No abstract

Objectives: The Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 (COMQ-12) assesses patient-reported health-related quality of life. A multinational collaborative project was performed to translate and appraise the psychometric properties of the COMQ-12 across Europe, Asia, and South America. Methods: Eight otology units from seven countries (China, Colombia, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Turkey) created native versions of the COMQ-12 by the process of translation and back-translation. Questionnaire reliability was assessed on the basis of internal consistency by calculating Cronbach's coefficient alpha. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify underlying correlations between individual questionnaire items. Results: This study included 478 participants from 8 countries. Calculated values for Cronbach's coefficient alpha were between 0.71 and 0.90. Exploratory factor analysis allowed the identification of three dominant factors, the primary factor (related to hearing problems) explaining 42% of the total variance, the secondary factor (related to daily activities) explaining 30% of the variance, and the third factor (related to acute disease activity) explaining 28% of the variance. Conclusions: This is a large study of patients with chronic otitis media, from centers from within many different countries spanning Europe, Asia, and South America. This study supports the use of the COMQ-12 within the individual countries where it was tested.

No abstract

No abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to test the usefulness of epiphysis of distal radius measurement as a surrogate parameter for endotracheal tube (ETT) size prediction in children. METHODS: Seventy-three children were intubated with cuffed ETT selected according to age-based formula. Transvers diameter of epiphysis of distal radius and subglottic diameter of trachea were measured by ultrasound (US). Correlation between the outer diameter of best-fit endotracheal tube and transvers diameter of both radius epiphysis and subglottic diameter were calculated. The need for tube exchange, time for ultrasound (US) measurements and the ease level of measurements were compared. RESULTS: First attempt success at intubation was 83.6%. The correlation of the epiphysis diameter of the distal radius and best-fit ETT was significant (p<0.001, r= 0.619, r2=0.383, 95% CI=0.419-0.838). Similarly the correlation of subglottic tracheal diameter and best-fit ETT was significant (p<0.001, r=0.744, r2=0.553, 95% CI=0.678-825). Estimated ETT sizes according to radial epiphysis diameter and subglottic diameter were optimal in 82.2% and 94.5% respectively. Time for the US measurements of radial epiphysis and subglottic area were 38.3±9.6 and 24.9±4.6 seconds respectively (p<0.001). The level of ease of US measurements were rated for radial epiphysis as 6 (5-9) and for subglottic area as 8 (7-9) (p<0.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: US measured transverse diameter of distal radius epiphysis resulted in similar success rate to age-based formula in our child population. Subglottic diameter measured by US estimates ETT size more accurately; it is also less time consuming and easier.