Measurement properties of the benign prostatic hyperplasia impact index in tadalafil studies

BACKGROUND

To assess the measurement properties of the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index (BII) for use in men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) secondary to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) treated with tadalafil.

METHODS

Data from a dose-titration (Study 1) and a dose-finding placebo-controlled (Study 2) tadalafil studies of men 45 years of age or older with moderate to severe LUTS (N = 281; N = 1053) were included in this post-hoc analysis. Measures included the BII, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS Quality of Life Index (IPSS-QoL), LUTS Global Assessment Question, uroflowmetry measure peak flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual volume (PVR). Spearman rank and Pearson correlation coefficients were computed between the BII score and the other measures at each visit. Wilcoxin two-sample tests, t-tests and general linear modeling compared BII scores of subjects with global ratings of improvement versus no improvement, and subjects taking tadalafil versus placebo. Effect size, standardized response mean and Guyatt's responsiveness statistic were calculated for BII and IPSS change scores.

RESULTS

There were high correlations between BII and IPSS & IPSS-QoL and low correlations between BII and Qmax & PVR at each visit. There were significant differences in BII at the End-of-Study Visit between subjects reporting improvement versus subjects reporting no improvement (Studies 1 and 2, P < .0001) and subjects taking tadalafil versus subjects taking placebo (Study 1, P = .0045; Study 2, P = .0064). The BII and IPSS were both responsive to change.

CONCLUSIONS

Results show that the BII is reliable, shows responsiveness to change in patients with BPH-LUTS, and demonstrates construct validity.

First-Order Factor Structure of the Personality Research Form

To establish the first-order factor structure of the Personality Research Form, a high school sample of 327 boys and a college sample of 215 men and women were administered Form AA. Principal component analyses were made, in both samples, of the 20 scales subdivided into two subsets. Nine factors were found to be equivalent in the college and high school data. Comparison with Edwards and Abbott analyses revealed substantial agreement. It was concluded that 12 scales could be used to measure the constructs embodied in the Personality Research Form.

Scheduled intermittent hospitalization for psychiatric patients

OBJECTIVE

The effect of scheduled intermittent hospitalization on the hospital utilization, community adjustment, and self-esteem of persons with serious and persistent mental illness was examined in an experimental study.

METHODS

Fifty-seven male veterans, aged 65 or younger, with a primary axis I psychiatric diagnosis who were frequent utilizers of inpatient care over the previous two years were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the experimental group were prescheduled for four hospital admissions, each lasting nine to 11 days, per year for two years. Patients in the control group had traditional access to hospital care. Psychiatric bed days, community adjustment, and self-esteem were assessed during and after the intervention.

RESULTS

No differences between the groups on demographic or clinical variables were detected at study entry. The experimental group showed improvement in self-esteem, affect, and complaints of physical symptoms at one year. No statistically significant differences between groups were found in hospital utilization, financial management, substance abuse, or psychological well-being at one year.

CONCLUSIONS

Scheduled intermittent hospitalization may be an appropriate and promising alternative to traditional care for revolving-door patients. This intervention could maintain patients at a higher level of wellness than traditional care and reduce the recurrence of the crises that precipitate hospitalization.

A comparison of four personality inventories

The equivalence of personality constructs measured by four rationally devised inventories watested by means of a factor analytic approach. The tests were administered to large high school and college samples. Separate analysis of each inventory were followed by analysis of pooled scales representing each factor found in any inventory. Twelve dimensions were found to be common to two or more inventories and consistent across the two samples. The results indicate a convergence on a set of basic personality constructs measurable and equivalent in several inventories.