RESUMO
Responsiveness statistics have been suggested as criteria for selecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments or for calculating the required sample size. This paper raises questions about the stability of estimates of instrument responsiveness. The questions are examined by use of data synthesis. A literature search identified instances where two HRQoL instruments were used concurrently on two or more occasions. An effect size difference between the instruments was calculated. The distribution of the differences in the effect size between pairs of instruments used conjointly in different applications was used as an indicator of variation in responsiveness. The effect size for all possible published uses of generic and disease-specific HRQoL instruments was also examined. Responsiveness was found to be subject to considerable variation. Disease-specific instruments were found to be consistently more responsive than generic instruments. The authors suggest use of responsiveness data should be restricted to expanding pilot study results.
Assuntos
Doença/psicologia , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de Saúde , Psicometria/métodos , Qualidade de Vida , Análise de Variância , Modificador do Efeito Epidemiológico , Indicadores Básicos de Saúde , HumanosAssuntos
Pesquisa sobre Serviços de Saúde/métodos , Programas de Assistência Gerenciada/estatística & dados numéricos , Anos de Vida Ajustados por Qualidade de Vida , Indicadores Básicos de Saúde , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de Saúde , Perfil de Impacto da Doença , Inquéritos e Questionários , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Pharmacy educators are training graduates in a concept of practice called pharmaceutical care. The movement towards patient care requires consideration of the personal and social qualities of trainees. All individuals attracted to pharmacy may not desire involvement in patient care. This preliminary study of pharmacy students of the relationships among birth order, empathy, and assertiveness behaviors using the Interpersonal Communication Inventory showed the incidence of firstborn students in this sample was not significantly higher than in the general population but the incidence of those born second was significantly lower. Regression analysis of individual items gave significant correlations between birth order and three items on the inventory. While few conclusions can be drawn, a clear direction for further research is indicated.
