and their typically developing peers. Children with HFA (n = 30) and peers (n = 31) were similar on key characteristics that may impact recreation except those related to the HFA attributes.

Barriers to implementation of stroke rehabilitation evidence: findings from a multi-site pilot project.

Purpose: To describe the barriers to implementation of evidence-based recommendations (EBRs) for stroke rehabilitation experienced by nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, physicians and hospital managers.

Methods: The Stroke Canada Optimization of Rehabilitation by Evidence project developed EBRs for arm and leg rehabilitation after stroke. Five Canadian stroke inpatient rehabilitation centers participated in a pilot implementation study.

Combining both generic and disease-specific properties: development of the McGill COPD quality of life questionnaire.

Unlabelled: Presently, a generic and a disease-specific questionnaire are often co-administered to capture the different domains of quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subjects. A health-related-quality of life (HRQL) questionnaire in COPD combining both generic and disease-specific properties is needed.

Objective: To develop a new, hybrid-HRQL questionnaire, the McGill-COPD-questionnaire, with qualities of both generic and disease-specific instruments.

Measuring psychological outcomes following pediatric intensive care unit hospitalization: psychometric analysis of the Children's Critical Illness Impact Scale.

Objective: Critically ill children are at risk for psychological sequelae following pediatric intensive care unit hospitalization. This article reports on the psychometric testing of the first self-report measure of psychological distress for 6-12-yr-old children post-pediatric intensive care unit hospitalization: The Children's Critical Illness Impact Scale. This 23-item scale takes approximately 15 mins for children to complete.

Study protocol of the YOU CALL--WE CALL TRIAL: impact of a multimodal support intervention after a "mild" stroke.

Background: More than 60% of new strokes each year are "mild" in severity and this proportion is expected to rise in the years to come. Within our current health care system those with "mild" stroke are typically discharged home within days, without further referral to health or rehabilitation services other than advice to see their family physician. Those with mild stroke often have limited access to support from health professionals with stroke-specific knowledge who would typically provide critical information on topics such as secondary stroke prevention, community reintegration, medication counselling and problem solving with regard to specific concerns that arise.

A measure of physical functioning to define stroke recovery at 3 months: preliminary results.

Objective: To develop a physical functioning measure through Rasch analysis conceptualized using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Design: Observational cohort study.

Setting: Acute-hospital and community-based study.

A longitudinal view of apathy and its impact after stroke.

Background And Purpose: Stroke survivors are often described as apathetic. Because apathy may be a barrier to participation in promising therapies, more needs to be learned about apathy symptoms after stroke. The specific objective was to estimate the extent to which apathy changes with time over the first year after stroke and the impact of apathy on recovery.

Reliability and validity of the German version of "the Patient-rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE)" as an outcome measure of wrist pain and disability in patients with acute distal radius fractures.

The aim was to test the reliability and validity of the German version of the Patient-rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) for patients with acute distal radius fractures. To estimate the reliability and construct validity, 44 patients completed a questionnaire booklet containing the German PRWE, the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) four to six weeks after the fracture, and the PRWE again seven days later. For reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.

A measure of early physical functioning (EPF) post-stroke.

Objective: To develop a comprehensive measure of Early Physical Functioning (EPF) post-stroke quantified through Rasch analysis and conceptualized using the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF).

Design: An observational cohort study.

Subjects: A cohort of 262 subjects (mean age 71.

Identifying response shift statistically at the individual level.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore whether a longitudinal comparison between reported and predicted health could be used as a method of identifying subjects who potentially experienced response shift.

Methods: A response-shift model was developed using data from a longitudinal study of stroke in which measures of stroke impact were made at study entry and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post stroke. Residuals from a random effects model were centered and used to create trajectories.

Barriers and facilitators to caring for individuals with stroke in the community: the family's experience.

Purpose: This project explored caregivers' perceptions regarding the barriers and facilitators to undertaking the post-stroke caregiving role, particularly as related to the health care system, with the ultimate goal of identifying potential strategies that would assist families in successfully undertaking the role.

Method: A qualitative study consisting of focus groups and individual interviews with caregivers of persons with stroke. Participants were asked about their needs in managing the care of their family member and the factors that facilitated and/or hindered the transition to the home and influenced them in maintaining their role.

Impact of research-based synopses delivered as daily e-mail: a prospective observational study.

We conducted a prospective observational study to (1) determine usage and construct validity of a method to gauge the cognitive impact of information derived from daily e-mail, and (2) describe self-reported impacts of research-based synopses (InfoPOEMs) delivered as e-mail. Ratings of InfoPOEMs using an Impact assessment scale provided (a) data on usage of the impact assessment method, (b) reports of impact by InfoPOEM and by doctor and (c) data for analysis of construct validity of the scale. PARTICIPANTS were family physicians or general practitioners who rated at least five InfoPOEMs delivered on e-mail.

Bridging the gap: the effectiveness of teaming a stroke coordinator with patient's personal physician on the outcome of stroke.

Objectives: to test the hypothesis as to whether persons newly discharged into the community following an acute stroke and assigned a stroke case manager would experience, compared to usual post-hospital care, better health-related quality of life (HRQL), fewer emergency room visits and less non-elective hospitalisations.

Design: a stratified, balanced, evaluator-blinded, randomised clinical trial.

Setting: five university-affiliated acute-care hospitals in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Mobility assistive device utilization in a prospective study of patients with first-ever stroke.

Objective: To estimate the extent to which clinical and functional features of stroke were related to the use of mobility assistive technology devices.

Design: Longitudinal study of quality of life after stroke.

Setting: Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and universities in Ontario and Quebec.