Objective: To develop a new measurement system, the Traumatic Brain Injury Caregiver Quality of Life (TBI-CareQOL), that can evaluate both general and caregiving-specific aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in caregivers of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: New item pools were developed and refined using literature reviews, qualitative data from focus groups, and cognitive debriefing with caregivers of civilians and service members/veterans with TBI, as well as expert review, reading level assessment, and translatability review; existing item banks and new item pools were assessed using an online data capture system. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, item response theory, and differential item functioning analyses were utilized to develop new caregiver-specific item banks. Known-groups validity was examined using a series of independent samples t tests comparing caregivers of low-functioning vs high-functioning persons with TBI for each of the new measures, as well as for 10 existing Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures.

Setting: Three TBI Model Systems rehabilitation hospitals, an academic medical center, and a military medical treatment facility.

Participants: Caregivers (N=560) of civilians (n=344) or service members/veterans with TBI (n=216).

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: The TBI-CareQOL measurement system (including 5 new measures and 10 existing PROMIS measures).

Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, item response theory, and differential item functioning analyses supported the development of 5 new item banks for Feelings of Loss-Self, Feelings of Loss-Person with TBI, Caregiver-Specific Anxiety, Feeling Trapped, and Caregiver Strain. In support of validity, individuals who were caring for low-functioning persons with TBI had significantly worse HRQOL than caregivers that were caring for high-functioning persons with TBI for both the new caregiver-specific HRQOL measures, and for the 10 existing PROMIS measures.

Conclusions: The TBI-CareQOL includes both validated PROMIS measures and newly developed caregiver-specific measures. Together, these generic and specific measures provide a comprehensive assessment of HRQOL for caregivers of civilians and service members/veterans with TBI.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6456033PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2018.08.175DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

measurement system
16
service members/veterans
16
quality life
12
caregivers civilians
12
civilians service
12
traumatic brain
12
brain injury
12
hrqol caregivers
12
members/veterans tbi
12
item banks
12

Similar Publications

External delay and dispersion correction of automatically sampled arterial blood with dual flow rates.

Biomed Phys Eng Express

January 2025

Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, B68-250 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1R8, CANADA.

Objective: Arterial sampling for PET imaging often involves continuously measuring the radiotracer activity concentration in blood using an automatic blood sampling system (ABSS). We proposed and validated an external delay and dispersion correction procedure needed when a change in flow rate occurs during data acquisition. We also measured the external dispersion constant of [11C]CURB, [18F]FDG, [18F]FEPPA, and [18F]SynVesT-1.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: This study investigates the therapeutic efficacy of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) technology paired with Kinesio Taping in patients with persistent nonspecific low back pain, as well as the effect on neuromuscular function and pain self-efficacy.

Methods: A randomized controlled clinical study was conducted to collect clinical data on DNS combined with KT for the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain from November 2023 to April 2024. The inclusion criteria were patients with chronic nonspecific lower back pain, aged between 18 and 30 years old, and without serious underlying medical conditions, such as cardiac disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Epilepsy is a common neurological disease affecting nearly 1% of the global population, and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type. Patients experience recurrent seizures and chronic cognitive deficits that can impact their quality of life, ability to work, and independence. These cognitive deficits often extend beyond the temporal lobe and are not well understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Digital Mindfulness Training for Burnout Reduction in Physicians: Clinician-Driven Approach.

JMIR Form Res

January 2025

Brown University, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Providence, RI, United States.

Background: Physician burnout is widespread in health care systems, with harmful consequences on physicians, patients, and health care organizations. Mindfulness training (MT) has proven effective in reducing burnout; however, its time-consuming requirements often pose challenges for physicians who are already struggling with their busy schedules.

Objective: This study aimed to design a short and pragmatic digital MT program with input from clinicians specifically to address burnout and to test its efficacy in physicians.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Sepsis, a critical global health challenge, accounted for approximately 20% of worldwide deaths in 2017. Although the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score standardizes the diagnosis of organ dysfunction, early sepsis detection remains challenging due to its insidious symptoms. Current diagnostic methods, including clinical assessments and laboratory tests, frequently lack the speed and specificity needed for timely intervention, particularly in vulnerable populations such as older adults, intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and those with compromised immune systems.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!