Translation and validation to Portuguese of a 60-item questionnaire to evaluate theoretical knowledge in fundus examination.

PURPOSE: To translate and validate a questionnaire that evaluates the theoretical knowledge regarding fundus examination. METHODS: A 60-item multiple-choice English questionnaire that investigates various aspects of knowledge regarding fundus examination was translated into Portuguese. The process involved translation, back-translation, and evaluation by an expert committee. The resulting questionnaire was applied to final-year medical students and ophthalmology residents. Each included subject answered the questionnaire twice, with an interval of one week between each application. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and percentage agreement were calculated. RESULTS: Thirty participants were included (25 medical students and 5 ophthalmology residents). The pass-fail cutoff was calculated at 46, the theoretical false positives were 8.7% and the theoretical false negatives were 2.8%. The observed false positive and false negative rates were 0%. Among the 60 items, test-retest reliability was strong in 17 items, which one had a negative correlation, moderate in 14 items, which one had a negative correlation, and weak in 29 items; inter-rater reliability of 34 items was under 0.4, 17 items were between 0.4 and 0.6, and 8 items were above 0.6. One item had a negative kappa. Among the percent agreement, 10 items were between 40%-60% agreement, 50 were above 60% agreement, and 18 were above 80%. Cronbach's alpha was calculated as 0.674. CONCLUSIONS: The translated questionnaire provided a standard instrument for future research and interventions to improve medical education in ophthalmology.

Translation and validation to Portuguese of a 60-item questionnaire to evaluate theoretical knowledge in fundus examination / Tradução e validação para o português de um questionário de 60 itens para avaliação do conhecimento teórico no exame de fundo de olho

ABSTRACT Purpose: To translate and validate a questionnaire that evaluates the theoretical knowledge regarding fundus examination. Methods: A 60-item multiple-choice English questionnaire that investigates various aspects of knowledge regarding fundus examination was translated into Portuguese. The process involved translation, back-translation, and evaluation by an expert committee. The resulting questionnaire was applied to final-year medical students and ophthalmology residents. Each included subject answered the questionnaire twice, with an interval of one week between each application. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and percentage agreement were calculated. Results: Thirty participants were included (25 medical students and 5 ophthalmology residents). The pass-fail cutoff was calculated at 46, the theoretical false positives were 8.7% and the theoretical false negatives were 2.8%. The observed false positive and false negative rates were 0%. Among the 60 items, test-retest reliability was strong in 17 items, which one had a negative correlation, moderate in 14 items, which one had a negative correlation, and weak in 29 items; inter-rater reliability of 34 items was under 0.4, 17 items were between 0.4 and 0.6, and 8 items were above 0.6. One item had a negative kappa. Among the percent agreement, 10 items were between 40%-60% agreement, 50 were above 60% agreement, and 18 were above 80%. Cronbach's alpha was calculated as 0.674. Conclusions: The translated questionnaire provided a standard instrument for future research and interventions to improve medical education in ophthalmology.

RESUMO Objetivos: Traduzir e validar para o português um questionário para avaliar o conhecimento teórico no exame de fundo de olho. Métodos: Um questionário de múltipla escolha de 60 questões em inglês, ao qual avalia diversos aspetos do conhecimento no exame de fundo de olho, foi traduzido para o português. O processo envolveu uma tradução, re-tradução e avaliação por um comitê de especialistas. O questionário resultante foi aplicado em estudantes de medicina do último ano e médicos-residentes em oftalmologia. Cada indivíduo respondeu o questionário duas vezes, com um intervalo de uma semana entre cada aplicação. A consistência interna, a confiança teste-reteste, a confiança entre avaliadores e a porcentagem de concordâncias foram calculadas. Resultados: Trinta participantes foram incluídos (25 estudantes de medicina e 5 residentes em oftalmologia). A nota de corte para aprovação-reprovação foi calculada em 46, sendo os falsos positivos teóricos de 8,7% e os falsos negativos teóricos 2,8%. No mesmo corte, os falsos positivos e falsos negativos observados foi de 0%. Dentre os 60 itens, a confiança teste-reteste foi forte em 17 itens, sendo que um apresentou uma correlação negativa, moderada em 14 itens, sendo que um apresentou uma correlação negativa, e fraca em 29 itens; a confiança inter-examinador foi inferior a 0,4 em 34 itens, entre 0,4 e 0,6 em 17 itens, e acima de 0,6 em 8 itens. Um dos itens apresentou um valor negativo. A porcentagem de concordância foi entre 40-60% em 10 itens, superior a 60% em 50 itens e acima de 80% em 18 itens. O alfa de Crombach foi calculado com 0,674. Conclusões: O questionário traduzido propicia um instrumento padronizado para futuras pesquisas e intervenções às quais visem aprimorar o ensino em oftalmologia.

Right ventricular hemangioma causing right ventricular inflow obstruction and right heart failure.

We report a patient who presented with symptoms of right heart failure. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a right ventricular mass, causing right ventricular inflow obstruction. Coronary angiography revealed a characteristic tumor blush. After successful surgical resection, histologic findings were consistent with a right ventricular hemangioma.

Right ventricular foreign body: percutaneous transvenous retrieval of a Greenfield filter from the right ventricle--a case report.

A 55-year-old man suffered head injury during a motor vehicle accident. He underwent a prophylactic inferior vena cava Greenfield filter placement. The filter migrated and lodged in the right ventricle at the level of the tricuspid valve. Successful percutaneous, transvenous retrieval of the Greenfield filter from the right ventricle was carried out.

Association of carotid artery intima-media thickness with complex aortic atherosclerosis in patients with recent stroke.

This study was undertaken to determine whether carotid intima-media thickness can predict complex aortic atherosclerosis. A retrospective review was conducted of 64 consecutive patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography and carotid ultrasonography for evaluation of recent ischemic stroke at MCP Hahnemann University, Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 1999. The mean age was 65+/-14 years and 59% of the patients were women. Thirty-nine patients (61%) had carotid atherosclerosis (defined as an intima-media thickness > or =1 mm) and seven patients (11%) had complex aortic atherosclerosis (defined as the presence of protruding atheroma > or =4 mm thick, mobile atherosclerotic debris, or plaque ulceration in any aortic segment by transesophageal echocardiography). Compared to patients without complex aortic atherosclerosis, patients with complex aortic atherosclerosis were more likely to have hypercholesterolemia (19% vs 57%, p = 0.05) and a carotid intima-media thickness of 2 mm or greater (35% vs 86%, p = 0.02). A carotid intima-media thickness of 2 mm or more had 86% sensitivity, 65% specificity, 23% positive predictive value, 97% negative predictive value, 2.5 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.22 negative likelihood ratio for the diagnosis of complex aortic atherosclerosis. Carotid intimamedia thickness measurement can be used to noninvasively estimate the probability of complex aortic atherosclerosis. A carotid intima-media thickness less than 2 mm makes complex aortic atherosclerosis very unlikely.

Carotid artery in-stent restenosis after carotid artery stenting.

Carotid in-stent restenosis is a potential long-term sequela that may occur after carotid artery stenting. We report a single-center experience with this procedure and reviewed the database for individual patient characteristics and possible management options.

Risk of thrombogenicity among nonionic radiocontrast agents.

Several contrast agents have been approved in the United States for radiographic imaging purposes. Most of the older ionic, high-osmolar contrast agents are no longer used because of their side effect profile. Therefore, newer nonionic, low or iso-osmolar contrast agents have been widely accepted as an alternative due to their improved tolerability and safety. We investigated the thrombogenicity of the 6 different nonionic radiocontrast media in terms of their platelet reactivity and noted some minor differences among them. In the 50% contrast concentration group, all of the nonionic contrast agents inhibited aggregation, whereas in the 10% contrast concentration group, all agents showed similar aggregation curves in comparison to the normal control. At 50% contrast concentration, the inhibitory effect of aggregation appeared to be related to the inhibition of calcium mobilization, which may be one of the mechanistic effects.

HIV disease in thrombocardiology.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection affects multiple organs including the cardiovascular system. Postmortem studies have revealed multiple abnormalities including abnormal coronary artery pathology, arteriopathy/endothelial dysfunction, hyperlipidemia and hypercoagulability prior to the use of protease inhibitors. With the introduction of antiretroviral medications, specifically protease inhibitor therapy, patients with HIV have been further noted to have premature coronary artery disease, hypercoagulability, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, fat redistribution syndrome and increased tendency to myocardial infarction. In this article, we report on one patient with HIV disease on protease inhibitor therapy that presented with non-Q-wave myocardial infarction and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and was later found to have stent thrombosis. A review of the literature showed no other previous reports of stent thrombosis secondary to acquired hypercoagulability due to protease inhibitor therapy. Possible predictors of stent thrombosis and hypercoagulability are also discussed.

Alveolar hemorrhage associated with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors.

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors have been shown to improve outcomes in percutaneous coronary interventions. Their use with multiple anticoagulants has been associated with increased bleeding complications. Among these, alveolar hemorrhage is a rare and potentially fatal complication. Six patients with this complication were identified over a four-year period. Patient characteristics, possible risk factors, pathophysiology, prevention and potential treatment options are discussed.