Darren A DeWalt

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

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Publications (61)264.6 Total impact

  • Article: Lost in Translation: Are We Reaching the Target Audience with Internet-based Education Materials?
    Christine D Jones, Darren A Dewalt
    Journal of vascular and interventional radiology: JVIR 04/2013; 24(4):474-5. · 1.81 Impact Factor
  • Article: Low Literacy Is Associated with Increased Risk of Hospitalization and Death Among Individuals with Heart Failure.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Low literacy increases the risk for many adverse health outcomes, but the relationship between literacy and adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF) has not been well studied. METHODS: We studied a cohort of ambulatory patients with symptomatic HF (NYHA Class II-IV within the past 6 months) who were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of self-care training recruited from internal medicine and cardiology clinics at four academic medical centers in the US. The primary outcome was combined all-cause hospitalization or death, with a secondary outcome of hospitalization for HF. Outcomes were assessed through blinded interviews and subsequent chart reviews, with adjudication of cause by a panel of masked assessors. Literacy was measured using the short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. We used negative binomial regression to examine whether the incidence of the primary and secondary outcomes differed according to literacy. RESULTS: Of the 595 study participants, 37 % had low literacy. Mean age was 61, 31 % were NYHA class III/IV at baseline, 16 % were Latino, and 38 % were African-American. Those with low literacy were older, had a higher NYHA class, and were more likely to be Latino (all p < 0.001). Adjusting for site only, participants with low literacy had an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.39 (95 % CI: 0.99, 1.94) for all-cause hospitalization or death and 1.36 (1.11, 1.66) for HF-related hospitalization. After adjusting for demographic, clinical, and self-management factors, the IRRs were 1.31 (1.06, 1.63) for all-cause hospitalization and death and 1.46 (1.20, 1.78) for HF-related hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Low literacy increased the risk of hospitalization for ambulatory patients with heart failure. Interventions designed to mitigate literacy-related disparities in outcomes are warranted.
    Journal of General Internal Medicine 03/2013; · 2.83 Impact Factor
  • Article: Self-Care Confidence Mediates the Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Self-Care Maintenance in Adults With Heart Failure.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Social support may be associated with heart failure (HF) self-care; however, the mechanisms are not well understood. We examined the association between perceived support and self-care behaviors and whether self-care confidence mediates these relationships. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of HF patients seen in outpatient clinic settings. Our outcome (HF self-care maintenance and self-care management) and mediator (HF self-care confidence) variables were assessed with the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index. Perceived emotional/informational support was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study social support survey. We performed regression analyses to examine associations between perceived support and HF self-care behaviors. Mediation analysis was performed according to the Baron and Kenny method. RESULTS: We surveyed 150 HF patients (mean age 61 y; 51% female; 43% black). More emotional/informational support was associated with better self-care maintenance (β = 0.13; P = .04). More emotional/information support was associated with better self-care management in unadjusted (β = 0.23; P = .04), but not adjusted (β = 0.20, P = .10), analysis. Self-care confidence mediates the association between perceived support and self-care maintenance (percent change in β coefficient was 32%) and management (percent change in β coefficient was 20%). CONCLUSION: Perceived emotional/informational support is associated with better self-care maintenance and possibly better self-care management. Greater self-care confidence is one mediating mechanism.
    Journal of cardiac failure 03/2013; 19(3):202-210. · 3.25 Impact Factor
  • Article: Development and psychometric properties of the PROMIS(®) pediatric fatigue item banks.
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    ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: This paper reports on the development and psychometric properties of self-reported pediatric fatigue item banks as part of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). METHODS: Candidate items were developed by using PROMIS qualitative methodology. The resulting 39 items (25 tiredness related and 14 energy related) were field tested in a sample that included 3,048 participants aged 8-17 years. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate dimensionality and differential item functioning (DIF) analysis to evaluate parameter stability between genders and by age; we examined residual correlations to evaluate local dependence (LD) among items and estimated the parameters of item response theory (IRT) models. RESULTS: Of 3,048 participants, 48 % were males, 60 % were white, and 23 % had at least one chronic condition. CFA results suggest two moderately correlated factors. Two items were removed due to high LD, and three due to gender-based DIF. Two item banks were calibrated separately using IRT: Tired and (Lack of) Energy, which consisted of 23 and 11 items, respectively; 10- and 8-item short-forms were created. CONCLUSION: The PROMIS assessment of self-reported fatigue in pediatrics includes two item banks: Tired and (Lack of) Energy. Both demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and can be used for research settings.
    Quality of Life Research 02/2013; · 2.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: Is adherence to weight monitoring or weight-based diuretic self-adjustment associated with fewer heart failure-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations?
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    ABSTRACT: Heart failure (HF) self-care interventions can improve outcomes, but less than optimal adherence may limit their effectiveness. We evaluated if adherence to weight monitoring and diuretic self-adjustment was associated with HF-related emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations. We performed a case-control analysis nested in a HF self-care randomized trial. Participants received HF self-care training, including weight monitoring and diuretic self-adjustment, which they were to record in a diary. We defined case time periods as HF-related ED visits or hospitalizations in the 7 preceding days; control time periods were defined as 7-day periods free of ED visits and hospitalizations. We used logistic regression to compare weight monitoring and diuretic self-adjustment adherence in case and control time periods, adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates. Among 303 participants, we identified 81 HF-related ED visits or hospitalizations (cases) in 54 patients over 1 year of follow-up. Weight monitoring adherence (odds ratio [OR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.76) and diuretic self-adjustment adherence (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.19-0.98) were both associated with lower adjusted odds of HF-related ED visits or hospitalizations. Adherence to weight monitoring and diuretic self-adjustment was associated with lower odds of HF-related ED visits or hospitalizations. Adherence to these activities may reduce HF-related morbidity.
    Journal of cardiac failure 07/2012; 18(7):576-84. · 3.25 Impact Factor
  • Article: Multisite randomized trial of a single-session versus multisession literacy-sensitive self-care intervention for patients with heart failure.
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    ABSTRACT: Self-care training can reduce hospitalization for heart failure (HF), and more intensive intervention may benefit more vulnerable patients, including those with low literacy. A 1-year, multisite, randomized, controlled comparative effectiveness trial with 605 patients with HF was conducted. Those randomized to a single session received a 40-minute in-person, literacy-sensitive training; the multisession group received the same initial training and then ongoing telephone-based support. The primary outcome was combined incidence of all-cause hospitalization or death; secondary outcomes included HF-related hospitalization and HF-related quality of life, with prespecified stratification by literacy. Overall, the incidence of all-cause hospitalization and death did not differ between intervention groups (incidence rate ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.22). The effect of multisession training compared with single-session training differed by literacy group: Among those with low literacy, the multisession training yielded a lower incidence of all-cause hospitalization and death (incidence rate ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-1.25), and among those with higher literacy, the multisession intervention yielded a higher incidence (incidence rate ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.50; interaction P=0.048). For HF-related hospitalization, among those with low literacy, multisession training yielded a lower incidence (incidence rate ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-1.12), and among those with higher literacy, it yielded a higher incidence (incidence rate ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.88; interaction P=0.005). HF-related quality of life improved more for patients receiving multisession than for those receiving single-session interventions at 1 and 6 months, but the difference at 12 months was smaller. Effects on HF-related quality of life did not differ by literacy. Overall, an intensive multisession intervention did not change clinical outcomes compared with a single-session intervention. People with low literacy appear to benefit more from multisession interventions than people with higher literacy. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00378950.
    Circulation 05/2012; 125(23):2854-62. · 14.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Relationship Between Literacy, Knowledge, Self-Care Behaviors, and Heart Failure-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Heart Failure
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUNDWe sought to examine the relationship between literacy and heart failure-related quality of life (HFQOL), and to explore whether literacy-related differences in knowledge, self-efficacy and/or self-care behavior explained the relationship. METHODSWe recruited patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF) from four academic medical centers. Patients completed the short version of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) and questions on HF-related knowledge, HF-related self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors. We assessed HFQOL with the Heart Failure Symptom Scale (HFSS) (range 0–100), with higher scores denoting better quality of life. We used bivariate (t-tests and chi-square) and multivariate linear regression analyses to estimate the associations between literacy and HF knowledge, self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and HFQOL, controlling for demographic characteristics. Structural equation modeling was conducted to assess whether general HF knowledge, salt knowledge, self-care behaviors, and self-efficacy mediated the relationship between literacy and HFQOL. RESULTSWe enrolled 605 patients with mean age of 60.7years; 52% were male; 38% were African-American and 16% Latino; 26% had less than a high school education; and 67% had annual incomes under $25,000. Overall, 37% had low literacy (marginal or inadequate on TOFHLA). Patients with adequate literacy had higher general HF knowledge than those with low literacy (mean 6.6 vs. 5.5, adjusted difference 0.63, p < 0.01), higher self-efficacy (5.0 vs. 4.1 ,adjusted difference 0.99, p < 0.01), and higher prevalence of key self-care behaviors (p < 0.001). Those with adequate literacy had better HFQOL scores compared to those with low literacy (63.9 vs. 55.4, adjusted difference 7.20, p < 0.01), but differences in knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care did not mediate this difference in HFQOL. CONCLUSIONLow literacy was associated with worse HFQOL and lower HF-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors, but differences in knowledge, self-efficacy and self-care did not explain the relationship between low literacy and worse HFQOL. KEY WORDSliteracy–self-care–quality of life–heart failure
    Journal of General Internal Medicine 04/2012; 26(9):979-986. · 2.83 Impact Factor
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    Article: Development of six PROMIS pediatrics proxy-report item banks.
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    ABSTRACT: Pediatric self-report should be considered the standard for measuring patient reported outcomes (PRO) among children. However, circumstances exist when the child is too young, cognitively impaired, or too ill to complete a PRO instrument and a proxy-report is needed. This paper describes the development process including the proxy cognitive interviews and large-field-test survey methods and sample characteristics employed to produce item parameters for the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pediatric proxy-report item banks. The PROMIS pediatric self-report items were converted into proxy-report items before undergoing cognitive interviews. These items covered six domains (physical function, emotional distress, social peer relationships, fatigue, pain interference, and asthma impact). Caregivers (n = 25) of children ages of 5 and 17 years provided qualitative feedback on proxy-report items to assess any major issues with these items. From May 2008 to March 2009, the large-scale survey enrolled children ages 8-17 years to complete the self-report version and caregivers to complete the proxy-report version of the survey (n = 1548 dyads). Caregivers of children ages 5 to 7 years completed the proxy report survey (n = 432). In addition, caregivers completed other proxy instruments, PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales Parent Proxy-Report version, PedsQL™ Asthma Module Parent Proxy-Report version, and KIDSCREEN Parent-Proxy-52. Item content was well understood by proxies and did not require item revisions but some proxies clearly noted that determining an answer on behalf of their child was difficult for some items. Dyads and caregivers of children ages 5-17 years old were enrolled in the large-scale testing. The majority were female (85%), married (70%), Caucasian (64%) and had at least a high school education (94%). Approximately 50% had children with a chronic health condition, primarily asthma, which was diagnosed or treated within 6 months prior to theinterview. The PROMIS proxy sample scored similar or better on the other proxy instruments compared to normative samples. The initial calibration data was provided by a diverse set of caregivers of children with a variety of common chronic illnesses and racial/ethnic backgrounds. The PROMIS pediatric proxy-report item banks include physical function (mobility n = 23; upper extremity n = 29), emotional distress (anxiety n = 15; depressive symptoms n = 14; anger n = 5), social peer relationships (n = 15), fatigue (n = 34), pain interference (n = 13), and asthma impact (n = 17).
    Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 02/2012; 10:22. · 2.11 Impact Factor
  • Article: PROMIS® Parent Proxy Report Scales: an item response theory analysis of the parent proxy report item banks.
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    ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study is to describe the item response theory (IRT) analysis of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS(®)) pediatric parent proxy-report item banks and the measurement properties of the new PROMIS(®) Parent Proxy Report Scales for ages 8-17 years. Parent proxy-report items were written to parallel the pediatric self-report items. Test forms containing the items were completed by 1,548 parent-child pairs. CCFA and IRT analyses of scale dimensionality and item local dependence, and IRT analyses of differential item functioning were conducted. Parent proxy-report item banks were developed and IRT parameters are provided. The recommended unidimensional short forms for the PROMIS(®) Parent Proxy Report Scales are item sets that are subsets of the pediatric self-report short forms, setting aside items for which parent responses exhibit local dependence. Parent proxy-report demonstrated moderate to low agreement with pediatric self-report. The study provides initial calibrations of the PROMIS(®) parent proxy-report item banks and the creation of the PROMIS(®) Parent Proxy-Report Scales. It is anticipated that these new scales will have application for pediatric populations in which pediatric self-report is not feasible.
    Quality of Life Research 10/2011; 21(7):1223-40. · 2.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: The effect of progressive, reinforcing telephone education and counseling versus brief educational intervention on knowledge, self-care behaviors and heart failure symptoms.
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    ABSTRACT: The optimal strategy for promoting self-care for heart failure (HF) is unclear. We conducted a randomized trial to determine whether a "teach to goal" (TTG) educational and behavioral support program provided incremental benefits to a brief (1 hour) educational intervention (BEI) for knowledge, self-care behaviors, and HF-related quality of life (HFQOL). The TTG program taught use of adjusted-dose diuretics and then reinforced learning goals and behaviors with 5 to 8 telephone counseling sessions over 1 month. Participants' (n = 605) mean age was 61 years; 37% had marginal or inadequate literacy; 69% had ejection fraction <0.45; and 31% had Class III or IV symptoms. The TTG group had greater improvements in general and salt knowledge (P < .001) and greater increases in self-care behaviors (from mean 4.8 to 7.6 for TTG vs. 5.2 to 6.7 for BEI; P < .001). HFQOL improved from 58.5 to 64.6 for the TTG group but did not change for the BEI group (64.7 to 63.9; P < .001 for the difference in change scores). Improvements were similar regardless of participants' literacy level. Telephone reinforcement of learning goals and self-care behaviors improved knowledge, health behaviors, and HF-related QOL compared to a single education session.
    Journal of cardiac failure 10/2011; 17(10):789-96. · 3.25 Impact Factor
  • Article: "Teach to goal": theory and design principles of an intervention to improve heart failure self-management skills of patients with low health literacy.
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    ABSTRACT: Self-management is vital for achieving optimal health outcomes for patients with heart failure (HF). We sought to develop an intervention to improve self-management skills and behaviors for patients with HF, especially those with low health literacy. Individuals with low health literacy have difficulty reading and understanding written information and comprehending numerical information and performing calculations, and they tend to have worse baseline knowledge, short-term memory, and working memory compared with individuals with higher health literacy. This paper describes theoretical models that suggest methods to improve the design of educational curricula and programs for low literate audiences, including cognitive load theory and learning mastery theory. We also outline the practical guiding principles for designing our intervention, which includes a multisession educational strategy that teaches patients self-care skills until they reach behavioral goals ("Teach to Goal"). Our intervention strategy is being tested in a randomized controlled trial to determine if it is superior to a single-session brief educational intervention for reducing hospitalization and death. If this trial shows that the "Teach to Goal" approach is superior, it would support the value of incorporating these design principles into educational interventions for other diseases.
    Journal of Health Communication 09/2011; 16 Suppl 3:73-88. · 1.61 Impact Factor
  • Article: A randomized controlled trial of a literacy-sensitive self-management intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
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    ABSTRACT: Low literacy skills are common and associated with a variety of poor health outcomes. This may be particularly important in patients with chronic illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that require appropriate inhaler technique to maintain quality of life and avoid exacerbations. To explore the impact of a literacy-sensitive self-management intervention on inhaler technique scores in COPD patients and to determine if effects differ by literacy. Randomized controlled trial. Ninety-nine patients with COPD. Patients were randomly assigned to a one-on-one self-management educational intervention or usual care. The intervention focused on inhaler technique, smoking cessation, and using a COPD action plan. At baseline, an inhaler technique assessment, literacy assessment, health-related quality of life questionnaires, and pulmonary function tests were completed. Inhaler technique was re-evaluated after two to eight weeks. Mean age 63, 65% female, 69% Caucasian, moderate COPD severity on average, 36% with low literacy, moderately impaired health-related quality of life, and similar baseline metered dose inhaler technique scores. Patients in the intervention group had greater mean improvement from baseline in metered dose inhaler technique score compared to those in the usual care group (difference in mean change 2.1, 95% CI 1.1, 3.0). The patients in the intervention group also had greater mean improvements in metered dose inhaler technique score than those in the usual care group whether they had low health literacy (difference in mean change 2.8, 95% CI 0.6, 4.9) or higher health literacy (1.8, 95% CI 0.7, 2.9). A literacy-sensitive self-management intervention can lead to improvements in inhaler technique, with benefits for patients with both low and higher health literacy.
    Journal of General Internal Medicine 09/2011; 27(2):190-5. · 2.83 Impact Factor
  • Article: PROMIS Pediatric Anger Scale: an item response theory analysis.
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    ABSTRACT: The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) aims to develop patient-reported outcome (PROs) instruments for use in clinical research. The PROMIS pediatrics (ages 8-17) project focuses on the development of PROs across several health domains (physical function, pain, fatigue, emotional distress, social role relationships, and asthma symptoms). The objective of the present study was to report on the psychometric properties of the PROMIS Pediatric Anger Scale. Participants (n = 759) were recruited from public school settings, hospital-based outpatient, and subspecialty pediatrics clinics. The anger items (k = 10) were administered on one test form. A hierarchical confirmatory factor analytic model (CFA) was conducted to evaluate scale dimensionality and local dependence. Item response theory (IRT) analyses were then used to finalize the item scale and short form. CFA confirmed that the anger items are representative of a unidimensional scale, and items with local dependence were removed, resulting in a six-item short form. The IRT-scaled scores from summed scores and each score's conditional standard error were calculated for the new six-item PROMIS Pediatric Anger Scale. This study provides initial calibrations of the anger items and creates the PROMIS Pediatric Anger Scale, version 1.0.
    Quality of Life Research 07/2011; 21(4):697-706. · 2.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: Using the PedsQL™ 3.0 asthma module to obtain scores comparable with those of the PROMIS pediatric asthma impact scale (PAIS).
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    ABSTRACT: The National Institutes of Health's Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) has developed several scales measuring symptoms and function for use by the clinical research community. One advantage of PROMIS is the ability to link other scales to the PROMIS metric. The objectives of this research are to provide evidence of validity for one of the PROMIS measures, the Pediatric Asthma Impact Scale (PAIS), and to link the PedsQL™ Asthma Symptoms Scale with the metric of the PAIS. Descriptive statistics were computed describing the relationships among scores on the PAIS, the PedsQL™ Asthma Symptoms, Treatment, Worry, and Communication Scales, and the DISABKIDS Asthma Impact and Worry Scales for approximately 300 children ages 8-17. A novel linkage method based on item response theory (IRT), calibrated projection, was used to link scores on the PedsQL™ Asthma Symptoms Scale with the metric of the PAIS. The PAIS exhibited strong convergent validity with the PedsQL™ Asthma Symptoms Scale, and less strong relations with the other five scales. The linkage system uses scores on the PedsQL™ Asthma Symptoms Scale to produce relatively precise score estimates on the metric of the PAIS. Results of this study provide evidence for the validity of the PAIS, and a method to use scores on the PedsQL™ Asthma Symptoms Scale to estimate scores on the metric of the PAIS, in partial fulfillment of the PROMIS goal to provide a lingua franca for health-related quality of life.
    Quality of Life Research 03/2011; 20(9):1497-505. · 2.30 Impact Factor
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    Article: Relationship between literacy, knowledge, self-care behaviors, and heart failure-related quality of life among patients with heart failure.
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    ABSTRACT: We sought to examine the relationship between literacy and heart failure-related quality of life (HFQOL), and to explore whether literacy-related differences in knowledge, self-efficacy and/or self-care behavior explained the relationship. We recruited patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF) from four academic medical centers. Patients completed the short version of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) and questions on HF-related knowledge, HF-related self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors. We assessed HFQOL with the Heart Failure Symptom Scale (HFSS) (range 0-100), with higher scores denoting better quality of life. We used bivariate (t-tests and chi-square) and multivariate linear regression analyses to estimate the associations between literacy and HF knowledge, self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and HFQOL, controlling for demographic characteristics. Structural equation modeling was conducted to assess whether general HF knowledge, salt knowledge, self-care behaviors, and self-efficacy mediated the relationship between literacy and HFQOL. We enrolled 605 patients with mean age of 60.7 years; 52% were male; 38% were African-American and 16% Latino; 26% had less than a high school education; and 67% had annual incomes under $25,000. Overall, 37% had low literacy (marginal or inadequate on TOFHLA). Patients with adequate literacy had higher general HF knowledge than those with low literacy (mean 6.6 vs. 5.5, adjusted difference 0.63, p < 0.01), higher self-efficacy (5.0 vs. 4.1, adjusted difference 0.99, p < 0.01), and higher prevalence of key self-care behaviors (p < 0.001). Those with adequate literacy had better HFQOL scores compared to those with low literacy (63.9 vs. 55.4, adjusted difference 7.20, p < 0.01), but differences in knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care did not mediate this difference in HFQOL. Low literacy was associated with worse HFQOL and lower HF-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors, but differences in knowledge, self-efficacy and self-care did not explain the relationship between low literacy and worse HFQOL.
    Journal of General Internal Medicine 03/2011; 26(9):979-86. · 2.83 Impact Factor
  • Article: Construction of the eight-item patient-reported outcomes measurement information system pediatric physical function scales: built using item response theory.
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    ABSTRACT: To create self-report physical function (PF) measures for children using modern psychometric methods for item analysis as part of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS). PROMIS qualitative methodology was applied to develop two PF item pools that comprised 32 mobility and 38 upper extremity items. Items were computer administered to subjects aged 8-17 years. Scale dimensionality and sources of local dependence (LD) were evaluated with factor analysis. Items were analyzed for differential item functioning (DIF) between genders. Items with LD, DIF, or low discrimination were considered for removal. Computerized adaptive testing performance was simulated, and short forms were constructed. Three thousand forty-eight children (51.8% female, 40% nonwhite, and 22.7% chronically ill) participated. At least 754 respondents answered each item. Factor analytical results confirmed two dimensions of PF. Fifty-two of 70 items tested were retained. A 23-item mobility bank and a 29-item upper extremity bank resulted, and an eight-item short forms were created. The item banks have high information from the population mean to three standard deviations below. PROMIS pediatric PF item banks and eight-item short forms assess two dimensions, mobility, and upper extremity function and show good psychometric characteristics after large-scale testing.
    Journal of clinical epidemiology 02/2011; 64(7):794-804. · 2.96 Impact Factor
  • Article: PROMIS Pediatric Pain Interference Scale: an item response theory analysis of the pediatric pain item bank.
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    ABSTRACT: An aim of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) initiative is to develop item banks and computerized adaptive tests (CAT) that are applicable across a wide variety of chronic disorders. The PROMIS Pediatric Cooperative Group has concentrated on the development of pediatric self-report item banks for ages 8 through 17 years. The objective of the present study is to describe the Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis of the NIH PROMIS pediatric pain item bank and the measurement properties of the new unidimensional PROMIS Pediatric Pain Interference Scale. Test forms containing pediatric pain items were completed by a total of 3048 respondents. IRT analyses regarding scale dimensionality, item local dependence, and differential item functioning were conducted. A pain item pool was developed to yield scores on a T-score scale with a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10. The recommended 8-item unidimensional short form for the PROMIS Pediatric Pain Interference Scale contains the item set which provides the maximum test information at the mean (50) on the T-score metric. A simulated CAT was computed that provides the most information at 5 possible score locations (30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 on the T-score metric). PERSPECTIVE: The present study provides initial calibrations of the NIH PROMIS pediatric pain item bank and the creation of the PROMIS Pediatric Pain Interference Scale. It is anticipated that this new scale will have application in pediatric chronic and recurrent pain.
    The journal of pain: official journal of the American Pain Society 11/2010; 11(11):1109-19. · 3.78 Impact Factor
  • Article: Screening for low literacy in a rheumatology setting: more than 10% of patients cannot read "cartilage," "diagnosis," "rheumatologist," or "symptom".
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    ABSTRACT: The objectives of the study were to analyze literacy in 194 consecutive patients at an academic rheumatology setting with the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and an "Arthritis-Adapted" REALM (A-REALM), and to compare responses to one another and to demographic and clinical measures. The REALM and A-REALM are two 66-item word recognition tests. Both were administered to 194 consecutive patients in usual rheumatology care. Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) scores for physical function, pain, fatigue, and global estimate, and laboratory assessments also were available. Descriptive statistics and analyses of agreement were computed. REALM and A-REALM administration involved 2 to 3 minutes each. Scores below 61, indicating a reading level at eighth grade or less, were seen in 35 (18%) of 194 patients on the REALM and 46 patients (24%) on the A-REALM. No patient was classified as having severely low literacy at or below a third-grade level. However, words not read correctly by 10% or more of the patients on the REALM included diagnosis (14%), osteoporosis (17%), and inflammatory (10%), and on the A-REALM, rheumatologist (11%), cartilage (14%), and symptom (14%). REALM and A-REALM scores were correlated significantly (Pearson r = 0.94, P < 0.001). Almost all patients (33/35) with REALM scores of less than 61 also had A-REALM scores of less than 61, less formal education, and poorer clinical status on all measures, most not statistically significant. Low literacy is an important underrecognized problem in medical care, which may be assessed easily in standard care using the REALM or A-REALM. Further attention to literacy-associated barriers may reduce socioeconomic disparities in health.
    Journal of clinical rheumatology: practical reports on rheumatic & musculoskeletal diseases 11/2010; 16(8):359-64. · 1.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: Construction of the Pediatric Asthma Impact Scale (PAIS) for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS).
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    ABSTRACT: Background: Recently, the National Institutes of Health Roadmap for Medical Research initiative led a large-scale effort to develop the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). PROMIS's main goal was to develop a set of item banks and computerized adaptive tests for the clinical research community. Asthma, as the most common chronic childhood disease, was chosen for a disease-specific pediatric item bank. The primary objective of this research is to present the details of the psychometric analyses of the asthma domain items. Item response theory (IRT) analyses were conducted on a 34-asthma item bank. Test forms containing PROMIS Pediatric Asthma domain items were completed by 622 children ages 8 to 12. Items were subsequently evaluated for local dependence, scale dimensionality, and differential item functioning. A 17-item pool and an 8-item short form for the new PROMIS Pediatric Asthma Impact Scale (PAIS) were generated using IRT. The recommended 8-item short form contains the item set that provides the maximum test information at the mean (50) on the T-score metric. If more score precision is required, the complete 17-item pool is recommended and may be used in toto or as the basis of a computerized adaptive test (CAT). A shorter test form can also be created and scored on the same scale. The present study presents the PROMIS Pediatric Asthma Impact Scale (PAIS) developed with IRT, and provides the initial calibration data for the items.
    Journal of Asthma 04/2010; 47(3):295-302. · 1.52 Impact Factor
  • Article: Sampling plan and patient characteristics of the PROMIS pediatrics large-scale survey.
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    ABSTRACT: This paper describes a large-scale administration of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pediatric items to evaluate measurement characteristics. Each child completed one of seven test forms containing items from a pool of 293 PROMIS items and four legacy scales. PROMIS items covered six domains (physical function, emotional distress, social role relationship, fatigue, pain, and asthma). From January 2007 to May 2008, 4,129 children aged 8-17 were enrolled. The sample was 51% female, 55% aged 8-12, 42% minority race and 17% were Hispanic ethnicity. Approximately, 35% of the children participating in the survey consulted a clinician for a chronic illness diagnosis or treatment within 6 months prior to study enrollment. The final PROMIS pediatric item banks include physical function (n = 52 items), emotional distress (n = 35 items), social role relationships (n = 15 items), fatigue (n = 34 items), pain (n = 13 items), and asthma (n = 17 items). The initial calibration data were provided by a diverse set of children with varying health states (e.g., children with a variety of common chronic illnesses) and racial/ethnic backgrounds.
    Quality of Life Research 03/2010; 19(4):585-94. · 2.30 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2011–2013
    • Northwestern University
      • • Department of Medical Social Sciences
      • • Feinberg School of Medicine
      Evanston, IL, USA
    • University of Southern California
      Los Angeles, CA, USA
    • University of Maryland, Baltimore
      • School of Pharmacy
      Baltimore, MD, USA
    • Duke University
      • Department of Pediatrics
      Durham, NC, USA
  • 2003–2013
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
      • • School of Nursing
      • • Department of Social Medicine
      • • Department of Psychology
      • • Department of Epidemiology
      • • Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
      • • School of Social Work
      • • Department of Medicine
      Chapel Hill, NC, USA
  • 2010–2011
    • Texas A&M University
      • Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
      College Station, TX, USA
    • Meharry Medical College
      • Department of Internal Medicine
      Nashville, TN, USA
  • 2009
    • University of New Mexico
      • College of Nursing
      Albuquerque, NM, USA
  • 2004–2008
    • Vanderbilt University
      • • Division of General Internal Medicine & Public Health
      • • Center for Health Services Research
      Nashville, MI, USA