Statistical Analysis of the Questionnaires

The Questionnaires
Statistical Analysis
Total Fibromyalgia Impact
Sleep Quality Impact
Subsets of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire
Average Percent Improvement
Percentage Improvement by Respondent
Classification by Severity
Improvement in FIQ by Severity
Symptom Improvement by Severity Grouping
Grouping by Level of Severity
References
 

The Questionnaires

We continue an ongoing monitoring of people's progress, for those who wish it, while they are taking the Custom Homeopathics remedies. To measure changes in symptoms for people using these remedies, two instruments in the form of questionnaires are used. People are asked to fill in the questionnaires before beginning the homeopathics and again after taking the homeopathics for three months.
 

The first questionnaire we used is the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ).⁽¹⁾ This questionnaire measures functional ability and uses analog scales to measure anxiety, depression, stiffness, pain, fatigue, and several other variables.This questionnaire is used widely in studies and has proven validity and reliability in measuring FMS severity.
 

The second questionnaire we used is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).⁽²⁾ This questionnaire measures overall sleep quality. This scale is widely used for a variety of diagnoses, and has proven validity and reliability.
 

Participation in filling out the questionnaires is voluntary and does not effect participation in the homeopathic protocol in any way. Some people were not asked to participate in filling out questionnaires due to their age.
 

As of August 2002, 332 people have completed or are participating in the Custom Homeopathics protocol. So far, 69 have completed filling out both the before and after (three month) questionnaires. At this time, the return rate on the three month questionnaire is approximately 65%. It is standard practice in research protocols to increase the return rate by sending people reminders to return their completed forms. We have not done so, as we did not want to add to the stress of anyone's life in any way.

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Statistical Analysis

Findings were analyzed and presented by the ART of SCIENCE, an independent and objective research business with no vested interest in the Custom Homeopathics company or the results of this survey.

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This chart (above) shows that, before taking the homeopathics, respondents scored on average 11.2 out of a possible 21 on the PSQI. After taking the homeopathics, their average PSQI score was 8.9. The PSQI advises that scores above 5 are indicative of sleep disturbance.

These results are significant at the 99% confidence level.

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This chart shows that, before taking the homeopathics (C-HP), the 69 respondents scored on average 55.2 out of a possible 100 on the FIQ. After taking the homeopathics, their average FIQ score was 40.8.
 

The FIQ advises that the average FM patient scores about 50, where scores above 70 are seen in the severely afflicted.

These results are significant at the 99% confidence level.

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Subsets of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire

The next four charts show respondent scores for various subsets of theFIQ: Pain and Stiffness, Fatigue, Mood Impairment and Functional Impairment (i.e., interference with daily functioning). Scores were adjusted to show the impact out of 100.
 
In this study, each area demonstrated an improvement after taking the homeopathics.
 
These results are significant at the 95% confidence level.
 

Pain and Stiffness measure showed an improvement of 11.9 points after taking the Custom Homeopathics. This is significant at the 95% confidence level.

Mood Impairment measure showed an improvement of 13.0 points after taking the Custom Homeopathics.

This is significant at the 95% confidence level.
 

Functional Impairment measure showed an improvement of 14.9 points after taking the Custom Homeopathics. This is significant at the 95% confidence level.

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This graph (above)shows respondents’ average percentage improvement in Total Fibromyalgia Impact (i.e., decrease in overall FIQ score), Sleep Quality (decrease in PSQI score), and for the four subsets of the FIQ: Pain and Stiffness, Fatigue, Mood and Functional Impairment.

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Percentage Improvement by Respondent

This graph shows the percentage improvement for each individual respondent in the study. Positive percentages show improvement, while negative percentages show worsening. As can be seen in the graph, 56 out of 69 respondents improved after taking the homeopathics.

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Classification by Severity

The 69 respondents were divided into two groups based on their initial total FIQ score out of 100. Those who scored lower than 50 before taking the C-HPs (n=29) were classified as low severity. Those who scored higher than 50 before taking the C-HPs (n=40) were classified as high severity. These two groups, "Low Severity" and "High Severity", were then used as the basis for comparing further improvement after administration of C-HPs.

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Improvement in FIQ by Severity

The average starting (I.e. before homeopathics) FIQ score for the low severity group was 37.8 (out of a possible 100), and the average starting score for the high-severity group was 67.8.
 

Those in the low severity group experienced an average drop of 7.6 in their overall FIQ score after taking the homeopathics (a 25% decrease). Those in the high severity group experienced a drop of 19.5 in their overall FIQ score after taking the homeopathics (a 28.7% decrease).
 

The high severity group showed much greater improvement in absolute terms, and slightly better improvement relative to their original score, than did the low severity group.

This data is significant at the 95% confidence level.

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This chart shows percentage improvement in sleep quality (PSQI) and specific symptom (FIQ subset) scores after administration of homeopathics.

Improvements over initial sleep (PSQI) and specific symptom (FIQ) scores are consistently higher in the High Severity group.

These results are significant at the 90% confidence level.

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This chart shows the number of people who could be classified as low severity (0-24 beginning FIQ score), medium-low severity (25-49 beginning FIQ score), medium-high severity (50-74 beginning FIQ score) and high severity (75 -100 beginning FIQ score).

Before using homeopathics, 42% of all respondents were in the lower severity groups. After using homeopathics, 70% of all respondents were in the lower severity groups.

These results are significant at the 90% confidence level.

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References

1)Burckhardt CS, Clark SR, Bennett RM. The fibromyalgia impact questionnaire: development and validation. J Rheumatol 1991 May;18(5):728-33.

2) Buysse DJ; Reynolds CF 3d; Monk TH; Berman SR; Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research.Psychiatry Res 1989 May;28(2):193-213

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