Consciousness as a multidimensional phenomenon: implications for the assessment of disorders of consciousness

Disorders of consciousness (DoCs) pose a significant clinical and ethical challenge because they allow for complex forms of conscious experience in patients where intentional behaviour and communication are highly limited or non-existent. There is a pressing need for brain-based assessments that can precisely and accurately characterize the conscious state of individual DoC patients. There has been an ongoing research effort to develop neural measures of consciousness. However, these measures are challenging to validate not only due to our lack of ground truth about consciousness in many DoC patients but also because there is an open ontological question about consciousness. There is a growing, well-supported view that consciousness is a multidimensional phenomenon that cannot be fully described in terms of the theoretical construct of hierarchical, easily ordered conscious levels. The multidimensional view of consciousness challenges the utility of levels-based neural measures in the context of DoC assessment. To examine how these measures may map onto consciousness as a multidimensional phenomenon, this article will investigate a range of studies where they have been applied in states other than DoC and where more is known about conscious experience. This comparative evidence suggests that measures of conscious level are more sensitive to some dimensions of consciousness than others and cannot be assumed to provide a straightforward hierarchical characterization of conscious states. Elevated levels of brain complexity, for example, are associated with conscious states characterized by a high degree of sensory richness and minimal attentional constraints, but are suboptimal for goal-directed behaviour and external responsiveness. Overall, this comparative analysis indicates that there are currently limitations to the use of these measures as tools to evaluate consciousness as a multidimensional phenomenon and that the relationship between these neural signatures and phenomenology requires closer scrutiny.

Evaluating Responsiveness of the Persian Version of the Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET) in Iranian Patients with Meniscal Injury

Background This study aimed to evaluate the responsiveness of Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET) and specify its Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in patients undergoing physiotherapy intervention following undergoing a meniscal lesion or surgery. Our hypothesis was that the WOMET would have adequate responsiveness in patients with meniscal injury. method: 100 patients undergoing physiotherapy interventions filled the Persian version of the WOMET and a questionnaire of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at Session 1 and Session 10 (4 weeks later). They also filled the 7-point Global Rating of Change (GRC) scale at Session 10. Internal responsiveness was calculated using T test and effect sizes (standard response mean (SRM) and Cohen's d); and external responsiveness was calculated via receiver operating characteristic curve and correlation analysis. The inclusion criterion was the age of 18 to 70 years old for the patients who had the ability of filling the questionnaire. The exclusion criteria included ligaments injury, severe osteoarthritis, inability to complete the questionnaire due to the lack of sufficient knowledge, malignancy, infection, neuromusculoskeletal disorder, rheumatologic disease, knee surgeries for any other reasons, and dissatisfaction for being enrolled in the study. Results All the WOMET subscales (AUC = 0.7) had acceptable external responsiveness. SRM was Trivial, and the scores of Cohen’s d were moderate to large and t tests showed significant differences. Conclusion Our findings showed that all of the WOMET subscales had acceptable external responsiveness, and thus this questionnaire could be used to study the effects of physiotherapy interventions on patients undergoing a meniscal lesion or surgery.

Validation of the “Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Distribution, Chronicity, Activity (IBD-DCA) Score” for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn´s disease

Background and aims Histological scoring plays a key role in the assessment of disease activity in ulcerative colitis (UC) and is also important in Crohn´s disease (CD). Currently, there is no common scoring available for UC and CD. We aimed to validate the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Distribution (D), Chronicity (C), Activity (A) score (IBD-DCA score) for histological disease activity assessment in IBD. Methods Inter- and intra-rater reliability were assessed by 16 observers on biopsy specimen from 59 patients with UC and 25 patients with CD. Construct validity and responsiveness to treatment were retrospectively evaluated on a second cohort of 30 patients. Results Inter-rater reliability was moderate to good for the UC cohort (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) = 0.645, 0.623, 0.767 for D, C and A, respectively) and at best moderate for the CD cohort (ICC = 0.690, 0.303, 0.733 for D, C and A, respectively). Intra-rater agreement ranged from good to excellent in both cohorts. Correlation with the Nancy Histological Index (NHI) was moderate and strong with the Simplified Geboes Score (SGS) and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Large effect sizes (ES) were obtained for all three parameters. External responsiveness analysis revealed correlated changes between IBD-DCA score and NHI, SGS and VAS. Conclusions The IBD-DCA score is a simple histological activity score for UC and CD, agreed and validated by a large group of IBD specialists. It provides reliable information on treatment response. Therefore, it has potential value for use in routine diagnostics as well as clinical studies.

Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ) in mainland China: an investigation of reliability, validity, and responsiveness

Background The aim of this study is to investigate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of JOACMEQ for CSM patients in mainland China. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 91 patients with CSM in our hospital from March 2015 to June 2015. Patients completed the JOACMEQ, the mJOA and the SF-36 questionnaires during the process. Cronbach's α was used to evaluate the internal consistency reliability, and test–retest reliability was checked. An exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the correlations among the JOACMEQ questions and the construct validity. The concurrent validity was assessed by Spearman correlation coefficient. The internal responsiveness was determined by effect sizes and standardized response means. External responsiveness was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve on the basis of the Youden Index. Results The mean age of patients was 57.61 years old. The mean follow-up was 24 months. JOACMEQ showed a good internal consistency (Cronbach's α, 0.897). Test–retest reliability showing good result (Pearson's correlation, 0.695–0.905). Our data were amenable to factor analysis (KMO = 0.816, Bartlett's test, χ2(45) = 1199.99, p < 0.001), and five factors above 1 were strongly loaded and clustered for each of the five factors. Comparing the scales preoperative to those 2 years postoperative, the average scores of the subscales all increased, and both the ES and SRM showing satisfied responsiveness. In external responsiveness analysis, the recovery rate a appeared to be most responsive to post-operative improvement. Conclusions The Simplified Chinese version of JOACMEQ was well-developed with great reliability and sensitive responsiveness. Our study demonstrated that JOACMEQ has content psychometric properties to identify postoperative improvements in CSM patients.

THE INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE-FATIGUE PATIENT SELF-ASSESSMENT SCALE: TRANSLATION, CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION AND PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE BRAZILIAN VERSION (IBD-F BRAZIL)

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). A translated and culturally adapted, instrument with robust psychometric for measuring fatigue in Brazilian patients with IBD is needed. OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the inflammatory Bowel Disease Fatigue Scale (IBD-F) into Brazilian-Portuguese and to test its measurement properties in Brazilian patients with IBD. METHODS: Data from 123 patients with IBD were collected. In addition to IBD-F, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) was used. The measurement properties tested were: internal consistency, reproducibility (reliability and agreement), construct validity, internal and external responsiveness, and ceiling and floor effects. RESULTS: The Brazilian-Portuguese version of the IBD-F showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95), excellent reproducibility (ICC=0.97) and a minimal detectable change of 6.0 points. The construct validity was demonstrated with a good correlation between the IBD-F and FACIT-F (r=- 0.46). Effect sizes used for measuring internal responsiveness were moderate among those with Crohn’s (0.66) disease and low in patients with ulcerative colitis (0.24). The Brazilian-Portuguese version of the IBD-F presented with high external responsiveness for Crohn’s disease (0.84) and with low external responsiveness for ulcerative colitis (0.33). The area under the curve considered for responsiveness was 0.84. Twenty-five percent of floor effects and no ceiling effect were recorded. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian-Portuguese version of IBD-F has adequate measurement properties and its use can be recommended in clinical practice and research.

Measuring changes in functional ability in older children and young people with acquired brain injury using the UK FIM + FAM

Introduction There is a need for validated and responsive measurement tools to demonstrate changes in functional ability. Existing outcome measurement tools have significant limitations for children and young people with acquired brain injury (ABI). Aim This study examines the potential of the UK Functional Independence Measure + Functional Assessment Measure (UK FIM + FAM) to detect clinical change in older children and young people with ABI. Method This is a secondary retrospective pretest–post test analysis of 72 children and young people age 8–17 years. Internal responsiveness was examined using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and effect sizes indices; external responsiveness was examined in relation to the Neurological Impairment Scale (NIS) using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results Highly significant changes were detected from admission to discharge on motor, cognitive and total UK FIM + FAM scores ( p < 0.001). Medium to large effect sizes were found on the total scale indicating good internal responsiveness. There was a significant, negative correlation between UK FIM + FAM change scores and NIS change scores ( p < 0.01) indicating good external responsiveness. Conclusion The UK FIM + FAM was able to detect clinically meaningful change in functional ability in children and young people with ABI over 8 years. Further validity and reliability must be established before recommending its use in this client group.

Responsiveness of EQ-5D in Patients With a Distal Radius Fracture

Background: The EuroQol Group 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire is frequently used as an outcome measure of general patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We evaluated the internal and external responsiveness of EQ-5D (specifically EQ-5Dindex score) in patients with a surgically treated distal radius fracture. Methods: Within the context of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 132 patients with a surgically treated distal radius fracture filled out EQ-5D and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE-Swe) at baseline (preinjury state), and at 3 and 12 months. Internal responsiveness was evaluated by calculating mean change score and standardized response mean (SRM) of the EQ-5Dindex scores. External responsiveness was evaluated with PRWE-Swe as the external criterion. PRWE-Swe was used to define 4 subgroups of patients with different clinical outcomes. The ability of EQ-5Dindex change score to discriminate between these subgroups was analyzed with logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and area under the ROC curves (AUROCs). Correlation analysis was made with Spearman’s ρ test. Results: The mean change in EQ-5Dindex score from baseline to the 3-month follow-up was −16.1 and from the 3- to the 12-month follow-up was 7.6. The corresponding SRMs were large (0.93) and small to moderate (0.47). Analysis of external responsiveness displayed odds ratios >1 and AUROCs between 0.70 and 0.76 in all 4 subgroups. The proportion of patients correctly classified into the 4 subgroups by the EQ-5Dindex change scores was 78% to 94%. Spearman’s ρ was 0.35. Conclusion: EQ-5D displayed an overall acceptable to good responsiveness in patients with a distal radius fracture. It may thus be used as a measure of HRQoL in this patient group.