Validation of pain catastrophizing scale on breast cancer survivor.

INTRODUCTION: Pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) is the most used scale to measure pain catastrophizing. In breast cancer survivors (BCS), pain catastrophizing is related to upper-limbs dysfunction and disability. This study aimed to assess the internal consistency, internal structure, and convergent validity of the Spanish version of the PCS in Spanish BCS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Breast cancer survivors were recruited from the service of Medical Oncology of the University Clinical Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, in Málaga (Spain). The psychometric properties were evaluated with analysis factor structure by maximum likelihood extraction (MLE), internal consistency, and construct validity by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: Factor structure was three-dimensional, and one item was removed due to cross-loading. The new 12-item PCS showed a high internal consistency for the total score (α = 0.91) and a good homogeneity, and CFA revealed a satisfactory fit. PCS showed an acceptable correlation with FACS (r = 0.53, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Pain catastrophizing scale is a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate pain catastrophizing in Spanish BCS. This tool may help clinicians in the management of pain by assessing pain and by measuring the effect of interventions.

Cancer-related fatigue measures in palliative care: A psychometric systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: In palliative care, the prevention and relief of fatigue are regarded as crucial goals in patients with cancer. METHODS: A systematic review was carried out according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments methodology. Searches were conducted in Medline (through PubMed), Web of Science, Open Gray, Scielo, Cochrane, CINAHL and EMBASE. All instruments found in each study were assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments checklist and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: A total of 5598 articles were identified in the different databases. In total, 57 studies describing 19 instruments were included in this study. The main properties evaluated were internal consistency, cross-cultural validity, hypotheses testing and responsiveness. All studies were evaluated with the Strobe scale with a score greater than 6 points. CONCLUSIONS: According to the quality methodological results, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, Problems and Needs in Palliative Care Questionnaire, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life 15-item Questionnaire for Palliative Care and Palliative Care Quality of Life Instrument are the recommended instruments used for assessing cancer-related fatigue in palliative care. PROPESRO registration number: CRD42020206783.

Simulación con pacientes estandarizados en ciencias de la salud: una revisión sistemática / Human patient simulation in health sciences: a systematic review

Introducción: Los métodos de enseñanza utilizados en terapia ocupacional son numerosos y podrían clasificarse en dos grupos: métodos de enseñanza tradicionales y alternativos. La simulación es un método alternativo que permite el aprendizaje autónomo y el desarrollo de habilidades de pensamiento crítico de los estudiantes durante su participación activa en una práctica segura. Objetivo: Analizar la efectividad del aprendizaje a través de la simulación con pacientes estandarizados frente a la enseñanza tradicional en ciencias de la salud. Método: La estrategia de búsqueda fue: ("Patient Simulation" OR "Role Playing" OR "Simulation Scenario" OR "Simulation Education") AND ("Program Evaluation" OR Effectiveness) AND (Student OR Postgraduate). El análisis de validez interna de los artículos incluidos en la revisión se realizó mediante la escala PEDro. Resultados: Se incluyeron catorce estudios y las variables evaluadas se organizaron en cuatro categorías: adquisición de conocimiento, aprendizaje de la práctica clínica, autoeficacia y desarrollo de habilidades de comunicación. Las muestras estuvieron compuestas por estudiantes de las profesiones de la salud y las simulaciones tuvieron una duración de entre 10 y 40 minutos por sesión (4-24 sesiones). Conclusión: No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre ambas metodologías en la adquisición de habilidades prácticas por parte de los estudiantes. Aun así, la visualización de videos explicativos al principio y el resumen al final del proceso de simulación, han demostrado ser etapas fundamentales para mejorar la efectividad de este método de enseñanza. Futuros estudios son necesarios para analizar los posibles beneficios de la simulación en la titulación de terapia ocupacional.

Introduction: Teaching methods used in occupational therapy are numerous and could be classified into two groups: traditional and alternative teaching methods. Simulation is an alternative method that allows autonomous learning while developing the critical thinking skills of students during their active participation in safe practice. Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of learning through simulation with standardized patients compared to traditional teaching in health sciences. Method: The search strategy was: ("Patient Simulation" OR "Role Playing" OR "Simulation Scenario" OR "Simulation Education") AND ("Program Evaluation" OR Effectiveness) AND (Student OR Postgraduate). The analysis of internal validity of the articles included in the review was performed using the PEDro scale. Results: Fourteen studies were included and variables measured were organized into four categories: acquisition of knowledge, learning of clinical practice, self-efficacy and development of communication skills. The samples were health professions students and simulations had a duration from 10 to 40 minutes per session (4­24 sessions). Conclusion: No significant differences were found between both methodologies in the acquisition of practical skills by students. Even so, the visualization of explanatory videos at the beginning and the summary at the end of the simulation process have proven to be fundamental steps to improve the effectiveness of this teaching method. Future studies are needed to analyze the possible benefits of simulation in the occupational therapy degree.

The suffering measurement instruments in palliative care: A systematic review of psychometric properties.

BACKGROUND: The relief of suffering is considered one of the main goals to reach at the end of life, and nurses play an essential role in the prevention and relief of suffering. Validated instruments for assessing suffering can be useful, and selection of the most appropriate measure is crucial. To date, no systematic review has been performed that contrasts the measurement properties of instruments assessing suffering in the palliative care population, according to the most up-to-date COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments methodology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review is twofold: (1) identify the measures assessing suffering in the palliative care population, and (2) assess the measurement properties of these measures. DESIGN: A systematic review of the measurement properties of instruments assessing suffering in palliative care was carried out. DATA SOURCES: The search strategy was conducted in Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SciELO, Scopus, Cosmin database of systematic reviews and Open gray. REVIEW METHODS: The following methodologies were applied: updated COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments, the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology, and the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews tool. A protocol for this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42018106488). Eligible studies were those that satisfied the following criteria: a) validation studies of measures assessing suffering in the palliative care population, b) assessing at least one measurement property of a measure, c) published in English or Spanish and d) published between January 1980 and September 2019. The included studies were assessed for the methodological quality of the measurement properties and then compared in terms of both the measurement properties and the methodological quality of the processes used. The evidence for each measurement property was summarised and the quality of the evidence was graded using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded a total of nine studies and six instruments assessing suffering. The methodological quality of the studies was doubtful and the quality of the evidence was moderate for most of the measurement properties analysed. The Suffering Pictogram was the instrument with the best rating for methodological quality and quality of evidence, for most of the measurement properties evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Instruments assessing suffering in palliative care have been identified in this systematic review. The Suffering Pictogram seems to be the most useful instrument identified. Tweetable abstract: The relief of suffering is one of the main goals to reach at the end of life, and the selection of the most appropriate measure for assessing this construct is crucial.

Central Sensitization in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Disorders in Different Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders (CMPDs) are among the leading causes of disabilities across populations, resulting in high social and financial burden. This persistent pain condition may include the central sensitization (CS) phenomenon, which implies a wide range of symptoms and that may be taken into account in CMPD treatment. CS symptoms can be measured by the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). The aims of the study were to describe CS symptoms in patients suffering from several CMPDs and to analyze differences due to gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: This cross-sectional study recruited a total of 395 Spanish participants suffering from several CMPDs. SETTING: CS symptoms were measured with the Spanish Version of the CSI. The total score (0-100) and a cutoff score of 40 were recorded. SUBJECTS: A total of 395 participants were included. RESULTS: The mean CSI total score for the whole sample was 24.6 ± 12.0 points. CSI total score had subclinical values in the whole sample, whereas participants with scores >40 were found across different CMPDs, such as low back pain (37.8%) and neck pain (32.4%); 14.6% of females and 1.7% of males presented CSI scores >40. Patients showed significant differences in CSI cutoff point by gender (P = 0.010) and CSI total score by age (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of clinically relevant CSI scores (>40) in people with a CMPD, especially low back pain and neck pain, we recommend that clinicians supplement their assessment with the CSI for improved decision-making during treatment.