The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a Dutch translation of a questionnaire to measure self-efficacy in leisure-time physical activity. The questionnaire consisted of three subscales measuring three dimensions of self-efficacy. It was completed by 461 participants, 55–65 years old. Fifty-nine participants took part in a test-retest study. Factor analysis and correlations between the sum-scores of the 3 scales confirmed that each scale measures a different dimension of self-efficacy. The criterion-related validity of 2 of the scales was found to be moderate. All 3 scales had a satisfactory internal consistency, indicating that they are reliable. Stability was assessed with a test-retest procedure, which yielded satisfactory results for 2 of the 3 scales. The results revealed an improvement in self-efficacy for 2 of the scales over a 4-week time period. When outliers were excluded, satisfactory values were obtained for intraclass correlation coefficients between the first and second measurements.

This study investigated differences in physical-fitness test scores between actively and passively recruited older adults and the consequences thereof for norm-based classification of individuals. Walking endurance, grip strength, hip flexibility, balance, manual dexterity, and reaction time were measured in participants age 57 years or older: 1 sample recruited through media announcements (passively recruited) and 1 sample recruited through personal contact (actively recruited). Classifications on a 5-point scale based on norms were cross-tabulated. Compared with the actively recruited sample, performance of the passively recruited sample was significantly better on all tests except, for women, hip flexibility and manual dexterity. Cross-tabulation of the 2 classifications showed that percentages of agreement varied from 27.4% to 87.4%. Cohen's Kappa varied from .11 to .84. Caution should be used when giving feedback on test performance and subsequently making physical activity recommendations if norms are based on the performance of passively recruited older adults.

An audit of ECT practice against Royal College of Psychiatrists guidelines was conducted within a health authority with a known high rate of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) administration. The audit was conducted in two phases and included a retrospective case note review, plus concurrent observation of ECT practice. An education and training programme designed to correct practice deficiencies was implemented between the phases. ECT practice was generally of good standard. The training programme led to some changes in clinical practice. In particular there was a significant reduction in sub‐optimal ventilation and a significant reduction in unsatisfactory seizures. Introduction of a formal privileging system is a potential strategy for improving practice further.

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20). An index of social isolation (0-7), with higher scores meaning greater isolation, was generated at baseline and each follow-up from seven indicators, each worth 1 point: living alone, less than monthly face-to-face or telephone contact with children/family/friends, not being a member of any organisations, not working, not volunteering. The completecase sample was restricted to those with IC and isolation scores at baseline and no missing data on covariates. Sequential growth curve models included the predictors age and sex, isolation, and then covariate blocks of socioeconomic factors, health behaviours, health; a fully-adjusted model included all predictors and covariates. Results In the unconditional model, average IC score at baseline was 7.06, decreasing 0.23 units over each follow-up to 6.38 at the final wave. In a model including isolation, age, and sex, higher isolation was associated with lower baseline IC (beta=-0.23, 95% CI=-0.28 --0.18) but not associated with the rate of change of IC. This effect remained after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, health behaviours and self-rated health. Conclusion These results suggest social isolation has a detrimental effect on IC level, but not on the rate of decline over time. However, this initial complete-case analysis should be expanded with imputation of missing data and more complex modelling of IC trajectories. Nevertheless, the study highlights the potential of this novel IC model to monitor IC over time and explore factors detrimental to healthy ageing.