scholarly journals Cultural Adaptation and Validity of the Sniffin’ Sticks Psychophysical Test for the UK Setting

Author(s):  
Lorna Langstaff ◽  
Allan Clark ◽  
Mahmoud Salam ◽  
Carl M. Philpott

Abstract Introduction Olfactory testing must be culturally adapted to be relevant to the target population. This study aimed to validate the Sniffin’ Sticks test for the UK setting. Methods A cohort study was conducted at a tertiary olfactory dysfunction clinic. Phase 1—healthy volunteers underwent the original German identification test followed by a UK adapted version. Phase 2—patients with olfactory dysfunction underwent the extended smell test (TDI) including the new descriptors. Outcome measures included differences in identification test (phase 1), retest reliability and differences in scores before and after treatment. Results A total of 31 healthy volunteers and 87 patients were recruited (6 and 31 males, respectively). Phase 1—mean identification scores showed a small improvement after descriptor adaptations (13.77 and 14.57, p = 0.0029). Phase 2—41 untreated participants had a mean identification score of 7.31 at both intervals (95% CI: − 1.15 to 1.15, p > 0.999). The mean change in treated participants was 1.88 (0.70 to 3.06, p = 0.0224). TDI score difference between treated and untreated groups was 6.63 (2.48 to 10.79, p = 0.0023). The intraclass correlation coefficient for untreated patients was high for both TDI score (ICC = 0.82, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.93) and identification score (ICC = 0.80, 0.52 to 0.93); CIs suggest the reliability is moderate to excellent. Conclusions This study confirms the validity of the descriptor adaptations of the identification component of the Sniffin’ Sticks test to distinguish between health and disease. Implications The Sniffin’ Sticks test can now reliably be used for clinical assessment of British patients, modifying only the descriptors.

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne‐Gaelle Dosne ◽  
Elodie Valade ◽  
Kim Stuyckens ◽  
Lilian Y. Li ◽  
Daniele Ouellet ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 156-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Philpott

Olfactory dysfunction is common, affecting 1–5% of those under the age of 60 1 and at least 20% of those aged more than 60 years. 2 In many UK centres, the approach to it is variable and routine olfactory testing is not performed, as noted by a recent survey of British ENT surgeons. 3 This is in contrast to Europe and the USA, where many specialist smell and taste centres already exist.


2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-258
Author(s):  
Mark Dooris ◽  
Alan Farrier ◽  
Susan Powell ◽  
Maxine Holt

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on an evaluation of the UK Healthy Universities Network (UKHUN), which explored engagement of network members; identified what members value about the network; examined facilitators and barriers to engagement; and informed the network’s future development. Design/methodology/approach The study was a two phase mixed-method study, with participants being staff from Higher Education institutions. Phase 1 involved a documentary review and an online 14-question survey (n=32). Phase 2 comprised follow-up semi-structured interviews and focus groups, conducted using Skype (n=11). These were audio recorded and transcripts were thematically analysed in a two-stage process. Findings A number of key themes emerged from the thematic analysis: value of network meetings and events; popularity of the network website; increased communication and collaboration; sense of leadership offered by the network; interest and inclusion of an international perspective; importance of institutional support. Research limitations/implications Only six universities who are involved in the network took part in Phase 2. Although a range of organisations were chosen purposively, it is possible that additional key issues at other universities were excluded. Originality/value The UKHUN is valued by its membership, particularly its biannual meetings, online presence, leadership, ethos and communication methods. Key barriers include the capacity of staff to attend meetings and contribute to the network, influenced by a lack of institutional commitment and prioritisation. Findings from the evaluation have informed a “refresh” of the network’s website and a revision of its membership structure, as well as guiding its positioning to achieve greater strategic influence.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan L. Riemann ◽  
Kelsey Piersol ◽  
George J. Davies

Context: Single leg balance testing is a commonly used tool in sports medicine; however, there has been no consensus on trial duration needed to obtain reliable measures. Objective: This investigation sought to determine the minimum trial duration required to obtain the highest intrasession single and average trial reliability for single leg balance testing on stable and unstable surfaces using dominant and nondominant limbs. Design: Intrasession reliability.Setting:Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: 70 healthy (35 men, 35 women), physically active young adults aged 22.8 ± 2.8 y divided into 3 subgroups (n = 10, 30, 30) across a 3-phase study. Methods:3 phases of single leg balance testing were performed. For phase 1, the duration of time each participant could maintain posture on each limb/surface were computed. Phase 2 considered performance for 6 cumulative time intervals (5s, 10s, 15s, 20s, 25s, 30s). Phase 3 served to solidify results of phase 2 by computing reliability of 15s trials. Main outcome measures: Overall stability index of the center of pressure and platform tilt. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients for phase 2 ranged from .74 (5s interval for nondominant limb on unstable surface) to .94 (20s interval for nondominant limb on stable surface). Phase 3 intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from .66 to .78 for single trial and .85 to .92 for 3 trial average with coefficients of variation ranging from 23.9% to 40.4% for single trial and 13.8% to 23.0% for 3 trial average. Conclusions:These results ultimately suggest 15s as the optimal trial duration to provide reliable measures while reducing compensatory event occurrence.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Vo ◽  
Marc Doumit ◽  
Gloria Rockwell

Purpose. Injecting triamcinolone acetonide (TA) into a keloid is physically challenging due to the density of keloids. The purpose was to investigate the effects of various syringe and needle combinations on the injection force to determine the most ergonomic combination. Materials and Methods. A load cell was used to generate and measure the injection force. Phase 1: the injection force of 5 common syringes was measured by injecting water into air. The syringe that required the lowest injection force was evaluated with various needle gauges (25, 27, and 30 G) and lengths (16, 25, and 38 mm) by injecting TA (40 mg/mL) into air. The needle-syringe combination with the lowest injection force (CLIF) was deemed the most ergonomic combination. Phase 2: comparisons between the CLIF and a standard combination (SC) were performed by injecting TA into air and tap water into a keloid specimen. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and independent t-test were used. Results. Increasing the syringe caliber, injection speed, and needle gauge and length significantly increased the injection force (p value < 0.001). The SC required a maximum force of 40.0 N to inject water into keloid, compared to 25.0 N for the CLIF. Injecting TA into keloid using the SC would require an injection force that was 103.5% of the maximum force female thumbs could exert compared to 64.8% for the CLIF. ICC values were greater than 0.4. Conclusions. The 1 mL polycarbonate syringe with a 25 G, 16 mm needle (CLIF) was the most ergonomic combination. The SC required a substantial injection force, which may represent a physical challenge for female thumbs.


Author(s):  
Laura Ziuzia-Januszewska ◽  
Paweł Dobrzyński ◽  
Krzysztof Ślączka ◽  
Jaromir Ciszek ◽  
Łukasz Krawiec ◽  
...  

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common manifestation of COVID-19 and may be useful for screening. Survey-based olfactory evaluation tends to underestimate the prevalence of OD, while psychophysical olfactory testing during a pandemic has the disadvantage of being time consuming, expensive, and requiring standardized laboratory settings. We aimed to develop a quick, simple, affordable, and reliable test to objectively assess the prevalence and diagnostic accuracy of OD in COVID-19. The olfactory function of 64 COVID-19 inpatients and 34 controls was evaluated using a questionnaire and a simple disposable odor identification test (SDOIT) developed for this study. Four SDOIT models were assessed: 10-SDOIT, 9-SDOIT, 8-SDOIT, and 4-SDOIT, with 10, 9, 8 and 4 samples, respectively. We found a high frequency of self-reported OD in COVID-19 patients, with 32.8% and 42.2% reporting current and recent OD, respectively. Different SDOIT models revealed smell impairment in 54.7–64.1% of COVID-19 patients. The combination of either 10-SDOIT results and self-reported OD, or 8-SDOIT results and self-reported OD, were the best predictors of COVID-19, both with an AUC value of 0.87 (0.85 and 0.86 for the age-matched subjects). OD is a common symptom of COVID-19. A combination of self-reported smell deterioration and OD psychophysically evaluated using SDOIT appears to be a good predictor of COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Leightley ◽  
Valentina Vitiello ◽  
Alice Wickersham ◽  
Katrina A.S. Davis ◽  
Gabriella Bergin-Cartwright ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of home antibody testing as part of large-scale study, the King’s College London Coronavirus Health and Experiences of Colleagues at King’s (KCL CHECK).MethodsParticipants of the KCL CHECK study were sent a SureScreen Diagnostics COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette to complete at home in June 2020 (phase 1) and September 2020 (phase 2). Participants were asked to upload a test result image to a study website. Test result images and sociodemographic information were analysed by the research team.ResultsA total of n=2716 participants enrolled in the KCL CHECK study, with n=2003 (73.7%) and n=1825 (69.3%) consenting and responding to phase 1 and 2. Of these, n=1882 (93.9%; phase 1) and n=1675 (91.8%; phase 2) returned a valid result. n=123 (6.5%; phase 1) and n=91 (5.4%; phase 2) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A total of n=1488 participants provided a result in both phases, with n=57 (3.8%) testing positive for SARS- CoV-2 antibodies across both phases, suggesting a reduction in the number of positive antibody results over time. Initial comparisons showed variation by age group, gender and clinical role.ConclusionsOur study highlights the feasibility of rapid, repeated and low-cost SARS-CoV-2 serological testing without the need for face-to-face contact.What is already known about this subject?Higher education institutions have a duty of care to minimise the spread and transmission of COVID-19 in its campuses, and among staff and students. The reopening of higher education buildings and campuses has brought about a mass movement of students, academics and support staff from across the UK. Serological antibody studies can assist by highlighting groups of people and behaviours associated with high risk of COVID-19.What are the new findings?We report a framework for SARS-CoV-2 serological antibody testing in an occupational group of postgraduate research students and current members of staff at King’s College London. Over two phases of data collection, 6.5% (phase 1) and 5.4% (phase 2) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, with only 3.8% testing positive for antibodies in both phases, suggesting a reduction in positive antibody results over time.How might this impact on policy or clinical practice in the foreseeable future?Our study highlights the feasibility of rapidly deploying low-cost and repeatable SARS-CoV-2 serological testing, without the need for face-to-face contact, to support the higher education system of the UK.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2186-2186
Author(s):  
David C. Dale ◽  
Steven P. Treon ◽  
David F. McDermott ◽  
Diego Cadavid ◽  
Xia Luo ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Peripheral leukocyte deficiency is a common feature of multiple diseases and may render affected individuals susceptible to infections, both common and opportunistic. The CXCR4 chemokine receptor regulates the trafficking of leukocytes among the bone marrow, blood, and lymphatic system (Al Ustwani O, et al. Br J Haematol. 2014;164:15-23). Mavorixafor is an orally available investigational, small-molecule, selective antagonist of the CXCR4 receptor with potential to restore physiological trafficking and maturation of white blood cells (WBCs). Mavorixafor was previously shown to increase totals and subsets of WBCs in healthy volunteers and in a phase 2 clinical trial in adults with WHIM (Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, Myelokathexis) syndrome (Stone N, et al. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007;51(7):2351-2358; Dale D, et al. Blood. 2020;136(26):2994-3003). Here, we report the effect of daily oral administration of mavorixafor on peripheral WBC counts and subsets in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), WHIM syndrome, and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). Methods: Percentage changes in total peripheral WBC count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and absolute monocyte count (AMC) from pretreatment levels were evaluated in the following settings: a phase 1/2 trial evaluating mavorixafor (200 mg twice daily or 400 mg once daily [QD]) in combination with axitinib (5 mg twice daily) in patients with advanced ccRCC who received ≥1 prior therapy; a phase 1b trial evaluating mavorixafor (400 mg QD) in combination with nivolumab (240 mg QD) in patients with metastatic ccRCC unresponsive to prior nivolumab monotherapy; a long-term extension of the aforementioned phase 2 trial evaluating mavorixafor 300 or 400 mg QD in patients with WHIM syndrome with pathogenic CXCR4 gain-of-function mutation and ANC ≤400/μL and/or ALC ≤650/μL; and an ongoing phase 1b trial evaluating mavorixafor (200 mg QD for 4 weeks, increased to 400 mg and 600 mg QD thereafter) in combination with ibrutinib (420 mg QD) in patients with WM with MYD88 and CXCR4 mutations. Results: In the study evaluating combination mavorixafor (400 mg QD) and axitinib in ccRCC, total WBC count, ANC, ALC, and AMC increased to 153%, 158%, 143%, and 182% of baseline after 4 weeks (n=49), and with increases sustained at 159%, 171%, 139% and 166% of baseline after 6 months' treatment (n=20). In the study evaluating mavorixafor in combination with nivolumab in ccRCC, total WBC count, ANC, ALC, and AMC increased to 146%, 143%, 141%, and 179% of baseline after 4 weeks (n=9), and with increases sustained at 147%, 136%, 152%, and 191% of baseline after 6 months (n=2). In an interim analysis of the phase 1b trial in WM, compared to screening values, total WBC count, ANC, ALC, and AMC increased to 192%, 170%, 219%, and 186% of baseline after 4 weeks (n=8), and with increases sustained at 163%, 192%, 106%, 172% of baseline after 6 months' (n=5) treatment. In the WHIM syndrome phase 2 extension, total WBC count, ANC, ALC, and AMC increased to 339%, 652%, 239%, and 486% of baseline after 6 months' (n=5) treatment, with annualized infection rate decreasing from 5.6 (SD ± 3.13) events at baseline to 2.2 (SD ± 0.93) events after 40 months. Mavorixafor was generally well tolerated, with manageable safety profile across all indications either alone or in combination with other drugs. Conclusions: Mavorixafor alone or in combination with other therapies is the first oral treatment to either acutely or chronically increase total peripheral WBCs 1.5- to 3-fold and WBC subsets across all disease populations examined, in both the presence (WHIM syndrome and WM) and absence (ccRCC and healthy volunteers) of CXCR4 gain-of-function mutation. Increases in WBC subsets occurred rapidly and were sustained during chronic treatment, with a larger treatment effect in patients with pre-existing cytopenia (WHIM syndrome) compared to patients without cytopenia at baseline (ccRCC and WM). Co-occurring reduction in infection burden was observed in the phase 2 trial in WHIM syndrome. Assessment of the beneficial effects of mavorixafor on total and WBC subsets is ongoing in a phase 3 trial of WHIM syndrome and a phase 1 trial of severe chronic neutropenia (SCN) that will assess the potential to correct cytopenias by elevating total WBC counts. Disclosures Dale: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Treon: AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Dana Farber Cancer Institute: Current Employment; Self: Patents & Royalties: Holder of multiple patents related to testing and treatment of MYD88 and CXCR4 mutated B-cell malignancies; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; X4: Research Funding. McDermott: Johnson and Johnson: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genentech: Research Funding; Eisia Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria; Werewolf Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Calithera Biosciences: Consultancy, Honoraria; X4 Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Iovance: Consultancy, Honoraria; EMD Serono: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Exelixis: Research Funding; Alkermes, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Eli Lilly and Company: Consultancy, Honoraria. Cadavid: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Luo: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Garg: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Tang: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Jiang: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Chen: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Taveras: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Bhandari: X4 Pharmaceuticals: Current Employment.


Epidemiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-242
Author(s):  
Paula McFadden ◽  
Ruth D. Neill ◽  
John Moriarty ◽  
Patricia Gillen ◽  
John Mallett ◽  
...  

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve around the world, it is important to examine its effect on societies and individuals, including health and social care (HSC) professionals. The aim of this study was to compare cross-sectional data collected from HSC staff in the UK at two time points during the COVID-19 pandemic: Phase 1 (May–July 2020) and Phase 2 (November 2020–January 2021). The HSC staff surveyed consisted of nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, social care workers and social workers from across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland). Multiple regressions were used to examine the effects of different coping strategies and demographic and work-related variables on participants’ wellbeing and quality of working life to see how and if the predictors changed over time. An additional multiple regression was used to directly examine the effects of time (Phase 1 vs. Phase 2) on the outcome variables. Findings suggested that both wellbeing and quality of working life deteriorated from Phase 1 to Phase 2. The results have the potential to inform interventions for HSC staff during future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, other infectious outbreaks or even other circumstances putting long-term pressures on HSC systems.


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