Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1974. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

The investigation focused on differences in judgments of individuals experienced with breathlessness (due to chronic pulmonary disease, n = 30) and those without chronic experience (normal lung function, n = 30). The research had three major aims. The first tested whether symptomatic individuals made decisions based in logic and probability or some other means, such as natural assessment strategies. Participants were asked to judge the probability that certain symptom and activity descriptions would be associated with an episode of breathlessness. The results indicated symptomatic judgments based on individualized descriptors are subject to errors in logic and probability. Additionally, the results support the premise that experience with a symptom alters an individual's judgments concerning it. The second aim focused on cognitive representations and their associated influence on the perceptual analysis of breathlessness intensity by testing if the use of a typical cognitive symptom pattern (prototype) or specific remembered symptom instance (exemplar) of breathlessness influenced the determination of symptom intensity or response sensitivity (RS). Magnitude estimation techniques were used to evaluate judgments based on different (prototypes and exemplars) cognitive representations of intensity, using airflow resistance as a stimulus for breathlessness. The results demonstrated a decrease in sensitivity with a prototype and increased RS with an exemplar. This supports that judgments of breathlessness RS vary according to the cognitive representation used. The final aim tested whether cognitive prototypes of symptoms are present with breathlessness and whether these produce different patterns of response. Assuming the existence of a symptom prototype for breathlessness, the study tested whether the responses to two different but symmetrical statements about breathing status differed based on amount of experience with the symptom. The results demonstrated asymmetrical differences between groups and stimuli used supporting the existence and influence of a symptom prototype. Taken together the results suggest individuals make rational (experience-based judgments) versus logical (probability based) decisions concerning their symptoms. Cognitive representations of the symptomatic experience were found to influence judgments of intensity. Cognitive information about symptoms exists in the form of a symptom prototype.

Thése-Liége, 1965. / At head of title: Université de Liéga. Faculté de médecine. Bibliography: p. [311]-347.

Thése-Liége, 1965. / At head of title: Université de Liéga. Faculté de médecine. Bibliography: p. [311]-347.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-93).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1991. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [113]-123).

Thesis (Honors)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains 31 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-23). Available online via Ohio State University's Knowledge Bank.

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Purpose: Exercise testing modalities to assess the effects of a given intervention should prove to be reliable and reproducible. This study reports on test-retest reproducibility of the 3-min shuttle walking and step testing exercise protocols to assess exertional dyspnea and exercise physiology in COPD patients. / Methods: Stable COPD patients (N=43; 65 +/- 6.5 years; FEV1 = 49 +/- 16% pred.) equipped with a portable Jaeger Oxycon MobileRTM metabolic system repeated the walking or stepping tests on two occasions separated by 7 to 14 days. At each visit, participants performed, in a randomized order, four externally paced 3-min bouts of shuttle walking at speeds of 1.5, 2.5, 4.0 and 6.0 km·h-1 or of stepping at a constant rate of 18, 22, 26 and 32 steps·min-1, respectively. Each exercise bout was separated by a 10-min rest period. Ventilation, heart rate, gas exchange parameters and Borg dyspnea score were obtained for each bout during the last 30-seconds of exercise. / Results: The majority of patients completed stepping or walking at the slowest cadence but only 33% completed walking at 6.0 km·h -1 and 40% completed stepping at 32 steps·min-1. Test-retest Pearson correlation coefficients for ventilation, heart rate, gas exchange parameters and dyspnea scores over the four exercise bouts, all exceeded 0.80 with the highest coefficient found for ventilation (r≥.95). Intra-class correlation coefficients were similar to Pearson. Bland & Altman representation showed that a similar proportion of dyspnea data points (92 vs. 96%) lied within 2 SD of the mean difference between test-retest values for dyspnea Borg scores during walking and stepping. / Conclusion: Results show very good reproducibility for both 3-min shuttle walking and stepping exercise protocols in patients with COPD. / This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Boehringer-Ingelheim/Pfizer.

Rationale. There is a need for the development of a field test to evaluate exertional dyspnea in the primary care setting. This study examined the applicability of a 3-minute constant rate step test in patients with COPD. / Methods. This test involved 4 stepping rates (18, 22, 26, 32 steps.min-1) equivalent to approximately 4.5, 5.3, 6.0, and 7.2 MET with the ultimate goal that in its final development, the assessment will be made a single stepping rate based on disease severity. Stable COPD patients (N = 43; 65 +/- 6.5 years; FEV1 = 49 +/- 16% pred.; SpO2 (%) rest: 95 +/- 2) were equipped with a portable Jaeger Oxycon MobileRTM metabolic system and followed an audio signal for stepping up and down a single 20 cm step for 3 minutes. Borg dyspnea scores were obtained at the end each stepping bout. A 10-min rest was given between each stepping bout. / Results. Of the 43 patients, 80% completed stages 1 and 2, 74 and 37% stages 3 and 4 while no patient of MRC class 4 or 5 (N = 8) completed stage 1. Breathing frequency (breaths.min-1) spanned from 26.5 +/- 4.1 to 39.0 +/- 6.4 but VT (L) remained unchanged (1.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.4) from stage 1 to 4 while Borg scores were 3 +/- 1, 4 +/- 1, 5 +/- 2, 6 +/- 3 respectively and SpO2 (%) were 92 +/- 5, 91 +/- 4, 91 +/- 4 and 90 +/- 4. / Conclusions. Preliminary findings indicate that a 3-minute constant rate step test may present a feasible alternative to laboratory testing to assess exertional dyspnea in moderately severe COPD. In this population, a stepping rate of 26 steps.min-1 could be sustained by the majority of patients while producing a level of dyspnea potentially amenable to therapy. / This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Boehringer-Ingelheim/Pfizer.