Publications (382) View all
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Article: Expectations prior to epilepsy surgery: an exploratory comparison of men and women.
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ABSTRACT: Although the clinical goal of resective epilepsy surgery is seizure freedom, patients have a wide set of expectations for this invasive procedure. The goal of this study was to evaluate potential gender differences in expectations among patients undergoing resective epilepsy surgery. Ratings of the importance of 12 potential impacts ("expectations") of resective surgery were analyzed in a seven-center cohort study including 389 adults aged 16 and older who underwent resective epilepsy surgery. Men and women both ranked anticipated changes in driving and memory as the most important presurgical expectations. Women rated driving, physical activity limitations, and economic worries as less important, and fatigue and pregnancy concerns as more important than did men (p's< or =0.05). Exploratory factor analysis indicated a different pattern of associations among the 12 importance items for men and women. Whether gender differences in presurgical values are associated with outcomes needs exploration.Seizure 10/2008; 18(3):228-31. · 1.80 Impact Factor -
Article: Prospective validation of the short form liver disease quality of life instrument.
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ABSTRACT: Despite the realization that health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome in patients with liver disease, there is scarcity of disease-targeted HRQOL measures that have undergone prospective evaluation. To validate prospectively the short form of liver disease quality of life instrument (the SF-LDQOL) in patients with advanced liver disease. The SF-LDQOL includes 36 disease-targeted items representing nine domains: symptoms of liver disease, effects of liver disease, memory/concentration, sleep, hopelessness, distress, loneliness, stigma of liver disease and sexual problems. We administered the SF-LDQOL to 156 advanced liver disease patients at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. We estimated internal consistency reliability for multi-item scales, item discrimination across scale and evaluated construct validity by estimating the associations of SF-LDQOL scores with SF-36 scores, symptom severity and disability days. To evaluate the SF-LDQOL's responsiveness, we compared HRQOL changes for patients who received with those who did not receive liver transplantation (LT). The internal consistency reliability coefficients were > or = 0.70 for seven of nine scales in baseline and for all scales in follow-up administration. The SF-LDQOL correlated highly with SF-36 scores, symptom severity, disability days and global health. Patients undergoing LT reported improved HRQOL compared with patients without LT and the responsiveness indices were excellent. This study provides support for the reliability and validity of the SF-LDQOL in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. This instrument may be useful in everyday clinical practice and in future clinical trials.Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 07/2008; 28(9):1088-101. · 3.77 Impact Factor -
Article: Religiousness and spirituality among HIV-infected Americans.
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ABSTRACT: To describe the demographic and clinical factors associated with the importance of religiousness and spirituality among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the United States. Longitudinal study of a nationally representative cohort of 2266 patients receiving care for HIV infection surveyed in 1996 and again in 1998. Measures included 12 items assessing religious affiliation and attendance, the importance of religion and spirituality in life, and religious and spiritual practices. Multi-item religiousness and spirituality scales were constructed. Eighty percent of respondents reported a religious affiliation. Sixty-five percent affirmed that religion and 85% that spirituality was "somewhat" or "very" important in their lives. A majority indicated that they "sometimes" or "often" rely on religious or spiritual means when making decisions (72%) or confronting problems (65%). Women, nonwhites, and older patients were more religious and spiritual. Residents of regions other than the western United States reported higher religiousness. High school graduates were more religious and spiritual than those with less education. Patients who did not report one of the risk factors assessed for HIV infection had higher religiousness scores than injection drug users (IDUs). Women, nonwhites other than Hispanics, patients older than 45 years of age compared to those between 18 and 34 years of age, and more educated patients reported higher spirituality. Clinical stage was not associated with religiousness or spirituality. A large majority of HIV-infected patients in the United States affirm the importance of religiousness and spirituality. These findings support a comprehensive, humanistic approach to the care of HIV-infected patients.Journal of Palliative Medicine 09/2005; 8(4):774-81. · 1.85 Impact Factor -
Article: Equivalence of Chinese and US-English versions of the SF-36 health survey.
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ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the equivalence of Chinese and US-English versions of the SF-36 Health Survey in a convenience sample of 309 Chinese nationals bilingual in Chinese and English living in a US city. Snowball sampling was used to generate sufficient sample size. Internal consistency, test-retest, and equivalent-forms reliability were estimated. Patients were randomized to one of four groups: (1) English version completed first, followed by Chinese version (same occasion); (2) Chinese version completed first, followed by English version (same occasion); (3) English version completed once and then again 1-week later; (4) Chinese version completed once and then again 1-week later. Internal consistency reliability estimates for the Chinese and US-English versions of the SF-36 scales ranged from 0.60 to 0.88; test-retest reliability estimates (1 week time interval) ranged from 0.67 to 0.90. Reliability estimates for corresponding Chinese and US-English SF-36 scales tended to be similar and not significantly different. Equivalent-forms reliability estimates (product-moment correlations) ranged from 0.81 to 0.98. Mean SF-36 scale scores were comparable for both versions of the instrument. This study provides support for the equivalence of the Chinese and US-English versions of the SF-36.Quality of Life Research 07/2003; 12(4):449-57. · 2.30 Impact Factor -
Article: Equivalence of Chinese and US–English Versions of the SF-36 Health Survey
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ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the equivalence of Chinese and US–English versions of the SF-36 Health Survey in a convenience sample of 309 Chinese nationals bilingual in Chinese and English living in a US city. Snowball sampling was used to generate sufficient sample size. Internal consistency, test–retest, and equivalent-forms reliability were estimated. Patients were randomized to one of four groups: (1) English version completed first, followed by Chinese version (same occasion); (2) Chinese version completed first, followed by English version (same occasion); (3) English version completed once and then again 1-week later; (4) Chinese version completed once and then again 1-week later. Internal consistency reliability estimates for the Chinese and US–English versions of the SF-36 scales ranged from 0.60 to 0.88; test–retest reliability estimates (1 week time interval) ranged from 0.67 to 0.90. Reliability estimates for corresponding Chinese and US–English SF-36 scales tended to be similar and not significantly different. Equivalent-forms reliability estimates (product–moment correlations) ranged from 0.81 to 0.98. Mean SF-36 scale scores were comparable for both versions of the instrument. This study provides support for the equivalence of the Chinese and US–English versions of the SF-36.Quality of Life Research 05/2003; 12(4):449-457. · 2.30 Impact Factor
