German translation of the PROMIS® pediatric anxiety, anger, depressive symptoms, fatigue, pain interference and peer relationships item banks.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed at the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of six PROMIS® pediatric self- and proxy- item banks and short forms to universal German: anxiety (ANX), anger (ANG), depressive symptoms (DEP), Fatigue (FAT), pain interference (P) and peer relationships (PR). METHODS: Using standardized methodology approved by the PROMIS Statistical Center and in line with recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) PRO Translation Task Force, two translators for each German-speaking country (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) commented on and rated the translation difficulty and provided forward translations, followed by a review and reconciliation phase. An independent translator performed back translations, which were reviewed and harmonized. The items were tested in cognitive interviews with 58 children and adolescents from Germany (16), Austria (22), and Switzerland (20) for the self-report and 42 parents and other caregivers (Germany (12), Austria (17), and Switzerland (13)) for the proxy-report. RESULTS: Translators rated the translation difficulty of most items (95%) as easy or feasible. Pretesting showed that items of the universal German version were understood as they were intended, as only 14 out of 82 items of the self-report and 15 out of 82 items of the proxy-report versions required minor rewording. However, on average German translators rated the items more difficult to translate (M = 1.5, SD = 0.20) than the Austrian (M = 1.3, SD = 0.16) and the Swiss translators (M = 1.2, SD = 0.14) on a three-point Likert scale. CONCLUSIONS: The translated German short forms are ready for use by researchers and clinicians ( https://www.healthmeasures.net/search-view-measures ).

A multitude of questionnaires exist, which are not comparable due to different questions or no available translations. PROMIS is an initiative, which was funded by the National Institute of Health in the US, to build better, i.e., more precise and efficient questionnaires, which can be used and compared worldwide. The PROMIS questionnaires include paper-and-pencil short forms and computerized adaptive tests. So far numerous PROMIS surveys have been created using advanced methodologies. They can be used by health care professionals to assess different aspects of health and compare the results internationally. To allow for international comparability of studies using those questionnaires, they need to be translated. This study reports the thorough translation process of the US-American PROMIS^® questionnaires measuring anxiety, anger, depressive symptoms, fatigue, pain interference, and peer relationships in children and adolescents into German. The translation included researchers, children, and parents from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to ensure that the final German version is fully and equally well understood in all of those German-speaking countries. The article describes the translation process, so that the user can understand the translations and use them in an informed way. The translated German questionnaires are ready for use by researchers and clinicians. ( https://www.healthmeasures.net/search-view-measures ).

[Digital speech recognition in dermatology: a pilot study with regard to medical and economic aspects]. / Digitale Spracherkennung in der Dermatologie: Eine Pilotuntersuchung unter medizinisch-ökonomischen Gesichtspunkten.

BACKGROUND: Economic factors dominate more and more the healthcare systems; modern technologies advance every day and offer opportunities for savings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a pilot study, digital speech recognition based on Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Version 7 was compared with common dictation in dermatology. RESULTS: The conventional method took 24.1 minutes per page and reports could be sent out after 16.8 days; in sharp contrast, the reports dictated by digital speech recognition took 15.8 minutes per page and were sent out after 3.2 days. CONCLUSION: Digital Speech recognition in dermatology has advantages compared to ordinary dictation, if the dictating person is trained with the software and it is implemented in a digital patient documentation system.

[Marked improvement in scleromyxedema with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin]. / Deutliche Besserung eines Skleromyxödem Arndt-Gottron durch hoch dosierte intravenöse Immunglobuline.

Scleromyxedema is a rare chronic skin disorder of unknown etiology, often accompanied by monoclonal gammopathies. Clinically the disease is characterized by generalized thickening and stiffening of the skin due to dermal mucin deposition. We report on a 56-year-old women with scleromyxedema, whose skin findings markedly improved following high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (Sandoglobulin((R)), 2 g/KG). The pronounced clinical benefit was documented by increased flexibility of the fingers, reduction of skin induration, and a decrease in number and size of mucinous papules. All previous therapeutic approaches were ineffective. High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin appears to be a promising treatment option for patients with scleromyxedema. Clinical studies are desirable, but difficult to perform in such a rare disease. Long-term follow-up on individual patients so treated is desirable.