Clasificación Internacional como plataforma esencial para la clarificación de conceptos relacionados con la salud / International Classification as an essential platform for clarifying concepts related to health

La Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, de la Discapacidad y de la Salud (CIF) constituye elmarco conceptual de la Organización Mundial de la Salud para una nueva comprensión del funcionamiento,la discapacidad y la salud. Como herramienta del nuevo paradigma en salud del siglo XXI, laCIF, por su validez de contenido, constituye la base para la clarificación de conceptos relacionados con la salud de amplia utilización en la literatura médica, y metodológicamente se ha demostrado útil para definir qué debemos medir al evaluar integralmente el funcionamiento de las personas a lo largo del tiempo y comprender cómo sus componentes interactúan entre sí.

The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has provided a new foundation for our understanding of health, functioning, and disability. As a con-tent-valid, comprehensive and universally applicable health classification for the 21st century, it serves as a platform to clarify and specify health-related concepts that are frequently used in the medical lite-rature, and to describe the process of addressing the question of what to measure in studies in which the main focus is a comprehensive understanding of functioning over time, and how its components interact or affect each other.

Development and validation of a new instrument to measure health-related quality of life in patients with psoriatic arthritis: the VITACORA-19.

OBJECTIVE: To develop/validate an instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), for use in clinical studies. METHODS: An item pool of 35 items was generated following standardized procedures. Item reduction was performed using clinimetric and psychometric approaches after administration to 66 patients with PsA. The resulting instrument, the VITACORA-19, consists of 19 items. Its validity content, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, known groups/convergent validity, and sensitivity to change were tested in a longitudinal and multicenter study conducted in 10 hospitals in Spain, with 323 patients who also completed the EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D) and a health status transition item. There were 3 study groups: group A (n = 209, patients with PsA), group B (n = 71, patients with arthritis without psoriatic aspect, patients with arthrosis, and patients with dermatitis), and group C (n = 43, healthy controls). RESULTS: The questionnaire was considered easy/very easy to answer by 94.7% of the patients with PsA. The factorial analysis clearly identified only 1 factor. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and interclass correlation coefficients exceeded 0.90. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed between groups: subjects from group C had better HRQoL, followed by group B, and finally group A had the worst HRQoL. The VITACORA-19 scores showed significant correlations (p < 0.001) to PsA disease activity, EQ-5D, and perceived health state, scoring the patients with better health state higher. The minimum important difference was established as an 8-point change in the global score. CONCLUSION: The Spanish-developed VITACORA-19, designed to measure HRQoL in patients with PsA, has good validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change.

Análisis descriptivo de los ensayos clínicos con subestudio farmacogenético presentados al Comité Autonómico de Andalucía (2005-2008) / Descriptive analysis of clinical trials with pharmacogenetics substudy submitted to the Ethics Committee of Andalusia, Spain (2005-2008)

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Análisis descriptivo de los ensayos clínicos con subestudio farmacogenético presentados al Comité Autonómico de Andalucía (2005-2008) / Descriptive analysis of clinical trials with pharmacogenetics substudy submitted to the Ethics Committee of Andalusia, Spain (2005-2008)

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[Quality of life, health and well-being conceptualizations from the perspective of the International Classification of Functioning, disability and health (ICF)]. / Los conceptos de calidad de vida, salud y bienestar analizados desde la perspectiva de la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento (CIF).

The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has provided a new foundation for our understanding of health, functioning, and disability. As a content-valid, comprehensive and universally applicable health classification, it serves as a platform to clarify and specify health-related concepts that are frequently used in the medical literature as well-being, health state, health status, quality of life (QoL) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The ICF entities health and health-related domains and functioning will be used as starting point to reach the objective of the paper. Health domains refer to domains intrinsic to the person as a physiological and psychological entity. Health-related domains are not part of a person's health but are so closely related that a description of a person's lived experience of health would be incomplete without them. Functioning refers to all health and health-related domains within the ICF. Well-being is made up of health, health-related, and non-health-related domains, such as autonomy and integrity. QoL is the individual's perceptions of how the life is going in health, health-related, and non-health domains. HRQoL is the individual's perceptions of how the life is going in health and health-related domains. "HRQoL is to QoL as functioning is to well-being". The ICF represents a standardized and international basis for the operationalization of health based on its health domains, and is also the basis for the operationalization of functioning based on all health and health-related domains contained therein. The authors argue that functioning is an operationalization of health from a broader perspective that consider the individual person not only as a biological but also as a social entity.

Global psychology: a bibliometric analysis of Web of Science publications / Psicología a nivel mundial: un análisis bibliométrico de las publicaciones en la Web of Science

En el siguiente trabajo se realizó una clasificación por países, atendiendo al análisis de la producción científica de las revistas de psicología. Se analizaron un total de 108.741 documentos, publicados en la Web of Science. Los indicadores empleados fueron el Factor de Impacto Ponderado, el Factor de Impacto Relativo, la Tasa de Citas por artículo y artículos publicados en las cinco primeras revistas de Journal Citación Report (JCR). Los resultados indican que España posee el mayor porcentaje de artículos en las primeras cinco revistas del JCR, y Colombia es el segundo país latinoamericano de lengua castellana que tiene más citas por artículo. Países como Hungría, Italia y EE.UU, poseían un mayor Factor de Impacto y Tasa de Citas.

In this study, we carried a classification by country based on the analysis of the scientific production of psychology journals. We analyzed a total of 108,741 documents, published in the Web of Science. The indicators used were the Weighted Impact Factor, the Relative Impact Factor, the Citation Rate per article and the articles published in the top five journals of the Journal Citation Report (JCR). The results indicate that Spain has the highest percentage of articles in the top five journals in the JCR and Colombia is the second latin american, Spanish - speaking country that has more citations per article. Countries like Hungary, Italy and USA, had a higher Impact Factor and Citation Rate.

Los conceptos de salud, calidad de vida y funcionamiento desde el punto de vista de la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento (CIF) / Quality of life, health and well-being conceptualizations from the perspective of the International Classification of Functioning, disability and health (ICF)

La Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, de la Discapacidady de la Salud (CIF), constituye el marco conceptual de laOMS para una nueva comprensión del funcionamiento, la discapacidady la salud. Sus componentes esenciales están integrados en laecuación dinámica funcionamiento/discapacidad. Por su validez decontenido la CIF supone la base para la clarificación de conceptos deamplia utilización sanitaria como bienestar, estado de salud, status desalud, calidad de vida o calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Deahí que el análisis de los dominios de la salud, de los relacionadoscon ella y el funcionamiento sean el punto de partida de este trabajo.Los dominios de la salud son los intrínsecos a la persona como entidadfisio-psicológica. Los dominios relacionados con la salud sonlos extrínsecos al individuo pero que no se pueden desligar de susalud. Funcionamiento se refiere al conjunto de aspectos de ambosdominios. Bienestar es un concepto globalizador que abarca, losrelacionados con la salud y los no relacionados con ella, como autonomíae integridad. El concepto de Bienestar es intercambiable conel de Calidad de Vida (CV) con sólo invertir el punto de vista: objetivovs subjetivo. Lo mismo vale para Funcionamiento y Calidad deVida Relacionada con la Salud (CVRS). CVRS es a CV como Funcionamientoes a Bienestar. Por ello la CIF representa una base estandarizadae internacional para una operación de la salud y el funcionamientobasada en los dominios de la salud y en los relacionadoscon ella. Pero al considerar también los dominios no relacionadoscon la salud (relativos al medio ambiente) operacionaliza la saluddesde una perspectiva más amplia que entiende al individuo comouna entidad biológica y social(AU)

The World Health Organization's International Classification ofFunctioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has provided a new foundationfor our understanding of health, functioning, and disability.As a content-valid, comprehensive and universally applicable healthclassification, it serves as a platform to clarify and specify healthrelatedconcepts that are frequently used in the medical literature aswell-being, health state, health status, quality of life (QoL) andhealth-related quality of life (HRQoL).The ICF entities health and health-related domains and functioningwill be used as starting point to reach the objective of the paper.Health domains refer to domains intrinsic to the person as a physiologicaland psychological entity. Health-related domains are not part ofa person's health but are so closely related that a description of a person'slived experience of health would be incomplete without them.Functioning refers to all health and health-related domains within theICF. Well-being is made up of health, health-related, and non-healthrelateddomains, such as autonomy and integrity. QoL is the individual'sperceptions of how the life is going in health, health-related,and non-health domains. HRQoL is the individual's perceptions ofhow the life is going in health and health-related domains. "HRQoL isto QoL as functioning is to well-being". The ICF represents a standardizedand international basis for the operationalization of healthbased on its health domains, and is also the basis for the operationalizationof functioning based on all health and health-related domainscontained therein. The authors argue that functioning is an operationalizationof health from a broader perspective that consider the individualperson not only as a biological but also as a social entity(AU)

Funcionamiento y discapacidad: la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento (CIF) / Functioning and disability: the International Classification of Functioning, disability and health (ICF)

La Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, de la Discapacidady de la Salud (CIF) constituye el marco conceptual de laOMS para una nueva comprensión del funcionamiento, la discapacidady la salud. Es una clasificación universal que establece un marcoy lenguaje estandarizados para describir la salud y las dimensionesrelacionadas con ella. Abarca tres componentes esenciales: funcionescorporales/estructuras, actividad y participación, integrados bajo lostérminos “funcionamiento“ y “discapacidad“, que dependen de lacondición de salud y de su interacción con factores contextuales. Loscomponentes están clasificados mediante categorías. Hoy por hoyconsta de 1.424 categorías organizadas en una estructura jerárquicade 4 niveles de menos preciso a más. En el caso de los factores contextualesla cuantificación de las categorías mediante calificadoresestablece en qué medida un factor actúa como barrera o facilitador.La instrumentalización de la CIF con fines prácticos ha llevadoal desarrollo de grupos de categorías (núcleos básicos) útilespara la clínica práctica, la provisión de servicios o la investigación.Los núcleos básicos son abreviados o extensos según laintención sea estudiar condiciones específicas o realizar aplicacionesintegrales multidisciplinares. Existen núcleos básicos paraenfermedades muy prevalentes según la fase del proceso: aguda,postaguda, crónica o comunitaria, cubriendo todo el proceso deenfermedad y toda la cadena sanitaria. Su aplicación clínica mejorala comunicación médico-paciente y el establecimiento de objetivosterapéuticos integrales. Asimismo, sirve para la evaluaciónmultidisciplinar en medios clínicos, legales y de programas. LaCIF logra la superación de conceptos de amplia utilización sanitaria,como bienestar, estado de salud o calidad de vida relacionadacon la salud y abre una nueva línea de enseñanza estudiantil entodas las especialidades y de formación integral multiprofesional(AU)

The World Health Organization’s International Classification ofFunctioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has provided a newfoundation for our understanding of health, functioning, anddisability. It covers most of the health and health-related domainsthat make up the human experience, and the most environmentalfactors that influence that experience of functioning and disability.With the exhaustive ICF, patients’ functioning –including itscomponents body functions and structures and activities andparticipation–, becomes a central perspective in medicine. Toimplement the ICF in medicine and other fields, practical tools(= ICF Core Sets) have been developed. They are selected sets ofcategories out of the whole classification which serve as minimalstandards for the assessment and reporting of functioning and healthfor clinical studies and clinical encounters (Brief ICF Core Set) or asstandards for multiprofessional comprehensive assessment(Comprehensive ICF Core Set). Different from generic andcondition-specific health-status measures, the ICF Core Sets includeimportant body functions and structures and contextual factors. Theuse of the ICF Core Sets provides an important step towardsimproved communications between healthcare providers andprofessionals, and will enable patients and their families tounderstand and communicate with health professionals about theirfunctioning and treatment goals. Specific applications include multiandinterdisciplinary assessment in clinical settings and in legalexpert evaluations and use in disease or functioning-managementprograms. The ICF has also a potential as a conceptual frameworkto clarify an interrelated universe of health-related concepts whichcan be elucidated based on the ICF and therefore will be an idealtool for teaching students in all medical fields and may open doorsto multi-professional learning(AU)

Application of item response theory to achieve cross-cultural comparability of occupational stress measurement.

Our objective was to examine cross-cultural comparability of standard scales of the Effort-Reward Imbalance occupational stress scales by item response theory (IRT) analyses. Data were from 20,256 Japanese employees, 1464 Dutch nurses and nurses' aides, 2128 representative employees from post-communist countries, 963 Swedish representative employees, 421 Chinese female employees, 10,175 employees of the French national gas and electric company and 734 Spanish railroad employees, sanitary personnel and telephone operators. The IRT likelihood ratio model was used for differential item functioning (DIF) and differential test functioning (DTF) analyses. Despite the existence of DIF, most comparisons did not show discernible differences in the relations between Effort-Reward total score and level of the underlying trait across cultural groups. In the case that DTF was suspected, excluding an item with significant DIF improved the comparability. The full cross-cultural comparability of Effort-Reward Imbalance scores can be achieved with the help of IRT analysis.

[Functioning and disability: the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)]. / Funcionamiento y discapacidad: la clasificación internacional del funcionamiento (CIF).

The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has provided a new foundation for our understanding of health, functioning, and disability. It covers most of the health and health-related domains that make up the human experience, and the most environmental factors that influence that experience of functioning and disability. With the exhaustive ICF, patients' functioning -including its components body functions and structures and activities and participation-, becomes a central perspective in medicine. To implement the ICF in medicine and other fields, practical tools (= ICF Core Sets) have been developed. They are selected sets of categories out of the whole classification which serve as minimal standards for the assessment and reporting of functioning and health for clinical studies and clinical encounters (Brief ICF Core Set) or as standards for multiprofessional comprehensive assessment (Comprehensive ICF Core Set). Different from generic and condition-specific health-status measures, the ICF Core Sets include important body functions and structures and contextual factors. The use of the ICF Core Sets provides an important step towards improved communications between healthcare providers and professionals, and will enable patients and their families to understand and communicate with health professionals about their functioning and treatment goals. Specific applications include multi- and interdisciplinary assessment in clinical settings and in legal expert evaluations and use in disease or functioning-management programs. The ICF has also a potential as a conceptual framework to clarify an interrelated universe of health-related concepts which can be elucidated based on the ICF and therefore will be an ideal tool for teaching students in all medical fields and may open doors to multi-professional learning.

“Ganarás el pan con el sudor de tu frente " / “It’s by the sweat of your brow that you will eat your food ”

Hoy día tenemos suficientes evidencias de que la exposición mantenida a ambientes psicosocialesadversos en el trabajo provoca reacciones sostenidas de estrés con nefastas consecuenciaspara la salud. Un gran número de enfermedades se han relacionado con la exposición a tales condicionespsicosociales adversas (sobre todo cardiovasculares, musculoesqueléticas y mentales). Lainvestigación del estrés relacionado con el ambiente laboral desfavorable difiere sustancialmentede la investigación biomédica tradicional de las enfermedades profesionales, y precisa definir conceptosteóricos para delimitar las características laborales estresantes y, a continuación, trasladartales conceptos a medidas, con la ayuda de métodos selectivos de investigación psicológica ysociológica (cuestionarios, técnicas de observación, etc). Entre los modelos teóricos desarrolladosmerecen especial atención el modelo “demanda-control”, el modelo “desequilibrio esfuerzo-recompensa”y el modelo “justicia organizativa”. En este artículo se describen las características más importantesde tales modelos y se discuten las implicaciones políticas subsiguientes orientadas a la promociónde la salud en el puesto de trabajo

Currently there is sufficient evidence that maintained exposure to psychosocial factors at workmay cause sustained reactions of stress with devastating consequences for ones health. Many diseaseshave been related to adverse psychosocial conditions in the workplace (above all coronary heartdiseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental illness).There have been several different approachesto measurement of work stress and, more recently, research has tended to focus on a few explicittheoretical concepts.Among these, the model of job demand-control, effort-reward imbalance and organizationaljustice model have received special attention. These theoretical concepts are operationalizedusing standardized methods of social and behavioral sciences (e.g. structured interviews, systematicobservation, standardized questionnaires (so called paper and pencil tests))This article describes the most important characteristics of the models mentioned above and thepolicy implications of the findings for improved worksite health promotion are discussed

Validez convergente y divergente del índice de resistencia a la enfermedad / Checking of the convergent and divergent validity of the disease resistance index

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[Job stress and quality of life of primary care health-workers: evidence of validity of the PECVEC questionnaire]. / Estrés laboral y calidad de vida en sanitarios de atención primaria: una prueba de la validez del cuestionario PECVEC.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) and stress at work among Primary Care workers, as evidence of the construct validity of the Spanish version (PECVEC) of the profile of quality of life in the chronically ill (PLC) questionnaire. In addition, to check its other psychometric properties. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Eighteen primary care centres in Health Area IV, Asturias (Oviedo), Spain, sharing similar socio-demographic conditions. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and thirty-three primary care nurses and physicians. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: HRQL was evaluated by the 6 general dimensions of the Spanish version of the PLC. Stress at work was evaluated by the three scales of the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The construct validity of the PECVEC was assessed by testing the inverse associations of QoL dimensions and job stress ones, when the most important confuser variables were monitored. The non-response rate was low (<3%), and no floor effects and only small ceiling effects were observed. Internal consistency analysis and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated high reliability, factorial validity and convergent/divergent validity of the PECVEC. CONCLUSIONS: The PECVEC demonstrates adequate psychometric properties for evaluating HRQL in healthy subjects.

Estrés laboral y calidad de vida en sanitarios de atención primaria: una prueba de la validez del cuestionario PECVEC / Job stress and quality of life of primary care health-workers: evidence of validity

Objetivos. Evaluar en sanitarios de atención primaria la relación entre calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) y estrés laboral como expresión de validez de construcción del cuestionario PECVEC. Recomprobar restantes propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario. Diseño. Estudio transversal. Emplazamiento. El estudio se realizó en 18 centros de salud del Área sanitaria IV de Asturias (Oviedo), de similares condiciones sociodemográficas. Participantes. Se incluyó a 233 profesionales de medicina y enfermería de atención primaria. Mediciones principales. Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud investigada con las 6 dimensiones genéricas del perfil de calidad de vida en enfermos crónicos (PECVEC) y estrés laboral evaluado por las 3 escalas del cuestionario «desequilibrio esfuerzo-recompensa» (DER). Resultados. La validez de construcción del PECVEC se evaluó mediante la comprobación de la relación inversa entre las dimensiones de calidad de vida y las de estrés laboral, cuando se controlaron las variables de confusión más importantes. El porcentaje de ítems no respondidos fue bajo (< 3%), y no se observó un efecto «suelo» y sí un mínimo efecto «techo W». El análisis de la consistencia interna y el factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio demostraron la alta fiabilidad, la validez factorial y la validez convergente y divergente del PECVEC. Conclusiones. El cuestionario PECVEC ha demostrado adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para evaluar la CVRS en personas sanas

Objectives. To evaluate the relationship between Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) and stress at work among Primary Care workers, as evidence of the construct validity of the Spanish version (PECVEC) of the profile of quality of life in the chronically ill (PLC) questionnaire. In addition, to check its other psychometric properties. Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. Eighteen primary care centres in Health Area IV, Asturias (Oviedo), Spain, sharing similar socio-demographic conditions. Participants. Two hundred and thirty-three primary care nurses and physicians. Main measurements. HRQL was evaluated by the 6 general dimensions of the Spanish version of the PLC. Stress at work was evaluated by the three scales of the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire. Results. The construct validity of the PECVEC was assessed by testing the inverse associations of QoL dimensions and job stress ones, when the most important confuser variables were monitored. The non-response rate was low (<3%), and no floor effects and only small ceiling effects were observed. Internal consistency analysis and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated high reliability, factorial validity and convergent/divergent validity of the PECVEC. Conclusions. The PECVEC demonstrates adequate psychometric properties for evaluating HRQL in healthy subjects

Análisis factorial confirmatorio de la versión española del cuestionario Effort-Reward Imbalance, de medida del estrés laboral / Factorial analysis confirming the spanish version of the effort-reward imbalance. Questionnaire for measuring stress at work

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Escala para medir la calidad de vida en desdentados totales rehabilitados con prótesis completa mucosoportada / Scale to measure quality of life in edentulous patients rehabilitated with full tissue-supported prostheses

Introducción: El objetivo del presente artículo es valorar la utilidad de una escala especifica para medir el bienestar físico en pacientes desdentados totales. Se ha integrado esta escala en un cuestionario modular genérico para medir la Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud (CVRS). Pacientes y método: Se aplicó la escala conjuntamente con el cuestionario Perfil de Calidad de Vida en Enfermos Crónicos (PECVEC). En un estudio longitudinal, se siguieron cincuenta pacientes desdentados, que asistieron a tratamiento para la colocación de una prótesis total, en las Clínicas Odontológicas, de la Universidad de Guadalajara, México. Se realizaron tres determinaciones de la CVRS. Al empezar el tratamiento, a las ocho semanas y a los seis meses. Resultados: Se obtuvo una fiabilidad media del cuestionario de 0,74 (Cronbach). La CVRS mejoró progresivamente entre la primera y la tercera medición, presentando una mayor satisfacción con la prótesis total y mejor calidad de vida. Conclusiones: Las pérdidas dentales tienen un profundo impacto sobre la CVRS. Una prótesis total, reemplazando los dientes perdidos, mejora sustancialmente la calidad de vida de los afectados. Los resultados demuestran, que el cuestionario PECVEC con la escala específica, es de gran utilidad para la evaluación de la CVRS en la rehabilitación de estos pacientes (AU)

Introduction: The objective of the present article is to evaluate the utility of a specific scale in the measurement of the physical well-being in edentulous patients. This scale has been integrated in a modular generic questionnaire to measure the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL). Patient and Methods: The scale was applied in combination with “Quality of Life Profile in the Chronically Ill (PLC)” questionnaire. In a longitudinal study, a follow-up of fifty edentulous patients treated with full dentures in the Dental Clinics of the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, was performed. HRQL was measured three times: upon beginning of the treatment, after eight weeks and after six months. Results: The mean reliability of the questionnaire was 0.74 (Cronbach). The HRQL improved progressively between the first and the third measurement, eventually presenting a higher level of satisfaction with the full dentures prostheses and a better quality of life. Conclusions: The loss of teeth has a deep impact on the HRQL. A full denture which replaces the missing teeth improves the quality of life of the affected patients substantially. The results demonstrate that the PLC questionnaire with the specific scale is of great utility for the evaluation of the HRQL in the rehabilitation of these patients (AU)

Escala para medir la calidad de vida en desdentados totales rehabilitados con prótesis completa mucosoportada / Scale to measure quality of life in edentulous patients rehabilitated with full tissue-supported prostheses

Introducción: El objetivo del presente artículo es valorar la utilidad de una escala especifica para medir el bienestar físico en pacientes desdentados totales. Se ha integrado esta escala en un cuestionario modular genérico para medir la Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud (CVRS). Pacientes y método: Se aplicó la escala conjuntamente con el cuestionario Perfil de Calidad de Vida en Enfermos Crónicos (PECVEC). En un estudio longitudinal, se siguieron cincuenta pacientes desdentados, que asistieron a tratamiento para la colocación de una prótesis total, en las Clínicas Odontológicas, de la Universidad de Guadalajara, México. Se realizaron tres determinaciones de la CVRS. Al empezar el tratamiento, a las ocho semanas y a los seis meses. Resultados: Se obtuvo una fiabilidad media del cuestionario de 0,74 (Cronbach). La CVRS mejoró progresivamente entre la primera y la tercera medición, presentando una mayor satisfacción con la prótesis total y mejor calidad de vida. Conclusiones: Las pérdidas dentales tienen un profundo impacto sobre la CVRS. Una prótesis total, reemplazando los dientes perdidos, mejora sustancialmente la calidad de vida de los afectados. Los resultados demuestran, que el cuestionario PECVEC con la escala específica, es de gran utilidad para la evaluación de la CVRS en la rehabilitación de estos pacientes

Introduction: The objective of the present article is to evaluate the utility of a specific scale in the measurement of the physical well-being in edentulous patients. This scale has been integrated in a modular generic questionnaire to measure the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL). Patient and Methods: The scale was applied in combination with “Quality of Life Profile in the Chronically Ill (PLC)” questionnaire. In a longitudinal study, a follow-up of fifty edentulous patients treated with full dentures in the Dental Clinics of the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, was performed. HRQL was measured three times: upon beginning of the treatment, after eight weeks and after six months. Results: The mean reliability of the questionnaire was 0.74 (Cronbach). The HRQL improved progressively between the first and the third measurement, eventually presenting a higher level of satisfaction with the full dentures prostheses and a better quality of life. Conclusions: The loss of teeth has a deep impact on the HRQL. A full denture which replaces the missing teeth improves the quality of life of the affected patients substantially. The results demonstrate that the PLC questionnaire with the specific scale is of great utility for the evaluation of the HRQL in the rehabilitation of these patients