OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity to change of general quality of life indices in patients with rheumatic diseases, we assessed the performance of 4 instruments in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) treated with local injection of corticosteroid. METHODS: We administered visual analog scales (VAS) incorporating measures of overall well being, discomfort, frequency of symptoms, and physical activity; 2 generic instruments [the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the Medical Outcomes Study 36 Item Short Form (SF-36)]; and a rheumatoid arthritis-specific instrument, the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire, at baseline and one month after injection. We assessed 30 patients. RESULTS: VAS were significantly better at determining improvement than the generic instruments or the arthritis specific instrument. For the generic scales, only the pain scales of NHP and SF-36 showed moderate or greater change using standardized response means. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that standard tools may not be sufficiently sensitive to show clinically significant change in this common rheumatological problem.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity to change of general quality of life indices in patients with rheumatic diseases, we assessed the performance of 4 instruments in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) treated with local injection of corticosteroid. METHODS: We administered visual analog scales (VAS) incorporating measures of overall well being, discomfort, frequency of symptoms, and physical activity; 2 generic instruments [the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the Medical Outcomes Study 36 Item Short Form (SF-36)]; and a rheumatoid arthritis-specific instrument, the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire, at baseline and one month after injection. We assessed 30 patients. RESULTS: VAS were significantly better at determining improvement than the generic instruments or the arthritis specific instrument. For the generic scales, only the pain scales of NHP and SF-36 showed moderate or greater change using standardized response means. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that standard tools may not be sufficiently sensitive to show clinically significant change in this common rheumatological problem.
Authors: Riitta Suhonen; Heli Virtanen; Katja Heikkinen; Kirsi Johansson; Anne Kaljonen; Tiina Leppänen; Sanna Salanterä; Helena Leino-Kilpi Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2007-12-12 Impact factor: 4.147