Papers by Valerie Keffala
Arthritis care & research, 2015
Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic widespread muscle pain and fatigue. The prim... more Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic widespread muscle pain and fatigue. The primary objective of this study was to determine if pain, perceived cognitive fatigue, and perceived physical fatigue were enhanced in participants with fibromyalgia compared to healthy controls during a cognitive fatigue task, a physical fatigue task, and a dual fatigue task. In total, 24 people with fibromyalgia and 33 healthy controls completed pain, fatigue, and function measures. A cognitive fatigue task (Controlled Oral Word Association Test) and physical fatigue task (Valpar peg test) were done individually and combined for a dual fatigue task. Resting pain, perceived cognitive fatigue, and perceived physical fatigue were assessed during each task using visual analog scales. Function was assessed with shoulder range of motion and grip. People with fibromyalgia had significantly higher increases in pain, cognitive fatigue, and physical fatigue when compared to healthy controls after co...
Weather Conditions and Spinal Patients
Spine, 2004
A retrospective study. To evaluate the effects of various weather conditions on reported health s... more A retrospective study. To evaluate the effects of various weather conditions on reported health status. Existing literature shows no definite conclusions regarding the effect of weather on patients with spinal pathology. Initial visit data from 23 American centers participating in the National Spine Network included demographic information and SF-36-based health status. Weather conditions when and where patients were seen were obtained from the National Climatic Data Center and U.S. Naval Observatory. SF-36 outcomes were predicted using multiple regression techniques from weather parameters, which included high and low temperature, average dew point, wet bulb, barometric pressure, total precipitation, phase of the moon, and length of sunlight. A total of 26,862 of 54,062 patients were identified. Two models were compared: model 1 included the above weather predictors and model 2 added age and gender. For each SF-36 scale and subscale and the Physical and Mental composite Scores, both models were statistically significant, although only model 2 for physical function produced an R value greater than 1%. Barometric pressure was the only weather predictor that was consistently significant. Increased pressure was associated with worse outcomes. Although age and gender were significant additions to the prediction equation, overall, the practical contribution was minimal. A statistically significant relationship between weather factors and SF-36-based health status exists but has minimal clinical significance. These factors had minimal if any effect on mental health-related scores bringing into question either the relationship between weather and psychological status, at least in patients with spinal problems or the usefulness of the instrument used.
Role of HIV serostatus, relationship status of the patient, homophobia, and social desirability of the psychologist on decisions regarding confidentiality
Psychology & Health, 1999
What factors influence a psychologist's decision to maintain or break confidentiality of ... more What factors influence a psychologist's decision to maintain or break confidentiality of an HIV-positive patient? Dangerousness (serostatus), identifiability (relationship status of patient and third party), homophobia, and impression management were the major factors examined. The sample was composed of 236 psychologists and psychologists in training attending the 1994 American Psychological Association (APA) convention in Los Angeles, California. They were given
Treating the Chemically Dependent and Their Families
PsycCRITIQUES, 1992
The relationship between religion/spirituality and physical health, mental health, and pain in a chronic pain population
This study sought to better understand the relationship between religion/spirituality and physica... more This study sought to better understand the relationship between religion/spirituality and physical health and mental health in 122 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The current study conceptualized religion/spirituality as a multidimensional factor, and measured it with a new measure of religion/spirituality for research on health outcomes (Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religion/Spirituality). Pain patients' religious and spiritual beliefs appear different than the general population (e.g. pain patients feel less desire to reduce pain in the world and feel more abandoned by God). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed significant associations between components of religion/spirituality and physical and mental health. Private religious practice (e.g. prayer, meditation, consumption of religious media) was inversely related to physical health outcomes, indicating that those who were experiencing worse physical health were more likely to engage in private religious activities, perhaps as a way to cope with their poor health. Forgiveness, negative religious coping, daily spiritual experiences, religious support, and self-rankings of religious/spiritual intensity significantly predicted mental health status. Religion/spirituality was unrelated to pain intensity and life interference due to pain. This study establishes relationships between religion/spirituality and health in a chronic pain population, and emphasizes that religion/spirituality may have both costs and benefits for the health of those with chronic pain.
The relationship between religion/spirituality and physical health, mental health, and pain in a chronic pain population
Pain, 2005
This study sought to better understand the relationship between religion/spirituality and physica... more This study sought to better understand the relationship between religion/spirituality and physical health and mental health in 122 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The current study conceptualized religion/spirituality as a multidimensional factor, and measured it with a new measure of religion/spirituality for research on health outcomes (Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religion/Spirituality). Pain patients' religious and spiritual beliefs appear different than the general population (e.g. pain patients feel less desire to reduce pain in the world and feel more abandoned by God). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed significant associations between components of religion/spirituality and physical and mental health. Private religious practice (e.g. prayer, meditation, consumption of religious media) was inversely related to physical health outcomes, indicating that those who were experiencing worse physical health were more likely to engage in private religious activities, perhaps as a way to cope with their poor health. Forgiveness, negative religious coping, daily spiritual experiences, religious support, and self-rankings of religious/spiritual intensity significantly predicted mental health status. Religion/spirituality was unrelated to pain intensity and life interference due to pain. This study establishes relationships between religion/spirituality and health in a chronic pain population, and emphasizes that religion/spirituality may have both costs and benefits for the health of those with chronic pain.
Health locus of control and self-efficacy predict back pain rehabilitation outcomes
The Iowa orthopaedic journal, 2014
Chronic back pain treatments have generally been costly and/or ineffective despite advances in me... more Chronic back pain treatments have generally been costly and/or ineffective despite advances in medical technology. Patient selection and factors intrinsic to patients, including beliefs and behaviors, have been increasingly looked upon as possible predictive factors for success following multidisciplinary intervention for chronic back pain. The current study investigated the value of using patients' perceived control over health changes (health locus of control) and their perceived ability to engage in pain management behaviors (pain-related self-efficacy) to predict physical and mental health outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 61 patients who completed a two-week multidisciplinary chronic back pain rehabilitation program at our institution between 2007 and 2009. Patient demographics were identified and categorized. Pre- and post-intervention functional surveys, including the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Form C, Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, Medical Outcomes S...
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Papers by Valerie Keffala