scholarly journals Development of an Instrument to Assess Work Productivity in Individuals With Voice Disorders: The Work Hoarse

2018 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiubei Zhu ◽  
Amanda Hu ◽  
John Paul Giliberto ◽  
Samantha Carlson ◽  
Samantha Jensen ◽  
...  

Objectives: Vocal function is critical to employability in the modern era. Although research clearly demonstrates that a disordered voice affects quality of life, few studies have attempted to quantitate the effects of a disordered voice on work productivity. The Voice-Related Statements battery, which originally had 20 items, was previously developed to qualitatively describe how an individual’s dysphonia affects his or her job performance. The aim of this study was to refine and reduce the item number and provide preliminary validation of this shortened instrument. Methods: The Voice-Related Statements instrument was administered to employed patients with dysphonia in conjunction with 2 additional instruments: the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI). Response distributions and intercorrelations were examined for item reduction. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on retained items. Correlations were performed with other voice-related instruments. Reliability was tested using a coefficient of stability. Results: One hundred seventy-four employed patients with dysphonia were enrolled in this study. Six items were removed because of redundancy, factor analysis, and cognitive interview results. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 1-factor structure explaining 66.28% of the total variance. The final 8-item instrument demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.93), with a moderately robust correlation with the VHI ( r = 0.68, P < .001) and WPAI work impairment measures ( r = 0.63, P < .001). The VHI showed a much weaker correlation with WPAI work impairment ( r = 0.48, P < .001). Test-retest reliability was good (0.83, P < .01). Conclusions: An 8-item instrument to qualitatively measure the impact of a disordered voice at work has been developed and is called the Work Hoarse. This instrument is a better measure of voice-related work productivity impairment than the VHI and will augment quantitative work productivity instruments that are currently available.

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 546-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Heelan ◽  
S. L. Hitzig ◽  
S. Knowles ◽  
A. M. Drucker ◽  
N. Mittmann ◽  
...  

Background: Little is known about quality of life and work productivity in autoimmune bullous dermatoses (AIBDs). Objective: To determine the impact of AIBDs on quality of life and work productivity. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study took place between February and May 2013 at an AIBD tertiary referral centre. Ninety-four patients were included. All participants completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment–Specific Health Problem questionnaires. Results: Responders to treatment had less impairment ( P < .001) than nonresponders. Patients with severe AIBD had significantly more impairment that those with mild ( P < .001) and moderate ( P = .002) AIBD. Greater impairment was associated with higher percentage of work missed. Those with a higher Dermatology Life Quality Index score had greater work impairment and overall activity impairment ( P = .041, P = .024). Nonresponders had increased impairment while working ( P < .001), overall work impairment ( P < .001), and activity impairment ( P < .001). Severely affected patients had worse impairment in all Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire domains. Conclusions: AIBD has the potential to be a large burden on ability to work and quality of life. Larger studies are needed to clarify how these domains change over time and whether or not they improve with treatment.


GeroPsych ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence M. Solberg ◽  
Lauren B. Solberg ◽  
Emily N. Peterson

Stress in caregivers may affect the healthcare recipients receive. We examined the impact of stress experienced by 45 adult caregivers of their elderly demented parents. The participants completed a 32-item questionnaire about the impact of experienced stress. The questionnaire also asked about interventions that might help to reduce the impact of stress. After exploratory factor analysis, we reduced the 32-item questionnaire to 13 items. Results indicated that caregivers experienced stress, anxiety, and sadness. Also, emotional, but not financial or professional, well-being was significantly impacted. There was no significant difference between the impact of caregiver stress on members from the sandwich generation and those from the nonsandwich generation. Meeting with a social worker for resource availability was identified most frequently as a potentially helpful intervention for coping with the impact of stress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1658.1-1658
Author(s):  
L. Tu ◽  
Y. Xie ◽  
Q. Lv ◽  
M. Yang ◽  
Z. Liao ◽  
...  

Background:Poorer work productivity due to pain and functional impairment is commonly seen in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, which may contribute to huge social economic burden. However, data about work outcomes and associated factors in Chinese AS patients were barely reported.Objectives:To assess work outcomes and identify factors associated with poor work productivity in patients with AS in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in China. Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) fulfilled the 1984 New York modified criteria of AS were enrolled from rheumatology center from Jan 2017 to Aug 2017. All participants completed questionnaires about socio-demographic characteristics, disease characteristics, quality of life and the Work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire in AS (WPAI:SpA) to accesses the impact of chronic health conditions on job performance and productivity. Factors associated with work outcomes were evaluated.Results:A total of 91 patients with AS were included: 87.8% males, 78.02% employed, mean age and disease duration of 30 and 10 years respectively. The mean (SD) activity impairment of all patients was 48.57% (22.02%). For patients with employed work, mean (SD) absenteeism, presenteeism and work productivity loss were 10.22% (19.44%), 43.86% (22.48%) and 47.92% (25.81%) respectively. In multivariable analysis, activity impairment was associated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) (P<0.01) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) (P<0.01). Absenteeism was associated with disease duration (P=0.03). Presenteeism was associated with disease duration (P=0.04), BASFI (P<0.01) and ASQoL (P<0.01). Work productivity loss was associated with BASFI (P<0.01) and ASQoL (P<0.01).Conclusion:Longer disease duration, reduced physical function and poorer quality of life are associated with reduced work productivity in Chinese AS patients.References:[1]Boonen A, van der Heijde D, Landewe R, Spoorenberg A, Schouten H, Rutten-van Molken M, et al. Work status and productivity costs due to ankylosing spondylitis: comparison of three European countries. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2002;61(5):429-37.[2]Martindale J, Shukla R, Goodacre J. The impact of ankylosing spondylitis/axial spondyloarthritis on work productivity. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015;29(3):512-23.[3]Castillo-Ortiz JD, Ramiro S, Landewe R, van der Heijde D, Dougados M, van den Bosch F, et al. Work Outcome in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results From a 12-Year Followup of an International Study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(4):544-52.[4]Sag S, Nas K, Sag MS, Tekeoglu I, Kamanli A. Relationship of work disability between the disease activity, depression and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018;31(3):499-505.[5]Goh Y, Kwan YH, Leung YY, Fong W, Cheung PP. A cross-sectional study on factors associated with poor work outcomes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in Singapore. Int J Rheum Dis. 2019;22(11):2001-8.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 426-426
Author(s):  
A. Deodhar ◽  
P. J. Mease ◽  
L. S. Gensler ◽  
P. Rahman ◽  
V. Navarro-Compán ◽  
...  

Background:Patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) experience impairments in health-related quality of life comparable to those seen in ankylosing spondylitis, including impacts on work productivity. Ixekizumab (IXE) is a high-affinity monoclonal antibody that selectively targets interleukin-17A and effectively treats axial spondyloarthritis.1,2,3Objectives:This analysis evaluated the effect of IXE treatment for 52 weeks on work productivity and activity impairment as measured by absenteeism, presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment in patients with active nr-axSpA.Methods:COAST-X (NCT02757352) was a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group outpatient study investigating the efficacy and safety of 80 mg IXE every 2 weeks (Q2W) and every 4 weeks (Q4W) compared to placebo (PBO) in 303 patients naïve to biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs with active nr-axSpA during a 52-week treatment period. From Weeks 16 through 44, if patients’ disease activity required escalation of treatment at investigator discretion, patients were switched to open-label IXE Q2W or subsequent tumor necrosis factor inhibitor treatment. Analysis was performed for the intent-to-treat population, which included data up to the time of biologic switching. Patients who switched to open-label IXE were considered non-responders. Changes from baseline in work productivity were measured for patients reporting full- or part-time work at Weeks 16 and 52 with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire for Spondyloarthritis and analyzed with an analysis of covariance model including treatment, geographic region, screening magnetic resonance imaging and C-reactive protein level status, and baseline value as factors. Missing data was imputed using the modified baseline observation carried forward.Results:A majority of patients (63.5–65.7%) reported part-time or full-time paid work at baseline, with baseline scores for presenteeism and overall work activity slightly higher for patients in the PBO arm (p<0.05). Patients treated with IXE Q4W had significantly greater improvement than PBO in activity impairment at Weeks 16 (p=0.003) and 52 (p=0.004), presenteeism at Weeks 16 (p=0.007) and 52 (p=0.003), and overall work impairment at Weeks 16 (p=0.014) and 52 (p=0.005; Figure). Patients treated with IXE Q2W had significantly greater improvement than PBO in activity impairment at Weeks 16 (p=0.007) and 52 (p=0.006; Figure). Patients treated with either IXE regimen had numeric improvements in all WPAI measures compared to those receiving PBO at Weeks 16 and 52 (Figure).Conclusion:Patients with nr-axSpA treated with either IXE regimen had significant improvements in activity impairment compared to PBO. Patients receiving IXE Q4W also had significant improvements in presenteeism and overall work impairment.References:[1]Sieper, et al. (2016)Clin Exp Rheumatol.34(6):975-83.[2]Van der Heijde, et al. (2018)Lancet. 392(10163):2441-51.[3]Deodhar, et al. (2019)Arthritis Rheumatol.71(4):599-611.Figure.Changes from baseline in A) Absenteeism, B) Presenteeism, C) Overall Work Impairment, and D) Activity Impairment.Disclosure of Interests:Atul Deodhar Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, GSK, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myer Squibb (BMS), Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myer Squibb (BMS), Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Philip J Mease Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharma, UCB Pharma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharma, UCB Pharma, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Genentech, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB Pharma, Lianne S. Gensler Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Novartis, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, GSK, Novartis, UCB, Proton Rahman Grant/research support from: Janssen and Novartis, Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: Abbott, AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Victoria Navarro-Compán Consultant of: Abbvie, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, MSD, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Helena Marzo-Ortega Grant/research support from: Janssen, Novartis, Consultant of: Abbvie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda, UCB, Theresa Hunter Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, David Sandoval Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Andris Kronbergs Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Baojin Zhu Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Ann Leung: None declared, Vibeke Strand Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celltrion, Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America, Crescendo Bioscience, Eli Lilly, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi, UCB


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (03) ◽  
pp. 314-321
Author(s):  
José Manuel Hernández-Padilla ◽  
Matías Correa-Casado ◽  
José Granero-Molina ◽  
Alda Elena Cortés-Rodríguez ◽  
Tamara María Matarín-Jiménez ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically evaluate the Spanish version of the “Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal” (SEOLCAS).MethodObservational cross-sectional study. Convenience sample of 201 informal end-of-life caregivers recruited in a southern Spanish hospital. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed through its internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and temporal stability (Pearson's correlation coefficient [r] between test-retest). The content validity index of the items and the scale was calculated. Criterion validity was explored through performing a linear regression analysis to evaluate the SEOLCAS’ predictive validity. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine its construct validity.ResultsThe SEOLCAS’ reliability was very high (Cronbach's α = 0.92). Its content validity was excellent (all items’ content validity index = 0.8–1; scale's validity index = 0.88). Evidence of the SEOLCAS’ criterion validity showed that the participants’ scores on the SEOLCAS explained approximately 79.3% of the between-subject variation of their results on the Zarit Burden Interview. Exploratory factor analysis provided evidence of the SEOLCAS’ construct validity. This analysis revealed that two factors (“internal contingencies” and “external contingencies”) explained 53.77% of the total variance found and reflected the stoic Hispanic attitude toward adversity.Significance of resultsThe Spanish version of the SEOLCAS has shown to be an easily applicable, valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate tool to measure the impact of end-of-life care provision on Hispanic informal caregivers. This tool offers healthcare professionals the opportunity to easily explore Hispanic informal end-of-life caregivers’ experiences and discover the type of support they may need (instrumental or emotional) even when there are communicational and organizational constraints.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (311) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Tarka

Abstract: The objective article is the comparative analysis of Likert rating scale based on the following range of response categories, i.e. 5, 7, 9 and 11 in context of the appropriate process of factors extraction in exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The problem which is being addressed in article relates primarily to the methodological aspects, both in selection of the optimal number of response categories of the measured items (constituting the Likert scale) and identification of possible changes, differences or similarities associated (as a result of the impact of four types of scales) with extraction and determination the appropriate number of factors in EFA model.Keywords: Exploratory factor analysis, Likert scale, experiment research, marketing


Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie L Boucher ◽  
Jeffrey J VanWormer ◽  
Heather R Britt ◽  
James M Peacock ◽  
Kevin J Graham

Introduction: Unhealthy lifestyles are associated with low workplace productivity, but lifestyle risks tend to cluster and the impact of this is not well studied. This analysis examined the cross-sectional association between an optimal lifestyle score (OLS) and overall workplace productivity in the Heart of New Ulm Project. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that a higher OLS would be associated with higher workplace productivity relative to a lower OLS. Methods: Complete data was available from 2,987 adults age 18-85 years (with ≥0.40 FTE work agreement) without self-reported diabetes or heart disease, who underwent a cardiovascular risk factor screening in 2009. For each participant, an OLS of 0-4 total points was created by summing one point for each of the following factors: non-smoker, ≥150 min/wk of moderately equivalent physical activity, 1-14 alcoholic drinks/wk, and ≥5 serv/d of fruits and vegetables. Overall productivity loss combined absenteeism and presenteeism from the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire, reflecting the percentage loss of all available work hours (per work agreement) due to health reasons. Results: After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and Perceived Stress Scale score, least squares adjusted mean±SE productivity loss was 9.9±1.9% for an OLS of 0, 5.7±0.6% for an OLS of 1, 4.9±0.4% for an OLS of 2, 4.9±0.4% for an OLS of 3, and 4.7±1.0% for an OLS of 4 (p for trend <0.001). Post hoc comparisons revealed that OLS’s of 0 were significantly different (p =0.05) from all other OLS’s, while OLS’s of 1, 2, 3, or 4 were statistically indistinguishable (p=0.05) from one another. Conclusions: A beneficial threshold of having at least one optimal lifestyle factor was observed. When productivity loss is converted to lost dollars under the assumptions that all employees work full time with an annual salary of $50,000, an OLS of 0 (-$4,950/employee) has over two-fold higher annual estimated workplace productivity losses relative to an OLS of 4 (-$2,350/employee). Employees with no optimal lifestyle habits, however, represent a very small proportion (1.5% of this analysis; 46 of 2,987) of the total workforce. As such, greater absolute economic benefits may be realized by focusing interventions primarily on supporting the maintenance of existing optimal lifestyle habits.


Author(s):  
Hisham M. Abdelsalam ◽  
Christopher G. Reddick ◽  
Hatem A. ElKadi ◽  
Sara Gama

An important area of e-government research is how different stakeholders perceive the impact and the use of e-government systems on the different channels of governmental services. The objective of this article is to examine the perceived effectiveness of local e-government systems through a survey of directors in different Egyptian cities. The approach to accomplish this objective is to conduct exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis to determine what factors explain e-government effectiveness. This research adopts a model that uses the citizen-initiated contacts with government literature as a way for understanding e-government effectiveness. Results of an exploratory factor analysis reveal that e-government effectiveness is explained by management capacity, security and privacy, and collaboration. These factors were then analyzed through regression models that indicated that management capacity and security and privacy influenced e-government effectiveness. However, there was no evidence that collaboration had a statistically significant impact on e-government effectiveness. This paper fits into the theme of the special issue since it suggests strategies to better design e-government technology for local governments in Egypt through changes in security, privacy, and management capacity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Galloway ◽  
Jean-Philippe Capron ◽  
Francesco De Leonardis ◽  
Walid Fakhouri ◽  
Alison Rose ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective RA is a progressive, chronic autoimmune disease. We summarize the impact of disease activity as measured by the DAS in 28 joints (DAS28-CRP scores) and pain on productivity and ability to work using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI) scores, in addition to the impact of disease duration on the ability to work. Methods Data were drawn from the Burden of RA across Europe: a Socioeconomic Survey (BRASS), a European cross-sectional study in RA. Analyses explored associations between DAS28-CRP score and disease duration with stopping work because of RA, and regression analyses assessed impacts of pain and DAS28-CRP on early retirement and WPAI. Results Four hundred and seventy-six RA specialist clinicians provided information on 4079 adults with RA, of whom 2087 completed the patient survey. Severe disease activity was associated with higher rates of stopping work or early retirement attributable to RA (21%) vs moderate/mild disease (7%) or remission (8%). Work impairment was higher in severe (67%) or moderate RA (45%) compared with low disease activity [LDA (37%)] or remission (28%). Moreover, patients with severe (60%) or moderate pain (48%) experienced increased work impairment [mild (34%) or no pain (19%)]. Moderate to severe pain is significant in patients with LDA (35%) or remission (22%). A statistically significant association was found between severity, duration and pain vs work impairment, and between disease duration vs early retirement. Conclusion Results demonstrate the high burden of RA. Furthermore, subjective domains, such as pain, could be as important as objective measures of RA activity in affecting the ability to work.


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