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Difficulty in Assessing Quality of Life Outcomes in a Fluctuating Disease : A Hypothesis Based on Gastroparesis
Author
Source
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Issue
Vol. 2009, Issue 2009 (31 Dec. 2009), pp.1-3, 3 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2009-10-15
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
3
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
An underlying assumption of quality of life outcome research is that after some intervention a “steady-state” of quality of life is reached which can be identified as an endpoint, and, hence, the “outcome.” However, in some disease processes, no so such steady-state is reached.
The hypothesis presented is that a disease process with a waxing and waning course will make it difficult to determine a quality of life endpoint.
After clinical observation, a pilot study of patients with either diabetic or idiopathic gastroparesis with gastric neurostimulation their records were reviewed to identify the number of clinic visits, the number of clinic visits in which the patients were asymptomatic, much improved, improved, no change, worse, or much worse.
These changes were defined as “transitions.” A “transition ratio” was calculated by dividing the number of transitions by the number of clinic visits.
Preliminary results showed that of 32 patients, the median number of clinic encounters was 8 (1–35), and the median number of transitions 4 (0–22).
The average transition ration was 0.56±0.31.
In the case of gastroparesis, over half of all clinical encounters were associated with a transition.
The implication of the hypothesis and preliminary finding suggests a difficulty to identify when the symptomatic endpoint was reached.
Other methods to assess the effects of treatment in such a disease process are required to fully understand the effects of treatment on quality of life.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Velanovich, Vic. 2009. Difficulty in Assessing Quality of Life Outcomes in a Fluctuating Disease : A Hypothesis Based on Gastroparesis. Gastroenterology Research and Practice،Vol. 2009, no. 2009, pp.1-3.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-468823
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Velanovich, Vic. Difficulty in Assessing Quality of Life Outcomes in a Fluctuating Disease : A Hypothesis Based on Gastroparesis. Gastroenterology Research and Practice No. 2009 (2009), pp.1-3.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-468823
American Medical Association (AMA)
Velanovich, Vic. Difficulty in Assessing Quality of Life Outcomes in a Fluctuating Disease : A Hypothesis Based on Gastroparesis. Gastroenterology Research and Practice. 2009. Vol. 2009, no. 2009, pp.1-3.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-468823
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-468823