Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

: As the number of cancer survivors (CSs) is increasing worldwide, providing services relevant to the specific, unmet needs of these individuals is crucial. There are currently various patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) whose aim is to identify the unmet needs of CSs. Still, limited guidance supports healthcare providers in choosing the most valid and reliable PROMs for this purpose. We conducted this overview of systematic reviews (SRs) on the psychometric properties of PROMs addressing the unmet needs of adult CSs suffering from non-cutaneous cancers. We searched databases for SRs published between 2012 and January 2023. Two SRs were included, covering 14 PROMs tested on 19,151 CSs. These were assessed according to the COSMIN methodology for SRs of PROMs for the quality of their measurement properties and risk of bias, thus providing guidance in selecting PROMs that appropriately reflect the unmet needs of CSs.

Increasing numbers of individuals suffer from post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), which manifests with persistent symptoms, the most prevalent being dyspnea, fatigue, and musculoskeletal, cognitive, and/or mental health impairments. This systematic review investigated the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for individuals with PACS. We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, CINHAL, Scopus, Prospero, and PEDro databases and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to November 2021. We screened 516 citations for eligibility, i.e., trials that included individuals with PACS exposed to exercise-based rehabilitation interventions. Five RCTs were included, accounting for 512 participants (aged 49.2–69.4 years, 65% males). Based on the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2.0), two RCTs had “low risk of bias”, and three were in the “some concerns” category. Three RCTs compared experimental rehabilitation interventions with no or minimal rehabilitation, while two compared two active rehabilitation interventions. Rehabilitation seemed to improve dyspnea, anxiety, and kinesiophobia. Results on pulmonary function were inconsistent, while improvements were detected in muscle strength, walking capacity, sit-to-stand performance, and quality of life. Pending further studies based on qualitatively sound designs, these first findings seem to advocate for rehabilitation interventions to lessen disability due to PACS.

OBJECTIVE: To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the psychometric characteristics of the Italian version of the Dance Functional Outcome Survey (DFOS-IT) in adult dancers. DESIGN: Clinical measurement study. METHODS: The DFOS-IT was forward translated, reconciled, backward translated, and reviewed by an expert committee to establish optimal correspondence with the original English DFOS. We examined test-retest reliability in 58 dancers within a 10-day period, using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,1). In a sample of 265 healthy and injured dancers, the following were examined: 1) construct validity, comparing the DFOS-IT to SF-36 using Pearson correlations; 2) exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency; and 3) sensitivity, by generating receiver operating characteristic curves and determining area under the curve (AUC). In a subgroup of 44 dancers, we determined internal responsiveness across three time-points using repeated measures ANOVA (p<0.05). Injured dancers' scores were analyzed for floor and ceiling effects. RESULTS: The DFOS-IT demonstrated very high test-retest reliability (ICC >= 0.98). Single-factor loading in exploratory factor analysis supported unidimensionality of the scale, with high internal consistency (alpha=0.93). DFOS-IT total, activities of daily living (ADL), and Dance Technique scores had strong construct validity compared with scores on the SF-36 PCS (r >= 0.71). There was excellent sensitivity, with high AUC values (AUC >= 0.80). There were significant differences across time for DFOS-IT scores (p<0.001), demonstrating responsiveness to change, and no floor or ceiling effects. CONCLUSION: The DFOS-IT is a valid, reliable, and responsive tool that can be used as an outcome and screening measure for Italian adult ballet and modern dancers following lower extremity or low back injury.