Inter-examiner reliability of a proposed decision-making treatment based classification system for low back pain patients.

Evolving evidence has shown increased clinical outcomes, when low back pain (LBP) patients are classified and receive matched physical treatment. The present study aimed to examine the inter-examiner reliability of a proposed new decision-making classification system for non-specific LBP patients, using a mixed simultaneous and independent examiner design. With minimal familiarization, two pairs of experienced physiotherapists trained in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (OMT) at two different out-patient clinics in primary care, examined and classified 64 consenting consecutive patients.

Adolescents' perceptions of obesity treatment--an interview study.

Purpose: To describe adolescents' perceptions of obesity treatment in order to provide valuable information for design and development of treatment.

Method: A nominated sample of 18 obese adolescents (12 girls, 14-16 years, body mass index (BMI) 25-47.4 kg·m(-2)), recruited from a paediatric obesity clinic, participated in semi-structured interviews.

Six-minute walk test in obese children and adolescents: reproducibility and validity.

Background And Purpose: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is increasingly used in clinical practice. The aims of this study were to determine the reproducibility of the 6MWT in obese children and adolescents, to describe walking capacity in this population and compare the results with values from normal-weight children (known group validity), and, finally, to describe the correlation between distance walked and estimated maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2)max).

Methods: Reproducibility was determined by a test-retest design and known group validity by a comparative design.

Insulin sensitivity, VO2max and body composition in severely obese Swedish children and adolescents.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify relationships between insulin sensitivity (SI), cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in severely obese Swedish children and adolescents.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight obese children (119 girls, 8-16 years, body mass index (BMI) 23.2-57.

The six-minute walk test in outpatients with obesity: reproducibility and known group validity.

Background And Purpose: To assess the reproducibility and validity of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in men and women with obesity in order to facilitate evaluation of treatment outcome.

Method: A test--retest design was used to test reproducibility and a comparative design to test known group validity. Forty-three obese outpatients (16 male), mean age 47 (21-62) years, mean body mass index (BMI) 40 (3-62)kg-m(-2) performed the 6MWT twice within one week.

Influence of weight loss programmes on walking speed and relative oxygen cost (%VO2max) in obese women during walking.

Objective: The objective was to investigate effects of dieted weight reduction on walking ability in obese women.

Methods: Fifty-seven obese women 44.1 +/- 10.

Care of older people in nursing homes: an Intensive Programme as an educational activity within Erasmus-Socrates.

The paper describes and discusses an Intensive Programme as a European educational activity within Erasmus-Socrates. As nurses and European citizens, it is important to know and understand each other's culture and to be able to work within a united Europe. Education plays a leading role in the preparation of professionals who will have to develop these skills.