380

Head Injury - A Practical Guide by Trevor Powell. Headway, WmsIow Press Ltd, Bicesfer, Oxon. 7994 (SSN 0 86388 126 2). 195 pages. Illus. f 15.95.

The main aim of this book is to provide a comprehensive and jargon-free explanation of impor- tant issues related to head injury. The book has been urritten for fami- lies, carers, individuals who have experienced head injury and the wide range of professionals who come into contact with people suffering from head injury.

The author, a clinical psycholo- gist. approaches the topic by combining anecdotes from carers and head-injured people with factual information and practical guidance related to the considerable and diverse problems associated with head injury. This approach has enabled the author to explain complex and sensitive issues, such as coma and the problems of anger and frustration following head injury, in a manner tha t is both informative and accessible.

The book comprises eight chap- ters and a glossary of medical and technical terms. The first three chapters offer information related to setting the scene: what happens in a head injury and the road t o recovery. The next four chapters deal systematically with providing detailed information and coping strategies for the physical, cogni- tive. emotional and behavioural problems resulting from head injury.

The effects of head injury in terms of the family unit are also described and the author provides clear and helpful advice to assist carers and members of the family in dealing with problems such as guilt, role changes and different levels of protectiveness.

The final chapter, titled Special Issues, includes information related t o returning to work, children with head injury and an ideal service for head injured people.

The book has been clearly laid out with headings which facilitate access to specific issues and prob- lems related to head injury. More complex issues have been supported

by the use of interesting and clearly labelled diagrams.

Given the lack of well-constructed information related to head injury, this book represents an important resource which could be provided routinely to head injured people and their carers. Although superficial in some sections, the book would also provide physiotherapists with strategies for many of the behav- ioural and cognitive problems resulting from head injury.

Brian Durward PhD MSc MCSP

Measuring Disease by Ann Bowling. Open University Press, Buckingharn, 1995 (ISBN 0 335 19226 2, 0 335 19225 4 (pbk). 374 pages. f 16.95.

At a time when physiotherapists are looking for pertinent outcome measures to evaluate their profes- sional practice, audit their inter- vention, design competitive con- tracts and research treatment modalities, this book is a timely and valuable encyclopaedia of measure- ment scales with which to assess the outcome of disease and treat- ment.

This book has been written by a medical sociologist for practising clinicians and health researchers. Supplementing her book Measuring Health: A revieu, of quality of life scales (OU Press, 19911, Ann Bowling has extended her theme in Measuring Disease to review more specific disease measurement scales.

Over 200 scales are identified. Each is described briefly, its main area of application specified and its validity and reliability assessed. Examples of questions or specific measures used in the scale are given together with information about administration and scoring. Strengths and weaknesses are

‘Where can I get that book?’

Books reviewed are normally available from a good bookseller When ordering give book title, author (or editor), publication date, publisher and the ISBN number

I 1

usefully identified. Although scales are not written out in full for reasons of space and copyright. there is enough information for health professionals to make comparisons and considered judge- ments about the relevance of scales to their particular situation. Where original scales have been modified (eg Barthel) both origmal and modi- fied scales have been appraised. Information is included about where to obtain full copies of the measurement scales together with details of outcomes databases and clearing houses.

The book is divided into sections categorised by pathologies. The sections on respiratory, neurological and rheumatolog~cal conditions will be of great value t o physiothera- pists. Physiotherapists working in other specialist fields will find many of their areas catered for in the sections relating to cancers, psychi- atric and psychological disorders and cardiovascular disease. More general non-disease-specific scales a s pain scales and generic quality of life scales are also reviewed.

The book opens with a discussion on the use of health and disease measurement scales and their value in assessing quality of life and healthcare outcomes. It ends with useful practical advice on the administration of scales, the use and abuse of questionnaires and study design. It highlights issues of cross-cultural applicability and the influence of environmental setting on the validity of certain measurements.

An extensive reference list enables the reader to investigate the scales in more depth. This is very useful for physiotherapists wanting to ensure they are applying the best scale or seeking the neces- sary research and background to enable them to adapt or devise their own measurements of outcome.

This book is clearly laid out and easily indexed. It will be a useful addition to every department’s bookshelf as a starting point t o choosing and implementing existing scales which measure the outcome uf disease and intervention.

Sue Barnard MSc MCSP

Physiotherapy, July 1995, vol 81, no 7